"Are you ready?" Irina asked her daughter-in-law."Yes, Mother, do you think this is enough?" Hazel asked, stepping out of the room and admiring herself in front of her mother-in-law.She was wearing a sleeveless pink lace dress with a knee-length A-line cut that made her look clean, elegant, and feminine."Perfect," praised her mother-in-law. "Oh, wait, I think you need this to complete your look," suggested Irina, removing her white pearl earrings and placing them on Hazel's ears. "Now it's perfect," she added with satisfaction.Hazel looked at herself in the mirror again and was pleased with her mother-in-law's styling. "I should learn styling from you, mother," Hazel suggested.Irina, who never had a daughter, was naturally happy to hear Hazel's suggestion. Finally, she had a companion to discuss clothing preferences, accompany her on shopping trips, and make selections. She would keep Hazel busy with her while Glenn was away."You should make time for tomorrow; I have a new chic
"I want to obliterate them all!" raged Eleanor, throwing her purse onto the sofa in Mason's office.Mason glanced at Eleanor; he was accustomed to her outbursts, finding them rather attractive and a source of the spark that made him fall for her. At her mature age, Eleanor still had excessive energy for emotions, which baffled Mason."What happened? You left happily earlier," Mason greeted, not diverting his attention from the work in front of him. His hands were still busy correcting errors in his employees' reports."Scrap our plan to approach the Smiths persuasively! I want to get rid of them all without exception! Wipe them out completely!" Eleanor demanded forcefully.This time, Mason lifted his head and gave Eleanor a sharp look. "You need to give me a concrete reason why I should change my plans and follow your desires," Mason challenged firmly.He was now giving Eleanor his full attention. This made Eleanor falter, nervous because Mason wasn't the kind of man she could freely
"Love, I think I've ignited a feud," Hazel opened up to her husband as she helped Glenn undress from his work clothes.Glenn's movement halted, and he appeared pensive. "I'm sure she started it first. You're the most peace-loving person I know," Glenn defended, smiling at his wife.Hazel smiled back at Glenn's response, feeling reassured. Her husband didn't even ask who she was in conflict with but immediately defended her, disregarding everything else, making her feel trusted and supported as a wife."But she's the third wealthiest person’s wife..." Hazel reported again, still wanting to gauge Glenn's reaction."I don't care about his economic status, but who's in the wrong?" Glenn inquired, though he knew it wasn't his wife."Well... I don't think I'm wrong, but she might have the same opinion about herself. Would you like to hear my side of the story?" Hazel offered, batting her eyelashes.Glenn grinned, "I'd rather do something else right now..." teasingly as he embraced his wife,
"I'm in the basement; tell the bartender you're here to meet me." Glenn read Victor's message as soon as he arrived at the Noir Nebula Club.The place was located on the outskirts of town, between the borders separating Eagertown and Nickelsburgh.It was bustling and crowded, serving as a gathering centre for rebellious young adults, where they began to explore forbidden things. The prevailing punk fashion centred there.The music was deafening as he entered, and a few young women glanced at him and teased, whistling at his neat and slick appearance."Hey, the bouncer should wait outside," they teased with mischievous glances."Is your work shift over? My friend is interested in you," one girl flirted, throwing her gaze towards her friend behind her.Glenn frowned at the young woman's behaviour, who might not be old enough to be in a place like that, let alone flirt with a man much older than her.He shook his head and ignored them, cutting through the dense and semi-intoxicated crowd
"What are you thinking? You seem quieter than usual," Hazel complained as she hugged Glenn's back, who was lost in thought on their living room sofa."Oh—really? I didn't realise I was thinking about work issues even though I'm at home; sorry," Glenn reasoned, stroking his wife's hand that was embracing his chest."Is that all?" Hazel probed, not believing Glenn's excuse."Yes, sweetheart, I'm trying to acquire some collapsing pharmaceutical companies, but the board thinks it's a risky investment; no one agrees with me. Even when Father also gave his input, most of the board didn't want it. It's going to be a big battle," Glenn explained.Hazel looked pensive, "Well, that's not my field; I don't know what you're talking about, but one thing is my main focus. What's your strong reason for doing that when most voices are against it?" Hazel asked.Glenn smiled at Hazel's innocent but on-point question. Glenn became uncomfortable because it meant he had to lie to his wife. According to Gl
"What does he want from me?" This time, Yvonne asked Victor, giving him her full attention. The hum of the machines in the laundry room where they conversed served as the background noise.Victor lit his cigarette before answering Yvonne's question. He sat near the exhaust, the cigarette smoke quickly disappearing into it. He didn't want to suffocate Yvonne with his smoke, but he needed nicotine to relax his mind."He wants you to return to work as his research head," Victor replied shortly.Yvonne scoffed at Glenn's request. "Does he think I would agree to that? After what happened between us? He seems crazy. Besides, there's nothing left to make me want to leave here. Dad is gone, and I want to take care of Mom here," Yvonne rejected immediately, sounding convincing."Does your mom really need your care?" Victor teased.Yolanda's health was gradually improving, and her transformation was noticeable every day. Those who didn't know her wouldn't guess that she had been so "ill" for ye
Glenn stepped out of his car at the front lobby of Smith Corp when he noticed the receptionist's panicked expression as she saw him. She immediately discreetly typed a message on her phone.The awkward expressions on the faces of several employees who glanced at him did not escape his observation; some even turned around when they were about to cross paths with Glenn.Glenn's intuition told him that something was amiss. He wasn't supposed to be at the office today because he was scheduled to fly abroad to meet a major distributor who would help him market his products to several specific countries.He quickened his pace, intending to catch whatever was going on behind him before they could escape.Several names swirled in his mind, 'How dare they plot against me behind my back,' Glenn thought.His intuition told him not to go to his office but to the meeting room located directly below it. So there he went.The glass-windowed meeting room was located right in front of the elevator, so
"Where to?" whispered Roe to Jason as he pushed Jason's wheelchair slowly through the narrow alley between the tightly packed houses."There," Jason pointed to a disused well covered with concrete to prevent small children from opening it."Are you sure?" Roe asked, hesitant."Yeah, no one will search there. Besides, I highly doubt they'll bother looking for her; she's just an added burden for Chief Eugene, right? Chief Eugene will even thank you for getting rid of Amber for her," Jason goaded, sounding convincing.Roe's eyes gleamed at the thought of Eugene praising him for taking the initiative without being ordered.Yes, he had seen firsthand how his chief was often annoyed by Amber's behaviour. He knew Chief Eugene couldn't avoid the responsibilities given to her by Glenn Smith because of her dedication as a human being.But not if someone else got rid of Amber, right? Chief Eugene wouldn't be blamed.That thought made Roe happy."Okay, don't tell anyone," Roe instructed Jason. Th
As time passed, Glenn and Hazel enjoyed peaceful days while awaiting the birth of their baby. In the month of their baby’s due date, Glenn received the surprising news that Yvonne and Victor were getting married. “Glenn, hurry up!” Hazel hurriedly put on her earrings as they were almost late for Victor and Yvonne’s wedding ceremony. Glenn quickly grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair and hugged Hazel from behind. Seeing Hazel with her big belly made him fall in love with her even more. “Not now,” Hazel grumbled, annoyed. The more Hazel was irritable, the more Glenn enjoyed teasing her. They stepped out of the house and got into the car. Glenn drove at a moderate speed, occasionally reaching for Hazel’s hand and kissing it gently. Hazel felt incredibly happy, showered with love from her husband. When they arrived at the church, the doors were almost closing as the ceremony was about to begin. Glenn and Hazel entered, accompanied by the quiet laughter of the attendees. They
“Mei!” Hazel immediately hugged her friend, whom she hadn't seen for months.Mr. Zhang’s daughter had decided to visit Hazel in Eagertown after the situation in Yuhan had stabilized. She brought a lot of gifts for Hazel, thinking Hazel would want to try some unique treats from Yuhan.“Sorry I came so late, I’ve been incredibly busy in Yuhan,” Mei said.“It’s okay. I know you had a lot to take care of.”They walked through the corridor and into the living room. Glenn, who had just come out of his office, joined them. They all sat comfortably on the sofa.“How does it feel to be expecting a baby?” Mei asked with a giggle.Hazel was due in four months. Time had flown by, and her belly was already showing significantly.“I feel ugly,” Hazel complained.“Ugly? You look so beautiful, Hazel. I’m even jealous of you,” Mei replied. “Being a mother is a privilege not every woman gets.”“I don’t know… I feel so emotionally unstable.” Hazel pouted.Glenn reached for Hazel’s shoulder and hugged he
The effects of the COVID-19 virus had completely vanished in Eagertown, and everyone had returned to their normal activities without worry. Glenn’s company had become more renowned, producing vaccines not only for COVID-19 but for other diseases as well. Glenn was very busy, but he always made time for Hazel.Glenn had just left the hospital after accompanying Hazel for a pregnancy checkup, when they happened to run into Beatrice. Apparently, Beatrice had just arrived there.“Mrs. Zimmerman, what are you doing here? Are you sick?” Hazel asked.“Oh, I’m not sick, Hazel. I have a meeting with some doctors here to discuss sending medical aid to remote areas in Latin America.” Beatrice chuckled softly.“You’re really busy,” commented Glenn. “Take care of your health, Mrs. Zimmerman.”Beatrice nodded. “Thank you for your concern, Glenn.”Then she continued, “Since I happened to run into you here, Glenn, there’s something I’d like to talk about. I need your help.”Glenn was momentarily tak
“Where’s Glenn?” Yvonne asked as she and Victor approached Hazel, who was already sitting and waiting at the café where they had arranged to meet.“He’s taking Sean and his grandmother to Ms. Eugene’s place.”Yvonne only nodded briefly, then took a seat. Victor immediately started flipping through the menu, feeling very hungry.“They’re going to stay there? It seems Eagertown isn’t suitable for Sean,” Victor commented.Hazel sighed softly. “It might be too noisy here.”“Some people just don’t feel comfortable living in the city, Hazel. It doesn’t mean they don’t like being with you.”“I know.” Hazel only nodded wearily.Hazel felt dizzy and her stomach was uneasy, but she forced herself to meet Yvonne and Victor because she wanted to discuss the charity. Yvonne was going to provide a report on the funds that had been allocated and where they had been sent, including to Ms. Eugene’s place.However, Hazel didn’t want to talk about that at all; she just wanted to lie down in bed.“Hazel?
The atmosphere there was busy, as everyone was hard at work building the town. Glenn got out of the car along with Sean and Grandma Mari. As Glenn expected, it seemed that Sean and the grandmother were immediately captivated. Both of them looked at Glenn.“This is a very nice place, Glenn,” praised Sean.From the crowd, Ms. Eugene emerged with a wide smile. She immediately greeted Glenn, Sean, and Grandma Mari.“This must be Sean and Grandma Mari,” nodded Ms. Eugene. “Mr. Glenn has called me, and I am really delighted if you want to stay here.”Grandma Mari agreed. “Of course. I feel at home already.”“You can look around if you like,” offered Ms. Eugene.Sean and the grandmother held hands, and they soon mingled with the people busy at work. Meanwhile, Glenn and Ms. Eugene watched over the bustling activity.“You’re very busy here?” asked Glenn.Ms. Eugene chuckled. “We got a lot of help from Mrs. Zimmerman’s charity and Miss Yvonne.”“Oh, really?”It turned out that the charity ment
A week after Mason's funeral, Beatrice visited Glenn's office. According to Mason's mandate, the company acquired by Glenn would still provide Beatrice with the remaining funds. It was no small amount since Glenn had bought Mason’s company at a fair price.Beatrice had signed the documents and handed them to Glenn. She looked very composed, though her heart had been broken twice after losing Mason forever.“It’s all done, Glenn. Thank you for your cooperation,” Beatrice said.“Once again, my deepest condolences, Mrs. Zimmerman.”A faint smile appeared on Beatrice’s lips. “What happened to Mason did break my heart. But in the end, he tried to be a good person, and I am still proud of him.”There was a light in Beatrice’s eyes, indicating she had come to terms with everything. Even when Mason returned, he was the Mason she had once known.“He will be remembered as a good man. I will make sure of that,” Glenn nodded.“Thank you, you are very kind.”“So, what are your plans moving forwa
Eleanor brought a cup of hot coffee, and though she had changed her clothes, her face still looked disheveled. She smiled sweetly as she placed the coffee on the table, then sat next to Mason. She tried to touch him, but Mason gently moved her hand to the sofa.“Once again, I’m sorry, Eleanor. But I can’t continue our relationship,” Mason said.“You’re going back to Beatrice, aren’t you?”“No. But we’ve made peace, and I know she doesn’t want me anymore.”“Then why? Why are you going back to her?” Eleanor asked, her eyes sad. “Stay here with me.”Mason gave a faint smile, his face looking sorrowful. He felt like the most despicable person in the world, having hurt both Beatrice and now Eleanor. They both deserved happiness, something Mason couldn’t offer.When Beatrice decided to keep their relationship as friends for now, Mason accepted it. He felt he had to be fair, which meant Eleanor also needed to find her own happiness.“You need to find your own happiness, Eleanor.” Mason kisse
Mason and Beatrice's arrival at Glenn's office caused quite a stir, as no one expected the former rival to show up there. Beatrice, looking calm, went to see Irina and Hazel, who happened to be in Glenn's office. Meanwhile, Mason headed straight for the elevator.Hazel, Irina, and Beatrice gathered in the meeting room. Irina and Hazel seemed eager to hear what had brought Beatrice and Mason together to Glenn’s office.“Did you make up?” Irina asked.Beatrice nodded. “As friends, I think. I can’t just accept Mason’s feelings, I don’t know… I don’t want to force myself.”“Yes, of course, Mrs. Zimmerman. Even though you're his wife, you have the right to find your own happiness. If it’s better to be friends, then that’s what you should do. But if your feelings say otherwise...” Hazel began, but Irina interrupted her.“No! Don’t go back to him. I can’t imagine it. Just stay friends, Beatrice,” Irina said firmly.Beatrice chuckled. “Yes, I’ll just follow wherever our story leads.”“He cam
The foggy memories slowly became clearer as Mason stepped onto the porch of the house he had long abandoned. Dark thoughts crept into his mind—if he knocked on the door, would he be welcomed? Or would everything be different?Mason took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell of the seemingly deserted house.Several minutes passed, and Mason continued to stand there, waiting. Finally, the front door opened, and Beatrice appeared. Despite looking older, her face was bright. She had found her own peace.However, the arrival of Mason seemed to shatter that peace instantly.“Mason?” Beatrice looked at him in disbelief.“I’d like to talk to you, Bea. May I? That is, if you’re willing.”Beatrice’s eyes remained fixed on Mason’s pitiful figure. Whatever had happened, something terrible must have hit Mason hard. Was this something Beatrice should celebrate?Regardless of Mason’s current troubles, maybe he had fought with Eleanor and decided to come back home.Beatrice’s ego raged inside her. A