Lucas's expression changed, his amusement fading quickly. "What are you trying to say?" he demanded."Come on," the guy replied, laughing. "The famous useless live-in law is your cousin's husband, right? Haha."Another classmate chimed in, "Yeah, I heard rumors that you guys are the ones who even feed him. Poor soul, you do everything for him and feed him too?”A third added, "Lucas, your cousin is hot. Remember when she once drove you to campus? I swear she's the hottest lady I've seen. Why did she marry someone that useless? Even marrying me would have been better." He licked his lips suggestively.The group continued to mock Lucas, and he could feel his anger rising. Their words were getting under his skin, making him hate his cousin-in-law Ambrose even more.Lucas's irritation grew as the mocking continued."Lucas, seriously, what do you think about your cousin marrying such a loser?" another guy asked, smirking."Yeah," someone else chimed in. "Do you think she'll let her sister
Getting into the manor compound, Ambrose parked his electric bike right beside Ava's car and then walked towards the door and opened it.Immediately he stepped inside, the first person he saw was Ava, with her bag hanging around her shoulder. His mother-in-law seemed to be the only person missing; the rest of the family—Grandma Margaret, his father-in-law, and Ava's two cousins—were all present.Ambrose was about to speak when, suddenly, Lucas, who had been glaring at him angrily, lunged at him. Lucas grabbed Ambrose's collar with one hand and his neck with the other.Everyone was shocked."I'll kill you," Lucas said angrily, squeezing Ambrose's neck.Ambrose was stunned, unable to comprehend what was happening, so he didn't attack or defend himself."Lucas! Lucas!" Ava yelled, but Lucas kept attacking Ambrose, landing a punch in his stomach.Ambrose was seething with anger but refrained from retaliating, primarily because of Ava's presence and his respect for her.As Lucas continued
"Ambrose? No," Ava replied, shaking her head. Elizabeth nodded, a look of understanding crossing her face. She gazed at Ava thoughtfully before speaking again. "I know sometimes you must hate me because I'm the one who got you into this marriage with Ambrose. I'm sorry for hurting you, Ava." Ava took her mother's hand, squeezing it gently. "I've never hated you, Mom. You're my mother, and nothing can change that." Elizabeth smiled, her eyes softening with relief and gratitude. "Let me tell you something, Ava. Over twenty years ago, Ambrose's mom and I were best friends. We sat at the same desk in school. Do you know what? She always defended me like I was her sister. After all, we were both orphans. So many times, she would take the blame and get me scot-free while she got punished." Ava was stunned, her eyes widening in surprise. She knew her mother and Ambrose's mom had been classmates, but she had no idea they had shared such a tight bond. "There was this scholarship progr
About thirty minutes later, Ambrose turned over, his eyes adjusting to the dim light of the room. He glanced at Ava, noticing the gentle rise and fall of her breathing, indicating she was asleep. For a moment, he just lay there, feeling a mix of gratitude and contentment. He couldn't help but stare at her, admiring her features in the soft glow of the night. Her face, relaxed in sleep, seemed so peaceful. Ambrose felt a rush of affection and appreciation for her. Despite the tension and the arranged nature of their marriage, Ava had shown him a kindness and fairness tonight that warmed his heart. He smiled softly, feeling a sense of happiness he hadn't experienced in a long time. Knowing that she had defended him and offered him this small comfort made him feel closer to her than ever before. "Ava," he whispered softly, careful not to wake her, "I promise to support you and give you all the best things you deserve in life. I'll make sure you never have to struggle or worry. I’ll sho
Ambrose entered the dinning Hall too. Elizabeth immediately picked up a bowl and served him a generous portion. "Here, Ambrose," she said warmly, handing him the bowl.Grandma Margaret frowned, her displeasure evident. "Why are you serving this lazy guy so much?""He's not lazy, Mother-in-law," Elizabeth replied firmly. "He's the one who has been helping and doing most of the work here.""Thank you," Ambrose said, turning to leave with his bowl."Ambrose, sit down and join us and eat," Ava said suddenly."Huh?" Everyone raised an eyebrow, looking at Ava in surprise, including Elizabeth.Ambrose looked at Ava, a bit taken aback. "Excuse me?""Sit down and eat. No need to go and sit separately," Ava repeated, her tone leaving no room for argument.Ambrose hesitated for a moment, then nodded and took a seat beside Ava. The room was filled with a mixture of shock and curiosity, but Ava's firm stance left no room for further objections. As Ambrose settled into his seat, Grandma Margaret c
Soon after they were done eating, Elizabeth began clearing the table. Ambrose stood up to help, but she gently placed a hand on his arm, stopping him."Ambrose, it's alright. I'll take care of it," she said with a kind smile."But I can help," Ambrose insisted, not wanting to be seen as a burden.Elizabeth shook her head. "No, you've done enough. Go and relax.”Ambrose nodded reluctantly, appreciating Elizabeth's kindness. As they settled in the living room, Ava turned to Ambrose with a curious look. "So, Ambrose, you have a job now?"Ambrose nodded. "Yes, I got a job now. I'm doing different jobs to gather money.""Different jobs?" Ava frowned. "Which jobs?""Actually..." Ambrose gulped, struggling to fabricate a plausible story. "Last time I came by a construction site where I helped and got some money. That was yesterday. And there's also this bar where, if there's a time shift available, I quickly run there to help.”Lily, who had been listening, chimed in with disdain, "He's use
Ambrose pretended, shaking his head. "I really don't know who that could be." Ava pondered for a moment, her mind racing with possibilities. "Whoever it is, they must be quite wealthy," she mused aloud. She started the car and gently maneuvered away from the Mercedes Benz AMG "Do you believe one day I can own this car?" Ambrose asked softly, his gaze fixed on the road ahead as they drove along the bustling streets. Ava remained silent for a while, her focus on navigating through the traffic. Finally, she glanced at him with a slight furrow in her brow. "Why do you ask?" Ambrose shook his head gently. "It's nothing. I just... sometimes I think about the future. I believe one day I'll be rich, so rich that I can take care of you well. I want to give you the life I couldn't before, make you proud, and live the best life together.” Ava's heart warmed at his words, touched by his sincerity. She kept her eyes on the road, processing his aspirations and the complexities of the
Mei's eyes widened in shock. "A new house?" she repeated, barely able to believe what she was hearing. "Yes, Auntie Mei," Eunice confirmed. "It's all part of the plan." Mei raised her hands in a gesture to halt them, her suspicion still evident. "Wait, wait. Which charity organization are you people from?" Eunice smiled warmly and replied, "Actually, we're from Gemstar Platinum." "Gemstar? Hmm, which company is that?" Mei asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. Eunice chuckled softly, "Auntie, Gemstar is a company in Sandalwood. It's actually the leading company there.” "Sandalwood?" Mei's face lit up with a smile. "My son stays in Sandalwood. He must know the company then." Eunice nodded but didn't elaborate further. Even she didn't know that Mei's son, Ambrose, was the chairman of Gemstar. "That's great, Auntie Mei. We're here to help, and we'll make sure everything is taken care of.” Eunice looked at Mei with a reassuring smile. "Auntie Mei, you shouldn't worry abo
Ambrose nodded and smiled, watching Ava with a mix of amusement and affection. Just as he was about to say something, Ava suddenly stood up, her movements unsteady for a moment, but then, to his surprise, she began to sway to the music.Without any hesitation, she stepped out into the open space near their table and started dancing. The soft rhythm of the music filled the room, and Ava’s body seemed to flow effortlessly with it. Her movements, though tipsy, were graceful and captivating. She twirled, her arms floating through the air, and soon enough, she was dancing with such confidence that it mesmerized everyone around her.Ambrose was stunned. He had never seen this side of her. He watched in awe, not quite sure whether to laugh or join her. He glanced around, noticing other people had turned their heads to watch her as well. A few of them even started clapping in rhythm with her steps, encouraging her.Palermo, seated a few tables away, was glaring at her, his eyes narrowing with
Ambrose nodded and smiled, watching Ava with a mix of amusement and affection. Just as he was about to say something, Ava suddenly stood up, her movements unsteady for a moment, but then, to his surprise, she began to sway to the music.Without any hesitation, she stepped out into the open space near their table and started dancing. The soft rhythm of the music filled the room, and Ava’s body seemed to flow effortlessly with it. Her movements, though tipsy, were graceful and captivating. She twirled, her arms floating through the air, and soon enough, she was dancing with such confidence that it mesmerized everyone around her.Ambrose was stunned. He had never seen this side of her. He watched in awe, not quite sure whether to laugh or join her. He glanced around, noticing other people had turned their heads to watch her as well. A few of them even started clapping in rhythm with her steps, encouraging her.Palermo, seated a few tables away, was glaring at her, his eyes narrowing with
Ambrose nodded and smiled, watching Ava with a mix of amusement and affection. Just as he was about to say something, Ava suddenly stood up, her movements unsteady for a moment, but then, to his surprise, she began to sway to the music.Without any hesitation, she stepped out into the open space near their table and started dancing. The soft rhythm of the music filled the room, and Ava’s body seemed to flow effortlessly with it. Her movements, though tipsy, were graceful and captivating. She twirled, her arms floating through the air, and soon enough, she was dancing with such confidence that it mesmerized everyone around her.Ambrose was stunned. He had never seen this side of her. He watched in awe, not quite sure whether to laugh or join her. He glanced around, noticing other people had turned their heads to watch her as well. A few of them even started clapping in rhythm with her steps, encouraging her.Palermo, seated a few tables away, was glaring at her, his eyes narrowing with
Meanwhile, at the restaurant, Ambrose and Ava were still enjoying their dinner, the atmosphere lively with soft music playing in the background. Ambrose looked at Ava, smiling warmly as he reached for his glass.“You seem to be really enjoying the food,” he said, playfully nudging her.Ava smiled, taking a sip of her drink. “Well, it’s not every day I get to enjoy something this fancy.”Ambrose chuckled. “You deserve this every day, you know.”Ava looked at him with a mix of curiosity and affection. “You’re really full of surprises tonight.”Ambrose took her hand, squeezing it gently. “I’m really proud of you, Ava.”As they continued talking and eating, Ambrose suddenly picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and held it out to Ava. She blinked, momentarily shocked by his gesture."Ambrose, what are you doing?" she asked, her voice laced with surprise and shyness."Feeding you," he said with a teasing grin. "Come on, don’t be shy."Ava’s cheeks flushed, and she glanced around th
After placing their expensive orders, both Ambrose and Ava set their phones down. Ambrose turned to her and asked, "So, how's it going?""How's what going?" Ava asked."Your work. The contract for the Wei family, I mean."Ava nodded. "It's going well. It felt like a huge weight at first, but Dera's been helping little by little, so everything's going smoothly now.”"Dera," Ambrose nodded thoughtfully. "Is she staying at the manor permanently now?"Ava shook her head. "She’s planning to rent her own place soon, once she finds something. But for now, since she's helping me out, it just makes sense for her to stay at the manor.""Alright," Ambrose nodded again. He then gently took Ava’s hand, looking into her eyes without speaking."What?" Ava asked, her voice carrying a hint of shyness.Ambrose smiled softly. "I want to apologize.”"Apologize for what?" Ava asked, slightly confused."For everything," he said. "We got married against your will. Your dreams of marrying someone wealthy or.
Meanwhile, inside, Palermo was growing bolder by the second, leaning closer to Ava as he tried to charm her.Palermo reached out, attempting to lightly brush her arm. “Come on, why don’t we just enjoy the evening together, huh?”Before his hand could make contact, Ava snapped back, her voice strong and unyielding, “Touch me, and you’ll regret it.”Palermo paused, taken aback by her intensity but still trying to play it cool. “Whoa, calm down. I’m just being friendly.”“Friendly or not,” Ava shot back, her eyes narrowing, “I’m not interested, and I’m warning you—don’t try anything again.”At that moment, Ambrose re-entered the restaurant, his eyes immediately locking onto Palermo leaning too close to Ava. His face hardened as he quickened his pace. Without hesitation, Ambrose strode up to them and forcefully pushed Palermo back, making him stumble away from Ava.“Don’t touch my wife!” Ambrose’s voice was cold, his eyes burning with intensity as he squared up to Palermo, his frame tense
Immediately Ambrose reached the table and Ava saw him, she smiled warmly and said, "You're here."Ambrose nodded, his gaze briefly flicking to Palermo with a slight frown before turning back to Ava. He handed her a single rose he had been holding. "This is yours."Ava was pleasantly surprised as she took the flower, admiring how beautiful it was. "Thank you," she said, smiling.Ambrose nodded, his expression still a bit serious as he looked at Palermo and then back to Ava. "Who's he?" he asked.Ava glanced at Palermo and replied, "This man here is Palermo. He offered to pay for my drink, and I refused. But guess what? He doesn't believe I have a husband and thinks he can give me some sort of 'great treatment.'"Ambrose’s frown deepened at her words. He turned fully towards Palermo, his voice calm but firm. "Hello, she told you she has a husband, so why are you still trying to force things?"Palermo looked Ambrose up and down with a smirk. "Where's your ring? Did you just manage to get
The staff member hesitated slightly, then leaned closer to Ava. "Madam, I understand your wish to pay, but that man is a big deal around here. It would be wise to give him face. A gesture like this—"Ava cut him off, her tone calm but firm. "I said no thanks. It's $500, right? I'll pay it myself. It's simple." She handed the staff member her card and calmly gave him the password.The staff member gave her a cold look, clearly understanding that Ava wasn’t going to be swayed. He took the card and walked back to the man in the suit. "She refused your payment and offered to pay herself," he said quietly.The man smirked, his gaze trailing back toward Ava. "Alright, don't worry about it," he replied, though there was a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. He glanced toward Ava one more time.Ava, feeling the weight of his gaze, briefly locked eyes with him before she deliberately looked away and focused on her phone. She checked the time—7:00 PM. Ambrose hadn’t arrived yet, which
Ambrose walked out to the cab which was parked outside and then sat inside. Sitting inside, the driver greeted him coolly. Ambrose responded then asked him to drive quickly. Ava had just finished changing back into the outfit she wore earlier that morning, a stylish yet practical look that blended well with her professional demeanor. She glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Satisfied with her appearance, she took a deep breath and started the car.The engine roared to life, and she quickly punched the location Ambrose had given her—Le Jardin Gourmet—into the GPS. As the directions appeared on the screen, she shifted into gear and pulled out of the lot.The drive wasn’t too long, but Ava found herself thinking about the upcoming dinner, her thoughts drifting to Ambrose. She wasn't used to such gestures from him, and the fact that he had planned the evening left her with mixed emotions. Half an hour later, Ava pulled up near