Time seemed to stand still. Paityn quietly gazed at Jamie, watching as the raindrops fell one by one onto the black umbrella he held. Each droplet made a faint, tearing sound against the fabric. It sounded soft yet haunting. The rainwater appeared to drift toward her face, pooling at the corners of her eyes. Why else would her skin feel so cold? Jamie reached out and gently wiped away Paityn's tears. His voice was tender and laced with a compassion that sent shivers through her. “You're abandoned, you poor thing.”For reasons Paityn couldn't comprehend, Jamie's words caused a tremor to ripple through her, igniting a feeling of unease in her chest. She wanted to turn away and escape the intensity of his gaze. However, he cupped her face in his hand, enveloping her entirely. The world around them faded, leaving just the two of them under the dim light of the streetlamps as they were surrounded by the rhythm of falling rain. Paityn had nowhere to run. So, she could only retort
Jamie hardly considered it. “Thank you, Jennifer.”Paityn felt that he was really thick-skinned. He shrugged at her. “Is that a problem? Your mom kindly invited me, didn’t she?”Although Jennifer wasn’t clear about the situation, she could guess that Paityn’s engagement to Monty had fallen through.At the same time, Jamie was being so attentive currently. As a mother, she still hoped Paityn could match with the best suitor. So, Jennifer smiled gently. “Of course.”Afterward, Jennifer shot a glance at Paityn. “He went through a lot to bring you back.”Paityn was always dutiful, so she didn’t say anything more. However, she sat far away from Jamie and didn’t talk to him after entering the restaurant. She just used a napkin to wipe the droplets of water off her body.Jamie stared intently at her as if admiring a piece of art. Paityn spoke in a faint voice, “You look like you’ve never seen a woman before, Jamie.”Unexpectedly, He shamelessly replied, “I haven’t, especially not witho
Inside the dining room, however, there was a sense of warmth and harmony.…Originally, Jamie was expected to leave once dinner was over, both out of courtesy and propriety. After only a few steps, he heard a dripping sound from the ceiling above, and two drops of water landed squarely on his nose.Jamie looked up and saw a damp patch spreading across the white wall. The villa’s roof was leaking.Both Jennifer and Paityn looked up as well. The former muttered in disbelief, “This house has only been built for a few years, and it’s already leaking. What a shoddy job. I wonder which unscrupulous contractor built it. They really should be reported.”Jamie glanced at Paityn and replied softly, “It was built by a subsidiary of the Sanders Group. Jennifer, I can guide you; reach out to the CEO, Lorian Sanders. He’s my uncle's son, and you know him too!”Jennifer froze. Lorian was her son-in-law.Paityn knew Jamie had brought it up on purpose because he was still holding onto things fro
Just as Paityn was lost in thought, Jamie seemed to hear the footsteps behind him. He turned to look at her silently. His dark eyes were like ink that revealed no trace of his true emotions.Paityn's lips moved as she struggled to find her voice. At last, she managed to say, “My mom was worried. So, she asked me to come up and check on you.”The rain continued to fall, but it had lightened to a gentle drizzle. Jamie’s voice was clear as he asked her, “What about you? Are you not worried, Paityn? Are you not even a little afraid of losing me? Are you not worried that you won't see me again?”Paityn shook her head wildly. She wasn’t wearing a raincoat, and the umbrella she had brought was blown away by the wind, leaving the black umbrella lonely in a corner of the rooftop. The past lovers stood quietly, gazing at each other. Suddenly, Jamie extinguished the cigarette with his fingertips and strode towards her.Paityn didn’t have time to think. Before she knew it, the back of her he
Paityn shook her head gently. As an adult, she understood the difference between fleeting infatuation and a lifelong commitment. She admitted that she had feelings for Jamie, but their past was undeniably unpleasant, and it wasn’t something that could simply be resolved by saying they were back together.Paityn spoke honestly to Tegan, “I’m not sure if Jamie is a good person. I’m afraid that while he’s treating me well today, in a few days he might feel like I’m taking advantage of him. "Jamie has the power to control everything about me, and our relationship isn’t stable. I’ve never felt inferior before, Tegan, but I really do in front of Jamie. I’m scared that he looks down on me. I'm afraid that he still holds a grudge."Paityn paused briefly. She used to have feelings for Lorian. The words she didn’t say hung heavy in the air; she felt too ashamed to voice them. Tegan gently embraced her, sensing the deep sadness that enveloped her sister. She realized that Paityn must real
As night fell, Paityn woke up on the sofa. She wanted to check on Jennifer. To her surprise, she opened her eyes, and she saw Jamie sitting on the single sofa by the bed. He had already changed into a clean outfit. He wore a black shirt and dress pants, looking noble and handsome. Jamie hadn’t slept. A laptop was resting on his lap, and he was focused on the screen, deep in thought. From Paityn’s angle, his profile looked incredibly striking, like it had been chiseled. When Paityn spoke, her voice was hoarse, “Why haven’t you gone home yet?” Jamie heard her voice and closed the laptop. He walked over to her and sat down beside her. He reached out to check her forehead. Then, he relaxed his brow slightly and spoke softly, “The fever has gone down a bit.” Huh? Paityn asked in confusion, “Did I have a fever?”Jamie replied seriously, “You were a bit feverish! Otherwise, why would you fall asleep holding onto me so tightly? Do you really like hugging me to sleep that much, Pai
The banquet was about ten kilometers away.Originally, Wylie wanted to arrange a car for Paityn, but the latter refused and said she'd take a cab herself. The spring night in Crocksten was cold, and the thin-down jacket she wore wasn’t enough to stop the shivers that overtook her. She couldn’t tell if it was the chill of the night or the chill in her heart that affected her more. Paityn had placed too much hope in Jamie. Seeing the scandal unfold had shaken her deeply. No matter how much she liked him, she wouldn’t abandon her principles. Otherwise, what awaited her would be endless waiting, uncertainty, and compromise.Men are best "tamed" before marriage. There's no need for a marriage plagued by constant drama over these matters. Such a marriage would be better avoided.A blue taxi slowly pulled up, and Paityn bent down to get in. She gave the driver the address, who couldn't help but comment, "It’s lively over there tonight. The hotel entrance is full of luxury cars, and the
The countless women were like wounds on Paityn's heart. Theo had also been surrounded by countless women. He even supported an illegitimate child on the side. Theo hadn’t started off as a bad person. It had just happened gradually, as he lost himself in a world of soft and enticing whispers.Paityn remained silent for a long time. Carol could sense her mother’s gloomy mood, and her own spirits were low as well. She leaned against Paityn, clearly upset with Jamie.…Paityn chose not to make a scene just yet. It wasn’t until they returned to the hotel and she had soothed Carol that she finally spoke up. However, Jamie brushed off her concerns, feeling she was overreacting. “Carol isn’t as fragile as you think. Besides, nothing is going on between Yara and me.”“Nothing now, but what about in the future?“Carol is a sensitive child, Jamie. I already feel guilty for not being there for her from the start,” Paityn replied, and her voice was steady. “She’s upset already. Don’t you s