Mario was a businessman. He could see what was at stake. After a pause, he said, “But bad loans at home couldnd Hank in jail. If he was cleared and returned to Country M, it would be like killing Hank Gibson if you revealed what was happening to the major bourgeoisie in Country M.”


    Dennis didn’t say anything. He just looked at his half-empty ss of water and raised his hand to check the time.


    Mario said after a moment of silence, “I still don’t get it. Why do you have to do this to Hank Gibson?”


    Dennis raised his eyebrows and didn’t speak, obviously not trying to answer him. He just looked back and saw me standing at the top of the stairs.


    A sort of smile came over his darkened face, then he raised his hand toward me and asked me to go downstairs.


    I smiled and went downstairs. Mario stopped when he saw me.


    Finn came out of the kitchen and said with a smile, “Breakfast is ready.”


    I nodded, looked around, and then I realized riana wasn’t in the room. I thought she was still asleep, so I said to Finn, “Finn, is riana still asleep?”


    Finn pointed out into the yard and said, “She’s ying in the yard with Snowball.


    Sure enough, hearing the noise, she ran in from the yard.


    She threw herself into my arms and looked at me, “Mom, Uncle Dennis says I should get up early, so I never sleep in.”


    I touched her face and smiled awkwardly, “rie, you’re the best.”


    Snowball had just been showered the day before and was rubbing at her feet, nice and soft.


    riana looked at me and said hesitantly, “Mom, can I take Snowball with me?”


    I was stunned. After thought about it, I said, “rie, Snowball is a small animal. He can’t fly with you. It can do a lot of damage if you ship him. So, mom doesn’t rmend you take him.”


    “But…” Children were simple. They would be spiritually dependent on someone they stayed with for a long time.


    Mario couldn’t bear to see riana hesitating and upset, so he said, “There is a special cabin for pets on the ne, so we only need to book a first-ss cabin, and then we can take Snowball after we go through the formalities.”


    riana’srge eyes lit up as she looked at Mario and said, “Really?”


    Mario nodded, “Yes.”


    She jumped around with joy and hugged Mario, kissing andughing.


    I was speechless. He was a rich man, and he didn’t even care about thousands of dors.


    Seeing this, Dennis smiled and walked to me, then put me in his arms and said, “She deserves that. It’s a good thing.”


    I…


    There was no limit to a man’s affection for his daughter.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    I shrugged and went straight into the kitchen for breakfast.


    After breakfast, nearly all her things were packed. Mario looked at me and said, “You can count on me to take care of rie.”


    I nodded, never doubting his kindness to riana. After all, she was his own child and he would keep her as a treasure.


    When I saw riana off, I sighed, “Sure enough, when children grow up, they are no longer controlled by their parents.”


    Dennisughed and said, “She’s just going on a trip. It’s not appropriate.”


    I red at him and said angrily, “But she is my daughter!”


    Seeing my anger, he chuckled and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Then he hugged me and said, “Thepany’s annual meeting ising soon. After the annual meeting, we will go to Russia, ok?”


    d to go out, I nodded, “Okay!”


    Dennis had a lot to do with hispany, so he went to thepany without staying with me for a while.


    I had nned to stay home and read, but Folly Lewis called and told me she was back from her honeymoon and was nning a get-together.


    Hearing that, I said, “Get-together? Who else is there?”


    She said, “Me and Karina. Who else were you gonna ask out?”


    I was stunned, but I thought she was right. There were only so many people around us.


    I nodded and said yes.


    Our rendezvous was at a suburban golf course. It was not like we were ying golf. When girls went out together, all we do was to watch the scenery and eat.


    Folly Lewis bought a retreat near the golf course, in a neighborhood full of upscale pastry shops. She always wanted to try it, but she never had the time, so she asked us out.


    I was gonna drive, but Dennis gave me a bodyguard and a driver and said he would take me there.


    It was no use talking too much. Anyway, it would be easier if I had someone to drive.


    I arrived at the pastry shop and had just pulled out my cell phone to call Folly Lewis when I heard someone calling me. And it was Folly Lewis.


    After a few days, she had put on some weight. I guessed she looked fat because of the pregnancy.


    She was always careless and outgoing. She came up to me and took my hand, “I’m surprised you’re here so early. Karina is still on her way. Let’s go up and wait for her.”


    I nodded and went into the pastry shop with Folly.


    It was a pastry shop, but it was also an afternoon tea restaurant. It was an elegant and quiet ce for a party.


    As soon as we went in, a waitress came out and said politely, “Hello,dies. Where are your reservations, please?”


    “Room 07!” Folly said, then handed the little sign to the waitress.


    The waitress nodded, bowed slightly, raised her hand, and said, “Please follow me.”


    We followed her to our room, where the waitress handed us a menu, “Here’s the menu and I’ll be here when you’re ready.”


    Folly Lewis thumbed through the menu, selected a few briefly, then looked at me and said, “Do you like anything special?”


    I smiled lightly, “Anything. I’m not fussy about food.”


    She ordered a few dishes, and a waitress came up and set an borate dessert in front of me and Folly.


    And a drink that looked like juice, but it wasn’t juice.


    Folly handed the menu order to a waitress and instructed, “Wait a few minutes before serving. We have a friend on the way.”


    The waitress nodded and said, “Okay!”


    I looked at the pastry in front of me and felt a little confused. Then I looked at Folly and said, “This drink looks like jelly but doesn’t look like jelly.”


    She smiled and nodded, “It’s made from the frozen flesh of a filtered fruit from tropical Southeast Asia. I didn’t know it until I drank it there on my previous trip. It was delicious. Try it!”


    I took a sip and nodded, “It is delicate and sweet, with no trace of ice.”


    She took a spoonful of the ice water the waitress had brought her and put it on the cake. Then the cake began to smoke faintly, with a sweet smell. It smelled delicious!