Joanna swiftly intervened as she heard Jakob's confrontational remarks, "Jakob, maybe it's not the best way to address my husband. Our marriage is really not your concern. This is just a reconnection between friends, right?"Jakob let out a sigh and shifted his attention to Joanna, a self-assured smirk playing on his lips. "You're right, Joanna. I should heed your advice, shouldn't I? You're the kind of woman whose words should be heeded, to be honest."Travis observed as Jakob casually placed a hand on Joanna's shoulder, an action that fueled his mounting irritation. With a stern huff, he declared, "I insist that you leave my house immediately."Both Joanna and Jakob responded with identical expressions of surprise, uttering in unison, "What?"Travis, with an unwavering frown, regarded the pair and emphasized, "I clearly said, Jakob, or whatever your name may be, leave my house this very instant. Get out!"Travis’ audacity left him momentarily speechless. "How dare you, Travis, try t
Seated comfortably on his bed, Travis promptly dialed Parker's number. As the call connected and Parker's voice rang through, it was evident that he was genuinely surprised. Parker's initial words carried a tone of excitement, "Travis, how's it going? Receiving a call from you today is quite an unexpected pleasure. So, what brings you to call me?"Travis, keeping things casual, replied, "Just felt like catching up with an old friend. What have you been up to?"Parker, engrossed in his current task, disclosed, "I'm in the back kitchen of the restaurant, lending a hand. It's not too late, and the dinner rush is about to start, so I thought I'd pitch in."Travis couldn't help but furrow his brow, curious about Parker's routine. He inquired, "Is the hotel keeping you this occupied every day?"Parker's response was laced with determination, "Well, you see, the hotel is still fresh in the market as it recently opened its doors. There's a laundry list of things to be done. Plus, remember tha
Travis carefully weighed his words before disclosing a shocking revelation to Parker. The news he was about to deliver would undoubtedly shake the foundation of trust and belief, and he had to be certain of the accuracy of his account.Taking a deep breath, Travis finally began, "Parker, I need you to know the truth. Today, I traveled to Mainville City for some business, and to my surprise, I came across Olivia at a restaurant. She wasn't alone; she was in the company of a man named Ben. What struck me, Parker, was the nature of their interaction. Olivia was intimately hugging Ben, and they shared endearing exchanges. It's evident that she's having an affair with him."Parker, struck by disbelief, immediately and passionately denied the accusation. His voice trembled with a mix of shock and indignation. "No, Travis, that's impossible! It can't be true! Olivia is not that kind of person. I know her, I trust her, and you must have made a mistake, a grave mistake. I can't accept that you
Travis and Joanna's morning took an unexpected turn when they received an unexpected visitor, none other than Matthew, who happened to be Joanna's uncle. Their expressions mirrored their shock as they beheld him in their home. Matthew stood there, a peculiar smile adorning his face, yet he seemed devoid of a clear motive for his visit. However, Travis and Joanna sensed that there was more to his visit than met the eye.Curiosity tugging at him, Travis inquired, "What are you doing here?" He and Joanna watched Matthew, who remained poised in front of their doorway, hesitating to step inside and take a seat.Matthew, clearing his throat in a polite manner, replied, "I've actually come here to see you, Travis. Lately, I've been doing some introspection, and I've come to the conclusion that perhaps we've been too quick to judge you. It's high time we spent some quality time together so that I can truly understand the kind of person you are."Travis, his brows furrowing with confusion, m
Travis found himself enveloped in a whirlwind of confusion as he hastened toward the commotion, unable to fathom the unfolding situation. Upon his arrival, his gaze fixated upon a tall, slender, and exquisitely crafted golden ceramic vase that lay broken into two on the ground, a scene that left him in stunned disbelief. A multitude of small ceramic fragments laid on the floor, akin to a constellation of stars on a moonless night.As he surveyed the wreckage, his discerning eye could not help but recognize the historical significance embedded within those broken shards. It became apparent that the once majestic vase, now fragmented, was none other than a relic hailing from the esteemed Song dynasty—an exquisite Jade pot spring bottle, no less. The significance lay not only in its age but in the authenticity of the gold embellishments, elevating its value to an extent beyond imagination.Raised in a family of considerable wealth and privilege, Travis had been nurtured in an environmen
Mr. Shen was taken aback, caught off guard by Travis's response. He furrowed his brow and inquired, "Isn't that man related to you? Is he your father-in-law?"Travis nodded affirmatively. "You got it right, but no prizes for that. He's not even my father-in-law; he's just an in-law, nothing more. Since I'm not the one who caused the damage, you should hold him responsible for it."Mr. Shen's expression soured. He felt irritated by Travis's tone, but he couldn't deny the logic behind his words. It was clear that he was trying to pin the blame on Travis to avoid the expenses and reputation damage that The Jade Pavilion would suffer.Without wasting a moment, Mr. Shen barked orders to a few people nearby. "What are you waiting for? Go and fetch that older gentleman!"Travis observed them scurrying to chase down Matthew and couldn't help but chuckle. He remained silent, content to watch the situation unfold.While Travis certainly had the means to swipe his card and cover the costs of th
As Travis found himself in an unusual and unsettling situation, he couldn’t help but cast wary glances around the bustling surroundings. Everyone in the shop appeared blissfully unaware of his uneasiness, each absorbed in their respective activities and Mr. Shen looked anxious as he waited for his subordinates’ return with Mr. Matthew in tow.Although intrigued by the ancient book he had discovered, Travis contemplated returning it to the wooden box, but his decision wavered under the persistent voice within his mind. “Take it, Travis Danforth. You need it. Aren't you curious?”“What the hell?” Travis couldn’t help but mutter in bewilderment.The insistent voice continued to press him, challenging his hesitancy, “You’ve already opened the box. What is stopping you from opening the book?”Although Travis remained confused by the situation, he cleared his throat and fixed his gaze on the enigmatic book. On the title page, four ancient and cryptic characters were meticulously inscribed,
With a fury etched deep into his demeanor, Mr. Shen directed an incensed glare at Matthew, his voice a torrent of boiling indignation as he lashed out, “You, you old scoundrel! Did you think you could run after driving your car into my establishment, shattering my precious vase? Do you truly believe you can evade your responsibility to Jade Pavilion after the destruction you've caused?”Matthew, wearing a derisive countenance, turned his gaze upon Travis, letting out a scoffing remark, “See, I told you, he’d take care of it. It's all on him so why did you go after me the way you did?!”Mr. Shen’s tone turned frigid, his finger accusatorily pointing towards the imposing Aston Martin, his words dripping with disdain, “And who does that extravagant vehicle belong to?”Matthew shifted his gaze, first to the sleek car and then back to Mr. Shen, conceding, “It’s mine.”The question that followed came with a thundering rebuke, “And who recklessly drove it into my shop like a bat out of hell,