Melissa was all ears as Martha recounted the series of events that took ce in Z Country.


    When Martha got to the thrilling parts, Melissa eximed with excitement and pped her thigh.


    “This is amazing! Martha, you could write a novel about your experiences!” she said, taking out a small notebook to jot down some ideas. “This is fantastic material. I have to write it down so I don’t forget.”


    Martha couldn’t help butugh at Melissa’s enthusiasm.


    After finishing her notes, Melissa looked up at Martha apologetically and chuckled awkwardly.


    “Sorry about that. You know me when ites to writing novels – I get carried away.”


    Before Martha could respond, Melissa continued with her gossiping.


    “When Stefan brought you back this time, did he appear calm or enraged? After all, you left him at the weddingst time,” she said slyly.


    Knowing Stefan’s personality well enough herself, she suspected he might not take kindly to being jilted again.


    Martha smiled coyly and replied, “He said he wants to make up for our missed wedding.”


    “Oh my god!” eximed Melissa dramatically. Her outburst caught the attention of those around them.


    Martha pulled on her sleeve and whispered, “Melissa, keep your cool.”


    Melissa was still in shock that Stefan would go through such lengths for Martha after what happened before.


    After calming down for a moment, she added.


    “Wow, Martha, don’t run away this time okay? Weddings are expensive after all! And most importantly, don’t lock me in the dressing room again!”


    Hearing this made Martha chuckle even more, “You’re stillughing? Do you know how panicked I was then? If Eden hadn’t let me out…”


    “Okay, okay, I’m sorry,” apologized Martha as she patted on Melissa’s head like one would do with a child. “Don’t be mad anymore. I’m counting on you being my bridesmaid again though!”


    “Oh?” responded Melissa, poking Martha’s cheek, which caused Martha’s face change slightly for a moment.


    “Well, since you invited me so sincerely, how can I refuse?”


    “That’s a deal, then.”


    Melissa took a sip of coffee. While her cup was almost emptied, Martha’s cup was still full.


    “Why not drink coffee?”


    Martha pursed her lips before saying smilingly, “At once.”


    After spending the whole afternoon together, the two waved goodbye and returned home respectively.


    “Mommy!” As soon as Martha entered the house, Jimmy threw himself at her.


    She raised her eyes and saw Stefan walk out of the living room, asking, “You’re still here?”


    Stefan walked in front of her and chuckled, “Do you want me gone so badly?”


    Martha was silent for moments before saying sweetly, “You know I didn’t mean that.”


    “Um,” Stefan replied in a mellow voice before reaching out to hold her in his arms.


    Martha eximed, “What are you doing? Jimmy’s here!”


    “Jimmy’s not here; Jimmy cannot see anything.”


    The smart little boy covered her eyes and left.


    He left time and space for his daddy and mommy to stay together alone, so that he could have siblings!


    Stefan gripped Martha’s waist with one hand, tucked her hairs behind her ear and leaned towards her.


    “Do you miss me?”


    Martha’s body shivered slightly.


    Stefan’s voice was tinged with bewitchment.


    Martha tried to break free, yet he held her more tightly.


    “Answer me.” Stefan pursued, as if he would not release her without getting an answer.


    “We were just apart for half a day.”


    “But I miss you,” he said word for word seriously, “Marry me soon, okay?”


    Before she answered, he bent to kiss her.


    Martha tilted her head and teased, “What? We’re not married yet and you want to take advantage of me?”


    Then she stood on tiptoe and nted a feather-light kiss on his cheek.


    “That’s all you can get before our wedding.”


    When Jimmy was sleeping soundly, Stefan left the Doyle Manor.


    Soon, Eden’s call came.


    “What for?” Eden asked in a breezy tone.


    “Wow, it looks like Mr. Harrison is in a good mood,” Eden remarked.


    “Cut the small talk and get to the point,” Stefan replied.


    “I’ll meet you at our usual spot,” Eden said before hanging up without waiting for Stefan’s response.


    Ten minutester, Stefan arrived at the bar where he and Eden often hung out.


    As soon as he entered their private room, he saw that Eden was already there with two open bottles of wine on the table.


    “Congrattions on finally winning over your wife,” Eden raised his bottle in a toast to Stefan’s sess.


    Stefan sat down and clinked his bottle against Eden’s. “Thanks.”


    Eden took a big gulp of wine and let out an audible sigh of satisfaction before asking, “So this time she won’t run away again? Don’t mess around anymore; as your friend, I’m exhausted.”


    “What do you think?” Stefan’s face darkened as he shot a sharp look at Eden that made him shiver with fear. He knew not to joke around anymore after that.


    “In any case, you finally got what you wanted. Let’s drink to that!” They clinked their bottles together again with a crisp sound.


    Stefan took another big swig of wine and thought about Martha’s appearance earlier when they were at Doyle Manor; it softened his heart slightly.


    He smiled faintly and said, “I suddenly feel like everything in Z Country is unreal – like it was all just a dream.”


    “It’s all in the past now,” Eden patted him on the shoulder reassuringly. “What matters is Martha is by your side now; whatever happened before can be considered just part of a dream.”


    That may be true but there was still one thing weighing heavily on Stefan’s mind – something only one person could help him resolve: Giana.


    “There’s something I need to verify,” he told Eden seriously.


    “What is it?”


    Instead of answering directly, Stefan asked for help finding someone, “Help me find Giana.”


    Eden frowned upon hearing her name mentioned.


    “Giana? What do you need her for?”


    Giana had long been banished by Stefan so few people would know where she was hiding right now.


    “There are some things I need confirmation from her about,” exined Stefan cryptically, “The answer may onlye from her.”


    Eden didn’t push any further but agreed to help find Giana anyway.


    In the Doyle Manor, it waste into night; Martha was still awake.


    She stood in front of the dressing mirror, carefully examining her face in the moonlight that shone through the window.


    The pale moonlight illuminated her face, and a deep smile lingered on her lips.


    She gently touched the surface of the mirror with her fingertips and traced down along its reflection, chuckling to herself.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    “What a beautiful face…”