The receptionist hesitated for a moment before speaking. "He said something along the lines of Ambrose being a live-in son-in-law whose wife was the one feeding him. Then he threatened that once Ambrose was fired, he would snatch his wife, Ava, and...sleep with her as he usually does. That's when Mr. Ambrose couldn't take it anymore and attacked him.”Aurora's expression darkened. "I see. Thank you for clarifying. Make sure Mr. Ambrose is treated with the utmost respect. And if anyone else tries to provoke him, let me know immediately.”The receptionist nodded, looking a bit relieved to have the situation clarified. "Of course boss. I'll make sure Mr. Ambrose is well taken care of and inform you immediately if anything else happens.”Aurora turned around and walked back to her office. Once inside, she sat down on the sofa, her mind racing. "He's a live-in son-in-law? I don't understand. If he's being fed by his wife, how was he here to book a room? How did he swap my car? Something is
Ava looked up, her eyes filled with desperation. "Should I complain to the police?" she asked, her voice trembling. Lucas shook his head. "Cousin, Ambrose isn't a kid. He left on his own. Reporting to the police will only make them angry. It'll look like you're playing with them." Ava sighed, clearly worried. "Ava, why are you that worried? All this time, I thought you disliked him, so why are you putting on an act now?" Lily asked. "Shut up!" Ava yelled at her. "I didn't ask for your opinion, do you understand?" Just then, her phone started ringing. Checking it, she saw it was her friend Dera, whom she was supposed to pick up. She quickly answered and managed a light smile. "Hello, Dera." "Happy Sunday, Ava. I hope you'll be picking me up as you said?" Dera asked. "Of course, I will. When are you boarding your flight?" Ava asked. "Within an hour. I should be there soon after all; this place isn't that far from Sandalwood.” "Alright then, I'll drive to the airport to
Aurora, clad in sleek workout gear, was jogging at a steady pace, her ponytail bouncing with each stride. She didn't notice Ambrose at first, her attention focused on the treadmill's display and the rhythm of her steps. Ambrose stood still for a moment. As Ambrose stood there, his gaze lingered on Aurora. She had an athletic build, with a slender yet toned physique that showcased her dedication to fitness. Her workout gear, a fitted tank top and leggings, accentuated her form, highlighting her well-defined arms and legs. Ambrose thanked the staff member, who nodded politely before leaving him to his workout. Deciding not to draw attention to himself or to Aurora, he made his way to an unoccupied treadmill. As he stepped onto the machine, he accidentally pressed the speed button too quickly, causing the treadmill to start at a brisk pace. He stumbled slightly, catching himself just in time to avoid a fall. “Damn, is it difficult to operate like that?” He muttered As Ambrose st
As Ava waited near the airport exit, a slender woman in a stylish outfit walked out with her luggage. Her long, flowing hair and confident stride caught Ava's attention. It was Dera, looking as radiant as ever."Dera!" Ava called out happily, her face lighting up with joy."Ava! Oh my God!" Dera exclaimed, matching Ava's excitement. They rushed towards each other and hugged tightly, their laughter filling the air."I've missed you so much," Ava said, pulling back to look at Dera. "And look at you, you look stunning!”"You’re the one who looks more beautiful," Dera replied, smiling warmly. "It's so good to see you in person after all this time!”Ava held onto Dera's luggage and said, "Let's go, my car is parked over there." Dera followed, and they walked to Ava's car. Upon seeing the vehicle, Dera joked, "This rich lady even owns a car."Ava chuckled and replied, "Stop joking. Can't you see how old this car is? I don't have the money for a new one, just keeping this one running for now
The man on the phone asked, "First of all, why do you want to know about him?"Aurora's tone sharpened. "What's your business about that? Are you telling me or not?""Well, well, I will, of course. Don't get angry bab..." He stopped himself."Lucky you," Aurora said curtly."Alright, so he's actually named Ambrose Li, and he's a famous live-in son-in-law for a small family named the Ainsleys.”"A live-in son-in-law?" Aurora was stunned, recalling the receptionist's comment about Jonathan insulting Ambrose for being dependent on his wife. "Wait, are you sure he is?" she asked."Yes, he's married to a lady named Ava Ainsley, for a year plus now.""Wait?" Aurora muttered, realizing the implications. "If he's really a live-in son-in-law, how did he take control of the situation when his wife hit my car? He was the one who swapped the car, right?" she thought."Alright, is that all? What work is the wife doing?" she asked."She runs a renovation construction company. It's small, but they r
"He did," Ava replied, still processing the information. "It was for a party," she continued, mentioning the specific day. "Right?"The saleslady nodded, "Yes, exactly.""Oh my God," Ava muttered, her voice barely audible as realization dawned on her. "My dad broke a real $15,000 bottle, thinking it was fake?"Ava's mind raced, struggling to make sense of the revelation. How could Ambrose, whom they all believed to be struggling financially, afford such an extravagant expense? $30,000 on wine, just like that? She had never imagined he had access to that kind of money, let alone the willingness to spend it so casually."Where did Ambrose get that kind of money?" she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with confusion and disbelief. "To spend so much on just a drink... it's absurd."Dera, equally stunned, looked at Ava with wide eyes. "It doesn't make sense. Are you sure it was him?"The saleslady nodded again, firm in her recollection. "Positive. He seemed quite composed about it, too. He
Ameera asked, “What’s the budget for the renovation, Grandpa?”Elder Wei replied, “A million dollars.”Ameera’s eyes widened in surprise. “A million dollars for what exactly?” she asked, clearly taken aback by the large amount.Jin frowned and asked, "Why are you behaving as if a million dollars for renovation is a big thing?"Ameera looked at him sharply, "What do you know about money management? Just because our family is wealthy doesn't mean we should pour out money without consideration."Malcolm cleared his throat, interjecting, "Ameera, things are costly, and we're aiming for a very luxurious renovation. It's an investment that will add value.""Which renovation company got the contract, then?" Ameera asked, turning to Chen, the family business manager.Chen, catching her expectant gaze, smiled politely. "Madam, the contract was awarded to the Ainsley family's business, led by Ava Ainsley."Ameera's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Is it a big company? How many significant projects h
Ambrose nodded and said, "Cool, that's nice too."Aurora tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "So, what made you get married early? You're young, you know."Ambrose smiled, a touch of nostalgia in his expression. "Well, certain conditions put people in certain situations, you know.""What do you mean by that?" Aurora asked with a slight frown.Ambrose sighed and then revealed, "Actually, I'm a live-in son-in-law." He smiled lightly.Aurora, already aware of this, acted surprised. "You mean you stay with your wife's family?""Yes, I do," Ambrose replied shortly."And why is it so?" Aurora pressed.Ambrose looked around, then sat down. "What would make a man stay with his wife's family and be fed by them? Isn't it because he's poor?" he asked."You're poor?" Aurora feigned surprise, intrigued by how much he would reveal.Ambrose nodded. "Life hasn't been fair. I wasn't doing well, and amidst these problems, I got married. But despite everything, I've loved my wife throughout our marriage,
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