Chapter 676


    Everett suddenly slumped, his entire frame leaning on Dorothy''s shoulder, his six-foot-three stature


    making it hard for her to breathe.


    He was silent, simply resting against her.


    Dorothy tried to speak several times but held back, deciding to let him catch his breath first.


    Then, abruptly, she felt a dampness on her neck. The tears trailed down her corbone, slowly


    slipping away.


    Everett was crying, soundlessly.


    Thest time he cried, he med it on the whiskey, but this time, he was sober.


    "Everett."


    "Dorothy, you can''t keep leaving me," his voice was hoarse, his chest trembled with each word,


    "Once is enough."


    He couldn''t bear it happening again.


    ...


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Karen hadnded a job.


    She was working remotely as an event nner, no need to clock in at an office; she could work from


    home.


    Even though Jeffrey suggested countless times that she should drop the idea of working and just


    enjoy being taken care of, Karen didn''t want to be anyone''s appendage.


    "One grand a month for your sry?"


    "There''s benefits too, you know, health, dental, and retirement ns. It all adds up to more than two


    grand." Karen was quite content.


    Jeffrey smirked and slumped back into the couch, "If you ask me, you should juste work at


    Lopez Corporation as my secretary. We could even... you know, during lunch breaks."


    "Don''t you think about anything else?"


    Karen leaned back into the couch and gave him a yful kick.


    Jeffrey wasn''t bothered; he caught her ankle and pulled her towards him,"When I look at you, that is


    the only thing I can think of."


    "Why don''t you go find some other women? You''ve got too much energy; I can''t handle it alone."


    "Nope, I only want you."


    Seeing him gearing up for more, Karen quickly put up her hand to block him.


    "I just called my folks, and I told them I got a job. They want me toe over for dinner tonight. So


    cut it out."


    Every time she tangled with him, she was left without any energy, certainly not enough to visit her


    parents.


    As soon as Jeffrey heard she was leaving, he quickly cozied up, "I''m free tonight. I''lle with you


    to see the folks."


    "Those are my parents."


    "Sooner orter I''ll have to call them mine, right? Might as well get familiar now." Jeffrey got up and


    started calling his secretary to order gifts to bring along.


    Every time he visited Karen''s parents, he''de bearing armfuls of presents.


    You can''t fault someone for being too generous.


    "I haven''t agreed to go with you yet."


    "If you don''t agree, then you''re not going anywhere either."


    Jeffrey had be a pro at handling her.


    In the evening, they drove to her parents'' ce together.


    Derek was just returning from the market, hands full of groceries. When he got home, he


    immediately spotted Jeffrey''s shy car—a sight no one could miss.


    "Dad, I''ve got this." Jeffrey jumped out of the car, not even bothering to lock it, and rushed over to


    help Derek with the bags.


    His calling Derek ''Dad'' with such warmth and eagerness almost put Karen to shame.


    Derek was clearly delighted. His son-inw might not have impressed him at first, but he had grown


    on him.


    "Your mom''s upstairs getting ready to make some pies. We didn''t expect you''d be back so soon."


    "We had nothing going on, so we thought we''de early and spend some time with you guys."


    Jeffrey, holding the groceries, stood next to Karen with a goofy grin.


    Karen rolled her eyes. Just as she was about to say something, she caught a glimpse of a familiar


    figure.


    It was Jeffrey’s ex-girlfriend. Her appearance was quite a surprise.


    Jeffrey noticed the shift in the atmosphere and followed Karen''s gaze.


    He froze.


    "Jeffrey, how long are you going to hide from me?"