Joseph scanned the payment code, but before he could complete the transaction, Alice spoke up.“Joseph, let me pay. I wanted to treat you to lunch,” Alice offered.“No need, I’ve got it,” Joseph replied with a smile, finishing the payment.The waitress handed them the receipt and then added with a playful tone, “As part of our customer appreciation event, every guest receives one of our newest desserts and a tea to take home. I noticed the young lady didn’t eat much—she was too busy serving her boyfriend. If you get hungry on the way back, you can enjoy the treats.”Alice’s face flushed at the word boyfriend. “I didn’t eat much, but I’m already full,” she answered quietly, her cheeks turning pink.The waitress giggled. “I didn’t mean anything by it—I’m just envious of how sweet you two are together.”“Ah…”Alice blushed even more, unable to hide her embarrassment. Since when were waitresses this forward?Joseph, sensing her discomfort, smiled at the waitress to change the subject. “Th
“When we get back, I’ll give you another massage. You didn’t sleep much last night, and after the massage, you should take a bath and get some rest. While a massage can relieve some fatigue, it’s no replacement for proper sleep,” Joseph said as he drove.“Another massage?” Alice’s cheeks flushed as she lowered her head slightly. She felt embarrassed yet excited, her emotions a confusing mix.“What? Don’t you like massages?” Joseph noticed her reaction and asked, slightly puzzled.“Huh? Of course I like them! I love massages!” Alice quickly denied, her voice a little too eager. “You’re really good at it, Joseph. Every time, it’s so... relaxing.”“Good to hear,” Joseph replied, glancing at her. For some reason, her words seemed to carry an odd undertone. What does she mean by ‘so relaxing’? he wondered, feeling something strange about the way she said it.“Mhm,” Alice murmured softly, biting her lip in a way that would have driven anyone crazy—good thing Joseph didn’t notice, or he migh
“Charles Martin, let’s get one thing clear: I’ve never agreed to anything between us, so stop talking nonsense,” Fiona said coldly, her expression hardening.“Fiona, I understand. You’ve just been through a divorce, so it’s hard for you to accept any changes right now. But I’m willing to wait as long as it takes,” Charles said, his gaze lingering on her with an intensity that made Fiona uncomfortable.For years, he had fantasized about being with both Cooper sisters. His mind was filled with images of them, and the thought of having Fiona—and maybe even Heidi—made his blood boil with desire.Heidi could see the lust in his eyes as he stared at her sister. It made her stomach turn. She clenched her fists, barely restraining the urge to punch him right then and there.“You say you’ve never met my ex-brother-in-law, but he’s definitely seen you,” Heidi said with a cold smirk.“Oh? Is that so? When did he see me?” Charles asked, momentarily caught off guard."My brother-in-law is also a t
“Heidi, wait!” Charles stood up, making a half-hearted attempt to follow her. He glanced at Fiona, then hurried after Heidi, putting on a show of concern.But Heidi was already halfway down the street by the time he reached the door, leaving Charles standing there, watching her retreating figure with frustration. He cursed under his breath, his expression darkening.“Little bitch,” he muttered to himself, his voice laced with venom. “So protective of that worthless brother-in-law of yours? Just wait. Once I’ve got your sister, I’ll make sure you end up in my bed too, and then we’ll see how high and mighty you feel.”His face twisted with malice as he spat on the ground, his thoughts filled with perverse fantasies. Once Heidi had disappeared from view, he plastered a fake smile back on his face and returned to the table, sitting down opposite Fiona.“She’s young. She’ll cool down and come around eventually,” Charles said, forcing a sympathetic tone. “Don’t worry—she’ll understand you’r
“You used to say you hated him, that you thought he was worthless. So why now?”“Fiona, why can I hear regret in everything you say about him? What’s so good about a failure like him?”“Fiona, you must be out of your mind.”Charles muttered under his breath, his fists clenching in barely restrained fury.He had thought that once he returned and won over Fiona Cooper’s parents, everything would fall into place.But in truth, marriage wasn’t even his goal. All he wanted was Fiona’s body—if he could have that, it would be enough.Since childhood, Fiona had been his obsession. Even while abroad, with countless women at his disposal, his thoughts often drifted back to her.Fiona was the one thing he couldn’t get past. From the moment he made up his mind, he had sworn to conquer her, to break her wild spirit. And not just her—he wanted Heidi too.“Fiona, Heidi—no matter what, I’ll have both of you in my bed.”“Don’t force me to use more drastic measures.”With that dark thought lingering, C
“Brother-in-law, I’m not upset for myself, I’m upset for you! She’s hurting you, she’s jealous of you, she doesn’t want you to be happy.”“You two are already divorced, so why can’t she just let you go? You were always good to her, you never wronged her. Why does she treat you like this?”“Brother-in-law, I just don’t understand. She used to be different. Now she’s narrow-minded, selfish, and so full of herself. What happened to her?” Heidi’s frustration poured out, as though she had been bottling it up for far too long.“Where are you right now?” Joseph asked, steering the conversation back on track.“I’m at school. I was too upset to eat earlier, but now I’m starting to feel hungry,” Heidi admitted in a small voice, still sounding a bit tearful.“I’ll bring you something to eat. Wait for me at the school gate; I’ll be there soon,” Joseph said, checking the time.“Okay, brother-in-law. I’ll wait for you at the entrance,” Heidi replied sweetly before hanging up.From her voice, Joseph
“You should spend more time with him, get to know him better. Learn what kind of person he is. Then, when the time is right, you can make your request and discuss any compensation.”“To be frank, someone like Mr. Wilson probably has no need for whatever you can offer,” Geoffrey added pointedly.“But Kelly’s condition can’t hold out much longer. If we delay any further, she may have no choice but to undergo amputation,” Brady said, his face filled with worry.“I’m not asking you to spend months getting to know him. Just familiarize yourself with the basics, so when the time comes for us to ask for his help, we’ll know how to approach him.”“I can’t just barge in and make a request out of nowhere, can I?” Geoffrey replied.“I see, Professor. You want me to lay the groundwork, to understand him better first,” Brady said, finally comprehending Geoffrey’s intent.“Exactly. You’ll be working with him as a colleague, so use that time to observe him. Learn what he needs, and we’ll figure out
“I suppose I’ve been remembering quite a few things these past few days. When someone loses their memories, they can end up living like a shell of themselves,” Joseph replied with a faint smile.“And you’ve become even more charming. You were always charming, but now, with that confidence, you’re even more alluring,” Heidi continued, speaking between bites of her meal.“Charming? I’ve never thought of myself as particularly charming,” Joseph chuckled, shaking his head.“I don’t care what you think. I care about what I think. And I think you’re a man of charm,” Heidi said, one hand holding her chopsticks, the other propping up her chin. She bit lightly on her lip, her gaze fixed intently on him, her posture and demeanor as seductive as they come.Joseph felt a sudden wave of discomfort under her gaze, his face flushing with embarrassment.“Uh… your makeup’s all smudged from crying. You should wipe it off,” Joseph said awkwardly, trying to break the tension. He grabbed a tissue from the