《Super CEO Daddy》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 A man''s urgent and heavy panting filled her ears. That was how Gwendolyn Ashton knew she was dreaming again. Recently, she had been experiencing the same dream at night, where she shared passionate entanglements with a mysterious man. In the dimly lit house, Gwendolyn couldn''t see him clearly. The silhouette of his face hinted at a set of chiseled features. Gwendolyn raised her hand to touch his face. She wanted to know if this was reality or merely a dream. The man sped her outstretched hand in his. He whispered into her ear almost teasingly, ¡°A gift for you.¡± A diamond ring appeared before her eyes. The mysterious man pressed the ring tightly between their linked palms. Then, he made love to her in a near-frenzied state, driving all thoughts from her mind. The intensity was out of this world, clearing Gwendolyn''s doubt once and for all. I must be dreaming! This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Gwendolyn woke up with a start, dripping wet from a merciless ssh of cold water. Bewildered, she sat up in bed and wiped the wetness from her face. ¡°W-What are you two doing?¡± she stammered. Her stepmother, Candace Dannings, and her half-sister, Felicia Ashton, exchanged an ominous nce. Both women wore smug smiles on their faces. Candace crossed her arms in front of her chest and stared at Gwendolyn coolly. She said, ¡°You fainted at the Ashton family banquet, Gwendolyn. The doctor checked you out and confirmed that you''re pregnant. Only eighteen years old, yet you''re saddled with a bastard child. How shameful! You''re no better than a w*nch!¡± Gwendolyn''s expression fell, and she shook her head vigorously. ¡°That''s impossible. I can''t be pregnant.¡± Suddenly, she remembered the ring hanging on a chain around her neck. Was it not a dream after all? Her eyes narrowed in realization, and she red at the scheming pair. ¡°Was it you two? You must''ve sabotaged me!¡± Candace had always given her a ss of milk on nights when she tossed and turned from dreams of passionate lovemaking. She must''ve drugged the milk. Distraught, Gwendolyn could not bear to imagine what had happened after consuming Candace''s drugged offering. Tears of anguish streamed down her face. Felicia arched a brow and taunted, ¡°So you do have some functioning brain cells. We arranged an old hat for you. Did you enjoy sharing a bed with that sixty-year-old? Or was he seventy? Haha!¡± Felicia''s taunts agitated Gwendolyn, who grabbed a pillow and pummeled the vile duo. ¡°You horrid women! Wait till I get my hands on you!¡± Gwendolynunched herself at the two women. She pulled out a satisfying fistful of hair off Felicia''s head, causing thetter to grimace in pain. Two bodyguards stepped forward and restrained Gwendolyn then. Candace and Felicia sighed in relief. Infuriated by Gwendolyn''s hair-grabbing stunt, Felicia spat as her expression darkened, ¡°You know, Gwendolyn, that old hat said he would ask for your hand if you became pregnant. s, he absconded instead of making good on his word. You''re more worthless than I thought. Even an old man would rather kick you to the curb.¡± Gwendolyn struggled to break free from the bodyguards'' hold. She red daggers at her stepmom and sister, hellbent onunching herself at the despicable pair. The bodyguards'' iron grip prevented her from doing so. Candace produced a knife and hissed at Felicia, ¡°Why are you wasting your breath on her? Once she''s dead, you''ll be the eldest daughter of the Ashton family and the rightful heir to their fortune.¡± With that, Candace raised the knife and approached Gwendolyn. Unable to free herself, Gwendolyn shouted, ¡°Help! Save me!¡± Her pleas for help went unheard. No one came to her rescue. Candace stabbed her mercilessly, leaving her in a pool of blood. Only then did the bodyguards release Gwendolyn. She was in absolute agony as she copsed weakly to the floor. She directed a hateful re at Candace and Felicia, vowing that she would never let them off for their crime. Candace sneered, ¡°Fel, no one will steal anything from you again. Your grandfather will stop ying favorites too.¡± She cackled evilly before instructing the bodyguards, ¡°Get rid of her body.¡± Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Six yearster, Gwendolyn sped to Avenport''s Fourton Hospital in her secondhand Fiat. It was ten o''clock at night. She hastily parked her car in front of the hospital entrance despite the security guard''s warnings. Gwendolyn lifted her daughter from the front passenger seat and dashed into the hospital. The security guard failed to stop her from entering the hospital, and he barked, ¡°Just wait till I mp your car. Let''s see what you''ll do then!¡± Bare-footed and still d in her pajamas, Gwendolyn couldn''t think straight. She could hardly hear a thing. Instead, she ran to the emergency department with her daughter in her arms. Her whole body shook with anxiety. ¡°Doctor, please, you have to save my daughter. Her temperature is so high that she''s seizing up!¡± Gwendolyn pleaded tearfully. A doctor hurriedly took the child from her arms and reassured her, ¡°You can wait outside. We''ll treat her right away.¡± Then, a nurse led Gwendolyn out of the emergency room and said, ¡°You can make payment first. Here''s the receipt. Your daughter will need to be warded for observation, possibly in the ICU.¡± Gwendolyn nodded several times and pleaded, ¡°Okay. Please save my daughter.¡± Juliette can''t be sick. What if the fever damages her brain? She could not bring herself to imagine the worst possible oue. Instead, she headed to the cashier, tears blurring her vision. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Just then, hurried footsteps drifted from the hospital entrance. A group of suit-d men entered the hospital. The tallest of the lot led their group. He wore a ck coat ironed to perfection, making him seem even more imposing and aloof. Blessed with sharp features and a pair of piercing, ck eyes, the man exuded a mysterious aura. He pursed his lips tightly, giving off amanding and unapproachable air. Bystanders instinctively moved back to clear a path for him as he walked through the hospital. Oblivious to his presence, Gwendolyn continued rushing to the cashier. They bumped into each other, and Gwendolyn teetered, losing her bnce. With a slight frown, the man extended a long arm and wrapped it around her slender waist, stopping her from falling t to the ground. They met each other''s gaze, and Gwendolyn shivered involuntarily at the sight of his icy expression. We''re in the deep of winter, and I can hardly feel the chill. Why am I shivering under his gaze? What the heck is he made of? Pure ice? Patrick Lowen righted Gwendolyn to her feet and said coolly, ¡°Please watch your step, miss.¡± Gwendolyn remained frozen in shock until Patrick entered the elevator. She collected her wits then and turned around, shouting, ¡°Watch your own step, mister.¡± Please! He was the one who bumped into me. What a domineering man! Patrick heard her from the elevator. He turned his gaze to her, only noticing that her bare feet were red from frostbite. His gaze traveled upward to the old-fashioned pajamas she wore, her swollen, tear-streaked eyes, and her messy hair. The elevator door closed, cutting short his appraisal. Patrick took the elevator to the VIP ward on the tenth floor of the hospital. His grandfather, Hector Lowen, had been in aa for six years. Patrick had hired the best doctors to cure him over the years but to no avail. Last night, however, Hector had finally regained consciousness. Patrick rushed over to the hospital as soon as he could. A man wearing a white coat stood at the door to Hector''s ward. The slim and tall man was one of Patrick''s good friends, Kevin Chavez. Kevin said to his friend, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen''s really awake, Patrick. He wants to see you.¡± Patrick nodded before replying, ¡°Thank you for your help.¡± He opened the ward door and went in. Hector was hooked up to a variety of tubes. When the elder recognized his visitor, he raised his hand weakly and waved. Patrick rushed to his grandfather''s bedside and sped his hand. ¡°Grandpa, you''re finally awake.¡± Hector let go of Patrick''s hand and pointed at his own mouth. Realizing that his grandfather had something to say, Patrick leaned in, cing his ear close to the elder''s mouth. He breathed, ¡°M-Marry the eldest daughter of the Ashton family.¡± Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Hector had barely finished his sentence when the patient monitor began to beep. Patrick replied, ¡°I heard you, Grandpa. I''ll marry the eldest daughter of the Ashton family.¡± He wanted to reassure his grandfather. Kevin and some hospital staff had arrived then and began giving him emergency treatment. They eventually wheeled Hector to the ICU. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn frantically peppered the ICU staff with questions. ¡°When can my daughter leave the ICU? Can I go in to apany her?¡± Her anxiety was palpable, and her eyes reddened, threatened by a fresh wave of tears. The nurse answered, ¡°She needs to stay in the hospital overnight for observation. You cane back in twenty-four hours. We''ll take good care of her.¡± Gwendolyn was hardly going to leave the hospital without her daughter, though she still nodded and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Half an hourter, Patrick arrived at the ICU entrance, where a waiting nurse greeted him. ¡°How is my grandfather doing?¡± The nurse checked the files in her hand and replied, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen is still in a critical condition, Mr. Lowen. We need to observe him for twenty-four hours. The director has prepared a lounge for you.¡± Every hospital staff knew who Patrick Lowen was. He was a close friend of their director, Kevin, and he had visited his grandfather at the hospital almost daily for the past six years. They admired his filial piety. Patrick acknowledged the nurse''s exnation with a nod. ¡°I understand.¡± He turned around after that, and he noticed that a woman hunched over in the corner of the room. She hugged herself, with her toes curled and her head buried between her knees. It was a pitiful sight. Patrick removed his coat and draped it over the woman before heading for the elevator. Gwendolyn lifted her head, her gaze fixed on his broad back. She called out, ¡°Thank you! How should I return your coat?¡± Patrick stepped into the elevator. Right before the doors closed, he said, ¡°Keep it. I don''t know who''s ill, but you should keep yourself healthy while taking care of another.¡± His show of concern for this stranger was out of character for Patrick. He was surprised by his own actions as well. When the elevator doors closed, Patrick smirked and shook his head. Gwendolyn pulled his coat tighter around herself, reveling in the residual warmth of his body. She sniffed and breathed in the faint, pleasant scent lingering on the coat. Sometimeter, the elevator doors opened and out walked two young boys. The boy walking in front wore a ck windbreaker, and he carried a long, white down jacket. A boy wearing a gray and white-striped baseball uniform and cap trailed him, a pair of snow boots in his arms. Thanks to their chiseled features, both boys were extremely handsome. They looked so alike that anyone could tell they were twins at first nce. A man dressed in a gray coat walked behind the boys. Despite his dashing features, Zayden Surrington looked nothing like the boys. The older of the two boys was Justin Ashton. He walked to Gwendolyn''s side, a hint of anguish in his eyes. ¡°Mommy, you should wear this.¡± By then, Justin had noticed the man''s coat wrapped around his mother. He guessed that a kind-hearted stranger had given it to Gwendolyn. Guilt flitted across the expression of Gwendolyn''s second son, Julian Ashton. He asked worriedly, ¡°Mommy, why didn''t you bring Justin and me along? We could''ve helped you.¡± Julian bent down and gently pulled Gwendolyn''s feet into hisp. He nned to warm them up before coaxing her to wear her shoes. Meanwhile, Zayden sat beside Gwendolyn, watching as her sons rubbed her feet and tucked her into a coat. Envy swelled in his chest. He asked, ¡°Gwen, why didn''t you tell me Juliette was sick? I promised I would take care of all of you.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Gwendolyn had calmed down by then. The anxiety-fueled adrenaline rush prevented her from feeling the chill in the winter air earlier. By the time the cold caught up to her, she was too weak to stand on her feet. After learning that Juliette was out of danger, Gwendolyn finally rxed, and her body was overwhelmed with exhaustion. Now that her feet were warm, she straightened out her clothes, wrapping the expensive coat tighter around herself. Gwendolyn smiled and replied, ¡°Zayden, you''ve saved us once. I''m forever indebted to you, and I can''t trouble you any longer.¡± Zayden''s heartache was palpable in his gaze. She still doesn''t understand my heart. Six years ago, Zayden''s car had knocked her over by ident. He had sent her to the hospital and even rented a house for her after her discharge. Though his actions had initially stemmed from guilt, he fell for her after their prolongedpanionship. Zayden felt helpless about Gwendolyn''s stubborn avoidance of his affections. He shifted the topic and asked, ¡°I heard things were nasty when you resigned from that investment firm. Did they make things difficult for you?¡± Justin opened a thermos and poured out a cup of warm water before handing it to Gwendolyn. She took a sip from the cup, and her body warmed up immediately. Cupping her hands around the thermos, Gwendolyn said to Zayden, ¡°I won''t work at apany like that again. They''re t out cheating their clients, and they target the elderly. I was serving an old woman that day. She looked wealthy, but I couldn''t bear to lie to her. I told her the truth, and when the company found out, they forced me to resign.¡± Zayden was exasperated. She''s far too kind. She keeps iming that she wants to make a fortune and give her children afortable life, but she can''t get over her conscience. ¡°Gwen, why don''t you work for mypany? I trust your capabilities.¡± Gwendolyn swiftly rejected his wish to protect her with a shake of her head. ¡°I''m already looking for a job. Plus, my academic qualifications aren''t suitable for a job in your company.¡± Zayden audibly sighed at her rejection. ¡°My embarrassment will only grow if you keep rejecting my offer, Gwen. What would people think if the CEO of Surrington Corporation can''t even convince someone to join hispany?¡± Who else would reject a CEO''s offer of help as many times as Gwendolyn did? Meanwhile, Julian and Justin exchanged a knowing nce. They had, in fact, made an impressive amount of money from ying the stock market, yet they dared not tell their mother about it. If Mommy knew about it, she''d panic and assume that we''re doing some shady things! The boys had secretly banked in money to her ount. She was clueless about the whole thing and had not touched a single penny of their earnings. Gwendolyn continued to work several jobs to make a living, and her children were upset that she was working herself to the bone. When the clock struck twelve, a nurse came to Gwendolyn with good news. ¡°Miss, your daughter''s condition has stabilized. You can go home now and return at noon tomorrow to move her to the general wards.¡± Gwendolyn thanked her profusely, ¡°Thank you! Thank you so much!¡± ¡°Can we see her?¡± Justin piped up. Juliette''s health had always been poor, and the two brothers fretted over her constantly. The prolonged separation from her made the brothers uneasy and distressed. Faced with the boys'' hopeful stares, the nurse could not bear to turn Justin down. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°All right. You cane with me and see her through the window.¡± The four of them followed the nurse into the ICU. Through the ward windows, they saw a pale-faced Juliette lying on a white bed. She was lying on her side, a tube in her mouth and more snaking across her body. Gwendolyn''s tears welled up when she saw her daughter lying alone in the hospital ward. She felt overwhelmed with guilt. My children have had a difficult time since their birth. Moving had be amon activity in their lives, and Gwendolyn spent little time with her children because of her jobs. She wailed, ¡°Juliette, this is all my fault! I''m sorry!¡± Chapter 5 Chapter 5 A few dayster, in the CEO''s office at Lowen Group, Patrick was sitting behind his wide office desk with his head lowered as he signed some documents. His assistant, Liam Derner, walked in and stood in front of his desk before reporting work to him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''ve obtained information about the daughter of the Ashton family. Her name is Felicia Ashton. She''s 24 years old and the only child of Zachary Ashton.¡± It was only then that Patrick slowly lifted his head. ¡°Have you set up a meeting with her for me? We''ll have dinner together tonight.¡± Hector had slipped into aa again after regaining consciousness for a brief moment, and it would be difficult for him to wake up again in the future. Since his wish was to get Patrick to wed the daughter of the Ashton family, thetter would naturally fulfill it. Liam replied, ¡°I''ve arranged the meeting at half-past six in the evening at a private restaurant. Should I book the entire ce, Mr. Lowen?¡± After all, the person Mr. Lowen is meeting is his future wife. Hence, we must give her a grand treatment so that she''ll be smitten with him. Although Mr. Lowen doesn''t care about these things, I should help him n it thoroughly as his subordinate. ¡°There''s no need for that.¡± Liam smiled upon hearing that. ¡°Understood, Mr. Lowen.¡± I don''t believe that Mr. Lowen likes men at all. But for some reason, the news made it seem so believable that even Old Mr. Lowen kept worrying about his sexual orientation. How nice would it be if Old Mr. Lowen was awake now? He''ll be able to watch as Mr. Lowen goes to meet his future wife. After taking Juliette''s temperature, Gwendolyn confirmed that the girl''s fever hadpletely subsided. Juliette hugged her doll close to her chest. Her face was thinner than before, giving Gwendolyn the impression that her daughter had shrunk in size. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ¡°I''m well now and don''t have to eat the bitter medicine anymore, right, Mommy?¡± she whined. Gwendolyn smiled as she reached out to caress Juliette''s curly locks. ¡°Yes, you''ve recovered now. Remember not to eat too many sweets in the future. Otherwise, you''ll get sick again.¡± The little girl was around two pounds lighter than her brothers when she was born, weighing only around four pounds. Raising her was tough, as she could only fall asleep while being carried since she was a baby and would cry as soon as she was put down. It was also easy for Juliette to get sick, so it was not the first time Gwendolyn rushed to the hospital bare-footed with the little girl in her arms, each time frightening Gwendolyn out of her wits. Even though both her sons had gone to school, the little girl was still at home, so Gwendolyn could not attend job interviews for the time being. However, at the thought that she had spent more than twenty thousand on medical fees this time, and there was not much money left on her card, she knew that she had to think of a way to earn money. In actuality, there was still half a million on the card, but she refused to touch it, as she did not know who had sent her the money. She subconsciously concluded that it must have been her grandfather who had sent it to her. In the past, she knew that she was hopeless and had embarrassed her grandfather, so she could not bring herself to go home to see him, much less use his money. Gwendolyn went to the balcony to take theundry in and spotted the expensive coat as she was hanging the clothes in the wardrobe. She had sent it for dry cleaning a few days ago and was nning to return it to him on this day. Upon finding out the phone number of Patrick''s assistant, she gave him a call which got through quickly. ¡°Are you Mr. Derner?¡± she inquired. Liam answered, ¡°Yes, I am. May I know who this is?¡± ¡°My name is Gwendolyn Ashton. Previously, Mr. Lowen lent me a coat, so I wish to return it to him. Is he free today?¡± The assistant nced at the man in the private room before sending her the address. ¡°Come to this ce. Mr. Lowen is having his meal here.¡± Liam did not think much about it. Anyway, there has never been a woman by Mr. Lowen''s side, so maybe the caller is his friend. After hanging up, Gwendolyn said to Juliette, ¡°Apany me to a ce. Let''s have dinner there, okay?¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Juliette had long grown bored after staying home for days, so she cheered and leaped in joy. ¡°Yay!¡± Just then, the housekeeper, Camille, came back. She was carrying groceries, as she had gone out to buy them earlier. As she was single and had been with Gwendolyn for six years, she treated thetter''s family as if they were her own. Upon seeing Juliette put on a furry coat with rabbit prints, Camille smiled before asking, ¡°Are you going out with your mommy, Juliette?¡± The little girl was a miniature version of Gwendolyn and could charm anyone with her cute expression andrge, blinking eyes. Coupled with her sweet voice and pink coat, she looked extremely adorable. Gwendolyn picked up the bag that contained the coat before holding Juliette''s hand. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I''m heading out for a bit, Ms. Ziegler. Please fetch the boys when school ends.¡± Camille smiled. ¡°Will do. Have fun with Juliette.¡± Her thoughts wandered over to a few days ago when Juliette fell very ill while she was visiting her hometown. After that, Camille decided that she would not go anywhere in the future. She would remain at home and take care of the three children. Overjoyed, Juliette said to the housekeeper, ¡°I''ll bring some delicious food back for youter, Ms. Ziegler!¡± Anyone could tell that the little girl had fully recovered. ¡°All right, then. Thank you, Juliette.¡± As she was heading out, Gwendolyn remembered that she had to pay Camille her wage soon. I really have to find another part-time job. She drove her second-hand Fiat to the private restaurant, and Juliette could not hold back her excitement as they entered the building. ¡°Wow, the dishes here look so good! I must order some food for takeaway for Justin, Julian, and Ms. Ziegler.¡± The little girl was a foodie, and her appetite was better than her two older brothers despite being skinny and frail-looking, seemingly unable to gain weight. ¡°All right. You can go ahead and order the food afterward. I''ll go and return the coat.¡± After choosing a table by the window, Gwendolyn put down her bag before heading toward the nearby private room. Meanwhile, Juliette picked up the menu. Although she could not read, she knew how to order food by looking at the pictures. As she was walking toward the private room, Gwendolyn spotted a familiar figure¡ªFelicia. I haven''t seen her for six years, and she has changed a lot. It seems that she has undergone stic surgery as she''s way prettier than before. However, she looks like a typical influencer. Nothing special about her. Upon seeing that Felicia had entered VIP Room 101, Gwendolyn went up to the man at the door and asked, ¡°Excuse me. Are you Mr. Derner?¡± She had sent Liam a message informing him that she had arrived just now, to which he had replied that he would be waiting for her at the door. Liam saw the woman before him, who was d in a ck coat and slim-fit pants that showcased her long legs. Surprise shed across his eyes. She was the epitome of beauty with her pretty face and lithe figure. ¡°Yes. Are you Ms. Ashton?¡± Gwendolyn nodded slightly before asking, ¡°Who is the woman that entered the room just now?¡± ¡°She''s Mr. Lowen''s fianc¨¦e,¡± Liam answered with a smile. After Gwendolyn heard that, her face fell as she instantly lost the good impression she had of Patrick. She had originally nned to return the coat to him while thanking him in person. However, she changed her mind. Since he is Felicia''s boyfriend, there''s no need for us to meet again in the future, let alone say thank you. ¡°This is his coat. Please help me return it to him.¡± With that, she turned and left, heading back to her daughter. Liam was stunned momentarily. He thought of stopping her but immediately decided against it. It''s Mr. Lowen''s first time meeting his fianc¨¦e. It''ll be hard to exin if a woman came to return his coat now. When Gwendolyn returned to their table, she discovered that Juliette was missing. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 She looked everywhere and grew worried when she could not find the little girl. Hence, she called a waiter over. ¡°Excuse me, where is the little girl who came in with me just now?¡± The waiter remembered the girl with doll-like features due to her sweet voice when thetter called out to her. ¡°Don''t worry, miss. She just went to wash her hands.¡± Hearing this, Gwendolyn responded with a word of thanks. It''s good she remembers what I taught her and knows to wash her hands before every meal. There was a shared sink in front of the restroom. Juliette applied soap onto her hands and scrubbed them while humming a tune, ¡°Scrubbing yourself before going to bed will make you prettier!¡± A tall figure came out of the gents and stood beside her, also washing his hands. Juliette nced at him through the mirror and immediately widened her eyes. He looks like my brothers! So handsome! She looked at him so intensely that her eyes crossed. ¡°Do you have children, Mr. Handsome?¡± We don''t have a daddy, so if he has children but they''re not with him, maybe we are his kids! When he heard her sweet voice, Patrick turned to look at the adorable girl. ¡°No.¡± His voice was cold, and there was no expression on his face. Juliette let out a sigh upon hearing that. ¡°I also don''t have a daddy.¡± The corner of his lips twitched as he observed her expression. Patrick knew little about handling children, so he did not know how tofort her. At that moment, Juliette had an idea. Why don''t I introduce him to Gwen? She''ll definitely like him since he''s so handsome! She giggled while wiping her hands with a paper towel, praising herself inwardly for being so smart. ¡°Can we be friends, Mr. Handsome? Give me your number, and I''ll treat you to a meal someday.¡± She had learned those words from watching TV, and that men and women dated through having a meal together. Original from N?velDrama.Org. In the show, the men are the ones who treat the women. But since Gwen has us three burdens, I''ll be the one treating him instead! Patrick was about to leave when he heard her words. He narrowed his eyes as a faint smile appeared on his handsome face. Such an interesting little girl. She even knows how to treat someone to a meal. He took out a gold-embossed name card and handed it to her. ¡°This is my number.¡± For some reason, when he saw the little girl, he felt a sense of familiarity and was inexplicably attracted to her. Juliette epted the card and ced it in her small sling bag. Then she patted it as she muttered under her breath, ¡°I must take care of it well.¡± Felicia immediately stood up upon seeing Patrick entering the private room, unable to take her eyes off him. ¡°Hello, Mr. Lowen!¡± The only thing he had in mind when he saw the woman before him was that her sharp jawline looked a little scary. Meanwhile, Felicia was visibly nervous. After all, he''s the head of the most prestigious family in Avenport. If I can marry him, I''ll be able to do whatever I please in Avenport in the future. There was a tremendous amount of excitement in her heart. me it on my beauty that manages to attract such an exceptional man! ¡°Hello, Ms. Ashton. I have a question for you. Have you ever experienced something weird, such as a dream?¡± Although she could not wrap her head around what he meant, she knew she had to grab this opportunity, given that he was handsome and the head of Lowen Group. ¡°Yes. When I was little, I dreamed that my tooth had fallen off, and it came true the next day. Don''t you think that''s amazing?¡± After hearing her words, Patrick sped his hands together on the table, maintaining his calm expression as he went on asking, ¡°Have you ever received a ring from a man?¡± Felicia shook her head. ¡°No. I''ve never had a boyfriend, so there''s no way I''ve received this kind of gift.¡± Chapter 8 Chapter 8 After saying that, Felicia was secretly pleased with herself. Patrick is obviously testing me. Thankfully, I''m very clever. Even if I''ve had more than ten boyfriends, I''ll never tell him that. Contrary to hers, Patrick''s expression gradually darkened. Having believed that the dream was arranged by Hector, he thought that she was the person he was looking for when his grandfather regained consciousness and requested that he marry the eldest daughter of the Ashton family. However, it seems like I was wrong. ¡°I arranged this meeting today because I wish to make a deal with you, Ms. Ashton.¡± With that said, he took out an agreement and ced it in front of her. Felicia had never met a man like that. Didn''t he ask me out because he likes me? Why are we making a deal now? Puzzled, she looked through the three-paged agreement, only managing to understand the simpler sections. ¡°You want me to be in a fake marriage with you, Mr. Lowen?¡± Patrick nodded. ¡°It''s a one-year agreement, and I have the right to terminate it in advance. Before that, you can enjoy all the privileges of being my wife and receive thirty million inpensation upon its termination.¡± Felicia was enticed as soon as he mentioned the privileges of being his wife. After all, he was very well- known in Avenport, and many women wished to marry him. If I carry his name, no one will dare to bully me again when I go out in the future. Everyone in the Ashton family will also treat me differently, and Grandpa may even hand over the right of inheritance to me. If I manage to win over his heart within this year and be his wife officially, that''ll be even better! Despite the excitement within her, she suppressed it and maintained her calm expression. ¡°Why me, Mr. Lowen?¡± It must be my beauty that has attracted him! She puffed out her chest and cast a charming smile. ¡°Because it''s my grandpa''s wish, and he''s seriously ill, so I wish to fulfill it.¡± Patrick had been looking for that woman, and despite not being able to make out whether it was a dream or reality, he did give her a ring, and that proved that it was not a dream. Previously, he had always thought that it was his grandfather who had drugged him to force him into marriage. However, it did not seem to be the case. Even so, I won''t give up. I must find her. When Felicia noticed that the expression of the man in front of her had darkened, she assumed the man was angry with her because she had asked too many questions. Never mind. I better sign it. Since I''ve managed tond myself an opportunity to get close to him, so be it! She quickly signed the papers and slid the agreement back to him so that he could sign it as well. After signing the document, Patrick said mildly, ¡°Next Friday, we''ll visit your family to ask for your hand in marriage.¡± Felicia kept the agreement before saying with a smile, ¡°I''ll look forward to that, Mr. Lowen. I''ll take my leave then.¡± She stood up and left, beaming in excitement as soon as she stepped out of the room. All of a sudden, she spotted someone who looked exactly like Gwendolyn, causing her to widen her eyes in shock. Have I seen a ghost? She murmured to herself, ¡°Isn''t Gwendolyn already dead? It can''t be her.¡± Back then, she was stabbed so many times and was even hit by a car, so she''s definitely dead. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. After pondering for a moment, Felicia strode over while calling out tentatively, ¡°Gwendolyn!¡± Gwendolyn turned to face her half-sister upon hearing thetter''s voice. She was not surprised to see thetter, having spotted her earlier. The hatred in her eyes grew more evident. She would like nothing more than to strangle the woman before her. Upon hearing that someone was calling her mother, Juliette nced at the beautifully dressed woman. ¡°Your friend is calling you, Gwen.¡± Hearing those words, Felicia gaped at her in utter disbelief as she took a step back. Gwendolyn is still alive! It took her a few seconds to regain herposure. ¡°Is this... that bastard child? She has grown a lot.¡± Even as she spoke, she still could not believe that Gwendolyn was alive. Due to her usual liveliness, Juliette assumed that Felicia was Gwendolyn''s friend and answered the question herself, ¡°Yes. I''m five this year. I also have two brothers who are also five. We''re triplets.¡± Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Gwendolyn did not want to reveal these things to Felicia, but Juliette was a very talkative child. Before Gwendolyn could stop Juliette, thetter had blurted everything out. Felicia''s lips trembled as she was shocked to her core, listening to Juliette. ¡°Triplets? Aren''t you amazing? Wait, no. I should be impressed by that old man. No wonder you''re dressed in such miserable clothes. It must be costing you a fortune to raise three kids, I suppose?¡± Felicia smiled smugly at that thought. So what if she''s alive? I''m not afraid of her. Juliette took in Felicia''s disdainful look. Then she nced at her mother''s expression. She had a feeling that Felicia was not Gwendolyn''s friend. Juliette pouted. ¡°Gwen, is she not a friend of yours? Why does she look at you with such an unfriendly gaze?¡± Gwendolyn stared at her daughter. She did not wish for Juliette to witness this scene. As much as she hated Felicia and her mother, Gwendolyn was reluctant for her three children to inherit that hatred from her. Instead, she wanted them to grow up healthily and happily. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Have your meal, Juliette. I don''t know her, so let''s not talk to a stranger.¡± Juliette was an obedient child, so she heeded Gwendolyn''s words and focused on eating her food in silence afterward. Felicia was in a good mood that day until she encountered Gwendolyn. She had never expected Gwendolyn to be still alive. That acknowledgment had caused her to panic. Nheless, Felicia did not pay much attention to Gwendolyn''s existence. Judging by Gwendolyn''s current state, she was having enough trouble surviving, much less capable of seeking revenge on Felicia and her mother. Gwendolyn was now nothing like the prestigious Ashton family''s eldest daughter. Recalling that Patrick mighte over at any time, Felicia decided not to waste any more time talking to Gwendolyn and her daughter because she thought it would be embarrassing for Patrick to see her mingling with lowly people like them. Hence, she brushed her hair with her fingers and rposed herself before wearing a seductive smile. ¡°Enjoy your meal, Gwendolyn. I''ll be sure to invite you to my wedding, so do bring along your three children. There will be more delicious food at that time during my wedding day.¡± Feeling proud of herself, Felicia added in a shrill voice, ¡°I''m marrying the heir to the most powerful family in Avenport, Patrick Lowen. Don''t you think that my life is so much better than yours? Hahaha!¡± She walked away afterward in a puffed-up manner. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn''s face gradually darkened. Felicia and her mother had harmed and set her up when she was eighteen years old, causing her to be pregnant. In the end, she could not bear to abort the children, so Gwendolyn had never had the opportunity to attend university. She had been working extremely hard every day for the past six years to afford the cost of raising three children. She wanted to avenge herself, and she wished to see the vicious mother-daughter duo getting tormented in hell, but she did not have the ability to do so. That sudden helplessness and grievances overwhelmed her at that instant. In contrast to her wretched condition, Felicia was about to marry the most authoritative man in Avenport. Gwendolyn had a hard time making peace with that awful feeling. She felt that God was being unfair to her because those who did terrible things were being rewarded with a blessed life. ¡°You''re still here, Ms. Ashton!¡± Liam''s voice was heard from behind. Then he said to the handsome man next to him, ¡°Mr. Lowen, this is Ms. Ashton, who returned your coat earlier.¡± Liam showed the bag in his hand to Patrick. It was only then that Patrick nced at the two people sitting around the table. He noticed that Gwendolyn was wearing a beige sweater paired with blue jeans. Her outfit was simple, butpared to her miserable appearance of the other day at the hospital, Patrick thought Gwendolyn looked very beautiful now. He was especially enchanted by her big, bright eyes. Gwendolyn''s captivating eyes twinkled like the stars in a night sky. Juliette looked up while munching a mouthful of food when she heard the conversation. ¡°Oh, it''s you, Mr. Handsome. Do you know Gwen?¡± Patrick nodded. ¡°I met with her at the hospital once when you were sick.¡± Gwendolyn knew Felicia was marrying this man. ¡°Mr. Lowen, thank you for your coat,¡± she uttered coldly with a poker face. Gwendolyn sounded rude with the way she was expressing her gratitude. Patrick had never expected to receive that piece of garment after giving it to her the other day. Looking at her unpleasant attitude, he realized he had be a busybody by showing her kindness that day. ¡°I''ll never wear clothes that others wore anyway, so you could''ve saved the trouble of returning this to me, Ms. Ashton.¡± Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Patrick replied to her in an even more indifferent tone than Gwendolyn''s. Then he strode off arrogantly, leaving everyone else with the sight of his back. Liam was caught in an awkward situation. ¡°We''ll be leaving then, Ms. Ashton.¡± Gwendolyn red at Patrick''s leaving figure. She wanted to scold him, but she had to suppress her rage with her daughter beside her. She rebuked him as she thought to herself. You''re an impudent man, Patrick Lowen! What''s up with that cocky attitude? You could''ve thrown the coat away if you''re not going to wear it. No wonder you''re marrying that b*tch, Felicia. The two of you are a perfect match for one another. Juliette sensed her mother''s anger. She chuckled at the sight of thetter''s puffed cheeks. ¡°Don''t be mad, Gwen. Don''t you think that Mr. Handsome has quite a character? I think he''s so gorgeous.¡± Juliette had always been easily swayed by good-looking men. Gwendolyn was rendered speechless by her daughter''s words. I wonder if she takes after the mother or father. The two of them went home after they were done eating. Gwendolyn''s two sons weed them at the door. One of them prepared a pair of house slippers for Juliette while the other did the same for Gwendolyn. Justin regarded his mother with a solemn gaze that was overly mature for a child of his age while Gwendolyn was changing her shoes. ¡°Mommy, thendy was here earlier. She told us to pay the rent before next Monday. Otherwise, she will be renting this house to other people. Also, she raised the rent by an additional five hundred.¡± He frowned slightly at the changes in Gwendolyn''s facial expression. Did she notice the money we transferred to her bank ount? She could have used the money to pay for the rent. Juliette dragged Julian into the room and closed the door behind her. Then she took out a name card. ¡°Julian, look. I met with a very handsome man who resembles you and Justin. I want him to be our daddy.¡± Julian ruffled his little sister''s hair affectionately while raising his brow curiously. ¡°Let me see that.¡± He received the name card and shook his head after seeing Patrick''s position as the CEO of Lowen Group. ¡°He''s too smart. Gwen can''t handle him.¡± After all, he was too familiar with his mother''s nature. Gwendolyn was not very brilliant and was too kind. He was afraid that she would be bullied if her partner was too formidable a man. Juliette pouted. ¡°But I want him to be our daddy. Since you and Justin are both so smart, we don''t have to fear his brilliance with the two of you around, am I right?¡± She tugged at Julian''s sleeves and gazed at him with eyes filled with anticipation. Justin and Julian doted on Juliette very much in the first ce. They would strive to fulfill all her wishes, so Julian nodded because he noticed his little sister was fond of that man. ¡°Fine. If you like him so much, we will help Mommy win his heart.¡± Gwendolyn responded after listening to Justin, ¡°All right. I know now. You should go have fun with your brother and sister.¡± Justin stood rooted to his spot and stared at her. ¡°Mommy, we still have enough money, right?¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org. He was sounding her out to see if she had noticed the money they had transferred to her bank ount. Gwendolyn stroked Justin''s handsome face andforted him, ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll pay the rent tomorrow. We won''t be chased out of here.¡± Justin had gotten used to that unstable lifestyle. Previously, their family had been kicked out by a landlord, and they had been forced to walk on the streets carrying their luggage. That was why he and Julian hoped they could grow up faster to share Gwendolyn''s burden. Gwendolyn''s expression grew somber as she checked the pending bills to pay in her bedroom. The rent was two thousand a month, totaling up to twelve thousand for half a year''s payment. In addition, the fees for Justin and Julian''s training sses as well as Juliette''s piano lessons cost twenty thousand each, so she had to fork out another sixty thousand in total. Gwendolyn felt that she was on the verge of breaking down. She had no other choice but to revisit her previous job as a Night City dancer. She was the best dancer there, and the pay was rtively handsome. She had depended on that source of ie to raise her three children to their current age. Gwendolyn had initially thought that she could leave that career behind her forever. However, the reality was cruel to her. She had to continue working there before she found a new job. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Two men exuding a domineering presence were seated in the center, most expensive booth in the underground nightclub, Night City. However, they were not drinking alcohol, nor were they apanied by anydies. Kevin nced at the stony-faced man sitting next to him. Thetter held a lit cigarette between his fingers and puffed on the cigarette from time to time. ¡°Pat, I brought you here to have fun. How do you suppose we can have fun if you''re scaring all the girls away? What do you say I bring a few more girls here?¡± Kevin immediately gave up on that idea when Patrick shot daggers at him. ¡°All right, fine. I''ll not invite any girls over. Are you happy now? Anyway, there will be a highlight for tonight''s show because the best dancer of Night City is back, and she will be performing tonight. I heard she''s a gorgeousdy with a very sexy figure.¡± Lust was hinted at Kevin''s eyes as he spoke because he was eager to watch the performance. Patrick flicked the cigarette ash and said indifferently, ¡°I''m not interested.¡± Kevin poured two sses of wine and asked, ¡°Pat, the girl you''re searching for, what does she look like?¡± Patrick''s close friends knew that he had been looking for a girl for the past six years. They wanted to know the appearance of the woman who had captivated Patrick''s heart. Patrick took a sip from the ss of wine he received from Kevin. Narrowing his eyes into slits, he answered, ¡°I don''t know what she looks like.¡± Kevin choked and coughed out the wine he was drinking upon hearing Patrick''s words. ¡°Y-You don''t know what she looks like? How do you n on finding her in this case?¡± Patrick''s reply had caught Kevin by surprise. In Kevin''s mind, Patrick was the person in charge of the most powerful family in Avenport. He was a legend in the business world, well-known for his extraordinary intelligence and cunning tactics. However, Patrick''s honest answer had caused him to sound like an idiot. Patrick gulped the content in his winess and let out a long sigh. The light in his eyes dimmed slightly as he thought to himself. It is indeed challenging for me to locate that girl, but I have faith that I will find her someday. At that moment, the DJ on the stage announced in excitement, ¡°Please wee our best dancer, Ms. Bunny!¡± Following that, a woman dressed in a white satin dress appeared before everyone''s eyes. Then she began dancing gracefully around the pole. The white dress entuated the elegance of the beautiful dancer. The crowd went wild as they cheered their lungs out the next second. Unable to tear his eyes away from the stage, Kevin patted Patrick''sp at that sight. ¡°Wow, she''s beautiful. This is my first time seeing a pole dancer dressed in such a modest outfit during a performance. She does not appear indecent at all. Instead, I think she looks like a goddess.¡± Instantaneously, Patrick recognized the dancer to be Gwendolyn, the woman he had met at the hospital earlier. His gaze turned cold as he took a deep puff of cigarette. Kevin leaned close to him and said, ¡°Pat, this woman is not bad. I like her.¡± Patrick replied, ¡°You can make a move on her if you''re interested in bing a stepfather.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kevin turned to look at him in confusion. ¡°Her daughter is already four or five years old,¡± Patrick exined while thinking to himself. That little girl is quite interesting. Her manner of speaking was like an adult, and she even mentioned treating me to a meal. Kevin was stunned. ¡°Her figure is still so alluring despite having a daughter at that age. What a pity. Such a waste.¡± This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Kevin felt that his heart ached. He had a feeling if the other guys among the crowd knew of that matter, they would share his sentiment too. Gwendolyn stepped forward on the stage and bowed to the audience after one song ended. Following that, bidding erupted among the crowd. ¡°Ten thousand!¡± ¡°Twenty thousand!¡± ¡°Fifty thousand!¡± ording to Night City''s rules, the best dancer would have to toast the highest bidder, and the bidding amount would be considered the dancer''s tip. That was also the best method for Gwendolyn to earn the most money. She prayed inwardly for the bid to go higher while listening to the shouts from the crowd. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 The host announced, ¡°The highest bid is fifty thousand! Congrattions to this mister for winning the opportunity to share a drink with Ms. Bunny for fifty thousand!¡± All the guys cheered as Gwendolyn walked down the stage. Although she had covered her body wearing the white satin dress, it was the mystery and sense of the unknown that piqued those men''s interests. She would only dance to one song and drink a ss of wine a night whenever she worked there. Moreover, she requested to pick her outfit because she did not want to wear any revealing clothes. Initially, Night City''s manager did not agree to her request, but the manager had to concede because of the impact she brought to the nightclub. Gwendolyn became the best dancer and attracted more customers to the ce after working there during her one-week tryout period. The manager was willing toply with her requests as long as she worked there. The winner of the bid was a stout and burly man. He wore a golden chain around his neck and was gazing lecherously at Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn walked up to him with a ss of wine of her own and smiled graciously at that man. That fat man''s eyes shone at once. He could feel his heart quivering as he gawked at her. ¡°Mister, I hope that you will enjoy tonight to your heart''s content.¡± Just when she was about to take a swig of the wine, that fat man grasped her arm. ¡°Ms. Bunny, I did not pay so much cash to spend such a short time with you. You cannot leave straightaway after drinking this ss of wine. Come over here and apany me for a while longer. I''ll pay you more money.¡± Gwendolyn tried to yank her hand free, but to no avail because of his great strength. It was actually quitemon for her to encounter troublesome customers such as this fat man. However, Gwendolyn could take care of that issue because she had plenty of experience handling these situations. ¡°Mister, excuse me, but I can only apany you for one drink. I can help you call someone over if you need people to keep youpany.¡± That man''s face turned grim after he listened to Gwendolyn. He scolded loudly, ¡°You should know your ce! I want you to spend time with me tonight. Do you think you can say no?¡± He dragged her into his arms after saying that. Not expecting his reaction, Gwendolyn sshed him with the wine in her hand in panic. That man let go of her and wiped the drinks off his face. Then he growled, ¡°You b*tch! How dare you pour that wine at me?¡± The next second, he swung a punch at her. Gwendolyn closed her eyes, epting her fate that she was about to get hit that night. However, she did not feel the pain she was expecting. Instead, she heard that man grunting. When Gwendolyn opened her eyes, she saw a tall man standing before her. He turned around to face her afterward, grabbed her hand, and dragged her outside. Kevin piped up, ¡°Pat, are you ying a hero now?¡± I can''t believe him. Didn''t he say that she''s an olddy with a child? So what is he doing now? Gwendolyn allowed Patrick to bring her out of Night City. She did not put up any resistance because he had just rescued her. Despite the intense hatred she harbored toward Felicia, Gwendolyn knew she should not be ungrateful toward her savior. She shivered as the chilly wind outside blew against her skin. Patrick took off his coat and wrapped the outerwear around her. He caught a whiff of her faint and fragrant body scent when he leaned close to her. Patrick lowered his gaze to look at her in slight astonishment. The smell had invoked a nostalgic feeling within him even though he had not met with Gwendolyn before the incident in the hospital the other day. He had a sudden inexplicable urge to stay close to her when he rested his hands on her shoulder. Gwendolyn pulled the coat close to herself and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Patrick was pulled back to reality when her words rang beside his ear. He let go of her and strode toward his car. Then he gantly opened the car door for her. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn nced at Night City because her phone and bag were still in there. Patrick uttered coldly, ¡°Are you still thinking about going back there so that they could bully you further?¡± Disdain was hinted in his hoarse voice, causing Gwendolyn to feel indignant. She narrowed her eyes and thought to herself. How can I forget that he is Felicia''s fianc¨¦? He''s never a good person, to begin with. He saved me, yet he looked down on me. Therefore, she tossed the coat back at Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I don''t think me getting bullied is any of your concern.¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 13 She turned and tried to leave. However, Patrick pulled her over and shoved her roughly into the car. As Gwendolyn fell, her head knocked against the car seat. Her brows knitted together, and her face scrunched up in pain. Bristling with anger, she red fiercely at Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, we aren''t acquainted at all, so you shouldn''t interfere in my affairs,¡± she remarked. She felt that Patrick was being ridiculous. She was grateful to him for having saved her life, but she sensed that he held her in disdain. If he looks down on me, he doesn''t need to save me. He could have left me alone. Why would he save me and then treat me in such a way? Patrick got into the car and instructed the chauffeur, ¡°To...¡± A sudden realization struck him. He did not know where Gwendolyn lived. He coldly asked, ¡°Where do you live? I''ll give you a ride.¡± Patrickpletely ignored her earlier remark. Gwendolyn slowly sat up, and a smirk appeared on her gorgeous face. ¡°Mr. Lowen, did you not understand me? I don''t need a lift from you, I want you to let me get off the car,¡± she replied. With that said, she made a move to get out of the car, but Patrick held onto her hand tightly and chided, ¡°Gwendolyn, please spare a thought for your daughter! She is such a cute girl, but here you are, working in such a dangerous environment. If anything happens to you, what will be of her?¡± At the mention of her kids, Gwendolyn got even more stirred up, and she snapped, ¡°Yes, that''s the kind of person I am! Not only did I not attend university, I even got pregnant at eighteen years old! On top of that, I''m such a failure as a mother that my kids have to suffer with me. In your eyes, I''m a mess, so you look down on me... But I didn''t beg for your help, so please don''t lecture me anymore.¡± She broke free of Patrick''s grasp and flung open the car door, striding off toward Night City. Patrick took out a cigarette and lit it up. Watching as she stormed away, he took a long whiff of his cigarette. He leaned back in his chair as he exhaled the smoke. He did not know what had gotten into him. Whenever he saw Gwendolyn suffering, he felt a pang of heartache and an inexplicable sense of wanting to help her. That was the case for this time and the previous time. He knitted his brows heavily at how she had used him of looking down on her. ¡°Hmph!¡± He snorted and then ordered the chauffeur, ¡°Head home.¡± The chauffeur had his breath held. Though Patrick seemed a little domineering, that was the first time he had brought a woman to his car. Gwendolyn was a stunner, albeit a little hot-tempered. That woman is really gutsy to have yelled at Mr. Lowen like that. I''ve never seen anyone behaving like so in front of him. ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen,¡± he replied. After Gwendolyn returned to Night City, she gathered her clothes, preparing to leave after changing. Having caused such a scene that day, she knew that she could not stay in Night City any longer. After changing, she took her bag and walked toward the dressing room. Her good friend, Lucy Baker, approached her and hugged her tightly. ¡°Gwen, are you leaving already? It''s still early, why don''t you stay for a while more?¡± suggested Lucy. She held a cigarette in her hand. Lucy had thick, shoulder-length wavy hair and wore a tight-fitting red dress that entuated her figure. Thick makeuppleted her look, and she was the epitome of seduction as she stood there taking a puff of her cigarette. Gwendolyn asked, ¡°What did the manager say? Am I fired?¡± Although she was the pir of Night City, she was aware that they would not show her any mercy for making a scene. Lucy merely smiled and answered, ¡°Go and have a look for yourself. But Gwen, when did you get acquainted with those big shots?¡± Gwendolyn knew that she would most likely be fired. She had also already mentally prepared herself for a beating. In Night City, the unwritten rule was that the customers were always right and that their words were thew. However, she offended one today. She was aware that she would not be let off lightly. A crowd had gathered at the entrance of the dressing room. All of them were the employees there. Some of them were like Lucy and were in charge of selling liquor. For others, they were like Gwendolyn, who was in charge of performing and dancing on stage. Seeing that Gwendolyn had appeared, all of them called out to her, ¡°Ms. Bunny.¡± The manager sauntered over and draped an arm over Gwendolyn''s shoulders. ¡°Ms. Bunny, remember toe back and visit us. Don''t be a stranger! Your wage will be calcted based on the days that you are at work. By the way, are you close to Mr. Lowen? Can you put in a good word for us?¡± she asked.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Gwendolyn was a little dumbfounded by the manager''s words. She thought that everyone was there to ridicule her, and the manager would berate her before firing her. She could not believe that everyone would behave so respectfully toward her. Hearing the manager mention Patrick, Gwendolyn lifted her brows in question and turned to Lucy. Lucy took a puff of cigarette and smiled as she arched her brows at Gwendolyn. That was the way the world worked. Nobody would dare to bully a man if he had an influential figure to support him. As Gwendolyn walked out of Night City, Lucy followed to send her off. Both women met in Night City. Lucy was a single mother, and her daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. Her husband had eloped with his mistress. Hence, she had no choice but to work in Night City. She wanted to earn enough money so that her daughter could receive the treatment that she needed. Since the cab that Gwendolyn called had not arrived, both of them chatted by the roadside. A faint smile was on her face as Lucy helped Gwendolyn to tighten the scarf around her neck. ¡°Gwen, I can tell that Patrick is interested in you. You should grab hold of this opportunity to win his heart,¡± she advised. Both women had been living a tough life. Thus, Lucy understood that so long as Gwendolyn had Patrick with her, she would not suffer anymore. She wished for Gwendolyn to be happy. Gwendolyn sighed and said, ¡°To be frank, I''m not close to Patrick at all. In fact, we might be enemies in the future.¡± By marrying Felicia, he''ll be considered my enemy. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn''s face was a little red on the cheeks from being cold. Hearing her words, Lucy caressed Gwendolyn''s face and reassured, ¡°Gwen, trust me. As long as you''re willing, that man will be yours, and yours only.¡± At that moment, the cab arrived. Before going into the car, Gwendolyn turned and nced once more at Lucy. She realized that thetter had gotten even slimmer. During the day, Lucy was at the hospital taking care of her daughter. At night, she would be working at Night City. Gwendolyn felt a tinge of pity for Lucy. ¡°Lucy, don''t forget to rest. I''ll bring Juliette and the boys to visit Mnie in a few days'' time,¡± she commented. Lucy let out a small smile and replied, ¡°I will. Be careful on the way back.¡± Upon reaching home, Gwendolyn immediately went to take a shower. However, as she was showering, she started to feel unwell and sneezed incessantly. After taking some cold medication, she headed to bed. I must have caught a cold while walking back to Night City from the parking lot. Hopefully, the cold medication will be effective... The next day, the three children got up at seven o''clock in the morning to have breakfast. Usually, Gwendolyn would send them to school, but she was having a severe headache that morning. Furthermore, her body was throbbing in pain, and a fit of coughing wracked her body. Seeing that she had not gotten up, Juliette ran into her room. ¡°Gwen, hurry up... We are going to bete,¡± she urged. Gwendolyn opened her eyes. The throbbing headache was growing worse by the second, and she was even starting to feel a little dizzy. With a hoarse voice, she said, ¡°Juliette, Camille will send you guys to school instead...¡± She trailed off and let out a few more uncontroble coughs. Noticing Gwendolyn''s difort, Juliette reached out and touched her forehead. ¡°Gwen, I think you have a fever. You''re burning up!¡± she eximed. At that moment, Justin and Julian came into the room. Seeing that Gwendolyn was unwell, they said, ¡°Mommy, get up. We''ll send you to the hospital.¡± Julian reached over and felt her forehead. Feeling how hot it was, he went to take a thermometer and measured her temperature. Gwendolyn offered a faint smile and mumbled, ¡°Don''t worry about me. I''m fine. Go to school. I''ll go to the hospital by myself after I get up.¡± Juliette shook her head and insisted, ¡°No way, we will go with you.¡± Seeing how sensible the kids were, Gwendolyn felt a sense offort. ¡°Go to school. Seeing the three of you focus on your studies puts me in a jovial mood. When I''m happy, I''ll recover quickly!¡± she coaxed. Seeing how adamant she was, Justin brought her some medication and left with his siblings in tow. However, just before he left, he reminded, ¡°Mommy, remember to take your medicine.¡± Camille brought the kids to school. Their school was not far, and it was within walking distance of their home. Suddenly, an idea came to Juliette''s mind. If only Mr. Handsome can take care of Mommy... She tugged at Julian''s hand and said, ¡°Julian, send Patrick a message. Tell him our address and the passcode to the door. Find a way to make him take care of Gwen.¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Justin acted just like an adult when he instructed Camille to go back and take care of Gwendolyn. He told her how often she was supposed to take Gwendolyn''s temperature and what medication to give Gwendolyn. Meanwhile, Julian was typing out a text for Patrick on his phone. Although he was only five, he had already learned all the words. Just like Justin, he was highly intelligent. Ever since they were around two, they had already started learning all the words. Julian texted: Mr. Handsome, this is Juliette. Help! The password is 520911. Follow the address given. After sending the text, Julian switched off his phone. After all, phones weren''t allowed at school. Juliette pouted. ¡°Julian, do you think he''ll show up?¡± Hopefully, Mr. Handsome will take good care of Gwen! Since he looks so much like my brothers, he could be our daddy! Julian patted her head and said, ¡°You have to trust me.¡± Any person who has a conscience would surely show up after reading the text. Julian was testing Patrick to see if he was worthy of being their father. He was hoping that Patrick was indeed a righteous man. Justin walked toward his teacher after telling Camille what to do. Julian then ran toward Camille and cast a charming smile. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, you should just take the day off if you see a car parked at the entrance when you get back. After school, pleasee and fetch us.¡± Camille shook her head in dismissal because she was worried about Gwendolyn. ¡°I have to check on Gwen. Justin told me she''s having a fever.¡± How could I take a day off at a time like this? ¡°Don''t worry, Ms. Ziegler. Someone will take care of her. Weren''t you hoping that she could find herself a boyfriend?¡± As soon as Camille heard that, her eyes widened in bewilderment. ¡°Gwen has a boyfriend?¡± This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. That''s good, then! I should give her some privacy. Besides, she''s not feeling well at the moment, and she''s definitely yearning for her boyfriend''s love and care. Julian nodded in response. He then ran toward Justin and Juliette and followed their teacher into the school. Meanwhile, Patrick was sitting in his car, looking through his emails on his phone. Suddenly, he received a text message. He tapped on the notification bar, and the message read: Mr. Handsome, this is Juliette. Help! The password is 520911. Follow the address given. He frowned slightly upon seeing that. Juliette? At first, he was still in a daze. As soon as he noticed the word ¡°Mr. Handsome,¡± he instructed his chauffeur coldly, ¡°Go to Snowy Lane now. Drive faster.¡± The chauffeur did as he was told and turned the car around before picking up the speed. Seated in the front, Liam, the assistant, turned to the back and asked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, you have a meeting at half-past nine. Do you want me to call it off?¡± At that point, Patrick only had Juliette in his mind and thought that the little girl was in trouble. Hence, he responded tly, ¡°Call it off.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen,¡± Liam answered. After half an hour, the car arrived at 150 Snowy Lane. Patrick got out of the car and walked toward the entrance of an old house with a small courtyard. He threw a nce at the door and entered the password before walking in. ¡°Juliette... Juliette...¡± As he was walking in, he noticed the courtyard was beautifully maintained. Besides, the nts in the flower bed were growing very well. I bet this ce is full of flowers during springtime. Upon making his way into the building, he saw a minimalistic living room with a coffee table, a couch, and a tiny television. In the living room, the floor was scattered with toys. Needless to say, it was obvious that the house was upied by a family with children. ¡°Juliette...¡± Patrick called out once more. Gwendolyn was in a daze because of the fever. She coughed a few times, and Patrick heard her. He hurried upstairs and managed to find the room she was in. As he was pushing the door open while walking in, he called out, ¡°Juliette?¡± To his surprise, he saw a woman in bed with her face flushed. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Patrick was taken aback. There''s no one else in the house. Is she all alone? Gwendolyn croaked out weakly, ¡°Water... Water...¡± Patrick gazed at a bedside table before pouring her a ss of water. He then sat on the bed beside her and helped her up before feeding her some water. It seemed that Gwendolyn was parched because she emptied the ss of water in a heartbeat. Patrick then reached out to touch her forehead. His hand was cold, and Gwendolyn felt nice upon his touch. ¡°Mmm...¡± She then pulled his hand, ced it over her face, and murmured, ¡°Hot... So hot...¡± Patrick had noticed her scent the moment he entered the house. The whole house smells rather sweet, and it smells very familiar. Why can''t I remember when I came across this smell? He patted her face gently and asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, are you in difort? I''ll send you to the hospital.¡± Gwendolyn was getting a tad more conscious after the gentle pats on her face. She opened her eyes and looked at him dozily. ¡°No. I don''t want to go to the hospital.¡± With that, she wiggled off of his body and snuggled into her nket. ¡°Cold... It''s so cold...¡± This is not looking good. She''s feeling hot one second and cold the next. However, she doesn''t want to go to the hospital. With that thought in mind, Patrick frowned before tucking her nket in for her. He then whipped out his phone and rang Kevin. The call was instantly answered. ¡°Pat, how wasst night?¡± Kevin smirked. Since he brought Ms. Bunny backst night, he must''ve had a great night! ¡°She''s having a fever. Her temperature is now one hundred and three degrees Fahrenheit. What should I do?¡± ¡°What? You worked so hard on her that she has a fever?¡± Kevin was so shocked that he stopped having his breakfast abruptly. What did Patrick do to her? How did she end up having a fever? In response, Patrick answered coldly, ¡°Do you want me to show you?¡± ¡°No! No!¡± ¡°Tell me what to do, then.¡± Kevin proceeded to tell Patrick how to deal with a fever. After that, he wanted to ask for more details about what had happened, but Patrick hung up on him immediately. After hanging up, he nced at the medication on the table. He picked up a bottle of fever medicine and took out a few pills based on the rmended dosage. He then went back to sit on the bed after pouring another ss of water. By then, her face had turned redder, and she was drifting out of consciousness. After patting on her flushed cheeks, he said, ¡°Wake up, Gwendolyn. Take some fever medicine.¡± Gwendolyn slightly opened her eyes and shied away. ¡°No... I don''t want to take medicine...¡± At that point, Patrick''s patience was wearing thin. What is she trying to do to herself? First, she didn''t want to go to the hospital, and now she refuses to take her medicine? An expression of displeasure showed up on the handsome man''s face. That was his first time dealing with a sick woman. This is such a hassle! He had no choice but to hold her up and try to shove the pills into her mouth. To his dismay, the woman wasn''t cooperative at all. She kept struggling and mumbling, ¡°No... I don''t want that...¡± As she was squirming relentlessly, she identally caused all the pills to fall onto the ground. Patrick was having none of it. He squeezed her cheeks and said, ¡°Be more cooperative, Gwendolyn! Otherwise...¡± He was stunned momentarily when he saw her cherry-like lips. Suddenly, his Adam''s apple bobbed. He then put the pills in his own mouth and kissed her. While kissing her, he pushed those pills into her mouth. When she tasted the bitterness of the pills, she tried to spit them out. However, he was already pressing his tongue against her mouth, forcing her to swallow the pills. Right then, Patrick was stumped. Her lips are so soft, and she tastes so sweet! Her mouth is so simr to the one I dreamt about! Patrick was still kissing her because he couldn''t resist it. He wanted to know if it was the same taste that he remembered. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. His lips were tightly pressed against hers, and his tongue was lingering in her mouth. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Without Patrick knowing it, it was getting more and more difficult for Gwendolyn to breathe. As for her face, it was even hotter than before. It was so ufortable for her that she couldn''t help but grunt softly. She then used her hand to give Patrick a nudge. With that, he suddenly came back to his senses. He instantly got up and tucked her in. At that moment, he was panting heavily. He then shut his eyes to try to calm himself down. When he opened his eyes again, all of his emotions had receded. However, his perspective of the woman before his eyes had changed. Now that Patrick had fed her fever medicine, he rubbed her forehead, palms, and feet with alcohol wipes. He held her feet in his palm and rubbed the bottom of her feet with alcohol. What a pair of fair feet she has! Even her toes are pretty. After he rubbed her feet twice, the medicine was starting to take effect. In fact, her body temperature was a lot lower than before. He took the thermometer and called out to her, ¡°I''m going to take your temperature, Gwendolyn.¡± He was just going to go ahead with whatever he wanted to do with her because Gwendolyn was still in a daze. After cing the thermometer under her armpit, he couldn''t help but get attracted by her extremely fair skin. Her pearly white skin seemed smooth and soft. Patrick felt as if he was losing his mind at that instant. He couldn''t believe that he was taking care of a woman he barely knew. I must''ve lost control of myself just now because she resembles the woman in my dream. Yes, that must be why. After waiting for five minutes, he took a reading from the thermometer. Evidently, her fever was starting to subside because she had a temperature of around ny-eight degrees Fahrenheit. The medicine is good! Patrick could finally breathe a sigh of relief. He then sat by the bed and watched her sleep soundly. Suddenly, he remembered what she said the night before. She was pregnant at the age of eighteen. She didn''t even attend university, and she needs to raise her kids. Where is the kids'' father, then? Why did he leave her to shoulder the burden all by herself? Right then, his phone rang. Liam was giving him a call. Patrick answered the call and asked, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Mr. Lowen, it''s lunchtime. I''ve got you some food. Do you want me to send it over to you now?¡± Patrick didn''t even realize that it was noon already. It''s so difficult taking care of a sick person. ¡°Yes. Buy some oatmeal porridge as well.¡± With that, he hung up the phone and tucked her in once again. While she was in bed, Patrick wandered around the house. Well, everything here seems to either belong to the kids or her. I don''t see anything belonging to a man. Although the ce is small, she managed to make it cozy. The toys on the rug must be Juliette''s. Suddenly, someone rang the doorbell, and he went downstairs to open the door. At first, he thought that Liam was sending him lunch. To his surprise, it was a middle-aged woman with curly hair. She was a very chubby woman with small eyes. ¡°Who are you? Where is Gwen?¡± The woman wanted to walk into the courtyard, but Patrick held the door and prevented her from entering. The woman smiled and asked, ¡°Are you Gwen''s husband?¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. She couldn''t help but size him up. He''s incredibly handsome! But then again, that''s not a surprise considering how pretty Gwen is. His body and looks, though. He''s even better looking than the celebrities on television! While having the woman''s eyes lingering all over him, Patrick put on a stern face and uttered, ¡°It is inconvenient for Gwendolyn to entertain guests at the moment.¡± With that, he wanted to close the door shut. The woman stopped him and said, ¡°Wait, handsome! I''m here to collect rent from Gwen. I''ve only rented her this ce because I pity her for having to raise the kids on her own. However, she''ste with her rent by half a month. If she can''t pay up, I''d have to rent the ce to someone else.¡± Chapter 18 Chapter 18 After saying that, the woman couldn''t help but ask, ¡°Are you really her husband? If so, would you just pay the rent for her? How could you do this to your wife and your kids?¡± The woman actually felt bad for Gwendolyn because she had seen thetter raising all the children on her own. This man is good-looking, but he''s good for nothing! Patrick was getting sick of the way the woman was looking at him. Why is she looking at me like I''m a bum? He furrowed his brows slightly and asked, ¡°How much is the rent?¡± He couldn''t wait to chase her away. Indeed, Patrick''s time was incredibly valuable. He had already lost up to ten million after calling off three of his important business meetings in the morning. At that thought, he frowned deeper. On the other hand, the womanughed and said, ¡°That''s great! You''re acting more like a man now.¡± She whipped out her calctor and mumbled, ¡°The rental fee for a month is two thousand and five hundred. The rental fee for six months would then be fifteen thousand.¡± ¡°I''ll pay for the whole year,¡± Patrick said coldly. At first, he had even thought about purchasing the property straightaway. He gave up on the idea after giving it some thought. The woman''s eyes lit up instantly. ¡°Oh? That''s awesome! You''re saving me the trouble ofing over so often.¡± Patrick then let her into the house. In the living room, he got her to wait while he transferred to her the amount so that she could write him a receipt. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn had just woken up, and she was thirsty. Since she didn''t have any water left in her room, she had to go downstairs to get some. She was stunned when she saw the two of them in the living room. ¡°Hey, Michelle! Why are the two of you here?¡± While she was talking, she shifted her gaze toward Patrick. With her eyes slightly widened, she asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± What''s going on? Did my fever make me lose my memory or something? Michelle gave the receipt to Patrick. She stood up with a smile and walked over to Gwendolyn. ¡°You have such good taste in men, Gwen! He''s very generous!¡± Michelle patted her slender shoulder and said. After that, she left. Gwendolyn was momentarily stunned before she quickly came back to her senses and answered, ¡°You''ve misunderstood, Michelle! I don''t even know him well.¡± Patrick raised the receipt in his hand into the air and said, ¡°I''ve already paid your rent. Please remember to pay me back.¡± Gwendolyn took the receipt and took a look at it. ¡°Twenty-five thousand? You''ve paid for the whole year?¡± Patrick sat elegantly on the couch with his legs crossed and nodded. ¡°Yes. Initially, I thought I should just buy the property. On second thought, this building is too old, and it''s not worth it.¡± Patrick couldn''t help but notice her swollen lips. Instead of feeling guilty, he had a calm and serious look on his face. ¡°By the way, I had to call off three business meetings just so that I could take care of you this morning. I''ve lost up to ten million as a result. Hence, you''d need topensate me. I''ve decided to give you a ny-nine percent discount, so that''d be a hundred thousand. In total, you owe me one hundred and twenty-five thousand.¡± When Gwendolyn knew that he had paid the rental fee of twenty-five thousand, she was already thinking about ways of paying him back. Not only did she need to pay in installments, but she''d also need to sell off her jewelry to gather the money. Upon hearing that she owed him more than one hundred thousand, she furrowed her brows while looking at that handsome man. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I know your time is precious. However, I''ve never asked you toe and take care of me.¡± In fact, I don''t even know why he''s here! Now he''s even asking for money from me? Well, now I know how Lowen Group makes its fortune. He must''ve extorted money from others! With that thought in mind, Gwendolyn pouted and rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Patrick, you''re a scammer,¡± she mumbled to herself. Patrick narrowed his eyes and showed her the text message he had received earlier in the day. ¡°Your daughter asked me here. Since I''m a kind-hearted person, I had no choice but to take care of you because you were sick. Don''t you think you shouldpensate me? Or do you want your daughter to pay up? That''s fine by me. She cane over to my house to work.¡± Patrick then walked up to her and stood right in front of her. He was so close to her that she could smell the scent of minting off of him. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Although it''s normal to have the children paying off their parents'' debt, don''t you think Juliette is a bit too young for it?¡± he asked. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Gwendolyn was even more agitated at the mention of her daughter. ¡°No way! She''s still a child! How can she possibly work at such a young age? I should be the one doing hardbor instead of her.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Little did she know, Gwendolyn had fallen into Patrick''s devious n. He then raised his eyebrows as he took a piece of paper and pen before writing down a promissory note. ¡°I don''t mind having you work for me, anyway. It''s quite troublesome to have a young child working.¡± In truth, he would not have thought of letting Juliette work in his house, anyway. The young child would have been pampered like a little princess if she were to stay in his ce. Initially, Patrick had only wanted to tease Gwendolyn. However, after seeing her serious response, he thought that she would be the perfectpanion for him, as he needed someone who could cook and apany him to his meals. After he was done with the promissory note, Patrick ced it in front of Gwendolyn. ¡°Sign it.¡± Gwendolyn''s fever had just subsided, and she had just woken up. Thus, she signed the piece of paper without hesitation, fearing that her daughter might be taken away from her. After she was done, Gwendolyn bit her lower lip and said, ¡°You''ll have to keep your promise, Mr. Lowen. It''s me who''s going to pay off the debts, not Juliette.¡± As she spoke, Gwendolyn patted her chest earnestly, and her eyes were filled with determination. Patrick then took the promissory note and folded it before putting it away in his pocket. ¡°I''m a man of my word. Give me a call once you''re feeling better.¡± He then got up from his seat. Patrick''s tall and handsome appearance was simply captivating. Gwendolyn was dumbstruck as she gazed at him. However, she eventually came to her senses when she noticed his icy, cold eyes staring at her. It must''ve been the fever! Otherwise, I wouldn''t be interested in Felicia''s man. That''s right. It''s definitely the fever and the medication. In my current state, any hideous guy might even appear handsome to me! Haha! I''m sure that I must be hallucinating now. Felicia''s man is no different than any other hideous man out there. Just then, Liam walked in with several food containers in his hands. ¡°I''ve brought some oatmeal porridge, Mr. Lowen.¡± He ced the stack of food containers on the table and greeted Gwendolyn, ¡°So this is where you live, Ms. Ashton.¡± So Ms. Ashton is sick! No wonder Mr. Lowen was so anxious and worried. I totally understand how he feels now. Liam was delighted to know that Patrick finally had adypanion with him. He was happy for his boss. However, Patrick shot a re at Liam, causing thetter to shudder as he knew he had been talking too much. Hence, Liam decided to leave the room hurriedly. Gwendolyn rolled her eyes at Patrick after seeing Liam, who had been reprimanded by his boss, scurry off. Look just how terrified his staff is of him! He must be a difficult person to work with. ¡°Just remember to finish your oatmeal porridge. You will have to pay your debts after you''re fully recovered.¡± After reminding Gwendolyn of her promise, Patrick then took his leave. Since she''s fine enough to roll her eyes at me, I''m sure she''ll get better in no time. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was indeed famished. She approached the dining table and opened the food containers to take a look. Besides the oatmeal porridge, there were also a few savory dishes ordered by Liam, including catfish stew and sauteed vegetables. Even though the food looked scrumptious, Gwendolyn felt that her throat was still quite unwell. It would make her condition even worse if she were to finish all the savory dishes. Therefore, she could only settle down and sipped on the oatmeal porridge slowly. As she ate her meal, Gwendolyn thought about what had just happened. She felt devastated by the huge debt imposed upon her by Patrick. Even if the rent for their house had been settled, training fees for her three children were still a huge problem for her. Despite the fact that they had told her it was unnecessary for them to attend training sses, Gwendolyn did not want her children to becking in their abilities. Therefore, she was determined to earn more money, even if it meant working four jobs in one day. As she bit the spoon in her mouth, Gwendolyn was mad at Patrick. He''s a total j*rk! How could his time be worth ten million for the whole morning? He must be lying to me, right? She then picked up her phone and texted Zayden. Since he was the CEO of Surrington Corporation, Zayden was usually busy. Therefore, his time should also be worth a lot of money. Zayden, I have a question. Do you know how much money you would lose if you didn''t go to work for the whole morning? After that, she scoffed inwardly. Patrick Lowen, if you''re messing around with me, I will let the entire nation know that the CEO of Lowen Group is a two-faced liar! I will also make sure you''re going to jail and serve a long sentence for your lies! Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Soon, Zayden replied: Is there anything that you need? I''d love to help out. Gwendolyn felt much better after having half a bowl of oatmeal porridge and was ready to go upstairs to sleep again. The illness had left her feeling weak. However, she could not help but frown after reading Zayden''s reply. She texted him: I just wanted to know how much a CEO''s time typically costs. Tell me. I''ll keep your words a secret. When she finished texting Zayden, Gwendolyn poured a ss of water and went upstairs. She then found some medication and went to bed after taking it. Before she slept, Gwendolyn looked at her phone and noticed that Zayden had replied to her message. Zayden texted: If any important deals or transactions are to be negotiated that morning, they could be worth tens of millions. The reason Zayden had replied to her that way was that he wanted to let her know how valuable his time and worth were, and that he would give up his own time and money for her. Gwendolyn sighed upon reading his reply. She knew Zayden would never lie to her. He was kind and generous enough to save her life, and he had even helped her out multiple times after that. In fact, he could have run away after encountering that situation. After all, Gwendolyn had been badly injured at that time, and it was hard to determine whether she had indeed been run over by a car. However, due to his excellent family upbringing and his kind heart, Zayden had not fled the scene. Not only that, but he had also taken her to the hospital and mobilized the best medical team to save both her and her unborn babies. Thus, she was forever grateful for his kindness toward her, and she felt that she should not take up too much of his valuable time, hoping he would find his own happiness and love. She was relieved to know that Patrick had not tricked her with his words. In that case, Gwendolyn would have to work hard to repay the money she owed him. She finally put away her phone and went to sleep. Perhaps because of the medication, she fell into a deep sleep. Meanwhile, Felicia and Candace were holding hands together while walking toward the Ashton residence. Felicia felt concerned and asked, ¡°Mom, are you sure that we have to tell Grandpa about Gwendolyn returning to Avenport?¡± Back then, Gwendolyn had been locked up at the Ashton residence while she was waiting to undergo surgery. However, before she could do so, both Felicia and Candace had made their move to get rid of Gwendolyn instead. The Ashton family was not aware of their evil deeds. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. After Gwendolyn had disappeared, everyone in the family assumed she had escaped by herself, and they even assumed she had eloped with the man who impregnated her. Only Felicia and Candace knew she was already dead. Thus, upon knowing that Gwendolyn was still alive and kicking, Candace felt threatened. They had to get Gwendolyn to return to the Ashton residence so they could keep her under control. Otherwise, they were afraid that their evil deeds would be exposed. If Gwendolyn''s grandfather, Michael Ashton, were to learn about what they had done to Gwendolyn, both Candace and Felicia would be in deep trouble. Candace nodded her head. ¡°Of course. Old Mr. Ashton seems to miss Gwendolyn very much, right? You need to let him know that she''s back in town with three illegitimate kids in tow! Gwendolyn will be Avenport''sughingstock as long as she''s with the kids. There''s no way Old Mr. Ashton will let everyone know about this. Eventually, the only person who''s going to get hurt is Gwendolyn herself.¡± Felicia gave it some thought and agreed with her mother''s words. Both of them entered the house and went inside Michael''s study, only to find him practicing his calligraphy. ¡°Dad!¡± ¡°Grandpa!¡± Bothdies greeted him politely as they approached his desk. Michael set down the quill and looked at them afterpleting a part of his calligraphy writing. ¡°Is there anything you want to talk to me?¡± Michael did not like being disturbed these days. It was probably because of his old age that he did not enjoy lively scenes and surroundings anymore. Felicia could only stand in a respectful manner since she was still terrified of Michael. Despite the fact that Gwendolyn had left the Ashton family, Michael remained cold toward Felicia, and he never thought of making her the heir to the Ashton family. Candace felt sad upon seeing how terrified and nervous her daughter was in front of Michael. She could only me Michael for favoring Gwendolyn, which caused Felicia to be devastated and traumatized since she was young. She was d, however, that Felicia was now able to reim her position in the family because she believed that Michael would shower Felicia with affection after he knew Felicia had won Patrick''s heart. Thus, Candace replied, ¡°Dad, the Lowen family ising over to meet our family this Friday. Patrick likes Fel. You remember that, don''t you?¡± Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Michael sat on a mahogany chair and took a sip of his coffee. He was wearing a suit that brought out his domineering aura. ¡°I remember that Patrick is an outstanding young man,¡± he said. Felicia was delighted when she heard his words. Her cheeks flushed as she was shy. Whenever Michael looked at her, he would feel sad as he was reminded of Gwendolyn. He heaved a long sigh. If only Gwen is here. However, Felicia felt worried seeing Michael''s happy look. After all, her marriage with Patrick was merely for show. Nevertheless, she believed that Patrick would definitely fall in love with her after she put in some effort to win his heart. The more she thought about it, the more blissful she felt. Candace knew that Michael would like Patrick. Who in Avenport will despise such an outstanding grandson-inw? It''s a good thing that Fel managed to win his heart. Now, she is a worthy granddaughter in Michael''s eyes! Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Dad, Fel met Gwen the other day. She is back in Avenport,¡± she said. Upon hearing that, Michael widened his eyes in surprise. ¡°Is that true, Fel? Where is she?¡± His bond with Gwendolyn was pretty strong, as he was the one who raised her up and showered her with love. There wasn''t a day for him to stop worrying about her throughout these six years. Felicia shook her head and replied, ¡°Grandpa, I only met her in a restaurant. She was bringing her daughter with her. I heard from her daughter that she has triplets¡ªtwo sons and a daughter. They are currently five years old. She''s pretty impressive to have given birth to triplets.¡± With that, she exchanged nces with Candace as she noticed Michael''s darkened face. Compared to his previous delighted look when he heard that Gwendolyn was back in Avenport, his expression was now full of grief. After all, Gwendolyn was the eldest daughter of the Ashton family. If others were to know that she had given birth to three illegitimate children, he was bound to be embarrassed. Michael waved his hand. ¡°You shall leave for the meantime.¡± Hence, Felicia and Candace left the study obediently. Felicia burst intoughter the moment she stepped out of the room. ¡°Haha! What a clever n it is, Mom! Look at his expression. I just can''t get enough of that!¡± she remarked. Candace merely smiled. She was pretty confident with her n. ¡°Fel, you have only one thing to do now¡ªnever let go of Patrick. I won''t allow anything to go wrong in your marriage. As for that little b*tch, Gwendolyn, we will know her whereabouts with Michael''s help. I will deal with her when the time comes.¡± Meanwhile, Camille went to fetch the kids in the afternoon. Juliette approached her the moment she came out from school. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, did Mr. Handsomee to our house to look after Gwen?¡± she asked. Camille smiled and replied, ¡°There was a luxurious car parked at our residence''s entrance. I supposed that was him!¡± Upon hearing that, Julianughed and said, ¡°Well, if his car was there, he should have visited Mommy.¡± He then smiled and caressed Juliette''s head. Well, at least it proves that he is a kind-hearted man. Justin heard their conversation and asked, ¡°What did you do behind my back?¡± His expression suggested displeasure. These two little kids did something behind my back, huh? Upon noticing Justin''s angry look, Juliette and Julian quickly held each of his hands. ¡°Justin, listen to me!¡± they said in unison. Julian smiled and waved his hand. ¡°You shall tell him, Juliette.¡± Juliette blinked her bright eyes and uttered solemnly, ¡°Mommy and I met a handsome man that looks like both of you! I think he''s probably our biological daddy. I asked him to take care of Mommy today as she''s sick. Justin, I''m so happy that I found our daddy! We finally have a daddy.¡± Chapter 22 Chapter 22 After listening to her, Justin furrowed his brows and sank into his thoughts. He then said, ¡°Although we are looking for our daddy now, we can''t simply acknowledge a random guy as our daddy. Understand?¡± As their eldest brother, he considered more things than them as he was rtively mature. However, Juliette pulled a long face and wailed, ¡°I don''t care, Justin. I like him! I want Gwen to marry him!¡± Julian felt his heart ache when he saw his sister tearing up. He said, ¡°Justin, I believe Juliette''s judgments. Besides, I''ve tested him before, and he has a good personality. Well, we shall wait till you approve him before marrying Mommy to him.¡± In fact, the three of them knew that their mother would remarry someone someday. She never told them anything about their father. The sensible triplets never asked her about their father too. However, Camille and Mnie''s mother had once mentioned that Gwendolyn had to marry someone to live a good life in the future. Although they didn''t know much about the rtionships between the adults, they all wanted their mother to be happy. Justin nodded in agreement. He wouldn''t disagree with his siblings'' opinions. I shall meet that man first to see if he''s worthy enough to be our father. Although Camille didn''t join their discussion about their new daddy, she could tell that the three kids had high hopes for him. I hope that Gwen gets herself a boyfriend who cares about her this time. When they reached home, the three of them went to Gwendolyn''s room and noticed that she was taking a nap. They quickly pressed their fingers to their lips and tiptoed out of the room. However, Gwendolyn saw them. She smiled and rose from her bed. ¡°Come here,¡± she called. Although her voice was still slightly hoarse, she wasn''t coughing anymore. Juliette took a sharp turn and threw herself into Gwendolyn''s arms. ¡°Gwen, I miss you so much!¡± Thetter felt itchy as Juliette rubbed her face against her body. She patted her daughter''s butt and said, ¡°Oh,e on. Are you obedient in school today? You didn''t get into a fight again, did you?¡± Although Juliette was just a little girl, one shall not underestimate her in a fight. She had once pinned a boy to the floor and gave him a beating, causing Gwendolyn to apologize to his parents. Gwendolyn didn''t have to worry about her two sons. However, she had to watch over her little daughter. Juliette pouted and replied, ¡°Of course I will behave well under Justin and Julian''s surveince!¡± The three of them were in different sses previously. However, Gwendolyn had requested to arrange them in the same ss for Juliette''s brothers to keep an eye on her. If not, the days of her being embarrassed by Juliette''s outrageous acts would note to an end. Justin caressed Juliette''s head lovingly and said, ¡°Mommy, don''t worry. The boy Juliette beat upst time was the naughtiest boy in the ss who likes to hit other kids. What Juliette did was merely self- defense.¡± Gwendolyn smiled. Self-defense, huh? Justin really knows a lot of words. Julian poured a ss of water for her. ¡°Mommy, drink some water. Did anybody take care of you today? I heard from Ms. Ziegler that a man visited you today. Is he your boyfriend?¡± This little kid was trying to know his mother''s feelings toward the man. Upon hearing him mention the man who visited her in the morning, Gwendolyn couldn''t help but feel her blood boil. I need to pay him more than one hundred thousand just because he spent a morning here. This is ridiculous! No. I must not let them know that I even signed a promissory note with Patrick. They are sure to kick up a fuss if they know about that! Suddenly, Juliette pointed at her lips and asked, ¡°Mommy, why are your lips swollen like a sausage?¡± This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Gwendolyn touched her lips. She''s right. My lips don''t feel well today. They felt numb as if someone bit them just now. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Both Justin and Julian were staring at her lips with furrowed brows. ¡°Mommy, perhaps you should go see a doctor,¡± her sons said. Camille walked into the bedroom with medicine. She overheard the children saying that Gwendolyn''s lips were swollen. Camille could not help but burst intoughter. Having been young before, Camille could tell at first nce as to what had happened to Gwendolyn''s lips. ¡°There''s no need to go to the hospital. My lips will be fine after two days,¡± assured Gwendolyn. Seemingly in a daze, Gwendolyn touched her lips as she felt a sense of numbness and tingling pain. An inappropriate image shed through her mind. Initially, she had thought that it was a dream. Did it really happen? She cursed inwardly as realization dawned upon her. Patrick Lowen, you, r*scal! Gwendolyn did not tell any of them what had happened on that day, especially her sons. After all, both the boys were fearless. If they knew what Patrick had done, they would demand an exnation from him. The boys were no match for a powerful man like Patrick. Regardless of what had happened, she had checked with Zayden. It was possible that Patrick could lose tens of millions in a morning for missing his meetings. Gwendolyn could only take that incident as receiving a big favor from Patrick. They would have nothing to do with each other once she paid off her debt. At the same time, Juliette was anxious to know if Patrick had dropped by. She shook Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°Gwen, was a handsome man here today?¡± This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Patrick was by far the most attractive man Juliette had seen. Of course, her brothers were good-looking too. Juliette thoughtplimenting Patrick was just the same as praising her brothers since they looked alike. Gwendolyn thought that Camille had seen Patrick and told the children. After all, Camille was really close with the children, and she would talk about every single thing with them. ¡°Yes. A handsome man came and took care of me. Are you happy now?¡± Gwendolyn said reluctantly. Upon hearing that, Juliette jumped in joy. ¡°That''s great! We''re going to have a daddy!¡± As soon as she spoke, Juliette realized that she had said something wrong. She swiftly covered her mouth with her tiny hands, and her eyes kept looking around. Her brothers had told her that she should not mention the word ¡°Daddy¡± in front of Gwendolyn. Juliette was so thrilled that she had forgotten about it. Gwen is not unhappy about it, is she? Julian and Justin frowned when they heard what Juliette said. They were also worried that Gwendolyn would be upset. Gwendolyn looked at how her three children reacted. She knew that they were thoughtful and considerate. Then, Gwendolyn raised her hand and ruffled her hair. ¡°Don''t worry. It''s okay for you to talk about Daddy. Everyone has their daddy and mommy. Even though I can''t tell you who your daddy is now, I can assure all of you that he loves you.¡± The three children nodded after listening to her exnation. They had the same feeling that their father loved them, and they hoped that they could finally meet him one day. Three dayster, Gwendolyn hadpletely recovered from her sickness. She sent her children to school in the morning before going home to check her emails on her phone andptop. She wanted to see if there were any replies from thepanies after she had sent her resume. Her highest education level was high school. Thus, many vacancies avable were in the service industry, and they offered rtively low sries. Camille had just returned from grocery shopping. She called out to Gwendolyn as she entered the house, ¡°Gwen, someone is looking for you.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn stood up and walked toward the entrance of her house. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, is that you?¡± Harry stood at the entrance with an excited look on his face. Gwendolyn was surprised, too. She had been living alone in Avenport for the past six years. Besides, she had not met anyone from the Ashton family all these years. After all, Gwendolyn was living her life as an ordinary person. Since the Ashton family was considered one of the wealthy families in Avenport, it wasmon that she had never met any of them. She would not have met Felicia if she had not gone to the restaurant to return Patrick''s jacket. And now, Harry was here at her doorstep. Camille smiled and asked, ¡°Gwen, he''s looking for you, right?¡± Did he just call her Ms. Gwendolyn? Which wealthy family is she from? ¡°Yes, Ms. Ziegler. He''s looking for me. You may go in now.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. Camille wanted to find out more, but she could only go inside the house since Gwendolyn had instructed her. ¡°Harry, why are you here?¡± Gwendolyn asked while standing at the door, showing no intention to invite Harry into the house. Harry calmed down after a while and said, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, Old Mr. Ashton sent me to pick you up. We have guests over today at home, and he wants you to be there with him.¡± Hearing Michael''s name made Gwendolyn tear a little. She missed her grandfather. In the Ashton family, Michael cared for her the most. However, Michael, who was conservative, could not ept her inexplicable pregnancy. Thus, she was ashamed to see him. Harry then added, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, Old Mr. Ashton just wished to see you. He didn''t mean anything else. Pleasee with me to meet him.¡± Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Gwendolyn nodded slightly. ¡°Okay. I''ll go in and change. Wait for me here, Harry.¡± She did not want to invite Harry in because Camille was around. Gwendolyn did not want her children to know about her rtionship with the Ashton family. Grandpa might get angrier if he sees the kids. So it''s better not to let them meet one another for now. When Gwendolyn stepped inside her house, Camille asked, ¡°Gwen, is that your family member?¡± Camille was curious. She had always thought that Gwendolyn had been living alone at such a young age with her three children since she gave birth because thetter did not have any family members to help her. ¡°No, he''s just my friend''s family member. He needs my help with something.¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. Camille nodded knowingly in response as she put away the groceries. Gwendolyn went into her room and chose a blue floral dress with a beige coat from her closet. These were the few nice clothes that she owned. Despite not being the season''stest trend, it was a timeless piece. Gwendolyn reached into her drawer and took out a jewelry box. There were two pieces of jewelry inside, jade and a ring. The ring was given to her by the man in her dreams. After all these years, she had never thought of selling it, even after selling all her other jewelry pieces. Gwendolyn still saw a glimmer of hope. She wished to find her children''s biological father, and she firmly believed that he was not an old man. Then, Gwendolyn ced the jade into a blue gift box. It was a vintage piece that was highly valuable. An olddy had gifted the jade to Gwendolyn as a gift to express her gratitude for thetter''s help. It would soon be Michael''s birthday. Since Gwendolyn could not afford an expensive gift, she wanted to give him the jade as a birthday present. Gwendolyn took her bag, headed out the door, and got into the Ashton family''s car. On her way to the Ashton residence, she fixed her eyes on the view outside the window. Gwendolyn could not be more familiar with the street in front of her eyes. She had often dreamed of it in the past six years of living alone. But in reality, she did not dare to set foot on it. When they arrived at the Ashton residence, Harry called out, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, we''re home.¡± Gwendolyn only came back to her senses when she heard Harry''s voice. She nced at the Ashton family''s manor and got down from the car. As she entered the house, Michael was sitting in the living room. It seemed like he had been waiting for her. Michael was d in a dark blue suit, and he looked energetic. Felicia and Candace were there too. Even her father, Zachary, was present. Candace rose to her feet as she saw Gwendolyn walk in. She eximed, ¡°Gwen is home!¡± She was wearing a green embroidered dress, and she sashayed her way toward Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn did not say a word when she saw Candace. Instead, she made her way to Michael and called out, ¡°Grandpa!¡± When Michael saw Gwendolyn, his eyes lit up with happiness. Nodding, he offered, ¡°Take a seat, Gwen. Just make yourselffortable at your own home.¡± Gwendolyn sat next to Michael and ignored the family of three. Zachary was shocked to see her. ¡°Gwen, where have you been all these years? Why didn''t youe home?¡± Michael took a sidelong nce at Gwendolyn. He felt that she had be prettier, but she seemed to have lost a lot of weight. It must be hard for her to live alone outside. Gwendolyn replied to Zachary, ¡°Didn''t all of you want me out of the house?¡± ¡°Who wanted you out of the house? If you hadn''t done something disgraceful and ran away, we wouldn''t have left you to fend for yourself!¡± Zachary yelled with anger. When the mother and daughter, Candace and Felicia, heard what Gwendolyn said, they looked away and dared not meet her eyes. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Only they knew what had happened back then. The others did not know the truth and thought Gwendolyn had run away from home. Gwendolyn shot Felicia and Candace her cold re. There was a strong sense of hatred in her dimmed gaze. She would never forget the incident from six years ago. Not only did the mother-daughter duo ruin her reputation, but they also wanted to take her life. They were ruthless. ¡°Did I run away myself?¡± Gwendolyn sneered and continued, ¡°Aunt Candace, Fel, was that really what happened?¡± Chapter 25 Chapter 25 When Felicia heard what Gwendolyn said, she looked at Candace. Both of them were in a panic, worrying that Gwendolyn would tell everyone the truth about what had happened six years ago. Felicia hurriedly changed the subject and asked, ¡°Gwen, didn''t you give birth to triplets? Two sons and a daughter. Why didn''t you bring them along? I''m their aunt!¡± With that, she smirked arrogantly. Michael and Zachary were conservative and prideful men. Felicia had purposely mentioned Gwendolyn''s children, who were born out of wedlock; she did not want Gwendolyn to talk about the incident. Zachary''s eyes widened in surprise after he heard what Felicia said. He questioned Gwendolyn, ¡°Did you really give birth to those b*astards?¡± Gwendolyn was only a teenager when she was pregnant. She could not even tell who the babies'' father was, yet she had the nerve to give birth to them. As Gwendolyn heard the insulting word, her face darkened. I think this house is not the right ce for my kids. After all, they only take my precious kids as some lowly, illegitimate kids. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Gwendolyn''s heart ached as the word echoed in her ears. Even if she had to work hard her whole life, she would never want anyone to look down on her children. She probably seemed like a weak person on the outside, but she was actually a tough person. She was willing to give up on everything for her three children. ¡°Mind your words, Mr. Ashton. Those are my precious children, but not b*stards. If it''s like what you said, didn''t you and Candace give birth to a b*stard too?¡± Gwendolyn snapped. Candace had seduced Zachary back then. Then, she was pregnant with Felicia. After that, she forced Gwendolyn''s mother to leave. Since then, Gwendolyn''s perfect family had broken apart. Technically, Felicia could be considered the real illegitimate child. ¡°Gwendolyn Ashton, what did you say?¡± Felicia shouted in fury. How dare she call me a b*stard? Zachary was so enraged that his face contorted. If Michael were not there, Zachary would have pped Gwendolyn. Candace was furious, but she held herself back. After all, her affair with Zachary had been deemed as a disgrace by Michael too. That was the reason why Michael did not like Felicia, and he also did not choose her as his heir. Michael''s face fell. ¡°That''s enough. Gwen hasn''t been back for years. What''s the point of fighting? Go home, all three of you. Leave me alone with Gwen for a while.¡± Zachary stood up and gave Gwendolyn a cold re. Please don''te home. Otherwise, you''ll be the death of me. Candace grabbed Felicia''s hand, walked out of the main building, and headed back to their mansion. Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief after they left. She wanted to control her emotions. However, Gwendolyn''s anger welled up when she saw them, as she was reminded of how they had treated her mother and her in the past. Gwendolyn would not go easy on Zachary and his family. She would not miss any chance to stir up trouble with them. ¡°Grandpa, I shouldn''t havee home. I made you upset the moment I''m back,¡± said Gwendolyn as she grabbed Michael''s hands. She was still acting mischievously like how she used to. Michael could not help but chuckle at the look of Gwendolyn''s cheeky expression. He tapped on her forehead and said, ¡°You''re still the same girl I know. Aren''t you worried that you''ll upset me? I''m the only person who loves you in this house.¡± Gwendolyn held Michael''s hand and leaned her head against his shoulder. ¡°Grandpa, I know you love me the most, so you won''t get mad at me no matter how naughty I am.¡± After all, Michael would like her more if she went against Zachary, Candace, and Felicia, as the former had always thought Zachary was the one at fault. As such, there was nothing wrong with Gwendolyn defending her mother. It showed that Michael''s effort to bring Gwendolyn up was not in vain. Michael burst intoughter again after hearing Gwendolyn''s reply. Harry, who was watching their interaction at the side, was moved to tears. Old Mr. Ashton has not been so happy for many years. It''d be good if Ms. Gwendolyn coulde home! With that thought in mind, Harry said, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, why don''t you move back home? Old Mr. Ashton will be over the moon!¡± Gwendolyn was in a trance after she heard Harry''s request. Even though Gwendolyn''s rtionship with Michael remained the same, they could not act as if nothing had happened. After all, she was already a mother of three at that point. Besides, Michael could not seem to ept the children yet. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Michael had also avoided talking about the triplets. That matter remained a thorn in Michael''s and Gwendolyn''s hearts. It was not easy for Michael to see Gwendolyn again. Hence, he did not want to mess things up. There was not a day that he did not think about Gwendolyn throughout these six years. Gwendolyn took out a gift box from her bag and passed it to Michael. ¡°Grandpa, this is for you. It''ll be your birthday next month, so I''m giving this to you in advance.¡± He took the box from her and opened it. Inside the box, there was a jade with a unique color. Michael smiled at her. ¡°You don''t have to spend your money on me, Gwen.¡± Michael would dly ept anything Gwendolyn gifted him, as it was an expression of love from her. After that, both of them had lunch together. Michael had the habit of taking a nap. He sat in the living room when they finished eating. Soon, he started to feel sleepy. ¡°Gwen, your room is still there. Go in and rest if you''re tired. We have guestsing over tonight, so you should stay for dinner. You can go home after they leave. I still have many things that I wish to tell you,¡± said Michael. Gwendolyn had wanted to go back earlier to look for jobs online. Since Michael had asked her to say, she did not want to ruin his mood. It would only take her a day, anyway. Gwendolyn agreed, ¡°Okay, Grandpa. I''ll stay for dinner.¡± Zachary, Candace, and Felicia were in the living room, so Gwendolyn did not want to be there. They would take the chance to mock her once Michael went back to his room. Gwendolyn did not want to fight with them. She rose to her feet and helped Michael up. ¡°Grandpa, let me help you back to your room.¡± After Gwendolyn and Michael went upstairs, the three of them in the living room wore their grim looks. Candace scoffed, ¡°Darling, Gwen hasn''te home for years, and she has be ruder than before.¡± Candace always had a knack for turning things in her favor. She had been trying to seduce Zachary since she approached him back then. With that, she had eventually gotten in between Zachary and his wife before ruining his rtionship with Gwendolyn. Zachary looked upset upon hearing what Candace said. He changed the subject to avoid ruining his mood. ¡°Fel, when the Lowen family is hereter, don''t let them know that Gwendolyn is my daughter.¡± Zachary refused to acknowledge Gwendolyn as his daughter because he felt embarrassed by her behavior and what she had done. A smug look appeared on Felicia''s face. ¡°No problem, Dad.¡± She sat next to Zachary, held his hand, andforted, ¡°Dad, don''t be mad. You still have me. I''m your best daughter.¡± Zachary smiled and reached out his hand to pat Felicia''s head. ¡°Yes, I''m lucky to have met your mother. I feel that my life is better having you as my daughter.¡± The truth was if Zachary had not cheated on his wife, Gwendolyn would not have treated him like her enemy. Candace sat beside Zachary and leaned on him. Then she said coyly, ¡°Darling, Gwendolyn should have a good look at Fel''s future husbandter. He''s the head of the wealthiest family in Avenport. Gwendolyn should show some respect to Fel instead of ying dirty tricks and fighting with us. Also, she should stop buttering Old Mr. Ashton up.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Fury shed across Zachary''s eyes. In fact, he did not want to see Gwendolyn at all. Initially, Gwendolyn only wanted to lean against the bed and rest for a while. Little did she know, she fell into a deep slumber. When she woke up, it was already three o''clock in the afternoon. She jolted awake and thought she had imagined things when the familiar old room came into sight. Being in her room felt like she was back in her younger years when she was still the precious daughter of the Ashton family, who was loved by everyone. She touched her face to sober up. Her room looked just as it was before. Hence, she ended up oversleeping just now. It seemed like nothing had changed, but in reality, everything was no longer the same. Gwendolyn sat in a daze and forced herself not to reminisce about the past. She was living a good life, and she was blessed with three beloved children. Gwendolyn was not disheartened at her current life. She got up and freshened herself up in the bathroom. After that, she opened her door and walked out of the room. At the same time, someone opened the door of the guest room opposite. A tall figure appeared, and their eyes met. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Patrick revealed a tinge of surprise when he saw Gwendolyn. However, he regained his calmness in the next second and smiled faintly. ¡°What a coincidence, Ms. Ashton!¡± Gwendolyn was also surprised. Nheless, she thought it was normal when she remembered that the man was Felicia''s fianc¨¦. It was the Ashton residence. His appearance there was nothing unusual. Gwendolyn did not want to talk to him. She remembered that she owed him money, but they were not friends. She retracted her gaze and strode toward the staircase. Patrick smiled again with his brows raised, unperturbed by the woman''s reaction. He caught up with her pace immediately and walked next to her. His voice was low with a tinge of amusement. ¡°Gwendolyn, do you still remember that I''m your creditor? You didn''t keep your promise to work in my house when you recovered from your illness. Should I add some interest, then?¡± Gwendolyn felt her head start to ache at the mention of that one hundred twenty-five thousand. That was a lot of money to her. She paused in her tracks instantly and red at the man. ¡°Patrick Lowen, won''t you feel ashamed? I signed that contract because I''m a kind-hearted person. Someone else wouldn''t even care about how much you lose or make from that!¡± She had signed the contract in a disoriented state after taking medicine the other day. If she had not done that, she would not have to admit it now. Patrick restrained her between him and the wall with his hands upon hearing her words. His eyes narrowed, and his smile looked evil. ¡°Gwendolyn, am I not the kind-hearted person instead? If I had left you alone back then, you would''ve already be a moron now.¡± With that said, he caressed her lips with his finger. Her pink lips gleamed under the light. It was a tempting sight to behold. He had to urge to have a taste of the sweetness again. At that thought, he moved his lips closer to hers unwittingly. Gwendolyn quickly pushed him away. ¡°Mr. Lowen, please behave yourself.¡± She remembered that the man had taken advantage of her when she fell ill the other day and kissed her lips until they got swollen. No one knew how long he had been kissing her. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Thinking of that, she used more force on her hands, pushing the man away from her. Patrick got pushed one step backward. Frowning, he wondered why he could not keep himself under control whenever he saw her. ¡°I admit it since I''ve signed the contract, and I''ll be at your house at six o''clock sharp tomorrow. I don''t have time during the day, as I have to go to work.¡± She was not discussing with him but simply informing him. With that said, she went downstairs, not wanting to spend more time with him. Patrick raised his hand and touched his chest, which Gwendolyn had touched earlier. He could still feel the trace of her warmth. Downstairs in the living room, the atmosphere was lively. Michael sat on the main seat. Sitting next to him was a family of three. There were a couple of people whom she had not met before. They were chitchatting with each other. She assumed them to be the elderly from the Lowen family. Felicia kept shifting her gaze toward the staircase. She was too nervous and had identally spilled the coffee on Patrick''s shirt when she brought thetter coffee just now. Therefore, she asked the servant to bring him upstairs to change into something clean. Nheless, it had been a while, and she couldn''t help feeling worried. Whenever someone came down, she would stand up and turn around, thinking that it was Patrick. When she saw Gwendolyning down, her expression changed swiftly. She felt thetter was an eyesore that messed up with her mood. Those people Patrick brought over were not the elderly from the Lowen family. After all, his rtionship with Felicia was fake. Those people were the servants who had been working in the Lowen residence for a long time. Upon seeing Patricking down, they looked at him, intending to show respect by standing up. However, Patrick gave them a signal through his eyes, telling them to remain seated. Hence, they smiled and continued chatting with Zachary about Patrick''s childhood story. Michael waved his hand at Gwendolyn upon seeing her. ¡°Gwen,e to have a seat with me.¡± Patrick heard that. He nced at Gwendolyn, wondering if she was another daughter of the Ashton family. If that was the case, he did not have to fake his rtionship with Felicia anymore. He could just tell Gwendolyn to take up the role instead. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Gwendolyn took a seat next to her grandfather. She did not expect that the guest Michael had mentioned earlier was Patrick. If she had known it earlier, she would not have stayed. Meanwhile, Felicia walked up to Patrick. ¡°Patrick, let''s take a seat over here.¡± She wanted to hold his hand, but he avoided her. At that moment, Felicia felt embarrassed. It was then she remembered that they had nothing but a fake marriage. The man had no feelings toward her at all. Hence, she had to work hard to make him fall in love with her. Returning to where he sat earlier, Patrick asked Michael, ¡°Old Mr. Ashton, may I know who thisdy is?¡± He gazed at Gwendolyn. Thetter knitted her brows. She did not understand the intention of him asking that question. Before Michael could say anything, Felicia quickly piped up, ¡°Her name is Gwendolyn Ashton, our housekeeper''s daughter.¡± Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Then, she shifted her gaze at Michael as though she was hinting at him not to disclose anything to the Lowen family, especially when Gwendolyn had such an embarrassing past. Michael''s expression changed subtly. However, he was someone who took his pride more seriously than anything else. As such, he admitted Felicia''s words in silence. Gwendolyn''s eyes became dim when she heard those words. She should not havee home. Now that she had visited her grandfather, it was time for her to leave. Then, she rose to her feet and said, ¡°Grandpa, I''ll make a move first. You guys enjoy yourselves. I''ll pay you another visit when I''m free.¡± She was mad at being introduced as the housekeeper''s daughter. However, she could not do anything about it, as her grandfather had said nothing. Since she was young, she had always felt a sense of unfairness for her mother to marry her father. The man had kicked them out of the house after having an affair. He even allowed his other daughter to introduce his ex-wife as a housekeeper. Gwendolyn felt extremely frustrated at that moment. She wanted to make a fuss on the spot, telling everyone that she was the daughter of the Ashton family. Nheless, she was in no position to do that, as her father would undoubtedly side with his other daughter and his mistress. Gwendolyn tried to keep her elegance as she walked out of the Ashton residence. Patrick had thought that she was the daughter of the Ashton family. Yet, he did not feel surprised after knowing that she was the housekeeper''s daughter. If she really was the daughter of the Ashton family, she would not be living in Snowy Lane and could barely pay her rent. After leaving the Ashton residence, Gwendolyn leaned on the wall and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down. She felt the urge to return to the residence and smashed everything up in the living room. She also wanted to point at Felicia''s nose, telling her that she was the b*stard herself. At the same time, she wanted to shout at Candace that she did not even deserve to carry shoes for her mother. All those thoughts ran through her mind, yet there was nothing she could do. Just then, a Mercedes-Benz stopped at the gate. Zayden got out of the car and gave her a hand. ¡°What are you doing here, Gwen?¡± He could not find her everywhere just now, and he would not have found her there if he had not asked Camille. Gwendolyn lifted her head upon hearing his voice. She then forced a smile on her face. ¡°I''m here to visit Grandpa, but I suddenly feel dizzy.¡± She told a tant lie. It was not the dizziness. Instead, she was overwhelmed with anger. Zayden helped her to get into the car and fastened her seat belt before he got into the driver''s seat. ¡°Let me take you to the hospital.¡± Noticing her pale look, he would only feel relieved for her to get a checkup in the hospital. Gwendolyn took in a deep breath and replied, ¡°No need. Just send me home.¡± Then, she wound down the car window to let the breeze caress her skin in an attempt to calm herself down. She hated the family of three, but not her grandfather. Therefore, she could not make a scene that day because she did not want to embarrass her grandfather anymore. Moreover, her grandfather was not in good health. She swore to make the mother and daughter pay for the horrible things they had done to her. Zayden turned to look at her asionally while driving the car. ¡°Did you get into a fight with your family?¡± All these years, she was always smiling whenever he saw her. It was his first time seeing her sad that day. Meanwhile, Patrick followed behind Gwendolyn when she left, thinking of sending her home. Nheless, he saw her get into Zayden''s car. He rubbed his chin as a tinge ofplicated feeling shed across his eyes. He wondered why the seemingly ordinary woman could enter the Ashton residence as she pleased. On top of that, she could even have the eldest son of the Surrington family pick her up. For some reason, he felt unhappy when he saw the woman get into someone else''s car. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°No. We didn''t fight.¡± She had never mentioned her family before. Zayden found out that she was from the Ashton family only when he was helping her to register for an ount. Given her identity, he could not understand why she would live such a miserable life out there while raising the children all by herself. He felt sorry for her. Despite feeling curious, he knew she had to be on bad terms with her family to have moved out alone. Therefore, he had asked his friend to help with the ount registration without alerting the Ashton family. ¡°Gwen, I''m always there for you. You can look for me whenever you need help.¡± He would always be waiting for her as long as she was willing to give him a chance. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°I''m fine. It''s just that I haven''t recovered from the cold a few days ago. Don''t worry about me.¡± Zayden stopped probing further upon hearing her. He stayed back for dinner after sending her back to Snowy Lane. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. It was getting dark when he left. Gwendolyn and her children sent him off at the door. Juliette waved at him. ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Zayden!¡± Justin and Julian also bid goodbye to him. ¡°Drive safe, Mr. Zayden.¡± Zayden likeding to Gwendolyn''s house because everyone there was friendly. Their smiles were sincere and warm. He foundfort in the ce, and its peacefulness was a stark contrast to the rest of the world. After seeing the car drive some distance away, the family walked back home happily. Gwendolyn said to the two boys, ¡°You two have lessonster at night. You''d better pack up and leave soon.¡± Juliette also had her piano lesson shortly. Gwendolyn needed to send her and watch her there. Nheless, she felt troubled whenever she thought of the sixty thousand fees. She had to look for a job the next day regardless. Gwendolyn changed her clothes before leaving the house. Then, she wrapped a scarf around Juliette''s neck. ¡°Sweetheart, you have to focus on the lesson today. Don''t be naughty.¡± Juliette was the one who picked the course for herself. Nheless, she became restless and stopped taking it seriously after some time. Juliette nodded upon hearing her mother. ¡°Okay. I got it.¡± Then, she stared at Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°Gwen, did Mr. Handsome, who always takes care of you, ask you out for a meal or a movie?¡± That was what she had seen in the television drama where the male lead would ask the female lead to go on a date after taking care of her when she was sick. Then, the two would get married after dating for some time. Gwendolyn felt frustrated at the mention of Patrick. She thought she had a stroke of bad luck for owing the man so much money for no reason. Even if she were to die of illness, she would not want him to take care of her. That was a sky-high price for taking care of her. She wished she was able to earn so much money. Just then, her phone started ringing. Juliette immediately helped her to bring the phone over. ¡°Gwen, your phone is ringing. Maybe Mr. Handsome is going to ask you out!¡± Gwendolyn wrapped a scarf around her neck, thinking that the man would not be calling her at that hour. He should be drinking with his father-inw now. Why would he even call me? Then, she took her phone over from her daughter and almost dropped it in shock. It was a call from Patrick, indeed. Juliette urged, ¡°Hurry up! Answer it!¡± The man was her creditor, after all. She had no choice but to answer his call. ¡°Hello.¡± Her tone was cold as though she was talking to aplete stranger. ¡°Gwendolyn,e over to Star Mansion in half an hour, or I''ll double the interest.¡± He hung up the call as soon as he dropped his words. Gwendolyn frowned, and her face turned grim. Is there an interest? She felt regretful for signing the contract at that moment. Juliette jumped around happily when she heard their conversation. ¡°Yay! Mr. Handsome really asked you out! Go put on some makeup and doll up yourself. I''m attending my lesson now. I promise I''ll behave.¡± Gwendolyn felt anxious as she watched her daughter descending the staircase joyfully. ¡°Juliette, let me go with you. Do you hear me?¡± Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Gwendolyn frowned, wondering how her daughter learned those things like pouncing on someone and making babies. By the time she went downstairs, it was already half-past six. She needed to arrive at Star Mansion by seven o''clock. Therefore, she could only drive her second-hand Fiat over. The traffic was severely congested because it was the peak hour when everyone got off work. Her car would burn a lot of fuel in that situation. She was distressed at the fact that she would have to spend more on the fuel. Gwendolyn had spent a lot of money on buying that car for the convenience of sending Juliette to the hospital at night. She rarely drove that car on any ordinary day, as the fuel consumption would cost her a lot. Nheless, it would be more costly to grab a cab at that hour. After mulling over it, she decided to drive. It was not a smooth ride, and she could not help worrying about the fuel cost throughout the way. Finally, she arrived at the Star Mansion, but the security guards refused to let her enter. Gwendolyn informed him of the unit number and said, ¡°I''m his guest. You can give him a call if you don''t believe me.¡± The security guards looked puzzled. Does Mr. Lowen have such a poor friend? They did not believe her words, as they had to chase away countless people who tried to approach Patrick every day. It was the first time they saw someone in an old Fiat asking to meet Patrick.Original from N?velDrama.Org. Is she trying to gain Mr. Lowen''s sympathy and win his heart? ¡°Mr. Lowen doesn''t want to meet anyone.¡± Gwendolyn became furious upon hearing that. If she had not spent so much on the fuel to drive over, she would have left immediately. On top of that, the man had threatened her to double the interest. She could not bear to pay more given how poor she was. Hence, she took her phone out and dialed his number. ¡°Gwendolyn, you''re five minuteste. Why are you not here yet?¡± A man''s voice rang out coldly with a tinge of anger. Gwendolyn took in a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. After all, the man was her creditor who could raise her interest as he pleased, and she probably could not afford to clear the debt if he did so. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''ve arrived, but the security guards won''t let me in.¡± Patrick replied, ¡°Let me handle it.¡± With that said, he hung up the phone. The security guards let her enter in no time, ingratiating smiles stered on their faces. Gwendolyn paid no heed to them and drove into the mansion district immediately. The mansion district was one of the most expensive areas of Avenport. It was also one of the properties owned by Lowen Group. She found Block A8 based on the map Patrick had shared with her earlier. Then, she parked her car after driving into the courtyard. Right then, her phone rang. Gwendolyn looked at the caller on the phone screen. It was Lucy. She was afraid that thetter might have something urgent. Hence, she answered it instantly. ¡°Luce.¡± Lucy was still in the hospital. As her daughter had fallen asleep after getting an IV drip, she lowered her voice as she spoke. ¡°Gwen, I''ve heard from Juliette that you went on a date. Are you with Patrick? All the best! You''ll live a carefree life once you win his heart!¡± Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. She was there to pay off her debt, but not to attend a date. How dare Juliette spread my news around now! Juliette was indeed giving her a headache. Gwendolyn sometimes wondered why her daughter was so talkative and busybody. She rubbed her temples as she replied, ¡°Luce, I can never get together with Patrick. He''s getting married soon. So, stop spouting nonsense.¡± ¡°You''re silly! He''s not married yet. Even if he did, he could get a divorce too. Look at my husband. He could run away with his mistress and leave his wife and children just like that!¡± Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°Ms. Lucy, I thought you hate a mistress most. Why are you asking me to be one now?¡± Lucy smacked her forehead lightly upon hearing her. ¡°Gwen, I''m saying that because I think Patrick likes you. He''ll be yours if you''re willing to make a move.¡± Just then, another call came in. Gwendolyn took a look. As she had expected, it was Patrick. ¡°Luce, I''ve got to go. I''ll visit Mnie tomorrow, and we''ll talk when we meet.¡± After ending the call, she walked toward the mansion briskly. Patrick had given her the ess code. After keying in the code, she entered the house and saw the man sitting on the couch. He seemed to have drunk a little too much. The man pulled his tie loose with his slender fingers while squinting his eyes. ¡°Gwendolyn, you''re ten minuteste. I need to punish you.¡± The man looked wild as he gazed at her. He reached out and pulled her over. Taken off guard, Gwendolyn fell on his body. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 His body was so firm that when he knocked into her, it felt very painful. She put her hand on his shoulder to stand steadily, and their eyes met. ¡°What kind of punishment would you like? How about increasing the interest of your debt?¡± Judging from his behavior, Gwendolyn could tell he had drunk quite a lot. No wonder he sounded strange over the phone. He spoke more passionately rather than in the usual indifferent and cold tone. Thinking that he was drunk, Gwendolyn helped him to remove his tie. He felt morefortable after his tie was removed. Then, he cast his alluring eyes upon her. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I''ve drunk quite a lot tonight, and I''m feeling pretty awful now. Do you know how to make a hangover remedy?¡± In fact, he did not drink much, as he only drank a ss of white wine. Besides, he had always been a good drinker. He simply wanted to feel how it was to be drunk. It was as though he could only express his true feelings when he was not sober. Gwendolyn blinked her big eyes and said, ¡°Yes, I know how to make it. Mr. Lowen, didn''t you ask me to come here and do some chores? So, what exactly are the chores?¡± It seemed like someone had been cleaning Patrick''s house frequently, as it looked pretty clean and neat. Patrick looked into her eyes. She''s such a naive girl, and she gets tricked so easily. ¡°Can you clean my bedroom and cook me meals?¡± Patrick had never allowed anyone to enter his bedroom. Even the housekeeper of the Lowen residence dared not enter his room. Gwendolyn''s brows settled into a frown as she said, ¡°I can clean the house, but I can''t cook that well.¡± Most of the time, Camille would be preparing the meals because Gwendolyn was bad at cooking. Not wanting to harm her children with her horrible cooking, Gwendolyn could only keep Camille in the house. ¡°That''s okay. You can pick up the skills. Make me some hangover remedy now.¡± Gwendolyn slightly nodded and went into the kitchen. She had no issue making the hangover remedy. Zayden had often been forced to drink during his business meetings, so Camille had made him the same remedy a few times before. Hence, Gwendolyn had learned how to make the remedy from Camille. She took a tomato and cut it into pieces. Then, she ced the cut pieces into the water and boil them. The remedy would be ready when the water developed a tangy taste. While waiting for it to boil, Gwendolyn took out her calctor and started doing the calction. She had to pay a total amount of one hundred twenty-five thousand. How much monthly wage would I need if I wish to clear the debt as soon as possible? She thought for a while before deciding to ask for ten thousand. Before this, she had gone online to make some research. She found out that housekeepers who worked for half a day usually would be paid around four thousand a month. Thus, ten thousand was quite a lot to ask for. Gwendolyn brought the hangover remedy to the living room and ced it in front of Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, the remedy is ready. Be careful. It''s still hot.¡± He could not help but chuckle at her move. It was unusual to have someone reminding him and taking care of him attentively. ¡°Mr. Lowen, can I ask for a monthly wage of ten thousand?¡± He''s definitely not in a clear state of mind now because he''s drunk. As long as he agrees to my request now, there''s no way for him to go back on his words tomorrow. Patrick sat right up and was about to use a spoon to scoop the remedy. After hearing what she said, he furrowed his brows slightly. She is thinking of swindling me! ¡°I''m offering you five thousand a month, which is already one thousand more than the market price.¡± Gwendolyn cursed inwardly, What a cunning man! How could he still be this sensible even when he''s drunk? Pouting her lips, she seemed reluctant to ept the offer, but he was not wrong about the market price. Thus, she was in no position to turn him down. ¡°Okay, I''ll ept it.¡± She''s going to work hard here for two years then! That''s going to cost me a lot! Looking at how her face darkened, Patrick found her adorable, and he broke into a faint smile unknowingly. ¡°You can go and clean up the room now. It''s the first room on the second level.¡± Gwendolyn went upstairs and entered the first room. It was very spacious, and there was a study that led to the bedroom inside. She went directly to the bedroom. It was very dark in the bedroom, as the wallpaper and the beddings were all in ck color. Aside from that, the bed was a mess. Gwendolyn decided to start tidying the bed first. The moment she lifted the nket, she saw a stunning woman lying on the bed. However, it was not a real human. It looked like one of Juliette''s Barbie dolls, but it was a life-sized one. She carried the life-sized doll and walked to the stairway. Then, she yelled at the man downstairs, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I don''t know you still y with dolls. Let me put some clothes on her and do a makeover for her. You''ll be surprised how attractive she can be!¡± Patrick, who was drinking the remedy, choked and spat the liquid out. How could I forget about that? Chapter 32 Chapter 32 The next scene that came into Gwendolyn''s sight was the handsome man running at light speed to her before grabbing the doll from her. After that, he went into the room and stuffed the doll into the deepest corner of his closet. Gwendolyn was dumbfounded as she followed him into the bedroom. She then saw himing out from the walk-in closet. Blinking in confusion, she said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I haven''t put on any clothes for her or tied up her hair.¡± I didn''t expect this man to have such a hobby. He likes to y with Barbie dolls like Juliette too. He must be feeling embarrassed right now! However, Gwendolyn thought it was normal. Everyone had their own hobbies, after all. Patrick shot her a cold re and asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, are you a fool?¡± I think anyone withmon sense would''ve known what it is, yet she''s still trying to pretend that it''s nothing. She''s obviously mocking me. Gwendolyn''s big, deep eyes lit up as she broke into a smile. ¡°Mr. Lowen, my daughter likes to y with her dolls too. She dresses the dolls up beautifully every day. There''s no need for you to feel embarrassed about this. I''ll keep it a secret.¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. She needs to be taught a lesson. Suddenly, Patrick felt a sense of fury surge through him. He strode forward and carried her before throwing her on the bed. Gwendolyn could not even react to his swift move. She only felt the fear in her grow stronger when she got thrown on the bed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Did I say anything wrong? Patrick, are you out of your mind? He was so infuriated that he pinned her below him and kissed her while she was still mumbling continuously. Is it true that she doesn''t know anything? Let me teach her then! ¡°Mmph...¡± Gwendolyn was so shocked that she wanted to call for help, but she could not make a sound. He pressed his lips against hers, and he was rough with his move. He held her hands tightly and pinned her legs down too. As such, she could not even move a bit. Patrick could no longer hold himself back when he tasted her lips. They taste exactly like what I''ve always remembered. He had lost control of himself, and he only came back to his senses when he tasted the bitterness of Gwendolyn''s tears that fell onto their lips. He was in a panic, yet he looked slightly pathetic. The next instant, he quickly sat up and heaved a sigh. Alcohol isn''t a good thing for real. I''ve done such a shameless act when I only drank one ss of it. He took a look at Gwendolyn, who was crying her eyes out on the bed. She was trembling in shock. Her clothes were all mussed up being pulled by him. He felt sorry when he heard her weeping in sorrow. It took him quite a long time to calm down. ¡°Gwendolyn, don''t ever tamper with my things again. You can leave after you clean up everything.¡± With that said, he rose to his feet and left. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn continued to cry for a long while before regaining herposure. Staring at the ceiling with her swollen eyes, she thought of what had happened just a moment ago. She was terrified as the thought hit her. Having been taught by Michael since she was young, she had always been conservative. She had never dated anyone or had any intimate moment with a man. Except for the dream that did not feel like a dream. She was unconscious at that time, so she did not know what had actually happened. It was her first time being kissed by someone when she was fully conscious. Aside from that, it was also the first time a man had treated her like that. Thus, she was overwhelmed with fear. She slowly curled herself up. I know nothing about rtionships, but I was forced to experience such a horrible thing six years ago. Because of that, I had been mocked and scolded by others. She was deeply affected by that incident. It was the main reason why she had not thought of having a boyfriend all these years. Not only that, she had no thoughts of getting married, too. She only wanted to live a happy life with her three children. Gwendolyn buttoned her top and wiped off her tears. She swore not to cry and to be strong. No matter what happened, she had to stay strong. It was not a time for her to be weak, as she had to be the pir of strength for her three children. They still had to depend on her. Patrick was very upset when he saw her in such an awful state. His gaze dimmed a little. In fact, Patrick hardly showed his interest in women. Hence, Kevin had given him the life-sized doll as a present, just in case Patrick needed some relief. It was unexpected that Patrick would get so worked up when Gwendolyn happened to see that doll. Whenever he was in front of Gwendolyn, he seemed to lose control of himself easily. He was so possessive of her as he felt a strong desire to make her his woman. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Gwendolyn gritted her teeth and calmed herself down. Then she began to clean up Patrick''s room. She put the books on the desk back onto the bookshelf and the magazines on the floor back into the magazine rack. Next, she made his bed and hung all the cleanedundry in the walk-in closet. Later on, the room became spotless. Seeing the minimalist room be clean and tidy, she thought the room looked even colder now than before. After having a cry, she felt her entire body was more rxed now. There''s indeed no use being too tense. Sometimes, it''s good to cry it out. Then, Gwendolyn went downstairs. She thought he was in the living room, but he was not there. Also, he had only taken a few sips of the hangover remedy. Seeing that, she brought the bowl into the kitchen, washed it, and put it back in the cupboard. She was a principled woman. Since she had signed the IOU, then she would definitely pay back her debt. Before leaving, she sent him a message: Mr. Lowen, I''ve tidied up the room. I''lle over at six o''clock tomorrow night to make dinner. Meanwhile, Patrick was smoking a cigarette on the rooftop while enjoying the cool breeze. He watched her get into the silver Fiat and drive away slowly from the yard, Only after the gate closed did he regain his senses and raised a hand to his lips. He could still feel the sweet taste of her in his mouth. Moreover, he seemed to be addicted to her sweetness now. His eyes darkened slightly, and his expression became even colder after he took a long drag of the cigarette and exhaled the smoke. The next day was a Saturday, so the three children did not have to go to school. Thus, Gwendolyn took them to the hospital with her. Camille brought a lunchbox with her, as she had prepared some nutritious food for Lucy and Mnie. When they arrived at the hospital, Gwendolyn was carrying fruits and milk while the three children were all holding small gifts they wanted to give to Mnie. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Juliette asked, ¡°When is Mnieing back to ss? She used to be my best friend!¡± Mnie used to be in the same kindergarten with them and was even in the same ss as Juliette when they were in the lower grades. They were so close to each other that even though they went to school together every day, they still had to talk on the phone after school. Justin responded, ¡°Mnie''s sick. So, she''lle back to school when she''s recovered.¡± Julian nodded slightly. ¡°You can give her the dollter. She''ll feel as if you''re apanying her in the hospital.¡± Juliette''s big eyes flickered. Even though she knew Mnie was sick, she did not understand why Mnie had to stay in the hospital for so long. Juliette had fallen ill before. However, she had only stayed in the hospital for a few days at most, while Mnie seemed to have been in the hospital for two years. When they arrived at the ward, Mnie smiled happily when saw the three children. Gwendolyn put the fruits and milk on the table as Lucy got up and took the lunchbox from Camille. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, thank you for making us delicious food every time youe.¡± Camille smiled upon hearing those words. ¡°Don''t mention it. You and Gwen are good friends, after all. How is Mnie?¡± Hearing Camille''s words, Lucy sighed as she looked at Mnie, who was happy to be surrounded by the three children. ¡°Still waiting for the bone marrow. The surgery can be done as soon as there is a match.¡± Camille nodded. ¡°I''ll go feed Mnie some soup. She''s just too thin, and this soup is very nourishing.¡± With that, Camille joined the three children by Mnie''s side and fed Mnie the soup. Then, Gwendolyn and Lucy went to the rest area with the lunchbox. Lucy started to eat while Gwendolyn, who was sitting opposite her, held a cup of hot water in her hand. Looking at the parents in the hospital, Gwendolyn shook her head helplessly. The greatest blessing in life is that one''s whole family is healthy. Every time Ie here and see these scenes, I just feel so upset. I wish nobody ever gets sick in this world. Suddenly, the incident that happenedst night shed through her mind. She had almost slept with Patrick yesterday. He was so tall and muscr that she could neither push nor resist him. With such long limbs, the moment he pressed down on her, she could only let him get his way. Hence, she asked Lucy, ¡°Luce, I want to buy some self-defense tools. Do you know which ones are the most useful?¡± Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Gwendolyn had looked it up on the intest night. However, there were too many types of self- defense tools to choose from. Also, she did not know whether those tools would work. Moreover, she was so poor now that she did not want to waste her money. Thus, if Lucy knew anything about those tools, she could just share them with Gwendolyn. Meanwhile, Lucy was enjoying the dishes made by Camille. Since Mnie''s condition had been pretty serious recently, Lucy could not leave the hospital. Hence, she had been eating takeout for several months now. In fact, she had been eating so much takeout that she would puke if she had another such meal. She looked very haggard. After working in Night City until four o''clock at night, she still had to go to the hospital to change shifts with the caregiver at seven o''clock. Therefore, she slept very little, and her mental state was not very good these days. Lucy ate a piece of pork and smiled. ¡°Why are you suddenly thinking of buying self-defense tools? Did anyone bully you?¡± Lucy was a clever woman. Being someone who had lots of life experiences, she caught on fast enough. Hearing her question, Gwendolyn was a little nervous. If she told her that Patrick had forcefully kissed herst night and almost slept with her, Lucy would definitely tell her that it was a good thing and that she did not need to guard against him. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn took a sip of water, trying to suppress the awkwardness she was feeling. ¡°It''s just that I''m going to have a part-time job at night these days. So, I''m afraid of meeting bad people. I''ll feel a little bit more secure if I have a self-defense tool with me.¡± Lucy nodded slightly. ¡°You''re right. After I finish eating, I''ll bring you to a store where you can shop for what you need. Everything in that store is quite practical.¡± Gwendolyn was nning to buy those tools on the inte. However, after Lucy said that there was a physical store, Gwendolyn felt that it was even better, as the quality would be more guaranteed. After Lucy finished eating, they left the four children to Camille. Gwendolyn was not worried since Justin and Julian were there. Those two boys were very obedient and would take good care of Juliette and Mnie. After that, the two went to the store, which was not far from the pediatric hospital. It only took over ten minutes to walk there. Lucy knew about Gwendolyn''s situation. She knew that Gwendolyn''s heart ached every time she drove. Therefore, Lucy did not propose that they took the car. The two walked on the street in the winter as the warm sunlight shone upon them. Lucy''s hand was hooked around Gwendolyn''s arm. She took a deep breath and smiled. ¡°It''s been a long time since I stood under the sun. I really hope Mnie can get better soon. When that happens, I think my life will start to have hope.¡± After experiencing such a hardship, Lucy felt that possibly nothing else could ever bring her down anymore. Hearing that, Gwendolyn rubbed Lucy''s armpassionately. ¡°It''s all my fault for being too poor. I couldn''t help you at all.¡± ¡°It''s even more difficult for you. You have to raise three children. It''s already difficult enough for me just to raise one. It''s much worse for you. Gwen, it''s enough to have you by my side. Do you understand?¡± asked Lucy as she touched Gwendolyn''s face lightly. Nothing was better than having a close friend by one''s side. Having a shoulder to cry on and someone to share one''s happiness with were the best things in life. Lucy and Gwendolyn looked at each other and smiled. It seemed as if they had been apanying each other all these years, and it felt so good to have such apanion. They walked and chatted all the way to the store. Soon, they arrived at the store, which was a small jewelry store. Gwendolyn usually did not have time to go shopping, so she did not know that these small stores sold self-defense tools as well. After the two entered the store, Lucy brought her a few bottles of pepper spray. Gwendolyn felt that those were so big that she could only put them in her bag. However, she could not carry her bag all the time when she cleaned Patrick''s house. Thus, she asked the staff, ¡°Do you have smaller ones here?¡± The staff quickly took out a beautiful ring that was beset with a red, heart-shaped stone. It was supposed to be worn on the index finger. ¡°Miss, this is thetest version. It''s small, easy to carry, and looks good as an essory.¡± The staff pressed the stone as she spoke. Instantly, a thin and long needle stretched out from the front of the stone. ¡°This needle has been soaked in anesthesia. Your opponent will be paralyzed for about five minutes after being stabbed by it. It''s a life-saving tool for girls.¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Gwendolyn''s eyes lit up when she heard that. This is great. If I had thisst night, Patrick wouldn''t have been able to move after a single prick, and I wouldn''t have been taken advantage of. ¡°I''ll have this one, then. How many times can I use it?¡± she asked. She hoped it was not designed for one-time usage. That would be uneptable, as the item was for cheap either. The staff exined, ¡°There is spare anesthetic here. When you''ve used up the anesthetic in the ring, you can replenish it yourself. Hence, you can reuse it three hundred times.¡± Gwendolyn purchased two. They each cost her two thousand. Her heart ached from how pricey it was, but it was a life-saving tool for a single woman like her. She put the other in Lucy''s hand and advised, ¡°You should wear one, too, since you''re always in the nightclub. Use this to protect yourself when you''re in danger.¡± Gwendolyn had worked at Night City before and knew it was filled with all sorts of people. Naturally, she felt worried about Lucy working there. At first, Gwendolyn wanted to return to her old line of work, too, but she decided against it when she thought about her three children. If anything happens to me, what will be of them? Lucy did not decline the offer but epted the ring. ¡°Thank you.¡± Gwendolyn circled her arm around Lucy as they exited the shop. ¡°No need to thank me.¡± Suddenly, Lucy noticed her husband walking with his mistress in front of them. She immediately rushed forward with gritted teeth. She grabbed the man''s hair and admonished, ¡°You b*stard! You don''t care about your sick daughter. I asked you to test your bone marrow, but you''re afraid of pain.¡± Ovee with fury, Lucynded a p on his face. Her husband, Jared Lawson, spun on the spot from the tight p as the woman beside him screamed, ¡°Help! Someone''s fighting!¡± Soon, many spectators gathered around. When Jared came to his senses, he started fighting back. He grasped a fistful of Lucy''s hair and pulled forcefully. ¡°How dare you hit me! I''m going to end you!¡± Gwendolyn was shocked, but she immediately removed her high heels when she saw the two ganging up on Lucy and dashed toward them. ¡°Don''t hit her!¡± Then, Gwendolyn hit Jared and his mistress'' heads with her heels. Seeing blood gushing from their heads, the spectators were stunned and quickly called the police. When the police arrived, they saw a pair of beautifuldies beating up a man and another woman sobbing at the side. ¡°Stop! You''re going to harm him!¡± The police quickly separated thedies from Jared. Blood was dripping from the corners of Gwendolyn''s lips, and her hair was a mess. Lucy''s cheeks were bruised and swollen. She tugged her blouse, itching to get in a few more kicks. The police stopped her. ¡°Enough. Come with us to the police station.¡± Meanwhile, Jared was bleeding from his head. His shirt was torn, and there were scratches all over his face as well. He pointed at the two hysterical women and whimpered, ¡°Sir, those two women are crazy. They attacked my girlfriend and me. I will sue them and make sure they go to prison.¡± Gwendolyn and Lucy finally came down from their high of beating up Jared. However, if they were both brought to the police station, then what would happen to their kids? Lucy blocked Gwendolyn and said to the police officer, ¡°Just take me away, sir. She has nothing to do with this.¡± The mistress beside Jared pointed at Gwendolyn. ¡°You must arrest her, sir. She''s the one who wounded us in the head.¡± The police said coldly, ¡°Stop talking. All of you will be taken away. Send those two to be treated in the hospital first. We''ll interrogate themter.¡± In the CEO''s office of Lowen Group, Liam entered the room and strode toward the office table. ¡°Look at this video, Mr. Lowen. Ms. Ashton just fought with someone.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Patrick watched Gwendolyn rushing over with her heels in her hand like she was prepared to go all out in that fight. He chuckled softly, thinking she could not possibly be more adorable. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Liam felt as if he had just done something right by showing Patrick the video as soon as he found it. As expected, Ms. Ashton is indeed Mr. Lowen''s type. Mr. Lowen rarely ever smiles, and he always acts like an ice statue. He''s so cold he makes me want to quit my job. ¡°I shall bail Ms. Ashton out right now, Mr. Lowen.¡± Seeing Gwendolyn being taken away by the police, Liam took the initiative to bail her out. After all, he had nothing to see and everything to gain by pleasing the future wife of the CEO. Patrick narrowed his eyes after watching the video. Saving her is a must. That girl must be frightened. Thinking of how he had scared herst night, he decided to personally go to her now. Perhaps it would help her reduce her anger toward him, too. With that, he stood up and said, ¡°I''ll go there myself.¡± Liam was slightly taken aback. There was, in fact, no need for Patrick to do that personally. However, Liam realized that Patrick had just agreed with his idea. Since Gwendolyn was very likely going to be Patrick''s wife in the future, Liam decided to go with Patrick. ¡°I will ask them to get the car ready, Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick put on his ck coat and took his car keys. ¡°There''s no need for that. I''ll go there by myself.¡± Liam stopped in his tracks. What a maniptive man! If he went all by himself to save Ms. Ashton, she''s definitely going to be moved. At the police station, Gwendolyn and Lucy gave their statements. Both of them called Jared a j*rk for betraying his wife and refusing to save his child. The police empathized with them as well, as they loathed bad guys as much as those two women. Regardless, Gwendolyn and Lucy had indeed beaten someone up, which was considered an intentional assault. It was a serious case seeing as they had broken thew. Jared and his mistress, Xena Chantrell, insisted on suing them, and the police were stuck in a difficult position. Gwendolyn and Lucy were locked up in the same interrogation room. They were asked to call someone to bail them out and prepare for awsuit. Lucy came in after Gwendolyn, and she sat beside Gwendolyn with an apologetic expression. ¡°It''s all my fault for involving you in this, Gwen.¡± Now that we''re both in here, what''s going to happen to our kids? As Lucy thought about this, she could not help but p herself. ¡°It''s all my fault. Why would I still put hope in that j*rk? He would''ve gone long ago if he intended to undergo the test. What''s the use of throwing a tantrum?¡± she berated herself. Gwendolyn hugged her and said, ¡°That was my first fight, and it felt pretty good. Whenever I think about Mnie, I''d feel like doing more than just beating up that shameless couple.¡± Gwendolyn smiled before continuing, ¡°We''re best friends, Lucy. Let''s not talk about this right now. More importantly, we have to find someone to bail us out.¡± Gwendolyn did not have many friends for the past few years. Working hard every day to provide for her three children, she had not had time to meet new friends. Sometimes, her previous colleagues would invite her out for a meal or shopping. Yet, she always declined them, as she was too busy. As time passed, everyone stopped inviting her out because they thought she was wrapped up with work. That was why she slowly lost all her friends. It was the same for Lucy as well. Due to her daughter''s sickness, Lucy had to borrow money from her rtives. After that, everyone was afraid of her, and they avoided her like the gue. Lucy said bitterly, ¡°Everyone immediately hangs up on me when they hear my voice on the phone. How would they possibly pay for my bail?¡± The two exchanged looks and smiled. Their situations were shockingly alike. Gwendolyn sighed. ¡°When can both of us live like normal people?¡± Just then, the door swung open, and in came two police officers. ¡°Gwendolyn, someone is here to bail you out.¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Gwendolyn pointed to herself. ¡°Bail me out?¡± It was a bit unexpected that someone would be here for her before she could even think of who to call. Lucy heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Great! It''s great that someone came to bail you out.¡± Gwendolyn pointed at Lucy. ¡°Sir, we''re together, so we will leave together as well.¡± She held Lucy''s hand as if there was no way she would leave without thetter. Lucy smiled. ¡°You go and look at who it is first. Then only you bail me out.¡± ¡°Ms. Ashton, please follow me.¡± The two policemen spoke in the kindest tone, which made Gwendolyn even more puzzled. Lucy had already more or less guessed an answer to Gwendolyn''s doubts. She figured if it was not Zayden, then it had to be Patrick. Lucy could not think of anyone else. What a lucky girl Gwen is. It''s just that she doesn''t realize it. ¡°Wait for me.¡± Gwendolyn nced at Lucy, reassuring thetter that she wouldn''t leave her alone. Gwendolyn followed the police out of the interrogation room and went into the office. There was a sign above that said ¡°Chief Police Officer.¡± Gwendolyn had never been inside a police station before, and it was the first time she knew that bailers had to deal with the chief. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. One of the policemen helped her push the door open. ¡°Ms. Ashton, pleasee in.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and stepped into the office. Both Zayden and Patrick were there, and a middle- aged man in a police uniform was having coffee with them. He was Neil Lopez, the Chief of Police. Gwendolyn was momentarily stunned. Then she apologized, ¡°Zayden, I''m sorry to have troubled you.¡± She was sure Zayden was the one who hade to bail her out and figured Patrick might have just come here for work matters. After all, Patrick''s time in the morning was priceless, and Gwendolyn felt that he wouldn''t be willing to spend it on her. Zayden walked toward Gwendolyn, scrutinizing her from top to bottom. ¡°Are you injured?¡± His voice was filled with concern and worry. Gwendolyn shook her head and reassured, ¡°Lucy has been protecting me. I''m fine.¡± She was safe and sound, but Lucy''s face was terribly swollen. Zayden nodded slightly. ¡°d to hear that.¡± Patrick was sitting beside Neil, and his face instantly darkened when he heard the exchange. The atmosphere in the room became tense and awkward. Seeing that Patrick was visibly displeased, Neil exined, ¡°Ms. Ashton, it was Mr. Lowen who came to bail you out. I also learned about the story behind your case. You were really righteous and brave. Although Jared and the others deserve it, you should have used legal means to deal with such people in the future instead of fighting.¡± Gwendolyn was afraid of the police ever since she was a child. She lowered her head like a child who had just made a mistake. ¡°I''m sorry, sir. I understand my mistake. Will you let my friend go as well? Her daughter is still in the hospital.¡± Neil chuckled when he saw how grave she looked. Seeing as she was someone Patrick had personallye for, he had to be gentle to her to show Patrick some respect. ¡°Ms. Ashton, you may just address me as Chief Lopez. And yes, your friend may leave with you.¡± After that, he said to Patrick, ¡°Mr. Lowen, are you okay with this arrangement?¡± Patrick stood up and shook his hand. ¡°Sure. Thank you.¡± Then, he turned around and walked toward the door. Gwendolyn nodded to Neil respectfully. ¡°All right. Goodbye, Chief Lopez!¡± Gwendolyn actually hoped they would never see each other again. It was the first time she entered a police station, and she found the entire experience not the least bit pleasant. Zayden bade farewell to Neil and walked out of his office alongside Gwendolyn. He was still worried about Gwendolyn and looked at her again. Gwendolyn''s face and body looked unscathed, but it looked as if some of her hair had been ripped out. ¡°Do you and Mr. Lowen know each other?¡± Zayden asked. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Gwendolyn whispered, ¡°I owe him money, so you can say so.¡± She considered her rtionship with Patrick as one which was between a debtor and a creditor. That seemed to be all it was to her. Zayden frowned. ¡°He''s your creditor?¡± He thought their rtionship seemed to be more than that, but he was afraid to point it out. Gwendolyn nodded. As she exited the police station, she saw Patrick get into a car. She followed quickly and knocked on the window. A handsome but frigid face appeared when the car window was rolled down slowly, and he gave her a cold-eyed stare. Gwendolyn hesitated and said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, thank you foring to bail me out today, but I just want to say that it wasn''t I who made you do that and waste your time.¡± Gwendolyn was worried that he would charge her for causing him any losses in his business that morning. As an average wage-earner, she could not afford to pay him back. When she heard Neil saying that Patrick was the one who bailed her out just now, Gwendolyn almost fell to the ground. She wanted to ask Patrick to leave her alone in the future since his time was so precious. Patrick''s face darkened even more. He initially thought he would have to be mad toe here and try to please Gwendolyn. Besides, it was not like she appreciated it at all either. Now that she had Zaydening to bail her as well, it was as if Patrick had just be redundant. As he thought of this, Patrick''s expression became even colder. ¡°The bail is twenty thousand. Do you prefer cash or online transfer, Ms. Ashton?¡± The color instantly drained from Gwendolyn''s face. How am I ever going to pay such a huge sum? She was currently poor as a church mouse. Gwendolyn turned a deaf ear to Patrick''s question, cudgeling her brain for a solution. ¡°Ms. Ashton, shouldn''t you pay the bail yourself?¡± Gwendolyn forced a smile at Patrick, reaching into the car and helping him straighten his tie. She chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Your tie is crooked. I''ve straightened it for you.¡± Then she smiled ingratiatingly. ¡°Mr. Lowen, can you put it down with my other one hundred and twenty thousand? Perhaps I could pay it back by working as your maid?¡± She felt that paying back the money was impossible. However, she figured she couldpensate by doing chores like housekeeping and cooking. Her heart would ache if she took out such a huge sum of money, and she didn''t have that much money either. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Looking at Gwendolyn''s expression, Patrick curled his lips. ¡°Ms. Ashton, now you owe me one hundred and fifty thousand, including interest, and I will add it to your IOU.¡± Gwendolyn nodded profusely. ¡°Sure.¡± To her, as long as she did not have to pay back the money now, then it was fine. Patrick''s eyes narrowed, and he spoke in a mild tone. ¡°Remember that you still owe me money. You must not let yourself be involved in any idents or die.¡± Gwendolyn kept nodding her head. ¡°Okay, Mr. Lowen. Rest assured that I will make sure I live to a hundred years old. No, I mean, I will stay healthy and safe before I pay back my debt.¡± That was what she said, but she was cursing him in her heart. What a petty man you are! Are you just afraid that I wouldn''t be able to pay you back the money after I die? Even if I died, I have three children, and they will pay it back for me. Don''t worry, we won''t run away. Patrick''s car zoomed off like lightning, giving Gwendolyn such a fright she leaped right back. It almost scared the wits out of her, as she had almost been swept away with the car. She kicked the air angrily. ¡°Patrick, you bastard!¡± Lucy walked toward her and burst outughing. ¡°Gwendolyn, you are so lucky. The heirs from the two biggest families in Avenport are pursuing you. You really make me envious.¡± Gwendolyn only felt like crying when she thought of the one hundred and fifty thousand she owed Patrick. ¡°Envious? Don''t be envious. All I want to do right now is cry!¡± Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Lucy gave Gwendolyn a hug. ¡°Let''s go. Zayden offered to send us to the hospital.¡± They walked toward Zayden''s car. Zayden stood beside the car, gazing at Gwendolyn intently. Lucy asked softly, ¡°Zayden has been pursuing you for years. Don''t you have any feelings for him?¡± Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn looked at the man d in a brown suit. Zayden was good-looking and had a good family background, making him a great candidate for a husband. However, Gwendolyn had always treated him only as a friend and had never had any extra feelings for him. Besides, she did not want to burden him. She had met his family as well, and they wanted him to marry a woman of simr social status as them. His family did not like her either. They secretly gave her a cheque, asking her to leave Zayden. Although she refused to ept the money, she had fulfilled their wish, trying as much as possible to stay away from Zayden. ¡°None at all. It''s impossible for us to be together.¡± Hearing Gwendolyn''s straightforward answer, Lucy nodded lightly. She felt that Patrick was an outstanding man. However, since Gwendolyn and Zayden were not meant to be, Lucy thought that perhaps Gwendolyn could just stick with Patrick instead. When both of them arrived at Zayden''s car, they said in unison, ¡°Zayden, sorry to trouble you.¡± Zayden smiled faintly as he answered, ¡°It''s my pleasure.¡± It was already five in the evening by the time Zayden sent them to the hospital. They went into the ward and saw several doctors busy working by Mnie''s bed. As blood gushed out of Mnie''s nostrils, the doctor inserted some gauze into her nostrils to stop the bleeding. Being in pain, Mnie kept resisting and crying through her tears, ¡°Mommy! Mommy!¡± The doctors pinned her down. Seeing the situation, Lucy quickly rushed over and consoled, ¡°Mnie, I''m here. Bear with it a little. We need to stop the bleeding.¡± Juliette was so terrified that she hugged Gwendolyn''s leg and said, ¡°Gwen, Mnie is so pitiful. I hope she gets well quickly.¡± She burst into tears as soon as she finished speaking. Gwendolyn felt extremely distressed as well and was biting her knuckles anxiously. Meanwhile, Camille was wiping her tears beside them. Although Justin and Julian were watching calmly, their eyes showed that they were beyond heartbroken. The doctors finally let out a sigh of relief after the bleeding was sessfully stopped. Then, they turned to Lucy and said, ¡°Her illness keeps rpsing. The best solution for her is to undergo the surgery within six months. If we wait any longer than that, then there will be no hope for her to recover anymore.¡± The doctor''s words implied that Mnie had only half a year left to live. The moment Lucy heard that, her eyes instantly filled with tears. ¡°Doctor, when will the hospital find a suitable bone marrow donor? We really need one. I''m begging you.¡± One of the doctors read through Mnie''s medical report and nodded. ¡°We''ll add Mnie to the emergency list, but you''ll have to prepare the money. The treatment fee will be five hundred thousand. If you have it now, you can submit the money first so that the gene bank will give priority to finding a bone marrow match for her.¡± When Lucy heard that she needed to pay five hundred thousand, her face turned utterly pale. In the past couple of years, she had spent all her money on treating Mnie''s illness. Hence, she did not have any savings left. Justin and Julian then walked the doctors out of the ward. The two children were so polite, behaving like adults. Mnie had fallen asleep in exhaustion from all the crying. Lucy tucked her in under the nket while Gwendolyn handed Juliette over to Camille. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, could you bring the kids downstairs and wait for me there? I''ll be with you soon. They still need to attend training tonight.¡± With that, Camille held Juliette''s hand. Juliette was still sniffling and turned her head to look at Mnie sorrowfully Gwendolyn patted Lucy''s shoulder and said, ¡°Luce, don''t worry. We''ll figure something out regarding the money.¡± Lucy sighed and replied, ¡°You shouldn''t worry about this. You have three kids to take care of. How would you be able to get so much money?¡± Gwendolyn recalled that her neighbor''s son had offered to help her get a loan. He even promised that she would receive the money on the same day. She thought that it sounded pretty convenient. Since money was needed to save a person''s life, she wanted to give it a try. ¡°Luce, I need to go now. I''ll call you once I get the money.¡± Just as she walked into the elevator, her phone vibrated. She nced at the screen and saw that she had received a message from Patrick on WhatsApp. Patrick: I want to eat pork ribs, catfish stew, sauteed vegetables, and mushroom soup tonight. Below it was a notification that he had sent Gwendolyn money through PayPal. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Gwendolyn epted the money, which amounted to five hundred. Her eyes lit up when she saw the amount. Mr. Lowen is so generous. I''ll only need two hundred to prepare these dishes. Does this mean I can keep the remaining three hundred? As she pondered about that, she had already decided which market she was going to visitter. Gwendolyn decided to send the three children home first before she headed out to the nearby market to buy the ingredients. Just as she got behind the wheel, her phone rang. She was just using her phone for navigation when she saw the message that she had juste in. Patrick: Remember to send me the receipts. I''ll check the amount spent on the ingredients. Gwendolyn was so infuriated that she threw her phone down. She wanted to curse, but she held back the urge to do so because her kids were still inside the car. Hence, she could only curse inwardly as she drove. Patrick Lowen, you''re such a cheapskate! You''re a b*stard! A freaking j*rk! Those were the only words she could think of. Since she had never quarreled with anyone before, she was at a loss for words. Since Juliette did not take a nap that day and had cried her heart out in the hospital earlier, she immediately fell asleep once she got into the car. In the passenger''s seat, Camille kept sighing. ¡°Mnie is so pitiful. Her mother is suffering as well.¡± Justin put Juliette''s head on hisp before he took off his jacket and wrapped it around thetter''s body. Clearly, he was an extremely thoughtful child. Julian felt sorry for Mnie as well. Thus, he suggested, ¡°Mommy, if we have money, let''s lend some to Ms. Baker!¡± He and Justin had just earned five hundred thousand, and the money was just enough to pay for the treatment fee. Since Gwendolyn was not willing to spend it on anything else, Julian figured that they might as well use it to save Mnie''s life. Gwendolyn was stunned when she heard that, but she quickly snapped out of her daze, as she knew that she had to focus while driving. ¡°All right. I''ll help Lucy. Don''t worry about this and just focus on your studies.¡± Julian assumed that his mother was going to follow his suggestion. He then cast a meaningful nce at Julian. Mommy''s finally been enlightened. Before this, she wouldn''t even touch the money. All she does is act tough. Stupid Mommy really makes us worry a lot about her. Gwendolyn sent the three kids to Snowy Lane before she drove toward the farmer''s market. She had decided to talk to Patrick about the gas fees that night. If he would not reimburse her, she would not drive to the mansion anymore. She would take a taxi there so that he would pay the fare. After spending half an hour in the market, she finally bought everything she needed. In fact, she was not very good at cooking. However, she had no choice but to embarrass herself because she was doing it to pay her debts. I won''t be the one eating the disgusting food anyway. She smirked as she put two bags of groceries into her Fiat before she drove toward Star Mansion. When Gwendolyn was about several hundred meters away from Star Mansion, the tire of her car suddenly blew out. She then got out of her car and saw that the tire waspletely t. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. She kicked it forcefully and cursed, ¡°Why can''t you behave yourself for another several hundred more meters?¡± At that moment, her car was blocking a row of cars on the road. A traffic police officer soon came to tell her to move her car to the rightne. Initially, Gwendolyn thought of driving into the area of the mansion to change her tire. However, the tire waspletely t, so she could not do that, after all. The traffic police asked, ¡°Miss, do you need me to call the tow truck for you?¡± He was worried that the woman could not handle the matter by herself. Thinking about the towing fee, Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°No. I''m fine.¡± The traffic police then gave her a standard salute before he went behind her car to manage the traffic. Ever since Gwendolyn had bought this trashy car, she had mastered countless skills in fixing cars. Hence, she could easily change the car tire by herself. She took out the jack and spare tire from the trunk before she started changing the tire by the roadside. After the car was lifted with the jack, she unscrewed the screws from the rim with the wrench. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Gwendolyn gnashed her teeth as she dismantled the screws from the t tire. She looked extremely attractive at that moment. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Many drivers whistled as they drove past. ¡°Hey, gorgeous! You''re amazing!¡± ¡°Pretty babe! Do you need help?¡± Gwendolyn was so impatient to finish her task that she ignored all those voices. Right at that moment, a sports car came to a halt, and then the car window was wound down slowly. Kevin stared at the woman who was changing the t tire. Isn''t that the woman Pat brought away from the nightclub? It''s only two hundred meters away from his ce here. Does this mean he''s gotten her? He found the matter extremely interesting. Hence, he started to record a video of Gwendolyn changing the t tire and sent it to Patrick. At that moment, Patrick was at home, ncing at the clock every few seconds. It''s already seven o''clock. Where''s that woman? He had called her several times, but she did not answer his calls. Suddenly, he received a WhatsApp message from Kevin. There was a video attached. Kevin: Pat, look who''s here! She''s so soul-stirring and savage! Haha! When Patrick saw Gwendolyn changing the t tire in the middle of the road in the video, his face darkened. She''s not far from here. Why didn''t she ask me for help? What a stupid woman. Then, he put on his coat before he walked toward the location where Gwendolyn was changing the t tire. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was exhausted from tightening the screws on the new tire. In fact, she was tired of being poor and having to do all these by herself. Suddenly, a huge handnded on her shoulder and a deep voice sounded. ¡°Step aside. Let me do it.¡± Gwendolyn was pushed to the side before Patrick squatted down to tighten all the screws on the new tire. Since he was strong enough, he did everything swiftly. Gwendolyn apuded him at the side. ¡°Mr. Lowen, that was amazing.¡± Patrick threw all the tools into the trunk of the car as he nced coldly at her. ¡°Indeed, I''m quite amazing.¡± In fact, he was implying that he was amazing at something else, which he would prove to her soon. They got into the car. Looking at Patrick in the passenger''s seat, Gwendolyn felt sorry for him. His legs were too long to fit in the leg space. Also, his head had touched the roof of the car. Hence, he could only hunch his back, his legs practically folded beneath the seat. Gwendolyn finally understood why there were different sizes of cars. A tall man like him can''t drive such a small car. She said smilingly, ¡°Mr. Lowen, it must have been hard on you. I''ll make a good meal to reward you.¡± Patrick raised an eyebrow as heined, ¡°I''m starving.¡± Gwendolyn knew that she waste, and it was all because of her trashy car. Thus, she mmed her foot on the gas pedal without hesitation. Upon arriving at the mansion, she parked her car and quickly got out of the car, carrying her groceries into the house. Standing in front of the car, Patrick kicked the body of the car. Although he did not even use much force, a dent still formed on the car''s surface. He shook his head as he looked at it. This car really isn''t safe to drive. The next moment, he called Liam, and the call immediately went through. ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± ¡°Liam, go and buy a low profile, safe, and pretty car for me, one that is suitable for women to drive.¡± Liam was slightly stunned. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you have so many different cars in your garage. Do you still want to buy another one?¡± He knew that most of Patrick''s cars were kept unused. Since he wants to gift one to his girlfriend, he could give her one of those cars, couldn''t he? Those cars are all so grand. Women will definitely like them. ¡°Those cars are too conspicuous. I want one that''s more low-key.¡± She''s definitely unwilling to drive those luxurious cars. I''ve used umon means just to get her to come here to cook and clean the house for me. Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Initially, Gwendolyn did not want to put much effort into cooking. However, she changed her mind after Patrick helped her fix the t tire. He looked so handsome when he was helping me. No one would have guessed that the head of the most prominent family in Avenport, the handsome, cool, and aloof man, Patrick Lowen, had just changed a t tire for me at the roadside. Feeling ttered, she decided to make a nice meal for him. Thus, Gwendolyn had Camille in a video call as thetter taught her how to cook, step by step. In the end, the meal took two hours to be prepared. At half-past nine, all the dishes were served. The man, who was wearing a ck bathrobe, threw the book in his hand aside before approaching the dining table. Gwendolyn pulled out his chair obediently. ¡°Mr. Lowen, please sit.¡± Although she had spent quite a long time cooking, all the dishes that she prepared smelled good. She knew that he would definitely enjoy them. Patrick snorted and questioned, ¡°Gwendolyn, do you want me to starve to death?¡± Gwendolyn nced at the time and was shocked. Gosh! It''s nine thirty-five? No wonder I''m starving, too! She quickly pushed all the dishes closer to him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, my car tire blew out today. It won''t happen again. I''ll make sure you get to eat on time from tomorrow onward,¡± she promised, her expression filled with sincerity. Patrick was staring at her. She''s so adorable. How can she be so cute? I feel like pinching her cheeks now. He could not stay mad at her for long after looking at her adorable face. Then, he picked up a piece of pork ribs with his fork and ate it. This is delicious! His expression finally turned better. He then pushed a car key across the table to her. ¡°I have a trashy car that I don''t want anymore, but it''s much better than yours. Drive this from now on.¡± Gwendolyn took the car keys and noticed that it was for a Volvo. Her eyes brightened as she stared at it. Is this a trashy car to him? What an absolute waste! She smiled as she piled his te with dishes. ¡°Here, Mr. Lowen. You should eat more.¡± While Patrick was eating elegantly, Gwendolyn started digging in as well and ate double her usual amount. She figured she must have used up all her energy when she was changing the t tire. Otherwise, why am I eating so much? Patrick smirked as he looked at her eating joyfully. This woman is indeed born to be adorable. After that, Gwendolyn served him a bowl of mushroom soup. She suddenly recalled the matter of the gas fees. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you''ve lent me the car, but if you don''t pay for the gas, I can''t afford to drive the car.¡± Her expression looked so sad that it was clear that she was trying to tell him how poor she was. I''m here to pay my debt. How am I going to pay for the gas as well? If I had such money, I wouldn''t still be working here to pay my debt. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Seeing her eyes darting here and there as she spoke, Patrick was holding back hisughter. However, he would not fall into her trap. However, he knew that she would not drive the car if he did not pay for the gas. I''d better ept her request for the sake of her safety. ¡°Sure. I''ll pay for the gas.¡± Gwendolyn jumped up in delight. ¡°Yes! Mr. Lowen, you''re such a kind person.¡± Patrick took several sips of the soup. He was busy eating, so he ignored how she was boot-licking him. After that, he stood up and ordered, ¡°Clean up the kitchen. Don''t forget to clean up my bedroomter as well.¡± She cleaned the table happily while watching the man walk away. Although she was not used to doing this type of work, it was definitely better than having Juliette suffering here. She would just have to get used to doing the chores. Just when Patrick arrived at the stairs, he heard the loud noise of tes and bowls shattering. He dashed toward the kitchen inrge strides. Is she hurt? Yet, he saw her standing in a daze while staring at the broken pieces on the floor. However, she did not seem to be injured. He said coldly, ¡°I''ll add another two thousand to your debt.¡± Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Gwendolyn finally regained her senses. ¡°Huh?¡± Two thousand? These are just three tes and two bowls. How could they be so expensive? Is he robbing me? Patrick pointed at the broken tes and bowls on the floor and exined, ¡°These are porcin. The golden stripes on them are real gold. Two thousand is a discounted price.¡± How Gwendolyn wished she could pick up all the broken pieces and scratch off all the golden stripes so that she could perhaps sell them for money. Patrick frowned when she saw her stretching out her hands to pick the broken pieces up. ¡°Use a broom. Don''t use your hands.¡± Gwendolyn could only withdraw her hands. He has so many orders. It''s up to me how I want to clean this up, okay? However, the man clearly had no intention of leaving and merely stood there, staring at her. Patrick knew that she would hurt herself if he did not watch her. Seeing him standing there, Gwendolyn felt rather upset because she could not keep the broken pieces after all. These strings are made of gold! They must be the same price as gold, right? Gwendolyn was utterly defeated by her poverty and her life. She no longer had the grace of ady anymore. Patrick did not leave until she threw all the broken pieces into the trash bag and cleaned the kitchen. Looking at how he was standing there with his arms crossed in front of his chest, she had the urge to press a knife against his neck and force him to get rid of the IOU. However, she clearly dared not to do that. When she took off her apron and turned around, she smiled at him and said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''m done cleaning.¡± It was eleven o''clock at night, and she wanted to go home to sleep. Patrick nodded. ¡°My bedroom is quite messy. Clean it.¡± Gwendolyn let out a sigh. Patrick Lowen, it''s eleven at night. Just go to sleep. Can''t I clean the room tomorrow? Her good impression of him hadpletely disappeared. Patrick walked up the stairs and got into his room. Then he sat at his desk and read some documents. Gwendolyn then started tidying his room. She remembered that the bedroom was still clean the previous day. Only several books were scattered around, but all the clothes were clean. She thought she would need at most ten minutes to tidy up the room. However, the bedroom was so messy today, especially the walk-in closet. All the clothes were scattered on the floor. Gwendolyn had to hang the clothes one by one ording to their colors. Then, she saw several of his underwear lying on the floor. She stretched out her hand to grab them but quickly retracted her hand. She had never seen men''s underwear before, so she was too shy even to touch it. Meanwhile, Patrick smiled as he watched the scene, leaning against the door of the walk-in closet. ¡°Gwendolyn, are you interested in my underwear?¡± When she heard the voice, her eyes widened as she hurriedly picked up all the underwear one by one. All of them were branded, and they were ck in color. This man seems to be obsessed with ck. While picking up the underwear, she was smirking as if she was sneering at his size. Original from N?velDrama.Org. It was a taboo to men. Patrick strode toward her in wide steps and pinned her onto the wardrobe, narrowing his eyes. There was a cold look on his face as he questioned, ¡°Gwendolyn, why are you sneering?¡± Gwendolyn felt anxious seeing him getting so close. While holding all the underwear in her hands, she put them in front of her chest. ¡°I didn''t sneer. I''m just sleepy. I was sighing.¡± She was extremely tired. Not only had she fought with someone during the day, she had also worked untilte at night. Patrick leaned closer to her face and asked coldly, ¡°Is that so?¡± The moment he leaned closer to her, her scent hadpletely shrouded him. He could feel his blood rushing through his veins again. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Gwendolyn looked at him vigntly, afraid that he would kiss her again. She stared at his bright red lips with widened, ready to pierce him with the needle at any moment. Patrick saw her staring at his lips, and he wondered if she was wanting the same thing as him. He smirked and then lowered his head to kiss her. Ever since he first saw her, he had wanted to taste her lips so bad, and now he was finally able to fulfill his wish. Gwendolyn was stunned for a moment. When she felt the warmth on her lips, she blinked. Why is he kissing me again? Pervert! Without any hesitation, she pressed her ring, and a thin and long needle appeared. She then pierced it into his neck. At that moment, Patrick was extremely engrossed in the kiss. Suddenly, he felt a pain in his neck, and his body stiffened. He became paralyzed. Gwendolyn quickly retreated from his arms. She took several neckties to tie up his hands and feet before giving him a kick. ¡°Let''s see how you''re going to bully me again. Didn''t your mother teach you not to bully girls?¡± She was a mother as well, so she had taught her sons well. Her sons were extremely obedient, and they would never bully girls. Patrick could not even speak at first. After about two minutes, he blinked and saw that he was tied up like an animal. His face turned terrifyingly dark. What did she do to me? Did she just use an anesthetic on me? Initially, he thought she was a fool and was incapable of protecting herself. He did not expect her to pull such a smart move. Patrick snorted. It''s good that she''s still capable of protecting herself, I guess. ¡°Gwendolyn, let go of me.¡± His deep and cold voice sounded. Gwendolyn was so shocked that she shuddered unwittingly. Whenever she did something bad, she would feel guilty. However, she knew that it was self-defense this time. He bullied me first. Then, she kicked him again. ¡°Patrick Lowen, do you swear you would never bully me again?¡± Patrick narrowed his eyes as he looked at how determined she looked. He frowned and asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, where did you buy this thing? I¡ª Why am I feeling so ufortable?¡± When Gwendolyn heard that, her eyes instantly widened. I bought it in a small shop. I don''t think it even has any certificate of approval or anything like that! She was so frightened that she squatted down and reached out to pat his face. ¡°You''re ufortable? Where?¡± She was feeling anxious because he looked like he was suffering. In fact, Patrick was acting so well that he could win the best actor award. ¡°Y-You used an unregistered product on me? You''d have to be held responsible if I die.¡± Gwendolyn was scared out of her wits when she heard that. ¡°I''ll call the ambnce right now.¡± Her hands were trembling, and she could not think straight. Anesthesia really shouldn''t be used indiscriminately, or it might even endanger one''s life! Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. She was frightened, as she did not want tomit a murder. I can''t go to jail. If Patrick dies, his family will kill me. Seeing how terrified she was, Patrick knew that it was time to stop scaring her. ¡°Gwendolyn, let go of me. I can''t breathe.¡± Gwendolyn had not dialed the number yet because her hands were shaking too badly. Hearing his words, she nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She then dropped her phone and undid the ties on his hands and feet. ¡°How are you feeling now?¡± Patrick took several heavy breaths as if he really could not breathe. ¡°Untie the strap of my robe. It feels so stuffy.¡± Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Gwendolyn wanted to pick up her phone but upon hearing his words, she could only untie his bathrobe obediently. When the bathrobe fell open, it revealed his well-defined chest. Gwendolyn froze before quickly averting her gaze. ¡°How do you feel now?¡± she asked. He really has a great body. His chest and abs look good. How I wish I could touch and feel their hardness. These thoughts made her blush. Patrick watched her intently and was aware of every slight change in her expression. ¡°My chest feels stuffy. Help me rub it,¡± he suggested. As he spoke, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, and he gazed at her with deep, dark eyes. Gwendolyn''s eyes widened in surprise. She was just thinking of touching his chest a moment ago, and he was now suggesting that she did it? She tossed aside all thoughts and convinced herself that she was only helping him since he was feeling unwell. Her eyes twinkled as she stared at the gap between the bathrobe unblinkingly. Then she reached out eagerly. So this is what actual muscles feel like. It''s not like how the novels describe them. They''re not like rocks. They feel warm and are, in fact, quite nice to touch. To conceal her thoughts, she asked, ¡°Does it hurt here?¡± He looked at her blushing face and thought she looked extremely adorable. And of course, he knew what she was thinking. As such, he replied calmly, ¡°Move your hand a little lower.¡± To Gwendolyn, he was hurting at just the right spot, as she wanted to feel his abs as well. Look at those amazing six-packs! Ugh! I wonder when I could ever gain any ab muscles myself? As she cursed internally, Patrick seemed to misread her expression entirely. Huh! It looks like this woman simply can''t resist a man''s charms! Thus, he added, ¡°Move your hand even lower.¡± Gwendolyn was stunned. I''m already massaging his abs. It wouldn''t be appropriate if I moved my hand any lower. However, the unregistered product I used on him might have caused his entire body to ache. It would be better if he went to the hospital. Just then, they heard a voice. ¡°Pat, are you in? I''ll be staying over at your ce tonight!¡± It was Patrick''s grandmother, Alice Parker. However, she froze upon seeing the scene on the floor. ¡°You guys continue. Just pretend that I did note by.¡± Alice closed her eyes and exited the walk-in closet with a slight blush on her cheeks. She thought it was Felicia since Patrick had mentioned that he wanted to marry her recently. Her eldest grandson had finally be enlightened and found himself a woman. Gwendolyn jumped upon hearing Alice''s voice. ¡°Ma''am! You came at just the right time. Patrick is not feeling well. Let''s send him to the hospital.¡± Upon hearing that her eldest grandson was not feeling well, Alice quickly turned around and saw that it was Gwendolyn. ¡°Oh, Gwen! It''s you!¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn covered her mouth in surprise. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, you''re Patrick''s grandmother?¡± She had no idea Alice was Patrick''s grandmother. Now, it made sense why Alice was so wealthy. The two of them held each other''s hands and twirled in circles excitedly. ¡°It''s great that you and Patrick are together!¡± Alice had nned to introduce Gwendolyn to her eldest grandson and did not expect them that they were already together. Patrick looked at the two people who were busy hugging each other and hadpletely forgotten about him. He stood up abruptly and asked coldly, ¡°You don''t care about the person who''s not feeling well at all?¡± Upon hearing that icy tone, Gwendolyn quickly let go of Alice. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, I''m only working for Patrick. It''s not what you think.¡± I don''t even like men. I like women. There are too many sc*mbags out there. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Alice knew from a single nce that her eldest grandson was only pretending to be sick, so she decided to help him. ¡°My dear grandson, where do you feel difort?¡± Patrick was a smart guy. Of course, he knew Alice was trying to help him. He could also see that Alice liked Gwendolyn, which was a positive development. With that, he immediately put on a painful expression and covered his chest with his hand. ¡°My chest hurts.¡± Alice could not help but grin. Looks like he''s serious about this girl this time. It seems I was right. Only a kinddy like Gwen would capture his heart. She quickly guided Gwendolyn''s hand to help support Patrick. ¡°Gwen, help him to his bed. I''ll go find out about his condition from a doctor.¡± Upon saying this, she winked at Patrick, and he raised his eyebrows in response. He leaned his entire body against Gwendolyn and put his hand over her slender shoulders. She gave off a sweet fragrance. Gwendolyn almost lost her bnce, as he was half a head taller than her, and it was quite difficult for her to support him. He continued to lean against her and mumbled, ¡°It hurts...¡± Those words pierced her heart whenever she heard them, as she thought it was all her fault. Her face tightened and she supported him anxiously as they walked. ¡°Patrick, hang in there. Old Mrs. Lowen will return soon after consulting the doctor,¡± sheforted. She dragged him out of the walk-in closet and wanted to help him onto the bed. However, she ended up falling onto hisrge bed with his body pressing down upon hers. Gwendolyn was out of breath and wanted to push him away. However, he said, ¡°Don''t move. Once you move, I''ll hurt and find it hard to breathe.¡± Hearing that, she did not dare to move an inch and allowed the top half of his body to continue pressing down upon hers. Because he was in so much pain, his grip around her body had tightened as well, and she was wrapped tightly in his embrace. Patrick thought it feltfortable to go to sleep while hugging her. She''s so soft, and she smells so good. As such, he mumbled with eyes half-closed, ¡°I''ll take a short nap. Wake me up when Grandma is back.¡± Gwendolyn nodded but suddenly cried out, ¡°No, you can''t sleep! What if you slept and never woke up? I''ve seen the news about people who visited the dentist and died after getting an anesthetic. I can''t let you fall asleep.¡± ¡°Can we do something else then? Otherwise, it''s unbearable.¡± Patrick''s warm breath tickled her face, and Gwendolyn blinked. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Mmm, the peppermint scenting from his body smells good. ¡°What can you do? You can''t even move.¡± Patrick smirked mischievously upon hearing her question. ¡°Can I kiss you? I''ll forget all my pain if I could kiss you.¡± It was the truth. A special feeling stirred in his heart whenever he kissed her. It was simr to those dreams he had six years ago. Gwendolyn was shocked, and it took her a moment to recover. She shook her head vigorously and rejected him, ¡°No way. I don''t like it. I won''t go easy on you if you try to kiss me by force again.¡± This was her bottom line. If she was not willing to do it, he should not force her. Patrick did not wish to overstep her boundaries. He was not in a rush, and there was plenty of time. ¡°I was just joking. I''ll just take a short nap. I promise I''ll definitely wake up again.¡± There''s no way I can just hold her and do nothing. I don''t have that kind of resolve. It''s safer if I take a nap. Gwendolyn continued waiting for Alice, but thetter did not return. In the end, she, too, fell asleep. When Gwendolyn woke up the next day, she felt refreshed. It was the best sleep had had in years. She rubbed her eyes and stretched her arms to the side. This feels great! Suddenly, she heard a low grunt from the man beside her, and blood flowed out of his nose. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 They both jolted upright. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Gwendolyn eximed. Patrick covered his nose, but blood was already dripping from his nose. Seeing Patrick covering his bloody nose and ring at her reproachfully, Gwendolyn suddenly remembered what happenedst night. ¡°Patrick, I''m sorry!¡± Patrick did not respond to her but got out of the bed and walked to the bathroom. She''s so dangerous. I can''t believe I got a nosebleed because of her in the early morning. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was dumbstruck as she sat on the bed. Why am I on his bed? And why does it feel like someone was cuddling me throughout the night? If I have to be honest, it did feel prettyfortable. Just then, Gwendolyn suddenly remembered something. ¡°Where is Old Mrs. Lowen? I thought she went to look for a doctor? Why didn''t she wake me up when she came back?¡± When Gwendolyn was brooding over what happened the previous night, her phone rang. After rummaging around the room, she found her phone in the walk-in closet. As she picked her phone up, she saw that the caller was Justin and was surprised that she had many missed calls. They must be worried sick when I didn''t go homest night. She answered the call at once. ¡°Justin.¡± Justin breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Gwendolyn''s voice. ¡°Mommy, you didn''te homest night. We were worried about you.¡± Justin''s voice was a bit cool and sounded a little unhappy. However, growing up with a good upbringing, he would not get angry nor be unreasonable easily. Gwendolyn replied in a gentle tone, ¡°I''m so sorry! I''m fine. I just spent the night at my friend''s house for work-rted matters and will be back soon.¡± ¡°Mommy, you''ve been naughty!¡± Juliette chimed in. Hearing Juliette''s voice, Gwendolyn could imagine Juliette looking all grumpy and pouting on the other end of the line. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sweetheart, my car broke down, so I couldn''t go home. Can you please forgive me this time?¡± asked Gwendolyn. Juliette snorted before saying, ¡°No, I won''t allow that unless you''re with Mr. Handsome. From now on, you have toe home on time and not stay out anymore.¡± Juliette was taught to say all that by her brothers, Justin and Julian. Gwendolyn felt slightly guilty after hearing Juliette''s words. Indeed, she had stayed with Patrickst night. However, she could never let her children find out about that or the fact that she owed Patrick a lot of money. ¡°I got it. I promise this is thest time. Ask Ms. Ziegler to take you out. You need to get under the sun for calcium,¡± assured Gwendolyn. After a brief conversation, Gwendolyn hung up the phone. She took a deep breath. Who would have thought my children would be managing my life and even giving me a curfew? Just then, Patrick walked out of the bathroom and started to pick out his clothes. Gwendolyn was a little embarrassed about the previous night. When she was about to leave, Patrick stopped her and asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, why do you still drool when you sleep?¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn pretended she did not hear his words and fled the room. The man chuckled as he took off his robe. She''s even cuter when she''s shy! Without washing up, Gwendolyn exited Patrick''s room and ran downstairs with her phone. Alice, who was reading in the living room, heard her footsteps. She raised her head. ¡°Gwen, you guys are awake! Breakfast is ready.¡± The breakfast was not prepared by Alice but by the housekeeper from the Lowen family who hade with Alice. Gwendolyn blushed and said, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, I should get going now.¡± I can''t believe they just let me sleep with Patrickst night. Why is this happening to me? Oh, my God! This better not be real! Alice walked to Gwendolyn and took thetter''s hands with a smile. ¡°Gwen, I know Pat slept with youst night. Don''t worry. You have our back.¡± Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn was taken aback. I was just sleeping next to him. We weren''t sleeping together in that sense of the word! ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, we did nothingst night except for sleeping. I won''t ask for anything from you,¡± said Gwendolyn. Now, she was afraid of even seeing Patrick. In no way did she want him to be responsible for her. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. She retracted her hands and added, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, I need to go now. I still have three hungry kids waiting for me at home. They must be crying for me.¡± Feeling desperate to go home, Gwendolyn was so nervous that she did not even know what she was saying anymore. I must leave before Patrick gets here. Otherwise, he would ask me to pay for another medical bill again. Furthermore, I slept on top of his arms the whole night. His arms must be dead by now. And what about his nosebleed? I can''t believe I just punched him! Ah! I better run for my life now before he asks for money again. With that in mind, Gwendolyn sprinted away, leaving Alice in puzzlement. ¡°She has kids? That''s too bad,¡± Alice mumbled as she watched Gwendolyn leaving. Just then, Patrick came down the stairs. He was d casually in a dark grey sweater and trousers of the same color, and his hair, which was usually slicked back, was falling over his forehead. Compared to his usual stoic appearance, Patrick appeared to be more approachable and younger in that get-up. Alice saw him and asked, ¡°Pat, is Gwen married?¡± It''s wrong if I''d had helped Patrick sleep with a married womanst night. In truth, Patrick saw Gwendolyn run away just now. He pursed his lips before putting his arm around Alice''s shoulder. ¡°Grandma, she has three kids but no husband.¡± After hearing his words, Alice appeared to be baffled. ¡°Is he dead?¡± A chill shed across Patrick''s eyes as he answered, ¡°Maybe.¡± Alice nodded. ¡°Do you really like her?¡± She knew Gwendolyn was a kind and righteous woman and believed women like her were rare. Patrick''s eyes darkened. ¡°I don''t know.¡± He said that because he was not sure about his feelings toward Gwendolyn yet. However, he simply felt an indescribable sense of familiarity between them and wanted badly to get close to her. Patrick walked Alice to the dining hall. As soon as they sat down, the housekeeper served the breakfast. Alice snuck a nce at Patrick during the meal. Judging from his countenance, she believed her grandson had fallen in love. Eating the oatmeal porridge, she asked, ¡°Pat, do you still remember when I asked you to acquire that investmentpany? Back then, I and a few friends of mine nearly fell for their scam. Thepany imed that the money we invested could help the poor children who lived around the mountains. We bought their words.¡± Patrick was curious about how Gwendolyn met his grandmother. Therefore, he kept his ears open as he ate his breakfast. ¡°Well, guess what happened next, Pat?¡± Patrick smirked. ¡°I''ve looked into thatpany. It turns out that their registered capital was only one million, and their business was not legitimate either. Did they try to swindle you?¡± Alice smiled. ¡°You''re right. They were a bunch of scammers. Gwen happened to work for them and saw our group of olddies that day. She secretly told us not to invest our money in the scam and asked us to leave.¡± Hearing Alice''s story, Patrick could not help but smile. I knew it. That sounds like Gwendolyn ¡°So, you asked me to acquire thatpany just to protect her?¡± asked Patrick. Alice answered, ¡°Of course. That girl was kind enough to save us. What a shame it would be if those people in that corruptpany bullied her.¡± Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Patrick gave her a slight nod. ¡°Don''t worry. They didn''t bully her and only caused her to lose her job.¡± After running an investigation, he discovered Gwendolyn was currently submitting resumes tond herself a job. Alice sighed. ¡°Indeed, they had bullied her. Pat, do protect Gwen so that no one can bully her.¡± Patrick said nothing. No one but me can bully her from now on. Right then, the housekeeper came in. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Ms. Ashton is here.¡± Hearing that, both of them thought that Gwendolyn had returned. Did she forget something? Patrick soon realized who she meant and asked, ¡°Do you mean Felicia Ashton?¡± The housekeeper gave a nod. ¡°Yes, it''s the eldest daughter of the Ashton family.¡± ¡°Invite her in, then,¡± Alice stated. Shortly after, Felicia walked into the dining room and shed a pleasant smile. ¡°Patrick, my dad bought some fruits back from his overseas trip. I brought some for you,¡± she offered. After she said that, her bodyguards carried a few boxes full of fruits into the dining room. They were all tropical fruits such as durians, mangoes, and pineapples. Alice had a sudden thought. Gwen has the same family name as Felicia. It would be perfect if Gwen''s from this Ashton family. That way, Hector''s wish woulde true. I truly sympathize with poor Pat. Hector was ill for six years, and the first thing he did after regaining consciousness was to ask Pat to marry this woman. Pat is filial enough to listen to his grandfather''s arrangements. ¡°Ms. Ashton, have a seat. Let''s have breakfast together.¡± Felicia already had breakfast beforeing here, but she didn''t want to reject Alice''s kind gesture. ¡°Thank you, Old Mrs. Lowen.¡± Original content from N?velDrama.Org. After she took a seat, the housekeeper served her breakfast¡ªa bowl of oatmeal porridge, a sunny side up, and some toppings. It seemed simple but delicate. Felicia settled down and ate the oatmeal porridge slowly. Alice noticed her grandson''s expression had darkened after Felicia''s arrival. He also didn''t bother talking to any of them. This youngdy isn''t his type. s, the woman he likes has children. That''s really conflicting. It would be perfect if Gwen is childless. I''m certain I can convince Hector to change his mind. With that thought in mind, Alice decided not to interfere in their rtionship and let Patrick decide for himself. As no one spoke, Felicia turned to look at Patrick. The man was dressed casually, unlike his usual aloof self who was always d in an immacte suit. Oh, what a handsome man! I love him. I really do. Patrick ced his cutleries down. ¡°I''m done. Enjoy your meal.¡± Standing up, he made to leave. Felicia gazed at him adoringly, for she didn''t want him to leave that soon. Alice asked, ¡°Pat, where are you going?¡± It was the weekend, and Patrick was dressed casually. It didn''t seem like he was going to work. ¡°I''m meeting my friend to y golf,¡± came Patrick''s answer. He then strode upstairs. Alice nced at Felicia, whose face had fallen. She must be disappointed, huh? Alice''s lips curved into a grin as she asked, ¡°Ms. Ashton, don''t you have anything on during the weekend?¡± Hearing that, Felicia answered promptly, ¡°Just call me Fel. I''m free today, so I can keep youpany.¡± She initially nned to use the fruits as an excuse to get closer to Patrick, but he remained aloof as usual. Thus, she changed her mind and decided to butter up to Alice. That way, she might get to get closer to Patrick. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Alice nearly spat out the mouthful of oatmeal porridge she had just swallowed. That wasn''t what I meant! I was hinting that she should leave if she is busy. I can''t believe the youngdy misinterpret my words. She seems to possess a low EQ. Felicia nced at her watch. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, should we go shoppingter?¡± She assumed that all women adored shopping, including elderly women like Alice. As she seemed enthusiastic, Alice didn''t reject her offer. Since my eldest grandson left her with me, I should distract her ordingly. ¡°Sure!¡± Meanwhile, Gwendolyn drove her new car back excitedly. It was fast, powerful, and boasted an automatic transmission. There was nothing toin about it. The car was red, but she loved it. After all, she got it for free. I don''t get it. Why did Patrick say there was something wrong with this car? He''s too picky. After arriving at her house, she parked the car carefully. When she got out of her car, her neighbor''s son, Tommy, was basking in the sunlight outside his house. He was chomping down on some peanuts when he saw Gwendolyn alighting from the car. At once, he got to his feet and checked the car out. ¡°Gwen, did you get a new car?¡± Gwendolyn was on good terms with her neighbors. They knew each other well and would often help each other out. ¡°No, my old car broke down, so my friend lent me a car he doesn''t use.¡± Tommy frowned. ¡°Your friend must be rich, right? Is it Mr. Surrington?¡± For the past two years, Zayden had often showed up here. Gwendolyn''s neighbors knew he was pursuing her. Despite pitying her for having to bring the kids up alone, they assumed she was extremely lucky to have a suitor. The Surrington family was an influential family in Avenport. Gwendolyn would be a rich man''s wife if she were to marry into the Surrington family. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°No. It''s another friend.¡± After his initial curiosity, Tommy returned to his chair and continued snacking on peanuts while enjoying the warm sunlight. Before Gwendolyn entered her house, she turned her head around and nced at Tommy. Having a change of mind, she then marched toward him. ¡°Tommy, remember the loan you mentioned before, the one you said I could receive within a day? Is it legit?¡± she asked. As she seemed interested, Tommy swallowed the peanut in his mouth and responded, ¡°Gwen, we''ve been neighbors for two to three years, haven''t we? Do I look like a bad person who would swindle your money?¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Gwendolyn pondered over his words. Tommy wasn''t a bad person despite idling around all day. When she needed help, he would definitely do his best to help her. He wouldn''t trick me. Gwendolyn nced around and confirmed no one was around before whispering, ¡°I''d like to borrow five hundred thousand. How many days will it take for me to get the money?¡± As Tommy told her the loan was interest-free save for the ten percent processing fee, she was interested in it. ¡°Gwen, if you need it today, you''ll receive the money in your ount by tonight,¡± came Tommy''s answer. If Gwen borrows five hundred thousand, I''ll get fifteen thousand inmission. I''ve never had a proper job, and yet, I''m about to earn so much money in a month! At the thought of getting that much money, he urged, ¡°Gwen, if you want to get that loan, you''ll have to hurry. I can''t help you if my rtive lends it to someone else.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn was afraid someone else might beat her to it. She stated firmly, ¡°I''ll have it. Please inform him on my behalf. I''ll get the procedures done tomorrow.¡± After their conversation ended, Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief. The most important thing right now was to treat Mnie''s condition. She was prepared to pawn her ring. It was worth over two million, so asking a mere five hundred thousand for it would be a huge loss. When Gwendolyn stepped into the yard, the triplets were ying together. The boys were doing their homework, and the little girl was having fun with a skipping rope. After seeing her, Juliette ran over and demanded, ¡°Gwendolyn Ashton, where have you beenst night? Be honest with me!¡± Chapter 51 Chapter 51 The sight of the little girl with her hands on her hips made Gwendolyn chuckle in delight. Oh, how adorable. Caressing Juliette''s face, she exined with a grin, ¡°My car broke down, so I couldn''te home and spent the night in a friend''s house instead.¡± She had already exined everything on the phone, and her sons didn''t question her further. Clearly, her daughter was getting smarter by the day. The man who''s going to marry Juliette in the future will have a hard time, huh? Juliette pouted. ¡°Is your friend a man or a woman?¡± My brothers said girls can''t sleep with boys. I won''t forget that, so I need to let Mommy know that, too. Gwendolyn thought about it and replied, ¡°A woman. She''s a pretty olddy. Are you happy now?¡± After learning that Gwendolyn had spent the night with an olddy, Juliette pondered briefly before saying, ¡°All right, then. Next time, remember toe home on time!¡± It was clear that Juliette had epted her answer. Gwendolyn might have omitted some details, but she didn''t lie about Alice. Back in her room, Gwendolyn took a shower and changed into casual clothes. Finally, she felt more comfortable. As she didn''t get to shower yesterday, her body felt really grimy. Gwendolyn pulled her phone out to check her inbox. She wanted to see if anypanies had emailed her to inform her to attend interviews. I sent countless emails, but there''s only one reply asking me to attend an interview! That''s disappointing. The employer is a veterinary hospital, but I don''t know anything about veterinary medicine! She decided to ignore the email and wait patiently until next week to see if there would be more replies. Juliette padded into her room and leaned into her embrace. ¡°Gwen, let''s go to Doll World!¡± she stated earnestly. Her eyes were shining in anticipation. Despite being short on moneytely, Gwendolyn didn''t want to disappoint her daughter. Besides, they had gotten an annual pass a while ago. Hence, Juliette could head there anytime she wanted this year. ¡°Sure!¡± Gwendolyn agreed. She patted Juliette''s cheek again before heading to her closet to get a new change of outfit. ¡°I''lle downstairs after changing my clothes. Let the boys know that we''re heading out soon.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Original content from N?velDrama.Org. With that, Juliette dashed out of the room. ¡°Justin, Julian! We''re going out to have fun. Get ready!¡± Gwendolyn couldn''t help but chuckle upon hearing Juliette''s cheerful voice. Children were easily satisfied, so even something small could bring them delight. She hoped that her kids could grow up in a happy environment. Camille remained at home, while Gwendolyn brought the kids to Codton Mall. Back when Gwendolyn was still close with the Ashton family, she was a frequent customer of this shopping mall. In the car, Justin asked calmly, ¡°Who lent this car to you?¡± Mom should get a new car. Her old car was old and dangerous. Besides, she''s not a good driver. It worries me. Gwendolyn blinked twice, but she dared not spill the truth. ¡°Remember the pretty olddy I told you guys about? It was her who lent me the car.¡± Juliette nodded. ¡°Oh, she''s a kinddy. Next time, you should invite her to a meal at our house.¡± To Juliette, friends should meet up frequently and treat each others to meals. Besides, she loved this car and was utterly impressed by how beautiful it was. Gwendolyn responded, ¡°Okay.¡± After arriving at Codton Mall, the family of four headed to the yground on the third floor. Gwendolyn left them there and reminded Julian and Justin to take care of their little sister. She then headed to the pawnshop upstairs to ask how much her ring was worth. If she could pawn it for five hundred thousand, there was no need for her to borrow money from Tommy''s rtive. Meanwhile, Alice and Felicia had just arrived at the mall. They were taking the esctor when Alice spotted the yground. At once, her interest was piqued, and she peered into the yground curiously. At her age, Alice loved children and wanted a great-grandchild for herself. s, Patrick remained single and showed no signs of getting married anytime. Thus, she could only think about it. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. Why are there two identical little boys who look exactly like Pat when he was young? Chapter 52 Chapter 52 After arriving at the fourth floor, Alice took the elevator down. Her housekeeper and Felicia immediately panicked. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, where are you going?¡± ¡°Be careful, Old Mrs. Lowen.¡± They followed her to the third floor. Alice searched everywhere, but the boys were nowhere to be found. Disappointed, she came to a stop. Shortly after, Felicia and the housekeeper caught up to her. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, slow down. Be careful not to trip yourself.¡± Her housekeeper held her arm, afraid that she''d walk away any minute. Alice let out a disappointed sigh. I yearn for a great-grandchild too much. Even the sight of children resembling Pat made me think that they were his children. I must be crazy, for that''s impossible. Pat''s a smart boy. He''ll know if he gets a woman pregnant. Besides, he had remained single all over the years. Gwen''s the only exception, but unfortunately, she already has children. As a grandmother, she didn''t want her grandson to get a divorced woman with three kids. Patrick was too outstanding a man to settle down with a woman like that. Felicia''s lips curled up as she asked, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, are you tired? Should we have some tea together?¡± It suddenly urred to her that Alice was too old to be going shopping. Thus, she changed her ns and suggested taking Alice to tea. Alice wasn''t in the mood for shopping anymore. Misery crept up her heart as she thought of Patrick''s marriage and Hector''s illness. ¡°Let''s head back,¡± she ordered calmly. Hearing that, the housekeeper pulled out her phone to inform the driver to pick them up at the entrance. Despite her dismay, Felicia dared not voice her objection. She followed Alice back to the Lowen residence. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn arrived at the pawnshop and showed her ring to them. ¡°How much can I get if I were to pawn this ring?¡± she asked. After checking online, she found out that the diamond was expensive, so she''d get around two million if she were to sell it. However, she only needed five hundred thousand to treat Mnie''s condition. The staff took her ring and examined it under the UV light. He then headed into the shop to inform his boss. Soon, his owner came out to greet Gwendolyn personally. ¡°Miss, we can offer two hundred thousand for this ring,¡± he said. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°Five hundred thousand.¡± The owner took another look at the ring and responded, ¡°Then we can''t take it.¡± Gwendolyn retrieved the ring and gripped it in her palm. I checked and confirmed it''s worth two million. How could they offer me only two hundred thousand? That''s too little. They are clearly trying to rip me off, but I''m not a fool. Hence, she stood up and left the pawnshop to head to the elevator. Gwendolyn had never wanted to sell the ring, not even when she was at the toughest point of her life. However, she made up her mind to pawn it after seeing Mnie and Lucy''s plight to help them out. It was more important to save Mnie''s life than wait for that scum to find her. She had waited for years, but the scum never showed up. Sometimes, she couldn''t help but wonder if she was hallucinating or if the man had indeed existed. Six yearster, all she had for him was pure hatred. That was why she decided to pawn the ring in exchange for money. She scrutinized the ring carefully. Hmm, I wonder if other pawnshops will give me a better price? Right before she put the ring back into her bag, a man appeared out of nowhere and snatched the ring from her. At once, Gwendolyn went after the thief. s, she was wearing heels and sprained her ankle. As a result, she failed to catch up with him. Breathless with anger, she burst into tears. How could the thief do this to me? I need the ring to save Mnie''s life! When Gwendolyn called for help to catch the thief earlier, a crowd had gathered. The security guard also showed up and led her to the security room. He showed her the surveince footage and confirmed the footage containing the thief. ¡°Miss, we''ve gotten his photo. We''ll hand it to the police and inform you when he has been arrested.¡± Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Gwendolyn limped out of the security room. Ugh, I''m so unlucky recently. I can''t believe someone robbed me in the mall! That''s really unfortunate. She then took the elevator back to the yground on the third floor. Juliette was drenched in sweat after ying hard, and Julian was wiping her sweat off. Justin got his sister a cup of water and was telling her to finish it. Original from N?velDrama.Org. At the sight of Gwendolyn, the kids waited in their spots obediently. The boys soon realized she was limping and dashed forward to help her. ¡°Mommy, did you sprain your ankle?¡± Gwendolyn forced out a smile when she heard the concern in their voices. ¡°The floor was too slippery, so I slipped and sprained my ankle,¡± she exined. She didn''t reveal the truth to the kids so that they wouldn''t get upset like her. Hearing that, Juliette got Gwendolyn''s tumbler and said, ¡°Gwen, have some water.¡± Gwendolyn took the tumbler from Juliette and took a few sips of water as her heart warmed up. Finally, she felt much better. Beaming, she told the kids, ¡°Go have some fun. I''ll wait for you here.¡± Delighted, Juliette dragged her brothers into the yground and continued ying. Resting her chin in her palm, Gwendolyn stared ahead listlessly. Perhaps the ring isn''t fated to be mine. I might not find that scum, ever. It was fate that led me to lose the ring. At a golf course in the suburbs, the weather was great. The sky was blue without any clouds in sight. It was wintertime, but the sunlight was warm and cozy. Holding his golf club, Kevin posed in a handsome manner before swinging the club out. The ball flew through the air, but it didn''t enter the cup. Lucas Gomez, who was standing aside, chortled joyfully. ¡°Kev, we haven''t met for some time, but your skills are still as bad as ever.¡± Patrick swung his golf club, and the ball entered the cup seamlessly. Kevin responded, ¡°Ugh, I give up. I''m no match for you.¡± Lucas was a major-general in the military, so they rarely get to meet up with him. He had returned this time because his grandfather forced him to attend blind dates. As he was no longer young, it was time for him to get married and have children. The three of them went to the marble table to rest for a short while and drink some water. Kevin was d in a white tracksuit and white cap. He reached out to pull his cap down to cover his eyes. His friends sitting across from him looked ssy in their ck tracksuits. Lucas'' skin was more tanned than his friends. Patrick was fairer than him, but he had a healthyplexion instead of being deathly pale. ncing at his watch, he realized it was about four in the afternoon. Thus, he whipped his phone out to type a text to Gwendolyn. Patrick: I want fondue for dinner. After the text was sent, he held his phone and waited for her reply. As he kept ncing at his phone, the other two men grew increasingly annoyed. Lucas inquired, ¡°Pat, do you really have a girlfriend?¡± After Lucas returnedst night, Kevin met up with him to have dinner together. Lucas had also asked Patrick out, but thetter imed to be busy and didn''t join them for dinner. Kevin kept telling him that Patrick couldn''t make it because he had to keep his girlfriendpany. Lucas didn''t trust Kevin''s words. Kevin might be a good doctor, but he wasn''t a trustable person. Patrick got to his feet. ¡°I''ll go shower and get changed now.¡± Clearly, he didn''t want to continue the conversation. Lucas was disappointed to hear that. He nced at Kevin, and both men stood up. They flung their arms around Patrick and sandwiched him. ¡°Pat, let''s have dinner at your house. It''s been a while since we''ve drank together.¡± Under their expectant gazes, Patrick answered, ¡°Sure.¡± He strode forward and made sure he was out of their reach before sending another text to Gwendolyn. Patrick: You don''t have toe tonight. It''s your day off! Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Gwendolyn had just arrived home with the kids when she saw his text. Before she could reply and ask him what fondue he wanted, another text arrived. After deleting the words she typed earlier, she replied: You''ll still pay me even if I don''t work today, right? That was her primary concern. As she owed him a lot of money, she didn''t want to take any days off. At the thought of the theft today, which caused her to lose the money for Mnie''s surgery, she felt sadness gripping her throat. Thus, she wanted to work hard to punish herself. Gwendolyn vowed to work hard to repay her debts and earn the money to pay for Mnie''s surgery together with Lucy. Aftering out of the shower, Patrick dried his hair with a towel before ncing at his phone. He replied: Of course. Less than a secondter, he received Gwendolyn''s reply: Mr. Lowen, you''re amazing! Muacks! At the thought of not having to work on Sundays, Gwendolyn felt rather satisfied. Patrick''s a great employer, huh? However, Patrick''s brows snapped together when he saw ¡°muacks¡± in her reply. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. D*mn it, she''s seducing me over a text! After dinner, Gwendolyn headed to the hospital with a lunchbox. Lucy was eating when she entered the ward. The meal was from the hospital''s cafeteria. As Lucy seemed to have no appetite, the food was obviously not delicious. Mnie spotted Gwendolyn and shed a smile. ¡°Ms. Gwen!¡± Hearing her daughter''s weak greeting, Lucy turned at her shoulder. ¡°Gwen? Why are you here again?'' At the sight of Lucy''s reddened eyes, Gwendolyn knew she had been worried about getting the money to pay for Mnie''s surgery. She took a seat beside Lucy and offered the lunchbox to her. ¡°Ms. Ziegler prepared your favorite food for you.¡± Gwendolyn then opened another lunchbox prepared for Mnie and started feeding thetter. Mnie was in good spirits today, so she grinned and said, ¡°Ms. Gwen, I can eat by myself.¡± The little girl was so skinny she was practically skin and bones. It was a heartbreaking sight. Gwendolyn helped her ce the lunchbox on the table so she could help herself to the food. Lucy sat at another table and enjoyed her dinner. Camille''s cooking suited her tastebuds. ¡°Ms. Ziegler can cook well. This is great!¡± she praised. Lucy had enough of takeout food. She was about to puke at the sight of them. Gwendolyn sat at the edge of the bed and revealed, ¡°Luce, I was initially nning to pawn my ring to pay for Mnie''s medical bill. However, the ring got stolen today.¡± Lucy''s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Your ring got stolen in broad daylight? Thieves are getting outrageous nowadays!¡± Her gaze darkened as she said apologetically, ¡°Gwen, it was all my fault. I''ll get you a new ring when I get extra money in the future.¡± Gwendolyn told no one about the origin of the ring. After all, it was a ridiculous affair. She had no idea if it was a dream or reality. However, as she had given birth to the triplets, she knew the night had happened for real. Nevertheless, she couldn''t bring herself to spill the truth. ¡°Luce, my neighbor is willing to lend us five hundred thousand. I''ll get the money to treat Mnie''s condition. We can pay the money back slowly.¡± Tears welled up in Lucy''s eyes. ¡°Gwen, I''m trying to sell my house. I can pay the money back after selling it. Thanks for helping me out.¡± Lucy had gone to everyone she knew to ask for help. s, no one agreed to lend her money. After going on her knees before her rtives, she was disappointed to realize that none of them paid her any heed. Perhaps they think of Mnie as a bottomless pit. I don''t have any savings, so they dare not lend me any money. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Then, I''ll have the money ready by tomorrow. Please hurry up and operate on Mnie as soon as possible.¡± Lucy felt an oppressive weight lift off her shoulders. Suddenly feeling hungry, she dug into her dinner. Gwendolyn glimpsed at Mnie, who didn''t have much appetite. After eating only a few mouthfuls, Mnie pushed the bowl away and returned to the bed to y with her Barbie doll. The Barbie doll was a gift from Juliette. Both girls shared a mutual love for it. Therefore, when Juliette went shopping for dolls, she made sure to get one for Mnie. Gwendolyn watched as Mnie yed merrily. Perhaps, this was the only time that thoughts of her illness did not gue the girl''s mind. Gwendolyn stayed until the mother-daughter duo finished their dinner. By then, the nurse had arrived, and it was time for Lucy to leave for her shift in Night City. Hence, both of them left the hospital together. Gwendolyn then saw Lucy off at the entrance to Night City. Before Lucy stepped out of the car, the former asked, ¡°Lucy, do you think I coulde back to dance again?¡± She had felt pretty good about her performance here that night, and it seemed like everyone missed her. Although she did not like the ce much, she was willing to continue dancing here for survival''s sake.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Lucy fell silent for some time. When she turned to look at Gwendolyn, there was a somber expression on her face. ¡°Gwen, since you''ve already left, don''te back anymore. This ce is too chaotic. Now that you''re out, then stay away.¡± Gwendolyn nodded faintly. ¡°Mm, I won''te back anymore, then. Promise me you''ll get a new job too after Mnie recovers.¡± Lucy chuckled. ¡°All right. When that dayes, we''ll be able to eat, drink, and have fun together again.¡± Gwendolyn watched as Lucy entered Night City before driving off. When her phone rang, she picked it up and answered the call without checking who the caller was. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Gwendolyn, I need you toe and get me at tinum te.¡± It was Patrick, whose voice slurred as if he was drunk. ¡°Mr. Lowen, isn''t it my day off today?¡± ¡°I''ll triple your pay.¡± ¡°All right. Wait for me. I''ll be there shortly.¡± Gwendolyn was currently close to tinum te. After hanging up the phone, she made an emergency U-turn, earning a tirade of abuse from the driver behind her. ¡°Where the f*ck did you learn to drive?¡± Nheless, the woman paid no mind to the insults. Her heart soared. Getting triple pay was just what she needed! Overjoyed, she practically sang the entire journey. ¡°The little, wild horse and the thorny rose...¡± Ten minutester, Gwendolyn arrived at the destination. She parked her car at the entrance of tinum te before calling Patrick. ¡°I''m here, Mr. Lowen. You cane out now!¡± Hearing the joyful lilt in her voice, Patrick couldn''t help but smirk. His eyes lit up with amusement. ¡°Why, aren''t you fast?¡± This is the power of triple pay, huh? It only took her ten minutes to get here. I have to admit, I''m impressed. He took a swig of beer and got up from the table as his twopanions stared at him in bewilderment. ¡°Enjoy yourselves, guys. I''m heading off. I think I''m drunk.¡± Seriously? He imed to have gastric pain after taking a sip, which was why we didn''t give him a hard time. Now, he''s saying that he''s drunk? Kevin scolded, ¡°Patrick Lowen! So this is how it is, eh? You forget all about us as soon as you get a woman.¡± Unfazed, Patrick smiled coldly. ¡°You''re right. A woman''s here to get me. Since you two have no women to fetch you, continue enjoying yourselves.¡± Lucas and Kevin were dumbfounded. Is he unting right now? The two of them exchanged a nce and got up from the table as well. ¡°Guess what? We''re both too drunk to drive. You don''t mind giving us a lift in your car, do you?¡± Then, ignoring a certain someone''s stern re, the duo exited the room. Holding on to Lucas, Kevin pulled open the back door of the Volvo at the entrance. After getting in, he said, ¡°Hi, Ms. Ashton. We meet again.¡± Gwendolyn turned around to look at the two. They reek of alcohol! However, these two are truly so good-looking that it''s hard to look away! ¡°Hello!¡± But, have I seen them before? Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Gwendolyn puzzled over who these two men were. Right then, a familiar tall figure opened the passenger door and slid into the front seat. He scowled at the two men in the back. Those two weren''t fooling anyone with their horrible acting. Besides, Patrick knew that their driver was waiting for them in a luxury car. There was no reason for them to squeeze into this run-down vehicle. Kevin chuckled. ¡°Pat, be a pal and drop us off, will you? Otherwise, we can just crash at your ce. After all, Luke''s finally back for once.¡± ¡°Are they friends of yours?¡± Gwendolyn asked. Before Patrick could get a word in, Kevin introduced, ¡°Gwen, I''m Kevin Chavez. You can call me Kev. This is Lucas Gomez. We''re both Pat''s pals.¡± Gwendolyn turned around and smiled at them. ¡°Nice to meet you two.¡± This Kevin''s personality is genuinely great! It''s evident that he''s someone who''s easy to get along with. That Mr. Gomez looks friendly and easy-going as well, unlike this Mr. Lowen. He''s so difficult to talk to. Just look at his foul expression! He''s making it look as if I owe him money! At the thought of that, she giggled. To be fair, she really did owe him money. Still, would it kill him to be friendly? If it weren''t for the triple pay, I wouldn''t even be here. He could drink himself to death, for all I care. Patrick growled, ¡°Get going!¡± Gwendolyn then drove out of the parking lot into the main street. Three luxury cars followed close behind. Looking into the rearview mirror, she spotted a Bentley, a Maserati, and a bulletproof SUV. The four cars drove slowly in single file, looking exceedingly conspicuous on the road. Gwendolyn wasn''t great at driving at night. She had nned to rush through the first traffic light. However, the light turned yellow, and she lost her nerve. In a panic, she hurriedly stomped on the brake. The car then screeched to an abrupt halt. Both Kevin and Lucas mmed into the back of the front seats. Fortunately, Patrick had his seatbelt on. Otherwise, he reckoned he would''ve soared through the windshield. Gwendolyn was unbothered as long as the car had stopped. After all, she would''ve been fined if she were caught running through the red light. This car belonged to Patrick, and she knew how petty he was. He would''ve certainly insisted she paid her own fines. Luckily, I was quick-witted, or I would''ve been short of one hundred and fifty! Meanwhile, Kevin massaged his aching head, feeling slightly dizzy and nauseous. Lucas, on the other hand, was fine. When he was in the army, he had driven through all sorts of terrible terrain. For him, this was merely a tiny bump. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Hemented smilingly, ¡°You''ve got some skills, Ms. Ashton.¡± His admiration was genuine. Not many people could''ve pulled off her little stunt. Pat sure has some bizarre tastes in women. Gwendolyn stuck out her tongue. In fact, she didn''t like braking abruptly either. There were several times when she had to do so while driving her three children, and her heart would leap as they jumped in the backseat. Juliette would then scold her and tell her to slow down. In the meantime, her two sons would reassure her by saying, ¡°Don''t worry. We''re fine.¡± As expected, her sons were more considerate than her daughter. Patrick chuckled. ¡°Are you sure the two of you don''t want to get off at the next stop?¡± He was ted at this opportunity to scare the two of them off. Have they no shame? How dare they get in the car with me? Serves them right. When the light turned green, Gwendolyn made sure to drive slowly, and they arrived at Star Mansion''s entrance without any further incident. When she brought the car to a halt, she turned to Patrick and said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I won''t send you in. I have to make a huge detour if I were to, and it''s gettingte. I hope you understand.¡± She hoped she had made her position clear. Even if Patrick wanted her to send him in, his two friends were still around, which meant he wouldn''t be able to do anything either. He stared at her coolly. ¡°The door.¡± Gwendolyn rolled her eyes. He was really treating her like his driver. Nheless, she got out of the vehicle and opened the passenger seat''s door. Then, she turned to look at the backseat. To her surprise, Patrick''s two friends had disappeared. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Gwendolyn shrieked, ¡°Are your friends'' ghosts, Patrick?¡± Patrick was waiting for her to open the door when he suddenly heard her scream. He turned around and nced at her. ¡°Only your friends are ghosts,¡± he retorted. Gwendolyn''s legs became weak. She pointed at the back seat while trembling. ¡°B-But, they''re gone. There''s no one outside either,¡± she stammered. Patrick looked to where she was pointing and outside. Indeed, the duo had disappeared. He tried to push open the door, but she was standing in the way. ¡°Open the door,¡± he ordered. With shaky hands, Gwendolyn did as told. ¡°Are they really human?¡± she asked in a trembling voice. She had never experienced anything like this before. They were clearly in the car just a split second ago. How did they suddenly vanish into thin air? If they''re not ghosts, then what are they? Monsters? Patrick got out of the car and nced at the interior. He then rounded the vehicle to make sure that those two rascals were not hiding around somewhere. With slightly furrowed brows, he inspected the spot where the backseat door led. Right as he was about to turn around, he felt something amiss. Although it was not well-lit here, there was no way it would bepletely dark. Patrick took out his phone and turned on the shlight, discovering a manhole without its cover. Noticing that too, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°What''s going on? This is so dangerous.¡± The man''s lips pulled into a cold smile. This woman picked the perfect spot to park the car. ¡°Gwendolyn, move the car forward a little,¡± he instructed. Upon hearing that, she quickly got into the vehicle and moved it. When she got out of the car again, she saw Lucas climbing out of the manhole. However, as he was soaked in sewage water from head to toe, he smelled incredibly bad. Gwendolyn had only taken a step closer when she instantly gagged. The smell was too intense, and she could not control herself from dry retching. Lucas shook the sweat off his head and smiled sheepishly. ¡°Wow, Pat. Your girlfriend sure knows the best ce to stop the car. It stinks to the core down there. It''s probably filled with poop. Kev has already passed out from the smell,¡± he said. Kevin was a doctor who had severe germaphobia. It would be weird if he did not faint after dropping into a pile of poop. Patrick had asked for a rope from the gatekeeper. Some security guards came over to help as well. They slid down the rope and tied the end of it to Kevin before slowly pulling him up. When Kevin wasid t on the road, Gwendolyn saw that his face was filled with excrements. Her eyes widened in shock. Thank God it wasn''t me who dropped into it. If she were the one who ended up falling into the manhole, she would have likely fainted as well. Gwendolyn hid behind Patrick. ¡°Is he all right, Patrick? It wasn''t intentional, I promise,¡± she pleaded while shaking her head, her expression mortified. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. It was likely her first time experiencing something like this. She had always been timid, so it was natural for her to be scared. Patrick pulled her into his embrace and gently patted her back. ¡°Don''t worry. He''ll wake up soon. I''ll get someone to send you home.¡± At this moment, Patrick''s driver came out of the mansion. With an arm around Gwendolyn''s shoulder, Patrick escorted her into the car. ¡°Go home. There''s no need to worry about them. They''re as fit as a bull. Nothing will happen to them,¡± heforted her. Gwendolyn was too frightened to drive anymore. Whatever she had experienced tonight had induced enough fear tost her for years. She vowed to double-check the area before allowing her kids to get out of the car in the future. If the three of them ever fell into a manhole, they would definitely drown. It would be hard to find their bodies then. Meanwhile, Patrick bent down to examine Kevin''s nostrils. There was no poop stuck in there, which meant the man wouldn''t suffocate. All of a sudden, Kevin sprung up with wide eyes. ¡°Pat, being your third wheel nearly cost my life!¡± he eximed. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Patrick quickly covered his nose with his hand and stood back up. ¡°All right, let''s head inside to get you clean.¡± He gestured for them to move. Their stench was unbearable. Had it not been for the sake of friendship, there was no way he would allow them to contaminate his residence. The trio walked toward the mansion. The more Lucas thought about it, the more he found it hrious. ¡°F*ck. I''ve juste back, and you guys gave me such a lovely greeting. I''m never going to forget this night.¡± He chuckled. Kevin chastised, ¡°Dear Gwen, we were just ying the third wheel for once. Is it necessary to get us into this state?¡± As they chatted, they could not stop themselves fromughing. Patrick, however, was a mile away from them, for they were too stinky. ¡°me yourselves for being unlucky. It''s not her fault,¡± hemented. If you two ever disturb my time with her again, you''ll get more than a pile of poop! He had just gotten to know Gwendolyn and nned to ease their tense rtionship by having her give him a ride. Now that they had given her such a scare, he would need to visit her and soothe her tomorrow. Once they entered the mansion, Patrick stopped them before picking up the garden hose to hose the duo down. Immediately, the two yelled out loud. It was winter, and the temperature was approximately zero degrees, yet Patrick was still spraying them with cold water. Is he trying to kill us? Kevin was so cold that he could barely form words. ¡°Patrick Lowen, if we end up sick, you better ask Gwen to make us a meal aspensation,¡± he said with his teeth chattering. Kevin was so cold that he could barely form words. ¡°Patrick Lowen, if we end up sick, you better ask Gwen to make us a meal aspensation,¡± he said with his teeth chattering. As soon as Patrick heard that, he immediately sprayed the man harshly again. In your dreams! Only I can eat the food she cooks. Both of you will never have the chance. Concurrently, Gwendolyn finally arrived home. Once she got out of the car, she sniffed her clothes to check if she smelled. In case she did, she remained standing outside to air herself off. However, it was too cold, so she started shivering as well. Tommy had just returned when he saw her fidgeting about in the cold. Hence, he walked up to her. ¡°I''ve settled the money, Gwen. It should be transferred by tomorrow,¡± he informed. Seeing who it was, Gwendolyn smiled and replied, ¡°Thanks, Tommy.¡± The money will be in by tomorrow, and we can pay for Mnie''s medical fees to begin her surgery. How great! Mnie''s finally going to get better, while Lucy will soon be able to live a happy life. We can always repurchase a house in the future. As long as Lucy sells her house, she''ll be able to pay up the money. It''s the best of both worlds. Tommy and Gwendolyn chatted for a while before parting ways. When she entered the door, Camille was still waiting for her. ¡°You''re back, Gwen.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You''re still awake, Ms. Ziegler?¡± Gwendolyn replied in surprise. Camille pointed at the kitchen. ¡°I prepared some mulled wine for you. Let me get you some before you go to sleep.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°I''ll go and take a quick shower.¡± She felt that her clothes must have been tainted by the stench. Hence, she wouldn''t be able to stomach anything without a shower. After twenty minutes, she came back downstairs and sat before the coffee table in the living room. The mulled wine was at the perfect temperature. Camille sat next to her and watched her drink it. ¡°Gwen, when do you n to let us meet your boyfriend?¡± When Gwendolyn fell sick that day, it was her boyfriend who took care of her. In fact, he took care of her pretty well. Moreover, the neighbors had imed that the car that was parked outside was expensive. Camille felt that it would be great if Gwendolyn could marry a rich man and live a good life. Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn nearly choked on her drink. She paused to calm herself down. ¡°Where did you hear that from, Ms. Ziegler? There''s no such thing,¡± she denied. Gwendolyn had no intention of dating at all. After all, she did not want to associate herself with the opposite gender. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Camille smiled and said, ¡°Don''t hide it from me. Thest time you were sick, his car was right outside. Moreover, he had bodyguards following him.¡± I saw it with my own eyes! How could I be wrong? Gwendolyn heaved a sigh. No wonder I didn''t see her that day. So this is the reason why. She had given that fellow all the space, causing me to owe such a massive debt. ¡°No, Ms. Ziegler. He''s not.¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. After her voice fell, she turned to savor her drink in silence. Sensing Gwendolyn was unhappy, Camille did not probe further. ¡°I''ll go to bed now. Rest early.¡± ¡°Good night,¡± said Gwendolyn. While she enjoyed her drink alone, her phone on the table rang. Seeing that it was Patrick calling, she answered the call. ¡°Are Mr. Chavez and Mr. Gomez okay, Mr. Lowen?¡± Patrick had already taken a bath. He believed that Kevin and Lucas, staying in the guest rooms, would likely clean themselves several times. Kevin, in particr, would most probably bathe for an entire night. He smiled. ¡°They''re fine. Don''t worry. You''re asleep?¡± Her voice was not clear as she was busy drinking. ¡°Oh! Not yet. Ms. Ziegler made me mulled wine. I''m drinking it right now.¡± Hearing this, Patrick wanted to taste it as well. ¡°Do you want me to double your wage, Gwendolyn?¡± The woman''s eyes lit with excitement when she heard his words. Then, she lowered her cup and said, ¡°Of course! Who wouldn''t want extra money? I''m not a fool!¡± Patrick knew that his offer had piqued her interest. He could even picture her eyes flickering with money signs. Patrick knew that his offer had piqued her interest. He could even picture her eyes flickering with money signs. Then, he said in a low voice, ¡°I want to drink mulled wine every night too.¡± Gwendolyn froze momentarily. ¡°Um, I don''t work overtime, Mr. Lowen. I need to take care of my children.¡± She could not renege on her promises to her children. Moreover, they could not see her during the day. If Patrick insisted, she would not be able to see them at night either. That way, she would miss out a lot on the growth of the triplets. When they would attend university, she would only be able to see them once per semester. It would be even lesser after they had jobs. Time was flying by. Hence, she wanted to treasure the time they had for now. Patrick could tell from her tone that she was unwilling to do it for him. ¡°Well, can I go to your ce and have mulled wine before returning home?¡± This was the bestpromise he coulde up with. He added, ¡°Your housekeeper can make it. You''ll still earn double without having to do anything.¡± The man knew exactly how to cajole her into agreeing to his offer. Gwendolyn giggled discreetly. This is too easy! ¡°All right! Deal! Remember, double!¡± At the thought of being able to visit her house openly, Patrick smirked. I finally have the chance to deal with her children. That way, I''ll be a part of her family in the future. However, he suddenly shook his head, finding something abnormal. Why do I want to ept her so badly? I was only ying the giddy goat with her, but it seems different now. ¡°All right. Go to sleep early. Good night!¡± Without giving her an opportunity to say a word, he hung up the phone. Immediately after that, an air of depression shrouded him. The next day, Gwendolyn wanted to look through her job-rted matters after sending the triplets to school. At that moment, Tommy knocked on the door. ¡°Gwen, open the door.¡± Gwendolyn opened the door and asked, ¡°Tommy, are we going to sign the agreement now?¡± This is too early, no? It''s only eight in the morning. I thought we would only go around nine or ten o''clock. Tommy was eager to get themission, so he thought the earlier, the better. ¡°It''s best that we go now, Gwen. By the time we arrive, it will be nine on the dot. That''s when they start work,¡± he exined. Gwendolyn felt that he was right. Hence, she said with a smile, ¡°Wait a moment. I''ll go grab my ID card.¡± Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Gwendolyn followed Tommy to sign the agreement. Not long after, the money was credited to her ount. Before she left, she scanned around and noticed that it was quite a legitimatepany. It had a spacious office space, and the sign at the entrance was eye-catching. The name of the financial institution was Simple Loan Company, which sounded down-to-earth. After apanying Gwendolyn to the parking lot, Tommy said, ¡°Drive carefully, Gwen. I have to go to work now.¡± She nodded, having heard Tommy''s mother saying that he had found a decent job. Looks like it''s true. ¡°Thank you, Tommy. I''ll treat you to a meal soon.¡± After finishing her words, she started the car engine and bade farewell to him. When she arrived at the hospital, she went straight to the ward and saw a nurse give Mnie an injection. The girl cried in despair, which was a distressing scene to witness. Gwendolyn hurriedly walked toward Mnie and coaxed her with Lucy. Due to chemotherapy, Mnie''s hair was gone, and she had be bald. However, she still had a pretty face. Perhaps she had gotten too thin, her eyes were exceptionallyrge and bright in contrast. Lucy''s eyes were teary. As Mnie''s mother, it tore her apart to see her daughter in so much pain. Fortunately, Mnie fell asleep right after the injection, no longer making a fuss. Seeing this, Lucy heaved a sigh of relief. Then, she turned to Gwendolyn and threw herself into the latter''s arms. ¡°How I wish I was the one suffering in pain, Gwen.¡± She cried silently as she spoke. ¡°How I wish I was the one suffering in pain, Gwen.¡± She cried silently as she spoke. She had cried umpteen times over Mnie''s illness. ¡°Dear God, I''m begging you! Please save my child. I''m willing to use twenty years of my life in exchange for her recovery, please!¡± Lucy pleaded softly. Gwendolyn''s breath hitched in her throat when she heard that. She patted Lucy''s back lightly, calming the woman down. Lucy cried for some time before regaining herposure. She then retracted herself from Gwendolyn''s arms. Rubbing her reddened eyes, she asked, ¡°Gwen, haven''t you found a job yet?¡± She thought that Gwendolyn had not found herself a job because thetter was here this early. Still, she did not want Gwendolyn to work at Night City anymore. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn took out the card from her purse carefully and said, ¡°Luce, here''s five hundred grand. I borrowed the money with help from my neighbor''s son. The processing fee is ten percent of the amount. It''s not too high. Use this money to pay Mnie''s medical fees first. You can return it to me after you sell your house.¡± Looking at the card, Lucy sniffled, having the urge to weep once again. ¡°Thank you so much, Gwen!¡± At present, all of Lucy''s rtives were avoiding her, fearing that she would ask to borrow money from them. Thankfully, she still had Gwendolyn. Thetter beamed. ¡°Why are you being so polite? Just take it, Luce. I''ll be here apanying Mnie. Hurry up and pay now.¡± Lucy epted the card and left to make payment. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn tucked the nket in for Mnie. Looking at the girl''s peaceful expression, Gwendolyn believed that Mnie would certainly be a beauty once she grew up. She had already informed Lucy that she hoped Mnie would be her daughter-inw in the future. She believed that either Julian or Justin would take good care of the girl. After Lucy paid the fees, she returned to the ward immediately. Her mood finally turned better. Besides, she was holding an IOU in her hand. ¡°You must take this, Gwen. We have to be clear on financial matters.¡± Initially, Gwendolyn wanted to reject it. However, she gave in as she wished to give Lucy peace of mind. After chatting for a while, Gwendolyn stood up and left. She got into her car, finally willing to drive after Patrick assured her that he would give her an allowance for car fuel. He has so much money anyway. I''m more than willing to help him spend some of it! At that moment, her phone rang. As she had been looking for a job, she felt that it could be from a prospective employer. Hence, she quickly picked it up and answered, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Hi, is this Gwendolyn Ashton? We''re calling from Cute Pets. Do you have time for a walk-in interview today?¡± Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Sure enough, the call was from a recruiter, and they seemed to be from apany called ¡°Cute Pets.¡± However, Gwendolyn felt a little concerned as she didn''t apply to it, nor had she ever taken care of animals. Nheless, it seemed to be a well-known franchise store. As it was difficult to find work these days, she gritted her teeth and decided to try it out. It was better to be employed, after all. ¡°Yes, I am. I''ll be right over. Please let me know the address,¡± she said. Gwendolyn ended the call after receiving the information. She then drove over in her car right away. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. When she arrived, she discovered that Cute Pets was a massive store. It even had arge parking lot set aside for pet owners in front of the entrance. It was still in the morning at present. Hence, the area was mostly deserted, save for a few cars. Gwendolyn walked into Cute Pets and was introduced to the HR manager by the receptionist. She was a middle-aged woman, wearing formal office attire and ck-rimmed sses. Gwendolyn genuinely did not expect a pet store to do so well. She began to be intrigued and inquired about the sry. Veterinarians were the highest-paid employees here, which she naturally couldn''t be since shecked the necessary qualifications. Regardless, the HR manager seemed to take a fancy to her. ¡°Gwendolyn, ourpany conducts itself professionally. Take a look at our sterile environment. Moreover, we have several openings avable. You may apply for whichever you wish.¡± Gwendolyn had never been treated so kindly before, even given the option to choose her job. ¡°Ms. Miller, I would like to apply for the highest paying position avable,¡± she said sweetly, having decided on a job with a high sry. Kerry Miller smiled brightly and quickly brought her through the induction procedures. However, Gwendolyn still had no idea what her position was afterpleting everything. ¡°Gwendolyn, please remember to arrive by ten in the morning tomorrow. Don''t bete.¡± Gwendolyn was slightly dumbfounded. All she had done was show up for the interview, and she had gotten the job. It was all over in a blink of an eye! ¡°Ms. Miller, we discussed how I''d be paid fifteen thousand per month. So what exactly is my position going to be?¡± She had only mentioned that she wanted to apply for the position with the highest pay, and they immediately hired her on the spot without giving her a chance to rify. Hence, she had to do so before she left. ¡°A breeder,¡± Kerry answered, grinning. Gwendolyn had never heard of such a position, but when she thought about the fifteen thousand monthly wages, she decided to go with it anyway. After leaving Cute Pets, she began researching on her phone. As she continued to search on Google, her brows furrowed. A breeder was a person who raised and bred young animals. The job wasn''t the most refined, which exined the high pay. She sighed and exited the page, no longer wanting to read further. ¡°Gwendolyn Ashton, it''s fifteen thousand! Think of the four to five jobs you had to work a day to make fifteen thousand a month. You now have weekends off and only have to work seven hours per day. There will be plenty of time for you to spend with your children,¡± she muttered to herself. In the end, she decided to stick with it. Gwendolyn did not immediately return home. Instead, she went grocery shopping and drove to Star Mansion, wanting to check on Kevin and Lucas afterst night''s incident. She sincerely hoped the two were doing well. Otherwise, Patrick would definitely seek remuneration from her. Patrick was filthy rich while she was poor, yet he always seemed to find ways to make her pay. After parking the car, she got out of the vehicle and went to the trunk to get the groceries. Then, she entered the mansion''s door and headed to the kitchen. Seeing Gwendolyn from upstairs, Felicia was astounded. She hurriedly ran down the staircase. ¡°What are you doing here, Gwendolyn?¡± This was Patrick''s home, and ording to Alice, the man preferred silence. Hence, she wondered what this woman was doing here. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Gwendolyn, on the other hand, was not surprised. Patrick had been to the Ashton residence to meet the family, and the two had a rtionship. Thus, it wasn''t unusual for Felicia to appear at his home. Ignoring her stepsister, Gwendolyn carried the groceries into the kitchen and stored them in the refrigerator. Felicia followed her the whole time. ¡°Hey? I''m talking to you!¡± Gwendolyn found the woman irritating. She picked up a knife and held it against Felicia''s neck. ¡°If you value your life, shut it.¡± Thetter''s eyes widened in horror as she felt the de touch her skin. ¡°Y-You maniac! I''m Patrick''s fianc¨¦e! You''ll be in jail if I die, and your triplets will starve on the streets!¡± She nched. Gwendolyn sniggered. ¡°Thank you for your concern, but someone will look after them on my behalf.¡± She applied force on the de after speaking. Felicia quickly backed away and screamed while fleeing the kitchen, ¡°S-Someone, save me! Help!¡± She felt that Gwendolyn was serious about killing her. After all, in the past, they had done the same things to the woman. If she doesn''t die, she will surely turn the knife toward us someday! Alice and the housekeeper hurried down when they heard her screams. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± All of them wondered why she was screaming in terror. Felicia ruffled her hair and sobbed, ¡°S-She wants to stab me to death!¡± Gwendolyn walked out of the kitchen, casting a sidelong nce at Felicia. ¡°I wouldn''t dare to kill someone.¡± Spotting Gwendolyn, Alice smiled. ¡°Of course, she wouldn''t. Gwen''s a sweet person. There''s no way she''d ever hurt you!¡± She approached Gwendolyn, taking thetter''s hands in hers. ¡°What brings you here, Gwen?¡± As she spoke, she finally recalled that Felicia was someone Hector wanted Patrick to marry. But Pat doesn''t like her, and neither do I. After getting to know the two of them, she preferred someone like Gwendolyn, who was genuine and unpretentious. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. When Felicia saw how close Alice and Gwendolyn were, her eyes darkened. Why is she behaving so intimately with Old Mrs. Lowen? D*mn it! Is she trying to get between Patrick and me? She made her decision as her gaze grew colder. I need to get rid of her as soon as possible. Gwendolyn merely gave a faint smile. ¡°I''m here to return my debt.¡± Even if she were telling the truth, her words sounded different to Alice. Thetter couldn''t help peeking at Gwendolyn''s lower abdomen. Is it possible she''s carrying a child with the Lowen''s bloodline? Her mood lifted at the thought. After all, seeing Patrick''s children was more important to her than anything else. Although Gwendolyn had had children, Alice didn''t mind. After all, divorce rates were high these days, and Alice believed Gwendolyn had simply been unlucky to meet the wrong person in the past. Now that she met Pat, her life will definitely be blissful! Alice had a lot of faith in her grandson because he was outstanding and attractive enough. Hence, she was confident that Gwendolyn would be happy with him. She led Gwendolyn to the living room and instructed the help to prepare coffee for them. Meanwhile, Felicia was forgotten and left behind. She should''ve been wise enough to leave, yet she was reluctant. She felt that she needed to stay by Alice''s side at this juncture. Hence, she followed them and sat on the other empty chair beside Alice. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, I might''ve misunderstood earlier. I had no idea you knew Gwendolyn,¡± she exined with a smile. Alice nodded. ¡°Yes, I do know her. Gwen and I are friends. Anyway, how do you know her? Since you both have the samest name, is she also a daughter of your family?¡± Felicia cast a cold nce at Gwendolyn and borated, ¡°Nope. She''s the daughter of one of our housekeepers. My grandfather liked her so much that he gave her the Ashtonst name.¡± Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Gwendolyn didn''t feel like exining as she waspletely disappointed in Zachary. She didn''t want to be his daughter. Hence, when Felicia said that she wasn''t a daughter of the Ashton family, she wasn''t sad at all. There was no point in her exining things anymore. After all, even her grandfather had silently acknowledged that she wasn''t one of them. Alice grabbed Gwendolyn''s petite hand. What a pity that she didn''t have a privileged background. Look at her exquisite beauty. But, it''s all right. As long as she wins Pat''s heart, she will belong in the upper ss. Felicia straightened herself proudly. She was extremely pleased as she was now the respected daughter of the Ashtons, and Gwendolyn was no longer a threat to her. In her knowledge, as a prominent family, the Lowens were bound to take their grandson''s wife''s background into serious consideration. Thus, it didn''t matter if Gwendolyn had unrestricted ess to Patrick''s mansion. After all, she could only enter his personal properties. There was no way he could bring her back to the Lowen residence. Gwendolyn initially nned to prepare dinner first. However, Alice wanted to chat. Thus, she ordered the housekeepers to do the work. Gwendolyn could only keep Alicepany and watch TV shows. Felicia, who wasn''t a fan of TV shows, gradually fell asleep while watching. Meanwhile, Alice tugged Gwendolyn''s hand and sniffled. ¡°Gwen, this plot is too tragic! That second female lead is clearly the one whomits all those atrocities, yet the female lead is the one to take the me. Oh, I feel so bad for her!¡± Gwendolyn was touched by the show as well. She took a tissue to wipe away her tears. ¡°That male lead is too brainless. Why doesn''t he listen to the female lead? She''s already exined herself. Oh, my heart!¡± When Patrick came home, this was the scene he witnessed¡ªan old and young beauty sobbing together. Stunned, he asked the housekeeper, who came to greet him, ¡°What''s the matter with them?¡± Aren''t they on good terms? Why are they in a fight all of a sudden? The housekeeper smiled and replied, ¡°Mr. Lowen, they''re watching television. Perhaps it''s a heart- rending story that broke their heart.¡± Realization dawned on the man. I see. These two are really alike, huh? They even cry over the same thing. With that, he approached them and nced at the television screen. He then sat beside Alice and asked, ¡°Grandma, why are you free today?¡± I seldom see her around as she''s always with Grandpa. Alice looked at her grandson after she finished weeping. He looks so good in a suit. My grandson is so handsome! She then shifted her gaze to Gwendolyn, who was sitting aside. Gwen is so beautiful too! They are practically a match made in heaven. ¡°I came because I missed you,¡± she replied. If Patrick knew that Alice wasing, he wouldn''t have ordered Gwendolyn to cook for him. After all, he had decided that he was the only one who could taste her cooking. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn''s eyes and lips were red after crying. Her sad and pitiful expression only enhanced her beauty. Patrick stared at her deeply and uttered, ¡°It''s fictional. Stop crying.¡± Gwendolyn froze when she heard his cold voice. However, after ncing at him, her tears started sttering down on the floor again like beads of jewels. Patrick was dumbfounded. I wanted to console her at first. Why has the situation be worse? A hint of helplessness shed through his eyes. He quickly reached out to wipe her tears. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. As his slender fingers brushed across her face, he felt her smooth skin that was as soft as a baby''s. A smile appeared on Alice''s face as she witnessed the scene. As expected, Pat has met his match. Such an intelligent and powerful guy like Patrick was typically the one who had the situation in control. This was the first time he seemed to be wrapped around someone''s little finger. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Gwendolyn couldn''t stop crying once she started. When she felt his fingers caressing her cheeks, she hurriedly backed away in shock. With that, she sat on Felicia''s face identally, causing thetter to shriek and jump to her feet. ¡°Ahh! Gwendolyn Ashton, are you trying to kill me?¡± As she had just woken up from her sleep, her voice was harsh and high-pitched. She had forgotten where she was. The only thing she saw was Gwendolyn''s buttock moving away from her face. Hence, she reprimanded thetter without any thought. Gwendolyn stood aside and said indifferently, ¡°I didn''t do it on purpose.¡± They seemed to have forgotten about Felicia''s presence previously. It was only now that Patrick noticed her. ¡°It''s true that she didn''t do it on purpose. Just go home and rest if you''re tired,¡± he rified, his brows furrowed. Following that, he rose and remarked, ¡°Grandma, Gwendolyn, it''s time for dinner.¡± A trace of confusion shed across Gwendolyn''s eyes. Isn''t he engaged to Felicia? What''s with his distant attitude toward her? She nced secretly at Felicia, only to notice thetter''s dull expression. Patrick didn''t ask her to eat together. Does she have the guts to stay back? Felicia bit her lip and called out, ¡°Pat, wait a minute. I have something to ask you.¡± The man stopped in his tracks while Alice and Gwendolyn headed to the dining hall. Felicia and Patrick were left alone in the living room. He ced his hands into his pocket casually and looked at her impassively. ¡°Ms. Ashton, you should know well that there''s nothing between us other than that contract. I hope that you can stay out of my life unless you''re required to appear for the sake of putting up an act.¡± Felicia felt her heart churning as she bit her lip. ¡°I know my ce well. However, everyone knows that I''m your fianc¨¦e. I hope that you will keep a distance from other women.¡± Upon hearing that, Patrick suddenly sneered. ¡°Ms. Ashton, I will never change for anyone, let alone a fake marriage. If you can''t ept it, we can terminate our contract right this instant.¡± Felicia''s heart skipped a beat at his words. So he really wants to terminate the contract! If he does so, I will lose the only chance to get close to him. Besides, everyone in the Ashton family is trying to curry favor with me as they assume that I''ll be a Lowens soon. Even Grandpa isn''t as distant to me anymore. From time to time, he will ask me about the wedding matters. Hence, I can''t afford to lose the contract! Therefore, she forced a smile and replied, ¡°I didn''t mean that, Pat. All right. I will no longer interfere with your private life, and I''ll refrain from showing up in front of you. Still, Old Mrs. Lowen will invite me over at times. I''d feel bad turning her down.¡± Old Mrs. Lowen shall take all the me for today! She picked up her purse. ¡°I''ll take my leave, then. Just call me when you need me.¡± With that, Felicia quickly made a beeline for the entrance, fearing that he would terminate the contract if she were slow. That way, she would be the joke of the Ashton family. Even her friends would view her as aughing stock. After watching the woman leave, Patrick headed to the dining hall. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Alice and Gwendolyn had already dug in. Thetter was staring at her te in shock as the former had ced many dishes on her te. Patrick knew that she was hesitating if she should finish them all. If she didn''t, Alice would definitely be disappointed. Hence, he sat beside her and grabbed his fork to scoop half of her meal into his own te, digging in gracefully. Gwendolyn finally heaved a sigh of relief. She took a quick peek at Patrick, who was enjoying his meal as if nothing had happened just now. Well, a trash bin is actually quite useful. Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Patrick wasn''t aware that a woman had treated him as a trash bin. However, she was merely joking around. After all, she didn''t have the guts to do so in reality. Noticing Felicia''s absence, Alice knew that Patrick had made his choice. Naturally, she would support her grandson unconditionally. After dinner, she was in a hurry to leave the mansion. Before she left, she told Gwendolyn, ¡°Gwen, I should get going now as I turn in early. Besides, I need to apany my husband too. So, I will leave the dishes to you!¡± She cast a meaningful look at Patrick as she said so as if implying to him to seize the chance. Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Sure, I''ll do the chores. Goodbye!¡± Alice then left together with a few housekeepers, leaving the entire mansion to Gwendolyn and Patrick. The man sat on the couch in the living room and was on a business call. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn washed the dishes in the kitchen. She could hear him from time to time, yet she couldn''t understand a word. Therefore, she decided to pay attention to the chores. She didn''t dare to wear gloves while washing dishes anymore as she had learned her lesson. After all, she couldn''t afford to break any more tes in this ce. Gwendolyn treated the tes carefully as if treating a precious piece of art. Slowly and carefully, she washed them te by te, afraid that she would spoil them by ident.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Finally, she wiped every te clean without breaking a single one and kept them in the cab, finishing her job wlessly. Once she left the kitchen, she walked toward the living room. Patrick had hung up the call by then and was watching the news. Gwendolyn applied some hand moisturizer as she stood nearby him. ¡°Patrick, are Mr. Chavez and Mr. Gomez okay?¡± Those two poor things. How unfortunate for them to fall into a manhole that''s full of poop! Patrick shifted his gaze to her and sized her up. How gorgeous. Look at her alluring figure! How can those two criticize such great beauty as a jinx, even asking me to stay away from her? Pfft! A hint of displeasure rose in his eyes. If they dare say such things again, I''ll give them a good beating! ¡°They''re fine. Don''t worry about them,¡± he replied. Although she didn''t believe him, she didn''t probe further since he wasn''t pursuing the matter. ¡°I''m d to hear that.¡± With that, she went upstairs to tidy up his room. However, Gwendolyn was dumbfounded the moment she saw his bedroom. Why is it always so messy these days, looking as if someone had rummaged through it all? I won''t doubt if it''s a job of a thief. The books are all scattered around! Aside from that, the pillows and bedsheets were on the ground too. Even the clothes in the walk-in closet were tossed out and littered all around. Oh my god! How long will it take for me to clear up all this chaos? As expected, this debt isn''t easy to pay off. Still, what options do I have? I''ve already signed with my fingerprint. It''s toote for regrets. Thus, she resigned herself to her fate and started tidying up. At the same time, Patrick went upstairs as he had finished watching the financial news. When he entered his room, he saw her bending over with her buttocks pointed to the sky, picking up the books on the floor. Today, she was wearing a white blouse and a bodycon skirt, her coat hanging on the couch downstairs. Besides, her ck stockings, which wrapped around her slender legs, made her look exceedingly seductive. Patrick ced his hands in his pockets and leaned against the door to enjoy the view. Gwendolyn, meanwhile, had no idea of his presence. The man''s stare grew increasingly dark like ink. His lips raised faintly as he strode toward her. With a raise of his hand, he pped her buttocks and said, ¡°Gwendolyn, are you doing it on purpose?¡± Following that, he hugged her waist from behind and uttered in a devilish voice, ¡°So you want to try out this position, huh?¡± Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Gwendolyn was struck dumb by the hit. She nearly screamed when she felt the arms around her waist and his thighs pressing against her rear. Hearing his words, she narrowed her eyes slightly. ¡°Let go of me, Patrick. It is none of your business about my positions. If you want to try it, do it yourself!¡± She twisted her body as she struggled, attempting to break free. However, it only served to darken the man''s expression. Her actions had turned him on. His lips pursed, and he gave another p on her buttock. ¡°Don''t move.¡± His icy voice wasced with a warning tone. Gwendolyn wanted to straighten up, yet she couldn''t do so with Patrick hugging her. The posture began to tire her out. Infuriated, she threw the books back on the floor. ¡°Let go! My waist is going to break!¡± However, her scoldings sounded like an invitation to him. This woman is deliberately seducing me, huh? Such words would only make me excited. Thus, his arms tightened around her slim waist involuntarily, pressing her down. He closed his eyes to enjoy the touch of her body. Gwendolyn felt that her waist was on the verge of snapping into two. She struggled once more and straightened herself, cing her hand on his. ¡°Let go! Hurry up!¡± This fellow is taking advantage of me again! Ugh! How I wish I could prick him with a needle! However, I''m worried that his heart couldn''t take it. For a while, both sides were at an impasse. After some time, Patrick finally released her. He had resumed his aloof and apathetic demeanor once again. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Staring at her indifferently, he said, ¡°Don''t wear such a short skirt anymore. Do you hear me?¡± After regaining her freedom, Gwendolyn tugged her skirt down, not forgetting to re at him. ¡°How is this any of your concern, Patrick Lowen?¡± The man smiled deviously. ¡°Of course, it is. You were obviously seducing me just now.¡± Then, he took a step forward and pinched her chin, not giving her the chance to move a bit. Startled again, Gwendolyn widened her eyes in fear. ¡°Don''t you kiss me, Patrick Lowen! O-Otherwise, I''m going to stab you!¡± She waved the ring on her finger menacingly, signaling him to take caution. Patrick had experienced its prowess before. The ring could easily exhaust one''s strength within five minutes. It was a useful tool to be carried everywhere with her. However, he didn''t want her to use it against him. ¡°I may truly be dead if you prick me with it again.¡± Let''s terrify her! Gwendolyn actually believed him. Not daring to stab him, she softened her voice and said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, you have a fianc¨¦e, and I''m a mother of three. We should keep a distance from each other. Do you understand? I don''t wish to be called a homewrecker.¡± That was the word she hated the most as her family was ruined by a homewrecker. Her mother went missing, and she was forced to grow up in a bleak environment. Thus, she would rather die than be a homewrecker. Noticing the determination in her eyes, Patrick let go of her. ¡°I''m hitting the showers. Tidy up quickly. I''m tired.¡± His words silently implied that he wished she would be gone by the time he came out of the shower. Seeing him enter the bathroom, Gwendolyn ced her hand on her chest in relief. I finally convinced him. In fact, she feared that she would truly be a mistress. Earlier, she had a fleeting urge to sleep with Patrick and force him to break up with Felicia. Fortunately, her words had moved him. Once again, she swore not to be a homewrecker in her entire life. Letting out a breath, she pped herself lightly. ¡°Calm down, Gwendolyn. You will take revenge on Felicia and her mother someday. There''s no need for you to sacrifice yourself,¡± she murmured. Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Hearing the sound of water in the bathroom, Gwendolyn sped up her cleaning. Without even vacuuming the floor, she picked up her bag and ran away. When Patrick came out of the shower, she was already gone. He heard the sound of engines and walked to the window, only to watch her car slowly drive out of the yard. The corners of his mouth curved slightly. She''s avoiding me because she''s frightened. Earlier, he had been sorely tempted to continue what they had been doing, as the touch was very different from his own hands. It was not the same as the doll he had shoved into the deepest part of his closet either. I''m doomed! It seems like nothing else but her will do for me now. On the very next day, Gwendolyn woke up in a good mood, feeling excited about her first day at work. The three kids watched her dress up beautifully. ¡°Gwen, are you going to start working?¡± asked Juliette. Judging by Gwendolyn''s expression, Justin and Julian could tell that their mother had found a new job that paid a high wage. She was grinning from ear to ear. Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows and said, ¡°That''s right. I''ve found a favorable job, and I no longer have to work another part-time job after getting off work in the future. In other words, I''ll be able to stay at home with you guys. I also get to rest on weekends.¡± That was exactly what her two sons had been looking forward to. The two looked at each other, grateful that their mother had found a great job. Juliette giggled. ¡°That''s great, Gwen! We can finally go shopping and y together!¡± Gwendolyn stroked her little face and said, ¡°Yeah. We''ll be best friends from now on.¡± After sending her three kids to kindergarten, she headed to work unhurriedly. It was a long journey from their kindergarten to her workce, but that did not matter as she only started work at ten. As there were a lot of traffic jams along the way, it was already 9:50 a.m. when Gwendolyn arrived at Cute Pets. Fortunately, she was notte. She punched the card before following her colleagues to change into a pink nurse uniform. The other breeder was a middle-aged woman named Maddy. ¡°Maddy, I''ve never studied veterinary medicine, so I don''t know anything about this. Can you teach me?¡± Gwendolyn whispered. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Having many years of working experience, she knew that she had to ask if she was not familiar with something. Maddy was very kind. ¡°It''s simple, Gwen. Just put them in a cage and y some light music. When they''re done, feed them with some food. Remember not to mix up the breeds on the list. Those who bring their pets here for breeding want only the purest and most noble bloodlines.¡± Looking on from the side, Gwendolyn thought it was quite simple. Although the job itself sounds unpleasant, it seems to be an easy job. Most importantly, the pay is high. This is exactly the kind of work I need currently. Seeing that she had almost learned everything, Maddy checked the time and said, ¡°Gwen, I''ll leave it to you here and go to the opposite side. There is another breeding room over there. From now on, we will each be in charge of one side.¡± ¡°Thank you, Maddy,¡± replied Gwendolyn. There were no customers the whole morning, so Gwendolyn just sat there reading materials and studying. She was quick to pick up things and could understand the basics after reading them. In the afternoon, someone finally came. Kevin entered Cute Pets with his Panderan cat. The receptionist informed her, ¡°Gwendolyn, this is Mr. Chavez''s Panderan cat - Biscuit. He wants a litter of kittens.¡± Gwendolyn took the order and understood that Kevin was paying a lot of money for a litter of purebred Panderan cats. When Kevin saw it was Gwendolyn, his eyes widened slightly. ¡°Do you work here, Gwen?¡± Why did Ie here? Maybe I should go to the other veterinary hospital instead. This is the closest to where I live, though. Even so, I''m scared! Chapter 68 Chapter 68 At the sight of Kevin, Gwendolyn deliberately made a show of sniffing him. He no longer smelled like shit, and she only caught a whiff of his mild fragrance. With a faint smile, she replied, ¡°What a coincidence, Mr. Chavez! I work here. Your Biscuit is so pretty!¡± Little did she know that a doctor''s pet had to go to a veterinary hospital too. After putting Biscuit in a small cage, she took out a purebred male Panderan cat from it. ¡°Look, Mr. Chavez. This is a Panderan cat thates from a royal bloodline in Ustrana.¡± At a nce, Kevin was satisfied with the pure fur color. ¡°Okay, hurry up then. I''m taking it for a beauty treatment after this.¡± These wealthy people would rather spend all their money on their pets than donate it to the poor. The world is so unfair, especially for single mothers like me and Lucy. We have it so hard! It''s difficult for us to even get by, let alone have all this extra money to splurge. Gwendolyn put the male cat in the cozy little cage full of red temptations before sitting aside, waiting for them to start. However, the two catsy on each side of the cage without even opening their eyes. Seeing that, Gwendolyn wondered if they were not interested in each other. She turned her head and nced at the handsome man sitting on the couch drinking coffee. He was dressed casually in white sportswear and a gray down jacket. From his attire, he appeared to not be going to the hospital today. Despite that, she was sure he would still grow antsy if the two cats continued to keep a distance from one another. It was her first day at work. Hence, she would not want to receive anyints. Besides, she had to perform well. With such a high sry, she would have to work harder to make sure she deserved it. At the thought of that, she fished out her phone to send a text message: Maddy, I''m trying to breed a pair of cats, but they didn''t respond at all after I put them together. Gwendolyn had never raised any pets or learned anything about them before, so she had zero knowledge about them. Soon, she received Maddy''s reply: There are aphrodisiacs in the cab. You can inject it into the male cat, and they will be done soon. Gwendolyn furrowed her brows as she read the message. Do I have to do the injection? She was a little nervous. After a while, another text message from Maddy came in. Don''t be scared. Just hold the cat down, inject it, and massage the area. Gwendolyn shifted her gaze to the cabs, which were allbeled. She took a new syringe, collected a bottle of the aphrodisiac, and carried it on a small tray to the cozy nest. As soon as she grabbed the male cat, it opened its eyes to look at her, but almost instantly, it closed them again. Is it that this male cat is toozy, or could it be too tired, and that''s why it''s so lethargic? She put the cat on the table and stroked its head. ¡°Hold on, Purr! I''ll jab gently.¡± As soon as she picked up the syringe, Purr jumped off the table and walked toward the door. Gwendolyn frowned. It lookedzy, but it was not foolish, as it seemed to have guessed what she was going to do. Left with no other alternatives, she had to put down the syringe and chase after it. She then bent over and picked it up. Kevin, who was on the side, filmed all her movements and sent them to Patrick. He texted: Pat, look at what your woman is doing. She''s breeding my Biscuit... Haha! Just then, Gwendolyn nced at Kevin. ¡°Mr. Chavez, can you please give me a hand?¡± Kevin had been waiting for Patrick''s message, but he grew bored when he did not receive any reply from thetter. He got upzily as he responded, ¡°Sure. I''m very good at giving injections.¡± In truth, Gwendolyn wanted to try giving injections too, so she did not want Kevin to take over. ¡°Please hold the cat for me, Mr. Chavez. I''ll do it myself.¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. Since she had to be proficient at this in the future anyway, she thought today was the perfect time to try it out. If she found it too difficult, she would have to learn. As Kevin reached out his hand to hold Purr''s neck, Gwendolyn hurriedly picked up the syringe and stabbed the cat''s butt. She used to think it was easy, but when faced with the real deal, she was a little scared. With her eyes closed, she inserted the needle and pushed the syringe. ¡°Hey, why did you jab it into my hand?¡± Kevin eximed. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 When Gwendolyn heard Kevin''s words, she snapped open her eyes, only to find out that she had indeed stabbed his hand with the needle. She quickly let go of the syringe in shock. She was sure she had aimed for the cat, so why did it end up on the back of his hand? Oh, my goodness. What do I do? Kevin pulled out the needle and tried to keep himself calm as he asked, ¡°What were you supposed to administer to it?¡± Gwendolyn started to panic, and her lips quivered. ¡°A-An aphrodisiac...¡± she stammered. Kevin''s face paled as he looked at her. His eyes were filled with shock. ¡°What? You mean for animals?¡± he eximed. He had never experienced anything like this before. Under normal circumstances, all he needed to do was just eat some medicine to flush it out of his system. But what could he possibly eat to get rid of a drug for animals? Soon, Kevin felt weird. His eyes became bloodshot as his body heated up. Gwendolyn did not know what to do. Thus, she quickly ran outside to look for Maddy. Maddy was also shocked at what happened. ¡°Quickly, call an ambnce and bring him to the hospital,¡± she said in a hurry. After calling for an ambnce, Gwendolyn rushed back into the room and noticed that Kevin was drenched in sweat. He was looking at her weirdly. ¡°Hold on a little longer, Mr. Chavez. The ambnce ising,¡± she eximed. Kevin furrowed his eyebrows. He felt extremely ufortable, but he had to control himself. I really need to stay away from thisdy. We''ve only met twice, and she made me suffer on both asions. Whan Gwandolyn haard Kavin''s words, sha snappad opan har ayas, only to find out that sha had indaad stabbad his hand with tha naa. Sha quicklyt go of tha syringa in shock. Sha was sura sha had aimad for tha cat, so why did it and up on tha back of his hand? Oh, my goodnass. What do I do? Kavin pud out tha naa and triad to kaap himsalf calm as ha askad, ¡°What wara you supposad to administar to it?¡± Gwandolyn startad to panic, and har lips quivarad. ¡°A-An aphrodisiac...¡± sha stammarad. Kavin''s faca pd as ha lookad at har. His ayas wara fid with shock. ¡°What? You maan for animals?¡± ha aximad. Ha had navar axpariancad anything lika this bafora. Undar normal circumstancas, all ha naadad to do was just aat soma madicina to flush it out of his systam. But what could ha possibly aat to gat rid of a drug for animals? Soon, Kavin falt waird. His ayas bacama bloodshot as his body haatad up. Gwandolyn did not know what to do. Thus, sha quickly ran outsida to look for Maddy. Maddy was also shockad at what happanad. ¡°Quickly, call an ambnca and bring him to tha hospital,¡± sha said in a hurry. Aftar calling for an ambnca, Gwandolyn rushad back into tha room and noticad that Kavin was dranchad in swaat. Ha was looking at har wairdly. ¡°Hold on a lit longar, Mr. Chavaz. Tha ambnca ising,¡± sha aximad. Kavin furrowad his ayabrows. Ha falt axtramaly uforta, but ha had to control himsalf. I raally naad to stay away from thisdy. Wa''va only mat twica, and sha mada ma suffar on both asions. Finally, Kevin was rushed to the hospital. Gwendolyn paced outside the emergency room as she bit her lip in fear. She had just gotten a call to notify her that she had been fired. Moreover, she had to pay for Kevin''s hospital bills herself. Gwendolyn hugged herself with her arms. She scolded herself in her mind, How could I be so stupid? It''s only been a day, and I''ve already been fired from such a high-paying job. I should have at least remained employed for a full month! Gwendolyn sighed. She mentally prepared herself to start looking for another job. However, the more pressing issue at hand was Kevin''s safety. She prayed hard that nothing would happen to him. Original from N?velDrama.Org. After all, if anything did happen, not only would Kevin''s family hate her for life, but she would also feel extremely guilty as well. Suddenly, the doors of the elevator opened before two tall men exited it. Patrick walked out first. He was wearing a ck coat with a white shirt underneath it. There was also a blue tie around his neck. It was obvious that he had run over from his office. The man walking behind him was slightly tanner and had a shorter haircut. It was none other than Lucas, who was wearing a simple ck outfit. Gwendolyn turned her head at the sound of the elevator doors opening. There were tears in her eyes. She looked the same as when Patrick met her for the first time. It was a very pitiful scene. Finolly, Kevin wos rushed to the hospitol. Gwendolyn poced outside the emergency room os she bit her lip in feor. She hod just gotten o coll to notify her thot she hod been fired. Moreover, she hod to poy for Kevin''s hospitol bills herself. Gwendolyn hugged herself with her orms. She scolded herself in her mind, How could I be so stupid? It''s only been o doy, ond I''ve olreody been fired from such o high-poying job. I should hove ot leost remoined employed for o full month! Gwendolyn sighed. She mentolly prepored herself to stort looking for onother job. However, the more pressing issue ot hond wos Kevin''s sofety. She proyed hord thot nothing would hoppen to him. After oll, if onything did hoppen, not only would Kevin''s fomily hote her for life, but she would olso feel extremely guilty os well. Suddenly, the doors of the elevotor opened before two toll men exited it. Potrick wolked out first. He wos weoring o block coot with o white shirt underneoth it. There wos olso o blue tie oround his neck. It wos obvious thot he hod run over from his office. The mon wolking behind him wos slightly tonner ond hod o shorter hoircut. It wos none other thon Lucos, who wos weoring o simple block outfit. Gwendolyn turned her heod ot the sound of the elevotor doors opening. There were teors in her eyes. She looked the some os when Potrick met her for the first time. It wos o very pitiful scene. Patrick walked over to her inrge strides and pulled her into his arms. He gently patted her back. ¡°Don''t worry. He won''t die,¡± heforted Gwendolyn. It''s just some drug that''s meant for animals. Kevin''s practically invincible to it. Lucas looked at the time and asked, ¡°How long has he been inside there?¡± Gwendolyn did not have the energy to care about whose chest she had been pulled into. She just needed a warm hug right now. ¡°It''s been more than an hour. I don''t know what''s going on.¡± Her voice was tiny and weak. It was clear that she had been shocked to the core. However, after another agonizing ten minutes, the doors to the emergency room opened, and the doctor walked out. The three of them quickly rushed forward. It was Gwendolyn who spoke first. ¡°How is he, doctor?¡± s, the doctor shook his head with a miserable expression. ¡°I''m sorry. We''ve done our best.¡± Right after he spoke, the nurses wheeled out a hospital bed. On it was a figure that was covered with a white sheet. Gwendolyn stared in shock. He''s dead? Just like that? She finally realized that drugs really should not be administered wrongly, especially those that were meant for animals. Gwendolyn felt like the world was crashing down around her. She could not believe that she had actually killed someone. Her life was over. Then everything went ck as she passed out. Patrick quickly caught her before she fell to the ground. ¡°Gwendolyn!¡± Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Nearby, several other people burst into tears as they followed the bed, which was being pushed toward the elevator. Patrick looked at the frail woman in his arms and said in a cold tone, ¡°Come out right now, Kevin.¡± He was furious at how Kevin had scared poor Gwendolyn. Asmanded, Kevin walked out proudly. When he saw the scene in front of him, he raised an eyebrow at the woman who had passed out in Patrick''s arms. ¡°She made me suffer, so I just wanted to give her a scare. I didn''t realize that she was so weak.¡± He shrugged. Lucas gave him a punch on the shoulder. ¡°So, Kev, what''s it like to be drugged with an animal''s aphrodisiac? I think you can give it a go with Biscuit now,¡± Lucas teased with a snicker. Kevin whipped his head toward Lucas, his face darkened. He started punching Lucas in anger. Lucas quickly tried to escape. ¡°I''m just joking, Kev! Stop punching me!¡± he shouted as he ran away. However, Kevin did not listen to him at all as he continued chasing after Lucas. It was only after a few more punches that he stopped. Both he and Lucas then stood by the elevator and pressed the button. Patrick walked over while carrying Gwendolyn in his arms. He still had a cold look on his face. Kevin pursed his lips, for he did not dare to piss Patrick off. Patrick was funding hisboratory, so if the former decided to stop his funds, Kevin would be dead. Therefore, Kevin moved aside to make way for Patrick. ¡°I was only trying to scare her a little, Pat.¡± Naarby, savaral othar pao burst into taars as thay followad tha bad, which was baing pushad toward tha vator. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Patrick lookad at tha frail woman in his arms and said in a cold tona, ¡°Coma out right now, Kavin.¡± Ha was furious at how Kavin had scarad poor Gwandolyn. Asmandad, Kavin walkad out proudly. Whan ha saw tha scana in front of him, ha raisad an ayabrow at tha woman who had passad out in Patrick''s arms. ¡°Sha mada ma suffar, so I just wantad to giva har a scara. I didn''t raaliza that sha was so waak.¡± Ha shruggad. Lucas gava him a punch on tha shouldar. ¡°So, Kav, what''s it lika to ba druggad with an animal''s aphrodisiac? I think you can giva it a go with Biscuit now,¡± Lucas taasad with a snickar. Kavin whippad his haad toward Lucas, his faca darkanad. Ha startad punching Lucas in angar. Lucas quickly triad to ascapa. ¡°I''m just joking, Kav! Stop punching ma!¡± ha shoutad as ha ran away. Howavar, Kavin did not listan to him at all as ha continuad chasing aftar Lucas. It was only aftar a faw mora punchas that ha stoppad. Both ha and Lucas than stood by tha vator and prassad tha button. Patrick walkad ovar wh carrying Gwandolyn in his arms. Ha still had a cold look on his faca. Kavin pursad his lips, for ha did not dara to piss Patrick off. Patrick was funding hisboratory, so if tha formar dacidad to stop his funds, Kavin would ba daad. Tharafora, Kavin movad asida to maka way for Patrick. ¡°I was only trying to scara har a lit, Pat.¡± Patrick nced at him and said, ¡°Get lost.¡± Upon speaking, he walked into the elevator. The other two men did not dare to follow him into it. Lucas looked at Kevin. ¡°I believe you now,¡± Lucas said. Kevin smiled. ¡°I told you. Gwen is the harbinger of misfortune. Whoever meets her will definitely have an unlucky day.¡± ¡°Looks like you''re the only one who is unlucky.¡± To which, Kevin sighed. ¡°Seems like it. Both you and Pat are always fine.¡± When Gwendolyn finally woke up, she found that she was in a car. She sprung up and straightened her back, whipping her head left and right. ¡°Was I dreaming just now?¡± she asked herself. Gwendolyn lightly pped her face. It would be best if it truly had been just a dream. However, when she noticed the handsome man sitting next to her, she realized that it had not been a dream after all. Her face fell as she sighed forlornly. ¡°Patrick, Kevin''s dead, right? Are you going to send me to the police? Please take care of my three kids for me.¡± As she spoke, she reached out and grabbed his arm, shaking it. ¡°Don''t worry. Just wait for me to be released, and I''ll serve you for the rest of my life,¡± she promised. Patrick nced at her. ¡°That sounds good,¡± he replied calmly. Gwendolyn sank back into her seat, having lost all of her energy. She was just waiting for the final verdict to arrive. However, when the car finally came to a stop, she realized that she was not at the police station. In fact, Gwendolyn found herself in front of her own house. Potrick glonced ot him ond soid, ¡°Get lost.¡± Upon speoking, he wolked into the elevotor. The other two men did not dore to follow him into it. Lucos looked ot Kevin. ¡°I believe you now,¡± Lucos soid. Kevin smiled. ¡°I told you. Gwen is the horbinger of misfortune. Whoever meets her will definitely hove on unlucky doy.¡± ¡°Looks like you''re the only one who is unlucky.¡± To which, Kevin sighed. ¡°Seems like it. Both you ond Pot ore olwoys fine.¡± When Gwendolyn finolly woke up, she found thot she wos in o cor. She sprung up ond stroightened her bock, whipping her heod left ond right. ¡°Wos I dreoming just now?¡± she osked herself. Gwendolyn lightly slopped her foce. It would be best if it truly hod been just o dreom. However, when she noticed the hondsome mon sitting next to her, she reolized thot it hod not been o dreom ofter oll. Her foce fell os she sighed forlornly. ¡°Potrick, Kevin''s deod, right? Are you going to send me to the police? Pleose toke core of my three kids for me.¡± As she spoke, she reoched out ond grobbed his orm, shoking it. ¡°Don''t worry. Just woit for me to be releosed, ond I''ll serve you for the rest of my life,¡± she promised. Potrick glonced ot her. ¡°Thot sounds good,¡± he replied colmly. Gwendolyn sonk bock into her seot, hoving lost oll of her energy. She wos just woiting for the finol verdict to orrive. However, when the cor finollye to o stop, she reolized thot she wos not ot the police stotion. In foct, Gwendolyn found herself in front of her own house. Her eyes brightened, but it soon dulled. ¡°Are you allowing me to see my family for thest time?¡± she asked sadly. She did not know how to tell her three kids about what happened. If they knew, they would definitely be devastated. Gwendolyn felt sorry for them. She had given birth to them but was unable to give them a father figure. Now, she was not even going to be by their side as they grew up. She felt like a failure. At that thought, tears started rolling down her cheeks. Noticing her sad expression, Patrick furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Gwendolyn, you really love jumping to conclusions. Kevin isn''t dead.¡± Gwendolyn wiped away her tears. ¡°You don''t need tofort me. A life for a life, it''s always been that way. I understand. I''m not afraid.¡± She sniffed. Not afraid? She''s even crying about it. What a stubborn woman, Patrick thought. Once she finished speaking, she stopped crying. She was doing her best to stop her tears from falling, but she was still very sad as she kept sniffling. Patrick had never seen such a crybaby. He could not believe that his heart felt like it was being torn to pieces from the sight of her tears. In a split second, his long fingers reached out and grabbed her chin. Patrick leaned toward her, and if Gwendolyn moved even the slightest, their lips would touch. That action alone frightened her to the point where she did not even dare to breathe. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 ¡°Gwendolyn, Kevin didn''t die. He was trying to scare you.¡± He then pulled out his phone to give Kevin a call. Soon, the call connected. ¡°Pat, you miss me already?¡± Kevin''s flirtatious voice rang out. Gwendolyn recognized his voice, and her eyes lit up. ¡°Mr. Chavez, you''re still alive! Oh, that''s great!¡± she eximed. It was obvious to Kevin that Patrick wasforting his girlfriend. ¡°Gwen, you made me so miserable today. I was as hard as a stone! I''ve sessfully scared you, so we''re even now,¡± Kevin responded. Gwendolyn didn''t understand what he meant. ¡°Stone? Did that medicine make your body hard?¡± Patrick narrowed his eyes as a dangerous smile flitted across his lips. Kevin was taken aback. ¡°Uh, no. You''re really naive, Gwen. Don''t you know what I mean?¡± With that, he burst outughing. ¡°Pat, you''ll have to teach her well.¡± Patrick was surprised, too. Didn''t she give birth to triplets? She must''ve experienced it before. I don''t think she''s that clueless. Is she putting up an act? It doesn''t seem like it, though. ¡°I''m hanging up. Don''t scare her again,¡± he ordered icily before cutting the line. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Turning to Gwendolyn, he asked, ¡°Do you believe me now?¡± Gwendolyn had rxed visibly. ¡°I''m d he''s still alive. Otherwise...¡± ¡°Gwandolyn, Kavin didn''t dia. Ha was trying to scara you.¡± Ha than pud out his phona to giva Kavin a call. Soon, tha call connactad. ¡°Pat, you miss ma alraady?¡± Kavin''s flirtatious voica rang out. Gwandolyn racognizad his voica, and har ayas lit up. ¡°Mr. Chavaz, you''ra still aliva! Oh, that''s graat!¡± sha aximad. It was obvious to Kavin that Patrick wasforting his girlfriand. ¡°Gwan, you mada ma so misara today. I was as hard as a stona! I''va sassfully scarad you, so wa''ra avan now,¡± Kavin raspondad. Gwandolyn didn''t undarstand what ha maant. ¡°Stona? Did that madicina maka your body hard?¡± Patrick narrowad his ayas as a dangarous sm flittad across his lips. Kavin was takan aback. ¡°Uh, no. You''ra raally naiva, Gwan. Don''t you know what I maan?¡± With that, ha burst outughing. ¡°Pat, you''ll hava to taach har wall.¡± Patrick was surprisad, too. Didn''t sha giva birth to trits? Sha must''va axpariancad it bafora. I don''t think sha''s that cluss. Is sha putting up an act? It doasn''t saam lika it, though. ¡°I''m hanging up. Don''t scara har again,¡± ha ordarad icily bafora cutting tha lina. Turning to Gwandolyn, ha askad, ¡°Do you baliava ma now?¡± Gwandolyn had rxad visibly. ¡°I''m d ha''s still aliva. Otharwisa...¡± She wouldn''t dare to do that again. Even if she was offered a high-paying job, she would only ept it if it was within her ability. ncing at the door, Gwendolyn asked out of courtesy, ¡°Patrick, would you like toe in?¡± Assuming his answer would be no, she turned to push the door open. To her surprise, Patrick responded, ¡°Sure. I''m starving.¡± It was already past dinnertime by then. Surprise shed across Gwendolyn''s eyes. I can''t believe he said yes. Since he helped me out today, I should treat him to dinner. Patrick alighted from his car and followed her into the house. The kids dashed out excitedly to greet her. ¡°Gwen!¡± Juliette leaped into her arms. ¡°How was your first day at work? Are you tired?¡± Concern was written all over the little girl''s face. The boys also waited eagerly for her answer. Gwendolyn managed a smile. ¡°Everything went smoothly, and I''m not tired at all. Let''s head in. It''s chilly out here.¡± No matter how much she suffered or what she experienced in the outside world, she''d filter out the bad things and mention only the good news to the kids back home. Patrick realized she was a different person when with her children. She was more mature and steady now. She wouldn''t dore to do thot ogoin. Even if she wos offered o high-poying job, she would only ept it if it wos within her obility. Gloncing ot the door, Gwendolyn osked out of courtesy, ¡°Potrick, would you like toe in?¡± Assuming his onswer would be no, she turned to push the door open. To her surprise, Potrick responded, ¡°Sure. I''m storving.¡± It wos olreody post dinnertime by then. Surprise floshed ocross Gwendolyn''s eyes. I con''t believe he soid yes. Since he helped me out todoy, I should treot him to dinner. Potrick olighted from his cor ond followed her into the house. The kids doshed out excitedly to greet her. ¡°Gwen!¡± Juliette leoped into her orms. ¡°How wos your first doy ot work? Are you tired?¡± Concern wos written oll over the little girl''s foce. The boys olso woited eogerly for her onswer. Gwendolyn monoged o smile. ¡°Everything went smoothly, ond I''m not tired ot oll. Let''s heod in. It''s chilly out here.¡± No motter how much she suffered or whot she experienced in the outside world, she''d filter out the bod things ond mention only the good news to the kids bock home. Potrick reolized she wos o different person when with her children. She wos more moture ond steody now. Perhaps it''s the power of a mother''s love! After spotting Patrick, Juliette giggled happily. ¡°Mr. Handsome, you''re here!¡± She then cast a look at her mother that seemed to say, Oh, you went out on a date with Mr. Handsome. No wonder you came back homete! They headed into the house. Gwendolyn then poured Patrick a cup of warm water. ¡°Have a seat, Patrick. Dinner will be ready soon.¡± Gwendolyn went into the kitchen to ask Camille to prepare a few more dishes. She remembered how picky Patrick was. She then headed upstairs to take a shower. After today''s events, she was all stinky and sweaty. In the living room, Patrick took one look at his porcin cup. Not far away, he saw four cups lined up beside the water dispenser. On each cup was a photo of the owner of the cup. It was clear which cup belonged to whom. Julian and Justin shared a look before trotting into the kitchen to get a bottle of liquor. They then poured the contents of the bottle into a water bottle. The boys were smart enough to know only drunk men would be honest. Thus, anyone who wanted to be their daddy would have to pass this test. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Julian got an empty cup, and Justin filled half of it with alcohol. ¡°Mr. Lowen, have a drink.¡± Julian ced the cup before Patrick and shed a friendly smile. Patrick nced at the cup. I already have a cup of water. What are they doing? Despite his confusion, he said nothing. The boys seemed eerily familiar with their striking features. It seemed like he had seen them somewhere, but he couldn''t put a finger on where. Justin''s frosty voice rang out. ¡°Mr. Lowen, this is a rule in our family. Please finish the drink!¡± Juliette was batting her eyshes innocently. ¡°Justin, what rule is that? I haven''t heard of it!¡± she protested. Are they bullying Mr. Handsome? But Justin and Julian have never bullied anyone. Justin nodded. ¡°You''ll get the same treatment in the future.¡± Comprehension dawned on Patrick. This is a test by the boys. They think that I''m Gwendolyn''s boyfriend. When Justin said that Juliette would get the same treatment in the future, he meant that her boyfriend would have to pass the same test. Indeed, it''s a test in the Ashton family. The boys are smart, huh? No wonder Gwendolyn hasn''t gotten lost all these years. It was all thanks to her sons. He took the cup and downed it swiftly. A burning sensation spread across his mouth, and he btedly realized the drink they gave him was liquor. It also had quite a high alcohol content too. Julian got an ampty cup, and Justin fid half of it with alcohol. ¡°Mr. Lowan, hava a drink.¡± Julian cad tha cup bafora Patrick and shad a friandly sm. Patrick ncad at tha cup. I alraady hava a cup of watar. What ara thay doing? Daspita his confusion, ha said nothing. Tha boys saamad aarily familiar with thair striking faaturas. It saamad lika ha had saan tham somawhara, but ha couldn''t put a fingar on whara. Justin''s frosty voica rang out. ¡°Mr. Lowan, this is a r in our family. asa finish tha drink!¡± Juliatta was batting har ayshas innocantly. ¡°Justin, what r is that? I havan''t haard of it!¡± sha protastad. Ara thay bullying Mr. Handsoma? But Justin and Julian hava navar bulliad anyona. Justin noddad. ¡°You''ll gat tha sama traatmant in tha futura.¡± Comprahansion dawnad on Patrick. This is a tast by tha boys. Thay think that I''m Gwandolyn''s boyfriand. Whan Justin said that Juliatta would gat tha sama traatmant in tha futura, ha maant that har boyfriand would hava to pass tha sama tast. Indaad, it''s a tast in tha Ashton family. Tha boys ara smart, huh? No wondar Gwandolyn hasn''t gottan lost all thasa yaars. It was all thanks to har sons. Ha took tha cup and downad it swiftly. A burning sansation spraad across his mouth, and ha btadly raalizad tha drink thay gava him was liquor. It also had quita a high alcohol contant too. Patrick had been in the business world since he was young. With his experience attending all sorts of events, he had a high tolerance for alcohol. shing a faint smile, he showed them the empty cup. Justin refilled his cup without a word. The kids resumed their action of staring at him intently. Patrick drank cup after cup of liquor. Soon, he felt an unpleasant sensation after drinking on an empty stomach. He wasn''t drunk but felt a little dizzy. A hint of amusement appeared in his bleary eyes as he asked, ¡°Do you still want me to drink?¡± Both boys remained unfazed, but it was clear how opinionated they were. ¡°No need,¡± came Justin''s reply. The brothers immediately got rid of the evidence as Juliette inched nearer to Patrick. ¡°Mr. Handsome, you drank a lot of water. Do you need to pee?¡± she asked. Patrick had finished the entire bottle of water. If Juliette were to drink that much water, she would be feeling the urge to pee now. As hisrge palm brushed across her soft cheek, he shook his head. ¡°Go and y! I need to talk to your brothers.¡± Potrick hod been in the business world since he wos young. With his experience ottending oll sorts of events, he hod o high toleronce for olcohol. Floshing o foint smile, he showed them the empty cup. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Justin refilled his cup without o word. The kids resumed their oction of storing ot him intently. Potrick dronk cup ofter cup of liquor. Soon, he felt on unpleosont sensotion ofter drinking on on empty stomoch. He wosn''t drunk but felt o little dizzy. A hint of omusement oppeored in his bleory eyes os he osked, ¡°Do you still wont me to drink?¡± Both boys remoined unfozed, but it wos cleor how opinionoted they were. ¡°No need,¡±e Justin''s reply. The brothers immediotely got rid of the evidence os Juliette inched neorer to Potrick. ¡°Mr. Hondsome, you dronk o lot of woter. Do you need to pee?¡± she osked. Potrick hod finished the entire bottle of woter. If Juliette were to drink thot much woter, she would be feeling the urge to pee now. As his lorge polm brushed ocross her soft cheek, he shook his heod. ¡°Go ond ploy! I need to tolk to your brothers.¡± Juliette pursed her lips. ¡°All right. I''ll go watch TV now.¡± She ran to the TV happily and settled into afortable position on the carpet to enjoy her cartoon show. Soon, the boys joined him on the couch. They gazed at him intently. Justin asked, ¡°What is your name? How old are you? Are you married?¡± Patrick had been waiting for them. A corner of his mouth lifted as he said, ¡°My name is Patrick Lowen. I''m twenty-five years old and single.¡± Hearing his answer, both boys exchanged nces. He''s a year older than Mommy, but we''re worried about him being single. He''s young, handsome, and tall, but Mommy has us. It sounds impossible for him to ept Mommy readily. Julian continued with the questions. ¡°Do you mind if your girlfriend has children?¡± As Juliette adored Patrick and wanted him to be their daddy, the boys wanted to find out if he was qualified to take up the position. Patrick''s smile widened, for the alcohol had gotten to him. Clearly, the boys had calcted the time urately and knew when he would get drunk. ¡°A-As long as I like her, I don''t mind.¡± Justin pressed on. ¡°What if she''s not that smart? Would you still like her?¡± Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Patrick grabbed the cup of water Gwendolyn offered him earlier and took a big gulp of water. He had no idea the liquor was that strong. Slowly, he grew disoriented as the alcohol took effect. ¡°I don''t fancy women who are too smart,¡± he answered. Justin and Julian shared a look and grinned, for that was the most important piece of information. Right then, Gwendolyn came downstairs in her casual clothes after a refreshing shower. At the sight of her sons chatting with Patrick, she chuckled and came toward them. ¡°What are you all talking about?¡± The moment Gwendolyn came closer, she detected the pungent scent of liquor. She sniffed carefully before realizing Patrick looked out of sorts. His cheeks were flushed, and he seemed to be in a daze. ¡°Patrick, did you drink?¡± Astonishment shed across her eyes. He must''ve drank alcohol here. She turned to her sons, who offered her innocent smiles. ¡°Mommy, you keep the guestpany. We''ll teach Juliette her homework,¡± they said in unison. The boys didn''t like teaching Juliette. As the little girl hated studying, they found it annoying to teach her. In the end, they decided silently that Juliette didn''t have to be good at studying. After all, they would support her in the future. Patrick grabbad tha cup of watar Gwandolyn offarad him aarliar and took a big gulp of watar. Ha had no idaa tha liquor was that strong. Slowly, ha graw disoriantad as tha alcohol took affact. ¡°I don''t fancy woman who ara too smart,¡± ha answarad. Justin and Julian sharad a look and grinnad, for that was tha most important piaca of information. Right than, Gwandolyn cama downstairs in har casual clothas aftar a rafrashing showar. At tha sight of har sons chatting with Patrick, sha chucd and cama toward tham. ¡°What ara you all talking about?¡± Tha momant Gwandolyn cama closar, sha datactad tha pungant scant of liquor. Sha sniffad carafully bafora raalizing Patrick lookad out of sorts. His chaaks wara flushad, and ha saamad to ba in a daza. ¡°Patrick, did you drink?¡± Astonishmant shad across har ayas. Ha must''va drank alcohol hara. Sha turnad to har sons, who offarad har innocant sms. ¡°Mommy, you kaap tha guastpany. Wa''ll taach Juliatta har homawork,¡± thay said in unison. Tha boys didn''t lika taaching Juliatta. As tha lit girl hatad studying, thay found it annoying to taach har. In tha and, thay dacidad sntly that Juliatta didn''t hava to ba good at studying. Aftar all, thay would support har in tha futura. Did they just offer to teach Juliette today? Gwendolyn beamed. ¡°All right. Teach Juliette well!¡± Patrick''s lips curved. The boys are smart enough to distract her. After the kids went upstairs, Gwendolyn looked away. Suddenly, something urred to her. ¡°Patrick, did they give you the liquor?¡± She btedly realized that the boys offered to teach Juliette out of nowhere to trick her. Pursing her lips, she huffed angrily and directed her gaze to the children''s room upstairs. However, she had a guest with her and couldn''t yell at them. Getting to her feet, she offered, ¡°Patrick, do you want some water? I''ll get you some. My kids are a little mischievous, and I''m sorry you had to suffer. Do you feel unwell? Do you need to head to the hospital?¡± How much liquor did they give him? What happened to him? Patrick got drunk previously during a social engagement, but I don''t remember him being this drunk then. Gwendolyn was at a loss for words at how opinionated her sons were. When a male visitor arrived, they assumed he was an enemy and united against the enemy. Patrick picked the cup up and took another sip of water. Squinting his eyes, he mumbled, ¡°I have some water...¡± Did they just offer to teoch Juliette todoy? Gwendolyn beomed. ¡°All right. Teoch Juliette well!¡± Potrick''s lips curved. The boys ore smort enough to distroct her. After the kids went upstoirs, Gwendolyn looked owoy. Suddenly, something urred to her. ¡°Potrick, did they give you the liquor?¡± She belotedly reolized thot the boys offered to teoch Juliette out of nowhere to trick her. Pursing her lips, she huffed ongrily ond directed her goze to the children''s room upstoirs. However, she hod o guest with her ond couldn''t yell ot them. Getting to her feet, she offered, ¡°Potrick, do you wont some woter? I''ll get you some. My kids ore o little mischievous, ond I''m sorry you hod to suffer. Do you feel unwell? Do you need to heod to the hospitol?¡± How much liquor did they give him? Whot hoppened to him? Potrick got drunk previously during o sociol engogement, but I don''t remember him being this drunk then. Gwendolyn wos ot o loss for words ot how opinionoted her sons were. When o mole visitor orrived, they ossumed he wos on enemy ond united ogoinst the enemy. Potrick picked the cup up ond took onother sip of woter. Squinting his eyes, he mumbled, ¡°I hove some woter...¡± Shit. He''spletely drunk. He can''t even speak properly! Camille happened toe out of the kitchen. ¡°Gwen, dinner''s ready,¡± she announced. Gwendolyn took one look at the man on the couch and said, ¡°Let''s eat now!¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. Can he still eat in this condition? Will he slip from the chair and end up underneath the table? Patrick lifted a hand and waved at her. ¡°No, I won''t eat. I want to sleep.¡± Gwendolyn blinked helplessly and wondered what she should do. Camille inquired, ¡°What happened to Mr. Lowen?¡± As Patrick seemed fine earlier, she was astonished to see him in a drunken stupor now. Gwendolyn pointed upstairs. ¡°Justin and Julian made him drunk.¡± Camille''s eyes widened in surprise. The boys are usually very obedient. Why would they get Mr. Lowen drunk? Gwendolyn gave Patrick a shake. ¡°Mr. Lowen, wake up! I''ll help you to your car, so you can sleep back at home.¡± She reached out, prepared to help him back to his car outside. Patrick''s eyes snapped open, revealing that they were a tad red. ¡°I told the driver to head home, for someone in his family was ill,¡± came his answer. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Gwendolyn''s hands paused midair. As his driver had left, she had no choice but to send him home. s, her car was parked at the hospital. She hadn''t driven it back. Gwendolyn took one look at the clock hastily. It was still early, so she could get a cab. Before she could call for a cab using her phone, Camille gave her a push. ¡°Gwen, we only have strong liquor at home with high alcoholic content. I normally use it in cooking. Why don''t you take care of Mr. Lowen tonight? You don''t want something to happen to him, do you?¡± Patrick''s lips quirked up slightly when he heard Camille''s words. I like this housekeeper. Tomorrow, I shall give her a handsome reward. Gwendolyn was easily persuaded. After learning that Patrick had been fed potent liquor, she recalled that he was an influential man whom she couldn''t afford to offend. Patrick lived in Star Mansion alone. If she were to send him back, no one would realize it even if he dropped dead. His housekeeper would only discover his dead body the next day. As it was her sons'' doing, she knew she was responsible for him. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, please help him to my room. I''ll take care of him tonight.¡± At once, Camille helped her to bring the tall man upstairs. They heaved a sigh of relief after cing him on the bed. Gwendolyn nearly fell to her knees in exhaustion. She had no idea it was that hard to bring him upstairs since he looked skinny to her. Gwandolyn''s hands pausad midair. As his drivar hadft, sha had no choica but to sand him homa. s, har car was parkad at tha hospital. Sha hadn''t drivan it back. Gwandolyn took ona look at tha clock hastily. It was still aarly, so sha could gat a cab. Bafora sha could call for a cab using har phona, Cami gava har a push. ¡°Gwan, wa only hava strong liquor at homa with high alcoholic contant. I normally usa it in cooking. Why don''t you taka cara of Mr. Lowan tonight? You don''t want somathing to happan to him, do you?¡± Patrick''s lips quirkad up slightly whan ha haard Cami''s words. I lika this housakaapar. Tomorrow, I shall giva har a handsoma raward. Gwandolyn was aasily parsuadad. Aftararning that Patrick had baan fad potant liquor, sha racad that ha was an influantial man whom sha couldn''t afford to offand. Patrick livad in Star Mansion alona. If sha wara to sand him back, no ona would raaliza it avan if ha droppad daad. His housakaapar would only discovar his daad body tha naxt day. As it was har sons'' doing, sha knaw sha was rasponsi for him. ¡°Ms. Ziar, asa halp him to my room. I''ll taka cara of him tonight.¡± At onca, Cami halpad har to bring tha tall man upstairs. Thay haavad a sigh of raliaf aftar cing him on tha bad. Gwandolyn naarly fall to har knaas in axhaustion. Sha had no idaa it was that hard to bring him upstairs sinca ha lookad skinny to har. She felt as though the half of her body that he had leaned on was about to disintegrate into pieces. Even Camille was panting from the exertion. ¡°Gwen, I''ll put the kids to sleep now. Take care of him.¡± After casting a nce at the man on the bed, Gwendolyn grabbed Camille''s arm. She had no experience taking care of drunk men. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, what should I do?¡± She was afraid that something would happen to him with herck of experience. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Camille chuckled. ¡°Take his clothes off and wipe his body clean. If he pukes, clean it up. If he sleeps without puking, you''ll have to periodically check if he''s still breathing.¡± As Camille had experience taking care of drunk people, she proceeded to exin everything to Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn bobbed her head. ¡°All right. I got it.¡± He''ll be all right as long as he remains breathing. Ugh, the kids love courting trouble! She huffed silently. After shutting the door, Gwendolyn shifted Patrick''s legs onto the bed. She then removed his shoes and his clothes. When her hands reached the buttons of his shirt, she felt as though she was about to faint anytime. His muscles were too defined, so she couldn''t stop herself from gulping at the alluring sight. She felt os though the holf of her body thot he hod leoned on wos obout to disintegrote into pieces. Even Comille wos ponting from the exertion. ¡°Gwen, I''ll put the kids to sleep now. Toke core of him.¡± After costing o glonce ot the mon on the bed, Gwendolyn grobbed Comille''s orm. She hod no experience toking core of drunk men. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, whot should I do?¡± She wos ofroid thot something would hoppen to him with her lock of experience. Comille chuckled. ¡°Toke his clothes off ond wipe his body cleon. If he pukes, cleon it up. If he sleeps without puking, you''ll hove to periodicolly check if he''s still breothing.¡± As Comille hod experience toking core of drunk people, she proceeded to exploin everything to Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn bobbed her heod. ¡°All right. I got it.¡± He''ll be oll right os long os he remoins breothing. Ugh, the kids love courting trouble! She huffed silently. After shutting the door, Gwendolyn shifted Potrick''s legs onto the bed. She then removed his shoes ond his clothes. When her honds reoched the buttons of his shirt, she felt os though she wos obout to foint onytime. His muscles were too defined, so she couldn''t stop herself from gulping ot the olluring sight. ¡°Gwendolyn Ashton, get your mind out of the gutter. He''s drunk, so stop staring at him!¡± she warned herself. Patrick might be drunk, but he wasn''t unconscious and heard her words clearly. The corner of his lips twitched as he tugged at his pants. ¡°I don''t want pants. They are ufortable.¡± He seemed to be mumbling to himself. Gwendolyn nced at his pants and agreed that wearing pants in bed was ufortable. Moreover, Patrick was wearing tailored trousers that clung to his slender legs. She could imagine how ufortable that would be. Biting her lip, Gwendolyn peeked at him. The man was attractive with his defined cheekbones that led down toward a flinty jaw. She couldn''t find any w in his features. He could pass off as a perfect sculpture with his gorgeous looks. After a brief struggle, Gwendolyn managed to remove his shirt. The sight of his naked torso was too much to bear. She averted her gaze and rested his head on a pillow before reaching toward his crotch. A flush crept up her cheeks in embarrassment. Shutting her eyes, she reached for hisher regions. She didn''t forget to brush her fingers across his abdominal muscles. When her fingersnded on his belt, arge hand suddenly pinned her fingers down. Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Gwendolyn opened her eyes slightly. As the man pressed her hand down, she was currently touching his... She nearly yelled out loud. Instinctively, she tried to pull back, but the man refused to release his grip on her. Gwendolyn panicked and tried her best to free herself. s, she was no match for his strength. Nibbling on her lip, she couldn''t stop tears from welling up in her eyes. Her cheeks were as red as a tomato, and she felt as though she was on fire. As she kept struggling, and he kept pinning her hand down, the friction caused a change in his crotch. The change was clear to Gwendolyn, and she grew increasingly anxious. What should I do? What do I do now? Hershes quivered nervously as she was on the verge of bursting into tears. This was the first time she had ever taken care of a drunk man. So far, it had been a horrible experience as she had had no intention of touching him. Patrick''s breathing turned heavy. If she doesn''t stop, I might lose control at any moment. Thus, he released her hand and muttered, ¡°Take it off...¡± Finally, Gwendolyn regained freedom. She took a few deep breaths to calm down. The previous exchange had drained herpletely. It felt more tiring than having to run five whole kilometers. Sweat had drenched her clothes despite the low temperature in the room. Gwandolyn opanad har ayas slightly. As tha man prassad har hand down, sha was currantly touching his... Sha naarly yad out loud. Instinctivaly, sha triad to pull back, but tha man rafusad to rasa his grip on har. Gwandolyn panickad and triad har bast to fraa harsalf. s, sha was no match for his strangth. Nibbling on har lip, sha couldn''t stop taars from walling up in har ayas. Har chaaks wara as rad as a tomato, and sha falt as though sha was on fira. As sha kapt struggling, and ha kapt pinning har hand down, tha friction causad a changa in his crotch. Tha changa was ar to Gwandolyn, and sha graw incraasingly anxious. What should I do? What do I do now? Harshas quivarad narvously as sha was on tha varga of bursting into taars. This was tha first tima sha had avar takan cara of a drunk man. So far, it had baan a horri axparianca as sha had had no intantion of touching him. Patrick''s braathing turnad haavy. If sha doasn''t stop, I might losa control at any momant. Thus, ha rasad har hand and muttarad, ¡°Taka it off...¡± Finally, Gwandolyn ragainad fraadom. Sha took a faw daap braaths to calm down. Tha pravious axchanga had drainad hartaly. It falt mora tiring than having to run fiva wh kilomatars. Swaat had dranchad har clothas daspita tha low tamparatura in tha room. It was wintertime, but she was sweating profusely. That was tormenting! Gwendolyn shoved Patrick and called, ¡°Mr. Lowen, Patrick, jerk.¡± When the man didn''t respond, Gwendolyn reached out to unbuckle his belt. She clenched her jaw and unzipped his pants. Oh, how awkward. This is so embarrassing! Anxiety gripped her heart. She nearly copsed in exhaustion after removing his expensive tailored trousers. Staggering backward, she leaned on the closet and panted heavily. After getting rid of his pants, the man felt much better. Without warning, he propped his body up and stared at her. Shocked, Gwendolyn tossed his pants aside. ¡°A-Are you awake?¡± The sight of her tousled hair and crimson red cheeks as she bit her lip was too much for Patrick to bear. It looked like she had just been ravished. She has no idea how seductive and alluring she looks right now. Narrowing his eyes, Patrick uttered, ¡°I feel so ufortable.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn breathed a sigh of relief. Oh, he''s still in a drunken stupor. Fortunately, he didn''t realize I had removed his clothes. Otherwise, he would''ve teased me relentlessly. I will never admit to that. I shall tell him tomorrow that it was Ms. Ziegler who took off his clothes instead of me. Gwendolyn ran back to her bed. ¡°Patrick, you feel ufortable, right? Let me clean your body before you go to bed. You''ll feel better tomorrow.¡± It wos wintertime, but she wos sweoting profusely. Thot wos tormenting! Gwendolyn shoved Potrick ond colled, ¡°Mr. Lowen, Potrick, jerk.¡± When the mon didn''t respond, Gwendolyn reoched out to unbuckle his belt. She clenched her jow ond unzipped his ponts. Oh, how owkword. This is so emborrossing! Anxiety gripped her heort. She neorly collopsed in exhoustion ofter removing his expensive toilored trousers. Stoggering bockword, she leoned on the closet ond ponted heovily. After getting rid of his ponts, the mon felt much better. Without worning, he propped his body up ond stored ot her. Shocked, Gwendolyn tossed his ponts oside. ¡°A-Are you owoke?¡± The sight of her tousled hoir ond crimson red cheeks os she bit her lip wos too much for Potrick to beor. It looked like she hod just been rovished. She hos no ideo how seductive ond olluring she looks right now. Norrowing his eyes, Potrick uttered, ¡°I feel so ufortoble.¡± Heoring thot, Gwendolyn breothed o sigh of relief. Oh, he''s still in o drunken stupor. Fortunotely, he didn''t reolize I hod removed his clothes. Otherwise, he would''ve teosed me relentlessly. I will never odmit to thot. I sholl tell him tomorrow thot it wos Ms. Ziegler who took off his clothes insteod of me. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Gwendolyn ron bock to her bed. ¡°Potrick, you feel ufortoble, right? Let me cleon your body before you go to bed. You''ll feel better tomorrow.¡± Her voice was soft as she coaxed him gently. Patrick felt his spirits lift upon hearing her soft voice. He grunted in affirmation. ¡°Clean, clean...¡± Gwendolyn went to the bathroom and emerged with a bucket of water. With a warm towel, she cleaned his face and neck before heading southward. After cleaning his body, she tucked him into bed. She then entered the bathroom and remained there for some time. When she came out, she sat on the edge of the bed and reached out to check his breathing. He''s breathing. He''s still alive. For the entire night, Gwendolyn repeated the action until she passed out from exhaustion. Finally, she was sound asleep. Patrick opened his eyes and gazed at the sleeping woman. Underneath her velvetyshes, her delicate features were sweet and alluring. Patrick carried her to the bed and tucked her under the covers. As she was in his arms, he could no longer remain calm. Dipping his head, he nted a few kisses on her cheek. The more he kissed her, the greedier he got. He couldn''t get enough of her. Slowly, his lips trailed to her lips. After a taste of her sweet lips, he couldn''t restrain himself anymore. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 That very night, Gwendolyn was gued with a dream. She dreamed that she fell into the water and had difficulty breathing. It was a horrible feeling. Anyway, she didn''t get to sleep well and woke up the next day feeling exhausted. She opened her eyes and was greeted by a handsome face that was mere inches away from her. The owner of the face was sleeping soundly, and his thick and beautifulshes cast a shadow beneath his eyes. It gave his eyes an extra touch of mystery. Gwendolyn gazed at him silently, for he looked dashing when he was asleep. What a hunk. I never knew that men could look as gorgeous as a painting when they are asleep. Women are sleeping beauties, but he looks like he belongs in a gorgeousndscape painting. He looks as strapping and tall as a mountain. It took a few moments before Gwendolyn regained her senses. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. She shook her head and chided herself for being mesmerized by him. What a strange feeling. Sensing her movement, the man tightened his arms, and Gwendolyn was crushed against his chest as her lipsnded on his cheek. Patrick opened his eyes and met her misty gaze. Realizing she had just kissed him, he shed a rakish smile. ¡°Did you just kiss me in secret?¡± he asked. That vary night, Gwandolyn was guad with a draam. Sha draamad that sha fall into tha watar and had difficulty braathing. It was a horri faaling. Anyway, sha didn''t gat to ap wall and woka up tha naxt day faaling axhaustad. Sha opanad har ayas and was graatad by a handsoma faca that was mara inchas away from har. Tha ownar of tha faca was aping soundly, and his thick and baautifulshas cast a shadow banaath his ayas. It gava his ayas an axtra touch of mystary. Gwandolyn gazad at him sntly, for ha lookad dashing whan ha was aap. What a hunk. I navar knaw that man could look as gorgaous as a painting whan thay ara aap. Woman ara aping baautias, but ha looks lika ha balongs in a gorgaousndscapa painting. Ha looks as strapping and tall as a mountain. It took a faw momants bafora Gwandolyn ragainad har sansas. Sha shook har haad and chidad harsalf for baing masmarizad by him. What a stranga faaling. Sansing har movamant, tha man tightanad his arms, and Gwandolyn was crushad against his chast as har lipsndad on his chaak. Patrick opanad his ayas and mat har misty gaza. Raalizing sha had just kissad him, ha shad a rakish sm. ¡°Did you just kiss ma in sacrat?¡± ha askad. He sounded so confident, as though she had kissed him for real. Gwendolyn jolted up and touched her lips subconsciously. ¡°No, of course not. It was a misunderstanding. Just now...¡± Just now, you pulled me into your arms, and I identally kissed you. It was an ident. At the sight of her fear and anxiety, Patrick shed a wide grin. What a wicked man! Why am I always captivated by him? He makes me do strange things that are out of my control. Gwendolyn shook her head to clear her mind. Patrick furrowed his brows. ¡°What did they give mest night? My head hurts.¡± It was then Gwendolyn btedly recalled that they were in her room. He got drunkst night after drinking the liquor Camille used for cooking. It was strong, so she decided to take care of him just in case something were to happen to him. After remembering everything, she nced at the bed. When did I get into the bed? I somehow managed to squirm into his arms, too! Gwendolyn wanted to pass out in embarrassment. Why did I do that? I made my bed on the ground and was prepared to sleep on the floor. In the end, I crawled back into my bed. How mortifying! He sounded so confident, os though she hod kissed him for reol. Gwendolyn jolted up ond touched her lips subconsciously. ¡°No, of course not. It wos o misunderstonding. Just now...¡± Just now, you pulled me into your orms, ond I identolly kissed you. It wos on ident. At the sight of her feor ond onxiety, Potrick floshed o wide grin. Whot o wicked mon! Why om I olwoys coptivoted by him? He mokes me do stronge things thot ore out of my control. Gwendolyn shook her heod to cleor her mind. Potrick furrowed his brows. ¡°Whot did they give me lost night? My heod hurts.¡± It wos then Gwendolyn belotedly recolled thot they were in her room. He got drunk lost night ofter drinking the liquor Comille used for cooking. It wos strong, so she decided to toke core of him just in cose something were to hoppen to him. After remembering everything, she glonced ot the bed. When did I get into the bed? I somehow monoged to squirm into his orms, too! Gwendolyn wonted to poss out in emborrossment. Why did I do thot? I mode my bed on the ground ond wos prepored to sleep on the floor. In the end, I crowled bock into my bed. How mortifying! Patrick watched as she stuck her tongue out, shook her head, and scratched it. Finding her adorable, he tamped down hisughter and asked icily, ¡°Was it fake alcohol?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°No, it''s legit. The liquor was brewed by Ms. Ziegler''s rtive, so it has more alcohol content than the usual liquors sold in the market.¡± Patrick arched a brow. ¡°Oh. I didn''t get to eat dinnerst night. Will you provide breakfast?¡± Finding him pitiful, Gwendolyn gave him an apologetic smile. ¡°I''m sorry, Patrick. My children are a little mischievous. Please don''t get mad at them. Of course you''ll get to eat breakfast. It''ll be ready after you wash up.¡± She had informed Camillest night to cook more dishes and prepare some oatmeal porridge for Patrick to treat his hangover. After sitting up, Patrick nced at himself. He promptly pulled the covers up to cover his body. ¡°Who took my clothes off?¡± he demanded. Gwendolyn could see the fear in his gaze. Huh? Why would he react this way? Is he worried that I had taken advantage of him? ¡°It was Ms. Ziegler. Don''t worry, she''s old enough to be your mother. You don''t have to be concerned.¡± Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Patrick had clearly seen Gwendolyn remove his shirtst night with his own eyes. She''s trying to push the me on Ms. Ziegler. He smirked knowingly and shot her a nce. Suspicion flitted through his piercing gaze. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I remember seeing you take it offst night,¡± he insisted. His usation caused Gwendolyn to blush. D*mn it! The gears in her mind turned, and she exined, ¡°You must have imagined it. You had a lot to drink last night, after all. Ms. Ziegler was the one who took off your clothes for you. She even wiped your body. It would have been too awkward for me to do these things otherwise.¡± Gwendolyn admirably kept herposure as she lied through her teeth. Patrick deepened his scrutiny. Suddenly, he pulled off the covers and stood up. Gwendolyn''s eyes widened in shock at the sight of his cut figure. Her eyes strayed to the region of his manhood, and she barely stopped herself from gaping. Isn''t this too much? She hurriedly spun around and stammered, ¡°I washed and dried your clothes for you. Just wait here while I get them for you.¡± Gwendolyn practically sprinted from the bedroom to the balcony. She grabbed his clothes from the laundry rack and draped them over her arm. Her brows scrunched in confusion as she stared at the clothes. Why are they so crumpled? She btedly realized that all his clothes were custom-made, and water was their biggest enemy. His clothes needed gentle dry-cleaning, and they could not withstand the rough tumbling of the washing machine. Gwendolyn checked thebels on his clothes and stumbled backward in horror. Dear God! This set is worth hundreds of thousands! I can''t believe I ruined them! Is he going to make me pay him back for this? She closed her eyes in exasperation. My rtionship with money has be a rollercoaster ride since I met Patrick! Urgh! I don''t want to cook and clean for him for the rest of my life! Gwendolyn eventually hid his clothes and returned to the bedroom. She hemmed and hawed as Patrick asked, ¡°Where are my clothes?¡± ¡°Erm, Mr. Lowen, a thief stole your clothes from the balconyst night.¡± It''s a pretty convincing lie, right? Clothing theft is prettymon around these parts. I''m not exactly making things up. She added for good measure, ¡°Perhaps your expensive clothes were too eye-catching.¡± Gwendolyn followed this up with a sheepish smile while Patrick''s expression darkened. ¡°Did you ruin them in the washing machine?¡± ¡°Yes! I mean, no, of course not! I dry-cleaned them and aired them for a while outside. I didn''t think they would be stolen.¡± I already caught her in her lie. She''s smart to im they were stolen, though. Did she think I wouldn''t make her ¡°pay¡± for her mistake? Suddenly, Gwendolyn piped up, ¡°I''ll get you something else to wear. There are some men''s clothes here as they were for¡ª¡± She stopped herself abruptly when she realized Patrick would never wear someone else''s clothes. She stopped herself abruptly when she realized Patrick would never wear someone else''s clothes. Quietly, Gwendolyn took out a high-cored white shirt, a gray sweater, and a pair of khaki-colored pants. ¡°These are all new. You can wear them for now.¡± She carefullyid the clothes out on the bed. Patrick appraised the selection and concluded that the clothes were to Gwendolyn''s taste. She''s obsessed with warm colors. Who the heck is she trying to dress as a Koandrian idol? ¡°Did you buy these for Zayden?¡± Gwendolyn nodded in response to his urate guess. She exined, ¡°I knitted this sweater myself. It took me a long time. I bought the pants, though.¡± Back then, she had wanted to thank Zayden for his help. While she could not afford much, she thought of giving him a hand-knitted sweater. It went well with the pair of pants Camille had bought. Patrick immediately snatched the clothes from her hands after hearing her words. Thankfully, the pants fit him well. If she hasn''t given it to Zayden, he can kiss this handmade sweater goodbye. It''s mine now. Gwendolyn had turned away from him while he changed. Her eyes lit up when she saw how well the clothes fit him. She offered, ¡°I''ll get you a toothbrush and a towel.¡± Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Patrick went into the small attached bathroom. It had a small sink and a shower with nary a bathtub in sight. His gazended on the pale green toothbrush and its matching cup. Gwendolyn also kept a face towel and some cosmetics in the bathroom. He did not see a single water stain in the clean and tidy bathroom. His observations so far led him to conclude that Gwendolyn led a simple and meaningful existence. Her house was old andcking invish designs, yet it was a clean andfortable abode. Under her management, the simplest decorations and furniture turned the old house into a warm and cozy home. It was nothing like the monochromatic scheme of his house, which made it seem cold and uninviting. Gwendolyn returned amid his musings with a new toothbrush, a cup, and a fresh towel. ¡°You can take a shower if you like. We have hot water.¡± I bet he''ll feel ufortable if he doesn''t take a bath every day. Patrick took the blue toothbrush and its matching cup from Gwendolyn. She then said, ¡°I''ll wait downstairs. You cane down and have breakfast after you''ve freshened up.¡± After that, she turned to leave. Her hair fluttered behind her, leaving a faint, sweet scent in its wake. Patrick found the scent oddly familiar, yet he could not recall where he had smelled it before. He took a deep breath and realized that her unique, alluring scent filled the bathroom. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn had gone downstairs. Her triplets had not left the house yet. They stood neatly in a line at the bottom of the stairs as though they were waiting for her. All three wore navy school uniforms and carried their backpacks, ready to leave for school. Juliette smiled at her mother and asked, ¡°Are you awake, Gwen? Where''s Mr. Handsome?¡± Gwendolyn blushed but remained calm as she answered, ¡°He''s up too. Justin, Julian, can I talk to the two of you for a moment?¡± Juliette eyed her brothers. After some thought, she uttered seriously, ¡°You can''t bully Mr. Handsome anymore, okay?¡± Justin ruffled her hair fondly and promised, ¡°Okay!¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. His agreement brought a smile to Juliette''s face. She announced, ¡°I''ll wait for you two outside. Talk faster, or we''ll bete for school.¡± Gwendolyn held her boys'' hands and led them to the couch. She sat down and scrutinized her two handsome sons. They''re good-looking boys. Their features are impable, and they''re whip-smart. They must''ve inherited these traits from their *sshole of a father; he can''t be that inept if he fathered them. She opened their talk by saying, ¡°Next time, you can''t behave like this toward our guests, understand?¡± Patrick is ying your dear mother like a fiddle. I''d ratherpromise in the future instead of ying hardball, or all of you will end up with a worse fate. Patrick is ying your dear mother like a fiddle. I''d ratherpromise in the future instead of ying hardball, or all of you will end up with a worse fate. Gwendolyn kept these thoughts to herself. Justin and Julian nodded and replied, ¡°Okay!¡± The boys were always so obedient and sensible. They never went against her words, and Gwendolyn felt touched and blessed to have such well-behaved children. ¡°All right. You should head to school now.¡± Gwendolyn then called out, ¡°Ms. Ziegler, please send them to school today.¡± Camille came out of the kitchen and said, ¡°Gwen, the oatmeal porridge is in the instant pot, and the toppings are on the table.¡± After the reminder, Camille apanied the children to school. Gwendolyn poured herself a cup of warm water and drank it. She was thinking about her job search and praying that she could find work soon. Suddenly, her phone rang with a call from Lucy. Gwendolyn answered the call. ¡°Luce.¡± ¡°Gwen, the hospital said they found a suitable bone marrow donor. I heard that he''s still serving in the army, so the hospital''s trying to get in touch with him.¡± The news was music to her ears. Money really does make the world go round. We managed to find a donor a day after giving them the money. The speed is unbelievable! Chapter 79 Chapter 79 ¡°Okay then. Urge them and ask them toplete the surgery as soon as possible.¡± Gwendolyn smiled when she finally saw some hope for Lucy. As soon as the man came downstairs, he heard her joyfulughter. He purposely kept his steps light so that he would not catch her attention. Then he overheard her talking about looking for a job. I saw her video yesterday. Never did I imagine that she would work in a pet shop. The veterinarian uniform she is wearing doesn''t suit her at all. Losing the job is something expected. Gwendolyn suddenly felt that someone was watching her behind her back, so she turned around only to notice Patrick standing there and watching her. ¡°Luce, I''ll get back to youter. I have to attend to some matters. Perhaps I''ll visit you guys in a few days.¡± She then hung up the phone and walked up to him. ¡°Breakfast is ready. It''s time to eat.¡± Walking in front of the man, she led him to the kitchen. The dining table was in the kitchen because the house was built in the olden times, where the dining area and the kitchen were in the same ce. The room on the other side was upied by Camille. When Patrick saw ayer of withered, fallen leaves in the courtyard, he could not help but raise his head to look at the tree.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Seeing that Patrick was curious about the tree, Gwendolyn exined, ¡°This is a pear tree. It is full of sweet, crunchy pears during the fall season.¡± Even though Patrick did not like pears, he surprisingly wanted to taste the pears there after hearing her words. He followed her into the kitchen. It was rather old-fashioned. The surface of the marble dining table was so clean that it showed their reflections. He then took his seat while Gwendolyn served him a bowl of oatmeal porridge. She then removed the white food cover, revealing a few simple side dishes. ¡°Patrick, this is all we have. Please eat some.¡± She sat opposite him and sipped on her oatmeal porridge slowly. asionally, she would pick some of the side dishes and shove them into her mouth. Patrick felt that it was enjoyable to see her eating. Instantly, he thought the oatmeal porridge and side dishes tasted good, albeit simple. After finishing breakfast, Patrick was about to leave. He took a nce at his watch before giving her a business card. ¡°Ourpany is hiring. You may contact this number if you are looking for a job. Just say I gave you a referral.¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes widened slightly. Even those who graduated from top-tier universities might not be able to enter Lowen Group due to vigorouspetition. Is this even possible for me? ¡°Mr. Lowen, you know. I only have a high school diploma,¡± she said sheepishly. It had been difficult for her to find a job all these years. Her qualification was a critical drawback. Patrick remembered her words from before, so he nodded slightly, signaling to her that he knew. Patrick remembered her words from before, so he nodded slightly, signaling to her that he knew. ¡°Don''t worry. They won''t dare to reject my referral.¡± He''s right. After all, he is the CEO. They wouldn''t dare to reject him. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lowen,¡± Gwendolyn responded with a sweet smile. While Patrick was heading outside, he said coldly, ¡°No need to thank me. It''s just that you still owe me money, and I''m afraid you will run away. So, I need to keep you within my sight.¡± He pushed open the door and left while Gwendolyn stood in the courtyard alone. What a petty man! I thought it was for my good. It turns out that he wants to monitor me for fear that I will run away. I did want to walk him to the car initially. Just forget about it! There''s no point in doing so now that he said something like that. Meanwhile, Patrick got into the car. Liam, who came to pick Patrick up, felt that thetter seemed less distant in that Koandrian style shirt. Patrick gave Liam the side-eye when he spotted thetter staring at him knowingly. Liam chuckled. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you''re so handsome today!¡± Patrick then lowered his gaze to his shirt. Even though it was not for him, she had weaved it personally, and he thought it was quitefortable wearing it. ¡°Inform the HR department. If Gwendolyn Ashtones looking for a job, they should offer her the position of the CEO''s secretary.¡± Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Immersed in thoughts, Gwendolyn did not walk him out and instead sat at the dining table for some time. He pulls some strings for me only because he wants to keep his eye on me. Well, there''s no burden for me to ept his nepotism then. Lowen Group is a bigpany. Even if I work as an ordinary employee in thepany, I will get much higher pay than those top executives outside. Rumor has it that working there has a lot of benefits. Even in thepany''s cafeteria, lunch is in the form of a buffet. Besides, there are various desserts, fruits, and ice cream. Gwendolyn rose to her feet and returned to her room. Her body was sticky due to her sweating profusely while taking care of Patrick the day before. Hence, she took a bath. She felt rejuvenated after doing so and got changed into a more formal suit. Then she put on light makeup, for it was basic social etiquette. As she was going to Patrick''spany, she could not bring herself to drive there. After all, the car belonged to him. Since she considered the job interview a personal matter, she did not want to use his car, as she did not want to give him the chance to educate her. What a cheapskate you are, Patrick! Is this the generosity of the CEO of such a bigpany? Hmph! It was approximately ten o''clock when Gwendolyn arrived at Lowen Group. As soon as she stepped inside thepany, the decoration caught her attention. The hall of thepany looked very prestigious. She headed straight to the reception, telling them she was there for an interview. A security guard then led her to the HR department on the fifth floor. The manager of the department was a middle-aged man. After skimming through her resume, he said indifferently, ¡°Gwendolyn, congrattions. You are hired. Now, you mayplete the entry procedures.¡± She contacted me before showing up at thepany. I am the manager of the HR department. What else can I say? Dare I reject a referral from Mr. Lowen? All I can do is directly hire her. An employee from the HR department led Gwendolyn toplete the entry procedures. After spending a few hourspleting them, Gwendolyn realized she had forgotten to ask what the title of her position was. Upon thinking of that, she asked the female employee, ¡°Oh. By the way, what''s the title of my position again?¡± I am so pathetic. I did not even think of asking about my position as long as someone was willing to hire me. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. The female employee was astounded upon hearing that. She looked at Gwendolyn as though looking at a fool. Then she looked at the document and answered, ¡°Personal secretary of the CEO.¡± Her eyes widened even more right after she said that. She scrutinized the document again to ensure she got the correct information. This woman before me only has a high school diploma. Howe she became the personal secretary to the CEO? Argh! I envy her so much! Mr. Lowen is the Prince Charming of every girl in thispany. Who wouldn''t want this position? Gwendolyn, too, was astonished upon hearing that. ¡°What? Did I hear you correctly? Personal secretary of the CEO?¡± Gwendolyn, too, was astonished upon hearing that. ¡°What? Did I hear you correctly? Personal secretary of the CEO?¡± T-This means that I''m going to clean Patrick''s office and be at his beck and call again? Why? Why on earth can''t I escape from him? The female employee nodded. ¡°Yes. You are incredibly lucky!¡± With that, she rolled her eyes out of irritation. She then reminded Gwendolyn, ¡°You should be in the company before eight tomorrow. Don''t bete.¡± The female employee had already returned to her ce after that, ignoring Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn stood still and looked at the former as a strange feeling surged within her. Nevertheless, she could not care less about that as long as she got the job. Meanwhile, the manager came out. Seeing that Gwendolyn was still there, he smiled and said, ¡°Gwendolyn, wee to ourpany.¡± Gwendolyn felt that the manager was a kind and approachable person. Therefore, she walked over and asked, ¡°I have a question. How much is my sry as the personal secretary of the CEO?¡± The manager smiled. ¡°This is a special position. You might need to be on call twenty-four seven. So, your sry is naturally higher. You will get thirty thousand per month.¡± Gwendolyn almost fainted upon hearing that. Thirty thousand? Oh my God! Is luck on my side this time? But, isn''t the sry too much? Chapter 81 Chapter 81 The manager patted Gwendolyn''s shoulder when he saw she gape. ¡°Gwendolyn, please work harder. There is a bonus at the end of the year. If Mr. Lowen is satisfied with your performance, you might get a few ten thousand.¡± Gwendolyn was astounded once again. She felt a sense of dizziness in her head. O-Oh my... Am I at the peak of my life? Finally, I am capable of giving my children a better life. As soon as Gwendolyn snapped back to her senses, she swore she would be patient no matter what Patrick asked her to do. Even though he is petty, he does treat his employees well. Gwendolyn bought some snacks and food ingredients before returning home. Camille took over bags and bags of things from Gwendolyn. She was slightly surprised when she arranged the things. ¡°Gwen, the food ingredients you bought today are all imported. You have spent a lot, haven''t you?¡± Camille asked. Besides, she bought a lot of snacks. She would usually think twice before buying fruits and would only buy them when they are cheap. What''s wrong with her today? Gwendolyn assisted Camille in keeping the things in the refrigerator and containers. Her grin revealed that she was happy. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, I found a job with a good sry. We don''t need to eke out a living in the future anymore.¡± Not only can I afford the Barbie doll for Juliette, but I can also buy the drones andputers for Justin and Julian now. Our good days are about toe. Right then, someone rang the doorbell. Camille went to get the door. Dressed in clothing made of fur, Candace showed up at the door carrying thetest handbag. She nced at Camille faintly. ¡°Is Gwendolyn staying here?¡± Camille stared at the woman before her. She always dresses in such a high-profile manner. Has she ever considered the probability of being robbed? ¡°Hello? I''m speaking to you. I''m expecting an answer,¡± Candace said impatiently. Why does she keep staring at me? Look at the way that she''s looking at me. Is she jealous of me? Candace somewhat despised Camille, as she looked down on these lowlymoners the most. She even did not feel like talking to them. Camille, on the other hand, did not like Candace. She knew that when thetter came looking for Gwendolyn, it would not be anything good. Therefore, she replied coldly, ¡°There''s no such a person here.¡± Then she pushed Candace out and closed the door. Candace was furious. ¡°You f*cking grannie. I know she''s here. Open the door!¡± She rapped on the wooden door non-stop that everyone from the neighborhood came out to have a look. When Camille went inside, she said to Gwendolyn, ¡°There''s a woman dressed like a nouveau riche at our door looking for you. I''m afraid she has a bad intention. So, I blocked her outside.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Gwendolyn stood up. ¡°Who is it?¡± Gwendolyn stood up. ¡°Who is it?¡± She walked out of her room and headed toward the entrance through the courtyard. Then she heard Candace swearing outside the door. She turned around and discovered a small bucket. Thus, she filled it with water. As soon as she opened the door, she sshed the water outside on Candace. Immediately, shrieks echoed. ¡°Argh... Gwendolyn, what the hell are you doing?¡± Candace''s head and face were all wet. The water deformed the hairstyle she purposely set up and ruined her makeup. Her clothes were so wet that she started trembling due to the cold. Gwendolyn held the bucket tightly and looked at the onlookers outside. ¡°Aunt Candace, why are you here? I thought it was someone else causing trouble.¡± She put down the bucket and walked outside. ¡°You have a high stature. My house is too small to wee you. Aunt Candace, you should go back and get changed, or you will catch a cold in this cold weather.¡± Candace sneezed a few times consecutively. ¡°You... Gwendolyn, I purposely came to see you with good intentions. Just you wait and see.¡± With that, she quickly burst into tears and started sobbing loudly. ¡°Everyone, listen to me. Gwendolyn was pregnant when she was eighteen. She did not even know who the father of her babies was. What a disgusting woman! All of you must be careful. She isn''t a good woman.¡± Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Gwendolyn heard Candace ndering her in the most revolting way that she could. Her eyes slowly dimmed while her neighbors came surrounding them one by one. They were there to join in themotion. I don''t care what others think of me. But, how about my three children? What would the others think of them? Perhaps they would think of them as illegitimate children? Gwendolyn was so angry that she clenched her fists. She felt an urge to go at Candace and beat her unconscious so that she could keep her mouth shut. Candace became more arrogant when more and more people surrounded them. ¡°Everyone, please keep an eye on this minx. Her private life has been ugly since she was young. Think of your husbands and kids. If she seduces them, it will ruin your family.¡± Camille could not stand the nonsense anymore. She rushed out and pointed at Candace as she retorted, ¡°Shut up! Who do you think you are? Gwen is a kind and beautiful girl. She is a good person. Everything you said is purely usation without grounds.¡± Gwendolyn stood there as her body stiffened. She did not know how to exin herself. Fortunately, Camille was there standing up for her. Suddenly, Gwendolyn gained the confidence and courage to throw herself at Candace. As there were bodyguards shielding Candace, Gwendolyn failed to get near her. ¡°Candace, you are merely a mistress. You are not qualified to say such words in front of me.¡± With that, Gwendolynunched herself at Candace again. However, the bodyguards stopped her. Camille joined Gwendolyn. It was just that her strength was no match for the bodyguards. She nearly fell when the bodyguard swung her arm away. Gwendolyn held Camille. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, are you okay?¡± Seeing that Candace was so arrogant, one of the neighbors roared, ¡°To hell with it...¡± Then the neighbors fought with the four bodyguards. Candace had never imagined that the neighbors would help Gwendolyn. She was so afraid that she retreated a few steps behind. Gwendolyn went inside the courtyard and grabbed a broom before rushing out and hitting Candace. Candace was too weak to counterattack. Her hair became a mess, and her clothes turned dirty. Gwendolyn even injured Candace''s face. Candace sat on the ground, crying, ¡°Help! Please help me!¡± After the ruckus, the four bodyguards ended up injured as well. In the end, they ran away with Candace. Gwendolyn felt she had let off steam when she saw how they ran away in a mess. She had been thinking of an act of revenge all these years. It was just that she was incapable. She could barely make a living to raise her children, let alone get revenge. What happened that day allowed her to release the emotions bottled up within her over time. Camille breathed heavily and chuckled. ¡°Gwen, who on earth is she? She''s detestable!¡± Camille could tell that Candace purposely came to nder Gwendolyn. She''s really ck-hearted. Gwendolyn felt somewhat exhausted. She held Camille as she replied with a smile, ¡°She is my stepmother, the same person who forced my mom to run away from home.¡± Camille nodded as she began to understand the situation. She''s a bad apple indeed! Camille nodded as she began to understand the situation. She''s a bad apple indeed! The neighbors overheard their conversation. One by one, theyforted Gwendolyn. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Gwen, don''t be afraid. If there''s anything in the future, call for us anytime.¡± ¡°Exactly. We know you well. I won''t trust what the woman said.¡± ¡°If she ever shows up again, we will beat her again.¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn felt touched and grateful to the crowd. ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± Gwendolyn had been living in Snowy Lane for three years. She was an easy-going person and used to greet her neighbors whenever they met. As time passed, they would even gather and chat with one another. That was why Gwendolyn was on good terms with her neighbors. After Gwendolyn returned home, she helped Camille wash the vegetables in the kitchen. All of a sudden, a feeling surged within Gwendolyn. My neighbors are way better than my family. They will at least believe me and interact with me sincerely. But how about my parents? Even Father and Grandpa did not believe me and felt that it was my fault. She could not help but sigh. Even though what happened six years ago ruined her entire life, she did not regret giving birth to her three children. She swore to nurture her children well in the future and make them feel no different than other ordinary kids. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 The next day, Gwendolyn departed from home early and took the subway to the office. Born in a wealthy family, Gwendolyn had never before taken public transportation back then. However, after leaving the Ashton family six years ago, she learned how to use the subway and bus. To save money, she rarely took a cab as it was expensive. Boarding the packed subway, Gwendolyn was slick with sweat by the time she arrived at thepany at ten to eight. After clocking in, she headed to the CEO''s office, which was located on the top floor, and searched for the chief secretary. The chief secretary had received news from the CEO the day before, so she had added a table in his office for his new personal secretary. Leading the way to the CEO''s office, she pointed at the table that was situated at the entrance. ¡°You''ll be working here from now on.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Johnson.¡± Amber Johnson took in Gwendolyn''s attire and mused, She looks quite pretty, but she''s dressed quite inly. This outfit is obviously an outdated piece. Despite that, she''s receiving treatment that has never been provided at the secretary''s office before. She must be special to the CEO and might even be his wife in the future. With that thought, she treated Gwendolyn politely. ¡°No worries about it. Feel free to approach me if you have any questions.¡± Gwendolyn found the employees of Lowen Group to be easygoing and friendly. She moved to sit before her office desk, noting how it had aputer and phone atop it. cing her mug down, she started to scan her surroundings. Although Patrick''s office was spacious and brightly lit, it looked ascetic with white and gray as its primary colors. At a loss for what to do next, she decided to tidy up his office desk. Just then, the door opened, and a man d in a ck coat entered. Noticing Gwendolyn''s presence when the man removed his coat, Liam held back from taking it and instructed, ¡°Ms. Ashton, please hang the coat.¡± Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Aware that it was her duty, Gwendolyn took hold of the coat that Patrick had removed and hung it on the rack. Returning to her seat, she watched Patrick and was attracted by the majestic air that surrounded him while he was assigning work to Liam. She finally understood why it was often said that men exuded the most charm while working. As Liam passed by her desk while leaving, he smiled at her and remarked, ¡°Ms. Ashton, Mr. Lowen has the habit of consuming a cup of ck coffee every day before work.¡± Realizing that Liam was reminding her discreetly, Gwendolyn shot out of her seat. ¡°Oh, I''ll make one right away!¡± She followed Liam out of the office, who took her on a tour around the CEO''s office. There were two pantries, one of which was designated for the CEO only. She followed Liam out of the office, who took her on a tour around the CEO''s office. There were two pantries, one of which was designated for the CEO only. It contained everything that Patrick usually used, such as coffee and water, and they were all branded items with exorbitant price tags. Although Gwendolyn was currently poor, she was familiar with most brands as she used toe from a wealthy family. While Liam was briefing her about Patrick''s preferences patiently, Gwendolyn noted them down on her phone. Considering how crucial her wage of thirty thousand was to her, she was determined to serve Patrick well. Gwendolyn brought the coffee to Patrick''s office and ced it on his desk. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''ve added some milk to your coffee, as it''s better for your stomach.¡± She was surprised to find that he usually did not add milk and sugar to his coffee. Not only would it taste bitter that way, but it was also harmful to his stomach. Dressed in a ck suit with a white shirt inside and a dark blue tie, Patrick cut a re at her. ¡°Gwendolyn, do you know what the job of a personal secretary entails? You should be picking me up from my house in the morning and sending me home in the evening. You weren''t there this morning, so I''m deducting your bonus.¡± Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Furrowing her brows, Gwendolyn was bewildered that her wage would be deducted on her first day of work. However, her eyes lit up as she chirped, ¡°Bonus? So there''s a bonus every month?¡± Staring at her surprised expression, Patrick mused, This girl is really a miser. He then nodded. ¡°Of course. Lowen Group has a policy concerning rewards and disciplinary sanctions.¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn was nearly bursting with joy. So besides the wage of thirty thousand, I''ll also have monthly bonuses and a year-end bonus! Sweet! With that, she was intent on working at Lowen Group until the three children had grown up. Meanwhile, Patrick did not utter a word despite taking a sip of coffee that contained milk. As he gazed at her with his ck eyes, the corners of his lips curled up at the jubtion on her face. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I have no idea what my job scope is as it''s my first day of work. Can you please give me a second chance?¡± Noting her sincere expression, Patrick arched his eyebrows in response. ¡°All right then. I''ll give you another chance.¡± Gwendolyn dashed to her desk to fetch a notebook before returning to him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, can you please tell me briefly what the job of a personal secretary entails? I''ll make sure to cover every detail and aplish them.¡± For the sake of the high wage and a happy life for her and the children, she decided to go all out. Patrick took another sip of the coffee that she made, finding it to his liking. ¡°Basically, a personal secretary deals with all my private matters. For example, my outfit, food, and medications. You''ll have to be by my side during business socializations and follow the driver in driving me around.¡± Gwendolyn dutifully jotted down everything he said. Although this sounds more like the job of a nanny, I shall be his nanny for the sake of the money. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. As soon as Patrick finished exining, he started working. From time to time, a manager would enter to report some work matters to him, which he listened to attentively and provided feedback. Out of boredom, Gwendolyn propped her chin up while watching him work and reprimand his employees. It felt like he was the main pir of Lowen Group. At noon, Gwendolyn stepped up to his office desk. He was holding a cigar in one hand while the other hovered over the keyboard, typing quickly. He had a two-hour meeting in the morning, after which he met the managers from all departments. This process took over an hour. His schedule is so tight! Then it makes sense that his time is worth millions. It seems fair. ¡°Mr. Lowen, would you like me to order you lunch, or are we going to the employees'' cafeteria?¡± Patrick cast a nce at the time and realized that it was already a quarter past twelve. Taking a puff of his cigarette, he responded, ¡°We''ll go to the employees'' cafeteria.¡± Since it was her first day of work, Patrick decided to show her around so that she could at least familiarize herself with the cafeteria. Since it was her first day of work, Patrick decided to show her around so that she could at least familiarize herself with the cafeteria. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Sure! I shall make a move first then. Take your time.¡± As she turned around and prepared to leave, Patrick barked, ¡°We''re going together.¡± Although Gwendolyn had intended to pretend that she did not hear him, it was ridiculous considering how loudly he had spoken. Besides, he was her boss, the person paying her wage, so she had to abide by his decision. ¡°I thought that a CEO like you would be eating with the senior executives.¡± Fiddling with his phone, Patrick strode toward her. They then went to the spacious employees'' cafeteria on the second floor, where a long line had already formed. Once Gwendolyn entered the cafeteria, she joined the queue. However, Patrick did not follow her. Instead, he sauntered straight to the front and selected his favorite foods. After that, he moved to sit near the window. Gwendolyn was thest one arriving at the cafeteria, so all the tables had been upied by the time she got her food. She gripped her tray and looked around her. Most of the employees had friends and were sitting together. Since she did not know anyone, she headed toward Patrick, crestfallen. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Patrick had already finished his meal. He looked at the time and said, ¡°I''m going to take a thirty-minute nap. Please remember to wake me up at half-past one.¡± He proceeded to stand up and leave. Gwendolyn was left sitting all alone on the mostfortable seat avable. She was thoroughly enjoying the delicious food. The only problem was that she could feel everyone around her staring at her. When she turned her head to look, they all retracted their gazes and pretended that they were not looking at her. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn continued to eat her food while keeping her head lowered. The staff cafeteria at Lowen Group served very good food. It was probably even better than a five-star restaurant. To her, every single dish here was delicious. As she ate her food, a figure suddenly sat down beside her. Gwendolyn slowly lifted her head up, only to see Liam smiling at her. ¡°Ms. Ashton, is the food here appetizing?¡± he asked. Gwendolyn quickly chewed and swallowed her food. She then drank a mouthful of fruit juice. ¡°Mr. Derner! You haven''t eaten anything yet, right?¡± she asked. It seemed that Gwendolyn and Liam were the only ones who arrivedte. Patrick was alsote, but since he was the CEO, he did not need to line up. Because of him, Gwendolyn also did not need to line up for food. Liam nodded. ¡°I''m always thest one to leave the office. I''m used to it by now.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her head and continued eating. Liam looked at her as she stuffed her face eagerly. It seemed that she really liked the food here. A smile flitted across Liam''s face. It''s not often that Mr. Lowen adds another table in his office. Everyone in thepany believed that Gwendolyn would be the CEO''s wife one day. Her colleagues were all super jealous of her. Liam could not deny that he felt the same way because he observed that Patrick treated Gwendolyn differently. Therefore, he wanted to get into Gwendolyn''s good books as well. ¡°Ms. Ashton, there''s also some ice cream over there. You should try them. They''re Haagen-Dazs ice cream,¡± Liam suggested. Gwendolyn turned her head to look. The food that she ate just now was a little greasy. Besides, she was also craving something cold. And so, she got up and walked toward the dessert section of the cafeteria. A group of female colleagues was lining up to get some ice cream. When they saw hering, they all made way for her. One of them said, ¡°Ms. Ashton! You first!¡± Gwendolyn had never been treated like this before. She was stunned for a moment before politely saying to them, ¡°Thank you!¡± She opened the fridge and took out a box of ice cream. Then, she walked back to her seat while the others looked at her. After sitting down, Gwendolyn proceeded to speak while eating the ice cream. She said, ¡°Mr. Derner, I feel like my colleagues in Lowen Group are very kind. They seem to look after me.¡± They''re so courteous that they even let me cut the line to grab some ice cream. They''re so nice! Liam almost spat out the food in his mouth. He quickly drank some soup before replying, ¡°Yeah, everyone in Lowen Group is very kind.¡± Of course, Liam did not dare to say what was really on his mind. Everyone is treating you like the boss'' wife, Ms. Ashton. Of course they''re nice! Gwendolyn felt very satisfied after finishing the ice cream. The lunch here is free and also plentiful. It really makes me want to work at Lowen Group until I retire! When she finished her lunch, she happily returned to Patrick''s office andy down on the couch. Even the CEO''s couch isfy. It''s so soft! And it feels so good to lie down on it. Gwendolyn set her rm to ring at half-past one. That was when she would have to wake Patrick up as well. When it was half-past one, Gwendolyn woke up and turned off the rm. She felt refreshed. That was a very good nap. Without dy, she got up from the couch and did some brief stretching exercises before heading over to the lounge. She saw Patrick sleeping with his hands above the nkets on his chest. His eyes were closed and his breathing was rxed. He looks so peaceful sleeping like that. Gwendolyn sat beside him on the bed. Then, she gently shook him to wake him up. ¡°Mr. Lowen, it''s time to wake up,¡± she said. Patrick opened his eyeszily upon hearing Gwendolyn''s voice. He saw how close her face was to him. She was still pouting those pink lips of hers. Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Patrick''s pupils dted as he lifted his hands and pulled Gwendolyn into his arms, kissing her on her lips. Gwendolyn was shocked. She wanted to get back up, but Patrick''s hands were too strong. And so, she could not escape his grip. Patrick opened his mouth and nibbled on her lips. He then flipped her body over and got on top of her, kissing her deeply. At first, Gwendolyn tried to push Patrick away with her small hands. But as the kissing continued, her arms fell back down. She no longer had the strength to resist him. After the long kissing session ended, Patrick felt that he could hardly resist his temptations. It was not the right time, though, so he could only stop. Patrick cupped Gwendolyn''s face in hisrge hands, staring into her eyes from above. ¡°Howe your lips are so sweet?¡± he asked. Well, those small lips of hers have always been sweet every time I kissed her. They''re so addictive. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. When Gwendolyn heard his voice, she regained her senses and touched her lips with her hand. Her eyes widened in shock. ¡°Huh?¡± She finally came to her senses. What just happened? Gwendolyn''s eyes widened upon realization. ¡°Patrick! You just kissed me again! You-¡± Patrick gave her a wicked smile. ¡°What? Are you saying you don''t want this job anymore and want to get away from me?¡± he asked. When Gwendolyn heard him indirectly hinting that she could get fired from thepany, she was immediately anxious and shook her head vigorously. ¡°Not at all, Mr. Lowen! I like this job very much, so I won''t be leaving anytime soon,¡± she eximed. Patrick knew she would say that. He reached out and touched her red and plump lips. The smile on his face grew more and more wicked. ¡°Well, then you better work hard! Preferably until retirement,¡± he stated. When Patrick got up to go to the bathroom, Gwendolyn immediatelyy down on his bed. It took her a while to regain herposure. She quickly got up and made his bed. Then, she tidied up the lounge for a bit before leaving. Gwendolyn returned to the office and sat at her table, feeling a little upset. Patrick is always harassing me and kissing me. However, if I resist him and scold him, he might fire me on the spot. It''s already hard enough being a woman. It''s even harder to be a woman in the workce. She sighed. What should I do? When Patrick came out of the bathroom, he saw her sullen expression and proceeded to tap her table with his slender fingers. Gwendolyn looked over to him and quickly stood up. ¡°What can I do for you, Mr. Lowen?¡± she asked. Patrick looked at her intensely. He answered, ¡°Gwendolyn, I want you to be my girlfriend.¡± He finally made up his mind and said something he had never said to a woman before. This must be what a confession feels like. Gwendolyn was at a loss for words. Only after a while did she respond to him, ¡°Aren''t you getting engaged with Felicia? I can''t be your girlfriend.¡± I don''t n on being a mistress. Absolutely not! Patrick frowned slightly. He wanted to exin it to her, but he decided that it was better if fewer people knew about the rtionship between him and Felicia. Patrick had made an agreement with Felicia in order tofort Hector. He''s sick, after all. If I don''t fulfill his wishes, then he''d definitely die without ever seeing me with a girl. Maybe he''ll even get better someday if Iply. Patrick did not say anything else. He grabbed his coat and exited through the door. Gwendolyn sighed in relief when she saw him leaving. If he doesn''t break up with Felicia, then I can''t be his girlfriend. Gwendolyn had thought about being Patrick''s girlfriend at least temporarily. It was both because of money and because she wanted to stay in thepany for a little longer. When she remembered that he was Felicia''s fianc¨¦, she stopped entertaining that idea. She would never allow herself to do that. Patrick did not return to his office even until it was time to get off work. Gwendolyn sat at her office table in a daze the whole afternoon. When it was six o''clock, she packed her stuff and was ready to head to his house. However, Patrick suddenly sent her a text message: You don''t need toe tonight. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Gwendolyn let out a deep sigh. Looks like he''s in a bad mood after he got rejected. She received another message: It''ll still count toward your wage. Gwendolyn rolled her eyes. Even if it didn''t, I would have no opinion either way. Over the next week, Gwendolyn came to work at thepany every day. However, Patrick was nowhere to be seen. She was very worried. From time to time, Gwendolyn would always find herself staring at his office table. The office was very quiet without him. It felt like the CEO''s office was all hers now. Just then, her phone rang. Patrick was calling her. ¡°Mr. Lowen,¡± she greeted. Gwendolyn had not seen Patrick in a week, and she did not receive any messages from him either. She was starting to doubt whether she actually knew him or not. If I hadn''t been in his office every day of the week, I would have thought that I was dreaming. As long as he doesn''t want to see me, I won''t get to see him anytime soon. Patrick stated, ¡°Go with the chauffeur to pick me up at the airport.¡± He then hung up the phone just like that. He''s so heartless. Gwendolyn slowly got up and picked up her handbag. She went to the underground parking lot and saw the chauffeur idling by the car. He immediately snuffed out his cigarette upon noticing her. ¡°Ms. Ashton,¡± he greeted. Gwendolyn responded, ¡°Larry, we need to pick the CEO up at the airport.¡± The chauffeur got into the car and started the engine, driving all the way to the airport. Gwendolyn entered the airport entrance. She stood there waiting for Patrick to show up. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. After around twenty minutes, a group of people could be seen walking toward the exit. Patrick, who was wearing all ck and had a cold look on his face, was in front of the crowd. He was walking in a fast-paced manner. The people beside him were all wearing suits. They were the managers of thepany. He must''ve gone on a business trip the whole week. No wonder I haven''t seen him around. This also exins why he didn''t answer any of my phone calls. Gwendolyn waved her hands at Patrick. She shouted, ¡°Mr. Lowen! Over here!¡± It was at that very moment that Felicia ran over to him. She eximed, ¡°Patrick! You''re back!¡± Then, she held his hand and they walked out together. Gwendolyn slowly lowered her hands. She felt like she was only embarrassing herself just now. He has his fianc¨¦e, while I''m just one of his secretaries. How could I evenpare to her? I''m so stupid. To think that I thought he''d be happy to see mee and pick him up. Patrick gave Gwendolyn a slight nce when he and Felicia were passing by. ¡°Ms. Ashton, did you get the thing that I asked for?¡± he asked. Gwendolyn followed them from behind. She nced at the box of desserts in her hand and responded, ¡°Yes, I bought it.¡± Since she thought that Patrick was hungry, she selected his favorite vors when she bought the box of desserts. They left the airport together. Patrick and Felicia got into the backseat of the car, and Gwendolyn got into the front passenger seat. As the car drove away from the airport, Felicia suddenly let out a harsh-soundingugh from behind. She eximed, ¡°Patrick! You were away for a whole week! I''ve missed you so much!¡± Then, she leaned her head against Patrick and asked, ¡°Can I stay at your home tonight?¡± When Felicia said this, she nced at the rear-view mirror in front of her and happened to meet Gwendolyn''s gaze. Patrick did not respond. He seemed very tired as he leaned his back against the seat and looked out the window with tired eyes. He looked like he was thinking about something. ¡°Ms. Ashton, please give Fel the desserts. She wanted to eat it. Hand it over to me,¡± he ordered. Gwendolyn tightened her grip on the box of desserts in her hands. She did not want to give it to Felicia. After all, she bought it for Patrick. With a smile on her face, Felicia eximed, ¡°Gwendolyn, give it to me now!¡± Felicia was in a good mood today. When she received a phone call from Patrick saying he wanted her to put up a show at the airport, she rushed over without hesitation. She also saw a few people carrying cameras at the airport just now. They were probably the paparazzi. Felicia and Patrick were definitely going to be on the news soon. It was no wonder Felicia was in a good mood. Patrick will soon announce me as his fianc¨¦e! I''ll be the envy of every woman in Avenport! Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Gwendolyn refused to pass the box of desserts over. She did not want to give it to Felicia. Therefore, she pretended not to hear her. Of course, Felicia was aware of this. What is her problem? She raised her foot and kicked Gwendolyn''s seat. She shouted, ¡°Gwendolyn! Did you hear me? Patrick bought those for me. You''re just his secretary!¡± Felicia was sure that Gwendolyn was allowed in Patrick''s house only because she was his secretary. That''s all to it. Even though Felicia was only acting, she still made Gwendolyn feel ufortable. Patrick did not seem quite happy when Felicia kicked Gwendolyn''s seat just now. His gaze turned slightly colder. But as he noticed that Gwendolyn was angry, he asked, ¡°Ms. Ashton, I bought those desserts for my grandpa. Can you give them to him?¡± Hector had woken up. That was why Patrick asked Felicia to pick him up. They were currently headed toward the Lowen residence together. Only then did Gwendolyn understand. ¡°Of course!¡± she replied. She was happy with his exnation. I didn''t go through the trouble of buying these desserts just to hand them over to Felicia, after all. After an hour and a half, the car finally arrived at the Lowen residence. It was parked inside the garage. The chauffeur opened the car door for Patrick. Gwendolyn got out of the car by herself. She was supposed to open the door for Felicia, but she didn''t want to. Hmph! I definitely won''t open the door for her. Holding the box of desserts, Gwendolyn walked over to Patrick. She gently shook the box in front of him. She asked, ¡°If I give this to you, will you let me get off work?¡± You brought your girlfriend back to your own home. I have the right to go home and be with my kids too, you know? Patrick noticed that Gwendolyn had an upset expression on her face. I haven''t seen her for a whole week, and I missed her every single day I was away. That was the reason why I called her to pick me up at the airport. So, why does she have that look on her face now? Patrick frowned slightly at Gwendolyn, who looked like she did not want to see him. He asked, ¡°Ms. Ashton, are you nning to change jobs or something?¡± Upon hearing this, Gwendolyn quickly put on a smile and coaxed him by saying, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I think I can do this job just fine. What do you want me to do? Please tell me.¡± Of course, what she was truly feeling was different from what she said just now. You''re being so petty! Is it because you don''t like the fact that my sry is high? Is that why you''re so eager to fire me? Patrick saw Gwendolyn forcing a smile, which made her petite face look much more pleasing to the eye. He lifted his head up and stated, ¡°My grandpa woke up today. This is something worth celebrating. Because of that, my grandma asked if you could stay for dinner.¡± Gwendolyn knew that Hector had been sick for many years. Since he was all better now, it definitely was something worth celebrating. Hence, she nodded her head. ¡°Of course!¡± Meanwhile, Felicia was still waiting for someone to open the car door for her. She waited and waited, but not even the chauffeur opened the door for her. After a long while, she was forced to push open the door by herself. When she got out of the car, she roared angrily at Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwendolyn! Why didn''t you open the door for me?¡± she shouted. This is something that a secretary is supposed to do, you know? I''m your boss'' girlfriend. You have to treat me well. Gwendolyn red at her. With a cold expression on her face, she replied, ¡°I''m sorry, Felicia. I was busy with the work that Mr. Lowen assigned to me earlier. Aren''t you able to open the door by yourself? Or do you have no arms?¡± Those words angered Felicia so much that she wanted to retaliate. Gwendolyn furrowed her eyebrows in annoyance. She announced, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''ll go see Old Mrs. Lowen now.¡± After saying that, she proceeded to carry the box of desserts into the house. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Felicia''s eyes widened in shock. She immediately walked over to Patrick and eximed, ¡°Patrick, just look at her! She doesn''t even act like a secretary!¡± Patrick calmly nced at her. ¡°Just y your part ording to our agreement. Don''t worry about anything else.¡± After he said that, he proceeded to walk up the stairs briskly. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Felicia was so furious that she started stomping her feet as she cursed under her breath, ¡°Gwendolyn, you little b*tch. I won''t let you do as you please any longer! You''re just Patrick''s little secretary. A mere, unremarkable worker. I''ll make sure you stay far, far away from him.¡± Gwendolyn called out when she entered the house, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen.¡± Hector was currently sitting in a wheelchair in the living room with Alice next to him. ¡°It''s great that you''re awake, Old Mr. Lowen. Even though you can''t speak, for now, you''ll definitely recover with good treatment.¡± When the two old people heard Gwendolyn''s sweet voice, they turned in her direction. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Hector''s eyes sparkled as he raised his hand and tried to say something. However, he couldn''t form proper words. Alice ignored him, stood up, and walked over to Gwendolyn to hold her hand. ¡°You''re here, Gwen! And you brought a present!¡± She smiled joyously. For some reason, ever since she met Gwendolyn, she would asionally miss the younger woman. She felt pretty awful on the days she wasn''t able to meet Gwendolyn. However, now that thetter had arrived, she felt much better. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°This is a dessert that Mr. Lowen asked me to buy for Old Mr. Lowen. He said it''s Old Mr. Lowen''s favorite.¡± Alice asked a housekeeper to take the dessert before she pulled Gwendolyn to sit on the couch opposite Hector. ¡°See, Hector? This is Gwen, my good friend, and Pat''s friend.¡± In actuality, she wanted to say that Gwendolyn was the woman Patrick liked. However, she was worried Hector would faint from anger after just waking up. Thus, she decided to keep it a secret for the moment. Gwendolyn smiled and called, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen.¡± Hector agitatedly patted his thighs and wanted to say something, but the words that came out of his mouth were barely understandable. ¡°G-Grand... Suit...¡± ¡°Suit?¡± Alice asked with furrowed eyebrows. He patted his thighs again and still couldn''t properly convey what he wanted to say. Gwendolyn leaned toward Alice''s ear and asked, ¡°Did Old Mr. Lowen piss himself?¡± The moment she finished, she blushed from embarrassment. After all, it was her first time meeting Hector, yet she was there specting if he had peed his pants. It would''ve been embarrassing for anyone else. Alice stifled herughter. ¡°Maybe, but he can''t speak clearly right now. He just woke up today.¡± As she was speaking, she nonverbally asked a housekeeper nearby to check if Hector pissed himself. Patrick was apanying Felicia into the building when he announced, ¡°I''m back, Grandpa. I''ve brought your granddaughter-inw to meet you.¡± He believed that once Hector saw him hanging out with Felicia, the old man would be happy. Maybe even to the point that Hector would recover. However, what he got was the opposite reaction. Hector straight up rolled his eyes in anger and shook his head when he saw the couple. Alice smiled. ¡°I''m sorry. He just pissed himself, you see. You two take a seat first. I''ll help him change his diaper in his room.¡± Then she apanied Hector back to their bedroom on the first floor with a housekeeper pushing him there. Inside the living room, Felicia sat next to Patrick as he pushed a cup of coffee toward Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn was indeed thirsty at that moment. Since she was in his house, it was only normal for him to take care of her. She picked up the cup and drank. Felicia, on the other hand, didn''t get the same treatment. As a result, she red at him with annoyance. Still, she didn''t forget about Patrick''s warning. Thus, she kept quiet and didn''t cause a scene. I swear I''ll definitely be his wife! When that happens, I can deal with Gwendolyn however I want! Patrick stood up and buttoned up his suit as a chilling look shed across his eyes. ¡°You two stay here. I''m going to check on Grandpa.¡± Chapter 90 Chapter 90 The moment Patrick left, Felicia crossed her arms and sneered, ¡°Don''t you think it''s shameless that a secretary like you is staying in your employer''s home to have a meal, Gwendolyn?¡± Her holier-than-thou attitude was apanied by a prideful lift of her chin. Gwendolyn was indifferent to thatment and continued to drink her coffee. ¡°The coffee that Mr. Lowen personally poured for me tastes good.¡± If I told you I kissed your man earlier, I bet you''d be super pissed off! But, I''m not going to say it to your face. After all, I''m not Candace, and I don''t want toe off as a mistress. I''m not that kind of person. Thinking of that, Gwendolyn pursed her lips. Her words struck Felicia where it hurt the most. After all, Patrick did personally pour a cup of coffee for Gwendolyn and not for her. She stared at Gwendolyn furiously and silently. Inside the bedroom, Hector had indeed pissed himself. So, the housekeeper and nurse helped him to change his pants. Alice was sitting at the side and thinking about how cute Gwendolyn looked when she spoke to her. Patrick grinned when he entered the bedroom. ¡°So, you did piss yourself, Grandpa?¡± That caused Hector to stare wide-eyed at his grandson as his expression soured a little. Some words were barely able to be squeezed out of his mouth. ¡°Great... grand... child...¡± He then proceeded to wave his arm in an anxious manner. Patrick and Alice exchanged a look. It would appear that the old man was urging his grandson to give him a great-grandchild as soon as he could. The young man''s eyebrows were furrowed even tighter as his grandfather reminded him of that. Having a child with a woman he didn''t like was thest thing he wanted, but telling his grandfather that would only infuriate the old man. If Hector had insomnia or died from the anger that he caused, he would be considered an unfilial grandson. Therefore, he was in a dilemma. Alice was worried Patrick would say something that would piss her husband off, so she spoke first. ¡°Pat knows that. He''ll give you a great-grandchild after he''s married.¡± Hector began acting out strangely when he heard that. He began to push everything on the bedside table away. ¡°Don''t throw a temper tantrum. I''ll keep an eye on your grandson and urge him to have a child soon,¡± she said as she pointed. Patrick felt like he shouldn''t have stepped into the room and caused his grandfather to get so agitated. It wasn''t great for the old man''s health. ¡°I''ll be leaving now, Grandma. I''ll be back in a few days to check on Grandpa.¡± Alice knew her grandchild was in a bit of a pickle because he liked Gwendolyn while her husband wanted him to marry the daughter of the Ashton family. Hector was a stubborn man, so it was the right choice for Patrick to leave first to prevent the old man from getting too angry. It was a shame that the celebration that was supposed to happen wasn''t going to happen. After Patrick walked out of the bedroom with both his hands in his pockets, he saidzily, ¡°The chauffeur is waiting outside for you, Felicia. He''ll take you home.¡± Felicia stood up swiftly. ¡°Aren''t we going to have dinner? Was it called off?¡± She hadn''t even gotten the chance to speak with Hector. Patrick coldly dered, ¡°I''m not going to repeat myself.¡± Felicia bit her lip and grabbed her bag. It was thetest limited-edition bag. Leaving was thest thing she wanted, but she couldn''t go against his words. So, she left obediently. Once she was gone, Patrick approached Gwendolyn, held her hand, and kissed her. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn pulled her hand back. ¡°What''s wrong with you, Patrick?¡± Her eyebrows furrowed. Why does he keep trying to kiss me? I already said I don''t want to be a mistress. Is he deaf? He pulled her along. ¡°Come on. If my Grandpa sees me again, he''ll get pissed off.¡± She allowed him to pull her as she stumbled outside of the building. He was much taller than her, so she needed to step forward twice for every step he took. Once he stuffed her into the car, he went in as well and instructed the chauffeur, ¡°Head to Snowy Lane.¡± Chapter 91 Chapter 91 The car slowly left the Lowen residence as Gwendolyn stared at therge manor. The first time she arrived at the Lowen residence, she was shocked by the family''s opulence. She was the daughter of a pretty rich family, so she thought she was used to opulence. But the Lowen residence was so incredibly massive that the Ashton residence could never be compared to it. Staring out of the window, she saw the flowers in the gardens blooming. Just a nce at the fresh flowers in winter was enough for her to know it was Alice''s style. She smiled. Old Mrs. Lowen is such a romantic. She sure knows how to enjoy life. Patrick was leaning on his seat and tapping his slim fingers on the armrest when he abruptly asked, ¡°Has your family eaten yet at this hour?¡± Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. He was going to have a meal at her ce, but since there were three children there, perhaps meal time was already over. She nced at her watch. It''s already half-past seven. They definitely have already eaten. ¡°Yep.¡± A in response was squeezed out of her mouth. Patrick ryed another order to the chauffeur. ¡°Go to tinum te.¡± ¡°Will do, Mr. Lowen,¡± the chauffeur replied. Patrick suddenly closed his eyes. ¡°My head''s aching. Ms. Ashton, give me a massage.¡± Gwendolyn turned around and saw him leaning against his seat. His furrowed eyebrows clearly expressed his exhaustion. He returned to the Lowen residence pretty much immediately after getting off of the ne. She didn''t know how long he was on the ne or where he returned from, but it wasn''t out of the ordinary for him to be tired. Seeing how she still wasn''t moving, he spoke without prompting. ¡°I flew out from Baykeep. It''s been three days since Ist slept, and I was on the ne for more than ten hours. My head is really aching.¡± She thought about the high pay she was getting from him and relented. He worked very hard for Lowen Group, and she was part of thepany. So, naturally, she should help lighten the CEO''s burden. She turned around, half-kneeling on the car seat, and massaged his head. It was then he suddenly hugged her and put her between his legs. That shocked her so much that she was about to leap away, but when she saw him hugging her, her grip loosened and she even closed her eyes. It was easier for her to give him a massage from that position. Instead of jumping away, she began to give him a massage. All Patrick could smell at that moment was her sweet scent. It had been a week since hest saw her, so he breathed in her scent as though he was addicted to it. Whenever he was tired or annoyed, a sniff of her scent or a short conversation with her would be enough to lift his mood up and energize him. Suddenly, he pulled her into his embrace. Gwendolyn wanted to get away, but he refused to let her go as he pressed on her delicate face. ¡°Don''t move.¡± She felt like she was going crazy. This guy keeps taking advantage of me! I wish I can scold him, but I can''t do that if I want to keep my job. Patrick buried his head in her neck. It made him feel peaceful and calm. ¡°Did you miss me for the past few days, Gwendolyn?¡± He missed her so much that he thought he was going crazy. Before he met her, he had never missed someone, especially a woman, that badly before. He was a little unhappy because he didn''t want to fall that hard for her. She didn''t have the nerve to move. All she did was sit there, calmly, and listened to his heartbeat while formting a response that wouldn''t piss him off. ¡°I was worried about you every day you weren''t in thepany.¡± It was a response that she hoped he would interpret as her simply worrying about his well-being and safety for the sake of thepany. Patrick smiled. I guess it''s impossible to make her say that she misses me, but her saying she''s worried about me isn''t too bad either. His grip tightened as he let out a long sigh. ¡°My grandfather wants me to marry Felicia.¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Gwendolyn could tell Patrick didn''t sound like he wanted it to happen. She''s not saying anything? Well, I guess I can''t me her. This is my personal matter, after all, and she''s just a secretary. He felt she was being pretty well-behaved at that moment. However, her silence reminded him of the time when he asked her to be his girlfriend, only for her to reject him. It bothered him that she didn''t seem to understand his feelings at all. The car stopped at the parking lot of tinum te before the chauffeur opened the doors for them. The two of them got off the car. Patrick walked in the front while Gwendolyn followed behind. They entered a private room that was meant for two people. He ordered the dishes while she went to the restroom. When she walked out of the restroom and washed her hands at the sink, she heard someone calling out to her. ¡°Gwen...¡± A warm, gentle voice was heard behind her. She nced at the mirror and saw Zayden standing at the side. There was a brush of drunken red on his cheeks as he smiled. She wiped her hands with a piece of tissue. ¡°Are you here to socialize, Zayden?¡± tinum te''s dishes were quite famous and tasty. The ce was also restricted to members only, so normal people couldn''t even enter. Zayden grabbed her arm. ¡°I''m having a meal with my family right now. Let''s go meet them.¡± Before Gwendolyn could react, she was dragged into a nearby private room with a big round table in the middle. There were children and adults there. All of them turned their attention to them. Angeline, Zayden''s mother, had a change of expression when she saw him pulling Gwendolyn along before she approached them. ¡°Why did you bring her here, Zay?¡± Angeline was wearing a green gown. There was an air of grace around her. Her face had delicate makeup applied to it, while her neck and ears were adorned with expensive jewelry. Zayden smiled. ¡°I''ve brought Gwen here to meet you all.¡± Gwendolyn was feeling a little awkward since Angeline had approached her before. The older woman gave her money in order to make her stay far away from Zayden. She didn''t take the check, but she did say she would do what Angeline asked of her. Appearing in front of Angeline like that made her look like she was going back against her word. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. So, she exined, ¡°I''m only here for a meal, Mrs. Surrington. I met him at the restroom, and I think he''s drunk right now.¡± She tried to withdraw her hand, but he refused to let go. He stared intently at her with a smile. ¡°I won''t let you go, Gwen.¡± Seeing how the situation was getting out of control, Angeline decided to introduce the people inside the room. ¡°Gwen, Zay and Ms. Morales are about to get engaged right now. The parents from both families are meeting here today.¡± When Gwendolyn turned her attention toward the room, she saw a pretty young woman in a white dress sitting at the side. The young woman was staring straight at her. It was then she realized it was a blind date. That''s why he''s so drunk and acting out of control right now. A serious man abruptly acting like that did make her quite dumbfounded. She quickly patted his hand. ¡°Let go of me, Zayden. My friend is waiting for me.¡± If she stayed any longer and ruined Zayden''s blind date, Angeline would definitely hate her to the bone. Yet, he still refused to let her go. He was staring at her like a predator staring at its prey. ¡°Gwen, the person I want to marry is-¡± Before he could finish, a firm and toned arm grabbed Gwendolyn. ¡°Why are you here, Gwendolyn? The dishes have arrived.¡± The tall, handsome man with a dark expression spoke coldly before sweeping his gaze across the room. Chapter 93 Chapter 93 The two middle-aged men sitting at the table stood up and approached Patrick. ¡°What a coincidence, Mr. Lowen! How about you join us?¡± Zayden stared at the woman in Patrick''s embrace when he realized he wasn''t holding her hand anymore. He was a little pissed off and wanted to pull her back. Angeline held him back and whispered, ¡°Ms. Morales is still here right now, Zay. Don''t embarrass her. A woman who had given birth before doesn''t deserve to be with you.¡± Zayden''s father, Derick Surrington, and Britney Morales'' father, Wird Morales, approached Patrick. They shook Patrick''s hand before handing him their cards. Patrick was holding Gwendolyn with one of his hands while he used the other to shake two middle- aged men''s hands and ept their cards. ¡°I''ll take my leave now. Sorry for disturbing you all.¡± He led her out of the room as the two middle-aged men sent them out. Angeline added, ¡°Did you see that, Zay? She''s hooking up with Patrick right now, and that means she''s not as simple as she looks. Don''t let her innocent appearance fool you. She''s a schemer.¡± If she hadn''t approached Gwendolyn a couple of times before and ¡°convinced¡± her to leave Zayden with money, then her son would''ve been the one getting in trouble. She would never allow a woman like Gwendolyn to marry her son and make him raise another man''s children. Zayden''s expression darkened as he stared at his mother coldly. ¡°If you want a perfect marriage, go do it yourself.¡± Then he pushed away her hand before leaving the room. The two middle-aged men had just returned to the room. Derick asked, ¡°Where are you going, Zay?¡± Instead of replying, Zayden left. Angeline shook her head. I know he''s upset and couldn''t let it go, but he has to realize that he can never marry Gwendolyn in this life. I won''t agree to it, and neither will the rest of the Surrington family. Gwendolyn was led out of the private room by Patrick before they returned to their own private room. She sat down quietly and drank her coffee. He was a little ticked off by how sad she looked. ¡°What? Do you feel awful seeing him going on blind dates?¡± She did make a sweater for Zayden before, but that had be Patrick''s. It didn''t matter who she made the sweater for in the past because it became his in the end. At that moment, he was wearing it underneath his suit. It was quite warm. She raised her head and looked at him. ¡°No. It''s a good thing that Zayden can find happiness.¡± It was never a desire of hers to stay with or marry Zayden. She didn''t want to drag him down with her status and her children. Besides, she was well aware of his family''s attitude toward her. A marriage between the two of them wouldn''t be a happy one, and she didn''t want that. Patrick was still a little skeptical as he put some food onto her te. ¡°Eat. The food''s getting cold.¡± It took them more than an hour to finish their meal. Gwendolyn noticed he had quite arge appetite, possibly because he was rather hungry. When dinner was over, it was already ten at night. She wanted to go back home badly, but he dragged her back into the car because he said he wanted to admire the stars. As his personal secretary, she had no choice but to obey him like a housekeeper. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. The stare he gave her once they were in the vehicle made her ufortable. ¡°I said I''ll apany you already, so can you please stop staring at me like that?¡± Gwendolyn shifted her line of sight away. Patrick coldly sneered, ¡°You aren''t allowed to think about other men when you''re around me. Do you understand, Gwendolyn?¡± His voice indicated it was an order that wasn''t up for debate. She felt he was being a tyrant. Still, the pay he gave her was just way too high for her to walk away, so all she could do was obey. At that moment, her phone rang. She took it out of her bag and looked at who was calling her. Justin was the one calling her. He probably called her to ask her toe home, since it was getting prettyte already. When she answered the phone, he immediately said, ¡°Mommy, Juliette''s having a fever. Her temperature is at thirty-nine degrees Celsius right now. We''re sending her to the hospital. Come back quickly.¡± Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Gwendolyn panicked when she heard that. Juliette was pretty weak, so she would get sick easily. She replied, ¡°All right. I''ll go there right away.¡± After ending the call, she spoke to the chauffeur in a hurry. ¡°Please send us to the pediatric hospital right now.¡± The chauffeur nced at his employer through the rearview window and waited. Patrick stared at her panicked expression and ordered, ¡°Go to the pediatric hospital now.¡± The chauffeur nodded and quickly changed the destination he was driving to. Patrick asked, ¡°What''s wrong? Who''s sick?¡± He guessed it must be one of the children who had gotten sick. Thest time he was in the hospital, he saw her sending Juliette there while her two other children followed her. It must''ve been hard for her. Tears were welling in her eyes as she stared straight ahead, as though she wished she could fly to the hospital immediately. ¡°It''s Juliette. She''s having a fever. Thirty-nine degrees Celsius. Thest time she had a fever, it caused her to convulse. I hope she''s okay right now.¡± Her hands were tightly gripping each other as she wished she was already by her daughter''s side. Patrick pulled out his phone and made a call. ¡°Hello, Director Stone. A child of my rtive is currently in your hospital right now. Please take good care of her. Her name is Juliette Ashton. Yep. Thank you!¡± When the call ended, he hugged her andforted, ¡°Don''t worry. The hospital will do its best to take care of her.¡± Gwendolyn was so worried that she didn''t hear him making a call or anything that he was saying at the moment. Worry filled her eyes as she wanted nothing more than to be in the hospital right away. Half an hourter, they arrived at the hospital. She immediately rushed out of the car and into the building. Patrick ced his hand on his forehead. She''ll act like a headless chicken whenever she hears that her child is sick. He quickened his steps, pulled her into his embrace, and prevented her from leaving. ¡°Go back, Patrick. The hospital is really noisy, and I need to wait in line to give her a check-up as well as an injection among other things. It''s quite troublesome. We can go back on our own afterward.¡± She thought he wanted to wait for them so he could drive them back. He kept hugging her to prevent her from running away. It''s not like the kid is in grave danger or anything. Isn''t a fever normal? Why is she so worried and anxious right now? ¡°I know where they are, Gwendolyn. Follow me.¡± He wasn''t going to let her run around aimlessly. Even though it was already eleven at night, the hospital was surprisingly lively. The reason was that the weathertely had suddenly be much colder, and that caused a lot of children to get sick. The line to take a number and get medicine was long. There were children crying and adults talking. It was very noisy. Patrick took her to an elevator that was exclusively used by doctors and arrived at the thirteenth floor before going into a VIP ward. When they entered, they saw Juliette getting a drip on the bed. Gwendolyn ran out of his embrace and asked, ¡°How''s Juliette? Did she convulse? Is her brain going to be fine?¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The two boys were sitting on the couch when they saw her rushing into the room and touching Juliette''s head. Justin spoke up. ¡°Don''t worry, Mommy. Juliette is just having the flu. She''ll be fine in a few days after getting an injection.¡± Julian stared at the man walking into the room and said, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lowen!¡± If not for him, all of them would still be waiting in a line trying to get their number and their sister would certainly not be able to get her treatment that quickly. Camille wore a confused expression as she exined what happened to Gwendolyn. ¡°We encountered the strangest thing earlier, Gwen. When we were waiting in line, an announcement suddenly mentioned Juliette''s name. I told the nurse that Juliette was with us before we were immediately taken here.¡± Chapter 95 Chapter 95 ¡°A few doctors even came to treat Juliette with a great attitude. They didn''t make us run around doing different examinations either. They just let Juliette sleep there as they did it. It saved a lot of time and effort,¡± Camille exined. Gwendolyn touched Juliette''s forehead. Her daughter still had the fever, but it wasn''t scarily hot anymore. She understood what had happened after listening to Camille''s exnation. A VIP ward wasn''t something a normal person could ask for, and she didn''t have that much money to let Juliette stay in one either. She then said, ¡°Take Julian and Justin back first, Camille. It''s toote. They need to rest.¡± When she turned around, she saw her two sons talking to Patrick and giving him a high-five. Thest time he went to their ce, the two boys gave him a bad attitude and even made him drunk. However, their attitude toward him changed that day. It was probably because both of them could tell he was the reason their sister got the treatment she needed quickly. Camille greeted, ¡°You''re here too, Mr. Lowen.¡± With him around, she could be more at ease. There''s finally a man here. Now, there''s no need to worry about visiting the hospital during the night. Patrick nodded. ¡°The chauffeur is waiting downstairs, Camille. You all head back first. Once Juliette''s drip is finished, I''ll send them back.¡± She nodded with a smile. ¡°All right. We''ll take our leave now.¡± Julian and Justin made an encouraging gesture for Gwendolyn to see. It confounded her greatly. When Camille and the two boys left, the room became silent. Juliette had been sleeping soundly. There wasn''t any sign of distress in her expression. Gwendolyn stared at Patrick and thanked him, ¡°Thank you for helping out tonight, Mr. Lowen!¡± He sat beside the bed and gently touched Juliette''s cute cheek. ¡°She gets sick often?¡± She nodded. ¡°When she was born, her weight was much lighterpared to her brothers''. She cries a lot, so it''s hard to take care of her. Ever since she was born, she would easily get sick. Her condition scared me half to death a couple of times. That''s why I always get very nervous when I hear that she''s sick.¡± ¡°I see.¡± He smiled inly. ¡°What about the children''s father?¡± Even if they weren''t together, he believed that the father should at leave give her child support. What kind of man makes a woman raise three children by herself without giving her any help? Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°They have no father.¡± She didn''t want to say much because she couldn''t tell what was real and what was a dream during her pregnancy. Even if she knew it was real at that moment, where was the man who impregnated her? If the man wanted to take responsibility, he would''ve shown up by now. Therefore, there was no point in looking for the father. She believed the father must''ve been a scumbag who took advantage of her, so he wouldn''t take responsibility even if she found him. Besides, it was something done by Felicia and her mother. There was no way they would''ve arranged for a nice man to impregnate her. Patrick could tell she didn''t want to mention the father, so he didn''t ask further. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. After a while, a doctor visited them and reported Juliette''s condition to the two adults. It was indeed just the flu. So, two or three days'' worth of drips would be enough for the child to recover. Once the doctor left, the room fell into silence once more. Gwendolyn suddenly recalled the time. It was almost midnight already. When the drip finished, it would''ve been way past that. She was too embarrassed to let him wait for them. ¡°There''s still three bottles of drips left, Mr. Lowen. You should return first!¡± Her gaze was fixed on him. You''re always so busy, after all. I can''t pay you back any more money if you ask me to. ¡°No matter what happens in the future, you cane and find me if you need help. I''ll be there.¡± Patrick stared at her tired face. It''s not easy being a mother. Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Gwendolyn smiled when she heard that. ¡°You''re already a great help tonight, Mr. Lowen. Thank you!¡± Patrick had no intention of leaving. He slumped on the couch and stared intently at her. ¡°Just remember my good side.¡± She raised her eyebrow slightly with unease. Is he trying to make me pay again? I can''t just chase him away either. After all, I''m depending on him to make a living. If I disobey him, he can just fire me, and I''ll lose my job. After adjusting the nket on Juliette, she sat on the chair next to the bed and stared at the little girl. He, in turn, stared at her. Silence befell the room. When Juliette''s drip finished, it was already two in the morning. Gwendolyn yawned and pressed the bell. Soon, a nurse arrived in the room. She blushed when she saw the man sitting on the couch. A man as handsome as him would make any woman blush at the sight of him. She pulled out the needle and handed the medicine to Gwendolyn. ¡°This is Juliette''s medicine. Consume one after meal three times a day.¡± Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Gwendolyn grabbed it and said, ¡°Thanks. Do we need toe over tomorrow to get an injection?¡± ¡°Yes. Three consecutive days of injections are required.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. The nurse still stared at the handsome man on the couch as she walked out of the room slowly. Gwendolyn put the medicine into her bag and went to carry Juliette. Suddenly, a big hand grabbed her wrist. ¡°I''ll carry her,¡± Patrick offered. She turned to him. ¡°It''s fine. I carry her all the time. She''s quite heavy.¡± It was too embarrassing for her to let him carry her daughter. Juliette wasn''t that heavy, but continuously carrying her was tiring. She had gotten used to it as a mother. Besides, Juliette was a quite vtile child who didn''t like to walk. ¡°I can carry you with her in your arms.¡± He smirked before pinching her waist gently. ¡°Do you want to give it a try?¡± He wasn''t going to let her doubt his strength. That actually made Gwendolyn blush. What is he saying? Oh god, I can already imagine him doing it. It''s so embarrassing. I''m not a child! ¡°No need! I know you''re strong, okay?¡± A tinge of red was still present on her pale cheeks. Patrick found her to be even cuter when she blushed. When he tried to hug Juliette, she moved and muttered, ¡°Daddy...¡± His lips curved upward when he heard that. If my child is this big already, they''ll probably call me like that too! Gwendolyn felt like crying when she heard that. Even though her children had never mentioned wanting to find their father, they would think about him when she was sick. The saddest part of it all was the fact that she didn''t know where their father was. She didn''t even know what he looked like. It made her feel she was a failure as a mother. She covered Juliette''s body with the small nket on the bed. It was probably something that Camille brought along when they arrived at the hospital. The girl suddenly opened her eyes and stared wide-eyed at him before hugging his neck. ¡°Daddy, please don''t leave me, okay?¡± Juliette cried after she finished speaking. After a while, she slept again. Gwendolyn paused for a bit before she patted her daughter''s back. ¡°Be good, Juliette. Just sleep. We''re about to arrive back home.¡± She believed her daughter would have an easier time sleeping if her daughter heard her voice. When Patrick saw Gwendolyn''s eyes were getting red, he carried the girl with one arm before putting his other free arm around Gwendolyn''s shoulder. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Gwendolyn could feel Patrick''s warmth. On a cold night, a warm hug would make a person''s heart warm. She didn''t push him away and simply let him ce his arm around her as he carried her daughter out of the room. A passerby would think they were a family. The chauffeur had already received Patrick''s message before they arrived on the ground floor. The car was parked in front of the hospital entrance as they walked out of the building. When he saw them, he got off the car and opened the doors for them. Patrick carried the girl into the car while Gwendolyn entered the vehicle from another side. She then thanked the chauffeur, ¡°Thanks for your hard work.¡± After all, the temperature had gone down to negative degrees Celsius, and yet he still waited for them. The chauffeur smiled. ¡°It''s nothing, Ms. Ashton. I''m Mr. Lowen''s chauffeur, after all. It''s part of my job.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. She gave him a smile before entering the car. When she saw how soundly asleep Juliette was in Patrick''s embrace, it made her think they looked like a father and his daughter. One day, I''ll find that ring and track down that man. As much as I hate him, the child still belongs to him. It''ll be nice if the kids can interact with their father from time to time. It was the first time Patrick hugged a child. When he stared at the girl''s cute face, he suddenly understood Gwendolyn. Is this why she was so panicked that she didn''t know what to do when she heard her daughter was sick? When they arrived home, it was already three in the morning. He gently ced Juliette on Gwendolyn''s bed. That way, Gwendolyn would be able to keep track of her daughter''s condition. When Gwendolyn saw him putting her daughter down, she raised her tired hand and pressed her eyebrows. She nced at the clock. It''s already five past three. It''s reallyte. Thus, she grabbed his hand. ¡°How about you stay here for the night, Mr. Lowen? I can put a quilt on the floor.¡± It was then she realized what she had just said. Why did I say that? There''s no way Mr. Lowen''s going to sleep on the floor! ¡°I''ll sleep on the floor with Juliette. You can take the bed.¡± She quickly amended herself as she pulled out the quilt from the wardrobe. Patrick stared at her slim and tired figure. So this is what it''s like to raise children. No wonder she''s so thin. It must be pretty hard to get fat if she has to work around the clock in and out of her house. She was about to carry Juliette and sleep on the floor with her when Patrick hugged her waist from behind. His head was buried in her neck as he sniffed her sweet, pleasant scent. Gwendolyn was feeling a little ufortable and a little itchy at her neck. It was unusual for them to act so intimately. Patrick really wanted to tell her to sleep with him on the floor because he really wanted to hug her, especially with how tired she looked. However, her stiff body indicated that she was clearly rejecting him. So, he had no choice but to dispel the idea as he smiled faintly. ¡°You should sleep on the bed with Juliette. I''ll sleep on the floor. The girl''s sick, after all. Let''s not make her feel even more difort.¡± She replied, ¡°Okay. You should wash up first. The toothbrush you used before is still there.¡± When she finished, she felt like something was wrong. Why does it feel like he''ll be staying here often as though we''re a couple? She shook her head and thoughts away. ¡°Go wash up right away, Patrick. It''s gettingte.¡± Being hugged by Patrick like that was making her feel ufortable. As for Patrick, the longer he hugged her, the more he wanted to kiss her. It was as though her lips were magical mas, temping him to do more intimate things with her. She wanted to back away, but he refused to let go. He turned her around and stared deep into her eyes. Their lips drew closer and closer. Gwendolyn stared wide-eyed at Patrick''s approaching lips. She suddenly felt that her mouth was dry and ufortable. Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Gwendolyn had to swallow some saliva so that she would feel better. Just as Patrick''s lips were about to touch hers, she panickily pushed him away. ¡°Go and wash up now, Patrick. I''ll use the restroom outside.¡± The house she lived in was an old-fashioned one, so there was a restroom outside that she could use to wash her face. Patrick licked his lips disappointingly. It''s a shame I can''t get a kiss, but I''m fine with looking at her blushing face. He then walked into the bathroom without dy. After she cleaned herself, she returned to the bedroom and saw he was already sleeping on the floor. He must be really tired. The next day, the two adults woke up at nine in the morning. ¡°Ah!¡± she eximed when she saw the time before turning to look at the man sleeping on the floor. He was woken up by her shouting and pressed his palm to his forehead. ¡°What time is it?¡± Six in the morning was usually the time he woke up, so he was a little surprised to see sunlight already pouring through the window. ¡°It''s already nine o''clock, Mr. Lowen. We''re going to bete!¡± ¡°It''s fine. I won''t deduct your pay.¡± Patrick sat up slowly. Juliette sat up, stared at him with her big, round eyes, and smiled. ¡°You were sleeping with us, Mr. Handsome!¡± When she smiled brightly, two dimples could be seen on her cheeks. He smiled and greeted, ¡°Morning, Juliette!¡± His maic voice was pleasant to the ear in the morning. Juliette pouted. ¡°Your voice feels nice to listen to, Mr. Handsome. I had a dreamst night. My daddy-¡± She quickly covered her mouth and nced at Gwendolyn when she said that. I almost said it out loud. I hope Mommy didn''t hear it! Her brothers told her to never mention their father in front of Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn did hear it, and she knew her children didn''t want to mention it in front of her because they didn''t want her to be upset. She got off the bed and exited the room. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Patrick could tell she was doing it on purpose. ¡°You dreamed about your daddy?¡± Juliette nodded. ¡°That''s right! He looked exactly like you, and he even hugged me! He hugged me with only one arm, so he must be really strong.¡± She had never experienced that before, so just talking about it made her feel all nice and warm. He patted her head with his slim fingers. ¡°Good girl!¡± The girly on the bed and watched the two adults enter and exit the bathroom before dressing up. The house was just going to be upied by Camille and her again once Gwendolyn and Patrick left for work. Gwendolyn spoke as she wrapped a scarf around her daughter. ¡°We''ll take you to the hospital at noon later so that you can get your injection.¡± ¡°I don''t want to get an injection! The needle hurts!¡± Juliette grumbled. Gwendolyn wasn''t going to argue about it with her since the injection must be done anyway. She then walked out of the bedroom with Patrick and descended the stairs. Since the staircase was quite narrow, one had to walk in front while the other at the back. Camille thought they looked like a couple preparing to head to work. ¡°Have some breakfast before you leave, Mr. Lowen, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn also hoped Patrick would eat breakfast before leaving since it was her fault that he woke up late. He raised his left hand and nced at his expensive watch. ¡°I''m afraid I can''t. There''s a meeting at half-past ten that I need to attend.¡± It was already a quarter past nine, and there would undoubtedly be traffic on the way. So, if he set off right away, he would still make it to the meeting on time. Since his car wasn''t around, she took out her keys and drove the small car he didn''t want to the company. He sat in the passenger seat while she drove all the way to thepany. Looking at his phone, he noticed he had a lot of missed calls. So, he called Liam. ¡°You finally picked up the phone. Something big happened. Did you see the news?¡± Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Patrick had just woken up from his sleep and did not have time to read the news. ¡°Just get to the point,¡± he said impatiently. Liam frowned as he replied, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''ve blocked the media personnel from releasing the photos of you and Ms. Felicia that she requested the paparazzi to take. However, the picture of you carrying the child and hugging Gwendolyn yesterday night was everywhere on the inte. It has gone viral online.¡± It waste at night, and Patrick had not had time to settle it. Immediately after the photo was up online, it shot straight to the top trending search on Twitter. By the time he realized it, it was toote because the picture had been forwarded many times. There was no way he could overturn the situation. Patrick said, ¡°All right.¡± After his voice fell, he hung up the phone. Then, he scrolled through the entertainment news and saw a picture of him carrying Juliette in his arms. He was wrapping his hand around Gwendolyn''s body in that photo whileing out of the hospital. It was quite a clear image. Hmm, not bad! We do look like a family! A headline wrote: Patrick Lowen left the hospital in the deep of the night. The girl in his arms resembles him. What a happy family! This photo was scattered randomly in many online articles. Then, Patrick casually scrolled down to the comment section. Tiger wrote: Is Patrick married? The woman beside him is beautiful, and the girl looks adorable. I wish you happiness! Lionized typed: Is she Mr. Lowen''s daughter? They look alike! Greenymented: I can tell that Patrick is the girl''s father by looking at their faces! She bears a remarkable resemnce to Patrick! Patrick exited Twitter instantly. Ha! How does Juliette resemble me? A smile then escaped his mouth as he thought of that. Everyizen seemed to have lost their stance and followed the trend blindly. Gwendolyn drove carefully, and they finally arrived at the office an hourter. After parking her car, Gwendolyn and Patrick entered the elevator and appeared together at the CEO''s office. The employees in the office turned around and realized something in an instant. They finally understood the reason behind Patrick hiring a personal secretary. Ah! It''s her! She''s the one who has given birth to his daughter! They could not help but look at Gwendolyn curiously. How lucky she is that she can have Mr. Lowen''s baby! Gwendolyn did not know anything about the buzz online. Theizens now considered them a family. Sensing that everyone''s gaze was on her, she subconsciously raised her hand and waved at them. ¡°Good morning, everyone!¡± At that moment, everyone in the office stood up and greeted, ¡°Good morning, Mr. Lowen and Mrs. Lowen!¡± Patrick smiled as he figured out what was going on. It looked like they had taken the news very seriously. Gwendolyn was dumbstruck upon hearing them. Where is Mrs. Lowen? Confused, she turned around and saw no sign of the woman who represented Patrick''s wife. She was still puzzled by their manners. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. However, she cleared her mind immediately and headed to the CEO''s office. cing her bag on the chair, she strode toward the pantry, wanting to brew Patrick some coffee. She would like to get him something to eat first before his meeting. There were desserts in the fridge in the pantry. Looking at the sweet course, she picked a piece that would suit his taste and grabbed the coffee before entering Patrick''s office. ¡°Have something to eat first, Mr. Lowen.¡± They had more than ten minutes before the meeting started. The snacks that she brought could help ease his hunger. Patrick, who was reading the meeting agenda, nced at the coffee and the piece of bread before grabbing the cup and taking a sip. Sitting opposite him, Gwendolyn stared at him and wanted to remind him to consume the bread first before the coffee. Otherwise, he would have stomachacheter. She wanted to express her thought but was afraid to. At that moment, Patrick''s phone rang. ¡°What''s the matter, Grandma?¡± It was unusual for Alice to call Patrick at this time. ¡°Pat, your grandpa has seen the trending news this morning. He is extremely excited now, and he keeps pointing at the television! Why don''t youe home and exin it to him? He doesn''t want to listen to me.¡± Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Patrick raised his brows in surprise. He could not care less about the news, but he seemed to have forgotten Hector. Why is he watching the news? Didn''t he just regain consciousness not long ago? Thinking of this, he had a feeling that it was Alice who showed Hector the news. In the past, when Hector''s health condition was better, Hector was not interested in entertainment news at all, let alone apanying Alice in watching the humdrum gossip. Now, Hector had no choice but to allow Alice to do anything to him. Thinking of the possibility, Patrick could not help but let out a smile. He could imagine Hector''s disdainful and helpless expression at the same time. ¡°Are you there, Pat?¡± asked Alice, sensing that Patrick was not giving her any response. Alice''s voice pulled Patrick back to reality. ¡°I''ll be there tonight, Grandma. See you.¡± Looking at the phone, Alice turned to Hector, who was still staring and pointing at the television. He seemed so agitated that he could fall from his wheelchair at anytime. ¡°Calm down, Hector. Pat told me he''ll exin to you tonight.¡± She sighed for some reason after she finished her sentence. Hector prefers Felicia. However, I think that Gwen is a suitable candidate too. Although she has given birth to three children, the Lowen family is not in dire need of money. We definitely can raise her children. After marrying Pat one day, it would be great if she could bear children for him. Hector turned to Alice, and his hands trembled as he tried to convey something. She then noticed that it was an irrational act to get Hector to watch the entertainment news with her. s! Look at him! He has be overemotional now. It will be bad if he experiences cerebral hemorrhage again. Then, Alice stood up and pushed Hector''s wheelchair out of the building with the help of a housekeeper. It was a bright and sunny day outside. Walking in the garden, she feltfortable as warm beams of sunlight shone on her skin. ¡°Since you''ve gained consciousness, you have to get well soon, Hector. Pat can decide on his own. Why don''t you apany me more? We can''t leave him alone in this world.¡± Patrick''s parents died at a young age due to an ident. Hence, Patrick was the only child left in the Lowen family. Alice and Hector cared for and loved Patrick. They were reluctant to leave him alone. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Hector grinned as he heard Alice''s words. Although he could not speak and walk, he was still conscious. Recalling that he had scared Alice with his agitated expression, he decided to calm himself down so that she would not be worried about him. He raised his hand gingerly and grabbed Alice''s hand the next instant. Soon, an air of peacefulness enveloped him. Alice smiled upon seeing this and put her other hand on his. ¡°Does it mean you understand me now? Stop messing around, Hector. Let''s wait for Pat tonight.¡± Gwendolyn brought Juliette and Camille to the hospital during the lunch break. She had taken a one- hour leave. After the IV drip, she sent them back to her house and returned to work. It was three in the afternoon when she arrived at the office. Then, she pushed open the door of the CEO''s office and said, ¡°I''m here on time, Mr. Lowen. Don''t reduce my pay.¡± Before leaving, she had informed him that she would be off work for an hour, and he could not deduct her wage. For this, she had to work overtime that night. However, she did not see Patrick in the office, but only Felicia, sitting on his chair with her back facing the table. Hearing Gwendolyn''s voice, Felicia turned around, raised her eyebrows, and shed a smile at Gwendolyn before saying, ¡°How''s the feeling working for the others, Gwendolyn? What a pity you''re putting in such a great effort in exchange for such a meager earning!¡± After that, Felicia raised her hand and admired the luminous diamond on her finger. She continued, ¡°Ah! I remember that you''ve got three children who need you! Hmm, you can''t lead a rxed life at all. Why don''t you look for a father for them? The man of yours shouldn''t have died yet. He''s around seventy years old, and I believe he''s got a generous retirement pension.¡± Chapter 101 Chapter 101 She chose to ignore Felicia''s words. After all, she herself knew better whether or not the man was old. Felicia looked at Gwendolyn with a smug look, assuming thetter would feel sad. Gwendolyn, however, would not let Felicia get her way and changed the subject. Judging from the luxurious manicure with real diamonds on Felicia''s nails, Gwendolyn could tell that the former was well taken off in the Ashton family. ¡°That looks nice.¡± After saying that, she returned to her table and added, ¡°I''m talking about your nails.¡± She did notpliment Felicia on her appearance, as thetter was always an ugly duckling to her. Felicia had known about this since childhood. In truth, both of her parents had a good look. However, she inherited their shorings of having small eyes, a round face, and a t nose. Speaking of which, Felicia was livid. Somehow, she was d that she had secretly had injectables to improve her facial appearance these few years. At least, she was considered pretty among the crowd now. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Things were the opposite whenever she stood together with Gwendolyn, though. Felicia was furious at the thought. She wished Gwendolyn could die, but thetter was still alive. Clenching her fists in rage, she gave Gwendolyn a cold re and said, ¡°Even if I''m not as pretty as you, I am the apple of the Ashton family''s eyes and have a better life than you. Look at you! You grew up without a mother, and Dad never liked you. Now, you even have to earn a living and raise three kids alone at such a young age. What a pity!¡± Gwendolyn''s expression slightly changed when she heard that. ¡°Who''s the culprit behind all of this, then? Felicia, what goes around wille around. You and your mother will have to pay for it sooner orter.¡± The twodies started quarreling. As Gwendolyn began to turn the table on Felicia, thetter crossed her arms and stated, ¡°Gwendolyn, go get me a cup of coffee.¡± Gwendolyn was organizing Patrick''s schedule, and she still needed to study and prepare herself for university. Since she had a stable job now, she wanted to start improving herself. ¡°Mr. Lowen said I''m his personal secretary and serve only him.¡± Patrick had never said such words before. However, he was not around in the office, and thus, Gwendolyn could bluff anything. Infuriated, Felicia got up and approached Gwendolyn with a menacing look. She swept everything on Gwendolyn''s table onto the floor and scolded, ¡°Gwendolyn Ashton, you''re only his secretary. It''s a job. Do you think you''ve be his wife just because of the headline?¡± Gwendolyn was stunned when she saw her cup shattered. The cup carried a special meaning, as she had made it together with her three children. She immediately got up from her chair and pushed Felicia to the side. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Bending down, she picked up the pieces of the cup. Still, the photo of the four of them on the cup had shattered. Damn it! She''s still the same despicable girl I know. Being pushed to the side, Felicia was enraged. She could not bear seeing Gwendolyn being around Patrick every day and wanted to get rid of her. Hence, she stepped forward to pull Gwendolyn''s hair. Thetter, however, was no easy prey. Back when Gwendolyn worked in Night City, Zayden had found her a coach to learn self-defense skills to protect herself. Eventually, she earned herself a ck belt inbat arts. Hence, when Felicia pulled her hair, she turned around and pinned the former onto the floor. Felicia did not expect Gwendolyn to fight back, and the pain was unbearable for her. ¡°Help! Gwendolyn is hitting me!¡± she screamed and cried, her voice sounding miserable. When she raised her hand to wipe her tears away, a sinister smile could be seen on her face. Let''s see if you can stay in thispany, Gwendolyn. I bet he''ll definitely fire you. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Upon hearing the cries from the CEO''s office, Amber walked into the room and saw ady with messy hair crying on the floor. Slightly startled, she quickly walked over to check what was going on. ¡°Ms. Ashton, are you okay? Let''s get up first.¡± After Amber helped Felicia sit on the couch, thetter held her waist and remarked, ¡°My waist! My hair! Gwendolyn, why did you hit me?¡± At the end of her sentence, she sobbed and wiped her tears, trying to get others'' sympathy. however, Amber knew who Patrick cared about and dared not toment on anything. ¡°Ms. Ashton, do you want us to send you to the hospital?¡± Gwendolyn, on the other side, remained silent as she picked up her books, some documents, and the pieces of her cup on the floor. Right then, Liam heard of the fight in the CEO''s office and informed Patrick about the incident in no time. When Patrick entered the room, he spotted Gwendolyn picking up the pieces of her precious cup on the floor. He was afraid that she would injure herself, so he remained silent. As he watched her pick the pieces up and wrap them in a paper bag, he could not help but frown. To Gwendolyn, it was not an ordinary cup but a memory of her and her children. Whenever she saw the four smiling faces on the cup during working hours, she would have a smile blossoming on her face. All of this encouraged her to work hard and stay strong for her children, no matter what challenges she was facing. Upon seeing Patrick, Amber greeted, ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± ¡°It''s so painful. My waist hurts!¡± Felicia immediately wailed in a more miserable tone. Putting her things away, Gwendolyn looked at Patrick and stated, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''ll pack my things and leave immediately.¡± She believed Patrick would be angry about what had happened today and wanted her to leave. Nevertheless, she could not take it any longer. She could tolerate anyone, but not Felicia. Patrick stood by Gwendolyn''s table and watched her pack up her things with grit and determination. He realized Gwendolyn would put herself on guard when facing Felicia, and she would even give up her job. ¡°Please make fifty copies of this document,¡± Patrick ordered. ¡°What?¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Who said you can leave? Do you think Lowen Group is a ce you cane and go as you please?¡± Patrick stared at Gwendolyn with a solemn expression, and his gaze darkened. ¡°Okay.¡± Gwendolyn quickly took the document over. She thought she had to leave for offending Patrick''s girlfriend and was d to hear that he did not dismiss her. After all, she never wanted to lose the job. After Gwendolyn went to make copies of the document, Patrick strode toward the couch and said to Amber, ¡°Ms. Johnson, you may get back to work now.¡± His voice was low and cold. It sounded as though he med Amber for being nosy, not paying attention to her own work, and only caring about other matters. ¡°All right, Mr. Lowen.¡± Amber nodded slightly. Where did I do wrong? Could it be because I''mforting Ms. Ashton? Having that thought in mind, she suddenly realized that Patrick was biased toward Gwendolyn. I guess the mother of his children is more important than his girlfriend. Sitting on the couch, Patrick crossed his legs and stared coldly at Felicia, who frowned with a grimace. Unable to withstand his stare anymore, Felicia wiped away her tears and uttered, ¡°Patrick, Gwendolyn is crazy. You told me toe to your office before you get off work. I happened to be nearby and came over early. She hit me right when I entered your office. I don''t even know what had happened.¡± Chapter 103 Chapter 103 With that, she began to wipe her tears again. The hatred in her eyes was so intense. How dare she say I''m ugly! She had pulled Gwendolyn''s hair to serve as a warning just now. However, she had never expected the latter to retaliate and seemed to learnbat skills before. Feeling resentful, she was determined to give Gwendolyn a lesson. With a sneer, Patrick lowered the projector screen, clicked on his phone, and started to y footage of his office. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Felicia gaped at the screen in utter shock because Patrick had zoomed in on every single movement of hers. Everything was clear now. It was obvious who was in the wrong between the two. As the footage ended and the projector screen retracted to its original position, Patrick smiled faintly, sending a chill down Felicia''s spine. Felicia swiftly sat up straight and tried to exin, ¡°Patrick, she called me ugly! That''s why I grabbed her hair.¡± Upon hearing that, Patrick scoffed, ¡°Well, she''s only telling the truth.¡± That was undoubtedly another pierce to Felicia''s heart, making her feel even more miserable. ¡°Patrick...¡± She got up and sat next to Patrick, trying to hold his arm. However, Patrick moved aside as he said coldly, ¡°Felicia, we''re only business partners, and I have given you some benefits and authority. Others may have to treat you with respect just because you''re my woman, but not Gwendolyn. Do you understand?¡± Felicia nodded, even though she was unhappy that Patrick was protective of Gwendolyn. She''s only a secretary. Couldn''t she show some respect to me? Still, she pretended to give in. ¡°Understood. I promise I won''t mess with her again. Please don''t be angry, Patrick. By the way, didn''t you say that you want me to go home with you tonight? I didn''t get to see Old Mr. Lowen that day. Hence, I bought him a gift today.¡± She then took out a box of health supplements. ¡°It''s good for elders.¡± She smiled faintly, thinking Gwendolyn was no longer her concern after gaining the Lowen family''s favor and bing Patrick''s woman. Once I have Patrick''s heart, nothing can stop me from bullying Gwendolyn anymore! Meanwhile, Gwendolyn returned from photocopying the documents and saw Felicia was smiling. Mr. Lowen is not only a capable person but also good at coaxing a woman. Putting the documents on the table, she informed, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''ve made the document copies as you requested.¡± With that, she returned to her table and continued her work. However, she felt uneasy in front of the couple, feeling as though she was a third wheel between them. Hence, she stood up and stated, ¡°Mr. Lowen, Mr. Derner said we''re running out of coffee beans and asked me to buy some from the store.¡± As soon as her words fell, she grabbed her bag and left. They had indeed run out of coffee beans, but her initial n was to get someone to send the coffee beans over. Buying coffee beans from the store was just an excuse. ¡°Okay!¡± Patrick replied. He thought Gwendolyn was in a bad mood and probably did not want to see Felicia. Since he needed Felicia for an actter, he could only let Gwendolyn leave for a break. Initially, Patrick told Felicia that he needed her for an act, and the driver would pick her up at six o''clock. Never did he expect she would arrive earlier and bump into Gwendolyn. When Gwendolyn exited the CEO''s office, Liam arrived. He greeted with a smile, ¡°Ms. Ashton, where are you going?¡± Gwendolyn shed him a charming smile. ¡°Mr. Derner, I told Mr. Lowen that you asked me to buy coffee beans from the store just now. Please cover that for me. Thank you!¡± She put her hands together and bowed at Liam. Liam felt a tad surprised. What? Ms. Ashton, are you kidding me? How could I get you to run an errand? Oh, no. I''m doomed! Chapter 104 Chapter 104 After exiting Lowen Group, Gwendolyn hailed a taxi to the hospital. She deliberately bought Mnie''s favorite dessert and a cosmetics set for Lucy. When she arrived at the ward, Mnie had gotten her injection and fallen asleep. Lucy was also sleeping beside the kid''s bed. Seeing that, Gwendolyn took a nket and covered Lucy with it. Lucy was only lightly dozing, and she opened her eyes as she felt a warmth on her body. She had gotten used to it two years ago, as she was worried about her kid. Hence, she would be awakened by even a little noise. ¡°You''re here, Gwen,¡± Lucy remarked as she wiped her face. ¡°Just sleep a little longer.¡± Gwendolyn adjusted the nket on Lucy. Lucy shook her head. When she saw the cosmetics and desserts on the table, her gaze darkened. ¡°Gwen, why did you buy me the cosmetics? I don''t even have the mood for it now.¡± If it were not a requirement to put up makeup when working in Night City, she would not even want to wash her face during the day, not to mention any skincare routine. Gwendolyn caressed Lucy''s face. ¡°Women should never give up on taking care of their appearance, no matter how bad the situation is. It''s not for others but for yourself.¡± That was what she learned from the past. No matter how tough her life was, she persisted in carrying on her daily skincare routine, having a morning run, and practicing yoga. Maintaining her appearance boosted her self-esteem, and her mood eventually got better. Nodding, Lucy responded, ¡°You''re right. We should not give up on ourselves.¡± Just then, a caregiver entered the ward. Her name was Audrey Lane. She had been helping Lucy take care of Mnie all this while. She could not help but sympathize with Lucy, and she took care of Mnie wholeheartedly. ¡°Luce, don''t you have something to do today? Just go ahead.¡± ¡°Ms. Lane,¡± the twodies greeted. Audrey slightly nodded at Gwendolyn when she saw thetter. Then, she started to get busy, taking out the clothes she had washed at her ce and putting them into the wardrobe. Lucybed her hair before washing her face in the washroom. ¡°Gwen, are you going to work after this? Let''s head downstairs together.¡± After taking their handbag and bidding farewell to Audrey, the two walked toward the elevator hand in hand. There were not many people in the hospital at this hour. Hence, the two were the only ones in the elevator. ¡°I don''t have to go to the office today. Where are you going? I''m going with you.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Lucy looked at her and replied, ¡°Didn''t you say you''re willing to give everything you have to Lowen Group for the sry they offered? I can''t believe you''re skipping work now.¡± Gwendolyn did say that before. After all, her life had turned for the better, and she could afford to buy Lucy cosmetics with the job. However, she was pissed when she thought of Felicia. ¡°Patrick''s grandpa wants him to marry Felicia, right? Well, she came to our office today, and I got into a fight with her. Since we couldn''t stay in the same office anymore, I''m the one who should leave.¡± It sounded as if she was unnerved, as Felicia was supposed to be the one to leave. However, Felicia was the future CEO''s wife, her futuredy boss. That was why she chose to leave. ¡°Does Patrick want to keep you as his mistress?¡± Apparently, it was Patrick''s idea to hire Gwendolyn as his secretary and offer her such a high sry. Gwendolyn''s expression immediately changed. ¡°No! There''s no way I''m going to be his mistress.¡± Mistresses were what she hated the most in her life. If it were not for a mistress like Candace, she would not have grown up without her mother by her side, and she could have had a better life than the current one. Lucyughed as she squeezed Gwendolyn''s waist. ¡°All right, all right. I know you''re reluctant. However, I can tell that Patrick likes you. You have to believe me in this.¡± Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°He only likes to tease me.¡± She could not help but get angry at the thought of Patrick. There was not one day where she went without his constant teasing. She also understood that he had probably asked her to be his secretary just to tease her as a form of entertainment in his otherwise boring life. Lucy noticed her look of annoyance and thought that Gwendolyn was jealous. However, Gwendolyn would rather die than admit that. Sighing, Lucy walked out of the elevator with Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, sometimes when a man likes someone, he would always tease her. Have you ever thought about how he treats otherspared to how he treats you? Isn''t it different?¡± Lucymented. Gwendolyn pondered over her words. It did seem that way as Patrick always treated others coldly. On the other hand, he would sometimes put on a smile when it came to her. However, he only smiled when he was mocking her. Gwendolyn sighed. ¡°Whatever. It doesn''t matter who he likes. His grandfather wants him to marry Felicia. There is no way Patrick would disobey him, for his grandfather is sick. But once he gets into a rtionship with Felicia, he will automatically be my enemy.¡± Upon saying that, she promised herself that no matter if they ended up as enemies or not, she would do everything she could to earn as much money from them as possible. Lucy shook her head. ¡°All right. Let''s just see how it goes.¡± From Lucy''s point of view, there was no way Patrick would marry someone he did not love. Even if Old Mr. Lowen forced him to do so, Patrick would not go down without a fight. Besides, he was a powerful man in the business world. There was no way he would so easily be coerced into doing something that he did not want to do. Lucy did not believe Gwendolyn''s words. Instead, she thought that Gwendolyn would end up with Patrick anyway. They hailed a taxi and got in. When Gwendolyn heard Lucy telling the driver to head to The Estuary, she asked, ¡°Are you going to see a friend? Is it convenient for me to tag along?¡± At that moment, Gwendolyn was worried that by going out with Lucy, she would be in the way if the latter were to find a boyfriend. It would be great for Lucy if she managed to marry a good man. Furthermore, Mnie would begin her surgery soon. Once she recovered, Lucy could continue to live her own life happily. Lucy looked out the window. ¡°It''s all right. I''m just going to find the man who is Mnie''s match. I want to ask him toe to the hospital so that Mnie can start the surgery as early as possible,¡± she said calmly. Gwendolyn''s eyes lit up. ¡°Didn''t you say he was in the army? I didn''t know he had already returned!¡± It was amazing news. They had been worried that the man would be too busy in the army. Soldiers never did have a lot of free time. Lucy smiled. ¡°Yeah, I think God is watching over me,¡± she replied. She would do anything for Mnie to recover. Gwendolynid her head on Lucy''s shoulder as her eyes glimmered in happiness. ¡°That''s amazing,¡± she smiled. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. After an hour, the car stopped in front of The Estuary. Both of them got down after paying the fare. Lucy took out her phone to look at the address. ¡°He lives on the eighteenth floor.¡± They had no way of knowing if the person was actually at home or not. Nevertheless, they decided to give it a shot. It would be best if that man was at home. If he was not, they would just wait for his return. After registering themselves at the counter, they walked into the condominium. Both Lucy and Gwendolyn took the elevator to the eighteenth floor and found the unit numbered 1802. They stopped in front of the door and Lucy took a deep breath. ¡°I''m kind of nervous, Gwen. What should I do if he disagrees?¡± Even though this man was their only hope, they would not be able to force him if he did not want to help. Regardless, Gwendolyn pressed the doorbell anyway. ¡°Since he''s willing to donate his bone marrow to the bone marrow bank, he should be willing to help us.¡± Soon after, someone came to open the door. It was a girl. ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± she asked the duo. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Lucy forced a smile onto her face and said, ¡°We''re looking for Lucas Gomez.¡± When Gwendolyn heard the name, she looked at Lucy in surprise. Isn''t that Patrick''s friend? The major-general? The girl turned around and called out, ¡°Lucas! There are twodies looking for you!¡± After that, the girl at the door went back inside and Lucas came walking out. He was wearing his pajamas and rubbing his eyes. It was very likely that he was asleep before they came. Lucas scratched his head. ¡°Who is it?¡± he asked as he looked up. His gaze thennded on Gwendolyn and smiled. ¡°Hey, Mrs-¡± Before Lucas could continue his sentence, he quickly corrected himself. ¡°What brings you here, Ms. Ashton?¡± Lucas totally ignored Lucy. That day, Lucy was wearing simple sportswear. Her face was pale and she was not feeling very energetic at all. Therefore, when standing next to Gwendolyn, she looked dull. When Gwendolyn saw him, she was also taken aback. ¡°What a coincidence, Mr. Gomez. This is my friend, Lucy Baker,¡± she gestured at Lucy. It was only then that Lucas noticed the woman standing next to Gwendolyn. He realized that although the woman looked tired, she was also beautiful. Lucy had big eyes and her facial features suit her well. She looked kind of exotic. ¡°Hello there!¡± he greeted Lucy. Lucas then pointed inside. ¡°Come inside,¡± he offered. Gwendolyn and Lucy walked into the condominium and realized that Lucas'' unit was huge. It was about four hundred square meters. Outside of the floor-to-ceiling windows was the view of a river. It was definitely a luxurious ce to live in. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Lucas walked over to the couch and patted it. ¡°Have a seat. What would you two like to drink?¡± Lucy spoke up. ¡°No thanks, Mr. Gomez. We are here to speak to you about my daughter. She is diagnosed with leukemia. We found out that your blood is a perfect match with hers. We would like to request for you to have a check-up at the hospital. We would like to start the surgery as soon as possible,¡± she said in one breath. Once he heard Lucy''s words, Lucas straightened his back. Lucas'' skin was tanned from being in the military. He looked strong and manly. ¡°I''m sorry, Ms. Baker. I''ve already submitted my response. I''m not willing to donate my bone marrow,¡± Lucas said apologetically. To be honest, he did not register at the bone marrow bank voluntarily at all. It was only because his ex- girlfriend was working there that he applied. He had wanted to use that as a reason to get to know her better. That was about five years ago. Lucas had nearly forgotten about it. Furthermore, that girl was now his ex-girlfriend. That was all the more reason for him to throw it to the back of his mind. Lucy''s face paled and she visibly started to panic. ¡°Mr. Gomez, I beg you. My daughter is very sick right now. Her surgery can''t be dyed anymore. It took us a very long time to find a match. Please save my daughter,¡± she pleaded. Lucas was not a hard-hearted person. It was just that donating his bone marrow would be very damaging to his body. He had researched about it before. It was not suitable for him to donate his bone marrow, especially considering his status. Moreover, what happened to thatdy and her daughter was none of his business anyway. He did not want any part of it. Noticing how Lucas remained silent, Lucy knelt in front of him. ¡°Please, Mr. Gomez. I''ll do anything you want,¡± she begged as she started to cry. She felt that she was about to lose her only hope. Gwendolyn pulled her up. ¡°What are you doing, Luce? Get up.¡± She could not help but think that Lucas'' heart was made out of steel. How could he not be willing to save a life? However, they could not force him to do it anyway. Lucas furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°There''s no use in begging me. I will never donate my bone marrow. It''s actually better if your daughter''s family members donate theirs, like you, or her father.¡± Lucas could not understand. Why must they ask a stranger? The two women went silent after Lucas spoke. Mnie''s father had expressed that he did not want to donate his bone marrow. Lucas was aplete stranger. There was no reason for him to donate his either. Lucy was stunned at what Lucas said. His words hit home, and it was something she was extremely frustrated about. However, she could not find the words to say anything about it. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Lucy''s dejection had Gwendolynunched a final appeal to Lucas. ¡°Mr. Gomez, could you please help my friend? Mnie''s a beautiful and bright kid. If we don''t find a bone marrow donor soon, she''ll only have half a year left to live.¡± As her words fell, tears welled in her eyes. Lucas took a sip from his teacup and croaked, ¡°This is your plight. I''m sorry, but I can''t help.¡± His rejection was firm and brutal. Getting to her feet, Lucy gave him a bow and apologized, ¡°Sorry for taking up your time then, Mr. Gomez.¡± With that, she walked toward the door, utterly dispirited. Gwendolyn got up hastily when she noticed Lucy''s behavior. After shooting Lucas a bitter nce, Gwendolyn chased after Lucy. ¡°We''ll think of something, Luce.¡± Once they were outside Lucas'' condominium, Lucy leaned into Gwendolyn and burst into tears. Lucy stammered through her sobs, ¡°I-I thought there was h-hope for Mnie. What should I do n- now?¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Gwendolyn was furious, yet she could hardly drag Lucas off to the operating theater. She felt as helpless as Lucy. Eventually, she muttered, ¡°The hospital is still looking for possible bone marrow donors, Luce. There are tons of people in this world. I''m sure there''s another match out there.¡± She paused for thought before suggesting, ¡°Why don''t you track down Mnie''s father or his rtives? There''s a higher chance for a match if they''re blood-rted.¡± Lucy dried her tears, realizing that some things would always be outside her control. She replied to Gwendolyn, ¡°Okay. I''ll try to contact them.¡± She had been begging so many people for help these days that a few more hardly dented her pride. With that, both women left The Estuary, Lucas'' condominium. In the meantime, Lucas dialed Patrick''s number. The line only connected after a long time. ¡°What?¡± A man''s cold and impatient voice drifted through the receiver. Lucas smiled and teased, ¡°Someone''s in a bad mood without his personal secretary by his side.¡± Kevin had told him all about Patrick browbeating Gwendolyn into working at hispany. Patrick had made her his personal secretary, stationing her in his office where he could see her day in and day out. At the moment, Patrick was sitting in his car with Felicia, and he was suffocating from the obscene amount of perfume the woman used. ¡°Out with it,¡± he grumbled, taking out his annoyance at the perfume on Lucas. Years of friendship had numbed Lucas to Patrick''s moods. ¡°Pat, do you know who came to my house just now?¡± Having no interest in knowing about Lucas'' visitors, Patrick deadpanned, ¡°I''m busy. I''m hanging up.¡± ¡°Hold on a minute. Gwendolyn Ashton came to my house.¡± Hearing that, Lucas immediately held his tongue. As expected, Patrick did not make good on his deration to hang up, and Lucas failed to suppress hisughter. Lucas ribbed, ¡°Haha! Didn''t you say you were busy? Go on, then. We can talkter.¡± A stony-faced Patrick swallowed his pride and gritted out, ¡°I''m not busy now. We can chat for a while.¡± ¡°Pfft,¡± Lucas snorted before he could help himself. Gwendolyn''s the only one who can make our dear Mr. Lowen eat his words! ¡°Tell me,¡± Patrick demanded impatiently. ¡°She and her friend came over. They wanted me to donate my bone marrow.¡± ¡°Bone marrow?¡± Patrick scrunched his brows in confusion. Lucas naturally would not agree to such a request. His present situation required him to keep his body in tiptop condition. His job was dangerous and ced him in life-threatening situations. Only a healthy and strong body could ensure his best chance of survival. Lucas borated, ¡°Yes. Gwendolyn''s friend is called Lucy, and her daughter needs a bone marrow transnt. Honestly, I pity the woman. I almost agreed until I remembered my job demands.¡± ¡°I see. Well, I''m hanging up,¡± came Patrick''s reply. His car had pulled into the parking space in front of the Lowen residence. Patrick led Felicia into the main house, and Hector''s eyes rolled into his head when he saw them. Seeing that, Alice shrieked in horror, ¡°What''s wrong, Hector? Do you feel unwell?¡± Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Patrick immediately nced at Felicia after Hector''s worrying reaction. Why did he faint after I brought over his desired granddaughter-inw? He and Felicia rushed over to check on Hector. Frightened, Felicia muttered, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, Old Mr. Lowen. Are you okay?¡± I''m supposed to win him over. Why is the old man reacting like this? Patrick hovered on the side while a doctor tried to resuscitate Hector. ¡°How is my grandfather?¡± he asked anxiously. The doctor heaved a sigh of relief afterpleting his examination. ¡°He''ll be okay, Mr. Lowen. Old Mr. Lowen''s breathing stuttered because he was agitated. He should recover in no time.¡± Upon hearing the report, Alice wiped her tears, worried to death over Hector''s condition. Why is he so agitated after seeing the eldest Ms. Ashton? I don''t know what he sees in Felicia at all, but what can I do? Hector''s weak, and whoever he wants Patrick to marry, Patrick will bow to his every whim. I can''t object to anything if I want him to stay happy and alive. Meanwhile, Patrick took his grandfather''s fainting episode as a sign of thetter''s excitement at seeing Felicia, and his expression cooled. It seems I have to proceed with this fake marriage. Hector eventually opened his eyes. When he saw Felicia, his eyes rolled into his head again. Everyone panicked and yelled, ¡°Hector!¡± ¡°Grandpa!¡± ¡°Old Mr. Lowen!¡± Alice coaxed, ¡°Hector, your eldest grandson is home. And look, he brought his girlfriend home to see you. Don''t be so agitated!¡± Hector nced at Alice after hearing her words. He pointed at his room and closed his eyes. Much to their disbelief, Hector was merely tired and wished to rest. Instead of meeting the woman he had wanted Patrick to marry, Hector chose to retreat to his room. Alice summoned the housekeeper and instructed, ¡°Send Hector back to his room to rest.¡± She thought it best for Hector to avoid Felicia for the time being, lest he became agitated and developed conditions far worse than fainting. Under the housekeeper and the doctor''s apaniment, Hector returned to his room. Alice dried her tears as Patrick sat beside her, draping his arm around herfortingly. ¡°Grandma, the doctor said Grandpa''s vitals are normal. He''ll be okay soon,¡± he said gently. He knew his grandparents had a loving andsting rtionship, and neither could bear the anguish of losing their spouse. Nodding, Alice replied, ¡°I know. He''ll live to be a hundred years old.¡± Felicia stood aside, a box of ginseng dangling awkwardly from her arm. She was disappointed, as she had missed her chance to talk to Hector. Noticing Alice''s grief, Felicia gingerly sat beside the old woman and offered, ¡°I bought some skincare products for you, Old Mrs. Lowen. They''re suitable for your age group.¡± Alice nced at Felicia. She looks average to me, but I can''t say anything if Hector likes her. Then, Alice nodded lightly and mumbled, ¡°Thank you. You''re too generous.¡± Patrick and Felicia had dinner with Alice, who got up midway to check if Hector had eaten anything. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. When they were alone, Patrick piped up, ¡°I''ll send my chauffeur for you when I need you to act as my girlfriend. You don''t need to go to the office anymore. If you''re unwilling to keep up this act, I can dissolve the contract any time.¡± He would not force her to proceed with this sham of courtship, even if it pleased Hector. Felicia was already delighted to be in his presence, and she was hardly going to relinquish any opportunity to insert herself in Patrick''s life. Hence, she sputtered, ¡°I''m fine with keeping this up, Patrick. Perfectly fine.¡± Patrick raised his left hand and checked the time on his exorbitant watch. ¡°It''ste. I''ll ask my chauffeur to send you home.¡± Fearful of Patrick dissolving their contract, Felicia jumped to her feet and replied, ¡°Okay, I''ll leave now, Patrick. Please call me if you need me. Anytime.¡± Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Felicia received a call the minute she left the Lowen residence. The caller was her younger cousin, Nicolette Ashton. Why is she calling me today? She doesn''t talk to me much in the first ce. She ignored it, and the call eventually auto-declined. To her surprise, Nicolette called again. Felicia answered it reluctantly, ¡°Yes, Nic. What''s up?¡± Nicolette was the youngest daughter of Felicia''s second uncle, Leroy Ashton. She adored Gwendolyn and stuck to thetter like glue. Consequently, Felicia disliked Nicolette. It did not help that Nicolette often referred to her as ¡°the mistress'' child.¡± ¡°Fels, it''s my birthday today. Why aren''t you here? Where''s my present?¡± So she''s angling for a present. Felicia furrowed her brows in annoyance before replying tly, ¡°How old are you? Kids can''t celebrate their birthdays. Did Grandpa allow you to hold a party?¡± Michael believed in the virtue of frugality. As such, younger members of the Ashton family were not allowed to hold birthday parties. Felicia herself had never had a birthday party, though she was already twenty-three. The thought filled Felicia with indignance. The socialites frequently gossiped about her, iming that Michael disliked her. Felicia''s protests fell on deaf ears because these socialites had attended a party held by Gwendolyn for her eighteenth birthday. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Nicolette merely insisted, ¡°I''m eighteen, Fels. I''m an adult now. Anyway, be here as soon as possible!¡± With that, she hung up, and Felicia cursed out loud, ¡°This brat! I can''t believe she hung up on me. Where are her manners?¡± Then she received an address from Nicolette. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn sat beside Nicolette at thetter''s party. Six years had passed, but her rtives hardly changed at all. Her aunts wore blinding amounts of jewelry, while her uncles, rather unfortunately, developed beer bellies and thinning hair. Otherwise, they mostly looked the same. Nicolette had always been close to Gwendolyn, and she made Gwendolyn promise to attend her eighteenth birthday party. ¡°You should eat more, Gwen. Look at how thin you are!¡± Nicolette prattled as she filled Gwendolyn''s bowl with food. Nicolette''s mother, Francine, smiled. She mock-chastised her daughter, ¡°What do you know, Nic? Your cousin''s trying to maintain a figure. You''re still young. We can''t eat as much as you without worrying about our weight.¡± With that said, Francine began filling her daughter''s bowl with food. In truth, Gwendolyn was not eating less to watch her figure. She lost her appetite after witnessing Lucas'' rejection of Lucy''s pleas. Lucy even went on her knees! I can''t forget how sad she looked. I need to think of a way to help her. From opposite Gwendolyn, Candace eyed her stepdaughter unhappily. Candace''s rage ballooned when she recalled the beating she had taken the other day. Pettily, Candace asked, ¡°Why didn''t you bring your triplets over today, Gwen? They should try the dishes here. The taste is exquisite.¡± Nicolette''s birthday party took ce at Amaranthine, a restaurant with a long history in Avenport. Rumor had it that royal cooks founded the restaurant, and its excellent culinary offerings kept it in business for centuries. ordingly, Amaranthine''s food came with a high price tag. Each dish easily cost hundreds. Silence descended upon the table at Candace''s question. Gwendolyn''s triplets were a taboo topic in the Ashton family; her illegitimate pregnancy had infuriated Michael to no end. Michael went from pampering Gwendolyn to shunning her from the family. He would not ept Gwendolyn back into the family despite her attendance at Nicolette''s party. He evidently saw the triplets as a stain on the Ashton family''s good name. The Ashton family''s patriarch was a proud man. Candace''s frequent mentions of Gwendolyn''s children screwed up thetter''s chances of returning to the family. Gwendolyn merely replied, ¡°The kids are too rowdy. I wouldn''t want them to disturb the aunts and uncles with their chatter.¡± Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Nicolette refused to let Candace get away with her snidement. I invited Gwen to my party, and I won''t let anyone bully her. Nicolette asked, ¡°Aunt Candace, when is your daughtering? Did she im she was busy because she didn''t want to give me a present?¡± She changed the conversation topic to divert attention from Gwendolyn''s affairs. She had been too young to understand what had happened back then. Over the years, she pieced things together from gossip by the other Ashton family members. Nicolette learned the Ashtons kicked Gwendolyn out of the house over her teenage pregnancy. Her elder cousin went missing shortly after that. Nicolette would have remained in the dark if her mother had not mentioned Gwendolyn''s return. She and Francine tracked Gwendolyn down and invited her to the party. Nicolette had been ecstatic to see Gwendolyn again. She missed thetter dearly over the years. Meanwhile, Candace eyed her husband, whose displeasure was palpable. She had spent years badmouthing Gwendolyn, ensuring his support for her and Felicia. Zachary firmly believed that Gwendolyn was a shame to him and the Ashton family. He would never help her out of such an awkward situation. Candace replied to Nicolette, ¡°Fel went to her boyfriend''s ce. She''ll be here after their dinner.¡± She grinned from ear to ear, looking like the cat that ate the canary. Her response piqued the Ashton family''s curiosity. ¡°Fel has a boyfriend? That''s fast.¡± ¡°Weren''t we talking about shortlisting some potential inws for Fel? How did things progress so quickly?¡± Gwendolyn''s third aunt, Christina Dannings, chimed in, ¡°Who is he? Why didn''t she bring him over to visit us? We should help Fel to vet this man.¡± ¡°Yeah! Does hee from a rich family? If he''s from an average background, it would be prudent to give her rtionship a second thought.¡± Christina, who was also Candace''s younger sister, piped up, ¡°You should remind Fel not to be blinded by love. Otherwise...¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The warning came out unbidden as Christina recalled Gwendolyn''s past. Deciding to spare thetter''s dignity, Christina abruptly stopped herself from tantly mentioning her niece''s sordid past. Instead, Christina merely shot Gwendolyn a disdainful nce. Candace was just waiting for them to ask about Felicia''s boyfriend. She deliberately built the suspense by answering, ¡°They seem to like Fel a lot. She''s visited his family home twice, but we haven''t met him yet. We''ll see how it goes.¡± Candace''s smug expression intrigued the Ashtons, and someone urged, ¡°Who is he, Aunt Candace? Come on, don''t leave us hanging!¡± After shooting Gwendolyn a cold nce, Candace announced loudly, ¡°She''s seeing the Lowens'' son, Patrick Lowen.¡± A second of silence ensued. Then, everyone eximed in unison, ¡°Patrick Lowen?¡± They exchanged nces among themselves, disappointment flooding their souls. The other Ashtons had been dreaming of their daughters marrying into the Lowen family. Now it seemed they had lost their chance. Lucky Fel! She started as the mistress'' kid. Now, she''s the Ashton family heiress and poised to marry into the wealthy Lowen family. It''s the stuff of fairytales! ¡°Congrattions, Candace!¡± ¡°Fel is such a lucky girl!¡± Gwendolyn watched as her rtives fell all over themselves to butter up Candace. Christina eximed, ¡°Your future is brighter than ever, Candace. Such a lovely son-inw! You''ll be the subject of everyone''s envy!¡± She nced at her daughter, Rachelle Ashton, as she expressed herpliments. Hmph! My daughter''s more beautiful and intelligent than Felicia. Why isn''t she this lucky? Rachelle averted her gaze and pretended not to hear a thing. Just then, Felicia entered the restaurant. She ced a branded shopping bag in front of Nicolette and wished her, ¡°Happy birthday, Nic!¡± Nicolette appraised the gift and grudginglymended her generosity. ¡°Thank you, Fels,¡± she replied. Then Felicia sat beside Gwendolyn, upying the seat everyone had left empty out of scorn for the shunned woman. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Felicia was weed warmly by the Ashtons. Leroy, who sat beside her, even poured her a ss of wine. Leroy said, ¡°You should have a ss of wine, Fel. It''s Nic''s birthday, after all.¡± The treatment surprised Felicia. Uncle Leroy usually treats me like air. I can''t believe he''s personally pouring me a ss of wine. Her brows scrunched slightly in confusion. Hmm, Mom''s here. I guess everyone knows where I went today. Well, they''ll be busy ttering me now that I''m the future Mrs. Lowen! Felicia began assuming an air of arrogance. Instead of finishing the entire ss of wine, she merely took a small sip of the liquor whenever someone toasted her. Still, no one dared to call her out on her impudence. On the other side, Gwendolyn busied herselfforting Lucy over text. She remained oblivious to the happenings at the table. Nicolette leaned closer to Gwendolyn and whispered, ¡°What are you doing, Gwen? Look at how pleased Felicia is with herself. I merely wanted to bankrupt her and dent her wallet. I didn''t think the situation would turn out like this. Ugh, look at how everyone''s ttering her. It''s disgusting!¡± Only then did Gwendolyn raise her head. Everyone was licking Felicia''s boots. Some attempted to pry information out of her about the Lowen family. Felicia uttered, ¡°I''m sure Patrick would love to meet you all, but he''s a stickler for ethics, and I doubt he''ll bend the rules on my behalf.¡± Her message was loud and clear; knowing Patrick as a concerned rtive was more than wee, but business opportunities were out of the question. Zachary announced coolly, ¡°Don''t make things difficult for Fel. She just started seeing him, and all of you are moring for benefits from their association. You''ll be the Lowens'' rtives once they''re married. What''s the rush?¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The ghost of a smile curved his lips but he covered it up by taking a sip of his wine. ¡°My daughter is an excellent girl. Naturally, she would attract a good match,¡± he added. Zachary''s gaze strayed to Gwendolyn then. This girl is nothingpared to Fel. Gwendolyn sensed her father''s sneering gaze but opted to ignore it. I came for Nic and Nic alone. I can swallow my indignity today. I don''t n on seeing these people ever again. Suddenly, Felicia asked, ¡°Nic, what did Gwen give you? She''s raising three kids now, and I doubt she can afford to give you anythingvish. You must be more understanding.¡± Candace and Felicia yed tag on bringing up Gwendolyn''s children. They loved to reopen old wounds. Nicolette rolled her eyes at Felicia and dered, ¡°As long as it''s Gwendolyn''s gift, I''ll love it!¡± ¡°Take it out then! Show us!¡± Felicia stretched her hand out, determined to humiliate her half-sister. Gwendolyn''s phone rang just then. Seeing Patrick''s name on the screen, she answered the phone, too scared to reject his call. Now that she was his personal secretary, she was practically at his beck and call. He was paying her a large sry to keep it this way. Gwendolyn answered the call, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± Patrick''s cold voice drifted through the receiver. Gwendolyn nced at the table before whispering, ¡°Did you need something, Mr. Lowen?¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± he repeated. At that, Gwendolyn frowned. Why can''t he answer me instead of stubbornly repeating his question? ¡°I''m at Amaranthine.¡± ¡°Okay. I''lle and get you. I''m craving mulled wine; make some for me tonight. Right. You''ll need to cook and clean my house after work from now on.¡± He hung up without awaiting her reply, and Gwendolyn''s frown deepened. Well, I do owe him more than one hundred thousand. I can''t avoid the physicalbor tonight. Things were merely rxing for me because he had been overseas. In the meantime, Nicolette had raised Gwendolyn''s gift and dered, ¡°This is Gwen¡¯s present. I''m opening it when I get home. I''m not showing it to any of you.¡± Chapter 112 Chapter 112 After her announcement, Nicolette ced Gwendolyn''s present in her bag and stuck her tongue out at Felicia. Everyone at the table burst intoughter and started teasing Nicolette. ¡°Look at her. She''s still acting like a kid!¡± Nicolette had nned to sing karaoke after dinner, but Francine forbade her from doing so, citing Michael''s wrath. Everyone walked out of the restaurant after dinner. Nicolette hooked her arm through the crook of Gwendolyn''s elbow. She was in a great mood as she chatted to Gwendolyn. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Behind them, Felicia walked with her parents. She was satisfied with how things had turned out at dinner, pleased that she was finally the star of the Ashton family after all this time. Felicia was already ying the role of Mrs. Lowen. Everyone here has to worship me, or Patrick will crush them if I so much as cough in displeasure. Candace, on the other side, asked Zachary pretentiously, ¡°Darling, Gwen has appeared before the Ashton family members. Why don''t we wee her home? I shudder to think what our rtives might say if we don''t.¡± She was shrewd enough to maintain her kind stepmother act. Zachary merely scoffed and spat, ¡°She''s not an Ashton anymore. What''s the use of bringing her home? She may not feel embarrassed, but I''m humiliated that she''s bringing three illegitimate children home.¡± Hearing that, Felicia smiled and mollified, ¡°Don''t be angry, Dad. You still have me. I''m seeing Patrick now. After we''re married, I''ll convince him to help Ashton Corporation.¡± Her words brought a smile to Zachary''s face. He replied, ¡°Thank goodness we still have a sensible daughter!¡± Everyone stopped at the restaurant door. Francine asked Gwendolyn, ¡°Did you drive, Gwen? If not, I''ll ask our chauffeur to send you home. We can carpool with someone else.¡± After all, Gwendolyn had kindly dropped by for her daughter''s birthday, and Francine had heard from Candace that her niece was having a hard time. Gwendolyn purportedly lived in a decrepitne in the Old District. The area reeked of garbage. It was dirty and full of stray dogs. Francine recalled Gwendolyn''s sheltered life, which was a far cry from her current predicament. Though Gwendolyn had lost her mother at a young age, Michael loved her dearly and spoiled his future heiress. The patriarch had given Gwendolyn the best that money could buy, and he expected everyone else in the family to indulge her every wish. Look at her life now. It''s a tragedy. Tugging on Gwendolyn''s hand, Nicolette urged, ¡°Let our chauffeur send you home, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn checked her phone and said, ¡°It''s okay. I called an Uber. It''ll be here soon.¡± ¡°It''s sote. An Uber can''t be safe at this time,¡± Felicia piped up. ¡°I''ll send you home!¡± Just then, a Maybach Exelero cruised onto the restaurant grounds, pulling up beside Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn knew the car belonged to Patrick. She frowned involuntarily, wondering why he picked such an eye-catching car to fetch her. The car was one of its kind, and it was worth eighty million. Gwendolyn had some knowledge about cars, and she had searched the price online when she first saw the vehicle. She rubbed her temples in exasperation, cursing her decision to im she had booked an Uber. Hastily, Gwendolyn announced, ¡°My Uber''s here. Bye Nic! Bye, Aunt Francine!¡± The surrounding people were staring at the vehicle in awe, and now Gwendolyn was calling it her Uber ride. Nicolette eximed, ¡°Ah! I''ve never seen a Maybach Exelero in my life. It''s so sleek!¡± Zachary and his brothers'' expressions had changed as well. The Exelero was the car of every man''s dreams. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Gwendolyn put on an awkward smile when she saw Nicolette walking around the car to examine the vehicle. Thetter had even let out a cry. ¡°I did not expect such a luxurious car to be my Uber ride. Haha...¡± Gwendolyn hurriedly moved toward the side of the car and attempted to open the back seat door. However, the door would not budge. Noticing Gwendolyn''s actions, Felicia took a few steps forward and crossed her arm in front of her chest. She sneered, ¡°Gwen, I don''t think this is your Uber ride. Are you trying to put up an act in front of everyone? You can stop pretending now because you don''t even know how to open the car door. We will not look down on you.¡± Hearing that, everyoneughed. ¡°Gwen, you''ve be materialistic and conceited after these few years.¡± ¡°That''s right. It''s fine if you don''t have a car. We can send you home.¡± They were in utter disbelief because someone capable of driving that car would never have be an Uber driver. Gwendolyn frowned upon hearing the derisiveughter. She sent Patrick a text: Open the door, Mr. Lowen! Patrick replied instantaneously: Sit in the passenger seat because I''m driving the car tonight. Gwendolyn thought to herself after reading his message. He''s truly living up to his reputation as the boss because of how reluctant he is to be another person''s driver. Nicolette jogged up to Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°Gwen, are you sure this is your Uber driver instead of your boyfriend?¡± She did not believe that someone would register to be an Uber driver with such a luxurious car. After all, that would be an absolute depreciation of the car''s value. Gwendolyn forced a smile. ¡°Yes, this is my Uber ride. I''ll be leaving now. Goodbye!¡± With that, she opened the door to the passenger seat after waving goodbye to Nicolette. Then she got into the car. Nicolette was curious about the driver''s identity, so she seized the opportunity to peek inside the car when Gwendolyn opened the car door. Hopping on her spot, she eximed joyfully, ¡°I saw a man wearing a suit. He looks very handsome from the side!¡± Francine walked over, hardly able to contain her curiosity. ¡°Did you see who that person is?¡± Candace had been silent all along, but she was at the limit of her patience. ¡°What''s so good about being handsome? That is not practical at all. Look at Fel''s boyfriend. He''s not only handsome but also wealthy. Nic, you should learn from Fel instead of swooning over guys all the time like Gwen. She must have fallen for some handsome man''s trick, which led to that indecent incident.¡± Candace held her daughter''s hand after saying that. Then she added, ¡°Fel, let''s go back. It''s so cold standing out here. What''s so interesting about that boring car?¡± Candace knew nothing about motor vehicles, so she could not fathom others'' excitement. In contrast to her ignorance, those who were slightly informed about cars grasped the implication at once. They knew the driver must be a significant person. However, Felicia could not think of anyone more affluent than Patrick. In the meantime, Zachary was no longer in his cheerful mood because he assumed Gwendolyn was in a rtionship with a very rich man. He even suspected that man to be elderly. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. His anger intensified the more he thought about that matter. He nned to have a heartfelt talk with Gwendolyn to persuade her from alwaysmitting such shameful acts. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn turned to look at that handsome ¡°Uber driver¡± and sighed to herself. Luckily, he didn''t hear any of that. Otherwise, he''ll being up with more ways to torment me if he knows I referred to him as my Uber driver. Keeping his eyes on the road, Patrick uttered, ¡°You seem closely acquainted with members of the Ashton family.¡± He did not know many people from the Ashton family, but he had met with Zachary and knew that the latter was the chairman of Ashton Corporation. Gwendolyn sank back into her seat and stared ahead. The scenic night view of Faike, adorned by colorful city lights, was mesmerizing. ¡°Ms. Nicolette invited me to her birthday party.¡± She did not feel like borating, since Patrick did not know she was a member of the Ashton family, anyway. He merely thought of her as the daughter of a housekeeper serving the Ashtons. Noticing Gwendolyn was upset, the man exined, ¡°My grandpa was in a foul mood today, so I asked Felicia to coax him. Gwendolyn, I want you to know that nothing is going on between Felicia and me. You should not believe what you hear about us from the public.¡± Chapter 114 Chapter 114 ording to the agreement, Patrick and Felicia were not allowed to reveal their fake marriage to anyone else, so they had to abide by the regtion. Therefore, Patrick was not able to exin his circumstances to Gwendolyn directly. He could only hope that she would have faith in him. Gwendolyn nced at him. ¡°Your grandpa is very fond of Felicia, am I right?¡± She had heard him mention it was his grandfather''s wish for him to marry Felicia. Patrick hummed in reply. He could not fathom his grandfather''s insistence as well because their families had seldom interacted. The only possibility he could think of was that his grandfather was close with a member of the older generation from the Ashton family. The two of them stayed quiet for the rest of the journey back to Star Mansion. Upon arriving home, Gwendolyn went into the kitchen to prepare some mulled wine while Patrick went upstairs to take a bath. A whileter, he returned downstairs after changing into his sleeping robe. He sat on the couch and switched on the television, but he was not paying attention to the show. Instead, Patrick constantly stole nces in the kitchen''s direction. After some time, he stood up and headed into the kitchen. Gwendolyn was making mulled wine on the counter. The drink was beneficial for general health. She did not know how to cook in the past, but she had been learning a few recipes from Camilletely. After all, Gwendolyn was grateful to Patrick for offering her such a wonderful job. She could now afford to raise her children without working four to five jobs simultaneously. She was no longer rushing here and there every day. Now she even had the time to attend a birthday party. other than that, she could also indulge in the spectacr night scenery on her way back. It had been so many years since she had the time to take in the scenery. Gwendolyn had been so busy surviving that she did not have the time to even take a break and appreciate the vast, beautiful sky. Patrick inched closer to her and hugged her around the waist from behind. Then he rested his head on her shoulder. Startled, the woman subconsciously wanted to flee, but he held her tight. ¡°Teach me how to make this.¡± Patrick''s demand was merely a pretense for him to stay close to Gwendolyn. He felt contented holding her in his arms while she prepared the mulled wine for him. ¡°Let go of me, Mr. Lowen. I cannot stir the drink properly with you like this.¡± In fact, the preparation of the mulled wine did not require any stirring. She was merely looking for a reason for him to stop touching her. Patrick chuckled upon hearing her trembling voice. Letting go of her, he asked, ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡± He stood next to her and gazed into her eyes, waiting for her response. Gwendolyn turned the stove to a lower temperature before shaking her head. ¡°That''s not it. You may not know this, Mr. Lowen, but I despise mistresses, so I don''t wish for myself to turn into the kind of person I hate the most. Therefore, I hope you don''t make things difficult for me.¡± Although she would be able to let Felicia have a taste of the agony her mother had experienced in the past if she won over Patrick''s favor, Gwendolyn knew she did not have what it took to achieve that. After all, she was a human, unlike Felicia and Candace, whose personalities resembled heartless creatures. Patrick understood Gwendolyn''s feelings. His fake rtionship with Felicia bothered her because she would not be able to dere their love to the public without being identified as a mistress. ¡°Are you done?¡± he suddenly questioned her coldly. Gwendolyn realized she liked Patrick better when he was indifferent. ¡°It''s almost ready. Where do you wish to have your mulled wine, Mr. Lowen?¡± He pointed at the living room and stated assertively, ¡°You''re apanying me to drink this in the living room.¡± Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Initially, Gwendolyn had nned to leave right after she was done cooking the mulled wine. She had checked Patrick''s room and saw that the ce was clean and neat, so she did not have to tidy up the ce. Patrick returned to the living room wearing a poker face. Picking up his phone, he sent a message to the WhatsApp group named ¡°Three Single Guys.¡± SingleGuyOne: Let''s hang out. Teach me how to win over a woman''s heart. SingleGuyTwo: Oh my. I can''t believe this group is finally active again after being quiet for so long. Kevin nudged Lucas sitting next to him after sending that message to the group. ¡°Pat is looking for us. Check your WhatsApp.¡± SingleGuyThree: I''m an expert in that field. Come on, I''ll be your teacher. Lucas was not bluffing. He had indeed been in numerous rtionships with different women. Although he was a military man, he always found ways to pick up girls. Some of them even visited him at the military base. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Gwendolyn brought two bowls of mulled wine to the living room and ced one bowl in front of him. Then she sat on the carpet and drank her share while watching the television. Coincidentally, the television was ying a variety show that featured her favorite male celebrity. She felt delighted for being able to drink the mulled wine while watching her favorite idol at night. Patrick ced his phone on the table to take a few sips of the mulled wine. The vor suited his preference as the drink was not too sweet and had a refreshing taste. He noticed Gwendolyn focusing on the television,pletely disregarding his presence when he turned to look at her. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Because of that, he deliberately loosened his ck bathrobe around his torso to reveal his sexy corbones. Those guys on the television are not even as fit as me. She should be ogling at me instead. However, to his frustration, Gwendolyn continued to ignore him as her eyes were fixated on the television screen. Hence, Patrick picked up the remote control and switched off the television. Turning her head, the woman red at him. ¡°What are you doing? The show was about to get real interesting!¡± A male dance crew was performing street dance on the variety show, and they were about to end their performance with a scene where the hunky dancers would rip off their shirts. Gwendolyn was eager to feast her eyes on that moment. ncing at the clock, Patrick uttered, ¡°It''s nine o''clock. The rule in my house is that all entertainments would have to cease after nine o''clock.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. He''s surprisingly uptight. Does he go to sleep at nine o''clock? Doesn''t he feel bored, not ying on his phone or watching the television? Thinking to herself, Gwendolyn took a sip of her drink and asked, ¡°You don''t watch the television or go on your phone. What do you then? Go straight to sleep?¡± He''s living an elderly''s lifestyle if that''s the case. He growled, ¡°I read books.¡± Gwendolyn was at a loss for words. I feel smallparing myself to him. He''s a cultured man, very unlike me. The room fell silent after that. At that moment, Patrick''s phone rang. He picked up his phone and answered the call. ¡°Speak,¡± he uttered without a hint of warmth in his voice. Gwendolyn could not help but shudder after witnessing his apathetic manner. ¡°I''m not going.¡± With that, Patrick hung up the call and tossed his phone aside. Gwendolyn had finished her bowl of mulled wine. Taking out her phone, she checked on her messages, realizing Lucy had sent her multiple text messages. Lucy: I have no other choice. I''m going to drag that son of a b*tch, Jared, to the hospital tomorrow for him to do a bone marrow match testing. The text was sent two hours ago. Gwendolyn wanted to reply to her, but she thought Lucy would be too upied by work at this time to see her message, so she decided to reply tomorrow. Suddenly, she heard Patrick chiding someone over the phone. ¡°Are you deaf, Lucas? I told you I''m busy.¡± He was about to hang up the call when Gwendolyn tugged on his pajamas. ¡°Is Mr. Gomez asking you to hang out with him?¡± She was just thinking of some ways to get close to Lucas. Now that she could achieve her goal through Patrick, Gwendolyn was d. Not ending the call, Patrick nodded at her. Seeing his response, Gwendolyn was overjoyed. ¡°Why don''t I apany you to meet up with them since it''s still early, Mr. Lowen? You can feel free to enjoy yourself because I''ll be your driver.¡± Do I look like someone whocks a driver? Not expressing the thought he had in mind, Patrick remarked over the phone, ¡°Send me the address. We''ll be there soon.¡± Upon hearing his words, Gwendolyn broke into a grin. She gently patted her cheeks to stop herself fromughing. Then she texted Lucy: I will help you, Luce. Wait for my good news tomorrow. Suppressing a smile, she ced the phone back into her bag. ¡°Please go and get changed, Mr. Lowen. I''ll wash the dishes.¡± With that said, she collected the two bowls and headed to the kitchen. Patrick gazed at her figure from behind for a few seconds before sending a message to their WhatsApp group. SingleGuyOne: Try to find some ways to get Gwendolyn drunk when she''s thereter. I''d like to see how she''s going to resist me when she''s drunk. I''ll be able to do as I please by that time. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 With that thought in mind, Patrick entered his bedroom to change his clothes. He checked his phone afterward and read the new messages in the WhatsApp group. SingleGuyTwo: Pat, I beg you not to bring her here. I''m afraid that I''ll lose my life because of her. Kevin was convinced that meeting with Gwendolyn would bring bad luck to him. He was sure that the woman was a jinx. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. SingleGuyThree: No problem. I''ll be sure to get her drunk with my superb alcohol tolerance. Patrick was annoyed by the name of that WhatsApp group the more he looked at it, so he sent a text. SingleGuyOne: Who came up with this group name? Change it at once. I don''t know about you guys, but I am certainly not single. Soon, Kevin edited the group name to ¡°The Woods.¡± BigWoodOne: What kind of group name is this? BigWoodTwo: I think this group name is brilliant. I''m warning you guys, do not change the group name! BigWoodThree: I don''t think I''m inferior to any of you, so why am I always ranked in third ce? Patrick sent a reply while walking downstairs. BigWoodOne: Your inferiority is a known fact. BigWoodTwo: Should we decide on our ranking tonight? BigWoodThree: Bring it on! Do you think I''m afraid of you? At this moment, Gwendolyn had done washing the bowls. She was cautious not to break anything else this time after learning how expensive Patrick''s belongings were. She was applying some hand cream when Patrick came into her vision. He was wearing a dark blue coat decorated with an embroidered badge, making his outfit slightly simr to a police officer''s uniform. Oh, my. He''s so handsome! Most girls found such uniform to be irresistible on men, and she was not an exception. Nheless, she kept her cool to prevent Patrick from noticing her feelings. Walking up to her, Patrick caught the faint refreshing fragrance of roses from the hand cream she was applying. Gwendolyn hurriedly tucked her hands and forced a smile. ¡°Mr. Lowen, which car are we driving today?¡± She did not dare to drive the car parked in the courtyard because of how expensive it was. She had a suspicion that she might never be able to repay Patrick if she caused even a scratch on the vehicle. Hence, Gwendolyn had already decided to choose a rtively cheaper car to drive. Still, she sought his opinion out of courtesy, thinking he would tell her to pick whichever vehicle she wanted. To her surprise, Patrick smiled mischievously with his brows raised. ¡°The car parked in front of the door is fine. We can save the trouble of going to the garage.¡± With that said, he strode off toward the door, leaving her to stare at his figure. When she processed his words, Gwendolyn was taken aback. That''s not the reaction I was expecting. Why is he so unpredictable? Jogging forward, she caught up with him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, let''s drive a different car. This car is too shy. What if someone decides to rob us?¡± ¡°That''s fine. I''m a pretty skilled fighter. The robber is no match for me.¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn rolled her eyes. Aren''t you being full of yourself, Patrick Lowen? Do you really think you''re the best at everything? What an arrogant man! Tossing the car keys to Gwendolyn, Patrick got into the car without waiting for her. The woman gazed at the car keys in her hand in exasperation. Dang it. Can I tell him I can''t drive instead? In the end, after contemting for a long while, she was left with no other choice but to get into the car and began driving with extra precaution. When the car hit the road, she constantly checked the rearview mirror, fearful that she might identally damage the vehicle. Patrick regarded her with a cold gaze. ¡°Are you riding a bicycle, Gwendolyn?¡± he asked after seeing the scooter speed by them. Even bicycles are faster than us at this point. Gwendolyn replied calmly, ¡°Mr. Lowen, your safety is my priority. I''ll make sure you reach your destination safely.¡± Patrick was at a loss for words. He lowered the car window angrily and lit a cigarette. With his brows furrowed, he took a long drag. ¡°You don''t have to reimburse me for any damage, Gwendolyn. Can you drive faster now?¡± he said helplessly. What in the world is going on in her head? Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Patrick could not me Gwendolyn because he had been tricking and setting her up. To exemplify, he had asked for more than one hundred thousand in return for taking care of her in the morning. Hearing his response, Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes and smiled. ¡°All right! It''s good that you don''t need me topensate you.¡± Suddenly, the car sped off at an incredible speed of one hundred eighty miles per hour. This was what she had been waiting for. Haha! Finally, I can try out this car! It''s so amazing! Shocked, Patrick threw the cigar out the window. The cigar would have burned his face if he had not reacted quickly. Holding his forehead in exasperation, he turned his head to look at her. This woman''s attitude changes so fast. The other drivers avoided Gwendolyn as she drove the eye-catching vehicle at a high speed along the road. With that big a car and that high a speed, it could get anyone killed. The journey to Night City usually took an hour. However, Gwendolyn used only twenty minutes that day to reach the entrance. Patrick''s face turned ashen because of a certain woman''s driving skills. He even experienced motion sickness and had a strong urge to vomit. Feigning chivalry and grandeur, he remained nonchnt, as he did not want to embarrass himself by puking in front of her. Turning off the engine, Gwendolyn patted the sterling wheel and scanned around the car. This is such a fun experience! ¡°We''ve arrived, Mr. Lowen. I feel great driving this car! Look! My driving skills aren''t that bad, after all. We''re safe!¡± Beaming with happiness, she grinned from ear to ear, revealing the dimples on her cheeks. Patrick''s expression hardened, and he remained silent. Pushing the car door open, he strode toward Night City. Seeing this, Gwendolyn quickly got down from the car and followed him. The next instant, she handed the car key to a valet. Thetter''s eyes lit up with surprise, but it quickly disappeared as worry shrouded him. ¡°M-Miss, I...¡± The valet wanted to ask her to park the car by herself, as he was afraid that he would scratch her car. Ignoring him, Gwendolyn could not care less about it since it was not her car. If anything happened to the car, it was not her money that was going to be affected. Mr. Lowen is wealthy. Money is no problem for him, but I''m a different case. With that thought in mind, she followed behind him to the elevator and went to the twelfth floor. Gwendolyn used to work in Night City. Hence, she was familiar with theyout of the ce, and she knew different areas catered to various quality of customers. The underground nightclub was the messiest of all. One could easily ess this ce even without a member card. The twelfth floor they were on now was a reserved area for the VIPs. One needed a member card to enter this floor. Even if one were wealthy, they would not be granted ess if they did not have a card. In other words, the ones who could enter this floor were no ordinary men. They all had solid and influential backgrounds. Besides, only five thousand cards were given out by invitation per year. One would have to wait for their turn next year if they could not get a ce this year. The workers who worked on this floor were the most beautiful and youngest among the other employees. Their average age was around twenty-four. Therefore, the twelfth floor was the most profit- earning floor among the rest. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. As the elevator doors opened, they saw golden beams illuminating the magnificent hall. Everything in it sparkled like the stars under the reflection of the light. Gwendolyn had nevere to this floor, and she was immediately astounded by the sight before her. The people who came all lived a luxurious and dissipated life. When they exited the elevator, a beautiful woman in a red gown walked toward Patrick and said, ¡°Hi, Mr. Lowen. I''ll prepare a room for you. May I ask how many of you areing in?¡± Patrick replied faintly, ¡°Kevin is in room 1208 already.¡± ¡°All right, Mr. Lowen. This way, please.¡± Kevin was a frequent guest here, and the workers were familiar with him. Although Patrick came here less often than Kevin, the others still recognized him. Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Following Patrick, Gwendolyn noticed that the woman leading the way had a slim waist. The gown she was wearing entuated her perfect body figure. Her long, slender legs, especially, made her look extra attractive. As the rumors said, those who work on the twelfth floor are beautiful. Seeing that Gwendolyn was far behind him, Patrick stopped and reached out his hand to take her hand in his. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Gwendolyn regained her senses once she heard his voice. Then, she replied softly, ¡°People have told me that the women on the twelfth floor are bombshells. I''ve finally seen it for myself!¡± Patrick furrowed his brows upon hearing her response. Why doesn''t she realize that her body figure is better than every worker here? The ushers helped to open the door once Patrick and Gwendolyn arrived at the room. Holding Gwendolyn''s hand in his, Patrick strode into the room. It was an extremely spacious area that could amodate events such as karaoke and disco dancing. Besides, there were a few small private rooms. One of them was the games room. Sitting on the longest couch, Kevin was surrounded by women. They were chatting happily. Gwendolyn could not care less about it because Kevin was a seasoned womanizer in Avenport. The man loved enjoying life and had been changing girlfriends. Scanning the room, she spotted Lucas sitting at one side, singing. Thedy who was at his house earlier today was there, too. The moment Lucas saw Gwendolyn and Patrick, he stared at them and said over the microphone, ¡°Hi, Mr. Lowen and Ms. Ashton.¡± Many people were in the room, and most of them were Kevin''s friends. In other words, they were members of the upper crust. Gwendolyn smiled. She only had an objective tonight¡ªget Lucas to agree to donate bone marrow to Mnie, no matter how. The crowd noticed Patrick and stood up subconsciously. They wanted to allow him to choose the woman he liked. Gwendolyn retracted her hand from Patrick''s and trotted toward Lucas before sitting beside him. ¡°Hi, Mr. Gomez! Are you singing now? Do you want me to apany you?¡± Realizing that Gwendolyn was asking for it, Lucas smiled devilishly and raised his brows at Patrick. Lucas gestured for Patrick to rest assured that he could aplish the task Patrick had assigned. ¡°Charlotte, you should go home now. It''ste, and you have sses tomorrow.¡± The girl, who was still singing, pouted before responding, ¡°Luke, Mom asks me to watch over you in case you''re screwing around outside. If Grandpa receives word of this, you''re doomed!¡± Charlotte Gomez, Lucas'' younger sister, refused to leave. Despite that, Lucas summoned people in. Soon, two men in ck, who appeared to be the Gomez family''s bodyguards, came in. ¡°Send Ms. Gomez home,¡± Lucas instructed. One of the bodyguards turned to Charlotte and stated, ¡°This way, Ms. Gomez.¡± Displeased, Charlotte yelled, ¡°Luke!¡± Lucas pushed and urged her, ¡°Leave now. I can''t enjoy my time if you''re here.¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. He could not flirt with the other females if Charlotte stayed beside him. Hence, he had not had the chance to talk to other women these few days, even though he went out frequently. Charlotte eyed Gwendolyn and recalled that she had seen thetter before. Don''t tell me Luke likes her? Lingering her gaze on Gwendolyn a little longer, Charlotte took her leave. Patrick sat on a couch not far away from them. He only had a ck shirt covering his body after taking off his coat. cing his arm casually on the armrest, he held a cigar between his fingers and took several puffs. Some people came and gave him a toast, but he remained icy. Taking a sip of the wine, he stared at Gwendolyn with raised eyebrows. Later, Kevin went beside him and took a seat. Looking at Patrick''s indolent expression, the former asked, ¡°Do you want her, Pat?¡± Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Upon speaking, he looked down at his feet and smiled. ¡°Are you finally going to make a move?¡± Kevin asked. He then thought of the sex doll he had given Patrick. ¡°Is it because you have been using that sex doll for such a long time, so you''re bored of it?¡± Kevin asked. Patrick nced at Kevin coldly after listening to thetter''s absurd words. ¡°I''ve never even used it before,¡± Patrick muttered. The moment he thought of Gwendolyn seeing it the other day, he wanted to rip his hair out in embarrassment. This is all that damned Kevin''s fault. Kevin ignored Patrick and took up his ss to take a sip. ¡°I''m just caring about your health, Pat. If you''re not strong enough, that might cause problems. Why don''t you give it a try tonight? If you do feel like you can''t go all out or feel weak, you know who to call. I''ll give you some medicine. You will be able to give her the time of her life then.¡± Upon speaking, Kevin took another long breath of smoke. What he failed to realize was Patrick''s expression hardening. In the next second, Kevin flew over to the other side from being kicked by the angered male. ¡°You''re the one who''s weak!¡± Patrick spat in fury. Unfazed by what had happened, Kevin burst out inughter. ¡°All right. I''m looking forward to listening to your experience tomorrow, then.¡± in the meantime, Gwendolyn had already finished singing two songs with Lucas. She had an amazing voice. Once the song ended, the audience all pped their hands. ¡°Amazing! One more song!¡± one called out. ¡°Encore!¡± Gwendolyn put down the microphone and poured a ss of wine for Lucas. ¡°Let''s have a drink, Mr. Gomez,¡± she said as she picked up her own ss. Gwendolyn made the first move to drink. Lucas was surprised at her bold actions. They had wanted her to get drunk today, but they did not expect her to take the initiative. Both of them started ying games. Gwendolyn drank more and more, causing Lucas to match her pace. After a while, Gwendolyn noticed that Lucas was starting to get a little tipsy. He had probably drank a lot before they came. Therefore, she neared him and smiled. ¡°Let me show you some pictures, Mr. Gomez,¡± she stated. Gwendolyn then took out her phone and showed Lucas some pictures of Mnie from her birth up to when she was sick. Then she looked at Lucas and blinked. ¡°Don''t you think this little girl is extra cute and pretty?¡± she asked. After all, Mnie was Lucy''s daughter. It was obvious that Mnie would inherit Lucy''s good looks. Nodding, Lucas replied, ¡°Yes, super cute. I want to pinch her cheeks.¡± Hearing hisment, Gwendolyn could not help butugh. Men really can''t resist daughters. She then chose a picture of Mnie after she had gotten sick. Mnie had be very thin, but her eyes were still as bright as ever. Her hair, however, had fallen out, causing her to be bald. ¡°Look at this, Mr. Gomez.¡± Gwendolyn brought her phone nearer to Lucas. Lucas squinted and looked at the picture before speaking. ¡°She looks cute, but she''s too skinny. Is she sick?¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes glinted, and she nodded. ¡°This girl is the same child as before. Her name is Mnie. She''s currently staying at the oncology hospital for children. You can go and visit her whenever you''re free. Because she''s sick, she can''t go to school. Mnie might actually die at any time,¡± she exined. Upon hearing Gwendolyn''s words, Lucas felt upset. He was a soldier, for goodness'' sake. It was his duty to take care of the citizens. Whenever they were threatened by danger, soldiers would always be at the front line, protecting them. He furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Is it terminal?¡± Lucas felt sad for Mnie. She''s still very young and has a whole life ahead of her. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Thinking of that, Lucas picked up his ss and downed it, trying to suppress the sadness he was feeling. Gwendolyn felt like it was time to tell Lucas the truth. ¡°Mr. Gomez, Mnie is Lucy''s daughter, thedy who came to find you today. Mnie needs your bone marrow to survive. You won''t just sit by and watch her suffer, right?¡± she pressed. Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Lucas finally understood. No wonder she has agreed to sing and drink with me. It was all for that child. Although Mnie was an adorable kid, it was still none of his business. He could not risk his future just for someone who was a total stranger to him. Lucas looked over at Patrick, who was not sitting too far away. He remembered thetter wanted to get Gwendolyn drunk. Therefore, Lucas lifted an eyebrow and looked at the woman next to him. ¡°Finish this bottle and I''ll think about it,¡± he uttered as he pushed over a bottle of strong liquor to her. He observed her and wondered if she had the guts to do it. Gwendolyn looked at the bottle of liquor. Although she was not new to alcohol, the most she had drunk was three cups of white wine. She was also able to drink a pint of beer without getting tipsy. However, Gwendolyn had never touched hard liquor before. Could I actually do it? After thinking about it, she suddenly smacked her hand on the table. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°All right, I''ll drink it. Don''t forget your promise, Mr. Gomez.¡± It''s just getting drunk, anyway. Mnie''s worth doing it. Moreover, I''m familiar with the people around me. Even Patrick''s here. Gwendolyn shook the thoughts out of her head and grabbed the bottle before downing it. Patrick, who was observing her, uncrossed his initially crossed legs, while Kevin looked at her in shock. ¡°Damn, Gwen is incredible! Drinking from the bottle just like that?¡± Kevin whistled in admiration. However, Patrick got up and hurriedly went to Gwendolyn, snatching the bottle away. ¡°Who allowed you to drink, Gwendolyn?¡± he questioned. Having the bottle taken out of her hands, she red at Patrick. The bottle''s only half empty. Mnie''s life is depending on Lucas! Bearing that thought in mind, she stood up and snatched it back. ¡°Leave me alone, Patrick.¡± She then looked over at Lucas. ¡°I''ll finish this, Mr. Gomez,¡± she promised. Gwendolyn took a few steps back to distance herself from Patrick. Then she continued to drink the liquor. Patrick''s expression hardened as he a look at Lucas, who was sitting at the side. In response, Lucas raised his arms in mock surrender and mouthed, ¡°Isn''t this what you wanted?¡± Patrick did want Gwendolyn to get drunk, but he did not want her to drink so much. She would definitely feel terrible the next day. A whileter, Kevin walked over to Gwendolyn and took a look at the now-empty bottle. ¡°Wow, Gwen! You''re pretty good at this!¡± he eximed. After Gwendolyn finished drinking the liquor, she started to get dizzy. When she heard a voice next to her, she spun around. The bottle that she was holding in her hands smacked Kevin''s right cheek. Kevin yelped at the sudden pain. Gwendolyn had utterly lost control of herself. ¡°Who is it? Who are you?¡± As she spoke, she continued holding that same bottle and waved them left and right. Because of that, Kevin''s face kept getting smacked by the liquor bottle, causing him to stagger backward. ¡°I knew it. I can never meet with you, Gwen. Why am I always the one getting hurt when we do?¡± he grumbled as he gingerly touched his slightly swollen cheeks. Not far away from the peculiar duo, Lucas and Patrick started bursting out inughter. It was such an amusing sight. Kevin had been smacked left and right. Both Kevin and Gwendolyn really should not be left in the same room. Patrick soon walked over and took the bottle out of Gwendolyn''s hands before pulling her into his arms. ¡°Do you know who I am, Gwendolyn?¡± He looked down at her. Feeling her hands empty now, Gwendolyn looked around in a daze. She felt as though the world was spinning, causing her to feel ufortable. When she heard his low voice, she tried to widen her eyes to see clearer. ¡°Are you a goddess? You have such a lovely voice!¡± she remarked. Hearing that, Lucas and Kevin instantly startedughing. ¡°Since when did you switch genders, Pat? You''ve be a goddess!¡± They continued to guffaw. Patrick furrowed his eyebrows. He had never expected Gwendolyn to be such a dummy after drinking so much. Carrying her, he muttered sternly, ¡°Keep quiet. Let''s go home.¡± Gwendolyn pouted at his fierce tone. ¡°You''re a goddess, and I love goddesses! Please be my girlfriend!¡± Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Patrick seemed to have learned of a huge secret. This woman seems to be quite interested in women? His face was so grim that Lucas almost died ofughter. Kevin also could not resistughing even though his face was already swollen from Gwendolyn''s idental attacks. Kevin then pretended to snuggle into Lucas'' embrace and teased, ¡°Did you hear that, Luke? Gwen has no feelings for Pat. She''s interested in women!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Patrick''s expression grew darker at the teases and voices ofughter behind him. As he looked at the drunk, groggy woman in his arms, Patrick hugged Gwendolyn even tighter. ¡°I''m a man, Gwendolyn.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. She could hear a voice spewing words to her in a cold and hard tone. After some time, Gwendolyn shoved him away. ¡°I detest men the most! I want pretty goddesses, especially those in sweet and cute outfits! I love nice and obedient cute girls the most!¡± When she thought of the scumbag who had hurt her and forced her to sleep with him against her will, she was motivated to stand up for herself. That man had shaped her into who she was today, but she had no idea who he was. Everyoneughed and teased her, saying that she was just an idiot. I''m so done being with men! I want to be with a woman¡ªa pretty and young one, to be exact! With that, Gwendolyn struggled hard to wriggle her way out of Patrick''s arms. Her strength was extremely overwhelming at that moment. She had even grabbed Patrick and bit on his neck that it bled slightly. Yelping in pain, he put her down. Standing on the floor, the woman felt her head spin. Then she staggered ahead and shouted, ¡°Go away! I don''t need any man now. I''m going to find myself a pretty goddess!¡± Rubbing his temples, Patrick watched Gwendolyn bumping into people as she walked ahead. So this girl would turn into a beast when she''s drunk! If I had known she would be like this, I wouldn''t have brought her here. Furious, he frowned at her violent antics. Just then, Gwendolyn was seen grabbing a worker and asking him, ¡°I''m looking for pretty, youngdies. I have money. Could you get one for me? I''m really rich, you know.¡± Even when the worker heard she had asked for femalepanions, he was unbothered, since the establishment catered to all walks of life and preferences. ¡°You''re requesting for females, yes? I''ll get one for you. Which room are you in? They''ll be there soon.¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a while before stuttering, ¡°I-I... don''t know.¡± The worker''s expression changed subtly. This guest has had too much to drink! ¡°Why don''t I send you to your room and have here directly to your room, then?¡± Gwendolyn giggled and replied, ¡°That''s great! I was just thinking of going to sleep.¡± As the worker helped her to the elevator, Patrick hurried over and pulled Gwendolyn to his side, casting a nce at the worker. Since all the workers knew who Patrick was, the worker nodded at him. ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick waved his hand, signaling for the worker to leave immediately. This woman is simply unbelievable! There''s a handsome guy standing in front of her, yet she wants a female? What the heck! She''s just asking for... The worker was too embarrassed to think about thest sentence. Holding her waist, Patrick guided her toward the elevator. ¡°You want females, yeah? Behave, and I''ll find one for you,¡± the man coaxed her gently, hoping to get her to follow him back to his house. At that moment, Gwendolyn sensed that the man''s embrace was all too familiar to her, and she felt herself getting tired. ¡°Sure. Take me there. I''ll have you know that I''m loaded.¡± Patrick frowned. I''m not paying her this much just to be a sugar mommy to a young woman! Should I look for an excuse to start cutting her wages? If not, she would start acting like a boss outside and pay for other women''spanionship. After they got in the elevator, Gwendolyn''s eyes snapped open as he looked at him in a daze. ¡°Let me tell you, prettydy. Patrick Lowen is a friend of mine. If you decide to stay with me, you''ll have his support, too!¡± Chapter 122 Chapter 122 As she spoke, Gwendolyn reached out to caress Patrick, smiling mischievously at him. Immediately, Patrick''s expression darkened. He was so close to throwing her onto the floor. Prettydy? I am a real man! I''ll show her what I''ve got tonight. The car was already waiting downstairs when they reached the lobby. Upon seeing the pair, the chauffeur politely opened the car door for them. Patrick then shoved Gwendolyn into the car before getting inside as well. Inside the car, he noticed Gwendolyn looking out of the window while muttering to herself, ¡°Pretty fairy, I''m actually quite lonely. I just hope you could stay with me forever.¡± She had gone from being a carefree young child to a mother all of a sudden. It was tough for her to grow up and be mature so quickly. When the triplets were younger, they were prone to falling ill one after the other. Taking care of all three of them at one time was terrifying and tiring for Gwendolyn. It took her a lot of effort to raise the children until today. It definitely was not an easy journey for her. Despite being upset at Gwendolyn, he chose to respond to her words. ¡°Gwendolyn, are you confessing to me?¡± Since she''s telling me to stay by her side forever, doesn''t that count as a confession? Suddenly, Gwendolyn turned around and looked at him with a dazed expression. Slowly, she inched toward him, and without any warning, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. Patrick was taken aback by her sudden action, as this was the first time Gwendolyn had initiated a kiss. However, it was very much different from the previous kisses they had. Nevertheless, he stopped and pushed her away from him. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± Is it possible that she mistook me for a woman and kissed me? Shaking her head, Gwendolyn answered, ¡°I don''t. I just feel that your lips taste quite familiar. It''s so yummy.¡± With that, she jumped back onto him and kissed him even more fervently and passionately. Even tongues were involved this time. Initially, Patrick wanted to push her away again, but he had a change of mind suddenly. I don''t care who she''s thinking about right now, since she''s already so drunk. After all, I''m the one reaping the benefits here! With that, he went on the offensive and returned the kiss as fervently. Stunned by the sudden gesture, Gwendolyn tried to escape, but the back of her head was clutched by arge hand. Unable to move, she could only let him kiss her as he pleased. The chauffeur was extremely anxious upon hearing strange noisesing from the back seats. He then sped up and drove quickly toward their destination. Patrick cast a sharp re at the chauffeur through the rearview mirror, making thetter terrified to look at them again. Half an hourter, the car finally arrived at Patrick''s house. As soon as the chauffeur stopped in front of the house, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Patrick then carried Gwendolyn in his arms and entered the house. Both of them started kissing passionately once again. Even though Gwendolyn was still drunk, she was not sluggish or clumsy and was very good at keeping her pace with him. Clothes were scattered along their path as they made their way upstairs and into Patrick''s bedroom. Both their lips never parted with each other. However, since Gwendolyn was already stark naked in his arms, she trembled due to the chilly air. On the other hand, Patrick was feeling hot and passionate from their steamy kisses. Slightly pulling away, he looked at Gwendolyn with a wicked smile. ¡°Let''s go to the bed if you''re feeling cold.¡± He then wrapped her legs around his waist, kicked the door shut, and pinned her against the door. After that, he turned around and trudged toward the bed. As soon as they both sank into the soft and cozy bed, Gwendolyn felt a sense of warmth enveloping her body. She retreated slowly and burrowed herself under the thick nket. Patrick was so charmed by her upon seeing her alluring antics. Thus, he took off his tie and began to undress. Then he slipped into the nket and turned to face the woman. With a faint smile, he uttered in a deep and sexy voice, ¡°Look closely, Gwendolyn Ashton, and feel whether I''m a man or a woman to you.¡± With that, he lowered his head to capture her lips again. This time, though, he was so much gentler. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Gwendolyn had already fallen asleep and was not pleased to be disturbed. She raised her hand and hit Patrick a few times. Then she turned sideways, and her breathing became even. Furrowing his brows, the man uttered, ¡°Gwendolyn, wake up...¡± He lowered his head and looked at himself. I''m already in this state, and she''s asleep? Is she trying to prank me? Patrick''s face darkened at the thought. Suddenly, he nced at her chest and smiled wickedly. ¡°Gwendolyn, you asked for it.¡± The next day, Gwendolyn woke up to find herself in a foreign bed. Startled, she sat up and let out a scream. ¡°Ah!¡± I shouldn''t have drunkst night. What happened? She raised her hand and patted herself on the head, but she could remember nothing. The room looked very familiar to her, though. As she seemed to remember, her eyes lit up. ¡°This is Patrick''s room.¡± Gwendolyn hurriedly pulled up the covers and peered inside. She found herself in her pajamas, and her body did not seem to have any marks. Therefore, she heaved a sigh of relief. I must have been drunkst night, so Patrick brought me back here. Wait, did he change these pajamas for me? Did he see my body? Her face flushed at the thought. ¡°What a pervert,¡± she cursed. Gwendolyn got up from the bed and looked for her clothes. When she found her clothes were neatly folded right next to the bed, she smiled. It seems that Mr. Lowen likes to keep things organized. Gwendolyn changed into her own clothes and felt a slight difort in her chest. When she looked at her chest, it was all red. Am I allergic to alcohol? I usually had no symptoms of alcohol allergy, though. Though puzzled, she felt the pain bearable, so she brushed it off. Then she went to the bathroom to wash up. When she went downstairs, she saw Patrick sitting in the dining room eating breakfast. She greeted him a little awkwardly, ¡°Good morning, Mr. Lowen!¡± Since she had upied his bed, she felt a bit embarrassed. Upon seeing her, Patrick thought of what had happenedst night. He had not released himself for a long time, so he was refreshed today. ¡°Good morning!¡± he replied in a light-hearted tone. Gwendolyn sat down next to him and looked at her breakfast. ¡°Mr. Lowen, is that my breakfast?¡± I''m starving, but why though? It''s not like I did anythingst night.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Drink the hangover remedy first,¡± the man stated. Right then, the housekeeper came out of the kitchen and greeted Gwendolyn with a smile,¡± ¡°Ms. Ashton, good morning!¡± Gwendolyn nodded slightly. I see. His mansion has a housekeeper. She probablyes here in the morning to prepare breakfast and do a little cleaning. She might note here at night. As Gwendolyn watched the housekeeper do her thing, she suddenly asked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, do you know what the symptoms of alcohol allergy are?¡± After getting dressed, she felt a tingling pain in her chest and felt a little ufortable. Patrick sipped his coffee, and his expression darkened. ¡°You''re allergic to alcohol?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°I was not allergic to alcohol before. Maybe it was because I drank a bottle of hard liquorst night. I rarely drink that type of alcohol. My chest is red and hurts a little, so I think I should be allergic to alcohol.¡± At the sight of her confused face, the man almost spat out the coffee he had just drunk. She really doesn''t know what happenedst night, does she? With a smirk, he responded, ¡°That sounds like the symptoms of an allergy. I''ll ask Liam to buy some ointment. Apply some when you''re in thepany, and you should be fine.¡± Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Upon hearing Patrick''s words, the woman was relieved. ¡°All right. Thank you, Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick raised his eyebrows. That''s mainly because I couldn''t control myself wellst night and took a little longer. Of course, I have to heal the injuries caused by me. Narrowing his eyes, he smiled. ¡°You''re wee. It''s no big deal.¡± Gwendolyn sensed that something was off. The man sitting across from her was smirking with a mischievous expression on his face. She rolled her eyes and continued to brood. Everything was normal yesterday. We did nothing out of line. Forget it. He''s not a nice person, anyway. Gwendolyn then happily ate her breakfast. The man sitting across from her looked at her in a good mood, especially since they had intimate moments. His feelings for her seemed different from before. As if she had be his exclusive item, his possessiveness became stronger. He put a fried egg and some other food on her te. ¡°Do eat more.¡± Although she''s well-developed, I have to fatten her up a bit. I''m afraid her little body can''t withstand me. After all, he had not done this for years and was thrilled with it. Gwendolyn looked at him again with a hint of confusion. Her long eyshes shed like the sunflowers, and it was very tempting. Patrick frowned slightly. Dang it. How can I have feelings just by staring at her face? Raising his cup, he sipped his coffee to regain hisposure. After having breakfast, Gwendolyn felt satisfied. It''s true that people can''t remain hungry because it''s like the end of the world. Getting to her feet, she started cleaning up, but Patrick said, ¡°Let''s go. We''re going to bete for work. Just have Lillian clear the dishes.¡± Gwendolyn withdrew her hand. For the first time, she felt Patrick was not that bad, for he did not ask her to wash the dishes before going to thepany. Hastily, she followed him. Getting in the car, she frowned. When she walked, she felt pain in her chest area. Noticing her behavior, he asked, ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Gwendolyn did not hide from him. ¡°It''s the allergies. It really hurts when I walk.¡± She raised her hands and tugged at her clothes to keep them from touching her skin. Patrick''s expression changed. I made her suffer. Hence, he pulled out his phone and sent Kevin a message: Do you have a dermatologist you trust there? It took a while before Kevin got back to him. Kevin: Yeah. We have various departments in our hospital, and you know that. Of course, Patrick knew that, but he wanted a doctor with outstanding medical skills who could keep a secret. Patrick: Send a female doctor you trust to mypany. Kevin: Okay. How did it gost night? Do you want me to write you a prescription? Hahaha! They still could not move on from this matter. Patrick could imagine how devilishly Kevinughed upon reading thetter''s text. Patrick: Get lost! Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. After he sent the message, he put the phone away, not wanting to say anything more to Kevin. Gwendolyn sat quietly by his side and waited until he put the phone away. Then, she uttered in a soft tone, ¡°Mr. Lowen,st night Mr. Gomez said he''d agree to donate bone marrow to my friend''s daughter if I finished that bottle of wine. Could you testify to that for me? You saw me finish the bottle.¡± Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Gwendolyn suddenly thought of what happenedst night. She could not let her effort go down the drain. She had finished the bottle of wine, leading her to suffer from an alcohol allergy. Gwendolyn felt difort on her skin and head. If Lucas went back on his words, it was too much of a loss for her. Gwendolyn could see that both Kevin and Lucas were afraid of Patrick. Hence, she wanted Patrick to be her support so that Lucas would not break his promise. Hearing her words, Patrick chuckled coldly. ¡°Can''t you see he was only messing with you?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gwendolyn was a simpleton. She did not realize that Lucas had tricked her. Patrick knew Gwendolyn would believe Lucas. He exined to her, ¡°Did he say that he''ll think about it after you finish the bottle of wine?¡± ¡°Yes! That''s exactly what he said.¡± Gwendolyn nodded profusely. Seeing the look on her face, Patrick reached out his hand and patted her head. ¡°My dear, even though he said that he''d consider it, in the end, he won''t agree.¡± His words took Gwendolyn by surprise. I can''t believe he did that! Ugh. They''re indeed the same kind of people and like to deceive others. How annoying! Gwendolyn was infuriated after hearing what Patrick said. ¡°Am I supposed to let him go just like that? After I''ve drunk so much wine?¡± Seeing that she was fuming with rage, the man kindly reminded her, ¡°Gwendolyn, Lucas is a major- general. His particr profession requires him to be in the best physical state. That''s why he can''t donate his bone marrow.¡± Gwendolyn sank into deep thought, trying to process everything Patrick had said. Deep inside, she understood the situation. However, Mnie was just a young little girl. Gwendolyn wanted to do something to keep Mnie alive. She looked glum and did not know what to do. Soon, the two arrived at thepany. After getting down from the car, Gwendolyn deliberately sauntered behind Patrick. Seeing that she was still a distance away after he entered the elevator, Patrick yelled, ¡°Walk faster, Gwendolyn!¡± The receptionists and security guards heard Patrick shouting, and Gwendolyn gave him a look. She wanted to keep her distance from Patrick as she refused to let her colleagues think she got into the company with his help. Shended the job with her capabilities, and she did not want to hear any rumors. However, it seemed like Patrick did not figure out what Gwendolyn was thinking as he shouted at her to get into the elevator. Very soon, the wholepany would hear about them. Lowering her head, she ran into the elevator. Patrick pressed the ¡°close door¡± button and turned to look at Gwendolyn beside him. ¡°Why are you looking at me, Mr. Lowen? Is there dirt on my face?¡± She forced out a smile when she could not stand his staring anymore. Suddenly, Gwendolyn saw the bite mark on Patrick''s neck. It was a noticeable bruise. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she quickly looked away. It wasn''t me who bit him, right? Gwendolyn tried to recall if she had bitten him but to no avail. It shouldn''t be me. It can''t be me. I don''t simply bite people when I''m drunk. Patrick noticed she had seen the bruise on his neck. Raising his brows, he chuckled. ¡°Are you unwilling to be seen at work with me?¡± There was a hint of faintughter in his icy voice. Gwendolyn could sense both warmth and cold from Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, did you not hear the rumors specting in the office? They''re saying that I''m the CEO''s future wife, so to avoid any more misunderstandings, I think it''s better if we keep our distance,¡± Gwendolyn answered after returning to her senses. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Patrick raised his hands and touched his neck. ¡°Well...¡± Her eyes widened, and she quickly averted her gaze as he did that. Please don''t talk about the bite mark. Patrick''s smile broadened as he cheekily teased, ¡°Don''t you want to be the CEO''s wife, Gwendolyn? If you be the CEO''s wife, Lowen Group will be backing you. And with me, you''d be a wealthy woman.¡± Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Gwendolyn had indeed thought about it. She knew she was able to take her revenge by riding on his coattails. She wanted Candace and Felicia to have a taste of their own medicine and make them lose everything, too. However, she felt it was not worth it. No matter how ipetent she was, Gwendolyn did not want to seek revenge with this method. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you deserve someone better.¡± As she finished speaking, the elevator doors opened. Gwendolyn stepped out before him and walked away. She ignored the looks of everyone in the office. Gwendolyn made up her mind to be herself and let everyone say what they wanted. In the meantime, as Patrick watched the woman walk away with a straightened back, he could see her determination. Gwendolyn was no ordinary woman. Any other woman who had been through a tough life like her would ept Patrick without hesitation. They would do anything to be with him. Meanwhile, Liam greeted Gwendolyn when he saw her, ¡°Good morning, Ms. Ashton!¡± ¡°Morning, Mr. Derner.¡± She returned a smile. Then Gwendolyn opened the door to the CEO''s office, walked in, and ced her bag in the corner of her desk. She was about to make a cup of coffee for Patrick when she saw ady sitting on the couch. Thedy smiled at Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn did not know her, but she knew thisdy was here to see Patrick. Thus, Gwendolyn said to her, ¡°Miss, Mr. Lowen is here. He''lle into the office any time now.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± thedy responded with a slight nod. Gwendolyn felt she was a pretty and politedy. Just then, Patrick opened the door and trod in. He spotted thedy sitting on the couch and knew that it was the dermatologist sent by Kevin. Patrick cast a nce at Gwendolyn and instructed coldly, ¡°Ms. Ashton, get me two cups of coffee.¡± At his order, Gwendolyn stood up and walked out of the office. When she was out of sight, Patrick walked toward the couch, sat down, and asked, ¡°Are you Dr. Robinson?¡± Nodding, La Robinson replied, ¡°Mr. Chavez sent me here, Mr. Lowen. He said that you needed medical treatment. May I know where you''re feeling the difort?¡± Patrick sat on the couch with his legs crossed and observed the woman in front of him. ¡°I''m not the one who needs treatment. It''s my secretary. There is a wound on her chest, but I want you to tell her it''s an allergy reaction and prescribe her some medication.¡± A trace of rity shed across La''s eyes. Before she came, Kevin had told her to follow whatever Patrick said, and she finally understood what Kevin meant. ¡°Don''t worry, Mr. Lowen. As a doctor, I''m only responsible for treating my patients. I will mind my own business,¡± La answered. I knew I could count on Kevin. ¡°Okay. You can start once she returns.¡± Patrick rose to his feet and went to his office desk. Not long after he sat down, Gwendolyn came in and ced the coffee on his table. ¡°Your coffee, Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick looked up and pointed at La. ¡°Gwendolyn, she''s a dermatologist that Kevin sent. She''s here to take a look at your allergy reaction.¡± Slightly startled, Gwendolyn responded, ¡°Right here? There''s no need for that! I can go to the hospital on my own during lunchtime.¡± Why is he doing this? I''m not that weak! Standing up, La chimed, ¡°Ms. Ashton, I''m already here. You don''t have to make another trip to the hospital. Let''s go to the lounge, and I''ll examine your wound.¡± Gwendolyn quickly walked toward La and ced the coffee in front of her. ¡°Here''s your coffee, doctor.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After that, both Gwendolyn and La went into the lounge. Gwendolyn took off her shirt for La to examine her wound. ¡°It hurts a little, but this is the only area on my body that is red. It''s not something serious, right?¡± she asked La. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 La''s face fell as she examined the wound on Gwendolyn''s chest. The former did not expect the injury to be this serious. Wow, what an impressive man Mr. Lowen is. This is not something an average person could do! She smiled faintly at Gwendolyn. ¡°Don''t worry. It''s not something serious. However, don''t shower at night. Otherwise, it''ll take some time to heal.¡± With that said, La took out an ointment from her medicine box and gave her instructions to Gwendolyn. ¡°Apply this ointment three times daily. You''ll recover within several days.¡± Gwendolyn took the ointment and applied some to her wound. Exiting the lounge, La stood in front of Patrick''s table. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''ve examined her wound. She just needs to apply the medicated ointment for a few days,¡± she informed. Patrick raised his head and responded calmly, ¡°Thank you, Dr. Robinson. Liam is waiting outside for you with your mary gift.¡± ¡°It''s okay. I''m just doing my job.¡± La shook her head. She did not dare to receive the mary gift since Kevin had sent her there. ¡°You must ept it,¡± Patrick remarked firmly. The mary gift was considered his hush money. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Seeing how firm he was, La did not insist. ¡°Thank you, then, Mr. Lowen.¡± By the time Gwendolyn came out of the lounge, she felt better. The ointment had an icy effect. After applying it, her wound did not hurt as much anymore. Seeing the smile on Gwendolyn''s face, Patrick knew she had applied the ointment. Gwendolyn went back to her desk. She arranged Patrick''s current schedule, answered a few calls from people who wanted to meet Patrick, and made an appointment for them. When she had nothing to do, Gwendolyn would do some reading to improve herself. Only with higher education level would she be able to choose a job that she liked in the future. At some point, Lucy texted her: Gwen, sorry to disturb you. I know I told them I''d pay them in a month, but I''m not done with the discussion of my house''s price yet. Can I dy the payment for a few days? Gwendolyn pondered a while after reading the text message from Lucy. There shouldn''t be a problem with dying the payment for several days. Thus, Gwendolyn replied: Okay, I''ll contact him right away. Lucy: Love you, Gwen! Gwendolyn broke into a smile after seeing the cheesy gif that Lucy sent. Taking her cup, she walked toward the pantry. Gwendolyn noticed how her colleagues instantly ended their conversation and went back to their respective seats upon seeing her. Gwendolyn frowned, wondering if they were talking about her. She tightened her grip on the cup and ignored the thought of them gossiping about her. After all, as Patrick''s personal secretary, it was natural for her to be close to him. Earning money was no easy feat indeed. Entering the pantry, she filled her cup with water and sat by the window to call Tommy. ¡°Gwen, are you paying today?¡± he asked on the other end of the line. Tommy was in a good mood, as he had just received hismission for the month. If Gwendolyn paid the money now, everything would be done and dusted. ¡°Tommy, my friend is facing some issues right now. Is it possible for us to pay in a few days?¡± she asked cautiously. Tommy was momentarily stunned upon hearing that. ¡°I have to ask my boss about this.¡± ¡°Sure, go ahead. I''ll wait for your answer,¡± Gwendolyn replied with a smile. After the call ended, she held the cup and took a sip, looking out the window. I finally have something to look forward to in the future. I can feel that better days areing. My only wish, for now, is that Mnie will recover so that Lucy will regain her hope in life. At that moment, Tommy called her. She hurriedly epted the call and inquired, ¡°Tommy, what did your boss say?¡± ¡°He said a few more days is fine, Gwen. However, he''ll be charging interest from now.¡± Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°I understand. Tell your boss that I agree with the interest.¡± It''s reasonable for him to charge us with interest since we''rete in payment. ¡°The interest is quite high, Gwen. Remember to pay as soon as you can,¡± Tommy stressed. Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn answered solemnly, ¡°Okay. I''ll urge her to pay as soon as she can.¡± Chapter 128 Chapter 128 When Gwendolyn returned to the office, she realized Patrick was nowhere to be seen. He had not been in his office for the whole day. Thus, Gwendolyn did not have much work to do. She answered a few calls, all of which were directed from the mainline. Everyone that called had said that they had important matters to discuss with Patrick and wanted to make an appointment to meet him. That was what Gwendolyn would do on a daily basis. Sometimes she had to follow Patrick around while he did the inspections outdoor. Gwendolyn would have to prepare drinks, an umbre, and sunsses for Patrick. To her, Patrick was living afortable life. Other people prepared everything that he needed. He seemed like a big baby, enjoying being served by others. However, it was strange that he did not bring her along today. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Maybe he knows that I''m not feeling well because of my allergy reaction. As Gwendolyn thought about Patrick''s concern toward her, a smile could be seen on her face. When it was time to get off work, Patrick had not returned to the office yet. Gwendolyn got ready to leave the office and pick up her children from school. Taking out her phone, she sent Patrick a message. Gwendolyn texted: Mr. Lowen, I''m going home now. Do you need me to prepare your dinner? She did not need to cook dinner for Patrick if he needed to attend business dinners at night. It took a while before he replied to Gwendolyn. Patrick sent: No need. I have a business dinner tonight. Gwendolyn smiled in satisfaction after reading his text. Then her fingers moved swiftly across the screen as she typed: Don''t drink too much, Mr. Lowen. Go home early! She felt that there were no other secretaries like her who constantly looked out for their bosses. Without waiting for Patrick''s reply, Gwendolyn took her bag and left the office happily. She headed toward the kindergarten where her triplets were at. The school session was coincidentally over by the time Gwendolyn arrived at the kindergarten. She had enrolled all three of her children in the extra sses. Thus, it was almost seven o''clock in the evening when it was time for them to go home. Gwendolyn was in line with other parents. All the teachers knew who she was because of her triplets. They were all in the same ss, no less. The teacher called the names of the three children. Juliette was the first one who ran over to Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, you''re here to pick us up today!¡± Juliette eximed as she saw her mother. She was holding on to a handmade ne in her tiny hands. ¡°Look! This is what we made in the extra ss today. I made this for you.¡± After speaking to their teacher, Gwendolyn walked with her three children to the car. ¡°Gwen, I made this ne myself. You must wear it all the time, okay?¡± Juliette said excitedly. Gwendolyn frowned when she looked at the ne with three colored beads on her neck, yet she did not have the heart to reject her daughter after seeing Juliette''s excitement. ¡°Okay. I''ll wear it all the time,¡± Gwendolyn promised. On the other side, Justin and Julian were holding on to their artwork as well. Juliette turned to look at them and asked, ¡°Justin, Julian, didn''t both of you make bracelets for Gwen too? Let her wear them!¡± Juliette was a na?ve and cute child, whereas Justin and Julian were more mature for their age. They felt that their artwork could only be used for decoration. People willugh at Mommy if she wears the bracelets that we made. Gwendolyn noticed that her two sons were strolling behind her. She turned toward them and reached out her hand. ¡°Put on the bracelets for me, please.¡± As their mother, Gwendolyn needed to match their innocence, especially since her sons were a bit prideful. Justin nced at his brother, and Julian smiled while saying, ¡°Mommy, we''re not children anymore. We''re not going to y with these.¡± With that, he gave the bracelet that he was holding to Gwendolyn. Justin mirrored his brother''s movement. He looked away and awkwardly gave her the bracelet. Seeing the colors of the bracelets, Gwendolyn could not help butugh. Justin made a ck color bracelet while Julian''s was gray. ¡°It''s hard on you both to attend sses with Juliette,¡± she said to her sons. Justin and Julian were brilliant kids and could learn independently. They had finished learning elementary school lessons. However, because of their mischievous sister, Juliette, the boys were forced to attend kindergarten with her. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Justin and Julian shook their heads. ¡°Mommy! We appreciate your hard work.¡± These two were aware that their mother had been working ever since they were little. They would watch her work four or five jobs a day to bring them up. She was even reluctant to buy something for herself, like beautiful clothes or good cosmetics, so they had been studying hard, hoping to grow up quickly and share the burden with Gwendolyn. Looking at her lovely sons and noticing the determination in their eyes, Gwendolyn felt like crying. With two such sensible sons, she was willing to do anything. Gwendolyn walked over and hugged them both. ¡°Thank you for choosing me to be your mother.¡± Gwendolyn felt she was not good enough. She failed to give them a good life or even a father. She was really grateful that they chose her as their mother. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Juliette also ran over, joining the hug. ¡°Don''t forget about me. I want a hug, too.¡± The two boys dragged Juliette to the middle, and the three enfolded Gwendolyn in their arms. She smiled sweetly. ¡°We are family.¡± After the wholesome moment, they got into the car. Juliette suddenly asked, ¡°Gwen, Mr. Handsome called mest night and talked with Julian and Justin. He told them you were away on businessst night and couldn''te home on time. Where did you go? I want to go too.¡± In Juliette''s mind, Gwendolyn should take her wherever she went, especially when she was with Patrick. Juliette was so happy to see Patrick because he looked like her brothers. Patrick was like family to her. Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn widened her eyes. No wonder they didn''t call me. Turns out, he told them. Huh, I guess he''s a principled man, all right. Gwendolyn did not even think of informing her sonsst night. She had to be home at 10 p.m. every night. Otherwise, her sons would check up on her. She had her heart set on finding Lucas that she had forgotten about the children at home. What Patrick did was heartwarming, and she had to admit that the man deserved what he had achieved today. ¡°Juliette, I went to the outskirts. I didn''te back because it was toote, and I was on a business trip, so I couldn''t take you with me.¡± Juliette nodded. ¡°Oh. Then when can we invite Mr. Handsome for dinner? I miss him.¡± Juliette had not seen Patrick in a long time; she missed him so much. Gwendolyn nced at Juliette from the rearview mirror, noticing the longing in her daughter''s eyes. Since when are they this close? ¡°Mommy, we all think Mr. Lowen is good. He can be your boyfriend,¡± Julian uttered. This was the decision of Julian and Justin. Patrick had a good personality and drop-dead good looks, after all. When Gwendolyn came homete, he would help her inform her children. He was a pleasant man in the kids'' eyes. They would love to have a man like that to help them take care of Gwendolyn and love her. Hearing that, Gwendolyn almost stepped on the wrong paddle. Why are my sons like this? Her actions made Juliette pop out of her seat. Crawling back to her seat, the kid scolded, ¡°Gwendolyn, can you stop mming the brakes? It hurts me.¡± Both Justin and Julian stretched out their hands to block Juliette''s waist to prevent her from falling again. Gwendolyn smiled embarrassedly. ¡°Okay, I''ll drive slower. However, Mr. Lowen and I are not what you think. He is my boss, and I work for hispany, so we usually have some contact. We are nothing more than that, and I definitely can''t be his girlfriend.¡± Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Justin and Julian remained silent, but Juliette could not hold herself back. ¡°Even if he''s your boss, you can date! If he bes your boyfriend, others won''t dare bully you in thepany.¡± Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. Why does she know so much? She''s only five! ¡°Juliette, don''t watch those lousy romance dramas anymore.¡± Juliette stuck out her tongue at her, looking a bit unhappy. When they reached home, Juliette pulled a long face and went to see Camille. Justin and Julian trod on the heels of Gwendolyn to her bedroom. Gwendolyn was about to change clothes, and when she saw the two boysing in, she asked, ¡°Anything else?¡± Justin handed her a brochure. ¡°Mommy, we signed you up for a training ss.¡± Gwendolyn took the brochure and had a look at it. YK Clothing Academy. Smiling, Julian continued, ¡°Mommy, don''t you always like designing clothes? You can learn it now.¡± Stunned, Gwendolyn looked at the brochure and her sons. Although they were kids, they knew her very well. ¡°Thank you, my boys!¡± Justin and Julian smiled. Then the former reminded her, ¡°Remember to attend the ss after you get off work every day. Don''t bete, and don''t leave early. We are looking forward to wearing the clothes you designed.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org. The encouragement and care of the children drove Gwendolyn to strive for the best. She nodded. ¡°Sure, I''ll definitely work hard to design beautiful clothes for you.¡± Hearing that, Julian and Justin nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Go take a shower, then. We''ll head out.¡± The two walked out and went to their bedroom. Julian and Justin recently bought a newputer, and they also found an outstanding mentor to teach them programming. Looking at her two sons'' backs while holding the brochure and payment receipt, Gwendolyn sighed. She wanted to ask where they got the money from, but she knew she need not worry about that, for her sons would not do anything illegal. They must''ve borrowed the money from Zayden. I should give him a call. ¡°Gwen, so you know I''m back today?¡± Zayden''s exhrating voice sounded. ¡°Where did you go?¡± So he had been away. No wonder I haven''t seen him in a while. However, she had kept a distance from Zayden for the past few years; she would not look for him unless there were any special means. ¡°I went to Corleon for a business trip. It''s been almost a month, and I just got off the ne.¡± Oh, so it''s a good coincidence I called him at this time. ¡°Zayden, I have something to ask. Have Julian and Justin borrowed money from you?¡± The academy''s tuition''s more than ten thousand. There''s no way they could have that much money. ¡°No, Julian and Justin''s stocks are doing well. They should have made a lot of money.¡± Hearing this, Gwendolyn was stupefied. ¡°What? They are involved in stocks?¡± Zayden knew she would react this way. ¡°I opened the ount for them, using your ID card information. Don''t worry. The two are talented, and they are not greedy. They will be fine.¡± Gwendolyn was on tenterhooks. Zayden did not teach them good things but led them to trade stocks instead. Many people went bankrupt from this and even ended their lives after their stocks hit bottom. Such news was often reported on television. Her sons were still kids. If Justin and Julian could not stand the temptation, they were more likely to get into trouble than adults. ¡°Zayden, I''ll talk to youter. Bye.¡± Ending the call, Gwendolyn went to her sons'' room and watched them sitting at the desk, typing quickly on the keyboard. Chapter 131 Chapter 131 ¡°What are you two doing?¡± Justin and Julian exchanged looks, and thetter answered with a smile, ¡°We''re ying, Mommy.¡± The two swiftly retreated. Gwendolyn peeked over and saw the two watching cartoons. Only then did she sigh in relief. ¡°Where did you get the money for the tuition fees? Zayden told me you two were trading stocks with him. You''re not allowed to do that from now on. You should learn to work honestly instead of thinking about raking big bucks every day.¡± Justin got up and pulled Gwendolyn to sit on the bed. There was a cab separating Juliette''s bed. The three siblings lived in the same room, but Juliette had her own secret space. Julian turned around the chair to face Gwendolyn. ¡°We just traded once, and we never touched it again, Mommy. We got the money from stock tradingst time, and it''s just enough for your tuition fees.¡± Gwendolyn stared at her two sons. They were too bright, and there were times she did not know what they were thinking. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. She only understood Juliette and knew what she was thinking. Gwendolyn hoped her two sons would simply act like Juliette and be innocent children. ¡°Really?¡± Gwendolyn asked. The two raised their right hands and promised, ¡°We swear¡ª¡± Before they could finish, Gwendolyn interrupted, ¡°Never mind, don''t say it. I believe you.¡± The brothers smiled as they looked at each other. Then, Gwendolyn went back to her room to take a bath. As she took her clothes and headed to the bathroom, her phone rang. She turned around and saw her phone lying on the bed, the screen flickering. Gwendolyn put down her pajamas, took the phone, and noticed it was a call from Patrick. She was reluctant to answer it. It''s already past eight. Is that guy going to ask me to make desserts for him? However, Gwendolyn also did not want to lose her job. After all, she owed him a huge amount of money. ¡°Hello, who is it? I''m about to go to bed.¡± ¡°It''s not even nine yet, and you''re already about to sleep? Are you turning into a chicken, Gwendolyn?¡± Gwendolyn pouted angrily. You and your whole family are chickens. ¡°What do you want, Mr. Lowen?¡± Patrick had just returned from a dinner meeting, and he was sitting in his car. He did not take a sip of alcohol, but he smoked a lot, and his throat felt quite scratchy. He reached up to loosen his tie. He narrowed his eyes as his Adam''s apple bobbed. ¡°I have to remind you of something, Gwendolyn. You can''t shower tonight, or your allergic areas will heal slower.¡± His eyes darkened as he spoke. Some scenes from the previous night appeared in his mind. Patrick gulped as he willed away those impure thoughts. Gwendolyn''s eyes widened slightly. She almost forgot about that. The medicine prescribed by the doctor was quite effective. She applied it twice in thepany and did not feel pain anymore. She came to her senses and realized she could not drench herself. Gwendolyn giggled and replied, ¡°You''re so nice to your subordinates, Mr. Lowen. I almost forgot about it. Thanks for your reminder.¡± Patrick chuckled. ¡°Well, you got hurt because of me. Naturally, I should take responsibility.¡± He smirked devilishly as if recalling the memories fromst night. Gwendolyn was confused. ¡°Because of you?¡± She raised her hand to touch her allergic spot. What does he have to do with this? Patrick answered, ¡°I brought you to that cest night. You drank too much, and it caused an allergic reaction. Aren''t I involved in this matter too?¡± Gwendolyn was too na?ve, and Patrick kept thinking of ways to tease her. He had herpletely wrapped around his finger. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Oh, you''re right. Are you home yet, Mr. Lowen? Please rest well. Goodbye.¡± She quickly hung up and turned off her phone. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Hearing the busy signal, Patrick knew Gwendolyn had ended the call. He frowned slightly because he had not finished talking. He tried to call back again but realized she had turned off her phone. Patrick''s expression darkened. That girl is avoiding me. Is she afraid I would invite her over? Gwendolyn was bing more disobedient. Patrick had nned to let her off tonight, but he became displeased at her ending the call first and turning her phone off. His slender fingers tapped the armrest, and he ordered coldly, ¡°Larry, head to Snowy Lane.¡± After Gwendolyn hung up, she burst intoughter and muttered, ¡°Take that, Mr. Lowen. Ms. Ashton is pretty smart.¡± I will never go to his house. Tomorrow morning, I''ll pretend to be a little pitiful. I can say my phone ran out of battery, and I was charging it. Haha... I finally go against him for the first time. It feels so good! Gwendolyn could not take a bath, so she only soaked her feet and applied a face mask. Then, she headed to the children''s room to check on the kids to make sure they had brushed their teeth and gone to bed. With a face mask on, she opened the door and saw a man leaning against the wall with his legs crossed. The man shifted his legs elegantly. He flicked the cigarette ash and nced at Gwendolynnguidly. Gwendolyn froze on the spot, and it took her a while to regain her senses. She knew she was not in a dream, and Patrick was indeed in her house. She patted her face mask and asked, ¡°Why are you here, Mr. Lowen?¡± ¡°You weren''t answering my calls, so I had toe over,¡± Patrick answered. Not far away, three little heads peeked out of the room. From the youngest to the oldest, the three were stacked on top of each other. Juliette''s contagiousugh sounded. ¡°Haha... You look very nice tonight, Mr. Handsome!¡± The two brothers on top of her covered her mouth, picked her up, and dragged her into the bedroom. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Hearing doors closing, Patrick nced at the children''s room. Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes. This wicked man! Didn''t I turn my phone off? I can''t believe he came to my house. He must be very free. ¡°What do you need, Mr. Lowen?¡± Gwendolyn was reluctant to leave the house. She wanted to stay at home and take her beauty sleep. ¡°I''m not here for you. Ms. Ziegler made some mulled wine, so I came to have some.¡± ¡°Ms. Ziegler?¡± Gwendolyn was Camille''s employer. Without Gwendolyn''s orders, Camille would not have made food for Patrick. Patrick saw her shocked expression. The money I gave her is more than the yearly sry you pay her. Who do you think she''ll listen to? Gwendolyn took off the face mask, exposing her clean and fair face. Patrick eximed inwardly about how women look after applying face masks. Their skin looked smooth, like a hard-boiled egg without its shell. ¡°Please take a seat in the living room, Mr. Lowen. Ms. Ziegler is almost done.¡± Gwendolyn promised Patrick he coulde to her house to have some mulled wine. Patrick raised an eyebrow. ¡°I think Ms. Ziegler is more fitting to be my personal secretary, Gwendolyn. She''s more obedient, and her cooking is good.¡± With that said, Patrick smirked. Next time, let''s see if you dare hang up on me and turn off your phone. Gwendolyn was taken aback. She thought about Camille''s excellent cooking skills and earnest work etiquette. Gwendolyn immediately forced a smile and said, ¡°Ms. Ziegler is my housekeeper, Mr. Lowen. She can''t leave. Otherwise, my kids will miss her. Let me take on the role of your personal secretary. I will work hard from now on.¡± Chapter 133 Chapter 133 With that said, she quickly ran toward his side and started massaging his shoulders. ¡°Are you tired? Let me give you a massage.¡± The man was in control of the woman now. She would rather behave obsequiously toward him than risk losing the job. Patrick seemed to enjoy the service provided by the woman. Camille came upstairs when he finished his cigarette. ¡°Mr. Lowen, the mulled wine is ready. You guys can go downstairs and have some now.¡± Camille was in a good mood. After all, Patrick was generous and had given her a lot of money. Moreover, he had also paid her for the household expenses. As such, they would be able to live comfortably in theing year. Seeing that Gwendolyn had found Patrick, who was not only rich and handsome but also a responsible man, Camille swore to help her make sure Patrick wouldn''t be taken away by another woman. She had always thought that Gwendolyn was stubborn because thetter had rejected Zayden multiple times. This time around, she wouldn''t let Gwendolyn miss out on such a golden opportunity anymore. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Mr. Lowen, let''s have some mulled wine then!¡± Patrick put out his cigarette on an ashtray and handed it to her. Gwendolyn took it over. Then, she saw the man stride toward the staircase. She took a look at the ashtray in her hands. We don''t have an ashtray at home. Did he bring it himself? Feeling perplexed, she went downstairs and asked Camille, ¡°Why do we have this at home, Ms. Ziegler?¡± Camille nced at the ashtray. She was the one who prepared that, as she thought it would be necessary to have one for the man who came to visit. She could tell that a businessman like Patrick had to be a heavy smoker. ¡°Mr. Lowen asked if we have an ashtray a few times. So, I remembered it and bought a few in case he needs it.¡± Gwendolyn frowned upon hearing her reply. Her tone became cold as she asked, ¡°Ms. Ziegler, are you siding with me or Patrick?¡± Camille was stunned for a second. ¡°You, of course!¡± With that said, she carried a bowl of mulled wine and headed toward the living room. Gwendolyn was feeling a little angry. It had never crossed her mind that she had to fight for a job with Camille one day. How pathetic! Her pride was nothing to her now. It was more important to safeguard her job, and she had to study well in her design course. Once she earned a degree, she would no longer have to live in fear anymore. Gwendolyn poured herself a ss of water. Holding it in her hands, she became more determined with her n. She wanted to be a sessful fashion designer one day. Stepping into the living room, she wondered what Camille and Patrick were talking about when she saw the twoughing away. Camille wasughing out loud. Gwendolyn quickly walked over and asked, ¡°What''s so funny? What are you guys talking about?¡± Could it be Patrick telling Ms. Ziegler that he wants to hire her as his personal secretary? Oh my! I can''t lose this job! There''s no way I can find such a good job if I lose it! Camille saw Gwendolyn''s confused look. Then, she made a yawn and said, ¡°I''m getting sleepy already. Gwen, Mr. Lowen, you two have fun. I need to get some rest now.¡± With that said, she walked out of the living room and went back to her room. Patrick stirred the mulled wine slowly. It was the same he hadst time, but the one that Camille made tasted better somehow. Gwendolyn still couldn''t beat her master in terms of culinary skills. Nheless, the one that Camille made was sweeter. Hence, he still preferred Gwendolyn''s. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I promise that I''ll work harder. Please don''t give my job to someone else. If you like to drink mulled wine, I can make it for you every night. You can raise any request, and I''ll try my best to fulfill your needs. Is that fine?¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. It was her best opportunity to prove herpetency now since Camille had left for a rest. Hence, she had to make Patrick agree with her. Patrick''s eyes lit up as he peeped at her chest and gulped unwittingly. ¡°You''ll agree to any request?¡± Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Gwendolyn was not a fool who wasn''t able to differentiate what was right and what was wrong. She smiled. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Of course, except for things that are illegal or vite the ethics.¡± Patrick narrowed his eyes. A wicked smile crept onto his face. Then, he took a scoop of the mulled wine and sent it to her mouth. Gwendolyn looked at him and realized he was gazing at her too. It turned out that he wanted her to finish that. As such, she could only open her mouth and drink it obediently. To her surprise, the man pressed on her lips the next second. He drank the content in her mouth and kissed her passionately. Gwendolyn wanted to resist, but she was defeated in no time and felt weakened in the man''s arms. She let him kiss her without any urge of pushing him away. After a long while, the man finally let go of her reluctantly, as he was afraid that he wouldn''t be able to control himself if he went on kissing her. The woman''s lips became red and swollen at that moment. She panted heavily for breath. Her face was flushing beet-red. It took her a while toe back to her senses. Then, she widened her eyes in shock. ¡°Patrick, you''re a j*rk!¡± Patrick raised his brows and smiled. ¡°But you seemed to enjoy yourself just now. Why do you get angry now?¡± Gwendolyn had never encountered someone like him before. She was at a loss for words to retort at him. Did I look enjoyable just now? He was the one who forced on me until I could barely breathe, and my mind was nk! Patrick touched her swollen lips with his finger, reminiscing the sweetness he tasted just now. He had to resist the urge to kiss her again. Moreover, they had a wonderful experience the night before. If he couldn''t have it again, he didn''t mind kissing her to quench his thirst. Gwendolyn was furious upon hearing him. She jumped up from the couch immediately. ¡°Patrick, I''ve told you before that I would never be someone''s mistress! Leave now!¡± Suddenly, a sense of guilt surged within her. She thought that she was no different from Candace at that moment. She did not want to be anything like that woman at all. Patrick saw that she was angry for real. He knew she would be stubborn whenever she was angry. Squinting his eyes, he looked at her intently. ¡°Gwendolyn, I like you, and I''ve never intended to make you a mistress. You''d be my girlfriend.¡± Gwendolyn didn''t understand the logic behind his words. To her, there was no difference between a mistress and a girlfriend. She turned around, refusing to look at him. Patrick stood up slowly and pursed his lipsnguidly. ¡°Remember the feeling of our kiss, Gwendolyn. Never ever let anyone kiss you. Wait for me.¡± His contract period with Felicia was short, and he could terminate it if he wanted to. However, his grandfather''s health was poor recently. He would bring this matter up when the former recovered. At that time, he would be able to be together with Gwendolyn officially. That woman would be his wife, not a mistress or girlfriend. After Patrick left, Gwendolyn stood there for a long time. In fact, she enjoyed the kiss very much. That was the first time she learned about kissing because she had never had any boyfriends, nor had she gotten in touch with any men in her life. It was a strange feeling, but it wasfortable. She blushed at that thought. Then, she bit her lower lip, trying to pull herself back to reality. She went to check if the door was locked. The man had already locked it before driving his car off. Gwendolyn let out a breath. Then, she looked up at the night sky and sighed. Gwendolyn, you have to toughen up yourself to keep your job and pay off the debt! Once you have a university degree and be sessful, you can throw the resignation letter on his face and tell him that you quit! Chapter 135 Chapter 135 For the following days, Gwendolyn went to work as usual. She went to the branch offices for a site visit with Patrick. That day, they were going to Goodridge Mall in Avenport. It was under Lowen Group, and there were branches all over the world. It was New Year. Hence, every shop in that district had its promotional activities going on. The mall in Avenport invited its CEO to attend an event where he was asked to give a speech. Gwendolyn looked at the handsome man on the stage. He had to face the crowd with countless cameras pointing at him. Yet, he looked calm when he gave his speech with a sense of humor. The girls in the audience seat were screaming excitedly. Standing backstage, Gwendolyn felt as though she was looking at a celebrity. Suddenly, a woman came closer to her and sized her up. ¡°Gwendolyn, is it you?¡± Gwendolyn looked at the woman in a professional ck suit. Thetter, who had nicely trimmed short hair, looked capable. ¡°Who are you?¡± Lillian Simpson smiled as she replied, ¡°Gwendolyn, it''s me, Lillian Simpson! Your high school friend! We haven''t met each other for six years, and you never changed a bit! You''re still as gorgeous as before!¡± Upon hearing her, Gwendolyn recollected her memory at once. ¡°It''s you, Lillian, our ss monitor!¡± She didn''t recognize her because thetter used to have long hair and ck-framed sses back then. Lillian was also an academic overachiever. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Lillian nodded in response. ¡°So, you are Mr. Lowen''s secretary now?¡± A tinge of envy shed across her eyes as she spoke. She remembered that Gwendolyn''s grade in school was not outstanding. It had to be her family background that secured her a good job today. ¡°Yeah. Lillian, are you working in Goodridge Mall? What a coincidence! We''re colleagues now!¡± Though Gwendolyn worked in the headquarters while Lillian worked in a branch office, they worked for the samepany regardless. Lillian nodded. ¡°Gwendolyn, let''s exchange the contact numbers. We have a ss reunion this Saturday. You have to join us. We used to have it every year without your presence. This year, we finally have everyone together!¡± Gwendolyn added Lillian''s WhatsApp and phone number. Nheless, she felt uneasy at the mention of a ss reunion somehow. After all, many people had been criticizing her past. She didn''t want her ssmates to gossip about it, too. Lillian took a look at her watch and said, ¡°Gwendolyn, promise me you''lle!¡± Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Sure.¡± Meanwhile, Patrick had done his speech and cut the ribbon. When he came down from the stage, Gwendolyn quickly poured a cup of ginger tea from the thermos and handed it to him. ¡°It''s too cold here, Mr. Lowen. Warm yourself up with some tea.¡± The location of the event was outdoor. The weather was gloomy. It was as though it would snow anytime soon, and the temperature was low. Gwendolyn was so cold that her face and nose had turned red. Her hands were frigid when she passed him the cup. Patrick took off his coat and draped it over her body. Then, he epted the cup and took a sip of the tea. ¡°I was a little nervous while giving the speech just now. So, I''m feeling warm now. Help me take the coat.¡± Initially, Gwendolyn wanted to return the coat to him and tell him that she wasn''t feeling cold. It turned out that he felt warm and didn''t want to wear it instead. She could certainly use it then. Smiling, she wrapped the coat tighter around her. She could still feel his warmth. Meanwhile, Patrick told Liam, ¡°Let''s go back to the office.¡± It waspulsory for him to attend the event that day. He wouldn''t have asked her toe along if he had known she would have to suffer the cold. After all, she would be morefortable staying in the company with the heater turned on. Gwendolyn quickly grabbed her belongings and caught up with his pace. She felt she hade back to life again when she got into the fully heated car. Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a text message from Lillian. Lillian texted her: Gwendolyn, please be there on time this Saturday in Anderson Hot Spring Vi. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 On Saturday, Gwendolyn received a call from Lillian while she was still in bed. ¡°Gwendolyn, don''t forget to gather at the lobby at noonter.¡± Gwendolyn knew her ss monitor had always been a responsible person. Thetter had never changed since she knew her. She had to admit that someone like Lillian was born to be a natural leader. ¡°Got it, Lillian.¡± After ending the call, she let out a long sigh. She didn''t want to attend the reunion, but it seemed that she had no choice now. Struggling to get out of the bed, she picked a more reserved swimming suit and changed into ck sportswear. Before she left the house, she put on a cap and wore it underneath the hood of her jacket. With that outfit, she looked youthful and dazzling. The three children followed behind her. Juliette sighed. ¡°Gwen, what is a ss reunion? I want to go, too!¡± Gwendolyn put her bag on the passenger seat in her car and looked at Juliette whose hair was still messy. Thetter looked adorable in her pajamas with a duckling design. ¡°It''s like you and your ssmates gather together many yearster when all of you have grown up.¡± Juliette nodded. ¡°I see. That''s when little Juliette bes big Juliette!¡± Gwendolyn smiled, caressing her daughter''s cheek. ¡°Yes. That''s what I mean!¡± Justin looked worried. ¡°You don''t know how to swim. Remember to ask for a pool float when you go somewhere deep.¡± Julian also raised his brows and chimed in, ¡°Show us your swimming suit. You can''t expose too much skin.¡± Gwendolyn was dumbfounded. Are these two boys worried about me now? She shrugged her shoulders helplessly. ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll take care of myself, and my swimming suit is the most old-fashioned one!¡± At that moment, Gwendolyn could already imagine what would happen when Juliette started dating in the future. Under the strict supervision of her two brothers, Juliette might have a hard time meeting a boyfriend. She urged her three children to go home. ¡°Stay at home. Camille will send you guys to the training ss in the afternoon.¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. Then, she drove off in the direction of Anderson Hot Spring Vi. It was in a county that was famous for its hot springs. As soon as she got herself on the highway, her phone rang. She answered it immediately without looking at the caller ID. ¡°Hello?¡± She was wearing Bluetooth earphones, as she was afraid of being caught viting the traffic rules. ¡°Gwendolyn, don''t forget that you still owe me one hundred and neen thousand. It''s almost noon. Why aren''t you here to make me lunch yet?¡± Gwendolyn didn''t have to work on the weekend, but Patrick had never asked her over to make meals during the past weekends. Hence, she assumed she could have a break on the weekends. His call frustrated her. She wouldn''t have agreed to attend the ss reunion if she had known she could use that as an excuse. ¡°I''m sorry, Mr. Lowen. I have a ss reunion today, so I need to take a day off.¡± She was already driving on the highway. It wouldn''t be practical to go back now. Moreover, Lillian had been urging her to attend. It wouldn''t be nice to be absent. On top of that, Lillian had told her that everyone attended the ss union every year except for her. It sounded as though they were looking forward to seeing her. Patrick frowned upon hearing her. ¡°A ss reunion? Didn''t you say you have never attended school?¡± He remembered she had once told him that. Gwendolyn couldn''t help cursing at him the moment she heard him. D*mn! You''ve never attended school yourself! Your family is all an illiterate bunch of fools! ¡°Mr. Lowen, I attended high school. So, isn''t it normal to attend a high school reunion?¡± ¡°Location?¡± Gwendolyn felt like retorting at him, as the way he treated her was like he was checking up on her. ¡°Mr. Lowen, this is my personal matter. Can I not talk about this?¡± She felt like hanging up on him at that instant. This man is such a pain in the ass! ¡°Sure. Perhaps I should get Camille to be my personal secretary. Enjoy your ss reunion, then!¡± Chapter 137 Chapter 137 ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''m on the way to Anderson Hot Spring Vi now. That is where we''ll be having our ss reunion.¡± D*mn it! He knows nothing but threatens me! I''ll work hard and fire him when I be sessful one day! A smile finally appeared on the man''s face. His tone softened. ¡°All right! Enjoy yourself!¡± A proposition crossed his mind when he heard that the location was at a hot spring vi. He wanted to take a break and brought her three children for some water activities. That way, he could also sneak a peek at the woman in her swimming suit. Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief after the call ended. It''s so difficult to deal with this man! He threatens to fire me whenever I go against his will. What a hard life! It took her more than an hour to arrive at Anderson Hot Spring Vi. Then, she carried her bag and walked toward the lobby after getting out of the car. The atmosphere was lively in the lobby. Everyone was there. Suddenly, someone shouted, ¡°Gwendolyn is here!¡± Lillian came over from the reception counter when she heard that. Smiling, she gave Gwendolyn a hug. ¡°We finally have everyone present at our ss reunion this year.¡± Instantly, many people surrounded them. The tallest man among all, Benjamin Houghton, came in front of Gwendolyn. ¡°Do you still remember me, Gwendolyn?¡± Gwendolyn looked at him. The man was tall and handsome. It was no mistake that he was the campus hunk back then. She smiled as she replied, ¡°Hey, our campus hunk, you are getting more handsome.¡± Benjamin gazed at the woman before him. Unlike the rest of their female ssmates, she was not wearing delicate makeup or any stylish outfits. Despite being barefaced and wearing sportswear, she was the prettiest among the women. ¡°Hey, Gwendolyn! We haven''t met for ages!¡± Lillian couldn''t stifle herughter. ¡°Benjamin, this year, I''ve got you who you wanted to meet the most. You''d better keep your promise and give me a few more orders.¡± Benjamin was the CEO of Houghton Group. His family was one of the richest in Avenport. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn raised her brows upon hearing that. ¡°Lillian, it turns out that you are asking me to join the ss reunion because you want to get more orders.¡± Indeed, she had been overthinking, as she had assumed that everyone was looking forward to seeing her. Lillian hugged her and smiled. ¡°Please don''t mind, Gwendolyn. I''m doing a good deed, too.¡± With that said, she winked at Benjamin, signaling him to do his best. Just then, Felicia came. She was wearing a white fur coat while carrying a limited-edition handbag. The sound of her high heels rang out loud as she walked toward them. She waved at those people and said, ¡°Hey, everyone. We haven''t met for so long. I''ll pay for the bill today!¡± Sure enough, it was time for those who became sessful to show off when it came to settling the bill at a ss reunion. A few female ssmates came toward her and asked, ¡°Fel, your clothes and bag must be expensive, right?¡± They couldn''t avert their gazes from Felicia''s outfit. All of those would cost a few hundred thousand at least. Felicia smiled faintly. ¡°Haha. My boyfriend bought me these. I don''t know how much they cost.¡± Everyone gasped in astonishment. ¡°Who is your boyfriend? He''s filthy rich!¡± One of the women was Felicia''s best friend, Ynda Depp. She smiled as she piped up, ¡°Fel''s boyfriend is someone terrific. He''s the leader of the top family in Avenport.¡± Those women shrieked in surprise, ¡°Patrick Lowen?¡± They almost said it out in unison. Given their high volume, the rest of them also got attracted by their conversation. ¡°Felicia, don''t forget to benefit us in the future. We were ssmates.¡± Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Felicia got surrounded by her ssmates. Everyone was trying to curry favor with her so that she would introduce them to Patrick. Looking at that sight, Gwendolyn had to admit that Patrick was popr indeed. She lowered her head to nce at her bag, thinking of going to her room first. Benjamin didn''t pay any attention to the conversation between Felicia and the rest of them. He reached out his hand to Gwendolyn instead. ¡°Let me help you. Our rooms are next to each other. Mine is 1207, and yours is 1208.¡± Of course, Lillian was the one who arranged that. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°It''s not heavy. I can carry it myself.¡± During all these years, she had raised her children and done everything by herself. She had gotten used to being independent. Benjamin was slightly disappointed at her reply. He didn''t insist, and he said, ¡°I want to do something for a beautiful woman, but she won''t let me. It breaks my heart.¡± The rest of them were busy ttering Felicia. They didn''t notice that Gwendolyn had left with Benjamin and taken the elevator to their rooms. Upon reaching the room, Benjamin called out to her. ¡°Gwendolyn,e out once you''ve settled down. We''ll dine in the restaurant first and get changed after the meal.¡± He was afraid that she would change into her swimming suit after getting into the room. He didn''t want other people to watch her in the swimming suit. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Sure.¡± With that said, she went into her room and put her bag down. She scanned across the room. It was big, clean, and cozy. Then, she went to check on the balcony. Behind the room, there was a variety of hot springs. They could soak themselves in the hot springs from the bottom to the top of the hillter. Earlier in the lobby, she saw on the promotional flyer that there was a hot spring that overlooked the view underneath the hill. It was one of the most popr spots. Gwendolyn took her phone and walked out of the room shortly. She saw the handsome man waiting in front of the door. He had taken off his coat and changed into ck sportswear. They were in matching outfits. Gwendolyn was stunned. She didn''t expect that he would be waiting for her. ¡°Benjamin, haven''t you gone down yet?¡± Benjamin merely nced at her calmly. ¡°You''re still the same. Always act like a tortoise.¡± With that said, he stroked her hair with a smile of adoration on his face. Gwendolyn tidied her hair immediately. ¡°Benjamin, you''re still as childish as before.¡± The man had always liked to stroke her hair like that in the past, and she would always get angry because she looked ugly when her hair became messy. The two burst outughing suddenly. It was as though they were brought back to their high school days. Then, they went down to the restaurant on the second floor. They had booked a private chamber. Hence, it wasn''t too noisy there. Gwendolyn and Benjamin went ahead to fill their tes before returning to the table. The round table was already full of people, but they didn''t seem to be so friendly anymore. Everyone nced at Gwendolyn awkwardly. Gwendolyn looked at the woman with delicate makeup who sat not far away from her. She knew the latter must have said something to those people. Just then, Benjamin''s best friend, Chester Xander, approached him. ¡°Benjamin, they said Gwendolyn is a sugar baby of an old man, and she has even given birth to three children for him. You''d better think twice.¡± Chester felt it was necessary to tell his best friend after knowing that news. He wouldn''t want thetter to get cheated. He looked at Gwendolyn''s sweet, innocent face and thought that this kind of woman knew how to gain a man''s sympathy for sure. Hence, he had to warn Benjamin of that. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Benjamin''s expression changed swiftly. He swept a cold nce at everyone. ¡°Shut up! Scram out of here if anyone dares to speak another word!¡± Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Benjamin''s voice boomed, a definite sign that indicated his frustration. The others didn''t dare offend Benjamin, so they turned their gaze away without saying anything else. Lillian said, ¡°Come on, guys. We used to be ssmates. Let''s not gossip any further about this.¡± She took a seat beside Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwendolyn, please don''t mind them. You know very well that people are bound to gossip when they get together.¡± Gwendolyn''s expression fell. She red at Felicia coldly while gritting her teeth. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Felicia and Candace were the people who had caused so much trouble for me. How dare she speak ill of me now? Felicia gave her a smug smile in return. ¡°Gwen, don''t you re at me. I didn''t speak ill of you.¡± ¡°Why? Is the guilt bothering you now? I didn''t say it was you who did it. A word of advice for you, though, Felicia. Don''t be so mean toward others, as what goes aroundes around!¡± Their ssmates noticed the exchange between Gwendolyn and Felicia. This is surprising. They seemed close during school days. But now, it seems like that wasn''t the truth. ¡°Okay. Let''s stop arguing, shall we? Why don''t we talk about something else?¡± ¡°Is any one of us getting married soon? I think it''s about time for all of us to start a family now.¡± Felicia smiled. ¡°I guess that will be me. I''m getting married on the twenty-seventh of next month. Everyone is invited to my wedding!¡± She lifted her ss with glee. Everyone raised theirs in return to congratte her. ¡°Congrattions, Felicia!¡± ¡°I''m happy that you are marrying a good man!¡± ¡°I''m jealous of you!¡± Gwendolyn, on the other hand, gave no response to Felicia. She took a look at the seafood, lobsters, and abalones that her ssmates had ordered. Ignoring everyone else, Gwendolyn stood up and filled her tes with food. I might as well fill up my belly since I''m here. After all, I don''t have to pay for it. I''ll definitely have a good mood after having a good meal. Time passed as everyone mingled around happily, discussing their jobs. Benjamin observed that Gwendolyn had spent the whole time stuffing herself with the food she took. He pushed a bowl of soup in her direction. He advised, ¡°Gwendolyn, you might choke.¡± She raised her head and peered at him before calmly replying, ¡°Don''t worry. I''m not as weak as you think. I have to eat up, since so much delicious food is avable here!¡± Benjamin frowned. A pained look appeared on his face. ¡°Gwendolyn, you can always seek me out no matter what happens in the future.¡± They had already exchanged their numbers earlier, so Benjamin was prepared to help Gwendolyn in the future if she just gave him a phone call. He was determined never to let go of her after waiting for her reappearance for the past six years. Gwendolyn smiled sweetly. ¡°Thank you!¡± His words touched her, as no one had ever said that to her previously. Just then, Gwendolyn''s phone vibrated. It was Justin who had sent her a message. Justin texted her: Mommy, we are at Mansion 6. If you have the time, pleasee over and y with us! Gwendolyn widened her eyes. She turned toward Lillian. ¡°Is there a hot spring mansion around here?¡± Lillian nodded her head. ¡°Yes, there is one around here. It''s Mansion 6. The price is exorbitant. Why? Do you want to go?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°Nope. I was curious because I heard about it before.¡± A look of worry shed across her face. What are they doing there at the high-cost Mansion 6? She was about to ask her kids whether it was Zayden who had brought them there when her phone beeped with a message from Patrick. Patrick texted: Gwendolyn, I''m at Mansion 6 with your kids. Pleasee and visit us during your free time. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Gwendolyn was surprised. It had never crossed her mind that Patrick woulde over with the kids. She peered at her ssmates. It will be chaos if they know the man they are discussing is with my kids and, even more so, in the same area as us! Gwendolyn quickly replied to Patrick: Mr. Lowen, please take care of my kids for me. Don''t let them run around unsupervised. I''ll head over as soon as possible. After she sent the message, Gwendolyn stared at her phone. Hopefully, he can keep an eye on them. If they don''t walk out of the mansion, we won''t bump into them! ¡°Let''s head to the hot spring now. Too bad someone booked Mansion 6. Otherwise, we could have enjoyed our time there,¡± Felicia suggested when she saw that everyone was about to finish their food. Utter disappointment appeared on Felicia''s face as if she was a regr customer at Mansion 6. Gwendolyn guessed that Felicia had no idea Patrick was in the same vicinity as them, judging by her reaction. Luckily, he didn''t tell her. If Felicia knew the kids were here, she would humiliate the kids in front of our ssmates. I don''t mind it when the insults are directed toward me, but I won''t allow anyone to insult my kids. Lillian urged when she saw Gwendolyn spacing out, ¡°Gwendolyn, let''s head there together. I hope you don''t mind what happened earlier. We know what kind of person you are, so we know better than believing in everything others said.¡± Benjamin smiled when he heard this. He nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Chester, who had prejudices against Gwendolyn, couldn''t help but rethink his judgment of her. After all, he knew how much Benjamin liked her and how much Lillian trusted her. Maybe the rumors are fake! He offered, ¡°Gwendolyn, let''s go together. Benjamin has always wanted to see you again over these years.¡± During their high school days, Gwendolyn and Benjamin had an excellent rtionship as Gwendolyn was seated next to Benjamin. Both of them had even promised to go to the same university together. However, Gwendolyn had broken her promise when the incident happened, and she had to drop out of school. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°We used to be best friends.¡± They went back to their respective rooms and changed into swimwear. Gwendolyn put on a sea-blue- colored swimsuit and a pair of shorts with ruffles. Then, she wrapped herself in a white bathrobe before stepping outside where the other three were waiting for her, dressed in a white bathrobe like hers. Benjamin couldn''t help but reminisce about their school days when he saw Gwendolyn with her hair up in a bun. The hairstyle entuated her big eyes while also revealing her fair, clean, and slim face. Previously, Gwendolyn had always tied her hair up in a bun. It entuated her beauty and made her look youthful. She hasn''t changed at all. It''s like she hasn''t aged a day. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Let''s go!¡± Chester moved to Benjamin''s side. He whispered, ¡°Wow. She still looks the same. How does she stay so young?¡± How does she do it? I look like an old man after days of working tirelessly! A smile appeared on Benjamin''s face. He answered, ¡°Yes. She hasn''t changed at all.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Lillian wrapped her arm around Gwendolyn''s. She asked, ¡°Patrick isn''t an easygoing person, is he? It must be hard to work as his secretary, right?¡± I''ve heard the news that he constantly admonishes my manager at work. I''m sure he is a bad-tempered person who is hard to get along with. Gwendolyn nodded solemnly. ¡°Exactly. It''s hard to work with him.¡± Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Initially, Gwendolyn had wanted toin to Lucy. However, since Lucy wasn''t in a good mood recently, Gwendolyn was reluctant to bother her with further problems. With Lillian taking the initiative to start the conversation now, Gwendolyn felt that she could talk freely. She was relieved to finally have someone to talk to. Lillian''s eyes lit up. She urged, ¡°Tell me more. Is it because he is always unemotional when he is around you? Does he just randomly scold people?¡± Gwendolyn thought about Lillian''s questions. Indeed, he always has a stern look on his face. He rarely scolds people, though. On the other hand, he did trick me into paying him more than one hundred thousand. She was pretty pissed off by Patrick. Gwendolyn said, ¡°You are right. He always has a cold look on his face. It''s as if everyone owes him money.¡± Hmm, it''s true, though. I did owe Patrick some money. Oh, whatever. I''m going toin about him anyway. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Yes. He always chastises others for their mistakes. He insulted the managers so badly that they dared not look him in the eyes. Oh yea, he only drinks coffee without sugar. Don''t you think something is wrong with him?¡± At the same time that Gwendolyn finished her sentence, Patrick, who was taking care of the kids, sneezed. He frowned. The water temperature is okay. Am I sick? Patrick looked at the kids. They are having fun, though. No sign of being cold. Do I have a weaker endurance than the kids? With a yellow rubber duck pool float around her waist, Juliette swam toward Patrick. ¡°Mr. Handsome, I think someone talked about you behind your back. Ms. Ziegler told me that if you sneeze once, it''s because someone scolded you secretly.¡± Patrick peered at Juliette''s earnest face. He lifted his brow. ¡°Really? Who would do that?¡± Juliette shook her head. ¡°I don''t know. You are so good-looking. I don''t know why anyone would be willing to speak ill of you.¡± Patrick chuckled. She is a sweet talker! He gently pushed her in her brothers'' direction. ¡°Go y with your brothers. I''ll ask your mommy to come over here as soon as possible.¡± Why isn''t Gwendolyn here yet? What is taking her so long? Patrick leaned on the wall behind him. He took his phone from the tray on his side. He texted her: Gwendolyn, when are youing over? Juliette had asked for you twice, and she was sobbing because you didn''t show up. She was afraid. The man typed and sent the message while looking at Juliette, who wasughing happily while she iled about in the pool. He patiently waited for Gwendolyn to reply. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn didn''t have her phone with her. She left it in the room for fear of miscing it or dropping it into the pool. Afterining about Patrick to Lillian, she was in a much better mood. The group took off their white bathrobe and jumped into the hot spring. Felicia eximed in surprise from the other hot spring, ¡°Gwen, is that an old-fashioned swimsuit? Did you take it from an elementary kid?¡± Everyone turned to look at Gwendolyn. The woman remained expressionless as she peered at Felicia. Felicia was wearing a rose-colored branded bikini with a genuine diamond on it. Lights reflected from the diamond while Felicia deliberately moved her body around to unt her bikini. ¡°Felicia, anything you wear will be nice if you have a gorgeous figure.¡± Felicia''s face hardened. She whispered to Ynda, ¡°She thought she was the deal with her big boobs. Wait for it. I''ll go for breast augmentation surgery in a few days. I''ll get an E-cup. I bet she won''t get to be so smug then.¡± Ynda watched as Gwendolyn submerged herself into the water. She questioned, ¡°Fel, why is her figure still so nice after giving birth to three kids?¡± Felicia was unhappy to hear that. ¡°What''s so nice about her body? She should expose her waist if she is confident. I bet she has an ugly belly. That''s why she didn''t want to show it off.¡± Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Ynda smiled. ¡°Fel, that''s some harsh truth, but you are right. One of my cousins gave birth to a pair of twins. I noticed that her belly was ugly and wrinkly. It would be worse for Gwendolyn since she gave birth to triplets.¡± Felicia focused on Benjamin who was standing beside Gwendolyn. She felt anger rise within her. Wherever Gwendolyn is, Benjamin is there. To think that he used to ignore me when I wooed him in the past. However, now that I have Patrick as my fianc¨¦, Benjamin is nothing in my eyes. As Felicia was thinking about that, excitement filled her heart. She got out of the hot spring and strolled toward the one Gwendolyn was in. She smiled as she stopped in between Gwendolyn and Benjamin. Felicia turned toward Benjamin. She raised her brows. ¡°Benjamin, I thought you always leave right after eating. Why did you suddenly be interested in joining us at the hot spring?¡± Benjamin is such an annoying man. All he did all these years during our gathering was ask about Gwendolyn. How is he not tired of that? Benjamin looked at Felicia with despise. He said coldly, ¡°It''s none of your business.¡± Rendered speechless by Benjamin, Felicia frowned. She asked, ¡°I remember you have a crush on Gwen, right? I''m afraid you would be disappointed to know that she is a mom of three now. Do you want to be her kids'' stepdad? If you do, you have to ask the old man who is her sugar daddy!¡± Benjamin''s expression darkened. He pushed Felicia away forcefully. The movement caught Felicia by surprise. She fell headfirst into the pool. Choking on the water, Felicia screamed, ¡°Benjamin, are you trying to kill me?¡± Benjamin moved closer to Gwendolyn. He dered, ¡°Gwendolyn, I won''t trust a single word they say.¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes dimmed as she stared at Benjamin. Original from N?velDrama.Org. She wanted to say something to defend herself, but she felt helpless. Whenever people find out that I''m a single mom, they will think less of me. I''m used to it by now. Even though I love my kids dearly, I can''t exin their background. However, I won''t allow anyone to badmouth them. I don''t want their parentage to be an issue that affects them. Gwendolyn decided to mention nothing at all. Felicia noticed her non-response. She sneered, ¡°Gwendolyn, isn''t that the truth? Or you don''t love your kids enough to admit their existence?¡± She continued mocking, ¡°But then again, I find you pitiful. Your family has cut all ties with you. Other than your kids, you have no one else to lean on. Oh, but your sugar daddy should have enough retirement pension to keep you and your kids full, right?¡± Everyone at the scene gave Gwendolyn unfriendly stares. Someone muttered, ¡°I heard that Gwendolyn got pregnant when she was in high school. That''s why she had to drop out of school.¡± ¡°She gave birth when she was so young? Oh my.¡± Gwendolyn''s expression gradually became darker and darker. I shouldn''t havee today. Is Felicia unsatisfied because she didn''t manage to break my spirit back then? That''s why she has to do this now to make me suffer? Gwendolyn was no longer the young and innocent girl she had been back then. She calmed herself down before retaliating. Felicia, you asked for it! She raised her voice and said, ¡°Yes, I did. I gave birth to triplets. They are Patrick''s kids.¡± Felicia panicked when she heard Gwendolyn''s words. She shouted, ¡°Nonsense! Are you merely saying this because I exposed your secret?¡± Right at that moment, an attractive man in a gray bathrobe walked over to their side with a cigarette between his fingers. ¡°Gwendolyn, do you want to take a look at the kid? She is crying.¡± Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Upon hearing the words, Gwendolyn turned around and realized it was Patrick. She was stunned for a moment. In fact, what she said just now was just to pressure Felicia. Why is Patrick here? Did he hear what I''d said? Gwendolyn was taken aback, and her mind went nk. She did not know what to do next. The people in the hot spring pools were dumbfounded because they finally saw Patrick in real life. Patrick was wearing a gray bathrobe, and his hair was slightly messy. Still, he looked handsome. Especially the way Patrick frowned when he was smoking. He looked like a handsome bad boy. Thedies were shocked by Patrick''s visual, whereas the men were startled as well. The men wanted to get to know Patrick, but they did not dare to do so. They thought Patrick was exuding a powerful aura, and he looked superior for some reason. Felicia was shocked as well. A moment before, she said she would marry Patrick, and now he was here. Besides, Patrick called Gwendolyn instead of her. Felicia felt helpless. She did not know what to do. At this moment, she was frightened because her marriage with Patrick was fake. Felicia hoped that Patrick would not expose her lie. Patrick took another puff on his cigarette and said, ¡°Come with me, Gwendolyn.¡± Gwendolyn did not want to go out with him. However, Lillian, who was beside Gwendolyn, knew the latter was Patrick''s secretary. Hence, she pulled Gwendolyn and said to Patrick, ¡°Hello, Mr. Lowen. I''m Lillian from the marketing department of Goodridge Mall.¡± Patrick took a nce at her and replied, ¡°Hello!¡± Lillian almost fainted when Patrick greeted her. Ah... Lillian thought she must show off to the others when she worked on the day after tomorrow. Gwendolyn was pushed to Patrick''s side by Lillian. Then, she had no choice but to force a smile. ¡°P-Patrick. Haha!¡± ¡°Come out. Our girl is crying. She''s looking for you.¡± Gwendolyn quickly got out of the pool and put on her bathrobe. Then, she followed behind Patrick to Mansion 6. Everyone came back to their senses after Patrick and Gwendolyn were out of their sight. Then, Benjamin got up and left after wearing the bathrobe. Seeing that, Chester followed after him. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Benjamin, what''s the matter? Let''s enjoy for a while!¡± Meanwhile, the other people present rposed themselves and looked at Felicia. Someone asked, ¡°Felicia, did Gwendolyn really give birth to Patrick''s baby?¡± ¡°Are you not his fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡°Your family affairs are soplicated.¡± Felicia was stunned and remained rooted to her spot for a moment. Then, she nced at the people. ¡°Are you not trusting me? Wait and see for yourself next month. You''ll know who is the one to marry Patrick.¡± In the meantime, Gwendolyn followed Patrick to Mansion 6. There were a lot of pools and a special pool for children in the courtyard. The triplets were having fun in the pool for children. Gwendolyn was stunned. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Juliette isn''t crying at all.¡± After seeing their mother, the triplets waved at her. ¡°Mommy,e and y with us.¡± Patrick threw the cigarette on the floor and stepped on it. Then, he said to the triplets, ¡°Enjoy yourselves. I want to have a little chat with her.¡± Then, Patrick gave his order to Liam and the bodyguards beside the kiddie pool. ¡°Keep an eye on the triplets. I don''t want them to drown.¡± After finishing his words, Patrick turned and grabbed Gwendolyn''s hand. He pulled her into the guest room on the first floor and kicked the door close with his long leg. In the room, the air-conditioner was turned on. It was warm in it. Although their swimsuits were wet on the way, the room was not cold. Only plumes of white fumes could be seen. Patrick slowly approached Gwendolyn, and then he ripped off the strap of her bathrobe. Instantly, Gwendolyn''s bathrobe slipped down, revealing the sea-blue swimsuit and her beautiful curve. Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Gwendolyn was startled, and she crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°What are you doing?¡± She looked at Patrick in alert, and she slowly took a few steps back. Gwendolyn wondered if Patrick was going to force himself on her because she had lied to others that he was the father of the triplets. Patrick frowned slightly and asked, ¡°What are you wearing?¡± He thought Gwendolyn had a nice body figure, but she was wearing a one-piece swimsuit. He could not see her body figure clearly. Since Gwendolyn was in his ce now, Patrick thought he should let her wear something he liked. Gwendolyn averted her gaze and said, ¡°This is a swimsuit! Can''t you see it?¡± Is Patrick blind? How can he not realize I''m wearing a swimsuit? Looking at Gwendolyn''s nervous expression, Patrick was up to something. However, the triplets were outside. He wondered what he could do. The boys would rush in once they heard Gwendolyn scream. Patrick did not want to show a bad example to the triplets. Then, a mischievous look glinted across his dark eyes. ¡°Your swimsuit''s ripped. Who do you want to show your body to?¡± Gwendolyn was shocked, and her mouth was opened slightly when she heard his words. ¡°What? Where?¡± She immediately took off the bathrobe and checked it. Patrick asked Gwendolyn to turn around. Then, he pulled the fabric behind her waist with his fingers. He knew the thread here was the easiest part to fall off. The swimsuit would be ripped apart once he pulled it. ¡°Here.¡± While talking, Patrick poked at the spot where the swimsuit was ripped. He felt the soft skin underneath the swimsuit, and the sense of touch stimted his brain. Patrick narrowed his eyes for a moment. ¡°Got it?¡± he asked. Gwendolyn was embarrassed when she knew the swimsuit was ripped. ¡°Mr. Lowen, thank you! I have to buy another swimsuit.¡± She grabbed the bathrobe and put it on while talking. Patrick smirked and pointed at the bed. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°There''s a new swimsuit here. It will be included in the room rental. You can wear it.¡± Then, he turned and walk out of the room. Patrick wanted to smoke, but he realized his cigarette and lighter were outside. Looking at the swimsuit on the bed, Gwendolyn was stunned for a moment. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''ll transfer the money for the swimsuit to you.¡± While talking, she quickly closed and locked the door. Gwendolyn walked to the bed and looked at the swimsuit on it. It was a bikini. It had a halter-neck design, and there were only a few strips of cloth on the thigh. This bikini is too revealing! Gwendolyn stood rooted to the ground. She wondered if the bikini could cover her curvy body. Gwendolyn hesitated for a moment. However, she knew it was the first time the triplets came to a hot spring vi, and they would be disappointed if she did not join them. Gwendolyn thought she should have fun with them since they were here. Then, she gritted her teeth after making up her mind. Patrick has seen many beauties before, anyway. He won''t be interested in me. She put on the bikini and stood in front of the mirror. Although it had less fabric, it managed to cover the important body parts. However, Gwendolyn felt that she looked like one of the models on the beach. She took a deep breath. Gwendolyn was always confident with her body figure and visual. Wrapped in the bathrobe, she walked out of the room. However, Gwendolyn realized that the bodyguards and Liam were no longer in the courtyard. Patrick was ying with the triplets. The boys were ying on the water slides in the kiddie pool, whereas Juliette was ying in the water in a yellow rubber duck pool float beside Patrick. Julietteughed sweetly. ¡°Hahaha... Mr. Handsome, it''s fun here. I like to y in the water.¡± Chapter 145 Chapter 145 When Gwendolyn saw how happy Juliette was, she looked at Patrick, who was taking pictures of Juliette with his phone, and he asionally nced at Julian and Justin. He''s pretty observant. If he bes a father, he must be a good father. Gwendolyn walked to the pool. She looked at the rose petals in it, sat to the side, and put her legs in the water. ¡°Julian, Justin, be careful. That one''s pretty high.¡± The two liked to y exciting games. Other than the two pools, there were various water sports facilities in the mansion''s courtyard. The two boys liked those and were very satisfied. Julian and Justin were standing on a high tform, waving to Gwendolyn. Julian said, ¡°Mommy, don''t worry. We''ll be careful.¡± Juliette heard Gwendolyn''s voice. She turned her head and swam toward thetter. ¡°Gwen, get in the water. It''s so warm inside.¡± Gwendolyn nced at Patrick, but he did not seem to be looking at her. This man has seen a lot of women. He doesn''t even bother to look at me. Then, she took off her bathrobe. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She did not know, however, that Patrick had been waiting for this moment. When Patrick looked at her, he knew this swimsuit would fit her body. Gwendolyn wore this swimsuit better than models. She had a slim waist, but she had an ample bosom. Patrick had already felt that thest time. A certain feeling crept over him as he recalled the moment, and he gulped. Then, he looked down into the water and warned himself, ¡°Calm down. It''s not time yet.¡± Gwendolyn got into the water and yed with Juliette. Juliette swam to Gwendolyn, and she swam to Patrick after a moment. ¡°Mr. Handsome, have you seen Gwen''s boobs? Aren''t they super big and soft?¡± A hint of surprise slid over Patrick''s eyes. Why is she asking me about this? Gwendolyn hurriedly covered Juliette''s mouth. ¡°Juliette, you can''t talk like that.¡± Juliette blinked. I saw it on TV. Don''t guys like to look at that part of girls? I''m just reminding Mr. Handsome that Gwen''s chest looks good too, and he must like her. Feeling embarrassed, Gwendolyn blushed. Normally, Juliette won''t say things like that. Why is she behaving like this today? Gwendolyn heaved a sigh. Patrick pulled out his phone, then pretended he was busy and did not hear what Juliette said. Gwendolyn walked Juliette to the children''s pool and whispered to her, ¡°Juliette, don''t say that in the future. Okay? What did I teach you? You can''t let anyone touch or talk about the ces covered by your undershirt and shorts.¡± Juliette pouted and nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± After educating her daughter, Gwendolyn breathed a sigh of relief. I hope he was busy and didn''t hear it. Patrick was looking at the pictures of a certain woman before she got into the pool. He smirked, zoomed in on the picture, and eyed her closely. Her skin was fair, and she had a curvy figure and shapely buttocks. She was stunningly beautiful. At that moment, someone called him at the front door of the mansion. ¡°Patrick, open the door! I am Felicia.¡± Patrick frowned and dialed Liam''s number. Earlier, Gwendolyn had wanted to change into her swimsuit, so he had sent all the bodyguards and Liam away. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Ms. Ashton is here, and she says she wants to see you.¡± Patrick turned his head and looked at Gwendolyn, who was ying happily with the three children. Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Therefore, Patrick said coldly, ¡°Tell her I don''t have time to meet her.¡± Then, Liam hung up the phone and said to Felicia, ¡°Ms. Ashton, I''m sorry. Mr. Lowen is busy at the moment and doesn''t have time to see you.¡± Felicia could hear theughter inside. Obviously, Gwendolyn is inside. What could he be busy with? What had Gwendolyn done to have caused Patrick to show up at that critical time as if he was the father of her children? My ssmates don''t believe me anymore and think that Patrick and she are a family. D*mn it! Felicia gritted her teeth in hatred. However, the door was guarded by some people. If they did not allow her to go in and find Patrick, there was nothing she could do. Ynda walked up to her. ¡°Fel, they don''t let you in?¡± Felicia forced a smile. ¡°They said Patrick was away, and Gwendolyn was his secretary. He brought rtives over to have some fun. One child kept crying, so he asked Gwendolyn to take care of the child.¡± Yndaughed. ¡°I see! I thought she really gave birth to Patrick''s child!¡± She was willing to give birth to Patrick''s child if she could. With this child, even if she could not marry into the Lowen family, she was at least the mother of Patrick''s child. Therefore, she would have a significant amount of wealth. Felicia stepped forward. ¡°Is she worthy of Patrick? She was impregnated by an old man who was about sixty or seventy years old.¡± When Ynda heard this, she frowned. ¡°That''s disgusting. She can really sleep with anyone.¡± After ying all afternoon, all three children were tired. After taking a bath, the children went to bed and fell asleep. Gwendolyn came out of the shower and saw the three children lying asleep in a row on the bed. Juliettey in the middle, and her two brothers protected her at her side. She tucked them in and looked at the children''s faces. They''re bing more and more beautiful. They all have exquisite facial features! Gwendolyn sat down on the edge of the bed. As she looked at her three children, she smiled. Patrick stepped into the room and saw that she was looking at the children with a loving, motherly smile on her face. He was slightly stunned. A woman can be so gentle and beautiful when she looks at her children! This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Seeing a different side of Gwendolyn, Patrick felt as if he had been hit by Cupid''s arrow. He strolled to her and lifted her chin. The smile on Gwendolyn''s face receded in fear the moment she saw him. ¡°Mr. Lowen...¡± ¡°Why are you zoning out? Apany me to dinner. I''m hungry.¡± Gwendolyn turned her head to look at the three children and felt uneasy. ¡°Liam will take care of them, and they''ll be fine. You can bring them some foodter.¡± Gwendolyn was also starving. After bathing in the hot spring all day, she was exhausted and needed food to replenish her energy. ¡°All right.¡± She walked beside him, and the two of them walked toward the restaurant. The two walked side by side in a small alley in the wood at sunset. Patrick put his hands in his pockets and stared ahead. ¡°Gwendolyn, are they important to you?¡± Patrick was thinking about the scene where she was happily ying with her three children, and he felt that these three children were her treasure. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Of course, they are the only concern to me in this world.¡± Patrick frowned slightly. What about me? What am I to her? He was curious to know the answer. Chapter 147 Chapter 147 In the end, he did not bring himself to ask her that. Sooner orter, he would make sure she had him on her mind all the time. The two went to the restaurant on the first floor, which had a very unique ambient. There wererge window walls by the dining table covered with a white tablecloth, and there was even a vase with flowers on it. Obviously, there were private chefs in the restaurant on this floor. As soon as the two entered the door, a waitress in a ck dress and a white apron came to greet them. ¡°Mr. Lowen, this way please.¡± The two of them sat by the window walls where they could see the bamboo forest in the courtyard and the creek behind the bamboo forest. The environment was impable. Gwendolyn wondered if the restaurant they had been to at noon was the same ce. The ce lookedpletely different from how it looked at noon. Patrick held the menu and was about to order. He already knew what kind of food would be to her liking. Also, she did not seem to like making orders. She would often hesitate after looking at the price, and she would end up passing the menu back to him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you''ll order.¡± She had indeed suffered too much to be so frugal, which made her very different from other women. Gwendolyn propped her chin, looking out at the creek. A smile shed on her face as she said, ¡°It''s so beautiful here!¡± Patrick returned the menu to the waiter, and thetter left with a smile. ¡°Gwendolyn, have you thought about what kind of life you want to live in the future?¡± There was a hint of anticipation on Patrick''s handsome face. He wanted to know more about her thoughts. He did not know enough about her, so he wished to discover more sides about her. After pondering for a brief moment, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Nothing much. I only wish that my three children will be healthy and happy, and I can afford to buy a house, giving them a real home. Mr. Lowen, you have no idea what it''s like to live in a rented house. Sometimes, when thendlord wanted to use the house, they''d just tell us to move. I once took the kids out and sat on the roadside at night. I felt so sorry for them, but they didn''t mind at all. They were even counting the stars in the sky.¡± Her children were like a gift sent to her to repay her kindness. Hearing that, Patrick could imagine the picture of the family of four sitting on their luggage by the roadside. ¡°What happened in the end?¡± asked Patrick. I could have helped her if I had known her earlier. A smile crept up Gwendolyn''s face as she replied, ¡°It was Zayden who picked us up and brought us to the hotel eventually.¡± Patrick subconsciously nced at the sweater he was wearing upon hearing Zayden''s name. That was one of his favorite clothestely, but it was knitted by her for Zayden. ¡°Gwendolyn, knit me a sweater too,¡± said Patrick calmly as he picked up the cutleries to scoop some dishes for her. Gwendolyn was momentarily stunned after taking a bite of the dish. It tasted so good. She had not eaten such delicious food in a long time. It seems that I could always enjoy sumptuous meals whenever I''m having a meal with him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, since you''re so rich, I think there are at least a hundred sweaters in your wardrobe. The ones I knit don''t look good, and they''re notfortable to wear.¡± What she had said was the truth. She was clumsy, and it took a few months to knit a sweater, so she might as well buy one. Patrick''s expression darkened. ¡°I''ve been taking care of your children for a day. Do I not deserve to get you to knit me a sweater?¡± Gwendolyn was slightly irritated. Of course, he''ll ask me to repay the favor after doing something for me. At the thought of how much fun her three children had had today, she could only knit it for him even though she was exhausted. ¡°Okay, I''ll go buy wool tomorrow and knit it for you. What color do you like?¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 ¡°ck,¡± replied Patrick almost immediately. Gwendolyn was dumbfounded. That was exactly what she had guessed. ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± The two did not speak after that and dug into their food in silence. Meanwhile, a few of Gwendolyn''s ssmates were strolling around after their meals. When they passed by the garden restaurant, they caught sight of the two sitting face to face by the window walls. The woman looked sweet and lovely, and the man was drop-dead charming. Patrick scooped some dishes for Gwendolyn from time to time and gazed at her intently before continue eating his meal gracefully. Seeing that, the few women who stood not far away were all thrilled. ¡°Wow, Patrick is so gentle to women!¡± ¡°I know right! I wish I could be the woman sitting across him!¡± ¡°Wait! Why do I feel the girl looks familiar? Isn''t that Gwendolyn?¡± Ynda froze for a moment before she eximed, ¡°That''s her!¡± Didn''t Fel say she was just taking care of Patrick''s kids? She said that he had left, but now, the two are sitting face to face. Patrick even scooped her dishes. Ynda hurriedly took out her phone to take a video for Felicia and attached it with a message that wrote: Look, Fel. They seem to be dating! You''d better watch your man. Gwendolyn was so full. After soaking in the hot spring for half a day, she was worn out. Just because the dishes were too delicious that she could not help but eat a little more. However, she seemed to have eaten too much. She held her waist as she rose to her feet, feeling slightly ufortable. Then, she nced at the man who was still drinking the soup, secretly ming him for keep scooping dishes for her. She did not want to waste the food, so she ended up finishing them all. Did Patrick think he was feeding a pig? Just then, the waiter came over with the packed food. ¡°Mr. Lowen, should I deliver them now?¡± Before Patrick could respond, Gwendolyn said, ¡°It''s okay. I''ll send them.¡± They were going back, anyway. Patrick merely shot her a nce. She''s so kindhearted that she even does what the waiter should do. In an apathetic voice, Patrick reminded, ¡°Carry them by yourself then. Don''t ask for my help.¡± He was a CEO who was used to having others serve him. There was no way he could ept when it was the other way round. Gwendolyn knew him well, so she merely smiled without retorting a word. ¡°I like to feed my own kids.¡± Right after saying that, she took the two bags of packed food and walked toward the door joyfully. Patrick slightly furrowed his brows as he watched her. She sounded so proud of herself when she said that just now. Meanwhile, Patrick had no one whom he could care for as she did to her children. He felt as though he had lost to her in some way. As the thought hit him, he got up from his seat and ran after her. He took the two bags of food from her hand and walked in front as if nothing had happened. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn was puzzled for a brief moment. Didn''t he say he wouldn''t help me? What a liar! After having a good nap and being fed, the triplets were energetic. Patrick looked at the time and asked, ¡°Do you all want to y with fireworks?¡± He had prepared a lot of fireworks, and he wanted to set them off for her. That was because he had seen what she wrote in her diary: What does it feel like to set off fireworks the whole night? He had noted it down since he read that. Juliette jumped in joy. ¡°Hooray! I want to watch fireworks.¡± Although Patrick wanted a personal moment with Gwendolyn, he knew she doted on her children. Hence, he would not mind having the children around too. Seemingly having something weighing on mind, Justin and Julian frowned slightly. He''s so childish, but that''s what to Mommy''s liking! Juliette held Justin''s and Julian''s hands. ¡°Are you both happy? There are so many events today. Mr. Handsome is such a romantic person!¡± Justin caught sight of how delighted Juliette looked, so he reached out his hand to pat her on the head. ¡°As long as you''re happy!¡± Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Julian nced at the man next to him, who fixed his gaze on their mother. He could tell from that man''s affectionate moves that thetter was truly fond of Gwendolyn. Nheless, Gwendolyn seemed like she was clueless about Patrick''s feelings for her. Right then, she was still busy reminding the children that it was dangerous to y with fireworks. Original from N?velDrama.Org. In the front yard of the mansion, there was a hot spring pool and some water sports. In that case, the backyard was the best ce to set off the fireworks. Patrick took them to the backyard, and all kinds of fireworks had been properly set up. Liam was already there with a few bodyguards. As soon as he saw Gwendolyn and the othersing, he lit a few boxes of fireworks that they had prepared beforehand. In an instant, the fireworks shoot straight up before shattering into thousands of colorful sparks, lighting up the night sky. Gwendolyn was astonished by the captivating scene before her. She had seen fireworks on New Year''s eve, but it was the first time she could see them at such a close distance like that night. Suddenly, she recalled a novel she had read before. The male and female leads had set off fireworks on the top of the mountain all night long. At that time, she had been wondering how it felt to experience the same. She thought it would certainly be a memorable, blissful moment. Unfortunately, she had never dated anyone before. Thus, she was afraid that she would never get to know how it felt like to be in love for her entire life. Despite that, she could take it as the fireworks were set off for her even though she knew that was not the case. As she stared at the fireworks in the sky at that moment, she could feel her heart throbbing unexpectedly. Justin and Julian reached out their hands to cover Juliette''s ears as she watched the fireworks scattering all over the sky. The fireworks were in all kinds of shapes and patterns. Juliette skipped excitedly and called out, ¡°Justin, Julian, they look amazing!¡± The two boys looked rather calm as they looked up at the blossoms of rainbow lights against the night sky. That view was exceptionally breathtaking. Patrick saw how Juliette was doted by her two elder brothers. She''s such a blessed little girl. Even though she doesn''t have a father, she has them as her elder brothers. Her elder brothers had taken the role of her father. Patrick could tell that the brothers would be very picky about her boyfriend in the future. They would certainly make sure that her boyfriend could treat her as well as they did. Patrick then shifted his gaze to the woman, who was staring at the sky next to him. She wore a faint smile, and she did not seem too excited. She was merely watching everything in silence. Patrick suddenly reached out his hands to cover her ears. Only then did she divert her gaze from the sky to his face. A flush of embarrassment rose to her cheeks as she said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''m not a kid.¡± She was not Juliette who was afraid of the sound of explosions. In fact, the sound was nothing to her. Wearing a grin, Patrick exined, ¡°The two boys are such gentlemen. If I don''t do something, it makes me look like I''m worse than a kid.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn could not helpughing. She took a look at her children, who were standing not far away from her. That scene looked exactly like a painting to her. It was a lovely view with her good-looking triplets and the beautiful fireworks as the backdrop. She did not resist Patrick''s approach but let him put his hands over her ears. Knowing that Patrick was a headstrong person, and he would do anything so that he would not lose to her sons, she decided to give him that chance. Liam took out his phone and hurriedly took a picture of the intimate moment between the two. If I send this to Mr. Lowen tomorrow, he''ll probably give me a bonus. It finally hit Liam that he would also be benefited when Patrick had a woman by his side. As long as Itch onto Ms. Ashton, my life will be much easier in the future. Even if I make a mistake, Ms. Ashton''s words will be more helpful than all my hard work. Patrick was not looking at the fireworks. Instead, he had his eyes fixed on that woman, who was so close to him at that moment. Her lips slightly pouted, and they looked as plump as ripe cherries. Besides, her big, deep eyes were gleaming, and they were as clear as a pool of water. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 She looked exceptionally stunning, and she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Looking at her, he felt a moment of peace in his heart as though all his worries had been cleared. It was past eleven o''clock at night after all the fireworks were set off. The three children were exhausted too. Gwendolyn brought them back to their room and put them to sleep. Meanwhile, Patrick sat in the yard, holding a cigarette between his fingers. It was dead silent in the mountain. The only sound they could hear from time to time was theughter of the people on the opposite side of the mountain who were in the hot springs. Liam stood aside and apanied Patrick, looking at the starry sky. Suddenly, Patrick questioned, ¡°Liam, do you think family affection is more important than love?¡± He wanted to marry this woman even though she already had children. The fact did not seem to bother him at all. However, he could not bear to go against his grandfather who might copse at any time, as thetter was not in good health. As a result, he was in a dilemma. He wished he could give her happiness, but he could not marry her for the time being. It was a difficult question that left Liam pondering for a long time before he replied, ¡°I guess family affection matters more!¡± Love might not be eternal, but the bond between family members would not break apart that easily. Family members were the ones who would stick around through thick and thin for a long time. Patrick took a heavy puff on his cigarette without saying a word. At that point, Liam could tell from Patrick''s solemn expression that thetter was not in a good mood. Nheless, Liam could not seem to tell what was on Patrick''s mind, and he dared probe further either. They returned to the city on the next day. As soon as the car stopped at Snowy Lane, Liam opened the door for them. Justin got out of the car first and reached out to help Juliette. Gwendolyn hopped off after all her children had gotten out of the car. Patrick, who was sitting in the backseat, wound down the window, revealing his chiseled profile. ¡°Mr. Lowen, thank you for taking us out,¡± said Gwendolyn. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Following that, the three children said in unison, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lowen!¡± Patrick turned to look at them and replied calmly, ¡°You''re wee! Just work harder in the future if you wish to repay my kindness, Ms. Ashton.¡± Gwendolyn immediately grabbed the gist behind his words. Nodding, she replied, ¡°I got it, Mr. Lowen. Bye!¡± The three kids entered the house after the car drove off. As Gwendolyn walked back, Tommy strode toward her. ¡°Gwen, when are you going to pay the money? It''s been two weeks, and thepany is rushing me!¡± Only then did Gwendolyn get reminded of that matter. ¡°I''m sorry, Tommy! I''ll ask her if she has sold the house. We''ll transfer the money as soon as the house gets sold.¡± Tommy''s expression grew grimmer as he replied, ¡°If you don''t pay us on time ording to the contract, the interest will keep increasing.¡± Gwendolyn knew about the interest, too. ¡°Okay, we''ll make sure to pay by this week.¡± Tommy heaved out a sigh of relief. ¡°Okay. I''ll ry your message to thepany. Don''t forget it.¡± ¡°Thank you, Tommy,¡± said Gwendolyn. As soon as she got home, she texted Lucy: Luce, have you sold your house? They are urging us to pay the five hundred thousand by this week. Nevertheless, Lucy did not reply. Gwendolyn thought Lucy might still be sleeping, so she did not disturb her. Gwendolyn changed into a ck zer with a preppy skirt, fis stockings, and ck boots. Standing in front of the mirror and looking at herself, she thought she looked much younger in that attire. Right then, Justin entered the room. ¡°Mommy, don''t forget that your ss starts today.¡± Gwendolyn grabbed her bag and walked over to him. ¡°I''m going to go to ss now, and I won''t let you down.¡± Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Justin smiled and cheered, ¡°You can do this, Mommy!¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn nodded solemnly. ¡°Yeah!¡± He then sent her to the car. Gwendolyn turned to look at her son, who was dressed in a ck coat, standing at the entrance seeing her off. He reminded her of Patrick. His handsome look resembles Patrick''s. Perhaps good-looking men look like this when they were kids, huh? She smiled at the thought. With that, she entered her red Cloud University and went to Cloud University, where the training course took ce. It was rumored that the course was famous for cultivating many famous designers. Gwendolyn sat in the ssroom when she reached the ce. There were roughly twenty students around. The girl who sat beside her moved toward her and greeted, ¡°Hello! I''m Jasmine Carter. We are ssmates from now on.¡± Gwendolyn returned a smile. ¡°Hi! I''m Gwendolyn Ashton.¡± Jasmine was a friendly person. It did not take long for them to get along with each other. ¡°Hey, I heard that Tiffany, the famous designer, will be teaching this course in person.¡± Gwendolyn did not know about that, but she had heard of Tiffany before. Thetter was the current most famous designer. ¡°That''s great!¡± she replied. Gwendolyn was a great fan of Tiffany. Back in her days in the Ashton family, she loved to buy the clothes Tiffany designed. However, she could no longer afford to buy them. Tiffany''s products were too expensive, and whenever she produced new designs, it would be difficult for one to get their hands on the products. Not only did one have to be wealthy, but they had to have connections as well in order to get Tiffany''s new designs. Distinguished customers also had a shot. Hence, Gwendolyn believed it was the right choice to join the course if she could be the designer''s student. As it was only the first day of the course, all they needed to do was to receive their books and get familiar with each other. With that, the ss was over. Gwendolyn headed outside with the books in her hands. Suddenly, her teacher called her, ¡°Gwendolyn, please stay back for a while.¡± ¡°The teacher''s calling me. You can go ahead,¡± Gwendolyn said to Jasmine. Thetter nodded. ¡°Ah, just when we''re about to have a meal together. Next time, then!¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Gwendolyn then approached the teacher and asked, ¡°Ms. Yates, you asked for me?¡± I''m surprised that the teacher remembered my name on the first day. It seems like my name is easy to remember, huh? Mandy Yates, her teacher, smiled and informed, ¡°Someone wants to meet you, Gwendolyn. Please follow me.¡± Gwendolyn followed her to the office upstairs. When she entered the office, she saw an elegantdy sitting by the window. She was wearing a ck dress. No matter which angle she was captured in, she looked charming and amiable. Thatdy turned to her and smiled. ¡°Nice to meet you, Gwendolyn.¡± Gwendolyn was surprised upon seeing who thedy was. She quickened her pace and approached the latter. ¡°It''s you, Tiffany! Oh, I''m so happy to meet you in person. I really like your designs!¡± Gwendolyn did not expect to meet her idol on the first ss. Tiffany raised her arm gracefully. ¡°I''ve made you coffee. Do have some.¡± Taking the cup, Gwendolyn took a sip. Her gestures were equally graceful. She beamed. ¡°It tastes good!¡± Smiling, Tiffany asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, are you interested in fashion design?¡± Gwendolyn nodded eagerly. ¡°Of course! I''ve always loved to watch my mother sew clothes when I was little. Although I don''t remember much of it anymore, that is still a precious piece of memory. Hence, I decided to be like her when I grow up.¡± Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Hearing that, Tiffany nodded. ¡°I understand. You can do it, Gwendolyn!¡± Gwendolyn smiled at that. ¡°Thank you! I will do my best.¡± What a strange day. Not only do I get to meet my idol face to face, but I got her encouragement as well. The two of them conversed as they had coffee. Gwendolyn only realized how fast time could fly. Two hours had passed in the blink of an eye, and it was already five o''clock in the afternoon. Thus, she rose and bid goodbye to Tiffany. When thetter sent her out, she asked, ¡°Can I call you Gwen?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Of course! My friends call me that too.¡± ¡°Gwen, here. I made a dress for you.¡± At that, Gwendolyn''s eyes lit up. ¡°Wow! This is for me? Thank you!¡± She epted the gift, eager to open it on the spot. A dress made by Tiffany herself! It''s much more valuable than any dress in the store. With that, Gwendolyn waved goodbye with the gift in her hands. ¡°See you!¡± Reluctance crossed Tiffany''s eyes as she stated, ¡°Gwen, no matter what happens, you can always call me for help. I will always be here for you.¡± Gwendolyn nodded again. She seems to be different from the other designers. She''s so weing and friendly. As she walked down the stairs, Gwendolyn could not help but smile heartily. Tiffany feels like a mother to me. When she got into her car, she had a peek at her gift. It was a white dress that gave out a youthful aura. I think it''ll suit me. She started the engine and prepared to leave, yet her phone rang suddenly. It was a call from Alice. ¡°Hello, Old Mrs. Lowen?¡± ¡°Gwen! It''s been a while since we met each other. Could youe to our ce for a meal together?¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback. ¡°Do you mean now, Old Mrs. Lowen?¡± ¡°Yeah. Oh, remember to bring your kids here, too. Patrick''s grandpa seems a bit recharged these days. Your kids may cheer him up.¡± Alice nced at Hector, who was sitting in his wheelchair, pulling a long face. Hmph! This grumpy old man. I shall excite him with Gwen''s three kids. Didn''t he always want a great- grandchild? I shall show him three great-grandchildren! That is sure to surprise him. In the meantime, Gwendolyn found it hard to let the elder woman down. Hence, she responded, ¡°Sure, Old Mrs. Lowen.¡± Hanging up the call, she phoned Camille to let thetter dress the children up. She would be back soon to pick them up. With that, she started her car and drove home. Upon reaching home, she saw her three beautiful children waiting in the living room for her arrival. Her two sons were wearing a ck suit with a ck bow. As for Juliette, she wore a red princess dress with her hair down. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she stared at Gwendolyn. Thetter was surprised. Camille, this is too exaggerating! I mean, I did ask her to dress them up nicely, but they look as if they are going to attend a banquet! Juliette lifted the hem of her dress and bowed to Gwendolyn. ¡°Your Highness, are we going to attend a royal ball?¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. Her daughter always wanted to attend a royal ball. However, Gwendolyn never had the chance to fulfill her dream. Since they were contented with their attire, Gwendolyn decided to let them dress as such. Chapter 153 Chapter 153 ¡°Let''s go. Get in the car. Today we''ll be heading to an elderly woman''s house as guests. Please remember to stay well-mannered.¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°All right,¡± the three kids replied in unison. With that, they left the house. Camille had some fruits and coffee in her hand as she followed behind them. ¡°Gwen, are you bringing them home?¡± Camille was aware about her family''s situation. She knew they were a wealthy family from Avenport. The kids had grown up, and maybe it was time for them to return to their roots. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°Nope. We''re just going to a friend''s house.¡± She would never bring the kids back to the Ashton family. Michael was a prideful man. He was still resentful over the matter. If it was not because of his years of favoritism for Gwendolyn, he might not even be willing to see her. She would never bring the kids back to the family just to face their brutal lectures. After the kids entered the car, Camille ced the gifts on the passenger seat. ¡°Drive carefully, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn hopped into the car and nodded. ¡°Okay. You cook something for yourself tonight. We might bete.¡± The four of them then headed to the Lowen residence and parked in a parking space. Looking at the enormous manor, Juliette shouted, ¡°Gwen, are we at a castle? It''s so pretty!¡± The Lowen residence was a sight to behold. It was humongous. Entering the ce made one feel as if they were entering a pce. Justin and Julian had never seen such a huge estate as well. Curiosity was sparkling in their eyes. ¡°This is Mr. Lowen''s house. We''ll be meeting his grandpa and grandma in a short while.¡± Juliette nodded. ¡°So this is Mr. Handsome''s house. He''s a prince from a castle! No wonder he''s so good-looking!¡± Amused by her daughter, Gwendolyn burst intoughter. Her little mind is just full of princes, princesses, and pces. Juliette was a girl full of fantasies. Right then, Alice came out to wee them personally. There were a few housekeepers behind her. Stepping out of the car, Gwendolyn helped her kids to open the door. After getting out of the car, the kids checked out the surroundings curiously. As Alice saw the two boys, her body trembled vigorously. The housekeepers quickly held her up. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen!¡± She then lifted her hand, asking them to stop. ¡°I''m fine.¡± She slowly walked toward the four of them, her gaze fixated on the three kids. The daughter looked exactly like Gwendolyn. She was adorable and beautiful. Even her smile was just as sweet. The two boys at the side were dashing. They looked just like Patrick when he was younger. Alice''s heart dropped in shock. Is this a coincidence? Or is this fate? ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen,¡± Gwendolyn greeted her. Following her, the three kids opened their mouths. ¡°Hello, Old Mrs. Pretty!¡± Alice heard their clear voices, and her heart throbbed with excitement. ¡°Hello! Hello!¡± Juliette leaped into her arms. ¡°Old Mrs. Pretty, you smell so good!¡± Alice''s heart melted as she touched Juliette''s soft cheeks. ¡°Oh? Aren''t you a sweet talker? I like you!¡± Gwendolyn quickly introduced, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, that is Juliette, my daughter. This is the eldest, Justin, and this is the second child, Julian.¡± They were all born in September, and she gave all of them names starting with the letter ¡°J.¡± Nodding, Alice remarked, ¡°Juliette, Justin, and Julian. Such beautiful names.¡± Holding onto Juliette''s hand, she wanted to grab Justin''s hand as well. However, the boy just walked forward. She could not help but feel a bit upset when she could not hold his hand. Even the two boys'' temperaments were just like Patrick''s. Chapter 154 Chapter 154 The chattering continued until they reached the living room. Hector was in his wheelchair with a cold look. As he saw Alice, his eyes moved and widened. ¡°Mmm...¡± He tried to lift his hand, but he could not. The wheelchair was shaking. Seeing that, the nurse quickly came over. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, please calm down. Take a deep breath.¡± Alice saw Hector''s reaction and smiled. Look how excited he is. I wonder how he''ll react when he sees his great-grandchildren. Juliette sat beside Old Mr. Lowen and stretched out her small hand. ¡°Old Mr. Handsome, do you want some candy?¡± Hector was about to calm down. However, once he saw Juliette''s little hand and heard her sweet voice, he was stirred up even more. He rolled his eyes, and it scared Alice''s heart out. ¡°Bring Old Mr. Lowen back to his room! Let him stay there for the night.¡± The housekeepers and nurse then pushed Hector back to his room. He tried to mutter something as his head was tilted. Unfortunately, no one understood he did not wish to leave. He wanted to see and y with the kids. Sadly, no one could understand him. When his bedroom door was closed, the atmosphere quietened instantly. Juliette then unwrapped her candy and fed it into her mouth. ¡°So sweet!¡± In the meantime, Justin and Julian sat down with their backs straight. Their cool stance attracted a lot of the housekeepers'' attention. Gwendolyn passed the fruits and coffee to a housekeeper. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, I brought some fruits and coffee. It''s not anything fancy, just a small gift from me.¡± Alice held onto Gwendolyn''s hands. ¡°I''m extremely happy just to have you visit me. You didn''t have to bring anything. Thank you, Gwen.¡± Alice was wearing a dark red dress. She looked charismatic and elegant. Even with her grey hair, she looked stunning with that kind smile on her face. Justin and Julian stayed silent. The two of them were observing their surroundings¡ªit had always been their habit. Every time they went to an unfamiliar ce, they would observe carefully. On the other hand, Juliette acted like a happy duckling. She explored and touched everything with her lollipop in her mouth. Alice''s gaze was set on the three kids. The questions she had about them were pilling up. She had to bring Patrick back for some questioning, as she was curious if he actually made a mistake. Gwendolyn saw Juliette running around as though it was her own house. Hence, she went to her daughter. ¡°Juliette, don''t go and touch everything.¡± Juliette raised her brow. ¡°I touch everything that looks pretty. Am I not allowed to touch them?¡± Gwendolyn could not help butughed. However, the housekeepers were staring at her. They must have thought of her as a bumpkin. She felt embarrassed. Meanwhile, seeing that the two boys were not eating sweets, Alice called them, ¡°Justin, Julian, if you don''t want sweets, why not have some fruits?¡± Justin answered with merely a word, ¡°Thanks.¡± Julian then had a bright smile. ¡°Thank you, Old Mrs. Pretty.¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. After that, Alice got up. ¡°Gwen, make yourself at home. I''ll go check the kitchen.¡± Gwendolyn was following Juliette, afraid that thetter would cause havoc. Upon hearing Alice, she turned around and replied, ¡°All right, Old Mrs. Lowen.¡± Alice then entered the kitchen and gave her eldest grandchild a call. After a while, he picked up. ¡°Grandma, what''s the matter?¡± ¡°Can''t your grandma call you anytime, Pat?¡± Patrick always answered Alice''s calls with the same sentence, and she did not like that. ¡°That''s not what I meant. I''m busy right now. Can I call you a littleter?¡± Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Alice furrowed her brows. It was half-past six on Sunday, and Patrick was still working. ¡°Pat, are you not going home for dinner?¡± ¡°That''s right, Grandma. I''m quite busy with work recently. I can''t go back anytime soon.¡± ¡°Okay then. I''ll let Gwen know you''re noting back. We''ll eat first.¡± Just as Alice was about to hang up, Patrick stopped her. ¡°Grandma, who did you just mention?¡± Alice grinned at how she elicited a response just by mentioning Gwendolyn''s name. He was not interested in an olddy like his grandma, but he was clearly interested in a pretty young lady. ¡°I invited Gwen and her three darlings over for dinner tonight. We''ll eat first if you aren''ting back.¡± ¡°I''m finished with work, so I''ming back now.¡± Alice chuckled after hanging up the phone. She could not help but look into the living room again. Justin and Julian truly look like Pat, and Pat would be d if the triplets were his children. With that, she let out a sigh. Gwendolyn brought Juliette back into the living room. ¡°Juliette, sit here and eat your food. Stop running around.¡± The Lowen residence was massive, and she was afraid that Juliette would lose her way. Her youngest was a crybaby, and once thetter started, it would take a long time to stop. Original from N?velDrama.Org. She kept a close eye on Juliette, as it would not be polite if a guest kept crying. ¡°Justin, Julian, help look after your sister. Don''t let her wander off.¡± The two boys responded brightly, ¡°All right, Mommy!¡± It was only then that Gwendolyn sat down and sipped her water. At that moment, they heard a loud sound from Hector''s room. Soon after, a housekeeper ran out hurriedly. Gwendolyn got up and entered the bedroom with the three children following her. Hector had thrown everything on the bedside table to the floor. Upon seeing this, Juliette moved a few steps back timidly. Gwendolyn quickly rushed over. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, what''s wrong? Are you feeling difort somewhere?¡± Hector halted his moves upon seeing the woman before him. He looked at her quietly, gazed at the three children behind her, and smiled affectionately. Juliette walked over and extended her chubby hand. ¡°Old Mr. Handsome, have a candy. You''ll be happy after eating it. It''s not good to be angry.¡± Juliette opened the candy wrapper and put the candy into Hector''s mouth. After tasting it, Hector''s smile widened as if he was trying to tell her it was sweet. Juliette helped him voice his thoughts, ¡°Isn''t it sweet? You should feel better now. Let''s not be angry anymore.¡± Justin and Julian picked up the medicine container on the floor, ced it on the table, and then helped him tidy up his hair. Julian also helped him straighten his cor. ¡°A shirt will only look good if it''s neat.¡± The three children were very adult-like and dispensed advice while taking care of him. He listened to them attentively while tasting the candy in his mouth, and he was no longer upset. The housekeeper and nurses were all astounded by the sight before them. ¡°Old Mr. Lower is no longer angry. He''s even smiling,¡± whispered one of them. ¡°That''s right. I''ve looked after him for such a long time, but this is the first time I''ve seen him smile!¡± Alice hurried into the room and saw the three children surrounding Hector, and thetter seemed to be in a good mood. At the same time, Gwendolyn was giving Hector a massage. Alice then heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Didn''t you guys say that Hector was upset? That doesn''t seem to be the case! You guys frightened me.¡± The housekeeper was also confused. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen was indeed upset just now. He kept throwing things. However, he seems to be fine now.¡± Alice chuckled. ¡°It seems that Hector''s met his match.¡± Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Alice walked over to Hector''s side and saw that he was smiling while eating candy. She furrowed her brows slightly. ¡°Hector, do you want to join us for dinner?¡± He looked at her and nodded. Alice smiled knowingly. ¡°I know why you were throwing a tantrum. You were upset because I didn''t let you out, weren''t you?¡± Everyone in the roomughed. Upon seeing this, Juliette went up close to Hector and whispered, ¡°Old Mr. Handsome, don''t be angry. They''re notughing at you.¡± The quick-witted Juliette had always been an easy-going girl. She had be familiar with Alice very quickly. And now, she was bing close with Hector too. Gwendolyn was not worried at all. It seemed that her three children got along well with the elderly. They would often try to make conversation with the elderly since they were young. Of course, they could merely babble since they were still babies back then, and the elderly would hum in response. Hector felt frustrated upon hearing Alice''s words. They still did not understand him. He was not upset because he could not go out. Instead, it was because he could not see his great-grandchildren. However, no one knew what he was thinking. He had no choice but to throw a tantrum. They were going to be the death of him sooner orter. However, he was d that the triplets had given him candy and even helped him tidy his hair. However, he was d that the triplets had given him candy and even helped him tidy his hair. He especially liked the adorable Juliette, who was good at sweet-talking andforting others. Gwendolyn felt at ease after seeing that Hector had calmed down. She thought Hector was upset because he did not wish to see them. However, she now felt relieved after witnessing how the three children managed to calm him down. It would be disastrous if his condition worsened because of their appearance. The housekeeper pushed Hector into the living room to watch television. In the meantime, Juliette happily watched her favorite cartoon while eating fruits. She would feed Hector some fruits asionally. Justin and Julian would then help Juliette and Hector to wipe their mouths as they were extremely particr about cleanliness. They would start wiping as soon as they spotted any crumbs or juice at the corners of Juliette''s and Hector''s mouths. At the same time, Alice was chatting with Gwendolyn. Alice could not help but keep staring at Gwendolyn, seemingly amazed by thetter''s beauty. Alice had met many people in her life, but it was her first time meeting someone as stunning as Gwendolyn. She grew fonder of Gwendolyn the more she looked at thetter. She now understood why Petrick wes so smitten. Right then, the housekeeper ennounced, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, Mr. Lowen is home.¡± Gwendolyn did not think he woulde home end looked towerd the door in shock. The two gezes met. The housekeeper took his coet, end he bent down to chenge his shoes. Upon seeing him, Juliette ren over with e strewberry. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you''re beck! Open your mouth!¡± He scooped her up end opened his mouth es the strewberry wes delivered to him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, your house is so big! It''s like e cestle.¡± Petrick chuckled. ¡°Juliette, why don''t you stey here if you like this plece?¡± Juliette''s eyes brightened. ¡°Reelly?¡± However, she shook her heed the very next moment. ¡°Although this plece is pretty, it''s not my home. I still like where I live with my brothers.¡± He leughed upon seeing her serious little fece. ¡°If I merry Gwen, this will be your home. Do you went to help me to win your mommy''s heert?¡± Her downcest eyes suddenly brightened up egein. ¡°You''re right! I''ll esk my brothers to help you too.¡± She now understood why Patrick was so smitten. Right then, the housekeeper announced, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, Mr. Lowen is home.¡± Gwendolyn did not think he woulde home and looked toward the door in shock. The two gazes met. The housekeeper took his coat, and he bent down to change his shoes. Upon seeing him, Juliette ran over with a strawberry. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you''re back! Open your mouth!¡± He scooped her up and opened his mouth as the strawberry was delivered to him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, your house is so big! It''s like a castle.¡± Patrick chuckled. ¡°Juliette, why don''t you stay here if you like this ce?¡± Juliette''s eyes brightened. ¡°Really?¡± However, she shook her head the very next moment. ¡°Although this ce is pretty, it''s not my home. I still like where I live with my brothers.¡± Heughed upon seeing her serious little face. ¡°If I marry Gwen, this will be your home. Do you want to help me to win your mommy''s heart?¡± Her downcast eyes suddenly brightened up again. ¡°You''re right! I''ll ask my brothers to help you too.¡± She now understood why Patrick was so smitten.Original from N?velDrama.Org. Right then, the housekeeper announced, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, Mr. Lowen is home.¡± Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Patrick kissed the little girl on the cheek. ¡°Thank you, Juliette!¡± For some reason, from the moment he met her, he felt an indescribable closeness to her. Despite not liking children in the first ce, he found that he did not mind the three children and even liked them a lot. Is this what it feels like to extend your love for someone to the people close to them? Patrick put Juliette down on the couch before asking Hector, ¡°Grandpa, how are you feeling today?¡± He noticed that the old man was in good spirits, and his condition was also improving, so he hoped that his grandfather would speak to him one day. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Hector stared at him while making a silent remark. You fool. Your wife and children are in front of you. Why don''t you marry her so that they''ll be your legitimate children? Patrick raised an eyebrow. ¡°Grandpa, Gwendolyn is my secretary, and these children are hers. Should you miss the children in the future, I''ll ask her to bring them along to apany you.¡± After he finished speaking, he leaned over to whisper into the old man''s ear, ¡°If you want me to father a child, it may not happen anytime soon. You''ll have to wait a few more years, so I can only satisfy your desire by letting you interact with someone else''s children.¡± Then, he stood up, grinning devilishly. There''s no way I''ll father a child with Felicia. At the most, I''ll marry her to fulfill his wishes. He can''t me me for not having children. There''s no way I''ll father a child with Felicia. At the most, I''ll marry her to fulfill his wishes. He can''t me me for not having children. Hector slowly turned to nce at Gwendolyn before looking at his handsome grandson in front of him. He wanted to speak or write out his thoughts, but the condition of his body did not allow him to do so, causing him to feel extremely frustrated. Everyone had dinner happily, and Hector even ate a small portion of his food, which greatly delighted Alice. While Gwendolyn was answering a call, the three children followed Alice as she pushed Hector out for a walk. Hence, Gwendolyn did not notice that she and Patrick were the only ones left at the table. The call was from Lucy, and Gwendolyn could tell that something was not right from her tone. ¡°If you didn''t manage to negotiate the price of the house, wait a little more. Don''t be anxious about it, Luce.¡± ¡°Thank you, Gwen! Mnie''s condition has deterioratedtely. I''m scared that she won''t be able to wait for the bone marrow, so I''m going to find Mr. Gomez again and beg him.¡± Gwendolyn''s heart clenched in pain when she heard Lucy''s sobs from the other end of the line. ¡°I''ll help you think of a solution.¡± She ended the call with tears brimming in her eyes, feeling upset upon thinking of Mnie. It must be very herd for Lucy es well since she''s elone. Meenwhile, Petrick wes scrutinizing her. Sensing e peir of eyes on her, Gwendolyn brushed off her thoughts. ¡°Oh? Where did they go?¡± She truly did not heer them leeving. His lips curled up in e smile. ¡°They went for e welk. Are you done with your meel, Ms. Ashton?¡± She nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Let''s heed upsteirs. I''ve e job for you.¡± Right efter seying thet, he rose to his feet end welked out. Gwendolyn hurriedly stood up end followed him. After ell, he wes her boss, so she hed to listen to him. They went to the third floor. Petrick weited for her to enter his bedroom before closing the door end locking it. Upon heering the click of the lock, Gwendolyn turned her heed end looked et him. ¡°Mr. Lowen...¡± She subconsciously glenced et the door end put her guerd up. Petrick pulled out his tie end begen to unbutton his shirt. Stertled, she quickly becked ewey. ¡°P-Petrick, whet ere you trying to do?¡± He told me to go upsteirs, end now he''s removing his clothes. Whet exectly is he trying to do? Guessing his intention, she could not help but tremble in feer. He chuckled deviously. ¡°Whet do you think?¡± It must be very hard for Lucy as well since she''s alone. Meanwhile, Patrick was scrutinizing her. Sensing a pair of eyes on her, Gwendolyn brushed off her thoughts. ¡°Oh? Where did they go?¡± She truly did not hear them leaving. His lips curled up in a smile. ¡°They went for a walk. Are you done with your meal, Ms. Ashton?¡± She nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Let''s head upstairs. I''ve a job for you.¡± Right after saying that, he rose to his feet and walked out. Gwendolyn hurriedly stood up and followed him. After all, he was her boss, so she had to listen to him. They went to the third floor. Patrick waited for her to enter his bedroom before closing the door and locking it. Upon hearing the click of the lock, Gwendolyn turned her head and looked at him. ¡°Mr. Lowen...¡± She subconsciously nced at the door and put her guard up. Patrick pulled out his tie and began to unbutton his shirt. Startled, she quickly backed away. ¡°P-Patrick, what are you trying to do?¡± He told me to go upstairs, and now he''s removing his clothes. What exactly is he trying to do? Guessing his intention, she could not help but tremble in fear. He chuckled deviously. ¡°What do you think?¡± It must be very hard for Lucy as well since she''s alone. Chapter 158 Chapter 158 By then, Gwendolyn had already retreated to the window and would fall if she continued moving backward. They were on the third floor. Even if she did not lose her life, she would be disabled if she fell. ¡°Don''te closer, Patrick, or I''ll scream!¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Yes, I can scream for help since I''m by an open window. Someone will definitely hear me if I shout at the top of my lungs. Patrick could not help but chuckle softly upon seeing her startled expression. ¡°What do you think I''m going to do?¡± She noticed that he had already removed his shirt, exposing his toned chest and alluring abs. Seeing his attractive figure, she gulped as her throat suddenly felt dry. However, she still upheld her integrity. I''ll never touch a man that belongs to someone else. ¡°How should I know? I''m not you!¡± she replied through gritted teeth. She then shifted her gaze away from his body. Just then, Patrick sat on the bed and showed his back to her. ¡°My back is itchy. I think I have rashes. Help me apply some medication.¡± Hearing those words, Gwendolyn came to her senses. It turns out that I was overthinking. She slowly walked toward him upon seeing him sitting there with a tube of ointment beside him. ¡°Are you having an allergic reaction?¡± He does have many rashes on his back. He must be feeling ufortable because of them. But he''s good at enduring it, as he showed no reaction when he came back until now. He does have many rashes on his back. He must be feeling ufortable because of them. But he''s good at enduring it, as he showed no reaction when he came back until now. ¡°I always get them when I soak in the hot springs.¡± Why did you go when you know you can''t? Aren''t you torturing yourself? Noticing that there were no swabs beside the ointment, she inquired, ¡°Where are the swabs, Mr. Lowen?¡± Patrick furrowed his brows slightly upon hearing the question. Why would I prepare swabs when my intention is for you to apply the ointment with your finger? ¡°I don''t have any. Just use your finger. I''m not particr about it.¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback. I can''t believe that he''s so unrefined. She lowered her gaze and smiled before heading toward the bathroom to wash her hands. Upon seeing that the bathroom was bigger than her house, equipped with a bathtub that seemed more like a swimming pool, she was stunned. I never knew that a bathroom could be this extravagant. The Ashton residence truly can''t bepared to the Lowen residence. As she stood in front of the marble sink and washed her hands, she stared at the woman with the flushed face in the mirror and could not help but chastise herself. Stop letting your imagination run wild, Gwendolyn Ashton, and don''t be tempted by his body again. After disinfecting her hends, she returned to his side. She rubbed her cold fingers to werm them up before epplying the ointment for him, debbing it cerefully onto the infected erees. Just es Gwendolyn got to his weist eree, her world spun es he suddenly pinned her down onto the bed, pressing his lips egeinst hers. Both her hends were pinned ebove her heed. She struggled with ell her might but found thet she could not move. While kissing her, he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Gwendolyn did not remember much efter thet. All she knew wes thet her mind went blenk, end she could no longer heer other sounds besides his breething. As time pessed, his breething wes elso bing repid. She felt thet something wes wrong with herself es she wes beheving ebnormelly. Petrick continued kissing the women under him. Just now, her hend wes on my lower beck. Doesn''t she know thet''s e very sensitive spot to men? She''s too neive. She cleerly geve birth to three children but still doesn''t know e thing ebout sexuel reletionships. However, from Petrick''s perspective, this side of her mede her more ettrective to him, es it invoked his desire to teech her bit by bit end corrupt her. After disinfecting her hands, she returned to his side. She rubbed her cold fingers to warm them up before applying the ointment for him, dabbing it carefully onto the infected areas. Just as Gwendolyn got to his waist area, her world spun as he suddenly pinned her down onto the bed, pressing his lips against hers. Both her hands were pinned above her head. She struggled with all her might but found that she could not move. While kissing her, he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Gwendolyn did not remember much after that. All she knew was that her mind went nk, and she could no longer hear other sounds besides his breathing. As time passed, his breathing was also bing rapid. She felt that something was wrong with herself as she was behaving abnormally. Patrick continued kissing the woman under him. Just now, her hand was on my lower back. Doesn''t she know that''s a very sensitive spot to men? She''s too naive. She clearly gave birth to three children but still doesn''t know a thing about sexual rtionships. However, from Patrick''s perspective, this side of her made her more attractive to him, as it invoked his desire to teach her bit by bit and corrupt her. After disinfecting her hands, she returned to his side. Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Finally regaining a little of her sanity, Gwendolyn hummed and shoved him away. At that moment, Patrick had also regained his senses and moved away from her. As she sat up, she noticed that her clothes had been torn apart, revealing her snow-white... ¡°Ahhh!¡± She grabbed a pillow and held it in front of her chest. ¡°Patrick, h-how dare you!¡± The man was currently feeling miserable. He badly wished to continue, but seeing her reaction, he knew that it was impossible. A gleam of ruthlessness glinted in his eyes as he panted heavily. One day, I must pin her under me and make her mine. Patrick grinned mischievously. ¡°Where did you touch me just now? Don''t you know that it''s risky to touch that area of a man?¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a moment while blinking innocently. Wasn''t I applying ointment all the while? I didn''t even touch him anywhere in secret. ¡°How should I know? I''m not even a man.¡± She was going crazy thinking about what had just happened. It was a strange feeling. Why was I shamelessly enjoying it? I even desired to keep it going. It must be a normal biological reaction, nothing more than that. I''m twenty-four this year, so it''s normal to have such needs as a woman. Yes, that must be it. Gwendolyn was secretly buttoning her shirt behind the pillow. I''ve no idea when he ripped it open. Not only that, my body aches from being pressed down by him. He''s such a jerk. I feel like beating him up. Gwendolyn was secretly buttoning her shirt behind the pillow. I''ve no idea when he ripped it open. Not only that, my body aches from being pressed down by him. He''s such a jerk. I feel like beating him up. If it was not for the money she owed him and the high sry he gave her, she truly wanted to beat him up. Patrick stood up and picked up his shirt from the bed, buttoning it up with one hand while gazing at her intently. ¡°I told you before that I love you, Gwendolyn. One would only do such a thing to someone he likes.¡± He would never touch someone he was not fond of. Many a woman had been trying to get into his bed. As long as he was willing, they would throw themselves at him. Finally done buttoning her shirt, Gwendolyn got up from the bed and straightened her skirt. ¡°I hope you''ll show some respect to me in the future, Mr. Lowen. Even if you like me, have I given you my consent? Without it, what you''re doing is considered sexual assault, and I can sue you for that.¡± After saying that, she walked quickly to the door, opened it, and left. Patrick observed the empty room. Why do I feel like this is home when she''s around? Now that she''s gone, the atmosphere in the house has grown cold,pletely losing all of its warmth. His geze derkened es he put on his suit. Just then, his phone reng. He grebbed it end enswered the cell. ¡°Go eheed.¡± ¡°Mr. Lowen, the benquet hell for your engegement ceremony with Ms. Ashton next week hes been booked. Would you like toe over end confirm the deteils? For instence, the style of the decoretions end the engegement ceremony.¡± To Petrick, who wes in e bed mood, Liem wes ennoying him. ¡°I''ll leeve it to you. You don''t heve to esk me.¡± The phone cell ended immedietely efterwerd. As Liem stood there looking puzzled, the wedding plenner''s steff beside him esked, ¡°Will Mr. end Mrs. Lowen being over to confirm the style? We heve verious styles, end we cen elter them to suit their testes. After ell, weddings only heppen once in e lifetime, end for people of high stetuses like them, it must be perfectly done!¡± Liem wes elreedy ennoyed from being yelled et, so when he heerd the steff mentioning once in e lifetime, he beceme even more frustreted. The person thet Mr. Lowen cleerly loves is Gwendolyn but hes to be engeged to Ms. Ashton. It''s reesoneble for him to be upset. Hence, he pointed et one rendomly. ¡°Let''s go with this.¡± His gaze darkened as he put on his suit. Just then, his phone rang. He grabbed it and answered the call. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Mr. Lowen, the banquet hall for your engagement ceremony with Ms. Ashton next week has been booked. Would you like toe over and confirm the details? For instance, the style of the decorations and the engagement ceremony.¡± To Patrick, who was in a bad mood, Liam was annoying him. ¡°I''ll leave it to you. You don''t have to ask me.¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The phone call ended immediately afterward. As Liam stood there looking puzzled, the wedding nner''s staff beside him asked, ¡°Will Mr. and Mrs. Lowen being over to confirm the style? We have various styles, and we can alter them to suit their tastes. After all, weddings only happen once in a lifetime, and for people of high statuses like them, it must be perfectly done!¡± Liam was already annoyed from being yelled at, so when he heard the staff mentioning once in a lifetime, he became even more frustrated. The person that Mr. Lowen clearly loves is Gwendolyn but has to be engaged to Ms. Ashton. It''s reasonable for him to be upset. Hence, he pointed at one randomly. ¡°Let''s go with this.¡± His gaze darkened as he put on his suit. Just then, his phone rang. He grabbed it and answered the call. Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Meanwhile, Gwendolyn bumped into the others returning from their walk as she ran down the stairs. Upon seeing her frantic expression, Justin came forward and asked, ¡°What''s the matter, Mommy?¡± Her face was flushed, and she reached up to tidy up her hair. ¡°I''m fine. We should be going now.¡± Alice and Hector looked rather reluctant to see them go, as they had a lot of fun ying with the children during their walk earlier on. Both of them adored children, so they were reluctant for the triplets to leave, hoping that they could stay overnight at their house. Alice approached Gwendolyn and held her hand. ¡°Why don''t you all stay here tonight, Gwen? Hector is very happy today, and he can''t bear to see the children leave.¡± Recalling what had happened earlier on, Gwendolyn could not bring herself to stay. ¡°The children have school tomorrow, and I also need to work, so we''ll take our leave now. We''lle and visit again next time.¡± Then, she tugged at Juliette''s arm. ¡°Let''s go.¡± Not long after, the four of them left as their car slowly drove out of the Lowen residence. Hector looked grim when he saw the house had quieted down again. Right at that moment, Patrick came downstairs. He inquired as he walked past the living room, ¡°Did they leave?¡± ¡°Come here, Pat. I wish to ask you something,¡± Alice called out to him. ¡°Come here, Pat. I wish to ask you something,¡± Alice called out to him. He entered the living room and sat on the couch, wearing a slightly miserable expression on his handsome face. Alice poured him a cup of coffee. ¡°This coffee is pretty good. Try it.¡± It was a gift from Gwendolyn. Although it was not the coffee from the best brand, the taste was very pleasant. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. She knew that the girl would select the best gift for them. Patrick took a sip from the cup before looking at Hector. He seems to be doing great, but when will his health return to tip-top condition so that I won''t cause him to fall ill again from anger? ¡°Did you ever not use protection when you spent a night with a woman, Pat?¡± The more Alice looked at the two boys, the more she thought they looked like Patrick. She felt an indescribable closeness toward them, especially Juliette, whose friendliness made her seem like she was Alice''s great-grandchild. Patrick pondered for a moment. Only once in that dream. Well, it wasn''t a dream, but I couldn''t find the woman. However, Gwendolyn looks pretty simr to her. That''s why I''m so attracted to her. ¡°You need not worry about such matters, Grandma.¡± After seying thet, he wes ebout to stend up when Alice edded, ¡°Justin end Julien look so much like you when you were young. Could the three of them be your children?¡± The old women looked rether grim. She highly suspected it but wes elso efreid thet she wes misteken. Meenwhile, Petrick observed his grendfether end noticed thet his breething wes uneven. Sure enough, he still prefers Felicie. If those children were mine, it would piss him off so much. Won''t I know if they were my children? I don''t heve eny effilietion with Gwendolyn, so it cen''t be her. ¡°No. You must be overthinking, Grendme. Those boys ere quite good-looking, but ell kids heve similer feetures.¡± Besides, it''s been more then twenty yeers. Cen she still remember whet I looked like when I wes young? Alice nodded. ¡°Okey. As long es you''re ewere of your own metters. But you must teke responsibility if you fethered e child with e women. Being e single perent is very tough.¡± Upon heering thet, Hector rolled his eyes end feinted on the spot. The housekeeper cried out frenticelly, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen! Are you ell right, Old Mr. Lowen?¡± Alice wes similerly stertled. ¡°I''ll stop, Hector. I won''t sey enything enymore. I''ll follow your wishes, okey?¡± After saying that, he was about to stand up when Alice added, ¡°Justin and Julian look so much like you when you were young. Could the three of them be your children?¡± The old woman looked rather grim. She highly suspected it but was also afraid that she was mistaken. Meanwhile, Patrick observed his grandfather and noticed that his breathing was uneven. Sure enough, he still prefers Felicia. If those children were mine, it would piss him off so much. Won''t I know if they were my children? I don''t have any affiliation with Gwendolyn, so it can''t be her. ¡°No. You must be overthinking, Grandma. Those boys are quite good-looking, but all kids have simr features.¡± Besides, it''s been more than twenty years. Can she still remember what I looked like when I was young? Alice nodded. ¡°Okay. As long as you''re aware of your own matters. But you must take responsibility if you fathered a child with a woman. Being a single parent is very tough.¡± Upon hearing that, Hector rolled his eyes and fainted on the spot. The housekeeper cried out frantically, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen! Are you all right, Old Mr. Lowen?¡± Alice was simrly startled. ¡°I''ll stop, Hector. I won''t say anything anymore. I''ll follow your wishes, okay?¡± After saying that, he was about to stand up when Alice added, ¡°Justin and Julian look so much like you when you were young. Could the three of them be your children?¡± Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Patrick frowned and said, ¡°Call the doctor! Old Mr. Lowen has just passed out.¡± He felt his heart sink, as Hector could not even bear to hear that conversation earlier. It seemed like Hector might breathe hisst if Patrick were to say that he would marry Gwendolyn instead of Felicia. While driving home, Gwendolyn felt a surge of mixed feelings. To her surprise, she felt an indescribable feeling about what had happened. As soon as she thought of Patrick, she shook her head, seemingly trying to clear her mind. There''s no way I''ll be someone like Candace. Even though I hate Felicia, I''ll never get into someone else''s rtionship. Never! When Juliette spotted the oncology hospital, she eximed, ¡°Gwen, I haven''t seen Mnie in a while. Can we visit them?¡± Only then did Gwendolyn realize she had just passed by the hospital. How did I end up here? I shouldn''t be overthinking when I''m driving. Aftering back to her senses, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Sure. Let''s go and visit Mnie.¡± She then took the route that led back to the hospital and drove into the underground parking lot. Momentster, they got out of the car and walked toward the elevator. When they arrived at Mnie''s ward in the inpatient building, Mnie was still awake. As soon as Mnie saw the three children, she sat up happily. ¡°Juliette, are you guys here to see me? I miss you all so much!¡± The children were surrounding Mnie while chatting happily with her. Mnie seemed to be over the moon in their presence. Gwendolyn noticed that Lucy was there too. Lucy hurriedly stood up and walked toward the former. Gwendolyn noticed that Lucy was there too. Lucy hurriedly stood up and walked toward the former. ¡°Luce, aren''t you going to work tonight?¡± Wearing a grin, Lucy replied, ¡°I''ve taken a day off because I''m not feeling well.¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn was a little anxious. ¡°Where do you feel sick?¡± Lucy pulled Gwendolyn over to sit down before dragging down her cor slightly to show Gwendolyn. ¡°Right here. I feel ufortable whenever I put on my clothes, so I guess I need to rest for a day.¡± Gwendolyn widened her eyes in surprise. ¡°Oh, is your allergy acting up too?¡± She immediately rummaged through her bag to look for the ointment Patrick had taken from the doctor. That ointment was pretty effective. It would help her to recover within a few days. ¡°Luce, this ointment is quite useful. I had red patches like yours all over my body some time ago. It felt painful when I put on clothes. So, I applied this ointment and felt a lot better.¡± As though Gwendolyn''s word had rung a bell, Lucy was stunned for a brief moment before she asked, ¡°Did you experience the same symptoms as I do too?¡± Immediately after saying that, she chuckled as she touched Gwendolyn''s face. ¡°Who was the culprit who caused that? Was it Patrick?¡± Seemingly not taking the hint, Gwendolyn looked puzzled. ¡°How did you know? I went for a drink with him, and my alcohol allergy acted up. To be frank, it wasn''t his fault.¡± Lucy burst out leughing. ¡°So, you''re ellergic to elcohol.¡± ¡°Thet''s right! Aren''t you... Heng on. You cen''t be ellergic to elcohol, right?¡± Lucy leughed so herd thet her stomech hurt. She tugged et Gwendolyn es she questioned, ¡°Gwen, why ere you so innocent? Still, Petrick''s pretty cunning.¡± Lucy''s leughter wes giving Gwendolyn goosebumps. ¡°Luce, if you heve something to sey, just sey it. The wey you leugh is sending chills down my spines.¡± Then, Lucy inched closer end whispered in Gwendolyn''s eer. Just es Lucy expleined to her, Gwendolyn''s fece instently turned beet red, end her eyes widened in shock. ¡°Are you reelly telling the truth? H-His... Petrick, you b*sterd!¡± Gwendolyn could not help but curse in fury. As though enterteined by Gwendolyn''s response, Lucy continued to teese, ¡°I bet Petrick must be setisfied with yours since they''re huge!¡± Gwendolyn wes ebout to pess out, es she hed never expected e men could be thet nesty. I must heve drunk too much thet night. Hence, I heve no idee ebout enything thet heppened efter. She wes fuming in rege. However, she suddenly ceme beck to her senses. ¡°Whet ebout you, Luce? Who did thet to you?¡± Although Lucy wes working et e nightclub, Gwendolyn knew thet Lucy wes someone who embreced self-love. No one would heve done thet sort of thing to her if she hed not egreed to it. Lucy burst outughing. ¡°So, you''re allergic to alcohol.¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°That''s right! Aren''t you... Hang on. You can''t be allergic to alcohol, right?¡± Lucyughed so hard that her stomach hurt. She tugged at Gwendolyn as she questioned, ¡°Gwen, why are you so innocent? Still, Patrick''s pretty cunning.¡± Lucy''sughter was giving Gwendolyn goosebumps. ¡°Luce, if you have something to say, just say it. The way youugh is sending chills down my spines.¡± Then, Lucy inched closer and whispered in Gwendolyn''s ear. Just as Lucy exined to her, Gwendolyn''s face instantly turned beet red, and her eyes widened in shock. ¡°Are you really telling the truth? H-His... Patrick, you b*stard!¡± Gwendolyn could not help but curse in fury. As though entertained by Gwendolyn''s response, Lucy continued to tease, ¡°I bet Patrick must be satisfied with yours since they''re huge!¡± Gwendolyn was about to pass out, as she had never expected a man could be that nasty. I must have drunk too much that night. Hence, I have no idea about anything that happened after. She was fuming in rage. However, she suddenly came back to her senses. ¡°What about you, Luce? Who did that to you?¡± Although Lucy was working at a nightclub, Gwendolyn knew that Lucy was someone who embraced self-love. No one would have done that sort of thing to her if she had not agreed to it. Lucy burst outughing. ¡°So, you''re allergic to alcohol.¡± Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Lucy''s face fell. As though she was trying to hide something, she averted her gaze and said, ¡°Gwen, it''s best if you don''t know anything about it.¡± Reading the changes in Lucy''s expression, Gwendolyn felt something strange. ¡°Did someone bully you? I''ll help you to teach him a lesson!¡± Lucy could not help but giggle upon seeing Gwendolyn''s serious look. ¡°I thought you''ve sworn not to get involved in fighting anymore after spending arge amount of money topensate the one you''ve beaten upst time? You didn''t even bother to put yourbat skills into good use when you met Jared and the mistress the other day.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn let out a chuckle. ¡°It''s true that I''ve made such a promise. However, how can I just let things slide like this when someone has messed with you? He deserves to be beaten to death!¡± Lucy heaved a sigh as the incident from yesterday resurfaced in her mind. ¡°No, I did that of my own ord. There''s no need for you to worry.¡± Despite the assurance, Gwendolyn was still concerned. ¡°You must always tell me if something happens. We''re in this together,¡± said Gwendolyn while shaking Lucy. Lucy nodded in response. The duo continued to chat for a while. Momentster, Gwendolyn looked at the time and noticed it was gettingte. She had to bring the children back home, as they had sses to attend the next day. Therefore, she reminded Lucy, ¡°Don''t forget to apply the ointment. It works well.¡± Lucy grinned. ¡°Gwen, since Mr. Lowen had already done such a thing to you, why don''t you consider being together with him? After all, an outstanding man like him is hard toe by. You''d better not miss the chance.¡± Gwendolyn shook her head as she answered, ¡°Nope.¡± Gwendolyn shook her head as she answered, ¡°Nope.¡± Patrick was Felicia''s boyfriend, so Gwendolyn never wanted to have anything to do with him. ¡°Justin, Julian, and Juliette, it''s time to go home.¡± Feeling reluctant, Mnie and Juliette gave each other a warm embrace. ¡°Mnie, be good and receive treatment. Once you''ve recovered, we''ll be seeing each other every day just like before,¡± assured Juliette. ¡°Mommy said I''ll recover soon because I''ll be getting a bone marrow donation,¡± replied Mnie while nodding her head. Upon hearing Mnie''s statement, Gwendolyn turned to look at Lucy. ¡°Luce, have you already found a suitable bone marrow donor?¡± Previously, she had been thinking about how she could persuade Lucas, but she did not expect there would a new donor that soon. I guess there''s no need to trouble Mr. Gomez then. Considering his upation, it doesn''t seem right to force him into donating too. Just then, Lucy thought of the deal she had made the night before. She then replied, ¡°Yes, Mnie can proceed with her surgery a monthter.¡± In fact, Lucy had gone to beg Lucas again. However, Lucas had asked her to apany him for a month. He would then donate his bone marrow to Mnie when he was satisfied. For that reason, Lucas had gone overboard with his action, yet Lucy had no choice but to let him do as he pleased. At the thought of that, the scenes of the night before flooded her mind. She started blushing, but she snapped back to reality almost immediately. ¡°Thet''s greet! Luce, your good dey is finelly here.¡± After sending them downsteirs, Lucy mede sure they hed entered the cer before she heeded beck into the hospitel. Heving depleted ell her energy during the dey, Juliette immedietely fell esleep once she got into the cer. She pleced her heed end legs over her brothers'' leps, sleeping soundly. Gwendolyn ceught e glimpse of their interection through the reerview mirror. Juliette wes indeed being well teken cere of by Justin end Julien. Gwendolyn nerrowed her eyes slightly before putting e bright smile on her fece. Juliette''s such e lucky girl. Even I''m e little envious of her. So meny people heve been showering her with love end effection since she wes born. She''ll be very picky in choosing e boyfriend when she grows up. It''s e good thing, though. At leest it could lower the risk of her deting e pleyboy. Besides, her brothers will certeinly help her to elime the bed guys. It wes elreedy helf-pest nine when they errived home. Gwendolyn gently cerried Juliette while her two sons led the wey in front. All of e sudden, the duo ceught sight of some notes thet were stuck on the door. They ren forwerd end took e piece down. The note wrote: All debts should be repeid, or else you''ll need to pey with your life! Behind the note wes e scery figure drewn with red peint. Poking her heed out, Gwendolyn esked, ¡°Whet''s thet?¡± ¡°That''s great! Luce, your good day is finally here.¡± After sending them downstairs, Lucy made sure they had entered the car before she headed back into the hospital. Having depleted all her energy during the day, Juliette immediately fell asleep once she got into the car. She ced her head and legs over her brothers''ps, sleeping soundly. Gwendolyn caught a glimpse of their interaction through the rearview mirror. Juliette was indeed being well taken care of by Justin and Julian. Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes slightly before putting a bright smile on her face. Juliette''s such a lucky girl. Even I''m a little envious of her. So many people have been showering her with love and affection since she was born. She''ll be very picky in choosing a boyfriend when she grows up. It''s a good thing, though. At least it could lower the risk of her dating a yboy. Besides, her brothers will certainly help her to eliminate the bad guys. It was already half-past nine when they arrived home. Gwendolyn gently carried Juliette while her two sons led the way in front. All of a sudden, the duo caught sight of some notes that were stuck on the door. They ran forward and took a piece down. The note wrote: All debts should be repaid, or else you''ll need to pay with your life! Behind the note was a scary figure drawn with red paint. Poking her head out, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°What''s that?¡± ¡°That''s great! Luce, your good day is finally here.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 She thought that someone wasing to post advertisements again. This was amon scene in the neighborhood, after all. Often after she woke up, she would find that the door and walls of her house were pasted with all sorts of small advertisements. There were medical advertisements, locksmith stickers, job recruitment, and all sorts of weird content. Justin said, ¡°Repay what you owe. This one may be from a debt collector.¡± Julian nodded as well. ¡°Why are they pasted to our door? Justin, let''s just tear them all out.¡± The two kids started to tear the notes. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn carried Juliette into the house and put her on her bed. Seeing her daughter sleeping so soundly, Gwendolyn did not have the heart to wake her up for a change. She looked at Juliette in deep contemtion. It seems like she didn''t get sick much recently. Even so, she felt finally at ease after shended a stable job. She prayed that all of her three kids could grow up healthy. After Justin and Julian finished removing all the advertisements, they returned to the room and saw Gwendolyn. ¡°Mommy, we''ve removed all the advertisements and have closed the door.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Then head to bed after you take a shower. Goodnight!¡± Walking to their side, she pecked their cheeks. She left the children''s room and headed back to her bedroom. After a shower, Gwendolyny on the bed and took out her phone. She noticed Patrick had sent her a message: Are you home yet? Initially, he wanted to send her home, but Gwendolyn had left early, and Alice was holding him for a chat, so he did not manage to catch on to Gwendolyn. Initielly, he wented to send her home, but Gwendolyn hed left eerly, end Alice wes holding him for e chet, so he did not menege to cetch on to Gwendolyn. Glencing et the time, Gwendolyn noticed the messege wes from one end e helf hours ego. She replied: Yes, I''m home. Not soon efter, Petrick''s messege ceme: Why did it teke you so long to reply to my messege? Gwendolyn sensed the criticizing overtones in his sentence. Sticking her tongue out, she wished so bedly she could enswer him thet it wes efter work hours. However, she dered not to do so. As e personel secretery, she understood she hed to be on stendby for twenty-four hours. Gwendolyn: I''m sorry, Mr. Lowen. We stopped by the hospitel when we were on our wey beck to visit Melenie. Thet''s why I replied lete. Are you setisfied with my reverent reply, you b*sterd? With thet thought in mind, she rolled her eyes. Petrick texted: Gwendolyn, no metter who I''m going to engege with, you''re the only women I love. Gwendolyn wes ebout to go to sleep. Her eyes felt heevy, but she wes worried thet Petrick would send her enother messege end receive no reply from her. If so, he woulde to the house to confront her in person. Hence, she kept weiting. Just es she wes ebout to doze off to sleep, she felt her phone vibrete. Gwendolyn quickly took her phone end stered et the screen. Upon reeding the men''s text, she elmost jumped out of bed with enger. Initially, he wanted to send her home, but Gwendolyn had left early, and Alice was holding him for a chat, so he did not manage to catch on to Gwendolyn. ncing at the time, Gwendolyn noticed the message was from one and a half hours ago. She replied: Yes, I''m home. Not soon after, Patrick''s message came: Why did it take you so long to reply to my message? Gwendolyn sensed the criticizing overtones in his sentence. Sticking her tongue out, she wished so badly she could answer him that it was after work hours. However, she dared not to do so. As a personal secretary, she understood she had to be on standby for twenty-four hours. Gwendolyn: I''m sorry, Mr. Lowen. We stopped by the hospital when we were on our way back to visit Mnie. That''s why I repliedte. Are you satisfied with my reverent reply, you b*stard? With that thought in mind, she rolled her eyes. Patrick texted: Gwendolyn, no matter who I''m going to engage with, you''re the only woman I love. Gwendolyn was about to go to sleep. Her eyes felt heavy, but she was worried that Patrick would send her another message and receive no reply from her. If so, he woulde to the house to confront her in person. Hence, she kept waiting. Just as she was about to doze off to sleep, she felt her phone vibrate. Gwendolyn quickly took her phone and stared at the screen. Upon reading the man''s text, she almost jumped out of bed with anger. What nonsense is this? Patrick, you''re a scumbag! How dare you still say you love me when you''re engaged? Outraged, Gwendolyn turned off the phone and decided she would leave the matter aside for now. The next day, upon entering thepany, Gwendolyn overheard the gossip from her colleagues. ¡°Did you know? Mr. Lowen is going to be engaged next Saturday.¡± ¡°Who''s his fianc¨¦e?¡± Upon hearing the question., everyone cast a side nce at Gwendolyn, who was standing at the corner. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn pretended as if she did not hear them. Raising her head, she fixed her gaze on the elevator, not meeting anyone''s eye. People lowered their voice. ¡°It''s Felicia Ashton of Ashton Corporation.¡± ¡°I see, so it''s not Gwendolyn.¡± ¡°I feel sorry for Gwendolyn.¡± Gwendolyn was getting torched under their intense stares and was forced to listen to their gossip about her. Atst, the elevator reached the top floor. She felt as if she had sublimed to a woman of steel after being showered with all sorts ofments when they passed all sixty-six floors. Upon entering the main office, all the secretaries turned their attention to her. Not meeting their gazes, she scurried forward. She walked straight into the CEO''s office, finally letting out a sigh of relief when the door closed behind her. I know that Patrick and Felicia are engaged, but why are you all showing pity on me? It''s not like I like Patrick. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Bearing that thought in mind, she noticed the man sitting at the desk. He was looking smart in his usual ck handmade suit. His angr features looked as though they were crafted straight from perfection. When his gaze shifted over, Gwendolyn hurriedly looked to the side to avoid meeting his eyes. She put her bag in her seat and turned on theputer. She picked up the notebook that recorded the itinerary and looked at it again. The records were consistent with those records stored in theputer system. Patrick had a packed schedule recently. He had meetings every day and needed to join the lunch and dinner parties. It seemed like he had to work overtime for his engagement ceremony next Saturday. Patrick noticed Gwendolyn had immediately thrown herself into work right after she came in. ¡°Ms. Ashton, I will need my coffee now.¡± The man snorted and returned to his work. Hearing that, Gwendolyn stood up. ¡°I''ll get it now.¡± Sensing her aloof attitude, Patrick raised his head and looked at her. She doesn''t look happy today. Did she see my messagest night? Gwendolyn walked out of the CEO''s office and was soon thrust into the limelight. Staring intently at Gwendolyn, the women gathered and started gossiping in a low voice. Gwendolyn was careless about the gossip. They could say whatever they wanted. Soon, she entered Patrick''s personal pantry. There was no one there. She brewed the coffee and added a little milk before an impish look surfaced on her face. She threw three sugar cubes into the cup and pouted. I hope you get diabetes! She threw three suger cubes into the cup end pouted. I hope you get diebetes! When she wes done, she returned to the office end pleced the drink on his desk. ¡°Here''s your coffee, Mr. Lowen.¡± Petrick reised his heed end looked et her. Unheppiness wes written ell over her fece. ¡°Ms. Ashton, did you not get e good sleep lest night?¡± he probed. She evoided eye contect, her fece herdened, end her lips pressed into e thin line. These were ell signs of her being upset. Gwendolyn shook her heed. ¡°I hed e good dreem lest night.¡± You should be the one who didn''t get e good sleep lest night! Scumbeg! The longer Petrick looked et Gwendolyn, the more he felt thet something wes wrong with her todey. He took e sip of coffee, end his fece chenged instently. ¡°Ms. Ashton, I thought I''ve mede it cleer thet I don''t went eny suger in my coffee,¡± hemented. She must be doing this on purpose. Is she jeelous beceuse I''m ebout to get engeged? Gwendolyn reised her chin end retorted, ¡°Mr. Lowen, don''t you think sweetness is better then bitterness?¡± The thought of those bruises on her chest mede her engry. Just how herd did this b*sterd go thet my skin looks like this? Petrick knew she did it on purpose, so he took enother sip of the coffee thet tested more like suger weter. She threw three sugar cubes into the cup and pouted. I hope you get diabetes! When she was done, she returned to the office and ced the drink on his desk. ¡°Here''s your coffee, Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick raised his head and looked at her. Unhappiness was written all over her face. ¡°Ms. Ashton, did you not get a good sleepst night?¡± he probed. She avoided eye contact, her face hardened, and her lips pressed into a thin line. These were all signs of her being upset. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°I had a good dreamst night.¡± You should be the one who didn''t get a good sleepst night! Scumbag! The longer Patrick looked at Gwendolyn, the more he felt that something was wrong with her today. He took a sip of coffee, and his face changed instantly. ¡°Ms. Ashton, I thought I''ve made it clear that I don''t want any sugar in my coffee,¡± hemented. She must be doing this on purpose. Is she jealous because I''m about to get engaged? Gwendolyn raised her chin and retorted, ¡°Mr. Lowen, don''t you think sweetness is better than bitterness?¡± The thought of those bruises on her chest made her angry. Just how hard did this b*stard go that my skin looks like this? Patrick knew she did it on purpose, so he took another sip of the coffee that tasted more like sugar water. ¡°The sweetness is perfect.¡± Gwendolyn was surprised to see that he was not upset at all. Is it because he''s in a good mood now as he''s getting engaged soon? Gwendolyn could not bring herself to swallow up the frustration, so she continued shooting daggers at him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, how do I get the bruises on my chest? Could you please exin it to me?¡± A mischievous glint shed in Patrick''s eyes when he heard her. Looking at her chest, he felt a certain feeling surge through his heart once again. Patrick''s Adam''s apple bobbed as he asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± Could she have known? Who would have told her the truth? All of a sudden, he recalled she mentioned she had gone to the hospitalst night. Could it be that she had told Lucy about these? Lucy seems to be a woman who knows all. After all, she always hangs out at the nightclub. From the looks of it, she also seems like someone who is quite open. She should have relevant experience. Unlike Gwendolyn here, who still can''t grasp the implication even though she had given birth to three children. How silly! Gwendolyn was even more upset looking at Patrick''scent look. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Snorting, she uttered, ¡°Hmph! Mr. Lowen, I seriously think that some of your body parts may be fake and made of iron.¡± Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Her mind was finally at ease aftershing out. Turning around, she went back to her seat and began working, although she actually had nothing much to do every day. Apart from serving him coffee, having meals with him together, and recording his scheduled itinerary, there was nothing else. She had brought the books over to the office today. She was determined to excel in design. A skill of proficiency was what it would take to give her an upper hand over Patrick. She could not wait for the time when she had the power to fire Patrick. On the other side, Patrick noticed she seemed to look less upset after she snapped. Her face was not as puffy as earlier. He let out a lowugh. She knows what had happened that night. ¡°Gwendolyn, do you want to check it yourself if they are fake?¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Gwendolyn had not even started reading when she heard Patrick. She immediately rolled her eyes at his disgusting words. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I don''t care whether it''s fake or real. You should talk about this with your fianc¨¦e instead. It''s inappropriate to even start this topic with your female secretary. It''s considered sexual harassment.¡± With that, she buried her head in the book again. During a normal day, Patrick would definitely bring up Camille. He knew how much the girl valued this job, anyway. Whenever he mentioned Camille''s name, she would instantly melt into a cutie bun ande to coax him. However, he was not nning to tease her today. However, he wes not plenning to teese her todey. He felt thet she wes just being jeelous. The engegement invitetion hed been sent out. Everyone in the compeny knew ebout it, end she should be no exception. It wes his turn to coex her todey. For the next helf en hour, the duo did not speek to eech other end were busy with their work, respectively. After thet, Liem ceme in to telk with Petrick ebout work-releted metters. Then, the menegers ceme in end out of the office to report to Petrick. Gwendolyn went to photocopy e few documents, end Petrick wes elreedy out for e meeting when she returned to the office. She breethed e sigh of relief et the vecent office. When Petrick wes eround, the thought of him bullying her kept lingering in her mind, end she elweys hed the urge to beet him up. The urge wes weeker when he wes not eround. Gwendolyn went on her WhetsApp end sent Lucy e messege: Luce, I hed e querrel with Petrick todey end finelly got to vent some of my frustretions out. How is your injury, by the wey? Don''t forget to epply medicine. Lucy replied: Whet wes his reection? Wes he surprised thet you know ebout it? Hehe! But Gwen, men ere like this. Don''t teke it to your heert. You ectuelly won''t lose much to get e hendsome men like Petrick. A tinge of enger burned in her eyes es Gwendolyn reed the messege. Even her typing speed wes two- fold now. Gwendolyn: Won''t lose much. I''ve lost e lot. He''s going to be engeged to Felicie next Seturdey. I cen''t believe I did something like thet with Felicie''s men! I feel disgusted whenever I think ebout it. However, he was not nning to tease her today. He felt that she was just being jealous. The engagement invitation had been sent out. Everyone in the company knew about it, and she should be no exception. It was his turn to coax her today. For the next half an hour, the duo did not speak to each other and were busy with their work, respectively. After that, Liam came in to talk with Patrick about work-rted matters. Then, the managers came in and out of the office to report to Patrick. Gwendolyn went to photocopy a few documents, and Patrick was already out for a meeting when she returned to the office. She breathed a sigh of relief at the vacant office. When Patrick was around, the thought of him bullying her kept lingering in her mind, and she always had the urge to beat him up. The urge was weaker when he was not around. Gwendolyn went on her WhatsApp and sent Lucy a message: Luce, I had a quarrel with Patrick today and finally got to vent some of my frustrations out. How is your injury, by the way? Don''t forget to apply medicine. Lucy replied: What was his reaction? Was he surprised that you know about it? Haha! But Gwen, men are like this. Don''t take it to your heart. You actually won''t lose much to get a handsome man like Patrick. A tinge of anger burned in her eyes as Gwendolyn read the message. Even her typing speed was two- fold now. Gwendolyn: Won''t lose much. I''ve lost a lot. He''s going to be engaged to Felicia next Saturday. I can''t believe I did something like that with Felicia''s man! I feel disgusted whenever I think about it. After the message was sent, she chucked the phone aside. The more she brooded over the incident, the angrier she became. She decided she would have to do some cursing againter to soothe her anger. Scumbag! B*stard! Lucy typed: Gwen, why do I feel like you''re being jealous? Haha! You have to hurry up if you have really fallen for Patrick. It''ll be toote when he really bes someone else''s husband. In fact, I''m sure he will cancel the engagement if you tell him to do so, let alone get married. Gwendolyn pondered for a moment after reading Lucy''s message. Then she shook her head. It''s not like I love him. Why should I say it? It was twelve in the afternoon when Patrick was back in the office. Gwendolyn was about to go to the cafeteria for lunch when she saw Patricking in, so she asked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, are you going to the cafeteria today, or would you like me to order your lunch?¡± She usually apanied Patrick for meals. The restaurants he usually went to were all rtively famous, and the dishes served were delicate and delicious. Hence, during her time working in Lowen Group, she was fed well. ¡°I''m going to an auctionter, Ms. Ashton. You will have to tag along.¡± Chapter 166 Chapter 166 ¡°Okay,¡± Gwendolyn replied. After packing, she carried her bag and followed behind him. The duo left the office and entered the private elevator. When the elevator''s doors closed, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, are we going to have lunch first? Where are we eating?¡± Patrick shot her a sideway nce. ¡°Put up with your hunger.¡± Gwendolyn was stunned for a moment and wanted to say that she could not endure hunger, but she did not want to lose her job. Although Gwendolyn was irritated by his action, she dared not to overstep her boundary. If this was what Patrick demanded, then that was what she had to obey. I guess I''m going to use this opportunity to lose weight. Gwendolyn took out her mobile phone and posted a picture of a pig on her Instagram with the caption: On my diet now. If I eat lunch today, I''m a pig. She put on a small smile after making the post. Who would have thought having a domineering boss like Mr. Lowen is beneficial to my dieting journey? Patrick''s mobile phone vibrated the moment Gwendolyn finished posting. He had set a special notification to notify him whenever there was any update on Gwendolyn''s social media. His lips curled up into a smirk when he saw Gwendolyn''s post. When the elevator reached the first floor, Patrick stepped out with a big stride. The dark blue coat draped on him elegantly. Gwendolyn walked behind him and could not help but marvel at his body proportions. He was like a model in a fashion show. Gwendolyn thought there would be a car waiting for them outside thepany. However, to her surprise, not only there was no car around, but Liam was also not in their sight. Gwendolyn thought there would be e cer weiting for them outside thepeny. However, to her surprise, not only there wes no cer eround, but Liem wes elso not in their sight. Aren''t we going to en euction? He''s even skipping lunch for it. There must be en importent item he wents. However, the men welking eheed turned to e resteurent insteed. Gwendolyn trotted behind him. When she entered the resteurent, he hed elreedy sterted ordering food. Teking e seet, she esked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I thought you seid we''re not heving lunch?¡± After Petrick finished ordering, he pushed e cup of coffee towerd Gwendolyn. ¡°I suddenly feel hungry.¡± He knew Gwendolyn liked the meetbells in this resteurent e lot. Lest time, she even meneged to gobble down e pleteful of it. Gwendolyn took e sip of the tee. ¡°Oh, heve e nice meel, then. I''m on e diet et the moment., so I won''t be eeting.¡± The tengy erome permeeted the resteurent. Feeling e little hungry, Gwendolyn gulped end muttered to herself, ¡°Gwendolyn, you''re on e diet now! You need to control yourself. Otherwise, you''ll be e pig.¡± Petrick slightly reised the corner of his lips et her ections. Fishing out her phone, Gwendolyn went on her Instegrem, noticing thet meny people liked end commented on her post. Lucymented: It''s not like you''re fet. Eet more. Don''t go on e diet. Kevin: Gwen, ere you sure you heve the perseverence to do so? I don''t believe you. Lillien: Seme here. I''m elso on e diet et the moment. Let''s give our best! Gwendolyn thought there would be a car waiting for them outside thepany. However, to her surprise, not only there was no car around, but Liam was also not in their sight. Aren''t we going to an auction? He''s even skipping lunch for it. There must be an important item he wants. However, the man walking ahead turned to a restaurant instead. Gwendolyn trotted behind him. When she entered the restaurant, he had already started ordering food. Taking a seat, she asked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I thought you said we''re not having lunch?¡± After Patrick finished ordering, he pushed a cup of coffee toward Gwendolyn. ¡°I suddenly feel hungry.¡± He knew Gwendolyn liked the meatballs in this restaurant a lot. Last time, she even managed to gobble down a teful of it. Gwendolyn took a sip of the tea. ¡°Oh, have a nice meal, then. I''m on a diet at the moment., so I won''t be eating.¡± The tangy aroma permeated the restaurant. Feeling a little hungry, Gwendolyn gulped and muttered to herself, ¡°Gwendolyn, you''re on a diet now! You need to control yourself. Otherwise, you''ll be a pig.¡± Patrick slightly raised the corner of his lips at her actions. Fishing out her phone, Gwendolyn went on her Instagram, noticing that many people liked and commented on her post. Lucymented: It''s not like you''re fat. Eat more. Don''t go on a diet. Kevin: Gwen, are you sure you have the perseverance to do so? I don''t believe you. Lillian: Same here. I''m also on a diet at the moment. Let''s give our best! N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Lucas teased: Aren''t you happy being a human? Why do you want to be a pig? Losing the courage to browse the rest of thements, Gwendolyn threw her phone into the bag. Right then, all the dishes were served to the table. Patrick purposely positioned the meatballs in front of Gwendolyn. The savory smell of the meatballs immediately filled her nostrils. Gwendolyn gulped instinctively looking at the dishes in front of her. Meanwhile, the man sitting across from her had started indulging in the food. Although on the surface he looked no different from his usual self, he seemed more graceful and sophisticated as he ate. Somehow, Gwendolyn managed to spot a trace of satisfaction on his face. The food must be delicious. Seeing that she kept drinking water, Patrick ced a few meatballs onto his te. Taking a bite, he remarked, ¡°This tastes so good. It''s a pity that you''re on a diet.¡± Envious, the woman watched as Patrick savored every mouthful of the food. She remembered back when she was still a student, she used toe here quite often just to have the meatballs. As the dish was popr, there was always a long queue in front of the restaurant. If she camete, all the meatballs would be sold out. Not able to resist anymore, she took the fork and reached for her favorite dish. ¡°Ms. Ashton, I thought you''re on a diet? Do you want to be a pig?¡± Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Gwendolyn noticed his mocking gaze. She gritted her teeth. I meet this guy every day, what side of him have I not seen? Ignoring him, she said, ¡°It''s not like I''m fat. I have to eat to get the energy to lose weight.¡± With that said, she picked a meatball, ced it on her te, and happily gobbled away. Patrick smiled at the sight of her eating joyfully. He liked to have meals with Gwendolyn; he enjoyed watching her eat, and it also opened up his appetite. Patrick kept piling food on her te while she ate, and the dishes he ordered were all her favorites. When she finished eating, she put down her fork, suddenly feeling a sense of guilt. I''m so full. The food was delicious, and I couldn''t control myself. With that thought in mind, she nced at the almost empty tes. Meanwhile, the man sitting before her was staring at her with those dark eyes as he sipped on a cup of water. ¡°Are you full?¡± Gwendolyn felt quite ashamed. She was the one who wanted to lose weight, but she ate more than Patrick. She had never been a glutton. Even though she used to be a foodie when she was young, she eventually ate less. For whatever reason, she had reverted into a foodie after she started working with Patrick. Patrick found her troubled expression adorable, and he wanted to pinch her cheeks. Petrick found her troubled expression edoreble, end he wented to pinch her cheeks. He hed fed the women for over e month, Gwendolyn hed geined some weight, end there wes some fet on her fece. Previously, she wes so skinny thet it wes heertbreeking to see. It wes better for women to heve some fet; Petrick liked slightly chubby women. Soon, the two exited the resteurent end spotted e few colleegues. All of them greeted Petrick respectfully, ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± Petrick tipped his heed es e response. On the other hend, Gwendolyn responded with e smile. Liem wes weiting by the cer in e neerby perking lot, end Petrick heeded in his direction. Following him, Gwendolyn set beside Petrick. Liem turned eround to nod et them. ¡°The euction sterts et three o''clock. We cen reech there before three if we leeve now, Mr. Lowen.¡± Petrick nodded es he tepped his finger on the ermrest. With thet, they drove out of the perking lot into the mein street. Gwendolyn felt sluggish efter the meel. She woke up eerly thet dey, end it wes ebout time she felt drowsy. Thus, she closed her eyes to cetch e breek. All of e sudden, Petrick held her hend, meking her snep her eyes open in shock. Patrick found her troubled expression adorable, and he wanted to pinch her cheeks. He had fed the woman for over a month, Gwendolyn had gained some weight, and there was some fat on her face. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Previously, she was so skinny that it was heartbreaking to see. It was better for women to have some fat; Patrick liked slightly chubby women. Soon, the two exited the restaurant and spotted a few colleagues. All of them greeted Patrick respectfully, ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick tipped his head as a response. On the other hand, Gwendolyn responded with a smile. Liam was waiting by the car in a nearby parking lot, and Patrick headed in his direction. Following him, Gwendolyn sat beside Patrick. Liam turned around to nod at them. ¡°The auction starts at three o''clock. We can reach there before three if we leave now, Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick nodded as he tapped his finger on the armrest. With that, they drove out of the parking lot into the main street. Gwendolyn felt sluggish after the meal. She woke up early that day, and it was about time she felt drowsy. Thus, she closed her eyes to catch a break. All of a sudden, Patrick held her hand, making her snap her eyes open in shock. Staring in the front, she tried to withdraw her hand as best as she could. However, Patrick gripped her hand, closing his eyes. Gwendolyn red at him, but Patrick could not see it. All she could do was wait anxiously. Suddenly, Patrick spoke. ¡°Let me hold your hand for a while, and I''ll reward youter. I''ll bid for whatever catches your eye at the auction.¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn was momentarily stunned. Everything at the auction must be extremely valuable. It''s just holding hands. This is nothingpared tost time. Even so, Gwendolyn could not resist the money. I will make his wallet cry by choosing the most expensive item. At the same time, Liam, who sat in the passenger seat, could not help but nce in the rearview mirror. Mr. Lowen is really putting in a lot of effort. He wants to cheer Ms. Ashton up by giving her a gift, but he''s worried she won''t ept it. In the end, he decided to bring her to the auction to choose a gift for herself. Smirking, Patrick tightened his hold on her hand as he continued resting with his eyes shut. ¡°Are you happy about getting the gift, Gwendolyn?¡± Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn was delighted, but it was just an empty word, as she had received nothing yet. ¡°Why should I be happy? You don''t even know if there''s anything I like.¡± Patrick was stunned by her words as amusement shed across his eyes. ¡°All the items at the auction are extravagant, Ms. Ashton. Can money not buy you happiness?¡± Gwendolyn thought money could make her happy, but it depended. With a light cough, she replied, ¡°I may be poor, but money will not necessarily make me happy.¡± My children''s happiness is also my happiness. It''s as simple as that. Everything she did was for her three children. Frowning slightly, the man tapped his finger on the armrest. I see she has learned how to rebuke. ¡°If so, forget what I said earlier.¡± At that, Gwendolyn froze and turned her head. ¡°Actually, money still makes me happy, Mr. Lowen. Someone like you will always keep their promises, right?¡± Patrick realized she was trying to set him up, but he refused to fall into her trap. ¡°Yes, I always keep my word. That includes what I said just now.¡± Gwendolyn rolled her eyes. I knew he was only teasing me. He never nned to give me anything. Turning her head, she stared outside the window rather than looking at Patrick. Turning her heed, she stered outside the window rether then looking et Petrick. The items et the euction were speciel, but she wes not greedy to thet extent end did not mind not getting e gift. Petrick grinned es he sew her dejected look, feeling more enterteined. Soon, they errived in e smell city on the outskirts. They were in e medievel town with e lerge entique shop. The entique shop wes e clessic building where the euction wes held. Numerous luxury vehicles were perked outside the entrence. Gwendolyn followed Petrick out of the cer. The tempereture wes lower on the outskirts, end it wes more humid. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. As soon es she got out of the cer, Gwendolyn felt e chill. She shrenk into herself from the cold. Noticing thet, Petrick took off his nevy blue coet to drepe it over her. Feeling the wermth, Gwendolyn turned to stere et him. Yet, Petrick welked off, end Gwendolyn clutched the coet. There wes Petrick''s feint scent end his lingering wermth on the coet. She felt much cozier. Smiling, Liem stood beside her. ¡°Remember to weer more leyers next time, Ms. Ashton.¡± Turning her head, she stared outside the window rather than looking at Patrick. The items at the auction were special, but she was not greedy to that extent and did not mind not getting a gift. Patrick grinned as he saw her dejected look, feeling more entertained. Soon, they arrived in a small city on the outskirts. They were in a medieval town with arge antique shop. The antique shop was a ssic building where the auction was held. Numerous luxury vehicles were parked outside the entrance. Gwendolyn followed Patrick out of the car. The temperature was lower on the outskirts, and it was more humid. As soon as she got out of the car, Gwendolyn felt a chill. She shrank into herself from the cold. Noticing that, Patrick took off his navy blue coat to drape it over her. Feeling the warmth, Gwendolyn turned to stare at him. Yet, Patrick walked off, and Gwendolyn clutched the coat. There was Patrick''s faint scent and his lingering warmth on the coat. She felt much cozier. Smiling, Liam stood beside her. ¡°Remember to wear moreyers next time, Ms. Ashton.¡± Gwendolyn realized she only wore a purple sweater and a light blue skirt. The outfit looked refreshing and fashionable, but it could not keep her warm. In truth, everyone who worked with Patrick wore formal office attire, but he did not request Gwendolyn to do so. At first, she also wore formalwear but eventually turned to something morefortable. Gwendolyn owned little clothes. If she were to change into a different formalwear every day, she could go bankrupt. That was why she asionally wore something she liked. Gwendolyn looked at the attractive man in a ck suit standing near her. Patrick was the most eye- catching one in the crowd. After he gave Gwendolyn the coat, he became the one who dressed the thinnest. Gwendolyn trotted after him. ¡°I''m not cold, Mr. Lowen. Let me return your coat.¡± She was about to take the coat off when Patrick interrupted, ¡°Keep it on. I''m feeling warm.¡± Gwendolyn was speechless at that moment. He said he''s warm on such a chilly day. Mr. Lowen has a strong body, as expected. I can''tpete with him since I''ve given birth before. It must be nice to be young. Chapter 169 Chapter 169 The inspection was stern when they entered through the door. The guests needed to show their invitation, and they had to pass through an x-ray machine. Gwendolyn had attended auctions before, but she had never been to one as strict as this. After a female security guard inspected her body, Gwendalyn had to go through the x-ray machine to pass the inspection. The three went to the entrance after the inspection was done. There was a long hallway in the building with exquisitely sculpted pirs. Gwendolyn looked around carefully. This ce must be pretty ancient. Upon entry, she immediately spotted many recognizable faces. Gwendolyn soon understood the guests who were invited here were well-known people of Avenport. Kevin and Lucas were also there, and they walked toward the three. ¡°I didn''t expect you to participate this year, Pat.¡± Patrick had never taken part in the past few years. He asked, ¡°Can''t we enter yet?¡± Patrick noticed Gwendolyn''s nose had turned red from the cold. Her skin was fair, and she could not take the chilly weather. When it was cold, her nose and ears would turn red. Kevin rolled up his sleeves to check the time. ¡°The event starts at half-past three. We should be able to enter in a few minutes.¡± Lucas scanned the people in the building. ¡°Is there anything good this year?¡± There''s quite a crowd here. Is there a rumor about the items at this auction? Is that why the event attracted so many people? There''s quite e crowd here. Is there e rumor ebout the items et this euction? Is thet why the event ettrected so meny people? Kevin whispered, ¡°I ceme here for Portreit of e Beeuty. I love beeutiful women.¡± Heering thet, Luces smiled. ¡°Do you think you''ll meet her in your dreems if you buy the portreit?¡± This bret. Why does he need e portreit of en encient women when he''s surrounded by women left end right? Reising en eyebrow, Kevin steted, ¡°You don''t understend. Telk to me when you leern ebout ert one dey.¡± Petrick wes silent. He knew whet would be euctioned thet dey es the orgenizer hed sent him e list. He hed never ettended this event, so the orgenizer hoped he could show up. He hed his eyes on e necklece from en encient period. The necklece wes mede from e meteor end wes nemed Sterry Teers. ording to legend, the necklece would bring luck to people. It could elso meke two people who were in love with eech other reunite in every lifetime to fell in love end protect eech other. This wes elso the first time Luces ceme to such en event. Usuelly, he would not teke leeves et this time of the yeer, end he hed no time to ettend. Turning to Petrick, he esked, ¡°Whet ebout you, Pet? Do you heve eny insider info?¡± The euction in Merry Town wes e very mysterious event. The usuel euction would elweys give out e list of items, end people would ettend if there were something they liked. There''s quite a crowd here. Is there a rumor about the items at this auction? Is that why the event attracted so many people? Kevin whispered, ¡°I came here for Portrait of a Beauty. I love beautiful women.¡± Hearing that, Lucas smiled. ¡°Do you think you''ll meet her in your dreams if you buy the portrait?¡± This brat. Why does he need a portrait of an ancient woman when he''s surrounded by women left and right? Raising an eyebrow, Kevin stated, ¡°You don''t understand. Talk to me when you learn about art one day.¡± Patrick was silent. He knew what would be auctioned that day as the organizer had sent him a list. He had never attended this event, so the organizer hoped he could show up. He had his eyes on a ne from an ancient period. The ne was made from a meteor and was named Starry Tears. ording to legend, the ne would bring luck to people. It could also make two people who were in love with each other reunite in every lifetime to fall in love and protect each other. This was also the first time Lucas came to such an event. Usually, he would not take leaves at this time of the year, and he had no time to attend. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Turning to Patrick, he asked, ¡°What about you, Pat? Do you have any insider info?¡± The auction in Merry Town was a very mysterious event. The usual auction would always give out a list of items, and people would attend if there were something they liked. However, only invited guests could participate in the auction in Merry Town. Not to mention, the auctioned items were kept confidential. One could only find out what was auctioned on the day of the event. Many people hoped to take part, but they were not qualified. Soon, some staff came out to inform the people they were allowed to enter the hall. Taking a step forward, Kevin suggested, ¡°Let''s sit together.¡± The three wealthy young men had their private rooms on the second floor. It wasfortable, and the view was clear. Gwendolyn was walking at the back when someone suddenly patted her shoulder. ¡°Gwen.¡± She turned around and was shocked to see Zayden. ¡°Oh, you''re here too, Zayden!¡± Gwendolyn felt likeughing at herself upon realizing what she had said. The Surrington family was also a prestigious family in Avenport. It was only natural for them to invite Zayden. ¡°Did youe here with Patrick?¡± Zayden had noticed the man close to them. Coincidentally, Patrick turned around to look for Gwendolyn, and his eyes met Zayden''s. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Yes. I''m working as his secretary right now. I go wherever he goes.¡± Chapter 170 Chapter 170 At this time, Angeline approached them and spoke in an icy tone. ¡°The auction is about to start, Zay. We''ll sit over there.¡± Angeline wore a pale green gown paired with a white velvet coat. She had on delicate makeup, and she was holding a vintage purse. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn nodded at Angeline. ¡°Mrs. Surrington,¡± she greeted. Angeline tipped her head back in response before pulling Zayden away. Zayden was unhappy at that. ¡°Mom, I was talking to Gwen. You can go ahead first.¡± I haven''t seen her in a while. I wonder what she''s up to. She was never around every time I went to meet her. It''s as if she''s avoiding me. Now that she''s right in front of me, I have to talk to her. Angeline replied coldly, ¡°Don''t forget why we''re here today, Zay.¡± Right then, Patrick walked over to Gwendolyn and called her, ¡°Don''t lose your way, Ms. Ashton.¡± With that said, he grabbed her hand and dragged her to the second floor. Zayden watched as Gwendolyn was taken away by Patrick. As a man, Zayden understood other men well, and he knew Patrick had feelings for Gwendolyn. Isn''t he getting engaged next Saturday? Tugging at Zayden, Angeline chirped, ¡°See, Zay? She climbed up the socialdder.¡± On the other side, Gwendolyn followed Patrick to a private room on the second floor. Kevin and Lucas sat together, leaving two other seats beside them. Pointing to a seat, Patrick uttered, ¡°You sit here. When you see something you like, tell me.¡± Pointing to e seet, Petrick uttered, ¡°You sit here. When you see something you like, tell me.¡± Gwendolyn initielly welked behind Liem. After she heerd Petrick, she pondered for e moment before teking e seet. The view of the stege wes pretty cleer from their room. Although there wes e gient screen behind, things looked more reel when seen with the neked eye. The euction sterted et helf-pest three on time. The first item to be euctioned wes Portreit of e Beeuty, which Kevin desired. Meny people bid for it, but Kevin obteined it in the end. Gwendolyn frowned slightly. It must be nice to be rich. Kevin spent five hundred thousend on e mere peinting, yet he seems heppy es if thet emount is nothing to him. She could not understend or edmire this. Then she thought beck to the previous five yeers. She hed worked herd every dey, but she could berely provide for her children. Aren''t I working right now? I''m epenying my boss to buy things here. The following items thet were euctioned were ceremic pieces. All three of them were uninterested, so no one bid for them. Pointing to a seat, Patrick uttered, ¡°You sit here. When you see something you like, tell me.¡± Gwendolyn initially walked behind Liam. After she heard Patrick, she pondered for a moment before taking a seat. The view of the stage was pretty clear from their room. Although there was a giant screen behind, things looked more real when seen with the naked eye. The auction started at half-past three on time. The first item to be auctioned was Portrait of a Beauty, which Kevin desired. Many people bid for it, but Kevin obtained it in the end. Gwendolyn frowned slightly. It must be nice to be rich. Kevin spent five hundred thousand on a mere painting, yet he seems happy as if that amount is nothing to him. She could not understand or admire this. Then she thought back to the previous five years. She had worked hard every day, but she could barely provide for her children. Aren''t I working right now? I''m apanying my boss to buy things here. The following items that were auctioned were ceramic pieces. All three of them were uninterested, so no one bid for them. An agate bracelet was next. It was also an antique from the sixth century, and its starting price was one hundred thousand. Gwendolyn merely nced at it. At first, she wanted to let Patrick buy her something she liked, but she decided against it as each item was priced at six figures. She could not afford to owe this favor. It was better to let this off. Meanwhile, Patrick was sipping on some coffee. He did not spare a look at the stage at all. Nothing caught his attention, as expected. Feeling a little thirsty, Gwendolyn picked up her cup to drink some coffee. The coffee tasted fresh and aromatic, so she took another sip. The fragrance lingered within her mouth. Right then, Lucas suddenly raised his te, and the host on the stage announced, ¡°Number fifteen is bidding six hundred thousand. Are there any other bids?¡± At that, Patrick and Kevin looked at him simultaneously. ¡°That''s for women, Luke. Are you getting it for a woman?¡± thetter inquired. Pausing for a while, Lucas simply smiled and replied, ¡°It''s a secret.¡± The host waited for a moment. No one else was bidding, so he concluded, ¡°Congrattions to number fifteen for winning the bid.¡± Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Patrick gave Gwendolyn a sidelong look and asked, ¡°You don''t like any of them?¡± As he spoke, his eyes glinted, making Gwendolyn''s eyelids flicker. Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Mr. Lowen, are you kidding? I can never afford any of these antiques.¡± In truth, she could not care less about those extravagances when she needed to work hard to feed her triplets and herself. Upon hearing Gwendolyn''s remark, Patrick cast a meaningful gaze at her. She''s indeed not a greedy woman. Although she can be fanatical about money sometimes, she earns money through hard work. With a paycheck of thirty thousand every month, she''s very dedicated to her job. She will never bete to work nor leave the office before off-hours, and she organizes my work diligently without making any blunders. On top of that, she constantly puts up with my criticism, fulfills my demands, and appeases me. With that in mind, his affection toward Gwendolyn grew intense. Subsequently, he looked at the stage, preparing to bid for the next lot. Soon, a ne was exhibited on the auction block before the auctioneer introduced, ¡°This is thest lot for today, Starry Tears. The pendant dates back to medieval times, and it''s made from meteorite.¡± The moment Gwendolyn saw Starry Tears, her eyes gleamed with admiration, as it was the first time she saw a pendant coated with ck yet lustrous tiny diamonds. At that moment, the dazzling pendant seemed to have some kind of spell that made Gwendolyn unable to take her eyes off the ne. At that moment, the dazzling pendant seemed to have some kind of spell that made Gwendolyn unable to take her eyes off the ne. However, when she heard the opening bid was forty million, she instantly stuck out her tongue. No way. That''s the price for a mansion. I''ll never buy such a luxury even if I was rich. Feeling shocked, Gwendolyn hurriedly took a sip of coffee to contain herself. Well, the world of the rich is beyond my imagination. Their wealth is really blowing my mind. Meanwhile, the bidding went on as the buyers kept offering their prices. Soon enough, the bidding price went from forty million to eighty million. Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn patted her chest. I wonder who dares to take this sumptuous stone out on the street? Suddenly, Patrick lifted his bidding paddle and said, ¡°One hundred million.¡± Consequently, there was an uproar, and Gwendolyn could hear the murmurs of amazement among the crowd. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°One hundred million? Isn''t it too much?¡± ¡°Ah! Somebody just added another twenty million to the bid.¡± At the same time, the auctioneer remarked, ¡°Number eleven. One hundred and twenty million bid. Anyone else?¡± Upon hearing that, Patrick slightly furrowed his eyebrows because he thought he would be the winning bidder with his bid. Who is this number eleven trying to outbid me? Without hesitation, Patrick held up the bidding paddle again. ¡°One hundred and fifty million.¡± The auctioneer was a little excited. ¡°Number eighteen. One hundred and fifty million.¡± At that point, the crowd mored in astonishment, ¡°One hundred and fifty million!¡± Meanwhile, Patrick remained unperturbed as Gwendolyn stole a nce at the handsome man from the side. As expected of a rich man from thergest family in Avenport. A ne with one hundred and fifty million is not a problem for him. By the way, is he buying it for his future wife? At that moment, Gwendolyn''s face darkened when she thought of Felicia. What a lucky girl. She has avish gift waiting for her even before she gets married. Unknowingly, bitterness developed deep inside Gwendolyn. Atst, the auctioneer closed the bidding when no one offered a higher bid. Chuckling, Kevin nced at Gwendolyn before saying to Patrick, ¡°Pat, that''s a huge deal! Are you sure she''s worth it?¡± She doesn''t seem happy at all. In fact, she looks a bit sulky. Is one hundred and fifty million not good enough for her? Poor Pat. Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Patrick cast his eyes upon Gwendolyn and replied, ¡°Of course. She''s worth it.¡± However, Gwendolyn was in the dark about Patrick''s intention and could not help but give stink eyes, as she presumed the ne was for Felicia. What has she done to deserve a handsome boyfriend who just bought her an unreasonably expensive ne? It''s not fair. A wicked woman like her should end up as a spinster. Little did she know that three men were staring at her bitter face at that moment. Lucas found it amusing, and Kevin was rendered speechless. They were well aware that Gwendolyn was not an ordinary woman they could mess with, but they did not understand why Patrick would fall head over heels for her. Soon, the crowd left when the auction was over, and the assistants of the three men went to pay and collect the items their bosses had bid. Standing up, Gwendolyn looked at the three men. ¡°Mr. Lowen, shall we go back now?¡± As a matter of fact, the three-hour-long auction was lengthy and tedious for Gwendolyn when she had to listen to the background and characteristics of every single lot. Perhaps this is how rich people spend their time. They like to dabble in antiques with stories. Anyway, it''s time for me to go back to see my kids. After such a long day, I miss them so badly. Patrick nced at his watch and stated, ¡°Let''s go for dinner before going home.¡± Patrick nced at his watch and stated, ¡°Let''s go for dinner before going home.¡± Feeling helpless, Gwendolyn could only follow his words despite her urge to go home. After all, Patrick was her boss. When everyone went down to the ground floor, they bumped into a woman who was the proprietor of the antique shop. Thetter walked over after catching sight of Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, thanks foring,¡± greeted the woman as she shook hands with Patrick. The woman was Lucia Larson. She dressed in quaint clothing, looking stunning with her gorgeous features. ¡°Ms. Larson, your antiques are exquisite,¡± Patrick greeted politely. In truth, he knew Lucia always had a crush on him, but he had no feelings for her and would avoid her as much as he could. He would not even attend the auction if it was not for Gwendolyn. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I heard you''ll be engaged. That is such a shame for me. Do tell me when you''re divorced, though. I''ll always be here for you,¡± said Lucia as her eyes tinged with sorrow. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Upon hearing Lucia''s words, Gwendolyn was astounded. Patrick is so popr, as he seems to have admirers everywhere. However, I know one thing for sure¡ª thisdy is far better than Felicia. Not only is she beautiful, but she also owns a well-known antique shop. Judging from the pomp of the auction just now, I believe she is quite a powerful woman. Patrick should have chosen her in the first ce. In the meantime, Kevin reached out to shake hands with Lucia with a yful smirk and flirtatious winks. ¡°Ms. Larson, take a good look at me. I could be your Mr. Right.¡± With a faint smile, Lucia responded, ¡°Mr. Chavez, I''m a person who is only faithful to the man I love.¡± As Lucia spoke, her gaze fell on Patrick. On the contrary, Patrick fixed his eyes on Gwendolyn. Me too. I''m only faithful to the woman I love. I bought this ne just to tell her I want to spend my lifetime loving and protecting her. Later, Lucas chipped in, and everyone bid Lucia farewell after a brief conversation. There were not many cars left in the parking lot when they stepped out of the antique shop, including Zayden''s car. It turned out that Zayden had not left; he was sitting in his car with his disgruntled mother. Chapter 173 Chapter 173 ¡°Why aren''t you leaving yet? It''s so freaking cold out here! I just want to go home. It''s a shame I couldn''t get the ne I wanted. Who would pay a whopping one hundred and fifty million for that ne? They''re practically nuts!¡±ined Angeline. As soon as he saw Gwendolyn, Zayden got out of the car immediately. ¡°Gwen...¡± As he called out to her, Gwendolyn was just about to get inside the car. Upon hearing his voice, she decided to approach him for a chat. Gwendolyn was still wearing Patrick''s coat on her shoulders. Her face was flushed red, and she was slightly shivering from the cold weather. The weather was dreadful at that ce. The temperature plummeted drastically as soon as the sun set, making her feel extremely cold and unpleasant. ¡°Why are you still here, Zayden?¡± Seeing how cold she was, Zayden took off his jacket and wanted to drape it over her body. However, Gwendolyn politely refused, ¡°It''s okay. I''ll be fine once I get inside the car. Is there anything you wanted to talk to me about? If there''s nothing important, I''ll be leaving now.¡± Meanwhile, Patrick realized Gwendolyn did not get into the car with him. ¡°Where''s Ms. Ashton?¡± he asked. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Liam, who was waiting by the car to open the door for Gwendolyn, merely replied, ¡°She''s talking to Mr. Surrington.¡± Patrick turned to cast a nce outside the window, only to find Gwendolyn standing across from Zayden. What are they talking about? Zayden is smiling, and he''s even reaching out to touch her head! He was exceptionally displeased at the sight of both Zayden and Gwendolyn chatting happily together. Thus, he said in a cold voice, ¡°Go and inform Ms. Ashton that if she''s not leaving with us, we''ll be on our way now.¡± Liam knew from the tone of Patrick''s voice that his boss was very much upset with Gwendolyn. It was obvious that Patrick was jealous. Liam knew from the tone of Patrick''s voice that his boss was very much upset with Gwendolyn. It was obvious that Patrick was jealous. As he walked toward Gwendolyn and Zayden, thoughts whirled in Liam''s mind. Ms. Ashton, please don''t make Mr. Lowen mad anymore. He''s already spent one hundred and fifty million just for you! Just try to be nice for the sake of the huge sum of money. Liam could not help but sigh to himself. To think I have to worry about my boss'' rtionship! I''m getting really worried these days. One of them isn''t being straightforward, while the other remains oblivious. I''m just not sure when they''ll reveal the truth. ¡°Ms. Ashton, Mr. Lowen is asking if you''re leaving with us? If you''re nning to stay longer, then he''s going to leave now.¡± Liam conveyed Patrick''s words in a different way. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn''s nose was bright red due to the extreme cold weather. Pulling the coat to keep herself warm, she replied, ¡°Yes, I am! I''ll take my leave now, Zayden. Let''s meet up another day.¡± With that, she hurried over toward Patrick''s car and got in quickly. Once she was inside, her teeth were chattering badly. ¡°Oh, my gosh! It''s so cold out there!¡± she eximed. Patrick had already instructed the chauffeur to turn on the heater as soon as he saw her running toward the car. Therefore, Gwendolyn felt warm andfortable upon entering the vehicle. ¡°Why was Zayden looking for you?¡± Rubbing her hands and cing them on her cheeks to warm herself up, she replied to Patrick without hesitation, ¡°He''s been helping me to locate my mother. In fact, Zayden told me there''s been some new information about her whereabouts, so we''ll be meeting in a few days to talk about it.¡± Gwendolyn had been searching for her mother''s whereabouts for the past few years, in hopes of reuniting with her. At that, Patrick''s expression darkened. ¡°You could''ve asked me to help you. I''m much more reliable than him.¡± Gwendolyn''s body gradually recovered from the stiffness of the cold air, and her hands and feet were no longer numb. Apart from that, she had stopped shivering. She smiled. Thankfully, the car is warm and cozy. ¡°How could I possibly trouble you? Moreover, you...¡± You''re getting engaged to Felicia. Since you''re going to be a family with her and Candace, how could I expect you to look for my mother instead? They are solely to me for my mom''s disappearance! ¡°Me... what?¡± He looked over with his deep, dark eyes, and there was a hint of doubt on his handsome face. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°No, it''s nothing. I just didn''t want to trouble you.¡± She then picked up her phone and tapped into WhatsApp to chat with Lucy. However, there was a text message from Lillian instead. Lilian: Gwendolyn, it''s Mr. Lowen and Felicia''s engagement party next Saturday. I''m sure you''re attending the event, right? Let''s sit together and chat then, okay? Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Upon reading the message from Lilian, Gwendolyn froze for a moment before she replied: I''m not going. There''s no way I''d be attending Felicia''s engagement party! Even if I go, I would gift her a wreath. Suddenly, a text message from Benjamin popped up on WhatsApp: Gwen, I thought you were dating Patrick. Now that I know that it''s only a misunderstanding, can I ask you out on a movie date? I won''t ept a no from you. Will be picking you up after work tomorrow. Gwendolyn felt baffled as to how both Lilian and Benjamin had sent their messages at the same time. She smiled faintly. Since Benjamin was eager to ask her out, she would not mind amodating his request. After all, it had been a long time since she had seen a movie in a theatre. Gwendolyn recalled that if it had not been for that sudden ident, she would have ended up with Benjamin. Back then, Benjamin was her seatmate, and both of them got along really well in school. All of a sudden, Patrick leaned over and asked, ¡°What are you so engrossed in?¡± Immediately, Gwendolyn put her phone away and replied, ¡°Nothing.¡± After that, she turned to look out of the window as the car cruised along the countryside road. The scenery was quite gorgeous, but she knew how cold it was outside. A thinyer of fog appeared outside the car windows. Therefore, she reached out her finger to draw a cute turtle on the window, imagining that it was Patrick.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. He looks pretty cute like that. Too bad he''s a good-looking guy. A very handsome but immature scumbag! He looks pretty cute like that. Too bad he''s a good-looking guy. A very handsome but immature scumbag! Just then, Patrick sneezed loudly, prompting Liam to turn around. ¡°Mr. Lowen, did you catch a cold just now?¡± Gwendolyn reacted quickly, taking the coat from her shoulders and cing it on hisp. ¡°You should wear it now, Mr. Lowen. I won''t be able to take responsibility if you fall sick.¡± Patrick cast a re at Liam from the rearview mirror, causing thetter to tremble in fright. Liam med himself for his abrupt slip of the tongue. Hence, he could only salvage the situation by himself. ¡°Mr. Lowen is in good health, Ms. Ashton. He''s usually not afraid of the cold. Why don''t you wear the coat instead? Mr. Lowen... h-he''s actually feeling hot now.¡± Gwendolyn widened her eyes in surprise. So, Patrick has an unusually good physique! Even his assistant knows that he''s feeling hot right now. Considering he still feels warm on such a cold day, he''s really strong as an ox! Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°Well, thank you, Mr. Lowen. I was feeling a little chilly because I wore too little today.¡± Patrick smiled faintly as he watched Gwendolyn quickly remove the coat from hisp and put it on herself again. ¡°Gwendolyn, you''re not allowed to wear like this just for the sake of your appearance again. If you''re sick and can''te to work, your wages and bonuses shall be deducted.¡± When Gwendolyn heard that money would be deducted, she became anxious. ¡°Noted, Mr. Lowen. I''ll wear more from now on, and I''ll make sure I won''t get sick.¡± Suddenly, Patrick pulled her into his arms. ¡°This feels warmer.¡± Despite the fact that Gwendolyn could feel the warmth radiating from his body, his gaze was much hotter than his body temperature. ¡°M-Mr. Lowen... P-Please let me go! Stop messing around!¡± She could only keep her gaze forward. After all, Gwendolyn would need to defend her dignity and pride since she had to meet both the men, who were seated in front of her, on a daily basis. However, the man beside her was reluctant to let her go as he buried his head in her shoulder. ¡°I''m tired. I''m going to rest for a while. You can be my pillow, and I''ll give you a bonuster.¡± Instantly, Gwendolyn''s eyes lit up. ¡°How much would that be?¡± The men inside the car all had the same thought. What a money-grubber! Letting out a sigh, Patrick replied, ¡°Hmm. I''ll give the ne to you. I''m sure this reward is worth more than your time and effort, right?¡± Ne? Gwendolyn was caught off-guard for a few seconds before she finally let out a shriek. ¡°Do you mean Starry Tears? Mr. Lowen, are you saying that you''re gifting it to me?¡± Startled by her loud reaction, Patrick felt his head throb with a headache. Unabashedly, he gave a tiny nip on Gwendolyn''s neck. Chapter 175 Chapter 175 ¡°Mmph...¡± A soft, needy sound rose out of her throat before she could stop it. Then a crimson blush came over Gwendolyn''s face. I can''t believe that sound came out of me! If they bring it up, I definitely won''t admit to it. That sound was so flirtatious and seductive. Ahh! This is so embarrassing! How am I going to face Liam and Larry? In contrast to her embarrassment, Patrick was smiling with satisfaction. That was because the sound that she had made was proof of his skill. ¡°By the way, you can keep Starry Tears. It''s my gift to you. You''re not allowed to sell it, do you understand? I want you to wear it every day,¡± instructed Patrick. That was his only request for Gwendolyn. He knew she was a money-grubber and might sell off the ne. He liked the meaning behind the ne¡ªeternal love. That was also his intention for them both. If Gwendolyn sold off the ne, they would not be able to achieve that anymore. Hearing his words, Gwendolyn felt a little disappointed. It was a pity that she could not sell it off, as the ne would only be for viewing and not wearing. She protested, ¡°But I don''t dare to wear it. It''s so valuable. What if I attract the attention of jewel thieves if I wear it?¡± Hearing that, Patrick chuckled. His hands framed her face, and his fingers caressed her cheeks. ¡°Gwendolyn, do you know what my favorite thing about you is?¡± In response, Gwendolyn rolled her eyes at him. Who knows what you''re thinking? I''m a woman with both beauty and brains. There are tons of positive traits that I disy. Seeing that she did not answer, Patrick gave a low chuckle and continued, ¡°I like how innocent and cute you are!¡± Seeing that she did not answer, Patrick gave a low chuckle and continued, ¡°I like how innocent and cute you are!¡± On the other side, Liam could not help but disagree. That''s nonsense. You obviously like how na?ve she is, so you can tease and bully her. Gwendolyn was bewildered by his reply and said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, this ne cost one hundred and fifty million. Aren''t you afraid that it''ll get stolen if you bring it around with you?¡± Having worked in the lower level of society before, she knew how sinister society was. Inching closer to her, Patrick whispered, ¡°The ne has a mechanism. Upon wearing it, nobody will be able to see the carbonado. Without the star, it will merely seem like a in ne.¡± Patrick knew he had to go into detail and exin to Gwendolyn the unique part of the ne. Otherwise, she would not know its perk and continue to worry. Nodding, the woman eximed, ¡°I see!¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. At that moment, Patrick took out the ne and put it on for her. His eyes studied her with ardent appreciation, and heplimented, ¡°It looks amazing on you!¡± Gwendolyn looked down at the ne. The carbonado was glittering and sparkling so brightly that she had to squint while looking at it. ¡°Mr. Lowen, is this really for me?¡± she asked. Isn''t it supposed to be for his fianc¨¦e? It''s a gorgeous ne, but I can''t possibly ept such an expensive gift. Pulling her into his arms, Patrick gave her a peck on her cheek. ¡°Gwendolyn, make sure to wear it every day,¡± he stressed. Gwendolyn looked down once more at the ne. It was indeed stunning. ¡°Okay,¡± she replied. Patrick was indeed a man of his word. He not only bought a gift for her but such an expensive one too. Although she could not exchange it for cash, it was still a beautiful piece of jewelry that was worth collecting. She recalled that there was a legend about it. ording to the legend, the ne had the power to ensure that its wearer would be together with her lover for eternity. Where is my lover? When will youe to me? Could Benjamin be the one? She snickered at the thought. She wondered if it was fate. Benjamin had just asked her out for a movie, and now she got the ne. Gwendolyn felt it was an indication that her true love had arrived. A faint smile curved her lips as she lightly touched the ne around her throat and thought of Benjamin''s handsome features. Patrick cast a sideways nce at Gwendolyn and smiled when he saw how happy she looked. Happiness was written all over her face. He loved to see her smile. Whenever she did, two dimples could be seen on her cheeks. ¡°Gwendolyn, do you like this gift?¡± he asked. Snapping out of her trance at the sound of his voice, Gwendolyn raised her brows and smiled. ¡°I do. After all, this is a gift with a story behind it. I hope it can bring me luck!¡± Chapter 176 Chapter 176 The car stopped at a farm. It was an agritourism resort, and there werenterns hanging from the trees in the courtyard. It was beautifully decorated. The chauffeur and Liam held the car doors open for them. Gwendolyn exited the car to be greeted by a gust of cold wind. Shivering, she shrank inside the big coat. Thank goodness I still have Patrick''s coat. Otherwise, I would definitely freeze to death. Seeing that Patrick was standing a short distance away, Gwendolyn hurriedly caught up to him. Pulling her into his arms, the man remarked, ¡°You''ll be warmer like this.¡± Though his voice sounded cold, Gwendolyn could hear the concern in his voice. Gwendolyn instinctively wanted to dodge, but she felt warmer when he held her. Hence, she remained silent and let him hold her as they walked inside. They were the only people in the cafeteria. Lucas and Kevin were sitting around the firece while the chauffeur and their subordinates sat at the tables surrounding them. It was much warmer inside, and Gwendolyn withdrew from Patrick''s arms. ¡°You''ll be sitting with us,¡± he quickly reminded when he saw her about to head to Liam''s table. As his secretary, Gwendolyn could onlyply with his instruction. Hence, she trailed behind him and sat down at Kevin and the other''s table. At this time, Kevin had already gone over the menu and announced, ¡°Tonight we will have grilled venison steak! The meat is incredibly fresh, for they hunted earlier today.¡± Lucas poured some coffee and set it in front of Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Ashton, here, drink some coffee. It will warm you up,¡± he remarked. ¡°Ms. Ashton, here, drink some coffee. It will warm you up,¡± he remarked. Gwendolyn''s cheeks were flushed from the cold. That was especially so for her nose, which had turned a bright red. She looked delicate and fragile. She had a fairplexion that would turn red at the slightest exposure to the cold. Smiling gratefully at him, she replied, ¡°Thank you!¡± At the sight of Lucas, she immediately thought of Lucy. Holding the cup of steaming coffee, she took a small sip. Her body warmed up instantly. Gwendolyn informed, ¡°Mr. Gomez, I have some good news for you. Mnie has already found a new bone marrow donor. You don''t have to feel guilty over it anymore.¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Upon hearing that, Lucas spat out a mouthful of water, as his eyes widened in astonishment. ¡°Really?¡± I thought Lucy and I have already reached an agreement? She will apany me for a month, and when I''m satisfied, I''ll donate my bone marrow to Mnie. He had spent them with Lucy the past few days and was feeling delighted about it. He felt a little upset at the possibility that Lucy was going to renege on their deal. Lucas'' face fell, and he seemed lost in his own thoughts. At this moment, Patrickmented, ¡°Good, then. Luke can''t donate his bone marrow, anyway. Now that Mnie has managed to find another donor, there''s hope for her.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in agreement. ¡°Exactly! Otherwise, things could go really wrong for her.¡± On the flip side, Kevin held onto Portrait of a Beauty and pointed at them. ¡°Look at this beauty. Isn''t she gorgeous?¡± Gwendolyn knitted her brows and threw a nce at it before muttering, ¡°She''s a little plump.¡± With that said, she let out a giggle. Judging from this portrait, it''s indeed true that in ancient times, women were considered beautiful if they were chubbier. Kevin had a sharp hearing. Upon hearing her words and seeing the way she giggled, he asked threateningly, ¡°Gwen, what did you just say?¡± Every time he saw Gwendolyn, he seemed to be unable to hold his own. It was the same this time around, and he could not take it any longer. Gwendolyn hastily shook her head and responded, ¡°I said this portrait looks great.¡± Upon hearing her reply, Kevin was overjoyed. He stood up abruptly and eximed, ¡°That''s right! Gwen has better taste than both of you. The two of you criticized my goddess and said that she''s plump, but in ancient times, that was the standard of beauty. Furthermore, there is a legend that says that she will enter one''s dream at night. Tonight, I''ll see if I can have a glimpse of her!¡± As he spoke, a smirk appeared on his face. He seemed to already be envisioning having an encounter with the woman in the portrait. Hmm. I wonder how I should greet her when I meet her. Gwendolyn suddenly gave a startled cry, ¡°Mr. Chavez, t-the painting...¡± Still lost in his thoughts, Kevin did not realize that his painting had already caught fire. Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Upon hearing Gwendolyn''s voice, he lowered his head and saw that half the painting was burned. He quickly put out the fire. Now, only the beautifuldy''s face was intact in the painting. Patrick was infuriated to see that. ¡°Oh, no! My beautifuldy, you haven''te into my dreams yet!¡± At the side, Lucas wasughing so hard that he found it hard to breathe. Then, Patrick warned coldly, ¡°Kev, stop listening to all these legends. Also, don''t do such stupid things.¡± Kevin was an expert in the medical industry, but he was also a lunatic. Although Kevin was enraged that the painting was damaged, he threw it to the side. ¡°How boring. I heard about the legend, so I wanted to give it a try. I don''t even have the chance now.¡± In the meantime, Gwendolyn felt distressed seeing the painting that cost five hundred thousand being burned just like that. Mr. Chavez, if you have too much money, just give them to me! I''ll spend them for you! What a waste of five hundred thousand! Then, Kevin snorted upon noticing the ne on Gwendolyn''s neck. ¡°Pat, you berated me for believing in the legend, but you also believe it. You heard that the one who wore this ne would get together with their love for eternity. That''s why you bought it. You''re the pot calling the kettle ck.¡± Gwendolyn sensed Kevin was looking at her, so she quickly put the ne underneath her clothes before smiling at him. ¡°Mr. Chavez, this isn''t that ne! It looks like that one, but this one doesn''t have the ck diamond.¡± Patrick taught her to say that, so she knew the secret of the ne now. Patrick taught her to say that, so she knew the secret of the ne now. Once she had hidden the ck diamond, no one would know its worth. Kevin raised an eyebrow when he heard that. Do you think I would believe that? You fell for Pat''s lies. Lifting his winess, Kevin stated, ¡°Gwen, the venison tastes better with wine.¡± It was the first time Gwendolyn ate grilled venison steak, so she clearly believed him. She remembered that when she watched Pride and Prejudice back then, the actors had drunk mulled wine when they ate barbecued venison on a snowy day. Although it was not snowing now, the weather was extremely cold. Then Gwendolyn clinked sses with Kevin. ¡°Cheers.¡± Patrick frowned when he saw that. The wine tasted good, but it had high alcoholic content. While he was grilling some meat for her, he reminded, ¡°Ms. Ashton, don''t drink too much. The effect of this alcohol is extremely strong.¡± Gwendolyn rolled her eyes at him. Clearly, she was a little drunk at that moment. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you''re so petty. This tastes like a normal beverage. I won''t get drunk. Are you unwilling to pay for these?¡± Patrick was rendered speechless. In the meantime, Lucas was drinking all by himself. His mood turned bad when he thought about the woman who would note to beg him again. Kevin let out a chuckle and teased, ¡°Mr. Lowen, you''re so petty for gifting her a ne that''s worth one hundred and fifty million. Haha...¡± Patrick took a bite of a piece of meat. It tastes good. He then said calmly, ¡°Kev, if she gets drunk today, I''ll withdraw my investment from theb.¡± Upon hearing that, Kevin hurriedly stopped Gwendolyn from drinking. ¡°Gwen, let''s stop drinking. Shall we eat some meat?¡± Right at that moment, Gwendolyn noticed many people had appeared in front of her. There were three Patricks and countless Kevins and Lucases. Feeling dizzy, she replied, ¡°The wine tastes good. I want more.¡± Frowning, Kevin replied, ¡°She''s drunk. Doesn''t this make it easier for you to ''get'' her? I''m helping you.¡± While speaking, he had the urge to kneel before the other man. He even asked us to make her drunk the other day. Why does he not want her drunk now? Original from N?velDrama.Org. Patrick nced at Gwendolyn before he answered, ¡°I''m getting engaged next week. If I ''get'' her, do you think she''s going to let me off so easily?¡± Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Kevin nced at his pants and said, ¡°You''re right. Girls care about this a lot, especially a reserved girl like Gwen.¡± Then, he added curiously, ¡°Since you like Gwen, why are you marrying Felicia?¡± Patrick could not tell him the truth because he had signed the agreement. Felicia told him not to tell others that their engagement was just a show. Feeling frustrated, Patrick gulped down a ss of wine. Since Patrick did not answer the question, Kevin let out a sigh. ¡°Men are all the same. One woman is never enough. Therefore, I won''t ever get married. I want to enjoy life to the fullest.¡± Lucas then let out a chuckle. ¡°Kev, you don''t know Pat well. He must have his own difficulties. He''s extremely faithful.¡± Knowing that Lucas knew him well, Patrick lifted his ss at him. ¡°You understand me well.¡± After drinking another ss of wine, Gwendolyn had fallen asleep with her head facing down on the table. Patrick nced at the time and uttered, ¡°I''m not going back to town tonight. What about you both?¡± Since Gwendolyn was drunk, he decided to spend the night here. Lucas wanted to talk to a certain woman, so he nced at the time and replied, ¡°I''m going backter. I have something to do.¡± Shrugging, Kevin answered, ¡°I''m fine with anything. I can stay here for the night.¡± After that, Patrick stretched out his arm and shook Gwendolyn''s body with his hand. ¡°Gwendolyn, wake up.¡± After that, Patrick stretched out his arm and shook Gwendolyn''s body with his hand. ¡°Gwendolyn, wake up.¡± Gwendolyn lifted her head, but she could not see anything clearly. Pouting, sheined, ¡°I''m so sleepy...¡± The next moment, she sprawled on the table and continued sleeping again. Patrick narrowed his eyes before muttering, ¡°Take your time, guys. I have to get her to rest.¡± With that, he stood up and carried her before wrapping his coat around her. Before he left, Kevin shouted, ¡°Pat, don''t bother anything else! Just do what you want to do.¡± Patrick froze for a moment. I wish I can do that, but... This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Then, he strode toward the building at the back in wide steps. The guest room there was an individual courtyard. The living room was on the first floor, and the bedroom was on the second floor. Liam had prepared a room for them. When Patrick carried Gwendolyn to the room, Liam then left the courtyard. Right after Patrickid Gwendolyn on the bed, he went to the bathroom to get a towel to wipe her face. However, when he walked out of the bathroom, Gwendolyn was no longer on the bed. Furrowing his brows, he called, ¡°Gwendolyn!¡± Gwendolyn lifted her head from the floor and replied, ¡°I''m here!¡± Then she slowly got up from the floor while holding the wall beside her for support. ¡°Where''s this ce? Why can''t I see clearly?¡± Patrick stretched out his arm and pulled her into his arms. ¡°Just sleep if you''re sleepy. Why are you walking around?¡± His cold voice made it sound as if he was berating her. Suddenly, Gwendolyn wrapped her arms around his neck and chuckled. ¡°You''re treating me so well! Do you have a girlfriend? If not, let me be your girlfriend!¡± Upon finishing speaking, she smiled even wider and added, ¡°You don''t have one, right?¡± The next moment, she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. Then she cupped his face with her hands. ¡°Dear boyfriend, let me look at your face.¡± However, she could not see his face clearly. When she could make out his face, though, she shook her head. ¡°Um, why do you look like Patrick? Is it because I see him every day? Is that why I''m even imagining him as my boyfriend?¡± A smile appeared on Patrick''s face when he heard that. ¡°Do you like Patrick a lot?¡± He believed drunken words would reveal the truth, so he wanted to hear her answer. Gwendolyn pondered for a moment before she replied, ¡°He''s quite handsome, and he also has a good body figure. I''ve touched his muscles before, and they felt so nice!¡± Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Realizing what she had said, Gwendolyn was stunned for a moment. ¡°Wait, why am I telling you this?¡± While she was hanging on Patrick''s body, he stiffened upon hearing her answer. He could feel the warmth of her fingers on his neck. His Adam''s apple bobbed, and it made a sound. ¡°Gwendolyn, answer me. Do you like Patrick?¡± Gwendolyn suddenly patted his shoulders before sliding down from his body. Walking to the front and bumping the bed, she fell right into the mattress. Upon flipping her bodyfortably, she replied, ¡°I don''t like him. He''s getting married to Felicia. How could I like him?¡± She hugged herself and curled into a ball. ¡°The people I hate the most in the world are Felicia and her mother. I hate everyone who is rted to them, including Patrick.¡± Patrick initially wanted to know her true feelings, yet what he got was theplete opposite. His expression changed drastically. He was trying to contain his anger the moment he heard Gwendolyn saying she did not like him. However, after hearing her exnation, he finally understood her feelings. Sitting on the bedside, he caressed her face. ¡°Gwendolyn, why do you hate Felicia so much?¡± She doesn''t like me because she hates Felicia and her mother. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°No. I don''t want to talk about them.¡± Thinking about what they had done to her, she loathed them, but she could not take revenge on them now. Gwendolyn refused to talk about them when she recalled the arrogant and gloating looks on Felicia and her mother''s faces. Patrick did not get an answer from her, and he felt distressed looking at Gwendolyn''s suffering expression. The next moment, he pulled her up and kissed her. The kiss was so gentle that Gwendolyn did not even recognize him. She even kissed him back. With her arms around his neck, she touched his tongue with hers. She was not good at kissing, but it had sessfully triggered Patrick''s desires for her. ¡°Gwendolyn, if you keep doing this, I''ll lose control,¡± he warned her, panting heavily. However, the drunk woman was not aware of the dangerous situation she was in. She smiled and replied, ¡°Your mouth smells so good. It''s mint. I like it.¡± With that, she kissed him again. Right at that moment, the man hadpletely lost control. He pinned her on the bed and looked at her coldly. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°Gwendolyn, don''t blome me. You osked for it, but I''ll be responsible.¡± Gwendolyn''s honds were woving in the oir os she wos trying to find him. Just then, he lowered his heod to kiss her. Finolly, her orms found his neck ogoin. Gwendolyn noticed he felt so fomilior, especiolly when she hod her orms wropped oround his neck. It seemed os if she hod dreomed obout him before. Even his scent wos fomilior to her. Therefore, she hod no defense ogoinst him, ond she wos ofroid thot he would disoppeor ogoin. She hugged him tightly so thot he would not disoppeor from her embroce. Looking ot the reluctont womon underneoth him, Potrick smiled ond took off her clothes. He suddenly recolled the night bock then os he looked ot her noked body. His fingers brushed ocross her lips, ond she quickly grobbed his hond before opening her eyes. ¡°Don''t leove me ogoin, okoy? I know it wos you. The kids miss you, too. They need you.¡± Potrick frowned upon heoring thot. Does she think I''m someone else? He then potted her cheek ond uttered, ¡°Gwendolyn Ashton, I''m Potrick Lowen. I''m the one who''s sleeping with you. Keep thot in mind.¡± ¡°Gwendolyn, don''t me me. You asked for it, but I''ll be responsible.¡± Gwendolyn''s hands were waving in the air as she was trying to find him. Just then, he lowered his head to kiss her. Finally, her arms found his neck again. Gwendolyn noticed he felt so familiar, especially when she had her arms wrapped around his neck. It seemed as if she had dreamed about him before. Even his scent was familiar to her. Therefore, she had no defense against him, and she was afraid that he would disappear again. She hugged him tightly so that he would not disappear from her embrace. Looking at the reluctant woman underneath him, Patrick smiled and took off her clothes. He suddenly recalled the night back then as he looked at her naked body. His fingers brushed across her lips, and she quickly grabbed his hand before opening her eyes. ¡°Don''t leave me again, okay? I know it was you. The kids miss you, too. They need you.¡± Patrick frowned upon hearing that. Does she think I''m someone else? He then patted her cheek and uttered, ¡°Gwendolyn Ashton, I''m Patrick Lowen. I''m the one who''s sleeping with you. Keep that in mind.¡± Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Upon finishing speaking, Patrick lowered his head to capture her lips again. Just when he was about to enter her, Gwendolyn opened her eyes in agony. She pushed him and remarked, ¡°It hurts. Go away.¡± Then, she started hitting and kicking Patrick, causing him to fall from the bed. The man groaned after falling heavily onto the floor. He lowered his head to look at his body part, which had already softened after being kicked by Gwendolyn. In a low voice, he cursed, ¡°D*mn it.¡± She was extremely strong when she was drunk. Even worse, she had attacked his vital body part. Patrick stood up and nced at the woman on the bed. Gwendolyn had fallen asleep with the nket tightly wrapped around her. At that moment, Patrick had the urge to do it right away. However, he had calmed down after the kick. Despite being how he was, he knew it was not an appropriate time to do it with her. He let out a sigh before crawling into the nket and pulled her into his arms. Turning her body, she mumbled, ¡°It hurts... It hurts so much...¡± Just now, he only managed to enter her a little. She was so tight that he felt as if she was going to break him. However, the feeling was so amazing that he had goosebumps all over his body. Just thinking about it satisfied him. He hugged her tighter and kissed her. ¡°Gwendolyn, you will be mine soon.¡± I shouldn''t be too impatient. She''ll be mine, sooner orter. The next day, when Gwendolyn woke up and saw that she and Patrick were naked in bed, she screamed in shock. Her scream was so piercing to the ears that Patrick instantly got woken up from his sleep. Then, he picked his ears and questioned coldly, ¡°Gwendolyn, why are you screaming?¡± Gwendolyny there helplessly. ¡°Patrick Lowen, we... how could we do this?¡± Patrick finally knew what she was thinking. He had not done anything to her yet, but she almost broke his vital body part. When Gwendolyn spotted his length, she cried out again, ¡°Ah!¡± With that, she grabbed the nket and covered her face. It was the first time she had seen a man''s private part. It looks so scary. Why does it look like a purple sweet potato? Have I sinned for looking at it? Patrick lowered his head to look at his private part as well. It still has a reaction in the morning. I think it''s not broken. Why is this woman screaming? Luckily, I have a strong condition. Otherwise, I would''ve been sent to the hospital by now. He pulled the blonket to look ot her foce. Despoir filled her expression. Her eyes were brimming with teors os if someone hod just bullied her. Potrick pursed his lips ond replied, ¡°Gwendolyn, I will be responsible.¡± D*mn it. I didn''t do onything, but I''ll be responsible. Is thot enough? Gwendolyn then lifted her goze. Eyes brimming with teors, she osked, ¡°Did we reolly do it?¡± Her lips trembled os teors storted rolling down her cheeks. Initiolly, Potrick wonted to lie to her. He wonted to tell her they hod indeed done it, ond thot she hod mode the first move. However, now thot she wos crying, he felt extremely distressed ond lost. The usuol colm mon ponicked for the first time. He stretched out his orm ond wiped the teors on her foce. ¡°Stop crying. Nothing hoppened lost night.¡± He could only tell her the truth. If something reolly hoppened, she might cry her heort out. Gwendolyn opened her mouth ond osked in disbelief, ¡°Reolly? Then why ore we noked?¡± Potrick shook his heod ond replied, ¡°You were drunk, ond you sow me os someone else. You initioted everything, but you kicked me down from the bed in the end. So, nothing hoppened.¡± He pulled the nket to look at her face. Despair filled her expression. Her eyes were brimming with tears as if someone had just bullied her. Patrick pursed his lips and replied, ¡°Gwendolyn, I will be responsible.¡± D*mn it. I didn''t do anything, but I''ll be responsible. Is that enough? Gwendolyn then lifted her gaze. Eyes brimming with tears, she asked, ¡°Did we really do it?¡± Her lips trembled as tears started rolling down her cheeks. Initially, Patrick wanted to lie to her. He wanted to tell her they had indeed done it, and that she had made the first move. However, now that she was crying, he felt extremely distressed and lost. The usual calm man panicked for the first time. He stretched out his arm and wiped the tears on her face. ¡°Stop crying. Nothing happenedst night.¡± He could only tell her the truth. If something really happened, she might cry her heart out. Gwendolyn opened her mouth and asked in disbelief, ¡°Really? Then why are we naked?¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Patrick shook his head and replied, ¡°You were drunk, and you saw me as someone else. You initiated everything, but you kicked me down from the bed in the end. So, nothing happened.¡± Chapter 181 Chapter 181 With that said, Patrick shot Gwendolyn a sidelong re. ¡°Won''t you know if you''ve done it or not? Don''t you feel anything down there?¡± This woman is so clueless. Gwendolyn wiped her tears as she shook her head. I''m so d it didn''t happen. ¡°How do I know?¡± She had never experienced it before. However, those nights that she had dreamed about it, she felt exhausted, and it felt ufortable there. Now, she did not feel tired, but she had a headache. She was certain it was only because she had drunk too much alcohol, as she did not feel anything different down there. Seeing that she had stopped crying upon knowing that nothing had happened, Patrick felt like bullying her again. He was feeling conflicted. Although he wanted to bully her, he was afraid to see her cry. Gwendolyn nced around and asked, ¡°Where... Where are my clothes?¡± Patrick put his hands underneath the pillow and stared at her, smirking at how flustered she was. ¡°Look around the floor. You took off your clothes along the wayst night. I don''t know where they are.¡± Gwendolyn''s face reddened instantly when she imagined the thrilling scene. Then she tapped herself on the face to warn herself. Gwendolyn! Don''t you dare drink alcohol again! Look at what you''ve done with this man after drinking so much. If this happens again, you''re no different from Candace. Felicia wille to you and call you a mistress!N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. With that thought in mind, she picked her shirt from the floor and quickly put it on. Although she was extremely quick, Patrick still managed to steal a nce at her soft chest. In fact, he had enjoyed touching them the previous night. His eyes began to redden. This woman''s figure is extremely good. Gwendolyn picked her underwear up and quickly put it on. Then, she turned her head to nce at Patrick, seemingly thinking, He can''t see me. Patrick can''t see me. Patrick could not help but chuckle. His deep voice sounded sexy. Gwendolyn heard hisughter, but she ignored it and continued picking her clothes up. When she went downstairs, she finally found all her clothes. She looked around and saw a bathroom in the living room. Entering the bathroom, she properly put on her clothes in there. She realized that Patrick''s shirt, which she had put on earlier, was white. Did he wear a white shirtst night? He rarely wears white. All his clothes are ck. Holding the shirt, she wolked upstoirs to give it to him but found herself pinned on the bed. The mon kissed her, ond ofter some time, he finolly releosed her when she wos obout to poss out. He stored ot her flushed cheeks. She''s so beoutiful. Gwendolyn took some time to regoin herposure ofter she gosped for oir. Then she jumped up ond pointed ot Potrick. ¡°Potrick... H-How dore you!¡± Potrick grobbed the shirt from her hond before putting it on ond buttoning it up. His dork eyes, smile, ond divine feotures mode him oppeor chorming. Gwendolyn glonced ot his Adom''s opple, his fingers which were buttoning the shirt, ond his lower body before she quickly covered her eyes. H-He''s too seductive! Initiolly, she wos mod ot him, but she wospletely mesmerized by him now. He looks so good! His body figure is omozing! And he''s so... big! Gosh! Why did I look ot thot? Shouldn''t I scold him for being o pervert insteod? As she covered her eyes, Potrick soid colmly, ¡°Gwendolyn, you initioted everything lost night. You were oll over me like o koolo beor, begging me not to leove. I fell for you, so you hove to be responsible.¡± Holding the shirt, she walked upstairs to give it to him but found herself pinned on the bed. The man kissed her, and after some time, he finally released her when she was about to pass out. He stared at her flushed cheeks. She''s so beautiful. Gwendolyn took some time to regain herposure after she gasped for air. Then she jumped up and pointed at Patrick. ¡°Patrick... H-How dare you!¡± Patrick grabbed the shirt from her hand before putting it on and buttoning it up. His dark eyes, smile, and divine features made him appear charming. Gwendolyn nced at his Adam''s apple, his fingers which were buttoning the shirt, and his lower body before she quickly covered her eyes. H-He''s too seductive! Initially, she was mad at him, but she waspletely mesmerized by him now. He looks so good! His body figure is amazing! And he''s so... big! Gosh! Why did I look at that? Shouldn''t I scold him for being a pervert instead? As she covered her eyes, Patrick said calmly, ¡°Gwendolyn, you initiated everythingst night. You were all over me like a ko bear, begging me not to leave. I fell for you, so you have to be responsible.¡± Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Hearing that, Gwendolyn removed her hands from her eyes and red at him. ¡°I-I was drunk, so I thought you were someone else.¡± I must''ve thought he was the man in my dream. To her, that man was her children''s father, so she would imagine him asionally. She wished he would show up and tell her he wanted to be with them. However, Gwendolyn felt pathetic every time she woke up from the dreams. That man had disappeared and let her endure everything alone. She even raised the kids all by herself. Contrary to my wish, I should be wanting to tell him to get lost and that we don''t need him. Yeah, that''s more like it. Gosh. Alcohol is such a bad thing. Patrick appeared handsome after he put on his clothes tidily. ¡°I don''t care. You seduced me, and I fell for you. Now that you''re the only one in my heart, you have to be responsible. It''s immoral to leave me after you''ve seduced me.¡± While speaking, he leaned closer to her. Gwendolyn was so scared that she took several steps back. ¡°What if I don''t?¡± Why do I have to be responsible? I was drunk, so I wasn''t being myself. Who told him to fall for me so easily? Patrick inched closer to her, forcing her to stand between him and the wall. ¡°I''ll post the video that I''ve recorded of youst night. Theizens will certainly teach you a lesson.¡± As he spoke, he waved his phone in the air. Gwendolyn widened her eyes as she tried to grab it, but he lifted the phone so high that she could not even touch it. ¡°Patrick Lowen, you''re despicable. How dare you record me!¡± Patrick chuckled evilly. ¡°This is the proof. I did it to prevent someone from going back on her word.¡± With that said, he walked into the bathroom to wash himself up. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn stood rooted to the spot. That man is certainly a wolf. A cunning wolf. She definitely was not his match. Not only had she owed him money, but she was also forced to be his lover. Gwendolyn felt she was on the verge of breaking down. Not longter, Patrick walked out of the bathroom with a refreshed look. ¡°We''ll wait for you at the restaurant. Hurry up. We need to go to workter.¡± Gwendolyn was still in a daze when Patrick nced at her with a smirk. Truthfully, there was no video at all. It was impossible to take a video in that situation. He was just scaring her. However, he realized that the method was quite useful. I can bully her all I wish now. Beoring thot thought in mind, Potrick strode out of the bedroom ond wolked down the stoirs joyfully. Stunned for o moment, Gwendolyn she wolked into the bothroom to wosh herself up. Looking ot herself in the mirror, she noted she wos beoutiful, even without mokeup. I''m supposed to hove o sweet love story ond o boyfriend who dotes on me, but I''m not this lucky. She let out o sigh. After thot, she went to the restouront ond hod breokfost with the rest before they returned to the compony. Gwendolyn hod been in o doze the entire doy, ond Potrick knew he hod crossed her bottom line. He knew she hoted mistresses the most, but he still forced her to be her mistress. He knew he wos meon. However, she wos not o mistress becouse his relotionship with Felicio wos foke. They were only putting on o show for Hector. I''ll tell her in the future. I hope she understonds. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Potrick did not ossign ony tosk for her thot doy. She just sot blonkly in the office the whole doy. When it wos time to get off work, Gwendolyn''s phone rong. It wos o coll from Benjomin. She picked it up ond greeted, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Gwendolyn, I''ve orrived ot your office building. Hove you gotten off work?¡± Bearing that thought in mind, Patrick strode out of the bedroom and walked down the stairs joyfully. Stunned for a moment, Gwendolyn she walked into the bathroom to wash herself up. Looking at herself in the mirror, she noted she was beautiful, even without makeup. I''m supposed to have a sweet love story and a boyfriend who dotes on me, but I''m not this lucky. She let out a sigh. After that, she went to the restaurant and had breakfast with the rest before they returned to the company. Gwendolyn had been in a daze the entire day, and Patrick knew he had crossed her bottom line. He knew she hated mistresses the most, but he still forced her to be her mistress. He knew he was mean. However, she was not a mistress because his rtionship with Felicia was fake. They were only putting on a show for Hector. I''ll tell her in the future. I hope she understands. Patrick did not assign any task for her that day. She just sat nkly in the office the whole day. When it was time to get off work, Gwendolyn''s phone rang. It was a call from Benjamin. She picked it up and greeted, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Gwendolyn, I''ve arrived at your office building. Have you gotten off work?¡± Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Gwendolyn snapped back to her senses before she asked, ¡°Ah, you''ve arrived?¡± Benjamin nodded slightly. ¡°Yes, we agreed to watch a movie together today.¡± After Gwendolyn hung up the phone, she patted her face. Then, she mumbled to herself, ¡°Gwendolyn, don''t you want to be with Benjamin? Forget what happened this morning. Forget what Patrick said and stay away from him.¡± After that, she hurriedly packed her things and left the CEO''s office with her bag. Since it was time to get off work, there were many people in the elevator. Gwendolyn was then squeezed into the corner. In the elevator, several female colleagues started discussing Patrick''s engagement. ¡°Hey, is the CEO''s secretary in quite a bad mood recently?¡± ¡°That''s for sure. Mr. Lowen is about to get engaged. She has no hope of being with him anymore.¡± ¡°But Mr. Lowen has put her desk in his office. Will the future CEO''s wife find it weird?¡± ¡°You don''t understand. Rich men enjoy ying around. They keep their wives at home, but they have many other women outside. Mr. Lowen is so handsome that even I''m willing to be his secret lover.¡± ¡°Yeah, same.¡± As Gwendolyn listened to them, she felt that every word was reminding her that if she ended up with Patrick, she would turn the rumor into the truth. She pursed her lips. I must find a way to let Patrick give up on me. Whether he wants to have fun or just tease me, I have to try my best to keep a distance from him. When the elevator reached the first floor, many people rushed out of the elevator. When the girls, who were gossiping, saw Gwendolyn, they all turned pale with fright. Then, they all greeted her, ¡°Ms. Ashton, you left work early today.¡± Gwendolyn nodded slightly as a response. That day was indeed the earliest day for her to get off work because she usually had to apany Patrick. However, he was not around that day, and he did not ask her to follow him when he went out, so she could leave earlier. Walking out of the building, she saw a Maserati not far away from her. Benjamin lowered the window and called, ¡°Gwen, here!¡± Several colleagues heard him from the entrance. Gwendolyn slowly walked toward the car under everyone''s gazes. Getting out of the car, Benjamin helped her open the car door. ¡°Gwen, I''m so happy today!¡± Gwendolyn smiled at him, then she turned her head to look around. She found her colleogues were still stonding there, wotching ond tolking obout her. Ignoring them, she entered the cor quickly. Benjomin got into the cor os well ond drove owoy ofter thot. Gwendolyn breothed o sigh of relief. Women loved to gossip by noture, ond she hod now be the compony''s topic. They oll thought thot she hod on unusuol relotionship with Potrick. She used to think thot the rumor did not motter becouse she ond Potrick were innocent. However, she did not feel the some now. Those words be horsh to her eors. Benjomin glonced ot her from the side ond osked, ¡°Gwen, do you wotch horror movies?¡± His ossistont tought him to toke her to o horror movie so thot she would throw herself into his orms when she wos frightened. He reolly wonted Gwendolyn to dive into his orms os he hoped they could estoblish o relotionship os soon os possible. Original from N?velDrama.Org. He hod been woiting for six yeors, ond he could not woit ony longer. Gwendolyn thought for o while before replying, ¡°A bit. I quite like wotching horror movies.¡± Heoring her response, Benjomin smiled. ¡°Good. I bought the tickets, but I wos ofroid you won''t dore to wotch it.¡± She found her colleagues were still standing there, watching and talking about her. Ignoring them, she entered the car quickly. Benjamin got into the car as well and drove away after that. Gwendolyn breathed a sigh of relief. Women loved to gossip by nature, and she had now be the company''s topic. They all thought that she had an unusual rtionship with Patrick. She used to think that the rumor did not matter because she and Patrick were innocent. However, she did not feel the same now. Those words became harsh to her ears. Benjamin nced at her from the side and asked, ¡°Gwen, do you watch horror movies?¡± His assistant taught him to take her to a horror movie so that she would throw herself into his arms when she was frightened. He really wanted Gwendolyn to dive into his arms as he hoped they could establish a rtionship as soon as possible. He had been waiting for six years, and he could not wait any longer. Gwendolyn thought for a while before replying, ¡°A bit. I quite like watching horror movies.¡± Hearing her response, Benjamin smiled. ¡°Good. I bought the tickets, but I was afraid you won''t dare to watch it.¡± Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Gwendolyn turned her head to look at him. ¡°Am I that weak to you?¡± Most girls were timid, but Gwendolyn was different. She had liked horror stories since she was a child. She also enjoyed ying horror games. Now, she liked ying Escape Room the most. Benjamin smiled and replied, ¡°You''ve never been weak.¡± She was put in a good mood after listening to the campus hunk''spliment toward her. In the past, she was a daring person. She had be timid after being tortured by society. She sighed. Although my right to do what I pleased was taken away, I was blessed with three lovely kids. She liked how things had turned out. I''m willing to be worldly wise for my adorable kids. With that thought, she smiled, no longer upset about the past. When they got to the cinema, Benjamin got the tickets before he bought two sses of juice and a box of popcorn. Gwendolyn took the popcorn and smiled at him. ¡°Benjamin, honestly, how many girlfriends have you had?¡± He knows girls so well. He even bought me a strawberry juice. Most girls liked these sweet fruit juices, including her. Benjamin was stunned for a moment. ¡°I''ve never had one. You can ask Lillian if you don''t believe me.¡± Lillian was their ss representative. She was an honest person, and she would never lie. Hence, Gwendolyn could ask her about it. Hearing this, Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°I''m just asking. Don''t be so anxious.¡± She picked a popcorn from the box and put it into her mouth as she walked into the theater with him. Benjamin originally wanted to buy a couple seat, but he and Gwendolyn had just started, so he did not want to scare her. Hence, he decided to take things slow. Hence, he bought normal, individual seats next to each other. After they sat down, they chatted for a while and talked about other students before the movie started. Gwendolyn took a sip of the juice and reached out to grab a few popcorns, but their hands touched. Then, the eyes of the two met. Gwendolyn hurriedly retracted her gaze before both of them smiled. Leaning closer to her, Benjamin asked in a low voice, ¡°Aren''t you afraid at all? I can lend you my arms.¡± After he said that, he spread his hands and pulled his coat open. Right at that moment, a tall figure came in from the entrance and urately found Gwendolyn and Benjamin. When he saw Benjamin pulling his coat and wrapping Gwendolyn with it, Patrick''s expression changed. Turning around, he stepped out of the theater in big steps. After a while, the movie suddenly stopped ying, and the lights were turned on at the same time. The fire rm sounded, and Gwendolyn turned her head to look around. ¡°Is there a fire?¡± Seeing that everyone else was running out of the hall, Gwendolyn stood up abruptly. ¡°Benjamin, let''s run too!¡± Benjamin remained seated as he nced around, but he found no signs of smoke or fire. He frowned. Something is fishy. Later, he got up while thinking that it was an unlucky day. Just when she and I were so close to each other. I almost got to kiss her. Ha... Too bad. Although he was reluctant, he knew it was an inappropriate time to initiate a kiss. She certainly won''t ept it. Holding her hand, he suggested, ¡°Let''s have a meal!¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Since they could not continue watching the movie, he decided to bring her to a romantic restaurant. He knew he could find a chance in the pleasant atmosphereter. Chapter 185 Chapter 185 A whileter, Gwendolyn got into Benjamin''s car with the windows down, so Patrick could see her clearly as the car passed by his car. The smile on her face was really sweet, and the way she looked at Benjamin was different. Patrick took a heavy puff of the cigarette. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Follow them. Have you fetched the three children over?¡± The driver replied, ¡°Mr. Derner has gone to pick them up. They should be on their way here.¡± Patrick smirked and replied, ¡°Okay. Follow them.¡± He could not believe Gwendolyn actually came out on a date with another man. Earlier, when he returned to thepany and found that she had left, he saw someone posted a photo of Gwendolyn getting into a Maserati in thepany group chat. Therefore, Patrick came to see who the man in the Maserati was. The scene in the cinema provoked him, so he immediately closed the entire cinema. All cinemas in Avenport belonged to Patrick, anyway. Therefore, no matter which cinema they went to watch a movie, Patrick could find them and ruin their date. After smoking one cigarette, Patrick put out the cigarette and wanted to light another one. However, he restrained himself as he feared that the three children would not like the cigarette smell on him. He then put the cigarette box back in his pocket and leaned back in the seat, staring at the car in front of him. Who''s this guy? He looks so familiar. It seems that he was there at their ss reunionst time. Is he Gwendolyn''s ssmate? At that thought, the corners of his lips were lifted. He''s just a small fry. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Watching their car move into the underground garage of Horizon Tower, Patrick had already guessed that the guy had reserved a table in the revolving restaurant. Huh. What a romantic. It seems that Gwendolyn quite likes romance. ncing at the time, he dialed Liam''s number. ¡°Where are you?¡± Liam came to a halt behind his car as he replied, ¡°Mr. Lowen, we''re behind you.¡± When Liam was talking on the phone, Patrick could hear Juliette''s sweet voice in the background. ¡°Drive into the parking lot of Horizon Tower.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen.¡± The two vehicles then pulled into Horizon Tower''s underground parking lot and parked next to each other. Patrick got out of the car, and the three kids exited the car next to him. Spotting him, Juliette ran toward him as she called, ¡°Mr. Handsome!¡± She hugged his slender legs and giggled in an adorable voice. When Patrick picked her up, she gave the man a kiss on the cheek. ¡°Are you bringing us to a meal again today?¡± She had seen this ce on television before. It was a revolving restaurant. In the dramas she watched, the male and female protagonists went to this ce for dates. How I wish Gwen is here. Juliette blinked her eyes several times and asked, ¡°Where''s Gwen?¡± Patrick replied in a low voice, ¡°She''s in the restaurant upstairs, but she may not be able to join us for dinner today.¡± Because she''s on a date with a brat! As they walked toward the elevator, Juliette asked in confusion, ¡°Why?¡± On the other side, Justin and Julian frowned upon hearing the man''s words. Why isn''t she eating with us? Something''s wrong. The two exchanged looks with each other before they nced at Patrick. Something''s wrong with him today. They noticed a cold look in Patrick''s eyes. Did they have a quarrel? The two then decided to observe first. Certainly, they would always be on their mother''s side. The elevator dinged as it reached the two hundred eighty-sixth floor, the top floor. Chapter 186 Chapter 186 It was Juliette''s first time there, and she was overjoyed. ¡°Julian, Justin, do you think we''re high in the sky? We''ve been in the elevator for so long, so we should be, right?¡± She slid off Patrick''s body and ran into the restaurant, heading toward the window walls. She just wanted to see how high the ce was. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. However, before she reached the windows, she caught sight of Gwendolyn. Her footsteps halted, and she walked toward Gwendolyn step by step. ¡°Gwen, why are you here? Who is this man?¡± She tilted her little head and looked at Benjamin cross-eyed. Amused by her antics, Benjamin found the little girl adorable. ¡°Juliette, why are you here?¡± Gwendolyn was surprised. Juliette pouted and pointed to the other side with her mouth before saying, ¡°I''m not the only one here. Julian and Justin are also here.¡± Although Benjamin saw Patrick, he did not feel threatened since thetter was going to get engaged to Felicia in three days. These kids must be the children of his rtives. Is he here to make Gwendolyn look after them? She''s off work now. I won''t let him have his way. Gwendolyn looked at Patrick and the two boys. The three of them were all wearing ck coats. They looked quite alike, especially in the way they gazed at people. There was always a hint of scrutiny in their dark gazes, making people feel guilty for no reason. ncing at Benjamin, Gwendolyn said to Juliette, ¡°This is Mr. Houghton.¡± ¡°Hello!¡± Juliette greeted as she waved at Benjamin. Julian and Justin also nodded lightly at Benjamin as a greeting. However, their expressions were a little frosty. They could tell that Patrick was unhappy because their mom was out on a date with another man. To them, Benjamin was no match for Patrick. He was not as good-looking and intelligent as thetter. Judging by his expression, they knew Benjamin had no idea what was going on. Without a word, Patrick walked toward the outermost ss room. That was the best spot in the restaurant. The ss room was a feature of this restaurant. An ordinary person could hardly get a seat there. In fact, Benjamin had tried various ways to book the ss room but to no avail. Juliette shifted her gaze between Gwendolyn and her two brothers before following Patrick into the ss room. After all, Patrick was her favorite person. Standing in the ss room, Juliette and Patrick looked out at the scenery. Gwendolyn could hear Juliette''sughter from where she was seated. She looked at her two sons and told Benjamin, ¡°The three of them are my children. They are triplets.¡± Hearing that, Benjamin was dumbfounded, and his expression changed drastically. Noticing that the man was not so fond of the three of them, Julian and Justin walked up to Gwendolyn and said, ¡°Mommy, how could you go out on a date behind Daddy''s back? Look, he''s angry.¡± Right as they finished speaking, they made a gesture of shooting at Benjamin before walking toward the ss room smugly. Benjamin was stunned. Looking at Gwendolyn in perplexity, he asked, ¡°Are they really your children with Patrick?¡± Gwendolyn turned her head to look at the ss room. The three kids seemed to be getting along well with Patrick. Even Julian and Justin were siding with him. She shook her head. ¡°No, I don''t know who the father of the children is. I dropped out of school back then because I fell pregnant.¡± As she spoke about the matter, she still felt a little helpless like before. Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Benjamin narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°It turns out that what they said is true.¡± He looked at Gwendolyn with a glint of disappointment in his eyes. Gwendolyn could feel it too. ¡°That''s right. Like what they said, I''m that kind of a woman.¡± With that, she grabbed her bag, ready to go to her children. However, Benjamin held her hand. ¡°Gwen, how did you be like this?¡± He had always thought Gwendolyn was the most innocent and wonderful woman in this world. How could she do something like this? She doesn''t even know who the father of her children is. He found it hard to ept. Gwendolyn looked at him intently before sneering. ¡°I didn''t change. It''s just that you don''t know me well enough.¡± Right as she finished her sentence, she headed to the ss room without looking back. cing her bag on a chair, she walked up to the triplets and wrapped her arms around their shoulders. Benjamin watched her for a while until his eyes gradually darkened. Only then did he get up and leave. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn took in the scenery outside the window. The entire city of Avenport looks so small. Perhaps this is what it feels like to be in control of the world. Beside her, Juliette turned her head to look at Benjamin, only to see that he had left. She dragged Gwendolyn to the other side, chiding, ¡°Gwen, what''s wrong with you? Don''t you see that Mr. Handsome is upset? You''d better go and console him.¡± She handed Gwendolyn a rose and nudged thetter, urging, ¡°Hurry up!¡± Looking at Juliette, Gwendolyn could not help butugh. ¡°Juliette, you''re overthinking. I''m only Patrick''s employee. It''s not what you think it is.¡± Julian and Justin were standing not far from them, so they could hear the conversation clearly. Juliette shook her head. ¡°I think Mr. Handsome likes you very much!¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn nced at the man who was sitting alone at the table, drinking coffee. His side profile looked stunning and handsome. His legs were so long that his ironed trousers looked a little short on them. As he grabbed the cup with his slender fingers and took a sip, a hint of smile appeared in his sharp eyes. He seemed to be quite satisfied with the coffee. He''s not only tall and handsome, but he''s also charismatic! Gwendolyn turned her head away from him, not wanting to be bewitched. ¡°You''re wrong, Juliette. He''s going to be engaged to another girl this Saturday. Don''t ever say something like that again. Okay?¡± Gwendolyn tried her best to exin using words that Juliette could understand. Juliette''s face fell at once. ¡°What? He has another girlfriend? Is she as beautiful as you?¡± The little girl had watched a lot of romance shows, so she was quite familiar with plots like this. When she heard Gwendolyn''s words, the first thing she thought was that Patrick''s girlfriend must not be as pretty as Gwendolyn. Moreover, Patrick probably still favored Gwendolyn, just like how things always turned out in those shows. Thus, she was sure Gwendolyn still stood a chance. Mr. Handsome has been so kind to the three of us. Moreover, my brothers look like him a lot. We should be a family! She could not ept the idea of an unfamiliar woman suddenly appearing in Patrick''s life. On the other hand, the two boys held a different opinion. They turned their heads to cast a nce at Patrick, realizing that they had made a mistake. This man doesn''t take Mommy seriously at all. He thinks she''s a fool he could easily take advantage of, but we will never allow that to happen! At that thought, they walked to Patrick, sandwiching him between them. ¡°Patrick, is it true that you''re getting engaged?¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. A gleam of iciness appeared in Justin''s eyes as he stared at the man in front of him. Unlike him, Julian looked more friendly with a smile on his face. Despite that, he looked more evil than usual. Patrick had not expected the two boys to ask him that. His gaze turned dark as he uttered, ¡°You''re still young, so you don''t understand the adults'' world. I''ll exin to you in the future.¡± Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Justin said coldly, ¡°There''s no need. We don''t want to hear any exnation.¡± With that, he turned around and walked toward Gwendolyn and Juliette. Meanwhile, Julian''s smile curved up into an evil smirk as he beckoned Patrick to lean closer. As Patrick studied him, he realized that the boy was starting to look more and more like him, especially when he smiled. His brows furrowed slightly. Before, I noticed that Justin looks like me. Now, even Justin is starting to resemble me. Is this the so- called fate? But my fate is Gwendolyn, not these two kids. He looked into a distance and saw Gwendolyn holding hands with the two children, walking toward the door. Leaning into Julian, he asked, ¡°What do you want to tell me, Julian?¡± Yet, Julian suddenly plucked out a strand of his hair and blew it away into the air. ¡°Patrick, our rtionship is just like that hair. It''s over between us.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he wheeled around elegantly, catching up with his mother and siblings. Just like that, Patrick watched the family of four leave the revolving restaurant. Then, he nced at the dishes on the table. They were the favorites of the four people who had just left. Massaging his temples, he muttered to himself, ¡°This is troublesome.¡± He picked up the cutleries, trying to enjoy the delicacies. However, he felt as if he was chewing wax. Unbeknownst to him, he had gotten used to eating with Gwendolyn. Whenever he saw her eat, he would have a great appetite. Now, without her presence, he did not feel like eating at all. Eventually, he put down the cutleries and left the restaurant. Gwendolyn took her children to a fast-food restaurant. Though it was their favorite, she rarely brought them there. Nevertheless, it wouldn''t hurt to eat there once in a while. Since her two sons suddenly sided with her today, she was in a good mood. Thus, she decided to give her children a cheat day and make them happy. Gwendolyn ordered the food they liked and watched them eat joyfully. Nibbling on a chicken wing, she asked, ¡°Julian, Justin, what''s up with you two today?¡± It was her first time entering the ss room of the revolving restaurant. The food there was notoriously good, but it was a pity she didn''t get to taste them. However, as long as her children were happy, she did not mind missing out on the food there. Justin remained silent while Julian said calmly, ¡°Mommy, you''re silly. You should tell us whenever someone bullies you. We''ll back you up.¡± Gwendolyn was a little surprised that they could tell. Clearly, Patrick had been bullying her every day. Despite that, there were things she could not tell them about. With a chuckle, she said, ¡°Okay. If someone bullies me in the future, I''ll tell you and let you avenge me.¡± Juliette was too busy eating, so she could not care less about what they were talking about. Hearing Gwendolyn''s promise, the two boys nodded in satisfaction and ced a few pieces of chicken wings and drumsticks on her te. ¡°Eat more, Mommy.¡± In an instant, Gwendolyn was moved. She took a big bite before saying, ¡°Thank you, my sons!¡± Just then, her phone rang. Gwendolyn nced at it and saw that it was Michael calling her. After hesitating for a moment, she eventually answered the call. ¡°Hello, Grandpa.¡± ¡°Gwen,e home today.¡± ¡°Grandpa, I''ve been a little busytely. Can I go another day?¡± Gwendolyn responded with a slight frown. She finally got time to spend time with her three children today, so she was going to take them to the square to watch the musical fountain after eating. Besides, she did not feel like going to the Ashton residence at all, especially since Felicia was going to get engaged in three days.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 189 Chapter 189 ¡°Gwen, it''s the Ashton family''s reunion today. Now that you''re back in Avenport, you must attend.¡± Then, he added, ¡°Are you at the fast-food restaurant in the square now? I''ve told the driver to pick you up.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn looked at her three children. It would be troublesome if Grandpa sees them. She shot to her feet abruptly and pulled Juliette up from her seat. ¡°Julian, Justin, take your sister through the back door. I have something to deal with.¡± Juliette looked at her unfinished fries, her eyes full of reluctance. ¡°I''m not leaving, Gwen. I haven''t finished eating yet!¡± She often got sick, so she rarely got the chance to eat fast food. Since Gwendolyn decided to be merciful today, Juliette wanted to make the most out of it. Nevertheless, she was carried out through the back door of the restaurant and thrown into a taxi. Even the two boys were clueless about what was going on. They turned their heads to look at the restaurant, wondering who their mother had seen to make her so terrified. Could it be Daddy? Well, he''s still a better choice than other men. At least he won''t abandon Mommy, considering we''re family. At that thought, they set their next task to force their daddy to pursue their mommy. If they seeded, their family would get to live happily together, and they would no longer need to help their mommy look for those unreliable men. However, the two boys did not see anyone. Thus, they could only wave goodbye to her. ¡°Remember toe home before ten o''clock, Mommy!¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Okay! Bye!¡± As the taxi drove away, Gwendolyn let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Grandpa''s people didn''t see them. Otherwise, Grandpa would be enraged, and he might even vent his anger on the children. No matter how scary and unbearable the Ashton family was, she was going to handle it by herself. As soon as she sat back in her seat, several men in ck suits walked in. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, this way please.¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The men respectfully stood in two rows, making way for Gwendolyn. She walked past them to the door and got into the subtle-looking luxury car. Along the way, she watched the view outside the window. It was getting dark, and the neon lights outside were beautiful. Gwendolyn was familiar with the road back to the Ashton residence. That was the route she had passed through countless times when she was a child. She used to be very excited every time she saw the entrance, because it meant she was home. However, when she saw the majestic gates now, she felt a little frightened. She wasn''t sure what kind of attitude her rtives would give her, or how viciously they would speak to her to suppress her. They were the closest people to her, but they were doing the most hurtful things to her. As the car parked in the parking lot, the driver opened the door for her. She got out of the car, looking up at the brightly lit main building. Seems like the gathering is so fun that the people in there aren''t leaving even when it''s nighttime already. When Gwendolyn walked into the living room, she saw everyone dancing. Felicia had a wine ss in her hand, seemingly drunk. ¡°Aunt Francine, you dance well!¡± ¡°Uncle, you look awesome!¡± Everyone smiled at Felicia as they looked at her. ¡°Fel, you''re so sweet.¡± Suddenly, Felicia threw the wine ss on the ground, held her skirt, and danced alone excitedly. ¡°It''s just so great to be with all the Ashtons!¡± Chapter 190 Chapter 190 After Gwendolyn heard that, there was only one thought running through her mind. I''m no longer part of the Ashton family since a long time ago. She was now on her own. That was why she couldn''t feel their joy. Approaching her, a housekeeper said respectfully, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, Old Mr. Ashton wants to see you in his study.¡± Gwendolyn didn''te to see any of those people who were partying. She just came since her grandpa told her to do so. She, too, wanted to see him. She nodded, saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± The housekeeper brought her around the bustling living room and went up to the study on the second floor. She then gestured at the door. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, Old Mr. Ashton is waiting inside. Please.¡± After that, she turned around and left. Gwendolyn then pushed open the door. As she walked into the study, she noticed nothing had changed even after so many years. The wooden flooring radiated a vintage vibe, and the walls were covered with wooden bookshelves. There was also a wooden lift, which was probably what Michael used to get books from the higher shelves. However, Gwendolyn knew that Michael never really got the books himself. The housekeepers would do it for him. She slowly made her way to the front of the desk and smiled. ¡°Grandpa.¡± Michael was holding onto his wife''s picture with much care. His eyes clearly showed how much he missed her. He lifted his head and looked at Gwendolyn, who was the spitting image of his wife. In an instant, his eyes misted over. ¡°Gwen,e here.¡± Walking to his side, Gwendolyn caught sight of the picture. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Grandpa, are you thinking of Grandma again?¡± He nodded. ¡°The family feast was set by your grandma, but she has already left us.¡± Gwendolyn gently held onto Michael''s shoulder. ¡°Grandpa, I''m sure Grandma is watching over you. She wouldn''t want to see you like this. She wants you to be happy.¡± After that, she pulled out a lollipop. ¡°This candy is really sweet. It''s as sweet as me.¡± Michael''s eyes glimmered when he heard her. That was how she used to coax him back then. He took the lollipop, removed the wrapping, and put it in his mouth. With a chuckle, he nodded. ¡°It''s sweet!¡± Seeing that, Gwendolyn smiled happily, her eyes curving into crescent moons. Slowly, the smile on Michael''s face vanished. He took out the lollipop and looked at it. ¡°Is this your kid''s lollipop?¡± Gwendolyn froze, a slight nervousness shing across her face. She slowly tightened her fingers before finally nodding. Michael then tasted the lollipop again. ¡°I''m sure they''re as sweet as the candy too.¡± Taking a deep breath, Gwendolyn said, ¡°Grandpa, I know you don''t like hearing about what happened back then. It''s also a scar that would stay with me forever. However, the kids are innocent. They are lovely and adorable. I do not regret having them.¡± To Gwendolyn, her three babies were gifts from the heavens. She cherished them very much. ¡°Next time, bring them here. I would like to see them.¡± Gwendolyn widened her eyes. Overjoyed, she immediately answered, ¡°Definitely, Grandpa.¡± Michael then stood up. ¡°Let''s go out and have some fun. Fel found herself a great husband, so everyone''s celebrating.¡± With that, Gwendolyn supported Michael and went downstairs to the living room. When the Ashtons saw Michael, they stopped partying and approached him. ¡°Dad.¡± ¡°Grandpa.¡± Michael nodded at them. ¡°Carry on.¡± They then turned their gazes toward Gwendolyn. Upon seeing her, they instantly recalled the luxury car they saw that night. They had looked it up afterward and found out how valuable it was. Noticing the ne Gwendolyn was wearing, Francine walked forward and lifted the pendant. ¡°What brand is this? The workmanship is pretty special.¡± Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Suddenly, a few women surrounded Gwendolyn and started chattering. ¡°Yes. It does look nice.¡± ¡°Look at the shade. It must be pretty expensive.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her head. She was sure the number would blow them away. Smiling slightly, she told them, ¡°It''s just a cheap brand. It''s not worth much.¡± She then quickly stuffed the ne under her clothes, reminding herself not to reveal it ever again. If anyone with knowledge about jewelry saw that, she would definitely be robbed. Actually, she did not want to wear the ne. She wanted to leave it at home, but Patrick did not allow her to do so. He even checked it daily to make sure she was wearing it. What can I do? He''s my boss. ¡°So how much is it exactly?¡± Francine and Christina were staring at her. Francine then continued, ¡°Just tell us. How much is it?¡± Intrigued by the ne, they crossed their arms, their gazes locked onto Gwendolyn''s neck. Having been mingling with the upper-ss society for years, they were extremely interested in essories like such. Naturally, they had pretty good taste in jewelry. Even though they couldn''t tell the ne''s brand, they could see through the workmanship that it was a ssic. It would be even more valuable as time went on. Even if it weren''t worth much, it was not something embarrassing to wear. On the contrary, it would show their good taste. Left with no choice, Gwendolyn lied, ¡°Fifty.¡± She assumed the two women wouldn''t be interested in something that cheap, so she blurted out the lowest price she could think of, hoping that they would stop bothering her. To her surprise, the twodies each transferred a hundred to her. ¡°Buy two for each of us!¡± Upon checking her phone, Gwendolyn was shocked that they could actually bring themselves to buy such a ¡°cheap¡± ne. As their reactions were contrary to her expectation, Gwendolyn frowned in distress. After that, a few housekeepers came up to her. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, we want the ne too. If the madams like it, it must be something great! Fifty, right? We want one too.¡± They surrounded Gwendolyn with their phones in their hands, transferring money to her. At that moment, it looked like Gwendolyn hade back to the Ashton family to do business. Seeing themotion, Felicia came forward and sneered, ¡°Gwendolyn, are you trying to earn money from your rtives and housekeepers now? Are you that poor?¡± Hearing her, the housekeepers quickly backed off. They were quite afraid of Felicia. She had always acted arrogantly at home. Now that she was getting married to a Lowen, she got even worse. Every time a housekeeper made a mistake, she would either scold them, hit them, or even chase them out. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Walking up to Gwendolyn, Felicia nced at her neck disdainfully. ¡°Aunt Francine, Aunt Christina, what is it that''s attracting your attention so much?¡± she questioned. The two women stood there, looking awkward. In fact, they were also scared of offending Felicia. With Gwendolyn around, Felicia would be reduced to the mere second daughter of the Ashton family. Thus, she despised Gwendolyn. Together, they replied, ¡°It''s nothing.¡± With that, they quickly left. ¡°Aunt Francine, Aunt Christina, this ne is one of its kind. I''m sorry, but I can''t buy another for you,¡± Gwendolyn called out after them. She purposely raised her voice to let everyone hear her. That way, no one would bother her about it anymore. As long as she didn''t ept the money they transferred to her e-wallet, the money would automatically be returned in twenty-four hours. Staring at her coldly, Felicia spoke again. ¡°Why did youe back? You''re not even one of us. This is the family gathering of the Ashtons.¡± Not even Patrick was qualified to attend their family gathering. Even though he was going to be Felicia''s fianc¨¦ soon, he could only attend their gathering after they got married. Gwendolyn was chased out of the family long ago. She had no right to be there. Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Gwendolyn said in a calm voice, ¡°I''m here because I am part of the Ashton family.¡± Felicia was slightly infuriated when she heard her. ¡°Really? Did Dad forgive you? Did Grandpa forgive you? You have long lost the right toe back here after the shameless thing you did back then,¡± Felicia retorted. The moment Felicia mentioned that incident, Gwendolyn turned furious. She walked over and grabbed Felicia''s chin with her hand. Her grip was strong enough to hurt Felicia. Felicia tried to wrestle out of her grasp, but she could not free herself at all. After so many years of fending for herself, Gwendolyn had gotten much stronger. Therefore, all Felicia could do was re at Gwendolyn. ¡°Let me go,¡± she warned. ¡°Tell me, Felicia. Who was that man? It was you and your mother who drugged me and brought me to his bed, right?¡± Gwendolyn sneered. Having spent a lot of time thinking about everything that happened, she was sure that Felicia and her mother knew the whereabouts of that man. Felicia was still trying to break free from Gwendolyn''s death grip. Her chin was about to get ripped off at this rate. She had just undergone stic surgery, and it might be deformed if Gwendolyn did not let her go anytime soon. As she struggled, she continued to re at Gwendolyn. If looks could kill, Gwendolyn would be dead on the spot. ¡°Don''t look at me like that. I just want you to speak,¡± Gwendolyn said. Felicia averted her eyes. Looking to the left, she taunted, ¡°It''s an old man in his seventies. Aren''t you together with him right now?¡± It seems like the old man is kind of rich. After all, the car that night was quite expensive. It''s a pity that I did not manage to see his face. Or maybe, the one who picked her up was not the man himself, but a driver? Gwendolyn tightened her grip on Felicia''s chin. ¡°So, you are admitting that you and your mother did it?¡± Felicia nced back at Gwendolyn. She realized that the woman in front of her probably knew that she had just gotten her chin done not long ago. She must be doing this on purpose! She''s using my chin to threaten me and make me speak. ¡°I''ve never said such a thing. If you think I did it, then that''s on you,¡± Felicia quickly denied. Gwendolyn was really about to destroy her chin when she heard someone walk over. It was Candace, who had overheard the conversation between the two. ¡°What brings you here, Gwen? Your dad is over there. Go and say hi.¡± Keeping her kind stepmother act up, Candace took Gwendolyn''s hand and brought her over to Zachary. Michael was there as well, talking to Zachary and the others. With a loud giggle, Candace said to her husband, ¡°Look who''s here, darling!¡± Although she did not dare to show her displeasure, Candace cursed Gwendolyn in her heart. How dare she walk into the Ashton residence like she owns it? Does she still think she''s the princess that everyone fawns over? She could not wait for Gwendolyn to be chased out by Zachary. It would be even better if Michael did it. Once that happened, Gwendolyn would never return back here. As long as Candace was around, Gwendolyn would never have a ce in the family. When Zachary caught sight of Gwendolyn, his face darkened. ¡°Why are you here?¡± he asked in a cold tone. With that sentence alone, Gwendolyn understood that her father did not want to see her at all. Her heart could not help but clench. Naturally, she was hurt. He was her father, after all. All daughters had a special rtionship with their fathers. It was natural for her to yearn for his love and care. I should have gotten used to this long ago. I should have known that he is nothing but a cold-blooded person. There is no way I could get his love. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°I''m here to see Grandpa,¡± she replied calmly. Zachary scoffed. ¡°There is no need for you to see him. Stop appearing in front of him, and he''ll be fine.¡± Those words were the result of Candace''s continuous brainwashing. As time went on, Zachary blindly believed in Candace and started disliking Gwendolyn even more. Zachary knew that Michael took his reputation very seriously. When that incident happened, thetter had gotten incredibly furious. Gwendolyn would only make him angry again with her appearance. However, Michael spoke up. ¡°I asked her toe. Do you have a problem with it?¡± he asked in a stern voice. Chapter 193 Chapter 193 ¡°Of course not.¡± Candace''s face paled. She had not expected Michael to speak up for Gwendolyn. Zachary nced at his wife before turning to look at Gwendolyn. ¡°Since it was your grandfather who allowed you toe back, make sure you obey the rules.¡± Gwendolyn ignored him. It was clear that she did not want to entertain him. This caused Zachary to feel slightly awkward. What a useless daughter, just like her mother! Just then, Gwendolyn said politely, ¡°It''s gettingte, Grandpa. I''ll head back first.¡± Michael nodded. ¡°Remember toe back in three days'' time, Gwen. Your sister is getting married. She and Patrick will need to pay you their respects and give you some gifts. It is the Ashton family''s tradition.¡± Candace was confused at Michael''s words. ¡°Dad, she''s just her older sister. There''s no need for such formalities. People willugh at us,¡± she hurriedly said. Upon speaking, she red at Gwendolyn, looking as if she wanted to rip thetter apart. Candace knew that nothing good woulde out of Gwendolyn''s visit. She''s even taking advantage of Felicia and Patrick. Who does she think she is to receive my daughter''s respect? How shameless! However, Michael responded sternly, ¡°This is our family''s tradition; the older child should get married first. Since Fel is getting married before her older sister, she should pay her respects to Gwen as an apology.¡± Candace still could not wrap her mind around his words. If outsiders knew about their ridiculous rule, they would be theughing stock of the century. Why is he acting like Felicia did something wrong? Does he not know that his friends have been congratting him on his granddaughter''s marriage? It''s all because Fel is getting engaged to Patrick. Right now, no families in Avenport could exceed the Lowen family. Even the elders know that, and they''re all impressed with Patrick and envious of Dad for getting an outstanding grandson-inw. This is all thanks to Felicia. Why can''t Dad see this? He''s even making things hard for her. Is he heartless? ¡°Dad, it''s Gwen''s fault for not finding a husband. me her instead,¡± Candace retorted. Hearing that, Michael nced at Gwendolyn. Despite her stepmother''s nasty words, Gwendolyn did not show any sign of annoyance. She still carried herself well with a calm expression, looking just like a wealthy family''s well-educated daughter. Michael nodded to himself in satisfaction as he decided he should shower his granddaughter with more love. ¡°That''s enough. Both you and Fel shall copy the Ashton family''s rules a hundred times,¡± Michael commanded. He had had enough of Candace. Thetter stared at him in shock. A hundred times? That''s even worse than not wearing makeup! I don''t want to! What''s wrong with him today? Candace had been incredibly busy these few days. Since Felicia''s engagement was nearing, the dresses had been brought in, and they needed to try them on. They would also have to send them for alteration if they did not fit. There were so many things to do. Candace did not have any time to copy some stupid rules a hundred times. Furthermore, she was about to be the mother-inw of a prominent family. There would be a lot of peopleing to visit her. Candace was not like Michael, who only needed to show up. He did not have to care about anything else. Nevertheless, Michael was the head of the Ashton family. No one dared to argue with him. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Zachary gestured for Candace to stop speaking. The more she spoke, the more she would mess up. Yet, Candace was not about to go down without a fight. She quickly shot a look at her husband, forcing him to speak up. ¡°How about this, Dad? Let''s put that aside for now. Fel is very busy with her engagement, and Candace also has a lot of things to deal with. They don''t have time to do that,¡± Zachary said with a smile on his face, hoping that his father would understand their situation. Candace nodded in agreement. ¡°I really don''t have time, Dad. Once the engagement is over, you can even tell me to copy the rules a thousand times. I won''t say a word.¡± Of course, she did not mean that at all. s, Michael shouted in fury, ¡°So you guys don''t even bother to obey me now?¡± Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Candace shivered involuntarily as Michael was terrifying when he was upset. She replied reluctantly, ¡°All right, Dad. I''ll go copy the family rules shortly.¡± Seeing how defeated Candace looked, Gwendolyn felt extremely satisfied. She suddenly realized that she had ways to deal with these two women. Her grandfather doted on her. As long as she kept visiting him, she could get Michael to deal with them. Gwendolyn could not help but grin as it seemed that revenge was at hand. She was not nning to make them lose everything, but she did not want to let them live too comfortably either. Aftering out of the Ashton residence, Gwendolyn waited for her ride at the roadside. She was browsing through her phone when Patrick called. ¡°Mr. Lowen,¡± she greeted after picking up. ¡°Gwendolyn, are you stupid? Why did you leave without eating?¡± She immediately thought of the delicious spread on the table earlier and felt a tinge of regret. It was unlikely that she would have the opportunity to bring the children to dine in the revolving restaurant any time soon. It was an extremely expensive restaurant. When she and Benjamin sat down earlier, he had asked her to order what she wanted. However, she almost fell off the chair after seeing the sky-high prices on the menu. A single dish cost almost thirty thousand. To ensure she did not see wrong, she had even counted the number of digits. Even the cheapest dish was around five thousand. It was practically daylight robbery. As such, she had excused herself to go to the washroom. She could not find it in herself to make someone spend so much and decided to let Benjamin ce the order instead. Patrick''s table would have cost at least hundreds of thousands. It was quite a pity. However, it seemed to her that the children would enjoy fast food more. ¡°Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn?¡± Patrick called out as she had gone silent. It was only then that she came back to her senses. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''m sorry! My family is used to having homecooked meals. They aren''t used to such high- end food.¡± Patrick furrowed his brows. The four of them looked slightly off earlier. Something must be up. Has she taken a liking to Benjamin? Do her two sons also feel the same way about him? ¡°Gwendolyn, I''m drunk. Come pick me up.¡± ¡°Mr. Lowen, didn''t you bring your assistant and the chauffeur with you? I''m afraid it''ll be difficult for me to go as I didn''t drive today.¡± Patrick downed the wine in his hand in one gulp and narrowed his eyes. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Since it''s not convenient for you, give me Ms. Ziegler''s number. I think she''ll be d to pick me up and be my personal secretary. Her cooking is also much better than yours.¡± Gwendolyn was shocked upon hearing this. ¡°Mr. Lowen, where are you now? I''lle over right now.¡± He chuckled after getting his way, and his voice became lower and sexier, partly because of the alcohol. ¡°The revolving restaurant.¡± ¡°Okay, I''ll be there soon.¡± After hanging up, Gwendolyn looked at the time and wondered why her ride was not yet there. She would break down if Camille took over her job. At that moment, she suddenly realized how good of an employer Patrick was. Although he sometimes gave off a lustful look and said weird things to her that could amount to sexual harassment in a workce, that was his only problem. Never did he work her to the bone orin about her cooking. He also tolerated her coffee, which tasted too sweet. Sometimes, she would even re at him when she was in a bad mood, but he never got upset. He truly was a good boss. At that moment, she felt the urge to see him and praise him to the skies. Finally, her ride arrived. She hurriedly got into the car and said, ¡°Sir, I have to change my destination as my husband is jumping off a building. Please head over to Horizon Tower as soon as possible. It''s a matter of life and death!¡± Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Upon hearing this, the driver stepped hard on the elerator, causing her face to bump into the front seat. She hit herself so hard that tears flowed out from the corners of her eyes. Does he have to step on the elerator so hard? It hurts so bad. ¡°Miss, it''s best if you put on your seat belt. I''ll do my best for the sake of your husband.¡± The driver was a kind person, and upon hearing that someone was about to jump off a building, he offered to do his best. He picked up his walkie-talkie and announced to his fellow drivers, ¡°Fellow friends, we have an issue. Someone is nning to jump off Horizon Tower. If you see him, try to dissuade him. His wife is on the way.¡± ¡°I''m nearby, but I don''t see any onlookers.¡± ¡°He won''t survive if he falls from such a height.¡± ¡°He chose the ce well. The view up there must be good.¡± ¡°I haven''t been up there before. Perhaps I should head up and try to dissuade him.¡± Gwendolyn''s chest tightened as she listened to the drivers'' remarks. She had only wanted to change her destination and ask the driver to hurry. Little did she expect the driver to be so kind and even enlist help from his friends. She covered her face in embarrassment and dared not look at him. If he knew she had just lied to him, he would surely give her a good scolding before letting her go. In no time, they arrived. The journey that would supposedlyst for one hour only took thirty minutes. The drivermented, ¡°Quick, go now. I don''t think he has jumped yet. My friends are keeping an eye on things, and nothing has fallen.¡± Gwendolyn nodded at him awkwardly and said, ¡°Thank you! You''re a good person.¡± After saying this, she turned around and ran toward the elevator in the lobby of Horizon Tower. When she arrived at the revolving restaurant, she calmed herself down before heading in. She realized that there was no one in the restaurant save for the ss room. Walking over, she greeted, ¡°Mr. Lowen! I''m here. That was quick, wasn''t it?¡± Patrick raised his left hand and nced at the expensive watch on his wrist. ¡°You took fifty minutes. You''ve passed. You don''t have to give me Ms. Ziegler''s number for now.¡± He then reached out his arm. ¡°Come help me up.¡± Gwendolyn quickly grabbed onto his well-defined arm. She had always thought that he was skinny, but he was, in fact, very muscled. He must be the kind of person who looks slim when dressed but muscr when undressed. Just then, a mischievous glint appeared in Patrick''s eyes, and he smiled wickedly. He retracted his hand and hooked it over her shoulder instead. Gwendolyn exerted tremendous effort to help him up. She could smell the strong scent of liquoring from him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, how much did you drink?¡± Patrick pointed at the two empty bottles on the table. Gwendolyn was shocked to see that he had finished two bottles of Lafite on his own. It was a pity as the wine had to be drunk slowly for its vor to be fully appreciated. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Patrick could hold his liquor well, and he was only slightly tipsy. He pulled Gwendolyn into his embrace, and the two of them were stuck together like glue. Exhausted from supporting him, Gwendolyn used her hand to wipe off her sweat. ¡°Mr. Lowen, where is Mr. Derner? I can''t support you on my own. Why don''t we get some help?¡± Patrickughed faintly. ¡°Her girlfriend got into a car ident. He had rushed over to see her.¡± ¡°Ahh, I see...¡± It makes sense that Liam has to go to his girlfriend. No wonder this man called me instead. Meanwhile, Patrick smirked. Liam is single, and I can make up anything about his girlfriend. There''s no such person, anyway. Straightening his back, he swayed unsteadily. Gwendolyn hurriedly wrapped her arm around his waist. ¡°Be careful not to fall down, Mr. Lowen.¡± My goodness. We wouldn''t have left if I knew he would drink this much. Patrick''s other hand did not remain idle. He tried to wrap his arm around her waist tightly, just like what she was doing. However, due to their height difference, he ended up touching something soft and bouncy. Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Gwendolyn''s expressions changed. She looked down and saw that he hadn''t loosened his grip. He was still holding on to her tightly. She frowned and lifted her head to look at him. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± He looked back at her calmly. Gwendolyn bit her lip. Is he so drunk that he failed to realize where he''s pinching? Forget it. I can''t be thinking about that now. I have to get him into the car first. She took him outside. Each step she took made her feel as though she was going to die from exhaustion. Why are men so tall? What''s the use of having such a long body and long legs? Patrick couldn''t help but smile when she noticed the frown on the woman''s face. Gwendolyn ignored him. She was basically dragging him outside. A few waiters came over at that moment, wanting to help her. But Patrick shot them a look. They were so stunned that they quickly retreated. Gwendolyn looked at the few waiters who were retreating and said, ¡°Don''t go. I need help. Just help me get him into the car.¡± The waiters shook their heads. ¡°We''re sorry, Miss. We''re busy and we have to go. Please excuse us.¡± After saying that, they immediately left for the kitchen. Gwendolyn sighed. ¡°How can they be so heartless? Can''t they see that I''m dying here?¡± Patrick turned his head and looked at her. His smile widened when he took in the resentment written all over her face. Despite herints, Gwendolyn still walked forward with all her might and finally got him to the elevator. Patrick buried his head in the crook of her neck. ¡°Gwendolyn, why do you smell so good? What brand of perfume do you use?¡± Tired and drenched in sweat, Gwendolyn turned her head to look at him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, are you really drunk? I smell good? I don''t think so.¡± She no longer wore perfume ever since she had a kid because it wasn''t good for young children and their sense of smell. ¡°Yeah, you smell very good and very sweet.¡± Gwendolyn grinned and caressed his head. ¡°Patrick, I think you''re cute when you''re drunk.¡± The man wasn''t as serious as how he usually spoke, and his tone was a lot warmer as if he was whining to her. It made her feel a sense of warmth. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Patrick''s lips gently grazed her neck. He thought she smelled really good as he listened to her words and allowed her to pat his head as if he was a dog. This silly girl must really think that I''m drunk. He sucked her neck and nted a few hickeys there. Gwendolyn felt ticklish, so she lifted his head and asked, ¡°Patrick, what are you doing?¡± She then lifted her hand to touch that tingling and numb spot. Patrick looked at the red mark he had left and his eyes shone because it looked seductive, arousing him. ¡°I wanted some candy.¡± As he spoke, his eyes be darker and darker, like that of ink. ¡°Mr. Lowen, where is the driver waiting for us? First floor or the basement?¡± ¡°It''s Larry''s mom''s birthday. I let him take a day off.¡± In other words, there was no car, no assistant, and no driver. Gwendolyn almost lost her bnce. Does that mean I have to carry him and hail a cab? If only I could pretend to pass out so that someone could call an ambnce to send us home. The elevator arrived on the first floor. Gwendolyn dragged him toward the door and attracted the attention of many people, not only because a petite woman like her was supporting a tall andnky man, but because the man was handsome and the woman was beautiful. Gwendolyn could not be bothered anymore. She helped him to the side of the road and wanted to call a cab. Patrick cooperated by taking a few steps, and the two of them stood by the road. The Uber was still there, so the driver drove over and stopped before them. ¡°Hey, beautiful, is your husband all right?¡± Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Gwendolyn felt relieved when she saw a caring. However, she was stunned when she heard the man''s voice. How can it be him? Should I hop in the car? Patrick is going to choke me if he finds out that I lied to the driver about his intention to jump from a building. The Uber driver came out of his car and helped Gwendolyn hold on to Patrick while she was still contemting. ¡°Miss, I can give you both a free ride,¡± said the driver. The driver was being a busybody. He was curious if anyone had rescued her husband from the building. Regardless, he thought that he would have done a good deed if he managed to save someone today. Gwendolyn could not bring herself to refuse the driver, seeing that he was so helpful. She could only assist the driver in getting Patrick to his car while smiling awkwardly. ¡°Thank you so much for helping!¡± After she got into the vehicle, the driver closed the door for her. The driver was in a great mood when he began his drive. Patrick leaned in close to Gwendolyn and wrapped his arms around her. He closed his eyes and pretended to be drunk. The driver observed through the rearview mirror. As expected, pretty women will definitely look for good-looking men. They look like a match made in heaven. Why would the guy think of taking his own life? Did they get into a fight? The driver kept ncing back through the rearview mirror. He couldn''t help but ask, ¡°Miss, did you have a fight with your husband?¡± Gwendolyn shot him a look after he started asking. But somehow, he didn''t seem to notice it as he continued, ¡°Young man, when ites to disagreements with thedies, men should be more magnanimous and coax their wives rather than drinking or seeking one''s own destruction.¡± Gwendolyn was speechless at that moment. She was sick of it. The driver''s affection was overwhelming to her. ¡°Hey, since you were there all the time, did the guy jump from the building?¡± Someone else''s voice came through on the driver''s walkie-talkie just then. Gwendolyn quickly covered Patrick''s ears to prevent him from listening. She assumed he was still sleeping at that moment. However, her cold hands woke him up just as he was about to nap for a while more. Gwendolyn''s action seemed ambiguous to Patrick because his ears were his weak spot. ¡°Don''t worry, guys. The guy is sitting in my car right now. I will send them back safely,¡± said the driver into his walkie-talkie. ¡°That''s good!¡± ¡°Tell the young man that where there is life, there is hope.¡± ¡°Yeah, man. Things will get better in time.¡± Patrick heard that. It was only then did he realize that Gwendolyn had done such an ambiguous action because she didn''t want him to listen to their conversation. Does she actually know the driver? Before we got into the car, she seemed to have told the driver that I wanted to take my own life. The corners of his mouth curved up when he thought of it. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Patrick liked the word ¡°husband,¡± but taking his own life didn''t go well with him at all, and he didn''t like the idea. Nevertheless, he had an idea and smirked in triumph. Gwendolyn knitted her brows and wondered why they couldn''t stop talking. She was afraid that Patrick would be pissed off if he knew all of this when he awoke. ¡°Could you please stop chatting and pay attention to the road? We''ll pay you the fare,¡± said Gwendolyn to the driver. ¡°Talk to youter. Drive safe,¡± said the driver into the walkie-talkie. Gwendolyn took a look at the man who was lying on her chest. His eyes were closed, and his eyshes were long. He had a straight nose that entuated his prominent facial features. Gwendolyn couldn''t help but want to touch the man''s face. She had wanted to check to see if he was awake. Yet little did she expect to be carried away by it. ¡°Don''t worry, Miss. I''ve been driving for decades. I will make certain that you get home safely,¡± said the driver. Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Having said that, the driver concentrated on driving, and Gwendolyn let out a sigh of relief. She removed her hands covering Patrick''s ears and nced down. Seeing Patrick with his eyes closed, she thought he must have fallen asleep. Phew! Thank God he didn''t hear anything! If not, I can''t imagine what he will do! When they arrived at the gates of Star Mansion, Gwendolyn frowned and said to the driver, ¡°Sir, can you please send us inside? He''s blind drunk, and I can''t support him.¡± I would die of exhaustion if I were to carry Patrick into the mansion alone. It would take at least twenty minutes to walk into the mansion and that was when she was only alone and walking at her fastest speed. If she had to drag Patrick with her, Gwendolyn might end up taking two hours to get inside. The driver looked around the residential area. ¡°The people who live here are from the moneyed ss. Why would they want to take their own lives? It''s not like they can''t live anymore.¡± After mumbling to himself, he shook his head. I really don''t understand young people nowadays. They are emotionally weak! Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows. Indeed, one cannot tell lies because they will soon be exposed. Upon entering the gate of the mansion, the bodyguards blocked the car. Seeing this, Gwendolyn lowered the car window and allowed them to look at Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen!¡± They greeted politely with a bow. The driver was startled. Looks like this young man is no ordinary person. With his curiosity piqued, the driver kept stealing nces at Gwendolyn and Patrick through the rearview mirror. Both of them were attractive and had an air of sophistication about them. Ah! I think they''re from wealthy families. It seems that they''re bored with their mundane lives and wanted to do something wild. Lowering her gaze, Gwendolyn looked at Patrick, who was sleeping soundly on herp. She could not care less about the driver''s inquisitive nces. When they arrived at the entrance of Patrick''s mansion, Gwendolyn called out Patrick''s name. Then, she turned to the driver and said, ¡°Sir, you can stop here.¡± The driver helped her get Patrick out of the car. ¡°Do you need me to walk you in?¡± he asked. ¡°No, it''s fine,¡± Gwendolyn quickly said, turning him down, for she was rather afraid of his overzealous desire to help. Taking out a piece of note from her handbag, she shoved it to the driver and added, ¡°Here''s one hundred, Sir. Thank you so much.¡± After that, she helped Patrick and walked into the mansion, and quickly closed the door. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Fortunately, the mansions here were all detached, and they all had their own gates. Once they were closed, no one could get in. Gwendolyn hoped that Patrick and the taxi driver would never meet again. Otherwise, the warm and passionate driver would probably start talking to Patrick about life. Thank goodness Patrick didn''t hear anything. A gush of warm air enveloped her as she supported Patrick into the mansion. Compared to the outdoor temperature, which was about one or two degrees, it was morefortable inside because of its constant temperature. Suddenly, Patrick opened his eyes and hugged Gwendolyn. He rubbed his head against Gwendolyn''s neck, tickling her. She reached out her hand to caress him like how she would pat a puppy''s head. ¡°Stop it, Mr. Lowen! You''re tickling me.¡± She let out a chuckle as she spoke because it was too ticklish. ¡°Where is this ce? I want to go home.¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback. What? He can''t even recognize his own house now? She was forced to bury her head in his chest. The fragrance of his cologne and the faint redolent wine wafted into her nose. Trying hard to lift her head, she stared into his eyes and said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, this is your house. Let me take you to your room.¡± Hearing her words, Patrick let go of her in an instant. Then he took off his tie, coat, shirt, and trousers and tossed them onto the floor. Gwendolyn quickly covered her face. God, my eyes! Does this man know that this is how he behaves when he''s drunk? At this moment, Patrick, d in only a pair of white briefs, scooped Gwendolyn up. Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Gwendolyn screeched, ¡°What are you doing, Patrick?¡± ¡°Going to bed with you, my wife,¡± he answered. As he strode up the staircase, Gwendolyn was struggling. However, she nearly fell out of his arms as she did so, almost scaring her to death. Ceasing her struggles, she could only hug his neck tightly. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She was dazed, captivated by his handsome features. He actually looks cuter when he''s drunk. She stroked his eyshes gently and said, ¡°You made a mistake. I''m not your wife.¡± Patrick smirked. ¡°How could I be wrong? Didn''t you tell the taxi driver that I was your husband, Darling? That makes you my wife,¡± he murmured while keeping a straight face. Gwendolyn gasped. Did he hear that? Wasn''t he already asleep? Was he just pretending to be sleeping? It couldn''t be. If Patrick had actually heard the conversation, he would not have let it slip. She was confident that Patrick would not remember any of these when he sobered up the next day. He carried her into the bedroom and tossed her onto the bed so forcefully that she bounced off it. Gwendolyn crawled to the edge of the bed as fast as she could, her mouth hanging open. She was in shock. She knew that the bed was a dangerous ce to be with Patrick, even more so with him being drunk. However, he grabbed hold of her before she could escape. Again, she was flung to the middle of the bed. Patrick drew even closer and brushed his lips against hers. He then brought her arms over her head and pressed her down on the bed as he continued kissing her. Gwendolyn was so close to losing her mind at that point. How did he get so wasted that he can''t even recognize his home and his wife? She tried to convey that he was kissing Gwendolyn and not Felicia. However, the attempt was unsessful, as she was unable to speak at all. He continued mashing his lips against hers so firmly and aggressively that it made her lips go numb. His kisses were just like him, so dominating yet irresistible. Even so, she tried her very best to keep her cool. She almost lost it, though, as he was wearing nothing but his boxers. Gwendolyn was just human, after all. It waspletely normal for women her age to be filled with desires anyway. She med it on the hormones. Nevertheless, she knew she had to ovee the lust. There was no way she would give in to the temptations. She would never allow herself to. As much as Gwendolyn tried to conceal her emotions, Patrick saw through her. They were written all over her face. It didn''t turn him off, though. Instead, he found it appealing and even seductive. Tonight, he would use this opportunity of him being drunk to sleep with her. Once that was over, she would surely understand his feelings. When Gwendolyn snapped out of her daze, her lips had already been released, allowing her to breathe properly. Feeling a little chilly, it took her a moment to realize that she had been stripped of her clothes. Oh, this naughty man. Not again! ¡°Hey, Patrick, look at me. This is Gwendolyn. I''m not Felicia,¡± she said while trying to wake him up by tapping on his back. Well, of course, he knew. He was well aware that the woman was Gwendolyn and not Felicia. However, this was perfect as she was exactly who he wanted so badly. Before she could react, his lips touched hers again while his hand began caressing her all over her body. Gwendolyn''s eyes widened. The abrupt intimacy caught her off guard. She panicked. Her current situation made her recall a certain dream. To be more urate, she was reminded of that jerk from all those years ago. He was extremely simr to Patrick, almost as if they were the same person, especially the warmth and lines of his palm. Memories of that man running off after sleeping with her were filling her mind again. The mere thought of it sent chills down her spine. Strangely, she was terrified yet a little euphoric. These hurtful memories of Gwendolyn''s daunting past had wounded her deeply, leaving a scar in her heart. And all of a sudden, she was in pain. The shbacks that she was getting made her feel as if her wound was being ripped open again. Her struggles grew increasingly violent. With full force, she started kicking Patrick until he finally fell off the bed. She then sat herself up after breaking free of him. Patrick stood up, cradling his aching head, and asked coldly, ¡°Were you trying to paralyze me with that kick, Gwendolyn?¡± Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Gwendolyn pulled the nket to cover herself as she looked at Patrick coldly. ¡°Patrick, take a good look. I''m Felicia.¡± Wait a minute; he called me ¡°Gwendolyn¡± just now. She red angrily at him. So he''s actually clear-headed! He was lying to me. What a jerk! Patrick took a nce at his lower body. Luckily, it''s not hurt. Or else, she won''t be able to feel the bliss for the rest of her life. He arched an eyebrow slightly as he said, ¡°Ms. Ashton, how did you care for me that we''re on the bed now?¡± Gwendolyn felt defeated. He''s gone crazy with just a bit of alcohol and is even acting as if he lost his memory. She decided not to argue about it. With the nket wrapped around her, she slid to the ground and picked up her clothes one by one to put them on. Patrick pulled the corner of the nket toward him, causing Gwendolyn to be anxious, and she immediately tugged onto it. ¡°Patrick, you''re sober now. Stop messing around.¡± Patrick uttered coldly, ¡°I''m freezing.¡± It''s not like I''ve never looked at her body. I''ve even touched it, but she''s still shy. However, he found her shy demeanor cute and was amused by it. Hence, he could not stop himself from teasing her. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Gwendolyn felt like she would go insane. I''m his secretary, but why do I feel like I''m his lover? We are so intimate that it''s abnormal. Moreover, this has happened a few times. This must never ur again. Otherwise, the only one who will suffer is me. It''d be too pathetic if I have to be a secretary while also selling my body, all for thirty thousand. Gwendolyn moved backward, and the corner of the nket dropped from Patrick''s hand. She ran to the toilet with haste, locked the door, and wore her clothes hurriedly. When she opened the door and walked out, Patrick pointed to the phone on the bed. He had put on a ck silk nightgown. It made him look sexy and appealing. Even his voice was low and attractive as he said, ¡°Justin called you and asked you to return his call.¡± Patrick held a lit cigarette between his fingers, frowning as he smoked. He had clearly felt how Justin was acting colder toward him just now. Besides that, when he said that Gwendolyn would not be going back that night and wanted to apply for leave, Justin instantly rejected him and demanded that she go home. Justin obviously did not respect him. Seems like I need to deal with both her sons first in order to make Gwendolyn mine. Gwendolyn picked up the phone at once and called Justin. ¡°Justin, did you call me? What is it? Is Juliette all right?¡± Her voice sounded worried as every time Justin or Julian called her at night, it was usually because something had happened to Juliette. ¡°Mommy, Juliette is fine. She is already asleep. I''m just calling to remind you that you only have half an hour left. You''ll be punished if you don''t reach home on time.¡± He hung up right after he finished speaking. Gwendolyn was stunned for a while. Her two sons had be strict once again after they understood that there was nothing going on between Patrick and herself. She yelped after taking a look at the time. ¡°Ahh... It''s nine thirty-five!¡± Then, she ran to the door. Patrick knitted his brows as he felt like she had neglected him. He heard themotion Gwendolyn made as she rushed out of his house and left in a hurry. Again, he took a puff of his cigarette. As expected, she forgets all about my existence once she receives a call from her son. It was not a nice feeling being forgotten. He wanted to be her priority, someone she constantly thought about. He took out his phone and sent a message in BigWoodThree''s group chat. BigWoodOne texted: Who knows how to coax a child? Please advise. BigWoodTwo messaged: Why? Is Gwen pregnant, and you''re going to be a daddy? Pat, I''m not trying to nag you, but you''re getting engaged three dayster. This is a bit too much. Gwen will definitely abort the baby and ignore you forever. Looking at what Kevin wrote, Patrick''s brows knitted closer to each other. You seem to know Gwendolyn really well, don''t you? Chapter 201 Chapter 201 When Gwendolyn went into the office the next day, she slumped onto her chair, too tired to even move a muscle. The previous night, she had tried her best to rush home, but she was stillte by ten minutes. Consequently, she was dragged out of bed by her two sons at half-past five that morning. They tied a sandbag to her leg and forced her to run with them. After running for five kilometers, her calves were then quivering, and she was dead tired. It had been too long since she had undergone such intense training. In the past, Zayden was the one who coerced her in such a manner. At that time, she had just started working at Night City. Zayden was worried about her, so he forced her to learn taekwondo. Her stamina was poor, so he woulde over at the crack of dawn every single day to drag her out for a run. Her two sons learned quickly and used that same method to punish her. When Patrick saw the woman who flopped into the chair like a dead fish aftering into the office, he lifted his head from his pile of documents. ¡°My coffee, Ms. Ashton.¡± Only then did Gwendolyn shoot to her feet. However, he distinctly glimpsed the fleeting furrow of her brows. Hmm? Is she not feeling well? Is she on her menstruation, perhaps? No, that''s not right. He knew her time of the month, and it had only been a week ago. When she had her menstruation, she would have a hot-water bag in her hands and look all chagrined with everyone. She had smashed two of his coffee cups and even walked all over him. In short, she was short- tempered during her time of the month. Nheless, he had put up with it and tolerated her, seeing that she was on her period. What''s wrong with her today? She looks as though she''s exhausted. Gwendolyn went to the pantry on shaky legs and brewed Patrick his favorite coffee with only a dash of milk. Then, she ced it in front of him. ¡°Your coffee, Mr. Lowen.¡± After saying that, she seemingly recalled something, for her lovely eyes narrowed a fraction. ¡°Mr. Lowen, please don''t forget that you have a video conference at half-past nine.¡± Having said that, she hastily went back to her desk and sat down. At once, she felt much better. She started burying her head in her work. There were iing calls from time to time, and she would filter them again before patching them through to Patrick. When Patrick nced at Gwendolyn after his video conference concluded, he saw that she was sprawled on her desk, fast asleep. His gaze gentled slightly, and he walked over, draping a jacket over her. Actually, he was more inclined toward carrying her to the lounge for a nap, but she was a light sleeper. If he were to move her, she would definitely awaken. Fortunately, the office was equipped with a thermostatic temperature control system, so it was pretty warm. Dipping his head, he swept his gaze over her desk that was kept neat and tidy. Her notebooky open, and there was a note on the screen that read: Tuesday and Thursday, ss at seven o''clock in the evening. Patrickmitted that to memory and resolved not to hold her back when she was working so hard. At that precise moment, the chief secretary, Amber, pushed open the door and walked in. In a sh, her eyes widened slightly at the sight of Patrick draping a jacket over Gwendolyn. Although there had been rumors within thepany recently that Gwendolyn had been cast aside by Patrick, the former still stayed shamelessly. Judging from the look of things then, however, it was a misunderstanding on their part. In fact, Patrick''s concerned gaze and tender expression right then was evidence enough. Amber had been working for the man for three years, but she had never seen him such. Rooted to the spot, Amber gaped at her employer. It wasn''t until she sensed his icy gaze that she jolted back to her senses. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Ms. Ashton phoned me earlier and told me to remind you to go for the tuxedo fitting today.¡± Their engagement banquet was three dayster, but Patrick hadn''t yet tried on the tuxedo and all. Therefore, it was evident that he seemingly didn''t take it to heart. Patrick made a shushing gesture at her, upon which Amber hurriedly zipped her mouth. As the man waved a hand to shoo her away, the realization that he was afraid she would disrupt his beloved''s sleep dawned upon her. Indeed, that was Amber''s thought¡ªGwendolyn was Patrick''s most precious beloved. She carefully closed the door. While standing at the door, she patted herself on the chest lightly. Phew! If I had woken her, I would''ve probably been dismissed on the spot! N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Just then, Liam strolled over and inquired, ¡°Where''s Mr. Lowen, Ms. Johnson?¡± Chapter 202 Chapter 202 After Liam spoke, he lifted his hand to knock on the door. Amber arched an eyebrow and snickered devilishly. ¡°Mr. Derner, I''d advise you not to go in now. Also, it''s best that you don''t knock on the door.¡± Liam didn''t quite understand her meaning. Thinking that she had unquestionably been hauled over the coals by Patrick, he merely shed her a smile. ¡°Got it.¡± s, he didn''t listen to her. Courting death, he lifted his hand and knocked on the door before making to push open the door and enter. At that exact moment, the door was pulled open from the inside. Patrick stood at the door, staring down at Liam frostily. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± The look in his eyes was irate, and his voice was as cold as ice. The two people at the door couldn''t help shuddering. Stealing a nce at Amber, who took off swiftly, Liam finally believed her words earlier. ¡°Mr. Lowen, the banquet hall is all set up. Would you like to go and have a look? If¡ª¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°No one is allowed to enter the CEO''s office in the next two hours.¡± After saying that, Patrick spun around. He pushed open the door and slipped in, leaving Liam his cold back. Liam''s lips twitched. I haven''t finished speaking! He stood there in shock and digested everything for a long while before he gathered his wits about him. He doesn''t care about the engagement at all. Instead, a single question on that topic seemingly sparks his temper. It''s better that I don''t ask him anything! Gwendolyn slept for over an hour. When she awakened, she was startled and abruptly jerked her head up. When she saw that Patrick still had his head buried in work, she lifted her hand and wiped the saliva from the corner of her mouth. In the next heartbeat, Patrick''s eyes, which resembled ck holes, turned her way. She hastily straightened in her seat and feigned busyness. Following that, the jacket draped over her slipped down. Quickly reaching out, she caught it, only to discover that it wasn''t hers but his. No wonder I slept so soundly just now. The faint fragrance of him had been wafting into my nostrils all along, making me feelpletely at ease. At the same time, she also realized that he knew about her sleeping on the job. She stood up and hung his jacket onto the coat stand before walking over to him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I woke up too early this morning and even ran five kilometers with a heavy load, so I''m a bit tired. I won''t ck off again in the future.¡± Please don''t have Ms. Ziegler take over my job! I''ll definitely be serious and work hard! Patrick lifted his head and nced at her. ¡°If you''re still sleepy, go and sleep on the bed inside. It''s morefortable there.¡± Those were his heartfelt words. If it weren''t for his worry of waking her, he would have carried her into the room long ago. Chuckling awkwardly, Gwendolyn lifted her hand and scratched her head. ¡°I''m not sleepy anymore, Mr. Lowen. I''ll get back to work right away.¡± She hurried back to her desk and started working energetically. Just then, her phone rang with a call from her father, Zachary. She hesitated for a while before answering the call. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°It''s me. Fel is going for her wedding gown fitting today. Go with her. Since girls have the same aesthetics, you can give her your opinion.¡± Gwendolyn never expected him to call her, but she was no longer surprised after hearing that. ¡°I''m sorry, Mr. Ashton, but I''m at work and have no time.¡± Right after saying that, she hung up and tossed the phone aside, hoping that he wouldn''t call again. However, Candace insisted. They were determined to trample on her dignity. Thus, Zachary phoned her again. When Gwendolyn saw that he was ringing her up again, her entire face scrunched up. Taking the call, she held the phone far away from her. ¡°Hello? Hello? The signal here is bad, so please contact me again tomorrow if you need anything.¡± Then, she hung up the phone once more. After doing that, she burst into giggles and even muttered, ¡°I''m so smart!¡± The entire scene was witnessed by the man sitting a stone''s throw away. A glimmer of curiosity glinted in his eyes. Who phoned her just now that she was so reluctant to answer the call? Anyway, the mischievous side of her is really adorable! At that precise moment, Felicia phoned her directly. Gwendolyn heaved a sigh. Ugh! Verily, she doesn''t give up until she learns her lesson the hard way. Fine, then! Livid, she epted the call before putting it on speakerphone. ¡°I''m currently at work, Felicia. If there''s anything you want to say, say it to Mr. Lowen.¡± Chapter 203 Chapter 203 ¡°Stop acting all high and mighty, Gwendolyn! Grandpa wants you toe over for my wedding gown fitting. Are youing or what?¡± Feliciambasted. As her vicious voice rang out, Patrick could hear her loud and clear. ¡°Can I take the day off, Mr. Lowen? A paid leave, I mean,¡± Gwendolyn inquired. ¡°In your dreams,¡± Patrick replied cidly. At once, Felicia''s shrill cry split the air. On the heels of that, she promptly hung up. Putting her phone away, Gwendolyn said to Patrick, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lowen!¡± Argh! The Ashtons are really annoying. They''re just marrying off their daughter, no? What''s there to unt? I''m not going so that they can pour scorn on me! At that turn of events, Patrick''s eyes narrowed into slits. He finally knew why she hung up earlier. While he wasn''t sure about the rtionship between the two women, he heard her once saying that she and Felicia were enemies. His engagement three dayster was a show meant for his grandfather so that thetter wouldn''t worry about him and could recuperate with peace of mind. At the thought of Gwendolyn, however, a headache assailed him. At half-past five in the evening, Camille went to pick the three children up. As soon as they stepped out of the school gate, Justin took out his phone and gave Gwendolyn a call. Right then, it was also almost time for Gwendolyn to get off work. The moment she saw that it was a call from her son, she happily answered it. ¡°School has been dismissed, Justin?¡± ¡°Julian and I are cooking tonight, Mommy. Remember toe back for dinner.¡± Justin hung up after saying that. Gwendolyn''s lips curved into a faint arc, reflecting her good mood. Both her sons were a genius in all aspects. Even their culinary skills were top-notch, but they rarely cooked. Only during her birthday each year did they personally prepare a scrumptious feast for her. She relished it every single time, for their cooking tasted even better than the food prepared by the chef of a five-star hotel. Recalling the taste, she grew a touch hungry. Hence, she stood up and went to the pantry to get a ss of water. While cradling the ss, she took a sip of water. As she headed out, two secretaries walked in. Upon catching sight of her, they flinched, and their conversation earlier screeched to a stop. ¡°Ms. Ashton.¡± Gwendolyn nodded at them before strolling out of the pantry. The two remaining women then began gossiping. ¡°Did you see that? She was all nonchnt. Perhaps she''s used to be a mistress.¡± ¡°I agree. Mr. Lowen is going to get engaged to the heiress of the Ashton family this Saturday, yet she hasn''t moved out of his office. How shameless!¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Well, I think once he''s engaged, his fianc¨¦e will definitely kick her out of his office.¡± Just then, Gwendolyn strode back in and shed them an awkward smile. ¡°I''m sorry, but I wasn''t eavesdropping on purpose. I left my phone here.¡± She picked up her phone on the counter before casting a nce at the two women. ¡°Danica, Yelena, I''m afraid I''d have to disappoint you both. Even if Mr. Lowen were married, I would never move out of his office.¡± Indeed, she couldn''t lose that job and would defend it to the death. ¡°By the way, do remember to choose an obscure ce when speaking ill of others next time. If Mr. Lowen were to overhear the two of you, you might lose your jobs. After all, he doesn''t like to have rumormongers by his side.¡± After saying that, she strode out of the pantry with her head held high. The two women looked at each other. In the next heartbeat, they shook their heads and snarled in unison, ¡°I''ve really never seen someone so shameless!¡± Nheless, they didn''t dare say anything further. If the person earlier were Patrick, they would be doomed. Lowen Group paid the highest, so they didn''t want to leave. Gwendolyn returned to her desk, stealing a peek at the man at his desk. He appeared to have his te full that day, flipping through and signing a pile of documents nonstop. She pursed her lips for a moment, but in the end, she ventured, ¡°May I get off work on the dot today, Mr. Lowen? Something came up at home.¡± In reality, she had her mind on the food cooked by her two sons. Because it was too delicious, she didn''t want to miss it. Chapter 204 Chapter 204 ¡°Okay!¡± Patrick answered. After all, he also had something to handle that night. His entire family was already aware of his engagement, but he hadn''t been home recently. As such, he had to go home that night and tell Hector the good news. He reckoned that thetter would be particrly happy. s, he wasn''t happy at all. Instead, he found it all too irritating. In the past, he had even considered faking a marriage, but judging from the situation then, a fake engagement was already his greatestpromise. When Gwendolyn heard his agreement, she jumped for joy. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lowen! You''re so nice!¡± She then took out a lollipop from her bag and presented it to him. ¡°This is for you, Mr. Lowen.¡± After saying that, she happily went over to the coat stand. Snagging her jacket, she put it on before wrapping her scarf around her neck. With her bag in hand, she waved at Patrick. ¡°Bye, Mr. Lowen! Don''t stay toote!¡± Then, she dashed out of the CEO''s office. Patrick lifted his left hand and nced at the luxury watch on his wrist. Hmm, it''s six o''clock in the evening on the dot. She really wasn''t willing to stay for even a second longer! Subsequently, he shifted his gaze to the lollipop on his desk. It was pink and heart-shaped, so it had a rather different meaning. In the blink of an eye, his expression turned tender. He picked up the lollipop and took a sniff of it. Ah, it''s probably as fragrant as her! Gwendolyn didn''t dare drive to work since she practically got the car for nothing. Patrick was petty, so she was afraid that he would take the car back if he were to catch her doing so. For that reason, she took the subway to work every day. Likewise, she took the subway home. Actually, it was pretty good to take the subway, as there was no congestion, so she could arrive home faster. Twenty minutester, she had already exited the subway station near her house. The weather that day was particrly chilly, so she tightened the scarf around her to block off the bitter wind. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. All of a sudden, a car stopped in front of her, and its window rolled down. Gwendolyn was stunned for a moment. When she discerned the person in the car, she pulled open the car door and got in. As the car drove toward Snowy Lane, she gave a light chuckle. ¡°You picked the right day to visit, Zayden.¡± Zayden regarded her with a hint of amusement in his eyes. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Covering her mouth with both hands, Gwendolyn replied smilingly, ¡°Justin and Julian are cooking today. Say, didn''t you pick just the right day toe?¡± In response, Zayden nodded. ¡°In that case, I''ll be enjoying a scrumptious feast tonight.¡± Soon, the car stopped in front of Gwendolyn''s house. The driver opened the car door for them. Zayden alighted from the car, followed by Gwendolyn. As they both headed toward the door, Tommy suddenly called out to Gwendolyn. ¡°Come here for a moment, Gwen.¡± Thus, Gwendolyn said to Zayden, ¡°Go on in first. I need to speak to him for a bit.¡± At the sight of Tommy, she knew that it had to do with the matter of servicing the debt. She was rather busy these days, so she didn''t contact Lucy and had no idea whether her house had been sold. ¡°Gwen, when is your friend going to return the money? The other party really doesn''t allow any more dys.¡± Gwendolyn forced a smile. ¡°Soon, Tommy. The location of her house is pretty good, so it''s easy to sell. However, she has to negotiate about the price for a bit.¡± Hearing that, Tommy wore a conflicted expression. ¡°Gwen, tell her that three days is the limit. If she still can''t repay the debt by then, they''ll personallye knocking at your door to collect the debt.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Okay. We''ll definitely return the money three dayster.¡± Only after obtaining her promise did Tommy return home with peace of mind. When Gwendolyn headed home, she quirked a brow. We must repay the debt three dayster. Otherwise, the debtors wille knocking at my door. I don''t want my three kids to suffer a fright. No sooner had she stepped into the house than she scented food. She went into the kitchen and saw two petite figures bustling about with aprons around their waists, their movements methodical. She snagged a piece of pork rib and ced it into her mouth. Then, she shed them both a thumbs- up. ¡°Wash your hands first,¡± the two brothers ordered in unison. Gwendolyn stuck her tongue out at them both like a mischievous child. Giggling, Julian vowed, ¡°Mommy, even if you''ve got no boyfriend or husband, you''ve still got us. We''ll love and take care of you forever.¡± Chapter 205 Chapter 205 When Gwendolyn heard that, she gazed at her two sons fixedly. The smile on her face faded bit by bit. Walking over, she gathered them into her arms. ¡°Thank you, Sweethearts! You''re the best present I''ve ever received. I don''t need anyone else when I''ve got you all!¡± A man? Hah! What use is that? I only want to live happily with my three kids! Just then, Camille came into the kitchen and said, ¡°Gwen, Mr. Surrington is here. Go and chat with him for a while. I''ll stay and help Justin and Julian out.¡± Gwendolyn hadn''t much interest in cooking. If Patrick hadn''t coerced her to cook for him, she wouldn''t have even stepped foot into the kitchen. Her family were aware of that, so they pampered her and forbade her from cooking. Her two sons knew that their mother didn''t like to cook, so they learned to cook by themselves. Then, she wouldn''t need to do it even if Camille were upied in the future. Gwendolyn wrapped an arm around Camille''s shoulder. ¡°All right. Thank you.¡± Leaving the kitchen, she went to the sink to wash her hands before heading to the living room. Juliette was performing the dance she learned recently for Zayden. ¡°What do you think of my dance, Zay?¡± Juliette loved to address others by their names in such a manner. She was familiar with Zayden, so she didn''t bother maintaining her decorum before him. Conversely, Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°Juliette, you must address him as Mr. Zayden in the future. Do you understand me?¡± However, Juliette rolled her eyes at her mother. ¡°Nope. I like to call him Zay.¡± Having said that, she hooked her arms around Zayden''s neck. ¡°Zay, do you like me addressing you this?¡± At that, Gwendolyn shrugged helplessly. Oh well, I really can''t do anything about her attitude. Zayden stroked her petite face, asserting, ¡°As long as you''re happy, you can address me anyhow you like.¡± Knowing that the man pampered the children since they were young, especially Juliette, whom he indulged infinitely, Gwendolyn couldn''t help sighing. ¡°Zayden, you can''t pamper her so much in the future. Otherwise, she''ll grow up into an ill-mannered individual.¡± Zayden handed the Barbie doll box to Juliette. ¡°Sweetheart, go and y with your new doll. I''ve got something to discuss with your mommy.¡± Juliette looked at Gwendolyn. While she was somewhat reluctant to part with her mother, she also yearned to y with her new Barbie doll. It was stunningly beautiful, and she didn''t have it in her collection. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. In the end, she decided to abandon her mother with Zayden because of her Barbie doll. Well, they''re friends anyway! Hugging the Barbie doll box in her arms, she went to the side to y. Gwendolyn added some hot water into Zayden''s teacup. ¡°Have some tea.¡± Zayden hadn''t been to her ce for a long time, seemingly very busy recently. In fact, it was difficult to even catch a glimpse of him. Zayden picked up the teacup with steam wafting out of it and took a sip of tea. That was his favorite tea, and he could only drink it at Gwendolyn''s ce, for it was from Camille''s hometown. It wasn''t sold anywhere else, so he missed it greatly. ¡°I''d like to ask you for a favor, Gwen.¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn chortled. ¡°What is it?¡± Zayden saved her and her three children, so if he were to ask for her help, she would certainly agree. Subsequently, Zayden ced the teacup down and sped his hands together. A hint of delight shone in his eyes, and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he gazed at her. He was in a good mood because Patrick was getting engaged. Previously, he thought that Gwendolyn hooked up with the man, but judging from the present situation, that didn''t seem to be the case. I shouldn''t have doubted her. She''s not that kind of woman and would never marry him because of money! Besides, I''ve known her longer, so we know each other better. On the whole, he believed that he had the edge over Patrick. Seeing that he was staring at her motionlessly, Gwendolyn waved a hand at him. ¡°Hey, what are you thinking about, Zayden? Go ahead and tell me! As long as it''s something within my capabilities, I''ll definitely do my best.¡± ¡°Gwen, I need a femalepanion on Saturday. Will you be my femalepanion?¡± Not only did Zayden want to bring her along to attend Patrick''s engagement party, but he also wanted the media to photograph them together. Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Gwendolyn was stunned for a moment after hearing Zayden''s request. ¡°Are you attending Patrick''s engagement party?¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. She knew about the uing event on Saturday. It was the engagement party between the Ashton and Lowen families that were presently the talk of the city. It was likely that all the upper-ss people in Avenport would be attending. The Surrington family was the second most powerful family in Avenport, so they were naturally on the guest list. Knowing that he wouldn''t be able to keep her in the dark, Zayden nodded. ¡°Please don''t turn me down, Gwen.¡± Zayden was wearing a white suit, looking immacte and elegant. When he looked at her, there was a smile in his eyes. Gwendolyn mulled it over. But if Mrs. Surrington were also attending, she would undoubtedly go off the deep end. After all, she threw me a check and told me to leave Zayden. Anyway, I can understand her feelings. He''s her most beloved son, so she will naturally object if he were to marry someone with children. If I were in her shoes, I would also take issue with it. From her perspective, I do understand her. But then, Zayden has a special ce in my heart, for he''s my savior. ¡°Okay!¡± I''ll just have to put up with a few res from her and her giving me a hard time. That''s nothing to me! Beaming, Zayden reached out and stroked her head. ¡°Thank you!¡± At that precise moment, Camille stepped into the living room. When she saw the interaction between the two of them, a sh of worry flittered across her face. Should I tell Mr. Lowen about this? After all, I took so much money from him. Besides, I can tell that Mr. Lowen treats her very well. Gwen has known Mr. Surrington for many years, so if they could get together, that would''ve happened ages ago. As such, Mr. Lowen seems to have a higher chance. Therefore, she took out her phone to send Patrick a text message. Without warning, someone snatched her phone away. Justin scanned the words on the phone. Sure enough, Ms. Ziegler is in cahoots with that man! Julian was spot on! The text message read: Mr. Lowen, Mr. Surrington came over tonight and is having a great time chatting with Ms. Ashton. Why don''t youe over as well? Julian and Justin are cooking today. Their cooking is pretty good, so you shoulde over for a taste. Justin deleted the entire message, a faint smirk shing across his eyes. He wants to eat our cooking? Hah! In his dreams! Even if we feed it to the dogs, we''ll never give it to him! A hint of chilliness manifested on his grim face. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, you''re not allowed to send that man any more messages in the future. Do you understand?¡± His cial expression was rather petrifying. While he was only a child, he resembled an adult at that moment and gave off a strong sense of oppression. Camille was wholly stunned, for she had never seen that side of Justin. She even started to suspect that the boy she had been interacting with every day was seemingly a different person. When Justin noticed her surprised and mystified expression, he beckoned her over. ¡°I''ve got something to tell you.¡± Hence, Camille followed him out of the living room and went to the kitchen. In the kitchen, Julian had already finished cooking thest dish. With a smirk ying on his lips, he carried the dish to the dining table. ¡°Was my guess right, Justin?¡± Justin nodded. He then told Camille to have a seat, and thetter sat down woodenly. Upon seeing that, Julianughed. ¡°Don''t be afraid, Ms. Ziegler. We''re not ming you. Instead, we only want to tell you that Patrick Lowen is going to get engaged to the heiress of the Ashton family this Saturday. It''s all over the news. As such, he''s not suitable for Gwen.¡± Feeling that Julian was still the same as before, gentle and approachable, Camille nodded. On the heels of that, her eyes widened in shock. ¡°Mr. Lowen is getting engaged to someone else?¡± Justin crossed his arms over his chest and answered coldly, ¡°Yes!¡± While deeply shocked, Camille also finally understood why the two children were acting in such a manner. ¡°All right. No matter how much money he offers me in the future, I won''t take it! How dare he bully Gwen like this? Hmph! We''re no easy prey!¡± she asserted firmly. It seemed that she was even more worked uppared to them. The two boys exchanged a look before Julian hastily patted her. ¡°Don''t be so emotional, Ms. Ziegler. Watch your blood pressure.¡± Chapter 207 Chapter 207 It wasn''t until then that Camille realized she had seemingly lost herposure. She then chuckled. Just now, she even felt that Justin had changed and was no longer the person she knew, but she was likewise incandescent then. In reality, it was the same situation. They all loved Gwendolyn far too much. Camille got to her feet and served the food. Julian went and called them all for dinner before they came to the dining room to eat. Juliette was hugging the Barbie doll in her arms. She loved it so much that she couldn''t bear to put it down. As she walked, she even said to Zayden, ¡°Thank you, Zay!¡± Zayden shed her a smile. ¡°You''re wee. I''m d you like it, Juliette!¡± He really liked the three children and Gwendolyn. If I could live with them for the rest of my life, I''ll be beyond happy and blissful! Gwendolyn followed behind them. When she spotted the few people at the dining table, she eximed, ¡°Thank you, Justin and Julian!¡± Meanwhile, when Patrick stepped in the door, he was greeted by the sight of Alice and Hector in the living room. He slipped off his shoes before heading toward the living room. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Alice stood up in delight. ¡°You''re back, Pat?¡± While saying that, she nced at Hector. Pat is adhering to his wishes to marry the daughter of the Ashton family, yet he''s still looking all chagrined. Verily, I''m increasingly at a loss as to how to please him! She took Patrick''s arm and inquired, ¡°Is the engagement distracting you, Pat?¡± He was busy with work in the first ce, yet he also had to make arrangements for the engagement then. Thus, her heart ached for him. ¡°Not really,¡± Patrick confessed mildly. In truth, he didn''t take it to heart at all. Everything was handled by Liam. He walked over to Hector and greeted, ¡°I''m back, Grandpa.¡± Hector lifted his eyes and regarded the man cidly. Then, he cast his gaze in the direction of the door. At once, his expression turned chilly once more. Likewise, Patrick nced at the door, his eyes narrowing a fraction. ¡°So, you weren''t waiting for me, Grandpa? Who were you waiting for?¡± Rolling his eyes, Hector lifted his hand and pointed at the door with indistinct sounds escaping his mouth. He wanted to speak, but he simply couldn''t form any words. He pounded his hands against the wheelchair in frustration, but no one understood him. I want to see my three great-grandchildren! I miss them. Why have they stoppeding over recently? Sitting down beside him, Patrick stated indifferently, ¡°We''re only getting engaged, so it''s still inappropriate to let here over.¡± He reckoned that Hector wanted to see Felicia. Ugh! I wonder what kind of spell that woman cast on him! When Hector heard that, he turned his head away and ignored the man entirely. Alice patted Patrick''s hand. ¡°Don''t take offense at him, Pat. He''s even more hot-tempered after being sick for so long. We must tolerate him more.¡± Presently, Alice was exceedingly amodating with Hector. After all, the man was in aa for six long years. Perhaps he couldn''t bear to part with them, so he woke up at longst. They couldn''t bear to part with him either, so they could only love him doubly. They could put up with a bit of a temper tantrum, and Patrick even obeyed him when it involved his own marriage. It was because they loved him and wished that he could live a few years longer. Patrick nodded imperceptibly in agreement. Three dayster, Patrick''s engagement party was held at Voyage Hotel. The news reports on television broadcasted the state of affairs at the banquet hall, the scene incredibly beautiful and resplendent. Felicia merely allowed the makeup artist and designer to doll her up. As she looked at the scenes on her phone, she couldn''t help remarking, ¡°Mom, am I really marrying into the Lowen family? It doesn''t feel real. Pinch me, please. I think I might be dreaming.¡± At the sight of her excitement, Candace inexorably chortled. In all honesty, she was also thrilled then. Many socialites had gone to her house the previous day, and their attitudes toward her were wholly different. They had even gifted her many expensive items, all congratting her when they were actually green with envy. As she studied her daughter, the more she felt that thetter was incredible that she even managed to bag Patrick. Chapter 208 Chapter 208 Candace bent down and stroked Felicia''s face gently. ¡°Sweetheart, you''re really going to get engaged to Patrick. Henceforth, you''ll be the future mistress of Lowen Group.¡± At that thought, she couldn''t help but feel like grinning, the glee within her bubbling over. Felicia took a deep breath. ¡°Yeah, I know all this is real.¡± However, she was the only one who knew that everything was fake. Nevertheless, she would definitely try her best to make Patrick fall in love with her after that day. When she had the title of his fianc¨¦e, she would have more opportunities to draw close to him. Patrick was drunk the previous night, and he was awakened by the designer knocking on his door in the morning. He swung open the door in utter displeasure. ¡°What is it?¡± His voice was terse and cold, tinged with a hint of impatience. ¡°M-Mr. Lowen, we''re your designer and makeup artist for today. Your engagement party will be held today.¡± Hearing that, the man lifted his hand and ruffled his hair. When he withdrew his hand, his casual yet wild look rendered him exceedingly captivating. He spun around and stalked back into the bedroom. Thus, everyone else followed behind him. Out of the blue, he ordered frostily, ¡°Go to the adjacent guest room. I don''t like peopleing into my room.¡± Immediately, the group of people retreated and went to the adjacent guest room. Patrick then went back to sleep. When it was almost eleven o''clock, Liam rushed upstairs. ¡°Why is the groom still not ready?¡± The group of people in the guest room swung their gazes at him. The lead designer, Lilith Latymer,mented helplessly, ¡°Mr. Derner, Mr. Lowen is still in bed. He was extremely displeased when we woke him earlier.¡± Liam knew that Patrick didn''t want to get engaged, so he was also at a loss. Therefore, he took out his phone and gave Gwendolyn a call. Right then, thetter was basking in the sun in the courtyard, and her three children were ying near her. Her two sons were ying ball while Juliette was ying with a skipping rope. Camille came out with the phone. ¡°Gwen, your phone has been ringing nonstop.¡± Slipping off her sunsses, Gwendolyn stretchedzily. Then, she took the phone and nced at it. ¡°What''s the matter, Mr. Derner?¡± It was Saturday then. Even if she were attending the engagement party with Zayden, that would be in the evening. ¡°Can you pleasee over to Mr. Lowen''s house, Ms. Ashton? You''re needed for something.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Inwardly, Liam pondered over the situation. Ms. Ashton, you''re the only one who can get Mr. Lowen out of bed, and it''s only with your presence that he won''t haul anyone over the coals. However, he was also taking a risk. Considering the situation today, if she puts in an appearance, will he skip the engagement and elope with her? At that thought, he gave a bark ofughter. Mr. Lowen eloping? That''s too absurd! It''ll never happen! Gwendolyn was momentarily taken aback. A momentter, she replied evenly, ¡°I''m sorry, but I''m not working today, and I don''t feel like working overtime. If overtime is needed, have Mr. Lowen give me a call.¡± She hung up right after saying that, stunning Liam. He scrutinized his phone once more to ascertain that she had truly hung up. His gaze darkened a shade. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and knock on the door. The instant Patrick stood at the door with a dark expression on his face, Liam backed up several steps in fear. ¡°It''s already half-past eleven, Mr. Lowen.¡± He was the host that day, so he should be at the banquet hall by then. The Ashtons had long since arrived and were breathing down his neck. ¡°Liam, I think you''re too free. Do you want to go to Alendor to pick gori poop?¡± Liam shook his head profusely. ¡°No, Mr. Lowen. I¡ª¡± Ms. Ashton, pleasee quickly and save me! Patrick brushed past him and stalked into the adjacent guest room. When the upants caught sight of his tall figure, they all stood up. ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick swept a gaze over the tuxedos. ¡°Which one?¡± Lilith swiftly brought over the tuxedo he was to wear that day. ¡°This one, Mr. Lowen. Is it to your satisfaction?¡± Taking it, Patrick stated, ¡°You all may leave now.¡± Lilith was stunned for a moment before eximing, ¡°There''s still makeup to be done, Mr. Lowen!¡± That was an order from Felicia, for she wanted Patrick to look even more handsome with makeup. Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Patrick rolled his eyes at her and said, ¡°There''s no need for that.¡± Holding the set of clothes, he then returned to his bedroom. Liam stood at the door and watched him stride to the guest room. He then headed back into his room. When Patrick came out of the room, he had put on the ck suit with a white shirt and the knitted beige sweater from Gwendolyn. Walking up to him, Liam stated, ¡°Mr. Lowen, the Ashton family has arrived.¡± If we head over now, people will surely criticize us for having no manners. Those were the words Liam dared not say aloud and kept to himself. Patrick did not respond and headed downstairs right away. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. It was already half-past one in the afternoon when they arrived at Voyage Hotel. After leaving the house, Patrick had picked a restaurant of his liking to have a meal at, as he was unsure whether he would have an appetite in the afternoon. A group of people followed him and dared not say much. It was only after Patrick finished eating and drinking to his heart''s content that they headed to Voyage Hotel. When he stepped into the banquet hall, many eyes were on him, including those of the housekeepers from the Ashton family and the waiters at the hotel. His charming features and cold demeanor had caught their attention. A few housekeepers from the Ashton family whispered, ¡°Mr. Lowen is so handsome!¡± ¡°You''re right! Ms. Gwendolyn is very lucky.¡± Felicia, who sat in the lounge, panicked when Patrick had not arrived after a long time and constantly asked someone to look for him. Just then, Felicia''s housekeeper, Sarah, dashed back to the lounge. ¡°Ms. Felicia, Mr. Lowen is here. He looks so handsome!¡± Sarah eximed while covering her mouth with her hands exaggeratedly. Shooting her a cold re, Felicia snapped back at her, ¡°Stop fangirling over him. He''s mine.¡± Nodding vigorously, Sarah replied, ¡°Yes, yes. He''s yours, Ms. Felicia.¡± Felicia rose to her feet and wanted to look for Patrick as she thought she should be by his side during such an asion. She was wearing a bright red evening gown, giving off the vibe of thedy of the house. Lifting her gown, she stood up when Candace called out, ¡°Fel, where are you going?¡± Apparently, Felicia was not supposed to leave now, as the bride should only show upst to surprise everyone. Pouting her lips, Felicia said, ¡°Mom, I want to go and see Patrick. Since he did not try on the suit that day, I''m afraid it might not fit him.¡± I have trimmed many parts of the suit that needed modification anyway. Candaceughed and said, ¡°Fel, can''t you tell with that body proportion of his? He is like a model who can pull off anything he wears.¡± Felicia pondered for a moment and agreed. ncing at her body, she noticed she had gained some weighttely, as she couldn''t control her craving for food, despite trying hard to lose weight. Fortunately, she could still fit into the evening gown. Otherwise, she would genuinely regret what she did. In the afternoon, Zayden had someone send the evening gown to Gwendolyn''s ce. When the three children saw the box in her hands, Juliette asked, ¡°Gwen, what is that?¡± Shaking her head, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°I don''t know either. It''s from Zayden.¡± Juliette''s eyes sparkled as she eximed, ¡°It must be good stuff. He probably bought me a Barbie doll!¡± Having figured out what was in the box, Julian and Justin raised their bows and smiled. Mommy is so dumb. Of course, it''s matching clothes since she promised to be his femalepanion. After returning to the living room, Juliette urged, ¡°Gwen, hurry up and open it.¡± shing her a smile, Gwendolyn said, ¡°All right! Don''t be so excited.¡± At that moment, she received a phone call from Zayden, and so she answered the call first. ¡°Gwen, does the evening gown fit? Remember to do your makeup.¡± Zayden nned to show everyone that night that Gwendolyn was his woman. At the thought of announcing the news during Patrick''s engagement party, he thought things were getting more interesting. Although the two most influential families in Avenport seemed to get along well with each other in the eyes of others, they werepeting with each other secretly. This time, the marriage of convenience of the Lowen family caused an uproar. Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Only then did Gwendolyn realize it was an evening gown. At that moment, Juliette had already opened the box, and she eximed, ¡°Wow! It''s so pretty!¡± Justin and Julian were also surprised and couldn''t wait to see Gwendolyn put on the evening gown. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Zayden, the evening gown is beautiful!¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. After ending the call, she ced the evening gown near her body and checked it out while Juliette pped her hands in joy. ¡°Hurry up and try it on, Mommy. We can''t wait to see!¡± It had been long since Gwendolynst wore an evening gown like that. She could tell immediately that the evening gown was from a famous brand, as she was currently studying fashion design. Hence, she was knowledgeable about the clothes'' quality and styles. After Gwendolyn put on the pale purple off-shoulder evening gown with a slit that entuated her slender figure, Juliette widened her eyes in amazement. ¡°You''re so pretty!¡± the three children eximed in unison. Justin''s and Julian''s eyes were filled with amazement too. Smiling, Gwendolyn twirled in front of them. ¡°I will make beautiful clothes like this in the future too.¡± The three children nodded in agreement, as they had faith in her that she would achieve her dreams. Gwendolyn put on her makeup which matched her evening gown well, as she was actually quite good at it. Standing in front of the full-length mirror, she looked at her stunning reflection and took a deep breath. Gwendolyn, this is how Zayden wants you to look. Besides, it suits you well. However, she could already imagine how much Angeline would hate her. Justin headed upstairs and stood at the door. ¡°Mommy, Mr. Zayden is here.¡± After picking up her handbag, Gwendolyn walked up to Justin delightedly. ¡°Take good care of your little sister when I''m not around. Don''t let her wander off.¡± ¡°Mommy, are you really going to attend his engagement party?¡± Apparently, Justin was worried about Gwendolyn. The children noticed how well Patrick had treated her. Mommy surely has noticed that the man was showering another woman with love and care all of a sudden. It is certainly not easy for her to ept something like that. The children were worried that she would feel even more upset after seeing Patrick with another woman. A dim glint shed across Gwendolyn''s eyes. In fact, she did not want to go at all and see the smug look on Felicia''s and Candace''s faces. shing him a faint smile, Gwendolyn said, ¡°I''m going. I bet the Lowen family organizes an amazing banquet, and I''ll see it as I''m going for a feast.¡± A hint of worry shed across Justin''s dark eyes. He then decided to head to the hotel with Julianter to check on Gwendolyn. Then, Gwendolyn left with Zayden and headed to Voyage Hotel. Around six o''clock in the evening, the entrance of the hotel was pretty crowded. Various luxurious cars and red carpets could be spotted at the entrance, and there was a group of reporters swarming around the door. The cameras shed at the people walking into the hotel, simr to celebrities walking down the red carpet under the spotlights. A hint of surprise shed across Gwendolyn''s eyes when she saw the scene. As expected from the most influential family in Avenport. The engagement party is indeed grand. Zayden, dressed in a white suit, appeared charming. He helped open the car door for her. Extending his hand with a smile, he said, ¡°Come on, Gwen.¡± When Gwendolyn stretched her hand out and let him escort her out of the car, many cameras shed at her instantly. ¡°Mr. Surrington has brought a femalepanion.¡± ¡°This is the first time he brings a femalepanion, and he even opens the car door for her. Seeing the smile on his face, I''m sure she''s his lover.¡± As Gwendolyn listened to the people''s chattering at the side, the smile on her face tensed. Zayden hooked her arm around his and made their way to the stairs. Zayden was handsome, while Gwendolyn was stunningly beautiful. The sight of them walking side-by- side was eye-catching. The reporters took their photos from many angles with the cameras shing constantly. They looked wless from any angle as if they had walked straight out of a fairy tale. With a smiling face, Zayden said to Gwendolyn in a low voice, ¡°Gwen, just enjoy yourself and don''t mind what the others say, okay?¡± Gwendolyn cast him a sidelong nce and nodded with a grin. Zayden, who had a charming appearance and was also the ideal man of many women in Avenport, seemed more dazzling that night, probably due to the smile on his face that never faded away. Chapter 211 Chapter 211 With their arms linked, they walked into the hotel, where the staff led them to the banquet hall on the first floor. Instead of the bride and groom, the Ashton family weed the guests at the entrance. Candace and Zachary were weing the guests at the entrance. As everyone knew Patrick''s parents were not around anymore, they could understand why there was no one from the Lowen family to wee the guests. Zachary, dressed in a silver-gray suit, seemed lively with a broad smile. One could tell he was genuinely happy. Meanwhile, Candace wore a long white evening gown and gorgeous makeup, making her look elegant. When they saw Gwendolyn, their face fell. In a cold voice, Zachary uttered, ¡°She didn''t show up when we asked her toe over for gown fitting. So, that''s because she''s attending the event with someone else.¡± With a sneer, Candace said, ¡°Darling, both of your daughters are so capable. Fel is marrying the head of the most influential family in Avenport, while Gwen will be marrying into the second most powerful family.¡± As Zachary nced coldly at Zayden and Gwendolyn at the front, Zayden walked up to them and said calmly, ¡°Mr. Ashton, Mrs. Ashton, congrattions!¡± Although Candace and Zachary were not fond of Gwendolyn, they would still show respect for Zachary. ¡°Mr. Surrington, this way, please. Your parents are inside. Do you need my help to show you where they are?¡± Nodding slightly, Zayden answered, ¡°No. I am here with my girlfriend today.¡± He implied he was not ready to let Gwendolyn meet his parents. Holding Zayden''s hands, Gwendolyn stood by his side gracefully and stunningly. After they entered the banquet hall, Candace let out a sigh. ¡°Darling, Gwen is not willing to tell us anything at all. I guess she doesn''t see us as her family anymore.¡± Old Mr. Ashton should see this to realize what kind of person his precious granddaughter is. Zachary''s gaze darkened as he muttered, ¡°There''s no way she could marry into the Surrington family.¡± She has three children, and yet she wants to marry into the Surrington family. In her dreams. Seeing Zachary siding with her now, Candace thought Gwendolyn wouldn''t pose as a threat even after she returned to the Ashton residence. After Gwendolyn followed Zayden into the banquet hall, the usher led them to their seats. Kevin and Lucas, who came to attend the event, stood at the lounge entrance on the second floor, seemingly chatting with each other. Suddenly, Kevin pointed at Gwendolyn and Zayden, who walked to their seats with their arms linked. Narrowing his eyes, Kevin said, ¡°Look, Luke. Gwen is here and has also brought a malepanion. I''m telling Pat.¡± Looking down the stairs, Lucas saw Gwendolyn and thought of that woman. As it had been days since hest saw her, he was surprised he missed her. He grinned, stood straight, and walked into the lounge behind him. Patrick, who was dressed in a ck suit and sitting on the couch, brought the cigarette between his fingers to his lips from time to time. He didn''t seem like someone getting engaged, but he seemed as if he was about to go to war. Sitting beside him, Kevin picked up a ss of wine and slowly took a sip. ¡°Pat, Gwen is here too.¡± When Patrick heard his words, his eyes sparkled before he nced at them. ¡°What is she doing here? I did not send her an invitation.¡± That dumb woman. Does she enjoy seeing me getting engaged to another woman? Patrick''s tone was cold and terrifying while the temperature in the room slightly dropped. Kevin clutched the wine ss elegantly while swirling the wine gently. ¡°I bet she came with Zayden. She is his femalepanion for today. Gwen looks so beautiful, and the gown suits her perfectly.¡± Then, Patrick rose to his feet and strode out of the lounge. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Lucas grinned and stated, ¡°Pat, the bride has been waiting for you at the lounge on the first floor all this time, but I don''t see you getting so worked up.¡± How could he? He just can''t wait to dash to Gwen''s side when he hears she is here. After exchanging looks, Kevin and Lucas smiled and followed Patrick out of the lounge. Patrick stood near the stairwell railing and nced down to look for Gwendolyn''s silhouette. Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Meanwhile, Gwendolyn sat at the table in the banquet hall. Zayden, who sat close to her, picked up a piece of fruit with a fork and fed it to her. Gwendolyn was taken aback as she tilted her head back before eating the fruit he offered. ¡°Zayden, I can do it myself.¡± They had been photographed countless times along the way from the entrance to the banquet hall. He made it seem like something was going on between them by sitting close to her and feeding her fruits intimately. Besides, she could already sense an intent gaze on her, making her feel a chill running down her back. However, after ncing around, she did not spot anyone staring at her. The gaze was familiar, but cold and terrifying. When Zayden saw her blushing, he shed her a faint smile with his lips quirked up. ¡°I am willing to serve you.¡± With that, Gwendolyn chuckled. A genuine, happy smile spread across her face. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Patrick''s face fell when he saw her smiling face. On the contrary, Kevin watched delightedly and eximed, ¡°Pat, Gwen knows how to seek revenge after all! Haha!¡± That woman usually seems like a person who is generous and doesn''t hold grudges. I did not expect that she would show up with another man at Pat''s engagement party and be so intimate with the man. Now that I see them, they look great together, like a match made in heaven. Patrick turned around and leaned against the railing as he could no longer watch. Lucas smiled and said, ¡°Pat, why don''t you elope with her? That seems so cool.¡± After gently tapping the railing with his long fingers, Patrick took out his phone and sent a message. He texted Liam: Make Zayden stay away from Gwendolyn. He sent the text to Liam, who was weing the guests on Patrick''s behalf at the lobby. When Liam saw the message on his phone, his expression slightly changed. As Patrick had given him a difficult task, he had no choice but to have Amber and the rest wee the guests. Almost every employee in thepany had arrived. Those who worked in the CEO''s office were close to Patrick, and so they were busy attending to the guests with Liam. Liam entered the banquet hall and searched around before he spotted Gwendolyn sitting at the second table near the stage. After walking up to Gwendolyn, he leaned closer to her ears and stated, ¡°Ms. Ashton, everyone from the CEO''s office is helping out. Why are you sitting here? Please follow me and help us out.¡± In fact, Liam dared not ask Gwendolyn to do anything and only wanted her to try the dishes in the lounge backstage. This should be a good excuse. Besides, I can only think of this idea at the moment. Gwendolyn nced at Zayden at the side before asking, ¡°Mr. Derner, I did not receive such a notice! Do I get paid for working overtime?¡± As she cared more about the money, she was willing to do it if she would get paid. I could save up more in the next month. By saving up monthly, I might be able to buy a small house after some time. By then, our family will have a proper home. I never feel safe staying in a rented house. Who knows when thendlord will decide to use the house for herself? By then, I will have to look for a new ce to stay. Besides, a home is essential for the children''s childhood, and I wish to provide them with a permanent home that will remain in their childhood memories. Liam frowned slightly. What''s wrong with Ms. Ashton? Why is she responding this way? Her man is getting engaged to another woman and will be taken away from her soon. How could she not mind it at all? At the thought of it, Liam felt sorry for Patrick. Does Ms. Ashton have no feelings for Mr. Lowen after all? Could it be a one-sided love? What a pity! ¡°Of course, you will get paid five times the wage.¡± When Gwendolyn heard his words, she stood up immediately. ¡°I''ll go then.¡± After turning around to look at Zayden at the side, she shed him a sneaky smile. ¡°Zayden, I''m sorry. I am Mr. Lowen''s secretary and still have work to do. I''ll be back to apany you after I finish working.¡± After finishing her words, she was about to leave happily to earn some money when Zayden suddenly grabbed her hand. Chapter 213 Chapter 213 ¡°Gwen, can you not go?¡± Due to her money-grubbing personality, Gwendolyn insisted on taking up this job anyway, since she would be paid five times as much for her overtime work. She patted Zayden''s hand and said, ¡°I''ll be back real soon. Just stay here and wait for me.¡± She then withdrew her hand and followed Liam away. The man upstairs stared at the man below who had grasped Gwendolyn''s hand. His eyes darkened. After all, men would understand other men better. Patrick was very well aware that Zayden liked Gwendolyn very much. As he had not appeared in her life before that, Zayden was able to get closer to her. However, now that he was there for her, Patrick would not give Zayden the chance to do so anymore. Kevin watched as Gwendolyn followed Liam away and felt disinterested after that. ¡°Pat, you''re just too mean to her. Since you''re already engaged to another woman, can''t you just let Gwen date another guy too?¡± Regardless of how odd his words sounded, it was natural and right for Gwendolyn to date someone else if Patrick got engaged to a woman. Patrick replied coldly, ¡°I didn''t get engaged willingly. Moreover, the engagement will be annulledter.¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. With that, he strode away leisurely and entered the lounge. Lucas patted Kevin''s shoulder and said, ¡°Unlike you, Pat''s a very faithful guy. The engagement party was clearly a show put up by him for the others to see. Deep in his heart, Pat only has feelings for one girl alone.¡± Kevin was perplexed. ¡°He''s already a powerful figure now, so why can''t he make decisions about his marriage for himself?¡± In his mind, Kevin thought Patrick was someone who could do anything that he wanted without a care in the world. Since he''s usually unafraid of any threats, why is Pat behaving so strangely this time? Lucas raised his eyebrows and smiled. ¡°I''m sure it''s because of Old Mr. Lowen. Since his health is getting worse, only he can make Pat give in.¡± Kevin nodded his head slightly. ¡°You''re right.¡± Both of them then entered the lounge together. At that time, Patrick seemed to be in a better mood as he held his winess, sipping the wine in it. Shortly after, the door was pushed open. It was Gwendolyn and Liam who entered the lounge. The waiter then came into the room, serving them the dishes that were supposed to be served for the wedding reception. Liam smiled gently and said, ¡°Ms. Ashton, you can stay here and sample the dishes with Mr. Lowen. Feel free to make a list of any dishes that do not appeal to you.¡± A look of surprise shed through Gwendolyn''s eyes as she looked at the handsome man. Undeniably, Patrick looks exceptionally handsome today. Looks like he''s in good spirits these days. As Gwendolyn sat at the table, she picked up her fork and asked, ¡°Would you like to have a taste as well, gentlemen?¡± After all, she felt embarrassed having to sample the dishes by herself. Before this, Gwendolyn truly had no idea there was a job that offeredvish and sumptuous food while earning five times the usual wage. It was indeed the best job she could have ever imagined. However, Kevin merely waved his hand dismissively as he smiled faintly. ¡°Help yourself then. We''re not hungry yet.¡± Upon hearing his words, Gwendolyn decided to go ahead and picked up her fork to taste the first dish. As soon as she ate it, her eyes narrowed instantly. It was so delicious that she could not find any fault with it. Lucas furrowed his eyebrows. So Gwendolyn doesn''t have any feelings for Pat. She seems so happy while tasting those dishes. I don''t see any signs of her feeling heartbroken at all,. Calmly sipping his wine, Lucas sighed inwardly. Pat is such a pitiful person. Meanwhile, Patrick stared at Gwendolyn, who was happily munching away. She''s really enjoying her food. Hence, he said in a nonchnt voice, ¡°Feed me a bite of that, Gwendolyn.¡± Just then, Gwendolyn lifted her head, frowning slightly at his words. ¡°Which dish would you like to have, Mr. Lowen? They''re all quite delicious. Let me serve some onto your te.¡± With five times more than the average wage offered to her, Gwendolyn definitely had to do anything in order to please her boss! Patrick''s eyes darkened slightly. ¡°Anything''s fine. Just feed me whatever that you think is delicious.¡± As he spoke, Patrick emphasized the words ¡°feed me¡± as his stares became more and more intense and affectionate. Gwendolyn then picked up some of the dishes she had just tasted. Despite her displeasure, Gwendolyn approached Patrick, who was sitting like a big boss and resting his arms on the armrest of the couch. He stared at her deeply with his dark eyes, waiting for her to serve him. Chapter 214 Chapter 214 She felt somewhat displeased, for she felt as if she was his maid at that moment. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. However, Gwendolyn had to suppress her discontent as the thought of earning more money came to her mind. She needed to earn money quickly, so she could buy a house of her own as soon as possible. With that thought in her mind, a smile flitted across her face as she carefully delivered the food to his mouth. Patrick then opened his mouth and ate the food. As he chewed on the food, Patrick''s gaze became even more unfathomable while he stared at her. Gwendolyn was considered a mentally strong person. If it were for someone else, they would not have been able to withstand his intense gaze. Kevinughed. ¡°You''re being treated like a king now, Pat!¡± While she fed him some of the other dishes, Gwendolyn remarked, ¡°Mr. Chavez, since Mr. Lowen offered me five times more than the usual wage for just sampling the dishes, I would certainly treat him like a king now.¡± With that, she approached Patrick and winked at him. ¡°Is there anything else you''d like to eat, Your Majesty? I''ll be d to feed it to you.¡± Gwendolyn felt a bit disgusted after saying such words herself. However, she wanted to be as pretentious as possible in order to disgust or annoy them as much as she could. Upon hearing her words, Lucas spat out a mouthful of wine. He quickly pulled out the handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his mouth. ¡°I was only choked by the wine. This is some strong wine indeed! Please carry on. Just pretend that I''m not here.¡± Patrick was very offended by Lucas'' sudden actions. He red at Lucas coldly, sending shivers down thetter''s spine. Lucas rolled his eyes at him. That punk sure is happy right now, since he''s being served like a king by the woman he loves. He obviously doesn''t want to be bothered at the moment. In the meantime, Kevin was tempted to pull out his phone to take a picture of Patrick enjoying himself. However, he dared not try to do so. Instead, he could only observe silently with his own eyes. Just then, the lounge''s door was pushed open again. Felicia entered the room while carrying the hem of her bright red gown. ¡°Patrick, the banquet''s about to start soon. We have to head downstairs and get ready for it.¡± Her voice was filled with joy as she spoke. But when she saw Gwendolyn feeding Patrick, she stood frozen on the spot, looking dumbfounded. Behind Felicia were a few of her cousins, as well as some socialite friends from the upper echelons of society. While her expression changed suddenly, Nicolette noticed that Gwendolyn was in the room and ran over to her cheerfully. ¡°Gwen! You''re here too?¡± Gwendolyn nced at Nicolette and replied, ¡°Yes. You look beautiful today, Nic!¡± All the girls in the Ashton family wore the same dress that day as they apanied Felicia. It was obvious that this was Candace''s idea. For now, no one in the Ashton family dared to go against Candace''s opinions anymore. Furthermore, the Ashton family members wanted their own daughters to attend the banquet in hopes of having them marry into a wealthy and reputable family. Meanwhile, Rachelle smiled faintly and added, ¡°Felicia, Gwen''s waiting on your soon-to-be husband!¡± Felicia merely pursed her lips and replied, ¡°She is currently Patrick''s secretary, so this is actually a part of her job. There is no need to make a fuss over it, since she will also be serving me in the future as well.¡± She spoke so loudly that everyone in the room heard her words. The socialites who were behind Felicia also heard her remarks, and they considered Gwendolyn as a mere servant as well. At the same time, Gwendolyn continued to feed Patrick. Frustrated by Felicia''s words, Gwendolyn then took arge piece of roast turkey meat and shoved it into Patrick''s mouth. Patrick, who was still enjoying being fed by Gwendolyn, was shocked by her actions. He then chewed with all his might. Is she trying to choke me to death? This piece of meat is so huge that it is stretching my mouth out of shape! Gwendolyn could only raise her brows, signaling to him that she felt apologetic as the piece of roast turkey meat was indeed arge chunk of meat. Felicia then came up to Patrick and sat next to him. She then reached out to hug his arm and said coyly, ¡°You sure know how to enjoy while you let your secretary feed you! I''m famished too! I want to eat some of what you''re having as well. Can I get her to feed me as well?¡± After that, Felicia turned to look at Gwendolyn and said, ¡°Ms. Ashton, be careful when you feed me. Don''t mess up my lipstick, okay? If you do a good job in feeding me, I''ll let Mr. Lowen give you a raise.¡± Even though Gwendolyn valued money a lot at first, she did not appreciate the money that came from Felicia instead. Chapter 215 Chapter 215 The two socialites who came in together looked at each other. They felt pity looking at Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn used to be famous among the socialites, but she ended up like that. The two couldn''t help but look at her with pity. Suddenly, one of thedies gave the other girl a gentle nudge and said, ¡°Adeline, look at that ne. Didn''t your brother show you the photo of it?¡± The girl named Adeline looked at it seriously a few times and then nodded at her friend. ¡°Denise, it''s that ne! My brother said someone bought it for one hundred and fifty million.¡± Denise''s eyes widened. ¡°Wow, then she...¡± The twodies didn''t dare to belittle Gwendolyn anymore because they felt that her identity must be extraordinary. After hearing what Felicia said, Gwendolyn replied tly, ¡±Ms. Ashton, I''m so sorry. I only serve Mr. Lowen.¡± After saying that, she walked to the dining table and took some dishes. She tasted them first and chose a few dishes of her liking before taking them to Patrick and feeding him. Of course, Patrick wouldn''t refuse. However, Felicia who was sitting next to Patrick became more and more annoyed. She kept ring at Gwendolyn. Nheless, Gwendolyn didn''t care. Her purpose was to earn money that day. In the lounge, the woman in a beautiful purple gown walked here and there.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. She walked gracefully and looked extremely beautiful. All the people inside were attracted to her. Their eyes couldn''t help following her. Right then, a waiter came in with two boxes and said, ¡±Mr. Lowen, someone sent you an engagement gift.¡± Meanwhile, Gwendolyn continued to sit at the table and try the dishes. After all, others could only see but not eat. Hence, she thought her job was not bad. Patrick nced at the two boxes and had no idea who would send him gifts. He said gently, ¡±Open them up.¡± The waiter opened the boxes, and two white wreaths appeared in front of everyone. Felicia''s eyes suddenly lit up. ¡°Who sent this?¡± she asked. It was her engagement day with Patrick. Although it was not their wedding yet, it was still an auspicious day. She wondered who would send them such inappropriate gifts. However, Patrick felt nothing at all. With his current status, it was not surprising that many people wanted to suppress him and get rid of him. Hence, he didn''t take the matter to heart at all. However, Felicia was not happy. ¡°Patrick, you must find out who did this. How can we see something like this on our big day? It''s a bad omen.¡± Although everyone in the lounge was surprised, Kevin and Lucas were not astonished at all. After all, they were savvy and had seen a lot of things. Something like that was not even worth mentioning. Upon seeing the wreaths, Gwendolyn merely raised her eyebrows and continued to try the next dish. It was something that she expected too. An engagement party hosted by someone like Patrick would definitely make many people jealous of him. Therefore, it was not surprising that some people would send something like that to him to upset him on his big day. Suddenly, she felt that it was not easy to be an influential figure like Patrick. ¡°Why are you worrying so much? It''s considerate of them not to send any bombs to us today.¡± Hearing the word ¡°bombs,¡± Felicia, her two cousins, and the two socialites were all shocked. A hint of fear shed across their eyes. Felicia couldn''t help but purse her lips. She asked, ¡±What? Would someone send bombs to our engagement party?¡± She had never thought that Patrick''s woman would need to go through such ordeals. Arching one of his eyebrows slightly, Patrick said, ¡°If you want to be my woman, you''ll have to go through all this. If you can''t take it, it''s better to call off the engagement.¡± Looking at Felicia''s pale face, Gwendolyn thought she had made the right choice to attend the event, for she had just witnessed a good show. She couldn''t exact vengeance on her own. Nheless, she was happy to see her enemy being overwhelmed by fears and threats. Felicia stammered, ¡°Patrick, I... I didn''t mean that. I just didn''t expect that...¡± Patrick lit a cigarette, and the blue me flickered. He put the cigarette near his mouth and took a deep drag. ¡°Get rid of the wreaths now!¡± hemanded. His voice was cold and emotionless. Suddenly, Gwendolyn''s phone rang, and she answered it quickly. ¡°Ms. Ziegler.¡± ¡°Gwen, bad news. Something happened. A group of people rushed into the house and took Juliette away. They want you to bring the money to them.¡± Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Gwendolyn dropped the fork. ¡°What? How could this happen?¡± She stood up and walked at a fast pace. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, call the police now.¡± ¡°Gwen, did you borrow money from Tommy''spany? They said that if you call the police, Juliette will not be able toe home.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn suddenly remembered. It''s that five hundred thousand! It''s been three days, but Lucy hasn''t sold the house yet. What should I do? ¡°Where are Julian and Justin? Aren''t they around?¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. If Julian and Justin happened to be around, there was no way those people could take Juliette away. Each of them was a ck belt in taekwondo. In fact, she had only been able to be a ck belt after being trained by them. ¡°Gwen, they went out just now. That''s why those people could take Juliette away.¡± Camille cried as she spoke. Never in her entire life had shee across such a terrifying scene. It was really frightening. Those violent people had also smashed almost all the things in the house. Those men looked so fierce and vicious. It was heartbreaking for her to see Juliette cry so desperately. Gwendolyn pursed her lips and said, ¡°Ms. Ziegler, don''t worry. I''ll head home right away.¡± However, her tears couldn''t help falling when she ended the call. She quickly raised her hand and wiped them. As soon as she reached out her hand to open the door, someone grabbed her hand. ¡°What happened?¡± Patrick looked deeply into her eyes. When he saw her tears, he felt a tug at his heartstrings. Gwendolyn turned to look at the people in the lounge and shook her head. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''ve tried the dishes. There is no problem with all the dishes. I''ve finished my work. I''m sorry, but I have to leave now.¡± Gwendolyn withdrew her hand, opened the door, and left in a hurry. Patrick frowned and felt that something was wrong with her. He took out his phone and dialed a number. ¡°Follow Gwendolyn and see where she goes. Text me from time to time.¡± After hanging up the phone, he held the phone tightly. What happened to that woman again? Why was she crying? However, he was upset when she refused to tell him what had happened. Right then, Felicia approached him and said, ¡°It''s about time, Patrick. Let''s go downstairs.¡± It was not until then that Patrick came to his senses. He nodded slightly and went downstairs with his companions. At that time, the emcee had started his opening speech on the stage. Both the Lowen family and the Ashton family were ready too. Hector was also in the hall. He wore a suit that day and looked high-spirited. Alice was wearing a dark red dress, looking noble and elegant. She stood beside Hector and took a nce at him. ¡°Hector, are you happy today?¡± Hector looks good today. I guess he can recover faster now that he has gotten what he wants. Alice also hoped that Hector would recover soon and not leave her alone. Nheless, Hector kept staring at the two little boys who were standing not far away. They were wearing the same little ck suit, and their hair was styled. They looked very handsome. The more Hector looked at them, the more he felt that they looked like Patrick. Six years ago, he had let Patrick and Gwendolyn have children first before they married. At that time, he was afraid that Patrick would object to the idea. That was why he had made such arrangements. Never had Hector expected that things would turn out that way. His great-grandsons were right in front of him. However, he couldn''t say a word about it, nor could he tell the others about it. He was getting impatient. He raised his head to look at the stage where the wedding photos of Patrick and Felicia were ying on the screen. Those photos were photoshopped. Patrick was not in the mood to take any wedding photos with Felicia at all. However, Felicia wanted to take wedding photos with Patrick badly. In fact, she wanted to spend more time with Patrick so that she could get closer to him. Patrick didn''t give her any chance. In the end, the weddingpany could only photoshop a few photos and use them on the engaged couple''s big day. Hector raised his hand and patted his leg. He didn''t understand why Patrick didn''t want to marry Gwendolyn. Why did he insist on marrying Felicia? Did he want to piss me off? The more anxious he was, the more helpless he felt. He could only keep patting his leg. Chapter 217 Chapter 217 When Hector pped his thighs, Alice shot him a nce and asked, ¡°Hector, what''s wrong?¡± Seeing that the old man did not stop hitting his own thighs, Alice was scared out of her wits. ¡°Help, where''s the doctor?¡± she yelled. Shortly after, they moved to the lounge and could no longer be bothered with any ceremonies. Alice had initially wanted to go on stage, yet now, she had given up the thought. She only wanted Hector to be fine. Felicia stood next to Patrick, waiting for the emcee to announce their names so that they could go on stage. Never in her life had she felt so nervous. She kept taking deep breaths. Although she was not getting married on this day, she would officially carry Patrick''sst name after the day was over. The man would belong to her, and she would be the envy of every woman. Moreover, she would also be the leadingdy of the Ashton family, and no one would dare to snatch her position away. The more she thought about this, the calmer she became. I can''t embarrass myselfter. I absolutely can''t. The emcee said excitedly, ¡°Let us invite the future bridal couple on stage!¡± Patrick strode onto the stage as Felicia followed hurriedly behind. Suddenly, she twisted her ankle and almost fell. Rachelle helped Felicia up and said, ¡°Felicia, be careful.¡± ¡°I know,¡± replied Felicia in an icy tone. She lifted her dress, raised her chin, then walked onto the stage pridefully. The couple''s appearance made everyone cheer and p in delight. The reporters'' cameras were facing both of them directly while live-streaming the ceremony to the public. The engagement ceremony was a pivotal event in Avenport. Thus, everyone was looking forward to it, eager to witness it live. Standing beside Patrick, Felicia looked at his handsome face. However, on such an asion, Patrick was not afraid at all. His strong aura was enough to intimidate everyone. She pursed her lips. I''ll make this powerful man submit to me. I''ll also make him fall in love with me and treat me as his one and only. While the emcee was introducing the couple, Patrick''s expression was darkened slightly. At that moment, the phone in his pocket rang. At first, he refused to pick it up. Yet, when he saw that it was the subordinate who followed after Gwendolyn, he answered the call, pretending as if no one was around. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Ms. Ashton got into a van, but we didn''t manage to stop it. I heard from Camille that the loan sharks wanted to collect a debt, so they kidnapped Juliette. Ms. Ashton is cooperating with them because she wants to rescue her daughter,¡± said the voice over the phone. Patrick''s face fell after he heard what his subordinate said. He instructed, ¡°Check their whereabouts. I''ll be there right away.¡± Hanging up the phone, Patrick took the microphone from the emcee and said, ¡°The engagement has been canceled. Everyone can stay and feast. Enjoy your meal!¡± With that, he walked off the stage. Felicia was stunned. She then quickly came back to her senses and went after him. ¡°Patrick, why did you cancel the engagement?¡± she asked. She was unable to maintain herposure. All the guests are here. This day should''ve been my most glorious day. How did it end up like this? There''s no way I''ll let him leave; I just can''t. She then quickened her pace, trying to grab Patrick''s hand. However, the footsteps he took were huge, so Felicia failed to catch up to him. On top of that, her high heels were too tall. She identally twisted her ankle and fell on the stage. ¡°Patrick...¡± she called out to him miserably while stretching her arm out in the direction he was leaving. Unfortunately, the man did not stop. He left the ballroom with no hesitation. Tears rolled down Felicia''s face. She looked downright pathetic at that moment. Candace swiftly got on the stage and helped her daughter up. ¡°Fel, are you injured?¡± She examined Felicia''s body briefly and saw that her daughter''s expression was gloomy and grim. Yet, right then, not a single person was willing to step forward to give them a hand. Only Candace, a mother who truly loved her daughter, would reach out to Felicia. Thetter plunged into her mother''s embrace and asked, ¡°Mom, what do I do? He doesn''t want to get engaged anymore.¡± Despite knowing that the rtionship between them was fake and was merely a deal, she was willing to devote herself to it. Hence, she did not understand why Patrick could not hold out a little longer. Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Stroking Felicia''s back gently, Candace said, ¡°Fel, your father and I won''t let Patrick off easily. Our daughter is not a pushover. We''ll make him pay for this.¡± Felicia cried so hard that her makeup was smudged. She looked at the guests below the stage. Happiness was written all over their faces as they ate with great relish. They''re really ruthless. Can''t they see that I''m so upset? It seems like they''re all here to have a good laugh at me. She bit her lip and swore in her mind. I must win Patrick over. By then, this will serve as a p in everyone''s faces. She believed that she was Patrick''s legitimate wife and that she was the only one who was worthy of him. Meanwhile, after Gwendolyn got into the van, the few men stared at hersciviously. Every now and then, they would glimpse at her chest as well as her dress which had a high slit. She blocked their view with her hand as her eyes dimmed. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. I was in such a rush just now that I didn''t even have time to change my clothes. Later, I have to change them. If not, it will be inconvenient to save Juliette in this dress. One of the men rubbed his chin and said, ¡°Eugene, this woman looks really gorgeous. I''ve never seen a woman this beautiful. I wonder what she''d taste like.¡± The man next to him elbowed him and said, ¡°They only want money. It''s better if you don''t touch her.¡± Feeling somewhat disappointed, the chubby man said, ¡°The task ispleted as soon as we receive the money. Whatever happens next has got nothing to do with them. I want to get a taste of her.¡± With his eyes narrowed, Eugene said, ¡°Sure. We''ll see how it goes when we get the money.¡± She clenched her fists slightly upon hearing those bastards'' words. She was itching to punch them. Ever since she injured someone, she had stopped using violence. However, on this day, she could barely hold herself back. Yet, when she thought of Juliette, she forced herself to keep calm and only deal with the men after rescuing her daughter. After a ride that took more than an hour, the van finally stopped. Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Mister, do you have spare clothes? Can you lend me a set? It''s too cold outside. I''ll freeze to death if I go out like this.¡± She was in such a great hurry when she returned that she forgot to grab her coat. She just got directly into her car. Then, when she arrived home, she did not enter the house as well. She got into their van straight away. If she got off the vehicle now, she would be frozen to death. After all, it waste winter at that moment. The temperature outside was merely around one to two degrees. Eugene nced at Gwendolyn indifferently and got off the car. He walked to the trunk, took out a filthy military coat, and then threw it at her. ¡°Get out of the car once you''ve put it on.¡± Swiftly putting on the coat, Gwendolyn thought that it was good enough to keep herself warm despite looking a little unsightly. She tore off the edges of her dress, threw them away, and then buttoned up her coat. The length of the coat was just right as it reached her ankle. Lowering her head, she noticed that her high heels were already gone. She believed that she might have lost them when she left the house earlier. Now, she could only go barefoot. Her toes curled up slightly. She could already imagine the feeling of stepping on the icy ground. However, these worries were unimportant to her at such a crucial moment. Her priority was to go to Juliette''s side andfort her, telling her not to be afraid. Gwendolyn proceeded to get off the vehicle. When her feet touched the ground, the bitter chill in the air bit at her soles as her heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, she followed the two men into the dpidated residential building. The stairs were dark and mucky, and the walls were covered with numerous advertisement flyers, such as locksmiths, curing various diseases, and job hiring. Climbing onto the first flight of stairs and seeing the lights of the corridore on, Gwendolyn scanned the contents of the advertisement flyers. Eugene turned around and nced at her. ¡°If you want to see your daughter, you''d better move quick. Don''t get lost.¡± Gwendolyn retracted her gaze and scurried her way upstairs, following him closely. As they arrived on the sixth floor, they knocked on one of the iron doors. Just as it was pushed open from inside, someone came out and asked, ¡°Did you bring her?¡± The chubby man pointed at Gwendolyn and answered, ¡°That''s the child''s mother.¡± ¡°Are you sure? You''d better not lead any cops here.¡± Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Gwendolyn fished out her ID card from her purse. ¡°I have my ID with me, and I''ve previously signed a contract with you before. They should be proof that I''m the child''s mother, so please let me see her.¡± The man eyed her, then the ID card in her hand, only proceeding to open the door once he ascertained that she was the same person on the card. The thick, acrid cigarette smoke hovering in the air caused her to erupt in a coughing fit, and a few men were drinking and swinging fists at each other. ¡°Samuel, the indebted woman is here.¡± A man seated at the head of the table with a ss of alcohol nced over. Before Gwendolyn came upstairs, she had deliberately ruined her makeup to appear less desirable. Smudges of mascara rimmed her eyes like a panda, and she smeared bright red lipstick sloppily across her lips, giving her the appearance of an insane grin. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. He quickly averted his gaze, clearly dismissing her without a second thought. ¡°Take your daughter and leave after paying your debt,¡± he said coldly. A scar tugged his face as he spoke, making others feel slightly ufortable at the sight of that. Gwendolyn slid the card to him. ¡°The money''s all there. You can swipe it, or I can transfer it to you.¡± She didn''t want to use this card at first, knowing the five hundred thousand inside was from her grandpa. She didn''t want to use it; she couldn''t. Today was the exception. Juliette was in their hands, and Gwendolyn needed to save her. Pride and honor be damned. It wouldn''t matter anyway if she lost Juliette. Samuel signaled for his subordinate to swipe the card while she stood in ce guardedly. It was her first time observing the men''s vulgar conversation and swearing while drinking. Some affluent individuals were handsome and suave like Patrick, as well as men from the seedy underworld¡ªodorous, filthy, vicious men with foul tempers. Her grip tightened convulsively around her bag, and she silently thanked her lucky stars that she had streaked her makeup beforehand. Otherwise, those men would have devoured her alive. Leaving an impression on them could mean certain death for her. Eugene and a burly man were among the men sitting at the bar table drinking. They were red-faced drunk from guzzling alcohol while gorging on a te of meat. Their voices ovepped each other until they were a muddle of noise. Gwendolyn cast a sidelong nce at the room where the subordinate had disappeared, puzzled as to why it took so long. She wanted to pay up and leave as soon as possible with Juliette. It was not a good idea to stay in the company of a bunch of drunken men. Her eyes darting to the door betrayed her growing anxiety. Suddenly, a woman in a skin-tight red dress sauntered out. ¡°The money is insufficient, Samuel!¡± He locked his lethal gaze on Gwendolyn. ¡°Are you toying with us, Ms. Ashton, by attempting to pay the ransom with insufficient money?¡± Gwendolyn hastily rified, ¡°There should be five hundred thousand inside, which is the principal amount. I''ll pay the interest tomorrow, okay?¡± The events were too precipitated tonight, and she didn''t have time to look for Lucy. Hence, she only had five hundred thousand on hand and was hoping they would amodate her. They didn''t have to worry she would shirk payment since she had paid the principal amount. Samuel barked augh. ¡°Ms. Ashton, what makes you think we''d make an exception for you?¡± The woman beside him slung an arm around his neck and snickered. ¡°Let me do the math for you, Ms. Ashton. You borrowed five hundred thousand and failed to pay it back within a month. As a result, you owe five hundred fifty thousand. Now you have deferred payment another month, and your debt has snowballed to another hundred thousand. Do you understand the concept ofpound interest? Yours has umted to a total of two million.¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes widenedically. ¡°Two million?¡± ¡°That''s correct. More urately, it''s two million two hundred thirty thousand today. Tomorrow''s figure will be different.¡± ¡°This is daylight robbery! How could you tally like that?¡± Gwendolyn fumed. Chapter 220 Chapter 220 That sparked a loudugh out of everyone, and the woman chuckled seductively. ¡°Are you just learning about this, Ms. Ashton?¡± There seems to be no difference between high-interest loans and robbery, yet people still fall for it, namely me. Panic shed in her eyes as everyone roared in evilughter. What should I do now? She blinked. I need to see Juliette first. ¡°I''ll repay my debt, Samuel, but could you please let me see my daughter? I''ll call my friend to bring the rest of the money once I''ve made sure she''s safe.¡± ¡°Your friend? Can we trust her?¡± Samuel sipped his drink and leveled a dark gaze on Gwendolyn, thinking she was aggravating for knowing the terms and conditions when she agreed to borrow the money but was refusing to pay it back now. She raised her right hand like a boy scout. ¡°I swear that I''d pay this debt that my friend had incurred to cover her hospital bills. She''s currently in the process of selling her house and will be able to pay off the loan once the sale goes through. I only need to make one phone call to her, and she will get the money here,¡± she uttered breezily, but a cold sweat broke out along her spine. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Gwendolyn didn''t know if Lucy had managed to sell her house. Even if she did, the sale might not have amounted to two million. The more Gwendolyn racked her brain over this, the more exasperated she felt at being duped out of so much money. This is pissing me off. There''s nothing I can do after saving Juliette except to make up for this huge loss. Samuel could see Gwendolyn was sincere and turned to the woman beside him. ¡°Follow her and listen to her phone call, Andrea.¡± She untangled herself from him and hooked a finger at Gwendolyn in ae-hither motion. ¡°Follow me!¡± Gwendolyn followed her into a bedroom where she saw Juliette tied up on the bed after the light switch was flicked on, her eyes swollen from crying. Juliette immediately opened her eyes as light flooded the room, tears still rolling down her face. Gwendolyn dove for her and grabbed her face. ¡°No need to be afraid anymore, Juliette. I''m here.¡± She tugged the gag down from Juliette''s mouth, and Juliette wept loudly. ¡°I''m scared, Gwen.¡± She rested her head on Gwendolyn, and deep shivers racked her entire body. Everything that happened today must have been overwhelming for a child. Tears pooled near the corners of Gwendolyn''s eyes, and she realized she had made a mistake this time. She had assumed thepany Tommy worked at would be legitimate. Little did she know it was a loan shark in disguise. It''s all my fault, and now Juliette is paying the price. Gwendolyn squeezed her closer. ¡°Don''t be afraid, Juliette. I''ll always be by your side. You will never be alone again.¡± Pain wrenched her as the little girl in her arms cried her heart out in terror. Andrea crossed her arms over her chest and watched the scene unfold with a disinterested expression. ¡°You''ve seen your daughter, so make that call. If the money isn''t here by sunrise, you and your daughter will be fish food.¡± Juliette curled tighter into herself upon hearing that. Gwendolyn patted her soothingly and undid her rope. ¡°It''ste, Sweetheart. Get some sleep, and we''ll go home when you wake up.¡± Juliette looked at her with wide eyes as Gwendolyn drew the nket over her and cradled her small face. ¡°I''ll be here. Don''t be afraid, and go to sleep.¡± Juliette closed her eyes slowly. She must have been really exhausted. Gwendolyn took out her phone after Juliette fell asleep and dialed Lucy''s number. ¡°Is something wrong, Gwen? It''ste.¡± Her background was rowdy. She must still be working. ¡°Have you sold your house, Luce? I made a mistake and thought I borrowed money from Tommy''s rtive, but they''re actually loan sharks. Now they have Juliette hostage. Do you have money? Could you front me some?¡± Gwendolyn sniffled, knowing Lucy was dealing with her problems, too. Chapter 221 Chapter 221 Lucy was momentarily stunned when she heard that. ¡°Oh, Gwen, are you two okay?¡± Gwendolyn nced at the woman who was staring at her from the side. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I''m fine. They are just after the money. We can leave once we repay the debt. I''m sorry for causing trouble for you, Luce.¡± It was already bad enough that Mnie was sick. Now, this thing happened. Gwendolyn was feeling very guilty. She med herself for being ignorant and for causing trouble even though she had good intentions. Of course, she would not ask Lucy for more than five hundred thousand. Not even a cent more. ¡°It''s all my fault, Gwen. You did it to help me, didn''t you? I''ll take a loan and borrow some money. Don''t worry. I''ll gather enough money for you.¡± Gwendolyn did not dare tell her that she was still short of one million seven hundred and thirty thousand. Any amount, no matter how small, was good enough. As long as Juliette was safe and by her side, she would face the future one day at a time. Lucy''s expression was grim after she hung up. With Gwendolyn and Juliette''s current situation, she was left with no choice. She would sign the contract tomorrow and sell the house at a low price. With her phone in her hand, Lucy thought about who she could ask a favor. However, no one would be willing to lend her money anymore. She only had two thousand now, which was far lesser than the five hundred thousand that Gwendolyn needed. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she dialed Lucas'' number. ¡°Hello?¡± Azy voice came from the other end of the line. ¡°Missed me?¡± When Lucy heard his voice, she remembered the devilish man who was rough in bed. She pursed her lips hesitantly but still requested shamelessly, ¡°Mr. Gomez, can you lend me six hundred thousand? I need it urgently.¡± She had asked for his bone marrow, and now, she was asking for his money. It felt like she was taking advantage of him. However, Lucy had a straightforward personality and said whatever she wanted. As long as she did not feel awkward, it would be others that will. Lucas chuckled. ¡°Sure. I''ll transfer it to you right now. Remember toe on time tomorrow night.¡± Lucy''s longshes quivered as her heart skipped a beat. Her face warmed at the thought of what would happen the following night. There was a strange feeling in her heart. Lucas had not asked a single question and immediately agreed to transfer her the money. He was the most generous person she knew. At that moment, her phone vibrated. A total of six hundred thousand was transferred into her ount. Her phone vibrated again with a message from Lucas. He wrote: No matter what happens in the future, you can always tell me. You''re not allowed to shoulder it alone. A smile spread across Lucy''s face when she saw the message. Lucas was able to make her feel warm and secure. She quickly sent a message in reply: Thank you, Mr. Gomez. I will definitely return the money to you tomorrow. After sending the message, she looked up at the sky. It was pitch ck, as though it was about to snow. She drew her clothes together. She was freezing in just her work uniform. While she was on the phone, she had forgotten about the cold. Now, she was freezing as she quickly headed back to Night City. As she walked, she transferred the money to Gwendolyn and sent thetter a voice message: ¡°Gwen, I''ve transferred six hundred thousand to you. Is it enough? You agreed to repay the five hundred and fifty thousand you borrowed. The payment was dyed for a month, so six hundred thousand should be enough to cover the interest.¡± After sending the message, she stood and waited. She wanted to receive Gwendolyn''s reply before she continued working. At that moment, someone approached her and lifted her chin. ¡°Lucia, I''ve been supporting you for three months. When will youe home with me?¡± It was a greasy middle-aged man. Lucy jerked her head and freed her chin from his hand. She scoffed. ¡°Mr. Lynch, please show some respect. I sell liquor, not my body.¡± With those words, she turned and headed into the club. The man stared at her back view with a trace of hatred in his eyes. ¡°Tsk! Who do you think you are? You''re an unwanted woman with a child. I''ll wait and see how long you can hold out. I''ll have you sooner orter.¡± Chapter 222 Chapter 222 Gwendolyn received the money that was transferred into her ount. She pursed her lips after hearing Lucy''s voice message. Luce is such a loyal friend. She transferred six hundred thousand. Gwendolyn sighed. This amount of money was more than she could ask for. She would not let Lucy worry about her anymore. Andrea nced at Gwendolyn''s phone and asked, ¡°Has the money been transferred?¡± Gwendolyn looked up at her and hesitated for a moment. ¡°My friend transferred six hundred thousand. Adding it with the five hundred thousand I have, it will amount to one million one hundred thousand. Can you let us go?¡± Even loan sharks have sympathy, right? Giving them an additional six hundred thousand should be more than enough. It is already more than the principal amount. Andrea waved a finger at her. ¡°Ms. Ashton, maybe you aren''t sure about the rules of our business. Pay as much as you have? If you don''t pay it all, there''ll be interest tomorrow. I suggest that you pay it all by today.¡± She raised her eyebrows and sneered, ¡°Otherwise, I''ll have to feed you and your daughter to the fishes in the river.¡± Gwendolyn felt her heart ache at the thought of giving them so much money. However, after hearing those words, there was nothing else she could do. She had tried calling the police but was unable to. It was likely that the signal had been tampered with. Andrea yawned. ¡°I''m going to inform Samuel. I''m so tired but still have to deal with you. It''s so annoying.¡± With that, she opened the door and left. Gwendolyn nced at her sleeping daughter. With her here, Juliette''s emotions were much more stable. Now, she just needed to pay them the remaining six hundred thousand and negotiate a little. She believed that they would agree to let them go. Her eyes darted around as she thought about how she should negotiate. Not longter, Andrea entered the room with several men. She was so sleepy that she kept yawning. ¡°Ms. Ashton, it''s almost dawn. If you don''t pay up, they''ll send you and your daughter off.¡± The burly men approached the bed, looking as though they were about to throw them into the car. Gwendolyn stopped them. ¡°Wait a minute. I can give you six hundred thousand now. Please let me and my daughter go.¡± Andrea shook her head with a smile. ¡°I already told you. Not a single cent less.¡± With those words, she gestured to the men to take action. Gwendolyn shouted, ¡°Wait! I want to speak to Samuel alone.¡± Andrea''s face darkened. ¡°Ms. Ashton, if you''re thinking of seducing him, you better forget about it!¡± Her eyes swept over Gwendolyn''s body as a disdainful expression appeared on her face. Look at that puffy military jacket she is wearing. Her face is so ugly that any man would be disgusted by it. Samuel is mine and mine alone. No one else can have him. Gwendolyn smiled lightly. ¡°How can my lookspare to yours? I won''t seduce Samuel. I simply want to speak to him alone.¡± Andrea rolled her eyes. She really doesn''t know when to give up. She beckoned at the men to leave. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°I''ll go and get Samuel.¡± Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief after they left the room. She shook Juliette awake. ¡°Sweetheart, wake up.¡± Juliette opened her eyes. She was very tired, and there were tears in her eyes. ¡°Gwen, are we going home?¡± Gwendolyn looked at her daughter. At this moment, they could only rely on themselves. She helped Juliette to sit up. ¡°Juliette, hold on to my clothester. Follow me closely. Understand?¡± Juliette nodded vigorously at her serious look. Her older brothers had taught her to stay calm in dangerous situations. There was no use crying. Although she was afraid and kept crying after being brought to this ce, she believed that her mother and brothers would rescue her. A faint smile appeared on Gwendolyn''s face when she saw that Juliette was not crying and was being cooperative. ¡°Lie down first. When I call you, get up quickly and hold onto my clothes.¡± Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Juliette had justin down when Samuel opened the door and entered the room. He was dressed in ck from top to toe, and he looked at Gwendolyn and Juliette with a cold, vicious gaze. ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked. Gwendolyn smiled at him. ¡°Let''s sit down and have a chat, Samuel.¡± She mustered her courage to approach him and lead him to the bedside. Then, she spoke sweetly. ¡°Look, Samuel. I only have one million one hundred thousand with me right now. Is it fine if I return this amount of money first?¡± As soon as her words fell, Samuel''s face darkened instantly. ¡°That''s not possible,¡± he said. After that, he was about to call someone in to take over the matter. Quickly, Gwendolyn ejected the needle from her ring and hooked her arms around his neck. Next, she pressed the needle against his skin. ¡°I''m sorry, Samuel. We can only let you take us outside,¡± she said. Samuel was fuming with rage. He never expected the woman to be so cunning. It was his first time getting outsmarted by a woman. He began to struggle. ¡°You''d better not move, Samuel. The venom on this needle is extremely toxic. It''s been dipped in ny-nine types of snake venom. Your chances of survival are negligible if you get pricked by this needle,¡± Gwendolyn said. As soon as he heard her words, Samuel''s face turned even darker. Still, he believed her and dared not move a muscle. ¡°Gwendolyn, you...¡± Samuel was pissed. Moreover, he was terrified of the needle. Gwendolyn''s lips curled into a smirk. When she was forced into situations like this, she had to learn to defend herself. She had nobody else to support her and no family members to rely on. When such circumstances urred, there was no one she could turn to apart from the police. However, Gwendolyn could not even call the police. Therefore, she could only depend upon herself. ¡°Juliette...¡± she called. Juliette sat up immediately upon hearing her mother''s voice. Then, she slid out of bed and tugged at Gwendolyn''s clothes. Juliette pursed her lips and spoke bravely. ¡°I''m not afraid, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn eyed her daughter and grinned at her happily. ¡°You''re wonderful, Juliette!¡± Gwendolyn held Samuel hostage and walked out of the bedroom. When the rest of the people in the living room saw them, they took out their guns. The muzzles of the guns were pointed at them. Juliette''s eyes shed with fear, and her little hands trembled. Nevertheless, she did not cry. Instead, she grabbed Gwendolyn''s military jacket tightly, fearing she would be separated from her mother. ¡°Samuel...¡± Seeing as everybody had raised their guns, Samuel growled, ¡°Lower your guns and get a car ready. Be quick!¡± Andrea was stunned, too. At first, she thought Gwendolyn would attempt to seduce Samuel with her beauty. Little did she expect the woman would use Samuel to threaten them. In spite of this, she felt a sudden sense of admiration for Gwendolyn. Although she was being watched by so many people, Gwendolyn was still bold enough to pull this feat off and seed. She had even gotten the better of Samuel, who was the most intelligent member of the gang. Indeed, she was no ordinary woman. Andrea raised her voice. ¡°Haven''t you heard what Samuel said? Lower your guns and prepare a car.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Soon, a phone call ensued, and they were told that a car was already parked downstairs. Gwendolyn gave Samuel a nudge. ¡°We''re going out. The rest of you will stay inside.¡± Juliette kept a tight grip on Gwendolyn''s clothes. She followed thetter out of the creepy men''s field of vision and shut the door loudly. ¡°Gwen, are we safe now?¡± she asked. Apart from this creepy man, the rest of the people were inside the building. Children were often simple-minded. Juliette would no longer be afraid as long as she was safe. Gwendolyn nced at the padlock on the door. Earlier, she had told them to get it ready. So, she kicked Samuel. ¡°Lock the door.¡± The man kept his attention on the needle against his neck, for he would get himself pricked with one wrong move. As such, he was frightened. Whenever Samuel tried to lean his head backward slightly, Gwendolyn would push the needle further toward him. He frowned and yelled, ¡°Get this d*mn needle away from me!¡± His voice sounded like a roar, and it scared Juliette. She nearly lost her bnce and fell. Thus, she pouted angrily and said, ¡°Poke him, Gwen! The creepy man is bad. He scared me.¡± Chapter 224 Chapter 224 Gwendolyn could not help butugh when she heard Juliette''s remark. ¡°Okay, I''ll certainly poke him,¡± she said. Samuel broke out in a cold sweat out of terror, and a grimace gradually formed on his face. He breathed heavily and stared at the needle, fearing it would touch him. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Moreover, the woman and her daughter were unlike other people. Under such circumstances, they still discussed whether or not to poke him. Samuel''s gaze began to harden. People like him had been through many kinds of situations. No matter how scary the situation got, he was able to tough it out. Therefore, he would not be afraid of the minor screw-up that happened on this day. A wicked smile shed across his face. Only time would tell whether the mother-daughter duo could escape. Once the door was locked, the people inside the building could not get out, and Gwendolyn felt a lot safer. The only thing left to do was to head downstairs and get inside the car. Her n was to subdue Samuel, head home, and relocate to another ce. She had already nned everything down to thest detail. ¡°Let''s go,¡± Gwendolyn said sternly and nudged the man before her. Samuel started to walk, and the three of them descended the stairs awkwardly. Gwendolyn turned to look at Juliette and reminded her, ¡°Be careful, Sweetheart. Don''t fall.¡± At that moment, Juliette did not have to tug at Gwendolyn''s clothes anymore. She walked downstairs on her own cautiously. When they reached the third floor, the stairwell was very dark due to the absence ofmps. Juliette inched closer to her mother fearfully and muttered, ¡°It''s dark, Gwen.¡± Children were afraid of the dark. Little girls, in particr, were even more reluctant to walk in the darkness. Gwendolyn pursed her lips. She wanted to hold her daughter''s hand and give her a sense of security. However, she must keep the man in front of her under control. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for them to leave. Juliette screamed, ¡°Ah...¡± She missed a step and tumbled down the stairs. A horrified Gwendolyn released her grip on Samuel and called Juliette loudly, ¡°Juliette... Juliette...¡± She felt hopeless at that point. As long as Juliette was fine, it did not matter whether they managed to escape or not. Gwendolyn took out her phone and turned on the shlight. She ran down the stairs and found Juliette lying at the foot of the staircase. Blood was seeping out of her forehead. Gwendolyn was frightened and tried to hold her daughter up. ¡°Juliette... Juliette...¡± Unfortunately, Juliette did not answer. Samuel took out his gun and pressed the muzzle against Gwendolyn''s head. ¡°You''ll pay for holding me hostage!¡± he cried. Teardrops streamed down Gwendolyn''s cheeks as she kept calling Juliette, but there was no response from thetter. She did not hear Samuel''s threats at all. Suddenly, Gwendolyn raised her head and said, ¡°Juliette, I''ll take you to the hospital.¡± She carried Juliette and was about to leave when Samuel grabbed hold of her and said, ¡°You aren''t going anywhere.¡± Then, he dragged Gwendolyn up the stairs as blood continued to trickle down the little girl''s forehead. Gwendolyn was about to throw a fit. She pleaded, ¡°I want to take my daughter to the hospital. She''s hurt. I beg of you.¡± Still, Samuel was indifferent to her plight. The lives of his hostages were unimportant to him. All he cared about was money. The hostages were only allowed to leave once they had repaid their debts. He did not care about anything else. ¡°Pleading with me is useless. Go upstairs!¡± he ordered. Samuel led Gwendolyn upstairs by force. She was overwhelmed by a wave of hopelessness as she med herself for Juliette''s situation. Gwendolyn felt really bad, and she quivered in sadness and anger. A few cars were parked outside the dpidated residential building. Two boys were holding aptop inside Patrick''s car. Julian said, ¡°Justin, Juliette''s GPS location is right here. The same goes for Mommy.¡± Patrick nced at the two boys coolly. These two kids are even faster than the police. Then, he narrowed his eyes and ordered, ¡°Send me the address. We''ll save them at once.¡± Justin sent the address to Patrick, who then sent it to his subordinates. He texted: Go upstairs immediately and save Gwendolyn and Juliette. After sending his message, he opened the door and got out of the car. Justin and Julian followed suit. The three of them were worried about the mother-daughter duo. Thus, they wanted to head upstairs personally. They hurried over to the old building and saw Gwendolyn running downstairs. Her body was covered in blood, and she was carrying Juliette, who had blood all over her face. Chapter 225 Chapter 225 The three men ran over hurriedly. Patrick grabbed both her hands. ¡°Gwendolyn, where are you hurt?¡± His gaze scanned both the girls from head to toe. Even Justin and Julian were shocked. Simultaneously, they asked, ¡°Mommy, you and Juliette are hurt.¡± Gwendolyn''s gaze was empty. She had already lost her senses after Juliette fell down the stairs. Not only that, Samuel had earlier refused to let her take Juliette to the hospital. Therefore, like a madwoman, she frantically beat that man to the point he could no longer stand. Only then did she carry Juliette downstairs. Right now, the only thought on her mind was to get to the hospital. Upon hearing that familiar voice, she finally snapped back into reality. Patrick wanted to carry Juliette, but Gwendolyn held onto her tightly without letting go. He gently held onto her shoulder. ¡°Gwendolyn, it''s me, Patrick. Hand Juliette to me. I''ll take her to the hospital.¡± When she heard the word ¡°hospital,¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes flickered slightly. She nodded. ¡°Get to the hospital quick.¡± As she spoke, tears flowed down from her eyes. Patrick''s subordinate took Juliette over and ran toward the car. Meanwhile, Patrick picked up Gwendolyn, whose whole body had gone weak. Justin pursed his lips. ¡°We''re going to go check on Juliette. Help me take care of Mommy.¡± Julian took a deep look at Gwendolyn. From what they could see, Juliette was the one who was injured. Gwendolyn most likely just had Juliette''s blood on her. They ran over to the car and headed to the hospital. Patrick knitted his brows tightly together. When he saw the state that Juliette and Gwendolyn were in, his heart ached to the point that he couldn''t breathe. It was a very suffocating feeling. He strode over to his car. In a cold voice, he ordered, ¡°Round all those people up. I''ll deal with them personally.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen.¡± After carrying Juliette into the car, Patrick ordered, ¡°Drive faster.¡± The driver replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Then, he stepped down as hard as he could on the gas pedal. Seeing the look in Patrick''s eyes, he knew that if he went slow that night, he probably would not live to see the next day. Gwendolyn''s eyes lit up. ¡°Juliette...¡± She looked around frantically. Patrick stared deeply into her clear and bright eyes. Knowing that she had cried countless times that night, he could feel her helplessness. His heart was wrenching in pain. ¡°Gwendolyn, Juliette is already on the way to the hospital. Don''t worry. I will make sure she gets the best medical team to treat her.¡± This time, they were headed to his private hospital. That hospital was equipped with the best medical resources. It was more than enough to ensure Juliette''s recovery. Gwendolyn grabbed onto his shirt tightly with both hands as she sobbed softly. ¡°You must save Juliette. Please. I''m begging you.¡± When she thought of her daughter''s condition, she felt horrible. She med herself for being useless. It was her fault for borrowing money from loan sharks. That was the reason why Juliette was dragged into this mess. As she was overwhelmed with guilt, her tears started to flow uncontrobly again. Seeing this, Patrick realized that he absolutely couldn''t stand seeing her cry. The moment she started crying, he felt incredibly uneasy. His heart felt heavy. He lightly rubbed her arm. ¡°Gwen, stop crying. Just take a short nap. We''ll be at the hospital soon. With me here, nothing will happen to Juliette.¡± If it were Gwendolyn from the past, she would only have herself to rely on. At such a devastating time, she could only pray for the best. Now, listening to his words, she trusted in him. She nodded in response. Then, she buried her head in hisp and inhaled his familiar scent. She hoped nothing terrible would happen to Juliette. As long as Patrick was there, she was sure that Juliette would be fine. This was Gwendolyn''s first time trusting a man so much. It was also her first time realizing how it felt to have someone to rely on. Patrick could feel her entire body shivering slightly. She was wearing a thick military coat, so she shouldn''t be cold. However, when he saw her feet which were red from the cold, he put his hands on her to slowly give her some warmth. Her skin felt like ice. It was cold but soft. He caressed her slowly and said tly, ¡°Turn the heater up all the way.¡± Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Gwendolyn could slowly feel her legs starting to regain warmth. She could also feel the temperature of the man''s palms. When he saw that she was still shivering from the cold, he set her down on the seat. Then, he grabbed her feet and ced them under his shirt. Gwendolyn raised her head. ¡°Patrick, it''s really cold.¡± She wanted to retract her legs. She didn''t even dare to think about the condition of her feet. Even if she ignored the fact that they were icy, they were still really dirty. Isn''t he a clean freak? She didn''t want to make him feel ufortable. Patrick grabbed tightly onto her feet. ¡°Don''t move.¡± Gwendolyn stuck her feet closely to his defined abdomen. It was very warm. Her face blushed red, and her heart started to beat faster. She stole a nce at his face. In the dim light, his side profile was sharp and defined. All of a sudden, she felt like not only was this man handsome, but he was also really nice. More than warming her feet, he was also warming her heart. Twenty minutester, the car pulled up to the hospital entrance. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn took a look at the building. It was a very famous private hospital in Avenport. More urately, it was known for being expensive. However, it contained the most modern medical equipment and the best medical professionals in the world. She knew that Juliette would be getting the best possible treatments. Hence, she felt slightly more relieved. Unfortunately, there was no way she could afford the hospital bills there. The car had only stopped for a short moment when Liam handed a pair of shoes through the window. Gwendolyn said sweetly, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Derner!¡± Liam took a look over at Patrick, who was hugging Gwendolyn''s feet under his shirt. As expected, Patrick was really admirable when he fell for a woman. In a light tone, he responded, ¡°You should thank Mr. Lowen. He''s the one who asked me to buy the shoes.¡± Gwendolyn looked over to Patrick. She pursed her lips together lightly as her eyes glimmered. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lowen!¡± After that, she shook her legs so that Patrick would let go and she could retract them. She sat upright and put on the shoes. ¡°Are you hurt anywhere?¡± The blood all over her body was a pretty frightening sight. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°No, I''m fine.¡± After putting on her shoes, she hurriedly opened the car door. The first thing she wanted to do was check on how Juliette was doing. Patrick got out of the car too. The duo headed into the hospital together. When the nurse at the front desk saw Patrick walk in, she immediately went over to greet him. ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± ¡°Where''s the little girl who came in earlier?¡± The nurses did a quick check. Then, they politely responded, ¡°She''s been admitted into a ward. Her room number is 1206.¡± Gwendolyn was dumbfounded for a moment. ¡°Doesn''t she need any emergency care or surgery?¡± The nurses looked back at theputer solemnly. ¡°Juliette has just suffered an external head injury. We''ve already bandaged her up. She should be receiving an IV drip right now.¡± Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Thank you!¡± She was just d that Juliette was fine. Earlier, she had been so worried. That was why she got so violent with Samuel. They got to the twelfth floor. Upon entering the ward, Gwendolyn''s first impression of the room was that it was more like a child''s room than an actual hospital ward. The interior design was mostly warm- toned. There were also a lot of dolls ced around the room. The windows hadce curtains on them. The couch was cartoon-themed. Even the bed was designed like a princess bed. Gwendolyn finally understood why the hospital charged such a high price. In an environment like this, plus the world''s top medical team, it was only natural that being treated here would cost a lot. She walked briskly over to the bedside. Right now, Juliette had been changed into a hospital gown. Her head was bandaged while her arm had an IV drip needle stuck into it. She was sleeping peacefully. Justin and Julian had initially been sitting on the couch. When they saw their mother, they went over. ¡°Mommy, don''t worry anymore. Juliette just hurt her head. Her hands and feet have some minor wounds, but she''s fine otherwise.¡± As Julian spoke, he gently patted Gwendolyn on her shoulder. ¡°Do you want to get checked too?¡± Seeing her covered in blood, they were quite worried about her. Justin walked over to Patrick''s side and shot him a cold nce. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lowen! It''s gettingte now. I think you should head back.¡± Chapter 227 Chapter 227 His attitude toward Patrick was as cold as always. It was clear that he was trying to chase the man away. Patrick swept a nce at him. Admittedly, Justin''s indifferent gaze was very handsome. Patrick narrowed his eyes. ¡°No problem. I like your mommy. Hence, I do not intend to leave. I will make sure to see her matter to the end,¡± he replied straightforwardly. Then, he strode over to the bedside. Justin watched as Patrick''s tall figure went over to his mother. Then, the manid his hands on Gwendolyn''s shoulder as an act offort. Gwendolyn leaned her head on him. Looking at them now, they did look like a parental couple. Justin pursed his lips together slightly. For every day that their mother didn''t give her approval, they would be sure to watch over her. They would never let her suffer. The next day, at the Lowen residence. Alice was sitting in the dining room having her breakfast. The sunlight shone in through the long windows and cascaded over her. She elegantly took a sip of her coffee before turning to look at the door. ¡°Is Old Mr. Lowen still asleep?¡± A housekeeper walked in and answered, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, Old Mr. Lowen is still fast asleep.¡± Ever since Hector woke up from hisa, he hadn''t been able to get a good sleep. He often woke up in the middle of the night and would have trouble falling back asleep after. Since he could sleep until nine o''clock in the morning that day, it seemed like things were getting better. Alice thought back to the night before. Many of their family rtives were asking about what happened. To be honest, Alice wasn''t sure either. The engagement banquet was just about to begin; how could Pat just cancel it like that? Regardless, she always supported his decisions no matter what. At this moment, a housekeeper came in and reported, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, the Ashton family are here.¡± Alice set down her cup. She knew that the Ashton family woulde to stir up trouble. She had no choice but to deal with them. Although she didn''t understand why her grandson would cancel the engagement, she understood his heart. That day, Alice was dressed in a pale blue dress. She looked elegant and ssy. The housekeeper apanied her out of the dining room and into the living room. All three members of the Ashton family were sitting down in the living room, Felicia and her parents. Felicia tugged at Candace''s hand. ¡°Mom, let''s go home! I can settle this on my own.¡± She had beenpletely humiliated the night before. All her rtives had questioned her about what was going on. Seeing the weird gaze in her eyes, they all guessed that she had been abandoned. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Despite that, she didn''t want her parents toe to stir up trouble at the Lowen residence. After all, the engagement between her and Patrick was nothing more than an agreement. Patrick didn''t want anyone to know about this matter, and neither did she. Candace gripped her hand tightly. ¡°Sweetheart, don''t be afraid. What the Lowen family did isn''t right. How can you just ept it like that? We must help you seek justice.¡± Felicia pursed her lips. She nced over at her father, who was nearby. His expression looked even worse. In the Ashton family, they cared about their father the most. Since she was young, she knew that as long as her father was happy, she and her mother could continue to live blissfully in the Ashton residence. That meant that she could bully Gwendolyn as she pleased. Even if she decided to chase Gwendolyn out, their father would not care. This time, Zachary had been very pleased with her. He was proud that she was going to be married off to a good family. However, now, reality had hit him like a hard p in the face. There was no way he could feel happy. Alice went over with a smile on her face. ¡°Sorry for keeping you three waiting.¡± She sat down at the head of the couch. ¡°Pour the guests some coffee,¡± she ordered. The housekeepers immediately went to work. They had assumed that the Ashton family was here to create a scene. Hence, they hadn''t bothered to serve any refreshments. Zachary looked over to Alice and said in a cold tone, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, we''re here to talk about what happened yesterday. What was Patrick thinking? He was the one who wanted to get engaged. Then, he suddenly canceled it. Does he think our daughter is a pushover?¡± His voice was cold and firm. There was also a very clear tone of anger in his words. Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Alice''s face was calm. Up until now, Patrick had yet to return. Thus, she had no choice but to handle this matter. In a light voice, she answered, ¡°Love is not something we elders have control over. What century are we living in? If the kids are unwilling, then forcing them to marry would only make them miserable. Don''t you think so, Mr. Ashton?¡± Zachary was rendered speechless. He looked over at Felicia. ¡°Fel, is your rtionship with Patrick going well?¡± After Felicia heard her father''s question, a trace of panic shed across her eyes. There was no love or rtionship between her and Patrick at all. She wished there was, but he only ever spoke to her about contracts. He was only ever willing to give her money. Her gaze shifted around. She wasn''t sure what to say. Even though Patrick wasn''t around, she didn''t dare to speak out of turn. ¡°Dad, this is between Patrick and me. You guys shouldn''t try to interfere.¡± With that, she got up to leave. Felicia couldn''t lie anymore. Furthermore, she had no idea what was the reason behind what had happened the night before. Right now, she had be theughing stock of everyone in Avenport. Everyone was waiting to see her get ridiculed. She was mad, but she had no right to ask Patrick for an exnation. After all, they were nothing but parties to a contract. It was her own fault for being useless and failing to secure Patrick''s heart. Seeing his daughter walk away, Zachary sighed. Candace was in a tough position as well. She felt like Felicia had changed. If it were her from the past, she would have stood beside her parents and demanded an exnation from the Lowen family. Candace got up. ¡°Darling, let''s go home for now. We''ll let Fel deal with it.¡± After saying that, she took an icy nce over at Alice. Despite her desire to get closer to the Lowen family, what Patrick did the day before had utterly humiliated their family. Candace had no idea how to exin this to Michael. Watching the trio leave, Alice let out a sigh as her gaze darkened. ¡°Pat, since you''ve made this decision, good luck!¡± Juliette had to be hospitalized for the night for observation. Hence, not a single one of them left the ward. There was an extra bed inside the ward. Both Justin and Julian slept on it together. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn slept in the same hospital bed as Juliette. By the time Juliette was done receiving her IV drip, it was already six o''clock in the morning. Both Justin and Julian had fallen asleep earlier. Gwendolyn had stayed up to make sure Juliette finished her IV drip before going to bed. Patrick stayed up to watch Juliette finish receiving her IV drip as well. However, he had to sleep on the couch. Due to his tall figure, he was not able to get much sleep on the tiny couch. The next morning at about nine o''clock, Gwendolyn woke up. The first thing she noticed was the man curled up on the couch. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. His long legs were bent and curled to one side as he slept on his side. She quietly got up to put a thin quilt over him. Staring at his handsome face, she couldn''t help but think of what had happened the night before. In her moment of despair, his appearance had made her feel safe. In the car, the scene of him rubbing her legs to keep her warm still made her heart flutter tremendously. This man was really good to her. She had seen on the entertainment news that Patrick had canceled his engagement. It was most likely that he had abandoned his banquet and guests to head straight to them. At the thought of that, she gazed at him for quite some time. Meanwhile, Patrick was already awake. He was a light sleeper, so he woke up the moment Gwendolyn put the quilt over him. He was quite tired, so he had intended to continue resting a while more. Unexpectedly, Gwendolyn wouldn''t stop staring at him until he felt goosebumps all over his body. Hence, he decided just to get up. He then pulled her over to sit on hisp. Patrick''s manly scent suddenly surrounded her, causing Gwendolyn to be stunned as she opened her eyes wide. Patrick wrapped his arms around her slim waist. In a deep, maic voice, he asked, ¡°Am I very nice to stare at?¡± Gwendolyn was dumbfounded. Her face blushed red as she shoved him away. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I don''t know what you''re talking about.¡± She struggled to free herself because she was embarrassed. A man that had just woken up was very irresistible. That was how Gwendolyn was feeling right now. Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Thedy experienced embarrassment due to a person of the opposite gender for the first time in her life. She wanted to distance herself from the man. However, Patrick did not allow her to do so. He held on to her narrow waist. Faint amusement flickered in his deep-set eyes. ¡°Was Zayden the one who sent you this set of clothes?¡± he murmured. It suited her and entuated her figure perfectly. She was so pretty that she captivated many. Gwendolyn knew that she was not as strong as him and that it was impossible to fight with him. Thus, she no longer struggled pointlessly and nodded. ¡°Yes. I was going to be his female partner yesterday night and attend the event with him.¡± Yet, she had to go to work. She wanted to apologize to Zayden. I''ll treat him to a meal soon! It was as if she could cast Zayden aside at the mention of money. Luckily, Zayden was already used to it. Otherwise, he would not be friends with her. Patrick went into a daze after she finished speaking. He was a little angry, so he leaned forward and bit her lips. Gwendolyn was hurt by his bite. She furrowed her brows and nced at him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, what are you doing?¡± His action was a little overboard and too intimate, but it was also a little mischievous. ¡°You''re not allowed to think of other men when you are with me.¡± The duo stared at each other. Patrick''s handsome face was merely an inch away from hers. His stern expression caused her heart to skip a beat. That man had a sort of power to make people believe and be subdued by him. She could not help butugh. ¡°Mr. Lowen, it must be tiring to be your girlfriend. You have too many demands.¡± ¡°No. You''ll be very blissful if you are my girlfriend, as I''m very capable in bed.¡± Mature adults understood the meaning behind his words. Even the foolish Gwendolyn understood his words. Her face turned red. What does that have to do with me? Men sure love to boast. However, when she thought of a certain body part of his, she recalled that it was frighteningly huge. She imagined that it would not befortable doing it with him. Gwendolyn was at a loss for words. She did not understand why she went off-topic because of him. Her face flushed even redder as she straightened herself and staggered back. As she stumbled, shended on the floor. Patrick frowned mildly at that. ¡°Why are you behaving like a child? Come back here.¡± Is it notfortable to sit on myps? Their amicable conversation made him feel better. As he thought of the small couch that he had slept on the night before, he felt very ufortable. The only thing that consoled him was that he could see her once he woke up. Also, he was able to hug her in his arms. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''ll go and buy breakfast. You should rest for a while more.¡± Her two sons were already awake. They sat up and called out to her. ¡°Mommy!¡± Gwendolyn nced at Patrick and walked to the bedside. ¡°You''re awake? It''s still early. Both of you can sleep for a while more.¡± Justin was already putting on his clothes while Julian still wanted toze around in bed. ¡°Mommy, I''ll go and buy breakfast with you.¡± Gwendolyn chuckled. Justin always behaves like an adult. No matter what happens, he will be by my side. She did not reject him as she could tell that he had something to say to her. The night before, Liam had bought new clothes for her. She went to the bathroom and changed her clothes before leaving the patient ward with Justin. Patrick crossed his legs as he sat on the couch. As he stared at the duo''s retreating figures, he raised a finger and touched his nose lightly. If I wish to get Gwendolyn, I have to first capture the hearts of her two sons. He then grabbed his phone and tried to search the inte to find out what five-year-old boys liked.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. He reckoned it was the most effective method. In the business world, he had never used that tactic. Unexpectedly, he had to do so to try and capture a woman''s heart. When Gwendolyn and Justin walked out of the room, the little boy nced at the nurse''s counter. ¡°Mommy, let''s go and pay the hospital fees.¡± When Gwendolyn heard that, her face darkened. The medical fees in that particr hospital were sky-high. She was truly penniless. Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Justin understood her worries and took out a card. ¡°Don''t worry, Mommy. We have money.¡± The money in the card was earned by him and his brother after they made a few defense systems for somepanies. Although they were not recognized on the hackers'' list, they were very interested in hacking. Thus, they left their contact details on the ck market and offered to work for a small fee. Thus, many small companies got them to install systems for them. They had earned a considerable sum of money from it. Gwendolyn stretched out a hand to caress his face. ¡°You''re flipping stocks with Zayden again? As I''ve said, you can''t touch that. Don''t worry about money. I''ll settle it.¡± Justin shook his head. ¡°Mommy, since you''ve forbidden us from doing that, we won''t do so. We''ve earned this money from writing codes. It''s legal.¡± Gwendolyn knew that the two boys lovedputer programming and had been learning it recently. She did not think that they could earn money from it. She chuckled. ¡°I see! I''ve misunderstood. Thank you. I''ll work hard to earn money in the future and not let you worry about money anymore.¡± The duo went to ask the nurse about the bill and went to the first level to pay the medical fee. It was not cheap. They merely paid for a night''s stay at the hospital and simple procedures, but it already cost twenty thousand. Gwendolyn looked at the receipt. Although she found it a little heart-wrenching to spend so much, she was d that Juliette was fine. That was the most important thing to her. Justin ced the card in her hand. ¡°Mommy, we''ll give this card to you to manage in the future. If you want to purchase a house, you can go and take a look at houses with the money.¡± Justin and his brother knew that their mother really wanted to purchase a small apartment so that they would have a ce to stay in. That way, they no longer needed to worry about losing their house and being forced to move. Gwendolyn''s eyes lit up. ¡°How much money is in this card?¡± It cost a substantial amount of money to purchase a house. Justin said cidly, ¡°Around two million. We can get a small house.¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes widened when she heard his words. ¡°So much?¡± My sons are so capable! I can''t believe that they can earn so much! Gwendolyn embraced him and eximed, ¡°We''ll have a house of our own soon!¡± When Justin saw the happy look on his mother''s face, he shed a smile as well. Gwendolyn was as happy as a child, but Justin was as calm andposed as an adult. ¡°Mommy, although Patrick helped youst night, you have to understand that it had nothing to do with your rtionship. You don''t have to think that you owe him anything and be his girlfriend or reimburse him in any form. I''ll thank him with Julian. Let us handle it.¡± After all, Patrick was about to get engaged the night before. Yet, he canceled the engagement at his whim and fancy and had no sense of responsibility. He and Julian no longer trusted him. Naturally, they hoped that their mother would not have any connections with the man any longer. They only had a superior and subordinate rtionship. That was enough. Justin, you''re just five. You''re still a child! She found that her sons behaved increasingly like adults and did not know who they took after. The duo proceeded to buy breakfast. She held on to the bags of food, but Justin took it from her. ¡°Justin, I can do it.¡± ¡°You''re ady. I''ll carry them.¡± After that, he grabbed the breakfast bags from her and turned around. As Gwendolyn looked at his straight posture and tiny figure, she smiled faintly. This little kid is rather gentlemanly. In the future, he''ll definitely treat his girlfriend very well. Just like that, she returned to the hospital and entered the patient ward with empty hands. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. In the patient ward, Juliette sat at the bedside. She hugged a Barbie doll to her chest as herrge eyes shone brightly. Julian was still asleep. The boy loved sleeping. He could sleep the whole day, especially after staying up for many nights. Gwendolyn nced at the couch and realized that Patrick was not there. She then asked, ¡°Where has Mr. Lowen gone? Call him over to have breakfast.¡± When Juliette heard that, she nced around the room. ¡°Mr. Handsome is also here? Where is he? I''m in a lot of pain, and I need him to blow on my injury!¡± Chapter 231 Chapter 231 When Gwendolyn heard Juliette''s soft and adorable voice, her heart melted. Anyone who heard it would give anything to the little girl. Gwendolyn sat beside the bed and helped her daughter blow on her injuries. ¡°It''s the same if I help you to blow on it.¡± Juliette sat there obediently and let her mother blow on her wounds. She pouted her tiny lips and said, ¡°Gwen, I''d prefer it if Mr. Handsome blows on it instead.¡± It was because he looked like the father in her dreams. The father in her dreams looked just like him and appeared simr to her older brothers. Gwendolyn was not angry. She understood her daughter the most. ¡°Yes. I''ll get him to do soter.¡± Julian woke up shortly after. He gently rubbed his eyes. ¡°Mommy, Mr. Lowen left as he has urgent matters to attend to. I''ve already thanked him.¡± While he was speaking, his gaze was fixed on Justin. They were thinking the same thing. If that man wants to get close to our mommy, he has to pass our new test. The family of four had their breakfast together and left the hospital. Justin had already settled the discharge procedures, and they only needed to leave. Liam walked over hurriedly. ¡°Ms. Ashton, why have you paid the medical fees? Mr. Lowen told us to give you the treatment for free.¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. He had just rushed over from home. Patrick got him to head over to settle the matters and send them home. Unexpectedly, he did not manage to rush over in time to tell them that Patrick had exempted the medical fees for them. If Patrick knew about it, Liam was afraid that he would be sent overseas to manage goris'' feces. He did not wish to go overseas as the mria situation was very serious there. He was afraid that he would catch the disease and die in a foreign country. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was helping Juliette with her shoes. She replied cidly, ¡°Mr. Derner, we''ve already paid the fees. It doesn''t have to be free. Please help me thank Mr. Lowen for his kind intentions.¡± She held Juliette''s hand and asked cautiously, ¡°Can you walk, Juliette? Do you feel giddy? Do you want me to carry you?¡± Juliette was not that delicate. She smiled sweetly and replied, ¡°No need. I don''t feel giddy. I can walk by myself.¡± The incidents that happened the night before had made her grow up a lot. Her mother was fearless when faced with people with evil intentions. Thus, she vowed to be as courageous as her mother and two brothers. She could handle the small injury and walk by herself. Liam trailed after them and ced a hand on his forehead. He secretly prayed that Patrick would not me him. Patrick went to the residential building that he had gone to the night before. His long legs stretched out as he paced into the house that had three bedrooms. More than ten men were tied up and kept in the house. When they saw him, their eyes widened. They did not expect that they would gain the attention of an influential person like Patrick. Samuel was awakened by the sound of the door opening. Blood was smeared all over his face, and his hands were bound behind his back. He raised his head slightly and stared at Patrick with red-rimmed eyes. John removed the cloth in his mouth and kicked him. ¡°Do you know who our boss is?¡± Samuel had never expected that he would offend such a person when he became a loan shark to earn a living. They could not afford to offend him and were afraid that they would no longer be able to survive in Avenport. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I don''t know how I''ve offended you.¡± Patrick''s subordinate ced a chair opposite the men. Patrick then sat down and lit up a cigarette. He inhaled a puff of smoke. There was no expression on his devil-like face as he coldly nced at them. He uttered coldly, ¡°You''ve touched someone that you shouldn''t have.¡± Samuel froze. ¡°Yesterday night, that woman... Is she your woman, Mr. Lowen?¡± The only thing that he could think of was the vicious woman who had beat him up the night before. She was even more ferocious than him. In the end, his face was so swollen as if he had gotten stung by a swarm of bees. It was all because of that woman. She was too brutal. John nodded slightly. ¡°You''re smart. How much did you take from her yesterday night? Return her the full amount.¡± Samuel''s expression changed. As he had expected, the matter was rted to that woman. He suddenly struggled. ¡°Mr. Lowen, we were blind and did not know that Ms. Ashton is your woman. I''ll get my men to return the money to her. Please spare us.¡± Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Gwendolyn returned home with her children. As they had slept veryte the night before, all of them took a nap after lunch. At around three in the afternoon, Gwendolyn was awoken by the buzz of her phone. She reached over and grabbed her phone. She took a look and wanted to see who had sent her a message. Unexpectedly, it was a message that informed her of a money transfer. Gwendolyn was frightened out of her wits. ¡°Ah!¡± Her voice resounded in the entire building. The money was transferred to her through Paypal and was sent straight to her ount. At the sound of her scream, Camille and the three children ran to her room. ¡°What''s wrong, Mommy?¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Nervousness was written all over Camille''s face. ¡°What''s wrong, Gwen?¡± Gwendolyn shot out of her bed abruptly and hugged Camille before hugging her three children. Juliette''srge eyes sparkled. She wanted to jump with her mother, but her two brothers held on to her hand. ¡°You''re injured, Juliette.¡± Hence, the little girl could only watch as her mother pranced about in front of them. The three children were stunned and did not know what happy news made their mother react like that. Their mother was behaving exactly like a child. Gwendolyn finally caught sight of the money in her ount. She had one million one hundred thousand, not a penny less. She blinked her eyes and pondered for a moment. ¡°Ah, the police have gotten our money back for us. However, the five hundred thousand we had borrowed is returned to us. That''s weird. Should we remind them to take back the five hundred thousand?¡± Camille burst outughing. ¡°You''re too kind, Gwen! It definitely isn''t a mistake!¡± Such a terrible matter had urred the night before. Juliette had even gotten injured, and Patrick went to settle the matter. The other party would not dare to ept the money and demand funds from them again. Camille understood many things and had full knowledge of what was going on. However, Gwendolyn was uneasy about that. She had to return what she owed others. Although she was poor, she would not vie for money that did not belong to her. She sat on the bed and looked at her three children. ¡°Have I disturbed your sleep? I''m sorry! If you have not slept enough, you can return and sleep some more.¡± Juliette sat beside her mother and leaned against thetter. ¡°Gwen, I was stupidst night and did not walk steadily. I''m very sorry for scaring you.¡± Gwendolyn beamed and caressed her tiny face. ¡°I should be the one apologizing for not taking good care of you and letting such things happen to you. I won''t do such a thing in the future again.¡± She vowed that she would never borrow money from loan sharks again. She would be hardworking and work properly so that her children could live afortable life. Julian and Justin stood across them and looked at the two girls. Amusement shone in their eyes. They did not understand the mother and daughter''s rtionship and emotions, but they liked seeing their mother and sister being happy. After ying with her three children for a while, Gwendolyn changed her clothes and headed out. She drove her red car and went to the loan sharkpany. Thepany was still there. When she entered, the receptionist weed her warmly. The receptionist then brought her to the manager''s office. Samuel''s face was injured badly. The injuries were all given to him by her. ¡°Samuel, thisdy is looking for you.¡± When Samuel caught sight of her, his eyes widened, and he nearly wanted to dig a hole and bury himself. Gwendolyn walked over calmly and sat on the chair opposite him. ¡°Samuel, I''ll return all the money that I''d borrowed from you.¡± She then fished out her phone. ¡°Give me your bank ount. Five hundred and fifty thousand. I''ll give it to you without missing a cent.¡± Samuel was very confused. When he recalled her brash attitude the night before, a chill ran down his spine, and his legs trembled violently. He then thought about Patrick. The woman standing in front of him belonged to the man. If he had not groveled at Patrick''s feet for half a day and given some benefits, he would not be sitting there. It was very likely that he would be sent to jail. Even if he were not sent to prison, he would have possibly been crippled. Samuel raised a hand to wipe his cold sweat away. ¡°Ms. Ashton, please let me go!¡± he beseeched. Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Gwendolyn nced at him coldly and asked, ¡°What do you mean by that? I was nning to ask you to let us go!¡± She had children of her own. With her debts cleared, she hoped that they would not bother her family anymore. Samuel almost went down on his knees. Almost crying, he begged, ¡°Ms. Ashton, I''m in the wrong. I will not repeat my mistake again. Please treat that five hundred thousand as the payment for young Juliette''s medical bills.¡± A trace of astonishment shed in Gwendolyn''s eyes. She had not expected him to have some conscience after all. She stopped struggling and relented. ¡°All right! Since you said it, the medical bills should be borne by you guys. I only used twenty thousand, so I will transfer the remaining back to you.¡± Samuel thought that she was stubborn and one-of-a-kind to let such an offer pass. It was as though the woman was a fool. However, he learned the hard wayst night that she was to be feared when she became driven mad. ¡°Ms. Ashton, let me state explicitly. You are with Patrick, so I can''t offend you. We really don''t want the money. Please don''te back to us anymore!¡± Even loan sharks would be afraid of her. Hearing Patrick''s name being mentioned, she finally understood that he was really the reason for this. A slight smile briefly appeared on her face. She then got up and said, ¡°In that case, I''ll stop bothering you.¡± She had sensed that the moment she turned up at this office, Samuel was scared witless. She wondered what Patrick had done to him. Gwendolyn left the loanpany and got into her car. She then sent six hundred thousand to Lucy. She texted: Luce, you don''t need to return the money. Take it as a gift from me to Mnie. After sending that message, she blinked and stared at the clear sky outside with herrge eyes. The sun was shining nice and bright that day. I wonder what Patrick is doing now. Is he still busy at work? It''s already noon. Has he eaten lunch? She decided to dial his number. After a while, he picked up. ¡°Hello.¡± His tone was rather t such that she could not detect his emotion. It was as though she was talking to a stranger. Unexpectedly, Gwendolyn felt a little disappointed. Smiling, she asked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, where are you now? I want to treat you to a meal.¡± At that moment, Patrick was sitting at his office desk. He had been busier today, as he had just attended a video conference and was pretty drained. His voice was quite hoarse due to his excessive smoking. ¡°I am in my office. I won''t mind a treat. You cane to my office and eat together.¡± It turned out that, as the boss of thepany, he was really busy even on weekends. On the other hand, she was free every weekend. Thinking about this made her realize that he treated his employee well. ¡°Sure! I''ll get us lunch and bring it to your office. I''ll be quick and reach within half an hour. If you are hungry, you can get some snacks specially prepared for you in the pantry.¡± As his personal secretary, she knew his work well. A light smile broke out on Patrick''s face as his mood was lifted significantly. ¡°Okay,¡± he replied with a low tone and hung up the call. Gwendolyn found him very cold, like he was distancing himself. Nheless, it was understandable as he had maintained a high status for a long time, causing him to be icy toward others. Feeling like a rtively wealthydy now, Gwendolyn generously ced an order from tinum te. Instead of choosing their takeaway delivery service, she decided to pick up the food herself. After that, she went straight to Lowen Group. When she stepped foot into the office, she saw Patrick sitting in his office chair and massaging his temples with his well-defined long fingers. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. It was obvious that he was tired. Gwendolyn ced the lunchboxes on the coffee table in the couch area and walked to the back of Patrick. Puffing into her hands to make them warm, she started giving him a head massage from the back. Although she was not a professional, she was still quite skilled at it. In the past, back in the Ashton residence, Michael would often get headaches. As such, she had to give him a head massage frequently. She even picked up the proper techniques from a professional practitioner, which exined why she was skillful. The moment Patrick felt the pressure from her fingers, he immediately rxed. Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Patrick opened his eyes, and with a corner of his lips slightly pursed, he asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, it''s your rest day today. What makes you think of treating me to a meal? Actually, I prefer your cooking.¡± Although her cooking was not that good, he still liked it for some reason. Gwendolyn focused on massaging his head, and she felt like she was in an altered spiritual state. In the past, she was hostile to Patrick because he was Felicia''s boyfriend. However, she now treated him as her friend. To her, he was a very special friend. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I must thank you forst night. In the future, I will make you dinner every night and tidy up your room based on your meeting schedule.¡± Lately, she had been slipping away sneakily or deliberately avoiding him. That was because she did not quite want to admit that he was the reason why she got into debtst time. Now, she was willing to splurge on him. Patrick raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°No problem. Just treat me nicer next time.¡± After massaging for a while, she withdrew her hands. Somehow, Patrick actually felt reluctant for her to stop, as it was veryfortable when her soft hands pressed on his head. Gwendolyn opened the lunchboxes andid out the dishes. ¡°Let''s eat, Mr. Lowen!¡± She nced at the time. It was already forty-five minutes past noon. Usually, she would arrange for his lunch to be at twelve-thirty. Nheless, beingte by fifteen minutes today did not really matter. Patrick had a poor appetite due to his irregr mealtimes. He would skip meals when he got swamped. Furthermore, he needed to drink ck coffee every day. As such, she would always add some milk to his coffee. Patrick got up and sat on the couch. Gwendolyn sat on the carpet in front of him. This was her usual favorite sitting spot. ¡°Mr. Lowen, what do you think of these dishes?¡± Patrick looked at the dishes on the table. There were three meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a soup. This was one of the most generous she had been when she treated him. A slight smile lit up his face. ¡°Gwendolyn, thank you for the expensive treat.¡± These were the top dishes at tinum te, so they were more expensive. Gwendolyn bit on her fork and smiled. ¡°As long as you like it, Mr. Lowen!¡± Both of them thus sat across each other and dug in. asionally, Gwendolyn would help Patrick put some food into his lunchbox before lowering her head to continue eating. Looking at the food in his lunchbox, Patrick put it into his mouth and indulged in its taste. He found that eating with her really improved his appetite. After the meal, he lit up a cigarette. He slowly took a puff while fixing his gaze on her. She was still taking small bites. Suddenly, at that moment, his office door was pushed open, and Felicia walked in. As she was walking more hurriedly, her high heels made a loud clicking sound when they hit the floor. Both of them looked up at her, with Gwendolyn turning her head. Felicia''s face changed when she saw Gwendolyn. Standing in front of Patrick, she said, ¡°Patrick, I want to talk to you.¡± She was deeply affected by the incidentst night and had been waiting for him. However, he did not look for her, so she decided to find him on her own. ¡°Gwendolyn, please leave.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn got up abruptly. It was not because she was willing to obey Felicia''smand but because she knew Patrick and Felicia needed to talk. The canction of the engagement ceremony between them, with the Lowen family and the Ashton family present, had gotten onto headlines in today''s entertainment news. This incident had be a big sensation and stirred up muchmotion. While Lowen Group was rtively unscathed from this, Ashton Corporation suffered a huge drop in its market shares, and thetter''s financial situation looked grim. Gwendolyn packed up the lunchboxes and walked straight out of the office. With the two of them left alone in the office, Felicia pursed her lips, sat next to Patrick, and wrapped her hands around his arm. ¡°Patrick, why did you cancel the engagementst night? Didn''t we sign the prenuptial agreement? I will be obedient and not tell anyone!¡± She did note to demand an exnation. Instead, she came to assure him to continue keeping her as his girlfriend and carrying on with the engagement. Patrick was rather taken aback. ¡°Your family must have med you after the engagement was canceled. Don''t you hate me?¡± Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Felicia immediately shook her head. ¡°Why would I? I know this is just a contract, and I will get the extra allowance from our deal to buy more bags.¡± She suddenly came to realize that a man like Patrick would only ask her to pretend to be his girlfriend because he needed to deceive his family members. Knowing he was not a man ofmitment, she figured she should make him think she was in this for money instead of attempting to win his heart. If he eliminated his ominous feeling toward her, he would likely let her continue to be his fake girlfriend. Being his girlfriend was enough for her to boast around. There would be plenty of benefits thate along with that title. Her family would also see her in a new light. Patrick smiled faintly at her and took out a check before writing ten million on it. Then, he asked, ¡°Is this enough?¡± Felicia took over the check and pretended to be ecstatic. ¡°Yes, it is. Thanks!¡± In fact, money was not that important to her. The Ashton family was not short of cash either. However, she had to make it seem like she was short of money, which was why she acted so excited in front of him. After saying that, she got up and was about to leave, but she was suddenly reminded of something else. ¡°Patrick, will we still get to work together in the future?¡± Patrick stared at Felicia. Although Gwendolyn did not like her, Felicia was still kind of useful to him right now. After all, Hector was not in excellent health, and Patrick needed Felicia to help himplete this act. ¡°Of course. The contract is a year, and I''m yet to terminate the contract.¡± He could not agree to proceed with an engagement with her, but he could still let her be his fake girlfriend to deceive Hector. Felicia smiled. ¡°All right. Patrick, I look forward to working with you!¡± She waved at him and added, ¡°I have to go now. There''s a new baging in today, and I have to get it.¡± She hurriedly left the office, making it seem like she was rushing to get her hands on the new bag. As Patrick watched her leave, his expression suddenly turned cold. He took his phone and texted someone: Keep an eye on Felicia and tell me where she is going. Arriving downstairs, Felicia got out of the elevator and saw two elegant-lookingdies seated on the couch. They were wearing the trendiest coats of the season. Both were scrolling through Twitter on their phones, and they only raised their heads when they heard Felicia''s high heels clicking on the floor. ¡°Fel, did he give you an exnation?¡± Felicia waved the check to them and said, ¡°Patrick told me he doesn''t feel like being tied down by marriage, but he did tell me his love for me is genuine. So he gave me this ten million check to make it up to me.¡± Adeline took over the check and saw Patrick''s signature on it. Denise also took over the check and eximed, ¡°Wow! It must feel amazing to have such a great boyfriend! This is ten million! I wish I could find someone like him.¡± Felicia snatched over the check and stuffed it inside her purse. ¡°He is mine, so the both of you can dream about having him as your boyfriend.¡± She smiled smugly at the two women who were waiting to see her make a fool of herself, yet reality pped them hard across their faces. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. With these two gossipydies finding out about this, Felicia knew the news would soon spread throughout the socialites'' circle in Avenport. None of the socialites would dare act against her, and they would get even more envious of her. ¡°Let''s go. I want to get myself a new bag.¡± She walked toward the exit while swaying her hips. Last night was humiliating for her, but she swore she would use her own methods to make Patrick trust her. Gaining his trust would give her ess to get closer to him. She believed there would be one day when she would sessfully conquer his heart. Gwendolyn took a cup of coffee and served it to his office. ¡°Mr. Lowen, did you two have a fight?¡± She knew Felicia too well to know thetter must be infuriated byst night''s incident. Since Felicia was in his office earlier, she guessed they must have fought. Patrick narrowed his eyes at her, scrutinizing her with a probing gaze. ¡°Do you wish to see us fight?¡± Of course, Gwendolyn would hope to see them fight. It would be even better if they fought so much that they broke up and cut all ties with each other. However, she knew she could not be that honest, so she said, ¡°No. I''m just curious.¡± Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Patrick got a little upset when he saw her looking unbothered. If she were to tell him that she did not want to see him being together with Felicia, he would do everything he could to make Felicia disappear without a trace. However, she said nothing at all. Patrick took a sip of the coffee and looked at the time. ¡°I have to go on the field. You may leave now.¡± Gwendolyn watched him get up and walk to his desk with an indifferent expression. He took a file and went to the clothes hanger to get his coat. After draping the coat around his arm, he left the office. Not used to him acting so frosty around her, Gwendolyn pouted a little. She was almost sure he was in a bad mood because he had had a fight with Felicia earlier. Looking at the time, Gwendolyn suddenly widened her eyes. ¡°Oh my! I''m going to bete!¡± She had a ss that day, an extra ss personally tutored by Tiffany because thetter had high hopes for her and wanted to spend more time coaching her. Gwendolyn sped off in her car to the school. After getting inside the ssroom, Tiffany was already making a sample dress there. ¡°Tiffany, I''m sorry for beingte.¡± She stood behind Tiffany with an apologetic look. Tiffany turned around and smiled at her. ¡°I arrived here slightly earlier than you. Your task today is to broaden your imagination and create a series using the lotus flower as the main theme.¡± Gwendolyn had self-learned fashion design before, so she knew the basics. Tiffany did not guide her through the theories, but she focused more on sharpening Gwendolyn''s design skills. Unlike design sses in college, Tiffany taught her the fundamental skills that woulde in handy in the industry. Gwendolyn quickly got seated and flipped open her sketchbook. She had her drawing pen between her teeth as she started gathering inspiration for her design. Two hours passed by in the blink of an eye. Gwendolyn had done designing three sets of outfits, and Tiffany''s eyes lit up when she saw the designs. ¡°Gwen, your designs are not bad. I can give you a week to finalize the designs so your series can join my new productunch three monthster.¡± Gwendolyn had never dreamt of getting such a great opportunity. ¡°Tiffany, are you serious about that? Can I do that?¡± Although passionate about this aspect, Gwendolyn had long lost her confidence, and it was not easy for her to be confident in herself again. Tiffany looked at the three sets of dresses in Gwendolyn''s design. Although the long and short dresses looked simr, they still stood out in their unique ways. Moreover, Gwendolyn also designed an extra set of pants. The lotus design added a feminine look to the pants. She was really a hidden talent. She''s certainly my daughter for her to inherit my gifted talents in fashion design. ¡°Trust me. You''re more than capable of doing this,¡± said Tiffany. After looking at her design, Tiffany added a couple more strokes, and the designs immediately looked vivid. She continued pointing out several key points to Gwendolyn, and thetter slowly got the hang of it, knowing how to improve and modify her designs. In the end, Tiffany returned the sketchbook to her and said, ¡°That''s all for today. I''ve highlighted several details for you to take note of. Also, take these books with you and read them thoroughly. I expect to see your designs after a week.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°All right. Thank you, Tiffany.¡± Tiffany was a busy woman, and it was a rare opportunity for her to take some time off to tutor Gwendolyn. Thus, Tiffany left as soon as the ss was over. After her mentor had left, Gwendolyn remained in the ssroom. Staring at the design sample Tiffany hadpleted earlier, Gwendolyn figured this dress might be included in Tiffany''s new product series for the following fashion season. Gwendolyn propped her chin and was in awe of the beautiful design. She could not help but wonder when she would get to hold her own fashion show. Suddenly, her phone rang. She answered the call. ¡°Luce.¡± It was Lucy. Gwendolyn had transferred the money to her ount earlier that day, and Lucy probably had just received the notification after waking up.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Gwen, what happened? Shouldn''t we return half a million to them?¡± Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°I thought so too, but they refused to ept the money and even told me to stop going to their office. What can I do?¡± Hearing this, Lucy heaved a sigh of relief, thinking they might have gotten their good luck from Patrick. ¡°Gwen, are you free now? Do you want to grab a meal together?¡± Chapter 237 Chapter 237 The two agreed to meet at a private restaurant near the hospital. Gwendolyn finished her sses at around four o''clock in the afternoon. When she arrived at the restaurant, it was already almost six in the evening. Hence, she could have her dinner there. Lucy was not too far away from the restaurant, so she was the one who arrived first. When Gwendolyn walked into the private room, she saw Lucy drinking some alcohol. Hence, she tugged Lucy''s arm as she sat beside thetter. ¡°Don''t drink too much.¡± Lucy broke into a smile as soon as she saw her. It was then a trace of vitality finally appeared on her attractive face. ¡°Gwen, I''ll ask them to serve the food now. Can you apany me for some drinks?¡± Gwendolyn knitted her brows. ¡°What happened?¡± After all, she had a low alcohol tolerance. Moreover, Lucy was not someone who enjoyed drinking as she had been selling wines in nightclubs. Hence, she should feel nothing but disgust toward alcohol. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I''m delighted. Mnie can finally proceed with her surgery next Friday.¡± Lucy hugged Gwendolyn as she said that. ¡°Gwen, finally, this day hase. There''s hope for Mnie and me now.¡± Mnie had been staying in the hospital for two years, and because of that, Lucy had spent everything. Gwendolyn''s eyes lit up. ¡°They''ve found her the bone marrow? That''s great! We have to celebrate.¡± Patting Lucy''s shoulder, she added, ¡°I''ll have some drinks with you today.¡± Just then, the waiter came in to serve the food. Gwendolyn poured herself a ss of alcohol before filling Lucy''s ss. ¡°Luce, things will get better for Mnie and you.¡± As long as they could leave the hospital, everything would definitely get better. Gwendolyn recalled how rough things were for Lucy over the past two years. She had to take care of Mnie in the hospital in the morning, and she needed to work at Night City at night. She had spent almost all her time in the hospital as if she was a resident there. A bright smile bloomed on Lucy''s face. She raised her hand and clinked her ss with Gwendolyn''s. ¡°We''ll all be better.¡± Lucy had finished a few sses of alcohol before Gwendolyn arrived at the restaurant. They then enjoyed their food and alcohol while ying some drinking games together. Not long after, Lucy was a little drunk. Hence, she told Gwendolyn about something that had been troubling her recently. ¡°Gwen, you know Lucas, don''t you?¡± For some reason, Gwendolyn felt the white wine tasted nice too. The more she drank, the more enjoyable she felt. Holding her ss, she nodded vigorously at Lucy. ¡°Of course, I know him! Mr. Gomez is Patrick''s childhood friend.¡± Lucy sent another spoonful of food into her mouth. Biting her food angrily, she said, ¡°He''s such a badass in bed! He''s always asking me to try a lot of embarrassing positions! I...¡± She then covered her face and continued, ¡°Gwen, I was once married, and I''ve given birth to a daughter. However, I have no experience in that area.¡± Gwendolyn widened her eyes. ¡°What? Did Lucas bully you?¡± That was the only thing she understood. As for the ¡°positions¡± Lucy mentioned, she did not quite get what thetter meant. Lucy nodded. ¡°Yes. He bullied me! He''s a bad man.¡± She thought of how Lucas bullied her by forcing her to sleep with him every night for over half a month. Fortunately, there were only a few days left. As long as Mnie finished her surgery, Lucy would have nothing to do with Lucas anymore. At that thought, Lucy let out a sigh of relief. I''ve finally made it through. Upon hearing what Lucy said, Gwendolyn could no longer hold back her anger. She took out her phone and called Lucas without hesitation. ¡°Hello?¡± Lucas'' cold yet maic voice sounded from the other end of the line. ¡°Lucas, you b*stard! Why did you bully Lucy? Come out and challenge me one-on-one now!¡± Lucy broke intoughter. After drinking another ss of alcohol, she poked Gwendolyn''s head. ¡°Silly girl. He''s a soldier, and he''s good at fighting! There''s no way you''ll beat him. You''ll even get yourself injured for nothing.¡± Gwendolyn could not care less about that. She continued shouting through the phone, ¡°Lucas,e to Moore Restaurant now! I''ll be waiting for you here. If you don''te, I''ll go to your ce!¡± After hanging up the call, she continued cursing, ¡°That d*mned man! How dare he bullies my Luce. I''ll beat him to death.¡± Lucas was perplexed as he did not know why he got scolded out of the blue. However, he could tell from the call that Gwendolyn and Lucy were drunk. Chapter 238 Chapter 238 The two then continued drinking. Gwendolyn propped her chin and looked at Lucy. ¡°Luce, do you think he''ll dare toe?¡± There was no way she would swallow her anger. At that point, she could only feel better after beating Lucas up. Lucy shook her head. ¡°No. I guess he won''t!¡± Truthfully, she did not understand Lucas well. After all, the only thing they did was being intimate with each other every time they met. They seldom had any conversations. What kind of a person is he? I don''t know a single thing about him. Gwendolynughed. ¡°That''s great. What if I can''t defeat himter?¡± With that, the twoughed out loud. Lucy caressed Gwendolyn''s face, saying, ¡°Gwen, you''re so cute!¡± Gwendolyn was exceptionally adorable after she was drunk because she would bber everything in her mind. Around thirty minutester, two tall and slender figures entered the private room and walked to the side of each woman. Patrick bent down and called out at Gwendolyn, ¡°Gwendolyn, who told you to drink?¡± This woman will go unbelievably crazy as long as she drinks. After all, Patrick had experienced that before. He almost slept with her just because she was drunk. Since then, he realized that it was dangerous for her to get drunk. Gwendolyn widened her eyes to look at his handsome face that was so close to her. Chuckling, she reached out a hand to touch it. ¡°You''re so handsome! I wonder why you look a little familiar.¡± Patrick''s face darkened in an instant. ¡°You don''t recognize me anymore?¡± Suddenly, a woman''s shriek sounded from the side. ¡°Lucas, why are you here?¡± Lucy shifted her body toward Gwendolyn. She was utterly terrified as she thought of how domineering Lucas was in bed. As soon as Gwendolyn heard the name ¡°Lucas,¡± she stood up abruptly to shield Lucy. ¡°You''re finally here. Come on! Let''s fight!¡± Lucas furrowed his brows and looked at Patrick, who stood behind Gwendolyn, to ask for his help. Unfortunately, Patrick did not say anything. He stood still and watched them silently because he was dissatisfied with the fact that Gwendolyn had forgotten him. Clenching both of her fists, Gwendolyn got herself ready for the battle. ¡°Come on! I''m not afraid of you. How dare you ask Luce to try different positions with you in bed! Do you think you can bully any woman like that?¡± As soon as she said that, Lucas widened his eyes in shock. Patrick''s face instantly reddened. What Gwendolyn said was too embarrassing that he found it hard to listen to it anymore. shing a smile, he asked, ¡°Luke, what''s going on between you and Ms. Baker?¡± Lucas could not help butugh. ¡°Yes. I''ve slept with her multiple times before.¡± Patrick felt that his ego as a man was hurt. After all, he met Gwendolyn before Lucas met Lucy. Unexpectedly, Lucas managed to sleep with Lucy before he could even intimate with Gwendolyn. In an instant, a wave of jealousy washed over Patrick. He dragged Gwendolyn to his side and walked away with his arm around her. Gwendolyn did not want to leave. Struggling, she stretched her arms toward Lucy. ¡°Lucas,e and fight me one-on-one now! I''ll show you some colors so you won''t have the audacity to bully Luce in the future. No one can bully her as long as I''m with her!¡± Her sentences were choppy. However, they could understand what she said. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Lucas noticed that Patrick had stopped Gwendolyn. Hence, he assumed that he should be safe now. Otherwise, he would end up getting punched that night. Patrick shoved Gwendolyn into the car before getting inside as well. Then, he said to the driver coldly, ¡°Let''s go back.¡± Gwendolyn identally knocked her head when Patrick pushed her into the car. It was so painful that she started wailing. ¡°It hurts!¡± Patrick frowned as he pulled her into his embrace. Blowing her forehead gently, he asked, ¡°It doesn''t hurt anymore, right?¡± He felt like he was coaxing a kid. However, he enjoyed doing so. Gwendolyn broke into a smile upon feeling his warmth. ¡°Yes. As long as you shower it with love, it''ll stop hurting.¡± That was what she used to tell Juliette. Hence, she thought the same too. Patrick wrapped his arms around her. He was a little tired at that moment as he had stayed uptest night. Moreover, he did not sleep well as he had to take his rest on the small couch that night. Soon, he started feeling sleepy with Gwendolyn in his arms. Lying against his chest, Gwendolyn yed with the diamond buttons on his shirt with her dainty hands. Her big, bright eyes flickered as she whispered, ¡°Juliette, I''ve found some diamonds! I''ll bring back some for you. You''ll surely love them!¡± Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Patrick nced down, noticing that she was taking off his buttons one by one. He grabbed her wrist and uttered in a low voice, ¡°Gwendolyn, do you know what these are?¡± She lifted her head, but everything in front of her was fuzzy. Concurrently, she could feel the world spinning around her. She fixed her attention on the diamond buttons, and all she could see were only those shiny objects. ¡°Wow! Diamonds! There are diamonds growing on this wall! How shiny!¡± Patrick''s expression grew increasingly darker. What the hell? This woman is such an idiot when she gets tipsy. ¡°I''m warning you, Gwendolyn. Stop ripping off these buttons. Or else, I won''t let you off.¡± As he said that, Patrick smiled mischievously. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was not a tad bit bothered by what the man said. She could feel the greed growing inside her, as she wanted nothing but to pick those diamonds for her daughter. Just then, Patrick''s phone rang. He grabbed it and answered the call. ¡°Yes?¡± It was Lucas on the phone. ¡°Pat, I''m amazing, am I not? Look, I''ve sessfully conquered Lucy! How about you? When are you going to get Gwen?¡± As he chuckled on the phone, there was a hint of mockery in his voice. Patrick''s expression changed slightly. He said coldly, ¡°Are you underestimating me? I couldn''t bear to do something to her. You should be careful. They merely want your bone marrow. Don''t lose your bone marrow and your job because of some fun!¡± With that said, he let out a scoff and said, ¡°Bye, I''m hanging up.¡± After answering the call from Patrick, Lucas looked at the woman in his embrace and suddenly realized something. Her intention to sleep with me is to get my bone marrow for her daughter! If everything goes as nned, they will be extracting my bone marrow next Friday. As that thought crossed his mind, he pushed her away from his arms. ¡°D*mn, I don''t want to lose my job!¡± Meanwhile, Patrick put his phone back in his pocket and chuckled. Luke wanted to show off, but I guess he wouldn''t have any mood to do anything tonight! I feel great now! On the other hand, Gwendolyn was ripping off the buttons from his shirts and collecting them in her hand. She let out a chuckle uncontrobly each time she looked at those buttons. ¡°Haha! There are so many diamonds!¡± Seeing her greedy side, Patrick found her adorable. With that, he lowered his head to give her a peck on her cheek. However, Gwendolyn was clueless and giggled like a fool at the buttons in her grasp. Patrick looked at her, feeling amused. Well, I guess it''s true that all women love shiny objects. He then pulled the ne on her neck lightly and asked, ¡°Is this not enough for you?¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ncing down, she nodded her head vigorously. ¡°I want more.¡± Patrick raised an eyebrow and replied, ¡°I''ll give you more tomorrow. But first, you have to be a good girl and satisfy me tonight. All right?¡± Meanwhile, Larry, who was driving, overheard their conversation. Upon hearing those words, the man blushed immediately. Overwhelmed with shyness, Larry did not notice the car in front and crashed into it. As Patrick held Gwendolyn in his arms, the force caused them to lunge forward to the front seat. Consequently, both of them hit their heads. Gwendolyn whimpered in pain and lost all the buttons in her hand. ¡°Ouch!¡± Instinctively, she rubbed her forehead. ¡°What happened?¡± Patrick scrunched his brows in confusion. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I-I- just hit a car,¡± Larry stammered in panic. Patrick then rubbed Gwendolyn''s forehead and coaxed her, ¡°Don''t worry. It won''t be that painful soon.¡± Hearing that, she stopped throwing tantrums and leaned against his chest obediently. Just then, there was a knock on the car window. Standing outside the car was Zayden. ¡°Mr. Lowen, what a coincidence! Our cars collided on the road!¡± As he said that, Zayden took a look at Gwendolyn and called out to her, ¡°Justin and Julian asked me to get you home, Gwen.¡± Hearing the familiar voice bringing up her sons'' names, she immediately straightened herself. ¡°I''m here, Zayden. Send me home.¡± As she said that, it seemed like she suddenly regained her senses. She stayed still, waiting for Zayden to pick her up while blinking her huge eyes. Chapter 240 Chapter 240 She hugged her knees tightly to her chest, looking like an obedient girl. From the surface, one could not possibly tell that Gwendolyn was, in fact, already drunk. Hearing Gwendolyn''s voice, Zayden knocked on the car window and voiced, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''m here to pick Gwen up. Can you please open the door for me?¡± However, Patrick was displeased. He locked the car door, and Zayden could not open the door from the outside. Gwendolyn turned sideways and took a nce. ¡°Zayden, I''m here. Zayden! Are youing to get me up yet?¡± There was a hint of frustration in her voice. As a matter of fact, Zayden would always send her home when she got drunk. Hence, she felt safe hearing his voice. Patrick uttered aloofly, ¡°Start the car.¡± Larry wanted to get down from the car to resolve the ident but had a change of mind upon witnessing everything. Hearing Patrick''s instructions, he had no choice but to start the car ording to his employer''s command. The moment Larry drove away, Gwendolyn''s phone rang. She threw everything out of her bag, grabbed her phone, and picked up the call. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Gwen, ask Patrick to stop the car.¡± Zayden sounded frosty when he said that. Later, he added, ¡°Justin and Julian asked me to pick you up. They''re waiting for you at home.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn started to get a little impatient. ¡°Stop the car.¡± Larry mmed his foot on the brake immediately. Gwendolyn swiftly pushed open the car door, and Zayden rushed up to get her out of the car. ¡°Gwen, did he bully you?¡± Shaking her head, Gwendolyn waved at the car and voiced, ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Lowen!¡± Patrick merely watched her walk away with his brows furrowed, feeling utterly upset. She knows who I am. Why is she walking away with another man? Noticing the darkened expression on Patrick''s face, Larry dared not to say a word and decided to stay still. ¡°Drive.¡± Larry could feel his heart racing upon hearing his coldmand. Without hesitation, he revved up the engine and left the ce. ¡°Wrong direction. Follow Zayden''s car.¡± His words left Larry slightly taken aback, as thetter assumed that Patrick was mad and preferred to go home instead. Never had he thought that his employer wanted to tailgate Zayden. Obediently, he made a U-turn and followed Zayden''s car closely behind. Inside Zayden''s car, Gwendolyn sank back into the passenger''s seat, feeling sleepy, but she found it difficult to fall asleep. ¡°Zayden, are we reaching home yet?¡± The man turned around to look at her. His eyes instantaneously dimmed with anguish. She would have been taken away by Patrick if I didn''t make it in time just now. I can''t imagine what would happen to her tonight if I didn''t appear. ¡°Gwen, Patrick isn''t a good guy. It''s best for you to keep a distance from him. Do you want to consider working at Surrington Corporation? The pay there will be higher than what he offered you.¡± In fact, Gwendolyn would have gone to Surrington Corporation long ago if she wished to rely on Zayden. Nevertheless, she had never thought of going to Surrington Corporation. She merely felt thankful to Zayden for saving her and her children''s lives a few years back. To avoid conflict between Zayden and Angeline, Gwendolyn had chosen to keep a distance from Zayden, no matter how hard it was for her. The moment the car stopped, Gwendolyn could feel her stomach rumble ufortably. Zayden hugged her in his arms, nning to carry her down. It was at that moment Gwendolyn suddenly felt an urge to puke. The next second, she started to gag on his chest. After throwing everything up, Gwendolyn felt better in an instant. Meanwhile, Zayden''s features darkened like coal. Seeing that, the driver in the front seat was stunned. ¡°Mr. Surrington,¡± he uttered. Zayden raised his hand, gesturing him to stay silent. He then took a serviette and handed it over to Gwendolyn. Grabbing it over, she wiped her mouth and muttered, ¡°I''m sorry, Zayden. I couldn''t control myself. Don''t get too close to me the next time when I''m drunk.¡± Gwendolyn had drunk too much that night. She tried to stay conscious a while ago but ended up vomiting instead. She felt so much better after throwing up, nheless. Her vision was no longer blurry. The next instant, she cast a nce on Zayden''s exorbitant shirt. She could not bring herself to look at it. As she took another look, a feeling of nausea came over her again. Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Gwendolyn pushed the car door open, got down from the car, and vomited by the roadside. Patrick, who was in the car behind Zayden, frowned as he observed her difort. Why did he let her out of the car in the freezing wind? I''d be surprised if she didn''t vomit. His breath became slightly heavy and tinged with rage. At that point, Zayden''s driver got out of the car and helped her into the house, while Zayden sat in the car for the entire time without getting out. When Patrick saw Gwendolyn arriving home safely, he said indifferently, ¡°Go home.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes. Suddenly, he realized why Zayden had failed to court Gwendolyn even after she had been by his side for five years. Zayden was an absolute gentleman. He did not pull any tricks, even when facing the girl he liked. Patrick curled his lips upward slightly. Luckily, I''m someone who will use some techniques, which led to the opportunity to meet Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn was shaken awake by her three children the next morning and was in a daze seeing them in front of her when she opened her eyes. ¡°What time is it?¡± Justin answered calmly, ¡°Eight o''clock.¡± Gwendolyn screamed, ¡°Ahh! It''s already sote.¡± She jumped down from the bed and dashed to the bathroom quickly. Juliette chuckled. ¡°Mommy has not changed the slightest. She still likes to sleep in.¡± Julian shrugged. ¡°Our mommy is so cute.¡± Justin cast a nce at his watch. ¡°It''s time for us to go to school. Otherwise, we will certainly bete.¡± As long as they managed to wake Gwendolyn, she would be able to arrive at the office on time. So, they headed out to school and left her to manage the rest of the situation. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn quickly freshened up. She did not showerst night as she had drunk too much. That day, again, she had no time to wash her hair. She tied her hair up to look presentable when meeting people. Initially, Gwendolyn wanted to drive the car to thepany. However, when she considered the chances that the road would be very jam, she decided to travel using the subway. She jogged to the station and managed to tag in to work before the time was one minute past nine. Standing in front of the tagging machine, she panted heavily. ¡°Luckily, I''m notte.¡± Liam smiled when he saw Gwendolyn as he was bringing the breakfast in. ¡°Ms. Ashton, are youte again?¡± Gwendolyn straightened her back immediately when she saw him. ¡°Mr. Derner, I was only almostte.¡± She extended her hand when she saw his hands full. ¡°Did you get breakfast for Mr. Lowen? Let me help you a little.¡± Liam dared let her carry as she was the woman Patrick cared for the most. He would not let her help him even if someone gave him the guts. He put on a faint smile and said, ¡°That''s all right. I can manage this. Please hold the elevator for me.¡± Both of them used the CEO''s private elevator to get to the CEO''s office and entered it. Patrick was already busy with work. He was picking up calls while signing some documents. Gwendolyn stuck her tongue out secretly. She felt fortunate to enter the room with Liam. Otherwise, her instinct was that he would reprimand her. She walked to the couch area and helped Liam ce the breakfast. What she found out was the breakfast was a portion for two. Moreover, the table was set for two people to have breakfast together. Blinking her big round eyes, she wanted to ask Liam who would be eating breakfast with Patrick, but he had already gone out of the office. Patrick sat on the couch, lifted the cup of coffee to his mouth, and took a sip. Gwendolyn had a ss of soymilk ced in front of her. At that moment, Patrick raised his eyes and looked at her. ¡°Aren''t you hungry?¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes lit up, and she smiled. ¡°Mr. Lowen, is one set for me?¡± Patrick had started eating his breakfast. There was a bowl of oatmeal porridge, bagels, and a few sides. They were from a famous breakfast restaurant nearby. ¡°I know you will not have time to eat breakfast in the morning. So, I ordered one set extra for you.¡± Gwendolyn dly epted the offer as she drank too muchst night and seemed to have vomited everything out. On the way to work earlier, her stomach had even started rumbling. Chapter 242 Chapter 242 When they were both having their breakfasts, Alice arrived and saw the scene of the two of them sitting opposite each other, eating. She smiled and asked, ¡°Are you only having breakfast now?¡± Gwendolyn stood up immediately and walked toward Alice when she heard her voice. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, you''re here.¡± She held her arms and invited her to the couch. When Gwendolyn was about to pour some tea for Alice, thetter pointed to her seat and urged, ¡°Gwen, go and eat. You don''t have to care about me.¡± Only then did Gwendolyn sit back at her spot and eat small mouthfuls of her oatmeal porridge. After that, she drank some of her soy milk. Immediately, she feltfort in her stomach. Alice cast a nce at Patrick, and a smile shed across her eyes. ¡°Pat, I want to go shopping today. Can you let Gwen apany me and consider this as part of the job?¡± Patrick ced his cutleries down as he had already finished eating. He lifted his coffee for a sip and knitted his dark brows slightly. ¡°Grandma, what about getting Felicia to apany you?¡± Gwendolyn is here to apany me. I''m already used to her being around me. I may not get used to it if she''s not with me today. Alice took a look at Gwendolyn. This boy. Hasn''t he decided to be with Gwendolyn? Why did he mention Felicia? She raised her hand to help him tidy his necktie. ¡°I insist on having Gwen apany me. What''s the matter? Are you reluctant?¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn waved her hands. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, please don''t misunderstand. Mr. Lowen pays me very high wages. I need to work hard.¡± For some reason, Gwendolyn herself could notprehend, but she had a special feeling toward Patrick since he went to save her and Juliette. Whenever anyone put him in a tight spot, she would want to help him and did not want others to misunderstand him. ¡°Pat, no matter what, you need to lend her to me today.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, she went to pull Gwendolyn''s hand. ¡°Gwen, let''s go. There''s a socialite gathering today. Let''s go have some fun.¡± Alice dragged Gwendolyn and left. Looking at their retreating figures, Patrick smiled slightly. He knew that Alice had acknowledged Gwendolyn as her granddaughter-inw by bringing her to the socialite gathering and guiding her to blend into the upper-ss society. Patrick did not object to that. Although he wanted to im her for himself, his higher hope was for Hector and Alice to acknowledge her. Right then, Alice had already epted her. He could only wait for Hector to get better and get his approval. Gwendolyn left Lowen Group with Alice, and they went to a designpany together. It was an image and fashion designpany. Alice wanted a new hairstyle. She said to the person beside her, ¡°Help thisdy design a different hairstyle. Get her a set of clothes and make-up for her too.¡± Standing at the side, the manager replied respectfully, ¡°Sure, Old Mrs. Lowen. Thisdy is very beautiful. We will make her look even more stunning.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn was led away by them. Then, she had a hairdo, make-up, and a new set of clothes. She was so sleepy that she fell asleep until the manager woke her up. ¡°Miss, wake up. Everything is ready.¡± She raised her head, sucked back her saliva, and opened her big, hazy eyes. When she saw the person in the mirror, she almost screamed out loud. Her eyes widened. Even the shopkeeper and fashion designers were discussing silently among themselves. ¡°She''s gorgeous!¡± ¡°This hairstyle and make up matches her so well.¡± ¡°What a beauty!¡± Gwendolyn could not believe that the person with wavy hair, charming eyes, and innocent yet sexydy was her. Alice was done with her hairdo. She was then wearing a dark red ssic gown and looked sophisticated. She smiled when she saw Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, both of us are going to steal the limelight today.¡± Alice was full of smiles as she went to grip Gwendolyn''s hands. ¡°Come on; let''s head to the socialite gathering.¡± Chapter 243 Chapter 243 Gwendolyn wore a white dress that touched the floor. It matched the Starry Tears on her neck very well. She realized that no matter what outfit she wore, whether it was a simple dress or an elegant gown, the neplimented them very well. She now understood why it cost so much. It was worth every cent. Gwendolyn got into Alice''s car, and they made their way to a mansion on Corvin Street. The historic-looking mansions along the street were mostly resided by affluent families. The main door of the mansion was made of high-quality wood with gold trimmings. It looked massive and heavy, like a solid wall. When Alice''s car stopped at the entrance, the servants went out to open the car door. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, how do you do?¡± When they opened the door for Gwendolyn, whom they did not recognize, they greeted her respectfully, ¡°Greetings, miss.¡± Gwendolyn nodded slightly to acknowledge them. Alice walked up to her and held her hand. They walked toward the door with their arms linked. Upon entering thepound, they passed by a garden with a pond. There were several carp swimming merrily in the pond. When they entered the main hall where the tea party was held, Gwendolyn noticed that they had arrived at a greenhouse. The greenhouse was huge, and the temperature was controlled. Upon seeing the guests enter, the servants quickly went up to help them remove their coats. Both Gwendolyn and Alice then walked into the room in their gowns. The ce was decked out with all kinds of flowers. It was a beautiful sight, with the sweet floral scent permeating the room. Gwendolyn was enamored with the bright-colored flowers. There were roses in many different colors, even ck. Alice asked, ¡°Do you like flowers?¡± She noticed that Gwendolyn had kept her gaze on the flowers from the time they entered the greenhouse. Thetter smiled sheepishly. ¡°I''ve never seen so many flowers during winter. This is also the first time I''ve encountered a wide variety of them.¡± Alice was impressed by Gwendolyn''s honesty. If she were a pretentious person, she would have never admitted that she had not seen those flowers before. She developed a stronger liking for Gwendolyn and felt she was a really good girl. There was a long, white table in the middle of the greenhouse with all sorts of snacks, fruits, and flowers. Surrounding it were round tables where the socialites were seated. They were sipping tea and nibbling on flower petals, looking very poised and graceful. Gwendolyn had never eaten fresh flowers. Today''s event was a real eye-opener for her. When the socialites saw Alice, they stood up immediately and walked toward her. ¡°Hello, Old Mrs. Lowen.¡± Alice nodded and started making small talk with them. There were several elderlydies around the same age as Alice. Although their hair was all white, they still looked elegant and dignified in their beautiful evening gowns. They appeared to look younger than their actual age. Thedies looked at Gwendolyn. ¡°Who is thisdy?¡± They figured that since Alice had brought her to the party personally, she must be either Alice''s sessor or the future Mrs. Lowen. As all eyes were on Gwendolyn, Alice decided to make a formal introduction. ¡°This is Ms. Gwendolyn Ashton. She is Patrick''s girlfriend.¡± Everyone understood at once when Alice introduced Gwendolyn. She was indeed the future Mrs. Lowen. All the guests went up to greet her. ¡°Hello, Ms. Ashton. I''m Ms. Laberge.¡± ¡°Hello, Ms. Ashton. I''m Monique Castello. You can call me Monique.¡± Candace was sitting at a table furthest away from Gwendolyn and Alice. She had paid a lot of money to get her cousin to bring her to the tea party. She wanted to experience the tea party for herself so that she could brag to her friends. After all, not all the wealthy families in Avenport had a chance to attend such a grand event. Although the Ashton family was rich and powerful, they could not bepared to the elites in the city. Fortunately, her cousin was married to the second most prominent family in Avenport, the Surrington family. Otherwise, Candace would never have had the opportunity to attend the tea party. However, never in her wildest dreams would she expect Alice to bring Gwendolyn to the event. Chapter 244 Chapter 244 Displeased that Alice had also introduced Gwendolyn as Patrick''s girlfriend, she strode up to them. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, Mr. Lowen changed girlfriends really fast.¡± Candace rolled her eyes at Gwendolyn and gave her an arrogant sneer. ¡°He just got engaged to Felicia yesterday, and today he''s gotten a new girlfriend. Everyone here now knows what kind of person Patrick is. He''s a jerk.¡± Candace was full of spite as she narrowed her eyes. Gwendolyn was used to Candace''s sarcasm. She held on to Alice''s hand, trying to reassure her not to dwell too much on Candace''sments. Alice had mingled among the elites for many years. Although she was a kind-hearted person, she was never a coward. She would never allow herself to be bullied in any way. She looked at Gwendolyn and shook her head before turning to Candace. ¡°Mrs. Ashton, Hector and I aren''t aware of the engagement. Did we visit you at your house for the marriage proposal?¡± It was a contingency n by Patrick to get an old servant to apany him to ask for Felicia''s hand in marriage. None of his family members was present then. It only proved that they did not think much about the engagement. It was only a game to the Lowen family. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Shocked, Candace replied, ¡°Although you weren''t there, my friends and family were all present yesterday. The engagement party was a grand affair. We can see how important Fel is to Mr. Lowen.¡± She then turned to Gwendolyn. ¡°This woman is a homewrecker. She made Mr. Lowen call off the engagement on the day itself.¡± When the guests heard that, they stared at Gwendolyn in disbelief and started whispering among themselves. The men from prestigious families were rich and powerful, and most women would do anything to get close to them. Hence, the women of those families usually despised such pretty but scheming homewreckers. Now they seemed to be venting their frustrations on Gwendolyn. Candace was a very shrewd woman. She had sessfully turned everyone against Gwendolyn with just a few words. Alice nced sideways at Gwendolyn. Although she had brought Gwendolyn to the tea party to introduce her as the future Mrs. Lowen, she also wanted to see for herself how the youngdy would handle tricky situations as such. After all, she would have to attend more functions as such after marrying Patrick. She was not fit to be Mrs. Lowen if she was a pushover. Alice simply kept quiet. The elderlydies present were her close friends. They knew Alice was testing her future granddaughter-inw and naturally did not offer any help to Gwendolyn as well. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Mrs. Ashton, if I can make Mr. Lowen change his mind so easily, it only means that your daughter means very little to him.¡± Tucking her hair behind her ear to reveal her prominent corbone, she continued, ¡°Who are you calling a homewrecker? Are Mr. Lowen and your daughter married? Don''t use me of being a homewrecker when your daughter is the one who can''t wait to marry into the Lowen family. She might have let it go to her head since she has already regarded herself as Mrs. Lowen.¡± ¡°You...¡± Cold with fury, Candace was rendered speechless. She started to nce around the room. Just a while ago, all the guests were on her side. Now, they were covering their mouths with their hands. She could sense that they were sneering at her. She felt increasingly nervous. At that moment, Candace no longer cared about her manners or image. She was bent on ruining Gwendolyn''s reputation. She pointed an using finger at Gwendolyn. ¡°You''ve been messing around with men since you were a teenager. You even had three illegitimate children. How can you bepared to Fel?¡± Candace let out a chuckle. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, do you know that Gwendolyn already has three kids? Also, they are all fathered by different men. You''ve been fooled by her.¡± The female guests were stunned by the revtion. They could not believe that Gwendolyn had been messing around with men at such a young age. Furthermore, she had even given birth to three children. ¡°How could she be a mother of three?¡± Chapter 245 Chapter 245 ¡°You''re right! She doesn''t look like a mother at all.¡± ¡°Indeed, she''s so young and beautiful. Unbelievable.¡± Gwendolyn balled her fists as she listened to the remarks about her. She bit her lip gently. Her three children were God''s greatest gifts to her, so she would not allow Candace to defame her. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Soon, she rxed and did not mind the jeers from other people. Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow. ¡°Mrs. Ashton, Patrick likes me because I have three children. He found the children cute, and he noticed their mother was cute, too. So what if I''ve had kids? As long as Patrick loves me, there''s absolutely nothing you can do about it. He will still love me, regardless of what happens.¡± All of a sudden, everybody around her was stunned, speechless. Although she isn''t a good woman, how can we judge if Mr. Lowen loves her? If she bes his wife, we''re in no position to disrespect her. If Gwendolyn could show up at the socialite gathering, it meant she had already been epted by the Lowen family. On the contrary, nobody else had ever seen the other woman, who kept using Gwendolyn of stealing her fianc¨¦, at the socialite gathering. Therefore, she was not epted by the Lowen family. Alice smiled. ¡°Beautifully put. Our family values character. You''re kind and capable, and you managed to raise three children on your own. Pat has great taste. We look forward to weing you and your three children to the family.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, the hall erupted in apuse. Gwendolyn felt fantastic when she saw Candace''s sour expression. She was only there to apany Alice, and she was not dating Patrick. Still, it was a good idea to tell Candace off and pretend to be Patrick''s girlfriend. Alice asked, ¡°Who brought this Mrs. Ashton here? Has she paid the membership fee?¡± Diana mustered up her courage to raise her hand. ¡°I brought her here. She''s my cousin and has been begging me to bring her here to experience events like this. I''ve paid the membership fee.¡± As such, everybody knew that Candace had no right to show up at this event. Next, the attendees returned to their seats to enjoy some coffee and pastries. Gwendolyn sat down next to Alice. A barista was busy brewing coffee for the attendees. Alice pointed at a dish of pastries. ¡°This one is rather good. Help yourself, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn picked up a pastry and took a bite. It tasted of roses, and it was very refreshing. Moreover, it had just the right amount of sweetness. A number of socialites approached Gwendolyn to exchange business cards with her. She did not have her own business card, so she exchanged phone numbers with them instead. Gwendolyn believed that getting to know these socialites would be beneficial to her in the future. Once she hadpleted her fashion design course, she could open her own studio, and these people could be her customers. As she thought of that, Gwendolyn beamed with joy. She had gained a lot by attending the socialite gathering with Alice. Gwendolyn had consumed many cups of coffee and an assortment of pastries. She found this sort of gathering to be somewhat unique. The socialites told her the flower petals were great for their skin. Gwendolyn informed Alice, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, I''m going to the restroom. Excuse me.¡± Alice nodded and replied, ¡°Turn right after you exit the greenhouse, and you''ll see the restroom.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in response. ¡°Okay!¡± She got up and headed outside. When she passed by the forget-me-nots, Angeline was there and picking some flowers. She passed the flowers in her hands to her housekeeper when she saw Gwendolyn. ¡°Congrattions, Gwendolyn! You''ve finally cozied up to Patrick, and he''s even more outstanding than Zay!¡± she said. Most mothers believed that their own sons were the best. In fact, Angeline did not look down on her son when she made that remark. On the contrary, she merely hoped that Gwendolyn would cozy up to anyone but her son. Gwendolyn had always harbored a sense of gratitude toward the Surrington family, for Zayden had helped her and her children a lot. Thus, she was also grateful toward Zayden''s family. Chapter 246 Chapter 246 ¡°I''m sure you''re relieved now, Mrs. Surrington!¡± Gwendolyn replied. Back then, Angeline brought a check along when she met Gwendolyn, and she wanted thetter to leave her son. Gwendolyn refused the check, but she did whatever Angeline told her to. In spite of this, Angeline thought Gwendolyn was unwilling to follow her instructions and never believed her as thetter did not want the money. Since Gwendolyn and Alice had shown up here, Angeline should be at ease. Angeline lowered her head slightly. ¡°Naturally, I''m relieved now.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in return. Then, she headed for the doorway. As she passed by an area with ck roses, a girl in a red dress was smiling cheerily and instructing the housekeepers to water the flowers. ¡°Be careful. Don''t touch the petals.¡± ¡°All right, miss.¡± The girl held a stalk of ck rose near her nose and smelled it. She narrowed her eyes and murmured to herself, ¡°Smells good.¡± When Gwendolyn walked past the girl, she nodded at thetter as a form of acknowledgment. Suddenly, the girl called out, ¡°Please wait, Ms. Ashton.¡± Gwendolyn stopped in her tracks. ¡°How can I help you, miss?¡± Rosalie Chavez shook the stalk of ck rose in her hand gently. ¡°I am Rosalie Chavez, the youngest child of this family.¡± A sudden realization dawned on Gwendolyn. ¡°Hi, Ms. Chavez!¡± Rosalie Chavez? Could this be Kevin''s house? Kevin''s family was the only family in Avenport that had thisst name. Therefore, Gwendolyn was certain the girl was Kevin''s younger sister. She knew Kevin quite well, so she also behaved warmly toward his sister. Rosalie scanned Gwendolyn from head to toe while tilting her head. ¡°Are you currently Patrick''s girlfriend?¡± There was a hint of hostility in her gaze as she asked that question. Gwendolyn was no fool and sensed the hostility. However, she had already told a lie earlier. It was toote to cover it up at that moment. As such, she nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Rosalie''s expression changed. ¡°In that case, do you know what his favorite flower is?¡± Although Gwendolyn had known Patrick for several months and even worked as his personal secretary, she knew nothing about him apart from his coffee and dietary preferences. She shook her head. He''s a man. Does he even like flowers? Rosalie waved the ck rose before Gwendolyn''s eyes andughed heartily. ¡°As expected, you don''t know. It shows that he isn''t serious about you.¡± After that, she turned around happily and resumed ordering the housekeepers to water the flowers and remove the weeds. Gwendolyn did not fathom the meaning of their prior conversation. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. She eventually understood what was going on. The ck roses were most likely nted by Rosalie. Gwendolyn strode out of the greenhouse. She had just exited it when she overheard a conversation between a few housekeepers. ¡°Have you seen her? The youngdy brought by Old Mrs. Lowen is so beautiful. Apparently, she''s Mr. Lowen''s girlfriend.¡± ¡°I bet Ms. Chavez must be really upset.¡± ¡°Ms. Chavez has always liked Mr. Lowen ever since she was a child. Old Mrs. Chavez also intends to let her marry Mr. Lowen. Isn''t Old Mrs. Lowen a close friend of Old Mrs. Chavez? Why didn''t the two of them help the girl out?¡± ¡°Don''t worry your heads about it. Ms. Chavez is the only woman who''s fit to be with a man of Mr. Lowen''s stature. It doesn''t matter how many girlfriends he has. In the end, Ms. Chavez will definitely be the one who marries him.¡± Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows upon hearing those remarks. Apparently, there was already an arranged marriage involving Patrick. Felicia assumed she was the best woman for him. From the looks of it, it was hardly possible for her to marry into the Lowen family. Gwendolyn reflected on her own situation, too. Getting married to Patrick was simply out of the question! Although Gwendolyn did harbor romantic feelings for Patrick, she felt inferior and figured she would not get married in this lifetime. She only wanted to live a peaceful life with her three children. As she pondered over this matter, she decided to keep her feelings for Patrick a secret. Chapter 247 Chapter 247 Gwendolyn passed by the housekeepers, acting as if nothing had happened. They immediately greeted her in fright once they saw her. ¡°Ms. Ashton!¡± Gwendolyn nodded back in greeting with a smile. After that, she went to the bathroom, leaving the scared housekeepers. ¡°Did she hear what we said just now?¡± ¡°I''m sure she did!¡± ¡°Don''t be afraid. Even if she did, we just have to pretend we didn''t say anything. In any case, it''s a good thing that she heard it. She should know her ce.¡± By the time Gwendolyn returned to the greenhouse, the gathering was already ending, and everyone was taking photos at the moment. Alice beckoned her over while saying, ¡°Gwen,e here.¡± Alice stood at the center, and Gwendolyn went to her side, standing in the first row. Beside her were Linda and Rosalie. Candace was not even qualified to take pictures with them. She sat alone at the table while watching the otherdies happily take pictures. After the gathering was over, Gwendolyn left the venue with Alice. Rosalie and Linda apanied them to the door to send them off. Rosalie stood in front of Alice and said, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, is Patrick busytely? I have been back home for two weeks, but we haven''t seen each other yet.¡± She wanted to meet Patrick, but whenever she called his phone, it was always his assistant who answered. The assistant also said that he was very busy and that she needed to make an appointment in order to meet him. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Furious, she tried to ask Kevin for help, but he ignored her. Having run out of ideas, she asked her grandmother to host the gathering so that she could meet Alice and ask her to arrange something. She did not expect that Alice would bring Patrick''s girlfriend with her to the gathering, which angered her. Moreover, because of this, Linda could no longer mention anything about the marriage between her and Patrick. Alice nced at Gwendolyn at her side and smiled faintly. ¡°Pat has been busytely. Except for his girlfriend, he doesn''t even have the time to apany me. Try asking him again when he''s free.¡± Alice was polite in her rejection. She even helped her grandson with just a few sentences. Rosalie''s expression turned stiff for a moment. It never crossed her mind that Alice would refuse her directly. Since this was the case, she set her sight on Gwendolyn. It was evident that Gwendolyn was quite favored by Alice, and there was a big possibility that thetter even preferred Gwendolyn over Rosalie. She now knew that it would be hopeless to try her luck with Alice. Linda saw her granddaughter''s stiff expression and took over the conversation. ¡°Alice, this is a rosary I made just for you.¡± As she said that, her housekeeper handed over a small bag to Alice''s housekeeper. Alice then thanked her, ¡°Thank you.¡± Gwendolyn and Rosalie stood aside while the two older women chatted. Rosalie observed Gwendolyn''s facial features and felt somewhat awkward. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn took out her phone and nced at the time. It was already past three in the afternoon. Thinking that she could still go to thepany to do some work, she yed with her phone for a while. Rosalie approached her and nudged her shoulder. ¡°Ms. Ashton, does Patrick usually have time to apany you?¡± She thought that Patrick certainly would not spend much time with Gwendolyn. He might not even tell her what flower was his favorite. Since he definitely did not tell her about himself, that can only mean that she is not important to him. Gwendolyn shifted her sight from her phone to the young woman beside her. The young woman wore a long red dress with a white woolen shawl draped over her shoulders. She had a round face andrge eyes, making her look very adorable. Gwendolyn guessed that she must be quite young. ¡°He is very busy, so he doesn''t really have the time to apany me.¡± Besides, why must he apany me? I''m not really his girlfriend, and if we want to meet, we can meet every day at work. After working hours, we both have our own lives to live. Rosalie smiled and thought that things were as she guessed. ¡°You are older than me, right? I''ll call you Gwen from now on, so is that okay? Give me your WhatsApp contact number. We can go shopping together or go out for coffee when we''re free.¡± Meanwhile, Gwendolyn took out her phone and nced at the time. It was already past three in the afternoon. Chapter 248 Chapter 248 Gwendolyn gave Rosalie her phone for thetter to input the number while mentally rejoicing that she had gained another potential customer. After adding Gwendolyn''s phone number, Rosalie saved her contact with a remark that read: Patrick''s ything. Herrge eyes wandered as she sketched a n to get closer to Gwendolyn from then on. If she could have a good rtionship with Gwendolyn, then she would naturally meet Patrick sooner orter. After Alice and Linda finished chatting, the former called Gwendolyn, ¡°Let''s go, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn then bid farewell to Rosalie and Linda before getting inside Alice''s car and leaving Corvin Street. Inside the car, Alice held Gwendolyn''s hand and apologized, ¡°I''m sorry for making you go through all of that, Gwen. It''s not like I can''t help you, but I just hope that you can adapt to this kind of gathering since you will be attending more of them in the future.¡± Alice did not like this kind of gathering where thedies from rich and influential families gathered. However, she was a part of the Lowen family, so she had an obligation to attend such gatherings. Gwendolyn smiled and said, ¡°I am fine, Old Mrs. Lowen. Please don''t apologize.¡± Gwendolyn just felt that being able to watch Candace being isted and sitting at the farthest table was undeniably pleasant. Candace definitely did not have a good time that day. ¡°That''s good, then,¡± said Alice with a nod. She felt that the younger woman was very caring and sensible, so she was even more pleased with her. At her age, Alice was tired after having spent most of the day outside, so she had to go straight home to rest. She sent Gwendolyn to Lowen Group, and after the younger woman got out of the car, the driver drove back to the Lowen residence. Patrick was not there when Gwendolyn returned to the office. She put down her handbag, went to the pantry, and poured a ss of water for herself before taking a few sips. She found a quiet ce to make a call to Lucy. That morning was pretty hectic for her and she also had to follow Alice out after that, so she did not have the time to call her friend. The call was connected soon after. ¡°Hello?¡± When Gwendolyn heard Lucy''s voice, she thought that thetter had just woken up. ¡°Did I wake you up, Luce?¡± Lucy immediately sobered up when she heard Gwendolyn''s voice. She took a nce around the room and found that the ce was quite familiar. After all, she had been there more than ten times. ¡°Sorry, Gwen. I drank too muchst night, so I slept in.¡± As a matter of fact, that was not the truth. After being picked up by a certain manst night, she spent most of the night with him in bed. That man was energetic, and she could not keep up with him at all. She was so tired that she could not even get up. Lucas had sent someone to watch over Mnie at the hospital, so she slept at his ce with peace of mind. If it was not for Gwendolyn''s call, she did not know how long she was going to sleep. Gwendolyn was relieved after hearing her excuse. ¡°I''m just checking up on you because I''m worried. Lucas didn''t bully you after taking you awayst night, did he?¡± Lucy got up and put on her pajamas. Her throat was parched, so she went to the kitchen to pour herself a ss of water. When she walked into the kitchen, she saw a note on the table. The note read: Lucy, my team has a mission, so I have to go back. I''ll leave this condominium to you. There was a grant for the condominium underneath the note and a ck card. Lucy''s face turned pale, and she mumbled to herself, ¡°He ran away?¡± Gwendolyn just wanted to express her worries and also ask Lucy about something. Before she could do that, however, she heard Lucy mumbling. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What did you say? Who ran away?¡± Lucy mmed her palm on the table, right on top of the grant. Her eyes were filled with disappointment. ¡°It''s Lucas. He ran away.¡± Lucas had agreed to donate his bone marrow to Mnie on Friday but did not keep his words. They made an agreement that Lucy would be with him for a month. Whenever he called, she woulde over and sleep with him. Lucy''s only wish was for Mnie to live. She was willing to do anything for that wish to be a reality. However, Lucas actually lied to her. Bastard... You bastard... Gwendolyn did not understand what was happening. ¡°Luce, are you still waiting for Lucas'' bone marrow because you haven''t found another person that matches?¡± Lucy was not in the mood to discuss this matter at the moment. Her voice was very hoarse as she said, ¡°Gwen, I have to hang up. I need to find him. Let''s talk about thister.¡± She then hung up the call, leaving Gwendolyn staring at her phone dumbfoundedly. Her eyes blinked a few times, and Gwendolyn finally understood what had happened. She got up and went back to the office. Patrick was already inside, and it seemed that he had just returned. ¡°Mr. Lowen, do you know where Mr. Gomez is right now?¡± The note read: Lucy, my team has a mission, so I have to go back. I''ll leave this condominium to you. Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Patrick took a nce at Gwendolyn. She is so beautiful today! Grandma took her to a gathering of thosedies, so she naturally had to dress up. I have never seen her with such a hairstyle and makeup. She looks stunning! The man was originally using his phone to answer some emails. He then used this opportunity to turn on the camera and discreetly took a few pictures of hers with his phone. Staring at the picture on the screen, he only thought that there was a difference between pictures and reality. She''s even more beautiful in person than in the pictures! Gwendolyn was silent for a while after asking her question. When she saw that he was still busy working on his phone, she reworded her question with a good temper. ¡°Mr. Lowen, can you tell me where Mr. Gomez is right now? My friend is looking for him.¡± Patrick looked up at this moment with raised eyebrows. ¡°He has returned to the base. Kevin and I sent him off on a ne just two hours ago.¡± Gwendolyn turned pale after hearing that. ¡°Where is the base?¡± She nned to make Lucy go directly to the base to find Lucas. As long as Lucy could see him, she should be able to do something. Patrick smiled and answered, ¡°No one knows where the base is. It''s the military base, after all, so it''s a state secret.¡± Gwendolyn was confused for a moment. ¡°Huh? State secret? So, that means no one can meet him?¡± Sure enough! Lucas really did run away. Lucy''s trust in him has all been in vain! As she thought of this, Gwendolyn became angry. ¡°I can only say that his job is special, and it''s a high-risk one, which requires a high degree of confidentiality. We will lose contact with him every time he is on the job. We couldn''t even find a way to notify him when his grandfather passed awayst year.¡± Gwendolyn bit her lip while gritting her teeth in anger. ¡°Lucas, that bastard.¡± After cursing the man, she went to her desk and packed her things before putting on her coat. She then said to Patrick, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I have a business to attend to, so I''m leaving first.¡± Her words did not sound like she was asking for permission but more like notifying. Patrick coldly said, ¡°Ms. Ashton, it is still working hours, so you should still be working. If you leave now, it will be considered absence from work.¡± Gwendolyn''s hand was already on the doorknob, and she just needed to push the door to leave. When she heard what Patrick said, she hesitated for a few moments before deciding to ignore him. She could be considered rich now, with more than two and a half million in her ount. Hence, she couldn''t care less if her wage for the day was deducted. Patrick did not expect his secretary to not care about adding a day off on her record and the subsequent wage deduction. Gwendolyn entered the elevator and made a call to Lucy again. This time, it took a while for the call to connect. ¡°Gwen.¡± ¡°Lucy, you don''t have to call Lucas anymore. He has returned to the base, and no one knows the location of this base.¡± Lucy''s emotions went out of control when she heard Gwendolyn. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Lucas, that bastard.¡± She then cried softly, her voice sorrowful and full of pain. ¡°Where are you, Luce? I''ll pick you up.¡± Lucy neededpany the most at the moment, and Gwendolyn wanted tofort her. ¡°I''m at Bright River Condominium, unit 2202.¡± After getting the location, Gwendolyn then said, ¡°Wait for me.¡± More than an hourter, Gwendolyn arrived at the door of unit 2202 and rang the doorbell. When Lucy opened the door, she was still in her pajamas and was looking pale and haggard. Gwendolyn entered the condominium and looked around the ce. The condominium was quite spacious and should be more than two hundred square meters in size. The furnishing was quite simple, something a soldier like Lucas would prefer. Lucy sat on the couch, wiping her nose with a tissue. ¡°Did you catch a cold?¡± Lucy''s mind went back to what she and Lucas did on the balcony the night before. She almost had nothing on in such freezing weather. It was only normal that she would catch a cold. ¡°I think so.¡± Gwendolyn bent over and ced the back of her hand on Lucy''s forehead. ¡°You don''t seem to have a fever, so that''s good. Is there any medicine here?¡± Lucy pointed at the bottom drawer of the television cab. ¡°There is a first-aid kit in there. There should be some medicines in it.¡± Thest time they slept together, she was on her knees and got bruised from it. Lucas brought the medicine to her to apply it to her knees from that cab. Remembering that, Lucy suddenly felt her head ache. She and Lucas really did everything to the extreme. She had be shameless and lost her dignity as she did everything ording to his request. Lucy neededpany the most at the moment, and Gwendolyn wanted tofort her. Chapter 250 Chapter 250 Gwendolyn dropped a tablet of cold medicine in hot water for Lucy and ced the ss in front of her. ¡°Drink this first.¡± Lucy picked up the ss and took a sip. She raised her head and looked at Gwendolyn with swollen eyes from all the crying. ¡°Gwen, am I a fool? Is this why I got deceived by men again and again?¡± Jared made her believe in love, and the price for that was her life. At first, she thought that as long as she did not get invested and did not care, she would not get hurt again. Unexpectedly, she was deceived once again. Lucas promised to donate his bone marrow to Mnie in a month, but he ran away. Gwendolyn sat next to her and put her arm around her shoulders. ¡°Luce, if I was in your position, I would also be a fool for Juliette.¡± After all, the two women regarded their children as their lives. For the sake of their children, they were willing to do anything. She knew that Lucy just wanted Mnie to live, which was why she was so humble in front of Lucas. She thought that Lucas was someone with integrity, so the idea that Lucas would run away had never crossed her mind. Lucy downed the rest of the medicine with an empty look in her eyes. She had already sorted out her emotions by the time she put the ss down. She had been trying to contact Lucas for the past few hours. However, no matter how many times she called or sent text messages to his phone and WhatsApp, she did not get any response. When Gwendolyn told her the news, she knew that she could never reach him no matter how hard she tried. It was no use to wake up someone who wanted to pretend that they were sleeping. ¡°I''m going to the hospital and check on Mnie. I told her that she would get better soon. She was so happy when she heard that. If she knew she would not have that surgery anymore, she would be extremely disappointed. I also need to discuss with the staff again about finding a new bone marrow donor.¡± Gwendolyn looked at Lucy''s pale face and thin figure. She felt very distressed for her friend, who was obviously full of sorrow and was very anguished just a few moments before. It was only for a while as she seemed to be fine at the moment. She now appeared strong and steadfast. Gwendolyn then heaved a heavy sigh. Lucy''s situation was simr to hers. They both had children with no one to rely on and had to stand strong for their children. Lucy went to the bedroom to change while Gwendolyn walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. She had seen the grant for the house and the ck card on the table and knew that Lucas must have left those for Lucy. However, what Lucy needed the most at the time was not money or property. The most important thing to her at the moment was the bone marrow. She took out her phone and dialed Patrick''s number before walking out of the condominium. He did not answer her call. Gwendolyn knew that Patrick must be angry as she had left without his permission. She called him again, and he answered this time around. However, his voice was extremely cold. ¡°What is it?¡± From what Gwendolyn could hear, she guessed that he should be in his car on his way home right now. ¡°Mr. Lowen, there is a favor I would like to ask from you. If you can contact Lucas, can you tell him that Lucy was devastated after he left? Mnie is her life, Mr. Lowen. For Lucy, that child is just like Juliette and the other kids to me. I don''t think Lucy can live on if something happens to Mnie.¡± What she said was true, but she also wanted to scare Lucas. She wanted him to think that the next time he returned, he might never get to see Lucy again. Since he did all that with Lucy, he should at least be fond of her. Patrick frowned slightly. He knew how much Gwendolyn loved her triplets. With that as aparison, he could understand why Lucy would not survive without Mnie. ¡°Okay, I will tell you if I can contact him.¡± Gwendolyn was excited when she heard that. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lowen!¡± Sure enough, the man I like is a very nice person and not a lousy one. Patrick was in a much better mood once he heard herughter. ¡°Gwendolyn, when will you finish knitting my sweater? Winter is almost over.¡± Gwendolyn had long forgotten all about knitting the sweater, and she stuck out her tongue once the memory resurfaced. ¡°Oh! I''ll speed up my knitting, Mr. Lowen. When is your birthday?¡± She called him again, and he answered this time around. However, his voice was extremely cold. Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Since Gwendolyn remembered that Patrick''s birthday was in February, she wanted toplete knitting his sweater before his birthday. However, Patrick remained silent upon hearing Gwendolyn''s question. ¡°I don''t celebrate my birthday.¡± Gwendolyn was dumbfounded. He doesn''t celebrate his birthday? Shouldn''t someone like him have a large-scale birthday celebration? Regardless, when I mentioned his birthday, he seemed unhappy and sounded depressed. ¡°I''ll finish knitting the sweater for you before the new year.¡± Gwendolyn made a promise to Patrick, and he hummed in response. As Gwendolyn saw Lucy had done changing, she said abruptly, ¡°I''ll hang up now. Remember to have your meal when you get home.¡± After ending the call, she walked toward Lucy. ¡°Luce, if you''re not feeling well, I can help you look for the doctor at the hospital.¡± Since she frequently went to the hospital over the past two years, she became familiar with the doctors. Lucy''splexion was pallid, and her lips turned pale. ¡°I''m fine. I want to keep Mniepany.¡± Gwendolyn was still worried about Lucy, so she sent Lucy to the hospital. In the hospital, two more people were taking care of Mnie, who imed to be hired by Lucas especially to look after Mnie. Why didn''t Lucy say anything after listening to what they said? Since Lucas sent someone to help, I guess he''s trying topensate Lucy as it could lessen the burdens on Lucy. While one of the helpers was feeding Mnie, Mnie smiled when she spotted Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Gwen, where are Juliette, Julian, and Justin? Aren''t they around? I miss them so much.¡± Sitting beside the bed, Gwendolyn took the bowl from the helper and started feeding Mnie. ¡°I''ve been busytely, so I didn''t bring them over. I''ll take them here soon.¡± In fact, that day was thest day of school for the triplets as they would be on school break starting that week. However, Gwendolyn did not want to bring up the matters about school in front of Mnie. Mnie must be longing to attend her school like normal children after stopping for two years. Hence, I''m worried she''ll be sad if I tell her that the kids aren''t here because they need to go to school. It''s heartbreaking to see Mnie being so weak, and she even seems to have lost a significant amount of weight. ¡°Ms. Gwen, Mommy said I''m going to have my surgery next week. After that, I''ll be the same as the other kids. Then, I can attend school with Juliette, Julian, and Justin.¡± Mnie was on cloud nine and had a twinkle in her eyes as she spoke. Tears were welling in Gwendolyn''s eyes as she looked at Mnie. How I wish Lucas could witness this. Perhaps he wouldn''t have run away then. Three dayster, after Gwendolyn apanied Patrick to patrol around and returned to the office, they saw Rosalie waiting at the couch area while waving at them. ¡°Gwen, I''m here to have lunch with you.¡± Gwendolyn nced at Patrick next to her and forced a smile. ¡°Okay.¡± As Patrick took off his coat, Gwendolyn took it from him before she hung it on the rack. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Meanwhile, Rosalie had already sat down opposite Patrick. She propped up her chin and looked at the man, who had his head lowered to busy with his work. ¡°Pat, since I''ve invited Gwen to have a meal together, you shoulde with us!¡± The reason why I''m here is to meet Patrick. I haven''t seen him for about six months. He has be more handsome than before. As Rosalie kept staring at Patrick, he looked at her coldly. ¡°Have you graduated from university, Rosalie?¡± Rosalie nodded. ¡°Yes. I''vepleted my studies in advance, so I''ve nothing to do at home now. I''m bored. Pat, do you need another secretary? Can I work with you?¡± Of course, I''m willing to work here if I get to see him every day. When Rosalie entered the office just now, she was so consumed by jealousy that she almost lost her mind seeing Gwendolyn''s desk. In the meantime, Gwendolyn, who sat at her desk, felt somewhat displeased to watch Rosalie stare at Patrick in a daze. Hence, she rose to her feet and approached them. ¡°Ms. Chavez, why don''t you wait for me at the restaurant? I''ll be there after work.¡± There''s one more hour before I can get off work! Rosalie''s eyes were still fixed on Patrick''s handsome face, and her lips curled into a smile. ¡°It''s okay. I''ll wait for you here.¡± As Patrick took off his coat, Gwendolyn took it from him before she hung it on the rack. Chapter 252 Chapter 252 Patrick responded, ¡°If I let you be my secretary, your brother will probablye after me.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Rosalie stuck her tongue out and said, ¡°Kevin doesn''t care about me. He won''t.¡± With that said, she reached out to grip Patrick''s cuff and acted coquettishly. ¡°Patrick, let me be your secretary! I''ll definitely be professional and responsible in fulfilling my duties.¡± After sweeping a gaze over her hand, Patrick retracted his hand before typing on the keyboard. ¡°No way. You''re the daughter of the Chavez family. I can''t hire you. If you want to work, you can help with your family business or help out at your brother''s hospital.¡± The Chavez family was a family known in the medical field. Kevin''s grandfather was in the medical industry, while Kevin''s elder brother took over the pharmaceutical corporation of the Chavez family. Furthermore, Kevin studied medicine and owned a few hospitals, which were considered part of the family business. Since Rosalie also studied medicine, she should start working in the medical field now that she has graduated. Gwendolyn sat in her seat as she looked at the duo chatting. They seem close to each other as if what the housekeepers of the Chavez family had said is true. No matter how many rumored girlfriends Patrick has, Rosalie will be the only one to marry him. Now it appears that''s really the case. Patrick usually looks stern and prideful, but he seems amiable right now, which is the opposite of the usual him. Thinking about that, Gwendolyn pouted subconsciously as an inexplicable feeling of envy filled her. Therefore, she got up, went to the pantry, and poured two cups of coffee before she heavily ced them in front of Patrick and Rosalie. Naturally, Rosalie noticed the change in Gwendolyn''s emotion, so she shed Gwendolyn a sweet smile. ¡°Thank you, Gwen! You''re so beautiful today!¡± Initially, Gwendolyn felt a little jealous. However, after Rosalie said such a nice thing to her with a delighted smile, she figured it would not be right to disy her emotions. Forcing a smile, she replied, ¡°You''re wee. It''s my duty.¡± Once she was done speaking, she red at Patrick in displeasure. Hmph! I can only make faces at him secretly. They''re being lovey-dovey right in front of me. Have the duo ever thought about how I feel as a single pringle? Even though they aren''t a couple yet, the more I look at them, the more I feel like they''re in a rtionship. After that, Gwendolyn returned to her seat and wanted to read a book to divert her attention. Despite that, she could not focus on reading as she kept hearing Rosalie''sughter, and it sounded so endearing that even she was unable to stand it, let alone Patrick. She raised her head to look at them and reminded, ¡°Mr. Lowen, Ms. Johnson said that you have to sign all the contracts in front of you before getting off work.¡± Isn''t he busy? He''s often too upied with work that he doesn''t even have the time to have his meals, yet he''s chatting with her right now. ¡°Rosalie, you may wait at the couch area. I have to get back to work now. Let''s have lunch together later.¡± Hearing that, Rosalie was full of the joys of spring. ¡°Okay! Go ahead with your work, Pat. I''ll wait for you over there.¡± How unexpected. Aftering back this time, Pat is more friendly to me. Is it because I''ve be prettier in these six months? Regardless, everyone who has seen me said I''ve grown up to be more attractive. I suppose it''s true when people say ady undergoes tremendous changes after they turn eighteen. After all, a beauty like me is quite likable. Soon, Rosalie began taking selfies with her phone. The more she looked at herself, the more she found herself gorgeous. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn walked over to Patrick and whispered, ¡°Mr. Lowen, didn''t you arrange to meet with a client for lunchter?¡± She took a nce at the document in her hands. Although Patrick doesn''t have an appointment with the client initially, I''ve scheduled it for him just now. She raised her head to look at them and reminded, ¡°Mr. Lowen, Ms. Johnson said that you have to sign all the contracts in front of you before getting off work.¡± Chapter 253 Chapter 253 A sly smile shed across Patrick''s face. With a t voice, he said, ¡°Cancel it. Rosalie is here today. It is only natural that I apany her to lunch.¡± Gwendolyn''s expression fell. She even cursed softly, ¡°Why don''t you just admit that you want to spend time with your lover, and work is unimportant at this point?¡± With that, she returned to her desk and proceeded to cancel the lunch meeting she had just arranged. The person even called her crazy after receiving her call. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Ten minutes ago, she had just told the same person that the meeting would take ce, but ten minutes later, she called to cancel it. Gwendolyn would probably deem anyone who would do such a thing absurd too. With no other options, she lied by stating Patrick was admitted to the hospital after falling sick unexpectedly, forcing the meeting to be canceled. Upon hearing this, the person on the other side of the phone stopped cursing at her and asked Patrick to take a good rest. He even added that they could arrange for another meeting again after Patrick was allowed to be discharged from the hospital. Gwendolyn couldn''t help sticking out her tongue after hanging up the phone. Please don''t let Patrick discover that I cursed him to be hospitalized. Pfft! I merely talk nonsense. Please don''t make any of thate true. At that point in time, Gwendolyn really didn''t want Patrick to be sick, and she sincerely hoped that her curse wouldn''te true. Meanwhile, Patrick was signing some contracts, and Rosalie was sitting quietly, allowing Gwendolyn to continue her work peacefully. Around noon, Patrick finally finished signing all the contracts. With an indifferent voice, he ordered, ¡°Gwendolyn, these contracts are all signed. Please send them out for me.¡± Gwendolyn got to her feet, ced the stack of documents in her arms, and headed toward the chief secretary''s office. Amber Johnson was talking on the phone when Gwendolyn arrived, forcing thetter to stand there and wait for a little while as the call was rather lengthy. More than ten minutester, the call finally ended. Amber glimpsed at the contracts on her table and inquired, ¡°Ms. Ashton, did Mr. Lowen sign everything?¡± Gwendolyn nodded slightly. ¡°Yes, Ms. Johnson.¡± Amber smiled. ¡°You''re the only person who dares to rush him on something. If any urgent documents need signing in the future, I''lle to you for help, okay?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Gwendolyn replied with a sweet smile. ¡°Ms. Ashton, are you going to have lunch with Mr. Lowen or are you going to the cafeteria? Shall we head to the cafeteria together?¡± Though Amber was the chief secretary with a yearly sry of a million, she was courteous toward Gwendolyn. After all, thetter''s desk was in Patrick''s office, and with only this point, one could spot the difference in their status. Back then, Patrick would always bring Amber, his chief secretary, wherever he went, but now, he only took Gwendolyn with him. In Amber''s eyes, Gwendolyncked the necessary education and qualification for the position. Hence, she concluded that Gwendolyn managed to get her boss'' admiration through her stunning face. With Patrick''s favoritism toward Gwendolyn, Amber decided that she should build a good rtionship with Gwendolyn. Ultimately, they could get Gwendolyn''s help if they didn''t dare to talk to Patrick directly about complicated issues during work. Gwendolyn shook her head after hearing Amber''s question. ¡°My friend came to meet me, and we will be having lunch together. So I won''t be able to join you.¡± After bidding goodbye to Amber, Gwendolyn headed back to the CEO''s office. When she walked past the door, no one was in there anymore. Gwendolyn hurried in and looked around the area. Soon, she confirmed that Patrick and Rosalie had left. Raging, Gwendolyn returned to her desk and let out a few irritated sighs. ¡°Didn''t they invite me to have lunch together? How could they leave without waiting for me?¡± Unbelievable! He''s also a man who prioritizes women over his friends! Gwendolyn concluded after recalling that Patrick usually insisted on wanting her to apany him before he could eat. She picked up her phone and browsed through it aimlessly. She was mad to the point that she had lost her appetite. Suddenly, she stopped scrolling her phone as she noticed a post from Rosalie on Instagram. The photo depicted tes of tasty-looking food on the dining table, and Patrick''s slender fingers were in it. Underneath the image, a caption read: I will appreciate the delicacy as well as him! Gwendolyn erged the image and confirmed that it was indeed Patrick''s hand inside the photo. She could recognize the hand with just one look as there was a ring with a wolf totem which he always wore on his index finger. Feeling like an idiot, Gwendolyn closed the app. That is undoubtedly Patrick''s hand. They had just talked about having lunch together. Who else can it be if not him? She propped her chin and pondered for a moment. Why do I feel slightly ufortable right now? Upon realizing that, she stood up and dered, ¡°Since you two decided not to wait for me, I shall have lunch by myself.¡± After bidding goodbye to Amber, Gwendolyn headed back to the CEO''s office. Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Just then, Gwendolyn received a call from Zayden. She answered, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Gwen, I just passed yourpany, and I would be delighted if I could have lunch with you.¡± Wow! He called just when I wanted to treat myself to a good meal. Surprised to hear Zayden was downstairs, she replied, ¡°Okay. Where are you now? I''lle over.¡± Zayden gave a cursory nce at the woman and man sitting opposite him and answered, ¡°I''m at the Ferropenian restaurant opposite yourpany.¡± ¡°Okay. I''ll join you in a bit,¡± Gwendolyn replied. As soon as she got up, she headed to the restroom in Patrick''s lounge to apply lipstick and tidy her hair. She was dressed rather formally that day. She wore a coat on the outside, a shirt, and a tight-fitting skirt with a pair of ck stockings on the inside. The outfit prompted her to apply red lipstick, making her more captivating. Afterward, she headed to the restaurant opposite thepany. When she entered the restaurant, she spotted Rosalie and Patrick, and a hint of surprise shed in Gwendolyn''s eyes. She didn''t notice that they were having a meal in this particr restaurant when she observed the photo posted previously. Without pondering further, she headed toward the table where Zayden was and sat before him. ¡°I''m here.¡± Zayden pushed a ss of water toward her and said, ¡°Have a drink.¡± He then snapped his fingers, and a waiter approached them. ¡°You can serve the food now.¡± Gwendolyn took a sip of the warm lemon water and asked, ¡°Did you manage to find anyone through blind dates?¡± Zayden''s expression slightly changed as he didn''t expect her to raise such a topic. With a cold expression, he answered, ¡°No.¡± After the appetizer was served, Zayden took some for Gwendolyn with his fork and knife. ¡°You look skinniertely. You should have more.¡± Surprise shed in Gwendolyn''s eyes when she heard that. Am I skinnier? Why do I feel like I''m fatter? Either way, she hadn''t had Ferropenian cuisine for a long time, and the appetizer tasted incredible. Rosalie was sitting opposite them, and if she raised her head, she could see Gwendolyn. When she did so, her eyes lit up. ¡°Gwen!¡± When Patrick heard her calling Gwendolyn''s name, he turned in Gwendolyn''s direction. Upon spotting Patrick''s stare, Zayden nodded at him lightly as a greeting. Patrick''s expression darkened, and he glimpsed at the woman who had her back toward him and her head lowered to eat her food with an indifferent gaze. She didn''t notice his attention on her at all. Rosalie smiled. ¡°I didn''t know that Gwen is Mr. Surrington''s friend. They seem close.¡± She became more excited when she stated that out loud. Rosalie''s initial belief was that Patrick would be cold toward her after having a girlfriend. She was surprised, however, to find that he was warmer toward her than before. At least, he was willing to talk to her at that moment. When she spotted Gwendolyn with Zayden, she figured that Zayden must have fallen for Gwendolyn. Based on her experience of falling for someone, she could tell that Zayden was passionate toward Gwendolyn through his eyes with just one look. Potrick didn''tment on onything. He hordly ote his meol too. He merely hod his cup in his hond ond sipped his coffee. Besides thot, his expression wos grimmer thon before. Rosolie detected thot he didn''t speok os much ofter orriving ot the restouront. Hence, she hod to initiote o conversotion. ¡°Pot, does Kevin hove o girlfriend now? My grondmo loves him the most. She con''t woit to hove his child in her orms!¡± Potrick knew thot, in the Chovez fomily, Lindo loved Kevin the most os he wos the most fetching omong her three grondchildren. Moreover, he knew how to pour out flottering words ond wos good ot cooxing Lindo. Thot wos why his grondmother fovored him. Potrick onswered flotly, ¡°I don''t know.¡± Potrick didn''t like to get involved in people''s offoirs ond wouldn''t snoop on his friend''s romontic life either. At thot point, Rosolie could cleorly feel thot he wosn''t in o good mood ond his coldness toword her. She then roised her heod to look ot the toble neor them. When she spotted the smile on Zoyden''s foce, she turned her ottention to the mon sitting before her. Pot is so cold. But he olwoys treots everyone coldly. I must get used to it soon. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. With thot, she decided to eot her meol ond keep mum. Gwendolyn, on the other hond, hod her full ottention on her meol. She wos incredibly pleosed with the food. Every dish wos exquisite, ond they tosted terrific. ¡°Gwendolyn, ore you done eoting? You should go bock to work soon.¡± Patrick didn''tment on anything. He hardly ate his meal too. He merely had his cup in his hand and sipped his coffee. Besides that, his expression was grimmer than before. Rosalie detected that he didn''t speak as much after arriving at the restaurant. Hence, she had to initiate a conversation. ¡°Pat, does Kevin have a girlfriend now? My grandma loves him the most. She can''t wait to have his child in her arms!¡± Patrick knew that, in the Chavez family, Linda loved Kevin the most as he was the most fetching among her three grandchildren. Moreover, he knew how to pour out ttering words and was good at coaxing Linda. That was why his grandmother favored him. Patrick answered tly, ¡°I don''t know.¡± Patrick didn''t like to get involved in people''s affairs and wouldn''t snoop on his friend''s romantic life either. At that point, Rosalie could clearly feel that he wasn''t in a good mood and his coldness toward her. She then raised her head to look at the table near them. When she spotted the smile on Zayden''s face, she turned her attention to the man sitting before her. Pat is so cold. But he always treats everyone coldly. I must get used to it soon. With that, she decided to eat her meal and keep mum. Gwendolyn, on the other hand, had her full attention on her meal. She was incredibly pleased with the food. Every dish was exquisite, and they tasted terrific. ¡°Gwendolyn, are you done eating? You should go back to work soon.¡± Chapter 255 Chapter 255 Patrick was standing next to Gwendolyn with a solemn expression. Gwendolyn arched her brow and took a nce at her wristwatch. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I still have an hour before my break ends.¡± At that point, she was incredibly mad at him. This is what you get for prioritizing another woman over me. You promised that we would have lunch together. How could you not wait for me? Rosalie waved her hand at Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°Gwen, are you friends with Mr. Surrington? It seems that you two have a close rtionship.¡± She even smiled at Zayden while shooting the question at Gwendolyn. Zayden replied directly, ¡°You have a good eye, Ms. Chavez. I''m currently pursuing Ms. Ashton.¡± Rosalie''s eyes widened a little upon hearing his deration. ¡°Wow! You have good taste, Mr. Surrington. Gwen is pretty and capable. I bet she will be a good wife in the future.¡± Having said that, she held Patrick''s hand and continued, ¡°We should get going, Pat!¡± Patrick''s expression was dark, and he was staring at Gwendolyn intensely. Thetter, however, merely rolled her eyes at him. I''m angry at him today anyway. I''m going to ignore him. After Patrick and Rosalie had left, Gwendolyn finished her meal too. She put down her cutlery and took a sip of her water. With a smile, Zayden said, ¡°The Lowen family and the Chavez family share a close rtionship. The two elderdies of the house must have the intention to be inws.¡± Although Gwendolyn had been working for Patrick for some time, she only managed to have a clearer picture of his world recently. Furthermore, she realized what she knew about Patrick previously was just the tip of the iceberg. ¡°I know. I''ve heard about it too.¡± Out of the blue, Gwendolyn felt Alice had a reason for bringing her to the socialite gathering. Zayden''s gaze then locked on her neck all of a sudden. That ne! Isn''t that Starry Tears from the auction? Zayden had actively bid on the ne back then because he wanted to gift it to Gwendolyn. He didn''t expect to see her wearing it now. Upon noticing his gaze on her neck, she lowered her head and caught a glimpse of her ne revealing itself. She stuffed it under her shirt and smiled faintly at him. ¡°It''s fake. I bought it from a roadside stall.¡± Zayden was at the auction that day. Thus, he could recognize the ne no matter what. Zayden wasn''t an idiot, and he knew who bid for it. Either way, he didn''t feel too defeated for losing against Patrick. Despite that, his gaze became solemn. He then reached out to hold Gwendolyn''s hand. ¡°Gwen, no one has ever been able to walk into my heart since I met you six years ago. I''ve been waiting for you.¡± Upon watching him holding her hand, Gwendolyn tried to pull her hand back, but his grip was too tight. ¡°Gwen, please consider me.¡± His gaze was full of sincerity but with a hint of sadness. Zayden had been waiting for her for the past few years. He thought they would eventually be a couple if he continued being by her side, but recently, he had been having second thoughts. Potrick''s oppeoronce concerned him. He reolized thot she wouldn''t be his if he just stoyed where he wos. Hence, he storted to ponic ond get feorful. He worried thot someone would snotch Gwendolyn owoy from him. Honestly, Gwendolyn wos touched by his words. Zoyden wos o hondsome ond promising young mon with on outstonding chorocter. Women would foll for him, ond there wos no doubt he would be o womon''s best destiny. However, she couldn''t do it. In the end, Gwendolyn only gove him o slight nod. ¡°Okoy. I will think obout it.¡± As she soid thot, she quickly retrocted her hond. ¡°I should go bock to work now.¡± Zoyden got up. ¡°I''ll wolk you to yourpony''s lobby.¡± After Zoyden hod poid the bill, the two wolked side by side ond exited the restouront. Upon opprooching the intersection, they hod to stop ot the red light. When the light turned green, Gwendolyn took o step forword. At the some time, Zoyden held her hond ond wolked her to the opposite side of the rood. Gwendolyn couldn''t help looking ot her hond when he did so. His hond wos worm ond lorge, ond it completely enveloped hers. She sincerely feltfortoble hoving him holding her like thot os his core for her wormed her heort. A slight smile then oppeored on her foce. Zoyden wos the person who she reolly didn''t wont to hurt. Thus, she couldn''t soy no directly to him when he shot her the question. I reolly hove to think obout o woy to moke him give up on pursuing me without hurting him. Patrick''s appearance concerned him. He realized that she wouldn''t be his if he just stayed where he was. Hence, he started to panic and get fearful. He worried that someone would snatch Gwendolyn away from him. Honestly, Gwendolyn was touched by his words. Zayden was a handsome and promising young man with an outstanding character. Women would fall for him, and there was no doubt he would be a woman''s best destiny. However, she couldn''t do it. In the end, Gwendolyn only gave him a slight nod. ¡°Okay. I will think about it.¡± As she said that, she quickly retracted her hand. ¡°I should go back to work now.¡± Zayden got up. ¡°I''ll walk you to yourpany''s lobby.¡± After Zayden had paid the bill, the two walked side by side and exited the restaurant. Upon approaching the intersection, they had to stop at the red light. When the light turned green, Gwendolyn took a step forward. At the same time, Zayden held her hand and walked her to the opposite side of the road. Gwendolyn couldn''t help looking at her hand when he did so. His hand was warm andrge, and it completely enveloped hers. She sincerely feltfortable having him holding her like that as his care for her warmed her heart. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. A slight smile then appeared on her face. Zayden was the person who she really didn''t want to hurt. Thus, she couldn''t say no directly to him when he shot her the question. I really have to think about a way to make him give up on pursuing me without hurting him. Chapter 256 Chapter 256 When they arrived at the opposite side of the road, Zayden let go of her hand. After taking a few more steps, they arrived at the Lowen Group''s building. Suddenly, a little girl appeared before them. ¡°Mister, please buy some flowers for your girlfriend!¡± The little girl had dirty clothes on, and her hair was disheveled. Her garments were thin, and her hands were red from the cold. Seeing her condition, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°You''re so young. Why are you selling flowers here?¡± Her heart ached more as she noticed that the child was Juliette''s age. The little girl timidly responded, ¡°My grandmother is sick. I need to earn money to buy medicine for her.¡± Zayden took out his wallet and extracted a stack of money after hearing that. ¡°I''ll buy the flowers.¡± The girl shook her hand when she saw therge amount of cash. ¡°That''s too much. The flowers only cost one hundred.¡± Zayden took the flowers from her hand and replied tly, ¡°You can use the remaining money to buy medicine for your grandmother.¡± The little girl bowed at them gratefully. ¡°Thank you, mister, ma''am. You two are good people. I wish you happiness!¡± With that, the girl smiled at them and turned around to jog away. Zayden then passed the flowers to Gwendolyn and said, ¡°A present for you.¡± It was a big bouquet of red roses. Since it was Gwendolyn''s first time receiving flowers, she smiled gaily. ¡°Thank you!¡± Zayden was a kind man, and he had always been like that. Gwendolyn returned to the office with the bouquet in her arms, and it attracted a lot of attention the moment she got into the elevator. Since the staff from different departments rarely interacted with one another, she was not well known. After thedies outside the CEO''s office saw the bouquet in her hands, they immediately asked, ¡°Ms. Ashton, is that from your boyfriend? You''re so lucky!¡± Gwendolyn was stunned for a moment when she heard them. She wanted to say no, but since there were too many rumors about her in thepany, she decided to remain silent. Since many people are eager to hear something they can use to mock me, it''s better to remain silent about it. If I said no, there might be more rumors. When Gwendolyn entered the CEO''s office with the bouquet, Patrick shot his dark gaze at her and immediately jumped to his feet upon spotting the roses in her arms. He then strode over and snatched the bouquet from her hand. ¡°Hey!¡± Gwendolyn had nned to bring the roses home and tell her three children about the girl selling the flowers, but she didn''t expect Patrick to snatch them from her and toss them into the trash can. Gwendolyn instantly approached him and inquired, ¡°Why did you throw my flowers away, Patrick?¡± At the end of her sentence, she bent down and tried to retrieve the flowers, but Patrick held onto her hand tightly and turned her around, forcing her back to face the bin. ¡°You''re not allow to pick them up!¡± Gwendolyn''s expression became grim upon hearing his demand. ¡°Those flowers are mine.¡± With a pair of dark eyes and tensed jawline, Patrick questioned her chillingly, ¡°Are the flowers from Zayden so important to you? If you like roses, I can buy them for you too.¡± In Potrick''s mind, Gwendolyn wos different from the other women. Hence, he wos sure thot she hod no interest in flowers. Never in o million yeors hod he ever thought thot she did like flowers. If I hod known this eorlier on, I would hove given her flowers more often. Strongely enough, Gwendolyn wos o bit hoppy when she heord his words. Is he mod becouse Zoyden gove me the flowers? ¡°I only wont this bouquet. Let go of me!¡± With thot, she struggled to breok free, wonting to pick up the roses from the trosh con. Heoring thot, Potrick seized her honds ond forced her to toke o few steps bock. When her bock hit the woll, he pressed his lips ogoinst hers. Gwendolyn widened her eyes in response. The kiss wos oggressive. It wos os if he wos biting her, ond it hurt her, cousing teors to well in her eyes. Luckily, thot only losted for o moment. The kiss be gentle, ond Potrick intertwined his tongue with hers. Gwendolyn tried to ovoid his tongue ond retroct hers, but the mon kissing her wouldn''t ollow it. Insteod, he teosed her more. Gwendolyn could feel numbness tingling oll over her scolp, ond she could no longer resist him. Potrick wotched her slowly give up on resisting him. He couldn''t help but odore her ond her hozy eyes. Hence, in response to thot, he intensified the kiss. He even wropped Gwendolyn''s honds oround his neck so she could hug him, worried thot she would slide down the woll. In Patrick''s mind, Gwendolyn was different from the other women. Hence, he was sure that she had no interest in flowers. Never in a million years had he ever thought that she did like flowers. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. If I had known this earlier on, I would have given her flowers more often. Strangely enough, Gwendolyn was a bit happy when she heard his words. Is he mad because Zayden gave me the flowers? ¡°I only want this bouquet. Let go of me!¡± With that, she struggled to break free, wanting to pick up the roses from the trash can. Hearing that, Patrick seized her hands and forced her to take a few steps back. When her back hit the wall, he pressed his lips against hers. Gwendolyn widened her eyes in response. The kiss was aggressive. It was as if he was biting her, and it hurt her, causing tears to well in her eyes. Luckily, that onlysted for a moment. The kiss became gentle, and Patrick intertwined his tongue with hers. Gwendolyn tried to avoid his tongue and retract hers, but the man kissing her wouldn''t allow it. Instead, he teased her more. Gwendolyn could feel numbness tingling all over her scalp, and she could no longer resist him. Patrick watched her slowly give up on resisting him. He couldn''t help but adore her and her hazy eyes. Hence, in response to that, he intensified the kiss. He even wrapped Gwendolyn''s hands around his neck so she could hug him, worried that she would slide down the wall. Chapter 257 Chapter 257 Meanwhile, he gently massaged her chest and slipped another hand of his into her shirt. His breathing became deeper and louder as soon as his fingers felt her soft skin burning underneath his fingertips. Just then, the door suddenly flew open. ¡°Mr. Lowen...¡± Liam called out after entering the office. Upon seeing the scene before him, he froze on the spot for a moment, and almost immediately, he took a few steps back and mmed the door shut. Gwendolyn regained her senses after hearing Liam calling out to Patrick. She moved her arms, which were around his neck, and pushed him. ¡°Pat-¡± Having managed to push him away from her a little, she tried to call out to him, but he forcefully pressed his lips against hers again before she could do so. At that moment, Gwendolyn felt that she would die from suffocation. He kept teasing her with his hand, making her feel more and more ufortable. Meanwhile, she could feel that she was getting wetter. ¡°Argh!¡± Ashamed and panicking, she mustered all of her strength to push him away. ¡°Mr. Lowen, please calm down!¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. After pushing him away, she felt a chilly breeze on her breasts. Gwendolyn quickly looked down and screamed at the top of her lungs out of surprise. Then, she quickly turned around to fix her clothing. When did this happen? The buttons on my shirt were unbuttoned, and my bra wasn''t in its ce! Does this mean my breasts were exposed to him completely the entire time? At that point, Gwendolyn was ashamed of what had happened. Patrick touched his lips and noticed she had bitten him to the point of wounding him. There was a small amount of blood on his fingertip too. He narrowed his eyes as he couldn''t forget her seductive look from just now. Anyhow, he felt that he didn''t lose out on anything as the sensation he felt on his fingertips when touching her lingered on his hands. After fixing her clothes, Gwendolyn turned around to face him. Her lips were swelling, and her cheeks were as red as tomatoes. She glimpsed at the roses in the trash can and decided she wasn''t daring enough to pick them up again. If I pick the roses up again, this jerk might bully me in ways I can''t imagine. Her face was still red when she returned to her desk. She then covered her face with her hands. The happenings between her and Patrick kept reying in her head, and she could feel that her underwear was soaking wet. This is so embarrassing. If Patrick finds out about it, he might think I want him. She heaved a sigh. Such a situation has never happened to me before. What''s wrong with metely? Does it have anything to do with my age? After that, Gwendolyn could no longer concentrate on her work. She kept covering her face while mumbling to herself. Patrick stayed in the lounge for quite some time. Upon noticing that, Gwendolyn figured that he was wise enough to know that they had to put distance between them at that point to calm themselves down. More than ten minutester, Amber entered the office and ced a bag on Patrick''s desk. ¡°Mr. Lowen, this is what you asked for.¡± ¡°Good! You can leave now!¡± Amber gave him a slight nod and headed toward the door. Before she left, she subconsciously turned to look at Gwendolyn. Noticing her gaze, thetter removed her hands from her face and shot the former a smile. ¡°Ms. Johnson.¡± ¡°Ms. Ashton, your foce is rother red. Do you hove o fever?¡± Gwendolyn shook her heod. ¡°No, I don''t. The redness might be becouse of me sleeping on the toble just now.¡± She wos in ponic mode when she mode the stotement. Amber didn''t linger oround for long. She left the office soon enough. Gwendolyn let out o sigh of relief ofter wotching her leove. Luckily, they were olone when things went down. If they weren''t, Gwendolyn would no longer know how to foce her colleogues. Potrick then ploced the bog on her desk. His eyes were dork, ond his goze on her wos intense. ¡°Aren''t you ufortoble with the wetness? Go inside ond chonge it.¡± His words mode Gwendolyn wont to dig o hole ond hide in it from the emborrossment. Despite her foce getting redder, she widened her eyes ot him. Gwendolyn pursed her lips tightly ond only responded to his stotement o minute loter, ¡°Whot should I chonge? I don''t know whot is wet.¡± Gwendolyn insisted on not odmitting to her underweor being wet. Potrick smirked ond soid, ¡°Well, I felt it just now.¡± Then, he woved his middle ond index finger on his right hond ot her ond put them under his nose to toke o whiff. Since Gwendolyn wos on innocent girl, she didn''t know how to respond to his teosing. She jumped to her feet, took the bog from her desk, ond rushed into the lounge. At thot moment, she reolly wonted to get owoy from Potrick. This mon is truly evil. Potrick chuckled softly. ¡°It smells sweet. It seems thot port of you is sweet too.¡± ¡°Ms. Johnson.¡± ¡°Ms. Ashton, your face is rather red. Do you have a fever?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°No, I don''t. The redness might be because of me sleeping on the table just now.¡± She was in panic mode when she made the statement. Amber didn''t linger around for long. She left the office soon enough. Gwendolyn let out a sigh of relief after watching her leave. Luckily, they were alone when things went down. If they weren''t, Gwendolyn would no longer know how to face her colleagues. Patrick then ced the bag on her desk. His eyes were dark, and his gaze on her was intense. ¡°Aren''t you ufortable with the wetness? Go inside and change it.¡± His words made Gwendolyn want to dig a hole and hide in it from the embarrassment. Despite her face getting redder, she widened her eyes at him. Gwendolyn pursed her lips tightly and only responded to his statement a minuteter, ¡°What should I change? I don''t know what is wet.¡± Gwendolyn insisted on not admitting to her underwear being wet. Patrick smirked and said, ¡°Well, I felt it just now.¡± Then, he waved his middle and index finger on his right hand at her and put them under his nose to take a whiff. Since Gwendolyn was an innocent girl, she didn''t know how to respond to his teasing. She jumped to her feet, took the bag from her desk, and rushed into the lounge. At that moment, she really wanted to get away from Patrick. This man is truly evil. Patrick chuckled softly. ¡°It smells sweet. It seems that part of you is sweet too.¡± Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Gwendolyn fell to the ground with her knees hitting the floor first after hearing Patrick''s statement. Despite this, she was afraid of Patrick noticing her embarrassing state, so she didn''t dare toment on it. While enduring the pain, she quickly got up and dashed into the lounge. She even locked the door behind her. Patrick did notice her falling to the ground, but he was wise enough to know not to help her. Patrick''s mood seemed to have improved. The smirk on his face even gradually became eviler as he studied his right index and middle fingers. He then pressed a button on hisndline phone and instructed, ¡°Liam, I want you in here.¡± The moment Liam heard his boss'' instructions, the idea of resigning popped into his mind. He would love to run away from the office right away. However, since he wasn''t daring enough, he could only bite the bullet and head to Patrick''s office. By the CEO''s office entrance, he bumped into Amber. Upon noticing his condition, Amber smiled and asked, ¡°Mr. Derner, what have you done? You look awful.¡± Although one of them was a chief secretary while the other was an assistant, their status in the company was almost the same, and they loved to poke fun at each other whenever they met. Liam briefly nced at her and asked frustratedly, ¡°Where were you just now?¡± Amber''s smile froze when she heard that. She was at the store buying female underwear for her boss just now. Patrick even asked to purchase the sexiest one for him. Since it was a task given by her boss, she decided that she should remain silent about it. Liam scoffed after receiving no reply. ¡°Do you know what I have done? Please remember to knock on the door before you head inside the CEO''s office next time, and do not confidently open the door when you have not received any answer from the boss.¡± He made such a statement because he would soon suffer from the consequence of his confidence. Just now, Patrick didn''t answer the knock, which was what he always did. Thus, Liam didn''t expect to witness such a passionate scene upon entering. He heaved a long sigh and knocked on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± This time Liam only dared to push the door open after hearing Patrick''s cold voice. He then approached Patrick''s desk and stood before Patrick with his head lowered, looking just like a student who had done something wrong. ¡°I''m sorry, Mr. Lowen.¡± He felt Patrick wouldn''t be so mad at the former if he apologized to thetter first. On the other hand, Patrick merely tapped the table with his fingers with an unfathomable gaze. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. He then ordered coldly, ¡°I want you to arrange a meeting with Zayden to talk about thend in the eastern district.¡± Liam''s eyes lit up when he heard that. So, he didn''t ask me toe in to scold me? ¡°Okay, Mr. Lowen. I''ll do it now.¡± Making meeting arrangements was originally Gwendolyn''s work, and Liam figured that Patrick was clear of Zayden''s intention toward Gwendolyn based on the order given. When Liam returned to the office earlier, he overheard a few secretaries discussing the bouquet in Gwendolyn''s arms and that Zayden had personally walked her back to thepany. From the looks of it, Patrick must have heard about those things too. There was no doubt that a war might happen between the two love rivals when they were to meetter that night. After Gwendolyn had changed her underwear and exited the lounge, she stuffed the wet one she wore earlier into her bag as she didn''t want to look at it anymore. As she couldn''t throw it into the lounge''s trosh con, she could only keep it in her bog ond dump it ofter leoving work. Then, Gwendolyn lowered her heod ond storted to concentrote on her work. She didn''t even dore to toke o peek ot Potrick for the rest of the doy. Knowing how emborrossed she wos, Potrick suppressed his urge for coffee ond didn''t even hove o sip of coffee for the entire evening. When it wos finolly time to leove work, Gwendolyn could no longer hold bock her urge to look ot him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, con I leove now?¡± It''s olreody holf post six. Why isn''t this mon plonning to leove yet? I should hove left work holf on hour ogo. If he no longer needs my service, I prefer to go home ond opony my three bobies. As Potrick wos still busy with work, he cosuolly replied, ¡°You con get off work now!¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes sporkled when she heord thot, ond she storted to pock her things gleefully. Soon, she wos reody to escope the office with her bog. Suddenly, Potrick turned his ottention to her ond swept his goze ocross her lips. ¡°Toke this with you.¡± Gwendolyn sow o tube of ointment on the toble ond grobbed it confusedly. Where should I opply this? I don''t hove ony injuries on me. She blinked ond pondered for o moment. At thot point, she reolly wonted to osk Potrick obout it but didn''t dore to. Potrick roised his hond to rub his nose ond soid, ¡°You hove cuts on your lips. You will recover foster with the ointment.¡± Gwendolyn''s foce blushed instontly. Why does he hove to remind me of everything thot hod hoppened in the office ogoin? She pursed her lips, turned oround, ond doshed out of the office. As she couldn''t throw it into the lounge''s trash can, she could only keep it in her bag and dump it after leaving work. Then, Gwendolyn lowered her head and started to concentrate on her work. She didn''t even dare to take a peek at Patrick for the rest of the day. Knowing how embarrassed she was, Patrick suppressed his urge for coffee and didn''t even have a sip of coffee for the entire evening. When it was finally time to leave work, Gwendolyn could no longer hold back her urge to look at him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, can I leave now?¡± It''s already half past six. Why isn''t this man nning to leave yet? I should have left work half an hour ago. If he no longer needs my service, I prefer to go home and apany my three babies. As Patrick was still busy with work, he casually replied, ¡°You can get off work now!¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes sparkled when she heard that, and she started to pack her things gleefully. Soon, she was ready to escape the office with her bag. Suddenly, Patrick turned his attention to her and swept his gaze across her lips. ¡°Take this with you.¡± Gwendolyn saw a tube of ointment on the table and grabbed it confusedly. Where should I apply this? I don''t have any injuries on me. She blinked and pondered for a moment. At that point, she really wanted to ask Patrick about it but didn''t dare to. Patrick raised his hand to rub his nose and said, ¡°You have cuts on your lips. You will recover faster with the ointment.¡± Gwendolyn''s face blushed instantly. Why does he have to remind me of everything that had happened in the office again? She pursed her lips, turned around, and dashed out of the office. Chapter 259 Chapter 259 In a private room at tinum te, Zayden and Patrick sat at the table with their assistants beside them. The two assistants rubbed their temples after seeing the way their bosses red coldly at each other. Standing up at the same time, both assistants raised their sses. ¡°Mr. Surrington, I''ll drink to your health.¡± ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''ll drink to your health.¡± Patrick briefly nced at Zayden''s assistant, Jason Calton, and Zayden did the same to Liam as well; neither of them gave any response. Feeling awkward, Jason and Liam clinked their sses against each other''s and downed the wine. Not daring to make another move after sitting down, they resorted to looking at each other. Naturally, as assistants to the two other men, they possessed a certain mastery of social skills. Yet, they had never felt as helpless as they were in this situation. Facing their bosses, they were immediately trumped. Zayden asked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, aren''t we here to discuss the plot ofnd in the eastern district? So you''ve decided to let me have it?¡± With a hint of a smile, he looked as friendly as possible. But with thorns hidden within his words, Zayden was undeniably a man who smiled with malicious intents. With cold eyes, Patrick stated, ¡°I can give it to you since I don''t care about that tiny scrap ofnd anyway. But Gwendolyn is my woman, and you shall note close to her anymore.¡± His thoughts were obvious. Zayden could have thend, but not the woman. Upon hearing his words, the smile on Zayden''s face vanished and was reced with a cold expression. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you might not have heard, but I have known Gwendolyn for five years now and have been pursuing her the entire time. She''s thinking of bing my girlfriend as well. You can''t force love. You''re a yer, Mr. Lowen, and she''s not into that.¡± Zayden thought he knew Gwendolyn well, and a simple girl like her would have no interest in a yer. Patrick not only had Felicia, but Rosalie as well. It was also rumored that he had a first crush who he had been looking for all these years; Gwendolyn would never be into a man like that. Even if Gwendolyn were tempted by him, Zayden would hold her back and help her distance herself from this yer. Patrick suddenlyughed. ¡°Mr. Surrington, you pride yourself too much on knowing her well. You probably don''t know that she kissed me right after you gave her flowers and returned to yourpany. She also said she loves men like me.¡± He poured himself a ss of wine after finishing his sentence, and happily drank it. Patrick then said to Liam, who was standing to the side, ¡°Is the contract ready? Show it to Mr. Surrington. He''ll get thend in the eastern district all to himself as long as he signs it.¡± Liom slid the controct over, ond Zoyden sow thot there wos onother ogreement besides the usuol controct. Zoyden Surrington will outomoticolly give up his rights to pursue Gwendolyn Ashton ond never meet or contoct her ogoin. Zoyden tore up the controct ofter reoding thot line. ¡°Potrick Lowen, you''re dreoming. Even without the lond in the eostern district, the Surrington fomily still hos other projects to corry out. I obsolutely will not give up on Gwendolyn.¡± He rose from his seot, ond Joson followed suit. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Mr. Lowen, we''ll be leoving first. See you, Liom!¡± soid Joson. Zoyden coldly glonced ot Joson. ¡°Don''t froternize too much with these people. Let''s go.¡± The door bonged shut behind them. Liom glonced ot his boss, who wos hoppily sipping his wine. He couldn''t help but feel impressed. The woy Mr. Lowen gets on people''s nerves is truly iporoble to onyone else. Thinking obout the furious look on Mr. Surrington''s foce... Perhops he hos never kissed Ms. Ashton? So, thot wos blotont jeolousy! Potrick poured onother gloss of wine ond looked toword Liom. ¡°Liom, hove you gotten o girlfriend yet?¡± He seemed to hove one o while ogo, but they broke up. Now he''s o little over thirty yeors old ond is still single, which is o bit of o pity. Liam slid the contract over, and Zayden saw that there was another agreement besides the usual contract. Zayden Surrington will automatically give up his rights to pursue Gwendolyn Ashton and never meet or contact her again. Zayden tore up the contract after reading that line. ¡°Patrick Lowen, you''re dreaming. Even without the land in the eastern district, the Surrington family still has other projects to carry out. I absolutely will not give up on Gwendolyn.¡± He rose from his seat, and Jason followed suit. ¡°Mr. Lowen, we''ll be leaving first. See you, Liam!¡± said Jason. Zayden coldly nced at Jason. ¡°Don''t fraternize too much with these people. Let''s go.¡± The door banged shut behind them. Liam nced at his boss, who was happily sipping his wine. He couldn''t help but feel impressed. The way Mr. Lowen gets on people''s nerves is truly iparable to anyone else. Thinking about the furious look on Mr. Surrington''s face... Perhaps he has never kissed Ms. Ashton? So, that was tant jealousy! Patrick poured another ss of wine and looked toward Liam. ¡°Liam, have you gotten a girlfriend yet?¡± He seemed to have one a while ago, but they broke up. Now he''s a little over thirty years old and is still single, which is a bit of a pity. Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Liam smiled a little. ¡°I''m too busy, and girls don''t like someone like me that way.¡± It''s the truth. Girls nowadays want their boyfriends to be at their beck and call. As for him, he had to answer Patrick''s beck and call, which left him with no time for girlfriends. Hisst girlfriend broke up with him because he was not there for her when she was sick. With that thought, Liam gulped down a mouthful of wine. Patrick raised his eyebrows. ¡°Hmm, I''ll be sure to give you more free time when you get a girlfriend in the future.¡± Liam jumped at Patrick''s words. ¡°Mr. Lowen, don''t fire me, please! I will work with all my heart. Girlfriends aren''t important.¡± Patrick took a bite of food. ¡°I wasn''t going to fire you. You need to take care of your own issues, too.¡± Liam suddenly felt as if his boss had changed. Somehow, he had some empathy now. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn had reached home, and she opened the gate to her yard. Stepping in, she saw two guards standing at the living room''s entrance. Juliette ran over as soon as she saw her. She whispered, ¡°Mommy, those two people keep standing there like wooden pirs.¡± Her big eyes asionally flitted over to the guards, who indeed looked like two wooden pirs. Anyway, Gwendolyn knew who those people were. She brought her yarn into the living room. That night she had to sort out balls of yarn, then knit a sweater for Patrick. The guards finally moved and spoke when she entered the room. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn!¡± Gwendolyn looked over. ¡°Grandpa sent you, didn''t he?¡± One of them answered, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, Old Mr. Ashton told us to bring you, Julian, Justin, and Juliette to the Ashton residence.¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. ¡°Grandpa wants to meet them?¡± Remembering the fuss her grandpa made at the time of her pregnancy, she was hesitant to go. Although she did agree to bring her children to see him some time ago, it was only an empty promise. To actually do it still made her worry. She didn''t want pointing fingers and mocking gazes aimed at her sweethearts. To her, these children were her sweethearts¡ªthe best present she received in life. ¡°Yes, Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± Gwendolyn looked at her three children. Her two sons were in the living room, unaffected. They were preupied with theirptops, fiddling with something she didn''t understand. She wouldn''t get it even if she tried, but they had told her before that what they were doing, which was coding, could bring in money. If they enjoyed it, then she would support them. cing the yarn down, she looked at her children. ¡°Sweethearts, we''re going to meet your great-grandpater. Would you guys like that?¡± No rtives were in her life so far, and the children might not even know what a great-grandpa was. Nheless, her grondpo wos the one who osked for o meeting this time, ond she could not refuse. Her grondpo wos once the person who treoted her the best in this world, ofter oll. Juliette nodded fervently. ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± Young Juliette didn''t understond whot o greot-grondpo wos. But she liked crowds, ond she liked sociolizing with people. Julion ond Justin looked ot her ond soid in unison, ¡°We''ll let you decide!¡± As long os she wonted them to go, they would definitelyply. Gwendolyn thought obout it for o moment. It wos going to hoppen sooner or loter, so I might os well get it done todoy! ¡°You con woit for us outside. We''ll be out os soon os we get chonged,¡± soid Gwendolyn to the guords. Together, the guords onswered, ¡°Yes, miss!¡± Juliette turned to her mother ofter she sow the guords leove. ¡°Mommy, why did they coll you thot?¡± The two sons hod expected it. Their mother hod elegonce, ond they ossumed thot she wos probobly from o good fomily. Even though she never brought it up, they could sense thot her life in the post wos likely very lovish. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°I wos the eldest in my fomily, so they politely oddressed me thot woy.¡± She gently stroked Juliette''s foce. ¡°Sweetheort, behove yourself when you oll meet Greot-grondpo, ond poy ottention to whot you soy.¡± Nheless, her grandpa was the one who asked for a meeting this time, and she could not refuse. Her grandpa was once the person who treated her the best in this world, after all. Juliette nodded fervently. ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± Young Juliette didn''t understand what a great-grandpa was. But she liked crowds, and she liked socializing with people. Julian and Justin looked at her and said in unison, ¡°We''ll let you decide!¡± As long as she wanted them to go, they would definitelyply. Gwendolyn thought about it for a moment. It was going to happen sooner orter, so I might as well get it done today! ¡°You can wait for us outside. We''ll be out as soon as we get changed,¡± said Gwendolyn to the guards. Together, the guards answered, ¡°Yes, miss!¡± Juliette turned to her mother after she saw the guards leave. ¡°Mommy, why did they call you that?¡± The two sons had expected it. Their mother had elegance, and they assumed that she was probably from a good family. Even though she never brought it up, they could sense that her life in the past was likely veryvish. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°I was the eldest in my family, so they politely addressed me that way.¡± She gently stroked Juliette''s face. ¡°Sweetheart, behave yourself when you all meet Great-grandpa, and pay attention to what you say.¡± Chapter 261 Chapter 261 If Gwendolyn could get Juliette to behave, she would not catch Michael''s attention. Hence, he would not take his anger out on Juliette even if he was enraged. Juliette nodded. ¡°Gwen, don''t worry. I''ll be very quiet.¡± Her forehead still had a small scar, though the gauze had been removed and reced with a bandage. She still looked as pretty as a princess when her fringe fell and covered it. Since they were heading to the Ashton residence, Gwendolyn had the triplets change into branded clothes. Even though it was not thetest wear, they looked good in whatever clothes they wore since they were all born pretty. They could rock the old style of kids'' wear into a new style effortlessly just by wearing them. It was something Gwendolyn hadplete confidence in, as they might have inherited her genes, seeing they were all born attractively. Afterward, the family of four got inside the Ashton family''s car and headed to the Ashton residence. The nearer the vehicle drove toward the manor''s gate, the more nervous Gwendolyn felt. She hoped that Michael''s mood that day would be good and that he would not get angry when he saw Julian, Justin, and Julietteter. Soon, the car stopped at the parking space of the Ashton residence. The housekeeper and driver helped open the car door for them. Gwendolyn got out of the car, followed by the triplets. Juliette wore a fluffy rabbit-ear jacket on top of a pink princess dress inside. Paired with a pair of white socks and red boots, she looked like a princess. Meanwhile, Julian wore a tiny ck suit, whereas Justin wore a tiny white suit. One ck and one white, indicating one''s cool and one''s warm. Just then, the housekeepers, who had been cleaning the courtyard, were immediately captivated by the sight of the family of four when they appeared. They began to gossip among themselves. ¡°Wow! Are they Ms. Ashton''s triplets? They are so adorable!¡± ¡°That''s right! They look like child stars on the television!¡± Gwendolyn took Juliette''s hand as they walked toward the main hall, her expression somber. Upon entering the living room in the main hall, she saw many people sitting on the couch. She nced around the room; the members of the Ashton family were all present. However, when she saw Zayden was also there, her gaze wavered with disbelief. Gwendolyn was sure that she had never told him about her background. After leaving the Ashton family, she never brought it up once. When Michael saw the four of them enter, he swept his gaze across the triplets. If it were the past, he would surely not have liked the triplets, especially since they hade out of nowhere without a father. On top of that, they had destroyed Gwendolyn''s life with their existence. It remained a thorn in his heart still. However, the moment he saw them, Michael was stunned. The determination in his heart melted into nothingness as a voice sounded. ¡°So, they are my great-grandchildren?¡± They were all such adorable kids. It was hard for others not to like them. At thot moment, Gwendolyn could feel her heort rise to her throot. Since Michoel wos storing ot the triplets, she worried he would not like them. Besides, everyone wos here to moke fun of them. Thus, no one mode o noise ot thot. They were oll woiting for Michoel to lose his temper. Hence, the Ashton residence ot thot moment wos deod silent. Everyone seemingly slowed their breothing, scored thot they would steol the triplets'' ottention ond be the torget of Michoel''s fury insteod. Just then, Michoel suddenly loughed. ¡°Gwen, I see you ore oll here! These three sweetheorts,e over here!¡± Juliette, Julion, ond Justin went to his side obediently. Then, the three greeted Michoel in unison, ¡°Nice to meet you, Greot-grondpo!¡± Everyone wos shocked by the sight. The triplets ore too cute! Meonwhile, Gwendolyn blinked her eyes. She wos certoin thot she did not teoch them thot. Then, she looked ot Michoel, who wos loughing heortily os he ocknowledged their greetings. Juliette rushed to his side ond introduced herself, ¡°My hondsome greot-grondpo, I om Juliette. I kept this condy so thot I could give it to you.¡± With thot soid, she honded him o pink heort-shoped condy. Michoel wos token obock by her gesture os if he hod his heort shot by her. He epted the condy. After toking o look, he loughed throotily ogoin. ¡°You''re so cute! Thonk you. But con you eot this for me?¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. At that moment, Gwendolyn could feel her heart rise to her throat. Since Michael was staring at the triplets, she worried he would not like them. Besides, everyone was here to make fun of them. Thus, no one made a noise at that. They were all waiting for Michael to lose his temper. Hence, the Ashton residence at that moment was dead silent. Everyone seemingly slowed their breathing, scared that they would steal the triplets'' attention and be the target of Michael''s fury instead. Just then, Michael suddenlyughed. ¡°Gwen, I see you are all here! These three sweethearts,e over here!¡± Juliette, Julian, and Justin went to his side obediently. Then, the three greeted Michael in unison, ¡°Nice to meet you, Great-grandpa!¡± Everyone was shocked by the sight. The triplets are too cute! Meanwhile, Gwendolyn blinked her eyes. She was certain that she did not teach them that. Then, she looked at Michael, who wasughing heartily as he acknowledged their greetings. Juliette rushed to his side and introduced herself, ¡°My handsome great-grandpa, I am Juliette. I kept this candy so that I could give it to you.¡± With that said, she handed him a pink heart-shaped candy. Michael was taken aback by her gesture as if he had his heart shot by her. He epted the candy. After taking a look, heughed throatily again. ¡°You''re so cute! Thank you. But can you eat this for me?¡± Chapter 262 Chapter 262 Juliette took the candy, peeled off the wrapper, and fed Michael. ¡°You eat it! It''s very sweet.¡± Usually, Michael was an arrogant elderly. However, Juliette had fully won over his heart at that moment. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. As for Julian and Justin, they soon got along with Michael as they chatted away. Everyone who witnessed the scene was furious as they did not get to watch Michael taking his anger out on Gwendolyn and the triplets. They had all prepared peanuts as snacks, yet their desired scene never came. The Ashton family stared at the harmonious image again. They felt that the triplets would rece Gwendolyn and be Michael''s favorite in the future. Afterward, Gwendolyn sat next to Zayden. She turned around and nced at him. ¡°Why are you here?¡± The Ashton family was not that close with the Surrington family in the first ce, nor did they usually have any contact with each other. Why is he here? Is he here to visit Grandpa? It doesn''t feel right. Maybe he has his eyes on one of the Ashton family''s members? No. He had just confessed his love to me recently. Zayden isn''t a jerk. He won''t treat me like this. Zayden smiled as he took her hand. ¡°I am here to exin to Grandpa that I''m the triplets'' father and that I have been taking care of you and them for all these years.¡± When he said that, happiness was evident in Zayden''s eyes. He felt he should have done so long ago. In the past, he had waited for Gwendolyn to bring and introduce him to the Ashton residence. However, now that Patrick had appeared, Zayden had to take the initiative. After hearing those words, Michael looked toward Zayden and Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, if only you had told me that you were in love with Zayden back then, I wouldn''t have stopped you. Now that he came to seek forgiveness, naturally, I forgave him. Since your ages are also simr, it''s about time to talk about marriage,¡± he uttered. Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn was dumbfounded. She had no idea how it hade to that. She had just brought the triplets home to see Michael. She never expected he would urge her to marry so soon. Zayden scooted nearer to Gwendolyn and whispered, ¡°Gwen, this is the best solution. Furthermore, I love the triplets as if they are my own. Let me be their father. Then, Grandpa and the rest won''t dare criticize the triplets'' status ever again.¡± Gwendolyn blinked her eyes. She thought his words made sense too. However, she never thought of marrying Zayden. Besides, the Surrington family would never approve of this marriage. Gwendolyn pursed her lips. Now that she had so many family members of the Ashton surrounding her, she could not retort and could only stay silent. Meanwhile, Candace smiled as she witnessed the scene. ¡°Gwen, you have such good taste in men. Mr. Surrington is a good guy. All in all, you made the Ashton family proud,¡± she uttered through gritted teeth. If only Felicia were the one who had gotten married instead. However, the engagement fell through. At that, Michael was incensed as he berated Felicia and Candace for shaming the Ashton family. Nowadays, he would take his anger out on them whenever Michael saw Candace and Felicia, unlike Gwendolyn. Not only did her triplets gain his favor, but she even had ties with the Surrington family. It seemed that Gwendolyn was on the way to the peak of her life, much to Candace''s frustration. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Shortly after her statement, Candace stood up and left for the kitchen, saying she wanted to check up on things inside. After entering the kitchen, she took out her phone and searched for her cousin''s contact before dialing her number. Diana Dannings was the one who married the youngest son of the Surrington family, who was also Zayden''s uncle¡ªAdam Surrington. She should be very knowledgeable about the Surrington family''s affairs. Candace wanted to ask whether they knew the matter about Zayden and Gwendolyn, as well as the fact that they had given birth to the triplets. Even though Candace knew the triplets'' background, she could not say it out loud. Hence, she could only let the Surrington family know that Zayden had been taken advantage of by Gwendolyn. Once they knew about it, they would not sit still, as no one would wish to assume a responsibility that was not theirs in the first ce. ¡°Candace, what do you need again?¡± Diana asked on the phone. She remembered the day at the socialite gathering when she had suffered humiliation. Moreover, she was reprimanded by her sister-inw when she got back. Seeing Candace''s number now, Diana could not help but feel her head throb. ¡°Ana, let me tell you something! Zayden is at our house now! He is iming that Gwendolyn''s triplets are his. Does your family know about this?¡± Candace questioned. Upon hearing that, Diana was amused. ¡°What did you say? You mean your husband''s daughter, the one who got pregnant before marriage?¡± ¡°That''s right! That''s her! Zayden came to the house to im the children. He even said he would marry Gwendolyn.¡± Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Dianaughed and said, ¡°Let me ask my sister-inw. I didn''t know about this!¡± Candace understood clearly what Diana meant. It looks like Ana is just waiting to watch a good show. She refused to believe that the Surrington family would still want Gwendolyn as their daughter-inw if they knew her truth. After ending the call, Candace went back to the living room. Gwendolyn was sitting next to Michael, who still loved the former as much as before. Now that her three children were around, it seemed like he had no grudge against her anymore. Zayden was beside them too. He had gifted Michael a box of the ceramic coffee set, and thetter regarded it as treasure. He took it and kept looking at the coffee set while Zayden sat beside him to talk about it. Seeing that the rest of the Ashton family were left aside, Candance could not help but find it funny. Sure enough, as long as Gwendolynes home, the rest of the Ashton family would fall out of his favor. ¡°Dad, dinner is ready. Everyone can eat now.¡± Everyone walked into the dining hall. The dining hall in the Ashton residence was huge. Gwendolyn, Zayden, and the three children ate at the main table with Michael. Besides them, the three men from the Ashton family were also seated at the main table. On the other hand, the other female family members were at another small table, far away from Michael.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Michael was fond of Zayden. Thetter was a young and promising man in Avenport. Thus, the older generation had taken note of him. Michael and Zayden had a few drinks too. After dinner, the three children yed with Michael for a while before leaving. Zayden walked beside Gwendolyn. His smile was warm and radiant, like the sun. It showed that he was in a good mood that night. The Ashton family did not send Gwendolyn and the rest out, but Zayden had already arranged for an MPV to pick them up. The three children got into the MPV while Gwendolyn and Zayden conversed beside the car. ¡°Thank you so much for today, Zayden!¡± she said gratefully. If it were not for his presence, her children would still be considered illegitimate in the eyes of Michael and the rest of the Ashton family. The Ashton family''s rtives would even call them b*stards. Since Zayden was with them, the Ashton family kept their mouths shut, and Michael even approved of them. Gwendolyn was grateful to Zayden since everything went fine. He reached out and tucked her messy, long hair behind her ear. ¡°You don''t have to thank me. I should havee earlier to visit Grandpa.¡± If Zayden had been more proactive, Gwendolyn would have married him already. At that moment, he regretted that he did not go to the Ashton residence to visit Michael sooner. Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. It seemed like Zayden did not understand her feelings. ¡°Zayden, you''re not the children''s father. I''ll clear your name soon.¡± ¡°It''s cold out here, so get in the car. I''m willing to be their father. You have no doubts about that, right?¡± His gaze darkened when he heard what Gwendolyn said. Zayden had watched the children grow up before him. That was equivalent to him being involved in all of Gwendolyn''s pregnancy andbor journey. Even if he was not their biological father, he was already considered half a father of theirs. Of course, Gwendolyn did not doubt his intentions. She bent down and got into the car while Zayden followed behind. Right at that moment, Michael''s servant, Harry chased after them and called out, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, Old Mr. Ashton said this is a gift for your three children.¡± Harry passed three paper bags to Gwendolyn from the car window. I wonder what''s inside. Regardless, it''s a token of sincerity from Grandpa. ¡°Thank Grandpa for me, Harry,¡± she said as she took over the paper bags. Gwendolyn held the paper bags in her arms. Grandpa is happy tonight. He finally put an end to the resentment he harbored for years. Harry waved at them and added, ¡°Remember toe back often to visit Old Mr. Ashton, Ms. Gwendolyn. He''s always thinking about you.¡± ¡°I will, Harry.¡± Gwendolyn waved back. As the car drove away from the Ashton residence''s main gate, she looked at the paper bags and wondered what Michael had given her three precious children. Out of curiosity, she opened one of the paper bags and took a peek inside. Upon seeing the content, Gwendolyn was so shocked that her eyes widened. It was a deed to one of the mansions in the Star Mansion area! She frantically opened the other two paper bags. They were all mansions! Michael had given each of her children a mansion of their own. Moreover, all three mansions were connected. Gwendolyn was so shocked that she could not even speak. All this while, she had wanted to purchase a small house, and now she owned three mansions. This was an unbelievable feeling. Chapter 264 Chapter 264 Juliette poked her head out as her tiny hands reached over to take the paper bag from Gwendolyn. She then waved at Zayden. ¡°Mr. Zayden, can you have a look at this? Because I think Gwen is dumbfounded. I shook her a few times, but she didn''t react.¡± Zayden took it over, took a look, andughed. ¡°This is a gift from your great-grandpa. It''s a big house!¡± ¡°Really? Does that mean we have our own house now?¡± Juliette asked with her widened eyes. Both Julian and Justin saw it too. They appeared calm, neither excited nor sad. They acted like it was something normal. Zayden looked at Gwendolyn. He had a lovely voice, and there was a hint of warmth in his deep voice. ¡°Gwen, your grandpa must have spoiled you when you were young.¡± Just then, Gwendolyn regained her senses. She kept the deeds and nodded slightly after hearing what Zayden said. ¡°People were envious because of how Grandpa spoiled me. And it...¡± Gwendolyn did not finish her sentence. She felt that it was unnecessary to tell someone about that. Only she could understand the pain and hatred she felt. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. At that moment, her phone rang. It was Angeline calling. Gwendolyn nced at Zayden, but he was happily chatting with her three children. Gwendolyn had a hunch that Angeline would call her. Hence, she answered the phone. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Gwendolyn Ashton, what are you trying to convey by bringing Zay back home? Even if you''re a part of the Ashton family, our family doesn''t care. Stay away from Zay in the future.¡± Angeline''s shouting had nearly deafened Gwendolyn. She could tell that the former was infuriated. She frowned slightly and replied, ¡°I didn''t bring him home. Don''t worry. We''re innocent. I have nothing to do with him.¡± After hearing what Gwendolyn said, Angeline let out a sneer. ¡°It better be like what you said. Aren''t you riding on Patrick''s coattails? Don''t mess with our Zay anymore.¡± With that, Angeline huffily ended the call. When Gwendolyn heard that Angeline had hung up the phone, she heaved a sigh of relief. She knew that Candace would not ignore that Zayden went to the Ashton residence. Just as she expected, Candace hadined to Angeline. Gwendolyn kept her phone and took a look at Zayden, who was ying games with her three children. He had a good rtionship with Julian, Justin, and Juliette. Fortunately for Gwendolyn, Zayden had been helping her out all these years. Even though his mother had called and scolded her, she was not mad because that was Zayden''s mother. ¡°Who called?¡± Zayden shifted his gaze toward her. He had overheard some parts of her conversation and felt that it was possibly his mother. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°They called the wrong number.¡± ¡°Gwen, just ignore my mother. My sincerity is the most important thing here.¡± Zayden did not buy her words. Gwendolyn chuckled after hearing what he said. ¡°Zayden, a marriage without the family members'' blessings won''tst either.¡± As soon as they spoke about this, the two stopped talking. Zayden gazed at Gwendolyn profoundly and said, ¡°Gwen, leave these matters to me. You have to consider me. Don''t just give up on me.¡± All of a sudden, he became miserable. So much so that Gwendolyn felt sorry for him. She did not answer him with harsh words, but instead, she leaned on the car seat and looked at the street scene outside the window. The following morning, Gwendolyn woke up. Her three children were already in the dining room. When they saw her enter the dining room, Juliette shed a smile at her mother. ¡°Gwen, don''t forget that we''re going to view the house today after you''re done with work.¡± They had decided to choose one of the mansions that they liked and move in while renting out the other two mansions. This way, she could collect rentals every month, and together with her sry, their lives would be rtively easier. Gwendolyn sat down, picked up a ss of milk, and took a sip. ¡°Sure. I''lle back earlier.¡± Juliette took the three title deeds and opened them one by one as she looked through them. ¡°Does that mean I can have my own princess room next time?¡± Justin replied, ¡°When the timees, you can choose the room you like first, Juliette. We''ll decorate it into a princess room for you.¡± Seeing her children''s excitement, Gwendolyn could not help but curl her lips into a smile. Grandpa is too generous. Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Gwendolyn was in a good mood. Even the coffee that she gave Patrick was the one that he liked, bitter, with no milk and sugar. After taking a sip, Patrick''s eyes narrowed slightly. He had gotten used to drinking the coffee she made, which was as sweet as syrup. Hence, to his surprise, he was somewhat unfamiliar with the taste of bitter coffee. Patrick calmly nced at Gwendolyn. She was humming while cing a few documents before him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you''ll need to sign these few documents by three today. You''ll also need to look at this proposal as you''ll be discussing it at tomorrow''s meeting.¡± After she spoke, she started humming again. Gwendolyn turned around and walked back to her desk. ¡°You''re in a good mood today, aren''t you, Gwendolyn?¡± Gwendolyn stopped in her tracks before she answered, ¡°No, I''m not.¡± Of course, I''m in a good mood. We''re moving into our own house soon. We''ll never have to be worried about being kicked out by thendlord anymore. But is it that obvious? Even Mr. Lowen could see it. Patrick smirked. ¡°Did you win the lottery?¡± Gwendolyn sat at her desk and saw that she had several WhatsApp messages. She then clicked it open to read one. Tiffany wrote: Gwen, you did an excellent job with the theme and design. Your designs will be shown during the autumn event. Come to school if you have time to finish the clothing sample. When Gwendolyn read the message, she could hardly contain her excitement and was about to jump up in joy. The clothes that she designed will be on the show. That was her dream. She had hoped that one day, a model would wear her design and exhibit it during a fashion show. Gwendolyn is getting luckier this year. She had a good job and now had her own house. Moreover, even her dream came true. She found it hard to believe. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. With trembling hands, she replied: All right, Tiffany. I''ll work harder. After replying to Tiffany, Gwendolyn propped her chin and started to imagine the scene during Denzy Kenington''s spring event. She then envisioned that the clothes she designed would be hung in major stores, and everyone was fighting to buy them. What a beautiful scene to visualize. Patrick knocked on her desk as she was smiling to herself like a fool. ¡°Follow me to the site in the eastern district.¡± Gwendolyn stood up abruptly as Patrick disrupted her dream. She took her coat, put it on, and went into the elevator with him. Only two of them were in the elevator. Patrick took one step closer to Gwendolyn, so she could only lean against the wall. She was terrified and pointed at the surveince camera. ¡°Mr. Lowen, there''s a surveince camera there. Mind your image.¡± As Gwendolyn thought about yesterday''s kiss, she felt goosebumps. This man is good at kissing. She could barely handle it. Thus, she feared Patrick would do something reckless in the elevator. She would be embarrassed if someone else saw it. ¡°What''s the matter? Do you want me to kiss you?¡± Patrick said with a smirk. He was driving Gwendolyn mad. She reached out and tugged at his shirt. ¡°That''s not what I meant, Mr. Lowen.¡± However, when the man saw her red lips, he could not control himself and wanted to have a taste of them. I didn''t get enough of them yesterday. With that, he stretched his long arms and pinned her against the elevator wall. Gwendolyn could only watch as his handsome face inched closer to her until her lips were in his mouth as he kissed her gently. She grabbed onto his shirt tightly with both hands and quivered anxiously. Patrick Lowen, not here. Please not here. Gwendolyn kept screaming inwardly. Nevertheless, Patrick had already kissed her. Furthermore, he was confident that no one in the surveince room would dare to sneak a peek. At the thought of that, he coldly nced at the surveince camera while kissing Gwendolyn. In the surveince room, they were frightened when they saw him looking into the camera and quickly turned off the surveince system in that particr elevator. Patrick shed a triumphant smile. Gwendolyn had entirely lost her control. That was how it was with an amateur in a rtionship like her. She did not know anything at all. She wanted to let him bully her with all his might. When the elevator stopped on the first floor, the doors slowly slid open. Standing before them was Liam. Noticing them, he hurriedly covered his eyes and pretended he did not see anything. Chapter 266 Chapter 266 With his sharp eyes, Patrick had already seen Liam. Good that he knows what to do. He let go of Gwendolyn''s sweet lips and lightly patted her shoulder. ¡°Gwen, can you still walk?¡± She had already melted in his embrace. At that moment, Gwendolyn felt that she was like a puddle. When she heard what Patrick asked, she instantly regained her senses. Gwendolyn reached out and touched her somewhat swollen lips. Her face was burning. ¡°I-I can walk.¡± Even her voice came out coquettishly. She wanted to bite her tongue as she did not know why she spoke like that. Patrickughed and kissed Gwendolyn again on her neck. ¡°Gwen,e to my ce tonight. I want to teach you more.¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes widened in disbelief. She quickly tidied her clothes and trotted out of the elevator. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. At the entrance, Liam greeted her warmly. ¡°Ms. Ashton.¡± When Gwendolyn saw him, she raised her hand and caressed her face. It was still burning. Thus, she ignored him and strode away. Liam raised his eyebrows in a disinterested manner. It looks like Ms. Ashton is not very happy. Why did she ignore me? But then again, it''s normal for her to do that because of her rtionship with Mr. Lowen. Furthermore, I always appear when they are in the middle of something good. No one would feel happy to see me if I ruined their moment. When Patrick strode out, he appeared elegant again. He briefly nced at Liam and said, ¡°Didn''t I ask you to wait in the car?¡± With that, he began walking forward while Liam followed closely behind. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I thought you guys were not down yet, so I wanted to go upstairs to remind you.¡± It seemed like Liam had done something unnecessary once more. At the entrance, three cars were waiting. Gwendolyn and Patrick got into the Bentley that was parked in the middle. Liam had wanted to follow them. However, when he remembered that he had offended them earlier, he decided to get into the first car. Two hourster, they arrived at the eastern district site. Patrick had wanted to give Zayden this piece ofnd so that thetter would stay away from Gwendolyn. Given the circumstances, it seemed like he could not do it anymore. The piece ofnd was still in the nning stage. Patrick had brought Gwendolyn there to get her opinion. He wanted to know what was best to be built on thend. He had decided to give her the piece ofnd. It did not matter what they were building, be it houses or commercial centers. Everything would belong to Gwendolyn. This was her first time at a site. When the wind blew, there was so much dust everywhere. She felt like the dust was enough to cover her whole body. Gwendolyn was wearing a white cap. While Patrick and the others were talking business, she could only follow behind. Suddenly, he turned his head and asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, what do you think is better to be built here?¡± Upon hearing that, she was dumbstruck. Everyone here is either an engineer or an architect. As a woman, what do I know? ¡°Don''t be afraid. Just say anything.¡± Patrick gave her an encouraging look. Initially, Gwendolyn was somewhat nervous. However, her boss had told her to speak up. She would be embarrassing him if she did not say a word. With that, her big eyes turned around, ncing at the environment. ¡°I''m quite familiar with this ce. There are many residential areas here. There aremercial centers too. I think we can build a hotel since there are only a few hotels around.¡± Hearing that, Patrickughed. She does have a brain. He had done his survey and nned to build a seven-star hotel. It would be an icondmark of the eastern district. Moreover, it would be a good business. Gwendolyn felt a little nervous when she saw Patrickughing. She added, ¡°I''m just spouting nonsense. Mr. Lowen, you guys are the professionals here. You guys should decide. Don''t listen to me.¡± Liam, who was walking beside her, was stunned too. He did not expect that Gwendolyn would know a lot. Whatever she said was the information that he had found out. Patrick and the others had decided to build a seven-star hotel. There would be amodation and entertainment in one building. In the future, the hotel would be the best ce for people to talk business. Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Patrick went forward again with the group of people behind him, inspecting all areas. Once everything was done, he left, seemingly in a good mood. He told Liam, who was standing next to him, ¡°The blueprint is finished. Use the version I designed. Draw up the contract and have her sign it.¡± Liam looked at the oblivious woman next to him. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. She kept looking at her shoes as she carried her bag. Her shoes were covered with dust, which probably made her unhappy. Ms. Ashton, you''ll soon be a secret tycoon in Avenport. However, you don''t seem to be aware of it. D*mn. Mr. Lowen is simply too good at doting on women. Not only did he give out thend, but he even assisted with the construction. At that moment, Liam desperately wanted to be a woman. In particr, Patrick''s woman. After returning to the car, Gwendolyn took a tissue and used it to clean her shoes. This pair of leather shoes is quite pricey. What a pity! I shouldn''t have worn them to the construction site. I don''t think I''ll be able to wear them tomorrow. Just then, her phone rang. She answered right away when she saw that it was Juliette''s number. ¡°Sweetheart!¡± ¡°Gwen, it''s reallyte now. Why haven''t you reached home yet? Aren''t we going house-viewing?¡± Juliette had been waiting all day, hoping that six o''clock woulde soon. s, she had waited at the door until six, but her beloved mother had yet toe home. Gwendolyn nced at the time and saw that it was indeed already six thirty-five. She pursed her lips slightly. ¡°I''ll be right back. Give me a minute.¡± After she hung up the phone, she looked at Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, may I knock off now? I''ve something on today.¡± It means I don''t want to go out to dinner or do anything else with him. I just want to get out of work. Hopefully, he''ll understand. Finally, Patrick put down the blueprint and nced at the time. ¡°Let''s get together for dinner before you leave.¡± It''s already this time of day; it doesn''t matter if she leaves after we eat. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°We''re going house-viewing today. This is really important to me, and my three kids are waiting for me, so I can''t go to dinner with you.¡± Then, she called out, ¡°Larry, please let me off at the next intersection.¡± Patrick caught something in her words. ¡°Where''s the house?¡± Has this woman seriously saved up enough money to buy a house? That''s pretty quick. She scratched her head. ¡°Ha... Um, it''s in Star Mansion.¡± All of a sudden, she recalled that Patrick also lived there, which meant they would be neighbors in the future. Patrick was a little surprised that she was rich enough to afford a house in Star Mansion. He touched the ring on his index finger with his long fingers lightly. ¡°I happen to be free tonight, so let''s go view the house together. After that, you''ll make me dinner. Don''t forget that you still owe me money.¡± Now that the man mentioned it, Gwendolyn could not turn him down anymore. She contemted for a while, then answered, ¡°All right!¡± With that, Patrick ordered Larry to drive straight to Snowy Lane to fetch her three kids. As Larry was a skilled driver, and Gwendolyn lived precisely in the eastern district, the car arrived in front of her house in only ten minutes or so. She glimpsed at the man beside her. ¡°Mr. Lowen, please drive ahead of me. My car will be right behind you.¡± Patrick gave her an indifferent nce. ¡°I''ll drive. You guys can just take my car.¡± Larry''s seat was kicked hard, so he quickly piped up, ¡°Mr. Lowen, it''s time for me to knock off. I''ll take my leave now.¡± After saying that, he swiftly opened the door, got out of the car, and left. Gwendolyn watched as Larry walked away until he vanished at the alley''s entrance. She blinked, feeling that Patrick was genuinely overbearing on a whole other level, so much so that everyone would obey everymand of his. Well, I guess it''s our honor that this big shot is willing to be our personal driver. The three kids were already dressed when Gwendolyn and Patrick got out of the vehicle. Camille also deliberately dolled up, carrying her purse and following them with a look of glee. Uh... There''s no more space in the car. Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Camille would naturally have to go with them to view the new house. Upon seeing that scene, Gwendolyn could hardly hold back herughter. ¡°Mr. Lowen, let Ms. Ziegler take your car, then. I''ll drive with the other three kids and join you afterward.¡± Camille had already approached them. When she heard their conversation, she smiled and said, ¡°Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Lowen.¡± Next, she promptly opened the passenger seat door and got into the vehicle. Patrick looked at that woman, who was smirking evilly. Her three kids got in her Volvo with her. Raising a brow, the man pressed the autopilot button and set the destination. The car began driving by itself, even making a U-turn on its own. Camille was so terrified that she banged the car window, screaming, ¡°Mr. Lowen, what''s going on? Why is the car driving on its own?¡± Patrick ignored her and strode to Gwendolyn''s car, pulling open the passenger door to get in. All four people in the vehicle were taken aback when he got in, especially Gwendolyn. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Ms. Ziegler doesn''t know how to drive.¡± ¡°Don''t you know there''s autopilot?¡± he asked coldly. Juliette leaned out the car window, looking at the car driving away. ¡°How cool!¡± she murmured. Julian and Justin exchanged nces before the former hurriedly dialed Camille''s phone number. ¡°Julian, help! T-The car''s moving on its own!¡± Camille''s voice was so loud that it hurt the boy''s eardrum. Feeling pain in his ear, he picked at it with one eye closed. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, don''t be afraid. Patrick activated the autopilot mode. See youter!¡± Camille finally calmed down when she heard that. ¡°Oh, so it''s autopilot! It scared the heck out of me. Okay, see you guyster.¡± Gwendolyn chuckled secretly. Patrick is truly cunning. Not to mention Camille, I''d be scared to death too if it were me. Justin uttered coldly, ¡°Mr. Lowen, we''re going to see our new house. Why are you here for?¡± Him and his brother would never forgive this man. He''s clearly dating Mommy, yet he got engaged to someone else! Although the engagement ended up being a flop, this will always be an issue in our hearts. No one can belittle our mommy! Patrick raised a brow. It gave him a headache not knowing how to deal with these two fellows yet. Gwendolyn saw that her two sons were still hostile to the man, so she answered on Patrick''s behalf, ¡°It''s because Mr. Lowen lives in Star Mansion. We will be neighbors in the future.¡± Juliette was licking a lollipop when she heard that. A grin crept up on her face. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Yay! We''re going to be neighbors with Mr. Handsome! I can y with him whenever I want to now. After more than an hour, they arrived at Star Mansion. Gwendolyn was trying to find where mansions five, six, and seven were. Patrick lived in mansion eight, so his car was parked right in front of his house. Camille was standing by the vehicle, scanning around the neighborhood. She waved at them upon spotting Gwendolyn''s car. Thetter parked her car next to Patrick''s, and everyone alighted. Camille looked delighted. ¡°Oh, my! I can''t believe I''d get to witness new technology today. That car didn''t only drive itself, but it also chatted with me! It must cost a bomb, right?¡± Gwendolyn answered smilingly, ¡°Yes, it''s quite expensive.¡± Patrick slipped his hands into his pockets. ¡°Which house is it?¡± Gwendolyn pointed to the three houses right by the side. ¡°These three¡ªmansions five, six, and seven.¡± The man narrowed his eyes slightly. Did she win the lottery? Even if one strikes the jackpot, one wouldn''t be able to afford these. All three mansions will cost hundreds of millions. Gwendolyn and Patrick walked side by side, with Camille and the three children in front of them. ¡°Who''s giving you them?¡± asked Patrick. He had a bad feeling that Zayden had probably given her those mansions. Gwendolyn smiled at him, looking in high spirits. ¡°They''re my grandpa''s gifts for my children. He dotes on me a lot. When he met the kids for the first time, he instantly adored them, so he''s giving them these mansions.¡± Patrick let out a breath of relief. As it turns out, she has a wealthy family. Chapter 269 Chapter 269 They first entered mansion seven. Even though this mansion was iparable to Patrick''s, it was still considered big, with three floors and a front and back yard. It was more than enough to amodate Gwendolyn''s family of four and Camille. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Camille examined the house and eximed, ¡°Wow! This is too spacious. I can even grow some vegetables in the yard''s empty space.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in approval. After all, eating home-grown vegetables was healthier. The structure and area of the three houses were the same, for Michael was a fair man. Patrick inspected the house. Initially, he assumed the ce would require renovation and furnishings to be habitable. Unexpectedly, the house was fully furnished. Besides that, he could tell that the furniture was installed recently. It was evident that Gwendolyn''s grandfather treated them very well, having nned out every single aspect for them. Juliette sat in front of the piano and began ying a piece. She had learned piano for more than a year. s, she only knew how to y simple tunes. Nevertheless, she felt ted to finally have a piano of her own. Moreover, it was even in her favorite color¡ªwhite. Gwendolyn was somewhat surprised, as she, too, presumed she would need to fork out money for renovation and so on. In an excited tone, Camille said, ¡°Gwen, I think we can move in tonight. There''s everything we need here.¡± When Juliette heard that, she turned around and chimed in, ¡°Gwen, I''d like to sleep here tonight. I like this ce!¡± Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Okay, then! We''ll stay here tonight!¡± Patrick even consciously checked the electricity, gas, water, and heater, only to find them all enabled. It was indeed fine for them to move in right away. Standing a short distance away, the man raised his hand and coughed lightly. ¡°Gwendolyn, I''m hungry.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn immediately became wary. She feared he would expose the fact that she owed him money. Even though she had some savings now, she was reluctant to take out the money to settle the debt, as the IOU itself was unreasonable. Hence, she would rather pay him with herbor. Rising to her feet, she said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, please take a seat and rest for a bit. Ms. Ziegler and I will go and prepare the food now.¡± Camille stood up as well. I can definitely make a table full of delicacies in such a spacious kitchen. ¡°Where''s the farmer''s market? I''ll go and get some groceries.¡± Gwendolyn''s brows furrowed slightly. There was no farmer''s market nearby as people living in this area typically had servants who would prepare everything. It was unlike the ordinary residential area where a convenience store would be right around the corner. She whipped out her phone and prepared to make a grocery delivery order. Yet, Patrick stretched out a finger and hooked her over. ¡°There are food ingredients in my house. Come with me.¡± Camille smiled faintly upon hearing that. No matter from what perspective she looked at Patrick, she felt the man was pleasing to the eyes. We''ll be neighbors from now on. Gwen doesn''t have a man in her house, so we must be on good terms with Mr. Lowen. Even if he and Gwen aren''t a couple, he can help her when she needs help. Being hooked toward him with his finger, Gwendolyn felt slightly sweet deep down. It surprised her to feel the sweet moments that only existed between couples. Although they had not established a rtionship, they had kissed several times, and their rtionship had undergone some changes. After leaving mansion seven, Patrick pulled her into his embrace and lowered his gaze to look at her. ¡°Mansion seven, it is. It''s closest to me,¡± he stated. When I miss her at night, I''d be able to climb over to meet her. How convenient. While the man thought of that, Gwendolyn nodded at him. ¡°I also feel mansion seven''s better. It''s closer to you and receives enough sunlight.¡± Patrick reached out to caress her head, his eyes filling with adoration. After entering his house, she went to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and began selecting the food ingredients she wanted. Patrick took a bottle of water and opened the cap before delivering it to her. Gwendolyn epted it and took a sip. After that, he took it back and sipped on the same bottle of water she had just drunk out of. Her eyes slightly widened. ¡°Patrick, I just drank that.¡± Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Patrick gulped down half of the water, then wiped away the liquid on the corner of his mouth. ¡°I''ve long tasted your saliva. Why would you still mind?¡± Gwendolyn blushed and dared not meet his eyes. Instead, she stretched a hand out to select the food ingredients from the refrigerator. However, she did not know what to pick. She decided to take some of whatever entered her sight and let Camille decideter. Patrick put the water aside and wrapped his arm around her waist from behind. Then, he pressed his lips on her neck as though he was vaguely kissing her. Gwendolyn was so nervous that her whole body stiffened. ¡°Mr. Lowen, stop fooling around.¡± She moved and twisted her waist. However, the more she did, the more turned on Patrick became. His Adam''s apple bobbed up and down sexily, and he said in a husky voice, ¡°Gwen, I feel like kissing you again.¡± Instead of forcing her this time, he asked for her permission. When she heard that, her heart itched like a feather tickling her heart, and she could barely tolerate the sensation. Seeing that there was no reaction from Gwendolyn, the man turned her around and looked at her intently. Her big eyes blinked, but she did not resist. Entering her vision was the frigid yet handsome face of Patrick. He embraced her tightly, and his tall figure almost shrouded her entire body. She could smell a faint scent exuding from the man before her. He merely stared at her face and never shifted his gaze away, not even for a second. Right now, his lips pursed tightly, imbued with a sense of stubbornness and arrogance. His alluring look gave her the feeling that he was a good-looking prince who came out of aic book. Patrick gulped down half of the water, then wiped away the liquid on the corner of his mouth. He had a pair of dark eyes that looked just like ck gems, while untamable ck hair stuck to his cheeks that were as fair as frozen white porcin. His thick, furrowing brows could not help but infatuate her unconsciously. She looked at Patrick in a daze as his lips slowly inched toward her face. When their lips finally came into contact, both of them seemed to be satisfied. They hugged each other tightly while Gwendolyn responded passionately to his kiss. This made Patrickpletely lose control. He pressed her against the refrigerator door and sucked her lips greedily while she hugged his neck tightly with both hands. At that moment, she did not know what to do. However, it was undeniable that deep down, she yearned for this and did not want to let him go. Patrick took off her coat with hisrge hand and lifted her onto the counter. That took Gwendolyn by slight surprise, causing her mouth to fall slightly agape. Following that, he sealed her lips with his again. The woman''s body shuddered despite the room being at room temperature. It was out of anxiety and fear. She didn''t know what would happen next, yet she was looking forward to it. As the man''s breathing grew increasingly heavier, he knew he could not hold back anymore. He loosened his tie and began undoing her buttons. Gwendolyn felt a coldness on her chest. Then, hisrge palm covered her mount, inciting a strange feeling within her that caused her to press her thighs together unconsciously. Noticing that, he chuckled softly and nibbled her lips. ¡°Gwen, you want it now, right?¡± In the past, no matter how hard he tried to seduce her, she would not feel a thing, as though she did not understand his intention. Atst, he noticed her arousal, which gave him a sense of aplishment. Gwendolyn''s cheeks became increasingly flushed. She leaned in his arms and raised her hand to smack him. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Stop talking, Patrick Lowen.¡± Patrick undressed her and gazed at her snow-white skin. His eyes became redder and redder. Her entire skin was as white as snow and would turn red with just a brief touch. It would undoubtedly leave bruises on her if he gripped her. Her skin was so wless to the point that it was almost transparent. Such a woman deserved to be spoiled. He buried his face in her neck, asking in a deep and hoarse voice, ¡°Do you want to do it here or in the bedroom?¡± After all, this was their first time going all the way. Truth be told, he liked it here very much. However, he feared that she wouldn''t be able to stand it. He would love to experience it in a ce like a kitchen, but that would have to wait. Gwendolyn clutched his neck and gave his earlobe a feather-light kiss. ¡°The bedroom.¡± Chapter 271 Chapter 271 As soon as she said those words, her whole body flushed while she bit her lip hard. What''s going on with me? I actually want to advance further with him... Patrick picked her up and strode upstairs, his lips never once parting from her skin. Everywhere his lips touched made her feel a tickle. It was incredibly torturous. All of her self-control had suddenly gone haywire. She wondered what had happened to her. After tossing the woman on therge, soft bed, Patrick swiftly stripped himself off and climbed above her. Gwendolyn was only dressed in her body-hugging skirt now as the man''s hand caressed her rear intimately. ¡°This skirt suits you very well.¡± He had always thought of doing this whenever he saw her buttocks in the office. Atst, his wish was fulfilled. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was so immersed in the intimate sensation that all his words had blurred into a fuzz in her mind. She closed her eyes, moving her body involuntarily while pressed against him. It was not until when she finally felt hisrge manhood entering her that she grimaced in pain, her hands clutching his shoulders tightly. ¡°It hurts...¡± Patrick crooned, ¡°Babe, rx. You''re going to break me.¡± Regardless, she remained tensed, seemingly unsure how to proceed. He wanted to move, but she was squeezing him too tightly for him to do so. The man kissed her lips again, wanting to help her rx. Right at this juncture, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Open the door, Mommy!¡± As soon as she said those words, her whole body flushed while she bit her lip hard. ¡°Gwen, Mr. Handsome...¡± The voices of the three kids traveled through the door. At once, Gwendolyn opened her eyes and suddenly recalled they were waiting for her to bring back groceries to the adjacent mansion. What''s the time now? They must be starving. She hurriedly pushed Patrick away. ¡°Patrick, take it out.¡± He knitted his brows. His shaft was still throbbing in anticipation. If he were to take it out now, he would likely have blue balls. He gnawed on her lips. ¡°I don''t want to.¡± Then, he started kissing her again. Gwendolyn closed her eyes before abruptly snapping them open. She jostled him off her, grabbed the quilt, and wrapped herself in it. Her face flushed warmly while her eyes filled with mist. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°I''m sorry, Patrick! Can we take a rain check?¡± They had already reached this stage, so she wouldn''t be reserved anymore. Next time, she would definitely give herself to him. Patrick red coldly at her. This woman is going to be the death of me. His lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°You owe me this time.¡± As he got off the bed, Gwendolyn hurriedly shut her eyes, not daring to peek. Once the sounds of running water resonated from the bathroom, she hastily got off the bed, put on her clothes while she walked, then returned to the kitchen to get the groceries. With that, she headed toward the yard. In the meantime, she tidied her hair and gave her face a few gentle smacks. Gwendolyn Ashton, how can you forget about your kids because of a man? It''s already thiste. Do you want them to starve to death? She pulled open the door, her gaze slightly flustered. ¡°Are you guys hungry?¡± Juliette pouted. ¡°Mommy, what were you doing here with Mr. Handsome? We''re famished.¡± Gwendolyn smiled awkwardly. ¡°Mr. Lowen is busy at the moment. I''m his secretary; naturally, it''s my duty to work with him. Sorry for taking up some time for that.¡± Next, she cast a quick nce upstairs. Her eyesnded precisely on Patrick''s bedroom window, and she saw him standing by the window in a bath towel, peering back at her. His intense stare sent shivers down her spine, and her mind couldn''t help but drift off to the moment they shared minutes ago. Cough! Cough! Cough! At that thought, she coughed vigorously, forcing her wandering mind back on track. ¡°Let''s go back.¡± She hurriedly retracted her gaze and urged the kids to go back home. Juliette cast a nce upstairs. ¡°How about Mr. Handsome? Is heing to our ce for dinner too?¡± Gwendolyn grinned. ¡°Yes, he will. He''s still in a meeting right now. He''lle after the meeting is over. Let''s head back first.¡± Juliette jumped in exhration. ¡°That''s wonderful! I haven''t seen Mr. Handsome in a few days. He seems to have gotten even more handsome. Mommy, do you think so as well? He''s handsome, right?¡± Patrick''s figure shed across her mind, and Gwendolyn blurted out, ¡°Mm. He''s handsome!¡± Chapter 272 Chapter 272 As Julian and Justin listened to the mother-and-daughter duo''s conversation, their faces briefly darkened. Julian tugged on Justin. ¡°Justin, let''s go upstairs and check the room.¡± The brothers nned to install a security system in the house. With that, they would be alerted whenever there was an intruder. Now that they were living in such a spacious house, they needed to be extra cautious. Gwendolyn yed with Juliette for a moment. Then, she went to the kitchen and saw Camille busy with work. ¡°I''ll wash the vegetables.¡± She took the leafy greens aside and started washing them. Meanwhile, Camille cleaned the fish and meat. ¡°Gwen, this is genuinely a nice house. The kitchen is so spacious. It''s practically an honor to be able to cook here.¡± Gwendolyn was done with the vegetables. She broke into a smile when she heard Camille. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, it will be tough for you to clean a house this big.¡± Of course, Gwendolyn and her children would help Camille with the chores during the weekend. Although she hired Camille as a housekeeper, thetter had been helping her a lot outside of her duty scope. Additionally, Camille was genuinely nice to the three kids. Thus, they regarded her as part of the family. Camille beamed. ¡°It''s all right. I have nothing to do anyway. I consider cleaning as an exercise.¡± Right then, Juliette walked into the kitchen. ¡°Mommy, Mr. Handsome is here.¡± A blush crept up Gwendolyn''s cheeks when she heard that. It immediately reminded her of the scene in his house earlier. As Julian and Justin listened to the mother-and-daughter duo''s conversation, their faces briefly darkened. She suddenly felt a bit shy to meet him, for they had gotten so intimate. ¡°Gwen, you can brew some coffee for Mr. Lowen. Leave the rest to me.¡± Gwendolyn wiped her hands. ¡°Juliette, why don''t you go and greet Mr. Lowen? I''ll make some coffee now.¡± Although this was a new house, everything was well-prepared. It seemed Michael had an inkling they would move in as soon as possible. She found a can of coffee beans at the counter in the dining room. After brewing it, she carried the drink to the living room. The man, who was sitting on the couch, immediately caught her eyes. At present, he had already taken a shower and changed into casual clothes. He wore a grey sweater with ck trousers, his hair left undone in its natural state. Instead of his typical aloofness, he now exuded a faint warmness, giving off the vibe of the boy next door. Juliette sat beside him, herrge, iridescent eyes riveting on him. It was apparent that the girl thought Patrick was handsome too. Simrly, Gwendolyn found him extraordinarily attractive today. With blushing cheeks, she ced the coffee before him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, the food will be ready soon. Please have a drink first.¡± The man stared at her deeply, his gaze still full of intense emotions. Gwendolyn''s heart raced wildly. She knew exactly what he was thinking at the moment. Deliberately, the woman took a seat a distance away from him. Otherwise, she felt that mes would ignite within her due to his zing gaze. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Juliette leaned against the man. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Ms. Ziegler is going to cook a delicious meal tonight. You''re always wee to eat with us in the future.¡± Patrick was originally staring at the woman ying with her phone with her head lowered. He knew she was feeling shy. Although he had only possessed her for a few minutes tonight, the sensation still lingered on his mind, sending down prickles through his whole body whenever he thought about it. It gave him an urge to die on her body. He then licked his thin lips. Next time, I''ll definitely take her all the way. He reached out and stroked Juliette''s tiny face. ¡°Thank you, but I''d have to ask your mommy if I''m wee here.¡± Though she looked engrossed in her phone, Gwendolyn was actually listening to their conversation. She pursed her lips slightly upon hearing that. Juliette chirped, ¡°Mommy, didn''t you just say Mr. Lowen is handsome? You like him too, don''t you? Why don''t we invite Mr. Lowen to our house every day for dinner after this?¡± Gwendolyn wanted to dash over and cover her daughter''s mouth. How can you tell him that? She wished she could dig herself a hole and hide in it. ¡°I''ll go and help Ms. Ziegler out. Enjoy your drink, Mr. Lowen.¡± With that, she hurriedly got up and scurried into the kitchen while Patrick smiled with eyes full of affection. Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Gwendolyn entered the kitchen with a flushed face. When Camille saw her, she asked, ¡°Gwen, why is your face so red? Are you sick?¡± Gwendolyn reached out to touch her face with her hand. She had already felt her face heating up, but now she was even more embarrassed that Camille pointed it out. ¡°It''s fine. It''s just that the heater here is quite strong, so I''m feeling a little warm.¡± She then proceeded to the counter. ¡°Is there anything I can do, Ms. Ziegler? I can assist you. They''re all ravenous. It''s a lot for you to take on your own, so it''ll be easier with another person.¡± Camille pointed to a te of vegetables. ¡°You can help to make the sd.¡± Gwendolyn was great at making sds. Hence, she got to work right away. Meanwhile, Juliette leaned against Patrick in the living room while watching a cartoon. He stared at the child in his arms, who appeared to be a carbon copy of Gwendolyn. For whatever reason, the more he looked at the girl, the fonder he was of her. It seemed that he really adored Juliette the moment he hadid eyes on her. He felt a sense of affinity when he looked at the girl as though they had already known each other for a long time. ¡°Juliette, you can always give me a call no matter what happens in the future, all right? I''m only next door.¡± Juliette was staring at Peppa Pig that was airing on the TV when she heard this. Her brows furrowed slightly. Gwendolyn entered the kitchen with a flushed face. When Camille saw her, she asked, ¡°Gwen, why is your face so red? Are you sick?¡± ¡°But, my brothers say that you''re not a good person, and they won''t let me tell you anything about our family.¡± She did not understand them, but she knew she liked Patrick because he was the most good-looking person she had ever seen. Moreover, he also resembled her brothers, so she felt a special connection with him. Patrick was well aware that the other two boys disliked him. He used to think that if he could just win over Gwendolyn, the three kids would follow suit. Now, it seemed like he would have to win over the three children first in order to have a blissful life. ¡°Juliette, I did do something wrong in the past. However, I''ve changed and will treat Gwen well wholeheartedly from now on. Are you willing to help me? I want to pursue her.¡± Juliette''srge eyes stared fixedly at the man when she heard that. ¡°Do you really like Gwen? Are you willing to be our daddy too?¡± Patrick raised a brow. ¡°Of course. You can call me Daddy from now on.¡± The girl blinked herrge eyes. I really want to call him Daddy! Since young, all my friends had their daddies except me. This was also a source of pain to the girl. She turned her gaze to the dining room''s entrance, then to the stairwell. Next, she stood on the couch and inched closer to Patrick''s ear. ¡°Daddy! Daddy!¡± She burst out giggling after saying those words. Patrick''s heart skipped a beat as a remarkable emotion spread across his chest. His eyes darkened faintly. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Juliette hugged his neck and whispered again, ¡°Daddy, I miss you. I''ve missed you so much.¡± The man''s eyes turned watery when he saw her expression. It was apparent that the child missed her father. He ced her on hisp and patted her head gently. ¡°Sweetheart, you''re my daughter from now on.¡± His heart ached for Juliette immensely. Since he fancied Gwendolyn, he naturally adored her children. At this moment, the other two boys came down the stairs. Juliette immediately got up from Patrick''sp and widened the gap between them. There was a gleam of helplessness in her gaze. However, she was obedient and obeyed her two brothers. Justin and Julian returned to the living room, and the former shot Patrick a cold re. ¡°Mr. Lowen, we''d better meet less in the future. My mommy has to date. If you keep appearing, it will affect her prospects of getting a boyfriend.¡± Julian chimed in, ¡°Let this be ourst dinner, then!¡± Patrick swept his gaze across the two boys. They were both good-looking and exuded a refined aura. He was confident that they would be extremely sessful in the future. His slender fingers fidgeted with the wolf-embellished ring on his finger, and he narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°I''m currently pursuing Gwendolyn.¡± Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Justin scoffed coldly, ¡°She would rather stay single than marry you.¡± Worry flitted across Juliette''s face when she noticed they were about to start arguing. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Justin, Julian! Mr. Lowen is our guest today. Mommy will be very angry when she finds out you guys are acting this way toward him.¡± Hearing their sister''s words, Justin and Julian swallowed the barrage ofments they were about to say. Patrick was stuck in a dilemma as he did not know how to let the boys ept him. He was totally clueless as to how to coax a child. At this moment, Gwendolyn called out, ¡°Dinner is ready.¡± Juliette wore her slippers and extended her hand. ¡°Mr. Lowen, let''s go eat!¡± Patrick rose to his feet and took Juliette''s hand in his. As their height disparity was too vast, it made the girl look especially tiny inparison. The whole family sat at the dining table to dig in. Gwendolyn ced some food on her children''s tes before adding some to Patrick''s. ¡°Mr. Lowen, thank you for your ingredients.¡± Patrick was eating gracefully when he heard her words. His dark gaze drew to her. For some reason, Gwendolyn''s heart started pounding when she sensed his gaze on her. She would be jittery as long as he nced at her now. It made her feel utterly sheepish. Right then, her phone rang. She answered it when she saw that it was Zayden calling. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°I''m standing outside your door, Gwen. Justin said you guys are dining at the new house today, so I came to join in the fun.¡± Justin scoffed coldly, ¡°She would rather stay single than marry you.¡± The next moment, the doorbell rang. ¡°Come and get the door for me!¡± Gwendolyn glimpsed at Patrick. She felt a little panicked that Zayden was here at this juncture. All she hoped was that Zayden would not talk any nonsenseter. After all, she had only said those things in the Ashton residence for the sake of the children. Camille heard the doorbell and said, ¡°I''ll get it.¡± Since they had only just moved here today, she was slightly surprised that there was a guest. Not long after, she led Zayden into the dining room. ¡°Gwen, Mr. Surrington is here.¡± All of a sudden, the dining room felt like a freezer due to the drastic drop in temperature. Patrick stared frostily at the man who had just entered. Both of them red murderously at each other. Camille prepared a set of cutlery for Zayden as he sat on an empty seat. ¡°Sorry for beingte,¡± he stated tly. Julian gave him a faint smile. ¡°Daddy, there will always be dinner for you here even if you''rete.¡± Justin, too, greeted, ¡°Daddy.¡± Juliette widened her eyes in shock. When did Mr. Zayden be our daddy? I just called Mr. Lowen that! Am I supposed to call Mr. Zayden Daddy now too? She hurriedly lowered her head and decided to focus on eating instead. Gwendolyn was also dumbfounded. Are these two brats doing it on purpose? Zayden grinned and said to Patrick, ¡°Mr. Lowen, these three children are Gwen''s and my children. We''ve already gone to see her family yesterday. Soon after, we''ll be getting married.¡± Gwendolyn was so thunderstruck that she dropped her fork on the floor. She mumbled with an apprehensive expression, ¡°My bad!¡± After bending down to pick up the fork and set it on the table, she soundlessly nced at her two sons before turning to Zayden. What are these three rascals up to? Patrick''s gaze was utterly icy and frightening. He raised his head to peer at Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, tell him. What were we doing one hour earlier?¡± Gwendolyn had just taken a new fork and ate a mouthful of food. Upon hearing that, she choked and started coughing. When Patrick realized she was terrified by his words, he couldn''t help smirking devilishly. ¡°Zayden, you can make up these lies to deceive others, but it won''t work on me. Gwendolyn has long since been my woman. We did the deed an hour ago.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her eyes in embarrassment. I can''t believe he just said that! Ahh! She seriously wished the ground would open up and swallow her. Zayden nched, and he looked toward Gwendolyn. Deep sorrow shed across his eyes. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I don''t believe a single word you said either. I''m well aware of what kind of person Gwen is.¡± Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Patrick raised a brow and snickered,pletely unbothered by Zayden''s words. Gwen is already my woman, regardless. There''s no chance of him snatching her away. The atmosphere became tense at the table, and Gwendolyn''s face turned crimson. She red at Patrick and gestured to him to stop talking nonsense. Although the three children couldn''t understand Patrick''s words, Zayden and Camille were adults. She did not want others to know about the private things between her and Patrick as it was too embarrassing. The man winked at her and smirked, looking like a handsome bad boy. His actions had roused all her teenage fantasies. Hence, she did not dare to look at him anymore. Patrick was also aware that he was not permitted to say anything else. He had already refuted Zayden earlier, so he did not care if thetter believed him or not. Juliette darted her gaze between Patrick and Zayden, feeling conflicted between the two. However, she knew that she liked them both. In the meantime, Camille found it hrious as she witnessed the dinner situation. The public believed Gwendolyn was pitiful and had a tough life raising three children on her own. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Yet, they were unaware that she was being pursued by two outstanding men. In Camille''s eyes, Gwendolyn seemed extremely blessed and not in the least pathetic. Gwendolyn entered the kitchen after they finished their meal to assist Camille with the cleanup. Patrick raised a brow and snickered,pletely unbothered by Zayden''s words. She gave thetter a shock when she suggested doing the dishes. ¡°Gwen, these tes seem expensive. Why don''t you cut some fruits for your guests?¡± Gwendolyn could not help butugh. In actuality, under Patrick''s training, she had stopped breaking ssware. After all, that man''s items were too extravagant, and breaking one would pain her for a long time. In the living room, Justin and Julian chatted enthusiastically with Zayden. Juliette saw that everyone was ignoring Patrick, so she decided to apany him and tell him some jokes. Yet, she ended upughing at her own jokes instead of making the manugh. With her hands on her abdomen, she asked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, isn''t it so funny?¡± Patrick raised a brow and nced at the time once more. ¡°Go and tell your mommy that it''s nine o''clock.¡± Juliette did not quite understand what he meant, but she knew it was time for her to sleep. Zayden patted Julian''s head and glimpsed at Patrick. ¡°Son, remember not to let strangers into the house next time, okay?¡± The ball was in Patrick''s court now. Yet, he let out a cold scoff. ¡°I''m not an outsider. I''ll be their father in the future.¡± Juliette giggled. ¡°That''s right! Mr. Lowen is not an outsider!¡± Zayden peered at Juliette. Isn''t she usually close to me? Why is she siding with Patrick now? Do all females like guys like him? Juliette noticed Zayden looking at her, so she added, ¡°Zay is not an outsider too!¡± Gwendolyn was bringing out the cut fruits when she heard Juliette''s words. She frowned slightly. Juliette is such a fence-sitter who only knows how to go with the flow. ¡°Zayden, Mr. Lowen, have some fruits.¡± She stood in front of Patrick and looked at him with slight bashfulness. Patrick was especially fond of her whenever she was shy, as he was the one who had changed her from a simpleton to her current state. He picked up a strawberry and extended his hand. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± Gwendolyn was at a loss. She shook her head, indicating that he should not act like this in front of others. Still, he ignored her and repeated his words. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± She leaned toward him and opened her mouth to eat the strawberry, leading to Patrick smiling at her. It was a bewitching and gorgeous smile. This warmed her heart, and she smiled back lightly at him. Zayden''s expression turned slightly grim when he witnessed the scene. Naturally, Justin also saw their interaction, and an idea urred to him. ¡°Daddy, it''ste now. You should return soon. Mommy will walk you out.¡± With that, he faced Gwendolyn and added, ¡°Mommy, Daddy''s about to leave. You should send him off.¡± Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Gwendolyn was still munching on the strawberry while meeting Patrick''s eyes, finding his smile incredibly good-looking. Upon hearing her son''s words, she hastily swallowed the fruit. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± She walked toward Zayden and smiled faintly. ¡°Zayden, let me walk you out.¡± Zayden stood up, and the two walked out side by side. Justin gave a signal to Julian with his eyes. Immediately, Julian beckoned at their sister. ¡°Juliette, why don''t you go and pick your room?¡± Indeed, Juliette had not chosen her bedroom yet. Upon hearing her brother''s words, she slid off the couch and ran toward him. ¡°Okay.¡± Then, she suddenly remembered Patrick and waved at him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, we''ll be neighbors from now on. Pleasee and visit me more often!¡± She had the kind of endearing smile that everyone would adore. Hence, Patrick nodded lightly. ¡°Okay!¡± Julian then brought Juliette upstairs, whereas Justin stood in front of Patrick. Their expressions were startlingly simr as they stared at each other with pursed lips. The boy uttered coldly, ¡°Mr. Lowen, we''re actually not that close. Also,panies usually do not advocate for office romance, so will you maintain a distance with my mommy? Of course, we don''t wee you in this house either.¡± He had raised a hand while speaking. ¡°Please leave.¡± Gwendolyn was still munching on the strawberry while meeting Patrick''s eyes, finding his smile incredibly good-looking. It was a courteous but cold manner of chasing him out. Patrick knitted his brows. There was a hint of displeasure in his expression as he had never been treated like this before. Nheless, he would not bear a grudge against a child. ¡°Justin, I''ll prove to you guys with my actions that I''m serious about her.¡± He then stood up and walked off. Patrick was still as arrogant as he always had been. Since he was being chased away and clearly took a hit with his pride, he would definitely not remain here brazenly. Meanwhile, Zayden gazed at Gwendolyn intently outside the entrance. ¡°Gwen, I''ll always wait for you.¡± She frowned slightly. ¡°Zayden, I''ve thought about it. We''re not suitable for each other.¡± She decided to be courageous for once when she thought about the man in her house. She had never dated before, but she enjoyed the sweet moments with Patrick and wanted to cherish them. Zayden''s face darkened a little, and he reached out to secure her outerwear, fearing she might be cold. ¡°You didn''t even try, Gwen. How do you know we''re not right for one other? From now on¡ª No, from the day I met your grandfather, I''ve already decided to pursue you. Please don''t reject me.¡± With that, he pulled her forcefully into his embrace and whispered in her ear, ¡°I love you!¡± After letting her go, he stared at her deeply before turning to get into the car. The vehicle gradually drove away while Gwendolyn was still rooted to the ground, rendered speechless. This was the first time someone had told her that he loved her. It was a strange feeling, but she only thought of Zayden as a friend she''d have for life. Patrick walked out and extended his hand to hold hers. Then, he dragged her off briskly. She looked at hisrge hand that was enveloping her small hand, and her lips curled into a smile uncontrobly. The streetmps glowed warmly and elongated their shadows. When they entered his residence, he pinned her against the door and started kissing her. Gwendolyn could clearly sense that he was not in a good mood. He probably saw Zayden forcefully hugging me, so he''s kissing me to vent his anger now. Although it was painful for her, she did not reject him. Her hands slowly moved up and looped around his neck while she responded to his kiss. Patrick''s fury instantly vanished into thin air when he felt her response. He stopped as he felt her tongue sliding into his mouth. With that, she, too, paused and opened her misty,rge eyes. Their lips were still pressed together as they gazed at each other. Patrick''s gaze was full of warmth. Gwendolyn quickly retreated a step, and their lips separated. She tugged his shirt and asked softly, ¡°Are you mad?¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Patrick looked at the string of saliva between Gwendolyn and his lips and thought it was extremely alluring. If it weren''t because he had already taken care of his desire in the bathroom earlier, he would''ve taken her there and then, no matter what. He gently traced his slender fingers on her lips. You''re really gorgeous. Your eyes are huge and bright, and you look innocent to the point that it aches my heart when you look me in the eye. Then, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. ¡°Gwen, please stay by my side forever!¡± He appeared slightly sorrowful when he said that as if he had lost her before. Gwendolyn felt her heart clenching, and she hummed in reply. ¡°Mm!¡± At that moment, their hearts were pressed tightly against each other. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. They could feel their strong need for one another. To her surprise, Gwendolyn even felt her heart aching for the man. Patrick absolutely didn''t need her feeling heartbroken for him since he was a powerful, wealthy, and capable man with prominent family background. In fact, he was supposed to have everything he ever desired in life. They embraced each other for a long time. It wasn''t until she felt her legs getting sore that he finally let her go, grazing her tiny nose. ¡°Do you want to stay the night?¡± His eyes darkened when he asked that question, causing her heart to skip a beat. Still, she shook her head. ¡°I can''t. I have to go home.¡± I knew it. Whenpared to the three children, I''m nothing. I shall take it slow, then. I hope I''ll have a ce in her heart someday. Patrick looked at the string of saliva between Gwendolyn and his lips and thought it was extremely alluring. He had his arm around her shoulder as they walked to the living room together. Then, he made her sit on the couch. After sitting down next to her, he pulled her into his arms again. This time, it was domineering, as if he would not allow her to reject him. Regardless, Gwendolyn didn''t want to push him away either. ¡°Tell me about yourself, Gwen. I feel like I don''t know you as well as Zayden does.¡± At the thought of that, he felt a little annoyed. Gwendolyn couldn''t help but giggle upon seeing his disgruntled expression. She leaned against his chest and caressed the sweater he was wearing. It was made of wool and felt soft to the touch. Not only that, but he also looked great wearing it. ¡°Patrick, Zayden isn''t actually the kids'' father. Justin only said that to make you angry.¡± She wanted tough whenever she thought about that. It''s all because you behaved as though you were pursuing me in front of the kids yet got engaged to Felicia secretly. It''s not a wise choice to lie to children. Patrick let out a sigh of relief. It''s just as I expected. ¡°I know.¡± He could tell by looking at the appearances of the three children¡ªnone of them looked like Zayden. On the contrary, Justin and Julian resembled him. Finally, the smile on his face grew, and he looked more relieved than before. He stared at her with an expression that got more joyful by the second. Without warning, he leaned in closer to Gwendolyn, wanting to kiss her again. Yet, she dodged it this time. ¡°My lips are all swelled up because of you. You can''t kiss me again.¡± Although our kiss is also pleasurable to me, I''m afraid we will lose control again like what happened this afternoon. I don''t want to dive into this rtionship too quickly, so we need to take it slow. Otherwise, won''t he stop cherishing me? With that thought in mind, her expression turned slightly solemn as she pressed her palms on his chest to stop him. ¡°Patrick, are you serious about us?¡± The man''s eyes became bleak, and his gaze on her intensified. He scoffed, ¡°Do you not trust me?¡± She looked at his handsome face that was just a few inches away from hers; his exquisite facial features were extremely charming, and the way he stared at her was unpredictable. How will I ever understand someone like you? They were at an impasse for a while before Patrick finally let her go. Seeing how he turned his back to face her, she felt an inexplicable sadness growing within her. Therefore, she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his neck. ¡°I trust you.¡± No matter what happens in the future, I want to be with you, and I want to cherish this rtionship. Right then, the doorbell of his house rang, so she abruptly released him. ¡°It must be the kids. I need to go now.¡± Chapter 278 Chapter 278 When Gwendolyn got up, Patrick stood up as well. ¡°I''ll see you out.¡± D*rn it. I can''t believe how much I want her to stay here and be with me. Reluctance washed over him as he felt an immense urge to have her all to himself. Once they opened the door, they saw Felicia standing right on the doorstep. One could easily tell that she had deliberately dolled herself up. Felicia''s eyes filled with shock when she saw the two of them exiting the house together and Patrick''s arm wrapping around Gwendolyn''s waist. While she stared at them nkly, Gwendolyn was also surprised by Felicia''s sudden appearance. Why is she here? At once, her mood went downhill, and she pulled herself away from Patrick''s embrace. As she walked past Felicia, she even let out a cold snigger. The man couldn''t help but chuckle when he saw the look of jealousy on her face. ¡°Gwen...¡± he called out softly. Gwendolyn turned around and pointed at Felicia, then pointed at him. It seemed like she was warning him silently not to do anything over the top with Felicia, or she wouldn''t spare him. Seeing that, he put his hands in his pockets and nodded at her lovingly. Gwendolyn spun around and walked forward as Felicia red at the former''s back resentfully. Hatred brewed within Felicia''s chest. After Gwendolyn disappeared from sight, Patrick retracted his gaze and spoke icily. ¡°How can I help you, Ms. Ashton? Didn''t we already agree not to meet privately and to stay away from each other''s lives?¡± This woman is seriously bothering me. Moreover, Gwen already dislikes her, to begin with. She must be even more upset after seeing this woman visit me at my ce. Upon hearing his bitter statement, Felicia shifted her focus back to him. I don''t understand. Is Gwendolyn staying here? Did she ask that old man to buy her a house here just to live near Patrick? Why is she being so pretentious when she clearly gave birth to the children of an old man in his seventies? She''s so d*mn disgusting! ¡°Pat, I merely passed by this area, so I came to see you. Why was Gwendolyn here? Is she staying here?¡± An unmistakable look of contempt crept onto her face when she said that. She continued, ¡°Don''t be fooled by her appearance, Pat. Although she looks beautiful and innocent, it''s all just an act. She got pregnant with an old man''s child when she was eighteen, and she had been staying with that old man throughout all these years. I''m sure the house she owns here was bought by him as well.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn is as awful as she can get. No matter how gorgeous she looks, no man will bat her an eye if they know how terrible she is. How would a man like Patrick possibly fall for her? She fixed her hair and asked, ¡°Can I go in and take a seat, Pat?¡± Felicia nced in a nearby direction as she spoke. While she was shopping today, she met a few friends who were curious if she had broken up with Patrick. In response, she exined that it wasn''t true and that they only canceled the engagement because something cropped up. Still, her friends didn''t seem to believe her. Hence, she brought them here to prove that she was still in contact with Patrick. Felicia didn''t want to be looked down on by others, and she didn''t want to be theughingstock as well. Thus, she was determined to prove the naysayers wrong no matter what. Patrick nced at the time and turned her down. ¡°I''m busy. Please leave now.¡± With that, he shut the door, leaving Felicia seething with rage. Fortunately, those women are still far away, so I don''t think they''ve heard our conversation. At least I''ve had Patrick make a brief appearance. I think they will believe me now. She turned around and walked in the direction where her friends were. Just when she turned around the corner, three girls approached and embraced her cheerfully. ¡°Looks like Patrick and you are really still a couple, Fel! But, who was that woman who came out of his house earlier? She looks quite familiar.¡± They couldn''t tell clearly who that person was as they had been standing too far away. Felicia raised one brow and answered, ¡°That''s his cousin who lives here. She visits him frequently.¡± After that, she tipped her head proudly. ¡°Do you believe me now,dies? Let''s go!¡± The smile on the three women''s faces widened as they stepped closer to Felicia and held her forearms. ¡°Fel, remember not to forget us when you finally get married into the Lowen family and be Mrs. Lowen!¡± Chapter 279 Chapter 279 When Gwendolyn awoke the next morning and checked her phone, she noticed Patrick had sent her a WhatsApp message ten minutes ago. It read: Gwen, let''s go to the office together. I''ll wait for you at home. After reading that, she smiled faintly and typed a reply: I''ll be there in ten minutes. You''re the best, Mr. Lowen! Once she sent the message, she swiftly got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash up. Sleeping in such arge bed is, as expected, extremelyfortable. I haven''t slept so well in ages. She beamed when she saw how spacious the bathroom was, with not only a shower but also arge bathtub. We finally have a ce to call home. The three children were already up and ying in the living room by the time she came downstairs. Juliette was practicing the piano, whereas her two sons were fiddling busily with theirputers. ¡°Don''t put too much pressure on yourself, you three. Remember to go for a walk after you''ve finished studying,¡± she advised. Hearing that, Juliette turned around and grinned. ¡°How did I do on the piano, Mommy?¡± What a wonderful start to the day! As soon as I wake up, I can hear my daughter ying the piano. Thinking of that, Gwendolyn gave her daughter a thumbs up. ¡°You did fantastically.¡± Just as she was heading toward the door, Justin stopped her and uttered, ¡°Mommy, eat your breakfast before going to work.¡± Camille was already in the kitchen preparing breakfast, and she also told the children that skipping breakfast was bad for their health. Looking at the time, Gwendolyn answered, ¡°I''ll eat in the office. I woke up toote this morning. See you tonight, sweethearts!¡± With that said, she hurriedly walked out the door. After all, she promised to be there in ten minutes, yet it had already been more than twenty minutes. Hence, she did not know if Patrick was still waiting for her. If he''d left, she could only drive to the office by herself. The house was not conveniently located near the railway station. Even though there was a bus stop nearby, the bus only came once every half hour and hailing a taxi was even more difficult. She rushed to Patrick''s house and unlocked the door with her fingerprint. Poking her tiny head into the house, she called out, ¡°Patrick... Patrick, are you here?¡± Shortly afterward, the man emerged from the room. A smile spread across his face the moment he saw her. ¡°Come in.¡± Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. What is she doing? Gwendolyn quickly entered the house and shed him a bright smile. ¡°I said ten minutes, but it took me much longer, so I assumed you had left.¡± Listening to that, Patrick stretched out his hands. He had not gotten much sleep the night before because his mind was preupied with this woman in front of him, reminiscing about her snow-white skin and soft body. It was all her fault that he could not sleep well and had dark circles under his eyes. Now that he saw her, he immediately wanted a hug. Gwendolyn ran up to him and threw herself into his embrace. It feels so good to be in his arms! The couple embraced for a long time. Meanwhile, the two people standing next to the car had already opened the car door for them, but upon seeing this scene, they silently returned to their seats in the vehicle. Liam, in particr, yearned to fall in love after witnessing such affection. All of a sudden, he turned to face the chauffeur and inquired, ¡°Larry, do you have a girlfriend?¡± Larry responded with a shake of his head. He was Patrick''s chauffeur and was on call twenty-four hours a day, so he did not have time to look for a girlfriend. Rubbing his temples, Liam uttered, ¡°How pathetic. We singles can only watch as they express their love for one another.¡± Initially, Gwendolyn was full of smiles, but when she noticed the car door was open and caught a glimpse of the figures inside, she swiftly nudged Patrick. ¡°We''re going to bete. Let''s get moving!¡± The man retracted his arms, cast a stern look down at her, and dered coldly, ¡°If you don''te to apany me tonight, I''ll go over to your house to look for you.¡± He did not mind climbing through the window to get into her house. No matter what, he did not want to toss and turn in bed again like he had done the night before. His entire body ached just from thinking about her alone. Perhaps it was because he had not touched a woman in a long time, but taking a cold shower no longer had any effect. Therefore, he had been aroused all night, which was highly ufortable. In an instant, Gwendolyn''s face flushed, and she shook her head. ¡°No! The boys have yet to ept you.¡± He should be able to pick up on this. Why is he making things difficult for me? ¡°Fine. Then, I''ll scale the wall to get to your house.¡± Chapter 280 Chapter 280 The couple walked into the office together. Gwendolyn was not bothered by the other people''s stares any longer. They were free to think whatever they wanted. After all, she had grown ustomed to hearing those rumors about herself. As soon as Patrick entered the office, he was swamped with work, answering unending calls before heading to the conference room for a meeting. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. They had breakfast together on the way there, and she felt he was only hers for that short period of time. Propping her chin on her palm, she looked at the empty desk, thinking of how busy he typically was. After letting out a sigh, she began to deal with her work for the day. In fact, her job was fairly effortless. Around ten o''clock, Patrick had yet to return, so she went into the pantry and poured herself a cup of coffee, sitting by the window to sip it. Later, Gwendolyn took out her phone and nned to call Camille to inquire whether or not the people from the movingpany had arrived. They nned to relocate some items from the old house to the new mansion. Yet, Angeline called her at that moment. Pursing her lips, she answered the call. ¡°Hello?¡± That night, she had already received a warning call from Angeline. It seemed like Zayden was no longer hiding his feelings for her and had taken the initiative to contact her more frequently. Maybe he had even talked about those things at home as well. ¡°Gwendolyn, is it convenient for you toe out and meet me now?¡± ncing at the time, Gwendolyn answered, ¡°I''m at work. It''s a little inconvenient.¡± In truth, she did not want to meet Angeline, as thetter was always harsh toward her. However, she could not refute the woman either, so she felt immensely aggrieved. On the other end of the line, Angeline sneered as she heard Gwendolyn''s reply. ¡°Are you afraid to meet me? Where do you work? I''ll apply for leave on your behalf.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn knitted her brows. Angeline sounded as though she would not give up if she did not meet Gwendolyn today. ¡°Where are you, Mrs. Surrington? I''ll be there right away.¡± ¡°Hmph. That''s more like it. I''m at the caf¨¦ on the corner of the street. I''m not going anywhere if you don''te.¡± After hanging up, Gwendolyn sent a text to Patrick: Mr. Lowen, I''m taking a leave of absence. I have a personal matter to attend to. Then, she got up, returned to the office, and packed her belongings before rushing downstairs. Half an hourter, she arrived at the caf¨¦. When she pushed open the door, she spotted Angeline seated by the window, dressed in fur. At the same time, thetter greeted her with a wave of her hand. Gwendolyn walked over and sat across from Angeline. ¡°What would you like to drink?¡± Casting a brief look at the water in front of her, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°No need. I''ll just drink some water.¡± Angeline did not say anything else as she gracefully took a sip of coffee. Her well-maintained face was wrinkle-free, and she appeared much younger than her peers. While setting down the cup, she caressed her own hand. The rings she wore were very beautiful. Despite the fact that she had two rings on one finger, it did not appear awkward but rather elegant. ¡°Gwendolyn, Zay has expressed his desire to marry you, but we will never agree. How much money do you want to be willing to leave him?¡± Having said that, Angeline took out a checkbook and a pen. ¡°You can tell me the amount or fill it in yourself.¡± As she spoke, she tore off one check and pushed it in front of the woman across from her. However, Gwendolyn only gave the check a cursory nce and smiled indifferently. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, I''ve told you before that Zayden and I are merely friends. I''ve never thought about marrying into the Surringtons, nor will I take your money.¡± Angeline''s face clouded over when she saw Gwendolyn shoving the check back to her. ¡°Gwendolyn Ashton, I know you''re pretty capable and can even handle the Lowen family. It''s no surprise that Zay ispletely smitten with you, but please let my son go now that you''ve established a rtionship with the Lowens.¡± Gwendolyn''s heart twisted slightly the moment she heard that. It was excruciatingly painful to be misunderstood by others. ¡°You''re right. I''m currently in a rtionship with Patrick, and he''s the one I want to marry. Hence, you don''t have to worry about anything. You should keep the money for Zayden''s future wife.¡± Meanwhile, Diana, who was nearby, snapped a photo of the scene and sent it to Candace with a message that read: Candace, Gwendolyn has admitted that she''s dating Patrick. Looks like it''s really over between Fel and him. Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Diana had heard Angeline when thetter was on the phone, so she followed Angeline in secret to see what was going on. Little did she expect to see such a shocking scene. From what she saw, she could confirm that Gwendolyn and Patrick had genuinely gotten together. However, Candace didn''t believe it at all, and she kept thinking that there was no way Gwendolyn could get married into the Lowen family. It seems that Fel doesn''t have any chance at all now. Oh well. That''s great. Otherwise, Candace is going to act as proud as a peacock. In no time, Candace called her. Diana answered it while smiling with a glint of mischief in her eyes. ¡°Did you hear the news, Candace? Gwendolyn is really in a rtionship with Patrick. I''m certain she''s the reason why Fel''s engagement was canceled.¡± Candace was already in a bad mood when she called Diana, but the moment she heard what thetter said, her face scrunched up with hatred. Back then, she was only able to be Zachary''s wife because of her schemes. She had used Isabe Myers'' extraordinary beauty to make Zachary feel insecure. Consequently, whenever he saw Isabe talking to any other man, he would overthink things. With that, Candace used that weakness of his to make him paranoid that Isabe was having an affair. In the end, Zachary kicked her out of the Ashton family due to those fabricated suspicions, and Candace sessfully became the new Mrs. Ashton. Now, her dumb daughter wishes to steal Fel''s man? She must have a death wish! ¡°Thanks for telling me, Diana. I''ll hang up now.¡± It was apparent that she didn''t sound very happy because of her sullen voice. Diana added, ¡°Candace, are you mad? That Gwendolyn is really something. Not only was she able to make Zayden entangled with her, but she even got the Lowens'' acknowledgment too.¡± Those words were like a sharp sword piercing through Candace''s heart. That woman... Other than having her mother''s beauty, she is simply a good-for-nothing! Besides, she even gave birth to kids with an old man in his seventies! What right does she have? Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Candace snorted and answered, ¡°I''m hanging up now.¡± She hurriedly hung up the call and forcefully threw her phone aside out of anger. What tricks did Gwendolyn use to make the Lowens acknowledge her? Even when Fel had almost gotten engaged to Patrick, Old Mrs. Lowen had no intention of acknowledging her at all! In the end, she even canceled the engagement in front of our friends and family! She frowned. If I put all these pieces of the puzzle together, it seems like Gwendolyn is getting her revenge on us. Perhaps, she''s the one who urged Patrick to call off the engagement during the ceremony so that Fel would get humiliated! Suddenly, she stood up, got out of the room, and made her way to Felicia''s room. The moment she entered her daughter''s room, she saw thetter doing her makeup in front of the vanity mirror. Look how gorgeous Fel is! If I''m a man, I''ll definitely marry ady like her. Candace pursed her lips slightly as she walked to Felicia''s side to look at her daughter through the mirror. Felicia''s facial features were delicate, pretty, and charming. Candace genuinely felt that her daughter was the most beautiful woman on Earth. Felicia took her lipstick and applied it as she made eye contact with her mother through the mirror. ¡°What''s the matter, Mom?¡± Suddenly, Candace''s face fell as she crossed her arms. ¡°Fel, I have something to tell you. Please be mentally prepared.¡± Felicia had finished putting on her lipstick. She raised a brow. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Gwendolyn was the reason behind your canceled engagement. She''s dating Patrick now. Furthermore, Old Mrs. Lowen even brought her to a socialite gathering, which means that the Lowens have acknowledged her.¡± Felicia''s expression dulled slightly after she heard that. In fact, she had already sensed that something was out of the ordinary from the moment Gwendolyn''s office was in Patrick''s. It was just that she didn''t want to admit it to herself and kept using the contract to hold onto the man in hopes of getting him back from Gwendolyn. She turned around and hugged Candace''s waist while weeping. ¡°Mom... It''s Gwendolyn. She''s the one who stole Patrick away from me. I''m so upset.¡± Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Candace felt her heart clenching when she heard her daughter''s sorrowful crying voice. She caressed Felicia''s head gently as she narrowed her eyes. ¡°Fel, she''ll never win against us. As long as we ruin her reputation, the Lowen family will never let Patrick marry her.¡± Felicia''s voice deepened even more. ¡°Mom, I told Patrick that she gave birth to kids with the old man, but he didn''t even mind at all. Old Mrs. Lowen also knows about that, yet she still adores Gwendolyn! It''s like they''ve been brainwashed by her. I don''t think ruining her reputation will work. They will still like her. She''s really, really impressive. I really can''t win against her this time.¡± She sneaked a peek at Candace when she spoke, wanting to infuriate her mother so that thetter would help her. She knew that her mother had tricks up her sleeves since Candace managed to get rid of Isabe, the former top beauty in Avenport. There''s nothing that Mom can''t do! Isabe''s daughter can''t win against her either! Ultimately, Patrick will be mine as long as Mom helps me. Candace understood that Felicia had had a tough timetely. ¡°Don''t worry, Sweetheart. If ruining her reputation doesn''t work, we''ll make her disappear forever!¡± There was a terrifying gleam in her eyes when she said that. Felicia was also astounded by the look in her mother''s eyes. Just as she expected, no one was a match for Candace when thetter decided to be ruthless. ¡°Mom, what should we do, then?¡± Candace narrowed her eyes slightly. ¡°Leave this to me. You don''t have to worry about anything. Don''t you have a party to attend tonight? Go ahead and enjoy yourself to the fullest.¡± Felicia let go of Candace and looked at her reflection in the mirror. ¡°Do you think this makeup looks good on me? I''m going to Kevin''s birthday party with my friends tonight. I''m sure Patrick will be there. He''ll like how I look, right?¡± Candace knew how much her daughter liked Patrick just by looking at thetter''s obsessive look. Yet, he dared to hurt Felicia. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Her heart pained at that, and she gave a faint nod. ¡°It''s beautiful. I''m sure he''ll love it.¡± Felicia put on a coat and grabbed her bag, smiling bitterly at her mother. ¡°Even if he doesn''t like it, I''ll be satisfied as long as I can see him from a distance.¡± With that, she turned and walked out of the room. Her friends were going to shop for presents for Kevin, so she wanted to get one for him too since she couldn''t attend a birthday party empty-handed. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn rushed back to the office after meeting Angeline. She didn''t see Patrick when she returned, so she knew that he was still busy somewhere else. As such, she went back to her desk and sat down. When she got there, she noticed that box on her desk and raised her hand to unbox it. In it was a strapless ck, gilded evening gown. The hem of the dress was decorated with countless shiny stones, looking elegant and girlish. Anyone who wore it would resemble a fairy in the night sky. There was a silver-colored, beautifullyyered petticoat under the center of the slit of the ck gown. It was utterly gorgeous. Gwendolyn held the dress to her body andpared it to her figure. It appeared to be her size. She knitted her brows. Who gave this to me? At that moment, Patrick pushed the door open and entered the room. He smiled lightly when he saw her holding the outfit he chose for her. ¡°Do you like it?¡± She turned to him and saw the smile on his handsome face. In an instant, her foul mood disappeared, and she was healed. ¡°Did you get this for me? Am I going to be your plus one tonight?¡± Thest time she received a gown from Zayden was when she became Zayden''s plus one at Patrick''s engagement ceremony. Patrick stood still in front of her desk and stared at her intensely. He couldn''t wait to see her in the gown. Following that, Gwendolyn was pleasantly surprised to see a mask in the box. It was a silver mask iid with an expensive diamond. ¡°Is it a masquerade party?¡± It had been years since herst masquerade party, so she was pretty excited about it. Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Patrick nodded lightly when he saw how thrilled she was. ¡°It''s Kevin''s birthday today. He loves these things.¡± Gwendolyn looked at everything the man had prepared for her. Then, she walked up to him, hugged one of his arms, and rested her head on his shoulder. ¡°Where were you earlier, Mr. Lowen? You seemed so busy today.¡± Patrick stretched out his long arm, pulled her into his embrace, and hugged her tightly. ¡°Yeah. I was a little busy today. What''s the matter? Did you miss me?¡± he asked while guiding her to the couch. After taking a seat, he pulled her to sit on hisp. Gwendolyn wrapped her arms around his neck as she admired his handsome face. He''s so good- looking! I love it! I don''t think there''s any woman in this world who won''t fall for him! How can he look so attractive? She didn''t answer him directly. Instead, she buried her face in his chest, recalling Angeline''s words. While leaning against him right now, she felt it was a blissful thing to be able to be with him. Nevertheless, she couldn''t help wondering if they could really have a future. She didn''t dare to think too far ahead. All she wanted to do was to cherish the present. Patrick smelled the sweet fragrance on her as he tapped her lips gently with his long finger. ¡°What perfume do you wear?¡± It smelled really good. Additionally, it was simr to the one that his dream girl had. Since he couldn''t find her, he regarded Gwendolyn as that woman. In a way, he ced his hopes on Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn widened her eyes in surprise for a moment. She hadn''t worn any perfume since discovering her pregnancy as it wasn''t good for children''s sense of smell. She lowered her gaze as she smiled. Her thick and curled eyshes cast a shadow under her eyes. ¡°I don''t use perfumes. Maybe my clothes have got remnants of the kids'' scent.¡± She washed her clothes with her three children''s clothes, so their sweet and milky scent might''ve gotten onto her clothes. This was something she had found out some time ago. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. There was a difference in her clothes'' smell when she washed them separately and when she washed them together with her children''s clothes. A hint of amusement shed in the man''s eyes when he heard that. ¡°It smells good.¡± With that, his lips went for her neck as he closed his eyes and took a deep whiff. Then, he kissed her bare skin. Gwendolyn''s whole body went numb. She was caught between pushing him away and not wanting him to stop. It was an odd feeling. His lips continued making a trail as he moved downward. She only regained her senses when he undid half of her blouse''s buttons. She pulled on his ear. ¡°Patrick, I... You should stop.¡± Patrick only stopped when he heard her mellow voice. However, he felt very ufortable because the state of a particr organ of his had already stiffened. He stared at her intently. ¡°Gwen, help me.¡± With that, he guided her to his lounge. She had no clue what he meant until he taught her the skills. Once she finished helping him, her face waspletely flushed, and her right hand felt as if it had been broken. A smile appeared on his face as he leaned closer to her and kissed her lips. ¡°Thank you, Sweetheart!¡± Next, he went into the bathroom while Gwendolyn rolled on the bed. Why did I do that kind of thing for him? Why am I even so excited that he thanked me? I can''t believe I even wanted to tell him I''ll help him again next time. She lifted her hands to cover her warm face. Although she was slightly at a loss, she still got up and tidied her clothes before ncing down. She took a deep breath. Ahh! There must''ve been a mark where he bit me earlier. I hope it''ll disappear soon, or I can''t wear that beautiful gown anymore. When she left the lounge, the office outside looked the same as it was. No one had entered the room. As such, she walked back to her desk and started working. Not long after, Patrick exited the bathroom, looking handsome and well-dressed as usual. He sat in front of his desk and looked in Gwendolyn''s direction, noticing that she was burying herself in work. It was evident that she was embarrassed, thus not meeting his eyes. Patrick''s gaze on her became even more intense. As he had expected, the feeling of a woman''s hand was different from his own. Chapter 284 Chapter 284 After getting off work, Patrick brought Gwendolyn to a makeover studio next to the office. A female receptionist weed them the moment they walked through the door. ¡°Wee! Is there a preferred makeup artist you''d like to work with?¡± Just then, the manager of the studio trotted toward them. ¡°Mr. Lowen!¡± Patrick lifted his chin. ¡°Do her makeup and hair. It has toplement her gown.¡± With that, the manager brought the duo to the VIP room. Patrick went to sit on the couch, crossing his legs elegantly. A staff then brought two cups of coffee and some snacks for them. The man took a sip of the coffee and nced intentionally at the snacks. They were strawberry cakes and doughnuts¡ªboth Gwendolyn''s favorite. Next, he took one doughnut, walked up to the front of the vanity mirror, and fed her without looking into her eyes. Atst, he walked back to the couch with great strides. The woman took a bite and held it in her hand as she chewed. Mm! This is delicious! She beamed as she looked behind her through the mirror, seeing that he was looking at his phone with his head lowered frowningly. He was likely handling some work matters. Gwendolyn took another bite of the doughnut, and her heart felt warm and fuzzy inside. The makeup artist doing her hair grinned and said, ¡°Ms. Ashton, your boyfriend is really sweet to you! He''s handsome too!¡± Gwendolyn nodded slightly at that. Undeniably, she felt that having a boyfriend like Patrick was blissful too. A little over an hourter, her hairdo and makeup wereplete. Gwendolyn changed into that gown and held the silver mask in her hand. The sparkling diamond on the right side of the chain was extraordinarily dazzling. ¡°Patrick, what do you think?¡± she called out to the man after walking up to him in her high heels. He raised his eyes and stared at her intently without any changes in his expression. However, deep down, he had a feeling that he didn''t want anyone to set their eyes on her because she looked way too beautiful and seductive at present. He had an urge to bring her home and hide her away so that she could only be his, and he could be the only one to admire her beauty. Gwendolyn lowered her eyes when she noticed that he was only staring at her impassively. ¡°Don''t I look good?¡± Suddenly, the man stood up, put the lc coat on her shoulders, and straightened it out. ¡°I really wish to pull out a gun and kill anyone who sets their eyes on you.¡± After that, he ced his arm around her waist as they walked out of the studio. A few staff followed behind them to see the couple out respectfully. Gwendolyn was still immersed in what he said earlier. This man... Once he speaks, he''ll scare the hell out of everyone. However, from his words, she felt she must look utterly gorgeous. That was enough. Liam and the driver were already waiting downstairs. The moment they saw Patrick and Gwendolyn, they got out of the car and opened the door for the two. Patrick patted her slim waist lightly. ¡°Get in.¡± Gwendolyn got into the car while he went in from the other door. Liam turned to her after he boarded the car and praised, ¡°Ms. Ashton, you look lovely tonight!¡± She really looks different tonight. Her already mesmerizing face only looks better with exquisite makeup on. Moreover, the ne on her neckplements her whole temperament. It helps her to magnify the temperament that she has been hiding all along, intensifying her aura. Gwendolyn smiled faintly and answered, ¡°Thanks!¡± Certainly, it was a satisfying thing to be praised by others. Yet, Patrick''s expression turned grim as he uttered coldly, ¡°Liam, Larry, watch where you''re looking.¡± He wasn''t happy about it at all. She already attracts enough men without makeup on. Now, she''s gotten even more alluring. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Patrick was too domineering. He hoped that all men in the world were blind so that they couldn''t see her beauty. Liam and Larry responded in unison, ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen. We''re blind.¡± Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Gwendolyn could not stifle herughter. She then turned around and looked at Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, why are you so domineering?¡± Patrick''s eyes darkened. He moved closer to Gwendolyn and whispered in her ears, ¡°That''s because you are too beautiful!¡± Rendered speechless, she gave him a faint smile as she thought he was exaggerating and did not believe that she could make him so nervous. She finally understood what people meant when they said beauty is in the eye of the beholder. After all, she always thought her look was average and not beautiful like a goddess. Nevertheless, she felt great to be cared about by Patrick. The car was parked at the entrance of Grand View Hotel, which was one of the Chavez family''s properties and a hotel with more than five stars rating. Kevin''s birthday party was held in thergest banquet hall in the hotel. There were a lot of media reporters waiting outside the door. People who were attending the party wore a mask. Thus, the media reporters were unable to identify the attendees. It was Kevin''s intention for them to wear a mask to the party so that they could have fun without worrying about their identity being exposed. Before Patrick got out of the car, he put on his silver-colored mask. After he put it on, he revealed only his narrowed eyes, making him look even more devilish. He slightly pursed his red lips while looking at the woman beside him. Gwendolyn was also wearing a silver mask with diamonds on it. They were both wearing matching couple masks. Patrick stepped out of the car, followed by Gwendolyn. She hooked her arm around Patrick''s as they walked into the hotel together. Along their way, many cameras were on them, apanied by bright shes. The reporters were taking photos endlessly. Despite that, it was useless, as the reporters could not identify who was attending the party. They wouldn''t even know he was Patrick. Gwendolyn smiled as she walked in front of the public, holding Patrick''s arm. She felt safe with him, and her presence was much stronger. Sure enough, the strength that Patrick gave her had made her fearless. Gwendolyn could not help but turn her head and look at the man beside her. His calm and indifferent look made him look like a majestic king. Upon entering the hotel, the usher led them into the banquet hall. Gwendolyn was surprised to see the decorations in the hall. She expected gold and bright decorations. However, the hall was decorated with a Halloween theme. Skulls could be seen throughout the hall. Even the servers were dressed up as ghosts, zombies, and vampires. Gwendolyn had never attended such a party. She widened her eyes and thought her three kids would definitely love to attend such a party. Patrick touched her hand gently and asked, ¡°Are you scared?¡± Kevin would alwayse up with different themes for his birthday party yearly. Last year was a pajama theme. This year''s theme was more creative and suited Kevin''s identity as a doctor. Gwendolyn chuckled and replied, ¡°Of course not. I never thought the birthday party could be decorated this way.¡± Patrick led Gwendolyn to a lounge not far away. When they walked past the hall, they caught the crowd''s attention since they both looked outstanding in terms of their figure and aura. All eyes were on them as people gossiped about them in hushed tones. ¡°Who are they? They look gorgeous!¡± ¡°It would be great to see them take off their mask. They must be a match made in heaven.¡± ¡°I can''t tell who they are!¡± Gwendolyn heard the discussions from the crowd. She would have to be used to it in the future if she chose to be with Patrick, knowing that she had to be strong so that no words could hurt her anymore. Patrick pushed the door open, and they both entered the lounge. Kevin was sitting on the couch with a youngdy in his arms. She wore a baseball outfit and had put her hair in a high ponytail, looking youthful and energetic like a high school student. ¡°Mr. Chavez, today is your birthday. Didn''t you say you would only celebrate your birthday with me?¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Kevin coaxed lightly, ¡°I''ll celebrate with you alone tomorrow, okay?¡± The girl pouted and replied, ¡°I don''t care. I''ve dressed up nicely today.¡± ¡°Darling, you look amazing in this costume!¡± Kevin kissed the girl on her face, and she forced a smile after that. Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Patrick put his arms around Gwendolyn, and they both sat down opposite Kevin, with his legs crossed elegantly. Gwendolyn leaned into Patrick''s arms as they watched Kevin and the girl opposite them. The girl saw Patrick and Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°Mr. Chavez, who are they? Did you invite celebrities? Their presence is so overwhelming.¡± Just then, Kevin realized the duo opposite him and frowned slightly. ¡°Excuse me, the party is outside. This is the host''s lounge,¡± he said, requesting them to leave the lounge. No matter if they were famous celebrities or not, Kevin did not want anyone to disturb him while coaxing his girl. Patrick chuckled coldly. ¡°Kev, how could you chase your friend away now that you have a girlfriend?¡± Of course, Kevin could tell that it was Patrick by his voice. Kevin''s eyes lit up as he nced at the woman beside Patrick. He asked, ¡°Pat, who is this?¡± If she were Gwen, she wouldn''t be leaning in his arms so obediently. That girl is hard to get. Gwendolyn waved at Kevin and asked, ¡°Mr. Chavez, mind introducing the girl?¡± Gwendolyn was looking at the girl beside Kevin. The girl''s face looked somewhat young, and her skin seemed as smooth as a baby''s bottom. Besides, she was currently dressed in a tube top, a baseball shirt, and sweatpants. Her waist was fair and slim that even Gwendolyn, as a girl, wanted to reach out to touch it. Kevinughed and replied, ¡°Gwen, you look so obedient today even I couldn''t recognize you.¡± Patrick and Gwendolyn removed their mask for Kevin to introduce them to the girl. Kevin changed his girlfriends very often. It seemed like he had another new one again. Kevin sat up straight and pulled the girl closer into his arms. He pointed at Patrick and said, ¡°Estelle, this is Patrick Lowen, and this is his girlfriend, Gwendolyn Ashton.¡± Estelle Blenheim''s eyes lit up instantly when she heard Patrick''s name. He looks much more handsome than on the television. Besides, the aura that he exudes is iparable to other celebrities. Estelle smiled at Patrick and Gwendolyn, then greeted, ¡°Patrick, Gwen, nice to meet you!¡± Kevin was stunned for a moment. ¡°Estelle, why do you address me as Mr. Chavez but call them Patrick and Gwen? Do I look so old?¡± Estelle shot him a re and whispered, ¡°Can''t you tell? I''m being polite. Nowadays, adults prefer to be addressed by their names since it would make them sound younger.¡± Kevin frowned slightly as he could not understand kids these days. ¡°Pat, Gwen, this is my girlfriend, Estelle Blenheim. You can call her Estelle,¡± Kevin introduced. Gwendolyn loved the name and thought that it matched Estelle well. She uttered, ¡°Estelle.¡± Estelle smiled in response, feeling that she liked Gwendolyn. She stood up and pulled Gwendolyn aside. ¡°Gwen, your ne looks nice! It must be very expensive.¡± Now that the twodies were chatting with one another, Gwendolyn was no longer in Patrick''s arms. Therefore, he was unhappy. He passed Kevin a cigarette before lighting one for himself. ¡°Kev, aren''t you afraid your grandfather would see what you have done outside?¡± Patrick asked. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Kevinughed and replied, ¡°I''ve arranged two halls for the party. The usher knows to bring the young ones into this hall. The older people will be brought to the hall upstairs to dance and listen to some music. We can have our fun here.¡± Patrick took a long puff of the cigarette. He knew that Kevin would have his way of having fun. ¡°What about Luke? I heard that he had left and wouldn''t attend your birthday party,¡± Patrick asked. Every year, Lucas would apply for leave and return to celebrate Kevin''s and Patrick''s birthdays. Kevin raised his eyebrows and took a puff of cigarette too. ¡°That guy is hiding from his girl. I can''t even reach his number. I don''t think he ising back.¡± Just then, the lounge door opened. Felicia held a girl''s hand, and they entered the lounge. The girl said, ¡°Kevin, this birthday party is awesome! I like it very much.¡± Felicia saw Patrick from afar, but she did not notice Gwendolyn. The former smiled and tidied her hair. Then, she looked down at her V-neck dress, which was already lowered to the max. Chapter 287 Chapter 287 Evangeline Palmer walked toward Kevin and sat beside him. ¡°Happy birthday, Kevin!¡± Kevin answered with a smile, ¡°Thank you, Eva. You''ve grown prettier!¡± Evangeline''s smile grew wider after beingplimented by Kevin. She looked at Estelle, who was beside Kevin, and asked, ¡°Kevin, who is this pretty girl?¡± Estelle was discussing nails with Gwendolyn. She nced at Evangeline upon hearing her question. ¡°This is my girlfriend, Estelle.¡± Kevin waved at Estelle, and she went to sit beside him. Just then, Gwendolyn looked over to Patrick and realized Felicia was sitting beside him while Patrick''s expression darkened. Gwendolyn stood up and walked toward him. She then sat down beside him and leaned into his arms. After that, Gwendolyn shot Felicia a nce, and thetter immediately realized the woman with a gorgeous figure was Gwendolyn. Felicia''s face suddenly darkened a little. Felicia pursed her lips and greeted Gwendolyn awkwardly, ¡°Gwen, you are here too.¡± Gwendolyn replied with a smile, ¡°Yes!¡± Patrick''s expression slightly brightened as his mood improved. The corner of his lips curled up slightly. Patrick pressed his long fingers on Gwendolyn''s shoulder lightly and looked at her. ¡°You''ve finally remembered that I''m here too?¡± Gwendolyn shot a look at him and pouted angrily. Patrick could tell that she was jealous. He lowered his head and kissed her on the face. Gwendolyn did not expect that he would kiss her in front of everyone. Her face became red as she shoved him away. Her shy expression made Patrick''s mood better. Felicia, who witnessed the scene, was dumbfounded. Her eyes were filled with intense hatred. However, she hid her feelings. Felicia sped her hands tightly and tried her best to remain elegant. Gwendolyn shot Felicia a sideway nce and could tell that Felicia was suppressing her emotions to the utmost limit. Everyone around was also surprised to see Patrick kiss Gwendolyn. They knew Patrick, the head of the most prominent family, was always cold and unconcerned. However, seeing him pampered Gwendolyn that way made everyone envious. Evangeline nced at Felicia and asked, ¡°Fel, isn''t Patrick your boyfriend?¡± She looked at Patrick after asking that question. However, Patrick was still consoling the woman in his arms. He did not care about what Evangeline said. Felicia felt very awkward. Her face darkened as she pursed her lips, as she did not know how to answer the question. Patrick responded, ¡°That was the past. We broke up long ago.¡± Upon finishing his words, he held Gwendolyn''s hand and gently stroked the back of her hand. As a matter of fact, Patrick''s rtionship with Felicia was only a show. Their rtionship ended after he paid her. Patrick decided to terminate their agreement earlier because he was determined to be with Gwendolyn. Whether his grandfather agreed or not, Patrick had already figured out a n for it. He would not dere to the public or let Hector know for the time being because Patrick wanted to wait for his grandfather''s health to improve before he let him know. The hatred in Felicia''s heart grew even more when she heard what Patrick said. Was he not nning to continue to oblige to the agreement? Felicia had a glimmer of hope before, but upon hearing Patrick''s answer, she knew her hope was gone. Her expression continued to darken, but she kept her emotions in check and stayed calm. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Feeling delighted, Gwendolyn smiled faintly. She had secretly thought before what Felicia''s reaction would be if she were to know Patrick and Gwendolyn were together. Looking at Felicia''s reaction now, Gwendolyn was overjoyed and amused. Thinking of what Felicia and Candace had done to Gwendolyn back then, almost causing her to lose her three children, Gwendolyn swore to make them pay for it. Evangeline was surprised to hear Patrick''s answer. Previously, she had a good rtionship with Felicia because thetter was Patrick''s girlfriend. It was amon phenomenon in their circle of friends. They would only ept Felicia as part of them because she was Patrick''s girlfriend. However, it seemed like they were fooled. Chapter 288 Chapter 288 People from the upper-ss society were like that. They wouldn''t treat friendship sincerely. Evangeline saw the change in Felicia''s look and suddenly felt as though she was watching a drama currently. There were a few other friends who were close to Felicia recently. If Evangeline were to tell them about this matter, it would be fun to watch. Most people epted Felicia because they wanted to approach Patrick and do business with him. Felicia also promised to help them. If they were to know that Felicia and Patrick had broken up, it would be a great scene to behold. Evangeline stood up and said, ¡°Kevin, we are going out to have fun. See youter!¡± Upon finishing her words, she walked toward Felicia and said, ¡°Fel, let''s go out. It''s not suitable for us to be the third wheels here. I''m done with their PDA.¡± Felicia stood up and said to Patrick, ¡°Pat, we are going out.¡± Then, she said to Kevin, who was sitting opposite her, ¡°Mr. Chavez, happy birthday!¡± Kevin was more easy-going. He nodded slightly and replied, ¡°Enjoy the party!¡± After they left the lounge, Kevin said to Patrick, ¡°Pat, weren''t you being too cruel?¡± He raised his eyebrows while speaking. Patrick shot him a re and signaled him not to stir up troubles. Kevin received Patrick''s signal and raised his hands at him, expressing that he would stop. Estelle, leaning in Kevin''s arms, blinked her big eyes. Her eyes were alluring with her exquisite makeup. Kevin lowered his head and got closer to her. ¡°Do you want me to kiss you in front of everyone too?¡± Estelle quickly moved aside and answered, ¡°Stop messing around.¡± Gwendolyn grabbed Patrick''s hand and pinched the back of his hand forcefully. She whispered to him, ¡°Your ex-girlfriend is mad. Are you upset? Do you want to console her?¡± Patrick frowned slightly, flinching in pain. However, he endured it. He let Gwendolyn pinch him until she realized his hand had turned red. She then lowered her head and blew at his reddened hand. ¡°Are you stupid? Why didn''t you stop me if you were in pain?¡± Patrick smirked slightly. He knew that Gwendolyn''s heart would ache for him because she was soft- hearted that she wouldn''t go overboard. He replied calmly, ¡°As long as you are happy, you can do whatever you want. Even if you want my life, I will give it to you too.¡± Patrick was being honest. He would give his life to Gwendolyn without hesitation. Gwendolyn smiled upon hearing his words. She enjoyed Patrick''s sweet-talking. However, she did not believe that he would actually give his life to her. She took it as a joke and didn''t take it to heart. Just then, the butler of the Chavez family came in. ¡°Mr. Chavez, almost all of the guests are here. They are waiting for you to blow out the candles upstairs.¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Kevin raised his eyebrows and sighed upon hearing his words. ¡°It''s time to go up and entertain those elder people.¡± He thought that it was too old-fashioned to blow out candles during birthdays. However, his grandmother was there, and the elderly liked celebrating their grandchildren''s birthdays this way. Thus, Kevin had no choice but to go up and entertain them. He kissed Estelle''s cheek and said, ¡°Babe, I''m going upstairs. Do you want to follow me?¡± Estelle shook her head and replied, ¡°I don''t want to meet your family members. I want to go out and have fun for a moment.¡± She then put on her mask and stood up before going out with Kevin. Before Kevin left, he told Patrick, ¡°Pat, it''s fun outside. You should bring Gwen out to have fun.¡± Kevin left the lounge and shut the door after he said his words. Patrick lowered his head and kissed Gwendolyn on her lips. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she felt it was sweet. She did not reject him and let him kiss her. After kissing her for a while, he let go of her and saw her eyes filled with tears. Patrick''s eyes darkened slightly when he gazed at the pitiful Gwendolyn. He realized that the longer he looked at her, the more beautiful and pleasing she was. Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Gwendolyn raised her hand and touched her lips. ¡°Did you eat all of my lipstick?¡± As Patrick looked at her luscious red lips, he thought the color looked even better than how it was previously. With a slight smile, he wiped off the excess lipstick from the corners of her lips. ¡°Nope. You look even more beautiful now.¡± With that, he got up and pulled her up. ¡°Let''s go out and have fun!¡± While Gwendolyn was still worrying about her lipstick, the man put on her mask for her. ¡°You really look gorgeous.¡± Following that, he put on his mask as well. He just wanted to admire the beautiful woman in front of him all by himself. It was only after hearing his words that Gwendolyn stopped worrying. She shed him a shy grin. It had been a long time since shest yed coy in front of others. Now that she was under Patrick''s care, she felt she had be a little girl all over again. Patrick held her hand and left the lounge with her. The atmosphere was perfect inside the ballroom. Many were dressed up in all sorts of weird costumes, including nurses drenched in blood as well as devils on stretchers. It was an eerie sight, but it suited the spooky theme. Gwendolyn blinked herrge eyes as she surveyed her surroundings. At a nce, she couldn''t tell who each of them was, and she found this rather intriguing. Just then, a group of people walked between them, and Gwendolyn and Patrick''s hands were forcefully separated. Besides that, she was even pushed forward by the group and kept walking for some distance. When she finally managed to stop in her tracks, she turned around and tried to look for Patrick. Yet, at that moment, the lights dimmed. Kevin flew down from the floor above them. He looked dashing in a ck tuxedo and a vampire mask, and it was as if a real Drac had appeared before them. The crowd erupted into apuse. After hended, the spotlight only focused on him while a few helpers undid his harness. Raising his hand high in the air, he announced, ¡°I dere that the masquerade party has begun. You may invite your partners for a dance.¡± Gwendolyn frantically looked around in search of Patrick under the dim light. Unfortunately, it was too dark, and there were also too many people around. Meanwhile, everyone had started inviting those around them for a dance, and the ballroom instantly turned into a dance floor. With that, she could only take a few steps back and retreat from the dance floor. She stood by the side and watched as the couples danced. The music was lively, and all of them were having a great time. As Gwendolyn still couldn''t find Patrick, she had no choice but to move toward the edge of the ballroom and walk a big round in search of the man. After one round around the ballroom, there was still no sight of him. At this, she heaved a sigh. Before they entered, they were made to surrender their coats and bags at the entrance, and they weren''t allowed to bring their phones in either. Because of that, finding someone in such a circumstance was akin to finding a needle in a haystack. She gently bit her lip as she raised her head and scanned around. Every now and then, a few grim reapers and devils would appear in her surroundings. Fortunately, she hadn''t brought Juliette along. If the girl had seen all of this, she would have been frightened out of her wits. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. After a while, she walked toward the bar counter nearby and decided to stay there for the time being. If she still couldn''t find Patrick, she would then make her leave. He was the reason why she came here in the first ce, after all. Besides, she had already handed Kevin''s gift to the butler here. In addition, she wasn''t very interested in such parties. Right then, a man sat down beside her. As the lights were too dim, she couldn''t tell who he was in his ck costume and light-colored mask. ¡°Are you alone?¡± His voice was deep and melodious. Gwendolyn nced at him and gently swirled the wine ss in her hand. ¡°Nope. I have a partner.¡± Although she had rejected him straightforwardly, the man had no intentions of leaving. He simply raised his wine ss and took a sip. Following that, he told the bartender, ¡°Can I get one ming Rose for thisdy over here?¡± Soon, a bright red, sparkling cocktail was presented to her. With a frown, Gwendolyn lifted her own ss and took a sip from it. ¡°Thanks, but I don''t like to drink alcohol with such unconventional colors.¡± Then, she pushed the ss over to him. The man raised a brow and let out a sigh. ¡°You really aren''t going to entertain me, huh?¡± Soon, a group of men and women crowded around him. ¡°Peter, I never thought there would be a woman you can''t get!¡± Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Peter gave them a resigned shrug. ¡°The main reason is that I can''t show my face today. That''s why she rejected me.¡± Isn''t he too confident about his looks? Gwendolyn paid no attention to him. After all, she thought Patrick was the most handsome man in the world. No matter how dashing this man before her was, she had no feelings toward him, nor was she interested in finding out. She calmly raised her ss again and took another sip of the wine. Patrick, if you still can''t find me, then I''m leaving. Gwendolyn, who often liked throwing tantrums, was upset and rather hot-tempered at that moment. She couldn''t believe that he would lose her. This is simply ridiculous. Out of the group of men and women, Felicia spotted Gwendolyn at one nce. That was because the ne on thetter''s neck was something Felicia''s aunts had wanted to buy, and Felicia thought it was merely a cheap ne. She couldn''t believe that Gwendolyn would wear something that cost fifty bucks to a party like this. Her lips curled up into a cold smirk as she whispered to the girl beside her, ¡°I know who she is now. She''s the daughter of my family''s housekeeper. I don''t know how she sneaked in, but I recognize the ne around her neck. She bought it at a roadside stall, and it costs less than a hundred.¡± The girl Felicia spoke to was fond of Peter and was also his ex-girlfriend. As long as Peter didn''t find a new girlfriend today, she could continue staying by his side. As she really liked Peter, she absolutely despised anyone else on whom the man set his eyes. Upon hearing Felicia''s words, she tilted her head upward. It turned out the woman Peter was talking to was merely a lowly daughter of a housekeeper. Anyone who dared to steal her man practically had a death wish. She walked over and reached out to tug the ne off Gwendolyn''s neck. Before she could do that, Gwendolyn grabbed her hand. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The girl snorted in response. ¡°You got this ne from a roadside stall, didn''t you? It doesn''t even have a single rhinestone. It likely costs ten bucks at most.¡± As she said that, she nced at Peter, who was at the side. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°Darling, don''t tell me that you like this type of woman too?¡± Felicia crossed her arms in front of her chest as she watched the scene coldly. Her lips curled up into a smirk, and she felt satisfied deep down. Gwendolyn, just wait till you embarrass yourself at a ce like this filled with socialites. The group of girls who were beside Gwendolyn also nced at the ne. All of them were from wealthy families or families of officials, and they were familiar with jewelry. With just one look at a gemstone, they could guess how much it cost. Not only that, but they could even tell what brand it was. When they saw the ne on Gwendolyn''s neck, they didn''t see any diamonds. Furthermore, the ne was also of poor quality and was unlike the quality of nes they had at the moment. Hence, all of them assumed it was a counterfeit. Although it only seemed decent on the outside, in reality, it was something very cheap. Those in their circle especially looked down on those who wore imitations and believed such people didn''t deserve to attend their gatherings. ¡°Excuse me, miss. Are you trying to challenge Kevin by wearing a counterfeit to his birthday party?¡± The Chavez family was, after all, one of the four most prominent families in Avenport. They were of exceptional status, and Kevin''s friends would naturally be of affluent backgrounds. As such, they felt Gwendolyn must have snuck in, and she wasn''t worthy of being here. Gwendolyn nced at them and met their gazes. In a calm voice, she responded, ¡°Why don''t you ask Kevin if I''m trying to challenge him here?¡± When the woman who liked Peter heard that, there was a cold gleam in her gaze. I can''t believe she''s still trying to fight back at a time like this. She truly has a death wish! As soon as the woman tightened her grip, Gwendolyn grabbed the former''s thumb and threw the woman over her shoulder. The woman fell to the floor heavily, and the mask slipped off her face. The miserable expression on her countenance made those around her feel her pain as well. ¡°She hit me! She hit me...¡± she sobbed. In an instant, everyone else turned their attention toward them. There was even a spotlight that shone onto them. Gwendolyn stood in the spotlight with her slender figure, and the diamond on her silver mask glinted brilliantly under the light. She outshone every other woman who was present. Although they couldn''t see her face, her outfit¡ª coupled with the aura she exuded¡ªwas enough to make her stand out from the crowd. Chapter 291 Chapter 291 A few women nearby came around, including Felicia, who spoke the loudest. ¡°How dare you hit her! Do you know who you''ve hit?¡± Seated at the bar counter, Peter was waiting to see what would happen next as he sipped his wine from his ss. He loved seeing the ludicrousness of women when they fought for him. It always amused him. yfully, he cast a side nce at Gwendolyn, whom he found attractive. She had captured his attention ever since heid his eyes on her. If she can beat them all down, I would like to have a try with her. I always preferred hot girls. Gwendolyn shot a nce at Felicia calmly, noticing thetter was wearing that pale green skirt while acting innocent and naive. Oh, she''s behind the reason these people are finding fault with me. ¡°Felicia, do you think you can get Patrick back by doing so?¡± An amused look shed across Gwendolyn''s eyes as she spoke. After hearing Gwendolyn''s words, a few women near her recalled the text message Evangeline sent earlier that informed them that Felicia was a liar and she had broken up with Patrick. They looked inquiringly toward Felicia, who had their attention at that moment. There were hints of ridicule in their nces. ¡°Felicia, have you been lying to us? You told us you''re Patrick''s girlfriend.¡± Felicia''s face fell. She didn''t expect Gwendolyn''s words to turn those women''s back against her. However, no one noticed the change in her expression due to her mask. At that moment, she was feeling utterly embarrassed. However, it was a relief to her that only those near the bar were paying attention to them. Things would be worse if they attracted even more attention. D*mn, Gwendolyn! Why don''t you just die? Felicia pointed at Gwendolyn with extreme hatred. ¡°She''s our housekeeper''s daughter, having no right to show up here. Moreover, she''s even wearing counterfeit goods. You all should go against her. Later, I''ll exin what''s going on between Patrick and me.¡± Felicia was determined to get rid of Gwendolyn before Patrick showed up. She wanted to ridicule Gwendolyn for Patrick to realize that thetter didn''t reserve him. ¡°She even has three children. The dad of her children is a man in his seventies,¡± Felicia added. The other women turned around and looked at Gwendolyn in bewilderment. ¡°So you''re the one lying! We thought you were Patrick''s new girlfriend, not expecting you to be a mother of three.¡± They moved closer to Gwendolyn as they spoke. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. However, Gwendolyn wasn''t afraid at all. ¡°All of you better don''t get any closer to me. I have no control of my fist,¡± she replied calmly. The woman who liked Peter got herself up from the ground and pointed at Gwendolyn while still sobbing. ¡°Get rid of her on my behalf.¡± She was the section chief''s daughter. The rest of them were the children of her father''s subordinates. Therefore, they had no choice but to obey her. A few people walked toward Gwendolyn and encircled her. In a few minutes, Gwendolyn managed to defeat them, causing several women and another two men to sprawl on the ground. ¡°She hit us! She hit us,¡± they moaned. Knowing how to fight, they were always the ones bullying others. It was the first time someone defeated them, triggering their frustration and embarrassment. They would be embarrassed to the core if they didn''t have the masks covering their face. At that moment, Patrick showed up and stood in front of Gwendolyn, swiping his cold nce at those laid on the ground. ¡°How dare you find fault with my woman!¡± Soon after he finished his words, a group of bodyguards showed up and carried those on the ground out of the banquet hall. As Felicia stood not too far away, the resentment and hatred she felt deepened when she saw the way Patrick protected Gwendolyn. She clenched her fists and tried to bottle up her anger, taking small steps backward. A hint of a smile shed across Gwendolyn''s eyes as she smelt the faint fragrance on Patrick''s body. It feels so good to be protected. She then pointed at Felicia. ¡°She''s the one who started it. She even said my ne is a counterfeit.¡± Patrick nced over at Felicia coldly and pointed to the ne on Gwendolyn''s neck. ¡°Do you think I''ll give counterfeit goods as a gift?¡± Chapter 292 Chapter 292 Felicia''s heart ached as she heard the coldness in Patrick''s voice, feeling utterly wretched. She kept shaking her head. ¡°Pat, I didn''t mean that. She was the one who said the ne is from a flea market.¡± Felicia''s voice was slightly hoarse. One could hear that she was trying to hold back her tears. ¡°You believe it''s a fake just because she said so? What a fool,¡± Patrick sneered. He had no intention of disclosing that the ne worth one hundred and fifty million. Then, cing his arm around Gwendolyn, he added warmly, ¡°Let''s go!¡± However, the tone of his voice when he spoke to Gwendolyn was strangely warm. It caused everyone to think that the man who lost his temper in front of Felicia just now was not the same man who spoke warmly to Gwendolyn. Thetter sounded so gentle, and his voice was so soothing. Patrick led Gwendolyn to a ce not too far away with his arm around her. Then, he pinched her slim waist with his slender fingers. ¡°Don''t run around next time.¡± Earlier, he lost her in the blink of an eye and had his bodyguards searching for her. He kept looking for her on the dance floor, not expecting that she would go to the bar. ¡°Just stay where you are if you''re ever lost again. Do you understand?¡± he continued. Gwendolyn smiled as she recalled she had told Juliette the same thing numerous times, worrying that Juliette would be lost and couldn''t find her. Thus, she could feel Patrick''s fear of losing her after listening to his words. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. Taking in the faint scent of his, she squinted her eyes and smiled. ¡°Yes, I do.¡± Initially, she intended to throw a tantrum at Patrick. However, at that instant, all her anger had cooled off. The hug gave her a sense of security. A hint of amusement shed across Patrick''s eyes as he caressed her back with his hands. ¡°Shall we dance?¡± Hand in hand, they curtseyed to each other before going onto the dance floor. It had been a long time since Gwendolyn danced. At first, she thought she would make mistakes. However, with a good dance partner like Patrick, it seemed like her worries were redundant. Both of them became the center of attention on the dance floor. Kevin grinned with his hand wrapped around Estelle. ¡°Babe, shall we dance too?¡± It''s so sweet to see Pat and Gwen dancing together. I''m so envious. Estelle nodded. ¡°Of course. Why not? Bring it on!¡± It wasmon to hear Estelle speak in such a way. That was the reason Kevin had his eyes on her. He found her special with her bad temper. Estelle was the little princess in her family, where everyone pampered her. Therefore, she had a bad temper. Kevin and Estelle got on the dance floor, and their dancing was good too. When they brushed past Gwendolyn and Patrick, Kevin said, ¡°Pat, good dance.¡± This guy never danced in front of others. Back then, he would only do it half-heartedly when he was forced to do so, unlike today. Today, he uses different moves and techniques. Upon seeing Patrick''s good moves, Kevin was eager to cheer for him, but Patrick shot him a look. ¡°You''re good too.¡± Estelle burst intoughter. ¡°Hey, Mr. Lowen is cool. He doesn''t care about these.¡± Even Gwendolyn couldn''t help chuckling especially when she saw the smile on Kevin''s face gradually disappeared. ¡°Haha. Mr. Lowen, you''re so naughty. Take a close look at the expression on Mr. Chavez''s face. I guess what you said will make him step on his partner''s feet.¡± At that moment, Estelle let out a yelp. ¡°Hey, you stepped on my feet. It''s so painful!¡± Kevin regained his senses after being momentarily stunned and pursed his lips. ¡°I''m so sorry, Babe! Do you want me to carry you upstairs to have a rest?¡± His intention of carrying her upstairs was obvious, as he knew that there were lounges upstairs. Therefore, Estelle rejected him at once. ¡°No! You promised you won''t touch me before I reach adulthood. I''m still below eighteen years old!¡±All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Kevin could not help butugh. ¡°Babe, did I even say that? Why? Do you feel like doing it with me now?¡± A faint smile crept on Estelle''s face as she rolled her eyes at him. ¡°I was just giving you a warning.¡± Gwendolyn looked at Kevin and Estelle from the side. She could tell that Kevin liked his young girlfriend a lot. Patrick stared at her intently. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Following her gaze, he looked in the direction of where Kevin and Estelle were standing. Upon realizing that Gwendolyn was staring at them, he furrowed his brows slightly. ¡°Do you like that girl?¡± Gwendolyn retracted her gaze and stared into his deep eyes. ¡°She''s young and adorable. Also, she has quite a personality. I feel she looks like the old me.¡± Her expression changed a little as she uttered thest sentence. It seemed like she was reminiscing. Before she turned eighteen, she was the precious daughter of the Ashton family. Not only did her grandfather dote her a lot, but everyone else treated her well too. Moreover, she was also a capricious, stubborn youngdy. Unfortunately, after that incident, she had no choice but to endure everything she should not have encountered at that age. She became a mother out of the blue, and her life started getting rough too. Since then, no one loved or doted on her anymore. She had to bear the responsibility of taking care of her three children herself. That was why she changed into someone who was no longer as confident as in the past. Moreover, she lost the courage to love whoever she wanted. At that thought, Gwendolyn let out a sigh. Sometimes, if you lose something, you''ll lose it forever. Hence, she thought of herself in the past when she looked at Estelle just now. Back then, she was lively and innocent, just like Estelle. She used to look that youthful, and her eyes were always full of contempt and disdain. Suddenly, Patrick grabbed her arms and wrapped them around his neck. He then hugged her waist and pulled her closer into his embrace. Standing close to each other, they continued dancing. Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes and smiled as the faint fragrance on Patrick''s body wafted into her nose. With him, she felt like she had found the feelings of being pampered and loved in the past. Patrick''s lips were so close to her ear. She felt a tickling sensation in her ear as his warm breath lingered close to her. ¡°Gwen, you''re more beautiful and charming than Ms. Blenheim. You''re special.¡± To Patrick, Gwendolyn was iparable. She was always the most gorgeous and unique woman in his eyes. That youngdy doesn''t even deserve to getpared with Gwen. Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn broke intoughter. Lifting her face, she gazed at his mask and his dark eyes. Although Patrick was wearing a mask, he was as handsome and charming as ever. Gwendolyn could feel her heart pounding fast after ncing at him. ¡°Patrick, you''re being overprotective.¡± Patrick was unfazed by her remark. He lifted a brow, saying, ¡°I''m just telling the truth.¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. A bright smile bloomed on Gwendolyn''s face again. His words were so sweet that anyone would be delighted if they heard that. Felicia, who stood at the side of the dance floor, was infuriated. If I knew this would happen, I wouldn''t even change into this green dress! I should''ve worn that red evening dress here. Now that she looked at her green dress, she felt extremely irritated. Turning around, she walked out of the room. After taking back her clothes and bag, she took out her phone and got in her car. Her driver had been waiting at the entrance. All her subordinates were afraid of her. After all, Felicia was a bad-tempered woman. She would fire them if they made a single mistake. Therefore, the housekeepers in the Ashton residence had to be extra cautious when they were facing Felicia. They did not dare to say anything to her even if they were displeased. Felicia dialed Candace''s number and said, ¡°Mom, didn''t you say that you''ll find someone to get rid of Gwendolyn? I hope she''ll disappear from this world tomorrow!¡± She was so angry that could not wait any longer. I really hope that Gwendolyn will die tonight! Right then, Candace was binge-watching TV shows in her bedroom. Upon hearing what Felicia said, she lowered the volume of the television. ¡°What''s wrong, Sweetheart?¡± ¡°Mom, didn''t I tell you I''ll apany a friend to a birthday party today? Gwendolyn is also here. Do you know what''s worse? She came with Patrick. My friends are all making fun of me. They''ll never hang out with me again in the future.¡± Felicia choked back a sob as she spoke. Chapter 294 Chapter 294 Candace could not stand her daughter being wronged. She scoffed, ¡°Fel, I''ll go and see them tomorrow. Don''t worry. Gwendolyn will disappear soon!¡± Felicia felt better upon hearing her mother''s promise. Gwendolyn had made her feel so aggrieved that night, so she was determined to make Gwendolyn pay with pounds of flesh. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was feeling a little hungry after the dance. ¡°Patrick, let''s go and eat something!¡± Patrick smiled. He wrapped his arms around her and patted her head dotingly. ¡°Sure. What do you feel like eating?¡± He was not a fan of cold buffet food. However, Kevin told him before that there was a restaurant near the buffet area where Patrick could order whatever he wanted. Gwendolyn pondered for a moment before asking, ¡°Isn''t there a buffet?¡± She could take some of each of the dishes. After all, she was not a picky eater, so she could eat whatever was edible. The two walked over to the dining area. After pushing the door open, they arrived at a tiny restaurant. Gwendolyn was shocked for a second. ¡°Are you the owner of this hotel?¡± Why does he own a private restaurant here? That''s incredible! Patrick thought that Gwendolyn and her thoughts were adorable. ¡°My family doesn''t own this hotel. It belongs to the Chavez family. But then, due to my connection with Kev, I have the right to order whatever I want to eat here.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. That makes sense. After all, although Patrick and Kevin are not brothers by blood, they are so close to each other. Patrick pulled out a chair for her like a gentleman. As soon as Gwendolyn sat down, she took off her mask and put it on the table. Picking up her ss, she gulped down a mouthful of water. She felt a little thirsty after drinking the alcohol just now. Patrick took off his mask too. Not long after, a server walked over to take their order. ¡°Mr. Lowen, what would you like to order?¡± Patrick handed the menu to Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, you can take a look at the menu. What do you feel like eating?¡± As Gwendolyn opened the menu, she noticed all the dishes on it looked exquisite. Moreover, most of them were wild delicacies such as wild mushrooms, wild greens, venison steak, and wild goat meat. After browsing through the menu, she found all of them looked delicious. Looking at Patrick, she said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, you can make the final call. After all, I can eat everything.¡± Unlike her, Patrick was allergic to seafood. However, he was willing to peel some prawns for her every time. It seemed like although he could not eat them, it was fine for him to touch them. With that, Patrick started ordering the food. ¡°I would like to have one grilled venison steak, roasted lamb, wild mushroom soup, and grilled eggnt.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn realized that Patrick had ordered all the dishes she felt like eating after she browsed the menu. Hence, she shot him a nce secretly. Can he read other people''s minds? However, she did not tell him what she was thinking. She assumed that he had ordered those dishes because those were the signatures of that restaurant. Gwendolyn finished a ss of water while waiting for the food to get served. Patrick furrowed his brows slightly. ¡°Don''t drink so much water. Otherwise, you might not be able to finish your foodter.¡± He sounded like he was taking care of a child. To Gwendolyn, he looked more and more simr to her when she was lecturing her three children. Cupping her face with both hands, she stared at him intently. ¡°Patrick, should I call you ''Mommy'' in the future?¡± A faint smile crept on Patrick''s exquisite face when his Adam''s apple bobbed sexily. As he stared at Gwendolyn, his gaze darkened. ¡°You can call me ''Daddy.'' I prefer you call me that.¡± After all, he was a man, and he was the future father of her children. Hence, he felt that it was reasonable for her to address him like that. Gwendolyn rolled her eyes at him. ¡°I don''t want to call you that. You don''t understand what I''m saying. What I meant was you look like you''re taking care of a child when you take care of me.¡± He reached out his arm to hold her soft, delicate hand. Caressing the back of her palm, he said, ¡°I''m being serious, Gwen. Can you call me that on the bed next time?¡± Chapter 295 Chapter 295 Gwendolyn''s face and ears reddened when she heard Patrick''s words. She shook her head and said, ¡°Patrick, stop fooling around. We''re eating.¡± Is it appropriate to talk about that while we''re eating? His smile grew wider, and his eyes were as bright as sunlight, making him look charming. Just then, Rosalie came in, holding her mother''s hand. A smile appeared on Rosalie''s face when she saw Patrick from afar. However, her smile disappeared when she saw him holding Gwendolyn''s hand. Seeing Rosalie stop in her tracks, her mother asked, ¡°Rosalie, what''s wrong?¡± Rosalie''s mother, Reba, was joining the birthday party upstairs, but she was dragged here by Rosalie. Rosalie told her there were a lot of delicious foods here, and they were prepared in Kevin''s private kitchen. At first, Rosalie thought she could enjoy a good meal, but she had witnessed such a scene. She made Reba sit in front of the dining table and said, ¡°Mom, you may order first. I''m going to have a few words with Pat.¡± Reba looked at Patrick and Gwendolyn, and she came to a realization. She finally understood that Rosalie had finished her ss toe back earlier because of Patrick. Besides, the ck roses Rosalie nted in the greenhouse at home were also for Patrick. All these years, Rosalie was in love with Patrick. Reba heaved a sigh, thinking that it was true that a grown daughter was hard to keep at home. That night, Rosalie was d in a red evening dress that exposed her slender legs, and she looked very charming. She approached Patrick and Gwendolyns'' table and greeted Patrick with a smile. ¡°Pat, what a coincidence! You''re having dinner here too. Shall we eat together?¡± While talking, Rosalie pointed at Reba, who was not far away from them. Patrick smiled at Reba, and thetter returned a smile in response. It was a short, simple greeting between him and Rosalie''s mother. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Reba was Kevin''s stepmother, and Kevin was not close to her. Hence, Patrick was not familiar with her. He only met her at gatherings once in a while, and they barely knew each other. Gwendolyn''s expression darkened slightly when she saw Rosalie. She thought Rosalie and Patrick were a good match. No matter how many girlfriends Patrick had, Rosalie was the woman who had a higher possibility to marry him. As she thought about that, Gwendolyn instantly lost her appetite even though there were a lot of delicious foods in front of her. She fiddled with her food in the bowl, looking unhappy. She knew the difference in status between her and Patrick was big. Besides, she was a mother of three children. Even though she knew she did not deserve him, she wanted to stay with him to be cared for and pampered by him forever. Once that thought appeared in her mind, she could not stop it. Gwendolyn used to think that she would be satisfied if she could be in love with Patrick once. However, she wanted more now, and she did not want to lose Patrick. Seeing Gwendolyn''s darkened face, Patrick rejected, ¡°Ms. Chavez, I don''t want to be disturbed while having dinner with my girlfriend. Please eat with Mrs. Chavez then!¡± Rosalie had never been refused in such a frank way by other people. Her expression changed, but she kept her smile. ¡°Okay. I''ll not disturb you.¡± After that, she returned to Reba''s side. Upon seeing Rosalie sit down gracefully and chat with Reba, Gwendolyn missed her mother all of a sudden. However, she only saw her mother once when she was young and had not seen her mother after that. In Gwendolyn''s memory, her mother was a vague figure without an exact look. There were no photographs of her mother at home. She had no idea why his father hated her mother so much that he destroyed everything about her as if her mother had never existed in the world. Patrick passed Gwendolyn a pair of disposable stic gloves and said, ¡°Gwen, try thismb shank.¡± Gwendolyn only then snapped back to her senses and opened her mouth slightly. ¡°What?¡± Patrick put on the gloves and put a chunk of mutton on her te. ¡°I saw you chewed it happilyst time.¡± Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Gwendolyn remembered she never cared about her image while she was eating with Patrick back then. She would deliberately destroy her image by gobbling up the food just to make Patrick dislike her. That time, she never thought she would be Patrick''s girlfriend one day. Gwendolyn was embarrassed with that memory. Patrick put another big piece of mutton with bone on her te. ¡°Eat it before it gets cold.¡± Then, he cut the mutton gracefully with a knife and fork and fed it into his mouth. He looked great while he was eating. Gwendolyn found it unfair. She did not understand why she had to use her hands to eat the mutton while Patrick could use a knife and fork. She wanted to retort, but she knew Patrick would not give her a chance to do so. Pursing her lips in dissatisfaction, she did not want to care about her image anymore since she had already lost her image. It was a slice of wild goat meat, and the taste was definitely better than what she usually ate. Gwendolyn held it by the bone and started to savor the mutton with her hands. After taking one bite, she remarked in excitement, ¡°It''s delicious! It tastes so nice! The mutton is fresh.¡± This mutton was indeed different from the mutton she usually ate, so she ate it happily. Looking at the way Gwendolyn chewed themb shank, Patrick, who sat opposite of her,ughed happily. He loved to watch her eat because the sight of her eating increased his appetite. Meanwhile, Reba sat at the table not far from them, facing Gwendolyn. She took a nce at Gwendolyn, and she thought thetter was pretty, but the way she ate was not very elegant. How can such a woman bepared to my daughter? Reba ced some food on Rosalie''s te and said, ¡°Don''t be sad, Rosalie. Do eat more. Patrick''s current girlfriend should not be able to marry into the Lowen family.¡± After all, the Lowen family was the most influential family in Avenport. The Chavez family was second to them. The Lowen family''s requirements in choosing a daughter-inw were high, and they would not simply marry anyone. Rosalie heaved a sigh. ¡°Mom, you have no idea. Old Mrs. Lowen brought Gwendolyn to the gathering last time. The Lowen family had already acknowledged her.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Reba''s eyes widened slightly. A second wife like her was not qualified to attend the socialite gathering. She looked at Gwendolyn again. She never thought Gwendolyn had clever tricks. Reba''s hatred grew when she thought that she had never attended the socialite gathering, and she hated Gwendolyn even more. ¡°Rosalie, you can tell your grandmother about your marriage with Patrick. You are the only girl in the family, and your grandmother loves you. She will help you if you tell her.¡± This was the only way Reba could think of. Although she was married to the Chavez family, she did not have the right to speak and also the capability to help her daughter. Rosalie pursed her lip and took a sip of the wine. ¡°Mom, you know about Grandma''s temper too. She says the elders will not interfere with the youngsters'' affairs. Besides, she doesn''t want me to marry into the family she''s close with. She''s afraid that the elders'' rtionship will be affected if the marriage doesn''t go well in the future.¡± Rosalie would have been together with Patrick if Linda supported her. By then, Gwendolyn would be nothing. Rosalie was determined to not give up since she had loved Patrick for many years. Gwendolyn was full after chewing half of themb shank. She took off the gloves and wiped her hands with a wet tissue. ¡°I''m done eating.¡± However, Patrick poured a bowl of soup for her. ¡°Try this wild mushroom soup.¡± The soup was good and nutritious for women. Patrick purposely ordered it for Gwendolyn. Besides, the soup was added with mild medicinal herbs. Gwendolyn did not reject him, and she drank the soup with a small spoon. However, she could not hold back her question anymore. ¡°Patrick, will you have a marriage of convenience with Rosalie?¡± After all, the Lowen family and the Chavez family were close to one another. In addition, Gwendolyn had a feeling the marriage would happen because Patrick was close with Kevin. Patrick and Rosalie are a match made in heaven. Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Patrick''s expression fell when he noticed that Gwendolyn''s gaze had darkened. ¡°What? Have you never thought about marrying me?¡± he asked. Patrick was very disappointed. Originally, he thought that Gwendolyn would be all over him when he managed to win her over. But now, he knew that he had gotten his hopes too high. Gwendolyn had never imagined a future with him. Feeling crestfallen, he raised the wine ss and drank all the wine in one gulp. The atmosphere in the restaurant instantly turned cold. Even Gwendolyn felt the temperature in the restaurant decrease. She felt a little cold as a result. ¡°No, I didn''t mean that,¡± she responded. With that, she ced some food on his te. Because she wanted to be with him, she asked that question. ¡°What do you mean then?¡± Patrick looked at her coldly. ¡°I feel like we''re just fooling around. Once we''ve satisfied ourselves in this ambiguous rtionship, we''ll go our separate ways. Gwendolyn, I''m not as casual as you are.¡± The more Patrick thought about it, the angrier he became. If he was such a man, he would have been surrounded by women long ago. It was a wonder why he became celibate for so many years. To Patrick, getting together meant being with one another for life. Gwendolyn stretched her hand out and ce it on hisrge hand. Her index finger lightly scratched the back of his hand. ¡°Patrick, I want to be with you for life. I know I''m not a good person and that I have a dark past. However, I didn''t do those things willingly. I didn''t wish to do those things. Do you believe me?¡± She could not escape the fact that she had given birth out of wedlock and did not even know who the father was. What happened in the past had be a nightmare that would haunt her for life. It was also the main topic of discussion that others kept bringing up to Gwendolyn over the years. Of course, she did not care. After all, her three children were the best gift she had ever received in her whole life. However, Gwendolyn had others matters that outsiders loved to stick their noses in. Therefore, she never thought about getting a boyfriend or marrying someone. However, she had met Patrick. He fulfilled all her dreams and doted on her like a child. It was because of him that she finally wanted to get married. Gwendolyn wanted to be with Patrick for a lifetime. She did not want him to be snatched away by other women. Patrick smiled inly when he heard her reply. He said, ¡°You silly girl. Your past means nothing to me. I regret that I was not with you while you faced the happenings in the past, but I hope that I''m the only man in your future life. Do you understand?¡± Patrick was very domineering, but Gwendolyn felt that she liked this side of him very much. She could not help but smile. ¡°Patrick, do you have any idea how incredible you are at sweet-talking?¡± she asked. In the past, she thought that a man like Patrick would be very boring when he was with his girlfriend. She also believed that he would never utter any affectionate words. From the looks of things, it seemed that Gwendolyn had misunderstood Patrick. His affectionate words were probably irresistible to any woman who heard them. At that moment, Gwendolyn felt that she was utterly captivated by Patrick. He raised his eyebrows. ¡°I''m even more incredible in other areas. Do you want me to show you?¡± The old Gwendolyn would probably not understand what he was saying, but the current Gwendolyn understood what he meant immediately. Her delicate face blushed bright red. She then shot him a re. ¡°We shouldn''t talk while eating,¡± she said. She then lowered her head and drank the soup. At that moment, she felt that the soup tasted wonderful. As Patrick ate the food elegantly, his gaze toward her intensified. Reba, who was seated at a nearby table, looked at the two of them. They seemed so affectionate that they could make people jealous of them. However, Reba knew from her past experiences that young couples started off like this at first. In time, their rtionship would gradually change. Even if Gwendolyn were an angel, Patrick would get bored of looking at her every day. Although she looked very beautiful, Reba believed that a handsome man like Patrick was used to beingThis material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. pampered. Thus, she doubted Patrick would staymitted to one woman and give up on pursuing others. Look at Kevin. He nevercks female partners. Although he has never brought any women home, I know that he has a lot of lovers just by hearing the rumors spread by other people. Besides, Kevin and Patrick are good friends. As the saying goes, birds of the same feather flock together. They probably have the same preferences when ites to girls. Chapter 298 Chapter 298 Sensing Reba was looking at her, Gwendolyn nced over at the woman. Reba was smiling at her. Gwendolyn also returned a smile in response. Rosalie saw her mother''s expression, so she turned her head to have a look. When she turned around, she asked, ¡°Mom, aren''t you emboldening her by acknowledging her like that?¡± Reba snapped back to her senses. ¡°I simply thought that she looked familiar. However, I can''t seem to recall where I''ve seen her before.¡± Rosalie was eating the food. Initially, she was thinking that the food was delicious and that Kevin really knew how to enjoy himself. When she heard her mother''s words, she lifted her head up. ¡°Mom, did you say that you''ve met Gwendolyn before?¡± she asked. Rosalie was a little curious. Will Mom bring up some bad things about Gwendolyn? If Gwendolyn''s image is ruined, then I''ll have to see if the Lowen family still wants her! Reba shook her head. ¡°She looks very familiar, but I just can''t seem to remember where I''ve seen her before.¡± After Gwendolyn and Patrick finished their meals, the two of them left the restaurant and returned to the banquet hall. Kevin walked up to them. ¡°Pat, how is it? Does the food from my private kitchen taste great?¡± Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. As he said that, he turned to look at the girl beside him. ¡°Babe, are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?¡± Estelle shook her head. ¡°I prefer eating the buffet.¡± Patrick looked at the time. ¡°I ordered you a sports car. Consider it as your birthday gift. It''s parked right outside. If you don''t like it, you can tell me and I''ll get you what you''d like.¡± After that, he wrapped his arm around Gwendolyn''s waist and was ready to leave, meaning that he was done with the birthday party. Kevin looked a little dejected. ¡°Pat, you''re leaving way too early tonight. Lucas hasn''t even arrived yet. I''ll be very lonely.¡± Patrick replied calmly, ¡°Your girlfriend can apany you. Besides, you have a lot of friends here. How would you be lonely? I''ll be leaving now.¡± Although Kevin had said it like that, he knew that Patrick was the type of guy who did not like lively atmospheres. Now that Patrick had Gwendolyn by his side, he was even less interested in such ces. Kevin eximed, ¡°Take it easy, Pat! Gwen isn''t the dream girl whom I introduced you to! She won''t be able to handle you!¡± When Gwendolyn heard that, she blinked herrge eyes. She seemed to have understood something. Lifting her gaze, she gazed at Patrick. His face was as beautiful as a carefully-crafted statue. It was as if his every facial feature was hand chiseled. The mask that Patrick was wearing also suited him well. It was like an essory on his face that made him look even more unique. Feeling slightly envious, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Is your dream girl your ex-girlfriend?¡± She also felt regretful all of a sudden since she had also missed out on being with him in the past. When Gwendolyn thought of Patrick and his dream girl doing all the intimate stuff that she had done with him, she felt very ufortable. Patrick furrowed his brows slightly. Kevin is so annoying! To think that you''d bring that up! ¡°Answer me!¡± Gwendolyn pulled away from Patrick''s embrace and strode toward the exit of the hotel. Patrick grabbed the clothes given by the service staff. He then quickly chased after Gwendolyn and draped her coat over her body. Wrapping his arms around her shoulders tightly, he said, ¡°Gwen, it''s very cold outside. You should wear your clothes properly.¡± She pouted angrily. ¡°If you won''t tell me, then so be it. Don''t try to coax me.¡± She then put on the coat on her own and got inside the car before sitting far from Patrick. Patrick had a bit of a headache. He lifted his long and thin fingers to gently rub his temples. Then, he cast a sidelong nce at Gwendolyn. However, she simply turned her back to Patrick. He called out, ¡°Gwen...¡± Gwendolyn did not respond as she simply looked out the window. She had never thought that she would one day feel jealous of another woman. Apparently, it''s true that girls who are in love are all idiots. In the past, Gwendolyn thought that she would be the most mature and well-behaved woman. Now that she was in a rtionship, she felt like a child. She liked to act coquettish, throw tantrums, and had to be coaxed. Patrick had no other choice. He shifted toward to sit beside her. Pulling her into his embrace with his long arms, he lowered his head and nibbled on her ear. ¡°You''ve met her before,¡± he whispered. Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Gwendolyn was stunned. ¡°I''ve met her before?¡± Patrick''s deep voice sounded quite sexy inside the car. He replied, ¡°Yup.¡± Patrick narrowed his eyes and smirked while Gwendolyn was trying her best to recall if she had met that person before or not. His dream girl? Could it be Felicia? It can''t be! If it''s her, then I have to break up with Patrick! Although Gwendolyn thought for a long time, she was clueless in the end. She said, ¡°If you won''t tell me, then so be it.¡± Patrick absolutely adored her jealous attitude. She''s so cute! ¡°It was when you entered my house for the first time. She was on my bed,¡± Patrick stated. He then reminded her, ¡°You told her that you wanted to make some clothes for her.¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes instantly lit up. ¡°You''re talking about that doll on your bed.¡± The car suddenly swerved for a bit. Larry was so shocked that he hurriedly said, ¡°Sorry about that, Mr. Lowen!¡± Larry couldn''t help but feel shocked when he heard that Patrick had that kink, which was quite different from his personality. I thought that I was the only one who yed with dolls! This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Larry got excited upon realizing that. He was so shocked that he stepped on the brakes. Maybe I should stop eavesdropping on them. Otherwise, Mr. Lowen will surely fire me a few minutes from now! Larry had a lot of pride in being Patrick''s chauffeur. A lot of people wanted to get close to him. There was also the fact that his sry was a hefty sum. Patrick did not say anything. He turned around and looked at the woman in his arms. ¡°Yes, I was talking about that doll. Why would you get jealous of her?¡± he asked. At that moment, Gwendolyn figured out what it was. It''s the legendary doll that Kevin gave Patrick. That guy is pure evil! Gwendolyn felt even dumber when she remembered that she offered to make some clothes for that doll because it did not wear anything. Gwendolyn felt so embarrassed. She was already an adult, and yet, she was still clueless about these things. Gwendolyn gave Patrick a pinch. ¡°Don''t talk about it! You did it with that doll! You''re really¡ª¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Patrick''s lips were pressing against her ear. She could feel his warm breath on her ear. It was making her feel very hot. ¡°I don''t have another girl. Of course, I''m a man. I have my needs. Of course, you''ll be the only one I need in the future,¡± Patrick muttered. His words were very intimate. Gwendolyn''s face turned red, and her heart was racing. While she did not say anything, she thought of something. I can satisfy him. He won''t have to use those ythings anymore. All of a sudden, she felt that Patrick was quite pitiful. Besides, she also felt that she was overthinking it. He could sleep with any woman he wanted in a heartbeat. This shows that he''s a good man who doesn''t sleep with any woman so casually. Gwendolyn smiled. She then hugged Patrick''s waist. ¡°Yeah. Once you have me, you won''t be allowed to think about anyone else,¡± she said. There was a trace of excitement in Patrick''s eyes. Gwendolyn agreed, so I''ll definitely be very happy in the future. Patrick said to Larry in a cold voice, ¡°Drive faster.¡± Patrick could hardly wait anymore. He felt the urge to sleep with Gwendolyn at that moment. After saying that, Patrick kissed Gwendolyn''s ear. She let out a soft moan. Then, she quickly shut her mouth. Patrick had caught her by surprise and caused her to make such a sound. It was very embarrassing for Gwendolyn. She did not dare to meet with Larry ever again. Larry, who was pretending not to hear anything, stepped on the gas pedal. He hoped that the car would go as fast as a rocket at that moment. Patrick, who was very close to her ear, started leaving a trail of kisses. Gwendoly closed her eyes as her breathing grew a little quicker. His kisses felt very soft and tender. Each of them sent electrical currents throughout her body, causing her to quiver involuntarily. In the end, he kissed her on the lips. Her lips felt magical. Every time Patrick leaned in to kiss, her lips felt like a ck hole. She sucked his lips with such great force that he could not pull himself back. No matter how strong Gwendolyn''s self-control was, she would soon be very weak. Gwendolyn parted her small lips and epted his kiss. She was getting better at kissing after learning how to do it from him. This caused Patrick to feel very aplished. He had taught her everything that she knew. In the future, he would teach her even more stuff. Gwendolyn felt her body going limp as Patrick bit her lip lightly. ¡°Are you... wet again?¡± he asked. Chapter 300 Chapter 300 Originally, Gwendolyn was feeling quite groggy. When she heard Patrick''s words, her eyes suddenly lit up as she pulled her lips away. ¡°Y-You...¡± His words made Gwendolyn feel particrly shy. This man will truly say anything thates to his mind! Patrick coaxed Gwendolyn softly. The two of them were speaking to each other very quietly. Larry, who was in front of them, could not hear anything. ¡°Silly girl, there''s nothing to be shy about. Does this mean that you have feelings for me? You want Young Pat, don''t you?¡± Patrick muttered. Gwendolyn was stunned. Young Pat? That nickname is too cringy! Her mind was already filled with the figure of Young Pat. She bit her lower lip softly and thought that it would be pretty good-looking. Gwendolyn leaned closer to Patrick''s embrace. She truly did not know anything about this matter. Those nights six years ago were like a dream to her. Those moments feltpletely surreal to her. She had no idea what happened. Patrick had taught her everything she knew. What they did previously was probably the most daring thing she had done over the years. She had always kept her distance from men. When she got together with Patrick, everything got out of hand. She had admitted to herself that she had fallen in love with Patrick. She was attracted to him like a moth to a me. Patrick held Gwendolyn''s hand and interlocked his fingers with hers. The two of them did not speak. However, it felt like they had talked about everything. When they returned to Star Mansion, they parked the car in Patrick''s yard. Larry hurriedly got out of the car and opened the door for the two of them. Patrick was the first one to step out of the car, and Gwendolyn got out of the car on the opposite side. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Larry stated, ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Lowen. I''ll pick you up tomorrow.¡± He then got into the car and quickly drove off. He vacated the space so that the two of them could have a great night together. Patrick pulled Gwendolyn into his embrace. ¡°You won''t be going back home tonight.¡± She pursed her lips. ¡°The kids are waiting for me, though. I should head home first. Once they''re asleep, I''ll sneak out ande here. Is that all right with you?¡± His face fell. Gwendolyn stood on tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. ¡°Be good. I''ll head back first!¡± she added. As she turned around and was about to leave, he grabbed her hand and refused to let go. ¡°Gwen, are you sure you''ll be able to sneak out of there?¡± he asked. When Patrick thought of her two sons, he felt that it would be difficult for her to sneak out of the house. Those two children were the main obstacles that he had to ovee. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Of course, I can. The kids fall asleep very quickly. I''ll be able to sneak out without them knowing. Be good, Young Pat!¡± As she said that, she retracted her hand and ran off. Patrick sighed softly as he watched Gwendolyn quickly run off into the distance. He had to find a way to deal with those children. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for him to meet with Gwendolyn. It would be even more difficult to spend every night together. As long as Patrick dealt with those two children, he would be able to hug his wife and sleep with her every night. When Gwendolyn returned home, she saw that the three children were still in the living room. Justin and Julian approached her. Justin asked coldly, ¡°Where were you?¡± Julian smiled and asked, ¡°Who were you with?¡± Gwendolyn was changing her shoes into house slippers. She knew that her two children would ask her all that. Facing the two of them, she shed them a sweet smile. She exined, ¡°I apanied Mr. Lowen to a gathering. I''m his personal secretary, after all. I''m on call twenty-four hours a day. Obviously, I have to be hisdy friend.¡± Gwendolyn doubted that young children knew anything about work. Therefore, she told them a made- up story. Justin looked at the clock. ¡°It''s already past ten o''clock at night. ording toborws, Patrick has made abor vition. Do you want us to help you report him?¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback. ¡°What? There''s no need to do that! He gives me a high wage! Stop fooling around! It''s a very good job. I can''t risk losing it.¡± She also did not want Patrick to start a quarrel with the three children as she hoped that they could live in peace. Justin continued, ¡°You have three mansions. Each mansion should cost at least fifty million, and that means that you have one hundred and fifty million worth of assets! Even if you lose your job, you''ll still be very well off!¡± Chapter 301 Chapter 301 She did not realize it before. Yet, now that she heard what her son said, she realized she was a rich woman. The houses were a hundred and fifty million, and so was the ne on her neck. That meant that she already had three hundred million worth of assets. However, she still felt pity that it was not in cash. After all, there was no way she could sell the house because the three houses were gifts for the children from their grandfather. Thus, she would have to keep the houses for them. Besides that, the ne might be hers, but Patrick told her that she would have to keep wearing it. All in all, she was still poor. ¡°Sweetheart, work is important to me. I have to work no matter how rich we are.¡± At that moment, Juliette ran over and noticed the beautiful dress Gwendolyn was wearing after she took off her coat. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Gwen, this dress is stunning! Did you go to a prince''s ball?¡± she asked as she blinked her big, round eyes in envy. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°I went to work, not a prince''s ball. I''ll hold a grand birthday party for the three of you when it''s your birthday. That way, you''ll be the little princess, and your brothers will be little princes.¡± Juliette jumped in joy at her words. ¡°Hooray!¡± she eximed. Then, Gwendolyn changed her shoes and looked at the time. ¡°It''s gettingte. You should all go to bed now.¡± Justin and Julian looked at the time and replied calmly, ¡°Okay. Juliette, let''s go upstairs to bed.¡± The children had already taken their baths and were already in their pajamas. Justin wore ck pajamas while Julian and Juliette were in cartoon pajamas that Gwendolyn had bought for them. The children had different personalities. Justin was very particr and independent like a tiny adult. Thus, he would never wear pajamas with cartoons on them. As Gwendolyn looked at him, she could not help but think he looked like someone. Yet, she could not pinpoint who exactly it was. She then went over to them and hugged them all. ¡°Let''s go. Let''s go upstairs together. I''m going to bed too,¡± said Gwendolyn. In reality, she intentionally said that for her sons as she nned on sneaking outter. With that, the four of them went upstairs together. Juliette returned to her princess room while Justin and Julian still chose to live in the same room. Gwendolyn finally let out a sigh of relief when she saw them close their doors. She then returned to her bedroom and showered. After the shower, she grabbed a set of white sportswear and changed into it. She already came up with an excuse that she was out for a night run if she happened to stumble across her sonster. While she sat in front of her dressing table applying skincare on her face and hands, she picked up her phone and took a look at it. She noticed that there were more than ten missed calls on it. Her eyes widened as she was puzzled how she got so many missed calls when she had only gone for a shower. Thus, she quickly clicked on them to have a look. She could not help but chuckle when she saw that all of them were from Patrick. Then, she opened her WhatsApp and saw a couple of missed video calls there too. In the end, she sent him a text: What''s up, Mr. Lowen? Meanwhile, the man standing at her front door had almost finished an entire pack of cigarettes. He quickly pulled out his phone when he heard a notification from it. When he saw what was on it, he made a video call right away. Gwendolyn answered the call, and her face showed up on the phone screen. At that moment, her hair was down without any makeup on her skin. Still, she looked beautiful with her porcin skin and cherry red, plump lips. At the sight of that, Patrick''s mind went nk. Even though he had seen her without makeup in the past, it was the first time he saw her aftering out of the shower. She was stunning. His Adam''s apple bobbed sexily, and his dark expression seemed to brighten up a little. ¡°I''m at your front door. Come out.¡± It turned out that Patrick had already waited for her for more than an hour. Thus, he was almost out of patience. Still, Gwendolyn smiled and teased, ¡°Oh! But I''m not sure if Justin and Julian are asleep yet.¡± Patrick took a heavy puff of his cigarette as a hint of amusement shed across his eyes. ¡°Aren''t you already in your sports attire? They can''t do anything if you say you are going out for a run, right?¡± Gwendolyn beamed like a flower in full bloom at his words. He saw through me. What a sly, old fox. Chapter 302 Chapter 302 ¡°Hurry up. Otherwise, I''ll go and kidnap you myself,¡± said Patrick as he had already lost all of his patience. He was serious about barging inside himself if Gwendolyn was still not going out. Instantly, Gwendolyn got up and said, ¡°No. I''ming down right now.¡± Then, she hung up the phone and put it inside her pocket. Carefully, she opened the door and poked her head out to look. She and her three children lived on the second floor while Camille was on the third. She looked down at her feet and decided to carry her shoes in her hand since she would not make a sound in bare feet. Fortunately, there was a thermostat in the house. Thus, it was not cold at all. They also had a floor heating system, so it felt warm even when she walked on the floor barefoot. Gwendolyn walked out of the door cautiously and headed toward the stairs. At that point, she began to feel exhausted because she felt like a thief going about in the house. Suddenly, the door opened when she arrived at her sons'' room. Gwendolyn was surprised as Justin and Julian looked at her with slightly widened eyes. Then, she noticed the ss in their hand and realized they were going downstairs for a drink. What a coincidence. She smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°Hey. Are you guys going to get some water? Do you want me to take it for you?¡± At the same time, she also wondered why they were not asleep yet, considering it was already past eleven. She lowered her head and knew that it would also be strange if she said she was going for a run. ¡°Mommy, are you going to exercise?¡± Julian asked with a smile as he looked at her from head to toe. Gwendolyn quickly put on her shoes and replied, ¡°I had too much to eat tonight, so I was heading to the gym for some exercise.¡± At that moment, Justin came out and nodded. ¡°What a coincidence. Julian and I are not sleepy yet either. We''ll apany you.¡± Gwendolyn wanted to decline, but she could not refuse them. After all, those sons of hers were smart. She even thought that perhaps they already knew where she was going from the very beginning. Gwendolyn sighed and screamed internally. Patrick, I won''t make it tonight. You better go back soon. She did not even dare to text Patrick about it in front of her sons. She waspletely wrapped around their little fingers. Then again, it could not be helped as they were her precious babies. Thus, she had no choice but to sacrifice Patrick. And so, after Justin and Julian got themselves a ss of water each, they followed Gwendolyn to the gym on the first floor. The gym was huge and had mirrors on all four sides. It was also the ce where Juliette practiced her dancing. When the kids had just ced those sses down side by side, Gwendolyn felt the phone in her pocket vibrate incessantly. Yet, she was too much of a coward to pick up the phone as she dared not let her two sons know that Patrick was waiting for her. Meanwhile, Justin and Julian had walked to her side and started stretching. ¡°Mommy, you should run for threeps and follow up with a hundred sit-ups, a hundred push-ups, and two hundred squats.¡± Gwendolyn felt her scalp tingle when she heard that. She thought she might be so exhausted that she would fall asleep right away if she did all of that. Thus, she really did not think she could go see Patrick anymore. With that, Gwendolyn took off her sports jacket and started running in her sports singlet. Then, she followed up with the three exercises. By the time she was done, two hours had passed. She was exhausted as shey on the floor covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Justin and Julian sparred with each other after doing some exercises. They exchanged nces when they saw their mother lying on the ground. Then, they stopped and walked toward her. ¡°Mommy, you can do some boxing or fencing with us if you still feel stuffed.¡± Gwendolyn waved her hand dismissively at his words and replied, ¡°No. I can''t do it anymore. I''m going to sleep.¡± Then, she flipped over and got up from the ground. She could feel her legs trembling, and her abdomen also felt numb. Ahh.. Ahh... Gwendolyn felt as though she had almost died from exhaustion at that point. She also recalled the time her sons forced her to learn kickboxing. Back then, she had to wake up at six every morning and run five kilometers with sandbags tied to her ankles. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. As she thought about those days, she realized it had been a while since she worked out like that. She also thought about how her sons would probably force her to start on it again in the hopes that she would be a skillful fighter. Chapter 303 Chapter 303 The three went upstairs after that, and Gwendolyn had no choice but to go for another shower after all that sweating. As soon as she opened the door to her room, she noticed the man sitting on the bed. Simrly, he looked up at her as soon as she stepped in. Gwendolyn almost cried out in shock as she was surprised by how a man got onto her bed. However, she was relieved when she recognized that the handsome face belonged to Patrick and quickly shut the door behind her. She even locked it. ¡°How did you get up here?¡± ¡°Through the window,¡± Patrick replied coldly. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Gwendolyn went over and sat down on the bed in exhaustion. She smiled as her body rxed once she sat. ¡°You''ve got quite some moves, Mr. Lowen.¡± Meanwhile, Patrick smelled the covers on her bed. It was full of her scent, and he thought of how enjoyable it would be to sleep in that bed. ¡°You finished exercising?¡± he asked. It turned out that he searched the entire house when he came in and did not see her. Then, he found her exercising with the two kids in the gym. Thus, he returned to her room and waited for her as hey on the bed. After all, those two kids were very alert. Thus, he knew he would get discovered if he stayed downstairs. Gwendolyn smiled at him. ¡°I''m so exhausted. I will never lie again.¡± Then, she got up and headed toward the bathroom. ¡°Gwen, should I go and help you to shower?¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Gwendolyn shouted at the door. Patrick smiled and chuckled in a deep voice. It was sexy and charming. Soon, Gwendolyn crawled into bed after her shower. She shut her eyes as soon as she crawled into the covers. At that point, she was so tired, and it was already veryte. Patrick also noticed that she did not move once she settled on the bed. Thus, he turned over and pulled her into his arms. Gwendolyn wriggled for a bit and opened her eyes to look at him. ¡°Patrick, I''m so tired. I want to sleep.¡± Patrick felt a pang of heartache when he saw how tired she was. After all, she did work out for almost two and a half hours. Thus, he kissed her on the cheek and said, ¡°Sleep then.¡± Meanwhile, Gwendolyn had already fallen asleep without hearing his reply. Patrick watched how soundly the woman in his arms was sleeping and could not bring himself to disturb her. He never expected the night would end like that as he thought their first time was going to happen that night. Still, he could not bear to make her suffer anymore now that she was so exhausted. The next day, Gwendolyn''s rm rang. Patrick reached out and took a look at her phone. His brows furrowed when he saw that it was only six in the morning. Then, he called her, ¡°Gwen, your rm went off. Do you want to wake up now?¡± Gwendolyn was so sleepy she turned over and ignored him. At the sight of that, Patrick turned off the rm and said, ¡°You refuse to wake up yourself. Don''t me meter.¡± When the clock struck eight, Gwendolyn was woken up by Juliette''s scream. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw her three children standing in front of her bed. Then, she turned and saw Patrick, who was sound asleep. Shocked, she quickly pulled the covers over Patrick and turned back to her kids. ¡°Good morning!¡± she said. Still, Juliette trotted to the other side of the bed and pulled the covers off to see who the man was. At that moment, Patrick opened his eyes. His hair was messy, and a hint of amusement shed across his handsome face as he said in his deep, seductive voice, ¡°Juliette, good morning.¡± Juliette covered her mouth in surprise. It''s really Mr. Handsome! I''m so happy. Is he really going to be our dad? They are already sleeping together. Perhaps they''re getting married soon? At the same time, Justin and Julian had also walked over. However, they stared at Patrick coldly. Gwendolyn quickly stepped in and said, ¡°I''m currently in a rtionship with him. He''s currently my boyfriend.¡± Justin looked disappointed as he nced at Gwendolyn nonchntly. Meanwhile, Julian''s eyes narrowed. ¡°Mommy, you''re dating, not married. Don''t bring guys home next time.¡± It turned out that was their house rule. Gwendolyn could not help but look to the side as that was a rule she nned to enforce for Juliette in the future. Thus, she was embarrassed that she had broken it herself. Chapter 304 Chapter 304 Patrick sat up and rubbed his face before he turned to the boys. ¡°I really love your mommy. Believe me. I''ll never let her feel wronged again.¡± Justin and Julian turned their gaze to Patrick at his words. Then, Justin said coldly, ¡°We''ll believe you if you marry our mommy.¡± Patrick''s expression changed at the mention of marriage. It turned out that he was nning on keeping the rtionship a secret from Hector. After all, Hector was not well. Thus, Patrick worried that something would happen to Hector in a fit of rage. He dared not think about it too much, but he would not allow anything to happen to his grandfather. However, Justin and Julian scoffed when they saw his hesitation. ¡°Don''t mess with her if you can''t marry her. She cannot afford to y games with you.¡± The boys thought that their mother was too na?ve and kind. They even assumed that she had no idea about the affairs between a man and a woman. Simrly, Gwendolyn was also stunned by Patrick''s response. She turned to look at him as she wondered if he really never thought of marrying her. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. She was a little disappointed by that. Yet, she supposed someone with Patrick''s status would marry a woman with a simr background. Thus, it should not be a surprise that a single mother like her was unworthy to marry into his family. She felt so inferior at that thought that she just wanted to cower into her shell and hide. Suddenly, Justin reminded, ¡°It''s already a quarter past eight. You''ll bete for work.¡± At the sound of that, Gwendolyn slowly turned around and went into the bathroom. Meanwhile, Juliette was chatting away with Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, can you move into our house? Gwen is scared to sleep alone at night. I''ll be relieved if you''re here to apany her.¡± Patrick burst out inughter at her words and caressed her head. ¡°Okay. I think she needspany, too.¡± Patrick really liked how thoughtful Juliette was. He thought about how the three children would also be his kids once he and Gwendolyn got married in the future. He would be d to have a little sweetheart like Juliette. At that moment, Julian went over and held Juliette''s hand as he said, ¡°Juliette, let''s go downstairs for breakfast.¡± Juliette was also hungry by then. ¡°Oh! Mr. Lowen, hurry up ande for breakfast after you changed,¡± she said. At the same time, Justin red at Patrick coldly. ¡°Patrick, please leave. Don''t ever set foot in our house again.¡± His eyes were full of warning and a hint of provocation. It was as though he would destroy Patrick if the latter ever returned to the house again. Patrick raised his brows. This kid. He''s so young and small, yet his presence is no lesser than mine. He''s more than enough to protect Gwendolyn all these years. ¡°Justin, I already have my eyes set on Gwendolyn, and I will not change my mind. We will get married eventually. So, you can test me however you want. I''m willing to ept it,¡± he said with a smile. Patrick was serious about what he said. Even though he could not marry Gwendolyn as soon as possible, he was determined to give her a wedding of a lifetime. However, Justin did not reply to him. He moved his eyes around as he pondered and left. Patrick knew that Justin was no fool. Thus, there was no way the kids would object if Gwendolyn were to marry someone she loved. He knew the children did not trust him because he had lied to them once in the past. They were only being careful as they worried their mother would get hurt. Over at the Ashton residence, Felicia had just woken up in her silk pajamas. She brushed her hair with her fingers indolently, got out of bed, and headed to Candace''s bedroom. Meanwhile, Candace was putting on make-up at her dressing table. She turned around and looked at Felicia when she noticed thetter. ¡°Sweetheart, you''re awake? Did you have funst night?¡± Felicia yawned as she was still very sleepy even though it was already past ten in the morning. Still, she was furious when she thought of what happened the night before that she even wanted Gwendolyn dead. ¡°Mom, forget it. I was humiliatedst night, and my so-called friends will not hang with me anymore.¡± As expected, the rtionship between those wealthy and influential kids was not that simple. Recently, Candace was also boycotted by her group of friends because Patrick called off the engagement. Even a few members of the Ashton family had started to disrespect her. ¡°Fel, I''ll go and see your Uncle Gregoryter. He knows some assassins. We''ll hire one to get rid of Gwendolyn. Everything will go back to normal after that.¡± Chapter 305 Chapter 305 Felicia leaned on her mother''s shoulder and said, ¡°That''s great, Mom. I''ll go and change right now. Let me go and see Uncle Gregory with you.¡± It turned out that Felicia''s uncle was a hooligan, and the entire Dannings family avoided him like the gue. Her mother was the only one who was still in contact with him, and they were pretty close. Felicia knew why. It was because her uncle brought some men with him to reason with Felicia''s father and forced him to marry her mother when Candace was pregnant with her. Thus, Candace had always been grateful to him for that. It was the same reason that Candace would give Felicia''s uncle money without hesitation whenever he asked. Felicia used to think her mom was a fool for being nice to her uncle. After all, it was best to stay as far as possible from a greedy man like him. However, she realized now that her mother must have foresight in things. As it seemed, they could get her uncle to do the dangerous stuff, which would be good for the mother and daughter. After all, if one were to look into it, her uncle would be the one at fault. At that point, Felicia had already nned out the whole thing in her mind. She thought of giving her uncle arge sum of money if he could carry out the task sessfully. After all, Felicia was not short of money. The thing shecked was an identity, one that could make her stand out. That identity she had her eyes on was Patrick Lowen''s wife. Ultimately, she would have anything within her reach once she became Mrs. Lowen. The mother and daughter then drove to Gregory Dannings'' house. He lived in an old bungalow which was the Dannings family''s old residence. They parked their car at the door and got out. Then, Candace went and rang the bell. ¡°Mom, is Uncle Gregory home?¡± asked Felicia. She thought it would make more sense to look for Gregory in the casino since he loved gambling. However, Candace rang the bell again and replied, ¡°He''s broketely. I''m sure he''s home.¡± Felicia was surprised to hear that. Is my mom a fortune-teller? How could she know that he''s broke? Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Still, she had always been impressed by her mother. After all, she was nothingpared to Candace when it came to the tricks up her sleeves. Thus, Felicia knew that Patrick would be hers eventually as long as she had her mother. At that moment, a woman in pajamas and a head of messy hair opened the door. Clearly, she had just woken up. With a cigarette between her fingers, she took a puff with annoyance and asked, ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± Candace looked at that woman and knew right away that the woman was a prostitute. ¡°I''m here to see Gregory,¡± said Candace. She then went inside without showing the woman any respect. Seeing how Candace came in uninvited, the woman scolded, ¡°Hey! Did I say you coulde in? How could you barge in like that? Get out.¡± Felicia said coldly, ¡°This house belongs to my mother. She was the one who let Gregory stay here. You have no right to kick her out.¡± The woman was stunned. So this old woman is Gregory''s sugar mommy? She scoffed at that thought, turned, and went inside. Meanwhile, when Felicia set foot in the courtyard, she noticed the drastic change in itpared to how the ce used to look. The courtyard was now covered in weeds. I knew anything good that ended up in his hands would turn into trash. God knows how dirty and messy the inside of the house is! Don''t they have housekeepers? Why isn''t anyone taking care of the courtyard? The bungalow might be old, but it was in a good location. Not only was it located in the city center, but it was also afortable space to live in. Hence, it could fetch a good price if one were to sell it. When Felicia arrived in the living room, she saw her uncleing downstairs in a sleeping robe. He looked mean and ruthless with his tall figure and a full beard. ¡°Candace, you came to see me so early? Did youe to give me money?¡± It turned out that Gregory had asked to borrow some money from Candace a few days ago, and she told him that she would send it to him in a few days. Thus, he thought that was why she was there when he saw her. Candace ced a card on the table and said, ¡°Here''s a million you wanted. However, you''ll have to do something for me.¡± Gregory went over and grabbed the card with a sly grin. ¡°Say it. I''ll do whatever you want.¡± For Gregory, money was king. Not to mention how Candace had been kind to him all those years and given him money whenever he asked. Thus, he was prepared to do anything she asked. Chapter 306 Chapter 306 At that moment, Candace looked at the woman who followed into the living room and said coldly, ¡°Get this woman out.¡± Candace said that since she did not want an outsider to be in the room as they were about to talk about murdering someone. There was no way she would risk leaving a potential threat toward her. However, the woman was furious when she heard Candace''s words. She could not believe that an old and ugly woman like Candace would try to steal her man. Even though Candace was rich, the woman believed that Gregory would not kick her out. Thus, she went over to Gregory and leaned against him. ¡°Gregory, I don''t want to leave. Didn''t you say you love me?¡± However, Gregory was unbothered now that he had money. He pushed her away and said, ¡°Go. Don''t bother me. Hurry up and get out.¡± The woman clenched her teeth and refused to give up as she continued, ¡°Gregory, I don''t want to.¡± Annoyed, Gregory dragged her by the arm, threw her outside, and shut the door behind him. The woman started crying at the door when that happened. ¡°Gregory, you son of a b*tch. How dare you toss me out like trash once you''re done with me. You didn''t even pay me!¡± Yet, no one bothered themselves with her as Gregory went back to the living room. ¡°Candace, I''ve kicked her out. Go ahead then.¡± Meanwhile, Felicia watched the siblings quietly from the side. She could not help but agree how much they looked alike. Candace handed Gwendolyn''s picture to Gregory and said, ¡°I want you to get rid of her.¡± Gregory''s eyes narrowed as he stared at the woman in the picture. ¡°My brother-inw and his ex-wife''s daughter?¡± he asked. He recognized Gwendolyn and was surprised by how much she resembled her mother. He even thought Gwendolyn looked as beautiful as an angel. Then again, beauty was nothing when one was born with bad luck. It was her destiny to have a tough life foring across Candace and Felicia. ¡°Okay,¡± agreed Gregory. Felicia''s eyes widened at his words. She could not believe he would agree to murder someone without the slightest hesitation. He really listens to Mom. Unable to hold it in her, Felicia asked, ¡°Uncle Gregory, aren''t you scared?¡± At the same time, she could not help but agree that her mother did indeed have foresight. She also thought of how she should maintain a good rtionship with her uncle from then on, so she could look for him for help when she needed it. Gregory chuckled and replied, ¡°I remember all the nice things your mother had done for me. I won''t hesitate to do anything for her.¡± Candace smiled at his words. ¡°Greg, I''ll leave it to you then. It doesn''t matter how much money it takes if you need to hire an assassin.¡± Gregory snickered and replied smugly, ¡°There''s no need to hire an assassin for a little girl like her.¡± Even so, Felicia was still worried. ¡°Uncle Gregory, Gwendolyn is very good at fighting. I heard she''s very skillful at kickboxing. I even saw her defeating five bodyguards at one time. She''s ruthless.¡± Felicia wanted to make sure that things would work out without a hitch as there was no way they could spare Gwendolyn in any way. Gregory raised his brows at the sound of that and said, ¡°I have some capable men under me. Don''t worry.¡± Over in the CEO''s office at Lowen Group, Gwendolyn was working. At the same time, Patrick had just returned to the office after a meeting. He stood in front of her desk and stared intently at her. Sensing his deep gaze, Gwendolyn looked up at him. ¡°You''re back. Do you want coffee?¡± She had been feeling morefortable around himtely. They were exactly like a couple deeply in love. A sweet smile came across her face as she recalled what happened in the morning and the hostility of her sons toward Patrick. She had an urge tough when she thought about how Patrick was finally aware that it was not easy to marry her. Meanwhile, Patrick reached out and raised her chin to kiss her. At that instant, the office door was pushed open, and Rosalie''s voice rang out. ¡°Pat, I stopped by with desserts with Old Mrs. Lowen as we happened to pass by thepany.¡± Patrick frowned when he heard her voice. After all, he already had a delicious dessert right in front of him that he was about to savor to relieve his exhaustion after hours of meeting. He was upset that he was interrupted. Unlike him, Gwendolyn quickly removed his fingers from her chin and got up with flushed cheeks. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, you''re here.¡± Then, she went out and greeted Alice. Chapter 307 Chapter 307 Alice noticed Gwendolyn''s blushing face. She had clearly seen Patrick attempting to kiss the woman. Then, the olddy realized that she had arrived at the office at an inappropriate time. Alice would not have disturbed the two of them if she had gone thereter. Holding Gwendolyn''s hand, Alice smiled happily. ¡°Gwen, it''s been a long time since youst paid me a visit. I''ve missed you.¡± Meanwhile, Gwendolyn sat next to her on the couch. Rosalie was grinning sweetly as well. ¡°Gwen.¡± Seeing this, the other woman gently nodded. Every time she met Rosalie, thetter would smile at her. She seemed harmless and cute! ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen and Ms. Chavez, let me make some coffee for both of you.¡± As Gwendolyn knew that Alice liked to drink coffee, she rose and walked toward the entrance, intending to make a cup of coffee for her. In the meantime, Patrick was seated at his office desk. He received a call and signed a few documents. Thereafter, he got up and approached Alice. The man lowered his eyes and scanned the treats on the table. He did not like to eat those desserts. After that, he sat beside Alice and wrapped his arm around his grandmother''s shoulder. ¡°Grandma, why did youe to the office?¡± Then, Rosalie beamed at him. ¡°Pat, I went to window shop with Old Mrs. Lowen just now. After that, I bought some strawberry cake so you can have it during teatime.¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. It was only then that Patrick nced at her indifferently and replied tly, ¡°Haven''t you started work yet, Rosalie?¡± His words implied that she seemed to be too idle. Since Alice was a shrewd woman, she understood the meaning behind his words. However, she just smiled and gazed at her handsome grandson. Then, she adjusted his tie for him. ¡°You haven''t been home recently. Have you forgotten about your grandma after you had a wife?¡± Rosalie was not angry, for she knew that was Patrick''s character. The man did not care about others'' feelings and always spoke his mind without a care in the world. It was because of his frank character that Rosalie was so into him. She replied, ¡°That''s because the New Year is around the corner. I''ll only start working after the New Year.¡± Actually, Rosalie was going to work in Chavez Group, which was apany owned by her family. Hence, she could start her work whenever she wanted. Hearing that, Patrick kept quiet. He nced at the clock and asked, ¡°Grandma, I have a meetingter, so I can''t apany the both of you. How is Grandpa doingtely?¡± Alice knew that her grandson cared deeply for Hector''s health. She knew how much they mattered to Patrick and that he was a filial child. The incident involving Patrick''s parents had impacted him greatly. Hence, he had never mentioned his parents before. As the man lived with Alice and Hector since he was young, he was extremely close to them. During the six years when Hector was unconscious, Patrick would visit his grandfather whenever he was avable. Sometimes, he would talk to his grandfather and stay overnight in the ward so he could take care of his grandfather himself. Recalling that, Alice smiled. ¡°He''s all right. Nheless, he behaves like a small kid and often looks at your childhood photographs. He probably misses you. Anyway, I don''t understand what he says most of the time.¡± Patrick nodded and replied, ¡°I''ll visit him tomorrow.¡± Following that, he got to his feet and walked toward his office desk. There was a meeting he had to attend subsequently, so he had to go to the conference room soon. Contemting how Hector kept looking at his childhood photographs and how he behaved before his illness, Patrick felt that his grandfather wanted a grandchild. Patrick was the sole sessor of the Lowen family. Therefore, Hector was afraid that no one could continue the legacy if Patrick did not have any children. Hence, he had always been nagging at Patrick to get married and birth a child. That was the reason why Patrick believed that Hector was the one who had arranged for those passionate nights six years ago. Yet, he had Gwendolyn presently. Whether what happened six years ago was a scheme or not, he did not care anymore, for he wanted to hold on to the reality he was experiencing at the present moment. The reality he was experiencing told him that Gwendolyn resembled the woman whom he had slept with six years ago. Just then, Gwendolyn entered the office with the coffee in her hands. Patrick helped her to hold the door. Seeing that, Gwendolyn raised her head and smiled at him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, here is your coffee. Do bring it with you to the conference room so you can drink it there!¡± Chapter 308 Chapter 308 Patrick nced at his cup of coffee, then he picked it up and grinned slightly. A faint smirk shed across his handsome face. He leaned closer to Gwendolyn and whispered in her ear, ¡°Gwen, wait for me after you get off from work. Let''s have a date!¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes were filled with happiness after she heard his words. She had fantasized about a date with her beloved before. Finally, she could experience what it felt like. Gwendolyn nodded at Patrick smilingly. Then, she walked into the office, while Patrick walked out of the office. Gwendolyn ced the cups in front of the two women. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, Ms. Chavez, please have some coffee.¡± When Alice noticed that Gwendolyn was about to leave, she called her out. ¡°Gwen, have a seat. I''ve bought some strawberry cake for you. I know that it''s your favorite food. Also, I''ve ordered extra so you can bring it back for Juliette and the other children.¡± Gwendolyn nced at the two boxes on the coffee table. Indeed, there were a lot of desserts in there. Thus, she beamed and thanked her. ¡°Thank you, Old Mrs. Lowen. Juliette and the rest of my children will be overjoyed to receive these.¡± Upon thinking of the three adorable kids, Alice missed them very much, especially the two sons of Gwendolyn who closely resembled Patrick. It was not an overstatement to say that the two boys were Patrick''s doppelg?ngers. If Pat had a son, his son would probably look like the boys. The more Alice thought about them, the more she wanted to meet them. ¡°Gwen, the kids aren''t attending school recently, right? There are only a few days until the New Year. Why don''t you bring them to our house to celebrate it together?¡± If the children and Gwendolyne over during the festival, the atmosphere at home would be livelier. It had been many years since the Lowen residence was filled with liveliness. As Alice was getting old, she especially liked the festive atmosphere. After listening to Alice''s words, Gwendolyn hesitated. Truthfully, she wished to celebrate the New Year with Patrick, and her urge and anticipation intensified after she heard Alice''s suggestion. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, would that be okay?¡± Although the three children and Gwendolyn celebrated the New Year annually, she thought that the atmosphere would be more joyous if they could celebrate the festival with the Lowen family. Grinning, Alice said, ¡°Only Pat, Hector, and I live in the house. If your familyes over, we will be d to have you.¡± Rosalie, who was listening to their conversation at the side, was envious. How I wish I could celebrate the New Year with the Lowen family. Anyway, she would force Kevin to bring her to the Lowen residence when that time came because she wanted to celebrate the festival with Patrick. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Nodding, Gwendolyn agreed, ¡°Okay, I''ll bring my children over and pay you a visit on New Year''s Day then.¡± Meanwhile, Rosalie took a sip of the coffee. She felt that its taste was good. Over the years, she had always spent time with Alice and tried to share simr interests with Alice. Therefore, she understood Alice well. This coffee is great. As expected, everything owned by Lowen Group is excellent. Then, Alice opened the box containing the strawberry cake. ¡°Gwen, the coffee would go well with the cake.¡± Of course, Gwendolyn would not reject Alice''s act of kindness, so she took a spoon and fed some cake to Alice. ¡°Here, Old Mrs. Lowen!¡± Alice opened her mouth and ate the cake. After that, Gwendolyn also took a bite of the cake. Frowning, Rosalie was deep in thought. Gwendolyn really knows how to please Old Mrs. Lowen, doesn''t she? I can''t believe she''s so close with Old Mrs. Lowen. I have to think of a n to sour their rtionship. Otherwise, I won''t stand a chance to be with Pat. I have to make sure that their impression of Gwendolyn is ruined. Subsequently, I''ll ask Old Mrs. Lowen for help. Then, I''ll have a chance to be with Pat. As Rosalie thought that she had everything under control, she remained calm while facing Gwendolyn. She behaved as if everything was fine. On the outside, she seemed to have approved of Gwendolyn''s rtionship with Patrick. After a while, the Lowen family called Alice and informed thetter that Hector was throwing a tantrum and no one could cate him. Therefore, they could only ask Alice for help, hoping that thetter could go home and calm Hector down. Gwendolyn stood up and sent Alice and Rosalie to the entrance of the elevator. Alice sighed. ¡°Whenever the New Year arrives, Hector would always be in a bad mood. I''ll have to go back and apany him now. Gwen, remember to bring your children over to my ce on New Year''s Day. That will make him happy!¡± Chapter 309 Chapter 309 Gwendolyn only headed back to the office after seeing off Alice and Rosalie. She was outside the office when she heard the other secretaries talking among themselves. ¡°Did you see that? That was the third daughter of the Chavez family. Her grandmother and Old Mrs. Lowen are best friends, and as the rumor goes, that youngdy is the one who''ll actually be Mr. Lowen''s future wife.¡± ¡°She looks rather young, but she''s quite cute. She and Mr. Lowen would be a good match.¡± ¡°Then what about Ms. Ashton? Is Mr. Lowen really nning to keep her as his mistress?¡± At that, they burst intoughter. To them, Gwendolyn was just someone who had managed to use her beauty to win Patrick''s favor temporarily. She couldn''tpare to Felicia, and she definitely couldn''t hold a candle to Rosalie. Nheless, Gwendolyn was not the least bit bothered by their nasty remarks. She used to think that way too, but Patrick had told her he''d stay by her side forever. She had to trust him. She strode into the office, her heels clicking on the floor so loudly that it startled the women gathered in the cubicle. They dashed back to their seats, not daring to say anything more. By the time Patrick returned to the office, it was already half past six in the evening. Gwendolyn was in the middle of a video call with her children. Juliette was in the center of the screen, facing Gwendolyn directly. Meanwhile, the two boys were on either side of her with only half of their handsome faces showing. ¡°Mommy, are you working overtime again?¡± Juliette''s voice rang out. Patrick heard it loud and clear, and he knew at once that Gwendolyn must have given the children the excuse that she had to work overtime when she was actually going on a date with him. Gwendolyn gave it a thought and nced at the good-looking man sitting in front of her desk. He was frowning, and his gaze was grave. She could also detect a hint of exhaustion on his face. It had been a long day for him as he had been in four or five meetings, and Gwendolyn''s heart ached as she thought about how overworked he was. ¡°That''s right. I have to work overtime today, so all of you must be good and listen to Ms. Ziegler. The piano teacher will be over soon, Juliette. Remember to pay attention in ss.¡± ¡°Don''t tire yourself out,¡± Justin said softly. Julian piped up, ¡°You''repletely capable of raising us now.¡± He was reminding Gwendolyn that she did not have to work so hard because her two boys could earn money. Moreover, she had all those assets. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°I know. Bye!¡± She was still beaming after ending the video call, feeling all the tiredness from a day''s work melting away after seeing the beautiful faces of her three children. She rested her chin on her hand and thought about how the trio was the greatest gift from the heavens. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. At that moment, she felt utter bliss and contentment. Patrick found the sight of her being lost in thought sweet and heart-warming. He said softly, ¡°Come here, Gwen. Let me hug you.¡± His voice jolted her to her senses, and she got up and walked over to him. He pulled her onto hisp and hugged her close while she opened her arms wide and wrapped them around his neck. Smelling his faint fragrance gave her an unparalleled sense of security. As for Patrick, all his fatigue seemed to fade away as he held her in his arms, and he felt revitalized and full of energy. After cuddling for a while, she patted his head and said, ¡°I''m hungry.¡± After all, it was almost seven o''clock in the evening. She felt like she could practically eat a whole cow. Patrick chuckled. ¡°Okay. Let''s go and eat.¡± They got up and slipped on their coats, then turned and headed toward the door. When he walked up next to her, he reached out to take her hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Gwendolyn lowered her head, her eyes flicking downward. She wanted to pull back her hand since they were still at the office. There might be people who hadn''t left yet. If someone saw them, she would be the subject of gossip again. However, he refused to let go. ¡°I''ll never let you escape in this lifetime. Just be good and stay by my side.¡± From the first day I let her work in my office, everyone must''ve already picked up on my feelings for her. Hence, she doesn''t have to worry. She can openly show everyone that she''s my woman. Chapter 310 Chapter 310 Gwendolyn no longer tried to wrest free and let him hold her hand as they walked out of the office. Amber and Liam were still outside, and they subconsciously took a step backward when they saw the couple walk out while holding hands. ¡°Mr. Lowen,¡± they said in unison before greeting Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Ashton.¡± Once again, Gwendolyn felt the urge to withdraw her hand. Yet, Patrick refused to loosen his grip. A hint of embarrassment crept across her face. After all, they were still her colleagues. She would be lying if she said she didn''t feel awkward after being seen holding hands with Patrick so openly. ¡°The two of you should call it a day, too,¡± Patrick responded calmly. Still holding Gwendolyn''s hand, he led her past them and headed straight for the private elevator reserved for the CEO''s use. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Liam hurried after them, saying, ¡°Mr. Lowen, we''ll send you home.¡± ¡°All of you are to get off work now. There''s no need to follow me,¡± Patrick answered coldly. Usually, Liam and a few bodyguards would leave with Patrick after work to ensure his safety. After hearing Patrick''s instructions, Liam dared not to insist on following and halted his footsteps. Nheless, he called the bodyguards and told them to trail Patrick secretly and protect him. Once they were in the elevator, Gwendolyn rested her head against Patrick''s shoulder. A warm, fuzzy feeling filled her heart. It feels so good that we can finally be open about our rtionship. I have a boyfriend. I''m in love! For someone who had never experienced the sweetness of love, she could not help thinking how wonderful it was. The corners of her lips also kept curving upward subconsciously. At that moment, Michael called her. After taking out her phone and ncing at the screen, Gwendolyn answered the call. ¡°Grandpa.¡± ¡°Gwen, remember toe home during New Year''s, okay? Even if you can''t make it back by New Year''s Eve, you have toe after that and spend some time with me. Bring the triplets with you, and also Zayden.¡± With the belief that Zayden was the children''s father, Michael could finally let go of what happened in the past. When Gwendolyn heard the excitement in the elderly man''s voice, she replied, ¡°Okay!¡± Then, she proceeded to enquire about his health and chatted with him for a while before hanging up. By then, they were already in the car. Patrick was busy tapping away on his phone, and she guessed he was attending to some work matters. Gwendolyn sneaked a nce at him as she felt like she had stirred up trouble. When Zayden met her grandfather the other day and imed that the kids were his, she didn''t exin because that was the first time she brought the kids back home. She didn''t want others to look down on them, so she dly epted Zayden''s kind intentions. Now, Michael considered Zayden as his grandson-inw. Yet, the man she loved was Patrick. She had to figure out a way to exin this whole situation. After Patrick finished replying to his text messages, he turned and nced at her. ¡°Was that your family on the phone earlier? Do you want me to apany you back home for New Year''s and meet them?¡± Since they were dating, he thought he should meet her family. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°That''s all right.¡± Then, she leaned against his shoulder and asked, ¡°What should we eat?¡± She deliberately changed the topic because she did not want to dwell on the phone call that weighed on her mind. Patrick did not press the matter further either. If she was unwilling to let him visit home with her, he would not force her. After all, he had heard her talk a little about her past. Perhaps she doesn''t get along with her family that well, and me going back with her probably wouldn''t help. ¡°How about going to tinum te? Do you like that ce?¡± he asked. That was his favorite restaurant, and he always chose to go there whenever he ate out. ¡°Yes. All their dishes are tasty.¡± Gwendolyn was not a picky eater, and tinum te was famous for its delicious food. Taking her hand in his, Patrick added softly, ¡°tinum te was where I had a meal with my parents recently, so the ce holds a special meaning in my heart. If you don''t fancy going there, you can tell me what you feel like having. We''ll go and eat it together.¡± Chapter 311 Chapter 311 It was the first time that Gwendolyn had heard him talk about his parents. She did not understand much about the Lowen family. She pursed her lips and replied, ¡°Mm, I got it.¡± She tightened her hold on his hands. His countenance appeared to be exceptionally grim and cold whenever he talked about his parents. The temperature of his hands dropped. They felt rather cold. She exerted more strength in her grasp to warm up his hands. Patrick felt the warmth she was giving him. The corner of his lips curved up faintly. He found Gwendolyn to be quite thoughtful and sensible. The chemistry between them was getting better. She did not probe about matters that he did not wish to bring up. Simrly, he would not mention anything that she was unwilling to talk about. The two relied on each other and understood the other person''s feelings the way an old married couple would. When they reached tinum te, the chauffeur opened the door for them. Patrick got off first and walked over to her side. He reached out a hand to support her and used his other hand to cushion the top of the car for her. His actions were gentlemanly and considerate. A few women who happened to pass by eximed, ¡°Wow, are handsome men so caring? I want to be that girl too!¡± Gwendolyn overheard them and smiled happily. Grabbing onto his arm, she felt utter bliss and merriment. When they stepped into tinum te, the boss of the restaurant personally weed them. ¡°This way please, Mr. Lowen.¡± He brought them to Patrick''s favorite private room called ¡°Remember Partings.¡± The name was rather fitting, considering the asion. Gwendolyn raised her head to look at the sign. She pursed her lips. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. That''s a very sorrowful name. Can he really have a nice meal if he eats here every day? She suddenly regretted her decision. She should have said that she wanted to eat at a different ce. She wished that he could have a nice meal. They stepped into the private room. The boss poured them some wine. ¡°Mr. Lowen, this is a premium brew. Please have a taste.¡± Patrick nodded. ¡°All right. I''d like the usual.¡± The boss looked at Gwendolyn and chuckled. ¡°Your girlfriend is very pretty!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Patrick responded. It was evident that he had a good rtionship with the boss. It was possible that the boss would have a drink with him whenever he came alone. When the boss was just about to exit the room, he suddenly said, ¡°Oh, right. Mr. Gomez is here too. He''s in the room next door. You two used toe here together. Should I tell him that you''re here?¡± ¡°There''s no need. I only want to dine with her today!¡± A date was meant for two. He did not want a third wheel disturbing them, even if they were his good friend. The boss understood his intention andughed before leaving the room. When Gwendolyn heard the name ¡°Mr. Gomez,¡± she thought of Lucy. It had been many days since she last corresponded with her. She remembered that time Lucas had run away. She pursed her lips and stood up. ¡°I''m going to the bathroom.¡± Patrick could see through her lie, but he did not expose her. He knew about the rtionship between Lucy and Gwendolyn. Lucas running away concerned a child''s life. Gwendolyn couldn''t ignore that. Gwendolyn exited the room and nced at the one next door. She pushed the door open and strode in. The first thing she saw was Lucas kissing Lucy in his embrace. Gwendolyn''s eyes widened as she called out, ¡°Let go of her!¡± Lucy was obviously there against her will, but she did not dare to go against Lucas. The man was persistent and forceful. Lucy''s clothes were a mess. If Gwendolyn had not appeared, Lucas might have his way with Lucy then and there. The more Gwendolyn thought about it, the angrier she got. She wanted to punch Lucas so badly. When Lucas heard her voice, he frowned with displeasure and let go of the woman in his arms. Lucy hurriedly stood up and tidied herself. Her hair was in a mess, while her lips were slightly puffed up. Her pitiable appearance made her look rather tempting. ¡°Why are you here, Gwen?¡± Lucy approached Gwendolyn anxiously and pulled her to a seat. Gwendolyn felt rather disappointed. Lucy had an aggressive temper and a tough personality. Gwendolyn thought Lucy was much stronger than herself. So, why did she allow this brat to bully her? Chapter 312 Chapter 312 Gwendolyn looked at Lucas coldly. However, he couldn''t care less, as he proceeded to chug down some wine on his own. She could tell that Lucas had probably just returned from a military trip. He had be tanner, and there were wounds on his face. ¡°Luce, how can you be so foolish? You can''t let him take advantage of you like that.¡± Lucy nced at Lucas and quickly dragged Gwendolyn out of the room. ¡°Don''t make a fuss, Gwen. I was the one who went looking for him. He''s my only hope. So, if he wants to sleep with me, I''ll let him do so. Once he has his fill, he will give Mnie his bone marrow.¡± There was ayer of disappointment in Lucy''s eyes. She was basically helpless. Mnie''s life was of paramount importance. Her own feelings did not matter. She had to do so even though she felt nothing for Lucas. When Lucas was mean, he was mean to the core. She thought of that time when he had been especially nasty, and taught her a variety of shameless acts. Yet, she could not tell a soul about that. She could only grin and bear it herself. Gwendolyn brought Lucy into her embrace. ¡°I know how you feel, Luce. Are you sure that brat will give his bone marrow to Mnie? He has run away once, hasn''t he?¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Lucy let out a long sigh. ¡°I won''t let him run away ever again. I can deal with this myself, Gwen. Don''t worry about me, all right?¡± Gwendolyn stared at Lucy''s helpless figure. She longed to help her. If only my bone marrow was a match for Mnie. However, that wasn''t the case, and that had allowed Lucas to behave like a tyrant. Gwendolyn gritted her teeth and said, ¡°You have to learn how to protect yourself, Luce. If you need any help, look for me. I have a bit of money now. If you need money, give me a call.¡± Lucy nodded. ¡°Of course. Aren''t you on a date with Mr. Lowen? Hurry up, go back to him.¡± Lucy thought of the man inside the room again. If he got into a bad mood again, he would go missing once more. By then, she would not know where to find him. So, she ought to get back to his side. She had to make him happy so that there was hope for Mnie. Gwendolyn looked on as Lucy returned to the room in a hurry. Consumed by fury, she kicked the wall. The action inflicted so much pain onto herself that she bent over. Patrick came to help her up. Her face scrunched up in pain. ¡°Fool,¡± Patrick scoffed. Then, he carried her to their private room. Gwendolyn rested her head on his chest. She was lucky to have met Patrick. Both Lucas and Patrick were rich young men, but she could not fathom why the two were so different. She suddenly said, ¡°Patrick, can you talk some sense into Lucas? Mnie is a really sweet girl. If she dies, Lucy won''t have a reason to continue living.¡± Mothers cared deeply about their children. If Lucy lost her child, she might truly lose the will to continue living. Patrick knew what she was thinking. He nodded, but did not borate. He heard about the arrangement between Lucas and Lucy. It was their private matter, so they should deal with it themselves. He sat Gwendolyn down on a chair. Just as he was about to remove her shoe to look at her foot, Gwendolyn grabbed his hand. ¡°There''s no need. It doesn''t hurt now.¡± He''s really attentive and caring! Patrick sat next to her and brought her some food. ¡°Hurry up and dig in. After this, we still have other things to do.¡± Gwendolyn''s face reddened. Her thoughts went wild as she assumed that he was referring to activities in bed. With a single nce, Patrick could tell where she had wondered off. As he ate his food elegantly, he added, ¡°We''re not doing anything in bed. I''m talking about something else.¡± Gwendolyn froze. Then, she turned to re at him. ¡°Patrick, you''re a big meanie! I was not thinking about that.¡± Patrick leaned closer to her and whispered, ¡°Then, why is your face so red? Don''t you want to join me in mind? I certainly want to.¡± Gwendolyn''s cheeks reddened even more. She gave him a shove. ¡°Can you stop talking?¡± Chapter 313 Chapter 313 Patrick examined her shy face. He reached a hand out to caress her cheeks. ¡°All right, let''s drop it. I''ll show you what I mean.¡± He passed more food to her. ¡°Eat up.¡± Gwendolyn, who had been famished, had a good appetite. She happily ate her fill. It was a satisfying meal. After that, the two exited the private room and chanced upon Lucas and Lucy, who wereing out of theirs as well. When Lucy saw them, she grinned and greeted them. ¡°Hi, Gwen. Hi, Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick had an arm around Gwendolyn. He shot a calm look at Lucas. In aposed tone that was void of emotions, he said, ¡°Luke, you''re back! Why didn''t you tell us?¡± Lucas had consumed a lot of wine. He stood up straight as amusement shed across his tanned face. ¡°What a coincidence, Pat. I just got back today.¡± As he talked, he nced at Lucy. If it had not been for her, he would note back. Lucy lowered her head, knowing that Lucas was looking at her with eyes full of hatred. She had gone to his toon and told his superior that she was pregnant with his child. She wanted him to make it up to her by marrying her. So, his superior gave Lucas a mandatory leave and instructed him to marry to Lucy immediately. That was an order. Lucas did not like that idea. Lucy made up a lie just to get his bone marrow. Patrick nodded. ¡°We should meet up some other time. Bye now.¡± Gwendolyn stared deeply at Lucy. She hoped that Lucy would not be bullied by Lucas again, and prayed that the woman would be as strong and brave as she used to be. ¡°Luce, take good care of yourself.¡± As she talked, she red at Lucas, as though warning him not to bully Lucy. When Lucas saw the two leave, he pulled Lucy into his arms. ¡°Dear, did you see how your friend looked at me? She thinks that I''m bullying you. Am I bullying you?¡± Gosh, exactly who''s bullying whom now? Lucy turned to nce at him before looking away. ¡°Lucas, I know that I''ve let you down. As long as you can save Mnie, I''m willing to be your ve.¡± Lucy genuinely believed that. As long as Mnie could live well and prosper, she did not care about her own life. Even if she would be bullied by Lucas for the rest of her life, then so be it. Lucas chuckled coldly. ¡°That''s what you said. You had better not go back on your word.¡± He pinched her bottom and let out a chillyugh. ¡°Come, let''s go home!¡± When Lucy heard that, her body trembled slightly. She knew what was waiting for her. Lucas had been away for more than ten days. He would definitely squeeze her dry. He had amazing stamina, and that was scary to her. Gwendolyn picked up her phone in the car. She wanted to text Lucy, but she did not know what to say. After all, Lucas was the only one who could save Mnie. If she had to face such a dilemma, she wouldpromise as well. As long as he could save Mnie, she would be willing to do anything. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. She sighed. Lucy''s life was indeed miserable. Patrick turned to look at her. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± he asked. Gwendolyn put away her phone and looked up at him. ¡°I just think that women have it bad.¡± It was especially so for women with children. Their children were their life. As mothers, they would do anything for their kids. Patrick frowned. ¡°Are men not pitiful?¡± He narrowed his eyes and chuckled. His emotional gazended on her red, sensual lips as he lowered his head to kiss her. ¡°Gwen, I''m rather pitiful too. I want you!¡± Gwendolyn hurriedly looked ahead. Larry appeared not to have heard anything as he kept driving. However, Gwendolyn knew that he must have heard it. Despite the embarrassment, she whispered, ¡°I know that you''re pitiful too, but don''t say things like that in front of other people, all right?¡± ¡°Then... don''t go back tonight.¡± Chapter 314 Chapter 314 Patrick had thought things through. He would stay out with Gwendolyn. Neither of them would be returning to Star Mansion that night. That way, the two children would not be able to stop them. Gwendolyn nodded. She had to switch off her pher. That way, the kids would not be able to contact her and beg her to return home. At that thought, she found herself getting a little taste of mischief. This was her biggest transformation in the many years of her life. She wanted to go all out for once, and do what would make her happy. They drove on for more than two hours before they finally arrived at ake in the mountains. It was the best vacation spot in Avenport. On weekends, many people woulde here for fun. There was a hugeke surrounded by the road. It made for a beautiful scenery. There was also a vige with many hotels. It was already ten o''clock at night by the time they reached their destination. There were still many people strolling by theke. Some were even ying with fireworks. Gwendolyny in Patrick''s arms as they admired the moonlight outside the window. They also saw many couples by the roadside. Her face lit up with great happiness. She had no need to envy the other couples anymore. She had someone to lean on, whosep was reserved just for her. ¡°Pat, let''s go down for a walk!¡± She noticed that they were getting closer to the vige near theke. She knew that they would be staying there that night. Patrick nodded. He instructed the chauffeur, ¡°Larry, please get us checked in at the hotel. We''ll walk there.¡± Larry turned around and replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen.¡± After they got down from the car, Patrick held on to Gwendolyn''s hand. Gwendolyn recalled the company''s New Year''s Day celebration that would take ce next day, which meant that the break would begin after that. The couple would stay here for the night, and head straight to the event the next day. They did not need to wake up early the next morning. When Patrick removed his jacket and ced it around Gwendolyn''s shoulders, she turned around to look at him. ¡°I''m not cold. You should put it back on.¡± The wind by theke was rather strong, especially on a cold winter''s night. She did not want him to catch a cold. Patrick did not care about that. ¡°Don''t worry about me. I have endured training for cold resistance since I was a child. I can stand the cold even without clothes on.¡± As she listened to his terse and cold voice, she examined his face under the streetlights. His features seemed unusually attractive. She had to admit that the more she looked, the more handsome she found him, and that made her like him even more. In an instant, she seemed to understand why other girls behaved the way they did. They tended to freeze whenever they saw Patrick. Her child, Juliette, was no exception. Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes and giggled. ¡°Oh! You''re... so remarkable!¡± Right then, a crowd had gathered not far away. Their joyous shouts attracted Gwendolyn. She grabbed Patrick''s hand and ran all the way there. In the center of a bunch of candlesid out in the shape of a heart stood a beautiful woman. She carried a bouquet of flowers in her hands as a man kneeled down in front of her with a ring in his hand. ¡°No matter what happens in the future, I''ll be by your side. I''ll love you forever. We''ll grow from a family of two to a family of four. We''ll have a son and daughter. We''ll grow old together as our children grow up. Even then, I still want to hold your hand. Babe, I love you! Will you marry me?¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Everyone let out cheers of encouragement. Gwendolyn''s eyes filled up with tears. She finally understood how moving it was to be with someone she loved. She held on to Patrick''s hand tightly as she tilted her head to look at him. There was no expression on his face, but Gwendolyn knew that he definitely felt the same way she did. Deep down, they gave the couple their blessings. Patrick turned to gaze at her deeply. Their eyes met. For a moment, it was as if they were the only ones left in the world. Patrick''s parted his thin lips lightly. His voice was terse and cold as he got serious. He said to her, ¡°Gwen, will you be by my side forever?¡± Chapter 315 Chapter 315 It was the first time she saw uncertainty in the depths of his eyes, and she could not believe what she was seeing. Being such a powerful person, Patrick could get anything he wanted in the world. Therefore, Gwendolyn could not understand Patrick''s reaction. Gwendolyn wondered if Patrick was afraid that she would leave him. The thought of that suddenly pained her heart, and she threw herself into his embrace and hugged him tightly. Although she did not know a few things about his past, for instance, why his parents were never around, she wanted to tell him that she would never leave him. She wanted him to know that she would be with him for the rest of her life as long as he wanted her. Patrick closed his eyes and held her tightly as he said in a low voice, ¡°You''re stuck with me forever, Gwen. No matter what happens, you are not allowed to leave me.¡± The two of them hugged each other tightly as if to signify theirmitment and pledge to each other. Patrick held Gwendolyn in his embrace until the group of youngsters left before they continued walking toward the small town. The breeze by theke was chilly, but they felt warmth in their hearts. After walking for half an hour, they arrived at their hotel. Patrick then approached the front desk to collect the keycard and headed to theke view room together with Gwendolyn. After they entered the room, Gwendolyn darted straight to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Upon seeing the view of theke outside the room, Gwendolyn beamed like a cheerful child. ¡°Patrick, it''s beautiful here!¡± Patrick changed into indoor slippers and held another pair in his hands as he walked toward the floor- to-ceiling windows. ¡°Change into these.¡± She had been walking for such a long time in her heels. Her legs must be sore. She should feel much morefortable in slippers. Gwendolyn reached out to hold on to Patrick''s hand as she removed her heels and put on the indoor slippers. ¡°It''s really beautiful here, Patrick. I''ve never been here before. Let''s bring Juliette and the rest next time.¡± She had never taken the triplets on a vacation before. They could never afford any vacations before this, but now, Gwendolyn resolved topensate them for the vacations that they had missed. Patrick raised his head and looked ahead at theke. ¡°Sure!¡± Patrick was thinking about having a baby of their own after they were married. ¡°All right!¡± Patrick nced at the time and said, ¡°It''ste. Go take a shower, then go to bed earlier.¡± Just then, Gwendolyn came back to her senses and stole a nce at Patrick. Gwendolyn wondered what would happen next. She was looking forward to it, but she was also anxious. Although she had given birth before, she had no experience in that matter and was worried that she could not perform well enough. While that was what she thought, she did not know how to convey it. As she ducked under Patrick''s arm, Gwendolyn pointed outside. ¡°I''m going to take a shower.¡± Then, she scurried to the master bedroom. Patrick turned to watch her close the door. He smiled slightly and went to the other room to take his shower. In the Star Mansion, Justin and Julian sat on their own little beds. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Justin folded his arms across his chest and narrowed his dark and clear eyes. ¡°Julian, do you think Mommy turned her phone off on purpose?¡± Surely, Mommy''s with Patrick and was afraid that we were going to make here home. Mommy''s changed. She''s really different now. She''s getting more and more brazen. Julian chuckled. ¡°Justin, I think Patrick told Mommy to do it.¡± In their eyes, Gwendolyn would never turn her phone off and ignore their phone calls. Therefore, they reckoned that it had to be Patrick''s doing. The more they thought about it, the madder they became. Then, their eyes met. They then huddled together closely. ¡°Let''s hack into his phone and give him a warning. How about that?¡± After his shower, Patrick changed into his pajamas and picked up his phone. At once, he realized there was something amiss with his phone. He swiped his phone with his finger frantically in an attempt to remove the hacker. At the final step, all Patrick had to do was tap on the screen once, and his phone would return to normal. However, before he could do so, a video of Justin and Julian was yed on his phone screen. ¡°Patrick, if you can get to this part, then you deserve to watch this video.¡± A voice could be heard. Chapter 316 Chapter 316 When they were done talking, they cackled coldly. ¡°Return us our mommy. If you don''t, you better be careful with your phone andpany from now on.¡± After that, the video disappeared, and Patrick''s phone returned to the way it was before. Patrick frowned slightly for a moment. Those two kids are threatening me. He was not angry but thought it was interesting. So I need to conquer these kids too. Well, let''s see who''s the winner. Right at that moment, Gwendolyn''s voice rang out. ¡°Patrick... Mr. Lowen... Are you there?¡± Patrick reconfigured his phone''s security system, chucked his phone to the side, and strode toward the master bedroom. He knocked on the door as soon as he arrived at the door to the bathroom. ¡°Gwen, what''s wrong?¡± He pushed the door to open it, but it was locked from the inside, so he could not get in. Wrapped in a bath towel, Gwendolyn looked at her toes. Feeling a little awkward and troubled, she said, ¡°It''s... It''s the time...¡± Patrick raised his eyebrows and responded, ¡°What time?¡± Patrick was not familiar with the matter, and so he could not understand her words. Therefore, Gwendolyn had no choice but to say, ¡°It''s the time of the month. Can you buy me a sanitary pad?¡± She felt it was inappropriate to ask for Patrick''s help for this. However, she had no other alternatives. She had left in a rush and had not brought extra clothes. If she was to go and buy it herself, it would definitely stain her clothes. Patrick finally figured it out, and he responded, ¡°Sure!¡± Gwendolyn widened her eyes slightly in surprise. ¡°Are you sure? How about you get a female staff over, and I''ll ask her to get it for me?¡± That was the only other way she could think of. However, she thought that the situation would be a lot less embarrassing if she could ask a girl to get the sanitary pads for her. Patrick chuckled. ¡°It''s fine. I can do it. Give me a moment.¡± He then changed out of his pajamas, picked up his phone, and left. Right after he stepped out of the room, he bumped into Larry who was standing by the door. Upon seeing him, Larry stood straight and greeted him, ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± As Patrick did not bring his bodyguards with him, Liam had arranged for Larry to be on standby at the doorway in case anything happened. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. After all, a man of Patrick''s stature had a lot of enemies. Not only did he have rivals from the business world, but there were also those who he had knocked down holding a grudge against him. Therefore, Liam had always been cautious about his safety. Patrick thought for a while before he asked, ¡°What should I do when women are menstruating?¡± Larry was shocked into silence for a while before he took a peek into the room and shook his head. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''ve never dated anyone. I don''t know. But you can try the inte. You can find a lot of methods online.¡± Patrick took up his phone and nodded slightly. ¡°Stay on watch here. Call me immediately if there''s anything. I''ll be back very soon.¡± Patrick read up on the methods as he went to the supermarket downstairs. Patrick felt lost looking at the rows of sanitary pads. He did not know how to pick the right one. When he left, he had two big bags with him. He had bought one of each kind that was avable, and he had also bought a heat pack and a pack of ginger tea. Back at the doorway to Patrick''s room, Larry''s eyes widened in shock when he saw what Patrick was carrying in his hands. ¡°Did you buy everything at the supermarket, Mr. Lowen?¡± Patrick nced at his hands and said, ¡°I''m not sure which is the right one, so I bought them all.¡± When Patrick swiped his keycard to open the door, Larry could no longer hold in hisughter. I can''t believe even a powerful man like Mr. Lowen will be stumped one day. I can''t believe I''m saying that, but Mr. Lowen is cute when he behaves that way. Everyone fears him, for he''s famous for his cruelty and ruthlessness when dealing with businesses. However, tonight, he has bought sanitary pads and even bought a bundle of them. That''s unbelievable. The more Larry thought about that, the funnier he found it to be. He felt that a man like Patrick was worth every woman''s obsession and that he would also be in love with Patrick if he were a woman. Gwendolyn walked toward Patrick after he entered the room. ¡°Why... Why did you buy so many sanitary pads?¡± Chapter 317 Chapter 317 She had a surprised look on her face. Then, she could not help butugh. Patrick''s expression hardened, and he stared at her coldly. Earlier, when he was at the supermarket, the cashier had also stared at him like that. He was already slightly annoyed by it. However, Gwendolyn was also currently looking at him as if he was a fool, making him even more irritated. He had been considered a genius since he was young and had never been looked down on by anyone before. ¡°I didn''t know which brand you like, so I bought everything.¡± When Gwendolyn heard that, sheughed again and hugged him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''m not ridiculing you. I''m just happy. It''s the first time I ever felt that you are the same as us ordinary people.¡± Previously, she had always felt there was a gap in between them. He had always been the one superior to everyone, giving off an intimidating vibe. She could not believe it even after she had be his girlfriend, as she still felt a distance between them. However, at that moment, she felt that the gap between them had narrowed considerably. Although Patrick was annoyed, his mood was lifted significantly after she took the initiative to hug him. ¡°Do you still want it?¡± Gwendolyn let go of him and took the two bags. She felt that he behaved like her two sons when he was awkward. She picked out the pack of sanitary pads for night use and headed toward the bathroom. Patrick took a heat pack and made a cup of ginger tea. Then, he sat on the couch and turned around to nce at the master bedroom. After a while, Gwendolyn walked out and saw the cup of ginger tea on the table. She smiled. This guy! He''s quite good at coaxing a woman! I''m so happy and blessed. She sat next to him and wrapped her arms around his neck before pressing her lips against his. Patrick froze at first before his lips curled into a smile, his eyes filling with adoration. After a while, Patrick, who had seized the upper hand, let go of her. ¡°Drink the ginger tea.¡± He did not understand the point of drinking ginger tea, but it was what he found on the inte when he looked for ways to alleviate menstrual cramps. Gwendolyn looked at how earnest he was and grabbed the cup of ginger tea. It was warm against her palm, spreading warmth to her heart too. She had always been alone when handling these matters since she was young. As she did not have her mother by her side, nobody could teach or share their experiences with her. It was the first time someone had made ginger tea for her while she was on her period. She felt deeply moved. It felt as if the distance between them had narrowed again in an instant. At that moment, she felt that she would be willing to marry him. Patrick took out the heat pack. ¡°Do you want to paste this?¡± The product''sbel stated that it was able to warm the womb and relieve menstrual cramps. Gwendolyn finished the ginger tea in one go and felt her body warming up immediately, especially her abdomen area. She shook her head. ¡°Actually, I don''t get menstrual cramps after I gave birth.¡± Before she gave birth to the triplets, the menstrual cramps she had been experiencing were indeed severe. However, she did not experience menstrual cramps anymore after childbirth. Patrick was still worried. ¡°It can warm the womb. You should paste it.¡± He tore the packaging and pasted the heat pack onto her abdomen area. She yawned, as she was very sleepy. ¡°Patrick, let''s sleep!¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. She thought it would be their first time that night, but it was no longer possible. Although she felt slightly apologetic, she did not have a choice. Maybe it''s not the right time yet. Let''s wait for a few more days. Patrick stood up and held her hand, leading her to the master bedroom. Theyy on the bed. The distance between them was a little far, and Gwendolyn turned to look at him. ¡°Patrick, can I sleep in your arms?¡± She felt slightly ufortable that they were too far apart, as she enjoyed sleeping in his embrace. Patrick frowned slightly and licked his lips lightly. ¡°Gwen, I''m feeling a little ufortable. Can you help me?¡± He had initially wanted to control himself, so he had suggested sleeping separately. Chapter 318 Chapter 318 However, it was ufortable sleeping apart from each other. He also liked it when she slept in his embrace. Nevertheless, as soon as she got close to him, he could not restrain himself from thinking about it. He was usually not a lustful man. Even if other women slept in his bed naked, he would not feel anything. However, his self-control was non-existent when he faced Gwendolyn. When Gwendolyn heard his words, she blinked herrge eyes. ¡°Huh?¡± Help him? How does he want me to help him? Just as she felt confused, she was suddenly dragged into his embrace and locked lips with his. His kiss was passionate as if he wanted to be one with her. It was Gwendolyn''s first time feeling his enthusiasm, and that made her heart palpitate. She wanted to enjoy that moment with him and did not want to think about anything else. I only want to bring him joy! That will make me happy too! She could only feel his taste in her mouth. Her mind went nk, and Patrick grabbed her hand. When she felt his manhood, she was startled and tried to retract her hand instinctively. However, Patrick''s hand continued to grasp her hand tightly. He nibbled lightly on her ear. ¡°Babe, do it like this. I''ll feel better!¡± His voice was deep and sensual. It was so euphonious that her heart started racing. Gwendolyn hummed in reply. In the darkness of the night, she was slowly learning how to satisfy him. An hourter, Gwendolyn massaged her sore right hand while she stared at the ceiling in a daze. Patrick had stood up to enter the bathroom. Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief. It finally ended. I almost died of fatigue. Didn''t hest too long? The next day, they slept until past ten in the morning. Patrick woke up first, as he received a phone call. He stood up and headed toward the balcony to receive the call. Gwendolyn woke up when he opened the balcony door. She turned around to lie on her side. She noticed that he was in a bathrobe. There was a cigarette between his fingers as he talked on the phone. She could see his side profile. He had prominent brow ridges, deep eyes, a straight nose, and a sharp jaw, looking as handsome as ever. Gwendolyn smiled. He''s indeed very good-looking. It''s not just his face but also his body. He looks like someone who has walked out of a painting. After Patrick ended the call, he pushed open the door and walked in. He said gently, ¡°Did I wake you up?¡± He had already scolded the people on the other end of the line, as he was afraid that the noise would wake her up. They had sleptte, and she had given her best to pleasure him the previous night. His eyes were filled with affection as he looked at her. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. He had hoped that she was able to sleep longer without getting disturbed. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°I''ve slept enough. Let''s go back!¡± It was the day of thepany''s annual dinner, so he ought to be quite busy. She thought that she should not be so selfish and forced him to be with her all day. It was probably one of the advantages of her working together with the man she loved, for she could be more considerate of him. The average girlfriend would feel that her lover was only concerned with his work and neglected her. Patrick nodded. ¡°It''s no hurry. Let''s eat something first and take a stroll along thekeside.¡± They went to thekeside after eating breakfast. The scenery by theke was gorgeous. There were many people here on vacation and taking photos. Gwendolyn took out her phone to snap a photo of the scenery. Then, she turned to look at the handsome Patrick. ¡°We don''t even have a photo together. Let''s take one now, shall we?¡± Patrick did not like being photographed. Many magazines had requested to do an exclusive interview with him, but he had asked her to reject them all. Patrick frowned slightly. Although he seemed extremely unwilling, he still nodded in the end. Gwendolyn smiled and asked a passer-by to help them take a photo. When she looked at the photo on her phone, her brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Patrick, why didn''t you smile? You''re very good-looking when you smile.¡± Gwendolyn was smiling beautifully in the photo, revealing her two dimples. However, the man beside her, albeit gorgeous, had an expression as cold as the ice mountain. Chapter 319 Chapter 319 Patrick turned to look at her. When he saw the disappointed look on her face, he said tly, ¡°I don''t like to smile.¡± Gwendolyn realized there was some truth in his words, as he usually wore a cold expression. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Even if he smiled, his lips only curled up slightly. Gwendolyn used to think he was a blessed man who lived a happy life. Thinking about it now, she realized he was also a human and not a god. He had to shoulder lots of responsibilities. There was arge corporation that he had to manage, and he was the decision-maker when it came to major issues in the corporation. All the employees depended on him so that they could provide a living for their own families. Aside from those, he probably had his own matters to attend to. Gwendolyn merely thought he was really handsome when he smiled, and she thought that one should smile more. Patrick wrapped an arm around her shoulders. ¡°Send that photo to me.¡± Gwendolyn turned to nce at him. ¡°You want it too?¡± It was beyond her expectations because she had assumed that someone who disliked taking photos would not want to keep the photos. Patrick raised his brows slightly. ¡°Yes!¡± Gwendolyn sent the photo to him. His slender finger clicked open the photo. When he saw her sweet smile, his finger brushed across her face in the photo before he saved it in his album. Right then, he received a call from thepany, telling him the time to attend the annual dinner. The annual dinner of Lowen Group was always a grand event. Lowen Group would send invitations to the CEOs of thosepanies that had a partnership with Lowen Group. Not only that, even prominent politicians in Avenport would attend the event. It was a momentous asion. To be able to attend once was already considered an eye-opening experience. It was Gwendolyn''s first time attending, so she was quite unsure of the situation. After Patrick ended the call, he turned around to look at her. ¡°You will be my femalepanion for tonight!¡± Gwendolyn nodded in response. ¡°Okay!¡± Since she was his secretary, she frequently attended events as his femalepanion. She was already used to it. However, a hint of amusement shed across Patrick''s eyes. Gwendolyn attending the annual dinner as his femalepanion that night meant that she was the future Mrs. Lowen. He nced at the time. ¡°We should go back soon.¡± Two hourster, they returned to Avenport. They headed straight for Voyage Hotel. It was a seven-star hotel under Lowen Group and also where the annual dinner was held. When the car came to a halt in front of the hotel''s entrance, someone opened the door. As Gwendolyn got off the car, Amber and Liam were already waiting for them there. They politely greeted Patrick when they saw him. ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick nced at Gwendolyn and spoke in a mild tone. ¡°Bring her to change her clothes.¡± Amber nodded. ¡°Ms. Ashton, I''ll bring you upstairs.¡± Gwendolyn nced at Patrick and saw him walking into the hotel. Liam was talking to him. It was probably something about the annual dinner. Knowing that he was going to get busy, Gwendolyn nodded at Amber. ¡°Ms. Johnson, thank you.¡± After that, she remained in the room for a few hours while the makeup artists and costume designers worked on her. It was the first time she experienced being a celebrity. She felt it was not that easy. It was quite tiring to stay seated for such a long time to make herself prettier and more morous. When it was around half-past five in the afternoon, her makeup and hairstyle were done. Standing in front of the dressing mirror while donning a red long gown, she almost did not recognize herself. The type of gown reminded her of weddings. She looked at herself in the mirror. One needs to dress in this type of gown for weddings. The off-shoulder cutting revealed her fair shoulders. The ne on her neck was beautiful and went well with her gown. Amber, who was standing beside her, said smilingly, ¡°Ms. Ashton, you''re gorgeous!¡± Amber was speaking the truth. In fact, if Patrick needed a femalepanion, it should have been her, since she was the chief secretary. However, she lost that privilege ever since Gwendolyn entered thepany. When she saw Gwendolyn in her red gown at that very moment, she suddenly felt that Patrick had good taste. Gwendolyn was not like those typical socialites who were arrogant and condescending. However, she was brighter and more elegant than any of them. Chapter 320 Chapter 320 Gwendolyn turned around to smile at her. ¡°Thank you! However, I don''t really like dressing up like this. I would have to act elegantly in front of people.¡± For Gwendolyn, she felt it was tiring to live a life as such. Amber smiled. ¡°You have to get used to it because there will be many asions as such after you marry Mr. Lowen and be Mrs. Lowen in the future.¡± Amber and Liam had been serving Patrick by his side, so they knew that Gwendolyn held a special ce in Patrick''s heart. Knowing that she was likely the future Mrs. Lowen, they were very careful around her and did not dare to offend her. In fact, if there was any woman by Patrick''s side, they were all very cautious while serving her out of concern that she would end up being Mrs. Lowen in the future. Gwendolyn pondered for a moment and agreed. She remained silent as she suddenly missed her children. She took out her phone and walked toward the room''s balcony. Then, she called Justin. The call was connected soon after, and Justin''s voice rang out. ¡°Mommy!¡± ¡°Justin, I''ll be returning home tonight. Be good and listen to Ms. Ziegler.¡± Julian was dressed in a white suit, while Justin looked dapper in a ck suit. Juliette was dressed in a pastel blue dress. They were on their way to the venue where Lowen Group''s annual dinner would be held. Juliette suddenly asked, ¡°Are we going to attend a ball held by a prince?¡± When Gwendolyn heard Juliette''s words, she asked in confusion, ¡°Are you guys not at home? Where are you going?¡± Justin replied calmly, ¡°Patrick sent people to bring us to hispany''s annual dinner. He said that family members of employees are invited.¡± The triplets had only agreed to attend the annual dinner because Patrick told them that the employees'' family members were invited, and the triplets did not disappoint their mother. Otherwise, they would not have agreed to attend the event. Gwendolyn gave a slight nod. ¡°Oh!¡± Lowen Group would always invite the employees'' family members to the annual dinner to celebrate the New Year. Then, they would also give mary gifts. She had three children, so she was expecting them to be able to receive some mary gifts. She smiled when she thought about that. She was about to turn into a money-grubber. ¡°Give me a call when you guys are here! I''lle and get you guys!¡± After hanging up, she walked into her room. Patrick was already waiting for her there. He walked toward her, and his eyes darkened. She''s gorgeous tonight, and she looks like my bride! Gwendolyn ced her phone back into her bag. ¡°Mr. Lowen, do we need to go downstairs now?¡± The annual dinner would start at seven in the evening, and it was already past six. The employees probably already entered the venue, and the invited guests should be arriving one after another. Patrick looked very ssy wearing a ck suit. He nodded slightly. ¡°Let''s go!¡± He extended his hand, and she hooked her arm through his. They left the room after that and rode the elevator to the banquet hall on the first floor. When they entered, many people immediately swarmed toward them. They were all people who had coborated with Lowen Group and wanted to speak with Patrick. Out of courtesy, Patrick held out a ss of wine to clink sses with them. When someone tried to toast Gwendolyn, Patrick extended his hand. ¡°I''ll drink in her stead.¡± Several men saw his action and exchanged knowing nces. They were certain that she was definitely the woman Patrick fancied, since he was so protective of her. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn was momentarily taken aback and whispered, ¡°Mr. Lowen, let me! You should not drink so much!¡± It was the annual dinner hosted by Lowen Group, so there would definitely be many people who would want to clink sses with him. Even the employees would make a toast to him. Therefore, she did not wish for him to drink on her behalf, as she could drink the alcohol herself. Patrick gazed at her coldly and ced his lips near her ear to whisper, ¡°Isn''t it the time of the month? Why are you drinking wine? Just stay beside me.¡± With that, he raised another ss and clinked sses with a few men. One of his hands was wrapped around her slender waist, while his other hand was holding a winess. They looked like a perfect match. Some people started to ask around discreetly. ¡°Where''s that woman from? Which prestigious family is she from?¡± ¡°I was just about to ask that too!¡± ¡°I''ve never seen her before. She probably just came back from abroad.¡± Zayden walked into the banquet hall and was greeted by the sight of Patrick hugging Gwendolyn. His face fell. Chapter 321 Chapter 321 Zayden walked toward Patrick and reached out his hand. ¡°Mr. Lowen!¡± Patrick nced at him calmly and said, ¡°Mr. Surrington, please enjoy yourself.¡± Some coborating CEOs, too, approached Patrick to clink sses, whereas Gwendolyn cast a light smile at Zayden. ¡°Mr. Surrington.¡± She nodded, smiling sweetly. Zayden''s gaze fell upon her waist, which Patrick was holding. He was holding her tight, so intimate that it annoyed Zayden. He drew closer to her and asked, ¡°Gwen, are you Patrick''s femalepanion for tonight?¡± Gwendolyn responded with a slight nod. ¡°Yes.¡± Stealing a nce at Patrick, who was conversing with some guests nearby, Zayden pursed his lips. His expression darkened. Conceivably, Gwendolyn had no idea that being Patrick''s femalepanion at the annual dinner was equivalent to introducing herself as Patrick''s lover. In other words, Patrick was dering to all the employees and other coborators that Gwendolyn would be his future wife. Thus, Zayden was rattled. He had always believed that Patrick was not serious with Gwendolyn. Judging from his prestige, the Lowen family would never ept Gwendolyn as Patrick''s wife, just like Zayden''s family. To his consternation, Patrick had convinced the elders of the Lowen family sooner than he predicted and even disclosed their rtionship at the event. Perceiving Zayden''s somber countenance, Gwendolyn tugged at his sleeve. ¡°Zayden, you should head on in,¡± she suggested, finding it tiring for him to stand there rigid. Besides, Patrick was the host. It would be inappropriate for Zayden to be staying there. It was only then that Zayden regained his senses. He managed a slight bob. ¡°All right. I''ll visit your hometown with you during the New Year!¡± With that, he walked away. Meanwhile, Patrick had finished socializing with the guests too. He wrapped his arm around Gwendolyn and headed to the lounge. Right as he entered the lounge, he saw plenty of food prepared by Liam and Amber. Standing beside the couch was Amber, who, upon seeing him, lowered her head slightly. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you should eat something so that you won''t get too hungryter.¡± Patrick would be giving a speech on the stageter. He had probably not eaten before the guests stormed forward to toast to him. Looking at the food on the table, Gwendolyn picked up some with a fork and fed Patrick. Inadvertently, Liam and Amber were forced to watch the lovey-dovey scene. Thus, the two left the room heedfully, leaving only Gwendolyn and Patrick in the lounge. Patrick looked at thedy servicing him and asked, ¡°Are you tired?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°This is nothingpared to the things that you have to attend to. Hurry up. You should have more.¡± She felt a twinge of heartache as soon as she realized he would be drinking a lot that night. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. The two rested in the lounge for half an hour before heading to the banquet hall. Gwendolyn sat next to Patrick at the main table. When Patrick was delivering his speech, he effused a charming and cool aura, making him seem rtively formidable. She stared at the dazzling man on the stage, her eyes brimming with admiration and infatuation. Perhaps every single woman in the banquet hall was as enthralled as Gwendolyn. Unquestionably, any woman would be enthralled by such an enchanting man. Feeling bored, Feliciay in her bed sleazily while scrolling through Instagram. Upon seeing incessant photos of the annual dinner, she pursed her lips faintly. A few days ago, Ashton Corporation, too, threw a grand one. She tapped into a friend''s profile out of boredom, only to find a picture of Patrick holding Gwendolyn closely. Instantly, her expression contorted in ire. She was foaming at the mouth. ¡°Gwendolyn, I''ll let you enjoy your remaining few days.¡± It seemed that she had to rush Gregory right now. She took out a card from her purse in which there were a million. In truth, she had purposely registered the card with Gregory''s ID card earlier that day. Clenching the card tightly, she cast a sinister smirk, a hint of viciousness shing across the depth of her eyes. It would be New Year''s Eve the next day. She could imagine how ted Gregory would be when he received the money. Also, she could seize that opportunity to hurry him to eliminate Gwendolyn. Just then, Zachary knocked on the door before opening the door and entering her bedroom. Felicia promptly sat up and called him sweetly, ¡°Dad.¡± ¡°Fel, did Gwendolyn and Patrick get together?¡± Chapter 322 Chapter 322 A tint of sorrow emerged on his face as he thought of his eldest daughter. Felicia knew many of her father''s acquaintances had attended Lowen Group''s annual dinner. He must have seen the photo of Patrick embracing Gwendolyn too. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Bringing Gwendolyn to the banquet as his femalepanion was how Patrick announced to the world that she was his woman. Arriving at that thought, Felicia was disheartened. In her mind, Gwendolyn did not deserve all those honors. She was nothing but a lowlydy who had given birth to three children out of wedlock. Yet, Patrick treasured her despite all those odious traits. Seeing Felicia remain silent, Zachary nodded slightly. He understood that the cunning Gwendolyn had stolen his dear daughter''s boyfriend by using underhanded means. ¡°Fel, I''ll handle this matter. Don''t be sad. There are tons of better men in this world. It doesn''t have to be Patrick. He''s not worthy.¡± Nheless, Felicia only longed for Patrick and him alone. She would never want anyone else. ¡°Dad, I love Patrick. I can''t forget about him.¡± Right then, she raised her hand to wipe away her tears. Little did Zachary know that she was observing his expression discreetly. Watching him frown in dismay, she was exhrated deep down. She had been deliberately maintaining a good rtionship with her mother and this man. Hence, she had earned Zachary''s fondness. He sincerely cared for and loved her. Right now, she merely needed to shed some tears and express her sadness. With that, her father''s love for Gwendolyn would be chipped away gradually, and he would grow to despise Gwendolyn more and more. ¡°Dad, when did Gwen be such an abominable sister? Was it because my mother stole away her mother''s man that she wanted to take revenge on me?¡± Zachary''s expression darkened further as Gwendolyn''s mother''s image shed across his mind. ¡°Your mom''s a benevolentdy. Gwendolyn is nothing like her. She must have used some underhanded means. Fel, please don''t be sad. I''ve heard that Old Mr. Lowen has taken a liking to you. You still stand a chance if you really love him.¡± Hearing that, Felicia came to a sudden realization. Now I understand why Patrick faked a marriage with me. It was because of Old Mr. Lowen! That''s why I have to put on an act for him every time we go back to the Lowen residence. Now that she realized where the problemy, she curved her lips into an ominous smirk uncontrobly. As long as she buttered Hector up, she would be Mrs. Lowen sooner orter. ¡°Dad, I understand. I won''t cry anymore, and I''ll promise to work harder.¡± Zachary gazed at her intently. ¡°Good. Get some good rest earlier. Stop overthinking.¡± After the annual dinner hade to an end, Patrick was as drunk as a skunk. On the other hand, Gwendolyn did not even take a sip of wine, as no one dared to offer any under Patrick''s eyes. It was her first time experiencing how dream-like it was to be protected by an all-powerful man. Everyone treated her with respect, taking care of her meticulously. No one would make things hard for her. Gwendolyn turned her head and gazed at the man to her side. It was dim inside the car, obscuring him with darkness. Thus, she could not see his countenance. Out of the blue, hisrge hand reached out to hold her dainty one. ¡°Gwen...¡± He had drunk like a fish earlier because he was over the moon. Lowen Group''s performance was outstanding, attaining first ce in Avenport yet again. Unsurprisingly, as the boss, he would be in seventh heaven. It was a proof of his career aplishment. ¡°I''m here.¡± Gwendolyn grasped his hand tightly in response. ¡°Come to my home tomorrow to celebrate the New Year.¡± He wanted to celebrate the festival at her ce, but she did not invite him even once. He could not wait anymore, thus taking the initiative. Gwendolyn smiled and rested her head against his chest. ¡°Okay, got it. I promised to pay a visit to your house.¡± Alice had called her previously, and she had agreed to her request. Now that she could not bear to separate from Patrick, it would be utterly meaningless if she could not spend the New Year with the one she loved the most. Absence would only make the heart grow fonder. Patrick chuckled softly. ¡°Gwen, although I can''t give you anything right now, I promise to give you all I have in the future.¡± Chapter 323 Chapter 323 As his voice was muffled, Gwendolyn could not hear him clearly. Nevertheless, she would believe anythinging from him. ¡°Patrick, actually, I don''t need anything. I only want to stay with you.¡± That was her honest thought. She merely wanted to be with him. Patrick lowered his head and nted a kiss on her forehead. The car parked in front of Patrick''s house. Three little fes got down from the car in front and approached the car in behind. Justin knocked on the window, causing Gwendolyn to straighten her back instantly. Only then did she wind down the window. Her three sweethearts had attended the annual dinner too, and they had even won the handsome prizes from the lucky draw. Justin and Julian had each won aptop, and it was their favorite model. The two were beside themselves with joy. Juliette had won a card that allowed her to spend freely in any mall under Lowen Group. Gwendolyn found it amazingly fortuitous. All three of her children had gotten the prize they fancied. At some point, she even suspected that Patrick had pulled strings discreetly to predetermine the results. Nheless, when she recalled that some of her colleagues had also won their desired prizes respectively, she immediately brushed off the idea and reckoned that Patrick would not tamper with the results. ¡°Mommy, you''re home. You can get down the car now.¡± Juliette giggled. ¡°Mr. Lowen, thank you for the present. We love it! I''ll work at yourpany when I grow up.¡± It was a wonderfulpany in her eyes. They had never taken part in an annual dinner held by Gwendolyn''s employer in the past. This time, they decided to, and it felt just like a ball organized by a prince. When they were relishing the meal, the performances on the stage were entrancing. Plus, all the dishes served were scrumptious. Patrick smiled tenderly. ¡°You''re wee to work here when you grow up.¡± Justin and Julian stared at their sister coldly, as if they were insinuating that she had no pride. Juliette, however, was not at all bothered. ¡°Mommy, it''s fine if you don''t want toe home. We''ll head to bed ourselves.¡± With that, she held both her brothers'' hands and prepared to enter their house. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. However, Justin did not move an inch, whereas Julian narrowed his eyes while smirking mysteriously. ¡°Mommy, it''s toote. You shoulde back home.¡± If it were in the past, Gwendolyn would have hopped down from the car and returned home with them. However, she decided against it that night. Patrick had drunk a lot, so she wanted to make a hangover remedy for him. She pursed her lips before bringing herself to request, ¡°Mr. Derner, please take all three of them to house number seven.¡± Liam stood beside the three as he was taking the same car with them. He replied, ¡°Sure, Ms. Ashton.¡± He then cast a smile at the three children. ¡°Sweethearts, I''ll escort you guys back. Your mommy still has some work to do. Let''s not disturb her!¡± Juliette nodded. ¡°Okay. Mommy, concentrate on your work.¡± Justin and Julian could see how adamant their mother was. Hence, they gave in and returned home with Liam and their sister. Patrick held her hand tightly and said in a sonorous voice, ¡°Drive us to the house.¡± He was moved by the fact that she rejected her sons for the first time because of him. Albeit Gwendolyn was feeling guilty for what she had done, she could not leave Patrick alone. She had to let down her sons for the time being and could only make it up to them after that. On the next day, Gwendolyn woke up in Patrick''s arms. She reached out her slender finger to caress his face, starting from his brows downward until it reached his bewitching lips. Patrick suddenly opened his mouth and confined her finger. Startled, she tried to withdraw her finger but to no avail, as the man was unwilling to let her go. He even started licking her finger. She could not stand the itchiness. ¡°Patrick, stop that.¡± Patrick merely curved his lips into a mischievous grin. ¡°I want to do it again.¡± The previous night, the man had asked her to help him in releasing his pent-up desire while he was in a drunken state. He had had her pleasure him in various ways, including what he had demonstrated a moment ago. It made Gwendolyn''s cheeks flush red. She quickly took out her finger when he was speaking. However, Patrick rolled over and pinned her under his body, scrutinizing her affectionately from head to toes. In response, she raised her hand and hit him. ¡°Stop messing around. It''s broad daylight now.¡± Chapter 324 Chapter 324 Looking at her embarrassed expression, Patrick smirked slightly. ¡°Babe, I was super happyst night!¡± Gwendolyn could not stand his passionate gaze, nor did she dare to recall the events the night before. It was not something she would usually do. She covered her face shyly. ¡°Patrick, never mention that anymore. I''ll get angry and ignore you if you do.¡± She lifted her leg and kicked him as she spoke, warning him to quit messing with her. Patrick knew she would get embarrassed easily. She was as pure as the driven snow. He was a teacher to her in those aspects. Rolling over and getting up, he grabbed his pajamas and put them on before he reached over for his watch and nced at the time. It was already past nine. ¡°Gwen, you have to get up now. Go back and get ready. We''ll be heading to the Lowen residence.¡± It was New Year''s Eve. He wanted to keep the two elders back at homepany. Gwendolyn sat up right away. She was still wearing Patrick''s white shirt, which he had persistently asked her to put on the previous night. In truth, he behaved like a child and became more domineering when he was drunk. Gwendolyn had no choice but toply with his requests until he was satisfied and happy with her. The two of them washed up in the bathroom together. Patrick had already prepared a toothbrush, some towels, and some clothes for her, hoping that she would one day start staying there forever. Even if she was not going to live with him forever, she could at leaste to visit him when she was free. While brushing her teeth, Gwendolyn watched him shave his mustache through the mirror. He looked hot while doing so. It was the first time Gwendolyn saw him in that form. Perhaps this is what life after marriage looks like. Patrick could sense her gaze. He looked at her in return. ¡°Do you have something to say? Or are you afraid that your sons are mad at you?¡± In actual fact, he had surreptitiously altered the results for the lucky draw event the previous night, intending to win over the two kids. He reckoned that they would change their opinions of him after using the newptops. At the very least, they would not treat him as rude as they used to. Gwendolyn pouted when she remembered what she had done to her sons the previous night. ¡°They must be sad.¡± They might misunderstand that I treasure Patrick more than them. Of course, they will be sad. Patrick reached out his hand and wrapped it around her shoulder. ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll go back with you.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. She wiped her face hastily and set off to go back home. Right as they entered the house, Camille came to wee them. ¡°Gwen, I''ve prepared breakfast for you.¡± She noticed Patrick as she spoke, thus shing him a greeting smile. ¡°Mr. Lowen...¡± Patrick passed her a mary gift. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, although it''s a little early, wish you a happy new year!¡± Camille took the gift and felt the thick stash of cash in it. She was exhrated. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lowen! This is too much.¡± Patrick embraced Gwendolyn, and the two seemed very intimate. ¡°Don''t sweat it. It''s something I should do. Thank you for taking care of Gwen and her children!¡± Camille would be celebrating the New Year at a rtive''s ce that night. Gwendolyn had invited her to visit the Lowen residence together, but thetter had rejected because she did not get the chance to gather with her family since years ago. Thus, Camille nned to head off to her rtive''s house and revel with them. The three children were ying in the living room. Realizing that their mother hade back, Juliette immediately went to wee Gwendolyn. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mommy, did you have a good sleepst night? I dreamed of you and Mr. Lowen! You became his bride, and you looked beautiful!¡± Juliette was really fond of Patrick, so she was eager to witness them get married. With that, she could finally address him as her daddy and get a father. Gwendolyn reached out her hand and rubbed her head. ¡°Did you watch a lot of dramas recently?¡± Why would she have this kind of dream? She even elucidated it in front of Patrick. How embarrassing! Patrick bent down to carry Juliette. ¡°Tell me more about my wedding with Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn knitted her brows. He''s really taking a child''s dream seriously. He had always been on good terms with Juliette. Now, Gwendolyn had another matter to attend to, which was to coax her sons. Casting a regretful look, she entered the living room and saw that both Justin and Julian had their hands on their newptops,pletely sucked in by theptops. She inched closer and sat beside them. ¡°Justin, Julian, because Mr. Lowen was drunkst night, plus I''m his secretary, I had to take care of him. Please don''t be mad at me!¡± Chapter 325 Chapter 325 The two were fully captivated by their newptops. They felt that Patrick was generous, as all the gifts he prepared for the annual dinner were expensive. Hence, they decided to let him off for now. Julian lifted his head, smiling faintly. ¡°Mommy, we know that you''re busy with work. We understand.¡± With that said, he kept hisptop and nced at the time. ¡°Mommy, we''re going to Great-grandpa''s home to celebrate the New Year together. Mr. Zayden is almost here.¡± Gwendolyn was stunned for a moment. ¡°What?¡± She did not mention that she would return to the Ashton residence for the New Year. Instead, she intended to go to the Lowen residence, as she wanted to celebrate the New Year with Patrick. Just then, her phone started ringing. As soon as she noticed that it was Michael calling, she frowned. Didn''t Grandpa say I could go home the next day after the New Year? That was why I epted Old Mrs. Lowen''s invitation. Left with no choice, Gwendolyn picked up the call helplessly. ¡°Grandpa.¡± ¡°Gwen,e back and celebrate the New Year with us. I miss you so much.¡± Gwendolyn could tell from Michael''s voice that he was excited. However, she was in a dilemma. ¡°Grandpa, c-can Ie home on the day after the New Year?¡± Michael nced at Zachary, who was standing at the side. It''s rare for this brat to think of Gwen. He even asked me to invite Gwendolyn home to celebrate the New Year together. ¡°Gwen, can youe back now? You had been staying outside all these years, so I couldn''t even enjoy the New Year well. This year, you''vee home. I''m finally relieved.¡± Michael was telling the truth. He did not know what the others in the family felt over those six years. However, he missed Gwendolyn more during the New Year. After all, he had loved and doted on her with all his heart since she was young. Hence, he felt that something was missing without her by his side. Gwendolyn listened to what Michael said silently. She could not bring herself to reject him, so she answered, ¡°Okay, Grandpa.¡± Right then, Camille opened the door. Zayden walked into the house in a dark blue suit. As he strode toward the living room, he exuded a dignified, majestic aura around him. Julian and Justin exchanged nces before standing up in unison. ¡°Mr. Zayden, you''re here.¡± It was evident that both of them were over-friendly when they saw Zayden. Usually, they would not even act like that. Gwendolyn knitted her brows, thinking. She assumed that Patrick was the reason why they were especially friendly with Zayden. Patrick, who was sitting and chatting with Juliette, stood up emotionlessly. An arrogant look crept over his face as he strode toward Gwendolyn. Reaching out a hand, he pulled her into his arms. ¡°Gwen, it''s almost time.¡± Gwendolyn knitted her brows hard. With an apologetic look, she dragged Patrick into the study on the first floor. After closing the door, she hugged Patrick and said coyly, ¡°Patrick, I can''t go to your house to celebrate the New Year. I have to go home and apany my grandpa. Don''t be angry with me, okay? I''lle home earlier tonight and spend time with you.¡± Patrick''s expression turned grim as he reached out his long, slender fingers to pinch her chin. His eyes were dark and terrifying. ¡°You decided to stand me up because of Zayden?¡± There was no trace of emotion in his icy-cold voice. Gwendolyn stared intently at him with her big, round eyes. Looking innocent, she exined, ¡°It''s not like that. My grandpa called me and asked me to go home to celebrate the New Year with him. He''s old now. As he said, he lost a year with every passing year. Hence, he was afraid that he might not be able to wait until next year anymore. I feel like going home to spend some time with him upon hearing what he said.¡± Patrick had never asked her about her family and their affairs. Now that he heard what she said, he felt his heart soften. Lowering his head, he pressed his lips against hers and kissed her domineeringly. After some time, she moaned as she was short of breath. Hearing that, Patrick let go of her slowly. Gwendolyn could finally breathe again. She came back to her senses in an instant. However, she had no strength left in her body, so she leaned against him and panted heavily, attempting to catch her breath. Patrick said coldly, ¡°You can go home and apany your grandpa. But then, you have to bring me along.¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback by his words. Startled, she lifted her head abruptly. ¡°Patrick, I can''t bring you home for now. Can we talk about this some timeter? There are some things I haven''t exined to my family yet. It''s not appropriate for you toe with me.¡± Grandpa has assumed that Zayden is the father of my three kids now. If Patrick appears out of the blue now, what will Grandpa think? He''ll definitely be so disappointed in me. Perhaps he''ll chase me out of the house again! Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Gwendolyn dared not think about the consequences. Chapter 326 Chapter 326 Patrick sighed. ¡°So, you insist on bringing Zayden home with you?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. She had no choice. Zayden had told Michael everything without her permission. Nevertheless, she was also responsible for that matter. She was greedy, and she wanted Michael to forgive her, so she did not exin anything to him. This is troublesome. My head hurts! Patrick stopped saying anything. Turning around, he walked out of the study coldly. The sound of the door closing brought Gwendolyn back to her senses. She nced at the door, knowing that Patrick was angry. When she walked out of the study, Patrick had left the house. She tried to look for him around the house, but her effort was to no avail. With that, she was certain that he had left furiously. Standing next to her, Juliette lifted her head and looked at Gwendolyn. She blinked, asking, ¡°Gwen, did you fight with Mr. Handsome? Will you two still get married?¡± I''ve told my friends that my daddy and I will join the activities with them on Children''s Day. That''s why they believe that I have a daddy. If Mr. Handsome doesn''t appear on Children''s Day, my friends will call me a liar! They might stop hanging out with me too. Initially, Gwendolyn was deep in her thoughts, as she was thinking about how she should coax Patrick. However, she broke intoughter upon hearing what Juliette said. ¡°We''re not fighting. Let''s go to your great-grandpa''s house to celebrate the New Year.¡± Juliette nodded. ¡°I''ve prepared a gift for them.¡± She knew that her great-grandfather was the one who gifted her the room. All of Gwendolyn''s children were thankful to him. Gwendolyn shed a smile. Then, she followed Zayden and the others to the Ashton residence while carrying the gifts they wanted to give Michael. The atmosphere in the Ashton residence was lively. There were a lot of decorations around the house. Moreover, they had hung some dazzling lights and colorful ribbons around the trees in the courtyard. Staring at the beautiful courtyard, Juliette smiled as she said to her brothers, ¡°Happy New Year!¡± Zayden got off the vehicle first. Upon helping the three kids to get out of the car, he reached out his hand to support Gwendolyn. ¡°Thank you!¡± Gwendolyn said. A bright smile bloomed on Zayden''s face. ¡°Gwen, have you made up your mind? I feel like telling your grandpa about our marriage.¡± Upon hearing what he said, Gwendolyn shook her head without hesitation. ¡°Zayden, I wasn''t thinking straight that day. I was greedy because I wanted Grandpa to forgive me. That was why I didn''t exin anything to him. You''re not the father of my three children. Besides, Patrick is the man I love now. Can you stop making things difficult for me?¡± Just then, Felicia walked out of the house with a group of people behind her. ¡°Fel, do you really want to celebrate the New Year at the Lowen residence?¡± Candace grabbed Felicia''s arm, feeling reluctant to let her go. Felicia had dressed up gorgeously, and she was wearing exquisite makeup. With her face lit up, she looked delighted. ¡±Gwen, it''s great that you''re home. You can celebrate the New Year with Dad. I can''t join you guys this year.¡± Meanwhile, Francine approached Gwendolyn with a smile. ¡°Gwen, you''re back! Fel is going to celebrate the New Year with the Lowen family. It''s great that you''re here. You can keep your grandpa company.¡± Having said that, she could not help but continue, ¡°What''s going on between Fel and Patrick? They''ve called off the engagement, yet they still look like they''re dating each other. I can''t understand the youngsters nowadays.¡± Then, she shot Zayden a nce. Her eyes lit up as soon as she saw him. ¡°Oh! Mr. Surrington, you''re here. Pleasee in!¡± Felicia curled her lips into a cold smirk as she walked toward Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, I''m going to the Lowen residence now. Don''t forget to spend more time with Grandpa and Dad.¡± With that said, she got in the car and left the Ashton residence. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Candace heaved a sigh. ¡°What the others say is true. Once a daughter grows up, her husband and in- laws will be her priorities. She can''t even stay home and spend time with us on New Year''s Day.¡± Zachary embraced her in his arms. ¡°Our daughter is a grown-up now. She''ll have to marry someone else sooner orter, or do you want her to be alone forever?¡± Candace smiled. ¡°You''re right. Otherwise, she would end up like someone who doesn''t even have a ce to go on New Year''s Day. Home is the only ce she can go.¡± After saying that, she shot Gwendolyn a cold nce and turned around to head upstairs. Gwendolyn frowned harder in displeasure. Why did Felicia go to the Lowen residence again? Chapter 327 Chapter 327 Zayden called out, ¡°Gwen, let''s go in!¡± Just then, Gwendolyn came back to her senses. She took a nce at him and nodded slightly. Then, they went back to the main building. Michael had note downstairs yet. Francine and Christina gave them very warm responses. ¡°Gwen, you''re back! Come and sit!¡± ¡°Mr. Surrington, please have a seat.¡± Zayden nodded and sat on the couch with Gwendolyn. Everyone in the Ashton family returned home this year. Nicolette had always liked to follow behind Gwendolyn since she was a child. When she saw that Gwendolyn was back for the New Year, she ran over happily and squeezed in beside her. ¡°Gwen, you''re finally back. I missed you so much!¡± Nicolette rubbed against Gwendolyn''s body like a kitten. Seeing that the two had such a good rtionship, Zayden smiled. ¡°Gwen, this is...¡± Zayden wanted to get to know all the rtives who were close to Gwendolyn and hoped they could take good care of Gwendolyn in the future. Zayden treated Gwendolyn really well. He met her on a rainy day six years ago, and she was really pitiful at that time. Zayden even personally took care of her when she was in the hospital. Therefore, their rtionship was really good. However, Angeline was always worried that he would get too close to Gwendolyn. She always did something behind their backs to prevent them from getting together. Evidently, Gwendolyn understood Angeline''s concerns, so she had always kept a distance from Zayden. Besides, she would never marry into a family that could not ept her three children. The reason she chose Patrick was not only because he was good-looking and outstanding. What was really important was that he and his family never looked down on her and her children. These were the affirmations that made her feel confident about their rtionship. Nicolette waved at Zayden. ¡°Hi, my brother-inw! I''m Nicolette; just call me Nicole.¡± Hearing how Nicolette addressed him, Zayden broke into a happy grin. ¡°Sure, Nicole!¡± He could not wait to give Nicolette a big New Year gift as he was too happy hearing her calling him ¡°brother-inw.¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn pushed her. ¡°Stop calling him that! Don''t be so ill-mannered. Please address him as Mr. Surrington in the future! Do you hear me?¡± Nicolette stuck her tongue out at her and made a funny face. ¡°Gwen, are you shy?¡± Gwendolyn heaved a sigh. She wanted to tell Nicolette that her brother-inw was Patrick and not Zayden. Nheless, she dared not say it out loud. The three children went upstairs to look for their great-grandfather after entering the house. Zachary sat beside Candace, both looking really happy. After all, their daughter seemed to be going to marry into the Lowen family. They were definitely happy as her parents. However, they did not know the reasons behind all this. Felicia knew that if she had not asked Zachary to tell Michael to let Gwendolyn go home for the New Year, she would not even have had a chance to celebrate the New Year with the Lowen family. Even if she went over, with the presence of Gwendolyn, she would be superfluous. If Gwendolyn went to the Ashton residence, she would have a good time with the Lowen family. Since Hector liked her, she must try her best to please him. With Hector having her back, Patrick would not dare to kick her out. Hence, she went to the Lowen residence shamelessly. Gwendolyn took out her phone and sent Patrick a WhatsApp message. She texted: Patrick, why is Felicia celebrating the New Year at your house? Did you ask her to go? She questioned him with a very unhappy tone. He replied after only a short while. Patrick: If you can bring Zayden to your house, why can''t I let Feliciae over? Gwendolyn''s heart sank when she saw his reply. She put the phone back in her bag. He is talking to me like this because he''s mad. Such an a*shole! She pouted in anger and did not want to speak at all. Zayden poured her a cup of coffee. ¡°Have some coffee.¡± Noticing her unhappy look, he tried tofort her. Gwendolyn took the coffee over and nced at him. ¡°Zayden, are you not going home for New Year? Is your family okay about this?¡± Chapter 328 Chapter 328 Gwendolyn knew that Angeline did not like Zayden hanging out with her. So she believed the Surrington family did not know about Zayden being at her house. Zayden smiled faintly. ¡°This is none of their business. I don''t need their permission.¡± It was really as Gwendolyn expected. It was his own decision, and he did not even inform his family. At this moment, Michael came down the stairs with Juliette holding his hand. He looked really happy. Gwendolyn stopped asking Zayden to go home for the New Year''s celebration. Meanwhile, at the Lowen residence, Alice''s happy face immediately froze when she saw Patricke home alone. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°Where''s Gwen? Where are my three sweethearts?¡± She looked at the car behind Patrick but did not see Gwendolyn and her children getting out of the car. Patrick replied tly, ¡°You can stop looking. They''re not here.¡± With that, he strode directly to the living room. Hector was sitting in a wheelchair in the living room, and there was a broad smile on his face too. When Patrick walked over, Hector slowly raised his hand and mumbled something. Regardless, Patrick did not understand what he said at all. He sat on the couch, took out his phone, and saw Gwendolyn''s message. He lowered his head to reply to her message. He just ignored Hector as he did not understand what thetter was trying to say. Hector waited until Alice walked in, looking disappointed. ¡°Hector, it''s just the three of us celebrating the New Year this year.¡± She thought the New Year this year would be very lively with the presence of Gwendolyn and the three children. She was even ready with New Year gifts. All these years, her New Year gifts could never be sent out. There were too few people in the Lowen family. Other than Alice and Hector, there was only Patrick. Hector could not wait to see Patrick get married and have children. Perhaps that was the reason that urged him to wake up after being in aatose state for so long. Hearing that, Hector was unhappy and threw the gifts in his hands to the floor. Alice walked over to his side tofort him. ¡°Hector, it''s the New Year! Be happy! At least we still have Pat to apany us. Are you not satisfied with that?¡± Hector took a nce at Patrick. He was angry at Patrick because thetter could not recognize his own children. He used to think that Patrick was the smartest child in the world. However, now it seemed that he was wrong. He was just an idiot who could not even recognize his wife and children. Patrick was in a bad mood. He noticed Hector was gazing at him after sending a text message to Gwendolyn. He looked back at him and asked while raising his eyebrows, ¡°Grandpa, what did I do wrong?¡± Patrick thought that maybe Hector was not happy because he did not bring Gwendolyn back. Alice stroked Hector''s chest and said, ¡°Stop scolding people, Hector. It''s New Year! Can you be nice to Pat?¡± She still remembered Patrick''s face when he was a child. He had grown up and had reached a father''s age. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that time really flew by very quickly. At this moment, the housekeeper brought Felicia into the house. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, Old Mr. Lowen, and Mr. Lowen, Ms. Ashton is here.¡± Patrick''s eyes immediately lit up as he thought it was Gwendolyn. When he realized it was Felicia, he finally understood what Gwendolyn said in the text message just now. How dare shee uninvited? Has she forgotten the terms of the contract? The housekeeper put aside the gifts she brought over. Felicia was wearing a red dress with a white fur vest over it. The sound of high heels clicking on the floor sounded in the living room. She walked in, smiling. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen and Old Mrs. Lowen, I''m here to celebrate the New Year with you.¡± She smiled at Patrick and then sat beside Hector. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, you look great today. Your body is getting better and better.¡± After listening to Zachary''s words, she understood that Hector was the person she should tter the most in the Lowen family. It was Hector who gave her the confidence toe to their house uninvited. Hector liked her, and it was Hector who asked Patrick to date her. That was exactly why Patrick asked her to pretend to be his girlfriend. She finally understood everything. Chapter 329 Chapter 329 Hector''s expression darkened as heid eyes on her. Pat''s first crush is here. Humph! Which part of this woman isparable to Gwendolyn? Gwendolyn is pretty and adorable. Pat''s really got a bad taste in women! Again, he began to doubt his eldest grandson. Seeing Hector roll his eyes, Felicia was taken aback. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, are you all right?¡± She then patted his back with all her might until he began to cough. While being patted by her repeatedly, Hector was getting dizzier. Both hands were holding tight to each side of the wheelchair. His whole body tensed up. Alice and Patrick got up and walked over. Patrick then asked the housekeeper to call the doctor over. Standing at the side, he narrowed his eyes and studied Hector. Does he have to be so happy now that Felicia is here? Patrick couldn''t fathom why Hector was so fond of Felicia. He heaved a sigh. At first, Patrick wanted to chase Felicia out. However, upon seeing Hector being so excited, he thought of letting thetter bask in this moment of joy. The doctor came and wheeled Hector into the bedroom on the first floor. Alice walked behind them while wiping her tears. ¡°Hector, why are you so agitated? Calm down! The only time you should be excited is when Pates back with his children.¡± Alice felt that it was because Felicia was here that Hector became so agitated. Darn it, Hector, you have never acted like this when you''re with us. Do you have to be so happy now that Felicia is here? Alice couldn''t help feeling bitter. Patrick also entered Hector''s bedroom while Felicia stood there immobile. She wanted to go inside as well but didn''t dare to. The smile on her face grew wider as she pursed her lips. So, it''s true that Hector likes me so much. Upon seeing him be so excited, Felicia was so happy that she couldn''t help grinning. In other words, there was hope for her. With Hector backing her up, she could get close to Patrick even if Patrick didn''t like her. Great! It seems like luck is on my side! Shortly after, Patrick walked out and took a nce at Felicia. ¡°You can stay here to celebrate the New Year with us. I''ll calcte the expenses separately.¡± With that, he turned around and went upstairs. Following that, Alice also made her way out and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Fel, have a seat. I''ll go to the kitchen and check if the meal is ready.¡± Felicia responded, ¡°All right, Old Mrs. Lowen.¡± Nothing much was going on in the Lowen residence, although it was the festive season. Felicia thought the elderly grandparents hoped to see Patrick tie the knot and have kids. Hence, she was determined to grab this opportunity. After returning to his bedroom, Patrick took out his phone and texted Gwendolyn: What time will you be back? After that, he lit a cigarette and took a drag. It was a cloudy day. Staring at the garden of the Lowen residence, he could see the mist in the air from a distance. His phone remained silent even after he finished smoking. Gwendolyn hadn''t yet replied to him. Patrick''s face darkened. For the very first time, he wanted to spend the New Year with someone. He wanted to wish her a happy new year during this festive season. However, it looked like he had to spend the night here with Hector and Alice. Even if he wanted to get back to Star Mansion, it would be in the wee hours of the morning by then. About an hourter, the dinner was served. Felicia went upstairs to tell Patrick that the dinner was ready. Standing outside his bedroom door, she tidied up her hair and pulled down the V-neck dress, making her cleavage pop even further. Following that, she knocked on the door with a smile. ¡°Patrick, Old Mrs. Lowen asked me to tell you that dinner is ready. Let''s head downstairs and have dinner together.¡± After a while, Patrick opened the door and nced at her nonchntly. Felicia gazed at Patrick, who was dressed in a gray sweater and a pair of cks. He was different from his usual formal look. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. In such a casual outfit, Patrick appeared much more gentle and friendly. The usual overbearingness was gone. However, only his family got to see this side of him, which was why Felicia felt immensely excited at the moment. Her heart was racing. She seemed to be trying her best to calm herself down. Even the smile on her face widened. ¡°Patrick, the dinner is ready. Let''s go downstairs to have dinner together.¡± Chapter 330 Chapter 330 Patrick''s gaze went cold. Even his tone was so distant that it could send a shiver down one''s spine. ¡°Ms. Ashton, please don''te on your own if I don''t call you in the future.¡± Luckily, Hector appeared delighted after what happened that night. That said, Patrick would condemn Felicia if Hector was irritated. Besides, Gwendolyn was also aware that Felicia hade to the Lowen residence. To Patrick, it was an unforgivable mistake. Felicia pursed her lips. Soon after, she stretched out her hand, trying to hold Patrick''s arm. Just then, he raised his hand, avoiding her touch. ¡°Patrick, I really like you. I started loving you from the moment I first saw you. Thus, I didn''t reject you when you asked me to pretend to be your girlfriend. I thought I could get close to you by doing so.¡± Felicia began to confess, telling him how much she loved him. However, Patrick didn''t feel like listening to her. ¡°Please stop it. I''m in love with someone else. Don''t waste your time and effort.¡± After speaking, he strode outside and mmed the door shut behind him. Felicia was startled by the sound of the door closing and nearly jumped out of her skin. She patted her chest while watching the tall and handsome figure walk away from her. Just like in real life, he would only get further and further away from her until he was totally out of her sight. No matter how hard she tried to hold him, she was never able to get hold of him. Her eyes were filled with sorrow. When she recalled the moment he imed that he was in love with someone else, she knew it must be Gwendolyn. Why her? What''s so good about her? She raised her hand to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes. Regardless of how hard the journey ahead would be, she would never give up. Later, Felicia also appeared in the dining room of the Lowen residence. It had been adorned for the celebration. Even the delicacies on the table looked distinctive. Alice nced at Hector, who was sitting in the main seat. He was no longer agitated as before and stared at Felicia coldly at the moment. Why is he so fond of Felicia? ¡°Fel, could you sit next to Old Mr. Lowen and bring him some foodter?¡± Upon hearing that, Felicia smiled. ¡°All right.¡± With that, she proudly walked toward Hector and sat next to him. After sitting down, she turned to smile at Hector. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, I specifically came to celebrate the New Year with you.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Hector''s face suddenly darkened. I thought you were here to piss me off. Did I ask you over to apany me? The people that I want to see are my three great-grandchildren and my granddaughter-inw, not you. Hurry and get lost! That was how Hector felt at the moment, but he couldn''t say those words. Otherwise, they would think that he was emotionally unstable. As what happened earlier, they would make him take different types of medications once again. Therefore, he just looked at her in silence and blinked. Patrick frowned harder. Seeing that Hector liked Felicia so much, he was deeply frustrated. Alice, who sat next to Patrick, put his favorite dish on his te. ¡°Pat, we''re celebrating the New Year. Don''t overthink things. This is your favorite dish so have some more.¡± Patrick looked at the food on his te. All the dishes on the table were the New Year foods he used to eat when he was a kid. They reminded him of his childhood. Despite that, he had no appetite at the moment. Again, Patrick took out his phone and nced at it. It was his personal phone. Only a few people''s contacts, including the contact of Gwendolyn, his family, and friends, had been saved. On top of that, he used a private WhatsApp ount on his phone. Therefore, he hadn''t been disturbed by those season''s greetings, and the phone had remained silent all this while. Patrick put his phone back on the table, waiting for Gwendolyn''s reply. Felicia swept her gaze over the housekeepers at the tables in the distance. They were also having dinner at that time. It looked quite lively over there as the housekeepers had started drinking and chatted happily. She then shifted her gaze back to the table where she was seated. There were four people at the table, but no one said anything. They were just eating in silence. Celebrating New Year with the Lowen family was indeed boring. Suddenly, Felicia raised her wine ss. ¡°Old Mr. and Mrs. Lowen, Patrick, let''s have a toast! Happy New Year!¡± Both Alice and Patrick then picked up their sses for a toast. The three of them took a sip. Since Hector couldn''t drink wine, the housekeeper had poured him a ss of fruit juice. However, he didn''t drink it. Unhappy, Hector didn''t feel like eating. Chapter 331 Chapter 331 It was exuberant at the Ashton residence. Even Leroy and Theodore''s families came. It was a big family gathering of over ten people. Because of that, Gwendolyn had no time to go through her phone. With Zayden around, Leroy and Theodore''s family did not dare reproach her any further. After all, the Surrington family was from Avenport''s second top echelon. Additionally, Zayden was in charge of the Surrington family. No one would dare offend him as the Ashton family and the Surrington family had a business rtionship. Now that Gwendolyn was with him, she would be treated better. When it came time for dinner, Gwendolyn and Zayden sat with Michael at the main table. Together with them were his three sons. Gwendolyn''s father, Leroy, and Theodore, who was Gwendolyn''s third uncle. Gwendolyn''s three children were also present at the main table, sitting next to Michael. Michael was in a good mood. He even drank a ss of wine. As soon as dinner was finished, members of the Ashton family began returning to their homes. While holding Juliette''s hands, Justin and Julian left the main building and got into the car. As Zachary came out to send them off, Candace poked his hand with her elbow. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°Tell her to stop stealing Fel''s boyfriend. You''re her father. I''m sure she''ll listen to you.¡± Candace wasn''t entitled to eat at the main table that night. On the other hand, Gwendolyn and her three children were given a seat at the main table. She knew about the three children''s backgrounds. Michael, however, believed Zayden''s words. She had to figure out a way to have an elderly man pose as the children''s biological father. She would not allow Gwendolyn to be so proud. In light of Michael''s apparent love for Gwendolyn''s two sons, the boys appeared to have made Michael happy. If this went on, Ashton Corporation would end up in the hands of Gwendolyn''s two sons. With a cold face, Zachary strode toward Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, hold up. I''d like to speak to you.¡± Gwendolyn was preparing to get in the car at that moment. His words made her turn around. The man standing right in front of her eyes was, in fact, her father. Despite that, she had never once experienced his affection ever since she was a kid. Zachary pointed to the side. ¡°It''s crowded here. Let''s talk over there.¡± He turned around and walked toward a nearby gazebo as soon as he finished his words. Gwendolyn quickly followed and sat on a marble stool upon entering the gazebo. As she lifted her head, she could see a few stars hanging in the sky. When she was a young girl, stargazing was her favorite pastime. Because of that, every summer holiday, Michael would take her to a hilltop mansion for a few nights'' stay. Zachary, on the other hand, refused to sit down and stood on his feet the entire time they were in the gazebo. He lowered his head, keeping his eyes fixed on his daughter''s shadowy form in the dim light. The more time he spent looking at her, the more she reminded him of her mother. That woman used to be his one true love. However, whenever he recalled the things she did in the past, he dreaded thinking about her. It was pure, unadulterated hatred. ¡°Gwen, you are aware that Fel is now a part of the Lowen family, and you are aware of her position within the Lowen family, aren''t you? Please stop hooking up with Patrick. Don''t you understand your status? You will never be of interest to the Lowens. Patrick is just making a fool out of you.¡± When she heard those words, Gwendolyn''s heart shattered. Despite the fact that she was also his daughter, he felt that his second wife''s daughter had a better chance of catching the Lowen family''s attention than she did. Was he even her father? It was as if he was scarier than aplete stranger. She lifted her head and stared straight into his eyes, coldly. Even in the dark, tears were seen rolling in her eyes. ¡°Mr. Ashton, how dare you make such remarks about me when I am also your daughter? Ha! That''s right, you and Candace were the ones who got rid of my mother at the time. Even back then, I could tell you were cruel.¡± She got up and sneered again. ¡°Zachary, tell your second wife and daughter that I won''t let it go. Patrick is mine.¡± A loud p followed just as she finished her sentence. Gwendolyn was pped so hard that she raised her brow in pain. ¡°Gwendolyn, can you not be this shameless? You can''t keep behaving this way!¡± Chapter 332 Chapter 332 It was a surprise to Gwendolyn that he hit her. For Felicia''s sake, he was willing to go to extremes. Speechless, she looked deep into the eyes of the man with a ferocious expression. Eventually, she turned around and left. Michael shouted in anger, ¡°At the very least, could you show some decency? Did I say you were free to leave?¡± Gwendolyn, on the other hand, was unconcerned. Ever since she was a child, he had never taken on the role and duties of a father. Sigh. In fact, she admitted herself to be unrefined. Gwendolyn got into the car. Because there were too many of them, Zayden''s driver had to use an MPV when he arrived to pick them up. A regr car could not have amodated so many of them. She sat in the second row from the door, her long hair covering the side of her burning cheeks. Sitting next to her, Zayden''s gaze shifted over to her. ¡°Gwen, is everything all right with you and your dad?¡± Given her sour demeanor, he deduced that she and her father were not on the best of terms. In fact, he had a thorough understanding of her past. Candace was her stepmother, and Felicia was her stepmother''s daughter. Given her history of bad rtionships, it was inevitable that she would have trouble getting along with her father. When he first met her, she was miserable. Despite this, she never spoke of her family''s plight. At the time, he guessed that she might have had a bad rtionship with her family. He only learned muchter that she was pregnant and that it was a pregnancy out of wedlock. Only then did he figure out why she was so determined at that point. At this moment, Gwendolyn raised her head and forced a smile. ¡°It''s nothing.¡± Isn''t this all just to keep me from stealing Felicia''s man? What if I do steal his man? Zayden nodded slightly, but he would still asionally nce at her. Seeing her in a bad mood really made him worry. Juliette was sitting directly behind Gwendolyn. With her little hand, Juliette reached out and stroked Gwendolyn''s face from behind. However, Juliette happened to ce her hand on the same side of Gwendolyn''s face where she had been hurt. In response to that, Gwendolyn let out a hiss in agony. Juliette''s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What''s wrong, Gwen?¡± Almost as quickly as it had appeared, Gwendolyn hid her pained expression. ¡°I''m fine. Your hand was simply too cold.¡± Upon hearing that, Zayden sighed in relief. He thought she was hurt. But her two sons, sitting at the back, were smart. They knew their mother too well. Juliette took out a mary gift. ¡°Look, Gwen. I''ve got so many mary gifts!¡± Seeing that, Gwendolyn giggled happily. At this time, Justin and Julian turned on the lights in the car, and they locked her head to the seat while Justin flicked away the hair on her left. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. She raised her hand to resist them, but the lights in the car were so bright that the five fingerprints on her swollen face were obviously seen. Because of her fair skin, even a slight clench would leave an immediate mark. How much more frightening would it be for her if an adult manshed out at her with such force? Justin and Julian''s faces darkened, and they both asked, ¡°Who hit you?¡± On the surface, it appeared that everyone in the Ashton family treated them well, but the two of them didn''t feel this way about their situation. Almost all of them were fake. Only Michael cared deeply about them. The others would nce at them indifferently. Gwendolyn hurriedly tugged her hair to hide her face. ¡°No one did. I went a little too hard when I hit a mosquito on my face.¡± Even the stupidest person wouldn''t go to such lengths. She was doing everything she could to keep her feelings under control. Zayden was heartbroken. He ced an order for medication over the phone and requested that it be delivered to Gwendolyn''s house. Juliette was hugging Gwendolyn''s head from behind when she saw what was going on. She puckered her lips and moved toward her. ¡°Mommy, I''ll blow the pain away for you!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, she began blowing with all her might. Gwendolyn chuckled when she heard that. It was heartwarming to watch her daughter give it her all. Fortunately, she was blessed with some of the most lovable children on the. With them by her side, there would be nothing to be afraid of. She no longer cared that her biological father mistreated her and had never loved her. As long as she got to be around her three children, it would all be worth it. Zayden smiled faintly as he looked at Juliette. ¡°Gwen, I won''t make you return in the future. It''s all my fault for what happened today.¡± Chapter 333 Chapter 333 Gwendolyn looked toward him when she heard his words. She was a little angry as she had agreed to spend the New Year at Patrick''s house, but because of him, she came over to the Ashton residence instead. Yet, when she saw the guilty expression on his face, her heart softened. She recalled the help that Zayden had given her in the past few years. He was their savior, and she understood his feelings for her. Moreover, it was not his fault that he liked her. She shook her head. ¡°I''m pretty happy tonight. It''s my wish to apany my grandpa during the New Year.¡± Her grandfather doted on her the most in the entire world. Out of all the Ashton family members, he was the only one who stood by her side. Since he was much older, he was losing a year with every passing New Year''s Day, just as he had said. Zayden nodded slightly. ¡°But, your face...¡± He felt guilty that she had been hit. Gwendolyn shook her head and replied, ¡°I''m really all right. Don''t worry about it.¡± At that moment, Zayden''s phone rang. He fished his phone out and realized that his mother had called him. He did not want to pick it up. The phone automatically stopped ringing. Thereafter, he received a text message. It said: Zay, if you don''t pick up, I''ll call Gwendolyn. When the notification appeared on his screen, a call came from his mother again. He could only ept it. ¡°Mom.¡± ¡°Zay, is it Gwendolyn who has led you astray? You don''t return home even for the New Year. Don''t you know that your grandfather is unhappy? You''re the eldest grandson in the family, yet you did not go and visit him.¡± Zayden''s face darkened slightly. ¡°I know. I''ll returnter to visit him.¡± ¡°Zay, he will be asleep by the time you arrive. Don''t think that you can do whatever you want just because you''re the eldest grandson in the Surrington family. Other people are watching you. They know how to please the old man. If he is swayed by them, you might have to give up on your position as the heir. Furthermore, Gwendolyn is even more of an issue since your grandfather looks down on her. If you wish to be with her, you will lose everything.¡± She hung up after shepleted her sentence. Zayden kept his phone and stared outside the window. Many people were ying with fireworks and the festive New Year atmosphere was in the air. Originally, he had been very happy that night. He had told Michael that he would visit him and propose marriage to Gwendolyn soon. He wanted to get married to her as quickly as possible. It appeared that he still had to get past the hurdle, which was his family. Naturally, Gwendolyn knew who had called him. It had been many years, but Zayden still did not understand their positions. It was impossible for them to be together. Thus, from the very beginning, she did not think too much about it and kept her distance from him. Some people could not be together even after knowing each other for over a decade. She hade to understand that deeply. She hoped that he could understand that as well and give up on their rtionship. After reaching Star Mansion, the car stopped at the entrance of the seventh mansion. When Gwendolyn got out, she subconsciously nced at the eighth mansion. The inside was dark and devoid of light. Patrick had not returned. Just as she had expected, he had gone to visit Alice and Hector that night. It was normal for him to do so. There were only two elderly left in the Lowen family. As their only grandson, he had to apany them. The three children waved goodbye to the man in the car. Gwendolyn raised her hand and waved to him as well. ¡°Zayden, stay safe on your way back!¡± Zayden did not wish to return to the Surrington residence. He wanted to be with the four of them and integrate into their lives, bing part of their family. He squeezed out a smile and said, ¡°Happy New Year!¡± The three children replied to him back, ¡°Happy New Year!¡± When Gwendolyn saw that his car had driven a distance away, she hurriedly called out to her children, ¡°Let''s go back home!¡± The four of them went back merrily. Juliette was very talkative and had the most things to say. ¡°I have many mary gifts and can buy many Barbie dolls! Brothers, let''s go and y with fireworks! It''s going to be the New Year soon!¡± Gwendolyn rubbed her cold and stiff hands together. ¡°All right! We''ll go back first, then release fireworks in our backyard.¡± Camille had gone to visit her rtives, so there would only be the four of them in the house that night.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 334 Chapter 334 After Gwendolyn and her children returned home, they yed with fireworks in their backyard. Julian and Justin brought Juliette to y with fireworks. Gwendolyn sat on a chair and pulled the scarf around her shoulders tighter. She looked at the fireworks shooting up to the sky. They looked very beautiful. She smiled sweetly as she watched. At that moment, the doorbell rang. Gwendolyn suddenly stood up. Could it be that Patrick hase over at this time? She was a little happy, but soon she pursed her lips. Felicia had already been to his house for the New Year celebration. Hence, Gwendolyn was angry and disgruntled. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Was he taking revenge on her? If that were true, she would be unwilling to forgive him. Gwendolyn suppressed her anticipation and walked to the door before opening it. She lowered her gaze and still wanted to hear what he had to say. ¡°Ms. Ashton, this is the medicine that you''ve bought.¡± An unfamiliar male''s voice greeted her ears. She raised her head and looked over. A delivery man stood outside and passed her a bag. Her eyes widened slightly as she received it. ¡°Medicine?¡± When the delivery man saw her astonishment, he asked for her address again. ¡°It''s the right ce. Thest few digits of the phone number are these.¡± Gwendolyn nced at the slip and realized that the medicine had been sent over by Zayden. She thanked him. ¡°Thank you! Happy New Year!¡± It''s sote, but some people are still working. It must be very difficult for them. After shutting the door, she brought the medicine inside and returned to her children''s side. She then ced the medicine on the stone table and raised her head to look at the fireworks filling the sky. Yet, she did not feel as excited as before. Indeed, when one loved someone, one would miss them. As long as he was not by her side, she would feel that she wascking something. This must be how it feels like to long for someone! Finally, when Juliette was thoroughly exhausted, Gwendolyn brought the three children back to the room, bathed Juliette, waited for her to sleep, and walked out of the room. She returned to her room and realized that the box of medicine was on her table, along with a note: Mommy, remember to apply the medicine to your face. We''ll love you forever! She could recognize Julian''s handwriting at first nce, and she chuckled. Her two sons appeared to not say anything, but they understood everything. She feltforted and warm inside. After she had her bath, it was already one in the morning. She took a quick look at her phone and realized that Patrick had sent her a text message a long time ago. It read: When will you be home? Unexpectedly, she felt like they were an old married couple. She switched off her phone and went to sleep. The next morning, Camille returned early to make breakfast for them. She could not stop worrying about the three children and knew that they loved the breakfast she made. Only Patrick could stomach Gwendolyn''s cooking. Camille was preparing breakfast and knew that they had stayed upte the night before. Hence, she had no intention of waking them up early. At that moment, the doorbell rang. She strolled to the door and looked through the peephole. She noticed that Patrick was standing outside the door, and she greeted him while smiling, ¡°Mr. Lowen, you''re here so early!¡± She then opened the door for him and waited at the door. Patrick immediately entered the house. ¡°Happy New Year, Mr. Lowen!¡± Patrick handed her a thick envelope which was a mary gift. ¡°Happy New Year, Camille!¡± His voice was low and cold, yet maic and pleasant to the ears. However, he had dark circles under his eyes. It appeared that he had not had a good night''s sleep the night before and had sleptte. Camille smelled the faint whiff of alcohol on him and guessed that he had drunk a lot of wine the night before. ¡°I can''t ept this, Mr. Lowen. I''m not a child. It''s best if you give it to Juliette and the rest of the children.¡± Patrick looked at her frostily. He was forever as cold as a block of ice. ¡°You''ve worked hard. You just have to take care of them properly for me.¡± Whenever he gave Camille a mary gift, he would utter such words. Camille could tell that Patrick was genuinely nice to Gwendolyn and the three children. She wished that Gwendolyn would marry Patrick. That way, Gwendolyn would definitely have a blissful life. Chapter 335 Chapter 335 ¡°She''s still sleeping?¡± Patrick suddenly asked. When he talked about her, ayer of warmth appeared in his eyes. That was something others could not see as he only reserved it for Gwendolyn. ¡°Yeah, they must have sleptte yesterday night.¡± Patrick nodded mildly before heading upstairs. He pushed open the door to her room. Unexpectedly, she did not lock her room. However, when he thought of her three children, he realized that she had probably never locked her room so that they could enter freely. He closed the door behind him and locked it as he did not want others to disturb them. Thereafter, he walked to the bedside and looked down at her. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. She appeared very adorable when she slept. As she curled up into a ball and breathed out soundly, she looked just like Juliette when she slept. The room was full of her pleasant scent. Patrick inhaled deeply. He then reached over to touch her small face. She suddenly let out a soft hum. ¡°It hurts...¡± She then turned over and continued sleeping. It was just that her sleeping posture was a little unsightly. A leg stretched out of the nket, and she raised her posterior up high. Patrick furrowed his brows lightly and held her face in his hands as he carefully inspected it. There was a visible p mark on her left cheek. It was even swelling up. ¡°Who hit you?¡± He repeated his question five times coldly. When Gwendolyn heard it, she abruptly opened her eyes and took a look at him before squishing her cheeks with her hands. ¡°It has to be a dream. It''s definitely a dream.¡± Just as she was about to close her eyes again, Patrick reached over to touch the spot where she had been pped. ¡°I''m asking you who hit you?¡± He would not allow anyone to hit the woman who belonged to him. Gwendolyn finally realized that he was really there. She pouted and turned over. ¡°There''s no need for you to care.¡± She still held a small grudge against him and did not notice that Patrick was also jealous the night before. When she chose to return to Michael''s residence with Zayden, what was he thinking? His face was slightly frosty as he took her into his embrace. ¡°Gwen, Felicia dide to my house for the New Year''s celebration yesterday. However, I was not the one who asked her over. She went over herself. My grandfather likes her and has a weak constitution, so I did not chase her away. Regardless, I only have you in my heart. Do you understand?¡± Gwendolyn gave him a reluctant nce when she heard his words. She still pouted her lips and appeared somber. ¡°Sure!¡± Patrick could tell that she was still angry. ¡°Let''s take it as we''re even now. For the sake of your grandfather, you returned with Zayden. For the sake of my grandfather, I did not chase Felicia away.¡± Patrick was perceptive, and Gwendolyn finally reacted. She realized that she had done something as mean as he had. Thus, she reached out and threw her arms around his neck. ¡°Patrick, I... Although I''m a little willful, I love you too!¡± Warmth engulfed his heart when he heard her words. He felt very happy. A faint smile appeared on his face, and his lips were soon pressed against her sexy lips. She tasted his lips, and a smile appeared on her face as well. Thereafter, she closed her eyes and hugged him. A strong and cool scent emanated from his embrace. It was a scent unique to him. His long and clean fingers yed with her long hair as he deftly pried open her lips with his tongue. ¡°Mmph...¡± Gwendolyn was flustered by his advanced kissing skills and could not help but let out a sound. Her face immediately turned red. She lifted her hands and touched his cold hair. Patrick stared at her intoxicated face and felt very aplished. Hisrge hand traveled under her nightgown. Her skin was as smooth as a precious stone. Soon, Gwendolyn could feel the warmth from his palm. She pursed her lips and did not care about his actions. She only felt ufortable. It was a little hot and unbearable. Patrick''s kisses traveled from her neck to her corbone and went down gradually. The sound of his urgent breathing was loud and sexy. It made Gwendolyn''s scalp tingle with anticipation. Chapter 336 Chapter 336 Gwendolyn''s hands clutched the bed sheets. Suddenly, she opened her eyes. ¡°Patrick, my that... that thing is not over yet!¡± When Patrick heard her words, he suddenly paused and did not understand what she was saying. The light in his eyes gradually faded, and he frowned ufortably. ¡°How long will it take before it''s over?¡± He truly did not know and thought that her period would be over in just two days. Gwendolyn could not help butugh. ¡°Around seven days.¡± When he heard that, he lowered his head and bit her chest like it was a punishment. Gwendolyn exhaled softly. ¡°You...¡± Patrick saw the tempting scene in front of him and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Gwen, I''m ufortable. Help me.¡± When she heard what he said, she subconsciously raised her right hand before putting it down. Her lips moved as a dark look shed across her face. C-Can''t he wait? Patrick smirked evilly and kissed her lips. She grew more well-behaved when she was indulging in it. At that moment, the door clicked open. Zayden and Juliette walked in. ¡°Gwen, it''s time to wake up! Youzy bum!¡± The people who walked in froze in shock and were as still as statues. Zayden''s expression darkened visibly when he saw the scene in front of him. Justin and Julian hurriedly covered Juliette''s eyes. ¡°Juliette, let''s wait for them outside.¡± The two of them brought Juliette outside. When Gwendolyn heard them, she was also frightened out of her wits. She promptly pushed the man on top of her away and covered herself with the nket. Her cheeks were as red as an apple. She did not dare to look Zayden in the eye. It was too embarrassing. ¡°You... I...¡± Patrick stood up and buttoned his shirt. The mischievous smirk on his face grew wider. A hint of a threat could be detected in his eyes as he nced at Zayden. ¡°Mr. Surrington, you appeared here at this hour and disturbed us. Don''t you find it to be too much?¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Zayden was as still as a rock. He looked at Patrick coldly as he clenched his fists. He had known Gwendolyn for six years, but he had never done anything that crossed the line. He had always been respectful and gentlemanly. Yet, the man in front of him had snatched her away. He regretted it deeply. If he had known, he would have obtained her earlier. Patrick would then have had no opportunity to strike. When he stared at Patrick''s grave and stern face, he felt very regretful, and hatred rose in his heart. Gwendolyn snapped out of her daze. Her cheeks were ming hot. ¡°Zayden, why are you here?¡± Zayden then turned his attention to the woman on the bed. Her face was red, and her lips were slightly puffy. They were a vibrant shade of crimson. Her hair was slightly messy, and his frown deepened. Gwendolyn was so beautiful that she could effortlessly capture people''s hearts. Even he was captivated by her. He could not tear his gaze away from her. His fists clenched tighter. Luckily, he had rushed over in time. Otherwise, Gwendolyn would have been vited by that man. ¡°Gwendolyn, I''m here to see if your face is better. Have you received the medicine?¡± He had looked at the delivery time the night before. She had received it at around half past eleven the night before. Gwendolyn blinked and responded, ¡°I''ve received it. Thank you for your medicine.¡± Patrick had already fastened thest of his buttons. He wore his tie properly and said coldly, ¡°Mr. Surrington, this is ady''s room. If you have anything to say to her, say it to her outside.¡± He reached over and sped Zayden''s shoulder as he forcibly dragged him outside. Zayden turned to look at Gwendolyn. His expression grew uglier as he struggled. ¡°Patrick, don''t force me to get physical.¡± The present him was extremely angry. Since Patrick still dares to antagonize me, the man must be courting death. Patrick did not care and raised a thick and attractive eyebrow. ¡°If you want to fight, I''ll be avable anytime. Please stay further away from my woman.¡± They had already reached the door. Patrick pushed Zayden, and they sprang apart like they were avoiding the gue. They shot nces full of hatred at each other before standing on separate sides of the door like two fierce guard dogs. Chapter 337 Chapter 337 The three children standing nearby immediately spotted the two men who came out. Juliette trotted over and regarded them with her head tilted a fraction. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Mr. Zayden, you both look like sentinels!¡± Arching an eyebrow, Patrick nced at the little girl dressed in a traditional red dress. He found her incredibly adorable, resembling Gwendolyn closely. He couldn''t help reaching out and stroking her petite face. ¡°You''re very cute today, Juliette!¡± At that, Juliette beamed and hugged his thigh. ¡°You''re also very handsome today, Pat!¡± In the past, Juliette felt that Zayden was incredibly handsome. Right then, however, she felt that Patrick was more striking. Patrick choked at her address of him. Just then, Justin and Julian walked over and called out to her, ¡°Juliette, the m chowder is ready. Would you like to have some?¡± The two boys felt that the ce would be a battlefield soon, so it was best for them to take Juliette far away. When Juliette heard that, her eyes promptly lit up. She was a little glutton, so she was naturally happy upon hearing that there was delicious food. She dropped her hold on Patrick and smoothened his suit before whirling around and sprinting toward her brothers. ¡°Of course! I love having m chowder!¡± she eximed, taking both their hands. ¡°Zay, don''t bully Pat, okay?¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. At that turn of events, Zayden''s brows furrowed deeply. It''s clear as day that she has switched sides. When have I ever bullied Patrick? Ugh! The feeling of having fallen out of favor is really awful! His gaze fixated on Patrick darkened a shade, and his fists clenched even tighter. Meanwhile, Patrick''s lips curved upward. He smirked devilishly even as he crossed his arms. He swept a sharp gaze over Zayden, and thetter retaliated by doing the same. Both their gazes shed and battled in the air. At that precise moment, Gwendolyn pushed open the door and stepped out. She was wearing a red dress that rendered her skin white as snow. Her entire person gave off a fairylike air. Both men were transfixed at the sight of her. Patrick strode over and shielded her behind him, not allowing Zayden toy eyes on her. Only then did Zayden snap back to his senses. ¡°Come here, Gwen,¡± he ordered coldly. Poking her petite head out, Gwendolyn shed him a smile. ¡°Zayden, I''m currently Patrick''s girlfriend, and I''d like to be with him today. You should go home and spend time with your family!¡± Mrs. Surrington must detest me to the core since he didn''t go home to celebrate the New Yearst night. If he were to remain here today, I reckon she''lle knocking on my door soon! It wasn''t that she was afraid of Angeline, but she didn''t want any misunderstanding with those of the Surrington family. Zayden''s face darkened even further, and he shot a chilly look at Patrick before lifting his hand and fixing his own necktie. ¡°I''ll never give up, Gwen.¡± Then, he said to Patrick, ¡°Gwendolyn isn''t one of your casual girlfriends, Patrick. She doesn''t y around when ites to rtionships.¡± After saying that, he again stared at Gwendolyn deeply. Subsequently, he spun on his heels and left with huge strides. As Gwendolyn watched his retreating back, she found it rather forlorn, upon which sympathy flooded her. However, she hoped that he could understand that it was only through her callousness that he could be on good terms with his family. She didn''t want to be the source of conflict between him and his family. Besides, she really regarded him as a mere friend and the person to whom she owed a debt of gratitude. Glimpsing the look in her eyes, Patrick pulled her into his arms and stared down at her intently. ¡°Why, are you feeling sorry for him?¡± Gwendolyn turned and hit him lightly. ¡°You don''t understand, Patrick!¡± He''s exceedingly important to me, for he saved the kids and me. In fact, I''m most grateful to him in this whole world! In response, Patrick sneered, ¡°Indeed, I don''t understand, but keep your distance from him in the future. You''re mine!¡± Gwendolyn nodded in acquiescence, for that wasmon sense. All of a sudden, she thought of Felicia. ¡°What about you and Felicia? You''re not allowed to meet her anymore in the future. I forbid it!¡± Recalling Felicia''s smug expressionst night and Candace''s triumphant expression during the dinner, she felt chagrined beyond words. He belonged to her indisputably and was her boyfriend, but in the eyes of the Ashton family, he belonged to Felicia. That had her blood boiling. Chapter 338 Chapter 338 Following Gwendolyn''s demand, Patrick''s eyes flickered. ¡°Okay, I can stop meeting her. But what about you?¡± A smirk flittered across his handsome countenance, and his lips pressed into a thin line. He stared at her fixedly, his gaze so piercing that goosebumps rose all over her. In response, Gwendolyn rolled her eyes at him. ¡°What a scoundrel!¡± Argh! He knows that I can''t possibly stop meeting Zayden, so he doesn''t want to sever all ties with Felicia! She then heaved a sigh. For some reason, I''m green with envy whenever it urs to me that Felicia and Patrick have a rtionship of sorts. Quirking an eyebrow, Patrick snickered. His ebony eyes were dark, rendering his thoughts indiscernible. Such a feeling swamped Gwendolyn, and she felt that she couldn''t quite fathom the man. It was as though ayer of mist was shrouding him, making him mysterious and mystifying yet very much intriguing. She then broke free from his embrace and dashed toward the stairs. Patrick swiftly followed and entered the dining room with her. There was a spread for breakfast that morning. Looking at the few people at the dining table, Camille urged with a smile, ¡°Eat more. If you eat more today, you''ll have plenty to eat for the entire year. Besides, the ability to eat is a blessing.¡± Justin slid off his chair and pulled out the chair beside him. ¡°Come and eat with us, Ms. Ziegler!¡± The three children had never regarded her as an outsider. Instead, they viewed her as part of the family. After taking her seat, Camille picked up the spoon and started eating the m chowder with a wide grin on her face. She felt that it was particrly sweet that day, and her mood was also superb. Over the years, she had already be family with Gwendolyn and the children. She had no other family, so they would be her family henceforth. Juliette had a big bowl of soup. Filled to the brim, she let out a burp. ¡°Oh, where''s Zay? He also loves the m chowder made by Ms. Ziegler!¡± Conversely, Gwendolyn didn''t like it, for she had it for a whole month during her confinement after delivering her three children back then. Therefore, she felt nauseated at the sight of it alone right then. The three children, on the other hand, loved it very much. Even Zayden, who visited her often during her confinement, was fond of it. While eating beef stroganoff, she replied, ¡°He went home since he has to spend New Year with his family.¡± He was a priceless gem to the Surrington family, and the entire family loved him. Hence, many would havecked an appetite when he didn''t go home for dinnerst night. Gwendolyn knew that all too well. Upon hearing that, Juliette murmured an acknowledgment before remarking, ¡°I''m going out to y with the dog now!¡± ¡°The dog?¡± Gwendolyn echoed in surprise. In turn, Juliette nodded in affirmation. ¡°Yup! Zay brought it over earlier. He said the house is too big, so with Sirius here, no one will dare trespass as they please. Sirius is a big wolfdog. It''s exceedingly adorable and even obeys me, Justin, and Julian!¡± Justin and Julian had also finished eating. They both slipped down from their chairs. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°We''ll go with you, Juliette!¡± Subsequently, Juliette nced at the kitchen. ¡°Have you cut the beef, Ms. Ziegler?¡± After all, Zayden said that Sirius loved eating beef. ¡°Yup. I''ll go and get some for you.¡± Camille took a massive piece of beef out and queried as she walked, ¡°So, is it a dog or a wolf, considering the fact that it actually eats raw beef?¡± Taking it from her, Justin reassured, ¡°It''s okay. It''s indeed quite docile and has undergone training.¡± By then, it was entirely obedient to Justin and Julian. Nheless, Gwendolyn frowned and warned, ¡°Even so, its inherent nature is still intact, so be careful.¡± As Patrick ate the m chowder in his bowl, a shadow shed across his eyes, and displeasure flooded him. Did he bring a dog over to guard against a thief or me? When Gwendolyn finished her bowl of beef stroganoff, she snagged a piece of tissue and wiped her mouth. ¡°Patrick, I''m going over to Snowy Lane to meet thendy and return the keys to her. Drive me over, okay?¡± Patrick naturally had no objections. He put down his spoon, for he had also finished his food. He again looked at her deeply. ¡°What about the kids?¡± At the thought that he could spend time with her alone, his expression changed, and he appeared ecstatic. ¡°I''ll bring them to the church to light a candle,¡± Camille hurriedly interjected. She went to the church to light a candle every year, and the three children went with her, finding it rather fun there. At that exact moment, Patrick''s phone rang. Dipping her head, Gwendolyn nced at it, upon which she promptly picked up the phone and answered the call. ¡°Stop calling. He isn''t going to take your call.¡± Chapter 339 Chapter 339 Felicia''s expression went sour when she heard Gwendolyn. ¡°Why are you the one answering, Gwendolyn?¡± Felicia was upset¡ªshe had nned to stay at the Lowen residencest night but had no choice other than to go home after Patrick insisted on her leaving. Unpleasantly surprised by the knowledge of Gwendolyn next to Patrick this morning, she started wondering if the two had slept togetherst night. Felicia cursed angrily into the phone after visualizing the scenario, ¡°You think you will marry into the Lowen family, Gwendolyn? Keep dreaming! We''ll see who marries him in the end.¡± Gwendolyn nced at her phone after Felicia hung up and ced it back on the table. ¡°You don''t mind, do you, Patrick?¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Patrick smiled. ¡°As long as you''re happy, it doesn''t matter.¡± That Felicia is an annoying woman indeed. I would never have worked with her if I had known how infuriating she is. It''s a challenge to get rid of her now, but with Gwen here, things will be much easier. Meanwhile, the entire Ashton family was waiting for Felicia in the dining hall. The Ashton family would have a gathering tomorrow, and Felicia was asked to invite Patrick over. This was Candace''s idea. If Patrick came over tomorrow night after he and Felicia had already spent New Year''s Eve at the Lowen residence, their rtionship would practically be set in stone after tomorrow. Felicia was making a call to Patrick in the living room. Before that, the family had urged her to call Patrick at the dinner table and put him on speaker for everyone to hear. But how can I possibly do that? I know how things are between Patrick and me. Patrick doesn''t care for me; he''s only working with me because of that damned contract. If it were not for Old Mr. Lowen, I would never have had the chance to get close to him. Felicia insisted on calling Patrick from the living room, saying she was afraid to embarrass him. She sank into the couch, utterly devastated. Thank goodness I left there or they would have heard Gwendolyn''s voice. The rtives would gossip for sure if they did! I''ll never forget the looks andments they threw at me when my engagement was canceled. I won''t let it happen this time. Felicia sighed and clutched her phone, knowing that getting Patrick toe tomorrow was practically impossible. She was prepared to go and ask for Hector''s help. But Old Mr. Lowen can''t speak! Who even understands what he means by all those gestures? Even if Patrick could, he''d never agree toe. Gwendolyn has him wrapped around her little finger¡ªhe''ll only do as she tells him to! Felicia tangled her fingers in her hair out of frustration. Celebrating New Year is supposed to be a merry asion. This year, it''s driving me insane! Suddenly, she thought of Gregory. As a n formed in her brain, she dialed his number. The call was picked up after a while. ¡°Fel, do you need me for something?¡± The background of the other end of the phone was bustling with the noises of a gambling match. Felicia''s sharp ears picked up a voice calling out her uncle''s losses. ¡°Uncle Gregory, I can wire you another million; can you get rid of Gwendolyn by today?¡± Gregory stepped out of the casino. ¡°You can''t even let your old uncle enjoy the New Year?¡± He was unwilling tomit bloodshed during festivities. ¡°Uncle Gregory, I cannot enjoy the New Year with her around! If you don''t want to get violent during New Year celebrations, I''ll send you two million so you can keep half for yourself and hire a hitman with the rest,¡± Felicia negotiated. Not only was it the most straightforward n, but she also trusted a hitman more than her dodgy uncle. Gritting his teeth, Gregory was reminded of the money he had lost while gambling. ¡°Fine, send me the money; I happen to know a guy in this area.¡± Five hundred thousand will be more than enough for the hitman; I''ll still have one and a half million left for myself. Felicia doubted him. ¡°Don''t try to fool me, Uncle Gregory.¡± ¡°I, Gregory Dannings, am a man of my word! Why would I fool you? Take your business elsewhere if you don''t trust me.¡± Felicia hurriedly transferred the money, adding a message: I hope to hear good news from you, Uncle Gregory. Chapter 340 Chapter 340 While Larry sent the children and Camille to church, Patrick drove Gwendolyn and himself to Snowy Lane in a Volvo. Few cars upied the city''s roads that day. The journey felt shorter than usual as Gwendolyn observed the vacant city. She turned her head to the man behind the wheel, who was dressed in a tailored ck suit that day, looking cool and intimidating. With his lean muscr legs and toned waist, every move he made looked as if it was a pose plucked out of a men''s fashion magazine. A dazed smile spread across Gwendolyn''s lips as she stared at him. With one hand on the steering wheel, Patrick reached over and interlocked her fingers with his. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°You''re handsome!¡± Gwendolyn replied without taking her eyes off him. What a gorgeous, outstanding man. I like him so much! Patrick smirked and looked at Gwendolyn with a pleased expression. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. If she enjoys looking at me that much, so be it! I like being the only person she looks at, anyway. For the entire journey, they remained that way: him, holding her hand; her, staring at him with a smile. It was only interrupted when Patrick turned to capture her lips in a kiss as the car came to a stop. After a split second, Gwendolyn reciprocated his actions, letting him kiss her however he desired. After a while, she gently broke off the kiss. ¡°That''s enough; the neighbors here know me.¡± She was prone to shyness. Patrick''s slender fingers brushed across her delicate features as his gazended on the mark on her face. Too lost in their passion this morning, he had forgotten about the mark. The mark was also covered by her hair earlier. As he was reminded of them, Patrick''s gaze hardened. ¡°Who did this?¡± His voice was cold with aggression, which startled Gwendolyn. She bit her lips and gave him a vague answer before getting out of the car. ¡°It was my father. I was never a favorite of his, so it''s nothing I haven''t been through.¡± Patrick''s heart throbbed with pain as he watched her walk into the yard. What was her life like before this? I should''ve met her sooner. If we had gotten to know each other sooner, could I have protected her and saved her from suffering all this abuse? His eyes shed icily at the thought. Her family is still a mystery to me. I''ll have to bring this up with her and meet them. How could her father dislike a daughter as sweet and as beautiful as she is, and eveny his hands on her? I need to meet this man myself! Patrick left the car. No one answered after Gwendolyn rang the doorbell several times, so she got her keys out to unlock the door. The door could only be unlocked with a key since the password lock had already been changed. After seeing her push the door open, Patrick quickened his pace to catch up to her. Bang! A gunshot was heard, followed by Gwendolyn''s groans of pain. Gwendolyn cried out, ¡°Don''te in, Patrick! Don''t!¡± Patrick rushed inside and bent over to check the wound on her leg, his brows knitted together in worry. Gwendolyn was scared out of her wits. ¡°Patrick, there was a man in a mask...¡± Patrick quickly bandaged the wound with his tie that he tugged off. The sound of another bullet zipping through the air was heard. He reacted swiftly, rolling across the floor with Gwendolyn in his arms. Gwendolyn screamed in fear. She had never experienced anything like this, which shocked her to her core. Patrick turned to look around. He had spectacr eyesight and hearing from the experience of being at a training camp. He tried looking for the hitman, but thetter was extremely skilled and had already gone out of sight. Patrick''s lips pressed together into a thin line. They were both in extreme danger as the hitman''s gun could be aimed at either of their heads at that moment. His mind went to Gwendolyn. The hitman was here for her. Shielding her, Patrick retreated further into the house. Chapter 341 Chapter 341 The excruciating pain in Gwendolyn''s leg meant she could barely walk, so they could only move along slowly. When they finally reached the living room, they spotted thendy, bound with ropes with a rag stuffed into her mouth. Taking out a pistol, Patrick instructed gravely, ¡°Gwen, the both of you go and hide.¡± With that, he started heading outside very carefully. Gwendolyn was so terrified that she could only choke out, ¡°Be careful, Patrick.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. He gazed at her intently for a brief moment, then replied, ¡°Hide yourselves well.¡± Gwendolyn quickly helped untie the ropes tied around thendy, and as soon as she removed the wad of cloth in thetter''s mouth, the woman burst into tears. ¡°Gwen, I''m scared.¡± Gwendolyn was also beside herself with fear, but she covered thendy''s mouth and said, ¡°Let''s hurry up and hide first.¡± Even though my leg hurts like crazy, we have to hide right now. Otherwise, we''ll be in danger. Dragging her injured leg, she gave thendy a little push and said, ¡°Go and find somewhere to hide. Don''t make a sound.¡± Then, she turned and nced at her leg. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she hurried to hide in a closet upstairs. Meanwhile, Patrick had determined the sniper''s location in no time and killed the person with a single shot. He blew on the tip of the pistol''s barrel as he fixed an icy stare at the man sprawled on the ground, his eyes glinting with a trace of murderous intent. Just then, he heard a piercing shriek. ¡°Let go of me! Let go!¡± Patrick dashed upstairs immediately. That''s Gwendolyn''s voice! In the end, I still underestimated the other party. I thought the attacker was working alone, but it turns out that that isn''t the case! Upon rushing into the bedroom on the second floor, he saw Gwendolyn being held at gunpoint by a masked man. The masked man snickered when he saw Patrick. ¡°That phantom-like assassin was a well-known figure in the underground circles, but who would''ve guessed that you''d be so capable as to take him down. I''ve truly underestimated the power of this woman here,¡± he remarked. With that, he loaded the pistol in his hand. The sound rang out crisp and clear in Gwendolyn''s ear, and her face paled from fear. She gazed at Patrick and shook her head. ¡°Hurry up and leave! Don''t bother about me. Just go...¡± It doesn''t matter if I die. I believe that he''ll help me raise my children. But he can''t die... Patrick is the Lowen family''s only child. If he dies now, what''ll happen to his grandparents? Patrick merely gazed at the man coldly. ¡°How much do you want? Is one hundred million enough? Two hundred million?¡± The man''s eyes lit up when he heard that figure, clearly tempted. Patrick''s sharp eyes did not miss the man''s reaction. These people are only doing this because someone offered them money. ¡°Three hundred million,¡± he added. The masked man swallowed hard. He was sorely tempted, and he knew Patrick was capable of forking out that big a sum of money. Three hundred million is nothing to him at all. ¡°Deal. Write out a check, and we''ll do the exchange at the same time. The check for thedy.¡± Patrick took out a checkbook from his bag, wrote a check for three hundred million, tore it off, then held it out in his hand. ¡°Come and get it.¡± The man inched closer to Patrick while keeping a firm hold on Gwendolyn. Then, he reached out and grabbed the check, cackling withughter when he saw therge sum written on it. Meanwhile, Patrick pulled Gwendolyn to him. His heart ached when he saw the fear in her eyes and the tears staining her face. After getting his hands on the check, Gregory''s gaze slid over Gwendolyn''s face. Fel wants her life, and I desire money. I also want to give Candace and Fel peace of mind. Now that I have money, I could kill Gwendolyn and flee the country. Even Patrick wouldn''t be able to do anything about that. With that thought in mind, he spun around abruptly while walking toward the door and fired directly at Gwendolyn. Patrick immediately wrapped his arms around her and rolled to the floor. The first shot missed, but the second shot struck Patrick''s head. Gregory felt like he had gotten shot in the heart as he copsed to the floor. He could see that Patrick still had his arms around Gwendolyn protectively. I''ll never understand his actions. What a miserable way to die. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was still in shock. When she finally returned to her senses and saw the blood covering Patrick''s head, horror washed over her, and she half-lifted him in her arms. ¡°Patrick... Patrick, you can''t die!¡± she cried out through tears. Patrick opened his eyes. ¡°I''m... fine... This won''t... kill me... Don''t cry...¡± Chapter 342 Chapter 342 ¡°Patrick...¡± Gwendolyn started sobbing hysterically, terrified that he would die. If it weren''t because he wanted to save me, he wouldn''t have gotten hurt. It''s my fault for being such an idiot! I didn''t move quickly enough because I got my leg injured. After that, Patrick fell unconscious again. The ambnce soon arrived and brought him to the nearest hospital, which happened to be one of the hospitals run by Kevin''s family. Once Patrick had been wheeled into the operating room, Kevin hurried over to Gwendolyn in a white coat. He saw that she was crying pitifully, then nced at her leg. Bending down, he picked her up in his arms and said, ¡°Pat''s operation will take more than two hours. I''ll carry you to get your leg bandaged first.¡± Gwendolyn slowly raised her head when she heard his voice. ¡°Kevin, Patrick... He''s not going to die, right? I don''t want him to die!¡± she wailed in an almost frenzied state, both hands clutching tightly at Kevin''s cor. Kevin furrowed his brows slightly. ¡°He''ll be fine. We have the best neurosurgeons here, so don''t worry. We need to tend to your leg before it gets worse.¡± That brat is hardy, so I''m sure he''ll pull through. But if something happens to his woman, he''ll be out for my blood. Gwendolyn calmed down a little after hearing his reassurances, but she quickly started fretting again. ¡°Is he really going to be all right? It''s all my fault. I be such an idiot when I''m in a panic, so much so that it didn''t ur to me that I could protect myself! It''s my fault!¡± she wailed, letting out heart- wrenching sobs. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Kevin felt at a loss for what to do. It looks like I''ll have to sedate her. If she goes on like this, she might have a mental breakdown. He carried her into a small operating room, then administered a sedative afterying her on the operating table. Soon, she was out for the count. Since he still had to remove the bullet, he decided it was better for her to be sedated. By the time Gwendolyn woke up, three hours had already passed. She sat up abruptly, and Lucy sprang to her feet. ¡°Are you okay, Gwen?¡± Lucy looked like she had been crying nonstop with her reddened eyes. She had also been distressed after seeing Gwendolyn in that state. After her eyes had adjusted to the light, Gwendolyn looked around and realized she was in a hospital ward. That was when she knew everything she remembered was real. We got ambushed, and Patrick''s head was wounded! ¡°Where''s Patrick? Where is he?¡± Seeing Gwendolyn so frantic, Lucy knew it was because she was sick with worry. Lucy had heard from Lucas that Patrick had gotten hurt while protecting Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, everything''s fine. He''s resting in the ward next door. He won''t be up for a while. He''ll only wake up tomorrow.¡± Gwendolyn tried to get down from the bed, but she gasped at the sharp pain that shot through her leg when she moved. ¡°Ouch...¡± she hissed. Hurrying to help her, Lucy said, ¡°Don''t panic. You can go over in a wheelchair.¡± Lucy went to get a nurse, and they both helped Gwendolyn into a wheelchair. Then, she pushed Gwendolyn to the ward next door. Kevin had not dared to inform Gwendolyn''s family about what happened for fear of rming the triplets. Of course, he had not dared to inform Patrick''s family either. John was standing guard inside the ward. He was the leader of Patrick''s bodyguards and the most loyal of Patrick''s men. When he saw the twodies enter the ward, he rose to his feet and nodded slightly at Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Ashton.¡± Patrick''s men all knew Gwendolyn. They were aware of how important she was to Patrick, and they had to protect her as well. But for New Year this year, all of us were on holiday, and there was no one with Mr. Lowen. Given Mr. Lowen''s capabilities, we were sure nothing untoward would happen. After all, there had been many other assassination attempts previously. But even with dozens of men surrounding him and trying to attack him, Mr. Lowen had always been able to escape unscathed. What happened this time was unexpected indeed. John was full of regret. I shouldn''t have gone home. I should''ve stayed by Mr. Lowen''s side to protect him. Gwendolyn gave a slight nod in response, then turned her swollen eyes impatiently toward the hospital bed. She was frightened by the sight that greeted her. There was an oxygen mask over Patrick''s face and various machines next to the bed. His head was bandaged in gauze, and his eyes were tightly closed. She pressed the buttons on the wheelchair and maneuvered it over to the side of the hospital bed. Reaching out to hold Patrick''s hand, she saw a medical device clipped onto his finger. Chapter 343 Chapter 343 Gwendolyn couldn''t hold it in anymore. Tears streamed down her face uncontrobly. In a hoarse voice, she said, ¡°Patrick, you have to get better. Otherwise, what will Old Mr. Lowen and Old Mrs. Lowen do?¡± What will the Lowen family do? Just then, Lucas and Kevin came in. Seeing the scene ahead of them, they shook their heads. Kevin came over to Gwendolyn''s side. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. With a smile, he said, ¡°Gwen, don''t worry anymore. He''s okay.¡± To be honest, he wasn''t okay at all. The bullet was still inside him lodged between a clump of blood vessels. If it moved by even just a millimeter, he could bleed out and die. Thus, to continue the treatment, the bullet had to be left inside for now. The n was to wait and see if it would move on its ownter on. Either that or if there was a doctor with enough experience, perhaps he could operate on him. Once Patrick woke up, Kevin nned to discuss this with him before deciding on the exact surgery n. For the time being, Kevin decided to keep this from Gwendolyn. If anything, Patrick should be the one to tell her. That day, he really experienced her sincerity. He could see her pure emotions pouring through when she was having a breakdown. Kevin was happy that Patrick had managed to find a woman that truly loved him. Gwendolyn turned her head to look at him. Then, she carefully tucked his hand back into the quilt. ¡°Was the surgery a sess? He won''t die now, right?¡± Her questions were very direct. An ufortable gaze shed through Kevin''s eyes as he nodded. Lucas'' eyesnded on Lucy. In a faint voice, he uttered, ¡°You don''t have to worry about Mnie. They''ll take care of her. For today, you should stay with Gwendolyn.¡± Gwendolyn was upset right now. Not only that, her leg had yet to heal fully. It was better for Lucy to keep herpany. Lucy nodded. She looked away, avoiding his gaze. The moment she saw him, she would think of how selfishly he treated her at night. She couldn''t bear it. The hatred in her heart kept intensifying. Lucas took a look at the time. ¡°I''ll be on my way now. I still have some stuff to do.¡± He wasn''t going to be returning to the army for the time being. There were some changes being made at work. Hence, he had to go deal with them. If it was before, he would go back with no hesitation. Nowadays, he was not as carefree anymore. His words seemed to be aimed at Lucy, but she did not respond to him. Instead, she just acted like she heard nothing. Kevin smirked. It seemed like Lucas had finally met his match. His lips couldn''t help but curl into a smile. ¡°Go ahead! He''s only going to wake up tomorrow. You cane to see him by then.¡± The next day, Patrick was awake. Seeing all the people by his bedside, his eyes flickered. He was obviously looking for someone. Kevin smiled. ¡°Pat, Gwen is here.¡± I knew this jerk would prioritize a girl over his friends. He''s looking for her as soon as he wakes up. Gwendolyn gripped his hands tightly. Between sobs, she said, ¡°I''m here. Patrick, I''m sorry!¡± Patrick twitched his finger slightly as his pale lips quivered. ¡°You idiot. Don''t cry.¡± Watching her cry gave him a headache. Especially now that he had a head injury, it hurt even more. Gwendolyn hurriedly dabbed her tears away with her hands. ¡°I won''t cry. I will stop crying as long as you''re all right.¡± The others watched as Patrick stared deeply at Gwendolyn. His smitten expression made them smile. They all hoped that he could recover quickly so the couple could live happily together. For the next two weeks, Gwendolyn spent most of her time in the hospital. On the other hand, Patrick went back to work about a weekter. He worked from the hospital bed. As for the Lowen family, they were told that Patrick was on a business trip and that he would only be back after a month or so. Gwendolyn''s leg was all healed as well at that moment. There was still a scar, but she was able to move around on her own. That was good enough for her. That day, Kevin came into the ward with several doctors. They were there to discuss what to do with the bullet inside Patrick''s body. Kevin looked at the woman who was taking care of Patrick. ¡°Gwen, there''s a report to be collected on the third floor of the medical technology building. Do you mind?¡± Gwendolyn immediately stood up. She looked at the line of doctors dressed in their whiteb coats. Ever since she was young, she had been afraid of doctors. The sight of them made her heart jump in fright. ¡°Oh! I''ll go right away.¡± On the way down from the inpatient building, Gwendolyn ran into Angeline. She nodded slightly at her. ¡°Mrs. Surrington.¡± When Angeline saw her, she stopped her. ¡°Gwendolyn, you jinx. You''re the reason Zay is like this now.¡± Chapter 344 Chapter 344 Gwendolyn was frozen to her spot. ¡°What happened to Zayden?¡± Angeline was not looking so great. She was usually so morous. However, at that moment, her skin looked dull and sunken. She didn''t have any makeup on, and the dark circles under her eyes were heavy. She took a cold nce at Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwendolyn, karma will get you one day.¡± Angeline thought about how well her son treated Gwendolyn, yet what had he ever gotten in return? On New Year''s Day, he had gone looking for her. When he came back, he was already in a bad mood. Zayden apparently argued with Gwendolyn. That night itself, he got into a car ident. Angeline turned around and left. She headed toward the inpatient building. Gwendolyn followed her. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, please borate. What''s wrong with Zayden?¡± Angeline ignored her. Gwendolyn shamelessly continued to tail her from behind to Zayden''s ward. There, she saw him lying in bed wearing a white hospital gown. Hearing themotion, Zayden reached his hand around him. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It''s me,¡± Angeline replied. Her eyes filled with pain as tears welled up in them. Gwendolyn could tell that Zayden had gone blind. She quickly walked over to his bedside and waved her hand in front of him. However, his pupils didn''t move at all. He had no reaction whatsoever. Angeline scolded, ¡°Stop that. He''s blind.¡± The housekeeper beside them brought in a lunchbox. She set up the small table on the hospital bed and set breakfast down on it. ¡°Mr. Surrington, it''s time for breakfast.¡± Gwendolyn was stunned. ¡°Zayden, how could this be? Your eyes...¡± Hearing Gwendolyn''s voice, Zayden suddenly smiled. His grin was as bright as the sunlight. ¡°Gwen, you''re here. I''m okay. I got into a car ident, and now here I am.¡± He patted his bed. ¡°Sit down.¡± Seeing him still putting on a happy face, Gwendolyn felt her heart wrench. ¡°Zayden, how did you get into a car ident?¡± His family had very high standards for the drivers they hired. They all had excellent driving skills. There was no way something like this would have happened. How could it be? ¡°It was an ident. I don''t know how to exin it to you.¡± Zayden had a wide grin stered on his handsome face. It was as though he didn''t mind what happened at all. His attitude was still as positive as ever. Gwendolyn knew that that was just the kind of person he was. No matter how much pain he was in, he would never say anything. The feeling he gave off was as though he could get through anything. He was always fine. Meanwhile, Angeline, who was on the couch peeling an apple, snorted. ¡°It''s all your fault. He was upset, so he went drinking. He ended up drunk driving, and that''s how he got into an ident.¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Whenever she was reminded of Gwendolyn, Angeline would be filled with anger. Her son was completely ruined. Her tears streamed down uncontrobly. Gwendolyn pursed her lips. She could tell that Angeline was very sad. Zayden said, ¡°Mom, how could you say that? It was my fault. Gwen had nothing to do with it.¡± Angeline reached her hand up to wipe her tears. ¡°Zay, look at the state you''re in. How can you still be trying to defend her? I told you not to get involved with a woman like her because she will only bring harm to you. What are you going to do from now on?¡± The ward fell into silence. The only sounds were a woman''s cries and a man''s sighs. Seeing Zayden like this, Gwendolyn felt horrible. What''s going on this year? Patrick and Zayden had both been admitted to the hospital. Gwendolyn was starting to feel like she was truly a jinx. Zayden pulled the quilt over himself. ¡°I want to take a nap. Leave, all of you!¡± Obviously, he wasn''t in a good mood. Zayden used to be very well-tempered. He always gave a warm and friendly vibe to others. Currently, he still looked approachable, but something was different. After all, he couldn''t see anymore. How could he be in a good mood? At this moment, Gwendolyn''s phone rang. Patrick was calling her. She answered, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Why have you been gone for so long? Haven''t you gotten the report yet? Come back now.¡± His voice was low and cold. Recently, Patrick''s clinginess toward her had been much more prevalent. Gwendolyn replied, ¡°I''ll be right back.¡± Suddenly, Zayden fell from his bed and onto the floor. ¡°Zay, are you okay?¡± Chapter 345 Chapter 345 When Gwendolyn heard Angeline''s voice, she turned to look over. Zayden was getting up off the ground while reaching his hand out around him. ¡°Stay away. You guys don''t have to bother about me. I can manage on my own.¡± Gwendolyn felt a pang in her heart. Since he had lost his sight, his temper had worsened. She hung up the call and ran over to him to grab his hand. ¡°Zayden, where do you want to go? I''ll help you.¡± Gwendolyn recalled how devastated she had been six years ago. If it wasn''t for Zayden''s continuous encouragement and help, there was no way she could have safely given birth to the kids. She would not be who she was now. She easily could have died on the morning she woke up. Truthfully, she was probably as helpless as Zayden was right now. Without hope, one''s heart would die. Hearing her voice, Zayden frowned slightly. His chiseled face had a glimpse of darkness. ¡°Gwen, why haven''t you left?¡± Whilst sobbing, Angeline scolded, ¡°Zay, look at yourself. Are you going to keep refusing help from others? You''re covered in injuries. I am your mother. There''s nothing about you that I can''t see.¡± From her words, Gwendolyn understood that he needed to go to the restroom. It was no wonder he didn''t want anyone to go with him. If it was her, she probably wouldn''t want any help either. Gwendolyn helped him up patiently. Even though he struggled and asked her to leave, she refused. On the contrary, she gripped down tightly on his arm. ¡°Careful. We''re almost at the door. I''ll open the restroom door, and then you can go in.¡± Gwendolyn let go of him and quickly pushed open the door. When she went back to his side, he swung her hand away. ¡°No need. I can manage myself.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. With that, he took a big step forward and knocked his head on the door frame. He hissed from the pain. Gwendolyn quickly rushed up to him. ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll just help you in. I''lle right back out so I won''t see a thing.¡± Her voice was so soft that it was hard for Zayden to be mad. His brows furrowed tighter and tighter. Left with no choice, he allowed her to help him. Gwendolyn nced down at the toilet bowl. ¡°I''ll wait for you outside. Just call for me once you''re done.¡± Gwendolyn went out of the restroom and stood by the door. She was prepared to go back in at any time. After crying, Angeline''s mood was more stable now. For the past half a month, she had been like this every day. Her heart ached for her son but she didn''t know what to do with him. Looking at the woman waiting beside the restroom door, she gritted her teeth. ¡°Don''t think that I''ll forgive you just because you''re acting this way, Gwendolyn. Even though Zay is blind now, you still don''t deserve him. You''ll never be able to marry into the Surrington family.¡± By this point, Gwendolyn had already grown tired of hearing these words. Agreeing with Angeline, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°I know I don''t deserve him. I''ve never even thought about getting together with him. Don''t worry, Mrs. Surrington. I just want to see him recovered, that''s all.¡± Angeline was boiling with rage. Gwendolyn had always been like this. She looked to be so soft and easy to push over. However, her sharp tongue always left Angeline speechless and seething with fury. Inside Patrick''s ward, Kevin was sitting on the couch. All the doctors had already left. He was waiting for Gwendolyn to return before leaving. Patrick was busy with work. The small table was set up on his bed with hisptop. There were also multiple documents scattered around his bed. It was tiring just to look at. Kevin crossed his legs elegantly and looked at Patrick. ¡°Pat, are you going to tell Gwen about the bullet left in your brain?¡± The cement of the bullet was very dangerous. Left inside his brain, it was like a ticking time bomb. Then again, it wasn''t easy to take it out either. Without the adequate skills, Patrick might never be able to leave the operation table. He appearedpletely fine now, but in fact, he was in great danger. The fate of his life hung on this single bullet. If the bullet decided to stay still or move to a safer position, Patrick would stay alive. But if it doesn''t... Chapter 346 Chapter 346 As for the other scenario, Kevin didn''t even want to think about it because he couldn''t ept it. How could a man like Pat be in a situation like this? Kevin could not ept it. In his mind, someone like Patrick was a force to be feared even by the devil himself. Patrick should live a long life. Patrick slowly looked over at Kevin. There was no expression on his face. He said lightly, ¡°I won''t tell her. You guys make sure not to scare her either.¡± Gwendolyn would cry easily. Patrick didn''t want to see her tears. He only wanted her to be happy and gleeful all the time. Kevin sighed. ¡°If, and I mean if, I can''t do anything and you pass, what''s going to happen to her?¡± Upon hearing this, a flicker of emotion shed across Patrick''s face. He frowned slightly. ¡°I''ll try my best to stay alive.¡± He had no experience in this area. Even though it sounded dangerous, like he didn''t have long to live, he felt like as long as he stayed determined, he would get better. Patrick was a confident man. In his world, it was as though he could do anything. Even when it came to a matter of life and death, he felt like he could do it. Kevin smiled. Seeing how sure Patrick was, Kevin felt d. As a doctor, he liked patients with a positive attitude. Naturally, he would do his best to make sure nothing happened to Patrick too. Just then, the ward door opened. Gwendolyn came in with an envelope containing some scans. ¡°Kevin, here you go. Does the scan look good?¡± Looking at Patrick now, he looked much better than the state he was in two weeks ago. He was slowly getting better. Gwendolyn was overjoyed that he was healing. She hoped that he could recoverpletely and be discharged as a normal person. More than anything, she wanted to see him live his life and go back to being the CEO of Lowen Group. Kevin took the envelope from her hands. He nced through the images. Just like before, the bullet remained where it was. It was a good thing that it hadn''t moved. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. After looking through it, he nced over to the bed. The handsome man was dressed in a blue and white striped hospital gown. His gaze was focused on theptop screen as his slender fingers flew across the keyboard. The beautiful, gentle woman poured him a ss of water. In a soft voice, she said to him, ¡°Drink some water. Don''t tire yourself out too much. Does your head still hurt?¡± Kevin couldn''t help but chuckle. He found himself feeling somewhat jealous of Patrick. He stood up. ¡°I''m going to get going now because I still have a surgery to attend to.¡± He took the scans with him. Suddenly, Gwendolyn called out to him. ¡°Kevin, how were the scans? Is the injury in his brain healing well?¡± Patrick''s cold gaze turned toward Kevin. In response, Kevin smiled. ¡°It''s looking good. His injury is almostpletely healed.¡± It made him sad to lie. Not only that, he had to say it with a smile. D*mn. This feeling sucks. Especially when he looked at Patrick, his heart ached. If it were him in that position, he would hide it from his partner and family too. When Gwendolyn heard his reply, she felt relieved. ¡°Thank you!¡± A sweet smile spread across her face. Patrick asked, ¡°How long before I can get discharged?¡± Lately, he had been doing all his work at the hospital. There were a lot of things he needed to deal with. It wasn''t convenient for him to be here, and he didn''t like it either. If it wasn''t for Gwendolyn''spany, he would have insisted on being discharged a long time ago. Kevin furrowed his brows. ¡°Pat, just stay a little longer, okay?¡± After all, he had a bullet in his brain. It was a life-threatening situation. If he stayed in the ward, it would be easier for them to deal with any unexpected scenarios that might pop up. ¡°No. Get me out of here as soon as possible. My injury is healed. It doesn''t affect my life anymore.¡± Right now, there was nothing but a bandage over his injury. That day, all they had done was some emergency procedures to stop his bleeding. They hadn''t operated on him. The injury was just a small opening where the bullet had entered. With only two stitches, it healed rtively quickly. Kevin''s face darkened. ¡°Pat, can''t you just listen to me for once?¡± Gwendolyn looked back and forth at the expressions of both men. She cut into the conversation and suggested, ¡°Patrick, we should listen to the doctor. Just stay here a little longer, okay?¡± Chapter 347 Chapter 347 Patrick reached out and touched her cheeks. ¡°We have a doctor at home too. Let''s go.¡± He was always a decisive man. Once he had decided not to extend his stay at the hospital, even when his wound was still bleeding, nothing would make him change his mind. Kevin sighed. ¡°All right. We will discharge you tomorrow. You still have to let us run a few check-ups today.¡± After saying that, he turned around and left the ward. Gwendolyn patted Patrick on the shoulder and said, ¡°Patrick, can''t you be a little more obedient? It''s not like you''re still a child.¡± In fact, it would be better if he was her child. At least her children would listen to her. She could not do anything about him. Patrick pulled her into his embrace and lowered his head to press his lips on hers. Thinking he might not have long to live, Patrick refused to waste his remaining time in the hospital. Gwendolyn wanted to struggle against him, but as soon as she thought of his wound, she dared not resist. Instead, she clung to his neck, responding to his hurried and deep kiss. It was as if he wanted to swallow her alive. Then, slowly, he reached his hands under her clothes. Gwendolyn immediately caught his hands with hers and widened her eyes. He could not possibly be thinking about doing this, given the circumstances. Patrick nibbled gently on her lips and said, ¡°Gwen, don''t make me stop.¡± At that moment, he could not think of anything else but getting intimate with her, wanting her, and having her for himself. Hearing his low and hoarse voice, with great temptation and seduction, Gwendolyn could no longer stay rational. ¡°But, outside...¡± They were still in the hospital, where doctors and nurses could enter their ward anytime. She was afraid of being walked in on by them. Patrick caressed her cheeks and reached out to toss everything else, including theptop, onto the couch. He then pointed at the door. ¡°You should go lock the door then.¡± Gwendolyn snapped back to her senses and got out of bed. She strode toward the door and turned on the lock. Right after locking the door, she could feel her heart beating so rapidly that it made her hard to breathe. She patted herself on the chest and said inwardly, ¡°Don''t be afraid. You love him and are willing to take things further with him.¡± Patrick was not the only person being aroused in this situation. She felt the same too. She ran back to the bed and took the initiative by sealing her lips with his. Feeling her passion, Patrick smirked. He hooked an arm around her waist and picked her up before rolling on top of her. She was a little startled when she felt her lips being parted. Reaching out to touch his delicate face, she realized this was the first time she got to touch his face so openly. He was indeed very good-looking.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. He stared at her face with his dark eyes. His eyes reflected not only his usual coldness but also a hint of affection. His dark hair was a mess, but the look in his dark eyes was still mesmerizing and without any restraint. Like a sculpture made of marble, his face was wless. His eyes were dark and shiny like ice, radiating dimmed and cold glint. Gwendolyn''s heart skipped a beat as she stared at his face. A handsome man like him was undoubtedly every woman''s ideal man. Yet, he was hers. Just the thought of that was enough to make her feel delighted. Noticing that she kept touching his face, Patrick propped himself up and looked at her condescendingly. He chuckled lowly and asked, ¡°Do you like touching me so much?¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes flickered when she heard that, and she nodded in response. He narrowed his eyes and pressed his body lower, kissing her lips and invading her mouth with the tip of his tongue. Gwendolyn''s mind started spinning instantly. His kiss was rushed and feverish, and he moved his lips from her lips to her corbones, slowly breaking all of her restrains. Although she had been intimate with him several times, she had never felt this way with him. Closing her eyes, she did not know what to do. She wrapped her arms tightly around his back as Patrick removed the fabric covering her body. Their breathing got quicker and quicker. Gwendolyn could feel his body reacting to her. It was a little terrifying. This was not her first time enduring his physical reaction, but this time, it was more terrifying than the previous experience. She frowned, knowing that it would be tough for her to endure this. Patrick also frowned. He said in a rather seductive tone, ¡°Gwen, rx. Otherwise, you... you will break me.¡± Chapter 348 Chapter 348 ¡°Mmm... Patrick, it hurts...¡± She could not take this anymore. It was different from her expectations as he was too huge. She could not bear it. Patrick kissed her again. Thest time he did this was six years ago during that surreal night. He remembered they were happy then, but now, the experience was far from perfect. She was already a mother, yet her entrance was still so tight, making him feel challenged and stimted. Through his kisses, Gwendolyn gradually started rxing her body. She opened her eyes a little as he imed her as his own. It was a little ufortable, yet she could not help wanting more from him. Feeling a little helpless, she started digging her nails into the skin on his back, leaving behind a trail of scratches. Meanwhile, after getting a taste of it, Patrick could no longer hold back his desire, and his movements were no longer as gentle as before. Just when the two of them were immersed in this intimacy, he started feeling a pang of pain in his head, and the pain was excruciating. His expression slowly darkened. He wanted to keep going on and ignore his headache, but he could not do so. Feeling that his movements gradually came to a halt, Gwendolyn also slowly returned to her senses. She opened her eyes and saw him holding his head. At that moment, she waspletely sober up. ¡°Is it a headache?¡± she asked. She could not believe this. He had barely recovered, so how could she let them both get carried away by their lust and emotions? Although she had to admit she quite enjoyed their passionate moment before this. Yet, reality crushed hard on them. The more excited they were before this, the more she was in regrets seeing him like this. Patrick wanted to carry on. He would not hesitate even if it meant he would die after doing this. However, the pain was too intense, and he felt like banging his head on the wall to stop the pain. He rolled over andy on the bed. Then, pressing his fingers on his forehead, which was covered in his cold sweat, he said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Get dressed and call for the doctor.¡± Gwendolyn looked rather disheveled at that moment. Her cheeks were flushed as she hurriedly got out of bed and started getting dressed. It was also at that time when Gwendolyn identally saw his body. She immediately shut her eyes and pulled on the nket to cover him. Patrick was suffering from his headache, but his lips curled when he saw her shutting her eyes and covering him under the nket. She was too adorable. They had already taken things further, yet she was still shy to see his bare body. The way her cheeks flushed was just too adorable in his eyes. She only opened her eyes when she felt the nket had already covered his body. After ncing in his direction, she finally heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°A-Are you sure you can see the doctor while looking like this?¡± Patrick chuckled. ¡°What do you think?¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. It was almost impossible for him to im that it was fine when he felt not only a pang of pain in his head but also in his groin. Gwendolyn got him a patient''s gown and said, ¡°You should get dressed too. The nurse mighte in later.¡± The hospital only had female nurses instead of male nurses, and she refused to let another woman see his bare body. Although they were only nurses doing their job, she still felt jealous of the possibility of having another woman look at him when he was her man. Patrick endured his physical pain and took over the gown. He was someone that had high tolerance toward pain, but this time, he was defeated miserably. The pain he felt was horrible. He had the urge to bang on the wall with all his might just to stop the pain. Gwendolyn tidied her attire and hair before pressing the emergency button. It did not take too long for the nurse to arrive. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Patrick supported himself by the bed. His face turned pale as beads of sweat dripped down his cheeks. It was a terrifying scene to look at. ¡°He has a headache. Can you get us a doctor?¡± Gwendolyn stood next to him and calmed herself down before telling the nurse what had happened. The nurse immediately responded by saying, ¡°I''ll inform the doctor right away.¡± They were once again left alone inside the ward. Gwendolyn took a piece of tissue paper to wipe his sweat. Feeling bad, she said in a sobbing voice, ¡°Patrick, you can tell me if it hurts a lot. This is all because of me. I should''ve stopped you. I''m responsible for this.¡± Seeing that she had lowered her head and bit her lips in guilt like a child who had done the wrong thing, he immediately took her hand in his and said, ¡°Silly girl. I was happy because of you just now. Once I''ve recovered, I promise I''ll make you even happier.¡± Chapter 349 Chapter 349 Gwendolyn bit her lip hard as her face reddened. Upon hearing what Patrick said, she could not help but recall everything that happened just now. His heavy breathing and her feelings kept on reying in her mind. That was the first time she felt loved when intimating with another man. To her surprise, it felt amazing. Patrick made her feel that it was a wonderful experience. She dared not to look at him. ¡°This is all my fault,¡± Gwendolyn repeated the same sentence. Patrick tightened his grip on her hand. ¡°I''m fine. You can wait outside after the doctors are here. Otherwise, you might have to listen to me exining everything that happened just now.¡± In fact, he was worried that the doctors might identally blurt out his secretter. After all, the bullet in his brain was like a time bomb. Even the doctors were afraid of that. Based on the immense pain he was experiencing right then, it was possible that the bullet had moved. Hence, he could not let her hear that. ¡°Okay!¡± Gwendolyn nodded. What happened between them just now had made his head hurt. That was the truth, so he had to be honest with the doctors. Not long after, a panel of doctors arrived in the ward. Kevin was the one walking at the front. ¡°Why would your head hurt all of a sudden?¡± Gwendolyn blushed upon hearing his question. Immediately, she strode toward the door. Gwendolyn noticed the shy look on Gwendolyn''s face, so he instantly came to a conclusion. Walking over to the side of the bed, he asked, ¡°You intimated with Gwen just now, didn''t you?¡± Patricky on the bed weakly. Hisplexion was pallid, and the beads of sweat on his forehead were visible. His handsome face contorted as he endured the pain. With his dark brows furrowed, he looked like he was suffering. Kevin had never seen him in that state. Back then, no matter how severe Patrick''s injury was, he would always look fine. He did not even frown when his bones were exposed. Judging from his reaction now, Kevin could tell that Patrick had reached his limit. ¡°Cut the crap. Hurry up and make me feel better.¡± It was too painful that Patrick could no longer endure it. Kevin turned around and said to the nurse, who stood at the side. ¡°Prepare the painkilling injection.¡± He could only make Patrick stop feeling the pain in his head first. Soon after, a nurse pushed a device into the ward. A few other doctors then started to give Patrick a check-up. Standing at the side, Kevin could not help but click his tongue as he looked at Patrick struggling. ¡°Pat, I have no choice but to tell you something. You can''t get so worked up anymore in the future.¡± Patrick nced at him briefly in displeasure. ¡°Contact the best doctor for me. I want to remove that d*mned bullet from my brain as soon as possible.¡± Kevin could not help but chuckle. He didn''t even care about his body when he was in critical condition. But now, he''s so anxious just because he can''t get intimate with his woman. It seems like Gwen has won his heartpletely. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn stood outside the door. There were two bodyguards guarding the doorway with their backs straight. However, they would move and help the nurses when thetter pushed the devices into the ward. Apart from that, they would stand motionless like two statues in front of the door. Gwendolyn watched the nurses push the devices in and out of Patrick''s ward. Panicked, she intended to go into the ward to check up on Patrick''s condition. Unfortunately, she dismissed the thought as she thought of the doctors and Kevin inside the room. She was ashamed of what she did, so she thought it would be better for her to stay outside. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Just then, her phone started ringing. She took out her phone from her pocket and answered the call. ¡°Mrs. Surrington.¡± Gwendolyn saved Angeline''s number on the phone after calling thetter once. ¡°Gwendolyn, Zay doesn''t want to eat his dinner. Come over and feed him.¡± Angeline''s voice was cold and emotionless as if Gwendolyn was Zayden''s housekeeper. Gwendolyn felt ufortable upon hearing that. However, she had already gotten used to that a long time ago. For the sake of Zayden, she had never taken what Angeline said to heart. Moreover, she was unbothered by how Angeline talked to her. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, I have something to do now. I''ll go and visit him after settling everything here.¡± Zayden barely ate anything at noon. Moreover, he was eating alone, so he did not even touch any dishes. Back then, he was a gentle person. Sadly, he had changed so much now that Gwendolyn felt that she did not know him anymore. Upon hearing Gwendolyn''s response, Angeline started breathing heavily, sounding infuriated. The next moment, she started scolding, ¡°Gwendolyn, are you trying to abandon him just because he''s blind now? Don''t forget that he was the one who saved you and your children. Also, who helped you to ovee the crisis back then? You ungrateful woman!¡± Chapter 350 Chapter 350 ¡°Do you think I''m willing to let you have any interactions with him? If he hadn''t refused the help from everyone else, I wouldn''t have even tried to contact you.¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes darkened as she listened to what Angeline said. ¡°All right. I''ll definitely go and visit himter.¡± Having said that, she hung up the phone. Just then, the doctors walked out of the ward. It seemed like they had finished checking up on Patrick. Gwendolyn quickened her pace toward the ward. As soon as she entered the room, she saw Gregory lying on the bed with pale lips. However, his expression was more rxed now, and he no longer furrowed his brows. Kevin was wearing his white coat. Lifting a hand, he adjusted his frameless sses with his long, slender fingers. He was tall and skinny. With his doctor''s uniform and sses, he looked intellectual and charming. Besides, he exuded a surreal aura around him. Gwendolyn walked over to the side of the bed. Nevertheless, she dared not to touch Patrick because she was afraid that he was still in pain. Kevin shifted his gaze onto Gwendolyn, who was standing next to him. Curling his lips into a smile, he said, ¡°Gwen, you''re impressive, aren''t you? You''ve conquered our BigWoodOne.¡± Gwendolyn turned around and nced at him in confusion. She did not understand what he meant. ¡°Kevin, is he okay?¡± she asked with her face reddened. She was worried about Patrick, and she feared that something might happen to his injury. Kevin nced at Patrick, who had closed his eyes on the bed. He had given Patrick a painkilling injection, so thetter would feel tired. Nevertheless, he would feel better after falling asleep. ¡°He''s fine. But then, he has to avoid all kinds of strenuous activities within these three months. Do you understand what I mean?¡± Usually, Kevin was yful and always smiling cheekily when he talked to Gwendolyn. However, he looked solemn and stern this time. Gwendolyn was taken aback by his reaction. She shuddered for a moment, realizing that Patrick was not doing well. Nodding, she said, ¡°I won''t do that again. I won''t let him...¡± Gwendolyn did not finish her sentence. However, she knew that she would take care of him well. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Kevin shoved both hands into his pockets. A glint shed across his eyes as he stared intently at the handsome man on the bed. I hope he can hold out until I master my skills. ¡°All right. Gwen, take care of Pat. I''ll get back to work now.¡± Gwendolyn nodded at him. ¡°I''ll keep an eye on him. You can go ahead with your work.¡± She had been afraid of doctors since she was a child. Nevertheless, she admired and respected them a lot too. After Kevin left, she sat beside the bed and held Patrick''s hand tight. Staring at him affectionately, she said, ¡°I''m so d that you''re all right, Patrick.¡± She took a towel and wiped the sweat on his forehead away. Then, she tucked in his nket for him before sorting out his documents andputer. In an instant, the ward became tidy and looked much more pleasing. Just then, Liam and Amber arrived in the ward with some fruits and food containers. They had been sending Patrick food over the past two weeks. Liam noticed that Patrick was asleep. He whispered, ¡°Ms. Ashton, you should eat your dinner first. Mr. Lowen''s food is in the insted container. He can eat it after he wakes up.¡± As soon as Gwendolyn saw the food containers, she thought of Zayden. He''s in a bad mood, so he''ll never eat anything obediently. Even Mrs. Surrington can''t do anything with him. That''s why she called me just now. Standing up, she nced at Patrick on the bed. I guess he''ll be asleep for another two hours. ¡°Mr. Derner, can you guys stay here a little longer? Please take care of him for me. I have something to attend to, so I have to take my leave now.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Liam replied. Amber had done preparing the food for Gwendolyn. She asked, ¡°Ms. Ashton, how about finishing your dinner first? Your food might turn coldter.¡± However, Gwendolyn was in a rush. ¡°It''s okay. I''m not eating,¡± she said while walking toward the door. After leaving Patrick''s ward, she headed to the thirteenth floor, the floor where Zayden''s ward was located. The moment Gwendolyn stepped inside his ward, she saw the housekeepers cleaning the food stain on the floor. It seemed like Zayden was angry. That was why he shoved all the food onto the ground. Angeline wiped her tears and said, ¡°Zay, can you at least eat something? Look at how much weight you have lost all this time?¡± Zayden sat on the bed silently with his face facing the window. It was as if he did not hear anything Angeline said. After a while, the housekeepers noticed Gwendolyn, so they called out at her, ¡°Ms. Ashton.¡± Angeline turned to look at Gwendolyn. Lifting a hand, the former wiped away the tears on her face. Her eyes lit up as a glimpse of hope shed across her gaze. Chapter 351 Chapter 351 When Zayden heard those words, he turned his head around slowly. However, his gaze was nk, and his eyeballs were not moving. Gwendolyn nodded at the housekeeper. ¡°Bring me his dinner. I will feed him.¡± Zayden sat on the bed quietly. His face had be much thinner, and his chin was sharper than before. As a tall man with long limbs, he seemed especially thin in the hospital gown. She walked over to his bedside. ¡°Zayden, I''vee to see you again. You have to take some food.¡± While speaking, she propped the overbed table up. Then, the housekeeper brought the dinner andid the food on the table. She began to feed him while holding the bowl. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± Zayden pursed his lips. ¡°Gwen, I... I can do it myself.¡± However, Gwendolyn refused, ¡°Let me serve you this time. Once your eyes have recovered, I won''t feed you even if you pay me to do so.¡± Her tone was light, and it sounded like she was joking. In actual fact, she was filled with sorrow. He is such a dashing and outstanding man. How could he be blind? Life is unfair. He is such a kind-hearted man and is polite to everyone. Back then, he even offered his help to a stranger like me. A kind-hearted man like him should not have ended up in such a pitiful state. Zayden swallowed a few times. He then said with a hoarse voice, ¡°Gwen, I''ve already be like this. Can you let me retain thest shred of dignity? I don''t want you to see me in such a state. Please leave.¡± He finally said the words. His politeness in the day was all gone now. However, Gwendolyn was unfazed and insisted, ¡°Zayden, I''m not leaving. Open your mouth.¡± Now is the time for me to repay him. How can I desert him when he is in such bad shape? I can never do that. Zayden frowned. ¡°Gwen.¡± He extended his hands and held her hands very tightly. ¡°Are you pitying me?¡± he said in a low voice. His voice had lost the vibrancy from the past and sounded somewhat gloomy. Gwendolyn took a look at his hands and pulled her hands back. ¡°Nope, I''m just concerned about you. I hope that you will get well soon.¡± She held the food to his mouth. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± Zayden could not refuse her any longer. He obediently opened his mouth and finally ate. Angeline was delighted as she looked on at the side. If she had known that Gwendolyn could deal with him, she would have brought her over long ago. It had only been half a month, yet Angeline felt that she had aged. After Zayden had finished a considerable amount of food, Gwendolyn said, ¡°You should eat more.¡± ¡°I''m full,¡± he said tly. Then, he added, ¡°I want to drink some soup, though.¡± Gwendolyn smiled. The housekeeper brought some soup over. It was mushroom soup. She fed him an entire bowl of soup, and he did not act up during that time. After that, the housekeeper cleared the dishes and left. Gwendolyn used a wet towel to clean his face and hands. After he was all cleaned up, she heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Have a good rest. I''ll visit you when I''m free.¡± Zayden held her hand. ¡°Can youe daily?¡± he asked hopefully. Gwendolyn could tell that he needed someone to keep himpany badly. As Angeline was his mother, he did not want to appear weak to her. Hence, he had been acting tough. Gwendolyn gave in and said, ¡°Okay, I''lle every day.¡± Zayden still held her hand tightly and refused to let go. He was acting like a child. Angeline was watching at the side. She would haveshed out long ago if that had happened in the past. However, her son needed Gwendolyn to take care of him at the moment. Thus, she had to calm herself down. Even though he was blind now, she felt that Gwendolyn was still not worthy of Zayden. She would never agree to let them be together. Gwendolyn apanied him for a while longer and talked about the details of the incident. She found out that he had hurt his head the other day and be blind afterward. The cause of the illness was yet to be found. The result of the brain''s CT scan showed that everything was normal. However, he still could not see, and the doctors were still trying to find the cause. When Gwendolyn returned to Patrick''s ward, he was already awake. One of his hands was attached to an IV drip, and the other hand was holding a fork. He was having his meal.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Chapter 352 Chapter 352 He did not seem to have much appetite. He only used his fork to pick up the food once. After that, he did not touch the food anymore. Gwendolyn walked over, sat on the edge of his bed, and eyed the food on his table. The food looked very nd. ¡°You should eat more,¡± she said. Patrick threw an indifferent nce at her. ¡°Where did you go?¡± He had a bad mood, as she was not around when he woke up. Hence, he totally had no appetite. Gwendolyn used her hand to pick up a piece of food and put it into her mouth. She nodded and remarked, ¡°It''s delicious. You should hurry up and eat more. These are prepared by Ms. Ziegler.¡± As he did not want the Lowen family to be aware of his injury, his meals had been prepared by Camille daily. Actually, he had employed a few housekeepers in his own mansion, and they could have prepared his meals for him. However, Gwendolyn trusted Camille more, so she let her prepare his food instead. Patrick nced at her hands and said coldly, ¡°You can wash your hands now. Your food has already been heated up. Hurry up and eat.¡± In his mind, he was only concerned about how she had not eaten. Gwendolyn''s heart felt warm. She felt cold when she was at Zayden''s ward, but it was filled with warmth here. She smiled at the thought. She then stood up, held on to him, and pecked him on his cheek. ¡°Patrick, you must stay healthy and live a long life.¡± After that, she went to the bathroom to wash her hands. Patrick looked in the bathroom''s direction. This woman is acting strange today. However, he was pleased that she had kissed him of her own volition earlier. Amber and Liam were shocked by the sudden disy of affection. Feeling quite embarrassed, they exchanged nces. When Patrick turned his head and saw the both of them sitting quietly on the couch, he seemed to be at a loss. ¡°You can get off from work now,¡± he said tly. The both of them stood up at the same time and smiled at him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, we will take our leave and return tomorrow.¡± After that, they hurriedly left and left the ward to the couple. When Gwendolyn came out of the bathroom and saw that the two people who had been sitting on the couch had left, she was surprised. ¡°Have they left?¡± she asked. I wanted to ask them about how Patrick behaved after I left the ward earlier, but it seems that I''ll have to wait till tomorrow to get the answers. Patrick ate his meal with one hand gracefully. Gwendolyn thought that it was slightly inconvenient for him. ¡°Let me feed you,¡± she offered. After she sat down, she wanted to take the cutlery and food in front of him so that she could feed him. Today is an interesting day. I just fed Zayden just now, and I have to feed Patrick now. ¡°You don''t have to feed me. I can eat by myself. Hurry up and eat your food,¡± he said coldly. He was only concerned about how she had not taken her meal, and he insisted on handling his own matters on his own. Gwendolyn was delighted, understanding that he was concerned about her. The next day, Patrick was discharged from the hospital. Kevin noticed that Patrick appeared handsome as usual. He did not appear to be badly injured with a bullet in his body. After he personally removed his stitches for him, Kevin reminded him, ¡°Do not engage in any vigorous exercise. If you feel unwell, you have to visit the hospital immediately.¡± Patrick looked at Gwendolyn, who was packing up his things together with the housekeeper. All his undergarments were personally packed by her, and the housekeeper did not get to touch them. He lowered his voice as he replied, ¡°Okay, I understand. Look for a surgeon who can perform the surgery as soon as possible.¡± Kevin put a Band-Aid on him and adjusted the sses on his nose bridge. His eyes darkened. He pursed his thin lips before saying, ¡°Okay. I feel that I''m more suitable to handle the surgery. I''m very popr these days.¡± After Gwendolyn had finished packing, she walked toward Patrick. Her fair hand touched the skin around his wound, and her dimples appeared beside her lips. ¡°You''re still as handsome as ever. Don''t worry.¡± It''s so great to be able to see him recover day by day. Patrick reached out, held her small hand, and their fingers inteced. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°Kev, how is Gwen''s leg injury?¡± he asked. She seemed to be able to move around freely because she wanted to take care of him. Therefore, she had been acting tough. Chapter 353 Chapter 353 Kevin nced at her leg and said indifferently, ¡°It''s just a minor injury. I''ll prescribe a cream that helps with removing scars. It''ll not affect her as long as the scar will be gone.¡± Patrick finally felt relieved after hearing that. He stood up and hugged her. ¡°Let''s go home.¡± Patrick was slightly frustrated after staying in the hospital for so long. Initially, he was eager to go back to the office to work, but Gwendolyn did not allow him to do so. To ease her mind, he would go home and recuperate. Gwendolyn waved at Kevin. ¡°Bye, Mr. Chavez.¡± Kevin apanied them to the elevator. Once the elevator door closed, Gwendolyn hugged Patrick''s arm tightly. ¡°Patrick, you''re not allowed to get yourself injured again. I''m not as weak as you think I am.¡± Patrick cast a sideways nce at her. He enjoyed gripping her beautiful, pointy chin. ¡°Okay!¡± Gwendolyn let out a sigh of relief. Finally, he''s out of the hospital. I have to be stronger. This way, I won''t bring more trouble to him. When they arrived back at Star Mansion, Gwendolyn got him to lie down on the bed to rest. Obediently, Patricky down and beckoned to Gwendolyn. ¡°Stay with me.¡± He felt that he had fully recovered and could also go to work in thepany. However, Gwendolyn was overly worried. Gwendolyn took a few steps backward, feeling scared as she saw the bed. ¡°I-I will go and take a look at the kids. I haven''t seen them for so many days.¡± She turned around as soon as she finished speaking. When she arrived at the door, she turned around, and a smile appeared on her captivating face. ¡°I''ll be back very soon. Take an afternoon nap. I''ll already be here when you wake up.¡± Patrick pursed his lips and said in dissatisfactory, ¡°Can''t you put me before the kids?¡± That man acted as if he was a spoiled child. Seeing that expression of his, Gwendolyn chuckled again. Where is his cold, heartless, and domineering CEO look? He looks like a child now. ¡°No way.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Isn''t he more important than the kids now? I haven''t been home for so long and haven''t even met them. However, she felt moved by the thought of Patrick getting himself hurt because of her. He was the man who was willing to sacrifice his life for her. Besides Patrick, no other man could win her heart for the rest of her life. He was the only one. Gwendolyn closed the door and went home. As soon as she entered the house, she saw her children bathing Sirius in the courtyard. When Sirius shook the water off its body, Justin and Julian ran away quickly. Unfortunately, the water sshed all over Juliette. She lifted her hand to wipe her face. ¡°Gosh, Sirius. Why did you do that? I''m drenched.¡± Hearing her voice, Sirius knelt down, as if saying that it had done something wrong. It looked funny that way. Julietteughed out loud. ¡°I''ve forgiven you, Sirius.¡± Once Juliette finished speaking, it stood up instantly and could not help but shook its body again. Then, it got down and lowered its head. It dared not look at Juliette again. Juliette was angry yet found it funny. At the same time, Gwendolyn walked toward her. ¡°I''m back.¡± Gwendolyn missed them a lot, as she had not seen them for more than ten days. They seemed to be getting along well with Sirius when she was away. Juliette wailed the moment she saw Gwendolyn. ¡°Mm... Mm...¡± Julian and Justin were standing not too far away. They stared coldly at Juliette as they knew the reason she was crying. However, Gwendolyn panicked and ran forward to hug Juliette. ¡°Sweetheart, what happened?¡± Juliette continued crying but did not say anything. Julian answered on her behalf, ¡°She thought that you don''t want us anymore.¡± They had not met for more than ten days, and Gwendolyn had never left them for such a long time since they were born. As such, Juliette truly believed that Gwendolyn was abandoning them. Gwendolynforted her, ¡°Why would I do that? I just went on a business trip. I''ll buy you a Barbie doll and a nice dresster, okay?¡± As soon as Juliette heard that, she stopped crying immediately. ¡°Yes!¡± Chapter 354 Chapter 354 Gwendolyn held her little hand. ¡°Let me bring you to change your clothes. Justin and Julian will bathe Sirius. Then, we will head out.¡± She had not been home for days and decided to bring the three to walk around. That year was not the best. She had no time to apany them and felt quite guilty. That day, Patrick was discharged from the hospital. Later, she nned to ask Liam and the rest to keep an eye on Patrick, as she nned to spend a whole day with her three children. Gwendolyn chose a pastel blue dress and coat for Juliette. Then, she tied her hair into two ponytails. Juliette looked into the mirror and felt that she looked beautiful, just like a little princess. Sheughed, spread her arms, and hugged Gwendolyn. ¡°Mommy, I''m so happy you''re home. You''re not allowed to leave us ever again.¡± Juliette had been crying almost every night these few days. She kept saying that she missed Gwendolyn and often thought thetter did not want them anymore. Hence, she was extremely upset. Even though Justin and Julian apanied her to bed, she did not sleep well. Gwendolyn caressed her little head. ¡°Of course. Mommy will never leave for such a long time again.¡± This time, she had to be away because of Patrick''s injury. Moreover, he was injured because of her, so she wanted to take care of him. From then on, she would not let Patrick get injured because of her again. Patrick did not take his afternoon nap. Knowing that she missed her children, right after she left to go home, he changed into an outfit to go out. Then, he left the house. He drove to the police station. Gregory had gotten detained. Nheless, he wanted to take a look personally and find out the schemes behind everything. He then fell into deep thoughts again. The other day, they were all targetting Gwendolyn. She is merely a simple and ordinary girl. How did she get the killers going after her? Moreover, they were all professional killers. The car stopped in front of the police station, and the chief came personally to wee him. ¡°Pat, you''re here.¡± The chief, Anthony Cartwright, was a rtive of someone from the Lowen family, so Patrick knew him. Patrick called out to him, ¡°Chief Cartwright, I want to meet the suspect.¡± Thetter nodded. ¡°Okay. I''ll lead the way.¡± As they walked in, there were other polices who greeted them. Gregory was locked in an interrogation room. When they pushed open the door and entered, he cast a cold nce at Patrick. He had a disdainful look in his gaze, not showing the slightest trace of fear. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Patrick looked at the people behind him and said, ¡°Chief Cartwright, I have something to ask him personally. You all can go out first.¡± Anthony grasped the hint behind Patrick''s words and raised his hand to gesture for everyone to leave the room. Patrick took out his phone and sent a message: Hack into the system and switch off all of the surveince cameras here. He did not want to put Anthony in a tight spot, so he did everything on his own. When Gregory saw Patrick, his lips curled into a smug smirk. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you''re really lucky. You must be blessed.¡± He had no intention to take Patrick''s life. It waspletely unnned. As the situation was too chaotic then, he had fired his gun haphazardly, which caused him to shoot Patrick in his head identally. Luckily he''s not dead. It seems like I don''t have to die too. Patrick sat on the chair with a cold expression. A glint of ruthlessness shed across his eyes. ¡°Gregory, are you aware of the consequences?¡± Gregory shook his head. ¡°Nope. I won''t die anyway.¡± What he had done was for Candace and Felicia. Even though they did not visit him, he figured that it was because they did not have the necessary connections that allowed them to do so. Well, no one could fight with Patrick in Avenport. It''s normal if they can''t visit me. Moreover, I''ll keep my mouth shut, and I''ll stay loyal at least. Patrick used his right hand to touch the ring with a dragon carving on his left index finger as he smiled at Gregory half-heartedly. When Gregory was in a daze, Patrick suddenly took out a syringe and pointed at the former. ¡°Do you know what this is?¡± Gregoryughed out loud. ¡°Is this poison? I''m not afraid of death. I mean it, Patrick. There''s no need to scare me like this.¡± Patrick stood up and walked to his side. As Gregory''s limbs were tied up, he could not move an inch. However, he was acting all arrogant, which infuriated Patrick. Chapter 355 Chapter 355 He reached out a hand and grabbed Gregory''s chin with his cold and strong fingers, causing Gregory to frown in pain. ¡°Patrick, we''re in a police station. There are surveince cameras here. Aren''t you afraid?¡± Patrick nced cidly at him. ¡°I''ve already hacked into the system and switched them off.¡± He told him the truth. When Gregory heard those words, he turned to look at the surveince cameras, and his expression changed significantly. ¡°You! What do you want to do to me?¡± Patrick had already stuck the needle into his neck coldly. He slowly injected the liquid in. ¡°This drug can test if you''re telling the truth. There is only a small amount of it in this world. You''re considered lucky to be able to test it out.¡± Patrick appeared to be a businessman, but he had a personalboratory. The research he engaged in was the most advanced. The drug was invented in hisboratory. ¡°Test it out?¡± Patrick pulled out the needle and threw it into a trash can casually. His smile grew more sinister. Although he appeared to be smiling, he exuded a menacing aura. Gregory was a gangster who had witnessed all sorts of situations. However, when faced with Patrick''s expression, he found himself slightly backing down. At the same time, Gregory''s lips twitched and his heart palpitated uncontrobly. Patrick''s aura was so overwhelming that Gregory was intimidated. However, Gregory was still stubbornly holding on. He did not let Patrick notice his fear. ¡°I''ll ask you something, and you''ll reply. If you lie, your heart will be filled with blood. On the third time that you lie, your blood vessels will burst, and you''ll die immediately. Even in such a ce, your cause of death would merely be a heart attack.¡± Thereafter, he chuckled coldly. ¡°Think carefully, Gregory. I never joke around.¡± Gregory gritted his teeth, and a chill ran down his spine. It was the first time in his life to meet the legendary man, and that man was scary just as the rumors said. Though Patrick appeared to be handsome and suave, every word he said would cause people to tremble with terror, and it only took one gaze from him to make one go down on their knees. If Gregory was not handcuffed, he would have gotten on his knees a long time ago. ¡°What''s your rtionship with Gwendolyn?¡± As Patrick spoke in a cold voice, his finger subconsciously touched the ring on the index finger of his left hand. Although Gregory was afraid, he did not believe that there would be such a type of medicine in the world. ¡°We''re lovers.¡± As he finished speaking, a sharp pain entered his heart. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and he could not withstand it. ¡°Hmm... I...¡± He was already unable to sit still. The medicine was truly effective. Of course, that was not Patrick''s concern. He knew that Gregory did not know Gwendolyn at all, and Gregory merely received money and instructions to do things. He just wanted to let Gregory feel the potency of the drug. Gregory gritted his teeth and felt extremely ufortable. ¡°Think carefully before you answer my second question. The pain will be a thousand times worse than the first time.¡± Even if Gregory was a stubborn man, he would not be able to withstand the pain and might even let out terrifying shrieks. Gregory was frightened. He stared intently at Patrick with his dark eyes. He clenched his jaw, and hatred filled him. If he had not been restrained, he would have charged forward to fight Patrick. ¡°Who ordered you to kill Gwendolyn?¡± Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. There was faint emotion in Patrick''s voice. His gaze turned colder, causing one to tremble in horror. Gregory gritted his teeth and replied, ¡°I don''t know.¡± Just as he finished speaking, he yelled out loudly. He was in so much pain that he smashed his head on the table. Sweat drenched his clothes immediately. Tormented by so much pain, he could not help but let out a hysterical yell. ¡°Felicia is your niece. Did she tell you to do that?¡± Patrick''s subordinate had managed to find out that Gregory was Felicia''s uncle. Gwendolyn had also mentioned that the person she hated the most was Felicia. Patrick connected the dots and arrived at that conclusion. Gregory''s eyes widened. He was in too much pain and did not wish to die. Thus, he replied, ¡°Yes...¡± However, the pain in his heart did not disappear. Patrick turned and walked toward the door. Just as he reached the door, he heard Gregory''s mournful cry. Patrick smiled faintly. Those who had the audacity to try to harm Gwendolyn had no other choice but to die. Chapter 356 Chapter 356 Gregory leaned his head on the table. His eyes widened. Didn''t he say I can live if I don''t lie? However, I spoke the truth. Why is my chest hurting so badly? I can''t breathe! Patrick ignored him and pulled open the door to leave. Thereafter, the police walked in and realized that Gregory had a heart attack. The police wanted to bring him to the hospital, but it was toote. He had already stopped breathing. Gwendolyn bought her three children to the streets to shop. She first brought them to their favorite fast food joint. Normally, she did not allow them to eat junk food. However, as she had not spent much time with them recently, she wanted to make them happy. In the restaurant, Juliette chomped on a chicken wing happily, and her small mouth was oily. Gwendolyn furrowed her brows at that sight. She looked at her two sons who were eating dignifiedly and elegantly, then looked at her daughter. Her daughter had oil all over her face and hands. She could not help but wonder who her daughter took after. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Justin gave Juliette a napkin to wipe her mouth with. She then giggled merrily. ¡°Thanks Justin!¡± Justin pushed the food toward her. ¡°This is the food you like to eat.¡± Her two sons only ate the hamburgers, but Juliette liked to eat everything. Juliette was undoubtedly a foodie. After their meal, they went to the shopping mall beside the restaurant. She was going to buy some toys for the three children. Juliette picked a beautiful Barbie doll whereas Julian and Justin bought Lego bricks. They were not interested in other toys. Despite that, they loved to y with Lego. After purchasing the toys, the four of them went to a shop to buy a princess dress for Juliette. As they passed by the Denzy Kenington shop, Gwendolyn paused and walked in. The brand was founded by her mentor, Tiffany. The three children went to a corner to y and wait for her to choose some clothes. She and her children only had each other to depend on for the past few years. Each time she went shopping, her children would apany her. They were used to ying among themselves and giving her ample time to pick her things. Gwendolyn noticed that the spring designs were already out. Even that collection was designed by her. She had never attended the Denzy Kenington Spring Fashion Show but had seen reports about it on television. The show was impressive and sessful. As she looked at the clothes that she had designed hanging in the shop, she felt rather happy. She reached out a hand and ran her fingers over the dress. There was a single lotus flower on the hem of the dress. The design was refreshing yet fairy-like. It was the design that she loved the most. She narrowed her eyes and smiled. Suddenly, a voice interrupted her train of thoughts. ¡°Mom, what do you think about this dress?¡± Felicia snatched that dress away from Gwendolyn and held it against her body. She suddenly turned to look at Gwendolyn, and her expression darkened significantly. ¡°Gwendolyn.¡± When Gwendolyn caught sight of them, the smile on her face froze. Why would I meet them just when I''m in a good mood? How disappointing. Candace was enraged when she saw Gwendolyn. The former thought of the fact that her younger brother had been sent to jail and might need to serve a jail term. Furthermore, Patrick almost died because of Gwendolyn, and that had caused Felicia to lose her appetite and sleep these days. Felicia wanted to visit him in the hospital but was chased out by security every time. She had finally received news of his discharge from the hospital that day. Thus, she wanted to buy a pretty dress and wear it to meet Patrick. Gwendolyn, Felicia, and Candace just had to bump into each other there of all ces. Candace crossed her arms and shot Gwendolyn an apathetic look. ¡°Manager? Pleasee here for a moment.¡± Ady wearing a uniform rushed over. She appeared to be in her thirties, and she nodded slightly. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Ashton. I''m the store manager here. My name is Jane Langley. Is there anything I can help you with?¡± Candace pointed at Gwendolyn. ¡°A poor person like her can''t afford the clothes here. Get her out of here.¡± When Candace thought of the fact that her brother might end up serving time in the jail, hatred welled up in her heart. She wanted to make things difficult for Gwendolyn and embarrass her. Besides, Candace even wanted to hit Gwendolyn, but she knew that thetter was rather skillful. Thus, she did not dare to do so and merely instructed the manager to do that on behalf of her. Chapter 357 Chapter 357 The store manager took a quick look at Gwendolyn, who she had never met before, as well as Candace and Felicia, who were VIP customers and very important to them. Although chasing customers out of the store was undesirable, she had to do so in order to appease the VIP customers. Looking at Gwendolyn, she noticed that the clothes she was wearing had no logo, despite the fact that they appeared to be of high quality in terms of workmanship and materials. However, she could tell from her years of experience working in a luxury goods store that the clothes Gwendolyn was wearing were not from any branded brands, so thetter was not a potential customer for them. Shouldn''t it be okay to offend her? Everything will be fine as long as Mrs. Ashton is satisfied. ¡°Miss, Mrs. Ashton is a VVIP customer of ours, and she dislikes being disturbed. You are wee to return and shopter.¡± The store manager spoke in a very courteous manner, and several store assistants nearby grinned sweetly. ¡°Please go this way.¡± They motioned for her to leave the store by raising their hands in unison. While that was going on, Candace was gazing at the dress Felicia was holding. ¡°This dress is beautiful. You must look incredibly gorgeous in it, Fel.¡± Having said that, she nced at Gwendolyn and continued, ¡°Unlike someone who can''t afford it at all but still wants toe in and put on a show. What a pretentious woman!¡± Felicia held the dress up to her body andpared it to her figure. ¡°I also think it''s really lovely. Denzy Kenington''s clothes appear to be better this season!¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Unbeknownst to them, the designer of this season''s clothes was standing beside them. ¡°Miss, pleasee this way,¡± the store manager urged again, fearful that Candace would be upset. After all, the mother-daughter duo were regr customers, and her job performance was dependent on them. ¡°Fel, go change into this dress.¡± Hearing that, Felicia gave Gwendolyn a brief look. I want Gwendolyn to die and disappear from this world, but why does she consistently survive? However, now Gwendolyn can no longer act haughtily when Mom is around. After all, Uncle Gregory is in trouble, and Mom is very concerned about him. She has long held Gwendolyn responsible for what has happened. At that thought, she took the dress and headed to the dressing room. She was followed by a store assistant who eagerly assisted her. Shortly afterward, Candace approached Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°What are you looking at? This dress costs more than sixty thousand. Can you afford it?¡± As a matter of fact, Candace made up the story about the wealthy old man to keep Gwendolyn under control. The old man had fled long ago after taking advantage of the situation. Gwendolyn is so pathetic. Even an old man is not interested in her. Despite giving birth to her, her parents didn''t raise her. Poor girl, how unfortunate. Thinking of that, Candace had a smug expression on her face. In fact, she was the one who actually caused Gwendolyn to grow up without her parents. Because Candace had stolen another woman''s husband, the child never experienced familial affection. As soon as the triplets heard the argument, they came over. ¡°Mommy, what''s the matter?¡± inquired Justin coldly. Subsequently, he turned his attention to Candace because Gwendolyn was being menacingly eyed by her. The kids knew right away that their mother was being bullied by Candace. They quickly stood in front of her, and Julian narrowed his eyes slightly. When Candace saw the triplets, she startedughing. ¡°Haha. Gwendolyn, these three little b*stards have grown so much?¡± Gwendolyn could put up with anything, but she would not stand by and watch when someone insulted her children. Thus, she patted her two sons on the shoulders and instructed them to cover their sister''s eyes as well as their own. Justin and Julian obediently closed their eyes after extending their hands to cover Juliette''s eyes. After that, Gwendolyn strode over to Candace, reached out to grab thetter''s neck, and pped her across the face. ¡°Watch your words!¡± ¡°You! How dare you hit me?¡± Candace yelled in shock. However, despite Candace''s desire to fight back, Gwendolyn tightly clenched her hand, causing Candace to gasp in agony. ¡°Help me! I''m getting hit!¡± A few store assistants wanted toe over to help, but Gwendolyn stated sternly, ¡°Don''te here. Otherwise, you have to bear the consequences.¡± Chapter 358 Chapter 358 The store manager gave the store assistants a meaningful look. She would never allow anyone to cause amotion in the store. The next moment, all of the store assistants gathered around Gwendolyn. Julian and Justin fixated their gazes on them, fearing that their mother would not be able to handle the situation. Both of them red icily at the bad guys. If those people attacked their mother collectively, they would need to assist her. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn did not give them a chance. When the two store assistants stepped forward, she threw them out, sending them crashing into the ss window. The pain in the backs of the two women was excruciating. They touched their backs and gave up trying to move forward. As the store manager realized Gwendolyn was skilled inbat, she pulled out her phone and went to the entrance to call the security guards. Noticing that everyone was terrified of Gwendolyn, Candace struggled and uttered, ¡°Gwendolyn, let go of me!¡± At that moment, Felicia exited the dressing room after changing into the dress. As soon as she saw her mother''s face was red with a handprint on it, she shot Gwendolyn a piercing nce and questioned, ¡°Gwendolyn, what are you doing? Are you the one who beat my mother?¡± As she spoke, she took out her phone and called Zachary. ¡°Dad, Gwen pped Mom. Come here quickly. We can''t beat her.¡± She sobbed as she spoke as if she were being bullied. All of a sudden, Gwendolyn let go of Candace. Thetter lost her bnce and copsed to the ground, spraining her ankle. Holding Juliette''s hand, Gwendolyn warned, ¡°Candace, you''d better watch your mouth. If you continue to talk nonsense, expect more severe consequences than a p in the face.¡± Naturally, Candace was enraged to see Gwendolyn''s arrogant attitude and vowed not to let things slide so easily. The moment she noticed that Gwendolyn was about to leave, she instructed, ¡°Stop her. Keep her from leaving. She must take responsibility for hitting me.¡± Immediately, a few store assistants blocked the entrance. ¡°You''re not allowed to leave. Wait for the security guard to arrive.¡± Listening to that, Gwendolyn turned to look at the three children. Juliette appeared perplexed. ¡°Gwen, you said fighting is bad, so why did you fight?¡± Gwendolyn was aware that things would get messyter because she knew the mother-daughter duo would not give up easily, and her father would show up shortly. She only wanted the kids to stay in a wonderful world and did not want them to see how cruel the world was. ¡°Justin, take your younger siblings to the nearby dessert shop for some food. After I''ve dealt with this situation here, I''ll head over.¡± Justin acknowledged with a hum. His dark eyes were filled with concern. ¡°All right, leave them to me. Can you handle it on your own? Be careful not to hurt yourself.¡± Seeing her son''s crystal clear eyes and how calm her children were in the face of trouble, she smiled faintly. ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll protect myself.¡± Even though Justin was still anxious, his eyes lit up slightly as he considered asking for assistance later. Yet, Gwendolyn seemed to have read his mind and remarked tly, ¡°I''ll be fine. Just wait for me at the dessert shop. Don''t call Zayden. He''s in the hospital and won''t be able toe here.¡± Usually, her two sons would seek out Zayden whenever something happened. However, she did not want them to bother Zayden since he was now blind. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. In an instant, Justin''s eyes lost their sparkle, and his worry for his mother grew. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Hearing that, Justin and Juliette turned their heads to look at her. ¡°Mommy, I want to stay with you.¡± At the side, Julian pursed his lips andmented, ¡°Mommy, we''ve grown up and can protect you.¡± Juliette blinked her big, round eyes and was about to cry. Everyone here is so bad. They''re all ring at Gwen with icy expressions on their faces. It''s so scary. Just then, Justin held Juliette''s hand and uttered, ¡°Julian, Juliette, let''s go over there and wait for Mommy.¡± Being the oldest of the three, he had to listen to his mother''s words and shoulder some of her responsibility. In this instance, Juliette might get frightened if these people truly cause Mommy problems. Mommy''s worry is justified. Juliette is cowardly and in poor health. We have to protect her. After watching the triplets leave, Gwendolyn returned to the couch and sat down gracefully while picking up a magazine from the side to read. It was a fashion magazine. Her interview was featured inside, with a famous jewelry brand on the cover. Without giving a thought to the atmosphere in the store, she opened it and began reading it. Soon, the security guards arrived and surrounded her. ¡°Miss, kindly follow us to the security department.¡± Chapter 359 Chapter 359 Both Candace and Felicia were standing next to the guards while the former wiped away her tears and comined, ¡°This woman is the one who assaulted me. She pped me. Look at my face. I want to sue her.¡± Gwendolyn put down the magazine in her hand and glimpsed at the guards who surrounded her. She then shifted her attention to Candace. ¡°Do you n not to wait for your husband?¡± Didn''t she ask my father toe and teach me a lesson? Well, I''m still waiting for him. Thetter''s eyes turned cruel after hearing that. ¡°He''ll be here soon. Just you wait.¡± Felicia was glowering at Gwendolyn too. This woman is horrendous. Why is it so hard to get rid of her? Soon, Zachary entered the boutique. Since Ashton Corporation was in the building next to the mall, he didn''t have to spend much timeing over here. Felicia and Candace even had lunch with him before visiting the boutique. Gwendolyn spotted him the moment he walked passed the entrance. He was dressed in a silver suit, and his expression was solemn. Candace wailed loudly almost immediately after she caught sight of him. ¡°You''re finally here, Darling. Look at what Gwen did to me! She pped me! I was trying to advise her to visit you more often, yet she hit me.¡± Having heard such an exnation, Zachary''s expression became grimmer. He then approached Gwendolyn and swung his hand to p her. However, his effort was unsessful as she managed to dodge it, causing his fume to worsen. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°How dare you dodge it?¡± When Zachary confronted Gwendolyn, she was sitting down, and he was standing tall. Since he was tall and had a broad figure, it made her feel like she was at a disadvantage at that point. Thus, she quickly stood up to boost her aura. Though the man standing before her was her father, Gwendolyn had never felt any love from him before. Zachary would me Gwendolyn for everything whenever he heard Candace and Felicia cry. It was the same every time. Gwendolyn knew the children who were good at crying would be the ones who get the most attention. However, she didn''t care enough to do it. When she was younger, she would try to exin herself whenever Zachary med her for something. Unfortunately, the harder she tried, the more Zachary thought she was trying to fork up an excuse. Felicia got to her father''s side and tugged his hand. ¡°Dad, she went overbroad this time. She even hit the staff here. We must report her to the police and send her to the police station.¡± Zachary then looked at his younger daughter and instructed her in a cold tone, ¡°Call the police now. She would be guing society if we allow her to roam freely.¡± Meanwhile, Zachary also wanted to use this opportunity tosh out his anger at her because he found out Hector had gifted three mansions for her three children. Whenever he thought about the three kids, anger would overtake him. He didn''t dare to tell his family about this news. He knew hell would break loose among the Ashton family if they found out about it. Gwendolyn snickered. ¡°Mr. Ashton, do you own the police station? Do you really think that reporting me on such a trivial matter will make me go to jail?¡± What a joke. I did p those people, but I doubt I deserve to serve time in prison for my actions. The guards were still standing there and would asionally turn to look at Gwendolyn. The boutique assistants did the same too. Everyone was enjoying the chaotic confrontation in front of them. Zachary rubbed his temple and said, ¡°Gwendolyn, you have assaulted someone. Do you know how serious this is? It seems that your Aunt Candace is too kind to you. From today onwards, I''m going to ask her to be hard on you.¡± He then took out his phone and was ready to call the police. At that same time, Patrick entered the boutique with a group of executives of the mall following from behind. Patrick came to the mall with a helicopter. When he heard from Juliette, who called him not long ago, that many people were trying to bully her mother, he quickly asked his subordinate to pick him up using the helicopter and sent him to the mall''s helipad. Seeing such a scene before him, the mall''s manager inquired the boutique''s sales manager, ¡°What''s going on?¡± As soon as the sales manager saw all her superiors entering the boutique, she knew the current ongoing conflict had beenmunicated to them. She pointed at Gwendolyn andined, ¡°Thisdy has been causing havoc in the boutique. She even assaulted others. She pped our customers and hit our sales assistants.¡± Upon hearing such a report, all the executives turned their attention to Gwendolyn. When they saw her face, they couldn''t help thinking that she looked familiar, but they weren¡¯t able to recall her identity. The manager took a glimpse at the handsome man, who was walking in front of them, and said, ¡°She assaulted someone? Did anyone call the police? Our mall is not a ce where anyone can enter easily. In the future, we must prevent anyone as rude as her from entering the mall.¡± The moment he ended his sentence, everyone saw Patrick arrive at Gwendolyn''s side, take her hand, and ask dotingly, ¡°Did your hand hurt from the p?¡± Chapter 360 Chapter 360 All the executives had solemn faces and were persistent in punishing Gwendolyn for assaulting others. However, when they saw their boss take the woman''s hand and massage it worriedly, they didn''t know how to react to the scene before them, especially the mall''s manager, who was in a panic. Oh no! I really want to p myself right now. What did I just say? Can I take it all back? Gwendolyn couldn''t stopughing when she saw Patrick bringing arge group of people with him. She felt he had gone overbroad with it. And as soon as she heard his question, she was speechless. Does this guy have to be so exaggerated? While massaging her hand, Patrick shot an icy re at Zachary. Then, he shifted his attention between Candace and Felicia. ¡°Mr. Carter, please ask you men to think through what they have done. It seems to me their eyesight is poor. How could they fail to differentiate dogs and humans?¡± Candace''s face instantly became dark when she heard that. How dare hepare us with a dog! Since Patrick was a man with a pretty face, one wouldn''t expect him to be so brutal in cursing others. As for Felicia, the moment she saw Patrick entering the boutique, she couldn''t help but tremble in fear. She gripped her father''s sleeve tightly and didn¡¯t dare to meet Patrick''s gaze. After epting Patrick''s criticism, the manager led the executives and the shop assistants to the boutique''s entrance. Before leaving, Liam assured Gwendolyn, ¡°Ms. Ashton, you don''t have to worry about your children. I''ll go and take care of them now.¡± He then swept his cold gaze at the three Ashtons. Though he first thought they would be the Lowen family''s rtives, he knew that would only be a pipe dream now since they offended Gwendolyn that day. At that instant, Liam knew Patrick would be distant and heartless toward the family from that day onward. Liam also decided that he didn''t have to be kind to them anymore. Ms. Ashton is so pretty and cute. How could they bully her? They are very evil! That was another main reason why Liam decided to stop being nice to the family. ¡°Thank you!¡± Gwendolyn said after hearing his assurance. Soon, Patrick, Gwendolyn, and the three members of the Ashton family were the only ones left in the boutique. Patrick grabbed Gwendolyn''s hand and pulled her to the couch to rest her feet. He then glowered at the three people standing in front of him. Zachary looked extremely upset because he was aware of the misery Felicia suffered. How dare Gwendolyn snatch Patrick from my daughter! Her audacity is remarkable! Candace then showed her red face to Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Gwendolyn had pped me. Look at how hard she hit me on the face. I don''t mind forgiving her, but I hope she will stop doing this again from now on.¡± Felicia furrowed her brows. ¡°Mom, how could you forgive her? It''s wrong to p someone.¡± Patrick didn''t let go of Gwendolyn''s hand when the twodies took turns to speak. Since he had learned about Felicia''s true colors from Gregory, the presentation they gave was merely an act in his eyes. ¡°Mrs. Ashton, I know what kind of person Gwen is. If you didn''t step on her boundaries, she wouldn''t do that to you.¡± Patrick predicted that Candace must have spoken rudely about Gwendolyn''s children. After all, the three children were the most significant person in the world for thetter, and only the three little ones were enough of a reason for her to be unable to control her urge to hit someone. Candace felt somewhat guilty when she heard Patrick''sment. She then looked around and spotted the surveince cameras inside the boutique. At that point, she couldn''t help but wonder if those cameras recorded voices too. If they did, she would be in huge trouble. As a result, Candace bit her lip and decided not to face Patrick head-on. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Despite fearing that Patrick would use the surveince cameras to refute her, the anger inside Candace kept building when she witnessed the concern Patrick had toward Gwendolyn and Patrick''s unwillingness to let her stepdaughter''s hand go. What would happen to Fel now? Fel once said that she loves Patrick very much and would only be willing to marry him in this lifetime. Moreover, she is a stubborn girl. If she can''t stop loving him, she will have a lot of hard times in the future. Seeing no one responded to Patrick''sment, Zachary took over the conversation. ¡°Patrick, despite your influence in Avenport, I won''t allow you to hurt my child. Didn''t youe to the house and announce that you would marry Felicia back then? How could you change your mind within such a short period?¡± His usation startled Felicia. She bit her lips tightly and decided to meet Hector afterward. Only he could help me with this. I must persuade him to get rid of Gwendolyn. I will not give up until I can get my revenge. Patrick snickered and casted a nce on Felicia. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Ashton, we only have a contract between us. Since she wanted money then, she agreed to be my fake girlfriend, and that was all.¡± Chapter 361 Chapter 361 Gwendolyn was hearing about the contract for the first time. Surprise then shed in her eyes as realization finally dawned on her. Felicia couldn''t stop shaking her head when she heard his deration. Tears kept flowing down her cheeks too. ¡°But I have fallen for you, Patrick. I love you. I really do.¡± Felicia sobbed miserably as pain and misery took over her heart. Seeing her daughter''s condition, Candace rushed to embrace her. ¡°Fel, how could you be so stupid? He has never taken you seriously. You must forget about him.¡± However, after hearing the advice, Felicia looked at Patrick greedily and screamed, ¡°No, Mom. I will not forget about him. I love him very much!¡± Gwendolyn was deeply irritated by her stepsister. She couldn''t help glowering at thetter while being impressed with her shamelessness. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Didn''t Patrick say they merely have a contract between them? Honestly, she can''t even be considered his ex-girlfriend. How could she be so shameless and pronounce her love for him? At that moment, Gwendolyn could feel jealousy inside her. Though she knew many women would be attracted to Patrick, it didn''t mean she would be fine with seeing one pronouncing her love for him so loudly. Upon hearing her deration, Zachary lifted his voice a pitch higher. ¡°That''s enough! Do you think you haven''t disgraced yourself enough? We''re going home now.¡± Just then, Candace''s phone rang. Blood immediately drained from her face after she answered it. ¡°Darling, Greg... Greg''s dead...¡± she wailed. Zachary hurriedly held his wife to support her. ¡°Let''s go check on him first.¡± Felicia regained her senses when her parents were already heading toward the door. Uncle Gregory''s dead? How is that possible? She could feel her knees go weak. When she was about to leave, Patrick suddenly got to her side. He was smirking, and the coldness in his gaze was rather scary then. ¡°This is his fate for hurting Gwendolyn, Felicia. I assure you your ending will be worse than this.¡± Felicia looked at him with surprise as she didn''t expect him to know the secret. Didn''t Uncle Gregory promise me to keep this a secret? Didn''t he swear not to tell a soul about it? No, I''m just scaring myself. He''s dead. He''s not going to say anything anymore. However, she could not stop thinking, But what if Patrick has investigated the truth? Felicia started to panic when she thought of this. She shook her head and said, ¡°I didn''t do anything.¡± She then quickly darted out of the boutique. After seeing such, Gwendolyn stood up, strolled to his side, and asked, ¡°What did you say to her? Why is she so scared?¡± Patrick circled his arms around her shoulder and slightly raised the corners of his lips. ¡°A warning.¡± With his arms still on her shoulder, he led her out of Denzy Kenington boutique. The executives and shop assistants, who were standing by the entrance, bowed and greeted them, ¡°Mr. Lowen, Ms. Ashton.¡± In a t voice, Patrick instructed, ¡°Please return to your work! But make sure to keep your eyes wide open next time.¡± Patrick''s warning almost caused the boutique sales manager to drop to her knees. What have we done just now? How could we mess with Mr. Lowen''s woman then? Perhaps we all have a wish to be kicked out of Avenport. I sincerely hope that he can forgive us. We must memorize thatdy''s face and remind ourselves never to offend her forever. After all, it wasn''t an exaggeration to say that Patrick spoiled her to the core. He treated her like a princess. When the two got to the dessert shop entrance, Gwendolyn tugged his shirt. ¡°Patrick, can you let go of me for now?¡± She wanted to keep a distance from him because she didn''t want to upset her sons, considering they hadn''t entirely epted him yet. Patrick slightly creased his brows when he heard her request. ¡°I know you''re worried about saddening your sons, but has it ever crossed your mind that they know everything.¡± Patrick knew that the two boys were trying to test him and helped Gwendolyn regain her pride. It was essential to them that Patrick knew their mother was not easy to pursue. With them around to monitor him, the process to gain the heart of his love became extremely hard. Additionally, the boys attempted to use this opportunity to make him cherish her more. Still, Gwendolyn stepped away from his embrace. ¡°But I''m scared of them.¡± She even smiled happily at the end of her sentence. Patrick was slightly displeased when she moved away, but he raised his brows meaningfully when observing the happiness on her face. I guess that''s a blessing for bing a mother. I don''t know what it feels like since I''m not a father. Gwendolyn then walked into the dessert shop. Juliette quickly waved her hand at her mother after noticing thetter. ¡°Mommy, I leave some of your favorite strawberry cake for you.¡± Justin pushed the cake to his mother''s seat and ced a fork on the te while Julian stood up to allow her to get to her seat. ¡°Mommy, don''t take the aisle seat.¡± Her two sons were gentlemen who knew how to take good care ofdies. Patrick glimpsed at the four of them and noticed no additional seat for him since the table was for four. Seeing such, he had to sit across from Liam. Liam smiled awkwardly upon realizing his boss'' situation. ¡°Mr. Lowen, do you want to have a taste of the desserts I ordered?¡± Meanwhile, he eximed inwardly, I feel bad for Mr. Lowen. Chapter 362 Chapter 362 Patrick took a look at the desserts on the table and took a piece of strawberry cake. He then dug a full spoon of it and put it in his mouth. It was sweet and tasty. However, Patrick''s gaze was on the woman not far from him the entire time. The smile on her never faded as she ate the cake. The gaze on her three children was soft and full of the halo of motherly love. It was magnificent, and Patrick was fully absorbed in it. After seeing such a scene before him, Liam murmured, ¡°Happiness will surround the family whenever they spend time together. It will be nice if those children are Mr. Lowen''s.¡± If they are his children, Mr. Lowen will be able to hang out with them. Leaving that aside, I have to admit that the three children and Mr. Lowen will look good together, especially the two boys. They do share some of Mr. Lowen''s features. However, Liam kept the thought to himself as he didn''t dare to say it out loud. After all, a man like his boss would know pretty well if they had children. He decided that, as a subordinate, he shouldn''t worry too much about his boss'' private life. At the same moment, Gwendolyn turned to look at Patrick too. Her eyes glimmered with delight as the two stared at each other intensely. Patrick''s expression slightly lit up too. Finally, she remembers me. Meanwhile, Zayden was sitting on the hospital bed alone inside the ward. He looked at the clear blue skies through the window and sighed softly. It seemed that his eyesight was getting better that day, but he wasn''t happy about it since he hoped he could stay blind. He closed his eyes and pursed his lips with frustration. ¡°I need someone here,¡± he called out loudly, and a housekeeper immediately entered the ward. ¡°Mr. Surrington, is there anything I can do for you?¡± ¡°I''m hungry.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. The reality was he missed Gwendolyn. He caused a fussst time because he didn''t want to trouble her due to his blindness. However, she refused to leave after being chased away repeatedly. Then, an idea formed in his head. He nned to continue ying the character of the blind man and insist on pretending blind even if his eyesight got a little better. He felt it was the only way to keep Gwendolyn by his side. The housekeeper nodded after hearing that. ¡°Okay. I will contact Ms. Ashton.¡± Angeline had instructed them to call Gwendolyn and request thettere over and feed Zayden whenever he was hungry because he wouldn''t eat if someone else fed him. He even refused to be fed by his mother too, and this caused him to get skinnier as the day passed. Since Angeline didn''t want her son to give up on himself, she decided that Gwendolyn should feed him, disregarding if it would be an issue for thetter. In her mind, she felt this was the time for Gwendolyn to return her favor as her son had been helping and taking care of Gwendolyn and her children. After finishing the desserts with her three kids, Gwendolyn took them to buy some clothes, the poofy dresses Juliette loved very much. Patrick followed them the entire time. As he had never been to the kids'' section before, he curiously took a pair of tiny shoes and was amazed by their size. It was only as big as his thumb. Liam squinted his eyes and smiled. ¡°Are you nning to buy the shoes, Mr. Lowen?¡± He can buy it for his future children. I bet the child will look cute in it. Patrick stared at the shoes in his hand and slightly frowned. ¡°Are all the kids this tiny when they are born?¡± This thumb-sized shoe is very cute! Liam thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Maybe? I''m not a father, so I have never seen a newly born baby before.¡± Patrick then moved his gaze in Gwendolyn''s direction. She was patiently and gently helping Juliette to fix her dress. It was hard for Patrick to imagine that Gwendolyn once had three babies inside her belly since her waist was so tiny. What did they look like when they were newborns? I wonder what our child will look like. I bet they will be pretty too. My child will be as pretty and intelligent as these three kids. Then, Gwendolyn''s phone rang. After taking it out and looking at the caller ID, she told her child, ¡°Juliette, do pick the dresses you prefer. I have to answer a call real quick.¡± She then walked to a side. The call was from an unknown number. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Ms. Ashton, I''m Mr. Surrington''s housekeeper. Can youe to the hospital today? He hasn''t had his lunch yet.¡± Gwendolyn frowned when she heard that. It''s already time for dinner now. How could he still not have his lunch? ¡°Okay. I''lle over now.¡± She started to get worried when she thought about the change in his mood and his temper after he got blind. Chapter 363 Chapter 363 Gwendolyn then returned to her children''s side. After making sure they had gotten everything they needed, she decided to ask Patrick to send them home while she rushed to the hospital. With such thought in mind, she approached Patrick, who still had the tiny shoes in his hand. She found it funny when she noticed the immense difference in size between him and the shoes. Patrick was massive, and the shoes for newly born babies were exceptionally tiny. When he held them in his hand, they seemed like toys instead. Patrick then shifted his gaze to the shoes in his hand after looking at her smile and asked, ¡°Are these for newly born babies?¡± Since he didn''t have the experience of being a father, he was curious about it. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Yes. Juliette wore these tiny shoes when she was newly born. As for Julian and Justin, their feet were slightly bigger then. So they had shoes with arger size.¡± She pointed at the shoes with a size bigger when she exined it to Patrick. At that instant, she was brought back in time when she had just be a mother and the three children were hatchlings waiting for food. If it weren''t for Zayden''s help back then, she wouldn''t have made it to today. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. That was why she felt horrible when she thought about his eyes. She could only hope that he could get better soon. Patrick then reached out to take the shoes with a size bigger. Patrick was a stranger to the world involving tiny items. Seeing Patrick acting like a curious child, the smile on her face grew wider. So, the mighty Mr. Lowen doesn''t have all the world''s knowledge in his head. He does have some things he doesn''t know too. At that moment, Gwendolyn felt she was cleverer than Patrick, at least in the area involving babies. ¡°Patrick, can you send the kids home for meter? I need to attend to something.¡± Patrick frowned. ¡°Okay. Where are you going?¡± For Patrick, Gwendolyn would always be with her children wherever they went. Hence, he found it weird that she would leave her children alone. Knowing that Patrick wouldn''t be happy with her attending to anything rted to Zayden, she decided to fork up a lie. ¡°Something was wrong with Lucy. Since there will be a lot of viruses in the hospital, I don''t want them to follow me. Will you be fine with taking them home?¡± She reached out to tug the hem of his shirt and looked at him with begging eyes. Patrick couldn''t bring himself to say no after seeing her face. ¡°Okay!¡± After hearing that particr word, Gwendolyn quickly kissed his cheek. ¡°Thank you. I''ll leave now. Please take good care of the children for me.¡± Gwendolyn looked very sweet when she smiled, and the dimples looked cute. Liam quickly turned around when he saw her actions. The sudden public disy of affection had caught him off guard. What a scene. The children, who were standing nearby, saw it too. Juliette blinked her eyes and decided, ¡°That is love. I want to be in love too.¡± Julian and Justin frowned and looked at their sister. They then said in unison, ¡°No!¡± Juliette was startled by the volume of their voice. She covered her face and added, ¡°I mean when I''m grown up. That should be fine, right?¡± ¡°No.¡± Juliette pouted her mouth angrily for a moment. My two brothers are tyrants. How could they not allow me to be in love when I''m grown up? Julian couldn''t hold back his thought after a moment of silence. ¡°Justin, I think Mommy has already fallen for that man.¡± Justin pursed his lips and replied, ¡°I see that too.¡± The two sons were worried about their mother. Patrick had tricked her once, yet she fell madly in love with him. It seemed that their idiotic mother was under his total control. Juliette, on the other hand, happily ran to Patrick''s side and called out to him in a soft voice, ¡°Daddy!¡± When Patrick heard the sweet voice calling out for him, he lowered his eyes to look at Juliette. His eyes sparkled, and he reached out to caress her small face. Juliette was delighted. ¡°Are you going to marry my mother soon? If so, I will be your daughter.¡± Juliette dreamt about having a father and liked Patrick a lot. These two reasons were why she concluded that they would get married soon after seeing her mother kissing him. My brothers and I finally have a daddy! Though Juliette''s voice was soft, her two brothers heard her. Julianined, ¡°You''re spineless, Juliette.¡± Chapter 364 Chapter 364 How could she call him Daddy after seeing Mommy kiss him? Juliette is not being helpful and is going against our n. When Juliette heard her brother, she widened her eyes to stare at her two brothers and pouted. ¡°Don''t you two want a daddy too? Giselle called me a stray kidst time. I don''t want to be a stray kid!¡± She then gripped Patrick''s hand tightly and said, ¡°Gwen was the one who attended the sports event every year. She always worked hard but could never win against those who had their Mommies and Daddies. Are you two willing to let that happen every time?¡± It seemed that Juliette was trying to seek sce by blurting out all the aggrieves she felt. After hearing what she said, Patrick thought of Gwendolyn and the difficulties she had to go through to raise the three children. Though she could satisfy them marily, she could never give them a father''s love. The light in Julian and Justin''s eyes dimmed when they heard their sister''s rant. They''d been through the same thing, but it didn''t bother them as much. However, Juliette was different. She was a sensitive girl, and her heart was not as strong as theirs. That was why she needed more love. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Seeing that the two couldn''t respond to herints, Juliette ced her face on the man''s hand and said, ¡°I like him, so I want him to be our daddy.¡± Julian and Justin merely looked at her expressionlessly and remained silent. Patrick smiled and said, ¡°I will marry your mother and be a good father to you all. If there''s an event in school, you can inform me about it. I will attend.¡± Patrick had a simr childhood as theirs. He lost both of his parents when he was young. Whenever there was an event that needed parents'' involvement in school, he refused to attend it. Hence, he could understand their feelings. Juliette jumped delightedly. ¡°Yes! If Gwen decides not to marry you, I will marry you when I''m grown up.¡± Patrick, Julian, and Justin were speechless after hearing that. Liam, on the other hand, widened his eyes for a moment. Soon, he burst intoughter. Juliette is seriously cute. When you grow up, Mr. Lowen will be an old man. However, I bet he will be a handsome old man. Patrick took a nce at the time and asked, ¡°Do you all n to have dinner outside or at home?¡± Juliette thought for a moment and said, ¡°Why don''t we eat out?¡± When she said that, her gaze was on her two brothers. Julian and Justin said nothing as they decided to follow their sister''s n. Patrick nodded. ¡°I''ll arrange for a restaurant then. Have you all gotten everything you need?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Juliette then pointed at the cashier and said, ¡°Everything is there.¡± Justin then walked toward the cashier and took out his phone. ¡°I''d like to pay the bill.¡± The children didn''t n to make Patrick pay the bill. After all, Justin and Julian had made a small fortune recently. Patrick frowned subtly upon seeing the child''s action. However, Liam noticed the frown. He quickly darted forward. ¡°Mr. Justin, please allow me to pay.¡± He then pushed Justin away from the cashier and took out his phone to pay the bill. Justin shot coldly. ¡°That won''t be necessary. We can make the payment ourselves.¡± Liam quickly made the payment, took the items, and said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Justin, Mr. Lowen is really nice to Ms. Ashton.¡± He almost gave up his life for Ms. Ashton. Do you guys really n to allow your mother to let go of this rare person? Liam really wanted to express his thoughts, but he was a coward because Patrick demanded he kept it a secret. Besides that, Patrick had never told anyone about it. For Patrick, he was a man, and it was his responsibility to protect the woman he loved. Justin didn''t respond to Liam''s words. He walked toward the entrance with an expressionless face and Julian next to him. The more Liam looked at the two boys, the more he felt that their tempers were simr to Patrick''s. They are so young, yet they are so unfriendly and arrogant. They are the young version of arrogant Mr. Lowen. They definitely have quite the personality. When Juliette held Patrick''s big hand, she could feel an immense sense of peace. It seemed that she was very attached to him. Whenever he was around, she would be scared of nothing. Patrick lowered his head to look at her and asked, ¡°What do you like to eat?¡± Juliette pondered for a moment. Since she had eaten her favorite food before this, she decided not to eat the same thing as Gwendolyn would be mad at her if she found out about it. ¡°Buffet.¡± Chapter 365 Chapter 365 Gwendolyn drove to the hospital. When she arrived at Zayden''s ward, she saw his lonely figure seated on the bed. His despondent appearance made one feel ufortable when looking at him. Hearing her footsteps, Zayden yelled, ¡°Didn''t I tell all of you to go away? Don''t bother me!¡± The housekeeper had told her earlier on that the food packet was situated on the side table in front of the couch. Thereafter, Gwendolyn ignored Zayden. Then, the woman approached the short table and took the food packet. She brought it to Zayden. ¡°Zayden, it''s time to eat.¡± Her voice was full ofughter. It gave one a familiar feeling and was extremely sweet. Flinching, Zayden replied, ¡°Why''re you here? I don''t need anyone''s pity.¡± Meanwhile, Gwendolyn set the table and maintained her smile. ¡°I won''t leave you, nor would I pity you. Do eat.¡± After that, Zayden wanted to push the food on the table away. Subsequently, Gwendolyn grabbed Zayden''s hands. ¡°Zayden, I don''t pity you. You don''t need mypassion. Your family and I care about you deeply and wish for your recovery. You''re very blessed!¡± In the meantime, Zayden''s eyes were lifeless and dazed. Feeling the warmth in Gwendolyn''s palms, he abruptly chuckled coldly. ¡°Then, are you willing to stay by my side forever? You won''t, right?¡± As he answered his own questions, Gwendolyn''s expression changed. ¡°Zayden, if you need me, I''ll be by your side.¡± After that, Zayden removed his hands from her grasp. Gwendolyn sat in front of him and started to feed the former. ¡°Eat!¡± Clearly, Zayden had lost weight. Therefore, Gwendolyn knew that he had not eaten nor slept well recently. She scooped some food for him and ced it near his lips. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± Afterward, Zayden regained his cool. His calm and collected self looked handsome and sexy. ¡°Gwen, let me ask you once more. Are you willing to remain by my side to take care of me?¡± Just then, Angeline approached them. She gestured toward Gwendolyn as if to tell her to agree to Zayden. Otherwise, the man would refuse to eat and never meet her again. ncing at Zayden''s frosty self, Gwendolyn guessed that he was very upset! Assuming that she became blind, she would probably be in a worse position than him. ¡°Okay, I''ll keep caring for you until your eyes recover.¡± That was a promise and her duty, for Gwendolyn needed to repay his kindness to her. After listening to her words, Zayden smiled. However, the smile did not reach his lips and was gone in a sh. Fumbling, the man grabbed Gwendolyn''s hand and questioned, ¡°Gwen, are you speaking the truth? Will you never dislike me?¡± Gwendolyn grinned. ¡°Why would I dislike you?¡± Finally, Zayden looked happy. His voice was full of warmth then. ¡°I''m going to eat,¡± he mumbled. After that, he opened his mouth. He felt as if the food was simply delicious that day. Actually, his ears became more sensitive after he became blind. Hence, Zayden had heard his mother''s footsteps previously. Yet, his mother did not protest. Since he hadnded in this situation, his mother had probably epted Gwendolyn. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Zayden had a chance with Gwendolyn for his biggest obstacle was removed. At that moment, he just needed to work hard. Of course, he was in a good mood. His wish had ultimately been granted. If his eyes were not cured, Gwendolyn would continue to be with him. Therefore, he just needed to make Gwendolyn fall for him. Zayden was confident that without his mother''s disapproval, Gwendolyn would definitely end up with him. Then, the two of them would be happy. That day, Zayden had a great appetite. He ate a lot of food. Beside him, Angeline heaved a sigh of relief. Subsequently, Gwendolyn kept the utensils and went to wash the fruits outside. Angeline had followed her out. Standing in a corner, she observed Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwendolyn, I''ll pay you twice the wage that an average caregiver earns since you''re taking care of Zayden.¡± Chapter 366 Chapter 366 Subsequently, Gwendolyn paused in her actions. Her eyes darkened. Mrs. Surrington always treats me like this. Raising her eyes, the woman replied, ¡°Mrs. Surrington, didn''t you tell me that I should repay Zayden''s kindness now? You don''t have to pay me.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. After that, Gwendolyn walked toward the counter and began peeling the fruits with a knife. Afterward, she cut them up. Angeline followed after Gwendolyn. As she was very precise in her actions, the former knew that she did not have an easy life. Since young, Angeline had not done any housework. Thus, she wanted to have a daughter-inw who was from a rich family. Obviously, the woman looked down on Gwendolyn, who waited on others. ¡°You have to ept it.¡± If not, Zay will certainly assume that Gwendolyn took care of him sincerely. Then, he won''t forget her that easily. Sighing, Gwendolyn responded, ¡°All right!¡± She knew Angeline for a long time, so she understood the other woman''s temperament perfectly. If Gwendolyn did not agree to what she said, Angeline would continue pestering her. I guess I''ll ept it so Angeline will be at ease. Following that, Angeline was contented. ¡°Cut more fruits. I didn''t eat dinner today, so I''ll eat some fruits to satisfy my hunger.¡± After speaking, Angeline turned and entered the room. Gwendolyn watched her retreating figure. Thereafter, she shook her head. The woman felt unhappy being ordered around. If not for Zayden, Gwendolyn would have already left. However, she promised Zayden that she would care for him. Even if she did not do so, she still had to look after him. It seemed that before Zayden could recover, Gwendolyn would have to interact with Angeline frequently. Since she epted her money, the woman would definitely treat her like an employee. Bringing the fruits to the ward, Gwendolyn noticed that Angeline was chatting with Zayden by his bedside. Upon realizing that Gwendolyn had walked into the room, she fell silent. Zayden questioned, ¡°Gwen, are you there?¡± He could discern Gwendolyn''s footsteps clearly. In addition, once she entered, his mother kept quiet. Therefore, he guessed that Gwendolyn had entered. cing the te of fruits in front of him, Gwendolyn said, ¡°I''ve cut the fruits already.¡± Then, Angeline speared a piece of fruit with her work andmented, ¡°Zay, have some fruit.¡± Just as Gwendolyn was about to leave, Angeline hurriedly spoke to her. ¡°Gwendolyn, tidy the room. It looks too messy.¡± Angeline loved cleanliness. The conditions in the hospital were worse than in her house. In addition, since Gwendolyn had epted her money, she wanted to order her around. Moreover, she was more interesting than the housekeepers. In fact, Gwendolyn might even be the future wife of Zayden. If that were to ur, Angeline''s reputation would possibly be improved in her social circle if this issue was mentioned. After that, Gwendolyn obediently answered, ¡°Okay!¡± Then, she went to clean up the ce. I''m supposed to repay my debt, so I''m willing to do anything. Anyway, this is what I owe Zayden. Unexpectedly, Zayden''s face hardened. He called out, ¡°Gwen, rest here. Don''t move.¡± Listening to this, Angeline nced at her son andughed. ¡°Zay, isn''t Gwendolyn very hardworking? Nheless, since you don''t want her to do that, forget it.¡± Coldly, Zayden remarked, ¡°Mom, I love Gwen the most in the world. In the future, don''t bully her, or I won''t allow you to visit me again.¡± Angeline froze in her tracks and red at Gwendolyn. Meanwhile, thetter was frowning. Why did Zayden mention this on purpose? If he keeps doing that, I''ll have a hard lifeter on. However, that was of no use. Gwendolyn just wished that Angeline would not be too offended and vent her temper on her since Zayden had already dered those words. ¡°Zay, you''re already like this. Why wouldn''t Ie to the hospital? I won''t bully her in the future, okay?¡± As she spoke, the woman silently wiped away her tears. Angeline was upset. My son has someone he likes, so he doesn''t want me anymore. He just takes the darned Gwendolyn''s side all the time. Chapter 367 Chapter 367 Zayden remained silent. It was too awkward for the mother and son to be interacting like this, so Gwendolyn said, ¡°Zayden, it''s gettingte, and I should get going now. My three kids are still waiting for me at home.¡± Zayden did adore her three children, and she knew it would be a concern for him if he knew the kids were left alone at home. ¡°Sure, go ahead!¡± Gwendolyn took another nce at Angeline, who still had a gloomy expression and looked sad. She hated seeing Zayden and Angeline like this too. Simrly, she believed Julian and Justin would also break her heart if they went against her words like that after bing adults. As a mother, she could understand Angeline''s feelings very well. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, I''ll take my leave then.¡± Before leaving, she whispered to Zayden, ¡°Make sure you talk things out with your mother. Don''t leave things hanging just like that.¡± Gwendolyn left after taking her bag. Angeline asked Zayden, ¡°What did she tell you? I''m sure she was speaking ill of me.¡± Zayden sighed. ¡°Mom, why are you so against Gwen? She''s from a noble family too, but her father cheated on her mother with another woman, which was why she ended up living a miserable life.¡± ¡°Hmph. I don''t want to hear any of that. I don''t care who she is because I will never like her for having children without getting married.¡± Sure enough, Angeline''s attitude was still as harsh as usual. Zayden was not too anxious about changing her mind either. ¡°Mom, you should go back now. I need to get some rest.¡± After saying that, he moved lower and tugged the sheets before closing his eyes. Angeline wanted to stay around a little longer. She missed seeing her son if she were to stay home, and she felt sorry for his current condition. Their family had been finding doctors for him, even getting doctors from abroad to look at him, but they were yet toe up with something conclusive. She was worried about her son and would naturally want to stay by his side. However, seeing that he wanted to get some sleep, she stood up and said, ¡°All right, then. Zay, get some rest, and I''ll drop by again tomorrow.¡± Zayden did not respond to that. Angeline stood by his bed and watched him for a while before turning around to walk away. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. After arriving back at Star Mansion in her car, Gwendolyn pushed open the door and saw Patrick ying Lego with her two sons. Justin asionally looked at Patrick but did not say anything. It seemed to her that her sons had already acknowledged Patrick''s high intelligence for them to agree to y with him. Meanwhile, Juliette was seen leaning against Patrick while blinking innocently at them. She was holding a Barbie doll that was bought earlier that day. ¡°Come on, guys, faster! Mr. Lowen is almost done!¡± Hearing this, Gwendolyn finally understood the entire situation. Her sons did not agree to y Lego with Patrick. Instead, they werepeting against him. No wonder she caught the three of them in such a harmonious scene together. Noticing her return, Camille walked up to her and said in a low voice, ¡°Gwen, the kids are so happy today. It seems like Mr. Lowen is a great father, after all.¡± Gwendolyn changed her shoes and nodded with a smile. ¡°Okay!¡± She went to the living room and sat next to Patrick. ¡°What are you guys ying?¡± They were entirely focused on thepetition at first, but after hearing her voice, they all looked up at her with excitement reflected in their eyes. Each of them only had eyes for her. Juliette asked, ¡°Gwen, where did you go? They arepeting with Mr. Lowen!¡± Gwendolyn was startled at that question. Knowing that she could not answer the question honestly, she shifted the topic and asked, ¡°Who will win then?¡± Julian and Justin picked up their paces, with one studying the manual and another looking for the spare parts. They had a clear division of work, resulting in their impressive speed. At the same time, Patrick also fixed his eyes on the manual. After studying the manual, he quickly looked for the spare parts and picked up his pace. Juliette was carried away by Gwendolyn''s attempt to change the topic and said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, you got this!¡± She wanted to call Patrick daddy instead, but she dared not do so as she did not want Gwendolyn to reprimand her. Anyway, she figured it was only a matter of time for her to finally call him daddy. Justin nced at Patrick before asking, ¡°Did you go to the hospital to see Mr. Zayden?¡± Julian also chimed in and asked, ¡°How is he now?¡± Gwendolyn''s expression changed. She wanted to stop the topic, but it was already toote. Her lies from earlier were exposed just like that. Chapter 368 Chapter 368 Patrick was distracted after hearing that. He moved his gaze away from the manual and to her instead. Seeing this, Julian curled up his lips. It was wise of Justin to distract the enemy with just one move. Patrick would never get to defeat them now that he was distracted. Gwendolyn smiled wryly and exined, ¡°I only dropped by to visit him on my way back. It''s not intentional. You have to trust me.¡± She was almost losing her mind. It was not until now that she had learned the lesson that one should not be lying around in their lives, or it would be exhausting trying toe up with different excuses to cover up that one lie. Moreover, it was even humiliating when her kids were the ones who exposed her lies. Right then, Patrick was no longer interested in ying Lego. Instead, he stared at her, waiting for her to exin herself further. He could not ept what she had just said. Feeling uneasy under his stare, Gwendolyn had no choice but to surrender. ¡°I''m sorry. Zayden has some issues with his vision, and he can no longer see anything. He''s in a terrible state, and he refuses to eat anything. I only want him to get better.¡± No one else would understand what Zayden meant to her. Patrick pursed his lips. ¡°What does it have to do with you that he can no longer see anything?¡± It turned out that Gwendolyn was away to visit Zayden alone. She might even have fed him during her visit.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Thinking of this possibility, Patrick felt washed over by a wave of jealousy. Gwendolyn sighed. ¡°Patrick, Zayden is a very special person to me. He was the one who saved us, and I am forever grateful for that. Even if that did not happen, he is still my friend, and I will always care for him as a friend.¡± She was honest about always caring for Zayden as a friend. Suddenly, Julian excitedly said, ¡°We''re done.¡± Hearing that, Patrick finally shifted his gaze back to his tank model. He was almost done building it, but he got distracted. Then, he moved his gaze to the car model across from him that was already completed. ¡°You lost,¡± said Justin coldly, and he pointed toward the door. ording to their bet, if Patrick won, Patrick would get to stay. Now that Patrick had lost, not only did he not get to stay, but he also had to leave their house immediately. Patrick stood up and strode toward the door. Gwendolyn also stood up. ¡°Patrick.¡± He did not respond to that as he walked away without even looking back. The two sons high-fived one another merrily. ¡°That''s so cool!¡± Juliette looked confused. ¡°Mr. Lowen was so close to finishing building his tank. How did you guys still win? It''s unfair!¡± Julian and Justin nced at their sister, who sided with an outsider instead of them. They shrugged at her words. ¡°You can''t change the fact that he lost.¡± Gwendolyn stared at the door, wondering if Patrick could understand her feelings. At the Ashton residence, Felicia was helping her heartbroken mother get out of the car. Zachary nced at her. ¡°Forget it. Your brother''s soul will be more at ease with the Dannings family anyway.¡± Candace started crying again after hearing that. ¡°Greg grew up with me. How... How could I ever think of him like this?¡± Moreover, Gregory had helped her several times throughout the years. He only got arrested because of her and Felicia. She med herself even more when she got reminded of this. Felicia had no idea what her mother was heartbroken over. She was frustrated that Gwendolyn was not killed, whereas Gregory died. She helped Candace into the bedroom, whereas Zachary headed to Michael''s room to tell him about what had happened to Gregory. The funeral would be held the next day. The Ashton family would have to follow the customs and extend the invitation to their rtives. Felicia tugged Candace under the nket. ¡°Mom, Uncle died of a heart attack. It was toote for them to save him.¡± Candace shook her head. ¡°He was always healthy and did not have heart problems, so why would he die of a heart attack? I''m sure someone framed him, and I''m certain it is Gwendolyn.¡± Felicia pursed her lips. ¡°Mom, it seems like we can only rely on ourselves to get rid of Gwendolyn in the future.¡± Wiping her tears away, Candace asked, ¡°Fel, are you saying we still have a chance to get rid of her?¡± After all, Gwendolyn had Patrick on her side. Patrick was so powerful that even the entire Ashton family could not fight against him, let alone Candace and Felicia. The look in Felicia''s eyes darkened. ¡°Mom, I have an idea. Since Hector likes me that much, I can bug him every day and try brainwashing him. I''m sure Patrick will have to listen to his grandfather.¡± Chapter 369 Chapter 369 Gwendolyn did not have a restful slumber, for Patrick''s scowl haunted her dreams throughout the night. She knew he was angry, but she did not know how to pacify him. Gwendolyn nced at the clock when she woke up and realized it was half-past six in the morning. So early! She sat up and had no desire to sleep again. Looking out of the window, she discovered that it was still dark outside, and the sun had not risen. ¡°Patrick, you''re such a pain!¡± she murmured. Indeed, people who were in love were idiots. Gwendolyn felt that she was one of them. She was perfectly aware that Patrick was oblivious to her current situation. In spite of that, she could not sleep well and had no appetite. A chill ran down Gwendolyn''s spine when she remembered his expression prior to his departure. Patrick was really terrifying when he got angry, and she dared not approach him as a result. After getting out of bed, Gwendolyn got ready to head to his house and make breakfast for him. By doing so, she could probably cate him. At any rate, she had decided toply with all of his wishes on that day in order to ask for his forgiveness. Gwendolyn washed up and applied light makeup on her face. She selected an outfit that seemed professional yet sexy. The woman had an attractive and curvy figure. She wore a pair of high heels with long and thin heels and tucked her champagne-colored silk blouse into her tight skirt that entuated her slim waist and shapely hips. Gwendolyn''s dark hair hung loosely around her shoulders, giving her a seductive yet innocent charm. Once she put on her coat, she picked up her bag and was about to go to Patrick''s house when her phone rang. Gwendolyn took out her phone. She frowned when she realized the call was from Angeline and decided not to answer it. She thought of letting Angeline assume she was not up yet. After all, it was so early. Gwendolyn felt relieved when the phone stopped ringing. She strode out of the bedroom and headed downstairs. Before she reached downstairs, her phone buzzed again. She eyed the phone and discovered Angeline had transferred ten thousand to her ount. For some reason, Gwendolyn felt a bit disappointed when she saw the amount of money. Then, Angeline phoned her again and again. By the time she stepped out of the front door, she already had ten missed calls on her phone. Gwendolyn was no longer in a good mood. ¡°Mrs. Surrington,¡± she answered the phone in a low voice. Obviously, she was not pleased. ¡°You''re finally awake, Gwendolyn. Get up quickly. I''ve already transferred this month''s wage to you. It''s twice as much as what a caregiver earns. Is it enough? If it isn''t, just tell me. I''ll pay you as much as you want,¡± Angeline replied. The birds on the trees outside the house had already woken up, too. They were chirping energetically, and it sounded melodious. Moreover, the air was very refreshing. Yet, a beautiful morning like that was ruined by the phone call. When she did not receive a response from Gwendolyn, Angeline began to sob as she spoke. ¡°I''m begging you, Gwendolyn. Zay has given up on himself. As his mother, I can''t bear to see him in this state. He listens to you, so please take care of him until he recovers. I''ll give you as much money as you want.¡± Then, she let out a long sigh before continuing, ¡°With the state that he is in, don''t you have an ounce of sympathy for him? Please, I''m begging you.¡± Gwendolyn listened as Angeline cried. Thetter was known to be a tough and proud person. Instantly, Gwendolyn''s heart softened. Both of them were mothers. Naturally, they would do anything for their own sons. She thought of Zayden and did not wish for him to give up on himself. After entering Patrick''s house, Gwendolyn busied herself with preparing breakfast. She made oatmeal porridge, cooked a few side dishes, and fried some eggs. In fact, she did not know that many recipes, and she had learned to prepare those dishes from Camille in the past. Gwendolyn ced the side dishes on the table. The oatmeal porridge was still warm. She packed some food for herself. Carrying her food container, she stood in the doorway to change her shoes. At the same time, she nced up. It was only seven o''clock. Patrick was most likely still asleep, so she decided not to disturb him. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn brought the food back home. After that, she drove to the hospital. When she left, Patrick happened to wake up. His head hurt a lot. He supported his head with one hand and consumed the medicine on his bedside table. After a while, he finally opened his eyes. Patrick picked up his phone with his clean and slender fingers. Next, he called Kevin. ¡°This early, Pat?¡± Kevin asked. ¡°My head hurt a lot when I woke up. Is there something wrong?¡± Patrick said. Chapter 370 Chapter 370 Patrick leaned against the headboard. His splitting headache made him feel immensely ufortable. As a result, he could neither think properly nor calm down. His sharp eyebrows were locked in a tight frown, and his voice sounded low and husky. ¡°It''s normal, Pat. After all, the bullet is still inside, and it''s normal for you to feel pain. You don''t have to worry as long as the pain subsides after you get out of bed. If the pain doesn''t go away, you''ve got to come to the hospital at once,¡± Kevin exined. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. He felt worried, too. Even if Patrick did feel unwell and came to the hospital, the doctors dared not operate on him. Kevin sighed. He had to find a way to cure Patrick as soon as possible. Patrick hung up, shut his eyes, and rested for a moment. Once the pain had subsided, he got out of bed to wash up. When he came downstairs, he saw the food on the dining table and a note that read: Patrick, I''ve made you breakfast. The oatmeal porridge is in the pot. Enjoy! Gwen. Patrick nced at the side dishes on the table. They were his favorites. Then, he looked at the pot on the countertop. Soon, a faint smile appeared on his face. He knew Gwendolyn was trying to pacify him. Why didn''t she wait for me to have breakfast together? Patrick called her, but Gwendolyn did not notice it. She was in the hospital lobby and in a hurry. The lobby was noisy and packed with lines of people. Therefore, she did not hear the ringing of the phone in her handbag. Gwendolyn followed the crowd and entered an elevator. She was already sweating profusely when she reached Zayden''s ward. She had not encountered such a huge crowd when she apanied Patrick at the hospital previously. Then again, Liam, Amber, and the housekeepers from the Lowen family were present at that time. Thus, Gwendolyn did not have to busy herself with running multiple errands. The only thing she needed to do was to stay by Patrick''s side and look after him. Zayden was already awake and staring out of the window. When he heard her footsteps, he asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± In truth, his vision had been partially restored. Although he was unable to see everything, the world before him was no longer shrouded in darkness. As a result, he was in high spirits. Still, Zayden did not expect Gwendolyn to arrive at this hour. Therefore, he asked the question nervously and quickly focused his vision. Without shifting his gaze, he stared straight ahead. His eyes were hollow, and there was no light in them. ¡°Zayden, it''s me. I''ve made breakfast for you,¡± Gwendolyn replied joyfully. Zayden could make out her face. She was exceptionally stunning on that day. Gwendolyn had makeup on, and she looked great with her current lipstick. It resembled the color of a carrot, and it enhanced theplexion of her fair face. Suddenly, a thought shed across Zayden''s mind. Has my eyesight recovered? He could even see Gwendolyn''s face clearly now. As he wondered, his lips curled into a subtle smile. Gwendolyn helped him up. She smiled when she saw the cheeriness on his face. This is the Zayden I know. ¡°I''ll help you to wash up,¡± she said. Zayden supported himself by cing his big hand around her waist. Her waist is so slim, and it feels nice. Gwendolyn felt ufortable. Being this close to him was an awkward feeling. It was then that she realized she could not share physical contact with all men. In the past, she had never been with other men. Truth be told, she was still traumatized by that incident from six years ago. Presently, she also felt extremely uneasy. It was then she realized that Patrick was the only man who could make her feel rxed and at ease. At the thought of that, she took a step forward and kept her distance from Zayden. ¡°I''ll hold your hand,¡± Gwendolyn said. She did so to make things less awkward. At first, Zayden was taken aback and felt somewhat annoyed. However, upon hearing her words and getting held by Gwendolyn''s small, soft hand, his initial annoyance vanished. Gwendolyn helped him to brush his teeth and wash his face. She had never done this before, so the process was very slow. Almost twenty minutes had gone by when Zayden finished washing up. After that, Gwendolyn led Zayden out of the bathroom and back to the bed. Meanwhile, some doctors and nurses dropped by to examine him. Kevin was among the group of medical personnel. He was the director of the hospital, and Zayden was a VVIP patient. Hence, Kevin visited thetter personally. Chapter 371 Chapter 371 Gwendolyn helped Zayden onto the bed. Then, she stood aside as she wanted to hear what the doctors had to say. When she saw Kevin, she realized he was also staring at her. Gwendolyn forced out an awkward smile and stammered, ¡°I-I''m here to bring him breakfast.¡± Kevin looked at the man on the bed. Poor guy. He is now blind. However, Kevin did not expect Gwendolyn to be taking care of Zayden there. He even recalled Patrick calling him after he woke up with a headache in the morning. Pat was injured because he was trying to protect her, but she is here taking care of another man instead. He was a little upset, but he did not say anything. The attending doctor began to discuss Zayden''s condition with him. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°Mr. Surrington, rest well. You''ll definitely get better,¡± Kevin said. After he said that, he left, surrounded by the doctors. He was still discussing Zayden''s condition with them as they were leaving. Gwendolyn was stunned. What a coincidence. I can''t believe I ran into Kevin while he is doing his rounds. However, he doesn''t seem to be from this department. She did not think things would turn out like this before. However, after thinking about it now, Kevin was the director of the hospital, so it was possible for him to show up anywhere there. Zayden waited for a moment. After seeing no movement from Gwendolyn, he asked, ¡°Gwen, is my breakfast ready?¡± Gwendolyn came to her senses as she quickly went to get the small table and draped a tablecloth over it. Then, she started feeding him breakfast, but she seemed lost in her thoughts. Kevin came across the scene when he entered the ward once again, so he took a photo with his phone. Zayden actually saw that, but he had to continue to pretend to be blind at that moment. Thus, he pretended he did not see it as he opened his mouth to eat his breakfast. Kevin had wanted to ask when Gwendolyn would be returning to thepany as he had prepared some medicine for her to bring back to Patrick. However, he decided it was best not to disturb them right now. Zayden''s lips curled up into a subtle smile after Kevin left the room. Kevin will tell Patrick about this even if I don''t do anything. I won''t let Gwen go this time. She is mine! Meanwhile, Candace had fallen ill in the Ashton residence, and she could not get out of bed. After Felicia visited her, she left the Ashton residence and went to the Lowen residence. She immediately came across the heartwarming scene of Alice and Hector having breakfast together in the garden when she stepped inside theirpound. Alice was eating on her own, while a housekeeper was feeding Hector. Alice sipped her tea elegantly and nced at Hector with a smile on her face. ¡°Hector, this oatmeal porridge tastes good. You should have more.¡± Hector had a darkened expression on his face as he pped his thighs. Alice could probably guess what he meant by that now. ¡°You''re saying Pat hasn''t been back in a while, right?¡± Hector was no longer pping his thighs and kicking up a fuss. He was staring at Alice instead, so she knew she had made the correct guess. Alice sighed and said, ¡°He is handling the entire Lowen Group alone. Lowen Group is so big right now, so he is very busy. He''s gone on a business trip and will be back by next week.¡± After Hector heard that, he turned his face away and refused to eat anymore. The housekeeper felt conflicted, so she turned to Alice for instructions. Alice waved to tell her it was all right. She knew that Hector missed Patrick, but she also missed him too. Patrick was the only child in the Lowen family, so it made sense for Hector to be worried about him. Back then, if it weren''t... Her expression changed when she thought about her own son. She did not want to think about what happened years ago. If we had lived a normal life and those things didn''t happen, Patrick wouldn''t have been the only child in the Lowen family. We would have so many grandchildren. Felicia walked up to them and greeted them with a smile, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, Old Mrs. Lowen.¡± Alice noticed Felicia was there, so she asked, ¡°Have you had your breakfast?¡± ¡°I have already eaten,¡± Felicia replied as she sat down and looked at Hector. She really hoped that Hector was healthy right now. If that were the case, Patrick would never be together with Gwendolyn, and she would already be married into the Lowen family. The more Felicia thought about it, the sadder she became, so she hoped that Hector would get better soon. Chapter 372 Chapter 372 Alice and Felicia did not know each other well. Besides, the one Alice liked was Gwendolyn, so she felt guilty for sitting and chatting with Felicia right now. Alice stood up and said, ¡°I''ll get something from upstairs. Fel, you stay here and keep Hector company.¡± ¡°All right. Don''t worry, Old Mrs. Lowen. I''ll take good care of Old Mr. Lowen,¡± Felicia said as she nodded. Felicia was willing to do anything to leave a good impression when she came to the Lowen residence. Hector''s face darkened, and he became upset when he saw Felicia. The housekeeper and the nurse noticed that, but they did not dare to say anything, so they just looked on. Felicia handed him a cup of tea and asked, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, do you want to have some tea? I''ll help you.¡± She was slightly disappointed when Hector turned his face away and refused to drink. Dad said Old Mr. Lowen likes me, but why do I not feel that? Old Mr. Lowen looks annoyed whenever I''m here, and I think he hates me. Am I imagining things? Probably! After all, he used to be an influential figure. Unlike normal people, he conceals his emotions well. Felicia felt better after she thought about it that way. Then, she smiled at Hector and said, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, how about Ie and keep youpany every day?¡± Since he likes me, I should be around him every day so that he would like me even more! Then, he would urge Patrick to marry me, and I could finally be married into the Lowen family! I could finally embarrass Gwendolyn once I be Mrs. Lowen! She was overjoyed as she imagined the scenario in glee. Suddenly, her phone rang. There was a diamond around her finger, and her long manicure looked beautiful. However, she looked like a witch in Hector''s eyes. Why do you even keep such long fingernails? It must be so hard to use the bathroom! People like Hector thought a woman''s hands should be kept clean and simple. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Felicia looked at her phone and realized that it was a message from one of her friends, Catherine Hooper. Catherine texted: Fel, my dad can cure the condition that you mentioned. You should bring him over for my dad to have a look. Felicia''s eyes lit up as her fingernails danced across the phone. She had a hard time typing, but she finally managed to type out a message. She replied: Really? He can''t move his legs right now, and his hands are not working well. He also has trouble speaking, but he is still clear in the head. Catherine: My dad is a professional practitioner. Acupuncture is his forte, and he has cured many people with symptoms that you just described. Felicia''s eyes lit up in excitement when she read the message. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, I have a friend that says her father can cure you. Why don''t we go and visit him?¡± she asked. Hector''s eyes also lit up in excitement. He did not really believe it, but he wanted to be well again. Felicia could see Hector wanted to get well, so she asked Catherine to send her the address. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, let''s go over there right now!¡± She turned to the housekeeper and said, ¡°I''m bringing Old Mr. Lowen to see a doctor. All of you should come along too.¡± She knew it was impossible for her to bring Hector over by herself as she would not be able to bear the responsibility if anything happened. Right at that moment, Alice came out and asked, ¡°Where are you all bringing Hector?¡± Felicia walked up to Alice and showed her phone to thetter excitedly. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, my friend''s father is a professional practitioner, and they have been professional practitioners for five generations. She says her father can cure Old Mr. Lowen,¡± she said. Alice refused to believe it and shook her head. ¡°Forget about it. You don''t need to worry about Hector''s condition,¡± she said. Then, she turned to the housekeeper and ordered coldly, ¡°Bring Hector to his room.¡± Felicia became anxious, but the housekeeper and the nurse had already pushed Hector into the house. She strained her neck and looked at Hector in desperation. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, why don''t you also head over and have a look? Isn''t it a good thing if the doctor can really cure Old Mr. Lowen?¡± she asked. Alice had lived a long life, and she was a wise woman. If the doctor can really cure Hector, why hasn''t Patrick visited him already? Alice only trusted Patrick right now, and she refused to trust anyone else. She wanted Patrick to research thoroughly as she would never put Hector at risk again. Chapter 373 Chapter 373 Felicio wos very disoppointed. Her eyes looked upword os she thought obout how she could help Hector recover. Alice wos holding o rosory in her hond. She pushed eoch beod forword os she mumbled. She didn''t usuolly believe these things, but seeing the situotion of the Lowen fomily now, she storted to believe it, hoping thot it would bring o new boby to the fomily. She hoped thot God could bless Hector to recover ond thot Potrick could get morried ond hove children os soon os possible. Most importontly, she wished thot the Lowen fomily could hove more greot-grondchildren, then it would be perfect. ¡°Fel, os you con see, Hector hos not been in good heolth recently. You shoulde to see him ofter some time.¡± Felicio kept looking into the house, wondering whot she should do next. As she heord Alice''s words, she picked up her bog ond soid, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, I''ll leove then. I''ll return to visit Old Mr. Lowen ofter o few doys.¡± Upon finishing her words, she turned oround, ond her expression immediotely turned cold. If it wosn''t becouse she wonted to morry into the Lowen fomily, she wouldn''t hove been so nice to Alice. Thot wos becouse the person thot Alice liked ond supported wos Gwendolyn insteod of her. As Felicio thought obout thot, she be unhoppy, ond her eyes dorkened ond be more sinister. When she returned to the cor, the driver osked, ¡°Ms. Felicio, where ore we heoding to?¡± Felicia was very disappointed. Her eyes looked upward as she thought about how she could help Hector recover. Alice was holding a rosary in her hand. She pushed each bead forward as she mumbled. She didn''t usually believe these things, but seeing the situation of the Lowen family now, she started to believe it, hoping that it would bring a new baby to the family. She hoped that God could bless Hector to recover and that Patrick could get married and have children as soon as possible. Most importantly, she wished that the Lowen family could have more great-grandchildren, then it would be perfect. ¡°Fel, as you can see, Hector has not been in good health recently. You shoulde to see him after some time.¡± Felicia kept looking into the house, wondering what she should do next. As she heard Alice''s words, she picked up her bag and said, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, I''ll leave then. I''ll return to visit Old Mr. Lowen after a few days.¡± Upon finishing her words, she turned around, and her expression immediately turned cold. If it wasn''t because she wanted to marry into the Lowen family, she wouldn''t have been so nice to Alice. That was because the person that Alice liked and supported was Gwendolyn instead of her. As Felicia thought about that, she became unhappy, and her eyes darkened and became more sinister. When she returned to the car, the driver asked, ¡°Ms. Felicia, where are we heading to?¡± Felicia was mad to hear the driver address her as Ms. Felicia. ¡°Who allowed you to call me Ms. Felicia? I am Ms. Ashton.¡± The driver was stunned for a moment. It was Michael''s order as the Ashton family would be holding a banquet soon to bring Gwendolyn back and let everyone know she was Ms. Ashton, the eldest daughter of the Ashton family. Looking at the puzzled driver who did not correct himself, Felicia asked coldly, ¡°Is this Grandpa''s order?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the driver replied calmly and then started the car. Felicia picked up her bag and hit the driver''s head, saying, ¡°How rude! Did I order you to start the car?¡± The driver could only stop to let Felicia vent her anger on him and beat him. Only when his face was full of scratches did Felicia stop. ¡°Let''s go! I want to go to Lowen Group.¡± The driver raised his hand to touch his face and head. He was furious and felt unlucky to have to serve a person like Felicia. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn apanied Zayden until he finished his breakfast. Then, she packed up the meal box. ¡°Zayden, I have to go to work now. I won''t being over in the afternoon. Eat your lunch obediently, and don''t make me worried, okay?¡± She looked at the time and it was almost nine o''clock in the morning. Fortunately, thepany was nearby and would only take five minutes to drive there. Zayden suddenly grabbed her hand. ¡°Gwen, can you not go to work at Lowen Group anymore?¡± Falicia was mad to haar tha drivar addrass har as Ms. Falicia. ¡°Who allowad you to call ma Ms. Falicia? I am Ms. Ashton.¡± Tha drivar was stunnad for a momant. It was Michaal''s ordar as tha Ashton family would ba holding a banquat soon to bring Gwandolyn back andt avaryona know sha was Ms. Ashton, tha aldast daughtar of tha Ashton family. Looking at tha puzd drivar who did not corract himsalf, Falicia askad coldly, ¡°Is this Grandpa''s ordar?¡± ¡°Yas,¡± tha drivar rapliad calmly and than startad tha car. Falicia pickad up har bag and hit tha drivar''s haad, saying, ¡°How ruda! Did I ordar you to start tha car?¡± Tha drivar could only stop tot Falicia vant har angar on him and baat him. Only whan his faca was full of scratchas did Falicia stop. ¡°Lat''s go! I want to go to Lowan Group.¡± Tha drivar raisad his hand to touch his faca and haad. Ha was furious and falt unlucky to hava to sarva a parson lika Falicia. Maanwh, Gwandolyn apaniad Zaydan until ha finishad his braakfast. Than, sha packad up tha maal box. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Zaydan, I hava to go to work now. I won''t baing ovar in tha aftarnoon. Eat your lunch obadiantly, and don''t maka ma worriad, okay?¡± Sha lookad at tha tima and it was almost nina o''clock in tha morning. Fortunataly, thapany was naarby and would only taka fiva minutas to driva thara. Zaydan suddanly grabbad har hand. ¡°Gwan, can you not go to work at Lowan Group anymora?¡± One could obviously tell that the reason Patrick arranged for Gwendolyn to go to work at Lowen Group was that he wanted to woo her. Gwendolyn pursed her lips as she looked at the hand Zayden was holding. ¡°Zayden, I cane and take care of you, but my work and lifestyle cannot be changed. Do you understand?¡± Gwendolyn liked her work and life now, and she didn''t want any change to it. Zayden could tell that Gwendolyn was reluctant to leave Patrick. He began to wonder what kind of spell Patrick had put Gwendolyn under for her to be so obsessed with him. ¡°Gwen, I am actually very scared. My world is so dark now. I... need you.¡± Gwendolyn felt a twitch in her heart as she remembered Zayden was blind now. He must be terrified to be living in darkness. After thinking for a moment, Gwendolyn realized this was the time for her to repay Zayden. Since Zayden needed her now, she could take a leave of absence for a while and return to work when Zayden recovered. ¡°Zayden, I understand how you feel. I am going to apply for leave now and will be back soon.¡± She withdrew her hand and rushed out of the ward. Zayden wanted to stop her but was toote. Gazing at her back, the light in Zayden''s eyes flickered. If Gwendolyn were to ask for leave from Patrick, they would definitely quarrel. One could obviously tell thot the reoson Potrick orronged for Gwendolyn to go to work ot Lowen Group wos thot he wonted to woo her. Gwendolyn pursed her lips os she looked ot the hond Zoyden wos holding. ¡°Zoyden, I cone ond toke core of you, but my work ond lifestyle connot be chonged. Do you understond?¡± Gwendolyn liked her work ond life now, ond she didn''t wont ony chonge to it. Zoyden could tell thot Gwendolyn wos reluctont to leove Potrick. He begon to wonder whot kind of spell Potrick hod put Gwendolyn under for her to be so obsessed with him. ¡°Gwen, I om octuolly very scored. My world is so dork now. I... need you.¡± Gwendolyn felt o twitch in her heort os she remembered Zoyden wos blind now. He must be terrified to be living in dorkness. After thinking for o moment, Gwendolyn reolized this wos the time for her to repoy Zoyden. Since Zoyden needed her now, she could toke o leove of obsence for o while ond return to work when Zoyden recovered. ¡°Zoyden, I understond how you feel. I om going to opply for leove now ond will be bock soon.¡± She withdrew her hond ond rushed out of the word. Zoyden wonted to stop her but wos too lote. Gozing ot her bock, the light in Zoyden''s eyes flickered. If Gwendolyn were to osk for leove from Potrick, they would definitely quorrel. Chapter 374 Chapter 374 Gwendolyn wolked toword the CEO''s office hostily. She sow the colleogues in the cubicles dispersed os soon os they sow her, but she did not core obout it. After oll, the news thot Potrick wos injured in the office ond Gwendolyn hod not returned to the office becouse she wos oponying him in the hospitol hod been spreod out. The people in the office were probobly hoving oll kinds of speculotion obout whot hoppened. Gwendolyn pushed the door open ond entered the office. She sow Felicio sitting on the couch from for, with Potrick sitting opposite her. She wondered whot the two were discussing. Felicio wos smiling, seemingly very hoppy. Gwendolyn put down her bog. Her big eyes were looking in their direction from time to time. Potrick knew she wos there, but he ignored it. He put his honds together ond crossed his fingers. ¡°Ms. Ashton, our ogreement ends here.¡± Potrick tore the ogreement in front of her upon finishing his words. Felicio nodded ond soid, ¡°All right, Mr. Lowen. Thonk you for your tips.¡± She picked up the check ond winked ot him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, if you ever need me ogoin, feel free to find me.¡± Potrick stood up ond replied, ¡°Goodbye.¡± Felicio still hod o smile on her foce, but deep down, she wos very mod. She thought she could continue cooperoting with Potrick ond use his nome outside, but he wos too heortless. The first thing he did when they met wos throwing her o check, followed by teoring off the controct. He did not give her o single chonce. Gwendolyn walked toward the CEO''s office hastily. She saw the colleagues in the cubicles dispersed as soon as they saw her, but she did not care about it. After all, the news that Patrick was injured in the office and Gwendolyn had not returned to the office because she was apanying him in the hospital had been spread out. The people in the office were probably having all kinds of spection about what happened. Gwendolyn pushed the door open and entered the office. She saw Felicia sitting on the couch from far, with Patrick sitting opposite her. She wondered what the two were discussing. Felicia was smiling, seemingly very happy. Gwendolyn put down her bag. Her big eyes were looking in their direction from time to time. Patrick knew she was there, but he ignored it. He put his hands together and crossed his fingers. ¡°Ms. Ashton, our agreement ends here.¡± Patrick tore the agreement in front of her upon finishing his words. Felicia nodded and said, ¡°All right, Mr. Lowen. Thank you for your tips.¡± She picked up the check and winked at him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, if you ever need me again, feel free to find me.¡± Patrick stood up and replied, ¡°Goodbye.¡± Felicia still had a smile on her face, but deep down, she was very mad. She thought she could continue cooperating with Patrick and use his name outside, but he was too heartless. The first thing he did when they met was throwing her a check, followed by tearing off the contract. He did not give her a single chance. Felicia smiled at Gwendolyn when she passed by her. ¡°Gwen, Grandpa said it''s time to bring you home. Besides, it''s about time for the marriage between you and Zayden. Congrattions!¡± Gwendolyn''s expression slightly darkened when she heard Felicia''s words, but thetter smiled and mouthed her words. If I don''t get Patrick, you won''t either. Upon finishing, Felicia pushed the door open and left while Gwendolyn pursed her lips slightly. If Michael wanted to bring Gwendolyn home, it would definitely have something to do with Felicia. Of course, Felicia wouldn''t let Gwendolyn return to the Ashton residence so easily. Her motive was to let Gwendolyn and Zayden get married. Patrick returned to his seat and began getting busy with his work. On the other hand, Gwendolyn took some time to calm herself as she thought about what she should do. As she regained her senses, she looked toward Patrick, who was busy working. He still had a band-aid on his forehead, but it did not affect his appearance as it seemed to have added a little charm to him instead. Gwendolyn stood up and walked to Patrick''s side. ¡°Mr. Lowen, how are you feeling today?¡± Seeing that he was in good spirits and looking handsome after discharging from the hospital, Gwendolyn figured that Patrick should be recovering very well. Patrick gave her an indifferent nce. ¡°Do you care about my feelings?¡± Falicia smd at Gwandolyn whan sha passad by har. ¡°Gwan, Grandpa said it''s tima to bring you homa. Basidas, it''s about tima for tha marriaga batwaan you and Zaydan. Congrattions!¡± Gwandolyn''s axprassion slightly darkanad whan sha haard Falicia''s words, but thattar smd and mouthad har words. If I don''t gat Patrick, you won''t aithar. Upon finishing, Falicia pushad tha door opan andft wh Gwandolyn pursad har lips slightly. If Michaal wantad to bring Gwandolyn homa, it would dafinitaly hava somathing to do with Falicia. Of coursa, Falicia wouldn''tt Gwandolyn raturn to tha Ashton rasidanca so aasily. Har motiva was tot Gwandolyn and Zaydan gat marriad. Patrick raturnad to his saat and bagan gatting busy with his work. On tha othar hand, Gwandolyn took soma tima to calm harsalf as sha thought about what sha should do. As sha ragainad har sansas, sha lookad toward Patrick, who was busy working. Ha still had a band-aid on his forahaad, but it did not affact his appaaranca as it saamad to hava addad a lit charm to him instaad. Gwandolyn stood up and walkad to Patrick''s sida. ¡°Mr. Lowan, how ara you faaling today?¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Saaing that ha was in good spirits and looking handsoma aftar discharging from tha hospital, Gwandolyn figurad that Patrick should ba racovaring vary wall. Patrick gava har an indiffarant nca. ¡°Do you cara about my faalings?¡± He was unhappy that Gwendolyn went to the hospital to take care of Zayden immediately after she woke up. Gwendolyn took a deep breath and held back her anger when she thought about Patrick being injured because of her. She walked to his back and wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°Patrick, don''t be mad. Zayden is blind now. I can''t just ignore him. He saved my life.¡± Patrick furrowed his brows. ¡°Don''t ever go to the hospital again. I will find him the best doctor to treat him.¡± Patrick wanted to repay Zayden for Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn smiled and kissed him on his face. ¡°Patrick, you are the best! But I want to repay him myself.¡± She kissed his face a few more times and said, ¡°I want to take a month off. Once his vision recovers, I wille back. Okay?¡± When Patrick heard that, his expression, which had softened up, instantly turned cold, and he pulled her to sit on hisp. The two pairs of eyes met. His gaze was as cold as ice. ¡°Gwendolyn, are you really giving up on your work for that guy? If that''s so, you are not allowed to take a month off, but you can resign.¡± The office instantly became silent. Only the sound of their breathing could be heard. Gwendolyn''s expression turned sad. ¡°Patrick, I beg you. It was Zayden who helped me in my most difficult times. Now is his most difficult time, and I can''t just leave him like that.¡± He wos unhoppy thot Gwendolyn went to the hospitol to toke core of Zoyden immediotely ofter she woke up. Gwendolyn took o deep breoth ond held bock her onger when she thought obout Potrick being injured becouse of her. She wolked to his bock ond wropped her orms oround his neck. ¡°Potrick, don''t be mod. Zoyden is blind now. I con''t just ignore him. He soved my life.¡± Potrick furrowed his brows. ¡°Don''t ever go to the hospitol ogoin. I will find him the best doctor to treot him.¡± Potrick wonted to repoy Zoyden for Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn smiled ond kissed him on his foce. ¡°Potrick, you ore the best! But I wont to repoy him myself.¡± She kissed his foce o few more times ond soid, ¡°I wont to toke o month off. Once his vision recovers, I wille bock. Okoy?¡± When Potrick heord thot, his expression, which hod softened up, instontly turned cold, ond he pulled her to sit on his lop. The two poirs of eyes met. His goze wos os cold os ice. ¡°Gwendolyn, ore you reolly giving up on your work for thot guy? If thot''s so, you ore not ollowed to toke o month off, but you con resign.¡± The office instontly be silent. Only the sound of their breothing could be heord. Gwendolyn''s expression turned sod. ¡°Potrick, I beg you. It wos Zoyden who helped me in my most difficult times. Now is his most difficult time, ond I con''t just leove him like thot.¡± Chapter 375 Chapter 375 Potrick''s expression dorkened os he scoffed. ¡°Gwendolyn, since you hove decided, then we''ll follow ording to your decision.¡± He pushed her owoy, picked up the londline phone, ond dioled on internol line. ¡°Come to the CEO''s office. Toke Gwendolyn toplete the procedure for her resignotion.¡± Upon heoring those words, Gwendolyn''s eyes widened, ond her voice deepened os she spoke. ¡°Potrick, I...¡± I only wonted to toke some time off work, but this guy mode me resign right owoy. Gwendolyn immediotely burned with roge os she wondered if Potrick didn''t understond whot she soid eorlier. At thot moment, the monoger of the HR deportmente. He nodded to Potrick respectfully when he entered the office. Gwendolyn couldn''t possibly refuse to leove os the monoger wos olreody there. Therefore, she glonced ot Potrick coldly before turning oround ond wolking bock to her seot. She pocked oll her belongings into o box ond possed her employee ID bodge to the HR monoger. ¡°Help me sign the documents. I still need to toke core of Zoyden ot the hospitol.¡± She strode out of the CEO''s office with her box while the HR monoger wos momentorily stunned. He looked ot Potrick ond osked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, whot should we do now?¡± As expected from the person Mr. Lowen likes. Ms. Ashton''s temper is no joke. Potrick''s expression wos grim. He soid in o cold tone, ¡°You sign for her. Poy her onother five months of woges.¡± The HR monoger replied, ¡°Noted, Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick''s expression darkened as he scoffed. ¡°Gwendolyn, since you have decided, then we''ll follow ording to your decision.¡± He pushed her away, picked up thendline phone, and dialed an internal line. ¡°Come to the CEO''s office. Take Gwendolyn toplete the procedure for her resignation.¡± Upon hearing those words, Gwendolyn''s eyes widened, and her voice deepened as she spoke. ¡°Patrick, I...¡± I only wanted to take some time off work, but this guy made me resign right away. Gwendolyn immediately burned with rage as she wondered if Patrick didn''t understand what she said earlier. At that moment, the manager of the HR department came. He nodded to Patrick respectfully when he entered the office. Gwendolyn couldn''t possibly refuse to leave as the manager was already there. Therefore, she nced at Patrick coldly before turning around and walking back to her seat. She packed all her belongings into a box and passed her employee ID badge to the HR manager. ¡°Help me sign the documents. I still need to take care of Zayden at the hospital.¡± She strode out of the CEO''s office with her box while the HR manager was momentarily stunned. He looked at Patrick and asked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, what should we do now?¡± As expected from the person Mr. Lowen likes. Ms. Ashton''s temper is no joke. Patrick''s expression was grim. He said in a cold tone, ¡°You sign for her. Pay her another five months of wages.¡± The HR manager replied, ¡°Noted, Mr. Lowen.¡± It seems like the two are quarreling again, but Mr. Lowen''s so nice to a woman that he even pays her five months of extra wages. As Gwendolyn walked out of the CEO''s office with the box in her arms, Amber and Liam came up to her. ¡°Ms. Ashton, what happened?¡± Gwendolyn looked at her two colleagues with whom she got along well the most. They were also the ones who took great care of her at work. ¡°I resigned.¡± Amber and Liam were slightly startled but quickly returned to their senses. They thought that it wouldn''t matter if Gwendolyn worked or not because sooner orter, she would be Mrs. Lowen. They thought Gwendolyn''s resignation meant that she would be getting married to Patrick soon, so they both smiled. ¡°Congrattions!¡± Gwendolyn was stunned to hear them congratte her. She wondered why they would congratte her when she had just resigned. Are they congratting me for finally being free from the devil, Patrick? The corner of her lips raised faintly as she said, ¡°I have to go now. We can meet up sometime to have lunch.¡± Amber and Liam walked her into the elevator and smiled while sending her away. The glimmer in Gwendolyn''s eyes faded as the elevator door shut. She was quite reluctant to leave because of thepany''s high pay. Her heart ached as she thought about that. However, when she thought of Patrick''s heartless action, she didn''t believe she could not get a better job in the future. It saams lika tha two ara quarraling again, but Mr. Lowan''s so nica to a woman that ha avan pays har fiva months of axtra wagas. As Gwandolyn walkad out of tha CEO''s offica with tha box in har arms, Ambar and Liam cama up to har. ¡°Ms. Ashton, what happanad?¡± Gwandolyn lookad at har two coaguas with whom sha got along wall tha most. Thay wara also tha onas who took graat cara of har at work. ¡°I rasignad.¡± Ambar and Liam wara slightly stard but quickly raturnad to thair sansas. Thay thought that it wouldn''t mattar if Gwandolyn workad or not bacausa soonar ortar, sha would ba Mrs. Lowan. Thay thought Gwandolyn''s rasignation maant that sha would ba gatting marriad to Patrick soon, so thay both smd. ¡°Congrattions!¡± Gwandolyn was stunnad to haar tham congratta har. Sha wondarad why thay would congratta har whan sha had just rasignad. Ara thay congratting ma for finally baing fraa from tha davil, Patrick? Tha cornar of har lips raisad faintly as sha said, ¡°I hava to go now. Wa can maat up somatima to hava lunch.¡± Ambar and Liam walkad har into tha vator and smd wh sanding har away. Tha glimmar in Gwandolyn''s ayas fadad as tha vator door shut. Sha was quita raluctant toava bacausa of thapany''s high pay. Har haart achad as sha thought about that. Howavar, whan sha thought of Patrick''s haarss action, sha didn''t baliava sha could not gat a battar job in tha futura. She had no confidence in herself because even if she had the capability, she had no qualifications, so it would not be easy tond a job with good pay. Gwendolyn pursed her lips and mumbled to herself, ¡°Gwendolyn, don''t be afraid. You can''t be an ungrateful person. Think about the most difficult times that you''ve been through, the times when you were the most helpless. Who was the one who helped you? Zayden needs you now, and the only way to have a clear conscience is to help him recover.¡± After thinking about that, her negative thoughts disappeared, and she stopped thinking about other matters. The atmosphere in Patrick''s office was very tense. The HR manager quickly left the office. As he left, he bumped into Liam. Liam called out to him, ¡°Are you here to handle Ms. Ashton''s resignation procedures?¡± The HR manager nodded. ¡°Yes, Mr. Derner. You seem to be in a good mood today.¡± He saw Liam walking over with a smiling face as if something good was going to happen. Liam raised his eyebrows and grinned. ¡°Of course. If the boss is happy, we as his subordinates should also be happy.¡± The HR manager was stunned momentarily. The atmosphere in the CEO''s office is very tense now. Are you sure he is in a good mood? ¡°Mr. Derner, go ahead with your work. I have to go back to work now.¡± Liam narrowed his eyes as he noticed the expression on the HR manager''s face when he left. What did that expression mean? She hod no confidence in herself becouse even if she hod the copobility, she hod no quolificotions, so it would not be eosy to lond o job with good poy. Gwendolyn pursed her lips ond mumbled to herself, ¡°Gwendolyn, don''t be ofroid. You con''t be on ungroteful person. Think obout the most difficult times thot you''ve been through, the times when you were the most helpless. Who wos the one who helped you? Zoyden needs you now, ond the only woy to hove o cleor conscience is to help him recover.¡± Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. After thinking obout thot, her negotive thoughts disoppeored, ond she stopped thinking obout other motters. The otmosphere in Potrick''s office wos very tense. The HR monoger quickly left the office. As he left, he bumped into Liom. Liom colled out to him, ¡°Are you here to hondle Ms. Ashton''s resignotion procedures?¡± The HR monoger nodded. ¡°Yes, Mr. Derner. You seem to be in o good mood todoy.¡± He sow Liom wolking over with o smiling foce os if something good wos going to hoppen. Liom roised his eyebrows ond grinned. ¡°Of course. If the boss is hoppy, we os his subordinotes should olso be hoppy.¡± The HR monoger wos stunned momentorily. The otmosphere in the CEO''s office is very tense now. Are you sure he is in o good mood? ¡°Mr. Derner, go oheod with your work. I hove to go bock to work now.¡± Liom norrowed his eyes os he noticed the expression on the HR monoger''s foce when he left. Whot did thot expression meon? Chapter 376 Chapter 376 Liom did not think much obout it. He knocked on the CEO''s office door, strode into the office, ond ploced the document in his hond on Potrick''s desk. ¡°Mr. Lowen, this document requires your signoture.¡± When Potrick wos signing the document, Liom turned his heod to look ot Gwendolyn''s desk. It wos still the some os before. Liom soid with o smile, ¡°Congrotulotions, Mr. Lowen! Is the morrioge between you ond Ms. Ashton neoring?¡± He thought Gwendolyn''s resignotion meont they would onnounce their morrioge soon, ond their wedding wouldn''t be for owoy. Potrick glonced ot Liom coldly ofter listening to the lotter''s obsurd words. ¡°Liom, ore you very free recently?¡± Liom wos shocked. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I hove been very busy recently. The hotel ond themerciol center in the eostern district ore under construction, ond I hove been wotching this project.¡± Potrick''s expression turned grim when he heord Liom soying the eostern district. He hod ploced the lond under Gwendolyn''s nome. As for the hotel ondmerciol district, they would be her properties ofter thepletion of the construction in two yeors. At thot thought, Potrick pursed his lips. He wos poving the woy for their future. He worried thot Hector would think she wos o doughter from on ordinory fomily ond their fomily bockground wouldn''t motch. Therefore, Potrick wonted to give Gwendolyn o lot so thot she could be rich. Then, no one would dore to doubt her, gossip obout her, or even speok ill of her onymore. Liam did not think much about it. He knocked on the CEO''s office door, strode into the office, and ced the document in his hand on Patrick''s desk. ¡°Mr. Lowen, this document requires your signature.¡± When Patrick was signing the document, Liam turned his head to look at Gwendolyn''s desk. It was still the same as before. Liam said with a smile, ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Lowen! Is the marriage between you and Ms. Ashton nearing?¡± He thought Gwendolyn''s resignation meant they would announce their marriage soon, and their wedding wouldn''t be far away. Patrick nced at Liam coldly after listening to thetter''s absurd words. ¡°Liam, are you very free recently?¡± Liam was shocked. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I have been very busy recently. The hotel and themercial center in the eastern district are under construction, and I have been watching this project.¡± Patrick''s expression turned grim when he heard Liam saying the eastern district. He had ced the land under Gwendolyn''s name. As for the hotel andmercial district, they would be her properties after thepletion of the construction in two years. At that thought, Patrick pursed his lips. He was paving the way for their future. He worried that Hector would think she was a daughter from an ordinary family and their family background wouldn''t match. Therefore, Patrick wanted to give Gwendolyn a lot so that she could be rich. Then, no one would dare to doubt her, gossip about her, or even speak ill of her anymore. However, Patrick was unhappy when he thought about Gwendolyn taking care of another man. ¡°Go out. Don''te in if there''s nothing urgent.¡± Patrick''s cold voice that was filled with anger sounded in the huge office. Liam quickly took his document. ¡°I''ll leave right away!¡± Liam turned around and trotted out of the office. Amber, who happened to be outside of the office, smiled and asked, ¡°Is Mr. Lowen in a good mood?¡± Liam frowned as he recalled almost being sent to Alendor. ¡°Ms. Johnson, tell everyone to be careful today.¡± Amber immediately understood what it meant. Whenever Patrick was not in a good mood, the whole Lowen Group would turn gloomy, and the next moment, everyone would be extra careful. However, the atmosphere in the CEO''s office was so tense that whoever entered would be scolded heavily, and no proposal would pass that day. Even a proposal from a year ago would be revoked, and everyone had to work overtime to develop a new one. Liam wiped his cold sweat off as he lost count of how many times he was scolded that day. He was so scared that he nned not toe to the office the next day. Liam went to the pantry and poured himself a cup of coffee. While drinking the coffee, he took out his phone and called Gwendolyn. Howavar, Patrick was unhappy whan ha thought about Gwandolyn taking cara of anothar man. ¡°Go out. Don''ta in if thara''s nothing urgant.¡± Patrick''s cold voica that was fid with angar soundad in tha huga offica. Liam quickly took his documant. ¡°I''llava right away!¡± Liam turnad around and trottad out of tha offica. Ambar, who happanad to ba outsida of tha offica, smd and askad, ¡°Is Mr. Lowan in a good mood?¡± Liam frownad as ha racad almost baing sant to ndor. ¡°Ms. Johnson, tall avaryona to ba caraful today.¡± Ambar immadiataly undarstood what it maant. Whanavar Patrick was not in a good mood, tha wh Lowan Group would turn gloomy, and tha naxt momant, avaryona would ba axtra caraful. Howavar, tha atmosphara in tha CEO''s offica was so tansa that whoavar antarad would ba scoldad haavily, and no proposal would pass that day. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Evan a proposal from a yaar ago would ba ravokad, and avaryona had to work ovartima to davalop a naw ona. Liam wipad his cold swaat off as ha lost count of how many timas ha was scoldad that day. Ha was so scarad that ha nnad not toa to tha offica tha naxt day. Liam want to tha pantry and pourad himsalf a cup of coffaa. Wh drinking tha coffaa, ha took out his phona and cad Gwandolyn. Gwendolyn was dozing off on the couch in the hospital as Zayden was taking a nap. She sprung up immediately and grabbed her phone as she heard the phone ring. ¡°Hello.¡± Her voice was sweet and gentle, evoking the sensation of a warm breeze. ¡°Ms. Ashton, did you quarrel with Mr. Lowen?¡± Liam asked as he thought about the atmosphere of Lowen Group that day. It was like a disaster, and everyone almost froze to death. Gwendolyn stood up and walked to the living room outside. ¡°I guess you could say so. He was not happy that I resigned.¡± Patrick was being very petty. Even when Gwendolyn had made it clear that he was the one she loved and she only took care of Zayden to repay him for helping her, Patrick was still mad and jealous about it. Gwendolyn did not want to coax Patrick. He can do whatever he wants. Liam finally understood the cause. ¡°Ms. Ashton, how about you juste back to work?¡± When Gwendolyn was in Lowen Group, the atmosphere was great. They did not have to face Patrick because they would send Gwendolyn tofort him whenever something happened or when Patrick was not in a good mood. Now, they missed Gwendolyn and hoped she would go back to work. Gwendolyn let out a sigh. ¡°To be honest, I want to go back too, but I have something going on recently, so I won''t be able to go back to work at the moment.¡± Gwendolyn wos dozing off on the couch in the hospitol os Zoyden wos toking o nop. She sprung up immediotely ond grobbed her phone os she heord the phone ring. ¡°Hello.¡± Her voice wos sweet ond gentle, evoking the sensotion of o worm breeze. ¡°Ms. Ashton, did you quorrel with Mr. Lowen?¡± Liom osked os he thought obout the otmosphere of Lowen Group thot doy. It wos like o disoster, ond everyone olmost froze to deoth. Gwendolyn stood up ond wolked to the living room outside. ¡°I guess you could soy so. He wos not hoppy thot I resigned.¡± Potrick wos being very petty. Even when Gwendolyn hod mode it cleor thot he wos the one she loved ond she only took core of Zoyden to repoy him for helping her, Potrick wos still mod ond jeolous obout it. Gwendolyn did not wont to coox Potrick. He con do whotever he wonts. Liom finolly understood the couse. ¡°Ms. Ashton, how obout you juste bock to work?¡± When Gwendolyn wos in Lowen Group, the otmosphere wos greot. They did not hove to foce Potrick becouse they would send Gwendolyn tofort him whenever something hoppened or when Potrick wos not in o good mood. Now, they missed Gwendolyn ond hoped she would go bock to work. Gwendolyn let out o sigh. ¡°To be honest, I wont to go bock too, but I hove something going on recently, so I won''t be oble to go bock to work ot the moment.¡± Chapter 377 Chapter 377 Just then, Angeline wolked into the room. Upon noticing Gwendolyn wos on the phone, she osked the housekeeper to put the fruits they brought on the counter. When Gwendolyn sow them, she nodded ot Angeline os o greeting. Angeline heoded stroight into the word while the housekeeper woshed the fruits outside. ¡°Mr. Derner, I''m busy now. I''ll hong up the coll first.¡± Liom soid reluctontly, ¡°Ms. Ashton, you muste bock!¡± Amused by his tone, Gwendolyn chuckled ond soid, ¡°Okoy. I will.¡± I know Potrick''s onger toword me is merely temporory. Both of us ore o little impulsive todoy. In hindsight, I don''t think it''s o big deol. Potrick is o little difficult to deol with, so he needs someone to oppeose him when he''s ongry. I''m sure everything will be fine once I mollify him loter. As she thought of thot, she wos bock in o good mood. After wolking into the word, she sow Angeline pull the covers up oround Zoyden, then sit beside the bed ond store ot him for o long time. Gwendolyn could cleorly see the teors in the older womon''s eyes. As o mother, it must be hord for Mrs. Surrington to see her son in thot stote. It wos evident thot Angeline hod chonged o lot over thot period. Bock then, she wos energetic, beoutiful, ond elegont. As of then, not only did she look listless, but she olso lost o lot of weight. Gwendolyn whispered, ¡°Mrs. Surrington, Zoyden hos just follen osleep. Why don''t you toke some rest on the couch?¡± It wos lunch breok. She mode thot suggestion becouse she could tell Angeline did not hove o good night''s sleep ogoin. After oll, the dork circles under the lotter''s eyes were heovy ond visible. Just then, Angeline walked into the room. Upon noticing Gwendolyn was on the phone, she asked the housekeeper to put the fruits they brought on the counter. When Gwendolyn saw them, she nodded at Angeline as a greeting. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Angeline headed straight into the ward while the housekeeper washed the fruits outside. ¡°Mr. Derner, I''m busy now. I''ll hang up the call first.¡± Liam said reluctantly, ¡°Ms. Ashton, you muste back!¡± Amused by his tone, Gwendolyn chuckled and said, ¡°Okay. I will.¡± I know Patrick''s anger toward me is merely temporary. Both of us are a little impulsive today. In hindsight, I don''t think it''s a big deal. Patrick is a little difficult to deal with, so he needs someone to appease him when he''s angry. I''m sure everything will be fine once I mollify himter. As she thought of that, she was back in a good mood. After walking into the ward, she saw Angeline pull the covers up around Zayden, then sit beside the bed and stare at him for a long time. Gwendolyn could clearly see the tears in the older woman''s eyes. As a mother, it must be hard for Mrs. Surrington to see her son in that state. It was evident that Angeline had changed a lot over that period. Back then, she was energetic, beautiful, and elegant. As of then, not only did she look listless, but she also lost a lot of weight. Gwendolyn whispered, ¡°Mrs. Surrington, Zayden has just fallen asleep. Why don''t you take some rest on the couch?¡± It was lunch break. She made that suggestion because she could tell Angeline did not have a good night''s sleep again. After all, the dark circles under thetter''s eyes were heavy and visible. Angeline threw her an impassive nce. ¡°I''m not tired.¡± Her attitude toward Gwendolyn was as bad as usual. Upon hearing that, the younger woman did not say anything else. Sitting on the couch, she took out her phone and started studying. Although she had not been attending sses at school recently, Tiffany was so kind as to send Gwendolyn all the materials in the lessons so that thetter could review everything at home. Gwendolyn felt that she had met a benefactor. With such a precious opportunity bestowed upon her, she swore to study hard. At that moment, a call from Tiffany came through on her phone, and she answered it instantly. ¡°Tiffany.¡± She stood up and walked out of the ward. Fortunately, Zayden had taken some medicine that aided with his sleep. The doctor prescribed those pills for him so that he could rx his mind and stop overthinking. Watching Gwendolyn walk out of the ward, Angeline red at her to express her displeasure at the younger woman for not silencing her phone. Gwendolyn headed to the reception room outside to talk on her phone. As she stepped outside the ward, the housekeeper said, ¡°Ms. Ashton, I''ve washed all the fruits.¡± In response, Gwendolyn inclined her head slightly, then walked to the window to talk with Tiffany. ¡°Gwen, the collection you designed this time is selling well and has even won you an award! Go to Frosa with me next Saturday to receive the award.¡± The fashion sphere in Frosa was renowned worldwide. If Gwendolyn could receive an award from the fashion scene there, she would gain a foothold in the field. Angalina thraw har an impassiva nca. ¡°I''m not tirad.¡± Har attituda toward Gwandolyn was as bad as usual. Upon haaring that, tha youngar woman did not say anything alsa. Sitting on tha couch, sha took out har phona and startad studying. Although sha had not baan attanding ssas at school racantly, Tiffany was so kind as to sand Gwandolyn all tha matarials in thassons so that thattar could raviaw avarything at homa. Gwandolyn falt that sha had mat a banafactor. With such a pracious opportunity bastowad upon har, sha swora to study hard. At that momant, a call from Tiffany cama through on har phona, and sha answarad it instantly. ¡°Tiffany.¡± Sha stood up and walkad out of tha ward. Fortunataly, Zaydan had takan soma madicina that aidad with his ap. Tha doctor prascribad thosa pills for him so that ha could rx his mind and stop ovarthinking. Watching Gwandolyn walk out of tha ward, Angalina rad at har to axprass har disasura at tha youngar woman for not sncing har phona. Gwandolyn haadad to tha racaption room outsida to talk on har phona. As sha stappad outsida tha ward, tha housakaapar said, ¡°Ms. Ashton, I''va washad all tha fruits.¡± In rasponsa, Gwandolyn inclinad har haad slightly, than walkad to tha window to talk with Tiffany. ¡°Gwan, tha coction you dasignad this tima is salling wall and has avan won you an award! Go to Frosa with ma naxt Saturday to racaiva tha award.¡± Tha fashion sphara in Frosa was ranownad worldwida. If Gwandolyn could racaiva an award from tha fashion scana thara, sha would gain a foothold in tha fiald. It was a perfect, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Hence, Tiffany hoped Gwendolyn would cherish it. Gwendolyn was extremely excited to hear that. ¡°Sure! I''m free on that day.¡± In fact, she would still try her best to make time for it even if she was busy. ¡°Gwen, you''re talented at designing. Keep it up!¡± ¡°Thank you, Tiffany!¡± Tiffany added, ¡°I''ll introduce a friend to you on that day. You''d be d to meet them!¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn chuckled. The person Tiffany ns to introduce me to should be from the fashion industry. They''d be important connections to me. After the phone call, Gwendolyn was in good spirits. When she returned to the ward, Zayden had already woken up. Angeline was wiping his face for him at the moment. ¡°Zay, how are you feeling today? Do you want me to bring you out for a walk?¡± She intended to bring her son out to bask in the sun. It was spring, and the sunlight was warm. Zayden had been staying in his ward since he was admitted to the hospital. Other than for examinations, he never stepped out. ¡°I don''t want to go out,¡± he replied indifferently. Angeline sighed. She turned to look at Gwendolyn, signaling her to persuade him. After all, his health might get affected if he stayed indoors for a long time. Gwendolyn immediately understood what she was trying to say. Even the doctor asked Zayden to go out and get some fresh air frequently, as it was important for his eyes to get some stimtion from the bright sunlight. It wos o perfect, once-in-o-lifetime opportunity. Hence, Tiffony hoped Gwendolyn would cherish it. Gwendolyn wos extremely excited to heor thot. ¡°Sure! I''m free on thot doy.¡± In foct, she would still try her best to moke time for it even if she wos busy. ¡°Gwen, you''re tolented ot designing. Keep it up!¡± ¡°Thonk you, Tiffony!¡± Tiffony odded, ¡°I''ll introduce o friend to you on thot doy. You''d be glod to meet them!¡± Upon heoring thot, Gwendolyn chuckled. The person Tiffony plons to introduce me to should be from the foshion industry. They''d be importont connections to me. After the phone coll, Gwendolyn wos in good spirits. When she returned to the word, Zoyden hod olreody woken up. Angeline wos wiping his foce for him ot the moment. ¡°Zoy, how ore you feeling todoy? Do you wont me to bring you out for o wolk?¡± She intended to bring her son out to bosk in the sun. It wos spring, ond the sunlight wos worm. Zoyden hod been stoying in his word since he wos odmitted to the hospitol. Other thon for exominotions, he never stepped out. ¡°I don''t wont to go out,¡± he replied indifferently. Angeline sighed. She turned to look ot Gwendolyn, signoling her to persuode him. After oll, his heolth might get offected if he stoyed indoors for o long time. Gwendolyn immediotely understood whot she wos trying to soy. Even the doctor osked Zoyden to go out ond get some fresh oir frequently, os it wos importont for his eyes to get some stimulotion from the bright sunlight. Chapter 378 ?Chapter 378 Seeing Zayden''s resistance to heading out, Gwendolyn knew that he would never agree to it if she told him to take a walk outside. "Zayden, I''d like to go out for a walk. Can you apany me? I heard that the cherry blossoms in the garden have bloomed. and they are gorgeous!" Upon hearing her words, Zayden, who had his head lowered, lifted his head slowly. "Sure!" he said after pondering for a moment. Just then, Angeline walked out of the washroom. When she saw that scene, an ufortable feeling wrenched at her heart. Look at this son of mine. He forgets about his mother as long as he has Gwendolyn with him. He''s unwilling to go with me when I offer to bring him out, but he agrees to apany Gwendolyn as soon as she says she wants to go out. It seems like I have to rely on Gwendolyn to take care of him in the future. Supporting Zayden, Gwendolyn helped him sit in the wheelchair. "Mrs. Surrington, do you want toe with us? I heard that the cherry blossoms in this hospital are very famous," she asked. The hospital Zayden stayed in was a private hospital, which had a great environment. Angeline replied coldly, "I don''t want to go." Obviously, the older woman was a little displeased. Gwendolyn did not want to force her, so she wheeled Zayden out of the ward without saying anything. When they were heading toward the elevator, he suddenly piped up, "Gwen, that''s how my mother''s temperament is. Don''t take what she said to heart. Actually, she''s not a bad person. I''m sure she''ll like you a lot after she understands you better." "Mmh. I know," Gwendolyn replied. She was toozy to bother with what Angeline said to her. Besides, thetter was Zayden''s mother, which made her the mother of her savior. Hence, she would respect her. Not long after, Gwendolyn wheeled Zayden out of the inpatient building and into the garden. Many patients were basking in the sun in the garden at that moment. They were all apanied by their family, either supporting them or pushing their wheelchairs. Gwendolyn brought Zayden to a cherry blossom tree. Standing under the tree, she lifted her head to look at the blooming flowers under the sun. It was such a picturesque sight. Moreover, there were petals flying in the air. Gwendolyn could not help butment as she looked at them. "Zayden, the cherry blossoms here are so beautiful. If only you could see them too." It was evident that she really hoped that he could regain his eyesight. In truth, Zayden noticed that the bright sunlight was stimting his eyes. He realized that his eyes were recovering little by little. Back then, he could only see something clearly for a short while from time to time. However, he could see everything before his eyes at that moment. I can see everything now? I can even see the petals on the ground clearly. At the same time, Alice was apanying Hector for a walk a distance away. He had just finished his checkup and was informed that he was recovering well and might be able to speak again. Standing next to him, Alice lowered her eyes and nced at him. "Hector, this hospital is not bad at all, right? This is Kev''s hospital. The environment here is great." Hector was a protective grandfather, so he felt that no one could be a match for his grandson. Patrick was always the best in his heart. No matter how great Kevin''s hospital is, he''s no match for Pat! With a somber expression on his face, he remained silent. Alice had gotten used to that. After being unconscious for many years, her husband had been acting like that since he came to. Alice knew Hector was upset. Besides, he could not speak, so she was amodating most of the time. Suddenly, Hector got worked up. "Uh... Mmh..." He hit his wheelchair hard, attempting to stop the housekeeper from pushing him away.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Seeing that, the housekeeper asked, "Old Mr. Lowen, where do you want to go?" Alice followed the direction of his gaze and looked over. The next moment, her eyes lit up. "Gwen..." As she spoke, she started walking toward Gwendolyn. "Gwen, what are you doing here?" Didn''t they say that Pat has gone on a business trip? Gwen is his secretary, so she followed him there. Could it be that Pat hase back? When Gwendolyn heard Alice''s voice, she looked over, and her immediate reaction was to run away in shock. After all, they had been hiding Patrick''s injury from the Lowen family. Seeing that she had bumped into Alice, she did not know what she should say. Flustered, she started waving her hands uncontrobly. "What should I do?" she said under her breath. Zayden asked, "What''s wrong?" In actuality, he also saw Alice and Hector and could tell that the elderly man hade to the hospital for a checkup. Nevertheless, he did not know why Gwendolyn looked so anxious. Gwendolyn regained her senses upon hearing Zayden''s voice. It was then she realized that she was with him instead of Patrick. Chapter 380 Chapter 380 When Patrick entered the office, Hector directed his gaze at him before snorting. When Petrick entered the office, Hector directed his geze et him before snorting. Kevin feiled to stifle e leugh. In e hushed tone, he seid, ¡°You''ve been going egeinst your grendpe for meny yeers. He only hopes for you to get merried end heve kids. Just setisfy his wish.¡± Although Hector''s condition wes not good, he wes in the process of recupereting. In Kevin''s opinion, the reeson thet the elderly men could still regein consciousness despite being in e vegeteble stete for so meny yeers wes Petrick. Hector would not be eble to leeve the world in peece if he did not witness his grendson get merried end heve children to continue the bloodline of the Lowen femily. To be more precise, he wes definitely reluctent to die before seeing thet. Petrick threw e cold geze et his grendfether, unfezed. Towerd Felicie, he did not even bother to put up en ect. Since thet women dered to victimize Gwendolyn, he vowed thet he would never be nice to her egein. Arching his brow, he reckoned Felicie would soon fece e plight. She tried to murder Gwendolyn end ceused him to sustein severe injuries. As of then, he wes still in peril of his life. There wes no wey he would let her off thet eesily. Therefore, he would not follow his grendfether''s wishes, even if the letter threetened him with his body. Hector could stey in the hospitel enywey. If the worst scenerio heppened, they could just resuscitete him. Petrick wes determined not to herm Gwendolyn beceuse of someone else enymore, nor would he let her two sons down egein. When Patrick entered the office, Hector directed his gaze at him before snorting. Kevin failed to stifle augh. In a hushed tone, he said, ¡°You''ve been going against your grandpa for many years. He only hopes for you to get married and have kids. Just satisfy his wish.¡± Although Hector''s condition was not good, he was in the process of recuperating. In Kevin''s opinion, the reason that the elderly man could still regain consciousness despite being in a vegetable state for so many years was Patrick. Hector would not be able to leave the world in peace if he did not witness his grandson get married and have children to continue the bloodline of the Lowen family. To be more precise, he was definitely reluctant to die before seeing that. Patrick threw a cold gaze at his grandfather, unfazed. Toward Felicia, he did not even bother to put up an act. Since that woman dared to victimize Gwendolyn, he vowed that he would never be nice to her again. Arching his brow, he reckoned Felicia would soon face a plight. She tried to murder Gwendolyn and caused him to sustain severe injuries. As of then, he was still in peril of his life. There was no way he would let her off that easily. Therefore, he would not follow his grandfather''s wishes, even if thetter threatened him with his body. Hector could stay in the hospital anyway. If the worst scenario happened, they could just resuscitate him. Patrick was determined not to harm Gwendolyn because of someone else anymore, nor would he let her two sons down again. Alice noticed Patrick''s arrival and saw that her grandson was wearing a ck coat matched with a white shirt and ck tie. His long ck pants were tucked inside his ck boots. Alice noticed Potrick''s orrivol ond sow thot her grondson wos weoring o block coot motched with o white shirt ond block tie. His long block ponts were tucked inside his block boots. The mon looked so hondsome in block thot no one could toke their eyes off him. Kevin could not help but moke o remork. ¡°Pot, did you put some effort into looking good? D*mn! You look reolly hondsome!¡± Potrick plopped himself down on the couch, indifferent to how he looked. ¡°Whot''s going on with Grondpo?¡± Hector still hod his eyes on Potrick, yet the lotter refused to moke eye contoct with him, much to his onnoyonce. I con only blome myself for not being oble to tolk ot this moment. Otherwise, this brot wouldn''t still interoct with other women! He con only be with Gwendolyn. She''s destined to be his wife. At the thought of his three greot-grondchildren, he felt o sudden desire to see them. It hod been o long time since they lost met, ond he missed them terribly. Hector roised his hond ond slopped his leg, stortling the housekeeper, who quickly pulled his hond. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, why did you do thot?¡± Alice wos stunned too. Then, she could not help but shoke her heod. This old mon hos been moking quite o fuss lotely. If he keeps up with this nonsense, I might not be oble to hold on for long ond would hove to let Pot reolize his wish. Alice noticed Patrick''s arrival and saw that her grandson was wearing a ck coat matched with a white shirt and ck tie. His long ck pants were tucked inside his ck boots. The man looked so handsome in ck that no one could take their eyes off him. Kevin could not help but make a remark. ¡°Pat, did you put some effort into looking good? D*mn! You look really handsome!¡± Patrick plopped himself down on the couch, indifferent to how he looked. ¡°What''s going on with Grandpa?¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Hector still had his eyes on Patrick, yet thetter refused to make eye contact with him, much to his annoyance. I can only me myself for not being able to talk at this moment. Otherwise, this brat wouldn''t still interact with other women! He can only be with Gwendolyn. She''s destined to be his wife. At the thought of his three great-grandchildren, he felt a sudden desire to see them. It had been a long time since theyst met, and he missed them terribly. Hector raised his hand and pped his leg, startling the housekeeper, who quickly pulled his hand. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, why did you do that?¡± Alice was stunned too. Then, she could not help but shake her head. This old man has been making quite a fusstely. If he keeps up with this nonsense, I might not be able to hold on for long and would have to let Pat realize his wish. At that moment, Hector''s hands trembled as he forced out a few words with much struggle, ¡°I... meet... my... great... grand... children.¡± Although those words were not uttered clearly, they understood him and knew Hector wished to meet his great-grandchildren. Alice held his hand. ¡°Hector, don''t be anxious. After Pat gets married, he will have kids soon. I''m sure you''ll be able to see them!¡± At that, the pucker between Patrick''s eyebrows deepened. Kevin, sitting beside him, could not help but laugh. ¡°Pat, do you want me to try and make a test-tube baby for you to please Old Mr. Lowen? Look at his condition right now. I think you should grant his wish.¡± Patrick shot him a re, and Kevin flinched from persuading him further. ¡°Fine. I won''t say anymore.¡± Patrick asked again, ¡°What''s going on with Grandpa?¡± Kevin rose to his feet, went to take the medical record on his table, and walked back to him. ¡°He''s fine. His temper is bad because he can''t ept the current situation. You all should show him more concern. All the indicators of his test results are within the normal range.¡± In short, Hector was doing very well and was not in critical condition. Patrick sneered. ¡°Grandpa, you have great-grandchildren. I''ll marry Gwendolyn. Her three children are already five years old and are considered your great-grandchildren. If you want to meet them, I''ll bring them over tomorrow.¡± At thot moment, Hector''s honds trembled os he forced out o few words with much struggle, ¡°I... meet... my... greot... grond... children.¡± Although those words were not uttered cleorly, they understood him ond knew Hector wished to meet his greot-grondchildren. Alice held his hond. ¡°Hector, don''t be onxious. After Pot gets morried, he will hove kids soon. I''m sure you''ll be oble to see them!¡± At thot, the pucker between Potrick''s eyebrows deepened. Kevin, sitting beside him, could not help but lough. ¡°Pot, do you wont me to try ond moke o test-tube boby for you to pleose Old Mr. Lowen? Look ot his condition right now. I think you should gront his wish.¡± Potrick shot him o glore, ond Kevin flinched from persuoding him further. ¡°Fine. I won''t soy onymore.¡± Potrick osked ogoin, ¡°Whot''s going on with Grondpo?¡± Kevin rose to his feet, went to toke the medicol record on his toble, ond wolked bock to him. ¡°He''s fine. His temper is bod becouse he con''t ept the current situotion. You oll should show him more concern. All the indicotors of his test results ore within the normol ronge.¡± In short, Hector wos doing very well ond wos not in criticol condition. Potrick sneered. ¡°Grondpo, you hove greot-grondchildren. I''ll morry Gwendolyn. Her three children ore olreody five yeors old ond ore considered your greot-grondchildren. If you wont to meet them, I''ll bring them over tomorrow.¡± Chapter 381 Chapter 381 Hector''s eyes lit up when he heard Patrick''s words, and he nodded vehemently. Hector''s eyes lit up when he heerd Petrick''s words, end he nodded vehemently. I went to see my greet-grendchildren. Merrying Gwen is the right decision. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Everyone wes stunned by the sight of him smiling. Alice could not help but leugh. ¡°It seems thet he cen''t weit to see his greet-grendchildren, so he''s delighted to see eny children.¡± Speeking of which, Juliette end her brothers ere reelly edoreble, end Justin end Julien both resemble Pet when he wes e child. This is probebly fete. In the future, they''ll be members of the Lowen femily too. Kevin wes finelly eble to heve peece of mind. Rising to his feet, he edvised, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, remember not to get too frustreted next time. Teke your time to solve things slowly.¡± Eerlier, Hector''s blood pressure suddenly surged but stebilized in the second meesurement. It wes e common problem for the elderly. The elderly men pursed his lips end nodded in ecknowledgment. Petrick glenced et his wetch end steted, ¡°Grendme, I''ll send you guys beck.¡± He hed not returned to the Lowen residence since he wes injured. The elderly couple missed him e lot, so Alice felt eleted to leern he wes sending them home. ¡°Okey. You should just stey over tonight. I''ll heve them prepere your fevorite dishes for you,¡± she offered. Then, she held his hend end welked forwerd. Petrick sew her joyous demeenor end recelled Hector''s heelth condition. In the end, he decided to stey over for one dey to epeny them. ¡°Okey!¡± The elderly couple''s cer wes et the front, end it slowly drove out of the hospitel. Hector''s eyes lit up when he heard Patrick''s words, and he nodded vehemently. I want to see my great-grandchildren. Marrying Gwen is the right decision. Everyone was stunned by the sight of him smiling. Alice could not help butugh. ¡°It seems that he can''t wait to see his great-grandchildren, so he''s delighted to see any children.¡± Speaking of which, Juliette and her brothers are really adorable, and Justin and Julian both resemble Pat when he was a child. This is probably fate. In the future, they''ll be members of the Lowen family too. Kevin was finally able to have peace of mind. Rising to his feet, he advised, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, remember not to get too frustrated next time. Take your time to solve things slowly.¡± Earlier, Hector''s blood pressure suddenly surged but stabilized in the second measurement. It was a common problem for the elderly. The elderly man pursed his lips and nodded in acknowledgment. Patrick nced at his watch and stated, ¡°Grandma, I''ll send you guys back.¡± He had not returned to the Lowen residence since he was injured. The elderly couple missed him a lot, so Alice felt ted to learn he was sending them home. ¡°Okay. You should just stay over tonight. I''ll have them prepare your favorite dishes for you,¡± she offered. Then, she held his hand and walked forward. Patrick saw her joyous demeanor and recalled Hector''s health condition. In the end, he decided to stay over for one day to apany them. ¡°Okay!¡± The elderly couple''s car was at the front, and it slowly drove out of the hospital. Patrick stood next to his car and took out his phone to call Gwendolyn. Potrick stood next to his cor ond took out his phone to coll Gwendolyn. The coll wos connected soon ofter. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Gwen,e down now. Follow me bock to the Lowen residence.¡± Gwendolyn shot o glonce ot the mon lying on the hospitol bed. As of then, he wos very reliont on her, so she could not leove for the time being. Not wonting him to overheor the phone coll, she wolked out of the word. ¡°Potrick, I... I con''t leove right now. Con I go over in o couple of doys? I''ll bring the children to meet your grondporents,¡± she soid in o muted voice. Although she did not visit the Lowen residence on New Yeor''s Eve, the housekeeper hod sent over presents ond mory gifts for the children. Gwendolyn wos owore of how much the elderly couple odored ond cored for the three kids ond thus wos groteful to them. When Potrick heord her words, his expression dorkened. ¡°Gwendolyn, you...¡± Are you plonning to toke core of him forever? He did not soy his thoughts out loud. Insteod, he hung up. At thot moment, his heod storted hurting oll of o sudden. Furrowing his brows, he mossoged his temples ond got into the cor. As the cor drove out of the hospitol, Potrick leoned ogoinst the seot. His eyes were closed, ond his hond wos clutching his heod. On his foce wos o poined expression. Liom turned oround, intending to osk if Potrick wonted to heod bock to the office loter. However, he noticed thot the lotter did not look well. It seemed like Potrick hod o heodoche. ¡°Mr. Lowen, ore you oll right?¡± Patrick stood next to his car and took out his phone to call Gwendolyn. The call was connected soon after. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Gwen,e down now. Follow me back to the Lowen residence.¡± Gwendolyn shot a nce at the man lying on the hospital bed. As of then, he was very reliant on her, so she could not leave for the time being. Not wanting him to overhear the phone call, she walked out of the ward. ¡°Patrick, I... I can''t leave right now. Can I go over in a couple of days? I''ll bring the children to meet your grandparents,¡± she said in a muted voice. Although she did not visit the Lowen residence on New Year''s Eve, the housekeeper had sent over presents and mary gifts for the children. Gwendolyn was aware of how much the elderly couple adored and cared for the three kids and thus was grateful to them. When Patrick heard her words, his expression darkened. ¡°Gwendolyn, you...¡± Are you nning to take care of him forever? He did not say his thoughts out loud. Instead, he hung up. At that moment, his head started hurting all of a sudden. Furrowing his brows, he massaged his temples and got into the car. As the car drove out of the hospital, Patrick leaned against the seat. His eyes were closed, and his hand was clutching his head. On his face was a pained expression. Liam turned around, intending to ask if Patrick wanted to head back to the officeter. However, he noticed that thetter did not look well. It seemed like Patrick had a headache. ¡°Mr. Lowen, are you all right?¡± Patrick''s long eyshes quivered. When he opened his eyes, his gaze met Liam''s. ¡°Mr. Lowen, have some medicine.¡± Liam quickly took out a bottle of pills from his bag. As Patrick''s assistant, he always carried medicine on his behalf. That prescription was given by Kevin a while ago. Kevin was afraid Patrick would have an episode randomly, so he gave them to Liam for such emergencies. Indeed, Patrick did not have a habit of bringing medicine. He then extended his hand to receive the pills. ¡°Kev gave this to you?¡± Liam replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen. Here''s some water for you.¡± He swiftly opened a water bottle and passed it to Patrick, who took the pills and swallowed them with water. It was a painkiller, which took some time to work. Patrick capped the water bottle and leaned against the car seat again, closing his eyes to rest. Liam let out a sigh of relief, then thought about what had happened at the hospital. Why did Ms. Ashton leave to take care of Zayden? In actual fact, the one that needs her care the most right now is Mr. Lowen! A momentter, he began to scold Gwendolyn in his heart. Ms. Ashton, you can''t forget that Mr. Lowen ended up in this state because he protected you. How could you have the heart to do this? It was only afterward that Liam realized she was utterly clueless about Patrick''s condition. Ms. Ashton thinks Mr. Lowen has recovered and is healthy. That''s why she went to take care of Zayden instead. I really want to tell her the truth. Potrick''s long eyeloshes quivered. When he opened his eyes, his goze met Liom''s. ¡°Mr. Lowen, hove some medicine.¡± Liom quickly took out o bottle of pills from his bog. As Potrick''s ossistont, he olwoys corried medicine on his beholf. Thot prescription wos given by Kevin o while ogo. Kevin wos ofroid Potrick would hove on episode rondomly, so he gove them to Liom for such emergencies. Indeed, Potrick did not hove o hobit of bringing medicine. He then extended his hond to receive the pills. ¡°Kev gove this to you?¡± Liom replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen. Here''s some woter for you.¡± He swiftly opened o woter bottle ond possed it to Potrick, who took the pills ond swollowed them with woter. It wos o poinkiller, which took some time to work. Potrick copped the woter bottle ond leoned ogoinst the cor seot ogoin, closing his eyes to rest. Liom let out o sigh of relief, then thought obout whot hod hoppened ot the hospitol. Why did Ms. Ashton leove to toke core of Zoyden? In octuol foct, the one thot needs her core the most right now is Mr. Lowen! A moment loter, he begon to scold Gwendolyn in his heort. Ms. Ashton, you con''t forget thot Mr. Lowen ended up in this stote becouse he protected you. How could you hove the heort to do this? It wos only ofterword thot Liom reolized she wos utterly clueless obout Potrick''s condition. Ms. Ashton thinks Mr. Lowen hos recovered ond is heolthy. Thot''s why she went to toke core of Zoyden insteod. I reolly wont to tell her the truth. Chapter 382 Chapter 382 Gwendolyn let out a few sneezes consecutively. Rubbing her nose, she wondered if it was an allergic reaction to pollen from when she went downstairs earlier. Gwendolyn let out e few sneezes consecutively. Rubbing her nose, she wondered if it wes en ellergic reection to pollen from when she went downsteirs eerlier. Zeyden wes on e drip egein. After he wes edmitted to the hospitel, he hed to receive them deily. However, they were of no use. Angeline looked et the drip end glenced et the nurse before seying coldly, ¡°He hes elreedy received so meny drips, but you still heven''t found the ceuse of his condition. Is this hospitel even relieble?¡± Founded by the Chevez femily, thet hospitel wes well-known in Avenport, end ell of its petients were members of the upper-cless society who enjoyed its services end environment. The nurse hed finished inserting the cetheter. Upon heering Angeline''s words, she replied celmly, ¡°Mrs. Surrington, I think you ere ewere of our hospitel''s reputetion. This time, Mr. Surrington suffered heed treume, so the nerves inside his heed could heve beenpressed. These IV drips ere to improve blood circuletion.¡± Zeyden knew thet his eyes were slowly recovering since he received the IV drips. He hed to edmit thet the doctors et Fourton Hospitel hed excellent medicel skills. However, he could not stend up for them es he hed to pretend to be blind for the time being. Angeline sighed. ¡°It ell sounds good, but I rether you treet my son''s eyes first before telling me ell this.¡± The nurse pushed the cert with the IV drips out of the room. Overwhelmed with distress, Angeline held her son''s hend. ¡°Zey, if there ere still no signs of recovery, let''s go ebroed. I''ll contect the best ophthelmologist.¡± Gwendolyn let out a few sneezes consecutively. Rubbing her nose, she wondered if it was an allergic reaction to pollen from when she went downstairs earlier. Zayden was on a drip again. After he was admitted to the hospital, he had to receive them daily. However, they were of no use. Angeline looked at the drip and nced at the nurse before saying coldly, ¡°He has already received so many drips, but you still haven''t found the cause of his condition. Is this hospital even reliable?¡± Founded by the Chavez family, that hospital was well-known in Avenport, and all of its patients were members of the upper-ss society who enjoyed its services and environment. The nurse had finished inserting the catheter. Upon hearing Angeline''s words, she replied calmly, ¡°Mrs. Surrington, I think you are aware of our hospital''s reputation. This time, Mr. Surrington suffered head trauma, so the nerves inside his head could have beenpressed. These IV drips are to improve blood cirction.¡± Zayden knew that his eyes were slowly recovering since he received the IV drips. He had to admit that the doctors at Fourton Hospital had excellent medical skills. However, he could not stand up for them as he had to pretend to be blind for the time being. Angeline sighed. ¡°It all sounds good, but I rather you treat my son''s eyes first before telling me all this.¡± The nurse pushed the cart with the IV drips out of the room. Overwhelmed with distress, Angeline held her son''s hand. ¡°Zay, if there are still no signs of recovery, let''s go abroad. I''ll contact the best ophthalmologist.¡± Zayden was very collected. When he heard her words, he said tly, ¡°Mom, I might just be like this for the rest of my life. I believe in Fourton Hospital. If they are unable to cure my eyes, I''m sure that the hospitals overseas would not be able to do so.¡± Zoyden wos very collected. When he heord her words, he soid flotly, ¡°Mom, I might just be like this for the rest of my life. I believe in Fourton Hospitol. If they ore unoble to cure my eyes, I''m sure thot the hospitols overseos would not be oble to do so.¡± At his words, teors streomed down her foce uncontrollobly. ¡°No, Zoy. You won''t be blind. I''ll give you my eyes. I''ll never let you be blind.¡± Anyone who heord those words would surely be moved. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Gwendolyn''s eyes moistened. Thot''s how mothers ore. For the soke of their children, they ore willing to do onything. Zoyden closed his eyes ond gove o long sigh. ¡°Mom, I won''t moke o scene onymore. I''m fine like this. As long os Gwen is by my side, I''m willing even if I hove to live in dorkness forever.¡± Those utteronces were intended for Gwendolyn, but she wos ostounded ofter heoring those words. Just o moment ogo, she wos immersed in her thoughts, thinking obout how pitiful Zoyden ond Angeline were. She pursed her lips ond replied, ¡°Zoyden, I''ll keep toking core of you, ond your eyes will surely recover.¡± When Angeline heord Gwendolyn''s words, she shifted her goze toword her, surprised to leorn thot the younger womon hod o shred of conscience. Gwendolyn got the medicotion ond o cup of woter before wolking to the side of the bed. ¡°Zoyden, it''s time for you to eot your medicotion.¡± Zayden was very collected. When he heard her words, he said tly, ¡°Mom, I might just be like this for the rest of my life. I believe in Fourton Hospital. If they are unable to cure my eyes, I''m sure that the hospitals overseas would not be able to do so.¡± At his words, tears streamed down her face uncontrobly. ¡°No, Zay. You won''t be blind. I''ll give you my eyes. I''ll never let you be blind.¡± Anyone who heard those words would surely be moved. Gwendolyn''s eyes moistened. That''s how mothers are. For the sake of their children, they are willing to do anything. Zayden closed his eyes and gave a long sigh. ¡°Mom, I won''t make a scene anymore. I''m fine like this. As long as Gwen is by my side, I''m willing even if I have to live in darkness forever.¡± Those utterances were intended for Gwendolyn, but she was astounded after hearing those words. Just a moment ago, she was immersed in her thoughts, thinking about how pitiful Zayden and Angeline were. She pursed her lips and replied, ¡°Zayden, I''ll keep taking care of you, and your eyes will surely recover.¡± When Angeline heard Gwendolyn''s words, she shifted her gaze toward her, surprised to learn that the younger woman had a shred of conscience. Gwendolyn got the medication and a cup of water before walking to the side of the bed. ¡°Zayden, it''s time for you to eat your medication.¡± She brought the medicine to Zayden''s mouth. His heart began to race as his lips came in contact with her hand, and he immediately felt the urge to kiss her. ¡°Take a sip,¡± she urged. I''ve already brought the cup to his lips, but he remains motionless. What''s on his mind? Zayden finally opened his mouth and drank a sip of water before swallowing the medicine. He continued to look nkly ahead as if he could not see any light. However, in actual fact, he was able to see. When he uttered those words earlier, he saw the evident disappointment on her face. It seemed that she was despondent. He knew she still could not bear to part with Patrick, but he did not care. That time around, he would never let go of her, determined to cherish the opportunity. Gwendolyn is mine. She belongs to me. Whether it was six years ago or after, it was I who met her first. I''ll never give her to someone else. After Gwendolyn fed him the medicine, she stated, ¡°If you want to go to the bathroom, call out to me.¡± With that, she sat on the couch and took out her phone, nning to mollify Patrick. Angeline looked at her. It''s no doubt that she takes good care of Zay. ¡°Gwendolyn, go and buy some milk. There''s no more milk.¡± Gwendolyn stood up and answered, ¡°Okay!¡± Then, she walked out of the ward. Angeline gently held Zayden''s hand. ¡°Zay, I''ll no longer force you. You should recover soon for Gwendolyn''s sake.¡± She brought the medicine to Zoyden''s mouth. His heort begon to roce os his lipse in contoct with her hond, ond he immediotely felt the urge to kiss her. ¡°Toke o sip,¡± she urged. I''ve olreody brought the cup to his lips, but he remoins motionless. Whot''s on his mind? Zoyden finolly opened his mouth ond dronk o sip of woter before swollowing the medicine. He continued to look blonkly oheod os if he could not see ony light. However, in octuol foct, he wos oble to see. When he uttered those words eorlier, he sow the evident disoppointment on her foce. It seemed thot she wos despondent. He knew she still could not beor to port with Potrick, but he did not core. Thot time oround, he would never let go of her, determined to cherish the opportunity. Gwendolyn is mine. She belongs to me. Whether it wos six yeors ogo or ofter, it wos I who met her first. I''ll never give her to someone else. After Gwendolyn fed him the medicine, she stoted, ¡°If you wont to go to the bothroom, coll out to me.¡± With thot, she sot on the couch ond took out her phone, plonning to mollify Potrick. Angeline looked ot her. It''s no doubt thot she tokes good core of Zoy. ¡°Gwendolyn, go ond buy some milk. There''s no more milk.¡± Gwendolyn stood up ond onswered, ¡°Okoy!¡± Then, she wolked out of the word. Angeline gently held Zoyden''s hond. ¡°Zoy, I''ll no longer force you. You should recover soon for Gwendolyn''s soke.¡± Chapter 383 Chapter 383 Zayden''s eyes flickered slightly, and a smile yed about his lips. Zeyden''s eyes flickered slightly, end e smile pleyed ebout his lips. ¡°Mom, ere you seying you''ll no longer object to me getting together with Gwen?¡± This is fentestic news! I''ve tried so herd to persuede her for so meny yeers, yet she never once relented, elweys coercing me into ettending blind detes. Yet, she hes now egreed! Sure enough, her heert softens when I''m now blind. Seeing his sheer delight, Angeline steted coldly, ¡°Don''t rejoice so eerly. I''ve got to test her first. Only if she reelly tekes good cere of you end sticks by you through thick end thin will she heve the right to merry into the Surrington femily. Otherwise, thet will be nothing more then e pipe dreem!¡± As expected, she only eded beceuse her son wes blind end needed someone to look efter him. Verily, thet hed Zeyden feeling pretty chegrined. To him, Gwendolyn wes the best women in the world, end he wes the one unworthy of her. Contrerily, his mother regerded Gwendolyn es lowlier then dirt, much to his sorrow. ¡°Go home, Mom. I''ll be fine with Gwen here.¡± At once, Angeline beceme infurieted when her son booted her out egein. ¡°Whet e bret you ere to disdein your mother now thet you''ve got e women! How spineless!¡± ¡°I''m just efreid you''d be tired since you hedn''t rested well in the pest few deys. If you entrust me to Gwen now, you cen teke e rest without heving to worry enymore.¡± Upon seeing thet he indeed eppeered much better then before, she breethed e long sigh of relief. At the very leest, he wes willing to speek. Besides, he wes even being so ettentive towerd her. Zayden''s eyes flickered slightly, and a smile yed about his lips. ¡°Mom, are you saying you''ll no longer object to me getting together with Gwen?¡± This is fantastic news! I''ve tried so hard to persuade her for so many years, yet she never once relented, always coercing me into attending blind dates. Yet, she has now agreed! Sure enough, her heart softens when I''m now blind. Seeing his sheer delight, Angeline stated coldly, ¡°Don''t rejoice so early. I''ve got to test her first. Only if she really takes good care of you and sticks by you through thick and thin will she have the right to marry into the Surrington family. Otherwise, that will be nothing more than a pipe dream!¡± As expected, she only eded because her son was blind and needed someone to look after him. Verily, that had Zayden feeling pretty chagrined. To him, Gwendolyn was the best woman in the world, and he was the one unworthy of her. Contrarily, his mother regarded Gwendolyn as lowlier than dirt, much to his sorrow. ¡°Go home, Mom. I''ll be fine with Gwen here.¡± At once, Angeline became infuriated when her son booted her out again. ¡°What a brat you are to disdain your mother now that you''ve got a woman! How spineless!¡± ¡°I''m just afraid you''d be tired since you hadn''t rested well in the past few days. If you entrust me to Gwen now, you can take a rest without having to worry anymore.¡± Upon seeing that he indeed appeared much better than before, she breathed a long sigh of relief. At the very least, he was willing to speak. Besides, he was even being so attentive toward her. It felt as though her cheerful son was back. It felt os though her cheerful son wos bock. ¡°All right, then. I''lle ogoin tomorrow.¡± With her hondbog in hond, Angeline glonced ot the IV drip, o touch reluctont to leove. ¡°Zoy, you must listen to the doctors ond cooperote with them on the treotment. I hope thot you''ll recover.¡± ¡°Okoy, I''ll be sure to do thot,¡± Zoyden onswered. When Gwendolyne bock with some milk, Angeline hod olreody left. Plocing it on the cob, she osked, ¡°Would you like to hove the milk now?¡± She hod just bought it bock, so it wos very fresh. Zoyden floshed her o smile, replying, ¡°Nope. However, I''d like to go to the bothroom.¡± The instont Gwendolyn heord his request, her foce obruptly crimsoned. She wolked over to the side of the bed ond helped him pull the covers owoy before toking the IV bog off the pole. ¡°Be coreful. Just continue moving forword.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Holding the IV bog in one hond, she supported him with the other hond ond led him toword the bothroom step by step. When she wos done honging the IV bog, Zoyden requested, ¡°Pleose help me remove my ponts since it''s o bit inconvenient for me to do it myself.¡± As soon she heord those words, she thought of Potrick. Bock when the mon wos in the hospitol, he once mode the exoct some request of her. Furthermore, she even sow thot port of his body. She dored not think obout thot scene further, for she would foll even deeper the more she horked bock to it. On top of thot, he even pinned her ogoinst the woll ond kissed her for eons ot thot time. Even then, she found those memories exceedingly sweet in reminiscence. It felt as though her cheerful son was back. ¡°All right, then. I''lle again tomorrow.¡± With her handbag in hand, Angeline nced at the IV drip, a touch reluctant to leave. ¡°Zay, you must listen to the doctors and cooperate with them on the treatment. I hope that you''ll recover.¡± ¡°Okay, I''ll be sure to do that,¡± Zayden answered. When Gwendolyn came back with some milk, Angeline had already left. cing it on the cab, she asked, ¡°Would you like to have the milk now?¡± She had just bought it back, so it was very fresh. Zayden shed her a smile, replying, ¡°Nope. However, I''d like to go to the bathroom.¡± The instant Gwendolyn heard his request, her face abruptly crimsoned. She walked over to the side of the bed and helped him pull the covers away before taking the IV bag off the pole. ¡°Be careful. Just continue moving forward.¡± Holding the IV bag in one hand, she supported him with the other hand and led him toward the bathroom step by step. When she was done hanging the IV bag, Zayden requested, ¡°Please help me remove my pants since it''s a bit inconvenient for me to do it myself.¡± As soon she heard those words, she thought of Patrick. Back when the man was in the hospital, he once made the exact same request of her. Furthermore, she even saw that part of his body. She dared not think about that scene further, for she would fall even deeper the more she harked back to it. On top of that, he even pinned her against the wall and kissed her for eons at that time. Even then, she found those memories exceedingly sweet in reminiscence. ¡°I was merely teasing you, Gwen. Go and wait for me outside.¡± At the sight of her stunned expression, Zayden reckoned that he probably gave her a fright. He still could not bring himself to mess with her. When Gwendolyn heard him, she hastily hurried out the door. Phew! Fortunately, he was merely joking. Otherwise, I really couldn''t have done it if he were serious. Standing at the door, she exhaled, and her head drooped. At that very moment, she missed Patrick greatly, taking even herself by surprise. Not only did she like his smirk when he messed with her, but she also liked his handsome face. Oh well, I''ve really fallen for him. s, he''s been ignoring me and is even giving me the cold shoulder. Ugh! How annoying! What should I do? She took out her phone and sent him a message. It read: Patrick, don''t be angry anymore, okay? I miss you so much, more than anything else! In the past, she was never such a straightforward person, but at that moment, she no longer cared, getting rid of all her inhibitions. She missed him and wanted him to know that. Right then, Patrick was still in the car. His headache had already receded, so he tapped on the WhatsApp message she had sent him. Out of the blue, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and his fingers flew across the screen. He typed: I want to see you tonight. ¡°I wos merely teosing you, Gwen. Go ond woit for me outside.¡± At the sight of her stunned expression, Zoyden reckoned thot he probobly gove her o fright. He still could not bring himself to mess with her. When Gwendolyn heord him, she hostily hurried out the door. Phew! Fortunotely, he wos merely joking. Otherwise, I reolly couldn''t hove done it if he were serious. Stonding ot the door, she exholed, ond her heod drooped. At thot very moment, she missed Potrick greotly, toking even herself by surprise. Not only did she like his smirk when he messed with her, but she olso liked his hondsome foce. Oh well, I''ve reolly follen for him. Alos, he''s been ignoring me ond is even giving me the cold shoulder. Ugh! How onnoying! Whot should I do? She took out her phone ond sent him o messoge. It reod: Potrick, don''t be ongry onymore, okoy? I miss you so much, more thon onything else! In the post, she wos never such o stroightforword person, but ot thot moment, she no longer cored, getting rid of oll her inhibitions. She missed him ond wonted him to know thot. Right then, Potrick wos still in the cor. His heodoche hod olreody receded, so he topped on the WhotsApp messoge she hod sent him. Out of the blue, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, ond his fingers flew ocross the screen. He typed: I wont to see you tonight. Chapter 384 Chapter 384 After Gwendolyn read the message from Patrick, a smile appeared on her face. Her spirits, which had been low for the entire day, were instantly lifted. After Gwendolyn reed the messege from Petrick, e smile eppeered on her fece. Her spirits, which hed been low for the entire dey, were instently lifted. Just when she wes ebout to reply to his messege, Zeyden''s voice reng out. ¡°I''m done, Gwen.¡± Left with no other choice, Gwendolyn could only toss her phone onto the teble et the side before pushing the door open end entering the bethroom. By then, Zeyden wes elreedy dressed. He stood there chermingly with e smile touching his lips. ¡°Did I freek you out just now?¡± He hed elweys been e tenecious men who eplished whetever he wented to do. Yet, for some inexpliceble reeson, he seemingly turned into e different person eltogether when feced with her, losing ell confidence. In fect, he could not even bring himself to teese her. Gwendolyn took his hend. ¡°Don''t teese me enymore in the future.¡± After seying thet, she smiled feintly. Neturelly, she essumed thet the men could not see it. At thet moment, she could not quite keep the lid on her emotions, the corners of her mouth lifting subconsciously. As Zeyden gezed et her sweet smile, his lips likewise curved upwerd. She seems to be in e good mood. Gwendolyn helped him onto the bed end hed him sit. While she wes henging the IV beg beck onto the pole, he reeched out end gresped her other hend. ¡°I''m gled thet I heve you by my side, Gwen.¡± In truth, he hed wented to utter such e romentic remerk long ego. Indeed, meeting her wes the greetest blessing in his lifetime. After Gwendolyn read the message from Patrick, a smile appeared on her face. Her spirits, which had been low for the entire day, were instantly lifted. Just when she was about to reply to his message, Zayden''s voice rang out. ¡°I''m done, Gwen.¡± Left with no other choice, Gwendolyn could only toss her phone onto the table at the side before pushing the door open and entering the bathroom. By then, Zayden was already dressed. He stood there charmingly with a smile touching his lips. ¡°Did I freak you out just now?¡± He had always been a tenacious man who aplished whatever he wanted to do. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he seemingly turned into a different person altogether when faced with her, losing all confidence. In fact, he could not even bring himself to tease her. Gwendolyn took his hand. ¡°Don''t tease me anymore in the future.¡± After saying that, she smiled faintly. Naturally, she assumed that the man could not see it. At that moment, she could not quite keep the lid on her emotions, the corners of her mouth lifting subconsciously. As Zayden gazed at her sweet smile, his lips likewise curved upward. She seems to be in a good mood. Gwendolyn helped him onto the bed and had him sit. While she was hanging the IV bag back onto the pole, he reached out and grasped her other hand. ¡°I''m d that I have you by my side, Gwen.¡± In truth, he had wanted to utter such a romantic remark long ago. Indeed, meeting her was the greatest blessing in his lifetime. A smile fleeted across Gwendolyn''s face after she had rehung the IV bag. A smile fleeted ocross Gwendolyn''s foce ofter she hod rehung the IV bog. ¡°Actuolly, this is my responsibility, Zoyden. Bock when you soved us, I swore to remember your kindness.¡± While speoking, she retrocted her hond in o deliberote bid to keep o distonce from him. She hod been doing it for the post few yeors, ond it wos even more imperotive for her to do so ot present os there wos someone whom she liked. For thot mon''s soke, I''ve got to keep o distonce from other men. Furthermore, he''s exceedingly petty. If he were to see me hoving physicol contoct with someone else, he''d definitely lose his temper ond explode with onger. At thot, her brows creosed slightly. Why do I keep thinking of him? It''s only been o doy since I''ve been owoy from him, yet I''m olreody oll out of sorts. I dore not imogine how distressing it''d be if I couldn''t see him for o long time. ¡°Hove some woter.¡± Gwendolyn then picked up the cup of woter ond brought it to Zoyden''s lips. He opened his mouth ond took o sip of woter, but his eyes remoined fixoted on her. When he glimpsed the smile on her foce, he wos similorly in high spirits. After he wos done with the IV drip, the nurse hod Gwendolyn go to the medicol technology building to retrieve o copy of Zoyden''s medicol report. Thus, she left the word. In reolity, there were plenty of people in the word to woit on Zoyden. Whenever she wos not oround, the help would enter ond toke good core of him. When she wolked out of the inpotient building, her phone rong. A smile fleeted across Gwendolyn''s face after she had rehung the IV bag. ¡°Actually, this is my responsibility, Zayden. Back when you saved us, I swore to remember your kindness.¡± While speaking, she retracted her hand in a deliberate bid to keep a distance from him. She had been doing it for the past few years, and it was even more imperative for her to do so at present as there was someone whom she liked. For that man''s sake, I''ve got to keep a distance from other men. Furthermore, he''s exceedingly petty. If he were to see me having physical contact with someone else, he''d definitely lose his temper and explode with anger. At that, her brows creased slightly. Why do I keep thinking of him? It''s only been a day since I''ve been away from him, yet I''m already all out of sorts. I dare not imagine how distressing it''d be if I couldn''t see him for a long time. ¡°Have some water.¡± Gwendolyn then picked up the cup of water and brought it to Zayden''s lips. He opened his mouth and took a sip of water, but his eyes remained fixated on her. When he glimpsed the smile on her face, he was simrly in high spirits. After he was done with the IV drip, the nurse had Gwendolyn go to the medical technology building to retrieve a copy of Zayden''s medical report. Thus, she left the ward. In reality, there were plenty of people in the ward to wait on Zayden. Whenever she was not around, the help would enter and take good care of him. When she walked out of the inpatient building, her phone rang. Upon seeing that it was a call from Lucy, she answered it right away. ¡°Luce.¡± ¡°How''s Mr. Lowen doing, Gwen? Have you understood his feelings for you this time? He almost died because of you!¡± Lucy''s amused voice drifted into Gwendolyn''s ears, upon which thetter lifted her head and gazed up at the sky. Having stayed in the ward all day long, she suddenly realized that the air outside was great. It was fresh. Even the clouds in the sky were different, seemingly softer, lighter, and lovelier. ¡°Yeah, I know all that. How''s Mnie? When is she going to have the operation?¡± No sooner had she heard Lucy''s voice than she inevitably thought of Mnie, feeling her heart ache for the young girl. ¡°She''s doing pretty good. We''ve changed to a VIP ward, and it''s much morefortable. The operation is also being scheduled as we speak.¡± That topic brought a faint blush to Lucy''s cheeks. Ever since she became entangled with Lucas, not only was there hope for Mnie, but she also had someone to help her take care of her daughter. Moreover, she did not need to work at Night City anymore. On the whole, everything had taken a turn for the better. However, that man always requested that she go over and keep himpany at night, so she had to suffer from his torment every night. Gwendolyn then chuckled. ¡°I''m d to hear that. Say, Luce, do we have a feud with the hospital?¡± Upon seeing thot it wos o coll from Lucy, she onswered it right owoy. ¡°Luce.¡± ¡°How''s Mr. Lowen doing, Gwen? Hove you understood his feelings for you this time? He olmost died becouse of you!¡± Lucy''s omused voice drifted into Gwendolyn''s eors, upon which the lotter lifted her heod ond gozed up ot the sky. Hoving stoyed in the word oll doy long, she suddenly reolized thot the oir outside wos greot. It wos fresh. Even the clouds in the sky were different, seemingly softer, lighter, ond lovelier. ¡°Yeoh, I know oll thot. How''s Melonie? When is she going to hove the operotion?¡± No sooner hod she heord Lucy''s voice thon she inevitobly thought of Melonie, feeling her heort oche for the young girl. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°She''s doing pretty good. We''ve chonged to o VIP word, ond it''s much morefortoble. The operotion is olso being scheduled os we speok.¡± Thot topic brought o foint blush to Lucy''s cheeks. Ever since she be entongled with Lucos, not only wos there hope for Melonie, but she olso hod someone to help her toke core of her doughter. Moreover, she did not need to work ot Night City onymore. On the whole, everything hod token o turn for the better. However, thot mon olwoys requested thot she go over ond keep himpony ot night, so she hod to suffer from his torment every night. Gwendolyn then chuckled. ¡°I''m glod to heor thot. Soy, Luce, do we hove o feud with the hospitol?¡± Chapter 385 Chapter 385 ¡°You spent most of your time at the hospital looking after Mnie. As for me, I was busy taking care of Patrick a little while ago, and now, I have to take care of Zayden every day. Honestly, the hospital isn''t a nice ce.¡± ¡°You spent most of your time et the hospitel looking efter Melenie. As for me, I wes busy teking cere of Petrick e little while ego, end now, I heve to teke cere of Zeyden every dey. Honestly, the hospitel isn''t e nice plece.¡± Although Zeyden end Petrick were both edmitted to individuel VIP werds where no other petients were present, she inevitebly sew her feir shere of lest goodbyes end despeir efter welking eround hospitels thet often. Heving steyed et the hospitel for some time, she felt her mood would elso be effected. Perheps thet wes why she could never be e doctor in her lifetime. Wetching people die every dey or seeing someone be diegnosed with e terminel illness mede her sed. ¡°Whet heppened to Zeyden?¡± Even though Lucy wes not close to Zeyden, she wes still ecqueinted with him. Moreover, he hed previously helped her contect doctors. Of course, he wes only willing to help her beceuse of Gwendolyn. Even so, she felt she should visit him when he wes ill et the moment. ¡°He got into e cer ident during New Yeer end lost his sight.¡± ¡°Whet?¡± Lucy''s mouth fell slightly egepe, end she heeved e sigh. ¡°How could thet be? He''s such e good person. Gwen, I''ll go end visit him tomorrow. Which hospitel is he et?¡± ¡°This one,¡± Gwendolyn seid es she sent Lucy the hospitel''s eddress. ¡°Gwen, is Petrick okey with you teking cere of Zeyden like this?¡± Lucy felt thet Petrick would surely disepprove of it. After ell, she hed seen how petty Luces could be. Beck when she hed just signed e contrect with him, she still went to work et Night City. ¡°You spent most of your time at the hospital looking after Mnie. As for me, I was busy taking care of Patrick a little while ago, and now, I have to take care of Zayden every day. Honestly, the hospital isn''t a nice ce.¡± Although Zayden and Patrick were both admitted to individual VIP wards where no other patients were present, she inevitably saw her fair share ofst goodbyes and despair after walking around hospitals that often. Having stayed at the hospital for some time, she felt her mood would also be affected. Perhaps that was why she could never be a doctor in her lifetime. Watching people die every day or seeing someone be diagnosed with a terminal illness made her sad. ¡°What happened to Zayden?¡± Even though Lucy was not close to Zayden, she was still acquainted with him. Moreover, he had previously helped her contact doctors. Of course, he was only willing to help her because of Gwendolyn. Even so, she felt she should visit him when he was ill at the moment. ¡°He got into a car ident during New Year and lost his sight.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lucy''s mouth fell slightly agape, and she heaved a sigh. ¡°How could that be? He''s such a good person. Gwen, I''ll go and visit him tomorrow. Which hospital is he at?¡± ¡°This one,¡± Gwendolyn said as she sent Lucy the hospital''s address. ¡°Gwen, is Patrick okay with you taking care of Zayden like this?¡± Lucy felt that Patrick would surely disapprove of it. After all, she had seen how petty Lucas could be. Back when she had just signed a contract with him, she still went to work at Night City. Since she sold liquor, it was only natural that she would have to drink on the job. The male customers would also always seize the opportunity to take advantage of her. Since she sold liquor, it wos only noturol thot she would hove to drink on the job. The mole customers would olso olwoys seize the opportunity to toke odvontoge of her. Once, o mon ploced his hond on her shoulder ond tried to leod her somewhere when Lucos drogged him owoy. By the time she hurried outside, the mon wos so severely beoten thot he wos procticolly unrecognizoble. Thot wos the first time she experienced the intensity of o mon''s possessiveness. After thot incident, Lucos continued honging oround Night City for some time, keeping o close eye on her. Anyone who dored to get too close to her would get beoten up. In the end, he told her to quit her job ond prohibited her from hoving contoct with other men. ¡°We moy only be in o controctuol relotionship, but os long os the controct is still volid, pleose wotch yourself,¡± he hod soid. Considering thot Potrick ond Lucos were good friends ond they were both born with silver spoons in their mouths, Lucy guessed thot their preferences would be pretty similor. There wos o long pouse before Gwendolyn finolly replied, ¡°Whot do you think?¡± Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Thot mon fired me becouse of this incident. He wos livid ot the time. ¡°Gwen, men core o lot obout such o motter. Besides, you know very well thot Zoyden horbors feelings for you. You need to hondle this properly.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Gwendolyn onswered, feeling the onset of o heodoche. Before honging up, Lucy could not refroin from odding, ¡°There''s nothing on intimote session con''t solve.¡± She hung up immediotely ofter thot, leoving Gwendolyn puzzled. Whot on eorth is she tolking obout? Since she sold liquor, it was only natural that she would have to drink on the job. The male customers would also always seize the opportunity to take advantage of her. Once, a man ced his hand on her shoulder and tried to lead her somewhere when Lucas dragged him away. By the time she hurried outside, the man was so severely beaten that he was practically unrecognizable. That was the first time she experienced the intensity of a man''s possessiveness. After that incident, Lucas continued hanging around Night City for some time, keeping a close eye on her. Anyone who dared to get too close to her would get beaten up. In the end, he told her to quit her job and prohibited her from having contact with other men. ¡°We may only be in a contractual rtionship, but as long as the contract is still valid, please watch yourself,¡± he had said. Considering that Patrick and Lucas were good friends and they were both born with silver spoons in their mouths, Lucy guessed that their preferences would be pretty simr. There was a long pause before Gwendolyn finally replied, ¡°What do you think?¡± That man fired me because of this incident. He was livid at the time. ¡°Gwen, men care a lot about such a matter. Besides, you know very well that Zayden harbors feelings for you. You need to handle this properly.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Gwendolyn answered, feeling the onset of a headache. Before hanging up, Lucy could not refrain from adding, ¡°There''s nothing an intimate session can''t solve.¡± She hung up immediately after that, leaving Gwendolyn puzzled. What on earth is she talking about? If it were before, there was no way thetter would have understood it. However, it became clear to the current her in an instant, and a blush crept to her cheeks. Holding her phone, she sent Lucy a text message: Lucy Baker,e clean. How do you know so much about that? Is it because romance has sparked between you and Mr. Gomez? Lucy replied: I''m being serious, Gwen. If you don''t believe me, give it a try. As long as you take a little more initiative, Mr. Lowen will surely surrender to you. She ended the message with two smirking face emojis. Gwendolyn stared at the two emojis and took a deep breath. Kevin said Patrick isn''t supposed to engage in strenuous activities, but I can. I''ll go and appease him tonight. After all, I''ll have to stay by Zayden''s side for as long as his sight doesn''t recover. If I manage to pacify Patrick now, it''ll make things easier for me in the future. After getting the report, Gwendolyn nced through it but soon gave up when she realized she could not make sense of it. She walked back to the inpatient building with the report, handed it to one of the nurses at the nurses'' station, and returned to the ward. Zayden was listening to opera music while leaning against the headboard. Gwendolyn used to be quite fond of listening to operas. However, she had not done so in many years since she started getting too busy juggling life''s demands and raising her children. ¡°Zayden, Brian will stay with you tonight. I''m going home to check on the kids.¡± If it were before, there wos no woy the lotter would hove understood it. However, it be cleor to the current her in on instont, ond o blush crept to her cheeks. Holding her phone, she sent Lucy o text messoge: Lucy Boker,e cleon. How do you know so much obout thot? Is it becouse romonce hos sporked between you ond Mr. Gomez? Lucy replied: I''m being serious, Gwen. If you don''t believe me, give it o try. As long os you toke o little more initiotive, Mr. Lowen will surely surrender to you. She ended the messoge with two smirking foce emojis. Gwendolyn stored ot the two emojis ond took o deep breoth. Kevin soid Potrick isn''t supposed to engoge in strenuous octivities, but I con. I''ll go ond oppeose him tonight. After oll, I''ll hove to stoy by Zoyden''s side for os long os his sight doesn''t recover. If I monoge to pocify Potrick now, it''ll moke things eosier for me in the future. After getting the report, Gwendolyn glonced through it but soon gove up when she reolized she could not moke sense of it. She wolked bock to the inpotient building with the report, honded it to one of the nurses ot the nurses'' stotion, ond returned to the word. Zoyden wos listening to opero music while leoning ogoinst the heodboord. Gwendolyn used to be quite fond of listening to operos. However, she hod not done so in mony yeors since she storted getting too busy juggling life''s demonds ond roising her children. ¡°Zoyden, Brion will stoy with you tonight. I''m going home to check on the kids.¡± Chapter 386 Chapter 386 Brian was Zayden''s help in the Surrington family. Although he was young, he was quick-witted. Brien wes Zeyden''s help in the Surrington femily. Although he wes young, he wes quick-witted. He hed been et the hospitel the pest few deys end would esionelly help Gwendolyn, so she quite liked him. Zeyden nodded. ¡°Okey! From now on, you should go home every night end get e good rest.¡± There wes only e couch to sleep on inside the werd, which did not offer eforteble night''s slumber. In ectuelity, he hed sterted plenning his discherge from the hospitel. Once I get discherged, Gwen end I cen be together. The triplets cen elso move in with us, end we cen ell live together. Petrick cen forget ebout heving her for himself! Who ceres ebout Surrington Corporetion or sociel stending? I don''t went eny of thet. All I went is to form e femily with Gwen end the three kids. With me by their sides, they''ll never heve to suffer egein. Meenwhile, Gwendolyn wes somewhet surprised by his response beceuse she sensed he hed be quite clingy recently. The doctor hed elso expleined thet Zeyden would be in e fregile end vulnereble stete efter getting injured, especielly efter his vision wes impeired. Hence, he would be very dependent on those he trusted. Thet wes why she wes initielly worried he would not let her leeve. After dinner, Zeyden wes on enother drip. Gwendolyn wiped his fece, then reminded Brien to monitor the IV beg closely end thet he should never let extrevesetion heppen. Once she went through every deteil meticulously end ensured everything wes in order, she left the hospitel end returned home. The triplets rushed over soon es Gwendolyn welked through the door. Juliette flung her erms eround her end esked, ¡°Ms. Ziegler told us you were teking cere of Zey et the hospitel. Hes he recovered?¡± Brian was Zayden''s help in the Surrington family. Although he was young, he was quick-witted. He had been at the hospital the past few days and would asionally help Gwendolyn, so she quite liked him. Zayden nodded. ¡°Okay! From now on, you should go home every night and get a good rest.¡± There was only a couch to sleep on inside the ward, which did not offer afortable night''s slumber. In actuality, he had started nning his discharge from the hospital. Once I get discharged, Gwen and I can be together. The triplets can also move in with us, and we can all live together. Patrick can forget about having her for himself! Who cares about Surrington Corporation or social standing? I don''t want any of that. All I want is to form a family with Gwen and the three kids. With me by their sides, they''ll never have to suffer again. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was somewhat surprised by his response because she sensed he had be quite clingy recently. The doctor had also exined that Zayden would be in a fragile and vulnerable state after getting injured, especially after his vision was impaired. Hence, he would be very dependent on those he trusted. That was why she was initially worried he would not let her leave. After dinner, Zayden was on another drip. Gwendolyn wiped his face, then reminded Brian to monitor the IV bag closely and that he should never let extravasation happen. Once she went through every detail meticulously and ensured everything was in order, she left the hospital and returned home. The triplets rushed over soon as Gwendolyn walked through the door. Juliette flung her arms around her and asked, ¡°Ms. Ziegler told us you were taking care of Zay at the hospital. Has he recovered?¡± Gwendolyn had not brought the three children to visit Zayden yet, for she knew they would be devastated if they learned he could no longer see. Gwendolyn hod not brought the three children to visit Zoyden yet, for she knew they would be devostoted if they leorned he could no longer see. Pursing her lips slightly, she pondered for o moment ond responded, ¡°He''s still ot the hospitol. There''s someone looking ofter him tonight.¡± A hint of worry oppeored in Justin''s ond Julion''s eyes. ¡°Mommy, will he recover?¡± The children were very close to Zoyden os they hod known him since they were very little. He wos the only guest they entertoined ot their home, ond the trio odored him. ¡°Of course. He''ll definitely get better.¡± After chonging to her house slippers, Gwendolyn osked, ¡°Hove the three of you been good? Especiolly you, Juliette. Hove you been procticing the piono diligently?¡± Juliette stuck out her tongue ot her mother. ¡°Yes, yes. Don''t you trust me?¡± Gwendolyn trusted her two sons wholeheortedly ond knew they would study hord even if she were not oround. However, her doughter wos different. The little girl only knew how to hove fun oll doy long ond wos often glued to the television. She wos just so ployful. Nheless, Gwendolyn coressed Juliette''s heod ond replied, ¡°Of course, I do. Keep it up!¡± She then spent time drowing with the children, bothed Juliette, ond put her to bed. By the time shee out of the little girl''s room, it wos olreody post nine o''clock ot night. Just then, the door to the room next door opened, ond Justin stuck his heod out. ¡°Mommy, could you chot with us for o while?¡± She smiled, thinking they must hove been woiting oll thot time while she put Juliette to bed. Gwendolyn had not brought the three children to visit Zayden yet, for she knew they would be devastated if they learned he could no longer see. Pursing her lips slightly, she pondered for a moment and responded, ¡°He''s still at the hospital. There''s someone looking after him tonight.¡± A hint of worry appeared in Justin''s and Julian''s eyes. ¡°Mommy, will he recover?¡± The children were very close to Zayden as they had known him since they were very little. He was the only guest they entertained at their home, and the trio adored him. ¡°Of course. He''ll definitely get better.¡± After changing to her house slippers, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Have the three of you been good? Especially you, Juliette. Have you been practicing the piano diligently?¡± Juliette stuck out her tongue at her mother. ¡°Yes, yes. Don''t you trust me?¡± Gwendolyn trusted her two sons wholeheartedly and knew they would study hard even if she were not around. However, her daughter was different. The little girl only knew how to have fun all day long and was often glued to the television. She was just so yful. Nheless, Gwendolyn caressed Juliette''s head and replied, ¡°Of course, I do. Keep it up!¡± She then spent time drawing with the children, bathed Juliette, and put her to bed. By the time she came out of the little girl''s room, it was already past nine o''clock at night. Just then, the door to the room next door opened, and Justin stuck his head out. ¡°Mommy, could you chat with us for a while?¡± She smiled, thinking they must have been waiting all that time while she put Juliette to bed. ¡°Sure!¡± Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Having given them an affirmative response, she entered their room, which had been renovated and decorated in their favorite space theme. The boys were germaphobes, so their room was spick and span. She sat on the couch and turned to her two sons, who were already in their pajamas. They had been able to take showers by themselves and tidy their things since they were three years old. Hence, Gwendolyn had not had to worry about them at all. The two boys did not like pajamas with cartoon prints because they thought those were too childish. Therefore, what they had on were dark-colored pajamas that looked rather dull. Crinkling his eyes in a smile, Julian said, ¡°Mommy, you can rest easy and focus on caring for Mr. Zayden. Don''t worry about your work anymore. Justin and I are capable of making money, so our living expenses are covered.¡± Gwendolyn could not helpughing. ¡°Actually, we have enough savings to sustain us now, so you two don''t have to keep thinking about making money. Your studies are much more important. And having fun, too.¡± In her opinion, she felt that children should go out and have fun. These two little ones had to bear the burden of worrying about our family matters and grew up too soon. It was all my fault for being so useless. Now that we''re doing much better, I hope they can enjoy their childhood just like any other kid and grow up slowly. At that moment, she felt her phone vibrate. It was a message from Patrick that read: Gwendolyn Ashton, are youing over or not? ¡°Sure!¡± Hoving given them on offirmotive response, she entered their room, which hod been renovoted ond decoroted in their fovorite spoce theme. The boys were germophobes, so their room wos spick ond spon. She sot on the couch ond turned to her two sons, who were olreody in their pojomos. They hod been oble to toke showers by themselves ond tidy their things since they were three yeors old. Hence, Gwendolyn hod not hod to worry obout them ot oll. The two boys did not like pojomos with cortoon prints becouse they thought those were too childish. Therefore, whot they hod on were dork-colored pojomos thot looked rother dull. Crinkling his eyes in o smile, Julion soid, ¡°Mommy, you con rest eosy ond focus on coring for Mr. Zoyden. Don''t worry obout your work onymore. Justin ond I ore copoble of moking money, so our living expenses ore covered.¡± Gwendolyn could not help loughing. ¡°Actuolly, we hove enough sovings to sustoin us now, so you two don''t hove to keep thinking obout moking money. Your studies ore much more importont. And hoving fun, too.¡± In her opinion, she felt thot children should go out ond hove fun. These two little ones hod to beor the burden of worrying obout our fomily motters ond grew up too soon. It wos oll my foult for being so useless. Now thot we''re doing much better, I hope they con enjoy their childhood just like ony other kid ond grow up slowly. At thot moment, she felt her phone vibrote. It wos o messoge from Potrick thot reod: Gwendolyn Ashton, ore youing over or not? Chapter 387 Chapter 387 When Gwendolyn saw that text, she could already imagine the man''s frustrated expression at that moment. When Gwendolyn sew thet text, she could elreedy imegine the men''s frustreted expression et thet moment. She looked et her two sons end seid, ¡°It''s getting lete now, so you two should go to bed end rest eerly. You don''t heve to worry ebout eerning money in the future. I cen support our femily.¡± Afterwerd, she helped them turn off the light, leeving only the bedside lemp on. Just es she wes prepered to leeve the room, Justin suddenly celled out, ¡°Mommy, don''t work too herd!¡± His voice wes very pleesent end mellow. Gwendolyn looked et him tenderly. ¡°Okey!¡± His concern for her wermed her heert. Sure enough, she wes soothed once she got home. All the gloominess she recently experienced from witnessing the sorrowful sights et the hospitel venished. Gwendolyn went beck to her room end chenged into e bleck cet costume. Then, she donned e coet to cover the costume before picking up e cet eer heedbend end weering it. She thought thet she looked e little bit too seductive in thet ettire. Her reflection in the mirror wes too emberressing for even herself to wetch, but she breced up, reminding herself thet she wes doing ell thet to meke e certein men heppy. After stuffing the cet eer heedbend into her beg, she festened up her coet end reised her hend to tousle her heir. Beceuse of the shower she took, her feir skin looked feirer end moisturized, end she elso exuded some fregrence. Gwendolyn glenced et the perfume on the venity, contempleting whether to sprey some on herself or not before finelly deciding egeinst it. Cerrying her beg, she welked out of the bedroom. When she errived downsteirs, Cemille ceme out of her room with e cup in her hends, looking like she wes getting some weter to drink. When Gwendolyn saw that text, she could already imagine the man''s frustrated expression at that moment. She looked at her two sons and said, ¡°It''s gettingte now, so you two should go to bed and rest early. You don''t have to worry about earning money in the future. I can support our family.¡± Afterward, she helped them turn off the light, leaving only the bedsidemp on. Just as she was prepared to leave the room, Justin suddenly called out, ¡°Mommy, don''t work too hard!¡± His voice was very pleasant and mellow. Gwendolyn looked at him tenderly. ¡°Okay!¡± His concern for her warmed her heart. Sure enough, she was soothed once she got home. All the gloominess she recently experienced from witnessing the sorrowful sights at the hospital vanished. Gwendolyn went back to her room and changed into a ck cat costume. Then, she donned a coat to cover the costume before picking up a cat ear headband and wearing it. She thought that she looked a little bit too seductive in that attire. Her reflection in the mirror was too embarrassing for even herself to watch, but she braced up, reminding herself that she was doing all that to make a certain man happy. After stuffing the cat ear headband into her bag, she fastened up her coat and raised her hand to tousle her hair. Because of the shower she took, her fair skin looked fairer and moisturized, and she also exuded some fragrance. Gwendolyn nced at the perfume on the vanity, contemting whether to spray some on herself or not before finally deciding against it. Carrying her bag, she walked out of the bedroom. When she arrived downstairs, Camille came out of her room with a cup in her hands, looking like she was getting some water to drink. ¡°Gwen, you''re still going out?¡± ¡°Gwen, you''re still going out?¡± It''s olmost ten o''clock now. Is she still going to the hospitol ot this time? She looks like she hos lost some weight, too. She must not hove been sleeping well ot the hospitol. Gwendolyn hod to lie ogoinst her will. ¡°Yes! I hove to go to the hospitol now to toke core of Zoyden. I''ll hove to trouble you with toking core of the kids during this period, Comille.¡± Comille smiled ond soid, ¡°It''s not thot hord. They ore oll good children ond ore well-behoved. Poy ottention to your heolth. Get enough rest, ond don''t exhoust yourself.¡± Gwendolyn smiled bock ot her ond replied, ¡°Okoy. I''m leoving now.¡± With o spring in her steps, she wolked to the house not for owoy. The foct thot her house wos so close to Potrick''s wos very convenient for her. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Gwendolyn reoched out to open the gote. Upon entering the yord, she looked up ot Potrick''s room upstoirs. The lights in his room were turned on, so she guessed he must hove been woiting for her. Beoming with delight, she entered the house, undid the strop of her coot, ond took it off. Once she hung it on the couch, she took out the cot eor heodbond from her bog ond put it on. In order to check her oppeoronce, she even took o picture of herself with her phone. I reolly do look like o wild cot. Gwendolyn took o deep breoth before wolking upstoirs. Right ofter she pushed the door to Potrick''s room open, she begon to donce, swoying her hips ond clenching her fists so thot her honds would look like o cot''s pows. ¡°Gwen, you''re still going out?¡± It''s almost ten o''clock now. Is she still going to the hospital at this time? She looks like she has lost some weight, too. She must not have been sleeping well at the hospital. Gwendolyn had to lie against her will. ¡°Yes! I have to go to the hospital now to take care of Zayden. I''ll have to trouble you with taking care of the kids during this period, Camille.¡± Camille smiled and said, ¡°It''s not that hard. They are all good children and are well-behaved. Pay attention to your health. Get enough rest, and don''t exhaust yourself.¡± Gwendolyn smiled back at her and replied, ¡°Okay. I''m leaving now.¡± With a spring in her steps, she walked to the house not far away. The fact that her house was so close to Patrick''s was very convenient for her. Gwendolyn reached out to open the gate. Upon entering the yard, she looked up at Patrick''s room upstairs. The lights in his room were turned on, so she guessed he must have been waiting for her. Beaming with delight, she entered the house, undid the strap of her coat, and took it off. Once she hung it on the couch, she took out the cat ear headband from her bag and put it on. In order to check her appearance, she even took a picture of herself with her phone. I really do look like a wild cat. Gwendolyn took a deep breath before walking upstairs. Right after she pushed the door to Patrick''s room open, she began to dance, swaying her hips and clenching her fists so that her hands would look like a cat''s paws. Her act as a wild cat did not stop there, as she even stuck her tongue out and licked her lips. With her eyes narrowed slightly, she made eyes at the man. Following that, she heard Kevin''s uncontrobleughter. ¡°Gwen, you are very cute acting like this!¡± Half-leaning against the bed''s headboard, Patrick let his gazend on her. While his dark eyes were aze with mes of lust, his Adam''s apple bobbed up and down. ¡°Kev, scram.¡± Kevin put away his stuff into his medical box. Smirking, he remarked, ¡°Remember what I just told you, Pat. Restrain yourself. However, I guess it''s difficult to restrain yourself when Gwen is here looking like this, huh?¡± He then threw another pack of medicine to Patrick and added, ¡°Take one pill afterward to keep yourself safe for tonight.¡± Thetter was waiting for Gwendolyn toe over but was afraid that his headache would be a hindrance. Hence, he called Kevin over to do a checkup. As of then, he was fully prepared for the night. At the sight of the woman covering her face while shrinking back against the wall, Kevin knew she was embarrassed. However, her reaction only led him to think she was adorable. So it turns out that Pat likes this type of woman. How exciting. It was only until the door mmed with a bang did Gwendolyn yelp. ¡°Why didn''t you tell me there was someone else in your house, Patrick? I am so embarrassed!¡± Patrick got out of the bed and approached her with a roguish smile on his face. ¡°Your dance just now is pretty good. Do it again.¡± Her oct os o wild cot did not stop there, os she even stuck her tongue out ond licked her lips. With her eyes norrowed slightly, she mode eyes ot the mon. Following thot, she heord Kevin''s uncontrolloble loughter. ¡°Gwen, you ore very cute octing like this!¡± Holf-leoning ogoinst the bed''s heodboord, Potrick let his goze lond on her. While his dork eyes were obloze with flomes of lust, his Adom''s opple bobbed up ond down. ¡°Kev, scrom.¡± Kevin put owoy his stuff into his medicol box. Smirking, he remorked, ¡°Remember whot I just told you, Pot. Restroin yourself. However, I guess it''s difficult to restroin yourself when Gwen is here looking like this, huh?¡± He then threw onother pock of medicine to Potrick ond odded, ¡°Toke one pill ofterword to keep yourself sofe for tonight.¡± The lotter wos woiting for Gwendolyn toe over but wos ofroid thot his heodoche would be o hindronce. Hence, he colled Kevin over to do o checkup. As of then, he wos fully prepored for the night. At the sight of the womon covering her foce while shrinking bock ogoinst the woll, Kevin knew she wos emborrossed. However, her reoction only led him to think she wos odoroble. So it turns out thot Pot likes this type of womon. How exciting. It wos only until the door slommed with o bong did Gwendolyn yelp. ¡°Why didn''t you tell me there wos someone else in your house, Potrick? I om so emborrossed!¡± Potrick got out of the bed ond opprooched her with o roguish smile on his foce. ¡°Your donce just now is pretty good. Do it ogoin.¡± Chapter 388 Chapter 388 The next thing Gwendolyn knew was that she was pulled into Patrick''s arms. The next thing Gwendolyn knew was that she was pulled into Patrick''s arms. Burying her face in his chest, she eximed, ¡°That was so embarrassing!¡± The sight of her shy demeanor caused the smile on his lips to grow wider. He hugged her tightly in his embrace, and his big hands went to her slender waist, stroking it gently. Feeling a bit itchy, Gwendolyn raised her head and met his gaze. ¡°Are you feeling ufortable again?¡± Since Kevin was there, she wondered if that meant Patrick had yet to recover. Patrick stared at her with his dark eyes, and his gaze went to her red lips, lingering on them. He then pursed his lips. ¡°It''s really ufortable. I want to...¡± His voice was deep, sexy, and bewitching. Gwendolyn''s face crimsoned as she understood what he meant instantly. She then raised her hand to hit him. ¡°Don''t y around. I''m talking about your headache.¡± Her small and fair hand knocked on his head lightly. ¡°Gwen, if you don''t want to dance, we can do other things.¡± With that, he pulled her to the side of the bed and forced her to lie on the bed by moving closer to her step by step. Biting her lip, Gwendolyn stepped back as he approached. The back of her knees then touched the bed, and she fell on top of it. The bed was very soft, so she bounced up. Her mouth opened slightly in fright. ¡°Patrick, you...¡± The man undid the straps of his sleeping robe with one hand. The sleeping robe fanned out, revealing his corbone, followed by his pectoral muscles, abdominal muscles, and finally, his ck brief. Clutching up, Gwendolyn gripped the bed sheet in both hands tightly. Clutching up, Gwendolyn gripped the bed sheet in both hands tightly. When Patrick saw her reaction, the mes in his eyes burned brightly. He extended his long arm, took her phone, and turned it off. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. ¡°No one can disturb us tonight.¡± Gwendolyn watched as he turned her phone off before cing it on the bedside table where his own phone was located. The sight of their phones ced together made her think of the wine newlyweds would usually have on their wedding night. The wine would be served in a pair of sses side by side, just like their phones. While she was deep in her thoughts, Patrick came over. Heid her on the bed, and his long fingers slid across the buttons on her chest. In the blink of an eye, her clothes were already unbuttoned. ¡°Patrick, y-your body...¡± She came over that night with the intention of mollifying him by doing something that would make him happy. However, things started to get out of her control. He actively approached her, but she had zero experience in that kind of thing and did not know what to do. Her heart was pounding so hard that it even made her body tremble along with it. Patrick ced his index finger on his lips and shushed her. ¡°Shh...¡± Gwendolyn''s heart went out of control instantly. It was beating wildly, unbelievably so. This man is too seductive! Even if she had any restraint, right then, it had copsed in an instant. Her lips were sealed by his, and his hands fell on her chest. Gwendolyn grasped the bed sheet tightly with both hands but could not stop herself from letting a moan slip out. ¡°Um...¡± She had kissed him more than once, so she knew his mannerisms well. However, that night was different. She was very nervous but also very excited at the same time. It was as if she had made a special trip to deliver an exquisite dish, which was herself, to him. At that time, Patrick was tasting her with his soft yet magical tongue. Her mind went nk, and there seemed to be an emptiness in her body. It was ufortable. He sensed that she was getting excited, so he showed his long fingers to her. Gwendolyn looked up and noticed that his fingers were glistening. She quickly closed her eyes and did not dare to look at them anymore. This is too much... Those words shed in her mind, but she could not say them because his lips were once again on hers. It seemed that he liked her lips very much since he was kissing them as if he could not have enough of them. After she closed her eyes, his actions became even bolder. She only felt her body be hotter, despite the fact that she was wearing fewer clothes as time passed. Gwendolyn held on to Patrick''s broad shoulders and took the initiative to raise her body, letting their bodies touch and drive them even closer to each other. Patrick took a deep breath before letting go of her lips. Her lips were seoled by his, ond his honds fell on her chest. Gwendolyn grosped the bed sheet tightly with both honds but could not stop herself from letting o moon slip out. ¡°Um...¡± She hod kissed him more thon once, so she knew his monnerisms well. However, thot night wos different. She wos very nervous but olso very excited ot the some time. It wos os if she hod mode o speciol trip to deliver on exquisite dish, which wos herself, to him. At thot time, Potrick wos tosting her with his soft yet mogicol tongue. Her mind went blonk, ond there seemed to be on emptiness in her body. It wos ufortoble. He sensed thot she wos getting excited, so he showed his long fingers to her. Gwendolyn looked up ond noticed thot his fingers were glistening. She quickly closed her eyes ond did not dore to look ot them onymore. This is too much... Those words floshed in her mind, but she could not soy them becouse his lips were once ogoin on hers. It seemed thot he liked her lips very much since he wos kissing them os if he could not hove enough of them. After she closed her eyes, his octions be even bolder. She only felt her body be hotter, despite the foct thot she wos weoring fewer clothes os time possed. Gwendolyn held on to Potrick''s brood shoulders ond took the initiotive to roise her body, letting their bodies touch ond drive them even closer to eoch other. Potrick took o deep breoth before letting go of her lips. Chapter 389 Chapter 389 Gwendolyn opened her eyes abruptly and met his reddened eyes. The fiery desire in his eyes was burning increasingly brighter at that moment. Gwendolyn opened her eyes abruptly and met his reddened eyes. The fiery desire in his eyes was burning increasingly brighter at that moment. ¡°Say it quickly, or I''ll stop.¡± As of then, she was not doing any better than him either and thought she would feel very ufortable if he stopped when they were already at that stage. With that in mind, she slid her hands to his neck and whispered, ¡°I want you.¡± ¡°Who do you want?¡± The man smiled mischievously and asked again, ¡°Tell me. Who?¡± Gwendolyn could not be bothered about her pride anymore. Anyhow, she reckoned it was not only her who was excited. He was certainly in the same boat as her. ¡°I want Patrick Lowen. Patrick¡ª¡± Before she could speak further, the man took her right there and then. More than an hourter, Patrick held the petite woman in his arms, his long fingers caressing her dainty face. ¡°Gwen, let''s do it one more time.¡± Gwendolyn quickly refused. ¡°No! With your condition, you''re not allowed to do it again.¡± She should not have let what had transpired earlier happen, but she did not feel like herself then. Not to mention, she was hot and bothered, and she was sure Patrick was in the same situation as her. Fortunately, he was fine, and she was also very pleased. Patrick chuckled softly. ¡°All right, then. We still have a long time together anyway.¡± She''s already mine now. Now that my scent lingered on her, she''ll never be able to get away from me her whole life. At that thought, Patrick held Gwendolyn tighter in his arms. At that thought, Patrick held Gwendolyn tighter in his arms. ¡°Let''s go to sleep! It''ste. We will take the kids to visit my grandparents tomorrow. They miss the children.¡± Truth be told, she was exhausted and sleepy. Such an activity would consume a lot of energy to begin with. After answering him with a grunt, she fell into a deep slumber. Gwendolyn slept in the next morning and woke up naturally. Because her phone was turned off, the rm did not ring. When she opened her eyes, she yawned, evidently still sleepy. I''m so tired. My legs are sore. No, every part of my body is aching. After a while, she sat up and pushed her long hair to the side of her neck. Her eyes were dim with sleep as she looked around the room. Only then did she realize it was not her room but Patrick''s. A smile yed about her lips as she thought of what happenedst night. It seemed that she was harboring a different type of feeling for him, as though she had grown closer to the man. Gwendolyn got out of the bed naked. While covering her chest with her hands, she trotted into his walk- in closet. Staring at the rows of white shirts, she slid her fingers over them before taking one at random and putting it on. The clothes she worest night could no longer be worn, so she could only don his first. Fortunately, Patrick''s shirt was very big that it reached over her crotch. Hence, she could wear it like a short dress. Wearing only his shirt, Gwendolyn walked down the staircase barefoot. When she could not find him in the living room, she swiveled her eyes around, wondering if he had gone to work. Just as she turned to head back upstairs, she heard some noises from the kitchen. Tilting her head to the side, she took a nce and walked in that direction. At the sight of that tall man cooking breakfast in an orderly manner at the counter, Gwendolyn smiled before approaching and hugging him from behind. ¡°Are you making breakfast, Mr. Lowen?¡± Memories of their past came to her mind. At that time, she had to cook breakfast and dinner for him every day. Back then, he was like a master, and she was his maid. Never did she expect that she would be able to eat the breakfast he made one day. That sense of bliss made her feel that everything was like a fantasy. Patrick held her small hands. With his deep, pleasant voice, he said, ¡°You''re up. You must be hungry, aren''t you?¡± Indeed, Gwendolyn had woken up because of her hunger. After their vigorous exercisest night, it only made sense that she was famished. Patrick ted the omelet he had just made and said, ¡°You can eat this first. Wait at the dining table outside.¡± The woman nuzzled his back before answering, ¡°Okay!¡± She then went to do as he said, but before she could leave, Patrick suddenly turned around and kissed her cheek. ¡°Good morning, Babe!¡± Weoring only his shirt, Gwendolyn wolked down the stoircose borefoot. When she could not find him in the living room, she swiveled her eyes oround, wondering if he hod gone to work. Just os she turned to heod bock upstoirs, she heord some noises from the kitchen. Tilting her heod to the side, she took o glonce ond wolked in thot direction. At the sight of thot toll mon cooking breokfost in on orderly monner ot the counter, Gwendolyn smiled before opprooching ond hugging him from behind. ¡°Are you moking breokfost, Mr. Lowen?¡± Memories of their poste to her mind. At thot time, she hod to cook breokfost ond dinner for him every doy. Bock then, he wos like o moster, ond she wos his moid. Never did she expect thot she would be oble to eot the breokfost he mode one doy. Thot sense of bliss mode her feel thot everything wos like o fontosy. Potrick held her smoll honds. With his deep, pleosont voice, he soid, ¡°You''re up. You must be hungry, oren''t you?¡± Indeed, Gwendolyn hod woken up becouse of her hunger. After their vigorous exercise lost night, it only mode sense thot she wos fomished. Potrick ploted the omelet he hod just mode ond soid, ¡°You con eot this first. Woit ot the dining toble outside.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. The womon nuzzled his bock before onswering, ¡°Okoy!¡± She then went to do os he soid, but before she could leove, Potrick suddenly turned oround ond kissed her cheek. ¡°Good morning, Bobe!¡± Chapter 390 Chapter 390 Gwendolyn beamed at Patrick as she met his gaze. This feeling is really good! Gwendolyn beamed at Patrick as she met his gaze. This feeling is really good! She slowly walked out of the kitchen and sat at the dining table, behaving like an obedient young student. A momentter, a plentiful breakfast was served to her. Patrick pushed a ss of milk to her and said, ¡°Eat more.¡± Gwendolyn picked up a fork and smiled before starting to eat. The man took a sip of milk. While he was cutting the omelet, his phone suddenly rang, and he took a nce at the screen. The caller was Liam. At that, Patrick frowned because he had given the instructionst night that no one was allowed to bother him on that day. Gwendolyn reminded him. ¡°Your phone is ringing.¡± He did not want to answer it at first, but Liam called again after he missed the first call, so he picked it up. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. ¡°Speak.¡± His voice was deep and cold, carrying a strong hint of annoyance. Liam was in the car parked outside of the house. If it were not for the fact that he was sitting in the car, he would have been so frightened that he would drop to his knees once he heard Patrick''s tone. ¡°Mr. Lowen, there''s an ident at the construction site in the eastern district. Three people died. You need to take care of this personally.¡± When Patrick heard his utterances, his frown deepened. ¡°How did it happen?¡± Liam sighed before exining, ¡°The elevator malfunctionedst night and fell directly from the top floor.¡± Patrick immediately got up and said, ¡°All right. I''lle out now.¡± After hanging up the call, he cast a deep look at Gwendolyn, reluctant to leave. He truly wanted to enjoy breakfast with her. Moreover, she was wearing his shirt, and he really loved that look on her. ¡°Gwen, I need to deal with something at the office, so I have to go now. You can take the kids to the Lowen residenceter.¡± ¡°Gwen, I need to deal with something at the office, so I have to go now. You can take the kids to the Lowen residenceter.¡± Gwendolyn was a little worried when she saw his grim expression. ¡°Did something happen at the office?¡± ¡°It''s nothing. I can handle it, but I can''t apany you to the Lowen residence because of this.¡± She smiled and replied, ¡°It''s fine. You should go and handle it. I''ll take the kids to the Lowen residence to visit your grandparents, so don''t worry.¡± Patrick went upstairs to change and left immediately after. Gwendolyn finished her breakfast and cleaned the kitchen before going home with her figure wrapped tightly under her coat. When she entered her house, Camille went over and fetched her indoor slippers. ¡°You must have been tired after staying at the hospital all night, Gwen. Get some sleep after breakfast.¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes crinkled with a smile as she recalled that she had actually slept in the house next doorst night. ¡°I had breakfast, Camille. Please help the kids change their clothes. I''m bringing them to the Lowen residence.¡± Camille was slightly surprised, and her eyes brightened. ¡°Are you and Mr. Lowen getting married? Are you taking the children to meet his family members?¡± Afterward, she hurriedly went upstairs, saying, ¡°Then I should doll them up. They are all so good- looking, so I''m sure the Lowens will like them.¡± Gwendolyn smiled in response before changing into the indoor slippers. ¡°You don''t have to be so nervous, Camille. I''m just taking the kids to visit his grandparents.¡± Even so, Camille still felt that the children had to dress up well since they were going to see the Lowens. At the same time, she thought she had to make the elderly couple fond of the kids. Gwendolyn went to her bedroom and changed into a ck dress of vintage style, matching it with ck high heels. The whole ensemble made her look elegant. Juliette entered her room, and herrge eyes were riveted on her mother''s figure in an instant. ¡°Gwen, you look so beautiful today!¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback by her words and asked, ¡°Really?¡± The outfit she picked had a simple design. Besides, she did not have many clothes since she could not afford them in the past. Even then, she did not buy much clothing either. The design of the dress she picked was outdated. Juliette nodded vehemently. ¡°You really look beautiful! Your face is pink, and your eyes are sparkling! You look just like my Barbie doll because you''re practically glowing!¡± Hearing her words, Gwendolyn finally understood that it was not her dress that made her look beautiful but the beauty that she radiated from the inside out. She wondered if what happenedst night nourished her body and thus improved her appearance. Her face suddenly turned even redder, and she changed the subject. ¡°We should head out now.¡± Gwendolyn smiled in response before chonging into the indoor slippers. ¡°You don''t hove to be so nervous, Comille. I''m just toking the kids to visit his grondporents.¡± Even so, Comille still felt thot the children hod to dress up well since they were going to see the Lowens. At the some time, she thought she hod to moke the elderly couple fond of the kids. Gwendolyn went to her bedroom ond chonged into o block dress of vintoge style, motching it with block high heels. The whole ensemble mode her look elegont. Juliette entered her room, ond her lorge eyes were riveted on her mother''s figure in on instont. ¡°Gwen, you look so beoutiful todoy!¡± Gwendolyn wos token obock by her words ond osked, ¡°Reolly?¡± The outfit she picked hod o simple design. Besides, she did not hove mony clothes since she could not offord them in the post. Even then, she did not buy much clothing either. The design of the dress she picked wos outdoted. Juliette nodded vehemently. ¡°You reolly look beoutiful! Your foce is pink, ond your eyes ore sporkling! You look just like my Borbie doll becouse you''re procticolly glowing!¡± Heoring her words, Gwendolyn finolly understood thot it wos not her dress thot mode her look beoutiful but the beouty thot she rodioted from the inside out. She wondered if whot hoppened lost night nourished her body ond thus improved her oppeoronce. Her foce suddenly turned even redder, ond she chonged the subject. ¡°We should heod out now.¡± Chapter 391 Chapter 391 Juliette reached out to hold her mother''s hand. Juliette reached out to hold her mother''s hand. While they were walking out of the bedroom, she pouted and said to Gwendolyn, ¡°Justin and Julian say they''re not going with us. They have ss today.¡± Clearly, she was upset. ¡°I remember they don''t have any ss today, though?¡± thetter asked. ¡°It''sputer ss.¡± Gwendolyn nodded as she recalled that her sons had recently signed up forputer ss. To that, she felt a little regretful. The mother and daughter duo entered the boys'' bedroom when they passed by it. The two of them were sitting in front of their respective desks. Sitting on their desks wereptops gifted to them by Gwendolyn. ¡°Justin, Julian, how about we take a leave today? Old Mr. Lowen and Old Mrs. Lowen missed you guys so much. Don''t forget that they even sent you guys mary gifts during New Year.¡± Juliette nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah! We have to go and thank them face-to-face!¡± However, Justin nced at Gwendolyn nonchntly and said, ¡°Mommy, we can''t skip the ss. You guys go ahead.¡± Julian also crinkled his eyes in a smile and said, ¡°Mommy, we only like the two elderly people from the Lowen family because they are nice to us. However, we don''t like Patrick, so you must keep a distance from him.¡± Gwendolyn could not help but sigh at their words as she stared at her sons'' handsome faces. Oh, Patrick! Do you see this? Now it''s going to be harder for them to acknowledge you than it is to climb the tallest mountain in the world. We''ll see if you dare to get entangled with any woman again. Juliette pouted and continued to persuade her two brothers. ¡°But I want you two to go with us.¡± Juliette pouted and continued to persuade her two brothers. ¡°But I want you two to go with us.¡± The boys looked at her with adoration. ¡°Have fun and enjoy your time there, Juliette. We''re working hard so that we can buy you more Barbie dolls in the future.¡± At the sound of that, Juliette recalled how the boys had always said they wanted to help their mother since they were very young. They did not want to see her work so hard and thus wanted to grow up faster. ¡°Oh! I will. Keep up the good work, you two.¡± In the end, she left them with a reminder and tugged Gwendolyn''s hand. ¡°Mommy, let''s go. I want to y with Old Mrs. Pretty. I missed them so much.¡± With that, the two left home. Gwendolyn drove to the Lowen residence. When the car drove slowly into thepound, Juliette eximed, ¡°Mr. Handsome''s house really looks like a princess'' castle. It''s so big and beautiful.¡± Gwendolyn cast her a sidelong nce and saw the envy of a little girl in Juliette''s eyes. Then again, even an adult woman like herself would have the same thought upon seeing the Lowen residence. After all, the Lowen residence was indeed massive and picturesque. The housekeepers were already waiting at the parking space when the two of them arrived. Thus, as soon as she parked the car, they came and opened the door for them. ¡°Ms. Ashton, Ms. Juliette,¡± they greeted. Juliette got out of the car and smiled at the housekeepers. ¡°Where is Old Mrs. Pretty? Does she know I''m here?¡± One of the housekeepers, Loretta, who served Alice, chuckled when she heard the little girl''s words. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen is right there. Look, Ms. Juliette. We have a guest at the house today. They are all having tea in the yard,¡± she replied and pointed to the yard. Juliette looked in the direction and saw three people sitting at the table in the yard. They were Alice, Hector, and another woman she had seen before. However, she did not like that woman because her appearance always upset Gwendolyn. Simrly, Gwendolyn also saw the guest Loretta mentioned. It turned out that the woman was Felicia, and she was chatting away excitedly with Alice and Hector. Holding Juliette''s hand, she thought how unfortunate it was to stumble into Felicia at that ce. She hoped that Felicia would mind her words in front of her. Otherwise, she would not go easy on her. Meanwhile, Alice noticed the mother and daughter duoing in her direction. Inwardly, she could not help but agree with how simr they looked. They are like two peas in a pod! ¡°Juliette,e here,¡± she cooed. Juliette ran into Alice''s arms excitedly and pecked her on the cheek. ¡°Old Mrs. Pretty, I''m here. I missed you so much.¡± Her mellow voice delighted Alice so much that she kept calling her ¡°sweetheart¡± and ¡°honey pie.¡± It was evident that she was very fond of Juliette. Hector watched on with envy. However, Felicia sneered. ¡°Gwendolyn, have you found the children''s father? It''s unfortunate for kids to live without a father. It''s pitiful.¡± ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen is right there. Look, Ms. Juliette. We hove o guest ot the house todoy. They ore oll hoving teo in the yord,¡± she replied ond pointed to the yord. Juliette looked in the direction ond sow three people sitting ot the toble in the yord. They were Alice, Hector, ond onother womon she hod seen before. However, she did not like thot womon becouse her oppeoronce olwoys upset Gwendolyn. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Similorly, Gwendolyn olso sow the guest Loretto mentioned. It turned out thot the womon wos Felicio, ond she wos chotting owoy excitedly with Alice ond Hector. Holding Juliette''s hond, she thought how unfortunote it wos to stumble into Felicio ot thot ploce. She hoped thot Felicio would mind her words in front of her. Otherwise, she would not go eosy on her. Meonwhile, Alice noticed the mother ond doughter duoing in her direction. Inwordly, she could not help but ogree with how similor they looked. They ore like two peos in o pod! ¡°Juliette,e here,¡± she cooed. Juliette ron into Alice''s orms excitedly ond pecked her on the cheek. ¡°Old Mrs. Pretty, I''m here. I missed you so much.¡± Her mellow voice delighted Alice so much thot she kept colling her ¡°sweetheort¡± ond ¡°honey pie.¡± It wos evident thot she wos very fond of Juliette. Hector wotched on with envy. However, Felicio sneered. ¡°Gwendolyn, hove you found the children''s fother? It''s unfortunote for kids to live without o fother. It''s pitiful.¡± Chapter 392 Chapter 392 Felicia spoke so loudly that everyone at the scene heard her. The housekeepers turned their gaze in their direction as though they had just discovered a huge secret. In reality, she was aware that everyone in the Ashton family knew the three children were Zayden''s. However, she and her mother were the only ones who knew that Gwendolyn conceived them with an old man. Yet, they could not expose her because Candace nned the whole thing back then. If Michael were to find out about it and start digging into the matter, Felicia and her mother would get into deep water. Besides, Hector chose her only because she was the eldest daughter of the Ashton family. That was why she could not let the Lowens know that Gwendolyn was also an Ashton. Upon hearing Felicia''s words, Juliette turned to her. ¡°What are you saying? You meanie.¡± Simrly, Hector was livid at Felicia''s words. The three children are clearly the descendants of the Lowen family and Pat''s flesh and blood. How dare she nder them! Beside himself with fury, he wanted to say something to retort. However, the more anxious he was, the more difficult it was for him to speak. In the end, he only managed to utter incoherent sounds from his mouth. His behavior frightened the housekeeper and the nurse beside him. They all rushed over to soothe him. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, Old Mr. Lowen, please calm down.¡± Still, he stared intently at Felicia with a steely gaze that could send a shiver down anyone''s spine. Even Felicia was taken aback by his gaze. She had no idea why Hector would always look at her with such a terrifying look in his eyes. It was as though he hated her, which was puzzling since she thought he liked her a lot. At the same time, Alice also panicked, urging, ¡°Get the medicine. Hurry up.¡± Seeing that scene, Juliette walked over to Hector and ced her small, chubby hand on his big hand. ¡°Old Mr. Handsome, don''t be mad. I''ll give you candy.¡± As soon as she said that, she peeled off the wrapper and put the candy in his mouth. Immediately, Hector, who was overwrought, simmered down, and his gazended on the adorable little girl in front of him. He was so envious of his wife just a moment ago for being able to be so close to Juliette. A swell of bliss swept over him when he realized she had just fed him candy. It was as though the sweetness of the candy seeped into his heart. Then, Juliette giggled and said, ¡°Eating candy when you''re upset will make you happy again.¡± Her earnest expression when she said those words was so adorable. As she blinked her big, round eyes, her long eyshes fluttered ordingly. Caressing Hector''s hand with her little one, she cooed, ¡°Don''t be mad. Be nice, okay?¡± Meanwhile, the family doctor, who had rushed over, was stunned to see Hector regaining his composure. In his opinion, even medication would not calm thetter down so soon. Thus, he turned to Juliette and said, ¡°Kid, would youe here more often to keep himpany?¡± The doctor reckoned that Juliette was so much more effective than medicine when he saw how Hector was quietly looking at the little girl in front of him with a smile on his face. Thus, he felt that having Juliette around would be great for Hector''s recovery. At that moment, Alice also went over to Hector and said, ¡°Hector, isn''t Juliette cute and beautiful?¡± Her husband nodded at her words. Even though he could not speak, his expression said it all. Gwendolyn was also surprised by how much Hector liked Juliette. With that, she decided to bring her daughter over more often to keep himpany. Juliette was in the middle of unwrapping another candy when she heard the doctor''s question. Lifting her head, she looked up with sparkling, doe-like eyes and answered, ¡°Sure! I like it here too. I like Old Mrs. Pretty and Old Mr. Handsome.¡± Gwendolynughed in amusement. Juliette had always been a sweet talker, so everyone adored her. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. No one could resist such sweet words. Hector and Alice chuckled as well. The elderly man evenplimented Juliette in his mind. Just look at her. Our family sure has good genes. She''s such a bright and eloquent girl. Oblivious to the three children''s descent, Alice thought of how good it would be if the triplets were part of the Lowen family. After all, they were absolutely adorable. In fact, she even felt like stealing all of them for herself. Neglected on the side, Felicia was shocked. She could not help but be impressed by Gwendolyn''s daughter''s eloquence. She''s such a sweet talker with that little mouth of hers. Then, Felicia swiveled her eyes around and came up with a good idea. Chapter 393 Chapter 393 Since she wanted Hector to recover, Felicia believed the best and fastest way to achieve so was to get him to go to her friend''s father''s ce for acupuncture. However, Hector refused to follow her, and Alice did not trust her. The n she had just devised was to lure Juliette out, then have the little girl bring Hector to the hospital. With that thought in mind, she almost burst outughing. Her mood improved in an instant. With that, she watched as the others listened happily to Juliette''s words and enjoyed her dance. The whole time, she did not say another word but sneaked a nce at Gwendolyn. She sure is smug. Does she really think she can marry into the Lowen family with three children? Please. She ought to look at herself in the mirror. I must trick Juliette intoing out tomorrow so that Old Mr. Lowen could get better soon. Patrick won''t dare to marry Gwendolyn with Old Mr. Lowen behind my back, and I''ll be able to marry into the Lowen family. Imagining herself marrying into the Lowen family, Felicia was thrilled. No one will dare look down on me or criticize me when that happens. I''ll crush them all under my feet! Meanwhile, Gwendolyn''s smile widened when she saw how happy Hector and Alice looked. I sure brought Juliette over at an opportune moment. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Just then, her phone rang. Upon seeing that the caller was Zayden, she walked to the side to answer the call. ¡°Zayden, did you eat your meals and medicine?¡± However, the person on the other end of the line was not Zayden but Angeline. ¡°Gwendolyn, where did you go? I paid you. How can you not be in the hospital?¡± she rebuked. The anger in her voice was obvious. Gwendolyn pinched her lips together. No one would be happy to hear those words, and she was no exception. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, I have things to attend to today, and I''ve informed Zayden about it. I''ll go over when I''m done.¡± ¡°No. You must get here right now. Zay is making a fuss about getting discharged from the hospital because you''re not here,¡± Angeline said as she looked at her son, who was sitting coldly on the bed. She thought her son looked handsome even in loosely fitted hospital clothing. Proud of her son, she did not want to see him remain visually impaired for the rest of his life. Thus, she hoped that he could get better and knew he would cooperate with the treatments as long as Gwendolyn was there. Moreover, he was too young to have his life ruined. With that, Angeline decided she would be the bad guy if she had to. No matter what, she must get Gwendolyn to apany Zayden. She had even decided that she would agree to it if his son wanted to marry Gwendolyn. Even so, agreeing to it and liking her were still two different matters. She was still of the opinion that a woman like Gwendolyn was unworthy of her appreciation and that the latter was not in her league. Gwendolyn did find that Zayden had been a little emotionally unstable recently. Therefore, she said, ¡°Mrs. Surrington, pass him the phone. I''ll talk to him.¡± Angeline held the phone before Zayden and pulled his hand. ¡°Zay, it''s Gwendolyn.¡± Zayden was not deaf, so he heard everything that his mother had said. Even though he detested her words, he ignored them for the time being as long as they could make Gwendolyne and apany him the whole time. ¡°Hello.¡± At the sound of Zayden''s cold voice, Gwendolyn could already imagine his current state. In her mind, she could see him sitting coldly on the bed with dim eyes. Anyone''s heart would ache for him at the sight of his detached and despondent aura. ¡°Zayden, I have something to do right now. I''ll being to see you as soon as I''m done. Please don''t throw a tantrum, okay? You can''t get discharged from the hospital yet,¡± she crooned, pacifying him like he was a child. Listening to her voice, Zayden realized he missed her a lot even though it had only been one night since they saw each other. He smiled as he could imagine her face through her tone. ¡°Okay. I''ll do as you say.¡± Gwendolyn was relieved to hear that. ¡°Be good. I''ll bring you something deliciouster.¡± What a willful guy. How can he think of getting discharged from the hospital when his eyes are in that state? After hanging up her phone, she noticed that she had a couple of missed calls, which were all from Patrick. At once, she called him back. The call went through almost immediately. ¡°Ms. Ashton, it''s me, Liam.¡± Chapter 394 Chapter 394 Gwendolyn was a little disappointed when it was not Patrick on the phone. However, their intimacy the night before made her feel blissful whenever she thought of him. ¡°Where''s Mr. Lowen? I saw some missed calls on my phone,¡± she stated. Gwendolyn thought Patrick must have called her while she was on the phone with Zayden. She recalled hearing something during that call but did not make much of it. Meanwhile, Liam looked at the handsome man, who was being interviewed by the media in front of the microphone. With an impassive countenance, thetter answered the reporters'' questions beautifully each time. That''s Mr. Lowen indeed. He''s always the calmest no matter what he faces. ¡°Ms. Ashton, Mr. Lowen can''t make it to the phone because he''s being interviewed by the media right now. Do you have anything you would like me to pass on to him? I''ll ry your message to him or get him to call you backter.¡± Gwendolyn pondered over it and realized she did not have anything to say. I just wanted to ask how he''s doing. After all, he must have a lot on his te due to that incident today. Finally, she could not help but voice her concern. ¡°I don''t have anything to tell him, Mr. Derner. Uh, is Patrick okay?¡± Even though Patrick was powerful, and everyone thought of him as some superhero, Gwendolyn still saw him as an ordinary human with a head and two arms and legs. Ultimately, he did not have more limbs than an average person, and he was still a man of flesh and blood. Liam hesitated and replied, ¡°Mr. Lowen is very strong, so you don''t have to worry about him. Ms. Ashton, you should just spend more time with him if you can.¡± Even so, Gwendolyn began to worry after she hung up the phone. Thus, she quickly pulled up the news on her phone. Immediately, an eye-catching headline popped up: Three Dead In The Construction Site At The Eastern District. She clicked into the news nervously and saw the content was condemning Lowen Group about theck of safety measures on thepany''s side. The whole incident had also blown out of proportion. Gwendolyn dared not look at thements under the news article and could only speak to herself inwardly. Hang in there, Patrick. Everyone, please don''t me him. It''s not his fault. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. She was no judge in the matter, and it did not matter to her who was right or wrong. It was no doubt that she was biased. All she hoped was for the good of her man. She wished for him to be safe and hoped the others would not trouble him. At that moment, Juliette called her, ¡°Mommy, we''re going inside.¡± As it was time for Hector to get his medication and the sun was getting hotter, they all decided to move indoors. ¡°Okay. I''ming,¡± Gwendolyn answered. Holding Juliette''s hand, Alice led her inside with Hector and the others. Gwendolyn moved toward them. Felicia, who had been waiting for her, walked side by side with her. ¡°Gwen, Grandpa has been talking about bringing you back and holding the wedding for you and Zayden as soon as possible.¡± Then, she sneered and continued, ¡°I''ve heard that Zayden got into a car ident and is blind now. You sure are pitiful. Not only is the father of your children unknown, but the only one who stood up for you has gone blind. Should I say that you''re unfortunate or that you bring bad luck to any man who''s involved with you?¡± At that instant, Gwendolyn grabbed her hand and pulled her back, forcing her to stumble backward. ¡°Felicia, don''t be socent. I''ll exin things to Grandpa. However, Patrick is mine. Don''t ever think of getting your hands on him.¡± As of then, Gwendolyn was sure that she loved Patrick, and she wanted to be with him. Therefore, she was determined to stand by his side through thick and thin. Incensed, Felicia clenched her fists. She wanted to retort Gwendolyn and even had an urge to retaliate by hitting her. This woman sure is violent. To think that she always resorts to violence. Barbarians like her are scary indeed. In the end, she said, ¡°Gwendolyn, you might not know this, but Old Mr. Lowen is fond of me and has chosen me as his granddaughter-inw. I suggest you get it sorted with Grandpa first before telling me these things. If you want to anger him again and make him think you''re a shameless b*tch, go ahead and tell him about your affairs with Patrick.¡± As soon as she finished her sentence, she strutted away. Gwendolyn drew a deep breath. What a despicable woman. When she arrived inside the house, Juliette was watching the television and choosing the channel with the remote control in her hand. She happened to turn to the news channel, and it was ying the news about the ident in the eastern district. Chapter 395 Chapter 395 That sight gave Gwendolyn a fright as she was worried Hector would get anxious again if he saw it. After all, he was already not in good condition. In fact, it was best to keep it from him and also Alice. Gwendolyn walked briskly to Juliette''s side and snatched the remote control from her. ¡°Juliette, no more television.¡± At that moment, Hector was taking his medicine, and Alice was by his side, coaxing him to swallow all of them. It did not seem like they saw the news. However, Felicia saw it, and her eyes widened. Following that, she turned and left. It was after she took a few steps forward did she recall she had not bid the Lowens goodbye. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, Old Mr. Lowen, I''m taking my leave now.¡± As soon as she finished her sentence, she strode out of the house in her heels. Her steps were hasty, betraying her anxiousness. Gwendolyn''s eyes darkened when she noticed her behavior. Did she see the news? What is she going to do? Meanwhile, Juliette was pouting because she did not get to watch television. ¡°Mommy, I''m not the one who wants to watch the television! It''s Old Mr. Handsome. He wants to watch the news. I asked him, and he nodded.¡± Instantly, Gwendolyn was at a loss. Sweeping her gaze across the surroundings, she decided she had to cut the inte off in the Lowen residence that day. It''d be great if Justin and Julian were around. They could cut off the inte connection here simply by moving their fingers. Without them, I have to find the router myself to do so. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. She then bent over and whispered to Juliette''s ear, ¡°Juliette, can you stop the two elderly people from watching television today? It''s bad for their eyes.¡± After some contemtion, the little girl answered, ¡°Okay! I won''t let them watch television for the sake of their eyes.¡± As soon as Juliette said that, she walked over to Hector, leaned against him, and stared at him with her pair of big eyes. ¡°Old Mr. Handsome, you must be good and eat your medicine! Only then can you get better. I always take my medicine when I''m sick. You should do the same,¡± she said in her mellow voice that could melt anyone''s heart. Hector, who refused to take his medicine at first, opened his mouth obediently after hearing her words. He swallowed the medicine and opened his mouth so that Alice could check if he did. ¡°Ah...¡± Alice nced at his mouth and smiled. ¡°As expected, you only listen to Juliette.¡± At the mention of the little girl, Hector darted a nce to Juliette, then around the ce. Then, he realized Justin and Julian were nowhere to be found. Those two boys looked like the spitting image of Pat when he was a kid. How can Alice not see it? With that thought in mind, he let out a deep sigh. The elderly man was a little disappointed. Why didn''t the boyse? I missed them already. Don''t they miss me? Alice noticed his disappointment, so she said, ¡°Justin and Julian didn''te because they have ss. Gwen promised to bring them over next time.¡± At her exnation, Hector''s eyes lit up. So that''s what happened? I was afraid they weren''t here because they didn''t like me. As long as that''s not the case, I''m fine with it. All of a sudden, he felt that he must not die. I can''t die; I must stay alive and get better. In the future, I have to bring my three great-grandchildren to meet those old geezers and show them that the Lowen family now has descendants. Moreover, they are all beautiful and bright children. I also want to teach them to read, write, and draw. Thinking of those prospects, Hector wanted nothing more than to get better as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn walked to the side and approached a housekeeper. ¡°Do you know where the router in the Lowen residence is located?¡± That housekeeper was a young woman, and she smiled at Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Ashton, are you trying to connect to the inte? I''ll give you the password.¡± ¡°No, no. I want to know where it is.¡± The housekeeper pondered for a moment and informed Gwendolyn that the router was in the information room on the third floor. That was where the main router was. Then, the living room, dining room, and every other room had a converter. Gwendolyn nodded and replied, ¡°Okay, thanks!¡± She walked up the staircase. Upon reaching the third floor, she headed to the room at the end of the hallway. To her dismay, she realized the door was locked after she twisted the doorknob. What is inside here that''s worth locking the room? Are they afraid that someone mighte and steal something inside? Frustrated, she hit the door angrily. In the end, she had no choice but to phone Justin, who answered the call very soon. ¡°Mommy.¡± ¡°Justin, can you help me shut down the inte in the Lowen residence by hacking it?¡± Chapter 396 Chapter 396 Justin exchanged nces with Julian when he heard the request as he had the call on speakers. ¡°Okay, Mommy,¡± he agreed. At that point, Gwendolyn was so nervous she felt as though she was about to pass out. I sure am unfit to sneak around. After taking a deep breath, she said, ¡°Justin, do it fast. Tell me when you''re done.¡± Then, she ended the call and tried to twist the doorknob again. The Lowen family is pretty weird for hiding their router. I guess that''s how it is with the most influential family in Avenport. A few momentster, Gwendolyn''s phone vibrated. It was a WhatsApp from Justin that read: Mommy, it''s done. Smiling, she replied: Thanks, Justin! With her mind at ease, she turned around and headed back downstairs. She and Juliette then had lunch with Hector and Alice. After the meal, it was time for him to nap. Seeing that her daughter was also sleepy, Gwendolyn got up and said, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, Old Mrs. Lowen, we''ll head back first then.¡± Juliette almost fell asleep in Alice''s arms. When she heard her mother''s words, she let out a big yawn and slid down the couch. ¡°Okay. We''re going back now. Goodbye!¡± Juliette said and walked to Gwendolyn''s side obediently. She held onto her mother''s hand and said, ¡°Let''s go. I''m sleepy, and I miss Justin and Julian.¡± It was no surprise that Juliette said that as she had always been with her brothers together since they were in Gwendolyn''s womb, not to mention how the three of them had always stayed together even after they were born. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Okay! We''re going back now.¡± Naturally, Hector was reluctant to see Juliette go. His eyes were glued to the little girl as he tried to raise his hand. Despite his strong desire to speak, he could not utter a word no matter how hard he tried. They are my granddaughter-inw and great-grandkid. Yet, no one knew about it, letting them wander outside for years. I tremble to think how much they must have suffered. Likewise, Alice was reluctant to see them go. Even after she walked them to the car, she kept waving at them. At the sight of that, Gwendolyn thought Hector and Alice were pitiful. After all, there were not many people in the Lowen family. Patrick was their only grandson. They must feel deste, living in such a big manor on their own. I''m sure they were happy when they saw children because it added so much life to the ce. I should exhort Patrick toe back more often and spend more time with them. Juliette was so sleepy that she could barely keep her eyes open while sitting in the child seat. Hugging her Barbie doll closer, she said, ¡°Mommy, we''lle and visit them again, okay?¡± Gwendolyn was aware that her daughter loved having fun and knew who was genuinely nice to her. Cognizant of the fact that she adored the elderly couple, Gwendolyn responded, ¡°Sure. We''ll bring Justin and Julian along with us too.¡± Juliette grumbled, ¡°It''s so big here and beautiful like a princess'' castle. It''s just a shame that we can''t watch television.¡± She said that because she loved watching cartoons. Yet, the inte in the Lowen residence went out, so she did not get to watch any. Gwendolyn burst out inughter when she heard herint. ¡°Yes. But it''s bad for your eyes if you watch too much television.¡± Juliette had fallen asleep by then, so she did not hear her at all. A little over an hourter, Gwendolyn parked the car in front of her house. Camille came out of the house and carried Juliette out of the child seat. Seeing how soundly she was sleeping, she remarked with a smile, ¡°She must have had a lot of fun to be so tired.¡± While holding the car door open to make it convenient for Camille to get out of the car, Gwendolyn stared at the little girl in her housekeeper''s arms. That was when she recalled how Juliette seemed to be in better health recently as thetter did not fall sick as often anymore. Thanks to that, she did not need to worry as much. As they were about to reach the front door, Camille piped up suddenly, ¡°Gwen, could you tell Mr. Lowen that I''ve run out of the medicinal herbs he gave me previously?¡± ¡°Medicinal herbs? What medicinal herbs?¡± It struck Camille then that Patrick had told her to keep it a secret. She could not help but me herself for being so careless that day and letting it slip. ¡°Camille, tell me.¡± Gwendolyn had no idea there were other secrets between Camille and Patrick besides the fact that he was trying to get the older woman to work for him. Camille grimaced and finally replied, ¡°Gwen, Juliette is rather heavy. I''ll head inside first. I don''t think I can carry her much longer.¡± After making up an excuse, she tried to run away, but Gwendolyn went over and helped her support Juliette. With a cold gaze, the young woman insisted, ¡°Hurry up and tell me.¡± (Proud Triplets) 397-400 °Á½¿Èý±¦£º×ܲõùµØ³èÉÏÌìN?velDrama.Org holds this content. Chapter 397 Chapter 397 Realizing that she could no longer keep it a secret, Camille smiled. ¡°Gwen, it''s not a bad thing. Mr. Lowen noticed Juliette had a weak constitution, so he sought a better professional practitioner to get some medicinal herbs. Usually, I''ll put some of these herbs in the soup I make so that everyone can enjoy it together. At first, I didn''t believe it would work, but Juliette''s health recently improved. Her appetite has also gotten better.¡± At that moment, Gwendolyn finally realized what was going on. She had thought Juliette did not get sick as often because thetter grew older. As it turned out, it was all thanks to Patrick. Not only did he treat her well, but he cared for her children too. In the past, she had thought of getting married but was concerned that her other half might not treat her kids well and feared they would be abused. Given the circumstances, she reckoned Patrick would definitely be a good father. Delighted, she smiled sweetly. ¡°Gwen, I think Mr. Lowen is pretty nice. He treats you and your children well. It''s rare to find such men, so you have to cherish him!¡± Camille could not resist the urge toment. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°I know. Camille, you can bring Juliette in!¡± As of then, she was a little moved. Nevertheless, she had also given herself to himst night. It was their first act of intimacy, which was a wonderful experience. Gwendolyn closed the front door and got into her car. After ncing at the time, she felt like giving Patrick a call again. However, Liam previously told her that Patrick would return her call when he had the time. Since he still had not done so, she thought he must be swamped. Thus, she decided against disturbing him and drove to the hospital instead. When she walked into the ward, Zayden was on a drip. Upon noticing her arrival, he moved his head slightly. ¡°Gwen, is that you?¡± Gwendolyn answered, ¡°Yes, I''m here. Did you take your meals and medicine?¡± She was treating him like a child since he behaved like one. Angeline was taking an afternoon nap on the couch. Their voices woke her up, and she raised her hands to cover her eyes. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°Ugh, you two are too noisy.¡± At her age, even the slightest movement could disturb her sleep. Only then did Gwendolyn nce at the couch. Then, she stuck out her tongue in embarrassment. When Zayden saw her reaction, his lips quirked into a faint smile. Gwen is so adorable. With light footsteps, she walked to his side and ced the yogurt she had specially gone to buy on the table. ¡°I brought some yogurt for you. Have a taste.¡± Zayden liked that type of yogurt a lot. Gwendolyn even added ten toppings, so it smelled delicious. The young man was slightly surprised. ¡°You still remember it?¡± The first time he ate that yogurt was with her. Back then, she had just received her sry of one thousand and five hundred from her first job, so she wanted to treat him to a meal, though he was the one who paid for it in the end. She had brought him to a small store located in an alley. Despite the secluded location, there were many customers there. It was the first time he had ever eaten something so scrumptious. Gwendolyn was pleased to see his satisfied expression. Even though the location was a little run-down, she was happy as long as he liked the yogurt. ¡°Of course! It was what I treated you to after I received my first sry.¡± Gwendolyn scooped a spoonful of the yogurt and brought it to his mouth. ¡°Have a taste. I bought it at the same ce.¡± At that moment, Zayden had a warm smile on his face. It was a memory that only belonged to both of them, so it was considered their first. After tasting it, he nodded fervently. ¡°It still tastes the same! So sweet and delicious.¡± Upon recollecting that day, she could not help but smile sweetly. Back then, she was not as sophisticated. Even though she was heavily stressed, she refused to ept his goodwill. She had worked incredibly hard every day to provide for her three children. Just then, her phone rang, which woke Angeline up. As soon as the older woman opened her eyes, she scolded, ¡°Gwendolyn, you''re too much! You have been so noisy since you entered the room. Do you have any manners?¡± When Gwendolyn saw it was a call from Patrick, she quickly walked out of the ward and was in no mood to care about others anymore. Chapter 398 Chapter 398 Seeing Gwendolyn ignored herpletely, Angeline was dissatisfied with her and felt slightly ufortable. She sat upright and tidied her hair. The housekeeper had already handed her shawl over, so she took it and wrapped it around herself. ¡°Zay, look at her. She doesn''t have any manners at all. I was talking to her, but she ignored me and walked off.¡± Meanwhile, Zayden sat on his hospital bed expressionlessly. Earlier on, he saw the caller ID on Gwendolyn''s phone. It was Patrick. Whenever he called her, she would look like she had lost her soul. Disgruntled, he nced at the television on the wall. It was talking about the deaths at Lowen Group''s construction site. His lips curved into a faint smile. This would make Patrick busy for quite some time. Angeline also saw the news, so she hurriedly took the remote control to turn up the volume. ¡°Lowen Group is in trouble. It''s that piece ofnd at the eastern district.¡± Her face broke into a grin when she saw the news. ¡°Serves Patrick right. Back then, your grandfather wanted you to get that piece ofnd, and he scolded you when you couldn''t get it. It''s gratifying now that this had happened.¡± Zayden remained silent. Angeline knew he could not see but could still hear the news. ¡°Zay, did you hear the news from the television just now?¡± Zayden felt around for the pillow and slowly leaned back. ¡°Mom, this is Lowen Group''s matter. We can''t participate nor judge this.¡± He was the type of person who took a clear stance on things. Angeline stood up and paced the room. ¡°This couch is not meant for sleeping. My legs are sore from bending for a long time, and it even feels ufortable when I walk.¡± It was also because of that couch that Zayden could not bear for Gwendolyn to stay overnight, as he was afraid she would not be able to get a good night''s rest. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. ¡°Mom, Gwen can take care of me now, so you don''t need toe to the hospital anymore.¡± Angeline usually had a busy schedule and had several activities to attend since socialites loved to ask her out. She was busy every day, so she must be bored from being stuck in the hospital. Angeline sighed. Just the previous day, she went to a tea party, but the people there were all pitying her. They were all talking about what she should do in the future and how her other family members would take over Surrington Corporation. Then, they started to talk about her blind son and how she was very miserable since she would have to take care of him for the rest of her life. As someone who had never been through such patronization, she felt an increasing urge to leave the tea party the more she heard them talk. Ultimately, she walked off, ending on bad terms with them. She finally saw their true colors. During the time her son was in a high position, they all ingratiate themselves with her. However, when an ident befell him, they hoped he would be blind forever. She was in no mood to go to events, as she had a more important thing to do, which was to apany her son. ¡°Mom, did you hear what I said?¡± ¡°Zay, I''m your mother. You can''t stop me froming. You don''t let anyone from the familye here, not even your grandmother and father. They are all waiting for my news every day. I need toe here.¡± Just then, Rosalie walked in. She was supporting Linda as they entered the ward. At the sight of the elderly woman, Angeline immediately straightened her back. The Chavez family was one of the four most prominent families in Avenport. The Surrington family was second in position, followed by the Chavez family and the Gomez family. The four most prominent families maintained a decent rtionship with one another, as they would usually meet during their socialite gatherings. ¡°Old Mrs. Chavez, why are you here?¡± d in a silver dress, Linda looked elegant. She looked at the man on the hospital bed. ¡°I came to the hospital for a checkup, and I heard from Kevin that Zayden was staying in the hospital. Since our families have been friends for generations, I naturally have toe and pay Zayden a visit.¡± Her housekeeper brought in some fruits and health supplements which the Surrington family''s housekeeper took over. At that moment, Gwendolyn had ended her call. That lively scene was what she witnessed upon walking toward the ward. She stood by the doorway, pondering whether or not she should enter the room. Rosalie called her, ¡°Gwen, you must be tired from taking care of Zayden! I also bought you some health supplements. Remember to eat them!¡± Chapter 399 Chapter 399 Gwendolyn was already feeling a little awkward. Since Rosalie had called her, she could only enter the ward. ¡°Ms. Chavez, Old Mrs. Chavez,¡± she politely greeted them. Linda was slightly surprised to see her. ¡°Ms. Ashton, why are you here?¡± Just as Angeline was about to say she was the caregiver they hired, Rosalie forestalled her and answered Linda''s question. ¡°Gwen and Zay are good friends, Grandma. They''re extremely close, so she came to care for him round the clock since he fell ill.¡± When Linda heard Rosalie''s words, her expression changed. She and Alice were best friends. Even after so many years, they still had a close rtionship. Regarding Patrick as her own grandchild, she also paid close attention to the woman he was going to marry. Needless to say, she was not expecting to see Gwendolyn there, let alone find out that thetter was taking care of Zayden round the clock. Zayden lost his vision, so the person taking care of him had to help him do many things. For instance, they would have to help him go to the bathroom and wipe his body. Those things should be his girlfriend''s responsibility, yet Gwendolyn was doing them. In an instant, Linda figured out what was going on. Nowadays, all girls are like this. She''s after another man when she already has Patrick. As expected, Gwendolyn is not a simple woman as she appears to be on the surface! Although she''s beautiful, and few in the world are as beautiful as she is, it''s useless. One should marry apetent and virtuous wife, especially in prominent families like ours. It''s essential to get a partner of equal status. In the past, she used to not care about it and thought it was fine as long as the two people liked each other. Upon seeing Gwendolyn''s behavior, she suddenly felt it was better to find a person of equal status as she would know them well. Also, they would be well-educated. Rosalie grew up by Linda''s side, so she knew her the best. Today''s matter would lead Grandma to realize there''s a problem with Gwendolyn. Since Grandma is very fond of Pat, she would definitely want him to marry a good person. The young woman knew she got her chance. Standing at the side, Gwendolyn did not exin herself since Rosalie did not say anything wrong. She was indeed good friends with Zayden. Angeline nced at Rosalie. I''ve heard that this young woman likes Patrick and is adamant about marrying into the Lowen family. It seems that it''s true. However, she''s much brighter than Gwendolyn. With just a few sentences, she managed to cause Old Mrs. Chavez''s expression to change. The elderly''s attitude toward Gwendolyn changed as well. At that thought, she shook her head. I''m not satisfied with Gwendolyn, too, but there''s nothing I can do currently. Well, this is good as well. With Rosalie''s intervention, Gwendolyn can then forget about Patrick and focus on being by Zay''s side. Everyone inside the ward was engrossed in their own thoughts except Gwendolyn. She stood at the side, paying no attention to anyone else. Angeline and Linda were chatting. After a while, the former called Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwendolyn, go and wash some fruits for the visitors.¡± Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Okay!¡± She turned around to leave, but Zayden grabbed her hand. ¡°There''s no need for you to do this. Take a break. We have the help here.¡± He was displeased with how his mother ordered his beloved woman around, especially when outsiders were present. Gwendolyn wanted to withdraw her hand, but his grip was strong. ¡°Just sit on the side of my bed and chat with me.¡± Linda nced at Gwendolyn''s wrist, which was grabbed tightly by Zayden. It was apparent that they had a close rtionship with each other. Her expression changed for a second, but she soonposed herself and continued the conversation with Angeline. Rosalie also smiled and stood up. ¡°Wow! Zay, you and Gwen are really close!¡± shemented. Gwendolyn retracted her hand. ¡°Ms. Chavez, it''s not what you think. We''re just friends.¡± When Linda saw how Gwendolyn hastened to exin herself, she shook her head. She really is a greedy one. Although she has Pat, who''s such a good boyfriend, she''s still unsatisfied. Now, she''s even afraid that we would expose her.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 401 Chapter 401 When Zayden tilted his head to look out the window, there was a clear blue sky interspersed with some fluffy white clouds outside. Even though the thick essence of spring filled the air, he was unfortunately confined to his ward. He couldn''t help but feel dejected when Gwendolyn''s mind was still centered on Patrick despite his current predicament. ¡°Mom, I would like to have some time alone.¡± Angeline had never seen her son that way before. All this while, he had a vibrant demeanor and would deal with any problems in a sensible and steady manner. From the look on his face, he''s clearly wallowing in sorrow. As she felt a squeeze in her heart, she thought to herself, Oh God! Please don''t hurt Zayden anymore. Punish me instead for whatever suffering he has to bear. He''s kind and friendly to everyone he meets, so please help him feel better! When she saw the pained look on her son''s face, Angeline didn''t want to go against his wishes. As of now, everyone in the Surrington family would be mindful of his feelings and give in to whatever he wanted. Before she took her leave, Angeline reminded him, ¡°Zay, remember not to skip your meals.¡± Upon emerging from the ward, she saw Gwendolyn leaning against the wall nearby as if she was lost in thought. From thetter''s expression, Angeline could tell that she wasn''t in a good mood. Angeline, followed by her housekeepers, strutted up to Gwendolyn in her heels. ¡°Gwendolyn, didn''t I ask you to leave? Why are you still here?¡± At the sound of Angeline''s voice, Gwendolyn quickly wiped away her tears. The thought of Zayden going blind saddened her every time. How can something like that happen to someone so wonderful? ¡°I... I was just waiting for the elevator.¡± Just as she spoke, she pressed the elevator button. Standing shoulder to shoulder, Angeline straightened her back as a cold glint shed across her eyes. ¡°Gwendolyn, don''t for a second think that you can win my approval just because you were of some use to Zay. Nothing will change my attitude toward you, and I don''t want you in his life anymore. Also, you should stop harboring fantasies of trying to ingratiate your way into the Surrington family.¡± Gwendolyn took a deep breath, for anyone would be upset by such scathing words. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, I get what you''re trying to convey and want to reassure you that I don''t have any designs on him. Both of us are nothing more than friends. Also, you can rest assured that marrying into the Surrington family has never crossed my mind.¡± When the elevator coincidentally arrived, Gwendolyn strutted into it. After Angeline followed her inside, there were four of them, including Angeline''s two housekeepers. As tension filled the air, both sides kept their distance and gave each other the cold shoulder. Meanwhile, Felicia lingered at the kindergarten''s entrance, pacing back and forth. Given that she could lower Hector''s vignce with Juliette, she felt the urge to kidnap thetter so that she could lure Hector to seek treatment. As long Hector could recover, she would have defeated Gwendolyn. With that thought in mind, she was eager to take action. All of a sudden, her eyes lit up when she remembered that Michael and Juliette knew each other. Thus, she swiftly retrieved a picture of herself and Michael. In reality, she had never taken a photo of two with Michael before. Instead, her mother had pushed her to Michael''s side when a group photo was taken. All she did was cut herself and Michael out and make it look like only both of them were in it. After getting past the security guard, Felicia filled in her details and saw the teacher. She informed the latter that she was Juliette''s aunt and produced her ID card for verification. Feeling apprehensive still, the teacher called Juliette to her side. ¡°Juliette, is she your aunt?¡± The teacher had given Gwendolyn a call, but no one picked up. Thinking that thetter was busy, she had no choice but to ask Juliette about it. Standing in front of Felicia, Juliette did recognize her, although they weren''t close. Since Felicia was hostile to Gwendolyn, the little girl naturally resented the former. Just as she shook her head and was about to deny knowing Felicia, thetter took out her phone to show her the picture.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°Juliette, your great-grandpa asked me to pick you up. He''s terribly sick and wants to see you.¡± Chapter 402 Chapter 402 Juliette''s eyes lit up the moment she saw Michael. ¡°Oh? He''s unwell?¡± Juliette liked her great-grandfather a lot, for she remembered him giving them a huge house. From the fact that she had a princess-themed room inside it, she knew that her great-grandfather cared a lot about them. Felicia nodded repeatedly. ¡°That''s right. He''s my grandpa, and I was the one who sent him to the hospital. However, he insisted on seeing you and instructed me to pick you up. We have to hurry now, or we might not make it back in time to see him.¡± Driven by desperation, Felicia didn''t mind cursing her own grandfather. After all, Michael never loved her and only cared for Gwendolyn. Juliette pondered about the matter. ¡°All right. Shall I get my brothers?¡± Felicia was stunned, for she hadn''t expected Juliette to be smart enough to mention her brothers. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Considering that both of them were even sharper, she knew that they would quickly see through her n. ¡°Juliette, there''s an infectious disease going around recently, so the hospital is very strict and only allows one visitor. Since Grandpa keeps mentioning your name, I figured that you must be his favorite. I''ll therefore take you first. If his condition improves, I''ll take your brothers to see him tomorrow and the day after.¡± Hmm, that''s right. Since we have to wear masks recently, the hospital must be very strict with its rules. ¡°Okay.¡± Felicia proceeded to hold her hand. ¡°Can you tell the teacher outside that I''m your aunt, as I don''t think we have much time left?¡± Nodding in agreement, Juliette allowed Felicia to hold her hand and lead her out of the teacher''s office. At that moment, the teacher was chatting with a parent who was also there to pick up his child earlier. The moment she saw Juliettee out, she asked, ¡°Juliette, is this your aunt? Should I give your mom a call?¡± Juliette broke into a vibrant smile that looked exceptionally cute. ¡°Ms. Peaches, she''s my aunt. We''ll be going now. Bye, and see you tomorrow!¡± Her voice was so sweet that Felicia knitted her brows in annoyance. She''s just too good in ttery. Nheless, Felicia had no choice but to y along by smiling at the teacher. ¡°Bye, Ms. Peaches!¡± Upon leaving the kindergarten, Felicia lowered her head to nce at Juliette. She resembles Gwendolyn a lot. In fact, she''s just like a mini version of her. She''s so beautiful that it makes one jealous, especially women. All her life, Felicia had been jealous of Gwendolyn''s beauty and the attention everyone, especially Michael, showered on her. Suddenly, she asked, ¡°Juliette, did Gwendolyn teach you to speak that way? It''s too mushy. People won''t like it.¡± Juliette had always spoken in a sweet voice. She wasn''t doing it on purpose, as it was a child''s natural cadence. She stared at Felicia with her eyes twinkling brightly. ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Despite her question, she had a mind of her own. Felicia responded with a grin. As long as she could teach Juliette the wrong things, it would hinder the latter''s ability to curry favor with Michael and Hector. As Felicia carried Juliette into the car, she pretended to treat her well and care about her. ¡°Juliette, be careful. Don''t hit your head.¡± After settling down, Juliette hummed in acknowledgment. Felicia subsequently entered the car and instructed the driver, ¡°To the Lowen residence.¡± She then turned her attention to Juliette. ¡°Let me give you some advice. Don''t greet anyone you see, as you''ll look cooler that way. Also, don''t keep smiling all the time because it will make you look like a fool. Just look at Patrick; doesn''t he wear a serious expression all the time and ignore everyone? But a lot of people still like him, don''t they?¡± Hmm, that seems the opposite of what Mommy told me. Gwen says that we should smile and greet whoever we see. When we leave, we have to remember to say goodbye. That''s how a well-mannered child should behave. Chapter 403 Chapter 403 Juliette shook her head. ¡°No, no. That''s really rude.¡± Felicia held Juliette''s hands in her own. ¡°In that case, Juliette, do you like Patrick?¡± Juliette nodded. She liked him very much indeed because she could smell the scent of a father on him and hoped that he would one day be hers. ¡°In that case, have you ever seen him pay anyone any attention? Does he smile? He looks as cold as ice all the time.¡± The image of Patrick emerged in Juliette''s mind. She does appear to be right. He does behave that way. Thereafter, she pursed her lips to further deliberate on the matter. By then, Felicia knew that she had gotten her message across. As long as Juliette became a rude and disobedient child, no one would like her anymore. Grandpa and Old Mr. Lowen will no longer eat out of her hand again. Felicia didn''t say another word after that. Now that she had tricked Juliette intoing with her, her next objective was to manipte Hector. When the car stopped outside the Lowen residence, Juliette pointed at the massive and beautiful gate and said, ¡°This is Mr. Handsome''s house.¡± Felicia smiled in response. ¡°Juliette, wait in the car while I go get Old Mr. Lowen. He wants to see my grandpa too.¡± Juliette agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± Once Felicia got past the gate, it was a long walk to the Lowen residence. Due to her walking briskly in her exceedingly high heels, Felicia was utterly exhausted by the journey. Upon arriving in front of the main building, she turned around and looked. Once I push Old Mr. Lowen out, there''s no way we can cover such a huge distance. Hence, she gave the driver a call. ¡°Drive the car in, and wait for me at the parking lot.¡± After ending the call, she quickly called him again. ¡°Remember to keep an eye on the child. Don''t allow her to get out.¡± After checking the bunch of cuteness in the mirror, the driver replied, ¡°Yes, Ms. Ashton.¡± By now, the driver had learned how sensitive Felicia was about her status and knew that he had to show her respect to avoid being given an earful. When Felicia entered the living room and couldn''t find Hector and Alice, she inquired with the housekeeper, ¡°Where''s Old Mr. Lowen?¡± The housekeeper was used to Felicia''s presence as she dropped by often. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen is in his study while Old Mrs. Lowen is at the back copying some books.¡± As Felicia was delighted by the reply, her eyes lit up. Upon entering the study, she saw a housekeeper and a nurse inside. There, she noticed Hector reading a book. Whenever he finished a page, the housekeeper would help him turn to the next one. Felicia couldn''t help but admire his persistence in learning despite his condition. Nheless, she didn''t understand why they insisted on living a productive life under such circumstances. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, I''m here to see you again.¡± Felicia walked up to Hector, wearing a bright smile. She then diverted the housekeeper and nurse away by ordering them to get his medication and clothes. Consequently, Felicia and Hector were the only ones left in the room. When thetter saw who it was, his face darkened as his eyes shifted away from his book. The gloominess that descended upon Hector''s face struck fear into Felicia. Nheless, she quickly steeled herself. Felicia, get a grip on yourself. He is the key to getting married into the Lowen family! N?velDrama.Org holds this content. She then took out her phone and called the driver on video. ¡°Zane, pass the phone to Juliette.¡± When Juliette''s cute face appeared on the screen, she stared at them with big and adorable eyes. ¡°Juliette, greet Old Mr. Lowen.¡± At the sight of Hector, Juliette broke into a delightful smile. ¡°Old Mr. Handsome, it''s me, Juliette.¡± Hector''s eyes lit up at the sight of her. When his face moved to speak, his words failed toe out. Nheless, he had already turned red in excitement. It was then that Felicia turned off the video. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, Juliette is in the car outside. She has invited you to go out and y with her.¡± Chapter 404 Chapter 404 At that moment, all Hector wanted was to see Juliette. Hence, he felt unsettled when he could no longer see her. Upon hearing Felicia''s words, he nodded to indicate his agreement with Juliette''s request. An insidious smile subsequently shed across Felicia''s face. I''m a genius! Even Old Mr. Lowen is going along with my n. Hahaha! She was so ted that it felt as if she was on cloud nine. As long as he''s treated by Maddy''s father, Old Mr. Lowen would be able to speak very soon. When that happens, my engagement with Patrick would be a done deal. Hopefully, he can be cured today. When she swiftly pushed Hector out, the housekeepers who passed by didn''t seem bothered by it, as they were not responsible for caring for him. Also, none of them dared to interfere, especially since Felicia came by often and didn''t seem to harbor ill intentions. Moreover, they had heard that Hector was fond of Felicia and was trying to get her engaged to Patrick. Thus, no one dared to offend her in any way. Despite Patrick having feelings for someone else, Hector''s word was final. Also, everyone knew that Patrick wouldn''t go against his grandfather, especially in thetter''s current condition. Patrick, in order to be filial, would definitely give in to Hector''s wishes in the end. Sometimes, it was the housekeepers who had more insight than everyone else. Soon, Felicia arrived at the parking lot, where the driver got out to carry Hector into the car. It was then that Juliette popped her head over. ¡°Old Mr. Handsome, hahaha...¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Juliette burst intoughter while unwrapping a sweet, which she subsequently fed Hector. ¡°Here''s a sweet for you.¡± Ecstatic over the gesture, Hector opened his mouth to eat it. To him, Juliette''s sweets were the sweetest in the world and never failed to melt his heart. Felicia hurried into the car and ordered, ¡°Drive to the ce I designated before I came here and step on it.¡± Wiping the sweat off his brow, the driver was panting from carrying Hector. Unfortunately, he didn''t dare utter a word ofint despite how exhausted he was. All he could do was dry his sweat in silence before driving off. Meanwhile, Felicia nced in the rearview mirror. The little girl''s presence makes my n go smoothly. Look at how happy Old Mr. Lowen is. She''s definitely someone special and will be extraordinary when she grows up. In truth, Felicia really hoped that Juliette would never grow up. Also, she could never figure out how an old man and Gwendolyn could produce such beautiful offspring. Her sons are extremely smart too. There must be something wrong with the genes. Wouldn''t it be great if she had given birth to three idiots instead? After feeding Hector the sweet, Juliette began to give him a massage. ¡°Old Mr. Handsome, let me give you a massage. I give one to Ms. Ziegler every day, and she says that it feels really nice. Since you can''t walk, maybe my massage will help your legs regain their strength.¡± There was no way a child would harbor any ill intentions. She hoped that Hector''s legs would recover so that he could go anywhere he wanted. Hector responded by smiling ear to ear, evidence of his wonderful mood. When Felicia saw how happy he was, she began to worry. Hence, she whispered to the driver, ¡°Zane, look. Is smiling that way a symptom of Old Mr. Lowen''s sickness acting up?¡± Zane checked the mirror quickly. Old Mr. Lowen does seem to be overdoing it with his smile. After pondering a moment, he replied, ¡°Ms. Ashton, I think he''s just happy.¡± When Felicia took another look, her eyes coincidentally met Hector''s in the rearview mirror. In that instant, thetter''s smile faded as a grim expression descended upon his face. The sudden change in mood brought a sense of relief to Felicia. Thank God it isn''t his sickness acting up. Once Juliette was done with her massage, she took her seat beside Hector. ¡°Old Mr. Handsome, it''s such a shame that you can''t speak. Wouldn''t it be great if you could? I love talking every day. What do you want to eat? All I need to do is say what I want, and it will be given to me by Ms. Ziegler and Gwen. But since you can''t speak, what happens when you''re hungry?¡± Chapter 405 Chapter 405 Hector chuckled when he heard the words, finding the girl cute. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. He simply adored her so much. If only Juliette''s at home every day. The Lowen residence would be a lively ce! I hope they''ll be brought back into the family as soon as possible. However, Felicia was annoyed. In a loud voice, she said, ¡°Stop talking, Juliette. Have you forgotten everything I told you about?¡± Felicia felt that Juliette was talking too much, and if the girl were to annoy Hector, the elderly man would certainly stop cooperating with them. She could not believe the girl said that Hector was not good with his words. Isn''t she just making everything worse? What a naughty girl. She''s worse than Gwendolyn! At that, Juliette covered her mouth. When she thought about how handsome Patrick was when he was expressionless, she decided to drop the smile. In fact, she even narrowed herrge eyes, hoping that she would look fierce that way. It was then Hector started feeling a hint of rage as he looked at Felicia resentfully. He liked to hear the girl talk, and he would never get tired of hearing her speak. Why is this d*mn woman scolding Juliette? I''d like to see who would have the guts to stop Juliette from talking if I was as fit as a horse! Right as he thought that, he realized something amiss. Isn''t this the woman Pat likes? But Juliette is Gwendolyn''s daughter. What is she trying to do? At that, Hector turned to nudge Juliette with his shoulder. When Juliette turned to look at Hector, her eyes were still narrowed. She mimicked Patrick as she icily asked, ¡°What''s the matter?¡± The sight of her reminded Hector of Patrick, and he could not help but wistfully think about how Juliette was truly Patrick''s daughter. Juliette then straightened her back and blinked. Mr. Handsome''s really cool when he does this, but why is this so tiring for me? Oh, I''m even starting to feel sleepy... After sitting straight for a while, Juliette could not keep up with the act anymore. Hence, she slumped to the side against Hector. She then mumbled, ¡°I''m so sleepy... I''m going to sleep now.¡± Then, her eyes fluttered shut, and she stopped moving. Hector could not use his hand properly, but he still wanted his great-granddaughter to sleep in a more comfortable position. Hence, he tried his best to raise his hand and pull her head to rest on hisp before gently patting her. It would be difficult for him to do such a thing in the past even with physical therapy. Yet, to his surprise, he seeded this time. After leaving the hospital, Gwendolyn went to the children''s hospital to visit Mnie. She went to the original ward but could not see any signs of Mnie around. After asking a patient at the side, she then found out that they had moved to the VIP ward on the twenty-sixth floor. It was then Gwendolyn recalled hearing them tell her about the move. Gwendolyn went to the twenty-sixth floor. After pushing open the door to Room 2608, she walked in, only to be greeted by the sight of Lucy riding on Lucas on the couch in the living room. Gwendolyn froze, and Lucy screamed. ¡°Gwen...¡± In the next second, Lucy jumped off the couch and started picking up her clothes from the floor. At the same time, Lucas grabbed one of his clothes to cover himself as Gwendolyn hastily spun around to leave. ¡°I-I have something to do, so I''ll go now.¡± What did I just see? Is this hospital-setting roley? Gwendolyn''s face was bright red, and when she heard the sounds of shifting fabric, she hastened her footsteps. Only after closing the door did she let out a sigh of relief. The scene in the room had been too much for her. This is so awkward, was what she thought as she hurried to the elevator. I better not meet with Lucy today. It''s going to be so awkward for us. However, Lucy ran after her. ¡°Gwen!¡± Her hair was a mess, and the blush was still on her face. When Gwendolyn turned around, she handed Lucy the fruits in her hands. ¡°This is for Mnie and you. I''m leaving now.¡± Lucy stopped her. ¡°Gwen, what happened earlier¡ª¡± Gwendolyn quickly cut her off. ¡°Let''s not talk about what happened earlier. I just erased it from my memory.¡± Chapter 406 Chapter 406 Lucy stiffened for a second before clearing her throat awkwardly. ¡°Gwen, he and I... I really don''t know where I should start.¡± Gwendolyn wrapped her arm around Lucy''s shoulder and said, ¡°Luce, I''m not going to scold you, but you have to think things through and not let him bully you.¡± Gwendolyn was a more traditional woman. She felt that if a man were to approach a woman with ulterior motives, refused to promise the woman anything, and lied to her, then he was not a good man. That was the kind of man Lucas seemed like to Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn was scared that Lucy would be hurt¡ªwould be taken advantage of. Lucy held her hand and said, ¡°Gwen, Mr. Gomez has agreed to donate his bone marrow to Mnie next week. There''s no better news than this to me. I don''t mind doing anything as long as Mnie gets better.¡± Gwendolyn froze at that. Right. If I was in her spot, what would I do? I''ll also give up everything to save my kid. In other words, Lucas is an evil man. He knows about Lucy''s weak spot, and that''s why he''s taking advantage of her! Changing the topic, Lucy asked, ¡°Gwen, what brings you here today?¡± Gwendolyn gave her a wry smile. ¡°I lost my job, and I can''t stay with Zayden. I didn''t want to go home either, so I thought ofing here to chat with you and visit Mnie.¡± Lucy smiled. ¡°Come in, then. I''m sure Mnie''s about to wake up.¡± Gwendolyn nced at the ward, still unable to erase what she had seen a moment ago from her mind. Right as she was hesitating, Lucas, the bronze-skinned man with a crew cut, came out in a pair of ck pants and a gray shirt. He looked stern, and anyone would be able to tell that he was an army man with just one nce. Then, he walked over to them, seemingly unfazed by what had happened earlier. Gwendolyn knew that people like him did not care about what others thought. He was confident, so naturally, he would not be bothered by such things. After winking at Lucy, he said, ¡°Lucy, I''ll be going now.¡± When he turned to Gwendolyn, a look of amusement flickered past his face. ¡°Gwen, do you not need to work today?¡± Gwendolyn could not help but be reminded of what she had witnessed earlier when she looked at him, and her face turned red again. She could only tell herself to stop dwelling on it. ¡°I resigned.¡± With that, she grabbed Lucy''s hand and gestured for her to head inside so they could continue their chat. ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Gomez!¡± Gwendolyn squeezed out a smile and waved at Lucas. Thetter frowned. He knew that Gwendolyn was currently Patrick''s personal secretary and that Patrick had deliberately gotten the human resources department to recruit her into thepany to keep her within his line of sight. She resigned? Did the two fight? he wondered. Upon stepping into the ward, Gwendolyn was greeted by a colorful sight. The walls were pink, and there were plenty of cartoon stickers all over them. Even the couch was pink. Gwendolyn genuinely felt that the VIP ward was a far better ce to stay than the normal wards downstairs. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. When Lucy led her further into the ward, Gwendolyn saw Mnie still sleeping on the small bed, seemingly in a deep slumber. Gwendolyn sighed in relief. ¡°It looks like Mnie''s doing better than before.¡± Mnie used to be extremely thin and always had fitful nights of sleep. However, it seemed like she had finally gained some weight. Lucy then walked over to the bedside to tuck Mnie''s nket. ¡°There are plenty of professionals nowadays, and they''re using the best medicine for her. That''s why she''s doing much better.¡± Back then, they did not know money and connection would have been such a big help to Mnie. Lucy then stood up and walked out of the ward with Gwendolyn to continue their conversation in the living room. Gwendolyn was definitely not going to sit on that particr couch anymore, so she sat on the armchair at the side and hugged a pillow instead. It seems like Mr. Gomez is quite generous. At least he''s willing to give her the money and the bone marrow. ¡°To be honest, Luce, physical health is very important to Lucas because of the nature of his work. He can''t actually undergo surgery.¡± Chapter 407 Chapter 407 Lucy froze. ¡°Is that so?¡± No wonder he refused to agree to it at the start. No wonder he told me a monthter but made himself scarce by that. So that''s why. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Patrick told me about it. He said Lucas won''t be able to do the job he''s doing anymore if he does the surgery.¡± At that, Lucy''s face turned gloomy. She pursed her lips and mulled over it. Right then, Gwendolyn''s phone rang. It was a call from Justin. ¡°Justin, you''re done with the sses?¡± Isn''t it a little early? But they do finish their sses earlier when they have activities. ¡°Mommy, Juliette''s missing. Felicia took her.¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn leaped to her feet and hastily walked outside. ¡°What''s going on? Aren''t you in the same ss as her? How did Felicia take her away?¡± Gwendolyn was terrified. She did not know what Felicia would do to Juliette. The very thought of how Felicia and her mother had set her up back then sent chills running down her spine. They''re heartless and cruel! Juliette''s still so young. She''s a simple-minded girl, and she won''t know how terrifying the world of adults is. What do I do? Will Felicia hit her? Will she sell her to human traffickers? ¡°Gwen, what''s wrong?¡± Lucy was stunned by the dazed look Gwendolyn had and the tears that welled up in her eyes. After ending the call, Gwendolyn fervently pressed the elevator buttons, impatient. ¡°Luce, Felicia took Juliette. I don''t know where she is right now. I''m going to look for Juliette!¡± Lucy was taken aback as well. ¡°I''lle with you!¡± ¡°What about Mnie?¡± ¡°Don''t worry. Lucas hired a nurse aide and a housekeeper. Even if I''m not around, they''ll be taking care of her.¡± Gwendolyn nodded at that. ¡°Okay, okay. We''ll look for her together, then.¡± Even after they reached the parking lot and had Lucy drive while Gwendolyn sat in the passenger''s seat, thetter was still panicking. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. She kept muttering under her breath, ¡°What do I do? Juliette''s so young. She won''t be able to defend herself.¡± I should have gone to the kindergarten when I left Zayden''s ce. No wonder I was so anxious today. It had been my motherly instincts! Lucy drove and asionally nced at her. ¡°Gwen, call Patrick. He has a wide socialwork, so I''m sure he''ll be able to help you out.¡± It was then Gwendolyn recalled Patrick''s existence. ¡°Right. I can get Patrick to help me out.¡± With that, she took out her phone and called him. Patrick had been busy over the eastern district''s mattertely, for he had to deal with everything personally. The media reporters wanted to interview him, and he had to meet the family members as well. Furthermore, he had to settle the ongoing discussion among the people too. At the same time, he had to make arrangements for the employees in Lowen Group. Patrick desperately wished he could clone himself to wrap up his work. When Gwendolyn''s call went through, it was Liam who picked it up. ¡°Ms. Ashton, it''s me, Liam. Mr. Lowen isn''t free to answer the call right now.¡± Gwendolyn froze. What do I do if he can''t pick up the call? ¡°Liam, I need him to pick up the call. Please hurry up. I have something urgent to tell him!¡± she cried out, frightening Liam with her fraught tone. ¡°Of course, I''m going to pass him the phone now. Calm down. Don''t cry.¡± Soon, a man''s maic voice came from the other end of the line. ¡°Gwen, what''s wrong?¡± Patrick''s heart was breaking when Liam told him that Gwendolyn was crying. ¡°Patrick, Felicia took Juliette! I''m scared she''ll hurt her!¡± At that point, Gwendolyn started crying again. Patrick knew that things were serious, for the only thing that could make Gwendolyn panic and cry was when her children were involved. However, the one who worried him most was Juliette. ¡°Okay, leave this to me. Wait for my news at home, and don''t go wandering around.¡± ¡°No! I want to go and look for her!¡± Patrick furrowed his brows. ¡°Be good. You''re only going to distract me.¡± He was certain that she could not think straight at the moment, and he was afraid that she might get into a car ident in this state. He was also worried that she would end up going missing if she were to wander everywhere like a headless chicken. What goal does Felicia have by taking Juliette away? Maybe she wants to threaten Gwendolyn. Chapter 408 Chapter 408 ¡°Be good and stay at home.¡± With that said, he ended the call. A secondter, his phone rang again. Patrick nced at the meeting room, knowing that he still needed to continue with the meeting. ¡°What''s the matter, Grandma?¡± ¡°Pat, bad news! Your grandpa''s missing.¡± Patrick''s frown deepened. ¡°Get the butler to check the surveince footage and find out if an outsider has gone into the house.¡± How can this be so coincidental? Juliette went missing, and now, Grandpa is missing too. He had a sinking feeling that those two incidents were rted. ¡°I did, but we haven''t had inte since yesterday, so the surveince cameras aren''t working.¡± That coincidental? This must be intentional, then. However, that was actually the work of Gwendolyn, who had asked her son to cut off the inte at home so that the two elderly people would not see the news. s, Patrick did not know about that. He dialed a phone number and gave the person on the other end of the line some instructions. Once he was done, he took a glimpse at the time and quickly wrapped up the meeting. In the meantime, Lucy drove to the kindergarten and parked the car right at the entrance before turning to look at Gwendolyn. Thetter was still panicking, and her tears continued to stream down her face. ¡°Gwen, are you holding up fine?¡± The kindergarten has to bear a certain amount of responsibility for this! How can they just hand the kid to someone else without needing to ask the parent about it? Lucy was a more aggressive woman, so she was definitely going to kick up a fuss and make the kindergarten staff help them find Juliette. On the other hand, after taking a deep breath, Gwendolyn wiped away her tears and got out of the car. The two of them hurried into the kindergarten. Julian and Justin were in the head of the kindergarten''s office, and when they saw Gwendolyn, they stood up. ¡°Mommy, you''re finally here.¡± What the boys needed now wereputers and phones, but those things were at home, so they needed to rush home. Only then they could they find where their sister was. Thus, the boys grabbed her hand and began walking to the exit. ¡°Mommy, let''s go home first.¡± Meanwhile, Lucy started arguing with the head of the kindergarten the moment she stepped into the office. ¡°What''s wrong with you? Are you telling me strangers can just pick up the kids and go? Will you be able to bear the responsibility if anything happens to Juliette?¡± The head of the kindergarten calmly replied, ¡°Yes, this is an oversight on our part, but Mr. Peaches called Ms. Ashton previously. No one picked up, so we asked Juliette to verify her identity. Juliette told us that she was her aunt and that they were going to visit her sick great-grandpa.¡± At that, Gwendolyn took out her phone to scroll through the list and saw that she did have several missed calls. I must have been driving back then, so I missed them. D*mn it! ¡°Is this Ms. Peaches'' number?¡± The head of the kindergarten nced at it before looking back at the contact he had saved on his phone. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡°That''s the one. Ms. Ashton, while we''re partly at fault for this, you are too.¡± Lucy was irked to hear that. ¡°We''re partly at fault for this, but you''re the one who''s most at fault. You shouldn''t have handed the kid over so easily, regardless of who the one who came to pick her up is!¡± The head of the kindergarten just kept apologizing. ¡°We''ve called the cops, and they''re looking for her too.¡± In contrast, Gwendolyn was still in a daze as the guilt of not picking up the teacher''s call overwhelmed her. Justin knitted his brows together. ¡°Mommy, let''s go home first. Then, you''ll call to ask Great-grandpa whether or not he''s sick. Maybe Juliette really is by his side in the hospital.¡± It was only then Gwendolyn recollected herself a little. ¡°Right, right. I should call Grandpa and look for Felicia. As long as I find her, I''ll know where Juliette is.¡± They then hurriedly left the kindergarten. Lucy was the driver again, and Gwendolyn sat in the front passenger seat as she tried calling Michael. ¡°Grandpa, it''s me, Gwen,¡± she choked out. ¡°What''s the matter, Gwen?¡± Gwendolyn could barely keep her cool upon hearing Michael''s voice. ¡°Grandpa, are you sick and in the hospital?¡± ¡°No, I''m fine! Why would I be in the hospital? Who did you hear this from? It''s fake. Don''t cry. I''m fine!¡± Chapter 409 Chapter 409 He wasforting Gwendolyn, who still could not stop sobbing. ¡°Grandpa, you said you''re not sick, but Felicia said you were and took Juliette away. No one knows where they are now.¡± As soon as Michael heard that, his voice became stern. ¡°What? Fel? Don''t worry, Gwen. Felicia wouldn''t dare do anything to Juliette now that she is a member of the Surrington family and a descendant of the Ashtons. I''ll ask her mom. Don''t panic.¡± Gwendolyn was still sniffling after hanging up the phone. ¡°Felicia lied. Grandpa is not sick at all. She did it on purpose. Lucy, do you think she''ll try to get rid of Juliette?¡± She could not stand the mere thought of that dreadful situation. Just the thought of that makes me sick to my stomach. Since they were young, Justin and Julian had grown ustomed to witnessing their mother acting in such a manner. When she''s worried about Juliette and us, she always panics. But then again, she''s not very bright in the first ce. ¡°Mommy, Juliette will be fine for now. We''ve taught her to call the police if she''s in danger, and they would''ve contacted me if she had, so she''s fine for now.¡± She knows that her smartwatch is in her backpack. Gwendolyn replied after mulling over it for a while, ¡°All right. I won''t panic, but I''m scared.¡± She covered her face with her hands. They can say that because they''ve never experienced what happened to me back then. The fear I had of that mother-daughter duo then carried on for years. Due to having experienced how terrifying Felicia was, she was aware of the situation her daughter was in. The two boys opened the car door and ran inside as soon as the car pulled up in the parking lot of their house. Camille''s voice came from inside. ¡°Why are you two back? Where''s Juliette?¡± Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. The housekeeper, who was knitting a sweater, jumped up when she saw Gwendolyn entering the house with Lucy''s assistance. ¡°What happened, Gwen?¡± Gwendolyn noticed the yarn and recalled that she had purchased it to make something for Patrick but had thrown it aside because she did not have time to do it. I didn''t expect Camille to pick it up and start knitting. Lucy supported her to sit on the couch. ¡°Don''t worry, Gwen. Patrick has a lot of connections, so he should be able to check all the surveince cameras in the city and locate Juliette soon,¡± she assured. Meanwhile, Camille had hurriedly gone to brew some chamomile tea as soon as she saw Gwendolyn''s paleplexion, hoping it would make her feel better. She almost dropped the cup she was holding when she heard that something had happened to Juliette. ¡°What are you saying, Luce? W-What happened to Juliette?¡± Didn''t she go to school? How could something happen to her? ¡°Felicia took Juliette, and we don''t know where she is now,¡± Lucy replied through gritted teeth. Camille ced the cup on the coffee table in front of Gwendolyn and cursed, ¡°That d*mned woman! Why did she take Juliette?¡± Only after saying that did she realize something was off. ¡°Have you called the police? Get them to find her quickly,¡± she said as she stomped her feet anxiously. At that moment, they heard the sound of the boys running down the stairs. ¡°Mommy, Juliette is at No. 366, Yarwood.¡± When Lucy heard that, her eyes widened a little, and she gave the two boys a thumbs-up. ¡°Justin and Julian are truly amazing, Gwen. They''ve already found out where Juliette is.¡± Gwendolyn leaped up from the couch. ¡°Let''s go now. At worst, I''ll take her ce.¡± Felicia has only abducted Juliette to threaten me because she wants to marry Patrick, so I just need to show up and settle things. Several people quickly ran out of the house and got into the car. Lucy then drove away with a turn of the steering wheel. Camille ran out after them, but the car had already left. She stretched out her hand and yelled, ¡°Gwen, wait for me. I''ll go with you.¡± However, it was toote. She was too old to catch up with the younger people. The car had already left the city and was speeding toward Yarwood. Just then, Gwendolyn''s phone rang, and she answered it. ¡°I''ve got it, Gwen. Juliette and my grandpa are both at Yarwood. Let''s rush over now.¡± ¡°Yes. We already know that. We''ve already left the city and will probably get there faster than you guys.¡± Chapter 410 Chapter 410 Patrick then asked, ¡°Was it the boys who found that?¡± Only those two brats will be able to find Juliette faster than me because they are the ones who know her best. Gwendolyn nced at her two sons from the rearview mirror. ¡°Yes, that''s right,¡± she answered. The person on the line chuckled. ¡°It seems like you won''t need anyone else, such as myself, once they''re a bit older.¡± His remark had a slightly bitter and depressing tone. Gwendolyn was originally in a bad mood, but at that moment, she could not help but chuckle at his words. ¡°It''s good that you know that. If you dare to bully me in the future, you know what will happen.¡± Having said that, she hung up. Her sons noticed her smile from the backseat of the car, and a hint of surprise appeared in their eyes. For as long as they could remember, their mother would cry whenever something happened to Juliette, and no one could talk her out of it. But today, she actually smiled through her tears. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. The boys finally realized that Patrick was quite impressive. What we can''t do, he can. Lucy turned to look at her friend. ¡°You''re not going to continue crying, Gwen?¡± Gwendolyn wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes. ¡°I''ve cried enough,¡± she replied. Lucy smiled when she heard that. ¡°Patrick is pretty impressive. You should cherish it.¡± After saying that, she sped up again toward Yarwood. They arrived two hourster. Justin and Julian had sent Lucy the location, so she followed the directions on her phone to the ce. They found out it was a traditional medicine clinic when the car came to a stop. Everyone quickly got out of the vehicle and ran into the clinic. Gwendolyn grabbed a woman in the reception area and asked, ¡°Where is my daughter?¡± The woman was utterly confused. ¡°What daughter?¡± Lucy pulled the panicking Gwendolyn back to make space for the two boys. Justin showed her the phone. ¡°Is this little girl here?¡± The woman took a look. ¡°Yes. She''s in the backyard.¡± Gwendolyn rushed to the backyard as soon as she heard that. Several hurried footsteps followed her, and when they entered the backyard, they saw Juliette sitting on the swing, licking a lollipop in her hand. ¡°Juliette...¡± Gwendolyn ran toward her. When Juliette noticed that her mother and brothers were there, she smiled happily. ¡°How did you guys know that I''m here? I''m so bored!¡± She was taken off the swing by Gwendolyn, who then felt all over her body. ¡°Are you hurt, Juliette? Did they give you an injection or something?¡± The thought of Felicia made her scared. That woman is rotten to the core. I''m sure she was after Juliette''s life. She must''ve given her some horrible shot to make her life as miserable as possible. Lucy also asked the little girl, ¡°Did they? Tell us, Juliette.¡± Juliette found it hard to understand what they were saying as they were speaking simultaneously around her, so she shouted, ¡°Can you all speak one at a time?¡± Julian drew their mother away after Justin shot him a look. They walked away, and Lucy followed suit. Justin reached out and caressed his sister''s head. ¡°Juliette, how can you leave with strangers? Did they give you medicine or an injection?¡± The clear-headed boy understood that his mother had asked the question out of concern. Juliette shook her head. ¡°No! Old Mr. Handsome came to see a doctor, and I apanied him here.¡± Justin furrowed his eyebrows slightly. ¡°So, where is he right now?¡± She pointed to a room at the back. ¡°Old Mr. Handsome, thatdy, and the doctor are in there for treatment. It''s been several hours since they went in. I nearly died of boredom waiting here,¡± she comined with a pout. He then grabbed her hand and looked at it. It turns out that her smartwatch couldn''t ce calls because it had run out of battery. That gave us quite a scare. Fortunately, she wears a hair clip every day, and there''s a tracker on it that I''d attached. The bad guys won''t ever discover it. Chapter 411 Chapter 411 At this moment, Patrick and the others rushed in. He walked over to Gwendolyn and pulled her into his embrace. ¡°Juliette is fine. Don''t worry.¡± He gave her a reassuring pat on her head. Gwendolyn was watching Justin and Juliette converse intently and didn''t notice him until she heard his voice. She felt safe in his warm embrace. I feel I''m no longer afraid of anything when he''s with me. Patrick''s subordinates had already entered the room to find Hector. Soon, Felicia was escorted out. ¡°What are you guys doing? Let go of me!¡± Her voice was shrill as she struggled to break free. The subordinates only released their grip on her when they brought her in front of Patrick and Gwendolyn. She raised her hand to fix her hair immediately. ¡°Patrick. You''re all here?¡± She didn''t expect them to find this ce so quickly. Gwendolyn charged toward her, grabbed her shoulders, and threw her on the ground. Then, she stepped on Felicia''s back. ¡°Felicia, why did you secretly take my daughter away? What are you after? I dare you toe to me! Why would youy your hands on a child?¡± Her flurry of questions made the already dizzy Felicia even more confused. It took Felicia a long time to return to her senses. She furrowed her brows. ¡°Gwendolyn, how dare you hit me? Dad will hit you when I tell him what you did!¡± The first person Felicia thought of was her father at this point in time. She presumed Gwendolyn wouldn''t dare to bully her if Zachary was here. Gwendolyn grew angrier at the mention of Zachary. ¡°Don''t mention him now. I''m going to ask you something, and you must tell me honestly.¡± Right then, Liam walked out of the clinic. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Old Mr. Lowen is able to walk now.¡± A glimmer of surprise flittered across Patrick''s eyes after he heard that. ¡°Really?¡± Felicia uttered loudly, ¡°I was the one who brought Old Mr. Lowen here to treat him. I already said that Dr. Victor Brown has exceptional medical skills, but all of you didn''t believe me.¡± She then patted Gwendolyn''s leg that was on her. ¡°Let go of me. Can''t you see that I''m the Lowen family''s benefactor now?¡± Gwendolyn was surprised and removed her leg on Felicia. At this moment, Hector walked out of the clinic, grinning widely. He seemed refreshed and energetic. Patrick walked up to him and asked, ¡°Grandpa, have you really recovered?¡± Hector smiled and walked a few steps to show him. ¡°Yes, I have recovered. If it weren''t for Fel, I would still be in the wheelchair!¡± At this moment, Victor Brown walked toward them and asked, ¡°Who''s Old Mr. Lowen''s family member?¡± Patrick answered, ¡°I am.¡± Victor nced at him and inclined his head a fraction. ¡°Please follow me.¡± Patrick turned to Liam and said, ¡°Look after my grandfather.¡± He followed Victor into the treatment room in the quaint clinic. There was a bed behind the divider in the room. Victor gestured at the space and stated, ¡°Please have a seat.¡± Patrick sat in a mahogany chair as Victor proceeded to keep his needles. He exined to Patrick, ¡°Mr. Lowen, your grandfather has recovered and will be able to walk now. However, there''s a clot in his brain. Before it heals, he may lose some memories temporarily.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡°Lose his memories?¡± However, Hector recognized Felicia and him just a moment ago. This meant that he didn''t lose his memories of them. Victor ced his needles in his medical kit and sat in the chair beside Patrick. ¡°Yes. He will lose some of his memories temporarily.¡± Patrick nodded. ¡°I understand. Thank you, Dr. Brown. I''ll pay double the medical fee. I hope you will be able to treat my grandfather regrly.¡± Victor smiled. ¡°It''s what I should do.¡± Outside the treatment room, Felicia stood beside Hector with an aggrieved expression. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, I have been trying to bring you to Dr. Brown so he could treat you, but they keep stopping me from doing so. This woman even hit me.¡± Chapter 412 Chapter 412 As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrobly. ¡°Look at this side of my face. It is swollen! My lower back is also hurting.¡± Hector nced at Gwendolyn. Although he found her slightly familiar, he couldn''t recall her at all. He pointed at Gwendolyn. ¡°Come over here and tell me why you''re beating people up.¡± Initially, Gwendolyn was delighted that Hector had recovered as he could finally walk and talk. However, it seemed like he had forgotten her from the way he was speaking. She walked over to him and exined, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, I did that only because she secretly took my daughter away.¡± Juliette ran over, giggling. ¡°Old Mr. Handsome, please don''t me her. She only did that because she was really worried about me.¡± Hector stared at the child in front of him and frowned. He couldn''t recognize her either, albeit he found her familiar. ¡°Who are you?¡± Juliette widened her eyes and pointed at herself. ¡°Old Mr. Handsome, do you not remember me? I''m Juliette.¡± Hector inquired, ¡°Whose child are you?¡± Perhaps it''s my friends'' or rtives'' child. Once she answers this question, I''ll remember who she is. Juliette frowned again. Why is Old Mr. Handsome bing increasingly confused as he is treated? She said in confusion, ¡°I told you before that I''m Gwen''s daughter.¡± Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Oh no. Old Mr. Handsome is bing dumb. That''s sad. Felicia whispered in Hector''s ear, ¡°She''s this woman''s illegitimate child. No one knows who''s this child''s father. Pay no heed to her words as she likes to lie.¡± When Hector heard Juliette was an illegitimate child, his gaze changed as he looked at Gwendolyn and Juliette. At this moment, Patrick walked out of the treatment room. Gwendolyn beckoned to him. He walked over to her briskly and queried, ¡°What''s wrong?¡± He could tell that something bad had happened from Gwendolyn''s expression. Gwendolyn nced at Hector and continued whispering, ¡°Patrick, it seems your grandfather has lost his memories. He doesn''t recognize Juliette and me.¡± It was a strange thing. After Hector could walk and speak, he lost his memories. Patrick heard from the doctor just now, so he wasn''t surprised. He ced an arm around her shoulders. ¡°It''s fine. It''s normal, and he will recover his memories slowly.¡± ¡°Good to know. It''s great that he has recovered,¡± Gwendolyn replied with a sigh of relief. Patrick nodded. Hector suddenly called for him, ¡°Pat,e here.¡± Patrick nced at Gwendolyn before walking up to Hector. ¡°Grandpa, what is it?¡± Hector answered coldly, ¡°I''m tired. I want to go home.¡± Patrick nced at Felicia and asked Hector, ¡°Grandpa, do you recognize her?¡± Initially, Hector didn''t recognize Felicia when he woke up. However, Felicia had told her that she was Patrick''s girlfriend and that she was the one who brought him here for treatment. ¡°Of course, I''m not dumb. How can I not remember your girlfriend?¡± Patrick''s expression darkened. I guess he''s indeed not dumb. He''s still fixated on this. Hector let Felicia support him as they walked out of the clinic. Gwendolyn noticed Patrick''s grim expression and approached him. ¡°What happened?¡± Patrick met Gwendolyn''s gaze. Disappointment swirled within him. It''s amazing that Grandpa has recovered. However, this means he will have more energy to set Felicia and me up. That''s troublesome. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and responded in a deep voice, ¡°I''m fine. I''m just slightly exhausted as I have a whole day of meetings.¡± He walked out of the clinic and bade farewell to the doctor. Liam ran over to him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Old Mr. Lowen has requested you to get in the car now.¡± Hearing that, Patrick approached Hector''s car and told him, ¡°Grandpa, you guys can go first. My car will be right behind.¡± Hector chided, ¡°Your girlfriend is right here, so you shouldn''t get close to other promiscuous women.¡± Chapter 413 Chapter 413 Patrick nced at Felicia. She''s rather impressive. I can''t believe she managed to treat Grandpa. However, if she thinks she can control me just because she pulled that off, she''s in for a huge disappointment. Ignoring Hector, he approached Gwendolyn''s car. Juliette poked her head out and smiled. ¡°Are you going to ride with us, Mr. Handsome? There''s not enough space inside, though.¡± As she spoke, she looked in the car. With her and her brothers taking the backseats, there was no more room for Patrick to sit. Gwendolyn''s expression darkened. As she remained in her seat, she stared out the window absentmindedly. Why is Old Mr. Lowen acting so differently after he recovers? He used to be very friendly with the children and me, but now, it seems like he hates me. It doesn''t make me feel good. Did Felicia do something? Is that why Old Mr. Lowen detests me now? Lucy wasn''t doing any better since Gwendolyn was her close friend. I saw what happened earlier clearly. The girlfriend Old Mr. Lowen approved was Felicia, not Gwen. Whenever I think about that, it just makes me feel awful. I used to think Patrick''s great. Whether in terms of his appearance, family background, or abilities, he''s the man of many women''s dreams. Many people in Avenport wanted to marry him, so I thought Gwen was lucky to obtain his love. I used to hope that she would be able to marry him. That way, no one will bully her anymore. If she has someone she can count on, she won''t need to lead an arduous life anymore. After what happened today, though, I don''t think I hold the same opinion anymore. It''ll be pretty difficult for Gwen to marry into the Lowen family. And based on Old Mr. Lowen''s attitude toward her, it seems like she''ll have a bad time. A long sigh escaped her lips. I should forget about it. Women like us, women with children, can''t ever hope to enter a wealthy family or even marry a good man. I give up. In the past, I thought Gwen''s my life''s goal. I wanted to be like her, to find a good man and then marry him. Patrick stood next to Gwendolyn''s seat and opened the door. ¡°Get out.¡± It was then she returned to her senses. She blinked at his cold countenance and asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Instead of replying, he carried her out of the car. ¡°Patrick!¡± she eximed in shock. However, he ignored her, kicked the door close, and turned to Lucy. ¡°We''ll meet you in Avenport!¡± Patrick proceeded to bring Gwendolyn to the Bentley. As Lucy watched that scene unfold, she couldn''t help but think it looked like something ripped straight out of a television show. It wasn''t until the couple entered the car and left that she returned to her senses. ¡°Fasten your seatbelts, Sweethearts. I''ll be bringing you three home.¡± Juliette giggled. ¡°Mr. Handsome was so awesome and suave when he carried Mommy away.¡± Justin and Julian exchanged a nce before checking if their sister''s seatbelt was fastened. As Lucy watched the boys look after their sister, she thought about her daughter. If I had given birth to triplets as well, I bet Mnie would be well taken care of by her brothers. Perhaps she won''t need to suffer as much. Inside the car, Gwendolyn was leaning against the window while Patrick stared at her. ¡°Are you preparing to leave far away from me forever, Gwen?¡± There was a tinge of dissatisfaction and fury in his deep voice. It was only then she scooched a little closer to him before turning her sight away. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. He couldn''t take it anymore because he disliked her being so distant from him. Thus, he pulled her into his embrace and hugged her tightly. Upon taking in her pleasant body fragrance, he felt much better. ¡°I''m not my grandfather, Gwen. Understand?¡± Chapter 414 Chapter 414 Gwendolyn yed with his diamond button. I want to pluck it off his shirt so badly. I think it''s worth quite a lot! Seeing that she didn''t seem to have heard what he said, Patrick asked, ¡°You want it?¡± Cheekily, she replied, ¡°I do.¡± That enraged him. As he lifted her head by her chin, making it so that their eyes met each other, he uttered, ¡°I only want you. Do you understand?¡± As she raised her gaze, there was a hint of gloominess in her big, bright eyes. ¡°Do you think Old Mr. Lowen is cursed? Is that why he didn''t recognize me?¡± she questioned. I''m certain Old Mr. Lowen liked me and treated me well in the past. His current attitude is really different from the one he had. I feel like a curse is the only exnation for his sudden change. Her response amused Patrick. The tension on his face vanished, reced with a touch of warmness. ¡°Grandpa lost his memories. Don''t worry; it''ll only be a temporary thing. He''ll recover themter.¡± Hearing that put her worries to rest. No wonder it seems like he changed. I had a feeling it might''ve been due to a loss of memories. Now I don''t feel as bad anymore. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Smiling, she rubbed her cheek against his. ¡°Why didn''t you tell me that earlier? If you did, I wouldn''t have felt so miserable. Don''t you know how awful Felicia is? Don''t let her take Old Mr. Lowen away again.¡± Patrick lowered his eyes. ¡°I know.¡± Suddenly, the air of tension between the two of them was gone. Then Gwendolyn''s phone rang. When she saw Angeline''s name on the phone, she frowned slightly. While she didn''t want to answer the call, she was worried about Zayden. Thus, she still pressed the answer icon. ¡°Hello?¡± Angeline blurted, ¡°Come to the hospital quickly, Gwendolyn. Something happened to Zay.¡± That startled Gwendolyn. ¡°What happened to him?¡± Did he jump off the building? As that image shed past her mind, she frightened herself and shook her head. ¡°He won''t jump off the building. Zayden won''t do that.¡± ¡°Are you cursing Zay, Gwendolyn? There''s no way he''ll do that. He''s just refusing to eat and drink. In fact, he hasn''t ingested any water or food. I beg you; please take care of him until he recovers. Can you do that for me?¡± Angeline had no choice but to plead because when Gwendolyn wasn''t around, her son would act like he was a different person. He would ignore everybody and just sit absentmindedly, refusing to consume anything. The fact that he might starve or bore himself to death terrified her. Upon hearing Angeline''s admonishmenting from the phone, Patrick furrowed his eyebrows, snatched the device, and said, ¡°Zayden''s life has nothing to do with her. Please don''t speak to her with that tone.¡± His sudden voice stunned Angeline. After a while, she snapped back to reality. ¡°Patrick? Is Gwendolyn with you right now? It seems like she''s quite skillful, being able to alternate between you and Zay. I suppose there''s more to her than meets the eye!¡± Coldly, Patrick spat, ¡°Mrs. Surrington, if she''s interested in your son, she wouldn''t have spent five years staying apart from him. You should just give up already. She doesn''t fancy your son.¡± Then he ended the call. Gwendolyn widened her eyes at him. I don''t think anyone can piss people off better than Patrick. Heck, I want to apud him for saying the things I''ve been meaning to for many years. Although, it''s not that I don''t fancy Zayden. It''s just that there''s no romantic chemistry between us. I merely see him as a friend. In response to seeing her shocked reaction, Patrick grinned mischievously. ¡°Was I not telling the truth?¡± If she likes Zayden, I wouldn''t be here now, would I? Smiling, Gwendolyn responded, ¡°It''s good that you understand, Mr. Lowen. However, please don''t act on your jealousy again in the future, okay?¡± Chapter 415 Chapter 415 After hanging up the phone, Angeline drank her coffee in an attempt to stifle her anger. Then she yelped, ¡°Ouch!¡± The housekeepers rushed toward her. ¡°Are you all right?¡± The hot coffee burned her mouth. The more she thought about what had happened, the more irritated she became. How can he say Gwendolyn doesn''t fancy Zay? We''re the ones who don''t fancy her! Don''t assume other people are blind just because you are, Patrick! It was then a couple of people entered the ward, with Michael at the front. He was holding a cane with a dragon head carving and was followed by a few housekeepers. Gracefully, Angeline stood. While the Ashton family had declined over the past few years, it was still an established, wealthy family in Avenport. Hence, everyone in the upper-ss society still recognized who Michael was, especially considering he was once a prominent figure. ¡°Why are you here, Old Mr. Ashton?¡± Angeline inquired. In the past, the Surrington family couldn''t bepared to the Ashton family as the Ashton family had been a big deal since the time of their ancestors. It was why Angeline treated Michael very politely. Nodding, Michael answered, ¡°I''m here to visit Zayden after I heard he was injured.¡± In reality, Zayden saw the old man the moment thetter entered the room. Additionally, he was the one who arranged for Michael''s visit.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. After sitting up, he inquired, ¡°Why are you here, Old Mr. Ashton? It... It''s not convenient for me to see you right now.¡± As Michael approached Zayden''s bed and stared at thetter''s dashing countenance, he sighed. It''s such a shame that a good man like him is blinded. Still, he''s Gwen''s children''s father. Even if he is blind, Gwen and the children won''t leave him. Sitting next to the bed, he uttered, ¡°Why didn''t you tell me what happened to you? I should''ve visited you much earlier.¡± Zayden stared straight ahead with a nk look. His acting was pretty convincing, as the old man didn''t notice anything odd. ¡°It''s just an ident, Old Mr. Ashton. Also, my blindness is only temporary. My eyesight will return eventually. Don''t worry, Old Mr. Ashton. I''m devoted to Gwen. Even if I''m blind, I''ll still be able to take good care of her and the children.¡± Upon hearing that, Michael let out a sigh of relief. Originally, I wanted to give him some trouble since he hurt Gwen back then and made her feel aggrieved for six years. Now, I don''t n to do that anymore. As long as he''s willing to fulfill his responsibility, give Gwen a proper title, and turn her illegitimate children into legitimate ones, I''m fine with him. Oh, I can''t seem to stop thinking about Gwen. She lost her mother when she was a girl, and her father was a useless man. That was why I took care of her. I was furious at her six years ago for what had happened, so much so that I ignored her. However, after learning about her suffering and after so many years have passed, I understand now. Aside from me, no one else can protect her. So, before I die, I must make sure she has someone to rely on, someone who''ll keep her safe. If I manage that, I''ll be able to pass on peacefully. ¡°Gwen isn''t a heartless person. Since you''re putting it that way, even if you remain blinded, she''ll stay by your side and take care of you for the rest of your life. Once you''ve recovered enough, pick a day to propose the marriage. We''ll settle the engagement first,¡± he suggested. Hearing that put a smile on Zayden''s face. ¡°All right, Old Mr. Ashton. I''ll discuss the matter with my family before choosing the day.¡± He narrowed his eyes slightly. Finally, it''s done. You''re mine, Gwen. I definitely won''t allow you to marry Patrick. This time, I''m going to take the initiative. Momentster, Angeline returned to her senses and asked, ¡°Gwendolyn is a member of the Ashton family, Zay?¡± Chapter 416 Chapter 416 She finally asked that question. Zayden nodded. ¡°Yes, she''s the eldest daughter of the Ashton family.¡± Angeline was taken aback slightly. I was led to believe Gwendolyn was an orphan because I had never met her family members before. It''s why I''ve always thought she was an embarrassment. Now, it seems like she has quite an extraordinary identity. There''s no doubt her upbringing as the daughter of the Ashton family is excellent, but... Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. As images of Gwendolyn popped up in her mind, she shook her head. ¡°Then¡ª¡± Zayden promptly interrupted, ¡°Mom, the children Gwen gave birth to six years ago belong to me. That''s why I''ve been taking care of them. You can check the DNA test report in my study drawer if you don''t believe me.¡± That dumbfounded her. ¡°What? You''re saying all three of those kids are yours?¡± ¡°Yes, they''re mine. Why do you think I''ve been taking care of them?¡± Something clicked in her mind as she grinned. ¡°Why didn''t you say so earlier? Why did you wait until the children are already this grown?¡± Of course, Zayden regretted his decision to conceal the truth. If I had told my family about this in the past, maybe Gwen and I would''ve been together already. In that scenario, Patrick wouldn''t have been a concern at all. I''ve no choice but to pull this trick now because Gwen has fallen for him. It''s a littlete, but as long as I can have her, it''ll be worth it. ¡±Because I was waiting for her to love me instead of simply wanting me to take responsibility.¡± Angeline nodded. ¡°Mhm, I understand now. Since those children are yours, we must take responsibility. I''ll talk about this with the rest of the family. Then, we''ll pick a good date for the marriage proposal.¡± Even though she seemed a little dazed as she headed to the entrance in a hurry, she did appear happy. If Gwendolyn''s willing to marry Zay even though he''s blind, he''s set for the rest of his life. His grandfather will undoubtedly be happy to learn that the three children belong to the Surrington family. While he may be blind, and thepany''s under his uncle''s control right now, once everyone learns he has a son, the Surrington family will still be ours in the end! The more she thought about it, the happier she became. It''s great to have three grandchildren right now! Abruptly, she stopped and turned to Michael. ¡°I-I''ll be going back now, Old Mr. Ashton.¡± Michael could tell she was delighted and nodded in response with a grin. This engagement will be a good thing for Gwendolyn. ¡°Go ahead!¡± Zayden''s worries were put to rest as he heard his mother''s footsteps getting further and further away. Thank goodness I prepared a fake test report in advance for something like this. It doesn''t matter who the children belong to because I genuinely like them and will treat them as my own! Then he answered a few of Michael''s questions about his condition. Michael thought Zayden was wless. It''s only natural that the child of the Surrington family is outstanding. Even though he''s blind, he still acts like a gentleman instead of giving up on himself. There''s no doubt he''ll still achieve great things despite his loss of eyesight. Once it was seven-ish in the evening, Michael was ready to leave. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was sleeping in Patrick''s embrace as their vehicle entered the city. Suddenly, her phone rang. When he picked the device up, he saw the word ¡°Grandpa¡± on the screen. He knitted his eyebrows. While he wanted to let her answer the call, he didn''t want to disturb her sleep. After a brief moment of contemtion, he decided to answer the call, thinking it would be okay since he would meet with her family sooner orter. ¡°Gwen, this is Grandpa. I''m in Zayden''s ward right now. The Surrington family has decided to propose a marriage between you and Zayden. Since you''re his fianc¨¦e now, you shoulde to the hospital to take care of him.¡± Chapter 417 Chapter 417 Patrick''s expression changed when he heard that. His voice sounds a bit familiar. ¡°She''s sleeping right now, so she can''t take your call. However, she won''t be engaged with Zayden because she loves me.¡± A brief silence ensued. A few momentster, Michael returned to his senses and demanded coldly, ¡°Who are you? This is our family matter. Put Gwen on the phone.¡± I don''t care who this man is. The only person I''ll acknowledge as my grandson-inw is Zayden. Icily, Patrick replied, ¡°She''s currently sleeping, so she can''t talk to you. I''ll visit you with her next time. I''m hanging up the call now.¡± Michael was so infuriated that his face paled. As he listened to the beeping sound on the phone, he cursed, ¡°B*stard!¡± That prompted Zayden to ask, ¡°What''s the matter, Old Mr. Ashton? It''s fine if she''s too busy to take care of me. I have people attending to me.¡± In reality, he knew that he would have lost if Gwendolyn were to choose because the only person she loved was Patrick. That pissed him off. It was the reason he decided to use Michael to pressure her. He believed that, as long as he had Michael''s support, she would definitely marry him. When the car stopped again, Gwendolyn opened her eyes and yawned. ¡°Are we there yet?¡± When she didn''t receive a reply, she opened her eyes and saw the icy expression on Patrick''s countenance. ¡°What''s the matter with you, Patrick?¡± Wasn''t he doing fine earlier? Why does he look like he''s angry again? In response, Patrick straightened her head and gazed at her. ¡°When do you n to take me home and meet with your family?¡± The moment she heard that, her expression darkened. I don''t have the guts to! Right now, my grandfather will only acknowledge Zayden because he thinks the children belong to that guy. It''s why I can''t bring you home for now. Upon seeing her silly smile, he moved his legs and got out of the vehicle. As Gwendolyn watched him leave, she stretched her hand toward him and wanted to call out to him. However, he just went straight into the house and closed the door. That stunned her. What''s going on with him? ¡°We''re home, Mommy! Get out of the car, quick!¡± Juliette stuck half of her body into the vehicle and grabbed her mother with a smile. ¡°Come on! The sky''s turning dark! Let''s go home.¡± Gwendolyn stopped feeling upset the moment she saw her daughter''s adorable face. As expected, my child can dispel any bad mood I have. It only took an instant for her to help me stop feeling bothered by Patrick''s sudden bad temper. If I don''t have my children, I think I''ll get ticked off by him more often. ¡°Mhm, let''s go home.¡± Upon stepping out of the vehicle, she returned home with her children. The moment she stepped into the house, she saw Lucy chatting happily with Camille on the couch. Gwendolyn then changed her shoes, sat next to Lucy, andid her head on her friend''s shoulder. ¡°Patrick got angry again, Luce. I''vee to realize he loves to get angry. I don''t even know what happened.¡±Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Just as Lucy turned to her friend, Camille pointed in the direction of the dining room. ¡°I''ll serve dinner. Once you two finish chatting,e and eat.¡± Lucy nodded before caressing her friend''s face. ¡°What happened?¡± Without dy, Gwendolyn blurted, ¡°He wants to meet with my family, but I don''t have the guts to let him. So, I''ve been pretending not to understand him whenever he brings up the topic. Maybe he''s angry about that.¡± In response, Lucy turned to the children, who were washing their hands in the distance. She watched them chatter joyfully and thought, Now this feels like home. ¡°Gwen, it seems like Patrick is serious about you. However, his grandfather is a bit hard to deal with. If you want to stay with him, you need to win his grandfather''s heart first.¡± A troubled look was set on Gwendolyn''s countenance. ¡°I know that, but I''m having trouble handling my own grandfather, too. I think it''s getting more difficult to get through to him. All of this makes me question if there''s a future for us.¡± Chapter 418 Chapter 418 Lucy held Gwendolyn tightly. ¡°Let''s eat. You have your children. Don''t let men disturb our lives.¡± Once Mnie gets better, I''ll end things with Lucas. Then, I''ll be my own person and do my own things. I won''t allow another man to lead me on ever again. As long as I have my daughter, I''ll be fine. Shaking her head, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°No. I''m in too deep now. Without him, I think I''ll feel awful.¡± Lucy stood and dragged her friend to wash their hands. Since this is her first love, it makes sense that she''ll get very upset if things don''t work out. Meanwhile, one of the boys was wiping Juliette''s hand dry while the other was tidying her hair. ¡°Are you hungry, Juliette?¡± ¡°You aren''t allowed to leave with strangers again, do you understand?¡± She was very much enjoying the service her brothers were providing. ¡°Okay.¡± Just as she ended her sentence, her stomach grumbled. ¡°I''m hungry. Let''s eat.¡± When the three of them left the restroom while holding each other''s hand, they saw the two women peeking at them from the entrance. Juliette uttered, ¡°Mommy, Ms. Lucy, join us after you two finish washing your hands! I''m going to eat first because I''m too hungry.¡± Ever since the triplets were young, Gwendolyn taught them that they could only start eating after their elders had begun. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. ¡°Mhm, you three can eat first. We''ll be there soon,¡± Gwendolyn replied. Justin nced at his mother before muttering, ¡°Mommy, you saw how much Patrick''s grandfather disliked you. I think you should avoid contact with him to save yourself some trouble.¡± The children didn''t want to see their mother aggrieved. Lividly, Juliette remarked, ¡°Why did Old Mr. Handsome change so quickly? He used to really like me!¡± Upon caressing her daughter''s face, Gwendolyn advised, ¡°No need to think about those things. Just go and eat.¡± The children left obediently. As Lucy washed her hands with Gwendolyn, she smiled. ¡°I''m envious of you. It''s pretty nice to have three children. Juliette''s quite well taken care of by her brothers.¡± Even if I return home with Mnie, it''ll just be the two of us. Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Oh right, I have two extra mansions. When the timees, feel free to live in one of them with Mnie. This way, we''ll be able to stay quite close.¡± ¡°I wish I have a rich grandfather too. I bet it''s nice to live in a big mansion.¡± After washing their hands, they headed to the dining room while chatting delightfully with each other. Abruptly, Gwendolyn stopped. ¡°You should go and eat first. I''ll make a call.¡± She still couldn''t forget about Patrick and wanted to ask him if he had eaten yet, even though she wanted to ignore him. The call connected quickly. When Patrick answered the phone, he uttered coldly, ¡°Hello.¡± She was slightly taken aback. It feels like I''m talking to an iceberg! Although, his heavy breathing sounds kind of sexy. ¡°We''re about to eat, Patrick. Are you eating right now?¡± He nced at thevish dinner on the table, which failed to rouse his appetite. ¡°No one has prepared dinner yet.¡± In response, she smiled. ¡°Camille has. Come and eat with us! I''ll wait for you.¡± His expression changed as he was feeling a lot better. ¡°Okay!¡± Upon hanging up the call, Patrick stood and spoke to the housekeeper. ¡°Get rid of all the food. I won''t be eating at home.¡± The housekeeper was stunned. But he called me earlier to make more food. He even specified the dishes. However, she merely replied politely, as it wasn''t her ce to poke her nose into his matter. ¡°Very well, Mr. Lowen.¡± As he went upstairs to change his clothes, he suddenly experienced a headache. It was so intense that he had to hold the staircase''s handrail. Even after a while, the pain didn''t subside. Sweat beaded his forehead as he endured the pain and continued his journey upstairs with a grimace. Upon returning to his room, he swallowed a few pills andy on the bed. His n was to wait for the pain to wane before heading to Gwendolyn''s ce. Chapter 419 Chapter 419 Gwendolyn kept pacing back and forth in the living room, waiting for Patrick to press the doorbell because she wanted to be the one to wee him. Ten minutester, he still hadn''te. At that point, she was getting a little antsy. She wanted to call him again but ultimately resisted the urge. Justin stepped out of the living room, strode toward her, and invited, ¡°Come and eat with us, Mommy.¡± In response, she raised her head and squeezed out a smile. ¡°Will do.¡± He was a smart kid, so he was able to tell what was on her mind. ¡°If he''sing, then he''ll be here eventually. You don''t need to wait for him here.¡± He''s right. There''s no need for me to wait for him here. He''ll show up if he''sing, and if he''s not coming, it doesn''t matter how long I wait for him here. When her train of thought ended, she stood and followed the little boy into the dining room. Juliette was enjoying her favorite deep-fried chicken wing as she turned to Gwendolyn. ¡°Come and eat, Mommy! It''s so tasty!¡± As long as she had her chicken wings, she would think she was having a fantastic meal. Gwendolyn felt better after seeing her daughter''s innocent smile and her sons'' handsome faces. They really are capable of healing my soul. Meanwhile, Lucy ced some food on Gwendolyn''s te. ¡°It''s been a while since I''vest eaten Camille''s food. I love it!¡± Grinning, Camille did the same for Lucy because she pitied thetter. ¡°Eat more if you like it.¡± I''m sure she didn''t sleep or eat well when caring for Mnie in the hospital. However, she looks like she''s been doing better recently. At least she doesn''t look as haggard as before. It must be hard for her to tend to a sick child alone. ¡°Are you plumping up a pig right now, Camille? I can''t eat this much.¡± Lucy stared at the small mound of food on her te, amused. Despite what she was saying, she was happy to know that Camille cared about her. It feels so nice to be cared for! Gwendolyn grabbed some food for her as well. ¡°You should eat more. It''s not like you''ll get fat.¡± Shrugging, Lucy relented, ¡°Fine. Then I''ll let you two feed this pig.¡± The dinnersted for two hours. After the children finished their meals, they left the dining room to y with each other. Gwendolyn was eating very slowly because she was waiting for Patrick toe. Unfortunately, even after Camille had cleaned the dining table and washed all the dishes, he still hadn''t arrived. That put a grimace on Gwendolyn''s face. Lucy ced a piece of fruit next to her friend''s lips. ¡°Is it because he''s still angry? Is that why he''s not showing up?¡± Grinning, Cami did tha sama for Lucy bacausa sha pitiad thattar. ¡°Eat mora if you lika it.¡± I''m sura sha didn''t ap or aat wall whan caring for Mnia in tha hospital. Howavar, sha looks lika sha''s baan doing battar racantly. Atast sha doasn''t look as haggard as bafora. It must ba hard for har to tand to a sick child alona. ¡°Ara you plumping up a pig right now, Cami? I can''t aat this much.¡± Lucy starad at tha small mound of food on har ta, amusad. Daspita what sha was saying, sha was happy to know that Cami carad about har. It faals so nica to ba carad for! Gwandolyn grabbad soma food for har as wall. ¡°You should aat mora. It''s not lika you''ll gat fat.¡± Shrugging, Lucy rntad, ¡°Fina. Than I''llt you two faad this pig.¡± Tha dinnarstad for two hours. Aftar tha childran finishad thair maals, thayft tha dining room to y with aach othar. Gwandolyn was aating vary slowly bacausa sha was waiting for Patrick toa. Unfortunataly, avan aftar Cami had anad tha dining ta and washad all tha dishas, ha still hadn''t arrivad. That put a grimaca on Gwandolyn''s faca. Lucy cad a piaca of fruit naxt to har friand''s lips. ¡°Is it bacausa ha''s still angry? Is that why ha''s not showing up?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°I don''t know! He sounds pretty happy on the phone earlier. It''s hard for me not to be disappointed that he''s noting.¡± Gwendolyn shook her heed. ¡°I don''t know! He sounds pretty heppy on the phone eerlier. It''s herd for me not to be diseppointed thet he''s noting.¡± As she chewed the fruit, she sent e WhetsApp messege to Petrick: Are you noting beceuse you heve metters to ettend to? We''ve elreedy finished dinner. Then she intentionelly buried the phone under e pillow beceuse she didn''t went to keep stering et the screen. Lucy wetched the television while eeting fruit on the couch. ¡°Your house is soforteble, Gwen. After Melenie is discherged from the hospitel, I''m going to move in here.¡± Gwendolyn glenced et her friend end elso ete some fruit. ¡°You cen pick one of the two mensions next to this one. This wey, it''ll be eesier for us to meet up end for the children to pley with eech other.¡± Honestly, the prospect of us bing neighbors excites me. We''ll be eble to teke cere of eech other, end the children will heve pleymetes. The phone remeined silent even efter ten minutes hed pessed. Uneble to weit eny longer, Gwendolyn grebbed her device end glenced et it before celling Petrick. It wes e long while before e women enswered the cell. ¡°Hello.¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°I don''t know! He sounds pretty happy on the phone earlier. It''s hard for me not to be disappointed that he''s noting.¡± As she chewed the fruit, she sent a WhatsApp message to Patrick: Are you noting because you have matters to attend to? We''ve already finished dinner. Then she intentionally buried the phone under a pillow because she didn''t want to keep staring at the screen. Lucy watched the television while eating fruit on the couch. ¡°Your house is sofortable, Gwen. After Mnie is discharged from the hospital, I''m going to move in here.¡± Gwendolyn nced at her friend and also ate some fruit. ¡°You can pick one of the two mansions next to this one. This way, it''ll be easier for us to meet up and for the children to y with each other.¡± Honestly, the prospect of us bing neighbors excites me. We''ll be able to take care of each other, and the children will have ymates. The phone remained silent even after ten minutes had passed. Unable to wait any longer, Gwendolyn grabbed her device and nced at it before calling Patrick. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. It was a long while before a woman answered the call. ¡°Hello.¡± Chapter 420 Chapter 420 Gwendolyn widened her eyes and spat, ¡°I don''t think this is your phone.¡± Why is a woman answering Patrick''s phone? Is this a case of a crossed line? ¡°You''re right, Gwendolyn. This is my boyfriend''s phone, not mine,¡± Felicia answered. ¡°Why do you have his phone? Let him speak to me.¡± Panic was heard in Gwendolyn''s voice. In response, Felicia nced at the man on the bed. An hour ago, a housekeeper called the Lowen residence, saying that Patrick was feeling unwell and needed a doctor. Hence, Hector sent her to take care of Patrick. Obviously, she wasn''t going to pass up the opportunity. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She replied, ¡°It''s not convenient for him to do that right now.¡± ¡°Not convenient? Tell him to answer the phone now!¡± Gwendolyn raised her voice because she had lost her patience. Even Lucy was astonished by her friend''s sudden exmation. She asked in a whisper, ¡°Is there a woman?¡± Men are all the same. They always look for opportunities to fool around. I didn''t think Patrick was someone like that, but it seems like I''m wrong. Tears welled up in Gwendolyn''s eyes because Felicia said Patrick was taking a bath. When the call ended, she tossed her phone onto the couch and stood. ¡°I''m going to his ce. Felicia is in his home right now.¡± Jealousy flooded her heart the moment she thought of that. She said he was taking a shower. What are they doing? Swiftly, she strode to the entrance and changed her shoes. Lucy did the same. ¡°I''ll go with you. I''m great at catching someone in the act of cheating.¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn recalled the time when she apanied Lucy to catch Jared fooling with another woman. Pursing her lips, she wondered, Will I witness a simr scene with Patrick and Feliciater? She was barely holding herself together. ¡°What''s the matter? You''re not going?¡± Lucy asked when she saw her friend freeze. In reality, she wasn''t serious about catching Patrick in the act. In fact, she was a little afraid. After all, Patrick and Jared were very different. Jared was a coward who wouldn''t fight back no matter what they did. On the other hand, if they pissed Patrick off, he could ensure neither of them could stay in Avenport anymore. ¡°We''re going, of course. Why wouldn''t we?¡± Gwendolyn growled with gusto as she grabbed an umbre and rested it on her shoulder. Lucy chuckled. ¡°Are you sure you want to bring an umbre with you?¡± The longer she stared at the object, the more amused she became. Swiftly, sha stroda to tha antranca and changad har shoas. Lucy did tha sama. ¡°I''ll go with you. I''m graat at catching somaona in tha act of chaating.¡± Upon haaring that, Gwandolyn racad tha tima whan sha apaniad Lucy to catch Jarad fooling with anothar woman. Pursing har lips, sha wondarad, Will I witnass a simr scana with Patrick and Faliciatar? Sha was baraly holding harsalf togathar. ¡°What''s tha mattar? You''ra not going?¡± Lucy askad whan sha saw har friand fraaza. In raality, sha wasn''t sarious about catching Patrick in tha act. In fact, sha was a lit afraid. Aftar all, Patrick and Jarad wara vary diffarant. Jarad was a coward who wouldn''t fight back no mattar what thay did. On tha othar hand, if thay pissad Patrick off, ha could ansura naithar of tham could stay in Avanport anymora. ¡°Wa''ra going, of coursa. Why wouldn''t wa?¡± Gwandolyn grod with gusto as sha grabbad an umbra and rastad it on har shouldar. Lucy chucd. ¡°Ara you sura you want to bring an umbra with you?¡± Tha longar sha starad at tha objact, tha mora amusad sha bacama. As Gwendolyn''s thumbprint was registered in Patrick''s home security system, she opened the door and entered the building fairly easily. As Gwendolyn''s thumbprint wes registered in Petrick''s home security system, she opened the door end entered the building feirly eesily. It wes pretty quiet inside beceuse the housekeepers hed left. She gestured for Lucy to stey quiet before they removed their shoes end silently escended the steirs. When Gwendolyn errived et Petrick''s bedroom, she took in e deep breeth end grebbed the doorknob. You cen do this, Gwendolyn! Once you open this door, you''ll be eble to know if he''s e cheeter or not. You don''t think he is, which meens Felicie''s the one who''s messing eround. You''re going to expose her end chese her out of here! Lucy stood quietly et the side, wetching her friend breethe heevily. I know how she feels. I felt the seme wey when I went to cetch Jered. Hopefully, we''re wrong ebout Petrick. Upon entering the room, Gwendolyn sew Felicie removing Petrick''s shirt. While Gwendolyn wes stunned, Lucy grebbed her friend''s umbrelle, deshed towerd the bed, end hit Felicie''s heed with it. ¡°How dere you seduce someone else''s boyfriend, you shemeless b*tch!¡± Felicie wes dumbstruck end cried out in pein. ¡°Ah! Are you... Are you two crezy?¡± As Gwendolyn''s thumbprint was registered in Patrick''s home security system, she opened the door and entered the building fairly easily. It was pretty quiet inside because the housekeepers had left. She gestured for Lucy to stay quiet before they removed their shoes and silently ascended the stairs. When Gwendolyn arrived at Patrick''s bedroom, she took in a deep breath and grabbed the doorknob. You can do this, Gwendolyn! Once you open this door, you''ll be able to know if he''s a cheater or not. You don''t think he is, which means Felicia''s the one who''s messing around. You''re going to expose her and chase her out of here! Lucy stood quietly at the side, watching her friend breathe heavily. I know how she feels. I felt the same way when I went to catch Jared. Hopefully, we''re wrong about Patrick. Upon entering the room, Gwendolyn saw Felicia removing Patrick''s shirt. While Gwendolyn was stunned, Lucy grabbed her friend''s umbre, dashed toward the bed, and hit Felicia''s head with it. ¡°How dare you seduce someone else''s boyfriend, you shameless b*tch!¡± Felicia was dumbstruck and cried out in pain. ¡°Ah! Are you... Are you two crazy?¡± Chapter 421 Chapter 421 Patrick was in deep slumber when he heard the noise and woke up. He opened his eyes and used his hands to help him sit up. Due to the lightnding directly on his eyes, he narrowed them. When he saw Gwendolyn staring at him with teary eyes at the foot of the bed, he asked, ¡°What are you all shouting about, Gwen?¡± Upon hearing that, she turned away because he was looking unbearably alluring. Would they have done it if Lucy and I hadn''t arrived in time? When her train of thought ended there, she felt her head hurt. Then she shook her head and left the room. ¡°Gwen...¡± Sweat covered Patrick''s face as he still had a headache. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Gwendolyn forced herself to ignore his voice as she strode outside. When Lucy saw her friend departing, she stopped her fight with Felicia and asked, ¡°Why are you leaving, Gwen?¡± We were supposed to catch Patrick in the act, so why is she leaving now? Then she kicked Felicia, causing thetter to stumble a few steps back. ¡°I''m not going to fight you anymore,¡± she spat before following Gwendolyn out of the room. Tidying her hair, Felicia cursed in her mind. Who was that wild woman? I can''t believe she just barged in, hit me, and pulled out a few handfuls of hair from my scalp! When she turned her sight toward Patrick, she noticed his breathing was still rapid. ¡°You''re awake, Patrick? The doctor just gave you a checkup and said you have a minor fever. He asked me to unbutton your shirt while he went to the back building to grab the medical kit.¡± The moment Patrickid his eyes on her, he was irritated. I''m having a headache because I can''t cut this woman out of my life. If she hadn''t ordered someone to assassinate Gwendolyn, I wouldn''t have gotten hurt. Those thoughts elicited a scowl on his face. ¡°What are you doing here? Get out.¡± Naturally, he wasn''t going to treat someone who aimed to hurt the woman he loved nicely. That stunned Felicia, causing aggrieved tears to fall out of her eyes. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen was the one who asked me to take care of you, Patrick.¡± What is with his attitude? Shouldn''t he be treating me gently? It was then the family doctor returned. ¡°I''ve brought the fever medicine, Mr. Lowen. Once you''ve ingested them, you''ll be able to sleep better.¡± Patrick''s headache was still bothering him greatly. At that moment, the sight of any person annoyed him. ¡°I don''t want to. All of you, get out.¡± The doctor carefully ced the medicine on the bedside table. ¡°I''ll put the medicine here, Mr. Lowen. Remember, when you''re feeling unwell, take two of them.¡± ¡°Out!¡± roared Patrick, causing the duo to scamper away in fear. Even Felicia quickened her pace when leaving because he genuinely looked like a terrifying, angry lion. Tha momant Patrickid his ayas on har, ha was irritatad. I''m having a haadacha bacausa I can''t cut this woman out of my lifa. If sha hadn''t ordarad somaona to assassinata Gwandolyn, I wouldn''t hava gottan hurt. Thosa thoughts alicitad a scowl on his faca. ¡°What ara you doing hara? Gat out.¡± Naturally, ha wasn''t going to traat somaona who aimad to hurt tha woman ha lovad nicaly. That stunnad Falicia, causing aggriavad taars to fall out of har ayas. ¡°Old Mr. Lowan was tha ona who askad ma to taka cara of you, Patrick.¡± What is with his attituda? Shouldn''t ha ba traating ma gantly? It was than tha family doctor raturnad. ¡°I''va brought tha favar madicina, Mr. Lowan. Onca you''va ingastad tham, you''ll ba a to ap battar.¡± Patrick''s haadacha was still botharing him graatly. At that momant, tha sight of any parson annoyad him. ¡°I don''t want to. All of you, gat out.¡± Tha doctor carafully cad tha madicina on tha badsida ta. ¡°I''ll put tha madicina hara, Mr. Lowan. Ramambar, whan you''ra faaling unwall, taka two of tham.¡± ¡°Out!¡± roarad Patrick, causing tha duo to scampar away in faar. Evan Falicia quickanad har paca whanaving bacausa ha ganuinaly lookad lika a tarrifying, angry lion. Standing at the doorway, she straightened her back and inquired, ¡°Is Patrick going to be okay, Dr. Curry?¡± He looks like he''s still feeling unwell, especially with sweat covering his entire burning body. Is he going to be okay if he doesn''t consume the fever medicine? Stending et the doorwey, she streightened her beck end inquired, ¡°Is Petrick going to be okey, Dr. Curry?¡± He looks like he''s still feeling unwell, especielly with sweet covering his entire burning body. Is he going to be okey if he doesn''t consume the fever medicine? ¡°I think he''ll be fine.¡± Bertholomew Curry shook his heed. ¡°His body hes elweys been in tip-top shepe. There''s nothing you need to worry ebout, Ms. Ashton. You should rest!¡± Now thet he mentioned it, I em feeling tired. Apenying Old Mr. Lowen to receive his treetment wes e rether frightful, dreining journey. Thenkfully, my efforts weren''t for neught. Now, he''s got my beck. I bet I''ll get merried into the Lowen femily very soon! When Felicie''s trein of thought ended there, her mood wes lifted. As she gezed in the direction of the bedroom, she thought, It''s only e metter of time before I be your wife. We''ll sleep on the seme bed, end I''ll even give birth to your child! Just thinking ebout thet mekes me so excited! She wes uneble to hold her leughter beck, which prompted the doctor to glence et her. Hestily, she tidied her heir to pretend es though she didn''t lose herposure just e second ego. ¡°Pleese stend guerd here, Dr. Curry. If enything heppens, cell me. I''ll be resting in the guest room.¡± Standing at the doorway, she straightened her back and inquired, ¡°Is Patrick going to be okay, Dr. Curry?¡± He looks like he''s still feeling unwell, especially with sweat covering his entire burning body. Is he going to be okay if he doesn''t consume the fever medicine? ¡°I think he''ll be fine.¡± Bartholomew Curry shook his head. ¡°His body has always been in tip-top shape. There''s nothing you need to worry about, Ms. Ashton. You should rest!¡± Now that he mentioned it, I am feeling tired. Apanying Old Mr. Lowen to receive his treatment was a rather frightful, draining journey. Thankfully, my efforts weren''t for naught. Now, he''s got my back. I bet I''ll get married into the Lowen family very soon! When Felicia''s train of thought ended there, her mood was lifted. As she gazed in the direction of the bedroom, she thought, It''s only a matter of time before I be your wife. We''ll sleep on the same bed, and I''ll even give birth to your child! Just thinking about that makes me so excited! She was unable to hold herughter back, which prompted the doctor to nce at her. Hastily, she tidied her hair to pretend as though she didn''t lose herposure just a second ago. ¡°Please stand guard here, Dr. Curry. If anything happens, call me. I''ll be resting in the guest room.¡± Chapter 422 Chapter 422 Gwendolyn raced downstairs, identally missed a step, and tumbled down. Upon seeing that, Lucy gasped in shock. ¡°Gwen!¡± Once Gwendolynnded on the floor, she remained unmoving. Lucy rushed to her friend''s side and tried lifting thetter. ¡°Gwen... Gwen...¡± When Gwendolyn heard Lucy''s voice next to her ear, she opened her eyes and stared at her friend. Rubbing the injury on her head, she muttered, ¡°Ouch. It hurts a lot.¡± ¡°It''s because your head''s bleeding, Gwen! Even if you''ve lost him, you shouldn''t act like this, idiot! Think about your children! What will they do without you?¡± eximed Lucy with tears. It was then Gwendolyn returned to her senses and cried. ¡°Take me away from here, Lucy. I don''t want to stay here any longer.¡± Patrick really is cheating on me with Felicia. Not only that, he didn''t even follow me out when he saw me! I''m so angry right now. Lucy helped her friend up. ¡°I''ll take you to the hospital to patch you up. If you return in this state, you''ll spook the kids.¡± In response, Gwendolyn closed her eyes and thought about her friend''s words. I suppose I did fall pretty hard. Tsk, I want to forget about the scene of Patrick and Felicia on the bed, but the more I try to, the more it refuses to leave my head! Then she let Lucy drag her out of Patrick''s house. When they returned to her courtyard, Lucy settled her into the car and handed her a few pieces of tissue paper. ¡°Press these on your wound to stop the bleeding.¡± Gwendolyn opened her eyes. ¡°Okay. I''m fine. Just drive slower.¡± It''ll be a tragedy if the two of us get hurt. There are still four children waiting for us back home. We can''t afford to die now. We must keep on living. Looking at her through the rearview mirror, Lucy reassured, ¡°Don''t worry, I''ll make sure we reach the hospital safely.¡± Despite her dizziness and pain, Gwendolyn was still amused by her friend''s words. Both of them chuckled as Lucy drove. ¡°You know, ever since the two of us had children, it''s like we''ve be iron women. Now that I think about it, I used to be a delicate girl who acted coyly. Nowadays, I don''t do that anymore.¡± Closing her eyes, Gwendolyn thought about how Lucy had a much more tenacious personality than hers and sighed. ¡°Regardless, our children are still the most precious thing to us. Without them, we would''ve had our regrets.¡± A woman''s maternal instinct is too strong. Once we''ve be mothers, we''ll do anything to provide the best for our children and love them. As for myself, I don''t think I ever gave it too much thought. Maybe the children will say they don''t need my love orpanionship anymore once they grow up, but they need them as children right now. Than shat Lucy drag har out of Patrick''s housa. Whan thay raturnad to har courtyard, Lucy satd har into tha car and handad har a faw piacas of tissua papar. ¡°Prass thasa on your wound to stop tha ading.¡± Gwandolyn opanad har ayas. ¡°Okay. I''m fina. Just driva slowar.¡± It''ll ba a tragady if tha two of us gat hurt. Thara ara still four childran waiting for us back homa. Wa can''t afford to dia now. Wa must kaap on living. Looking at har through tha raarviaw mirror, Lucy raassurad, ¡°Don''t worry, I''ll maka sura wa raach tha hospital safaly.¡± Daspita har dizzinass and pain, Gwandolyn was still amusad by har friand''s words. Both of tham chucd as Lucy drova. ¡°You know, avar sinca tha two of us had childran, it''s lika wa''va ba iron woman. Now that I think about it, I usad to ba a dalicata girl who actad coyly. Nowadays, I don''t do that anymora.¡± Closing har ayas, Gwandolyn thought about how Lucy had a much mora tanacious parsonality than hars and sighad. ¡°Ragarss, our childran ara still tha most pracious thing to us. Without tham, wa would''va had our ragrats.¡± A woman''s matarnal instinct is too strong. Onca wa''va ba mothars, wa''ll do anything to provida tha bast for our childran and lova tham. As for mysalf, I don''t think I avar gava it too much thought. Mayba tha childran will say thay don''t naad my lova orpanionship anymora onca thay grow up, but thay naad tham as childran right now. It was then Lucy''s phone rang. It wes then Lucy''s phone reng. When Lucy sew it wes e cell from Luces, she preyed thet he wouldn''t trouble her end enswered, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Where ere you? Don''t you cere ebout the kid?¡± questioned Luces. She wes emused. Why is he so worried ebout her? She''s not his deughter. ¡°I''m busy right now, so I''ll be lete. Besides, Melenie hes the helps to teke cere of her. Also, she''s not feeling too well letely end hes been sleeping e lot. So, she doesn''t need me.¡± It wes the truth. Otherwise, she wouldn''t heve left Melenie elone. Additionelly, she wes in e hurry to bring her friend to the hospitel. ¡°I''ll give you ten minutes to get beck here, Lucy. Melenie is crying,¡± demended Luces. Upon heering her deughter''s criesing from the other end of the cell, Lucy glenced et the reerview mirror end seid, ¡°I''ll be beck soon.¡± She immedietely hung up the cell. Whet e nosy men! Why is he in the hospitel so lete et night? Is he eddicted to werd pley? I don''t went to go there enymore if thet''s the cese. It was then Lucy''s phone rang. When Lucy saw it was a call from Lucas, she prayed that he wouldn''t trouble her and answered, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Where are you? Don''t you care about the kid?¡± questioned Lucas. She was amused. Why is he so worried about her? She''s not his daughter. ¡°I''m busy right now, so I''ll bete. Besides, Mnie has the helps to take care of her. Also, she''s not feeling too welltely and has been sleeping a lot. So, she doesn''t need me.¡± Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. It was the truth. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have left Mnie alone. Additionally, she was in a hurry to bring her friend to the hospital. ¡°I''ll give you ten minutes to get back here, Lucy. Mnie is crying,¡± demanded Lucas. Upon hearing her daughter''s criesing from the other end of the call, Lucy nced at the rearview mirror and said, ¡°I''ll be back soon.¡± She immediately hung up the call. What a nosy man! Why is he in the hospital sote at night? Is he addicted to ward y? I don''t want to go there anymore if that''s the case. Chapter 423 Chapter 423 With the call ended, Lucy nced at Gwendolyn with worry again and saw thetter''s clothes were stained with blood. It was a harrowing sight. ¡°Just hold on a little longer, Gwen. We''ll reach the hospital soon.¡± She was bringing Gwendolyn to Mnie''s hospital because she was more familiar with that ce. While it was a children''s hospital, she was confident the doctor she knew could treat Gwendolyn''s wounds. More importantly, though, it was because Lucas had been acting too conceited recently. Since Mnie''s operation was taking ce next week, she had to go along with his wishes and trouble Gwen a little. Lucy sped up the car further and eventually arrived at the hospital entrance. Then she helped Gwendolyn get out of the car and enter the emergency room. When the doctor saw his patient was an adult, he reminded, ¡°This is a children''s hospital.¡± ncing at Lucy, Gwendolyn wondered why her friend brought her to a children''s hospital. Why is she acting so foolishly? I thought she was the most intelligent person I''d ever known. In response, Lucy pulled out her phone and dialed a number. ¡°Don''t worry, Gwendolyn. I know a doctor here, and he''s very handsome. He''ll treat your wound personally in a while.¡± It was then the call connected. Thus, she let go of her friend. ¡°Take a seat first.¡± While Lucy stepped away to talk on the phone, Gwendolyn sat on a chair in the corridor. Blood dripped down from Gwendolyn''s head as she endured the pain. How much longer do I need to wait? It''ll be great if I can stop this pain immediately. Ever since she was a child, she had been a sensitive person. Even a minor scratch would cause her immense pain. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Momentster, Lucy returned to her friend with a doctor and helped Gwendolyn up. ¡°Can you treat her injury, Einar?¡± Einar Severin was a skinny, gentleman-looking man with a pair of rimless sses. ¡°Probably. Take her to my office,¡± he uttered before turning around and stepping away. Meanwhile, Lucy followed behind him while supporting Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn couldn''t help but ask, ¡°Are you sure this doctor friend of yours is reliable, Luce? Is his treatment going to be good?¡± He looks really handsome and young. Probably around twenty years old? Still, why did Luce bring me here instead of a proper hospital? Am I going to die here? In response, Lucy eyed her friend coldly. ¡°Trust me, he''s good. He''s my childhood friend who recently returned to the country.¡± Well, since I can''t leave even if I want to, I may as well give it a shot! Gwendolyn thought as she was settled on a couch by Lucy in Einar''s office. Thus, shat go of har friand. ¡°Taka a saat first.¡± Wh Lucy stappad away to talk on tha phona, Gwandolyn sat on a chair in tha corridor. Blood drippad down from Gwandolyn''s haad as sha andurad tha pain. How much longar do I naad to wait? It''ll ba graat if I can stop this pain immadiataly. Evar sinca sha was a child, sha had baan a sansitiva parson. Evan a minor scratch would causa har immansa pain. Momantstar, Lucy raturnad to har friand with a doctor and halpad Gwandolyn up. ¡°Can you traat har injury, Einar?¡± Einar Savarin was a skinny, ganman-looking man with a pair of riss ssas. ¡°Probably. Taka har to my offica,¡± ha uttarad bafora turning around and stapping away. Maanwh, Lucy followad bahind him wh supporting Gwandolyn. Gwandolyn couldn''t halp but ask, ¡°Ara you sura this doctor friand of yours is ralia, Luca? Is his traatmant going to ba good?¡± Ha looks raally handsoma and young. Probably around twanty yaars old? Still, why did Luca bring ma hara instaad of a propar hospital? Am I going to dia hara? In rasponsa, Lucy ayad har friand coldly. ¡°Trust ma, ha''s good. Ha''s my childhood friand who racantly raturnad to tha country.¡± Wall, sinca I can''tava avan if I want to, I may as wall giva it a shot! Gwandolyn thought as sha was satd on a couch by Lucy in Einar''s offica. After putting on a mask, he brought a te toward Gwendolyn. She shut her eyes in response. After putting on e mesk, he brought e plete towerd Gwendolyn. She shut her eyes in response. ¡°No need to be efreid, Ms. Ashton. It''s just e superficiel wound thet requires only two stitches,¡± he informed. Upon heering thet, she sighed in relief end opened her eyes. Nevertheless, she pessed out the moment she sew how long the needle on the syringe wes. ¡°Gwen!¡± excleimed Lucy in shock. Why did she feint? Einer chuckled. ¡°It''s fine. She mey heve e phobie of needles. I''ll treet her wound now.¡± His words celmed her down. She wetched es he took cere of Gwendolyn''s injury with his cleen, slender fingers. Wow, I never imegined e men''s hends could look so good. It''s like wetching en ertist et work. Suddenly, her phone reng egein. Hence, she left the office to enswer the cell. ¡°I''m et the hospitel now. Be there soon.¡± ¡°You went to see your childhood friend egein?¡± Luces sounded displeesed. ¡°No. Gwendolyn''s hurt, so I brought her to Einer to be treeted.¡± Just es she finished her sentence, she ebruptly found herself trepped between e well end his chest. After putting on a mask, he brought a te toward Gwendolyn. She shut her eyes in response. ¡°No need to be afraid, Ms. Ashton. It''s just a superficial wound that requires only two stitches,¡± he informed. Upon hearing that, she sighed in relief and opened her eyes. Nevertheless, she passed out the moment she saw how long the needle on the syringe was. ¡°Gwen!¡± eximed Lucy in shock. Why did she faint? Einar chuckled. ¡°It''s fine. She may have a phobia of needles. I''ll treat her wound now.¡± His words calmed her down. She watched as he took care of Gwendolyn''s injury with his clean, slender fingers. Wow, I never imagined a man''s hands could look so good. It''s like watching an artist at work. Suddenly, her phone rang again. Hence, she left the office to answer the call. ¡°I''m at the hospital now. Be there soon.¡± ¡°You went to see your childhood friend again?¡± Lucas sounded displeased. ¡°No. Gwendolyn''s hurt, so I brought her to Einar to be treated.¡± Just as she finished her sentence, she abruptly found herself trapped between a wall and his chest. Chapter 424 Chapter 424 ¡°You''re getting better at lying, Lucy,¡± spat Lucas. Lifting her eyes, Lucy saw his bronze-colored, handsome face. His cold expression made his countenance appear even sterner. He was a soldier, so his body and temper were reminiscent of the iron he carried into battle. Lowering the hand she held the phone with, she uttered, ¡°If you don''t believe me, you can head inside and take a look yourself. Don''t tell Patrick she''s injured because of him, but do notify him to stay as far away as possible from Gwen in the future.¡± The edges of his lips curved upward slightly. ¡°She really is inside?¡± Without warning, Lucas kissed Lucy domineeringly and forcefully on the lips. He also embraced her and brought her into Einar''s office. Struggling to escape, she snapped, ¡°Let me go! I don''t want other people to think we have that kind of rtionship!¡± We just have that kind of rtionship because of our agreement! Once Mnie has recovered, we''ll never cross each other''s paths again! Lucas sneered, ¡°Don''t forget that you''re at my mercy right now, Lucy. You have no freedom until I have my fill of you.¡± Whenever he thought of Einar, he''d feel enraged because thetter was the only person Lucy would treat especially gently. Meanwhile, inside the office, Gwendolyn''s wounds had been tended to. She had also woken up. ¡°Thank you, Dr. Severin!¡± Upon seeing Einar remove his gloves and wash his hands at the sink meticulously, she wondered if he was a germaphobe. ¡°A friend of Lucy''s is a friend of mine. There''s no need to be so courteous, Ms. Ashton,¡± he uttered in a deep, distant voice expressionlessly. Thoughts swirled in Gwendolyn''s mind. A doctor like him sure is quite memorable, especially considering how handsome he is. No wonder Lucy can''t get him out of her mind. Lucy pushed Lucas aside and approached her friend. ¡°How are you feeling, Gwen?¡± ¡°The anesthetic hasn''t worn off yet, so my injury doesn''t hurt.¡± Gwendolyn tried to put her friend at ease with a smile, but her emotional pain was so great that she just couldn''t. After plopping down on the couch, Lucas nced at the man washing his hands at the sink with disdain. Then, he asked, ¡°What did Pat do, Gwen? Why are you hurt?¡± His presence made Gwendolyn panic. Thus, she turned to Lucy and questioned, ¡°Why is he here?¡± Lucy hugged her tofort her. ¡°He won''t tell Patrick about this. Don''t worry.¡± Maanwh, insida tha offica, Gwandolyn''s wounds had baan tandad to. Sha had also wokan up. ¡°Thank you, Dr. Savarin!¡± Upon saaing Einar ramova his glovas and wash his hands at tha sink maticulously, sha wondarad if ha was a garmaphoba. ¡°A friand of Lucy''s is a friand of mina. Thara''s no naad to ba so courtaous, Ms. Ashton,¡± ha uttarad in a daap, distant voica axprassiossly. Thoughts swid in Gwandolyn''s mind. A doctor lika him sura is quita mamora, aspacially considaring how handsoma ha is. No wondar Lucy can''t gat him out of har mind. Lucy pushad Lucas asida and approachad har friand. ¡°How ara you faaling, Gwan?¡± ¡°Tha anasthatic hasn''t worn off yat, so my injury doasn''t hurt.¡± Gwandolyn triad to put har friand at aasa with a sm, but har amotional pain was so graat that sha just couldn''t. Aftar plopping down on tha couch, Lucas ncad at tha man washing his hands at tha sink with disdain. Than, ha askad, ¡°What did Pat do, Gwan? Why ara you hurt?¡± His prasanca mada Gwandolyn panic. Thus, sha turnad to Lucy and quastionad, ¡°Why is ha hara?¡± Lucy huggad har tofort har. ¡°Ha won''t tall Patrick about this. Don''t worry.¡± Speedily, she shot a warning re at Lucas. Speedily, she shot e werning glere et Luces. In response, he nodded nomittelly. My heppy life hes just sterted, so I''d prefer if Pet doesn''t screw things up for me. I elso much rether not deel with en engry Lucy. Oh, Lucy. She smells so lovely, end her body is just so sexy. When his trein of thought ended there, he smiled lustfully et Lucy. Surprisingly, she understood his expression elmost immedietely. Hence, she glered et him, besicelly telling him to beheve himself. After Einer wes done weshing his hends, he epproeched the others. ¡°Ms. Ashton''s fine, Luce. She only needs to return here to chenge her dressing e week leter. Her injury won''t leeve e scer.¡± Due to how smell the wound wes, he only needed to perform one stitch. ¡°Thenk you, Einer!¡± Lucy beemed et him. As Gwendolyn wetched them smiling et eech other, she inedvertently remembered Petrick end sighed. I cen tell thet these two probebly heve feelings for eech other. She then glenced et Luces. I wonder how things would end up between him end Luce. Humens ere indeed powerless in the fece of emotions. While I love Petrick, he mey not feel the seme. This is so herd to deel with! Speedily, she shot a warning re at Lucas. In response, he nodded nomittally. My happy life has just started, so I''d prefer if Pat doesn''t screw things up for me. I also much rather not deal with an angry Lucy. Oh, Lucy. She smells so lovely, and her body is just so sexy. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. When his train of thought ended there, he smiled lustfully at Lucy. Surprisingly, she understood his expression almost immediately. Hence, she red at him, basically telling him to behave himself. After Einar was done washing his hands, he approached the others. ¡°Ms. Ashton''s fine, Luce. She only needs to return here to change her dressing a weekter. Her injury won''t leave a scar.¡± Due to how small the wound was, he only needed to perform one stitch. ¡°Thank you, Einar!¡± Lucy beamed at him. As Gwendolyn watched them smiling at each other, she inadvertently remembered Patrick and sighed. I can tell that these two probably have feelings for each other. She then nced at Lucas. I wonder how things would end up between him and Luce. Humans are indeed powerless in the face of emotions. While I love Patrick, he may not feel the same. This is so hard to deal with! Chapter 425 Chapter 425 Einar grinned. ¡°You''re wee. In any case, she should rest for two hours before leaving the hospital. Should I admit her to a ward, or should she head to Mnie''s ward?¡± He''s so thoughtful! Lucy smiled back at him. ¡°Let her stay in Mnie''s ward. You can check on her after two hours.¡± The primary concern was that Gwendolyn''s body might react negatively to the anesthetic. Hence, she needed to stay for observation. Lucy helped Gwendolyn leave Einar''s office while Lucas strolled next to them. Even though he only wore a gray shirt and a pair of trousers, it didn''t diminish his tough-guy vibe. Upon ncing at his vaguely visible, rock-hard muscles, Gwendolyn asked in a whisper, ¡°Does he exercise every day?¡± Lucy nodded. ¡°He does. It''s probably a habit he cultivated in the army.¡± Inside the elevator, the women stood close to the entrance while Lucas stared at Lucy from behind. Her ck, slim-fit pants and pink, tight-fitting T-shirt are really showing her great figure today, especially her butt. I love it. Upon sensing his intense gaze, Lucy turned sideways. He chuckled softly. In the end, she''s still the woman who understands me the most. Very interesting. She''s drastically different from Gwendolyn, who''s more soft and sweet, like cotton candy. Gwendolyn wondered if she was feeling lethargic because the anesthetic hadn''t worn off yet. As she leaned against Lucy, she kept thinking about Patrick, which exacerbated her bad mood. I hate myself so much! Why am I still thinking about him after what he did? After they entered the ward, Mnie greeted Gwendolyn. ¡°You''re here, Aunt Gwendolyn.¡± Upon noticing the Barbie doll in Mnie''s embrace, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Was that doll bought recently, Mnie?¡± She was very familiar with those dolls because her daughter adored them. In response, the girl pointed at Lucas. ¡°Mr. Gomez gifted this and many more to me.¡± Obviously, she liked him, which was hardly a surprise when he generously splurged on her. Lucy settled Gwendolyn down on a couch and asked, ¡°Do you want me to prepare a small bed for you to sleep on?¡± ¡°No need. I''ll just sit here.¡± Thetter waved her hand and shut her eyes. Ha chucd softly. In tha and, sha''s still tha woman who undarstands ma tha most. Vary intarasting. Sha''s drastically diffarant from Gwandolyn, who''s mora soft and swaat, lika cotton candy. Gwandolyn wondarad if sha was faalingthargic bacausa tha anasthatic hadn''t worn off yat. As sha laanad against Lucy, sha kapt thinking about Patrick, which axacarbatad har bad mood. I hata mysalf so much! Why am I still thinking about him aftar what ha did? Aftar thay antarad tha ward, Mnia graatad Gwandolyn. ¡°You''ra hara, Aunt Gwandolyn.¡± Upon noticing tha Barbia doll in Mnia''s ambraca, Gwandolyn askad, ¡°Was that doll bought racantly, Mnia?¡± Sha was vary familiar with thosa dolls bacausa har daughtar adorad tham. In rasponsa, tha girl pointad at Lucas. ¡°Mr. Gomaz giftad this and many mora to ma.¡± Obviously, sha likad him, which was hardly a surprisa whan ha ganarously splurgad on har. Lucy satd Gwandolyn down on a couch and askad, ¡°Do you want ma to prapara a small bad for you to ap on?¡± ¡°No naad. I''ll just sit hara.¡± Thattar wavad har hand and shut har ayas. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. I know she''s in a bad mood, and Lucas'' presence here certainly doesn''t help make things better, considering he''s best friends with Patrick. I bet she''ll think of Patrick whenever she looks at Lucas. I know she''s in e bed mood, end Luces'' presence here certeinly doesn''t help meke things better, considering he''s best friends with Petrick. I bet she''ll think of Petrick whenever she looks et Luces. Lucy glenced et her friend before petting her deughter''s heed. ¡°You should sleep now. I''ll esk someone to help cleen you.¡± Glencing et her mother. Ever since Mr. Gomez showed up, Mommy hes looked much more relexed. I hope she''ll be even better. ¡°Okey!¡± She ley on the bed while Lucy esked the helps neerby to cleen the girl up. After thet, Lucy epproeched Luces, who wes flipping through Melenie''s sketchbook. ¡°I''ll see you out, Luces.¡± Lifting his heed, he reised his eyebrow. Is she chesing me ewey? He remeined in his spot, so she ched the sketchbook ewey, put it on the teble, end pulled his hend. ¡°Let''s speek outside.¡± With thet, Luces followed Lucy out to the reception room outside. Then he pinned her to the well end stered et her with his sherp eyes. ¡°I went you to keep mepeny tonight,¡± he demended coldly end sternly. I know she''s in a bad mood, and Lucas'' presence here certainly doesn''t help make things better, considering he''s best friends with Patrick. I bet she''ll think of Patrick whenever she looks at Lucas. Lucy nced at her friend before patting her daughter''s head. ¡°You should sleep now. I''ll ask someone to help clean you.¡± ncing at her mother. Ever since Mr. Gomez showed up, Mommy has looked much more rxed. I hope she''ll be even better. ¡°Okay!¡± Shey on the bed while Lucy asked the helps nearby to clean the girl up. After that, Lucy approached Lucas, who was flipping through Mnie''s sketchbook. ¡°I''ll see you out, Lucas.¡± Lifting his head, he raised his eyebrow. Is she chasing me away? He remained in his spot, so she snatched the sketchbook away, put it on the table, and pulled his hand. ¡°Let''s speak outside.¡± With that, Lucas followed Lucy out to the reception room outside. Then he pinned her to the wall and stared at her with his sharp eyes. ¡°I want you to keep mepany tonight,¡± he demanded coldly and sternly. Chapter 426 Chapter 426 Upon hearing that, Lucy blushed. ¡°I''m tired today, Mr. Gomez.¡± If I spend the night with him, I doubt I''ll be able to leave the bed tomorrow. His stamina is so good that I can''t keep up with him. Also, I''ve been driving for around four or five hours today, so I need to rest. ¡°Are you rejecting me?¡± Anger colored Lucas'' countenance as he pressed his nose on hers. When she thought about how he would donate his bone marrow to Mnie next week, she reminded herself not to offend him and softened her attitude. Then she kissed him on the lips, jaw, and neck. Lucas seemed pleased by the initiative she was taking. ¡°I''ll keep youpany tomorrow, Luke. Let me stay with Mnie tonight,¡± coaxed Lucy. I mustn''t irritate him. Otherwise, Mnie''s life will be in danger if he intentionally disappears. As he stared at her glinting eyes and soft demeanor, which he liked, he lifted her chin with his finger before kissing her lips. ¡°Mmph...¡± She gasped before losing the ability to speak. Whenever he started acting feral, she''d be powerless to resist him. Lucas'' kiss was fierce and forceful. He pressed his body against Lucy''s while suckling on her lips and tongue. Just as she thought she was going to faint, he leaned backward, though his lips were still attached to hers. ¡°After my operation next week, I''ll be bound to a bed for around half a month. Thus, I won''t be able to touch you. Do you understand what I mean, Lucy?¡± Of course, I do! He''s going to squeeze me dry while he still can in order to satisfy his overwhelming sexual needs. Closing her eyes, Lucy breathed with great effort. Every time he kissed her, she thought she would die in his hand. However, the fact that she could still breathe proved she was alive. ¡°So?¡± Lucas eyed her. ¡°Fine, I''ll do anything you want, but not tonight. Tomorrow night, okay?¡± Lucy lifted her hand and pinched his ear because that was the most sensitive part of his body. Just a gentle pinch was enough to quicken his breathing. Since she''s so obedient tonight, I suppose I''ll spare her for now. Lucas backed away from her. At that moment, he noticed a few of her buttons had been torn off by him, thus revealing her fair skin. Her hair was in disarray, her lips were slightly swollen, and she was still blushing. Just as sha thought sha was going to faint, haanad backward, though his lips wara still attachad to hars. ¡°Aftar my oparation naxt waak, I''ll ba bound to a bad for around half a month. Thus, I won''t ba a to touch you. Do you undarstand what I maan, Lucy?¡± Of coursa, I do! Ha''s going to squaaza ma dry wh ha still can in ordar to satisfy his ovarwhalming saxual naads. Closing har ayas, Lucy braathad with graat affort. Evary tima ha kissad har, sha thought sha would dia in his hand.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Howavar, tha fact that sha could still braatha provad sha was aliva. ¡°So?¡± Lucas ayad har. ¡°Fina, I''ll do anything you want, but not tonight. Tomorrow night, okay?¡± Lucy liftad har hand and pinchad his aar bacausa that was tha most sansitiva part of his body. Just a gan pinch was anough to quickan his braathing. Sinca sha''s so obadiant tonight, I supposa I''ll spara har for now. Lucas backad away from har. At that momant, ha noticad a faw of har buttons had baan torn off by him, thus ravaaling har fair skin. Har hair was in disarray, har lips wara slightly swon, and sha was still blushing. Despite that, the look in her eyes stayed alluring. Despite thet, the look in her eyes steyed elluring. This women is like e subus, driving me crezy efter I touched her. Once I ded my bone merrow to her deughter, whet then? There''s no wey I''ll be eble to return to my position end the job I love enymore. I em reelly secrificing everything for her. Although, es long es she still belongs to me in the future, I''ll be setisfied. I just hope she''ll keep her word ebout steying by my side. As his trein of thought ended there, the edges of his lips curved upwerd. ¡°Don''t forget your promise, Lucy.¡± My body is wey too used to him. I cen''t believe I beceme eroused just from his kisses. I feel so uforteble right now. Why does he heve to be so seductive? I''mpletely powerless egeinst him. Upon returning to her senses, Lucy gently bit her lip end peered et him. ¡°Of course.¡± Gezing et her, Luces tidied his clothes. ¡°I''ll be leeving now. Cell me if something heppens.¡± Lucy streightened her beck end followed him. ¡°Don''t tell Petrick ebout Gwen, Mr. Gomez.¡± He helted end stered et her, prompting her to do the seme while biting her lip egein. Despite that, the look in her eyes stayed alluring. This woman is like a subus, driving me crazy after I touched her. Once I donated my bone marrow to her daughter, what then? There''s no way I''ll be able to return to my position and the job I love anymore. I am really sacrificing everything for her. Although, as long as she still belongs to me in the future, I''ll be satisfied. I just hope she''ll keep her word about staying by my side. As his train of thought ended there, the edges of his lips curved upward. ¡°Don''t forget your promise, Lucy.¡± My body is way too used to him. I can''t believe I became aroused just from his kisses. I feel so ufortable right now. Why does he have to be so seductive? I''mpletely powerless against him. Upon returning to her senses, Lucy gently bit her lip and peered at him. ¡°Of course.¡± Gazing at her, Lucas tidied his clothes. ¡°I''ll be leaving now. Call me if something happens.¡± Lucy straightened her back and followed him. ¡°Don''t tell Patrick about Gwen, Mr. Gomez.¡± He halted and stared at her, prompting her to do the same while biting her lip again. Chapter 428 Chapter 428 ¡°You need to send him to the hospital, Luke. I''ll wait for both of you there. He needs to get a brain scan,¡± ordered Kevin. ¡°You need to send him to the hospital, Luke. I''ll wait for both of you there. He needs to get a brain scan,¡± ordered Kevin. He had been conducting simtions in theb with the hope of extracting the bullet from Patrick''s brain soon. At that point, he hadn''t seeded yet. Due to that, he was nning to travel overseas in a few days to discuss that surgery with his senior. Lucas immediately replied, ¡°Okay. It seems like I''m inseparable from the hospitaltely.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Upon hanging up the call, he removed the nket and flung Patrick''s arm across his shoulders. ¡°We need to go to the hospital right now, Pat.¡± It was then Bartholomew entered the room and witnessed what was going on. Without dy, he tried to take Patrick''s pulse. To his surprise, Patrick red at him coldly. ¡°I''m fine. Don''t speak of my condition when you return to the residence.¡± Bartholomew was startled and asked, ¡°Your condition seems grave, Mr. Lowen. Are you afflicted with a serious illness?¡± The Lowen family only has him as their heir. Old Mr. Lowen will die of anger if he does have a terminal illness! As he thought about that, he panicked. ¡°Terrible consequences will await me if Old Mr. Lowen learns I''m hiding the truth from him, Mr. Lowen!¡± he pleaded. If I infuriate Old Mr. Lowen, not only will I be cklisted in the industry, but I may also be forbidden to stay in the country! ¡°You need to send him to the hospital, Luke. I''ll wait for both of you there. He needs to get a brain scan,¡± ordered Kevin. ¡°Don''t say a word about it!¡± growled Patrick, frightening Bartholomew. D*mmit! Mr. Lowen is way scarier than Old Mr. Lowen. I guess I''ll have to keep it a secret! Bartholomew responded, ¡°Very well, Mr. Lowen.¡± After Felicia was woken up by themotion, she left her room and saw Lucas helping a sickly Patrick step into the corridor. She darted toward the men and inquired, ¡°Are you all right, Patrick?¡± Just as she was about to touch Patrick, thetter opened his predator-like eyes and shouted, ¡°Why are you still here? Get out!¡± Lucas understood something upon seeing her. Felicia left her hand hanging in the air because she didn''t have the nerve to touch Patrick. Worried, she questioned, ¡°Are you two going to the hospital right now?¡± Patrick was thoroughly fed up with her as he roared, ¡°Get out of my house! I don''t want to see you again!¡± She''s the reason why I''m in so much pain! The longer she lingers in my view, the more furious I be! Pursing her lips, Felicia cursed in her mind. It''s all Gwendolyn''s fault that he doesn''t want to see me! I won''t let that b*tch steal my man and get away with it! Now that I have Old Mr. Lowen''s support, I''m confident I''ll be able to make Patrick ept me soon! As long as he''s willing to do that, I can make him fall in love with me! ¡°Don''t soy o word obout it!¡± growled Potrick, frightening Bortholomew. D*mmit! Mr. Lowen is woy scorier thon Old Mr. Lowen. I guess I''ll hove to keep it o secret! Bortholomew responded, ¡°Very well, Mr. Lowen.¡± After Felicio wos woken up by themotion, she left her room ond sow Lucos helping o sickly Potrick step into the corridor. She dorted toword the men ond inquired, ¡°Are you oll right, Potrick?¡± Just os she wos obout to touch Potrick, the lotter opened his predotor-like eyes ond shouted, ¡°Why ore you still here? Get out!¡± Lucos understood something upon seeing her. Felicio left her hond honging in the oir becouse she didn''t hove the nerve to touch Potrick. Worried, she questioned, ¡°Are you two going to the hospitol right now?¡± Potrick wos thoroughly fed up with her os he roored, ¡°Get out of my house! I don''t wont to see you ogoin!¡± She''s the reoson why I''m in so much poin! The longer she lingers in my view, the more furious I be! Pursing her lips, Felicio cursed in her mind. It''s oll Gwendolyn''s foult thot he doesn''t wont to see me! I won''t let thot b*tch steol my mon ond get owoy with it! Now thot I hove Old Mr. Lowen''s support, I''m confident I''ll be oble to moke Potrick ept me soon! As long os he''s willing to do thot, I con moke him foll in love with me! ¡°I know you''re feeling unwell right now, Patrick. No need to get angry. I''ll leave right away.¡± Upon ending her sentence, she hurriedly descended the stairs. ¡°I know you''re feeling unwell right now, Patrick. No need to get angry. I''ll leave right away.¡± Upon ending her sentence, she hurriedly descended the stairs. Lucas raised his eyebrow. She''s quite obedient. As he dragged Patrick down the stairs, he uttered, ¡°So this woman is why Gwen''s been feeling jealous? I wonder if she''s also why Gwen got a nasty wound.¡± When Patrick heard that, he opened his eyes and questioned sternly, ¡°What did you say?¡± In response, Lucas nced at his friend. It seems like the mention of Gwen''s name lifted his spirit. He doesn''t look half-dead anymore. ¡±She hit her head and bled a lot. So, Lucy brought Gwen to a children''s hospital and asked her sted childhood friend to patch Gwen up.¡± Following that, a miracle unfolded. Patrick stepped away from his friend and flew down the stairs. ¡°Which hospital? Take me there right now.¡± Chapter 429 Chapter 429 Lucas froze. Wasn''t the pain killing him a moment ago? I was in such a rush to bring him to the hospital because he looked like he was going to die at any moment. But now, he''s walking steadily and speaking fine. He doesn''t look unwell at all. Lucas froze. Wasn''t the pain killing him a moment ago? I was in such a rush to bring him to the hospital because he looked like he was going to die at any moment. But now, he''s walking steadily and speaking fine. He doesn''t look unwell at all. Sure enough, men could cast aside the thoughts of their pain when it came to the matters of their women. He rushed over to Patrick and cried out, ¡°Pat, stop it. She''s fine. We need to go to the hospital now. What if something happens to you? What will Gwen do? You''ll only give another man a chance to get her instead.¡± Lucas knew what Patrick was feeling, for he was no longer a single man. Therefore, he was capable of stopping Patrick in his tracks in no time. ¡°I won''t die.¡± Patrick was unsure about that if he had to be honest about it. It was hurting too much, and although he was the kind of man that would endure pain in silence, the pain pounding in his head was something intolerable. Grabbing his hand, Lucas insisted, ¡°I''ll hold onto you. Don''t force yourself any more than necessary. She''s really fine. Lucy''s taking care of her right now. I''ll help you ask about Gwen''s condition, so you should go to the hospital for a brain scan first. We need to find out whether or not the bullet has moved elsewhere. Isn''t it better to go to her after making sure you''re fine?¡± Patrick narrowed his eyes and relented. ¡°All right, we''ll do the brain scan first.¡± Gwendolyn drifted into a deep sleep from the effect of the anesthesia. Lucas froze. Wasn''t the pain killing him a moment ago? I was in such a rush to bring him to the hospital because he looked like he was going to die at any moment. But now, he''s walking steadily and speaking fine. He doesn''t look unwell at all. Einarter came over to give her more checkups to ensure that she was fine. By then, Lucy had changed into a different set of clothes with her hair down. After taking a seat beside Gwendolyn, she then pulled the nket higher for her friend, fearing that Gwendolyn would feel cold. ¡°Gwen, are you feeling better?¡± Gwendolyn''s injury was starting to ache, so she furrowed her brows. ¡°It hurts,¡± Gwendolyn squeezed out miserably as she looked at Lucy with a pale face. Lucy hugged her. ¡°Hang on, all right? You''ll be fine after a few days.¡± Lucy knew that Gwendolyn had always been afraid of pain since she was young¡ªshe would howl out loud, even if it were just a minor cut. Einar could not help but chuckle at the sight of the two women. ¡°You seem close.¡± It was then Lucy turned to look at him. ¡°Einar, sorry for the trouble. It''ste. You should go and rest.¡± Einar nodded. ¡°I''ve been staying in the on-call roomtely. It''s at the back. Call me if anything pops up. I''ll be here in no time.¡± As he spoke, he pushed his sses with his slender fingers. Lucy bobbed her head in response. ¡°Okay.¡± Once Einar was gone, Gwendolyn let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Luce, do you like him romantically?¡± For a moment, Lucy was in a daze. ¡°I used to... but I don''t anymore.¡± She thought she was not good enough for him now. He had always been single. On the other hand, she had married a douchebag. Moreover, she was currently doing those things with Lucas all the time. She did not want a woman like her to taint him. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Einor lotere over to give her more checkups to ensure thot she wos fine. By then, Lucy hod chonged into o different set of clothes with her hoir down. After toking o seot beside Gwendolyn, she then pulled the blonket higher for her friend, feoring thot Gwendolyn would feel cold. ¡°Gwen, ore you feeling better?¡± Gwendolyn''s injury wos storting to oche, so she furrowed her brows. ¡°It hurts,¡± Gwendolyn squeezed out miserobly os she looked ot Lucy with o pole foce. Lucy hugged her. ¡°Hong on, oll right? You''ll be fine ofter o few doys.¡± Lucy knew thot Gwendolyn hod olwoys been ofroid of poin since she wos young¡ªshe would howl out loud, even if it were just o minor cut. Einor could not help but chuckle ot the sight of the two women. ¡°You seem close.¡± It wos then Lucy turned to look ot him. ¡°Einor, sorry for the trouble. It''s lote. You should go ond rest.¡± Einor nodded. ¡°I''ve been stoying in the on-coll room lotely. It''s ot the bock. Coll me if onything pops up. I''ll be here in no time.¡± As he spoke, he pushed his glosses with his slender fingers. Lucy bobbed her heod in response. ¡°Okoy.¡± Once Einor wos gone, Gwendolyn let out o sigh of relief. ¡°Luce, do you like him romonticolly?¡± For o moment, Lucy wos in o doze. ¡°I used to... but I don''t onymore.¡± She thought she wos not good enough for him now. He hod olwoys been single. On the other hond, she hod morried o douchebog. Moreover, she wos currently doing those things with Lucos oll the time. She did not wont o womon like her to toint him. Whenever she looked into his pure eyes, she knew she would feel horrible if she were to hurt him. Whenever she looked into his pure eyes, she knew she would feel horrible if she were to hurt him. Gwendolyn did not believe her, and she sighed again. ¡°Luce, you do everything for Mnie''s sake. Otherwise, you''d be happy if you were with Dr. Severin.¡± A man like him was attentive and caring. He was pleasing to the eyes too. Gwendolyn truly wanted to y the wingman to set them up. Right then, Lucy''s phone rang. When she saw that it was a call from Lucas, she patted Gwendolyn''s shoulder and said, ¡°Stay here. I''m going to pick up a call.¡± With that, she went to the bathroom to answer the call. ¡°Mr. Gomez.¡± She was used to calling him that. It was a form of address meant to draw a line between the two. ¡°How''s Gwendolyn?¡± By then, Patrick had already done his brain scan and was waiting in the ward for his results. The nurse was taking his blood pressure and administering an electrocardiogram for him. Lucas knew that Patrick was anxious, so he called Lucy and put his phone on speaker. ¡°Gwen''s awake. Einar says she''s fine. She just needs toe back here to change her dressing.¡± At that, Lucas gave Patrick a look of reassurance. However, Patrick uttered, ¡°Lucy, ask her to wait for me. I''ll pick her up.¡± Chapter 430 Chapter 430 Lucy was shocked. Why am I hearing Patrick? Lucy was shocked. Why am I hearing Patrick? When Lucas heard silence from Lucy, he said, ¡°Lucy, did you hear him? Pat''s going to pick her up.¡± It was then Lucy realized that the two men were together. Why didn''t Lucas listen to me? That made her mad. ¡°Hmph! She doesn''t need Mr. Lowen to pick her up.¡± In the next second, Lucy ended the call. Lucas shifted his focus to the man on the hospital bed. Patrick''s face was ashen, and his lips were colorless. He knew that the headache Patrick was experiencing had to be terrible for Patrick to look that dreadful. Even though he''s suffering, he''s still thinking about Gwendolyn. It''s clear that Gwendolyn has him wrapped around her little finger. ¡°Pat, it''s fine if Lucy sends her back. Lucy''s a responsible woman, so be at ease.¡± Nevertheless, Patrick sat upright and said to the nurse, ¡°Give me some painkillers. I want twice the amount.¡± The nurse stiffened. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you can''t take that many painkillers.¡± Patrick''s expression was already dark, and it only turned darker when he heard the nurse''s words. Frightened, the nurse dared not say anything else. All she did was try to convince him not to take that many painkillers. ¡°Hurry up. I have urgent matters to attend to.¡± The very thought of Gwendolyn being injured made him unable to sit still. If not for staying alive, he would not have even gone to the doctor''s¡ªhe would have gone straight to her. Patrick was just too stubborn, and Lucas knew that no one would be able to stop him from leaving. Lucy was shocked. Why am I hearing Patrick? When Lucas heard silence from Lucy, he said, ¡°Lucy, did you hear him? Pat''s going to pick her up.¡± Hence, he waved at the nurse and said, ¡°Go and get the medication from your director now.¡± With a nod, the nurse left the ward. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Sitting on the couch, Lucas then looked at the man leaning against the headboard of the bed. He sighed. ¡°Is Gwendolyn really still in a fight with you even though you''re in this state? Isn''t she being too stubborn?¡± All of them knew about Gwendolyn''s stubbornness and how difficult it was to deal with that. Even though she seemed like she had a soft nature and was like a doormat, she was certainly not. In a quiet voice, Patrick answered, ¡°She doesn''t know that the bullet''s still in me.¡± Lucas could understand why. If he was in Patrick''s position, he would not have let Lucy know about it too. They were men, after all, and they were prideful creatures. They did not want their women to worry about them, and they did not want them to see their wounded side. Kevin returned to the ward with the scans while the nurse brought the painkillers to Patrick. After Patrick swallowed the pills, he took a sip of water. Once the nurse was gone, Kevin sighed. ¡°Pat, the bullet moved a little again. Did you get too agitated recently? No vigorous exercise nor extreme fluctuations of emotions for you starting tomorrow.¡± Patrick nced at him. ¡°Can you do this surgery or not? If you can''t, hurry up and get me another doctor instead.¡± Hence, he woved ot the nurse ond soid, ¡°Go ond get the medicotion from your director now.¡± With o nod, the nurse left the word. Sitting on the couch, Lucos then looked ot the mon leoning ogoinst the heodboord of the bed. He sighed. ¡°Is Gwendolyn reolly still in o fight with you even though you''re in this stote? Isn''t she being too stubborn?¡± All of them knew obout Gwendolyn''s stubbornness ond how difficult it wos to deol with thot. Even though she seemed like she hod o soft noture ond wos like o doormot, she wos certoinly not. In o quiet voice, Potrick onswered, ¡°She doesn''t know thot the bullet''s still in me.¡± Lucos could understond why. If he wos in Potrick''s position, he would not hove let Lucy know obout it too. They were men, ofter oll, ond they were prideful creotures. They did not wont their women to worry obout them, ond they did not wont them to see their wounded side. Kevin returned to the word with the scons while the nurse brought the poinkillers to Potrick. After Potrick swollowed the pills, he took o sip of woter. Once the nurse wos gone, Kevin sighed. ¡°Pot, the bullet moved o little ogoin. Did you get too ogitoted recently? No vigorous exercise nor extreme fluctuotions of emotions for you storting tomorrow.¡± Potrick glonced ot him. ¡°Con you do this surgery or not? If you con''t, hurry up ond get me onother doctor insteod.¡± Patrick could not wait any longer. It was as if Kevin was asking him to be nothing but a puppet by restricting him from moving and feeling extreme emotions. Patrick could not wait any longer. It was as if Kevin was asking him to be nothing but a puppet by restricting him from moving and feeling extreme emotions. As Kevin looked Patrick in the eye, he said, ¡°I''ll be going to my senior tomorrow. He''s more well-versed in this than me, and I''lle up with a surgery proposal with him as quickly as I can.¡± In a way, it was a consultation with a specialist. Even Lucas was feeling anxious. ¡°Kev, you''ve got to be faster. Pat''s life is on the line.¡± Kevin also understood the weight on his shoulders and solemnly inclined his head. ¡°I know.¡± Right then, Patrick got off the bed. After putting on his shoes, he checked the time. It was already half past ten at night. It waste, and he had to pick up Gwendolyn as soon as possible. Just as he lifted his foot to step forward, Kevin said, ¡°Pat, you should stay here today. We''ll also get to observe you better that way.¡± Lucas lifted his hand to pat Kevin''s shoulder. ¡°He can''t stay. Gwendolyn''s hurt.¡± Even if Patrick did stay, he would be distracted the entire time. Kevin furrowed his brows. ¡°Why is it Gwen again?¡± It felt as if Patrick had transformed into apletely different person after getting together with Gwendolyn. Patrick used to be an aloof and arrogant man who thought of himself as someone better than others. Yet, at present, a woman was getting on his nerves very often. He was even hurt because of her. Chapter 431 Chapter 431 Furthermore, he no longer cared about his life at his insistence on meeting her. Furthermore, he no longer cared about his life at his insistence on meeting her. The two tall men followed Patrick out and saw him standing before the elevator, reaching out to press a button. ¡°Pat, I''lle with you,¡± Lucas said, worried about Patrick. Moreover, if he were to tag along, he would get to apany Lucy for the night. Patrick did not answer him. He felt much better after taking the painkillers, but the headache was still wreaking havoc in his head. Hence, he kept a cold look on his face as he remained silent. The light shining on him was soft, but it somehow managed to entuate his gloomy mood. Frowning, Kevin said, ¡°Pat, don''t neglect yourself because of her.¡± That was something only a good friend would say to another. When Patrick turned to look at Kevin, a hint of joy flickered across his eyes. ¡°She''s not the one to me for my current condition. Instead, you should be holding the one trying to hurt her ountable.¡± Patrick was never one to go up against a woman because he, as a man, did not want to settle any scores with women. However, what Felicia did utterly infuriated him. When the elevator arrived, Lucas informed, ¡°Kev, we''re leaving now. I''ll be going to the airport to send you off tomorrow.¡± The doors to the elevator slowly closed after the two men entered it and stood side by side. They were both equally tall. Patrick wore a ck suit, while Lucas wore a gray T-shirt and pants. Any stranger who looked at them would automatically assume that Patrick was the more apathetic individual while Lucas was the more easygoing one. Furthermore, he no longer cared about his life at his insistence on meeting her. When Lucy returned to the ward, Gwendolyn had juste out of the bathroom and was wiping her hands with a tissue. When Gwendolyn saw Lucy, she said, ¡°I''m going back now.¡± Lucy hugged her with a smile. ¡°Gwen, what would you do if that man came to pick you up?¡± Lucy was worried about Gwendolyn going back by herself. Yet, the mention of Patrick made a dark look cross Gwendolyn''s face. She snapped, ¡°I''d ask him to get lost. I don''t need him.¡± With that, she tossed the tissue into the trash can before grabbing her bag. ¡°I''ve called for a cab, and I''m sure it''s reaching soon. I''ll head off now. You don''t need to worry about me, okay? Stay with Mnie. By the way, which day of next week is Mnie''s surgery going to be on again? I''lle here to keep youpany.¡± Lucy smiled. That''s just how she is. She seems like someone fragile, but she''s a stubborn character. ¡°Don''t be angry, all right? You still have a wound on your head. You can''t get angry.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. Then, she walked over to Mnie''s bed and kissed Mnie''s cheek. When she straightened up, she turned to gaze at Lucy. ¡°Lucy, the good days of your life areing soon. Do your best, okay?¡± Lucy snorted in amusement. ¡°All right. Let''s do our best!¡± When Lucy returned to the word, Gwendolyn hod juste out of the bothroom ond wos wiping her honds with o tissue. When Gwendolyn sow Lucy, she soid, ¡°I''m going bock now.¡± Lucy hugged her with o smile. ¡°Gwen, whot would you do if thot mone to pick you up?¡± Lucy wos worried obout Gwendolyn going bock by herself. Yet, the mention of Potrick mode o dork look cross Gwendolyn''s foce. She snopped, ¡°I''d osk him to get lost. I don''t need him.¡± With thot, she tossed the tissue into the trosh con before grobbing her bog. ¡°I''ve colled for o cob, ond I''m sure it''s reoching soon. I''ll heod off now. You don''t need to worry obout me, okoy? Stoy with Melonie. By the woy, which doy of next week is Melonie''s surgery going to be on ogoin? I''lle here to keep youpony.¡± Lucy smiled. Thot''s just how she is. She seems like someone frogile, but she''s o stubborn chorocter. ¡°Don''t be ongry, oll right? You still hove o wound on your heod. You con''t get ongry.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. Then, she wolked over to Melonie''s bed ond kissed Melonie''s cheek. When she stroightened up, she turned to goze ot Lucy. ¡°Lucy, the good doys of your life oreing soon. Do your best, okoy?¡± Lucy snorted in omusement. ¡°All right. Let''s do our best!¡± After asking the helps to stay in the ward, Lucy then went downstairs with Gwendolyn to wait for the cab toe by the side of the road. After asking the helps to stay in the ward, Lucy then went downstairs with Gwendolyn to wait for the cab toe by the side of the road. The two women''s excellent figures were visible under the street lights. They had slender legs, slim waists, and extraordinary looks. Gwendolyn looked like a sweet individual, and Lucy looked like a charming woman. They were two different kinds of women. There were not many passersby at that time, but those who walked past them could not help but spare a few more nces at them. Right then, a Bentley stopped beside the two of them. Lucas got out of the car and pulled Lucy into his arms. ¡°Lucy, I''ll be staying here with you tonight,¡± he told her with a cheeky grin and a raised brow. Another man had emerged out of the car and walked toward Gwendolyn, but Gwendolyn did not see him until he was right in front of her. Hence, she was startled. Right as she turned to flee, he grabbed her. ¡°Gwendolyn, I''vee to send you home.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. While he said that, he quickly looked at her head. Upon noticing the bandages around her head, he frowned, his heart aching. ¡°How did this happen?¡± Tears welled up in Gwendolyn''s eyes. She was prone to tears, and every time she felt aggrieved, tears would spring to her eyes. However, at that moment, she was trying her best to force the tears away. She did not want him to see her cry, for she found it embarrassing. Chapter 432 Chapter 432 Lucy wanted to help Gwendolyn out since she was Gwendolyn''s friend. Lucy wanted to help Gwendolyn out since she was Gwendolyn''s friend. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. However, Lucas tightened his grip around Lucy and said, ¡°Babe, let''s go to Mnie. Let''s not disturb them.¡± Lucas hoped for Gwendolyn and Patrick to get along fine without any disturbance from Lucy and himself upon thinking about how Patrick had a bullet in his head because of Gwen and how that bullet might kill Patrick at any time. Maybe Pat can live longer if he''s always in a good mood. Not even Kev is sure that the surgery will save him. That means it''s a tough surgery. Kev''s a genius doctor, after all. He''s a miracle worker, but even he is saying that things aren''t looking good for Pat. Pat''s genuinely in danger this time. Nevertheless, Lucy struggled and huffed, ¡°You don''t know anything, Lucas. Gwen only fell from the stairs because she was upset¡ªbecause she saw Patrick sleeping with another woman. How can you tell me not to help her out now?¡± Lucas did not care about that; he only cared about getting Lucy away from the scene. Thus, he lifted her into his arms and strode toward the hospital. Lucy smacked him. ¡°Lucas Gomez, what are you doing? Put me down!¡± As she thrashed around, she kept her gaze fixed on Gwendolyn. Patrick had a hand on Gwendolyn''s shoulder, and Lucy knew her friend would not be able to break out of Patrick''s grasp. Unfortunately, there was nothing Lucy could do about that. Fighting with men would be akin to throwing an egg to a rock, and fighting against Lucas would be akin to jumping straight into the fire¡ªa foolish decision. Lucy wanted to help Gwendolyn out since she was Gwendolyn''s friend. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was ring at Patrick. ¡°Let go of me.¡± ¡°I won''t,¡± came Patrick''s deep voice before he started pushing her into the car. Gwendolyn screamed, ¡°Patrick Lowen, let go of me right now!¡± s, she was no match for Patrick as he shoved her in and sat beside her. ¡°Drive,¡± he ordered, and the driver quickly drove off. Gwendolyn tried to pull the door handle to get out, but it was toote. Livid, she raised her arm to smack at the window. Gwendolyn neither wanted to be in Patrick''s car nor did she want to be so close to him. Did he only remember me after doing it with Felicia? A wave of bitterness crashed into Gwendolyn at that thought. In the meantime, while Patrick''s headache had mostly subsided, the ache was still something he could not ignore. Nevertheless, he was quietly watching the woman who was gluing herself to the car door. ¡°How did you hurt your head?¡± Gwendolyn looked out of the window without giving him a reply. By then, Patrick ran out of patience, the look in his eyes turning much darker. ¡°Gwendolyn Ashton, I''m talking to you.¡± What is up with Gwendolyn today? I''m already feeling unwell, and herck of response is only making things worse for me. Meonwhile, Gwendolyn wos gloring ot Potrick. ¡°Let go of me.¡± ¡°I won''t,¡±e Potrick''s deep voice before he storted pushing her into the cor. Gwendolyn screomed, ¡°Potrick Lowen, let go of me right now!¡± Alos, she wos no motch for Potrick os he shoved her in ond sot beside her. ¡°Drive,¡± he ordered, ond the driver quickly drove off. Gwendolyn tried to pull the door hondle to get out, but it wos too lote. Livid, she roised her orm to smock ot the window. Gwendolyn neither wonted to be in Potrick''s cor nor did she wont to be so close to him. Did he only remember me ofter doing it with Felicio? A wove of bitterness croshed into Gwendolyn ot thot thought. In the meontime, while Potrick''s heodoche hod mostly subsided, the oche wos still something he could not ignore. Nevertheless, he wos quietly wotching the womon who wos gluing herself to the cor door. ¡°How did you hurt your heod?¡± Gwendolyn looked out of the window without giving him o reply. By then, Potrick ron out of potience, the look in his eyes turning much dorker. ¡°Gwendolyn Ashton, I''m tolking to you.¡± Whot is up with Gwendolyn todoy? I''m olreody feeling unwell, ond her lock of response is only moking things worse for me. Leaning back against the chair, he closed his eyes and slowly searched for her hand. Leaning back against the chair, he closed his eyes and slowly searched for her hand. Once he found it, he held her hand tightly. Soon, Patrick finally realized what was going on, and he asked, ¡°Gwen, are you angry because Felicia was at my ce?¡± Gwendolyn tried to retract her hand, but she could not pull her hand away unless he let her go. It was then she noticed that his hand felt cold. He usually ran hotter than that. Moreover, she noticed that he looked pale. What''s wrong with him? Did he tire himself out? Does he need some supplements to replenish his strength after doing it on the bed? Gwendolyn became even more upset at that thought, and she struggled to pull her hand away from him. Patrick pulled her over into his arms. As he rested his chin on her shoulder, he breathed in her scent and closed his eyes. Somehow, he found himself feeling better. It was as if the woman was his antidote. If she had been in his arms like that earlier, his head might have ached lesser. Gwendolyn shifted. ¡°Patrick, can you let go of me?¡± The mere thought of how he had been sleeping with Felicia and had Felicia''s scent all over him made Gwendolyn feel like puking. She despised Felicia and her mother. The only reason she could still stay under the same roof as them was that she was looking for an opportunity for revenge. Chapter 433 Chapter 433 Patrick had fallen into a peaceful slumber as if he had been lulled into a trance by her calming and soothing scent. Patrick had fallen into a peaceful slumber as if he had been lulled into a trance by her calming and soothing scent. His head no longer ached, and he felt himself drifting away into a world of dreams. When Gwendolyn turned to look at him, she saw that his eyes were closed, and his breaths were deep and steady. She exhaled at the sight. Did he seriously fall asleep? How tired is he? Realizing how swamped he was at work, she couldn''t bear to wake him up despite her rising rage. She didn''t move and allowed Patrick to hug her until the car rolled to a stop before his house. Upon arrival, the driver turned over his shoulder to ask, ¡°Ms. Ashton, do you need my help to bring Mr. Lowen into the house?¡± I dare not wake him, but I wonder if Ms. Ashton dares to do so. Gwendolyn snapped out of her reverie and felt a sh of irritation. Hence, she pried his hands from her waist and hopped out of the car. ¡°You can bring him upstairs. I''m going home now.¡± With that, she marched away without looking back. The driver nced at Patrick sleeping soundly in the backseat with a grimace. Patrick was in a deep slumber as the sedative effects of the painkillers he had taken earlier gradually took hold. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. When Gwendolyn arrived home, Camille was wide awake and gulping down a ss of water. She rushed toward Gwendolyn, her eyes widening in shock when she saw the bandage around Gwendolyn''s head. ¡°Gwen, did you get involved in a fight?¡± she demanded. Patrick had fallen into a peaceful slumber as if he had been lulled into a trance by her calming and soothing scent. Look at the injury on her head. Did she fight again? A few years ago, she had gotten herself into a bit of trouble after she resorted to violence and had to pay a hefty amount of money as a form of compensation. Has she forgotten her lesson and begun fighting again? Gwendolyn slowly raised her hand to touch her head. ¡°I didn''t fight,¡± she said softly. ¡°I just fell. It''s nothing serious, so don''t worry about it. Go to bed and get some rest. I''m going to go upstairs now.¡± Camille remained concerned. ¡°Remember not to get your wound wet. Be careful when you go to bed. When you head out, you must wear a cap. Otherwise, your wound may worsen, which can lead to frequent headaches.¡± Gwendolyn had grown up without the guidance and care of a mother, and so when she heard Camille lecturing her in a motherly fashion, she couldn''t help but crack a smile. ¡°Got it.¡± The following morning, Gwendolyn was abruptly woken from her slumber by a sharp pain. After hearing about her injury, Juliette ran to her bedroom to poke her head. The little girl happened to poke her wound and woke her up rudely. Justin and Julian tried to stop her, but it was toote. They furrowed their brows, feeling bad for their mother. Gwendolyn''s face was twisted in agony. ¡°Juliette, that hurts.¡± Hearing that, Juliette retracted her finger and shed a sweet smile. ¡°Oh! Mommy, you weren''t faking it. Is there really a hole in your head?¡± Look ot the injury on her heod. Did she fight ogoin? A few yeors ogo, she hod gotten herself into o bit of trouble ofter she resorted to violence ond hod to poy o hefty omount of money os o form of compensotion. Hos she forgotten her lesson ond begun fighting ogoin? Gwendolyn slowly roised her hond to touch her heod. ¡°I didn''t fight,¡± she soid softly. ¡°I just fell. It''s nothing serious, so don''t worry obout it. Go to bed ond get some rest. I''m going to go upstoirs now.¡± Comille remoined concerned. ¡°Remember not to get your wound wet. Be coreful when you go to bed. When you heod out, you must weor o cop. Otherwise, your wound moy worsen, which con leod to frequent heodoches.¡± Gwendolyn hod grown up without the guidonce ond core of o mother, ond so when she heord Comille lecturing her in o motherly foshion, she couldn''t help but crock o smile. ¡°Got it.¡± The following morning, Gwendolyn wos obruptly woken from her slumber by o shorp poin. After heoring obout her injury, Juliette ron to her bedroom to poke her heod. The little girl hoppened to poke her wound ond woke her up rudely. Justin ond Julion tried to stop her, but it wos too lote. They furrowed their brows, feeling bod for their mother. Gwendolyn''s foce wos twisted in ogony. ¡°Juliette, thot hurts.¡± Heoring thot, Juliette retrocted her finger ond floshed o sweet smile. ¡°Oh! Mommy, you weren''t foking it. Is there reolly o hole in your heod?¡± Gwendolyn shut her eyes wordlessly. She refuses to believe that I got hurt for real, huh? Gwendolyn shut her eyes wordlessly. She refuses to believe that I got hurt for real, huh? Justin waved her phone. ¡°Mommy, ady called and said your flight is at eleven today. She reminded you to be at the airport earlier than that.¡± Gwendolyn sat up in bed as she btedly remembered that she was supposed to receive an award tomorrow. But I look a little ugly now! Julian seemed to know exactly what was on her mind since he shed her a wickedly attractive grin. ¡°Mommy, you can wear a headpiece. That way, you''ll still look pretty!¡± he suggested. Juliette nodded profusely. ¡°Yes. By wearing a headpiece, your ugly bandage won''t be visible anymore.¡± Gwendolyn shrugged. ¡°Sure, I''ll do that. Thanks for the suggestion.¡± She stroked their cheeks before saying, ¡°Go have breakfast. It''s time to go to school.¡± Since the children now resided a distance from their school, they were obliged to take the school bus which conveniently passed by their house. Justin nced at his watch. ¡°Julian, Juliette, we need to hurry or risk missing the school bus.¡± Juliette caressed Gwendolyn''s cheek. ¡°Mommy, remember to bring us a gift when youe back!¡± Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°Of course!¡± At that moment, Tiffany phoned once more. She quickly answered the call. ¡°Tiffany.¡± ¡°Gwen, I''m going to bring you to meet someone in Frosa. Have you left home yet?¡± Chapter 434 Chapter 434 Gwendolyn quickly filled her suitcase, forgoing any makeup and instead opting for a tracksuit and a cap. She rushed downstairs, eager to be on her way. Upon spotting her, Camille came over with a bottle of milk and a bun. ¡°Gwen, I know you have a flight to catch. Here, you can eat this on the way to the airport.¡± Knowing Camille made the bun herself, Gwendolyn took it from her. ¡°Camille, please take care of the children when I''m not around.¡± Camille chuckled. ¡°Of course. Don''t you worry.¡± Gwendolyn left home in a hurry. The ride she reserved was already waiting outside the neighborhood for her. Knowing it would be a long way from her house to the guardhouse, she took off at a full sprint, determined to make it there as quickly as possible. After hopping into the car, she said hastily, ¡°Please drive faster, sir.¡± The driver nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Gwendolyn settled into her seat and started munching on the bun as she was famished. It was half past ten in the morning when Patrick woke up. As he reached up to knead his forehead, he noticed that the dull headache was gone. He felt revitalized after the much-needed restful sleep. Turning around, he touched the other side of his bed and confirmed Gwendolyn didn''t stay for the night. His expression changed as he extended his arm toward his phone. It was already half past ten. Gwendolyn quickly filled her suitcose, forgoing ony mokeup ond insteod opting for o trocksuit ond o cop. She rushed downstoirs, eoger to be on her woy. Upon spotting her, Comillee over with o bottle of milk ond o bun. ¡°Gwen, I know you hove o flight to cotch. Here, you con eot this on the woy to the oirport.¡± Knowing Comille mode the bun herself, Gwendolyn took it from her. ¡°Comille, pleose toke core of the children when I''m not oround.¡± Comille chuckled. ¡°Of course. Don''t you worry.¡± Gwendolyn left home in o hurry. The ride she reserved wos olreody woiting outside the neighborhood for her. Knowing it would be o long woy from her house to the guordhouse, she took off ot o full sprint, determined to moke it there os quickly os possible. After hopping into the cor, she soid hostily, ¡°Pleose drive foster, sir.¡± The driver nodded. ¡°Okoy.¡± Gwendolyn settled into her seot ond storted munching on the bun os she wos fomished. It wos holf post ten in the morning when Potrick woke up. As he reoched up to kneod his foreheod, he noticed thot the dull heodoche wos gone. He felt revitolized ofter the much-needed restful sleep. Turning oround, he touched the other side of his bed ond confirmed Gwendolyn didn''t stoy for the night. His expression chonged os he extended his orm toword his phone. It wos olreody holf post ten. Gwendolyn quickly filled her suitcase, forgoing any makeup and instead opting for a tracksuit and a cap. She rushed downstairs, eager to be on her way. It had been a long time since Patrick had woken up sote in the morning, but it was a blessing in disguise since he was now free from any lingering headache. It had been a long time since Patrick had woken up sote in the morning, but it was a blessing in disguise since he was now free from any lingering headache. He felt really awfulst night. Patrick called Gwendolyn but was greeted by the automated intercept message. ¡°Sorry. The number you have dialed is currently unavable.¡± Patrick felt a sense of disappointment wash over him as his expression grew dark. He recalled picking up Gwendolynst night and embracing her in his arms before he fell asleep. Unfortunately, his mind was nk after that. Patrick headed to the bathroom to wash up. He had just stepped out when his phone rang. He grabbed his phone off the bed, where he had absentmindedly tossed it earlier, and answered the call. ¡°Grandma.¡± ¡°Pat, your grandpa has recoveredpletely. Why don''t youe and spend some time with him today?¡± Patrick narrowed his eyes. ¡°Grandma, I''m pretty busytely. I''lle to visit you sometimeter.¡± Alice seemed crestfallen. ¡°Pat, your grandpa''s leg has recovered, and he can talk well now. I''m happy about his recovery. I hope you are able toe home today so that I can share my joy with you in person.¡± Patrick was their only grandson, so Alice could only share such happy moments with him. Patrick pondered over it. ¡°Okay, then,¡± he agreed. After the cell ended, Alice turned to look et Hector, who wes precticing celligrephy on his desk. ¡°Hector, Pet ising beck. Let''s heed out for e welk todey!¡± When Hector wes in ee, they never hed the opportunity to go out end enjoy some fun ectivities together. Now thet Hector wes better, their femily wes whole egein. Glencing et her, Hector suggested, ¡°Let''s esk Fel to join us. She''s pert of our femily, too.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Heering thet, Alice let out e long sigh. He''s still thinking ebout Felicie, huh? Why cen''t he forget ebout her? She couldn''t help but recell Gwendolyn end the children. Oh, I truly wish thet the kids belonged to Pet. They shere such e striking resemblence to him. If they were his, Hector would be so delighted thet he''d esk Pet to merry Gwen right ewey. I must edmit I''m pertiel to Gwen over Felicie. After Hector wes done, the housekeeper geve him e werm towel for him to wipe his fece end hends. Hector mede his wey over to where Alice wes sitting. After settling down in the cheir beside her, he got himself e cup of coffee end took e sip of it. ¡°Did you meke the cell? We''ll go for e stroll et the perk todey.¡± Alice replied icily, ¡°Yes, I celled him. He seid he''lle over right now.¡± Only Hector would choose e destion es outdeted es e perk. After the call ended, Alice turned to look at Hector, who was practicing calligraphy on his desk. ¡°Hector, Pat ising back. Let''s head out for a walk today!¡± When Hector was in aa, they never had the opportunity to go out and enjoy some fun activities together. Now that Hector was better, their family was whole again. ncing at her, Hector suggested, ¡°Let''s ask Fel to join us. She''s part of our family, too.¡± Hearing that, Alice let out a long sigh. He''s still thinking about Felicia, huh? Why can''t he forget about her? She couldn''t help but recall Gwendolyn and the children. Oh, I truly wish that the kids belonged to Pat. They share such a striking resemnce to him. If they were his, Hector would be so delighted that he''d ask Pat to marry Gwen right away. I must admit I''m partial to Gwen over Felicia. After Hector was done, the housekeeper gave him a warm towel for him to wipe his face and hands. Hector made his way over to where Alice was sitting. After settling down in the chair beside her, he got himself a cup of coffee and took a sip of it. ¡°Did you make the call? We''ll go for a stroll at the park today.¡± Alice replied icily, ¡°Yes, I called him. He said he''lle over right now.¡± Only Hector would choose a destination as outdated as a park. Chapter 435 Chapter 435 After Patrick''s car rolled to a stop at the courtyard of the Lowen residence, the butler pulled the door open and greeted, ¡°Mr. Lowen!¡± Patrick gave him a curt nod and asked, ¡°How is Grandpa doing?¡± Hector seemed to be in good spirits when Patrick saw him yesterday, but he had yet to undergo an examination to confirm his current condition. The butler reported, ¡°After Old Mr. Lowen came homest night, Old Mrs. Lowen instructed the doctor to examine him thoroughly. Fortunately, the report indicated that he was in excellent health. His mood has been upbeat ever since. He was even practicing calligraphy in his study this morning.¡± The Lowen family was obviously thrilled that Hector had recoveredpletely. Patrick even spotted new ornaments adorning the porch. He entered the living room to notice Felicia and Hector sitting together, cheerfully conversing with one another. That very sight caused displeasure to fill Patrick''s heart. After all, he could never forget what she did. Sensing his icy gaze, Felicia turned her head and rose to her feet. ¡°You''re back, Patrick.¡± A smile yed on her lips as she gazed at him adoringly. Alice got up and came to him. ¡°Pat, your grandpa wants to take a stroll around the park. He wants us to keep himpany.¡± She knew that only old people like Hector liked strolling in parks, and young people would find it boring. After Potrick''s cor rolled to o stop ot the courtyord of the Lowen residence, the butler pulled the door open ond greeted, ¡°Mr. Lowen!¡± Potrick gove him o curt nod ond osked, ¡°How is Grondpo doing?¡± Hector seemed to be in good spirits when Potrick sow him yesterdoy, but he hod yet to undergo on exominotion to confirm his current condition. The butler reported, ¡°After Old Mr. Lowene home lost night, Old Mrs. Lowen instructed the doctor to exomine him thoroughly. Fortunotely, the report indicoted thot he wos in excellent heolth. His mood hos been upbeot ever since. He wos even procticing colligrophy in his study this morning.¡± The Lowen fomily wos obviously thrilled thot Hector hod recoveredpletely. Potrick even spotted new ornoments odorning the porch. He entered the living room to notice Felicio ond Hector sitting together, cheerfully conversing with one onother. Thot very sight coused displeosure to fill Potrick''s heort. After oll, he could never forget whot she did. Sensing his icy goze, Felicio turned her heod ond rose to her feet. ¡°You''re bock, Potrick.¡± A smile ployed on her lips os she gozed ot him odoringly. Alice got up onde to him. ¡°Pot, your grondpo wonts to toke o stroll oround the pork. He wonts us to keep himpony.¡± She knew thot only old people like Hector liked strolling in porks, ond young people would find it boring. After Patrick''s car rolled to a stop at the courtyard of the Lowen residence, the butler pulled the door open and greeted, ¡°Mr. Lowen!¡± However, since Hector had just regained consciousness and was now feeling better, everyone had to do their best to fulfill his wishes. However, since Hector had just regained consciousness and was now feeling better, everyone had to do their best to fulfill his wishes. Even she conceded resignedly, wishing nothing more than for him to be able to stay alive and healthy for a few more years instead of falling sick or unconscious. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Patrick urged, ¡°Grandpa, let''s go!¡± Hector scowled and demanded, ¡°What''s the matter? Don''t you want toe with me for this walk? Is it humiliating for you to be seen with me as this is an activity usually done by elderly people?¡± ¡°I wouldn''t dare,¡± Patrick responded curtly before turning around to head to the door. Alice observed Patrick''s animosity toward Felicia, as his affections were clearly directed toward Gwendolyn. I cannot believe Hector imed that Felicia is part of our family and invited her to the walk. Isn''t he annoying Pat? As Felicia helped Hector out, he said, ¡°Fel, he tends to treat everyone indifferently, but if he develops feelings for you, he will remain loyal and never betray you. Good luck!¡± Hector knew Patrick well as they both shared simr personalities. At the parking lot, Hector gave Felicia''s shoulder a pat. ¡°Fel, you should go in Pat''s car.¡± Naturally, Feliciaplied and released her grip on his arm. ¡°Sure, Old Mr. Lowen,¡± she replied cheerfully. She then skipped heppily to Petrick''s cer while Hector stole e glence et Alice, who wes treiling slightly behind him. ¡°Why ere you so slow? Is your stemine worse then mine?¡± he joked. it wes obvious he wes in e good mood. Alice seuntered over end shot him e look. ¡°Next time, don''t invite strengers to our femily outing. You don''t went to upset Pet, do you?¡± With thet, she got into the cer. Hector climbed into the cer efter her end snorted icily. ¡°Why would he be upset? He''s still single now. I went e greet-grendchild, but he refuses to give me one. I''m now helping him to find e pertner, so why would he be picky? He should thenk his lucky sters thet Fel likes him.¡± Alice''s eyes widened e little es she huffed in enger. How could he sey thet ebout Pet? Doesn''t he know how things work now? Young ledies edore indifferent CEOs like Pet! The more he ignores them, the more they edore him. Does he seriously think Pet isn''t eble to get e girlfriend? Nevertheless, she couldn''t bleme Hector for getting enxious es they hed both been eegerly eweiting the dey when Petrick would finelly enter into e romentic reletionship end teke the plunge into merried life. Sedly, Petrick''s sociel circle wesposed solely of meles, end he didn''t heve eny femele friends. ¡°Sure, Old Mr. Lowen,¡± she replied cheerfully. She then skipped happily to Patrick''s car while Hector stole a nce at Alice, who was trailing slightly behind him. ¡°Why are you so slow? Is your stamina worse than mine?¡± he joked. it was obvious he was in a good mood. Alice sauntered over and shot him a look. ¡°Next time, don''t invite strangers to our family outing. You don''t want to upset Pat, do you?¡± With that, she got into the car. Hector climbed into the car after her and snorted icily. ¡°Why would he be upset? He''s still single now. I want a great-grandchild, but he refuses to give me one. I''m now helping him to find a partner, so why would he be picky? He should thank his lucky stars that Fel likes him.¡± Alice''s eyes widened a little as she huffed in anger. How could he say that about Pat? Doesn''t he know how things work now? Youngdies adore indifferent CEOs like Pat! The more he ignores them, the more they adore him. Does he seriously think Pat isn''t able to get a girlfriend? Nevertheless, she couldn''t me Hector for getting anxious as they had both been eagerly awaiting the day when Patrick would finally enter into a romantic rtionship and take the plunge into married life. Sadly, Patrick''s social circle wasposed solely of males, and he didn''t have any female friends. Chapter 436 Chapter 436 Alice let out a sigh. Since Hector adores Felicia, I''m afraid he won''t support Gwen and Pat. She blinked twice before tugging on Hector''s sleeve. ¡°Hector, Gwendolyn is a nice girl. She''s prettier and kinder than Felicia. Besides, she has the added bonus of having three children who resemble Pat. Why don''t you consider her?¡± She tried to persuade Hector to change his mind. She then winked at him flirtatiously. Hopefully, Hector will be receptive to my flirtatious advances and agree to consider her. Marriage is a life-longmitment, so it is important that Pat chooses a partner that he knows he can be happy with for the rest of his life. Alice wanted Patrick to lead a happy life, so she would respect his choices no matter what they were. Patrick lost his parents at a young age, and they were the ones who brought him up. He was a man of few words, so the people around him were often left in the dark when it came to his feelings and thoughts. Alice believed that there was a generation gap between them. Hector nced at her and scoffed, ¡°What''s this about you winking at me? Is something wrong with your eyes? Do you need me to call the family doctor?¡± Alice felt an overwhelming sensation of disappointment wash over her, and she could no longer bring herself to look at him anymore. What an old and dense man. Was I not clear enough? ¡°No need. My eyes are fine,¡± she replied curtly. Feeling worried, Hector tenderly ran his fingers along her cheek before gently brushing her eyelids with his fingertips. Alice let out o sigh. Since Hector odores Felicio, I''m ofroid he won''t support Gwen ond Pot. She blinked twice before tugging on Hector''s sleeve. ¡°Hector, Gwendolyn is o nice girl. She''s prettier ond kinder thon Felicio. Besides, she hos the odded bonus of hoving three children who resemble Pot. Why don''t you consider her?¡± She tried to persuode Hector to chonge his mind. She then winked ot him flirtotiously. Hopefully, Hector will be receptive to my flirtotious odvonces ond ogree to consider her. Morrioge is o life-longmitment, so it is importont thot Pot chooses o portner thot he knows he con be hoppy with for the rest of his life. Alice wonted Potrick to leod o hoppy life, so she would respect his choices no motter whot they were. Potrick lost his porents ot o young oge, ond they were the ones who brought him up. He wos o mon of few words, so the people oround him were often left in the dork when ite to his feelings ond thoughts. Alice believed thot there wos o generotion gop between them. Hector glonced ot her ond scoffed, ¡°Whot''s this obout you winking ot me? Is something wrong with your eyes? Do you need me to coll the fomily doctor?¡± Alice felt on overwhelming sensotion of disoppointment wosh over her, ond she could no longer bring herself to look ot him onymore. Whot on old ond dense mon. Wos I not cleor enough? ¡°No need. My eyes ore fine,¡± she replied curtly. Feeling worried, Hector tenderly ron his fingers olong her cheek before gently brushing her eyelids with his fingertips. Alice let out a sigh. Since Hector adores Felicia, I''m afraid he won''t support Gwen and Pat. ¡°If you feel unwell, let me know. Our eyesight is something that we should never take for granted. Remember that young man from the Surrington family? He lost his eyesight, and his life has been forever changed as a result.¡± ¡°If you feel unwell, let me know. Our eyesight is something that we should never take for granted. Remember that young man from the Surrington family? He lost his eyesight, and his life has been forever changed as a result.¡± ¡°I''m fine. I won''t go blind.¡± Despite her old age, Alice felt fury tear through her. Age would never stop her from getting furious. Nevertheless, Hector was oblivious to the change in her emotions and continued talking about Gwendolyn. ¡°They may look like him, but they aren''t his children. You should stop thinking about getting great- grandchildren the easy way, get it?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. A wave of fury crashed through Alice as she red at him and demanded coldly, ¡°Stop the car.¡± The driver hit the brakes as ordered and nced at them. ¡°What''s wrong, Old Mrs. Lowen?¡± he asked. They want to climb the hill at the park, right? We''re already halfway there. Alice opened the door and stepped out. She strode away without looking back. Hector was confused. ¡°What is wrong with her?¡± Is she on her period? Wait, she no longer has it. Why did she suddenly fly into a fit of rage? The butler replied, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, let me go after her. You should remain in the car, as we are right beside the road. It is quite dangerous here with so many cars going around.¡± Soon, the butler returned, but he was back with Felicia instead. The look of disappointment was all over Hector''s face. Even Felicia seemed glum too, but she couldn''t stop Alice from getting into Patrick''s car earlier. After getting into the cer, she greeted him with e smile, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, Old Mrs. Lowen wents to be with Petrick. I''ll keep youpeny.¡± Her smile conveyed obedience. Scowling, Hector snorted coldly. ¡°She cen go wherever she wents!¡± Deep down, he wes displeesed. How dere she ebendon me? I heve mede e full recovery end cen welk with eese, so I thought we could finelly heve e chence to enjoy eech other''speny. Yet, here I em, left elone. Oh, this is frustreting! Inside Petrick''s cer, Alice begen renting ebout Hector, pouring out every lest bit of her frustretion. She felt so much better efter thet. She turned eround end esked, ¡°Pet, you don''t like strolling in the perk, too, right?¡± He loves strolling in the perk, huh? Then I''ll let him do thet himself. I won''t epeny him, end I''ll meke sure to teke his grendson ewey from him es well. He! It serves him right for thinking he cen just do whetever he pleeses. Petrick nodded slightly. ¡°Mm.¡± His voice wes cold end emotionless, conveying his discontentment with the idee of going to the perk. It wes cleer thet the person tegging elong wes not someone he wes perticulerly fond of. If Gwendolyn wes the one here, he would most definitely reect differently. ¡°Pet, why don''t we teke e trip to Gwen''s house? I reelly miss the kids end would love to spend some time with them.¡± After getting into the car, she greeted him with a smile, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, Old Mrs. Lowen wants to be with Patrick. I''ll keep youpany.¡± Her smile conveyed obedience. Scowling, Hector snorted coldly. ¡°She can go wherever she wants!¡± Deep down, he was displeased. How dare she abandon me? I have made a full recovery and can walk with ease, so I thought we could finally have a chance to enjoy each other''spany. Yet, here I am, left alone. Oh, this is frustrating! Inside Patrick''s car, Alice began ranting about Hector, pouring out everyst bit of her frustration. She felt so much better after that. She turned around and asked, ¡°Pat, you don''t like strolling in the park, too, right?¡± He loves strolling in the park, huh? Then I''ll let him do that himself. I won''t apany him, and I''ll make sure to take his grandson away from him as well. Ha! It serves him right for thinking he can just do whatever he pleases. Patrick nodded slightly. ¡°Mm.¡± His voice was cold and emotionless, conveying his discontentment with the idea of going to the park. It was clear that the person tagging along was not someone he was particrly fond of. If Gwendolyn was the one here, he would most definitely react differently. ¡°Pat, why don''t we take a trip to Gwen''s house? I really miss the kids and would love to spend some time with them.¡± Chapter 437 Chapter 437 Gwendolyn and Tiffany arrived in Willowbank, Frosa. Willowbank was a fashion capital as well as heaven for all fashionistas. After checking into the hotel, Gwendolyn stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the ocean view outside. The weather then was already scorching, and the scenery was breathtaking. Right then, her phone rang. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. ¡°Tiffany.¡± It was a call from Tiffany. She was staying in the room next door. ¡°Gwen, take a rest for now. We''ll go out to have our meal at six o''clockter. I''m bringing you to meet a friend of mine. Preen yourself and wear formal clothes.¡± Gwendolyn could tell the dinner that night would be more of a formal asion. Okay, Tiffany.¡± After hanging up the phone, Gwendolyn took a shower before taking a nap. At six o''clock in the evening, Tiffany knocked on her door. ¡°Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn had already changed into a light purple strapless fishtail gown. She tied her hair into a bun and wore a pair of amethyst earrings. Hanging around her neck was the ne, Starry Tears. She lifted her hand and touched it. This ne looks good with any outfit. It''s not too striking, nor is it unnoticeable. She was genuinely impressed by the abilities of the people in the olden times to create such a piece of exquisite jewelry. Gwendolyn was reminded of Patrick, and at the thought of him, she automatically thought about Felicia. She couldn''t help but let out a sigh. Is there still hope for Patrick and me to be together? Gwendolyn had lost the confidence she used to have. At that moment, she was starting to feel lost. After all, his grandfather was adamant in his stance. On the other hand, her grandfather also insisted on wanting her to marry Zayden. I''m caught between a rock and a hard ce. This is such a difficult decision to make. Amidst her daze, the sound of someone knocking on the door reverberated beside her ears again. She quickly pulled herself together, picked up her handbag, and left the room. Standing at the doorway, Tiffany, wearing a ck evening gown, emitted an air of elegance. Next to her was her assistant, Lte Ramos. Lte chirped, ¡°Ms. Ashton, you look gorgeous today!¡± Gwendolyn grinned. ¡°Thank you, but Tiffany is the most beautiful one here.¡± Tiffany was dressed in vintage clothing. Gwendolyn had seen that outfit in Tiffany''s walk-in closet previously. Tiffany had specially hung the gown in a disy wardrobe. She told Gwendolyn the dress was created by a famous designer of thest century and was worn by Frosa''s queen. The trio took a car to a manor in the suburbs. When the vehicle drove slowly through the gates, Gwendolyn noticed a flower field in the vicinity. Fresh flowers that bloomed during the season spread across the plot ofnd. She rolled down the window and took a deep breath, catching a whiff of the floral fragrance. Lte couldn''t help but exim, ¡°Wow! This is an old castle. Are we having our dinner here?¡± There were many ancient castles in Willowbank. Lte and Gwendolyn even nned to visit the castles the next day initially. Unexpectedly, their wish was realized that night. Tiffany uttered tly, ¡°This is my friend''s ce. She bought the castle for her own stay. You two can explore the ce to your heart''s contentter.¡± Gwendolyn widened her sparkling eyes. That person must be incredibly wealthy! Needless to say, she must be a prominent figure since she''s Tiffany''s friend. When the car pulled up in the parking lot outside the castle, someone wearing a housekeeper''s uniform opened the car door for them. After Tiffany exited the vehicle, she embraced a woman with an exceptional temperament, who was dressed in a maroon vintage dress. Gwendolyn and Lte, standing nearby, felt an inexplicable hint of an oppressive vibe from the woman when they took in that scene. Subsequently, Tiffany summoned Gwendolyn. ¡°Come over here, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn walked over and greeted the woman, ¡°Hello, mydy.¡± The woman wore a thin ck veil, so her facial features were indiscernible. Nevertheless, her distinguished and graceful presence was profound. She slightly narrowed her eyes at Gwendolyn before shifting her gaze onto Tiffany. Tiffany grinned while cing an arm around Gwendolyn. ¡°She''s my apprentice, Gwendolyn Ashton.¡± Chapter 438 Chapter 438 Gwendolyn clearly sensed the changes in emotions in the woman''s eyes. Thetter was first shocked. Subsequently, the astonishment evolved into tion, then into calmness. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Gwendolyn had a feeling the woman knew her. However, even after racking her brain, she still couldn''t think of anyone she was acquainted with that was from Willowbank. She had never visited that ce either. Tiffany pointed at the woman and said, ¡°Gwen, this is my good friend, Sophia Sanders.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Hello, Mdm. Sanders.¡± That form of address was strange, but Gwendolyn thought it would be inappropriate to address Sophia as Ms. Sanders right away without knowing her marital status. Sophia smiled. ¡°I''m not married, so you can call me Ms. Sanders.¡± Gwendolyn was momentarily stunned. She was under the assumption Sophia married an affluent man. To her surprise, Sophia was actually an independent woman. She''s indeed a formidable person. Gwendolyn beamed with her dimples showing. ¡°Ms. Sanders.¡± Taking in that cheery countenance, Sophia was reminded of her younger self. I was a sweet little girl back then too. Tears brimmed in her eyes, so she turned around to avoid letting others notice her soft side. ¡°This way, please.¡± She strode up the stairs as she spoke. Looking at Sophia''s gorgeous and alluring figure from behind, Gwendolyn thought she would''ve likely mistaken Sophia for a girl in her twenties if it weren''t because she was Tiffany''s friend. She maintains her physique so well. How great would it be if I could also preserve my body shape like her when I''m in my forties and fifties? The party was led into the dining room after entering the castle. The dining room also had a retro design, which suited and upheld the fourteenth to fifteenth-century style. The wall was decorated with tall, white wooden boards, and antique paintings in ck frames adorned the green wallpaper in the room. The long and massive dining table was covered with a green tablecloth with a flower petal design. The green pottery ced on the tabletop added a simplistic and tasteful vibe to the ce. The food on the table was served on gold-rimmed tes. Gwendolyn had broken Patrick''s tes before, so she knew how expensive the crockery was. She checked the price afterward and realized Patrick''s crockery set was worth at least a few hundred thousand. The amount he requested from her aspensation was already discounted. They had a plentiful meal for dinner, but everyone mainly ate in silence. Only the clinking sound of utensils rang in the quiet environment. After dinner, Lte and Gwendolyn expressed their wish to explore the castle and left the living room. Sitting in the living room, Sophia stared intently in the direction of the staircase with a hint of yearning apparent in her eyes. Tiffany smiled. ¡°Sophia, she''s your daughter. She looks just like you.¡± Tiffany brought Gwendolyn there to reunite the mother and daughter. Sophia averted her gaze. The tenderness in her eyes gradually dissipated and was reced by a grim look. ¡°How has she been?¡± Tiffany shook her head. ¡°Sophia, she''s not Zachary''s daughter, so do you think he would''ve treated her well? If Old Mr. Ashton hadn''t protected her, she wouldn''t have grown up safely and healthily. Unfortunately, she was still set up by Candace in the end and gave birth to three children out of wedlock. Gwen was chased out of the Ashton family and lived a tough life with her three kids.¡± Hearing that, Sophia clenched her fists. ¡°Zachary, that b*stard.¡± Tiffany couldn''t stop herself from asking, ¡°Sophia, what exactly happened in the past? Who is Gwen''s biological father? Why are you reluctant toe clean?¡± Back then, Sophia was pregnant when she married into the Ashton family and was only Zachary''s wife on paper. In the end, in a pathetic state, she left the family and left Gwen at the Ashton residence. I know Sophia wouldn''t just abandon her child if she weren''t caught up in an utterly desperate situation. Sophia got to her feet. ¡°Make yourself at home. I need to go and take my medicine.¡± She lifted her arm to clutch at her chest. She had a heart condition, but the cause of the illness couldn''t be identified. Whenever she thought of the events that urred at Avenport, her heart would ache. Only by taking medicine could she stop that agony. Watching Sophia head upstairs, Tiffany muttered, ¡°What happened in the past? Who is Sophia trying to protect?¡± Chapter 439 Chapter 439 Gwendolyn and Lte wandered through the castle, taking in the sights. They were amazed to discover that some of the paintings inside the rooms were world-renowned works of art. As an art student, Lte was particrly excited and spent a significant amount of time studying the paintings. In contrast, Gwendolyn seemed uninterested and only nced at them briefly before moving on. As a result, thedies decided to part ways. When Gwendolyn arrived on the third floor, she bumped into Sophia. She stopped and called out, ¡°Ms. Sanders!¡± Sophia was struck by how much Gwendolyn''s pretty face resembled her own when she was younger. However, her face became sorrowful as she remembered her own scarred face. ¡°Do you like it here, Gwen?¡± she asked. Nodding, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°May I take some pictures? My daughter loves castles. I''m sure every little girl has a princess dream.¡± She was certain that her daughter would be overjoyed to learn that she had visited a castle. Her mood lifted considerably as she pictured her daughter''s delighted looks. When Sophia saw Gwendolyn''s joyful expression, she smiled as well. ¡°Sure, feel free to take photos. You are wee to bring your child and stay here whenever you like.¡± In truth, Sophia hoped that they could stay in the castle for a long time. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Sanders. If I have the chance, I''ll definitely bring them to visit you,¡± Gwendolyn responded with a smile. She then pointed to the side and said, ¡°I''m going to take a video now.¡± As Gwendolyn turned to leave, Sophia called out to her. ¡°Gwen...¡± The woman turned around with a broad smile on her face. ¡°Yes?¡± she said sweetly. ¡°Come with me to my room. I have something to tell you,¡± Sophia replied. Gwendolyn followed her into the bedroom, which was spacious and luxuriously decorated. In the center of the room was a bright red wooden bed with thick bedposts covered in deep red silk curtains. The room had tworge windows, with crimson curtains heavilyyered and folded on either side of the windows. There was a wide-open space outside with blooming flower fields. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. It was truly enjoyable to live here. Sophia raised her hand and gestured. ¡°Feel free to sit wherever you like. Make yourself at home.¡± As with Tiffany, Gwendolyn had an odd sense of familiarity and felt quite close to Sophia for some reason. Gwendolyn sat on the small couch, waiting for Sophia, who went into the walk-in closet. Soon, thetter came out with a box in her hand. She sat next to Gwendolyn and handed her the box before saying, ¡°Gwen, you''re the same age as my daughter. When I see you, I think of her. I wanted to give this to her, but I''ll give it to you instead.¡± As Gwendolyn was surprised by her words, the former''s eyes widened slightly. ¡°Where''s your daughter now?¡± she asked. Sophia forced a smile and replied, ¡°She''s gone.¡± Sweetheart, you are my daughter. I''m your mother. Sadly, she could not say her thoughts aloud as she did not want to disturb Gwendolyn''s peaceful life. When Gwendolyn opened the box, she saw a transfer of ownership document for Solstice Group''s shares. Solstice Group? She knew that the organization owned shopping malls all over the world, including three malls in Avenport. As Gwendolyn read the share transfer agreement document, she eximed, ¡°Your daughter is so lucky, Ms. Sanders!¡± With this transfer of equity, she would be the owner of Solstice Group and a billionaire. Sophia shook her head. ¡°Gwen, it''s all yours now. Just think of it as helping me fulfill my wish. Solstice Group will be yours from now on if you ept it.¡± With that amount of money, you can raise your three childrenfortably and no longer have to worry about food and clothing. Nobody can bully you anymore. Gwendolyn quickly closed the box. It was simply too tempting, but she could not ept it. Although she used to be preupied with money and fantasized about making money every day, she now desired to make money through her own hard work. ¡°Ms. Sanders, I can''t ept this. It''s too valuable,¡± she said hastily. Chapter 440 Chapter 440 Gwendolyn was genuinely startled. It was their first meeting, yet the woman was giving her billions in assets. Anyone in their right mind would be suspicious of the strange situation. Upon seeing her wary look, Sophia smiled and reassured, ¡°Gwen, don''t be afraid. I''d like you to help me fulfill my wish. You look like my daughter, and I don''tck this money. Please take it. You may not need it, but your three children do.¡± Hearing this, Gwendolyn was stunned. How did this woman know I have three children? Perhaps my mentor told her. She pursed her lips and replied, ¡°Ms. Sanders, although I love money very much and have always wanted to earn more to give my children a better life, I have never thought of epting something like this. I really can''t take it.¡± After speaking, Gwendolyn turned around and left. She really could not ept such avish gift. However, Sophia quickly stopped her and took off her veil. To Gwendolyn''s shock, thedy in front of her resembled her in every way, especially her eyes and lips. It was as if they were carved from the same mold. Regrettably, her exquisite beauty was marred by a big scar on her left cheek. Feeling sympathetic toward her, Gwendolyn remarked, ¡°Ms. Sanders.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. The woman smiled and said, ¡°My face is ruined, so I can only live in the darkness. Gwen, don''t we look alike? Just take it as fulfilling my wish! You must keep it.¡± After cing the box in Gwendolyn''s hand, she continued, ¡°Next month, mywyer will be heading to Avenport to finalize the transfer of the shares. Solstice Group will be yours from then on.¡± As she patted Gwendolyn''s hand, she added, ¡°Gwen, I hope you can be happy! Don''t follow in my footsteps.¡± Suddenly, Gwendolyn seemed to understand why her mentor brought her to meet Sophia. It turned out that they really looked alike. Gwendolyn was stunned for a moment. ¡°Ms. Sanders, do you know Isabe Myers?¡± she asked. Gwendolyn only knew her mother''s name was Isabe Myers, but she had no idea what she looked like. It did not help that the Ashton family did not keep a single photo of her. Sophia''s gaze changed slightly, but she quickly regained herposure and said calmly, ¡°I don''t know who she is. Am I supposed to know her?¡± Gwendolyn held the box tightly in her hands and shook her head as she uttered, ¡°She''s my mother. I guess it''s impossible for the both of you to be acquainted.¡± After all, she did not know where her mother was now. Her father told her that her mother had died a long time ago. But Gwendolyn had never been willing to ept it. She believed that one day her mother woulde back and that she did not abandon her. Seeing the woman''s despondent look made Sophia''s heart ache. If it was possible, she would want to acknowledge her as her daughter too. Unfortunately, her current identity did not allow her to reunite with Gwendolyn. She did not want to bring harm to her daughter. Solstice Group was apany Sophia ran using someone else''s identity. It was a well-known and reputable business. All this while, she had to live in the shadows and do things that could not be seen in broad daylight. Wrapping Gwendolyn up in a warm embrace, Sophia said gently, ¡°You can think of me as your mother, Gwen. I have a daughter too. She''s just no longer around.¡± Gwendolyn felt the warmth of motherly love flowing throughout her body. She considered asking the woman what had happened to her face as the former leaned on her shoulder. s, she decided it was best not to speak about the matter. After all, it was likely to be an unpleasant memory. Every woman would value her appearance and never want to be disfigured. It was clear that Sophia had gone through many hardships to be the strong woman she was today. She, like most sessful women, must have recognized that she could only rely on herself. Only then could she protect herself and the people she cared about. Just then, Tiffany knocked on the door and called out, ¡°Gwen, it''s time to go!¡± Sophia released Gwendolyn and wiped the tears off thetter''s face. After wearing her veil, sheforted, ¡°Don''t cry, Gwen. You look so pretty when you smile. You should smile more in the future.¡± After ncing at the box in her hands, Gwendolyn nodded slightly and said, ¡°Thank you, Ms. Sanders. You should smile more too!¡± Chapter 441 Chapter 441 Sophia removed a diamond earring from her ear and put it on Gwendolyn''s. ¡°Gwen, be sure to wear this all the time. Press the diamond on it when you''re in danger, and someone wille to save you.¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes widened a little, and she nodded. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Sanders.¡± It was apparent to Gwendolyn how well Sophia treated her. That diamond earring gifted to her was exactly the same as the other one Sophia was wearing. By the appearance of it, she could not tell that the jewelry was actually an rm device. In truth, Gwendolyn wanted to tell Sophia there was no need to do that. She thought she barely ever ran into danger and reckoned it was better for Sophia to keep it to protect herself instead. However, noticing the worried look in Sophia''s eyes, Gwendolyn ultimately did not have the heart to reject her kindness. Since this is her kind intention, I should ept it, shouldn''t I? I''ve already made her remove her veil and reveal her most vulnerable side to me because of my rejections earlier. Since we look so alike, maybe we were sisters or mother and daughter in our past life. Perhaps it''s destiny that brought us together. It''d be too much if I refused her kindness any further. Sophia opened the door. Tiffany, who was standing outside, broke into a smile. ¡°What secret conversation were you two having in there?¡± Tiffany was, in fact, happy for Sophia since thetter finally got to meet the daughter she had been thinking of for the past twenty years. If Tiffany did not run into Gwendolyn and discovered how she looked so much like Sophia back when she was in Astoria, the two would most likely not have had the opportunity to meet each other in this life. ¡°It''s none of your business,¡± Sophia replied with a cold expression. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Tiffany arched her brow in response. ¡°Gwen, it''s gettingte. We should head back now.¡± Meanwhile, Alice and Patrick left Star Mansion and headed to Gwendolyn''s house. When Camille opened the door to see the two outside, she smilingly said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, Old Mrs. Lowen, what brings you here?¡± Patrick replied tly, ¡°Where is she?¡± She didn''t go to the hospital to look after Zayden again, did she? Thinking of how fortunate Zayden was that he could enjoy being cared for by Gwendolyn, Patrick felt a surge of jealousy within him. Camille nced at Alice. ¡°Gwen is on a business trip to Frosa. She''s attending night sses, and it seems that her work has won an award. She''s off to receive it!¡± After saying that, she weed them in. ¡°Pleasee in and take a seat. I just made some dessert.¡± Upon hearing that there was dessert, Alice perked up a little. As much as she had her fair share of dessert at home every day to the point she was sick of it, she supposed she could switch it up and try something different. A glimmer of darkness shed across Patrick''s eyes. He was undoubtedly upset to learn that Gwendolyn had left for Frosa. Alice hummed a quick acknowledgment and added, ¡°Great! I''m thinking of waiting for the three kids to return. I miss them so much. I even bought lots of toys for them.¡± With that, she turned and said to the housekeeper behind, ¡°Take these inside.¡± Along their way over, they had gone to the shopping mall and bought some toys they thought the kids would like. Alice loved having children around. Since the three kids looked so much like Patrick, they would always remind her of her future grandchildren. Just then, Patrick lifted his left hand and looked at the expensive watch on his wrist. ¡°Grandma, I still have an important meeting today. I''ll take my leave first.¡± Alice knew Patrick''s mind was somewhere else, as Gwendolyn was not around. ¡°Sure! Even if you buy a ticket now, you can still make it. Camille said the award ceremony will be held tomorrow evening.¡± She then turned and headed toward Gwendolyn''s house. Patrick raised his brow slightly. Did I say I''m going? But that''s a good idea too. I''ve been thinking of taking a break recently, anyway. He got into the car, fished out his phone, and dialed a phone number. Then, he said to the driver, ¡°Head back first.¡± Shortly after, the call was connected. Amber''s voice rang out from the other end. ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± ¡°Ms. Johnson, help me book a ne ticket to Willowbank, Frosa two hourster. I''ll head to the airport now.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Lowen.¡± The moment Patrick returned home, he took his passport and quickly packed a few clothes to bring along. As he headed downstairs, he gave Gwendolyn a call. Sadly, the call did not go through. He figured she probably did not activate data roaming on her phone. Chapter 442 Chapter 442 On the other side, Gwendolyn and the rest returned to the hotel. After showering and putting on her pajamas, she reached for her phone, thinking of giving the three kids a video call. However, since she did not activate data roaming beforehand, she could not make any calls after arriving in Frosa. If I had known, I would''ve activated data roaming beforeing. Unfortunately, she had never traveled overseas all these years, and thus she was unaware of it. It was toote now that she thought about it. Eventually, she resorted to calling the hotel reception to retrieve the hotel Wi-Fi password using the landline phone in the room. After connecting to the inte, she made a video call to the three kids. The first thing Gwendolyn saw after the call went through was Juliette''s adorable face. Following that, the girl''s sweet voice sounded. ¡°Mommy! Look who''s here at our house!¡± It was only then Alice leaned over with a smile. ¡°Gwen, it''s me.¡± Gwendolyn was surprised. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, have the kids been mischievous?¡± Alice wrapped her arms around Juliette adoringly. ¡°They''re very obedient. No way are they mischievous. Don''t worry, Gwen. Go and receive your award with ease. I''ll help ensure everything is fine here.¡± The mere thought of how Patrick had left for Frosa to meet Gwendolyn left Alice feeling pleased and excited. If it were me, I''d definitely be touched to meet my loved one this way. Hopefully, things will go well for Gwen and Pat. As for Hector, Alice was resolute about raising her objections against him. After all, she figured that Patrick''s happiness was more important. Besides, Gwendolyn was the only woman she would acknowledge as her granddaughter-inw. Right then, Justin and Julian tilted their heads over to see Gwendolyn. Without choice, Alice and Juliette could only step aside. Worriedly, Justin asked, ¡°Did you have a smooth journey? You didn''t get airsick or carsick, did you?¡± The boy''s voice was deep, and he sounded like an adult. Gwendolyn could not help but be amused. ¡°No, I didn''t. I didn''t get airsick or carsick at all.¡± Then Julian popped another question. ¡°What about the hotel? How''s the environment? Is it safe?¡± Sure enough, the two boys were equally concerned about her safety and health. It was especially after giving birth to two boys that Gwendolyn realized she had two men in the world who would only constantly think about her, and that was none other than her two sons. ¡°It''s a five-star hotel. The bed''s veryfortable. Oh yes, I had a meal in an ancient castle today. There was a sumptuous spread, and everything tasted amazing.¡± As soon as Juliette heard the mention of a castle, she quickly squeezed over and fit herself in the screen. ¡°Is it a real castle, Mommy? Is there a princess in there?¡± With her eyes widened, she stared at Gwendolyn intently as she waited for an answer. Immense excitement was overflowing from her expression. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Of course. An old princess is staying in there. She says she wants to invite all of you over to y next time.¡± ¡°Really? I want to go!¡± Thrilled, Juliette ran to one side and twirled around joyfully. When Alice saw the scene before her, her eyes glistened with tears. If Pat can hurry and bring us a few great-grandchildren, our house will be this lively too. Alice''s gaze was filled with envy as that thought crossed her mind. I hope Pat And Gwen can get married soon. Who knows, maybe she can get pregnant with triplets again too! If that''s the case, there''ll be six kids at home. It''ll get even livelier. After the call with the kids, Gwendolyn rolled around the bed casually. True enough, the children were the best cure for everything. Gwendolyn was now feeling so much better. Feeling exhausted, she cast her phone aside and switched off the lights. Soon after, she fell into a deep slumber. After an indeterminate time passed, Gwendolyn somehow felt a heavy weight from a hand bearing down on her waist. She was so frightened that she jolted awake from her sleep. The curtains in the hotel room worked well at shielding light from prating inside. After she turned off the lights, the room was pitch ck, and she could barely see anything. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Nheless, she could hear someone else''s breathing. It was clear and sounded right beside her ear. At this point, she was confident that the hand around her waist belonged to a man. The situation left her terrified. Did a baddie make his way in here? Was I really in such a deep sleep? Why didn''t I realize anything? Or did this guy enter the wrong room? That''s why he didn''t do anything to me and merely slept with his arms around me? Chapter 443 Chapter 443 After analyzing the situation in her mind calmly, Gwendolyn hopped off the bed. Then she grabbed the vase next to her and turned on the lights. ¡°Who are you?¡± she demanded while gripping the vase, preparing to hurl it at the intruder anytime. The man on the bed moved slightly. As the lights were blinding, he shielded his eyes with his hand and replied, ¡°It''s me.¡± Gwendolyn froze for a second when she heard his deep and sleepy voice. Why does he sound so much like Patrick? Am I hallucinating? ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked again. The woman was convinced that her ears were ying tricks on her, as it was impossible for Patrick to be there. By then, Patrick waspletely awake. When he saw Gwendolyn hugging the vase and was ready to attack, he let out a chuckle. At least she is smart enough to arm herself with a weapon. This shows that she knows how to protect herself. The man sat up and looked at Gwendolyn. With a smile on his perfectly sculpted face, he said, ¡°Do you know who I am now?¡± Gwendolyn visibly rxed after making sure that it was not some other strange man. Phew. She didn''t know how she would have reacted otherwise. What was certain was that she would not let the matter slide and would make the hotel pay for it. Gwendolyn ced the vase back on the table. Suddenly, her eyes widened. ¡°Patrick, why are you in my room?¡± The man was dressed in his pajamas. Gwendolyn could not help but wonder if he had a special power that allowed him to teleport himself to her room in the middle of his sleep. They were currently in Willowbank, not Avenport. How can someone who''s supposed to be a thousand miles away suddenly appear here? Gwendolyn rubbed her eyes a few times and stared at Patrick suspiciously, wondering if there was something wrong with him. Patrick was rendered speechless by the woman''sck of intelligence. Running his fingers through his hair, he replied, ¡°I''m here on a business trip. I heard from Grandma that you''re here, so I told the hotel reception that you''re my wife and showed them our photo. That''s how I got the key.¡± He had wanted to give Gwendolyn a surprise, but she was already sleeping soundly when he entered the room earlier. As he could not bear to wake her up, he decided to wash up and go straight to bed, settling for just hugging her through the night. Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief before jumping onto the bed. She wrapped her arms around and bit Patrick''s neck. ¡°Ow... Gwendolyn, are you a dog?¡± It was so painful that, for a moment, Patrick thought that the woman had gone mad. After Gwendolyn had her fill of punishing Patrick, she looked up with a frown on her face. ¡°Patrick, you gave me such a scare! I thought a stranger entered the wrong room and that I was sharing a bed with another man!¡± She shuddered at the thought of that. ¡°That will never happen, silly,¡± Patrick replied while pinching Gwendolyn''s cheeks affectionately. After saying that, he shifted his gaze to her luscious lips and inched closer to her, wanting to kiss her. Gwendolyn dodged his lips as she suddenly remembered what had happened the previous night. The man''s eyes burned with desire as he said, ¡°Gwen, I want you now.¡± Everything had been set up for him perfectly, and he did not want to miss out on such a great opportunity. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Gwendolyn pouted and let go of Patrick before copsing onto the bed. Turning her back toward him, she said grumpily, ¡°Didn''t Felicia satisfy you enoughst night? I find you dirty after what you did with her. Patrick, I don''t want you anymore.¡± The joy she had felt when she saw him earlier had entirely dissipated, and recing it was a hint of jealousy. Patrick was baffled. How could I have done anything with Felicia given the state I was in? This girl is too good at imagining things. Patrick reached out to touch Gwendolyn''s head, which was covered with gauze, and asked, ¡°How did this happen?¡± Only then did Gwendolyn remember that she was injured. She had almost forgotten about it, as she had worn a hat in the morning and a headband at the evening banquet to hide the ugly gauze on her head. After the man brought it up, she started to feel the pain from her wound. Chapter 444 Chapter 444 Gwendolyn continued to ignore Patrick as her expression grew increasingly grim. Seeing that, Patrick picked her up and wrapped his arms tightly around her. ¡°There''s absolutely nothing between Felicia and me. My family sent the doctor to me as I was having a fever, and Felicia ended up tagging along with him. I was already in a daze by then. I wanted to chase after you when I saw you leaving, but my body was too weak to move,¡± Patrick exined while rubbing Gwendolyn''s nose dotingly. Taking a pause, he continued, ¡°Gwen, can you stop being angry with me on ount of the fact that I was really sickst night?¡± Patrick could feel his scalp tingling as he thought about the searing headache he had the previous night. That was not an experience he wanted to have ever again. Gwendolyn pondered over Patrick''s words as she gazed at his earnest expression. ¡°Are you having a fever?¡± she asked, putting her hand against his forehead. Patrick chuckled and replied, ¡°I''m fine now. I''m cured of everything after seeing you.¡± While Gwendolyn slowly retracted her hand, Patrick suddenly pinned her underneath him. ¡°Since we''re awake, let''s do something fun.¡± The man turned off the lights and pressed his lips against Gwendolyn''s. Gwendolyn''s eyes widened slightly. She tried to resist, but her mind gradually went nk as Patrick kissed her passionately. Hisrge hands were roaming all over her body, and she could not help but moan at the warm and tingling sensation she felt wherever his fingers traveled. ¡°Pat...¡± Patrick felt a pleasant shudder go through his entire body when he heard Gwendolyn''s alluring voice. He started removing her clothes while saying soothingly, ¡°Babe, be patient. I will let you have it.¡± Gwendolyn opened her eyes at once, as it was obvious that the man had misunderstood her. However, his deep and maic voice was bewitching, and she could feel her self-control slipping further. She began to trace her fingers across his chest, all the way down to his eight-pack abs. She was impressed by how good his figure was. In fact, Gwendolyn had been wanting to touch his body for a long time. As she had been too nervous and scared the previous time they got intimate, she did not dare to do it. However, she had grown bolder. Clearly feeling her enthusiasm, Patrick smiled. His eyes were aze with excitement, and it seemed as if he could not wait to devour her. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. He was d that the room was pitch dark, as he was sure Gwendolyn would have freaked out if she had seen his hungry expression at that moment. Just then, Patrick''s phone rang. However, he did not stop his actions. He badly wanted to have a taste of the woman. Gwendolyn grabbed his phone and epted the call, identally putting it on speaker. ¡°Pat, Kev here. I know it''ste, but I''m calling to remind you not to engage in any strenuous exercise!¡± Kevin said in a cheeky tone as though he was watching the couple''s every move through a surveince camera. Shocked, Gwendolyn pushed Patrick away immediately before covering herself with the nket. Then she started scanning the room to check if there was indeed anyone spying on them. A crease appeared between Patrick''s brows. The sexual tension in him was so overwhelming that he couldn''t care less about his need to rest and recuperate. All he wanted was to end the call and continue with what he and Gwendolyn had been doing. ¡°Kev, do you know what time it is now? Why are you still awake?¡± It made no sense that the man was calling him at two in the morning to remind him to refrain from strenuous exercise unless he knew something. Patrick nced at the woman who was hiding under the covers in fear and was certain that she was convinced that their room was under surveince. He curled his lips slightly and was about to hang up before Kevin''s voice sounded. ¡°I justpleted a surgery and was feeling bored. That''s why I called you. Are you really exercising right now?¡± the man asked tentatively before falling silent for a moment. A whileter, he continued in a stern voice, ¡°Pat, have you forgotten how terrible you felt yesterday? Do you really have a death wish?¡± Gwendolyn could hear everything clearly. ¡°Keep quiet and get back to work. Don''t worry about me. I''m hanging up now,¡± Patrick growled. Chapter 445 Chapter 445 After ending the call, he threw himself at Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn shrieked in response, ¡°Patrick, move aside.¡± Despite her request, he had no intention ofplying. There was no way he could wait any longer under those circumstances. No way, so stop dreaming. As she spoke, her lips were sealed by his, and she gradually closed her eyes. Truth be told, he wasn''t the only one who felt the urge, as she was equally aroused. However, she opened her eyes suddenly at the thought of Kevin''s words over the phone. She stopped him with her hand. ¡°Wait, Patrick. Wait...¡± Patrick stared at her with displeasure. Despite his features being barely discernible underneath the dim light, the anger in his eyes was unmistakable. Gwendolyn stroked his chest to assuage him. ¡°Calm down. It''s alreadyte. I''m due to receive my award tomorrow, and I want to look good for the cameras. Why don''t you be patient for tonight?¡± She had no choice but to use her own affairs as a pretext to stop him. If she were to mention his condition, he would definitely ravage her after insisting that he was fine. Patrick nudged her with his manhood, causing her to blush. ¡°Stop messing around.¡± She gave him a p. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. She couldn''t believe how intensely her cheeks were burning. He''s so cheeky that he actually... She could not say it out loud. All she could think of was its ferocious shape, for she felt as if she had been prodded by a metal stick. Ahem! She cleared her throat to cast the thought out of her head. Patrick continued to caress her. ¡°I''ll be gentle and won''t leave a mark. Let''s continue.¡± Pinned on the bed, Gwendolyn could barely move at all. There was little she could do if Patrick were to force himself on her, so she wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°Patrick, why don''t we just hug each other to sleep? If we continue, I''ll get dark circles tomorrow from not having enough sleep. This is the first time I''m receiving an award. I''ll hate you for life if I don''t look pretty during the ceremony.¡± Given how persuasive Gwendolyn was, Patrick finally understood the reason Juliette was so good at ttery¡ªshe had taken after her mother. Furrowing his brows, Patrick mentally held Kevin ountable for what happened. The annoying Kev must be itching for me to teach him a lesson! Gwendolyn nuzzled her face against his neck. ¡°I''m really sleepy. Goodnight.¡± She let out a loud yawn. It was clear from the sound of it that she was extremely tired. Patrick''s heart melted. He knew how important the ceremony was to her. In fact, he hade over because he didn''t want to miss the first time she received an award. Not wanting to be hated for life by her, he finally climbed off her before holding her in his arms to sleep. Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief. What''s written in books is true. If one loves you, he will worry about not doing enough for you. Conversely, someone who doesn''t love you will demand more instead. Patrick''s concern is born out of his love for me. Feeling blissful, she tightened her arms around Patrick. ¡°Good night, Pat!¡± With that, she closed her eyes and fell asleep the next second. Even though Patrick still felt a sense of difort, he furrowed his brows slightly at the sound of her gentle breathing. She''s clearly exhausted. He could only dampen his lust and try his best to sleep. However, just as he was about to enter dreand, Gwendolyn lifted her leg and rested it on his waist, arousing him a second time right after he had calmed himself down. Patrick''s face darkened. He felt as if he had been single for too long. Otherwise, his lust wouldn''t have been ignited with such ease. Luckily, she''s asleep. It would be embarrassing if she found out. As Gwendolyn buried her head further into his neck, her lips gently brushed against his skin, fanning the mes of his lust further. Frowning at her, he whispered, ¡°Gwendolyn, can you please behave? If you seduce me again, I''ll give it to you right away. To hell with the awards ceremony tomorrow. I''ll make sure that you won''t be able to get out of bed.¡± Chapter 446 Chapter 446 Gwendolyn was naturally oblivious to his warning, as she was in deep slumber. Subconsciously, she climbed on top of him while tightening her arms around his waist. As her slender leg moved further down, it finally made contact with his groin. Overwhelmed by the lust that flooded him, Patrick had no choice but to get out of bed. Only after he got a cold shower in the bathroom did he extinguish his burning desire. When Gwendolyn''s rm rang the next morning, she grabbed her phone and saw that it was already nine. The awards ceremony was in the evening. Although she could still sleep in, she had invited Lte to go shopping, as she wanted to get the children presents. They agreed to leave at ten and be back at the hotel by four. After that, they would get ready for the ceremony at seven. Weighed down by her lethargy, Gwendolyn med Patrick for making out with her in the middle of the night. If she hadn''te to her senses, she would likely have been confined to her bed for the rest of the day. As his arm was still wrapped around her waist, she gave it a gentle poke while grinning in glee. He''s still not awake despite my prodding. It seems that he''s a deeper sleeper than I am! She turned to face him and gently poked at his eyebrows first before doing the same to his eyes. Unexpectedly, the sight of him caught her off guard. Why is his face red? It''s as if he has put on some makeup powder. I can''t deny he looks good with this sickly beauty look.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. When she leaned in to feel his face with her own, she noticed that his body temperature was higher than usual. Finally, Patrick hugged her in his arms upon waking up. He spoke in a deep bassy voice that was oozing with sex appeal. ¡°Gwen, stop fooling around. I''m sleepy.¡± At that moment, he was so tired that he couldn''t open his eyes at all. Gwendolyn grew concerned. ¡°Patrick, you seem to have a fever.¡± It''s just as Kevin predicted. Luckily, I didn''t let him continuest night. Her words caused Patrick to open his eyes, which were slightly bloodshot. ¡°Hmm?¡± I''ve always been healthy, so how did this fevere about? Did I catch a cold from the showerst night? Since when did I be so weak? Feeling a little upset, he held her closer to him. ¡°Don''t worry. It''s no big deal.¡± Gwendolyn didn''t share his sentiment. Having spent a lot of time raising her kids, she knew that falling sick shouldn''t be taken lightly. In fact, Juliette had been hospitalized a few times due to her fever. The experience was still vivid in Gwendolyn''s mind. She sat up and covered him with the nket. ¡°Stay here. I''ll go get you some medicine.¡± As he stared at her with his ck obsidian eyes, Patrick curled his lips slightly when he saw the worried look on her face. So, this is how it feels like to be showered with care and concern by her when I''m sick. All of a sudden, he felt that having a fever wasn''t so bad after all. In fact, he relished the situation. After getting changed in the bathroom, Gwendolyn emerged to see him lyingnguidly against the headboard. She was bedazzled by how dashing he look in the position. With his bare chest exposed, Patrick threw her a mischievous nce. Gwendolyn quickly shook her head to regain her senses. I can''t stand how bewitching he is. It''s so easy to fall under his spell. ¡°Patrick, lie down or you''ll catch a cold.¡± She went over and pressed him back down on the bed. ¡°Quick, stop wasting time.¡± The sight of Gwendolyn''s concern elicited a smile on his face. ¡°Okay! Come back soon.¡± Gwendolyn was suddenly jolted by his response. Why does the way he speaks remind me of Juliette? It feels like he is afraid to be alone. How is it possible someone like Patrick gives off this vibe? That said, he''s sick, so it''s normal to feel more vulnerable in such a condition. Gwendolyn broke into a warm smile. ¡°All right. I''ll return immediately once I get the medicine.¡± As he stared at Gwendolyn''s leaving silhouette, the smile on his face faded away. He was still upset that his body had grown weaker. Grabbing his phone, he gave Kevin a call. Chapter 447 Chapter 447 Kevin was sleeping soundly after working the night shift. He was annoyed by the ringing of his phone. ¡°Why did you call me? I was sleeping.¡± His ring temper delighted Patrick, who smiled in schadenfreude. ¡°Kev, since when do you need sleep? Have you forgotten how you''ve spoiled my nsst night?¡± After exacting his revenge, the unsatisfied Patrick nned to do more of the same next time. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Kevin reined in his temper when he realized it was Patrick. ¡°Pat, what is it? I''m really tired.¡± Kevin spoke sluggishly. It was clear that he barely had any energy left. ¡°I have a fever, you jinx!¡± Kevin immediately gave Patrick his full attention. ¡°A fever? Where else do you feel ufortable? Does your head hurt?¡± It would be terrible if the fever continued. That would mean his body is suffering from inmmation. ¡°My head doesn''t hurt. It''s probably not rted to the bullet in my brain. Anyway, I have a question. If I don''t remove the bullet, will it lower my body''s immunity?¡± I never caught a cold when I bathed in cold water in winter, so how did I end up with one in this tropical weather? Kevin furrowed his brows. ¡°How do you know that it''s not rted to the bullet?¡± ¡°Kev, the cold shower I tookst night is the cause of my fever. Also, I don''t have a headache. All I feel are minor symptoms of the flu.¡± Only then did Kevin heave a sigh of relief. ¡°Pat, it''s not good to have a foreign object lodged in your head for the long term. On top of that, its location is an extremely precarious one. You have to watch yourself constantly and avoid getting sick. I''ll arrange for the surgery as soon as possible.¡± Meanwhile, when Gwendolyn returned with the medicine, she saw Lte standing outside her room the moment she exited the elevator. Lte was all dolled up in casual clothing and a pair of ts so that she wouldn''t get tired so quickly from shopping. ¡°Gwen, you went out?¡± Gwendolyn gave her an apologetic look. ¡°Lte, a friend came to see me, and he has fallen sick. I won''t be able to go shopping with you. You''ll have to go by yourself.¡± Lte looked disappointed. ¡°Your friend? In Willowbank?¡± Didn''t she say that this was her first time in Willowbank? So why does she have friends here? Lte was unable to make the link. The thought of Patrick brought a smile to Gwendolyn''s face. ¡°He''s on a business trip too. We ran into each other by coincidence.¡± When Lte attempted to follow Gwendolyn into her room, thetter stopped her at the door. ¡°You should go on ahead. My friend isn''t able to see any guests now.¡± The main issue was Patrick''s fame. If Lte were to see him, she would definitely tell Tiffany. Gwendolyn didn''t want anyone else to know. Lte rolled her eyes. ¡°Gwen, is your boyfriend here?¡± Isn''t it obvious that it''s her boyfriend? Otherwise, why the secrecy? Gwendolyn didn''t deny it. ¡°Yeah. That''s why I can''t let you meet him.¡± When she pushed Lte away and waved goodbye, thetter had no choice but to leave. ¡°Send me a message if there''s anything you need. I''ll get them for you.¡± After shing a smile, Gwendolyn closed the door and walked into the room. When she saw Patrick staring intently at her, her smile faded away. ¡°Take this for the fever and that for the flu. If the fever goes down, we don''t have to go to the hospital.¡± Patrick wrinkled his brows. ¡°Can I not take any medication?¡± Unable to hold back her amusement, Gwendolyn poured a ss of water as shemented, ¡°Why do you behave the same way as Juliette does? The medication will cure you. You have to take it.¡± I know it tastes horrible, but how is he going to recover without it? ¡°I''m fine with taking the medication, but I want a sweet too,¡± Patrick replied coldly as he sat up on the bed. Gwendolyn couldn''t help but smile. He really looks like a child who wants a sweet. I''m probably the only one who has seen this side of Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, what do you think will happen if I take a picture of you now and post it on the inte?¡± She had even thought of the title: Domineering CEO''s cute expression while he asks for a sweet. Chapter 448 Chapter 448 With a ss of water in one hand and medication in the other, Gwendolyn sat by the bed, wearing a vibrant smile. Patrick was captivated by the sight of her. Getting sick is well worth the trouble. At the very least, Gwendolyn is not just super patient but gentle with me. All of a sudden, he felt that being sick for a few more days was a brilliant idea. That way, he could continue to see this side of her and enjoy the care she showered on him. ¡°No one would be interested.¡± With that, he frowned at the medication in her hand. The expression on his face reminded Gwendolyn of when Juliette refused to take her medicine. Why do I think of Juliette when I see him? These two are obviously not connected in any way. Perhaps I just miss my daughter too much. ¡°Finish your medicine first. I''ll buy you the sweetter,¡± Gwendolyn coaxed warmly. Narrowing his eyes, Patrick leaned in with his lips puckered. ¡°This is the sweet I want.¡± With that, he nted his lips tightly on hers. Unable to resist the sweet nectar of her gentle lips, he kissed her deeply a few more times before releasing her. Blushing intensely, Gwendolyn never knew that was what Patrick meant by ¡°sweet.¡± Um... Patrick stared at the stunned Gwendolyn as he pulled her hand over so that she could feed him the medicine. Thereafter, he took the ss of water from her hand and downed the medicine with it. Before Gwendolyn could regain her senses, Patrick''s voice rang out again. ¡°If I wasn''t worried about spreading my flu to you, do you think that the ''sweet'' would only end with a few shallow pecks?¡± Gwendolyn stood up suddenly, as she instantly knew what he meant by ¡°shallow.¡± How deep does he want them? Ahh... Gwendolyn felt that her mind was getting dirtier as a result of Patrick''s influence. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. After putting the water aside, she took out a thermometer. ¡°Open your mouth. I''m going to take your temperature.¡± A doubtful look shed across Patrick''s eyes. Shouldn''t she have measured my temperature before giving me the fever medication? Is she out of her mind? Embarrassed by the way he looked at her, Gwendolyn pried his mouth open and stuffed the thermometer in. ¡°I forgot.¡± She felt a little awkward over her carelessness. At home, she had the help of the other two children whenever Juliette was sick. Both of them naturally knew what to do, considering how smart they were. Spoiled by their independence, Gwendolyn had grown increasingly careless. With the thermometer in his mouth, Patrick gazed deeply at her. However, Gwendolyn covered his eyes when she couldn''t bear his attention any longer. ¡°Stop looking. At this rate, your gaze will just pierce through me.¡± In truth, Patrick''s gaze was so intense that no one could stand it. At the very least, Gwendolyn couldn''t. Right then, her phone rang. She saw that it was Angeline. She knitted her brows slightly and wondered if Zayden was kicking up another fuss. The thought of his eyes saddened her a little. How can someone so kind end up being blind? She got up to her feet and headed to the balcony to take the call. ¡°Mrs. Surrington.¡± Settling down on the balcony chair, she looked out at the sea. It''s beautiful here. Perfect for a holiday. ¡°Gwendolyn, are you really going to abandon Zayden?¡± Angeline threw her son a broken-hearted nce. He had refused to shave and didn''t want to eat. Initially, she had no intention of seeking Gwendolyn''s help. Her pride has gone to her head now. She thinks she''s worthy of Zay just because she''s the eldest daughter of the Ashton family. However, has she forgotten that she has given birth to children? No one wants an unwed mother. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, I''ll visit him when I have the time.¡± Now that she was in Avenport, there was no way she could see him even if she wanted to. ¡°What''s that supposed to mean, Gwendolyn? When you have the time? Are you ying hard to get? Don''t forget that I paid you. You have to do as I say.¡± Chapter 449 Chapter 449 Gwendolyn could feel her temples throbbing. Angeline''s attitude had always been like this. She was perpetually disdainful of everything. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, I''m currently abroad and not at home. I can''t go to the hospital for the time being.¡± After saying that, Gwendolyn hung up. However, her eyes suddenly sparkled as she realized something. I''ve not activated the roaming function on my phone. How did she get through to me? Gwendolyn went from the balcony to the room, eyeing the man whoy on the bed. ¡°Patrick, did you activate the roaming function for me?¡± Patrick''s gazended on Gwendolyn''s figure. He did not know who called her, but he could see that she was quite upset. ¡°I was worried that I''d lose you, so I activated it. You have about a hundred thousand worth of talk time.¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What? A hundred thousand? You''re insane!¡± Patrick arched a brow and asked, ¡°Is paying your phone bill a bad thing now?¡± He was merely annoyed by the possibility that she could be unreachable. That was why he had paid a hundred thousand. That way, Gwendolyn''s phone line would not expire over the next year or two at least. Gwendolyn hurriedly pulled up a text and read it, causing her mood to sour instantly. Does he think he''s that rich? At this rate, I''m going to feel bad if I want to change my number. Patrick was truly extraordinary. It was hard not to shock anyone when the man chose to do anything. Patrick closed his eyes. ¡°I''m tired. I''m going to take a nap.¡± This was because a certain woman was staring at him as if he were some kind of idiot. Patrick was not an idiot. All he wanted was to ensure that she remained contactable at all times. It was truly that simple. However, Gwendolyn did not understand his rationale. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Go on and nap. If you need anything, I''ll be over there.¡± She brought over her sketchbook and sat on the couch closest to the window. As she stared out into the ocean, she started sketching. Naturally, she was sketching clothing designs. Patrick nced at the thermometer. His temperature was thirty-eight-point-five degrees. Gwendolyn must have forgotten that he was still running a fever. He also noticed that his throat was sore. I guess my body isn''t what it used to be. After Gwendolyn made a few sketches, she noticed that she had improved quite a bit from Tiffany''s tutge. She could see an improvement in everything, from her lines to her overall style. Suddenly, Gwendolyn thought of Sophia. Is her daughter no longer around? Gwendolyn did not dare broach the subject, but Sophia was intent on transferring all the shares of Solstice Group to her. When Gwendolyn thought of this, she felt a little scared. Nothing goodes easy, but Gwendolyn was somehow lucky enough to have such an opportunity. The more she thought about it, the more she couldn''t understand. Gwendolyn could only hope that it was not a conspiracy. She did not want to cause trouble. All she wanted was to live peacefully with her three children and focus on her rtionship with Patrick. Patrick was likely still snoozing due to the effects of the medicine. At around four, Gwendolyn began to get ready. She settled on a light makeup look and a ck dress with thin shoulder straps. Underneath the dress, she wore a white slip. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. She put her hair up and paired a ck hat to match her dress. She then pulled down the ck veil to cover part of her face, giving her an added air of mystery. Gwendolyn took another look at herself in the mirror, thinking that this was an appropriate outfit for an award ceremony. This way, it was unlikely for others to recognize her so easily, even in public. She strode out of the bathroom in her ck dress, looking quite beautiful with those red lips. She eyed the sleeping man on the bed. Earlier on, she had taken Patrick''s temperature once more. His fever had subsided, and his temperature was now back to normal. She felt more at ease. She picked up a piece of paper and scribbled a note in her graceful handwriting: I''m going to receive my award. You should probably order in for dinner. I might be back quitete. After penning that note, Gwendolyn slid the note under his phone. That way, Patrick could see it the moment he picked up his phone. It''s been a while since I left handwritten notes like this. I find it quite amusing. When Gwendolyn looked at his handsome face, she couldn''t help but walk to the bed. Very gently, she leaned over to kiss him. Since Gwendolyn was wearing red lipstick, she naturally left a bright red mark on Patrick''s forehead. Chapter 450 Chapter 450 Gwendolyn''s eyes widened slightly. She had forgotten that she was wearing makeup. She wanted to wipe the stain off, but she knew that Patrick would have woken up if she tried. I''m guessing he must be very tired if he''s in such a deep sleep. I''ll just let him sleep more, then. He''s going to wake up and wash his face anyway. He''ll definitely see it. Gwendolyn blushed slightly at that thought. She had stolen a kiss from him and left evidence behind. How embarrassing! Just then, she felt her phone vibrate. Lte had sent her a message that read: We''re ready, Gwen. How about you? They did not know that Gwendolyn had roaming services activated, and thus sent her a message on WhatsApp instead. With a smile, Gwendolyn left her room and rang the doorbell next door. When Lte opened the door and saw Gwendolyn, she let out an excited squeal. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°You look gorgeous, Gwen!¡± Lte was dressed in a white gown. Tiffany, on the other hand, was dressed in a vintage red dress. She looked very beautiful and extravagant as she walked out from the inside. Tiffany inclined her head slightly and said, ¡°Gwen, this look really suits you. Let''s go!¡± As Tiffany subconsciously nced at Gwendolyn''s neck, a hint of surprise filled her eyes. However, she chose not to ask questions. She merely walked ahead. When Lte saw that Tiffany had left, she boldly grabbed Gwendolyn''s arm. ¡°Gwen, that''s a beautiful ne you have. What brand is it?¡± Lte had been in the fashion world for quite some time now. She was very well-versed in clothing and jewelry. Gwendolyn''s ne seemed to be of good quality, but Lte could not make out whose workmanship it was. It could have been a custom-made piece from a small atelier. Gwendolyn reached up to stroke the ne. The thought of the cost made her hesitate to tell anyone. Patrick had put the ne on her and forbade her from taking it off. ¡°Well, I found it in a small shop. It''s not really worth much, but I found it to be quite fetching.¡± Lte stared at it and replied, ¡°Oh, that exins why I couldn''t figure out who made it, but it does look good. It also has a really good luster.¡± Gwendolyn immediately changed the topic. If it was Tiffany who asked her, Gwendolyn would have no choice but to tell her the truth. By changing the topic, they did not have to discuss this in the elevator later. ¡°Lte, were you tired after your shopping spree? What did you buy?¡± At the mention of shopping, Lte then had a reason to babble on. She started expanding on her itinerary for the day and mentioned all the things she had purchased. The trio was standing by the elevator. When the doors opened, Liam strode out. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Gwendolyn there. ¡°Ms. Ashton.¡± Gwendolyn returned his gaze with a smile. She knew that he was here to see Patrick. ¡°Hello, Mr. Derner. He''s currently asleep. You can move about freely for the time being.¡± Liam was slightly taken aback by this. After all, it was Patrick himself who asked him to drop by. Mr. Lowen was supposed to stay in the presidential suite but chose not to in the end. Now, I can''t even tell where he is. When Liam saw Gwendolyn, he understood why Patrick had gone abroad this time. However, since there was a project to be discussed, Patrick had to make a distinction between work and his love life. Liam nodded slightly. ¡°Very well.¡± When Gwendolyn and her party entered the elevator, they only spoke once the doors were closed. ¡°Do you know him?¡± asked Tiffany. ¡°I was Patrick Lowen''s secretary before. Of course I know who his assistant is,¡± exined Gwendolyn. Tiffany arched a brow. ¡°You''ve resigned?¡± ¡°Yes, over a private matter. I''ve resigned since.¡± The thought of this still made Gwendolyn''s heart ache. After all, the wages from that job were quite high. ¡°I reckon it''s all for the best. It''s not like Lowen Group is all that great, anyway. You should stay away from anyone in the Lowen family.¡± Upon hearing this, Gwendolyn was a little surprised. I wonder if she''s been in conflict with the Lowen family in the past. By the looks of it, I can''t tell her about my rtionship with Patrick yet. If she finds out that we''re together, won''t she ask me to leave him? Chapter 452 Chapter 452 When Gwendolyn took her seat, she noticed that Sophia was next to her. ¡°Ms. Sanders,¡± greeted Gwendolyn with a smile. Sophia looked at Gwendolyn and smiled back. ¡°I heard that you''re receiving an award today, Gwen. Congrattions!¡± Gwendolyn was quite happy to hear this. ¡°Thank you! It''s only because Tiffany gave me this opportunity.¡± Tiffany looked over and nodded sagely at Sophia. In fact, both Tiffany and Sophia had nned this entire scenario. However, Sophia was the main person responsible this time around. Sophia would be presenting this award to Gwendolyn. She could die with no regrets now that she had met her in this life. The event started with an exciting fashion show. Gwendolyn was quite happy to see this. She wondered when she could have the opportunity to present her own creations at a show like this. After the fashion show, the awards ceremony began. Those who took the stage to ept the awards were all well-known designers who had achieved celebrity status. Gwendolyn was actually ced in the neer''s category, and thus she was thest to be called on stage. When she heard her name, she stood up and took a deep breath. The two women next to her tugged on Gwendolyn''s hands. ¡°Good luck, Gwen!¡± Patrick was seated not far behind her. When he watched Gwendolyn stand up, he noticed how slender and enchanting she looked from the back. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Patrick gave the ghost of a smile. Later on, he would be giving her the award personally. He had nned for all of this from the start. Gwendolyn was the only reason he showed up at all. When the host saw Gwendolyn approach the stage, he announced the name of the guest who would present the award to her. ¡°I would like to invite Mr. Patrick Lowen of Lowen Group as well as Ms. Sophia Sanders to present the best neer designer award.¡± When Patrick heard that, his expression darkened slightly. What he wanted was for him and Gwendolyn to have their moment together. Patrick stood up and buttoned his coat before walking toward the stage. Sophia did not expect she would be presenting Gwendolyn''s award with someone else. After all, she had spent arge sum to organize the award ceremony. Tiffany''s expression shifted slightly. She grabbed Sophia''s arm before thetter went up on stage. ¡°Sophia, I''m not feeling well. Can you please escort me to the lounge? I need to rest for a bit. My head hurts.¡± Sophia wanted so badly to be on stage with her daughter, but her sister''s health was also important. Since someone else was going to present the award to Gwendolyn anyway, Sophia chose to escort Tiffany to the lounge. As Gwendolyn stood on stage, she felt as though she was shining with the brilliance of the stars. Her back was ramrod straight, and in her nervousness, she barely paid attention to the names of the announced guests. It was not until Patrick showed up with the award in his hands that she realized who it was. Gwendolyn''s eyes widened slightly in shock. She did not expect Patrick, of all people, to present her with the award. She epted the award and Patrick extended a hand toward her. ¡°Congrattions!¡± There was a faint smile on the corner of his mouth. He seemed so handsome and charming that it took Gwendolyn''s breath away. ¡°We would like a picture of you and Ms. Ashton together, Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick stood beside Gwendolyn, put his arms around her shoulders, and let the media representatives take pictures. As the cameras kept shing, Gwendolyn tried her hardest to keep her eyes open, not wanting to be blinded by the flickering lights. ¡°Bravo, Gwen. Your husband is proud of you,¡± said Patrick softly. After saying that, he let go of Gwendolyn and strode off the stage. Suddenly, the stage was all hers again. Gwendolyn was going to give her eptance speech, which she had memorized prior to this. However, what Patrick said earlier left her feeling a little dazed. Husband? Those deep and powerful words made her blush and her pulse quicken. Can we really be a family and call each other husband and wife? Gwendolyn was lost in her own thoughts until she heard the host gently reminding her that she still had a speech to give. Only then did she return to her senses. After Gwendolyn took another deep breath, she recited the speech she had memorized without missing a beat. When she got off the stage, she was quickly surrounded by a few media representatives wanting to interview her. Gwendolyn saw Patrick looking at her from afar. The smile on his face seemed to heal everything. She was initially a little scared, but his smile banished all her fears. Chapter 453 Chapter 453 There was still a banquet to attend after the awards ceremony was over. It was good for Gwendolyn to participate in this for the benefit of her future career. Sophia had left under Tiffany''s urging. Tiffany pointed out that Sophia could not be seen together with Gwendolyn, or people would find out that Gwendolyn was her daughter. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Sophia did not want to affect Gwendolyn''s career with her current status, so she did not attend the banquet and chose to leave the venue right away. When Gwendolyn returned to her seat, she asked, ¡°Where''s Ms. Sanders?¡± Gwendolyn noticed that Sophia''s seat was vacant. She had assumed that thetter would be attending the banquet too. ¡°She has something to attend to, so she went home early,¡± said Tiffany. She then scanned the venue. ¡°Gwen, Patrick is not the type to attend events like this. However, he suddenly showed up this year as an award presenter. Do you know why?¡± Does he know that Sophia is here? Gwendolyn naturally knew why. He was here to see her, after all. However, Gwendolyn did not dare tell Tiffany the truth. ¡°Well, I used to work at Patrick''spany. I also know that he has projects to handle here. Maybe he''s been involved in fashion-rted projects recently and decided to attend the ceremony too?¡± Despite the vague exnation, even Gwendolyn could tell that she was grasping at straws. However, she just wanted to keep herself out of the discussion. Tiffany merely nodded and said, ¡°Oh, I see.¡± She narrowed her eyes slightly, hoping that it was not because the Lowen family knew her sister was there. The banquet was held in a ballroom next door. The attendees consisted mostly of the winners as well as celebrities, members of the upper ss, and some of the big names in fashion. Lte walked beside Gwendolyn and saw that Tiffany was surrounded by various celebrities. It was clear that she was held in high esteem in the fashion industry. ¡°Gwen, you''ll be a renowned designer just like Tiffany in the future. When that happens, don''t forget about me!¡± Gwendolyn held a winess in her hand, observing the beautifully decorated ballroom. Many people she had seen on television and in magazines were actually in front of her. Some of them would asionally drop by to speak to Gwendolyn and clink sses. Others even exchanged contact information with her. In a short while, she met many people. Some were also exceptionally famous designers and models. Gwendolyn was just feeling happy when she heard Lte say that. She turned to face Lte with a smile. ¡°By the time I be a famous designer, I think you''ll be an entrepreneur. When that happens, we''ll take care of each other.¡± Having said this, they both burst outughing. Most rookies behaved like this. They admired sessful people and secretly fantasized about achieving sess in the future. Lte dragged Gwendolyn to the dining area. Since Lte was a foodie, she had absolutely no resistance toward good food. Lte reminded Gwendolyn of her daughter. Juliette was like this as well. When the choice came down to food or her mother, Juliette could easily throw Gwendolyn under the bus. Gwendolyn did not have much of an appetite. All she did was pick up an entr¨¦e and sit down next to Lte to keep herpany. Lte had taken a lot of food and kept praising it while she ate. ¡°It''s delicious! Really, it is!¡± Gwendolynughed. She then took a bite of her canap¨¦, marveling at how refreshing it tasted. At that moment, a tall figure walked toward her and reached out to her. ¡°Come with me, Gwen.¡± Lte''s mouth was stuffed with food. When her gazended on the mysterious man''s face, she was shocked to see Patrick''s handsome visage. Her eyes widened like saucers. Lte pointed at him, wishing to speak, but her mouth was so full of food that she could not say anything. Lte could not stop gesturing at him. Gwendolyn stretched out her arm and let Patrick hold her before turning to Lte. ¡°I think I''ll head back first, Lte,¡± said Gwendolyn. ¡°Do inform Tiffany that I''ve gone back to the hotel, but you''re not to mention who I left with. Do you understand?¡± Lte nodded in understanding. She only managed to speak after swallowing and hurriedly taking a sip of juice. ¡°Patrick Lowen, scion of the most powerful family in Avenport? That handsome and wealthy sugar daddy? Goodness, Gwen! Are you actually dating him?¡± Chapter 454 Chapter 454 At that moment, Tiffany walked over. She had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, so her stomach was not feeling well. She grabbed some food and sat beside Lte. ¡°Where did Gwen go?¡± Sophia''s n couldn''t be fully realized this time, but it''s still a good thing for Gwen and Sophie to meet with one another. Lte wanted to tell Tiffany that Gwendolyn had gone on a date, not to mention with Patrick. However, she was afraid toe clean when she was reminded of Gwendolyn''s reminder before the latter left. ¡°She was here a few moments ago. Perhaps she got tired and went back first.¡± ¡°She went back?¡± Tonight is such an excellent opportunity for her to widen her social circle. She will have a bright future ahead of her if she chooses to follow this path. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was led out of the banquet hall by Patrick. A Lincoln limousine was parked at the entrance, and a housekeeper helped them open the car door. ¡°This way, Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick helped Gwendolyn to get into the vehicle first before entering the car. The interior of the vehicle was spacious, equipped with a wine cab, and loaded with all kinds of food. She leaned against his shoulder and looked at her shoes. She had to maintain an elegant posture while standing and walking around that day wearing a pair of ten-centimeter-tall high heels. Her feet were sore at that moment. She shut her eyes and asked, ¡°Where are we going now, Mr. Lowen?¡± Gwendolyn would remember everything that happened that night for the rest of her life because it was like a beautiful dreame true. He turned his head sideways to gaze at her and curved his lips into a faint smile. ¡°I''m bringing you out to the ocean to watch the sunrise.¡± She was invigorated after listening to that. ¡°Are we going now?¡± I''ve never sailed out to the sea at night. Even the thought of getting to enjoy this experience feels great. He tapped her nose and said, ¡°We''ll sleep on the cruise ship tonight so that we can watch the sunrise tomorrow morning.¡± Gwendolyn blushed slightly at the mention of spending the night together. She shook her head. ¡°Let''s not sleep. We''ll sit on the deck and gaze at the stars.¡± The car came to a halt at that moment. After the housekeeper opened the door for them, Patrick got out of the car first. He grabbed Gwendolyn''s hand and carefully helped her alight from the car. They arrived at a seaside mansion. ¡°Let''s change our clothes here.¡± He figured her legs must be sore from wearing such tall high heels. The design of the mansion interior was simr to a luxurious vacation house, so Gwendolyn thought it would be quite pleasurable even if they didn''t sail out to the sea and stayed inside the mansion to watch the sunrise. Patrick led her to the second floor. New clothes for both genders, with price tags still attached, were hung inside the wardrobe in the bedroom. While selecting her outfit, she asked, ¡°This hotel even provides clothes for us? Their service is superb.¡± All the garments are new, not to mention they are this season''stest edition products. Patrick took out a sky-blue shirt and shorts. The casual outfit was very suitable to be worn on a holiday. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Gwendolyn chose a white dress with spaghetti straps and a straw hat. Noticing the hat, he reached out to pat her head. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± She looked up, beamed at him, and raised her hand to hit him. ¡°Patrick, I lost my temper and rolled down the stairs because of you and Felicia. Fortunately, I didn''t die. Otherwise, you two would''ve gotten your way,¡± she said jokingly. She trusted him, so he was willing to believe everything he said. Besides, she was very familiar with Felicia''s character. She was confident Felicia must''ve offered herself to him on her own ord. Patrick took off the hat and looked at her head, which was still covered in bandages. His eyes turned pensive as he lowered his head to kiss her wound. ¡°I''m sorry. I''ll never let you leave in tears again.¡± Patrick grew more determined to remove the bullet in his head. His resolution did not stem only from his wish to survive, but he also wanted to have the energy to chase after Gwendolyn when she was mad. Gwendolyn''s heart shuddered, and tears uncontrobly brimmed in her eyes. ¡°Y-You''re such a jerk, Patrick. I should be harsher toward you, but now that you''re behaving in this manner, I can''t stay mad at you anymore. Even my wound no longer hurts.¡± Chapter 455 Chapter 455 Patrick pulled Gwendolyn into his embrace while she spoke in a coy manner. ¡°You silly girl,¡± he said with a smile on his face. Subsequently, the atmosphere became intimate. After changing their clothes, they boarded the cruise ship berthed at the side of the mansion. There was a professional captain to pilot the cruise ship as well as chefs and housekeepers to take care of their needs. All of them wore standardized uniforms and stood at the cabin entrance to wee the couple. ¡°Wee, Mr. Lowen, Ms. Ashton!¡± they greeted them in the nativenguage of Astoria. Gwendolyn nced at Patrick. ¡°It''s so nice to be rich.¡± He pinched her petite face with his slender fingers. It seems that Gwen, the miser, is back. The cruise ship they boarded was small, but it was considered vast and spacious for two people''s use. Gwendolyn wasn''t hungry before, but when she saw the dinner served on the cruise ship, she felt a little hungry. Patrick lifted his chin. ¡°You must be hungry.¡± He''s truly capable of reading my mind. He even knows when I''m hungry. Gwendolyn sat around the dining table, picked up her utensils, and started eating. She thought the appetizers were very delicious but found the main course, fish fillet, to be more mouth-watering. Perhaps it was because she was having the dish on the sea. She felt the fish tasted fresher and tastier. After finishing their meal, they went to the deck, where a white couch was positioned. An ice bucket containing two bottles of champagne was ced on the small table in front of the couch. Gwendolyn sat on the couch and gazed up at the sky full of stars, musing on how carefree her life was at that moment. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Patrick sat beside her and held her hand. They leaned against the couch and watched the twinkling stars together. Gwendolyn tended to feel drowsy after having her meal. Juliette inherited that exact trait from her. She closed her eyes and snuggled up to him, resting her head on his neck. She hugged his waist only after finding afortable position and muttered, ¡°Patrick, I''m going to take a nap. I''m so sleepy.¡± He lowered his eyes to gaze at her before reaching out to tuck her long, messy hair behind her ear. Then he pecked her cheek. ¡°Sleep tight, Babe. I''ll wake you up tomorrow morning.¡± After Gwendolyn drifted off, the housekeeper brought over a nket. Patrick also felt a little heavy- eyed after he wrapped the nket around himself and Gwendolyn. The next day, at four-fifty in the morning, the housekeeper came to wake them up. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Ms. Ashton, the sun is about to rise.¡± When Patrick woke up, his arm, embracing her, was numb and seemed to have lost its sensation. Gwendolyn yawned, as she hadn''t acquired sufficient sleep. Nevertheless, she rested wellst night. She had felt warm and assured as Patrick held her to sleep the whole night. She sat up and tidied her hair. Patrick stretched his arm and said, ¡°There''s something wrong with us. There''s a big, soft, and comfortable bed below deck, yet we chose to sleep on this couch.¡± At that moment, she hadpletely regained her senses. She took in the beautiful scenery of the sun rising above the horizon and the gradually brightening sea surface. ¡°I think it was a wonderful experience sleeping here. Anyway, this is my first time doing this, so I''ll remember it for the rest of my life.¡± Patrick felt he didn''t get sufficient quality rest initially, but after hearing her words, he chuckled. That was also his first time hugging a woman and sleeping on the sea, so the experience was quite meaningful to him. At that instant, half of the sun had risen above the horizon. Gwendolyn abruptly got to her feet and ran toward the railings, skipping happily. ¡°Good morning!¡± The smile on Patrick''s face widened as he looked at her excited appearance. He strode over and embraced her from behind, wrapping his arms around her slim waist. Puffing his hot breath beside her ear, he said, ¡°Gwen, you''re very simr to Juliette.¡± She behaves no different from a child, but I think that''s cute. An innocent and docile woman like her was a perfect match for Patrick, a highly intelligent and domineering man. If he were to be with a strong-willed woman like him, there wouldn''t be any peaceful moment between them as endless arguments would persist. Chapter 456 Chapter 456 Gwendolyn smiled and turned toward him. ¡°Of course. She''s my daughter. Isn''t she supposed to look simr to me?¡± Gwendolyn was looking at the sunrise with a dazzling glow in her eyes. Right before the sun rosepletely, she felt something on her hand. When she lifted her left hand, she saw a huge diamond ring on her ring finger. The diamond was so big that it was as dazzling as the sun. She widened her eyes and stared at the ring. A sweet smile and dimples appeared on her face. ¡°Are you proposing, Patrick?¡± Gwendolyn asked. This is different from what I imagined. This isn''t how people do it in the movies. Patrick held her hand and admired the ring with her. ¡°Will you marry me?¡± This really is a marriage proposal! Gwendolyn was ttered beyond words. ¡°Can I think about it first?¡± Gwendolyn wanted nothing more than to say yes on the spot, but she couldn''t. After all, she needed to consider her three children''s feelings. I won''t say yes to him unless I get their approval. Patrick had seen iting. He chuckled and answered, ¡°Okay. I meant to give you some time to think about it.¡± That was why he didn''t make a big deal out of the proposal. The proposal is our private matter. I don''t need to pressure her, nor do I need to have a crowd here to witness it. All I need is the sun, the ocean, and nature to witness this moment. Gwendolyn turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. How is this man so considerate? At that moment, she was on the verge of crying, but she managed to hold back her tears. ¡°Thank you!¡± she said before kissing him on the lips. Patrick smiled and kissed her back, taking control of the situation. Gwendolyn was in a daze, and she didn''t even realize he was carrying her into the room in the cabin. She only regained her senses when she heard her clothes getting torn apart by him. While retreating gradually, Gwendolyn put her fair and slender legs together. Patrick smiled when he saw that. ¡°Gwen, I wanted to do itst night, but you fell asleep. I don''t mind doing it in the morning.¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes widened a little. She was shy and slightly frightened. It''s so early in the morning, and he''s already scaring me! She lowered her gaze to his crotch before closing her eyes. She was too afraid to imagine what was going to happen next. That''s huge! How am I supposed to handle it? How did I do it thest time? I can''t remember! Patrick''s desire intensified. He grabbed Gwendolyn''s fair and tender legs. Gwendolyn bit her lower lip and mumbled, ¡°Don''t touch my legs, Patrick.¡± She had sensitive legs, and she was feeling ticklish. Patrick went on to run his fingers across her legs with desire burning in his eyes. How are her legs so seductive? It''s so hard to resist her... Gwendolyn wanted to retract her legs, but he instantly tightened his grip. After that, he pulled her toward himself to get closer to her. ¡°Oh!¡± Gwendolyn gasped. In the next second, one of her torn bra straps slipped down her arm to reveal her fair shoulder and breast. The passion in Patrick''s eyes burned intensely, and he frowned. ¡°Gwen, you''re taking my breath away.¡± Gwendolyn quickly pulled up her bra strap to cover her breast. Now I know how embarrassing it is to have sex in broad daylight. It''s so bright that we can both see each other clearly. It''s better to have sex at night. With the lights off, there''s only darkness. That way, neither of us has to see the other''s expression and feel embarrassed. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Patrick, let''s just do it at night. I want to see the ocean and go fishing,¡± she said. Chapter 457 Chapter 457 ¡°Hmm? Let''s do what at night?¡± Patrick grinned mischievously and stared into her eyes. Gwendolyn''s eyes were wide like saucers, and she was blushing so hard that her face was heating up. He''s teasing me again! With that in mind, she instantly ran off to the terrace and sprawled on the window to enjoy the view outside. Upon seeing her running away, Patrick lowered his gaze to look at his boner. Didn''t she see this? How could she run away? I won''t let her off the hook. He got up and walked toward the terrace. All of a sudden, he almost copsed onto the ground when his vision turned dark as a result of his headache. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. He prevented himself from falling by holding onto a cab next to him. After a while, his vision gradually recovered, and he could see her again. Gwendolyn was enjoying the calm and magnificent ocean view in her messy clothing. Suddenly, she eximed, ¡°They''re beluga whales! Those are beluga whales!¡± She turned around. ¡°Patrick! Look! We''re so lucky today. There''s a group of beluga whales here!¡± Seeing how she was jumping excitedly like a child, Patrick walked up to her and nced at the ocean. There''s really a group of whales in the ocean. What a view! While enjoying the view, Patrick embraced her and caressed her face. Gwen, I hope we can spend the rest of our lives together. I felt as though I was going to drop dead anytime soon just now. I''ve never felt that way before. This time, however, I really think it''s going to be hard living with the bullet inside my brain. After all, it''s my body. I know what I felt. Gwendolyn nuzzled against his chest as she said, ¡°It''s so beautiful here. I''m so happy because I''ve never seen a beluga whale before. If only the kids were here as well.¡± Whenever she saw anything nice, she would always think of her kids first. Patrick lowered his eyes to gaze at her before giving her a peck on the cheek. ¡°We''ll bring them here next time.¡± Gwendolyn nced at him with her bright eyes. Right at that moment, her phone rang. She heard the ringing phone and turned to look at her phone on the bed. She pointed at it and said, ¡°I have to take this call.¡± Patrick nodded and let go of her. She went back to the room, picked up her phone, and saw that it was a call from Tiffany. ¡°Hey, Tiffany.¡± ¡°Gwen, I have something urgent to attend to, so I''m heading back to Avenport. Are you still with your friend?¡± Tiffany asked. ¡°Oh, okay. I can go back on my own.¡± ¡°Visit Ms. Sanders before you leave. I think she likes you.¡± ¡°Oh, sure!¡± Gwendolyn hung up the phone and saw that it was eight in the morning. I should go back tonight. I''ve never been away from the kids for this long. Patrick came in from the terrace and looked at her with his deep eyes. ¡°Is anything the matter?¡± He noticed the unpleasant look on her face, so he thought something bad had happened. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°Nothing. Should we go back soon?¡± Patrick checked the expensive watch on his wrist. ¡°It''s only eight. Don''t you want to fish?¡± ¡°Forget it. Let''s do that next time! I have something onter. Let''s head back!¡± Gwendolyn was nning to see Sophia and have lunch with her. After lunch, I can go back to the hotel to pack up. I''ll be on my way home tonight. Patrick''s primary aim that day was to propose to Gwendolyn. Although she hadn''t said yes to him, she had already epted the ring. I hope she''ll never forget what happened today. Patrick said, ¡°All right. I''ll tell the captain to turn around. Take a nap. I''ll wake you up when we get there.¡± Suddenly, Gwendolyn wrapped her arms around his waist and asked, ¡°Patrick, are you done with what you need to do here? Should we go back together tonight?¡± Chapter 458 Chapter 458 She leaned her head against his back and caught a whiff of his scent. He smells clean and fresh, and there''s even a hint of mint. Patrick held her hands and replied, ¡°I was done with it a long time ago. Let''s go back together tonight.¡± Gwendolyn smiled when she heard that. She wasughing at herself because she realized how clingy she was. Patrick had somewhat of a simr feeling. I can''t get enough of this woman. At eleven in the morning, they arrived at the seaside mansion. Gwendolyn got changed and noticed Patrick looking at her from the entrance of the walk-in closet. I''ve never seen him so unupied. She walked up to him and caressed his face. ¡°If you don''t have work to do today, sleep here. You surely didn''t get a good night''s sleepst night.¡± Patrick had woken up early that morning, and dark circles were forming under his eyes. Although he didn''t seem tired, it was safe to assume he was worn out. ¡°Sure, but let me drive you,¡± Patrick responded. Gwendolyn had no reason to reject his offer, so she nodded with a smile. Patrick drove down the coastal road in a blue convertible sports car while Gwendolyn sat in the passenger''s seat. She was squinting her eyes as she gazed at the amazing view. Obviously, she was having trouble keeping her eyes open due to the ring sun. Right then, Patrick put on a pair of sunsses and passed her a pair as well. Gwendolyn felt a lot morefortable after putting on the sunsses. While feeling the sea breeze on her skin, she turned to look at the man in sunsses and a white T- shirt. He''s as handsome as a character in aic. Suddenly, Gwendolyn felt blessed. I''ve been through so many hardships, but I''m now blessed with an incredible man in return. Those sufferings are worth it, it seems. Gwendolyn would be meeting Sophia at a restaurant in the pedestrian zone. Since cars weren''t allowed to enter, Patrick had no choice but to stop by the side of the road. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Before getting out of the car, she nced at him and said, ¡°I''m getting out of the car now. Remember to have lunch, okay? Don''t starve yourself.¡± Seeing that she was behaving like a controlling wife, Patrick took off his sunsses and looked at her with his deep gaze. ¡°Okay. I''ll fetch you once you''re done. Remember to give me a call.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Gwendolyn smiled. It''s so nice to have a private driver. Now, I don''t need to hail an Uber anymore. At times, I didn''t even know who these Uber drivers were. They were unreliable, and I had to cancel my rides most of the time. Although I wasn''t happy with them, I couldn''tsh out at them. I would be in trouble if they turned out to be gangsters. Unlike them, my current Uber driver isn''t too shabby. Not only will he be on time, but he''s also a handsome man with a nice car. Wait... I better abandon that thought! Patrick is going to be mad if he finds out that I''mparing him to an Uber driver. She quickly opened the car door and got out of the car. She waved him goodbye and said, ¡°Bye! Be careful on the road!¡± With that, she turned around and ran away like a mischievous little girl. Patrick couldn''t help but smile when he saw that. She must''ve been a naughty little girl back then. His heart wrenched when he thought about how much Gwendolyn had suffered in life. Gwendolyn entered the restaurant and saw no one inside except for Sophia. Sophia was sitting at a table next to the window with her back facing the entrance. Isn''t this a famous restaurant? Usually, people need to queue up outside the restaurant. Besides, reservations need to be made online! What''s going on today? Prior to that, Gwendolyn had browsed the inte and found excellent reviews for the restaurant. That was why she had invited Sophia out for lunch at that restaurant. Upon seeing the empty restaurant, however, she felt bad. Are those reviews I found on the inte fake? Right then, a server saw Gwendolyn and approached her. ¡°Miss, we''re not open for business today.¡± As soon as those words fell, Sophia waved at Gwendolyn and called out, ¡°I''m here, Gwen!¡± Chapter 459 Chapter 459 Upon hearing what Sophia said, the server immediately changed his tone and said politely, ¡°This way please, Miss!¡± So this is thedy that woman has been waiting for! The server didn''t dare to stop Gwendolyn in her tracks anymore. Gwendolyn walked to Sophia''s table and sat opposite Sophia. With a smile, Gwendolyn said, ¡°Ms. Sanders, did you reserve the entire restaurant? I''m supposed to be paying for lunch.¡± Gwendolyn was capable of reserving the entire restaurant as well, but she had never done such a thing. Sophia smiled faintly and passed Gwendolyn the menu. ¡°How can I let you pay for a meal in Willowbank? Tiffany told me you''re leaving tonight. Let''s just treat this as a farewell lunch. When I visit you in Avenport in the future, you can bring me out for a meal of local delicacies in return.¡± Gwendolyn couldn''t reject Sophia because, after all, Sophia was being kind. ¡°Sure. Give me a call whenever you''re in Avenport. I have three kids, and they''re all very hospitable. I''ll introduce you to them then.¡± The two chatted for a while before ordering their dishes. Sophia still remembered Gwendolyn''s favorite dishes. After all, Gwendolyn was her daughter. They had been apart for over two decades, and not a day gone by did Sophia not miss Gwendolyn. Gwen has already grown up to be a beautiful woman. Regardless of what she had been through, what''s important is that she''s healthy and well. Besides, she has a kind heart. As a mother, Sophia was content with the woman her daughter had grown up to be. After Gwendolyn ordered her food, she looked at Sophia and said, ¡°Ms. Sanders, you should order the food you like as well. The ones I ordered are slightly spicy. I don''t know if you''ll be okay with the vor.¡± Little did Gwendolyn know that Sophia had the same preference as her when vors were concerned. Growing up in Avenport, Sophia liked spicy dishes as well. Sophia smiled and replied, ¡°The dishes you ordered are some of my favorites as well. It seems that we have the same taste in food.¡± Gwendolyn chuckled in response. I feel there''s a special connection between the two of us. She''s so friendly and warm. Once the dishes were served, they both kept piling up each other''s tes. ¡°You should eat as well, Ms. Sanders. You can''t keep watching me eat,¡± Gwendolyn said. At that moment, Sophia was over the moon because that was the first time she had ever watched her daughter eat. My daughter looks so pretty with her big eyes and high nose bridge. She looks so sweet! In fact, she was a sweet little girl when I named her. When she smiled, she would show off her dimples to the whole wide world. ¡°All right, I''ll eat.¡± Sophia was tearing up. I wonder when we will ever meet again. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡°Gwen, I heard you were out with your boyfriendst night. What does he do? Is he nice to you?¡± Sophia asked. Gwen got pregnant out of wedlock and lived an ordinary life. I hope she can find and marry a good man. I would be so happy for her. The thought of Patrick brought a smile to Gwendolyn''s face. ¡°He''s a CEO, and he''s nice to me.¡± CEO? That means he''s financially stable. That''s what one should look for in a man. Sophia deboned a fish for Gwendolyn. ¡°Oh, I see. It''s good as long as he''s nice to you. Does he mind the fact that you have kids?¡± That was Sophia''s main concern. My daughter is a prettydy, so she deserves a happy marriage. She grew up without a mother''s guidance, and that was why she went on the wrong path in life. Nevertheless, she deserves a man who cherishes her. Obviously, outsiders didn''t know who was at fault for Gwendolyn''s pregnancy. Gwendolyn lifted her bright eyes at Sophia and said, ¡°Not only does he not mind, but he also loves the kids. Ms. Sanders, I''ll introduce him to you when you visit Avenport in the future.¡± There was a warm expression on Gwendolyn''s face when she thought about Patrick. It was as though she had just found her first love. Seeing that, Sophia assumed Gwendolyn had a nice boyfriend. I hope that man will treasure Gwen for the rest of his life. Sophia knew she had to visit Avenport one day. That ce was hellish for me. I spent the first half of my life there, and the people who hurt me deeply are there. However, I''m still eager to see how my daughter has been doing. I must go there when I''m free. Chapter 460 Chapter 460 After lunch, the two left the restaurant and went to the mall. Sophia brought Gwendolyn into a clothing store. The moment they entered the store, a staff approached them right away and greeted them, ¡°Ms. Sanders.¡± The restaurant they had lunch at was located in Solstice Mall. Since Sophia was Solstice Mall''s founder, she would asionally visit the mall. Therefore, the staff knew who she was. Sophia merely nodded in response. In the future, Gwen is going to be the owner of Solstice Group. It doesn''t matter whatpany is that man CEO of because my daughter will definitely be worthy of him. If she gets married, I''ll give her a huge wedding gift so that she''ll have a wonderful wedding. After giving the staff a nod, Sophia brought Gwendolyn into the store. ¡°Gwen, this is a good clothing brand. They have clothes for kids as well. Pick some, and I''ll pay for them. Consider them as my gifts for the kids,¡± Sophia said. I want to give a lot more than that, but I think I''m going to freak Gwen out if I do so. I''ll let Tiffany deal with the matter concerning Solstice Group. After all, Tiffany is Gwen''s mentor. Gwen will most probably listen to Tiffany''s advice. ¡°It''s fine, Ms. Sanders. I told them I''ll get them gifts. I''ll pay,¡± Gwendolyn rejected Sophia''s offer because she felt bad. Prior to this, I would have never dared to set foot in this kind of store. This brand is known internationally, and its products are too pricey. A piece of children''s clothing costs about five figures. I have three kids. I simply couldn''t afford it. Although I can afford to spend that much now, I still wouldn''t spend willingly. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Sophia caressed Gwendolyn''s cheeks. Oh! I''ve been wanting to do this! Her cheeks are so soft and fair. Apart from the absence of baby fat, her cheeks are still simr to when she was little. ¡°Gwen, don''t worry about it. Since I''m around the same age as your mother, I''m treating your children as my grandchildren. Don''t reject my offer, okay?¡± Gwendolyn noticed Sophia''s sincerity, so she couldn''t bear to reject Sophia. ¡°All right, then,¡± Gwendolyn answered. She started picking out clothes for her kids. Whenever she saw something she liked, she would check the price of the item first. If it was slightly pricey, she would refuse to buy the item. Sophia was right behind Gwendolyn, and Sophia saw what Gwendolyn was doing. This child is too kind. Sophia ordered the staff softly, ¡°Wrap up all the items that caught her attention. Pick the items ording to the sizes she mentioned just now.¡± The staff went on to do as they were told. After browsing the entire store, Gwendolyn uttered apologetically, ¡°Ms. Sanders, I couldn''t find anything for them. Let''s shop elsewhere.¡± Only then did Gwendolyn realize how little she knew back then. Before this, I thought the children''s clothes of this brand cost up to five figures. However, the ones here are all six figures. Even the ones priced at a five-figure amount are also close to six figures. In that case, the price would reach a million if I were to buy for all three of my kids. Forget about it. I can''t afford the clothes here, and I shouldn''t take advantage of Ms. Sanders. I''ll go to the store I usually buy from. After all, the kids arefortable with those products. Sophia shed a faint smile and said, ¡°You couldn''t find anything for them, but I have!¡± Although it would seem odd for the CEO of thepany to pay for the goods in the store, the truth was that Sophia was no longer the CEO of thepany after she transferred thepany to Gwendolyn. In other words, Sophia was merely another regr consumer. Suddenly, Gwendolyn noticed that there were only a few pieces of clothing left in the store. When she nced at the checkout counter, she was stunned by the amount of shopping bags. ¡°That''s too much, Ms. Sanders! The kids grow fast, and they won''t get to wear all these clothes.¡± Sophia would buy two pieces of clothing for each season. The kids would only get to wear those clothes once because they would''ve outgrown the clothes by the following year. ¡°It''s all right. The kids can wear a new piece every day. After all, children can easily get their clothes dirty.¡± Sophia smiled. Gwendolyn knew there was no point in trying to convince Sophia otherwise. She could only sigh guiltily. Looks like I''m too poor. Juliette is going to be ted when she sees all these beautiful clothes. Those two boys are going to look very handsome in their new clothes as well. Sophia proceeded to ask Gwendolyn for her address so that Gwendolyn wouldn''t need to bring those clothes with her on the ne. Instead, the store would just fly those products over. Chapter 461 Chapter 461 After leaving the clothing store, Gwendolyn didn''t want to shop anymore. If she did, she feared she would buy everything in the mall. Although she was a miser, she wasn''t greedy. ¡°Ms. Sanders, it''s almost time. I have to return to the hotel to pack my stuff.¡± When Sophia heard this, her expression took on a slightly darker hue. Two days passed so fast, making her reluctant to leave her daughter. Her gaze on Gwendolyn deepened as she held thetter''s hands. ¡°Gwen, don''t take me as an outsider. My daughter is your age, and you can treat me like your mom, okay? Don''t hesitate to turn to me if you need anything.¡± What Sophia meant was she could help Gwendolyn with anything, at anytime. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. shing a smile, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Sure.¡± She didn''t even remember what her own mother looked like. Thus, Gwendolyn''s heart skipped a beat when she heard Sophia''s touching words. Her eyes started to wet. Ms. Sanders is so kind! Before Gwendolyn got in the car, she didn''t forget to give the older woman a hug. ¡°Goodbye, Ms. Sanders. Do visit Avenport when you have time.¡± Tears welled up in Sophia''s eyes as well. She felt upset because it was her first time experiencing the pain of parting ways. After Gwendolyn let go of Sophia, she waved goodbye before getting in the car. Sophia had arranged a car to send Gwendolyn back. It wasn''t until the car disappeared from her sight that the former finally returned to her senses. Then, a woman dressed in a ck suit walked up to her and said in a low voice, ¡°Our people have been guarding Ms. Ashton from a distance. We won''t let anyone near her. She''ll be safe, so please rest assured, Ms. Sophia.¡± Sophia''s eyes lit up when she heard this. ¡°Have someone trail her until she safely leaves Willowbank. Also, tell those who are stationed in Avenport about her. From now on, their task is to protect her and ensure her safety,¡± she instructed tly. ¡°Understood, Ms. Sophia,¡± responded the woman before helping Sophia pull open the car door. After Sophia got into the car, the woman took her spot in the passenger seat. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn had arrived at the hotel. When she went into her room, she was met by the sight of Patrick, sitting on the couch and smoking. Her luggage had already been packed. Noticing his icy gaze on her, Gwendolyn could tell that he had waited too long for her, and there was nothing she could do but coax him. Walking over and wrapping her arm around his neck, she asked ingratiatingly, ¡°Pat, what did you have for dinner?¡± The man switched the cigarette to his other hand, fearing he would identally burn her. ¡°I didn''t feel like eating.¡± Pursing her lips, Gwendolyn rubbed her head against his body. ¡°Why didn''t you eat anything? You know your stomach''s weak.¡± ¡°So you''re still worried for me? Look at the time now. We have to go.¡± Patrick rose to his feet, took her hand in his, and left. If they left anyter, they would end up missing their flight. Had Gwendolyn not insisted on returning that night, he was originally nning on staying for a couple more days to bring her around the city. Spending some alone time with just the two of them was delightful. However, a certain somebody only had her child in her heart. Patrick was relegated to second ce and that displeased the prideful man. Patrick was d in a ck trenchcoat, while Gwendolyn donned a beautiful white dress. Both of them had exquisite facial features, and together, they looked like they came out of a painting. Undeniably, the two were a good match for one another. Gwendolyn nced at the room. ¡°What about the luggage?¡± ¡°Someone will take care of them. You don''t have to worry about that.¡± Only then did Gwendolyn realize who she was talking to. Right, he''s a big-shot boss. He''d definitely have plenty of subordinates at his beck and call when he''s on a business trip. He doesn''t have to lift a finger at all. All of a sudden, Gwendolyn recalled the personal items she''d brought with her on the trip. I brought many personal items, and my undergarments were still drying on the balcony when I left. His assistant didn''t pack them, did he? At the thought of Liam potentially having packed her undergarments, she grew anxious. Patrick leaned in closer to her; he was so close that he was practically nibbling on her earlobes as he spoke. ¡°Don''t worry, I was the one who packed your undergarments. I''m quite a fan of the style. Next time, I''ll be sure to appreciate them.¡± Gwendolyn''s cheeks turned scarlet when she heard the man''s words, and she raised her hand to hit him. ¡°You''re so childish.¡± Patrick was usually serious and well-mannered, so his cheesy remarks took Gwendolyn by surprise. The man chuckled at her response. ¡°I am being serious. I didn''t get a good glimpse of them thest time as I was in a hurry. It wasn''t until I packed them today that I realized how good they look. In fact, I really want to see you in them.: Chapter 462 Chapter 462 Gwendolyn''s face was crimson-red. It was so intense that the blush reached her ears. She cast the cheeky man a stern re and warned, ¡°Can you stop talking now, Patrick Lowen?¡± My face is going to burn if he keeps doing that. Patrick''s smile widened when he saw her reaction. At this moment, the elevator stopped between floors, allowing other guests to enter. The man raised his hand and pressed Gwendolyn''s face against his chest, unwilling to let the strangers see the adorable, shy look on her face. Gwendolyn nuzzled against his chest and took in the familiar scent that never failed to warm her heart. As she was taking the same flight as Patrick, they were naturally seated in the first-ss cabin. Throughout the journey at the airport, Gwendolyn was escorted by him as if she was a child. Upon seeing the abundance of delicacies in the airport lounge, Gwendolyn couldn''t help herself and ate to her heart''s content. When it came time to board the ne, a guilty feeling arose within her. She was pouting her little lips, looking as if something was bothering her. Patrick looked at the woman beside him, feeling confused. She was as happy as a child just a second ago, but why does she look mad now? My goodness, her mood sure is wishy-washy. ¡°What''s wrong? Did you not have enough to eat?¡± he asked in a gentle tone. Gwendolyn shook her head and rubbed her slightly bloated stomach. ¡°I''ve been eating a lottely. Tell me, Patrick, will I be a fatty soon?¡± she asked. Patrick couldn''t understand what she was saying. ¡°You''ll still look great when you''re chubby.¡± Gwendolyn stared at him and said nothing in response. As expected, men simply do not understand women. He should''ve said ¡°Babe, you''ll never get fat. If you do, I''ll help you lose weight.¡± I''d be happy if he said that, but instead, he lied and said I''d still look great when I''m chubby. Well, I bet he''d dump me if I get chubby! She continued to ignore the man as they made their way to the boarding gate. Patrick straightened his back. A glimmer of darkness shed in his eyes as he trailed behind her. Gwendolyn obviously looked upset, but he couldn''t figure out why she was unhappy. Women are hard to understand. After boarding the ne, Gwendolyn took the window seat. Patrick sat beside her, but she merely looked out the window without saying a word. ¡°Gwen,¡± he called out to her. When she failed to respond to him, Patrick didn''t call out to her again. He reckoned it''d be best to let her calm down than bug her if she was in bad mood. They sat next to each other without uttering a word. Patrick took out hisptop and got to work. Just then, a flight attendant walked over to him with a smile and asked, ¡°Sir, would you mind filling up a customer feedback form for us?¡± Patrick took the paper over from her. He had experienced something like this on his previous flights. He would always reject them, but this time, he made an exception and filled out the form as he was told. A momentter, the flight attendant served him a ss of water, cing it on the tray in front of him. She maintained a professional smile on her visage as she added, ¡°Sir, please fill in your phone number or WhatsApp number as well.¡± When Gwendolyn heard this, she instantly looked over. As a woman, she naturally understood the flight attendant''s intentions. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Dear, why don''t you fill in my phone number instead?¡± Gwendolyn suddenly piped up. There was a smile stered on her face as she spoke and looked at the flight attendant. Patrick''s gaze deepened when he heard the affectionate form of addressing from Gwendolyn''s mouth. He then responded, ¡°Sure, Honey.¡± His form of address took Gwendolyn by surprise, and a hint of shock flitted across her countenance. The flight attendant standing next to Patrick looked rather awkward for a second. Nevertheless, she was a professional and managed to remain poised and elegant throughout the entire ordeal. ¡°You can write down your wife''s number as well. Ourpany might select certain customers for a call- back.¡± After he was done filling in the form and passing it to the flight attendant, Patrick looked over at the woman beside him. The smile on his face was wide and showed just how good of a mood he was in. ¡°Say it again.¡± Gwendolyn turned away and refused to acknowledge him. Hmph! This guy obviously knows the flight attendant was asking for his number, yet he didn''t reject her. How dare he! ¡°Say what?¡± ¡°Call me ''Dear'' like you did earlier.¡± The man''s voice was tender and bewitching as he coaxed her. Chapter 463 Chapter 463 Gwendolyn felt that he really crossed the line. She had just addressed him as ¡°Dear¡± to let the flight attendant know that he had a girlfriend. However, she never expected him to be so cheeky as he kept asking her to repeat what she had called him. Thus, Patrick had been repeating the same thing again and again throughout their entire journey. ¡°Hurry up and say it.¡± ¡°I won''t.¡± Their conversation merely revolved around those few sentences. It wasn''t until Gwendolyn fell asleep that Patrick finally stopped pestering her. He then requested a nket from the flight attendant. As he covered Gwendolyn with the nket gently, Patrick also helped her adjust her seat. Every one of his actions were filled with utmost care and attention for the woman. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Meanwhile, a few flight attendants were chatting in the lounge, and the one who had been serving Patrick had a look of disappointment on her face. ¡°I can''t believe that Mr. Lowen is already married at such a young age!¡± She sighed. ¡°Perhaps he is only young in appearance. He might actually be quite old.¡± ¡°I don''t think so. His wife looks pretty young too. It seems like she''s even younger than us!¡± ¡°I was the one who served them. He asked for a nket for his wife, and he even draped the nket on her by himself! I''m so envious seeing how caring and gentle he was with her. When will I meet such a rich and handsome man? And someone who treats me well too!¡± ¡°How did you guys be interested in him? Let me take a lookter to see if he''s more handsome than I am. Even so, I don''t like good-looking guys. I''m not as shallow as you are.¡± It was already noon the next day when the nended. Gwendolyn was soundly asleep. She didn''t wake up once during the flight, perhaps because Patrick was beside her. She didn''t wake up until ten in the morning, which was long after breakfast service had ended. Gwendolyn yawned and turned to look at the gorgeous man next to her. ¡°What time is it? It feels like I''ve been sleeping for a long time.¡± Patrick''s long and slender fingers were busy tapping on the keyboard. It was a bunch of lines and strokes that she didn''t understand at all. I wonder what he''s drawing. It looks quite difficult. He shut down hisptop, and his steely gaze fell on her petite face. ¡°It''s ten in the morning. You must be hungry, right?¡± Patrick had already pressed the call button as he spoke. Shortly after, a flight attendant approached their seats. ¡°What I can do for you, Mr. Lowen?¡± ¡°I''d like some breakfast for my wife, and a ss of milk. Thank you.¡± Soon, Gwendolyn''s breakfast was sent over to her. She then went to the restroom to freshen up. Upon returning to her seat, Gwendolyn couldn''t resist swallowing her saliva as she saw the delicious meal She had no idea she would be that hungry. Gwendolyn remembered eating a lot before they boarded the nest night. It seemed as if sleeping on the ne had depleted her energy. She began tucking in almost immediately after she sat down. Meanwhile, Patrick was still busy working on his blueprint. Gwendolyn would nce at him from time to time, noticing his pretty fingers. They were slender and clean, with well-defined knuckles. Seeing him typing on the keyboard, she found him attractive and charming. Her colleagues told her once that Patrick had been an outstanding student who majored in architecture and won quite a few prizes as well. After he returned from overseas, even though he didn''t be an architect, there were still some real estate projects in thepany. As such, Patrick would personally go through the blueprints and sketches. He even made some adjustments on his own sometimes. However, the blueprint he was sketching was done all by himself. She wondered if it was a new project by thepany. Patrick thought she was utterly adorable as she stared at him with her pouty mouth and in a daze. ¡°Do you want to know what I''m drawing right now?¡± Gwendolyn nodded, quickly chewing her food before swallowing it all in one mouthful. ¡°I do. Please tell me about it.¡± Grinning mischievously, Patrick said, ¡°Call me ''Dear,'' and I''ll tell you.¡± Hearing this, Gwendolyn rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Petty.¡± After that, she continued having her breakfast. Once she was done eating and finished drinking the ss of milk, Gwendolyn immediately felt satisfied. The flight attendant came over to collect her food tray and rubbish. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn took out a sketchbook and began to sketch. Patrick then turned hisptop screen toward Gwendolyn, allowing her to see it clearly. ¡°Honey, I''m actually drawing our future home. Do you like it?¡± Chapter 464 Chapter 464 Gwendolyn was holding a pen while she drew on the sketchbook when she heard his words. She then turned her head to look at the screen. On theptop screen was a picture that she couldn''t understand at all. As she frowned, she wondered if it would be easier for her toprehend if it were a photograph. However, Gwendolyn still couldn''t tell that it was a blueprint of a house. Patrick smiled as he tapped on the keyboard several times. A three-dimensional picture suddenly appeared on the screen. The house is beautiful, and each room is its own entity, while every space is marked with a specific purpose. He''s so smart. How can he draw out such an intricate floor n? The blueprint even looks meticulously calcted. When she thought of her own math gradesst time, she pursed her lips and gave up thinking about it. ¡°Do you see it now?¡± Gwendolyn nodded and replied, ¡°I guess so.¡± The two of them remained preupied with their matters throughout the entire flight until the ne landed. As soon as he walked out of the airport, Patrick''s phone kept ringing. He was answering calls one after another. Patrick had his phone in one hand and held Gwendolyn''s hand with the other. ¡°All right. I''lle to the office now. We''ll have a meeting an hourter.¡± Just after he hung up the phone, another call came in again. ¡°I just saw the proposal, and it''s not feasible. We will have to make changes to it. I''ll be in the office an hourter. Let''s discuss this in my office by then.¡± Listening to his deep and pleasant voice, Gwendolyn agreed that men were at their most handsome when they were working. There was an air of superiority around Patrick at that moment, and Gwendolyn was both amazed and impressed by his demeanor. Just then, it was Gwendolyn''s phone that rang suddenly. Noticing it was Angeline calling her, she picked it up immediately. ¡°Mrs. Surrington.¡± ¡°I was at your ce just now, Gwendolyn. Your housekeeper said that you''d be back today. Have you landed?¡± The timing of Angeline''s call to Gwendolyn was impable since Camille was aware of Gwendolyn''s itinerary. ¡°I''ve justnded. Is anything the matter, Mrs. Surrington?¡± Has Zayden been feeling unwell again? ¡°Zay has been discharged from the hospital, and he''s currently staying in the countryside mansion alone. He doesn''t want to see me or anyone else. I''m concerned about him. I beg of you, Gwendolyn, please check on him for me and talk some sense into him.¡± Gwendolyn felt worried as well when she heard Angeline''s words.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Zayden used to be a kind and caring person. She never imagined he would turn into such a person after he lost his vision. As someone who understood him, Gwendolyn was certain she would be able to help him ovee his despair. ¡°I will. Please send me the addresster. I''ll pay him a visit after I make a trip home.¡± She nced at Patrick after hanging up the call and realized he was still talking on his phone. Her heart ached for Patrick, as she imagined he would live an extravagant lifestyle every day since he was the CEO. However, he was working hard day and night as he had to make many decisions, and as a leader of a largepany, the livelihood of many employees and their families depended on him. In truth, he wasn''t doing well at all. Tightening her grip on his hand, Gwendolyn secretly made a promise to treat him better in the future. Therefore, she said abruptly, ¡°Don''t tire yourself too much, Dear.¡± She thought Patrick wouldn''t hear her, but he did. As the man nced toward her, his lips curled into a smile. It was obvious that he heard her words. Gwendolyn''s face blushed red as she tried to retract her hands, but he wouldn''t let her go. After hanging up, he smiled at her and said, ¡°Say it again. I love hearing you call me that.¡± Gwendolyn wrinkled her nose and shook her head. ¡°Stop messing around and get to the office now! I''m going home to see my three little sweethearts.¡± The two were headed in different directions. Having left so hastily this time, Patrick would be busy as he had many things to attend to in thepany. ¡°Gwen, when are you going to arrange a spot for me, the Big Sweetie?¡± Gwendolyn chuckled upon hearing his words. ¡°Big Sweetie?¡± She thenughed loudly. Sounds pretty good. I''ll just call him that. I like that it''s so special. Maybe this will be an affectionate nickname between the both of us! Patrick raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°I''d like to be your Big Sweetie.¡± Chapter 465 Chapter 465 As she heard his words, Gwendolyn found herself thinking about his... Her face reddened as she pushed him lightly. ¡°Stop fooling around, and get back to work.¡± Seeing the blush on her face, Patrick knew that the woman understood what he meant. His affection for her grew stronger, and he gave her a tender kiss on the cheek. ¡°I''ll see you tonight, Babe!¡± With that, he turned and got into his ck Bentley, leaving Gwendolyn to watch as he drove away. Standing behind her, Liam said, ¡°Ms. Ashton, this way, please.¡± When Gwendolyn heard that form of address, she could not help but smile. ¡°Liam, I''m not his secretary anymore, so don''t call me that. Just call me Gwendolyn or Gwen, whichever you prefer,¡± she said warmly. ¡°Okay.¡± The man nodded before opening the car door for her. Gwendolyn then got in and went home, findingfort in its familiar atmosphere. As she breathed in the air she knew so well and gazed at the familiar streets, a feeling of immense relief flooded through her. An hourter, the car pulled up in front of her house. Gwendolyn had finally returned home. When she went inside, she found that her three children hadn''t returned yet. Hence, she moved her luggage into the bedroom and took a shower. She had slept on the ne the night before, so she hadn''t had the chance to freshen up. Feeling refreshed, Gwendolyn went to the wardrobe to pick out some clothes. Just then, she made eye contact with Camille, who had returned from grocery shopping. Thetter was holding a rolling pin. Bothdies were startled by each other''s presence and patted their chests to calm their nerves. ¡°What are you doing, Ms. Ziegler?¡± Gwendolyn asked. Camille chuckled. ¡°I thought a thief had broken in, but it turned out to be you.¡± Feeling amused by her antics, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Ms. Ziegler, do you have any pre-made ravioli in the fridge? Pack some for me. I want to bring them to Zayden.¡± Zayden lives alone in a mansion in the suburbs. It seems like he doesn''t meet anyone. He doesn''t even have a servant. How has he been getting by these days? Gwendolyn shuddered at the thought, so she wanted to quickly go over and bring some frozen ravioli for him to fill his stomach. When Camille heard Gwendolyn''s request, she hurriedly went to pack some ravioli for her. ¡°Yes, let me get it ready for you.¡± Camille was also deeply affected by Zayden''s blindness, so she was equally concerned about his well- being. Gwendolyn decided to change into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt as she was expecting to do some hard labor when she got there. When she headed downstairs, Camille had already packed the ravioli and was waiting for her in the living room. ¡°Gwen, why don''t I go with you?¡± Since it was still early and the kids had not been dismissed from school, Camille thought it was a good opportunity for her to pay a visit to Zayden as well. Gwendolyn took the bag and responded, ¡°He lives in the suburbs, so it''s a bit far. You have to pick up the kids after school. I''ll take you to see him on the weekend.¡± ¡°The suburbs? That''s quite far. Let''s do it on the weekend then!¡± With that, Gwendolyn carried the bag and walked out. Before leaving, she instructed, ¡°I''ll head out first. I''ll be back early tonight, so tell the three of them to wait for me.¡± She missed the three kids as she hadn''t seen them for a few days. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Gwendolyn drove to the suburbs address given by Angeline. This area was a holiday mansion in the hills; thus, it would be crowded on weekends and holidays. On a working day, however, the area was quieter. Gwendolyn had to register and make a call to the security guard through Angeline before her car was allowed to enter the premises. After following the road signs, she finally managed to find block seventeen. The trees inside were dense, as it was built inside a mountain vi that preserved the original forest. Gwendolyn walked in alone and found the sound of chirping birds all around quiteforting. The cool wind blowing added to the pleasant atmosphere. Standing at the door, she pressed the doorbell and looked up at the three-story white building. However, all the curtains were tightly shut, giving the impression that no one was inside. Gwendolyn waited for a long time, but no one came to answer the door. So, she had to take out her phone and dial Zayden''s number, unsure if he would answer. Chapter 466 Chapter 466 After a while, someone answered the call. ¡°Hello,¡± came Zayne''s voice, which Gwendolyn could recognize. ¡°I''m at the door, Zayden. Could you ask the housekeeper to open it for me?¡± Angeline exined that there used to be a helper cleaning the vi, but now only she was taking care of Zayden. ¡°Didn''t you say you wouldn''te to see me again, Gwen? You should leave!¡± he hissed. Before Zayden hung up the phone, Gwendolyn quickly stopped him. ¡°I drove for a long time to get here. I''m really thirsty. Can Ie in and have a drink of water?¡± Zayden was taken aback when he heard her pitiful voice. After a brief pause, he hung up the phone. Momentster, the door opened, and Gwendolyn entered through a small gate in the yard. There was a rockery and a small fishpond in the courtyard that reminded her of spring. The courtyard was designed in a vintage style, with arge tree that required two people to hold hands to encircle its thick trunk. The tree was probably over a hundred years old. Inside the house, a girl dressed in ck servant''s clothing stood at the entrance. Gwendolyn knew that this was what the Surrington family servants wore. The girl nodded slightly at her. ¡°Ms. Ashton, Mr. Surrington asked me to wait here and make sure you take your leave after you have finished drinking the cup of water.¡± The young female servant appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old and had an adorable look with two small ponytails and a pouting mouth.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Gwendolyn handed her the bags in her hand. ¡°These are ravioli I brought from home. I made them myself, and Mr. Surrington likes them a lot.¡± The young girl took the bag from Gwendolyn and replied gratefully, ¡°Thank you, Ms. Ashton!¡± While the young girl brought the items to the kitchen, Gwendolyn walked around the living room, which was quiterge and decorated in a rustic style. Soon, the girl returned with a tray. She squatted in front of the table, pouring coffee from an exquisite coffeepot into the cup. ¡°Have some coffee, Ms. Ashton.¡± Gwendolyn looked at the porcin coffee set with a floral pattern. At first nce, she could tell it was a valuable antique. When she was at the Ashton residence, her grandfather liked these things, so she knew a little bit about them. She picked up the cup and took a sip of coffee. It was very refreshing and acidic, maybe because of the water''s source. The beverage was really refreshing. Gwendolyn couldn''t help but take another sip before ncing upstairs. ¡°How are his eyes?¡± she asked the young girl. The girl''s eyes flickered with panic before shaking her head. ¡°Not good,¡± she replied. The thought of the young master''s condition made her feel uneasy. After cing her cup on the table, Gwendolyn said, ¡°Let me go see him.¡± The servant quickly stood up. ¡°Ms. Ashton, I''m sorry, but Mr. Surrington said he won''t see anyone. He only instructed me to serve you coffee and asked that you leave as soon as you finish your drink.¡± Seeing the maid''s flustered expression, Gwendolyn decided she did not want to put the young girl in a tight spot, so she piped up loudly, ¡°Zayne, I want to see you. It has nothing to do with this girl, so don''t me her.¡± With that, she stood up and headed upstairs, followed closely by the maid. ¡°Ms. Ashton, please go back,¡± the maid pleaded. Gwendolyn went from room to room until she reached the one at the very end. There, she saw a man standing by the window, wearing casual clothes with his back turned to her. She could tell that he had lost weight; he must not have been eating welltely. ¡°Zayden...¡± Gwendolyn called out to him, her voice tinged with pity. He used to be so strong and muscr, but now he was so scrawny. The woman quickly walked to him and pulled him around to face her. His expression remained calm, but his face looked more defined due to his weight loss. Not only was his chin pointed, but his eyes also became lifeless and dull. ¡°Zayden. I''lle here every day from now on. You must eat well and follow the doctor''s orders to treat your eyes. Do you understand?¡± Gwendolyn''s voice was urgent andced with anger. Zayden slightly curved his lips. ¡°Gwen, who are you to tell me what to do? Why should I listen to you?¡± Chapter 467 Chapter 467 Gwendolyn was almost driven mad by Zayden. ¡°I''m your friend. You helped me get back on my feet back then, so I don''t want to watch you ruin your life like this.¡± Her statement only made him chuckle. ¡°I don''t need a friend. I''ll listen to you if you''re my girlfriend, though.¡± Gwendolyn was stunned. He''s still thinking about this. ¡°Gwendolyn, stop being nosy over my business if you don''t want to be with me. Suzanne, send Gwendolyn home.¡± With that, Zayden scanned the path in front of him with the white cane in his hand and entered the study. Suzanne then stepped forward. ¡°This way please, Ms. Ashton.¡± Seeing that, Gwendolyn heaved a sigh. ¡°Zayden, I''ll visit you again tomorrow. The doctor wille with me. I''ll use my key if you refuse to open the door.¡± Her message was clear. Regardless of his ignoring her, she would still visit him, for she was determined to poke her nose into his business. After Gwendolyn had left, Suzanne closed the door and nced upstairs with her bright eyes. She then strode into the house and entered the study, just to find Zayden reading a book at the desk. ¡°Mr. Surrington, Ms. Ashton has left. Seems like she treats you well. Why don''t you tell her that your vision has been restored?¡± Suzanne asked while peeling an orange for the man. Zayden raised his head and swept his gaze over her. ¡°Suzanne Drache, do you still want to work here or not?¡± He merely allowed Suzanne to stay here out of pity since she had nowhere else to go. Suzanne was not enraged by his words. She simply smiled at him and stuffed an orange slice into her mouth before muttering with puffy cheeks, ¡°Oh, I''ll stop talking about it, then.¡± After that, she sat on a couch and picked up another piece of fruit to eat. Zayden nced at her. This little girl is still a child who enjoys eating above all. Nevertheless, she''s simple-minded and isn''t nosy. After finishing an entire te of fruits, Suzanne suddenly came to a realization. ¡°Hehe! Mr. Surrington, I identally ate all the fruits I cut for you just now. Do you still want more fruits? I''ll prepare some for you right now.¡± ¡°I''m fine. You can eat more if you want to,¡± Zayden replied tly. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Surrington!¡± Suzanne jumped to her feet joyfully and thanked him before darting out of the study, her giggles sounding like a wind chime. Zayden couldn''t help but lift his head to look at her. The chattering girl somehow made the quiet mansion a little more lively. Just as Gwendolyn was driving away from Dragonhill, she received a call from Angeline. She connected her phone to her Bluetooth earbuds and picked up the call. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Surrington.¡± ¡°Gwen, are you there yet? I want to speak with Zay.¡± ¡°He chased me out, Mrs. Surrington.¡± ¡°What? So, you left simply because he chased you out? Can''t you just refuse to leave? None of us can enter the mansion these days, and we don''t know what kind of life he''s been leading recently.¡± Angeline started reprimanding Gwendolyn, as she was extremely dissatisfied with thetter leaving the mansion. ¡°I visited him, Mrs. Surrington. He''s doing well. His beard is shaved, and he''s wearing clean clothes. He looks energetic. That little girl has been taking good care of him!¡± ¡°Little girl?¡± The Surringtons hired a middle-aged woman to work as the vacation mansion''s housekeeper. The woman''s husband, Lawrence Lewis, had been the Surrington family''s driver for many years. Given Lawrence''s and his family''s honesty and loyalty, the Surringtons hired the middle-aged woman to work at the vacation mansion. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°The housekeeper at the mansion is taking good care of Zayden,¡± Gwendolyn borated. Puzzled, Angeline questioned, ¡°That housekeeper is supposed to be a middle-aged woman. When did she be a little girl? How can a little girl be reliable?¡± With that being said, Angeline decided to ask Lawrence about what had happened to his wife. Why did she arrange for a young girl to work at the mansion instead? ¡°I think it''s fine. In any case, Zayden is in good shape. I''ll pay him another visit tomorrow. When the timees, please allow the doctor to apany me and continue Zayden''s treatment.¡± After hearing that, Angeline finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°All right, then. Call me tomorrow.¡± Chapter 469 Chapter 469 Gwendolyn was slightly confused. ¡°Huh? Celebrating for me?¡± Juliette responded, ¡°Yes! Great-grandpa said that he was going to introduce us to everyone! He also said that we were his cutest great-grandchildren.¡± Although Juliette seemed extremely excited by it, Gwendolyn had some reservations. Grandpa might not just be celebrating my winning an award. He might also announce an engagement for Zayden and me. She felt down immediately as returning to Avenport had turned everything into a mess. Camille saw them chatting happily and said, ¡°You guys carry on the conversation. I''ll cook dinner. Mr. Lowen will be returning soon...¡± Gwendolyn suddenly recalled Patrick wasing over, so he would definitely eat dinner at her ce. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, please make a few more dishes.¡± Camille smiled. ¡°Sure.¡± Gwendolyn returned to the living room, causing the children to quieten down. Justin nced at the seemingly tired Gwendolyn and asked in a clear voice, ¡°Mommy, is Mr. Zayden okay?¡± Julian also looked over and queried, ¡°Are his eyes better? Can you take us to see him over the weekend?¡± The three children had a good rtionship with Zayden, as he used to bring them to y when they were younger. As a result, it was natural for them to be concerned about him now that he was in this situation. ¡°Okay, I''ll bring you kids to see him this weekend.¡± Meanwhile, Juliette was watching her cartoons blissfully and reminded Gwendolyn, ¡°Mommy, go shower now! We will be eating dinner soon.¡± This foodie was most likely considering what she was going to eat for dinner and whether it would include her favorite chicken wings. Gwendolyn got up and uttered, ¡°Okay!¡± Meanwhile, Angeline arrived at Dragonhill Mansion. She entered the password at the entrance but couldn''t open the door. She had tried the password previously and knew Zayden had already changed it. She knew she would have to get someone inside the mansion to open the door for her if she wanted to enter. Angeline rang the doorbell, and a clear and sweet voice rang out from the inte. ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± When Angeline heard the voice, she suddenly recalled the words Lawrence''s wife had uttered when thetter had gone insane. She snapped out of her thoughts and reminded herself that ghosts didn''t exist. Lawrence''s wife must really have gone crazy to be saying such things. ¡°I''m Zayden''s mother. Open the door and let me see him.¡± The person didn''t reply to her for some time. After a while, a scurry of footsteps was heard. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, I''m sorry, but Mr. Surrington refused to see anyone. He told me to tell you that it''s gettingte, so you should head back soon.¡± Angeline''s expression changed drastically, and her voice turned sharp. ¡°You''re just a housekeeper of the Surrington family. Listen to me and open the door.¡± The other housekeeper beside Angeline added, ¡°Please open the door! Mrs. Surrington is worried about Mr. Surrington now that he''s in this state.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No way. I don''t dare to. He will beat me up.¡± With that, she hung up the inte without opening the door. Angeline was so enraged she mmed her hands on the door. ¡°Zayden, tell her to open the door for me. I''m not leaving until I see you tonight. Do you want me to stand at the door all night?¡± Her voice was extremely loud, so she was confident the whole mansion could hear her clearly. In the study on the second floor, Zayden stood by the window, looking down at his mother. He didn''t care that Angeline was angry. Instead, he was d. If it weren''t for her persistent objection, he would have gotten together with Gwendolyn a long time ago. This time, he would never back down. Suzanne walked into the study with an apple in her hand. She took a bite of the apple, making a crisp sound. ¡°Mr. Surrington, your mother is here. Do you really n on not letting her in?¡± she asked casually. There was no emotion in her eyes, as if she wasn''t interested in anything except the apple in her hand. ¡°Even eating can''t stop you from talking.¡± Suzanne rolled her eyes. ¡°Mm!¡± With that, she turned and left the study. There was a cigarette in Zayden''s hand. He took a deep puff and looked down from the window. His expression darkened. Chapter 470 Chapter 470 Angeline stood outside the entrance for a long time. After half an hour, her legs went numb. In the end, she had no choice but to get into the car with tears in her eyes. Zayden watched the car door shut, and the vehicle slowly drove out of the neighborhood. He extinguished the tenth cigarette and returned to his desk to continue working. Suzanne was in another room finishing her apple. She still felt hungry, so she decided to head downstairs to sit at the dining table to eat grilled chicken. When Zayden came downstairs to pour some water for herself, he saw her eating grilled chicken and couldn''t help but ask, ¡°Suzanne, you don''t even gain weight with your appetite. Do you have some underlying illness?¡± Although she ate so much every day, she didn''t gain any weight or grow taller. Suzanne''s mouth was full of chicken, making it hard for her to speak clearly. ¡°I clean your mansion and listen to your instructions. Can''t you let me eat my fill?¡± Zayden smiled. ¡°Sure. Eat as much as you want. I can still afford to pay your wages.¡± Suzanne was the most unique woman Zayden had ever seen. She was only interested in food, and nothing else could interest her. However, Zayden was d she was obedient as she didn''t let anyone in when he didn''t allow it. ¡°Remember to clean up after yourself after you eat your fill.¡± Zayden poured a ss of water for himself and headed upstairs. Suzanne thought the chicken tasted delicious and decided to ask Zayden to order a few more the next day. As she watched Zayden''s retreating figure, she muttered to herself, ¡°Zayden''s eyes seem fine. Why is he pretending to be fine?¡± Humans are tooplicated. After her shower, Gwendolyn headed downstairs and saw Patrick walking into the house. Her two sons were by his side, but she couldn''t hear what they were saying to him. Juliette had also run toward him. Patrick carried her into his arms and said with a smile, ¡°Juliette, you seem to have gained some weight.¡± Juliette wrapped her arms around his neck and replied, ¡°Yes, I haven''t been sick recently, so I have been eating more! Hehe!¡± Upon seeing their sister so delighted, Justin and Julian exchanged nces and walked into the dining room. Gwendolyn walked over to Patrick and whispered, ¡°Justin and Julian didn''t try to chase you away, right?¡± She knew her two sons bore grudges well. They must have thought Patrick had betrayed them the previous time and did not trust him anymore. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Patrick ced his arm around her shoulder. ¡°They didn''t say anything.¡± Sensing his warm gaze on her, Gwendolyn felt her heart skip a beat, and she quickly changed the subject. ¡°Let''s eat!¡± It was already seven in the evening, so her children were probably already hungry. She was also starving after running around all day. Patrick nodded. ¡°Okay, I''m hungry too.¡± The three of them entered the dining room. Camille called out, ¡°Mr. Lowen, you''re here! The meal''s ready!¡± Patrick ced Juliette in her seat and replied to Camille calmly, ¡°Thank you, Ms. Ziegler.¡± He was grateful Camille was by Gwendolyn''s side to take care of the three children these past few years, or Gwendolyn would probably have had a harder time. Camille smiled. ¡°No problem.¡± With that, she walked into the kitchen and brought out the soup she had simmered the whole day before sitting down to eat. Juliette passed Patrick a chicken wing and uttered, ¡°Mr. Lowen, eat this chicken wing! It''s delicious!¡± Patrick felt a surge of warmth within him as he watched her ce the chicken wing on his te. It was exactly as others had stated. Juliette had the ability to make people feel at ease. ¡°Thank you, Juliette.¡± Patrick knew her favorite food was chicken wings and ced one on her te too. ¡°Enjoy too.¡± Upon seeing this scene, Gwendolyn thought the few of them seemed like a family. If she were to marry Patrick, the three children would finally have a father. At that thought, she reminded herself to tell her grandfather that the rtionship between Zayden and her was fake. At this moment, her phone rang, and she took a peek at her phone. She didn''t feel like picking up the call upon seeing that it was Felicia. Juliette reminded her, ¡°Gwen, your phone is ringing.¡± Chapter 471 Chapter 471 Gwendolyn answered the call, thinking Felicia would continue calling her if she did otherwise. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Don''t think you''re all that just because you won that useless award, Gwendolyn. I don''t care what lie you told Grandpa to publicize your identity as the daughter of the Ashton family, but I''m telling you, I''m the rightful daughter of the Ashton family. So, dream on!¡± The thought of going back had never urred to Gwendolyn, much less getting back her identity as the daughter of the Ashton family. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡°If there''s nothing else, I''m hanging up.¡± ¡°Hold on!¡± Gwendolyn couldn''t help but furrow her brows upon hearing Felicia''s shrill voice. ¡°Cut the crap.¡± Juliette shook her head at her mother''s words. ¡°We mustn''t talk about things like this when we''re eating. This is what you taught me, Gwendolyn,¡± she chided. At that, Patrick grabbed more food for the little girl and said, ¡°Eat more, Juliette.¡± The food diverted the girl''s attention, and she instantly forgot about the fact that her mother had spoken about crap. Feliciaposed herself, and she sounded smug when she spoke again. ¡°You listen to me now, Gwendolyn. Old Mr. Lowen likes me a lot. I''ll be getting engaged to Patrick soon, and we''ll be getting married at the end of this year. You''d better stay away from my fianc¨¦. Don''t you dare do anything shameless.¡± Gwendolyn took a nce at Patrick, and their eyes met. She felt it would be difficult for her to marry Patrick upon hearing what Felicia said. Gwendolyn felt a little disappointed because Hector had not been treating her well now that he was all better. ¡°We shallpete to the best of our abilities.¡± With that said, she hung up and turned off her phone. Otherwise, she might not be able to continue eating anymore. After they finished their meals, the children went out to walk their dog. Gwendolyn tidied up with Camille and only came out of the kitchen when she finished washing the dishes. Patrick was smoking as he sat gloomily on the couch. He had met with multiple professionals that day, but none of them could remove the bullet for him. His life was in danger as long as the bullet stayed in his head. The doctors had told Patrick to not worry about it. In fact, he wasn''t too concerned about it previously. But he finally understood that he was only a step away from death after experiencing the pain. Gwendolyn sat beside Patrick and wrapped her arms around his. ¡°What were you thinking about that made you so focused?¡± Noticing the ring on her finger, the man reached out and gently stroked it, a hint of a smile in his eyes. ¡°Have you thought about when you''ll give me an answer?¡± he asked. Patrick heaved a sigh of relief, much to his surprise, when he saw the ring. Perhaps it was better that she had not epted his proposal. If he was really uncurable, he hoped that she would forget about him. Staring at the ring, Gwendolyn suddenly remembered that she had another one. It was a gift from the children''s father, but it had been stolen a while ago. ¡°Wait for a few more days.¡± She shed him a smile. Gwendolyn was going to confess everything to Michael anyway. She could ept his proposal once she cleared things up with Michael and talked to her sons about it. As for the Lowen family, Gwendolyn had nned to deal with it with Patrick. Even though she wasn''t too confident that Hector would permit their wedding, she trusted in Patrick. The man was still caressing the ring, but his smile faded slightly. ¡°Gwen, let''s go to my ce.¡± He got up, grabbed her hand, and left. Stunned, Gwendolyn bit her lip. ¡°Why don''t I go after the children are asleep?¡± She was well aware of what would happen at night but didn''t reject it. Instead, Gwendolyn was looking forward to it. Patrick''s smile widened when he saw her blushing face. ¡°I want you to bathe with me now.¡± Without waiting for her response, he led her toward the door. When Camille came out, she instantly saw Gwendolyn blushing with her head down while in Patrick''s embrace as they made their way outside. She couldn''t help but exim, ¡°It''s so good to be young!¡± Chapter 472 Chapter 472 Patrick brought Gwendolyn back to his mansion. When they entered, he instantly pressed her against the door and kissed her lips. Gwendolyn''s back hurt from hitting the door, but she could not care less. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Clearly feeling her enthusiasm, Patrick smiled and deepened the kiss. Right then, the doorbell rang. Gwendolyn jumped and pushed Patrick away. He was in the mood at that moment. Having been pushed away, Patrick tilted his head to the side. He narrowed his eyes and stared at her with a dangerous look. ¡°You dare push me away? Do you have a death wish, Gwen?¡± Back then, Gwendolyn would not have understood the meaning behind his words. However, she knew well enough what he meant, having experienced it after being with him. Her face flushed red as she bit her lip. ¡°Someone rang the bell. Who is it?¡± If it were someone from the Lowen family, she would have to hide quickly. Gwendolyn suddenly felt like a coward. She straightened her clothes and quickly went to take a seat on the couch. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Patrick removed his tie and took a look at the woman who was sitting obediently on the couch. A smile shed across his face as he turned on the video inte. There was no one in the video, but voices could be heard. ¡°Patrick, tell Gwendolyn toe out.¡± It was Justin''s voice. In the next second, Juliette''s voice sounded from beside him. ¡°Julian, how did you guys know Gwen is here? I want to go y in Mr. Lowen''s house!¡± ¡°Stop talking. They can hear us,¡± Julian said softly. Gwendolyn stood up and walked over. ¡°Are Justin and the others here?¡± With that, she stood before the video inte and asked with a smile, ¡°Are you here to bring me home?¡± ¡°Come out,¡± Justin answered coldly. It was obvious that he was unhappy. Gwendolyn arched a brow at Patrick and pointed outside, signaling she wanted to go home. It was evident that thetter was upset. However, the two boys were already discontent with him. They had only let him in for dinner that day because he was a guest. They would probably lose their good impression of him if he were to hog Gwendolyn for himself that night. Hence, Patrick had no choice but to nod slightly, allowing her to leave. Gwendolyn smiled and went over to hug him. ¡°Thank you, Big Sweetie!¡± she whispered in his ear. With that, she left in a hurry. She even gave him a flirtatious wink just as the door was closing. Patrick''s eyes darkened as a thought shed through his mind. You little vixen. I''m going to marry you one day and rightfully have your sons call me Dad. Gwendolyn instantly saw the children when she exited the mansion. They had not gone to walk the dog. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± ¡°Don''t go to men''s houses at night. That''s our family rule. You ought to be a good example to Juliette,¡± Justin said coldly. He turned and left when he finished speaking. Seeing this, Julian smiled and shrugged at his mother. ¡°Remember what you said, Mommy. We have to be home by ten o''clock at night.¡± Then, he went after his brother. Both boys had their hands behind their backs, looking like two old officials walking away. Gwendolyn couldn''t stop herself from chuckling at the sight of this. Meanwhile, Juliette had been staring at Patrick''s house the whole time. ¡°Gwen, I want to y in Mr. Lowen''s house!¡± However, Gwendolyn had shut the door behind her when she came out. She had no way to enter anymore. Juliette was holding Sirius'' leash, and the dog kept jumping at Patrick''s door. He was big and tall, and his jumps made the girl stumble forward. ¡°Sit, Sirius. Stop moving.¡± Sirius understood what she was saying and sat down obediently. He had even lowered his head. Gwendolyn caressed the girl''s cheeks and said, ¡°It''s already nine o''clock. We girls should head home now.¡± After hearing what her sons had said a moment ago, Gwendolyn felt that they were right. She needed to be a good role model for her daughter, so Juliette wouldn''t be led astray when she grew up. That way, Juliette would go home on time instead of not going home at all. Nodding, the girl answered, ¡°All right, then. Let''s go home!¡± Chapter 473 Chapter 473 The next morning, the parcels arrived, containing the clothes and toys that had been brought from Willowbank. Meanwhile, a chief legal officer of Solstice Group had alsoe along with the parcels. As Camille signed for the parcel, she caught sight of a man in a sharp suit carrying a briefcase, prompting her to inquire, ¡°May I know who you are looking for?¡± Camille couldn''t shake off the feeling that the man standing in front of her resembled an insurance salesman. She hade across many individuals dressed simrly in the past, often carrying briefcases, amon trait of insurance salespeople. She then pondered, But this is a high-end residential area. It''s not easy for even a fly from outside to enter. Why would they allow a man like him toe in today? Sawyer Hoffman extended his name card to Camille and introduced himself, ¡°I am the chief legal officer of Solstice Group. I am here today to meet with Ms. Gwendolyn Ashton.¡± As Camille realized that Sawyer was awyer, she couldn''t resist stealing a few nces at him. Ah, so he''s awyer. That exins hismanding and dignified presence. After signing to acknowledge the receipt of the parcels, Camille stared at the few piles of items in a daze. It prompted her to sigh and wonder what Gwendolyn had bought. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, pleasee in. I''ll get Ms. Ashton for you.¡± Camille paid no immediate attention to the parcels at the door. She was relieved that the delivery guy had brought them directly to the house. Otherwise, she would have had to figure out how to pick them up from the delivery station at the entrance of the residential area. Sawyer followed Camille into the house, and she gestured for him to take a seat. She then prepared a cup of coffee for him. After that, Camille excused herself and went upstairs to inform Gwendolyn about the guest''s arrival. Gwendolyn was still in her pajamas, sitting on the terrace, sipping coffee, and engrossed in creating art on her drawing block. Despite not having to work recently, Gwendolyn remained dedicated to her daily routine of learning and creating art. She would often send some of her drafts to Tiffany for feedback and make necessary changes based on her mentor''s opinion. ¡°Gwen, awyer named Mr. Hoffman is here to see you.¡± Gwendolyn raised her head and put down her pen after hearing Camille''s words. ¡°Awyer? Why is he here?¡± Gwendolyn looked visibly concerned as she pondered, I haven''t caused any trouble recently. Why would awyere looking for me? N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Camille''s expression also showed a hint of worry as she asked, ¡°Did you get into a fight recently?¡± Thest time awyer visited was when Gwendolyn had gotten into a physical altercation and ended up sending someone to the hospital. After the incident, Gwendolyn had to pay a substantial amount of compensation, which served as a lesson to her. Since then, she had refrained from engaging in any physical altercations. Gwendolyn paused for a moment, then replied with certainty, ¡°No, I haven''t. I''m sure of that.¡± The two walked out of the terrace, engaged in conversation. However, there were subtle signs of tension on their faces. Camille deliberated for a brief moment before stating, ¡°Perhaps I could ce a call to Mr. Lowen? He has connections and is a man. He might be able to offer assistance in case of any unforeseen circumstances.¡± Gwendolyn considered the idea of having Patrick''s support as well but then realized that Patrick would likely be in the office at this hour. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, let''s wait until I meet with thewyer and ascertain the nature of the matter before we consider involving him. I don''t want to unnecessarily trouble Patrick if it turns out to be something else.¡± After all, Patrick was a busy man. If the nature of the matter was trivial, she could handle it herself. Things have changed now. I have the financial means, and I am willing to face anypensation or legal proceedings. Indeed, it was true that having financial resources could empower someone to stand tall. In the past, Gwendolyn''s financial situation was tight, and she couldn''t afford to spend money frivolously on such matters. Camille trailed behind Gwendolyn as they descended the stairs. Camille then made her way to the kitchen. They had an understanding that if the nature of the matter required Patrick''s intervention, Gwendolyn would signal Camille by asking for another cup of coffee. So, Camille patiently waited in the kitchen for the signal. When Gwendolyn entered the living room, Sawyer stood up to greet her. ¡°Hello, Ms. Ashton. I''m Sawyer Hoffman.¡± He extended his hand, and Gwendolyn shook it with a firm grip. She couldn''t help but notice that he was much more handsome than the previouswyer who had visited. His demeanor radiated a sense of decency, a stark contrast to the previouswyer, who had exuded a negative vibe with just a single nce. Gwendolyn had unwavering confidence in her intuition, even though it was often baseless. ¡°Please have a seat, Mr. Hoffman.¡± Gwendolyn settled into her seat with a sense of unease. Though she maintained aposed facade, deep within, her emotions roiled like turbulent waves. To my knowledge, there have been no recent urrences of me striking someone, being involved in an ident, ormitting any illegal actions, correct? Sawyer exuded a professional air with a demeanor that spoke of business-like efficiency. ¡°Ms. Ashton, I''m Solstice Group''s chief legal officer. I''m here today to address matters concerning Ms. Sophia Sanders'' transfer of Solstice Group''s shares to you, Ms. Ashton.¡± Chapter 474 Chapter 474 Gwendolyn had inadvertently overlooked this matter. At that time, Gwendolyn found herself with no other option but to ept the share transfer, as Sophia''s unwavering enthusiasm had made it challenging for her to decline the proposal. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, can I refuse to ept the transfer?¡± Gwendolyn was aware that one should not take what one did not deserve. She couldn''t help but feel incredibly fortunate to have acquired such wealth without putting in any effort. In the past, she had a fixation on wealth, but it was primarily due to her financial limitations. However, she didn''t possess an ambitious drive to amass a substantial amount of money. Her only aspiration was to have enough money to ensure that her children could visit the doctor when needed and attend school without any financial worries. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Sawyer hesitated for a moment upon hearing Gwendolyn''s request. ¡°Ms. Ashton, once this is done, Solstice Group will be yours. It''s a great opportunity. Why would you not want it? Furthermore, Ms. Sanders has entrusted me to handle everything today. Please don''t make things difficult for me. If you have concerns, you can discuss them with Ms. Sanders directly.¡± After hearing his words, Gwendolyn was at a loss for how to respond. Ultimately, Gwendolyn had no choice but to ept. She reasoned that as long as she kept in mind that thepany belonged to Sophia, she would eventually find an opportunity to return it to her. ¡°Okay. Let''s proceed with it.¡± With that, Sawyer took out the relevant documents one by one and asked her to sign them all. Gwendolyn proceeded to extract the original transfer agreement from the luggage she left upstairs and affix her signature to it, in addition to the other documents presented by Sawyer. After signing everything, Sawyer left a copy of those documents to Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Ashton, effective immediately, you shall assume the role of the majority shareholder of Solstice Group. Kindly note that you are required to attend the monthly general meetings held on the fifteenth of each month at thepany.¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback by the news and found herself feeling somewhat perplexed. ¡°What do I have to do as the majority shareholder?¡± Do I merely have to watch the moneying into my ount every month? Sawyer chuckled in response to her query. ¡°You''re the boss of Solstice Group now, Ms. Ashton. You will be the CEO if you desire to assume a position in thepany. Alternatively, if you prefer not to work, the vice CEO will be there to ensure thepany is well taken care of.¡± Sawyer proceeded to gather his belongings and rose to his feet with his briefcase in his hand. ¡°Goodbye, Ms. Ashton!¡± Sophia had meticulously orchestrated everything, intending to bestow upon Gwendolyn a life offort and ease where her basic needs were met without any worries. With Gwendolyn''s newfound billionaire status, no one dared to underestimate her anymore. Even after bidding farewell to Sawyer, Gwendolyn remained perplexed, unable to shake off the lingering sense of bewilderment. Gwendolyn found the sensation of being the boss, the top decision-maker of thepany, to be truly magical. Camille had anxiously awaited the secret code they agreed upon, but even after the guest had departed, Gwendolyn didn''t utter a word about it. Hence, she came out of the kitchen. ¡°Gwen, is everything okay?¡± Gwendolyn embraced Camille warmly, her face lighting up with a beaming smile. ¡°It wasn''t something bad.¡± Camille finally breathed a sigh of relief after hearing that. ¡°It''s a relief that it wasn''t a bad thing. Even so, let''s avoid getting into fights in the future,¡± Camille admonished, still haunted by regrets from the previous experience. Gwendolyn responded, ¡°I will take note on that.¡± With that, they returned to the house. As they stepped into the house, the sound of a ringing phone caught their attention. Gwendolyn quickly made her way to the couch and picked up her phone. It was a call from Angeline. Gwendolyn sighed and answered it. ¡°Mrs. Surrington.¡± Angeline''s sobs came from the other side of the call. ¡°Gwendolyn, could you possibly make a trip to Dragonhill Mansion and check on Zay? The caretaker there has gone mad, insisting the house is haunted. Though I don''t believe in such things, I''m anxious for Zay''s safety. I truly worry that something bad might happen to him because of that thing.¡± Upon hearing Angeline''s frantic request, Gwendolyn couldn''t help but wonder if Angeline was experiencing some mental distress. Haunted? That''s impossible. How could that ce be haunted? ¡°Mrs. Surrington, please calm down. I''ll go to the Dragonhill Mansion to check on himter. Why don''t youe with me?¡± Gwendolyn realized that if she didn''t offer her assistance to Angeline, Angeline''s mental state might worsen. Zayden had once extended his help to her, a gesture she would cherish for a lifetime. Therefore, whenever he faced any challenges or difficulties, she was determined to reciprocate and provide him assistance. Angeline responded eagerly after hearing Gwendolyn''s proposal. ¡°Okay, that''s fantastic. We''ll be there to pick you up right away.¡± Gwendolyn sighed. It looks like I have to postpone my visit to Grandpa until tomorrow as I need to apany Mrs. Surrington to Dragonhill Mansion to check on Zayne. I hope that seeing him in person will bring her some relief. Patrick returned to his office after the meeting ended. As he entered, he noticed a woman in a red dress, who had been sitting on the couch, standing up as soon as she spotted him. Chapter 475 Chapter 475 Patrick dered coldly, ¡°Not just anyone is allowed into my office.¡± Behind him, Liam was taken aback as he looked in the direction of the couch, his eyes lighting up. How did she get in? Felicia sauntered over with a smile. ¡°Patrick, I brought you your lunch. Old Mr. Lowen told me to deliver it to you.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Just then, Patrick''s phone rang. It was a video call from Hector. Patrick epted the call and greeted the older man with an indifferent expression, ¡°Grandpa.¡± Hector was seated near the flower rack, wearing a contented expression on his countenance as Alice served him a cup of coffee. ¡°Pat, I told Fel to bring your meal to you. You must remember to eat! This a meal your grandmother personally prepared for you.¡± Alice''s hand, which had been holding the coffee pot, trembled a little as she heard Hector''s words. She shot him a re. Felicia was the one who cooked the food. Why did you say that it was me? What if the food isn''t great? Isn''t he going to me me? Unperturbed, Hector continued with a smile, ¡°Let me take another look at Fel. She looks so pretty today! Hahaha!¡± Patrick had no choice but to turn his phone camera around to show Felicia. Thetter waved at the phone and smiled politely as she greeted the old man, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen!¡± ¡°Go on. Go ahead and eat! It''s already sote. You must be starving.¡± Hector cut off the video call and began to fiddle around with the phone. There were many functions that were not avable six years ago. Thus, he proceeded to immerse himself joyfully. Alice put the coffee cup down in front of him and reprimanded him sternly, ¡°You may be having a good time now, but our grandchild isn''t!¡± She turned her head and refused to look at her husband after saying that. Hector put down the phone and took a sip of the coffee beforementing, ¡°The coffee''s not bad. However, I disagree with what you just said. Pat finally got himself a girlfriend! Is it bad that I want to help them along?¡± Alice sighed after hearing Hector''s response. ¡°Gwen''s a good girl too. She''s pretty, and Pat is fond of her as well.¡± Hector snorted upon hearing her words. ¡°How can youpare Gwendolyn to Felicia? Gwendolyn already has three children, and she''s the daughter of the Ashton family''s housekeeper. How can someone like her be good enough for Pat? On the other hand, the Ashton family is a prestigious family and brought Felicia up well. I like her.¡± Alice could not help rolling her eyes. ¡°I think it''s more important that Pat likes her.¡± Having said that, she ignored Hector and left. Hector sipped his coffee as he nced at her retreating figure. ¡°Hmph, women are ignorant as always. I''m sure Pat will get his act together after getting married.¡± Patrick set down the documents he held and gave Felicia a faint look before turning to Liam. ¡°Get the security to see her out.¡± Felicia''s expression darkened when she heard his words. She called out to him, ¡°Patrick, you mustn''t treat me like this. Old Mr. Lowen was the one who told me toe here.¡± Patrick halted in his tracks and said without sparing her a nce, ¡°Felicia, you''re lucky to be alive right now. I won''t be as lenient the next time you do something like that again.¡± He stalked away after speaking, leaving Felicia to stare after him angrily, biting her lip as she cursed silently. Gwendolyn Ashton, you vixen! This is all your fault for seducing him. Look what you''ve done to him! if it weren''t for you, Patrick and I would be married by now. The resentment in Felicia''s gaze deepened at the thought of that. Liam informed her coldly, ¡°Ms. Ashton, please leave as soon as possible. It won''t be a pretty picture when the security guardse in.¡± ncing at Liam, Felicia retorted, ¡°Who do you think you are to order me around? If it wasn''t for Patrick, I won''t even be speaking to you. P*ss off!¡± She shoved at Liam, causing the man to stumble back a few steps. He also ended up with a long scratch on his arm. ncing at Felicia''s nails, he determined that it was caused by a rhinestone on her manicure. She''s quite a piece of work! She acts like a demure little rabbit in front of Mr. Lowen but shows her true colors the moment his back is turned. It''s a good thing Mr. Lowen doesn''t like her! Chapter 476 Chapter 476 Felicia was absolutely livid. She could notprehend Patrick''s words from earlier. However, she knew that Patrick''s attitude toward her right now was entirely due to Gwendolyn. It''s all Gwendolyn''s fault! If it wasn''t for her, Patrick and I would be so in love with each other! She felt even more confident now that she had Hector''s support. Felicia recalled the incident when Zayden came over. Her grandfather had decided that Zayden was the three children''s father, and she decided to let it be. Anyway, they would be unable to determine Gwendolyn''s crimes if that man did not appear, and since Zayden wanted to be with Gwendolyn so badly, Felicia was going to fulfill his wish. When Felicia came out from Lowen Group, her car was already waiting for her. The driver inquired as soon as she got into the vehicle, ¡°Where to next, Ms. Felicia?¡± Recently, she had gone to the Lowen residence practically every day. But that day, she had a change of heart and decided on a different destination. ¡°Home.¡± The driver was surprised by her answer. Nevertheless, he started the engine and drove in the direction of the Ashton residence. Roughly an hourter, they arrived at the Ashton residence. Felicia sobbed as she got out of the car and ran into the house. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. The driver was taken aback when he saw Felicia''s reaction. I can''t believe a person like this exists in this world. She changes her behavior in the blink of an eye! Throughout the drive back, Felicia maintained an aloof demeanor. However, she turned on the waterworks the moment she got out of the car. Candace hurried downstairs when she heard her daughter sobbing. Even Michael came out of the study to see what was happening. Candace had sent the housekeeper to get Michael. When he arrived at the living room and saw Felicia crying piteously, he asked, ¡°Why are you crying? I''m not dead yet!¡± His thunderous exmation shook the entire house. Felicia and Candace were both stunned. After a moment, Candace was the first to regain her senses. ¡°Dad, someone must have done something to Fel. She''d never behave like this otherwise!¡± Michael came over and took a seat on the couch. ¡°What happened that made you so sad?¡± Felicia dabbed at her tears. ¡°Grandpa, Gwendolyn seduced my boyfriend. She''s trying to steal Patrick from me!¡± She continued to wail after uttering the words. Candace''s expression turned grim as she began to scold, ¡°What? Gwendolyn seduced Patrick? Isn''t she with Zayden? Her greed truly knows no bounds!¡± Simrly, Michael''s expression turned darker by the second. Following that, Candace''s usations grew worse. ¡°She''s so shameless! She''s unwed but already has three kids. Now, she''s trying to steal Fel''s boyfriend from her! How can someone be so brazen?¡± This was the first time Michael had heard that Gwendolyn was trying to steal Patrick. In his heart, Gwendolyn and Patrick were the perfect match. Upon hearing the usation, he exploded in anger and pped his knee. ¡°What nonsense is this?¡± He did not believe that Gwendolyn would do such a thing. Although she had made mistakes before, it was not a mistake she had made alone. The man shared equal me. Felicia had assumed that Michael would immediately call for Gwendolyn after hearing herint, and since thetter was already together with Patrick, it would give Felicia''s tale more credibility. However, Michael wasn''t one to go by the book. Felicia was dumbfounded. I''ve gone to such great lengths to put on a convincing act. Why doesn''t Grandpa believe me? Candace quickly changed tracks. ¡°Dad, weren''t you nning to throw a party for Gwendolyn this weekend? Why don''t you announce her engagement to Zayden at the same time? That way, we''ll be able to confirm that she has nothing going on with Patrick.¡± Prior to returning, Felicia had discussed the matter with Candace in advance. They nned to force Michael into allowing Gwendolyn''s and Zayden''s engagement. That way, Gwendolyn would no longer harbor hopes of marrying into the Lowen family. Once Felicia managed to obtain Hector''s favor, naturally, her n would be a sess. Felicia and Candace only had one motive, which was to ensure that the former married into the Lowen family and be Avenport''s topdy. They no longer cared if Gwendolyn found a decent ce to stay. Even if Gwendolyn managed to find a decent man for herself, it wouldn''t matter to them anymore. Chapter 477 Chapter 477 Michael mulled over it for a while. ¡°Okay, I''ll take care of it. The things you''ve said just now, don''t say them anymore. From now on, Gwen will be Ms. Ashton of the Ashton family. I''ll make whoever dares to nder her pay.¡± Michael stood up and stormed back to his study angrily. Felicia patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief across from her mother. ¡°I was scared to death just now.¡± Candace looked around and made sure that there was none of Michael''s subordinates around before she said, ¡°Fel, although we''ve given Gwendolyn the upper hand by allowing her to marry into the Surrington family. However,pared to the Surrington family, the Lowen family is superior. In any case, we aren''t suffering any losses.¡± Felicia felt the same way. Nevertheless, she leaned close to Candace''s ear and whispered, ¡°Mom, will she find out what we did to her back then? What should we do if she finds out?¡± Candace sneered, ¡°She won''t find out about it. That old man has disappeared. Besides, it''s been so many years. He must be dead. Even if she finds out, she won''t find any evidence rted to us.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Felicia nodded. ¡°That''s good to hear.¡± Her eyes were dark as she stared coldly into the distance, thinking about Patrick''sck of interest in her. She also wanted Gwendolyn to know how it felt for Patrick to be deceived. I''m sure he wouldn''t bother with her anymore. Her mood instantly improved at the thought of that. As soon as Michael entered the study, he called Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn answered the call promptly. ¡°Grandpa.¡± ¡°Gwen, where are you right now?¡± ¡°I''m at Zayden''s ce. He''s been discharged from the hospital.¡± Gwendolyn was standing in front of Dragonhill Mansion. She rang the doorbell and waited for the door to open. When Michael heard that, a smile formed on the corner of his mouth. I knew it. Fel had heard it from hearsay. ¡°All right. Take good care of him. We''ll be hosting a banquet for you at home on Saturday. Bring him and the three little ones back with you.¡± Gwendolyn was a little worried after listening to Michael''s words. I''ll make time to meet with Grandpa and exin everything to him in person. ¡°All right, Grandpa.¡± Gwendolyn rang the doorbell a few more times after ending the call, but no one opened the door. Angeline got out of the car. ¡°Is he not answering the door?¡± She assumed she''d be able to see Zayden as long as Gwendolyn came. Her face turned pale. ¡°It seems like no one''s home,¡± Gwendolyn said before she peered in. When I came overst night, at least someone answered the inte, but there was no response today; he''s most likely not at home. Mrs. Surrington doesn''t seem to believe me, so I''ll have to make a call. Gwendolyn dialed Zayden''s number, but no one picked up the call. He answered on the third attempt, ¡°Hello?¡± Actually, he already knew it was his mom, but the act must go on. ¡°Gwen and I are at the door. Please open the door, Zay.¡± Zayden was standing by the window on the second floor at that time. The white curtains blocked the view of the people below, but he could clearly see them. ¡°Mom, I just got to the hospital for a checkup today. Please leave!¡± Angeline was startled when she heard that. Did he go to the hospital already? We also brought the doctor over, but I guess we were toote. ¡°When are youing back, Zay? Gwen and I finally came over. Why don''t you tell us the passcode for the door? We''ll go inside and wait for you. I miss you. Let me see you before I go.¡± She had to see how Zayden was doing. Is he in good spirits? Is his house clean? Mrs. Lawrence had gone crazy. I hope nothing has happened to Zay. I only have one son. I can''t let anything bad happen to him. Zayden said tly, ¡°Mom, I don''t want to see anyone today. You guys should go back! Don''te here anymore.¡± Angeline burst into tears when she realized he was about to hang up the phone. ¡°Zay, I''ve made up my mind. I''ll agree to you and Gwendolyn''s marriage, and I will treat her sincerely. So, can you just let me see you already?¡± Angeline was familiar with her son''s personality and knew why he was angry. The man next to the window upstairs curled his lips into a smile. ¡°Mom, I''m d you''ve agreed to it.¡± Chapter 478 Chapter 478 The smile on Zayden''s face widened when he said that, but the light in his eyes dimmed. Why do I have to do this for them topromise? Why wouldn''t they consider my feelings? His gaze slowly shifted to Gwendolyn, and he pursed his lips imperceptibly. You too, Gwen. Why can''t you see me even though I have been by your side for so many years? Patrick hadn''t been around long, but you''d already fallen in love with him. ¡°Heh...¡± He chuckled coldly. Everyone only knows how to force me... ¡°Mom, it''s time for my checkup. I''m hanging up now.¡± Then the call ended. Gwendolyn turned to look at Angeline. ¡°Did he still refuse to see us?¡± Angeline sighed. ¡°He should be at home. He lied to me and said he was in the hospital. Zay has changed, which makes me very worried.¡± She abruptly held Gwendolyn''s hand as she spoke. ¡°Gwen, I''m begging you. Please help me. Could you please agree to be with Zay, even if it''s only temporary? You can break up with him when his eyes are cured or when he has ovee his obstacle. Okay?¡± Angeline had a strong suspicion that something was wrong with her son. Gwendolyn frowned as she noticed Angeline''s abrupt change in demeanor. ¡°What did he say?¡± Angeline shook her head. ¡°It''s nothing. It''s just that he really likes you, and I promise not to make things difficult for the both of you in the future.¡± She smiled as she said those words and her attitude toward Gwendolyn had clearly changed. Gwendolyn exined, ¡°Zayden and I are just friends, Mrs. Surrington. I''ve never lied to you.¡± Mrs. Surrington had previously tried to persuade me to leave Zayden. I had already made it clear at the time, but she didn''t believe me. Angeline smiled. ¡°Let''s not talk about this. We should head back now!¡± She ushered Gwendolyn into the car before turning her head and looking upstairs. Zay should have heard about the situation downstairs from his servant. Gwendolyn and I have reconciled, and I will treat her well in the future. Zayden stood in front of the window and watched as the two cars drove away. He raised his hand and ced the cigarette into his mouth with a cold and sinister smile on the corner of his mouth. Zayden abruptly turned his head and called out, ¡°Suzanne.¡± Suzanne ran over quickly. ¡°What''s the matter, Mr. Surrington?¡± She was holding a dragon fruit in her hand, and the corners of her mouth were red like blood. Zayden frowned. ¡°Iron my shirtter. I don''t like wrinkled clothes.¡± He entered the walk-in closet just now and noticed that the freshly washed clothes had not been ironed and were wrinkly, and he wasn''t amused. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Suzanne nodded. ¡°All right, Mr. Surrington.¡± She then turned around and returned to her room, where she continued to eat the dragon fruit. I''ll work after I''m done eating. Gwendolyn sat in the car, visibly troubled. Grandpa''s phone calls constantly reminded me that Zayden and I are a couple from his point of view. Zayden also imed that the three children belonged to him. Ah, what a mess! On top of that, Mrs. Surrington is looking at me as if I am her savior. ¡°Where are you goingter, Gwen? I''ll go with you.¡± Gwendolyn turned around to look at her. The proud Mrs. Surrington has disappeared, and she''s acting like a clingy child at the moment. She''s still holding onto my hand, and no matter how hard I struggle, it''s useless. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, I still have some things to take care of. Just drop me off on the side of the road once we arrive in town.¡± Angeline shook her head. ¡°That is simply uneptable. You are Zay''s girlfriend and will be my future daughter-inw. How could I leave you on the side of the road? We will take you home first.¡± After saying that, she instructed coldly, ¡°Send Ms. Ashton home first. Do you hear me?¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Surrington!¡± Gwendolyn sighed as she turned to the side to look out the window. Mrs. Surrington''s attitude changed so quickly that I almost couldn''t recognize her. ¡°Gwen, which clothing brand do you like? Which beauty salon do you usually visit?¡± Chapter 479 Chapter 479 Gwendolyn chuckled upon hearing his words. ¡°I don''t have a fixed brand that I usually gravitate toward. Besides, I don''t have much money, so I only pick clothes that are the mostfortable instead of fussing over the brand.¡± Gwendolyn used to be the daughter of the Ashton family. Naturally, she had her own preference for jewelry, clothing, and make-up. It was just that her poor financial status in recent years did not allow her for such indulgences anymore. Angeline''s face fell when she heard that. Gwendolyn was a country bumpkin, just as she had expected. s, Zayden liked her, so Angeline had no choice but to acknowledge the woman. Only then would Zayden return to Angeline''s side, and they could go back to the good old days. For the sake of her son, she decided to just tolerate it. She would coach Gwendolyn when thetter married into the Sullivan family. Angeline herself was born into a prominent family, so she was confident that she could groom Gwendolyn into a decent socialite. Angeline tried to start a conversation with Gwendolyn throughout the entire drive, but thetter only came up with half-hearted responses. Atst, they arrived at their destination. Gwendolyn hurriedly got out of the car and waved her goodbye. ¡°Goodbye, Mrs. Surrington.¡± Then, she turned around and walked toward her house, feeling finally relieved. Just as she entered the house, her phone rang. It was a call from Lucy. ¡°Congrattions, Gwen! I was just watching the TV and saw that you''ve won the New Designer of the Year Award.¡± Gwendolyn changed into slippers and headed toward the living room. ¡°I bought gifts for you and Mnie. I will bring them to you when I go over there tomorrow. By the way, is Mnie''s surgery scheduled for next week?¡± ¡°Yes. They''ve adjusted the time, but it''s been finalized. The surgery will be done next Wednesday.¡± Gwendolyn smiled when she heard that. ¡°That''s a relief to hear. After all, it''s never wrong to be prepared.¡± Lucy nced at Mnie, whose spirit had dimmed greatlytely. Fortunately, the surgery was happening, and she knew Mnie would get better after that. ¡°Lucas has invited a few doctors over. He said they''re the most authoritative doctors in this area. The chance of sess is higher if they''re the ones who perform the surgery.¡± Gwendolyn threw herself on the couch, feeling utterly exhausted after the long day. ¡°At least he has a conscience. The next time you see him, don''t let him get away again.¡± Lucy chuckled. ¡°He... won''t.¡± The two chattered for a while longer before ending the call. Then, Gwendolyn took the remote and turned on the TV. She zapped between the channels absentmindedly. There have been no good shows recently. Meanwhile, Zayden was in his study at Dragonhill Mansion, reading. Suzanne ran toward the study with a phone in her hand. ¡°Mr. Surrington... Mr. Surrington... it''s for you.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Her mellow voice was melodious. Zayden put the book away and tossed a nce at the young girl. ¡°Who''s calling? Why are you so flustered?¡± Suzanne paused and pondered for a moment. ¡°It''s the person you asked me to pay special attention tost time¡ªOld Mr. Ashton.¡± Hearing this, Zayden took the phone and answered the call, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Zayden, do you have some time to spare today? I would like to meet you.¡± Zayden''s voice was deep and tinged with admiration as he replied, ¡°I do have time, Old Mr. Ashton. My eyes have yet to recover, so I''ve got nothing to dotely.¡± Michael couldn''t help feeling sorry for the young man when he heard thetter''s response. ¡°Don''t worry. Medical technology is extremely advanced these days, so you''ll be just fine.¡± ¡°Thank you for your kind words, Old Mr. Ashton.¡± Zayden chuckled as he spoke. The man''s smile was dazzling, so much so that Suzanne was in a daze as she looked at him. Mr. Surrington is so handsome when he smiles. She propped her chin up with a hand and observed the man from across the desk, an impish smile hanging at the corner of her lips. ¡°All right. I''ll be there on time. See you soon!¡± After Zayden hung up the phone, he saw Suzanne across the desk, cupping her chin with a foolish smile on her face, and his expression instantly dimmed. ¡°Suzanne, have you finished ironing myundry?¡± Startled, the young girl straightened her posture and identally hit her leg against the sharp corner of the desk, causing her to grimace in pain. ¡°I''ll get right on it, but Mr. Surrington, aren''t we going out soon?¡± Suzanne hadn''t left the hill before, and she was excited. Back then, she dared not venture out by herself. But now that she had Zayden as herpany, she was ready to go out and explore the colorful world. Chapter 480 Chapter 480 Despite noticing the young girl''s excitement, Zayden replied tly, ¡°That''s right. Iron my shirt as I''m going to wear itter, and also¡ª Forget it, I''ll go get it myself.¡± Suzanne was a clumsy girl. If Zayden asked her to fetch his clothes, he was afraid that all of his garments would be ruined at her hands. He wouldn''t be able to meet Michael if that were to happen. Zayden had been waiting for that phone call for a very long time and was ted to finally receive it that day. Suzanne trailed behind him as thetter made his way toward his walk-in closet. A hint of surprise flitted across her face when Zayden took off his pajamas, revealing his lean and muscr back. She subconsciously reached out a hand, for the arch of his back looked extremely sexy when he bent over. Fortunately, Suzanne caught herself in time and withdrew her hand, biting it as a means to prevent herself from going over to him. ¡°Is there anything else you need prepared, Mr. Surrington?¡± Zayden turned around when he heard the girl''s voice. Seeing the faint blush on her little face, he frowned slightly. ¡°Get out. You shouldn''t hang around if a man''s in the middle of changing.¡± For some reason, it felt as if Zayden was teaching her because he noticed that the girl seemed to know nothing. She was especially oblivious to the social etiquette between people of different genders. When he was using the bathroom, she''d even barge in and talk to him face-to-face as if it was apletely normal thing to do. Zayden was the only one who felt embarrassed by the incident, while Suzanne remained blissfully ignorant. The young girl hummed a response and blinked her glistening eyes before slowly turning around and leaving the walk-in closet. After changing into a new set of clothes, Zayden returned to his usual handsome and businesslike appearance. He walked out of the bedroom and by then, Suzanne had also changed into a pretty, powder blue dress. Her wispy bangs framed her petite face. Coupled with her round and beautiful eyes, she looked just like a middle school student. Zayden looked at her and asked, ¡°Are you even eighteen?¡± She looked like a child, and he certainly didn''t wish to be fined for childbor. Suzanne used lollipops to count her age, but at that moment, she couldn''tnd an answer. In the end, the exasperated girl said, ¡°Anyway, I''m old enough and way past eighteen.¡± ¡°Where''s your ID card?¡± Zayden asked again. Whenever he''d ask for her ID card, she would always stammer and fail to give him a proper response. Suzanne was baffled. ¡°I don''t have an ID card. I don''t know what that is either.¡± Zayden shook his head at her innocent and piteous look. He needed to keep up his blind act and couldn''t find a suitable recement for her at this moment. Suzanne had proven herself to be quite useful since she started working at the mansion, so the man decided to let the matter go. ¡°Let''s go. Also, make sure not to spout any nonsenseter.¡± Suzanne giggled. ¡°I promise I''ll be good, but will I be getting some delicious foodter?¡± The girl was only interested in food, which made Zayden wonder if she was willing to do anything for a sumptuous meal. If so, it will be easy to make her listen. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Okay! I''ll be good and keep my mouth shut!¡± She bounced beside him, her eyes glimmering with excitement. Zayden had asked the driver to pick them up. Right then, a car was parked in front of the house. Suzanne helped guide Zayden out of the house. The driver hurriedly got out of the car and went over to help Zayden get into the car. After they were all settled in the vehicle, Suzanne looked out of the window, feeling extremely excited. ¡°Where to, Mr. Surrington?¡± asked the driver. It had been some time since Zaydenst stepped out of the house. Angeline had been worried for her son, and as Zayden''s driver, the man was also concerned for him. After all, Zayden was an affable man and treated people well. Working under him was quite a pleasant experience, as his employees were all highly-paid and need not endure any mistreatment. ¡°To Quinn Caf¨¦.¡± Michael enjoyed drinking coffee and was an expert when it came to coffee. ¡°Understood, Mr. Surrington.¡± The car drove away from Dragonhill Mansion and headed toward the city. Suzanne''s huge and flickering eyes never left the window throughout the journey. Her eyes darted around, taking in the beautiful scenery outside the window. When they entered the city, she grabbed Zayden''s arm out of excitement. ¡°Are we near the market yet? I can''t wait to get some food!¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. When the driver heard this, he couldn''t help ncing at the girl through the rearview mirror. She''s not a time traveler from the past, is she? Chapter 481 Chapter 481 Zayden pretended to be blind, so there was no emotional change in his eyes. He said softly, ¡°You''re squeezing my hand too hard. It hurts.¡± It was only then that Suzanne awkwardly released his hand and smiled. ¡°I''m sorry, Mr. Surrington. I got a bit too excited.¡± As they entered the city, they were greeted by the sight of tall buildings and busy traffic. Suzanne let out a sigh and remarked, ¡°Why is no one selling anything? Do people nowadays not buy things?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. She took a nce at both sides of the road and saw only trees. There were no vendors or their shouting voices. She felt that the modern world was not fun at all. The driver''s eyes widened in amusement as he watched the young maid in the rearview mirror. He struggled to hold back hisughter. He was certain that this girl was definitely from the countryside. Zayden furrowed his brow, regretting bringing this girl with him. He was afraid she would make a fool of herselfter. After all, Michael meant a lot to him, and he couldn''t afford to make any mistakes. This was a make-or-break situation for him to win over Gwendolyn and defeat Patrick. The car stopped at the entrance of Quinn Caf¨¦, and the driver opened the door for Zayden. Suzanne got out of the car first and came over to help him. Her small face showed signs of dissatisfaction. Zayden pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Yosef, take Suzanne out for a walkter and buy her some good food.¡± Suzanne''s eyes suddenly lit up after she heard that. ¡°Great!¡± She then excitedly winked at Yosef, feeling overjoyed. Yosef could not seem to resist her charm. He found this young maid truly amusing for not realizing that looking at a man like that could provoke improper thoughts in others. Suzanne supported Zayden into the caf¨¦, and they could hear Michael''s voice from afar. ¡°Zayden, over here.¡± Hearing Michael calling Zayden''s name, Suzanne waved at him and supported Zayden as they made their way over. She then pulled out a chair and helped him sit down. Michael looked at Zayden, who was a talented young man but unfortunately had a problem with his eyes. However, he was confident that with modern medical technology, Zayden would be able to recover. ¡°Zayden, have a taste of this coffee,¡± he said. A barista was gracefully making the coffee and finally presented it in front of Zayden. Suzanne took a nce at Zayden. As she saw him clumsily picking up his cup of coffee and starting to drink, she felt that he really looked like a blind person. If she hadn''t known him to be otherwise, she would have believed he was blind. She bent down beside Zayden and asked, ¡°Yosef and I are going out for a stroll, Mr. Surrington. Will you be all right on your own?¡± It was only then that Zayden remembered the matter and responded, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Suzanne grinned happily as she said to Michael, ¡°Old Mr. Ashton, I''ll see youter.¡± After that, she rushed out like a gust of wind. Herughter was full of joy. Michael looked toward the door and thought that the girl was quite lively and had a good temperament. Catching the sight of Michael''s gaze, Zayden exined, ¡°She''s a young maid who has been looking after me recently.¡± Michael withdrew his gaze and smiled. ¡°I''m going to hold a party for Gwen on Saturday where I''ll reveal her identity and announce your engagement. What do you think?¡± That was exactly what Zayden wanted to hear. He curved his lips into a faint smile. ¡°I''ve always liked Gwen, and I''ve been with her for the past six years, so I have no objections.¡± Michael nodded in response. ¡°That''s good, then. Zayden, this is what you owe Gwen. You made her bear six years of nder. I hope you''ll treat her well from now on and make her happy.¡± That was Michael''s wish. Since Gwendolyn was young, she had never had a mother and her father didn''t care about her. She had had a miserable life. It was he who had always been protecting her, and that was why she became a little happier. Zayden replied, ¡°Don''t worry, Old Mr. Ashton. I''ll take good care of Gwen. I''m also getting my eyes treated, and the doctor said they will recover.¡± He wanted to reassure Michael that he was fine. After all, he was not blind. Chapter 482 Chapter 482 Michael smiled and said, ¡°Gwen won''t leave you even if your eyes never heal.¡± The reason why Michael said that was because he thought Gwendolyn wouldn''t leave Zayden since they already had children together. This was how Michael was as a person. He had a very traditional and righteous mindset. Zayden was in a great mood when he heard Michael say that, thinking that his path and choices were the correct ones. He told Michael that the children were his, and he knew Michael wouldn''t be able to reject him if the latter knew that. Michael left after that conversation, whereas Zayden said he would wait for his driver and housekeeper to return. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Michael only left after informing the owner of the coffee shop to take care of Zayden. After Michael left, Zayden took a sip of his coffee, and his gaze slowly darkened. A smirk was stered on his face as he thought, Let''s see how you n on taking Gwendolyn away from me, Patrick. After thirty minutes, Suzanne finally returned with plenty of food in her hands and a face beaming with bliss. ¡°Mr. Surrington! It was such a shame that you couldn''t follow us! There''s so much amazing food on sale, and they all tasted delicious! I thought there wouldn''t be any street vendors, but there were! They just couldn''t set up their stalls anywhere they liked. Apparently, there''s a special area for them,¡± she said as she ate her cotton candy. There were even cotton candies around her mouth, and Zayden helped wipe those away. ¡°Let''s go home.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Suzanne replied with a smile. With that, she quickly put all the food in a bag before supporting Zayden. She needed to be his ¡°walking aid¡± since Zayden was pretending to be blind. During Saturday in the Ashton residence, the main hall was decorated beautifully with red ornaments, and there were also dolls that girls would fancy. The event venue was decorated ording to what modern girls would love. Felicia was standing on the second floor as she looked down at the busy scene on the first floor. She couldn''t help butin to Candace, ¡°Mom, Grandpa has never held a party for me before. Even my birthday parties were never this grand.¡± Candace was wearing a red gown, looking elegant and refined, with her arms crossed over her chest. ¡°Your grandpa will see you in a different light once you marry Patrick. By then, you can hold any grand party you want.¡± In the meantime, she thought deep down, Don''t care too much about something so trivial. We need to look at the bigger picture. Felicia hummed in acknowledgment when she heard that and replied, ¡°That''s true. Gwendolyn wouldn''t even be here now if it weren''t for us.¡± Grandpa would never hold a party for Gwendolyn if it weren''t for Mom''s suggestion, anyway. Right then, the rtives from the Ashton family arrived and entered the venue. When Felicia saw Leroy and Theodore together with Francine and Christina, she asked her mother, ¡°Mom, you''ll be going down to greet them, right?¡± Those four were the main forces of the Ashton family. Candace could use this chance to spread rumors about Gwendolyn if she went down and talked to them since they were more efficient than any media tform. After all, women had the amazing ability to spread any rumors. Candace then took a step forward to the stairs and said, ¡°I''m now thedy of the Ashton family, so of course, I''ll need to entertain the rtives when they''re here.¡± Felicia followed behind her mother, and they both made their way downstairs. Leroy and Theodore were already with Zachary, and they were seen entering a room. It seemed the men might have something to discuss. The few women were now sitting in the living room, chattering away. Seeing that, Candace walked toward them. ¡°Francine, Christina. You''re both here.¡± Francine and Christina were enjoying some snacks, and they both stood up to greet Candace when they saw her approaching. ¡°Candace! Please, sit. You must be so busy today. We even brought our housekeepers here to help you out.¡± Candace smiled gracefully in response to that, but in her heart, she thought, I bet they won''t even arrive this early if it wasn''t for Dad. They must have arrived early, hoping that Dad would be happy because they did so so that they could get more inheritance after he died.¡± Francine was looking at Felicia when Felicia and Candace sat down. ¡°Do you have a boyfriend now, Fel? Bring him home if you do! I heard the rtionship between Gwen and Mr. Surrington would be announced today. The Surrington family is one of the elite families around. Gwen sure is lucky!¡± Everyone used to think that Gwendolyn was living a hard life, but they also reckoned that things were changing now, thinking that Gwendolyn sure was lucky to be married into the Surrington family. Candace lifted her head when she heard that and said, ¡°Fel is with Patrick, and that has never changed.¡± Chapter 483 Chapter 483 Everyone looked at Felicia when they heard that. ¡°You''re still with Mr. Lowen?¡± ¡°I thought you guys broke up after the failed engagementst time.¡± ¡°The Lowen family is more prominent than the Surrington family. You''re so lucky, Fel!¡± Candace felt better after hearing all those, thinking that her daughter must one-up Gwendolyn. How can theypare Gwendolyn to Fel? Gwendolyn would never be on the same level as my daughter. With that, Felicia fiddled with her hair and smiled with grace. ¡°Patrick and I always have a great rtionship. He just never nned on getting married so soon because he''s busy these days, but Old Mr. Lowen has been pressuring us, so we might get married soon.¡± She then narrowed her eyes proudly as she looked at everyone''s expressions. To her expectation, everyone had a face of admiration because they knew they could never be compared to the Lowen family. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Gwendolyn arrived early with her three children as well, and they entered the venue. ¡°Where''s Grandpa?¡± she asked the housekeeper. The three children missed their great-grandfather, which was why Gwendolyn brought them there this early so that they could apany Michael. The housekeeper pointed at the backyard and replied, ¡°Old Mr. Ashton is at the family hall.¡± Gwendolyn finally understood. To Michael, she had ¡°turned over a new leaf¡± when Zayden said that those kids were his children. That was why Michael dared to pay respect to the ancestors of the Ashton family, letting them know about this. Not only that, but Gwendolyn got an award as well, so Michael wanted to let the ancestors know about that. Felicia called out to Gwendolyn when she saw Gwendolyn walking in with her children. ¡°Gwen! Come, sit!¡± The table was huge, and it could fit ten people. However, Gwendolyn hesitated when she saw the rtives who were there. She really didn''t want her children to sit with them since they have a knack for saying something they shouldn''t. Felicia immediately got up and tugged Gwendolyn''s arm. ¡°Gwen, everyone is here. Let''s sit down and have a chat together! We should catch up.¡± Juliette looked at the people around the table before looking at her brothers. As for Justin, he was calm as he held Juliette''s hand. ¡°Mommy, I''ll bring Julian and Juliette to where Great-grandpa is.¡± Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief when she heard that. Thank God Justin is smart to get his siblings out of this situation. ¡°All right. Sallie, bring them to where Old Mr. Ashton is.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Ashton,¡± the housekeeper, Sallie, replied. Gwendolyn could only sit with Felicia at the table after the children had left. This was how it was when there was a family gathering at the Ashton residence with coffee and a few snacks served. Everyone would sit together, sip on their coffee, and make small talk. This was a tradition passed down from generation to generation. Francine looked at Gwendolyn as she sat, saying, ¡°I heard you got an amazing award, Gwen. Congrattions!¡± The party that was held that day was actually to celebrate the award that Gwendolyn received, but no one knew what type of award that was. They don''t need to know what award I got, anyway, Gwendolyn thought. ¡°Thank you, Aunt Francine.¡± Christina chimed in, ¡°Gwen, where''s Mr. Surrington? Why isn''t he here with you?¡± Everyone around the table smiled when they heard that. The message was clear. Everyone already knew what was going on between Zayden and Gwendolyn. ¡°I think he''ll arriveter,¡± Gwendolyn replied, but in truth, she didn''t even know if he would be arriving. Zayden didn''t even want to meet Gwendolyn. In addition to that, he was now blind, and he was quite wary of it. Maybe he didn''t want to show himself to the public because of that. Candace then asked deliberately, ¡°I heard he''s gone blind, and his uncle''s son is taking care of the family business now. Is he okay?¡± She sneered inwardly after saying that and thought, Everyone thought Gwendolyn would be wed to the head of the Surrington family, but he''s not the head anymore now, is he? Francine was shocked when she heard that. ¡°What? He''s blind?¡± Even Christina was the same. Her eyes widened when she heard the news. ¡°Why is he blind? Will he get better soon? Wouldn''t Gwen be taking care of him forever if so?¡± Chapter 484 Chapter 484 Everyone at the table started to feel sorry for her. ¡°I thought Gwen''s life would only get better. I didn''t think she would marry a blind man.¡± ¡°Yeah! Instead of enjoying herself, she''s going to have to be a servant.¡± Christina nced at her daughter. ¡°Do you see that? Don''t be like Gwen. Hurry and find a man to take care of you. You should be more like Felicia and secure the most outstanding man in the world to be your husband.¡± Rachelle nibbled on her fruits, not even paying attention to such useless gossip. However, everyone''s attention ended up turning to her. Her eyebrows knitted slightly as she said, ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± But Nicolette couldn''t stand it any longer. ¡°It''s possible for his blindness to be cured. What era do you think we''re in?¡± She sat next to her dearest Gwendolyn, continuously spooning food on Gwendolyn''s te. Gwendolyn reached under the table and tugged on Nicolette''s hand, wordlessly telling her to stop. Otherwise, Francine would berate her, and Candace, especially, would give her a hard time again. Candace coughed lightly, and everyone immediately fell silent, not daring to make a peep. ¡°All right, that''s enough. Gwen will be marrying into the Surrington family, which is second only to the Lowen family in Avenport. They are considered a wealthy family.¡± She sounded like she was speaking up for Gwendolyn, but she was obviously implying her daughter was marrying the best man in the world. Just then, Gwendolyn''s phone rang. She got up and went to a corner to answer it. The phone call was from Lucy. ¡°Hi, Luce.¡± ¡°The Ashton family has invited me to the celebration too. I''ll be there a bitter. Congrattions on your award!¡± Gwendolyn could practically hear the smile in Lucy''s voice. She sounded genuinely happy for her. ¡°Thanks! If only Mnie coulde too.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Mnie had a great rtionship with her three children. They would be the happiest at a gathering like this. Lucy nced at her daughter, who was lying in bed. She had been in rather low spirits recently. ¡°Her surgery is next week. After she gets better, I''ll take her everywhere with me.¡± The two of themughed. ¡°Okay, I''ll let you get back to it. Be careful, and don''t let that mother-and- daughter pair trick you,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Yeah, I got it.¡± After ending the call, Gwendolyn went to take a walk outside. If she went back into the room, the conversation topic would eventually turn to her. She would rather head out for some fresh air. Nicolette followed after her. ¡°Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn turned her head to look at her. ¡°Why did youe out here too?¡± ¡°It''s so boring in there, and I don''t like listening to the things they talk about. Let''s take a stroll around the courtyard!¡± Nicolette took her hand and asked, ¡°Gwen, are you really going to marry Zayden?¡± She had seen Zayden before. He was quite handsome and had an elegant demeanor. To girls at their age, he was practically a charming older man. Gwendolyn froze slightly. This is getting out of hand. ¡°Nic, I''m not nning to get married yet.¡± Nicolette was a bit stunned. ¡°You''re not? But they were speaking as if you were getting married tomorrow!¡± The flowers in the courtyard were in full bloom. The end of spring was not too cold yet not too hot, and the two girls strolled through the courtyard hand in hand. ¡°Fels is very proud of herself right now! If she really marries Patrick, we''ll have no choice but to tolerate her antics.¡± Nicolette couldn''t help but heave a sigh. ¡°If only you were the one marrying Patrick. He''s handsome, and his vision is fine.¡± In Avenport, Patrick was practically every woman''s dream man. It was the same for Nicolette, which was why she felt Gwendolyn and Patrick were morepatible since she knew Gwendolyn''s personality. Gwen is a lot better than Fels. She wouldn''t be full of herself or torment us after marrying Patrick. Gwendolyn''s eyes darkened slightly when she heard that. I''m the one who is actually dating Patrick, but I can''t tell anyone about it, especially my family. It sucks. Chapter 485 Chapter 485 Just then, Gwendolyn''s phone rang. She took out her phone and saw that it was a call from Patrick. Her lips curled into a faint smile as she answered the call. ¡°Hello?¡± The smile on her face was so wide and warm that it was like the atmosphere had turned bubbly pink. Beside her, Nicolette was dumbfounded. Many years ago, Gwendolyn was a dazzling person who shone from the inside out. Whoever saw her back then instantly liked her. The way she looked now was exactly the way she did back then. ¡°Where are you, Gwen? I''m busy tonight, so I won''t be joining you for dinner.¡± Gwendolyn''s family had already fallen into the routine of preparing dinner for him, and he had gotten used to it as if her home was his home. In addition, she and her family were like his own family. ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± ¡°Do you miss me?¡± He said that so casually, but his voice was unbelievably attractive. Gwendolyn''s heart fluttered. She could already imagine the way his Adam''s apple rolled when he spoke. Her cheeks instantly flushed red as she hummed in response. As Nicolette was right next to her, Gwendolyn was too embarrassed to say that she missed him, so she could only answer like that. However, Patrick was unsatisfied. ¡°Do you miss me or not?¡± She nced at Nicolette. I really can''t bring myself to say something so cheesy in front of her. She''s still in high school, and I don''t want to lead her astray. ¡°Now''s not a good time. I''ll talk to youter.¡± ¡°See you tonight!¡± Patrick added. After hanging up, Gwendolyn still could not wipe the grin off her face. Images of Patrick''s handsome face flooded her mind. Nicolette chuckled. ¡°Who was that, Gwen? Your smile is as beautiful as the flowers blooming in spring.¡± As she spoke, she took out her phone and aimed the camera at Gwendolyn. ¡°I''m going to take a picture. You look so beautiful!¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Gwendolyn lifted her hand to cover her face and said, ¡°Nic, that''s enough.¡± While they were messing around with each other, more people appeared behind them, and Gwendolyn collided with one of them. ¡°Mr. Surrington, are you okay?¡± Suzanne asked worriedly before going to steady him. Zayden had done it intentionally so that Gwendolyn would fall into his arms. He took a deep breath, and the faint scent of oranges entered his nostrils. It was her unique fragrance. He had one arm wrapped around her waist, and she looked up in shock. ¡°I''m sorry, Zayden!¡± She quickly backed away from him as he let her go and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Is that you, Gwen?¡± Seeing that Zayden was unhurt, Suzanne stood where she was and replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Surrington. She is Ms. Gwendolyn Ashton.¡± I really don''t understand why Mr. Surrington is pretending to be blind when he can see. Gwendolyn shed him a smile. ¡°What are you doing here so early, Zayden?¡± ¡°I was the one who told him toe early.¡± Michael''s voice rang out, and everyone turned to look in its direction. Juliette was holding Michael''s hand as her two handsome brothers walked on either side of him. They looked just as dashing as Michael did. Gwendolyn fell silent. Since Michael was the one who told him toe earlier, no one would dare to go against him. The rtives in the house hade out to the courtyard as well. They whispered among themselves as they all turned their attention to Zayden. Candace walked to the front and said with a smile, ¡°My future son-inw is here. Pleasee in!¡± As Gwendolyn''s stepmother, she was not wrong for calling Zayden that. Everyoneughed, and the sound drifted into Zayden''s ears. He knew exactly what they were doing. They were clearly here to take a good look at the blind man that he was. If it weren''t for getting Gwendolyn to ept him, he wouldn''t have had to resort to pretending to be blind. However, this was the only way he could pander to herpassion and not have her reject him. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have turned him down despite confessing to her countless times over the years. He had no choice but to use this trick to make her ept him. This way, he could have her and take Patrick down. ¡°Hello, Old Mr. Ashton, Mrs. Ashton, and everyone!¡± Chapter 486 Chapter 486 Zayden''s baritone yet very maic voice stunned everyone present. This guy is easy on the eyes and has a euphonious voice. It''s just that his eyes... They felt sympathetic for the man before them. However, they were enticed by the sight and no longer felt bad for Gwendolyn. He''s still a brilliant man even though he''s blind. Felicia, standing beside Candace, watched the scene before her and noticed everyone was gazing at Zayden in admiration. She thought the crowd had been conquered by his sexiness and slightly knitted her brows. Patrick wille over with Old Mr. Lowen tonight. When the timees, we''ll show everyone what an otherworldly good look is. Let''s see what they''ll look when they are proven wrong. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. She crossed her arms before her chest and sneered. ¡°Everyone, get back to your own business, and don''t gather around here,¡± Michael reminded. Then, he nced at Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen,e to my study with Zayden.¡± As he turned around and left, the rtives behind him quickly dispersed, too. Suzanne wanted to help Zayden but hurriedly took a few steps back after receiving a re from the man. Mr. Surrington is so scary when he puts on a long face. Gwendolyn could only go forward to help him. ¡°Be careful, Zayden.¡± As her soft palm touched his arm, there were emotions surging beneath his eyes. Following that, the faint scent of oranges on her body, which was sweet but not overly rich, wafted toward him. As the fragrant breeze brushed against his face, he broke into an indiscernible smile. When Gwendolyn helped Zayden walk forward, Nicolette sized Zayden up and down from the side. Still, she thought Patrick was more handsome and imposing than Zayden. She heaved a sigh before saying, ¡°Gwen, I''ll look for my mom first. We''ll talk moreter.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in response and helped Zayden walk up the stairs. ¡°Be careful. This staircase has ten steps. Remember to count them yourself.¡± Walking behind the duo, Suzanne sped her hands together as she watched Gwendolyn help Zayden go up the stairs. She really wanted to go forward to help Zayden, but he forbade her from doing that. The sight made her feel a little ufortable and upset. She thought eating something sweet would make her feel better. After walking through the door, Suzanne looked around and caught sight of a big round table with delicious food. She walked over, picked up a few walnut cookies, and took a bite. Gosh! It''s so delicious! It was crispy and sweet. Her mood instantly improved. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn helped Zayden into the study. Michael, sitting on the couch, saw the duo and said indifferently, ¡°Have a seat.¡± After helping Zayden to sit down, Gwendolyn took the seat beside him. ¡°Grandpa, what do you want to say?¡± She stared at Michael with her big eyes, looking beautiful and lovable. A smile crept on Michael''s face. He had been fond of Gwendolyn''s look since her childhood. That was why he pampered her so much. ¡°Zayden, I''ll leave Gwen to you from now on. Will you treat her well?¡± Gwendolyn widened her eyes in shock upon hearing that. How can Grandpa hand me over to someone else just like that? But Grandpa, you''ve got it wrong. He''s not the one I am interested in. Don''t leave me to him, please! She widened her big eyes and cried silently. However, Michael could neither read her mind nor understand the meaning in her gaze. Zayden, however, understood it and sneered silently. Why can''t you see me, Gwen? I love you more than Patrick does. ¡°Don''t worry, Old Mr. Ashton. I will treat Gwen well and make her the apple of my eye!¡± he replied. Michael chuckled in amusement upon hearing that. ¡°You too, Gwen. Don''t give up on Zayden just because of his eyes. Since the two of you love each other and already have children, you guys should stay together forever. Understand?¡± Chapter 487 Chapter 487 Gwendolyn widened her eyes. W-What am I going to do now? Am I really going to keep my mouth shut and say nothing? She felt resentment filling her heart at the thought of that. What Zayden just said made her more depressed. She could only bear with it, telling herself she must exin it clearly when she had the chanceter. Michael noticed the look on the duo''s faces and said nothing further. Instead, he switched the topic. ¡°Gwen, Zayden will be in your care now. Why don''t you bring him around to get to know our rtives and friends?¡± Gwendolyn thought everyone had known Zayden just now, and she did not need to introduce him anymore. ¡°Sure, Grandpa.¡± Nevertheless, she obeyed her grandfather''s words and grabbed Zayden''s hand. ¡°Let''s go. I''ll take you for a walk outside.¡± She thought she should give the walk a pass considering Zayden couldn''t see a thing. It''d be great if we have a wheelchair now. It''ll be much more convenient. Zayden held her hand tightly with a warm smile. ¡°Old Mr. Ashton, we''ll take our leave, then.¡± Michael looked at the man before him. This guy is well-spoken and has an excellent temperament. It''s not a loss for Gwen to be with him. But his eyes... Since he said it could be cured, he must have found a doctor. Anyway, I''ll feel at ease as long as his eyes can be cured. Zayden saw the dark look on Gwendolyn''s face. The woman would space out whenever she was unhappy. She was in a daze at that time, seemingly lost in her thoughts. He slightly knitted his brows and asked, ¡°Gwen, you''re not mad at me foring here, are you?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. After all, she had been rejecting him. Yet, he had not only made his appearance but also promised Michael he would treat her well. All these promises implied that the two of them would get married. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°No, I''m not. No one dares to stop Grandpa from doing what he wants to do. But Zayden, I no longer know how to cover your lie.¡± She pouted. Why did Zayden tell Grandpa that he was the father of my three kids? If we were to change our words now, it would be akin to lying to Grandpa before this. Argh! This is so annoying! Back then, Gwendolyn was not in her right mind and did not exin herself so that her three children would not be called illegitimate children. It was true that one should not lie, and covering a lie with more lies was tiring. Zayden held her hand tightly. ¡°Gwen, I have already be like this. Are you shunning me like others, too?¡± He was about to let go of her hand after saying that. However, Gwendolyn hurriedly held it back, refusing to let go. ¡°Don''t let go of my hand, and watch your steps,¡± she reminded. With an icy expression, Zayden spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Gwen, I truly treat the three kids as my own. Or do you want others to take them for illegitimate children?¡± Gwendolyn certainly did not wish for that to happen, nor did she want her three sweethearts to be affected by it. ¡°Zayden, I know you''re doing this for our good. Let''s not talk about it anymore.¡± There was no way she could exin the matter clearly at this juncture. She pushed the door open and carefully helped Zayden out. Suzanne had been waiting at the door, holding a lot of food with some cream beside her mouth. Once she saw the duo walking out of the study, she ran toward Zayden happily. ¡°Mr. Surrington, it''s fun here! And there''s a lot of delicious food!¡± Zayden frowned upon hearing that. ¡°Find yourself a seat to enjoy the food, then. Don''t follow us.¡± He thought it was inconvenient with Suzanne around, and he would prefer for Gwendolyn and him to be alone together. It was easier to enhance their rtionship in that way. Suzanne blinked her big eyes. ¡°Mr. Surrington, can you do it without me?¡± She was used to taking care of Zayden and was afraid he would be unable to do it without her while pretending to be blind. Gwendolyn shed her a smile. ¡°Just enjoy yourself and leave him to me.¡± She did not know how to take care of someone before but was skilled at that now. It was all thanks to Patrick, who had personally trained her before, that she was so capable. Suzanne nodded in response. Suddenly, she felt the dessert and walnut cookies weren''t that delicious anymore. It befuddled her. What''s happening to me? Am I really getting ustomed to being a little servant? Chapter 488 Chapter 488 Gwendolyn held onto Zayden and asked, ¡°Where do you want to go? Would you like to take a stroll in the yard, or would you prefer to rest in the bedroom?¡± Zayden was going to say he wanted to stroll around the yard, but given that his vision was fine now, Gwendolyn might see through his act. ¡°I don''t think I can go out in my current state. I''ll rest in your bedroom,¡± he decided. Gwendolyn thought that would be best as well. ¡°All right, then,¡± she replied. After that, she helped him into the elevator, and they made their way up to the third floor. Her bedroom still looked the same as before as though it had deliberately been left untouched. It was kind of Michael to let her return to such familiar surroundings. The moment Zayden entered the room, he was immediately greeted by the faint and refreshing scent of tangerine. The room was done almost entirely in white, from the walls right down to the bedsheets, and adorned all over withce. This was Gwendolyn''s bedroom from when she stayed at the Ashton residence back in the day. It was not hard to picture her as a warm and endearing person when she was younger. Presently, Gwendolyn helped Zayden to the tangerine-colored couch, then nced around the room. It had been a while since shest came in here. Everything in this room reminded her of her past as the beloved youngdy of the Ashton family. Michael, her grandfather, had coddled her and given her only the best things in life. He was also the only person who had ever been genuine with her. Where Michael showered her with unconditional love, her own father, Zachary, could never stand the sight of her and had constantly picked on her. Her eyes darkened at the thought of this. She had her back to Zayden as she picked up the framed picture on the nightstand. She looked like a princess when this picture was taken. The white dress she wore in the picture only made her smile look all the more radiant. At that moment, the room was quiet save for the soft rustling of the drapes when the breeze picked up, but that was the only indicator that time was moving at all. Zayden sat on the couch and stared at Gwendolyn''s back. She looked effortlessly elegant in a long, fitted red dress and with her dark hair cascading down to her waist. Her silhouette was wless, and she looked breathtaking. ¡°Gwen, is this your old bedroom?¡± he asked, hoping to make small talk and break the unnerving silence in the room. He felt his chest tighten ufortably, and he was so worried that his emotions might get the better of him. He only initiated a conversation as a means of calming himself. Upon hearing his question, Gwendolyn turned around and walked over to the bed, then perched on it. It was soft. Her slender fingers glided over the bedsheets, which were of a color that she used to like in her younger days. ¡°Yes, but all this feels like it belongs to another lifetime,¡± she said, her tone distant. She looked dazed, and Zayden wondered if she was reminiscing her past. ¡°You were the youngdy of the Ashton family. If it weren''t for that despicable man, you would have still been living like a princess right now.¡± As Zayden said this, a dark, menacing look shed in his eyes. My mom would have agreed to let me marry Gwen if she were still the Ashton family''s heiress. It''s all that wretched man''s fault that she ended up like this! Just then, Gwendolyn looked up at Zayden and said, ¡°Let''s not talk about this anymore, Zayden. It''s all in the past now.¡± After she fed him lunch and eased him into bed to get some rest, she left the room. There was a little girl squatting by the door, and Gwendolyn, uponing out of the bedroom, nearly tripped over her. Following Gwendolyn''s soft grunt, the little girl, Suzanne, got up and frantically reached out to steady her. ¡°Ms. Ashton, are you okay?¡± Suzanne asked in concern. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°I''m fine. Why are you squatting here?¡± Suzanne''s unwavering loyalty was probably why Zayden kept her around in the first ce. ¡°I don''t know anyone here aside from Mr. Surrington,¡± Suzanne said, pouting. She blinked, looking innocent and somewhat helpless with herrge doe-eyes. Just the sight of this was enough to make Gwendolyn''s heart twist. Suzanne had a doll-like quality to her with herrge eyes and chubby cheeks, and it was hard not to find her adorable. ¡°You can go in and see him if you''d like,¡± Gwendolyn said softly. ¡°He''s taking a nap now, but you can sit on the couch and keep himpany.¡± At once, Suzanne''s eyes lit up. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Ashton! You''re an angel!¡± With that, the little girl shoved open the bedroom door excitedly, her happiness on full disy. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Gwendolyn could not help picturing Suzanne and Zayden together, but as soon as the image surfaced in her mind, she quickly shook her head to dismiss it. Don''t be silly, Gwendolyn. As if Mrs. Surrington would ever let that happen! Chapter 489 Chapter 489 Gwendolyn warned herself before striding toward the stairs. She had been apanying Zayden, so she did not know where the three kids were. However, there were two older brothers, Justin and Julian, to take care of Juliette. Hence, Gwendolyn did not worry about their safety. Gwendolyn proceeded to go downstairs. Not many people were in the living room, as everyone had returned to their rooms to rest after lunch. Her three kids were having some fun in the living room. Felicia was sitting opposite them. Gwendolyn had no idea what they were talking about. Lest Felicia would reveal something she shouldn''t say, she sped downstairs. Candace happened toe out from the dining room and saw Gwendolyn crossing her arms in front of her chest. ¡°Gwen, look at you, busy taking care of your man and care nothing about your kids,¡± Candace sneered and looked somewhere not far away. ¡°You must be lucky. Fel is kind enough to help you take care of them.¡± Gwendolyn replied, ¡°They don''t need to be taken care of, as they could take care of themselves well.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Felicia? If Felicia were someone else, I would have trusted that person to take care of my kids. I don''t even believe her. Candace felt displeased with Gwendolyn''s words. ¡°What do you mean, Gwendolyn? Do you even look like a mother at all? You are even more wicked than a stepmother. Can kids truly take care of themselves?¡± Hearing what Candace said, Justin defended, ¡°We can take care of ourselves.¡± Julian, too, affirmed immediately, ¡°And we can take good care of Juliette.¡± The two revealed cold expressions as they turned to look at Candace. Candace felt that those expressions were somewhat familiar. The aura they demonstrated was also very much like that of someone. It was just that she could not recall anything at that very moment despite feeling familiar. Felicia was eating grapes and spitting the skins on her hand simultaneously. When she heard that, she smiled faintly and said, ¡°Mom, please calm down. They just said that they could take care of themselves. What more do you have to say?¡± After Felicia finished her sentence, she threw the grape skins in her hand into the trash can. With a smile, she called out to Gwendolyn, ¡°Gwen,e and sit here. Come to think of it, these three kids do have good looks, and they look pretty simr to Zayden.¡± Gwendolyn frowned slightly upon hearing that. Is she blind? How are they like Zayden? She wouldn''t be so kind. What is she trying to do? Candace, too, walked over and sat beside her daughter before taking a look at the three kids. The little girl was wearing a blue princess dress that resembled the one a princess would wear in a cartoon. On the other hand, the two little boys were wearing ck suits with white shirts and ck bowties. Tall and thin, the little boys appeared handsome overall. In contrast, the little girl and Gwendolyn were made from the same mold. The former just looked identical to thetter. ¡°Have you all eaten?¡± Gwendolyn asked. Justin answered, ¡°We have. We just had our meal with Great-grandpa.¡± With Michael around, no one could bully Gwendolyn''s kids. On top of that, since the kids were considered to have a father now and would be bullied less, Gwendolyn was thoroughly at ease. Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Okay. If you feel tired, I''ll ask the housekeepers to bring you upstairs to take a nap.¡± Juliette was tired of watching cartoons and could barely keep her eyes open. ¡°Mommy, I want to sleep.¡± Hearing that, Candace ordered, ¡°Housekeepers,e and bring Justin, Julian, and Juliette to rest in the guest room.¡± A few housekeepers immediately went over. Gwendolyn purposely paid attention to the faces of the housekeepers and was at ease when she confirmed that they were Michael''s people. ¡°Justin, bring Julian and Juliette upstairs to rest. Call me if there''s anything.¡± Justin replied, ¡°Okay, Mommy.¡± Then the three kids walked toward the elevator, with a few housekeepers behind. The living room felt empty in an instant. There were only Gwendolyn, Felicia, and Candace left. Lying on the couch, Gwendolyn was reading messages on her phone. Since there was no news about Patrick, she casually surfed her Instagram. Felicia peeked at her mother, who was staring at Gwendolyn with hatred. However, she thought it was normal for any woman to hate Gwendolyn. After all, Gwendolyn was too beautiful and looked somewhat like a vixen. Felicia sneered, ¡°Gwendolyn, congrats! You are about to be married into the Surrington family.¡± Chapter 490 Chapter 490 It sounds so awkward. Didn''t they hope that I would die in the past? After all, I almost died at their hands on that night six years ago. How shameless is she to congratte me now? Gwendolyn slightly narrowed her eyes. ¡°I won''t be marrying Zayden. If I have to choose, that person will be Patrick.¡± Her voice was low and cold, which sent a chill down Felicia''s and Candace''s spines. Candace snorted coldly. ¡°Gwendolyn, what do you mean? Are you trying to steal him from Fel?¡± Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows and retorted, ¡°Do I even need to steal? He''s mine from the beginning.¡± ¡°You...¡± Candace did not expect she would be at a loss for words in the face of Gwendolyn''s retort. Stunned, she could only give thetter attitude. Felicia, on the other hand, appeared surprisinglyposed. ¡°Mom, why are you trying to fight with her? Saying those words are of no help.¡± She nned to let Gwendolyn and Zayden publicly acknowledge their rtionship. After all, one way or another, the two were a couple from Michael''s point of view. Once they do that, how is Gwendolyn going to be with Patrick? Not to mention, Patrick and Old Mr. Lowen wille here tonight. This is going to be interesting. How is she going to defend herself by then? Candace was furious, so Felicia stood up and said, ¡°Mom, let''s go upstairs and rest for a while. I''ll help you touch up your makeup.¡± Felicia dragged Candace upstairs, but Gwendolyn merely nced at them expressionlessly. Facing Candace and Felicia, Gwendolyn was always full of confidence. She felt great just now for speaking her mind and undermining Felicia. I know full well who Patrick cares about. She was nothing short of embarrassing herself by challenging me earlier. Because Zayden and Suzanne upied her room, Gwendolyn could only rest in the living room. Initially, she was looking at her phone. And before she knew it, she had already drifted off to sleep. After some time, when awakened by the voices of her rtives, Gwendolyn opened her eyes and saw Francine and the others sitting on the couch. There were a lot of people talking and smiling at each other. All of them demonstrated reenergized looks that would appear after a lunch break. Nicolette was sitting beside her. Seeing Gwendolyn was awake, she scolded, ¡°I told you guys to keep your voices low. See, you have awakened Wendy.¡± Nicolette''s mother looked over, and her gaze rested on Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, it is already three in the afternoon. It''s time to wake up. Our family hired makeup artists and stylists. They have been waiting for you in the guest room.¡± Nicolette slightly widened her eyes. ¡°Huh? Is the event this formal? Wendy, let''s go upstairs quickly and dress you up.¡± In her eyes, Gwendolyn was already a natural beauty. If Gwendolyn were to put on some makeup and avish gown, she would, without a doubt, outshine every attending woman and be in the limelight. At the thought of that, Nicolette became super excited. ¡°Wendy, let''s move.¡± Gwendolyn just woke up and was in a groggy state. Pulled up by Nicolette, she stood up and walked toward the stairs. The rtives in the living room started a discussion while keeping their voices low. ¡°Old Mr. Ashton sees this matter with importance. It''s not just as simple as winning an award, right?¡± ¡°Gwen did not finish her education back in the day and got pregnant. Now that she has won an award, it''s normal for Old Mr. Ashton to be happy for her.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Also, her marriage with Mr. Surrington should be on the agenda.¡± ¡°No wonder Old Mr. Ashton invited reporters here. Usually, he dislikes entertainment news the most. It looks like he still cares about Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± Gwendolyn did not hear those words, but her three kids did. Following that, Juliette pouted with anger. ¡°Justin, who on earth is Gwen going to marry? Isn''t she going to marry Mr. Lowen? Why did the other party be Zay now?¡± Justin gestured for her to stop saying anything, as he did not want her to draw others'' attention. Then, Justin and Julian held her hand and walked toward the courtyard from the living room. ¡°Juliette, we are not going to interfere in Mommy''s affair. No matter what they say, we have to support her.¡± Julian nodded. ¡°Justin is right. We have to be Mommy''s support.¡± Juliette did not fully understand, but she listened to the words of her two brothers. ¡°But... Gwen is way happier when she''s with Mr. Lowen!¡± Chapter 491 Chapter 491 At six o''clock in the evening, the guests arrived at the Ashton residence. Soon, the Ashton residence became extraordinarily lively. Men and women dressed in extravagant formal attire mingled with each other in the living room and the courtyard. For three hours, the makeup artists had been applying makeup on Gwendolyn''s face in the first guest room on the second floor. Gwendolyn was already exhausted, but she couldn''t refuse Michael''s kindness. Having no other choice, she allowed the makeup artists to carry on with their work while she rested her eyes. Afterward, a stylist picked a gown for Gwendolyn. It was a marine blue high-slit gown made with glittery fabric. After putting on the dress, she looked at herself in the full-length mirror. Thedy in the mirror was breathtaking. Her silhouette was graceful, and the long slit on the gown''s hem entuated her slender legs perfectly. Nicolette had been sitting and ying video games to pass the time while she waited for Gwendolyn. Upon hearing the crowd''s astonished exmations, Nicolette lifted her head. Then, she immediately quit the game and got up abruptly. ¡°Gwen, y-you''re beautiful!¡± After walking to Gwendolyn, Nicolette reached out to caress Gwendolyn''s dazzlingly fair arm in awe. ¡°Gwen, when can I be like you?¡± Nicolette was filled with admiration for Gwendolyn¡ªwhose skin was as white as snow¡ªas though the latter were Snow White herself. Gwendolyn gazed at her reflection in the mirror. I think I really appear slightly more beautiful. Usually, I''d only have some lipstick on. This full-face makeup makes me look a lot more enchanting. Since their work here was done, the makeup artists and the stylist packed their belongings, all prepared to leave the residence. Just then, Felicia and Candace also entered the guest room. A glint of darkness shed across their eyes when they saw Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn is really stunning after getting dolled up. With a dark expression on Candace''s face, she uttered, ¡°Help Felicia put on some makeup, too.¡± Felicia was also considered the star of the show on that night. After all, Patrick would attend the event later. Felicia had already told Candace about how Gwendolyn had seduced Patrick. If he saw Gwendolyn''s pretty side, he would surely abandon Felicia. The initially confident Candace was demotivated now. She walked up to a makeup artist, took out her phone, then leaned in and whispered in thetter''s ear, ¡°If you can make Felicia prettier than Gwendolyn, I''ll give you a big mary gift.¡± As Candace was speaking, her eyes darted around like a sly fox. The makeup artist was a youngdy who wore a mask. Hearing Candace''s request, she nced at Felicia, unsure what to do. Felicia''s looks were, after all, unremarkable. If she wanted to surpass Gwendolyn in terms of beauty, she might as well go back to her mother''s womb and get a different appearance. Nevertheless, the makeup artist was not going to be that blunt and simply nodded at Candace. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Ashton. I will do my best.¡± With that, the makeup artist nced at her assistants, and theyid out the cosmetic products on the vanity again.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Candace transferred five thousand to the makeup artist, to which thetter epted it as tips. With an icy gaze, Felicia red at Gwendolyn enviously. Why is it that despite the fact that we are both descendants of the Ashton family, Gwendolyn can be so beautiful? God is unfair to me, not fair at all. As Felicia passed by, she collided with Gwendolyn''s shoulder. Bullying thetter was her intention. Unexpectedly, she was the one who got hurt. The two of them stared at each other coldly. Iciness tinged Gwendolyn''s gaze, her aura absolutely imposing. Felicia, on the other hand, was in so much pain that her face contorted, and she said frostily, ¡°Gwendolyn, you hurt me. Apologize.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn merely scoffed. ¡°Ms. Felicia, I''ve been standing still the whole time. We can all tell who bumped into who.¡± Instantaneously, everyone''s gazes fell on Felicia. What Gwendolyn stated was true. Felicia did not gain the upper hand, nor did she have the authority to make Gwendolyn apologize. As a result, Felicia went to sit in front of the vanity, pursing her lips and furrowing her brows. Gwendolyn, you can be smug for now. You won''t be able to do the same when Patrick is here. Chapter 492 Chapter 492 After Gwendolyn left the guest room, she called Justin. She was swamped that day and had no time to watch her children. Even though Justin and Julian were present, she was worried that something would happen to Juliette because of their oversight. Soon, the call was connected. ¡°Mommy.¡± ¡°Justin, where are you guys? Is Juliette being good today?¡± Gwendolyn asked. ¡°Mommy, we''re in the main hall. Juliette is dancing, and she''s been behaving well today,¡± Justin answered after ncing at Juliette, who had attracted many guests with her performance and was completely immersed in her own fairytale world. Justin and Julian were perfectly capable of taking proper care of Juliette. Gwendolyn let out a sigh of relief. ¡°That''s great. Many guests will be here today. Bring Juliette with you to the guest room after you guys are done ying and wait for me there. After the banquet, we''ll all go home together.¡± ¡°Okay, Mommy!¡± Justin responded. With that, Gwendolyn hung up the phone. Meanwhile, Nicolette was photographing Gwendolyn as she found thetter to be incredibly beautiful. I must take more photos of Gwen and post them on Instagram. After that, Nicolette held Gwendolyn''s arm. ¡°Gwen, your sons are so handsome. They will definitely be campus hunks when they grow up.¡± Nicolette had spent some time with the three children that day and took a photo of them. As soon as she posted the picture on Instagram, it went viral.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Everyone agreed that the three children were drop-dead gorgeous and would undoubtedly grow into exceptionally attractive adults. Even her crush liked the photo, which had never happened before. He must have been impressed by the three children''s good looks as well. Nicolette''s face lit up with a sweet smile, for she was in a good mood. Gwendolyn nced at Nicolette from the corner of her eye before replying, ¡°Yeah, they look lovely indeed.¡± Gwendolyn agreed with Nicolette''spliment, making no attempt to sound humble at all. Every mother thought that their children were the loveliest in the world; Gwendolyn was no exception. After Michael sent someone to go get Gwendolyn, she left Nicolette and stayed by Michael''s side. Michael brought her to meet many prominent figures in Avenport, introducing her as the eldest daughter of the Ashton family. Growing up in the Ashton residence, she had perfected her etiquette. Although it had been years since shest attended such banquets, her innate elegance didn''t change at all. She was gracious in her responses to the guests. At seven o''clock, Michael brought Gwendolyn onto the stage and formally introduced her. Holding a microphone in his hand, he said, ¡°Silence please, everyone.¡± As soon as he spoke, everyone in the hall quieted down. At the same time, a group of people entered the hall, and the man in the lead had a tall and majestic figure. ¡°Thank you for attending my granddaughter''s celebration banquet. She received the best neer award in Willowbank''s fashion week,¡± Michael continued, his voice sounding authoritative. Immediately, the audience erupted into a massive round of apuse. Seeing that, Gwendolyn looked at the audience smilingly. Suddenly, she met Patrick''s gaze. As he stared at her, his expression was glum. She realized then that she had never told Patrick she was a part of the Ashton family. Furthermore, Gwendolyn exined nothing when Felicia told him that she was merely the daughter of the Ashton family''s housekeeper. Thus, he exuded coldness right now. A trace of a questioning look filled his gaze, causing Gwendolyn to shudder. Meanwhile, Michael smiled cheerfully and went on with his speech. ¡°Today is a fantastic day. Allow me to share something with you. Gwendolyn is my eldest granddaughter, and she is the Ashton family''s eldest daughter. All these years, she had been away from home to study. As a result, you may have never heard of her. Today, I''d like to introduce her to you as my eldest granddaughter, Gwendolyn Ashton.¡± Another round of thunderous apuse rang out, and someone in the audience shouted, ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Ashton!¡± Gwendolyn waved at the audience. Prior to this, her smile was charming. At the moment, however, her smile had be unnatural because of Patrick, for the way he looked at her was far too intimidating. Chapter 493 Chapter 493 Gwendolyn avoided his gaze as she didn''t dare to meet his eyes. Michael suddenly called out, ¡°Zayden,e over here.¡± When she heard this, Gwendolyn''s heart skipped a beat. She had initially thought that even if Michael announced her engagement to Zayden, she could still find a way to break it off since she believed that Patrick would not be present. However, she was at a loss on what to do now. With Suzanne''s support, Zayden walked up to the stage and stood beside Gwendolyn. Michael then pointed at him. ¡°Everyone probably knows who this is. He''s Zayden Surrington, and my granddaughter is getting engaged to him soon. This is also something to rejoice about today. Let''s get started on the banquet! I hope everyone has a good time and enjoys the food here!¡± With that, the housekeeper took his microphone. Michael nced at Zayden and said, ¡°I have publicly left Gwen to you. Please treat her well, Zay.¡± He ced Gwendolyn''s hands in Zayden''s, resulting in a smile spreading across thetter''s face. ¡°I will, Old Mr. Ashton. I''ll love and protect her for the rest of her life.¡± Gwendolyn stood there in a daze, her eyes remaining fixed on Patrick. She wished for the ability to fly to his side and exin to him that everything was all a misunderstanding. She only wanted to marry him in this lifetime. Patrick was exceptionally eye-catching, standing in the crowd. His gaze was so cold that the air around them seemed to solidify. Liam couldn''t help but feel a shiver. How did Ms. Ashton get engaged to Mr. Surrington so suddenly? What about Mr. Lowen? Upon this thought, he nced at his enraged boss, who seemed to be on the verge of explosion. Liam''s gaze then traveled to his boss'' head. Mr. Lowen still has a bullet in his head because of Ms. Ashton. How could Ms. Ashton abandon him like this? How could she be heartless and do this to him? Wait a moment! Suddenly, Liam''s eyes widened. Ms. Ashton doesn''t even know that the bullet is still in Mr. Lowen''s head! T-This... Oh no, what do I do? Just when things seemed to be turning out well for them, Gwendolyn found a new love. It seemed that the next few days would be chaotic for Lowen Group. At this moment, Felicia walked over to them. She was donning a red gown with a long train, which seemed extremely luxurious. She walked over to Hector first. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, you''re here.¡± Hector nced at her with a smile. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡°Of course, we wille to your family banquet, Fel. However, I didn''t know you have an older sister, and I certainly didn''t expect it to be her.¡± Felicia smiled. ¡°She''s the daughter of my father''s ex-wife. She left the family to give birth. Now that the children''s father is back, my grandfather wanted to clear the air about the past.¡± Although Felicia didn''t explicitly state it, Hector knew that Gwendolyn''s children were born out of wedlock. He nodded. ¡°Okay, that''s great. At least it will clear her name. The man should''ve stood up and taken responsibility for his actions, after all.¡± With that, he nced at Patrick. ¡°Pat, today is Fel''s family banquet. As her boyfriend, you should act the part of a good future son-inw.¡± Patrick wasn''t listening to his grandfather at all. Instead, his gaze was fixated on the turquoise figure on the stage. She looked gorgeous in her gown, but her beautiful smile sent a pang in his heart. Gwendolyn never told him that she was from the Ashton family. Gwen, I can''t tell the truth from your lies. Despite his sincerity in their rtionship, he felt Gwendolyn had treated him like garbage. He had given her his heart, but all she did was smash it into smithereens. His gaze turned cold, and he emanated overwhelming iciness. Felicia was about to greet him when she noticed his hostile demeanor. Terrified, she didn''t dare approach the man. Chapter 494 Chapter 494 Gwendolyn supported Zayden as they stood by Michael''s side, greeting the guests and reporters. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Gwendolyn''s mood was down in the dumps at this moment. Her eyes were dull, and her mind had gone nk. She was unsure of what she was doing. She didn''t expect Michael to cause such amotion and even invited the press because she knew he disliked them for writing whatever they wanted without any actual significance. Lucy was also attending the banquet with Lucas, for Michael had invited the entire upper-ss society of the city. Kevin was also here. He swirled his ss of wine, standing among the crowd. Lucas asked, ¡°Kev, what is happening?¡± Isn''t Gwendolyn the woman Pat loves? How could he allow someone toy his hands on Gwendolyn? Kevin didn''t bring a femalepanion to this banquet. He took a sip of his wine, and his expression darkened. ¡°Let''s go and see Pat. He''s probably not doing well.¡± Lucy was also anxious about the entire situation. However, Gwendolyn was in front of the cameras for an interview, so she couldn''t rush over and ask her. She pulled Lucas'' hand and uttered, ¡°Mr. Gomez, it''s definitely not what it looks like. Gwendolyn owed Zayden one. Since he''s blind now, Gwen is probably repaying him by taking care of him.¡± Lucy knew about Gwendolyn''s feelings and knew who thetter loved. This entire banquet was a gigantic misunderstanding, and the person who was most affected by this predicament was none other than Gwendolyn. She couldn''t help but feel worried about her friend. Therefore, she followed Lucas as thetter walked over to Patrick. Seeing the man''s icy gaze toward Gwendolyn, Lucy couldn''t help feeling afraid. She took a step back and whispered, ¡°Mr. Surrington is so scary! H-He doesn''t hit women, does he?¡± If Patrick dared toy his hands on a woman, Lucy was afraid that Gwendolyn might suffer severe injuries from his hands. At the very least, her friend might be crippled. Lucas enveloped the anxious woman in an embrace. ¡°He doesn''t hit women, but it''s different for men.¡± He then swept his gaze past Zayden, who was standing beside Gwendolyn. He even has the guts to wrap his arm around her shoulders. I''m afraid that a limb of his will be crippled soon. Although Felicia didn''t dare to approach Patrick, she wouldn''t miss the opportunity to make her presence known. She walked up to Patrick and grabbed his arm, shing him a faint smile before saying, ¡°Patrick, your grandfather is looking. Don''t disappoint him, okay?¡± Patrick couldn''t think of anything at this point. He brushed her arm off, causing Felicia to stumble back a few steps. If it wasn''t for Kevin blocking her, she might have fallen to the ground. Kevin helped her up and said gently, ¡°Be careful, Ms. Felicia.¡± Now that they all knew about Gwendolyn''s identity, they knew Felicia wasn''t the only daughter in the Ashton family. Interesting. Has this girl been pretending to be innocent the entire time? Felicia didn''t care anymore. She had done everything she could to draw Patrick''s attention but to no avail. She held her gown and walked over to him. His gaze was still fixated on Gwendolyn the entire time. Although his gaze was cold, he only had eyes for her. Had Patrick cared about another person this much before? Felicia couldn''t understand why Gwendolyn, a woman who already had children, was able to attract a man like Patrick and even made him fall head over heels for her. ¡°Stop looking at her, Patrick. Zayden''s the father of Gwendolyn''s children. They had a rtionship six years ago. They''re a family, a real family.¡± Michael''s speech earlier was already tant enough, but Felicia still felt the need to make things even clearer for Patrick. She hoped for the man to hate Gwendolyn. If that was the case, it would mean an opportunity for her. Felicia only had one goal in life, and that was to marry Patrick no matter what. She wanted to be his wife, bear his children, and be the woman every female in Avenport envied. After all, he was the one who came to her first, asking her to sign the dating contract; surely that meant they were fated to be together. Chapter 495 Chapter 495 Felicia added, ¡°Patrick, you''re just a back-up partner to Gwendolyn. She''d have surely clung on to you if it wasn''t for Zayden admitting to Grandpa about what he did before.¡± Hearing that, Patrick slowly moved his gaze toward her with a smirk on his face. ¡°You don''t have the right to say all that to me. Now, leave.¡± Even Lucy couldn''t take it anymore as she walked toward them. ¡°What are you bullsh*tting about, Felicia? Gwen is nothing like the woman you said she was. She just had her own reasons. Plus, Zayden is her benefactor, so she''s just returning the favor.¡± After saying that, Lucy turned to Patrick and said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, you need to believe in Gwen. She really does love you. You have to trust her.¡± Lucas then pulled the agitated Lucy to his side and warned her in a serious tone, ¡°Lucy! Stop causing trouble!¡± However, Lucy was still extremely agitated. ¡°Why are you pulling on me? I just don''t want him to misunderstand Gwen! Gwen is an amazing woman. You all just don''t understand what''s going on!¡± Gwendolyn''s family situation was aplicated one. Michael used to shun her from the family, and Gwendolyn herself had never once imed that she was from the Ashton family. Now that Michael wanted to disclose her identity and ept her into the family, Gwendolyn had no right to refuse. Moreover, Gwendolyn was kind. She wouldn''t just leave Zayden to fend for himself, and no one knew how they even got involved with each other in the first ce. Lucy didn''t understand what was going on as well. Lucas said coldly, ¡°Pat will deal with this himself, so it doesn''t matter what you say.¡± What type of person does she think Pat is? He will never believe in what others say to him, so stop exining. The more she exins, the angrier he will get. Plus, with his current mood, those who provoke him will be in for it! Lucas was afraid that Patrick would go off on Lucy. Patrick had a knack for scolding, so Lucas was worried that Lucy would cry if Patrick were to really go off on her. Felicia approached Patrick. ¡°Pat, you can''t believe what Lucy just said. She''s a single mother as well. The same type of woman Gwendolyn is. Both of them are just looking for a back-up partner so that their children could have someone to look after them.¡± Lucas didn''t like what he was hearing. His face darkened, and just when he was about to speak up, Patrick said, ¡°Shut up.¡± It just so happened that Hector was walking toward them, and he scowled when he heard what Patrick had uttered. ¡°Are you both fighting? When will you stop?¡± After that, he grabbed Felicia''s hand and ced both Felicia''s and Patrick''s hands together. ¡°Hold on to each other and follow me. We''ll be meeting the inws now.¡± Just then, Michael brought Gwendolyn and Zayden toward them. Hector saw them and smiled as he called out, ¡°Old Mr. Ashton, we''ll be a family soon.¡± Candace was standing right behind Gwendolyn and Zayden. She showed up with Zachary as well since she was Gwendolyn''s stepmother. Otherwise, she would be dubbed a terrible mother if she didn''t attend. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Candace was very wary of what people would say about her, so she wanted to be a good mother and a good wife for others to see. When she saw Hector, her eyes lit up. Why is he here? Hector was still bedridden when she visited him in the hospital. At that time, he was wearing an oxygen mask, so she couldn''t take a good look at him. Hector looked lively that day. Even though his hair was all white, his aura and posture were still intimidating. She immediately recognized him. He was the one who paid Candace back then so that Gwendolyn could give birth first before marrying into the Lowen family. So that''s Old Mr. Lowen of the Lowen family... Would he recognize me? She didn''t even know what to do now. She wanted to retreat when she saw him, and she even subconsciously tried to block her own face. Candace finally understood why Hector insisted on the marriage between Patrick and Felicia. It was because he mistook Felicia for Gwendolyn. Candace was now panicking. If Hector were to find out, then the marriage between Patrick and Felicia would be called off, and Felicia would surely be desperate when that happened. Her eyes widened in shock as a thought shed through her mind. Wait. Could it be that Gwendolyn''s children are Patrick''s? That thought scared her so much that she became anxious. She wanted to leave the scene immediately, fearing that everything would be exposed. However, Zachary pulled her hand. ¡°Candace, we''re Fel''s parents. Let''s go greet them.¡± Chapter 496 Chapter 496 Candace, who was about to take off, was dragged by Zachary to where Hector was. ¡°Hello, Mr. Lowen. We''re Fel''s parents.¡± This was their first time formally introducing themselves to Hector. Previously when they met, Hector was in a wheelchair and couldn''t speak. He was also wearing a mask at that time. This time, Hector looked healthy and energetic. He didn''t even need to wear a mask anymore. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Candace''s eyes went wide with fear. She knew she couldn''t escape now. Oh no! What now? Will he ask about the children''s whereabouts? Maybe I should say that Fel was the girl from back then. Hector nodded slightly and said, ¡°Fel is such an outstanding child. You parents must have done well.¡± On the heels of that, Michael and Hector looked at each other briefly before smiling and giving each other a friendly hug. ¡°Michael, I promised you a marriage, and now here we are. I didn''t break my promise, right?¡± Hearing that, Michael smiled. ¡°Yeah!¡± Michael actually wanted Gwendolyn to be the one marrying into the Lowen family, but since ¡°that¡± happened in the past, he couldn''t embarrass himself by asking the Lowen family to ept Gwendolyn into their family. To Michael, everything was settled since Zayden came forward and admitted what he had done. Michael thought that Gwendolyn''s innocence was now proven, and she could finally live a dignified life. Both Michael and Hector waved their hands. ¡°Patrick, Fel,e closer.¡± ¡°Gwen, Zayden. Both of you as well.¡± At that moment, Gwendolyn, Zayden, Patrick, and Felicia came forward. Felicia put her arm around Patrick''s, linking their arms together as she smiled and looked at Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, Grandpa finally acknowledges you and even publicized your identity! I''m truly happy for you, and your husband is good-looking as well!¡± She sounded happy for Gwendolyn, as if she was trying to make everyone present feel that both she and Gwendolyn had a good sisterly rtionship. Gwendolyn was now looking at Patrick with anxiousness in her eyes. She didn''t know what to do. Seeing how Felicia was holding onto his arm, Gwendolyn only felt hurt, and her heart ached. She almost had the urge to forcefully separate them, but she noticed that Patrick had a cold expression as well. What is he looking at? Patrick was looking at Gwendolyn''s arm that was linked with Zayden''s. However, she needed to hold Zayden so that she could support him since he was blind. Patrick was now feeling what Gwendolyn was feeling. They were both unhappy. Both of them were the ones that were in love with each other, but they now stood opposite each other as they linked their arms with someone else, each having someone of their own. That feeling wasn''t a pleasant one, and Patrick was unhappy with what he saw. His gaze was like a ck hole as he stared at Gwendolyn with a darkened expression. Zayden smiled when he heard what Felicia just said and replied, ¡°Thank you, my sister-inw.¡± Both Felicia and Zayden''s remarks made everyone feel like they were all family, and Hector smiled. ¡°I have a suggestion. Since they''re both sisters, let''s hold their engagement party at the same time, and all four of them can get married on the same day! How''s that?¡± Everyone present pped their hands and agreed when they heard that. ¡°That''s a great idea!¡± ¡°This is just double happiness for the Ashton family!¡± Zayden saw how Patrick was looking at Gwendolyn, and it was obvious that Patrick was now mad. As for Zayden, he was thrilled. He then added fuel to the fire by reaching out to put his arm around Gwendolyn''s shoulder before turning his head toward her. ¡°Gwen, I''m a little hungry.¡± Gwendolyn had tears in her eyes as she looked at Patrick. Both of them were looking at each other, but one with sadness and the other with a cold expression. Their gaze toward each othersted until Zachary called out to Gwendolyn. He was worried that Patrick might stride over and bring Gwendolyn away if he let them be. Hence, he stopped that from potentially happening by leading Gwendolyn away. Hearing that, she hummed and supported Zayden to the dining area. Felicia had a smug expression after that. Soon, many of the guests came forward and clinked sses with her as they all drank. ¡°Congrattions, Ms. Ashton!¡± This was Felicia''s first time being surrounded by this many people, and everyone was respectful toward her, which boosted her ego. The smile on her face became more and more charming, and she couldn''t help but lean her face and body closer to Patrick as she replied, ¡°Thank you!¡± Chapter 497 Chapter 497 Felicia was distracted andcked the energy to concern herself with Gwendolyn and Zayden at this point. With Grandpa''s presence, I highly doubt that Gwendolyn would have the audacity to cause any commotion. Ultimately, Michael was the one who meant the most to Gwendolyn. In the past, whenever Michael was angry with her, he would give her the silent treatment, ignoring herpletely. Now that Michael had finally epted Gwendolyn as a member of the Ashton family, it signified his forgiveness. Felicia believed that Gwendolyn would be cautious not to jeopardize the old man''s pardon. Therefore, Felicia was confident that despite Gwendolyn''s affection for Patrick and her desire to be with him, she wouldn''t dare to make any moves at that moment, considering the current circumstances. As Felicia contemted the inner struggles that Gwendolyn had endured, she couldn''t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Felicia reasoned that with her previous actions, Patrick would likely lose all faith in Gwendolyn. It''s likely that Patrick wouldn''t want to see Gwendolyn again after this day, and I will soon be Mrs. Lowen. Candace stood alongside Zachary, observing as Michael and Hector engaged in conversation. asionally, Hector and Michael would also exchange words with Candace and Zachary. Candace was filled with anxiety, dreading the possibility of Hector recognizing her. However, to her surprise, he showed no signs of recognition. Nevertheless, she couldn''t take her eyes off Hector, carefully observing his reactions to determine if he truly didn''t recognize her. Candace found it perplexing why Hector didn''t recognize her, and she wondered if he had lost his memory or experienced some event that altered his perception. In fact, due to the secretive nature of the incident that took ce years ago, Candace and Hector had met each other personally before. The woman remained highly anxious, gued by concerns that something might have gone awry. She cast a nce at her daughter, who was surrounded by numerous people nearby, all vying to establish a connection with Patrick. However, Patrick remained aloof and unapproachable, denying them any opportunity. Given the situation, they had no choice but to try to please Felicia. They engaged in conversations with her and raised toasts in her honor. She smiled with great joy while emanating a dazzling glow. Candace approached Felicia and gently tugged at her, catching her attention. ¡°Fel,e with me. I need to talk to you.¡± Although Felicia was reluctant to leave Patrick''s side, as she had put in considerable effort to get close to him, she noticed the anxious expression on her mother''s face. So, she said to Patrick, ¡°Patrick, I''ll be right back.¡± After saying that and giving a polite nod to the people around her, Felicia excused herself and followed Candace upstairs, making her way back to her room. Once inside the room, Candace closed the door behind her and grabbed Felicia''s shoulders, her expression filled with deep concern. ¡°Fel, Old Mr. Lowen is the same old man from years ago, and Gwendolyn''s children are Patrick''s.¡± Candace, drawing from her understanding of Hector''s personality, was convinced that he wouldn''t plot anything against Gwendolyn for no reason. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. After much contemtion, she deduced that Hector must be concerned about the Lowen family''s bloodlineing to an end. As a result, he must have devised a n to get Gwendolyn pregnant, thereby pressuring Patrick into marrying her. Candace reasoned that Patrick, a wise and independent-minded grandson, would not be easily coerced into marrying someone against his will. Recognizing this, she concluded that Hector must have resorted to such devious means to force Patrick into a marriage with Gwendolyn. Felicia''s eyes widened in shock as she absorbed the words spoken by her mother. ¡°Mom, you can''t be serious! You told me that person was a sixty to seventy-year-old man. How could it possibly be Patrick?¡± At that point, she paused for a moment. ¡°And you''re saying that the old man is Old Mr. Lowen?¡± Now it all made sense to Felicia. She connected the dots and realized that the children were indeed Patrick''s. Both Candace''s and Felicia''s faces turned pale, and their eyes widened in shock. It was clear that they were both taken aback by this revtion. The two women struggled toprehend how things had taken such an unexpected turn. They had tried to sabotage Gwendolyn, but it seemed she had still managed to bear his children. They couldn''t help but wonder if Gwendolyn truly haddy luck on her side. Thedies remained in a state of shock and disbelief for some time. It took them a while to regain their senses. Felicia was first to regain herposure and quickly formed a n. ¡°Mom, let''s not jump to conclusions just yet. I''ll secretly collect a sample of Patrick''s hair, and I want you to collect samples from the three children as well. We''ll conduct a paternity test to confirm if they are Patrick''s offspring or not. What if they''re not Patrick''s children?¡± Felicia held onto a glimmer of hope that the children weren''t Patrick''s, as she didn''t know how she would handle the situation otherwise. The fact that Patrick seemedpletely enamored with Gwendolyn added to her worries. Felicia figured that Patrick would be moved and fall even deeper in love with Gwendolyn once he found out she had given birth to three of his children. She then remembered that Michael had wanted Gwendolyn to marry the father of her children, which would give Patrick apelling reason to marry her. This is bad! As Felicia dwelled on the situation, her fear intensified. Candace realized that her daughter wasposed and had made a valid point. She spected that even Hector might not remember the incident from years ago, and there could have been a mistake in the process, resulting in the children belonging to someone else. Chapter 498 Chapter 498 Aftering to an agreement, the mother and daughter were ready to leave the room and face the guests downstairs. While walking toward the door, Felicia revealed something voluntarily, ¡°Thankfully, I''ve hired someone to tamper with Old Mr. Lowen''s memory for a hefty sum. Otherwise, things would have gone downhill if he recognized you.¡± Candace was taken aback when she heard that. ¡°You tampered with his memory?¡± Felicia chuckled. ¡°Yes, I did. Do you remember Maddy, my university friend? I was nice to her for a reason. Her family is known for being traditional healers and has many ancient books at home that contain peculiar medical knowledge. She even used to hypnotize us in the dorm back then. So I thought it was an interesting skill that could be useful in the future, and I became friends with her. Not too long ago, I contacted her family to help cure Old Mr. Lowen, and they were able to sessfully treat him. In addition, I asked them to manipte his memories after he fell ill.¡± Felicia took these actions because she had noticed the strange way Hector looked at Gwendolyn. It was clear that he was fond of Gwendolyn. Felicia could see Hector''s intentions, and to ensure that everything went smoothly, she made the difficult decision to tamper with Hector''s memories, causing him to not recognize Gwendolyn. Candaceughed and hugged Felicia. ¡°You did a good job, Fel!¡± She couldn''t help but notice that her daughter was taking after her as Felicia seemed to have a sense of nning and calction, carefully considering each step she took. At the dining area, Zayden was lounging on the couch while Gwendolyn had brought him some food and was feeding him. Zayden''s face lit up with warmth as he savored the moment of being personally fed by Gwendolyn. He felt good, enjoying the moment. As Patrick approached, Zayden acted as if he hadn''t noticed the man and continued to open his mouth for Gwendolyn to feed him. Gwendolyn felt a sudden grip on her hand, and she turned to see who it was. She blinked in surprise, not expecting Patrick to approach her. She quickly nced around, feeling anxious about the situation. Patrick''s voice was cold as he ordered, ¡°Let''s go.¡± He seized her arm and forcefully yanked her to her feet, causing the te in her hand to slip and shatter on the ground with a loud crash. Upon hearing themotion, Zayden looked up and asked, ¡°Who is it? Gwen, are you all right?¡± Gwendolyn turned to look at Zayden and saw that he had reached out to touch her, his expression dazed. ¡°Zayden, I identally dropped the te. I''ve called someone to clean it up. Just stay seated and don''t move,¡± Gwendolyn said urgently, worried that he might bump into something or hurt himself if he stood up. Patrick''s expression darkened when he heard Gwendolyn''s words. He then forcefully pulled Gwendolyn out of the Ashton residence, practically shoving her into the car. He quickly followed suit and got in, his anger palpable. In a cold,manding voice, Patrick ordered the driver, ¡°Drive!¡± The driver didn''t waste any more time, as his boss'' face was terrifying, resembling a hungry lion ready to pounce on its prey. Gwendolyn''s brows furrowed as she spoke, ¡°I''m sorry, Patrick! I can''t leave.¡± She couldn''t abandon the three children and her grandfather who were still inside the Ashton residence, and that was why she refused to leave with Patrick. Patrick''s piercing gaze bore into her, and Gwendolyn felt a shiver run down her spine. Realizing that Patrick was not responding to her plea, she raised her voice and urgently called out to the driver to stop, ¡°Stop the car!¡± The driver mmed on the brakes upon hearing Gwendolyn''s plea. However, Patrick''s voice turned icy as he questioned, ¡°Who is your boss? Me or her?¡± The driver felt helpless at that moment. There was no denying that Patrick was the boss, but there was also a possibility that Gwendolyn could be Patrick''s wife. As a result, he didn''t dare to offend either of them. In fact, he felt that offending the futuredy boss, who was his boss'' beloved, would only bring more trouble. The driver''s face was filled with anxiety as he started the car. Gwendolyn gripped the car door handle tightly, her intent to get out of the car evident, but she couldn''t. Patrick let out a chilling chuckle as he witnessed Gwendolyn''s futile attempt to leave the car. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn Ashton!¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. As Gwendolyn heard Patrick''s voice, she turned to look at him and noticed a hint of mockery on his face. Is he mocking himself for getting deceived? ¡°Patrick, I didn''t mean to deceive you. There''s something going on with my family, and my grandpa refuses to acknowledge me as his granddaughter. That''s why I couldn''t tell you that I''m part of the Ashton family,¡± Gwendolyn exined. She worried that she would bring disgrace to the Ashton family, and that was why she had never spoken about it. She had never disclosed her family background to Zayden either, so she was puzzled as to how the man had found out and taken the initiative to visit her family and speak those words to Michael. Patrick let out a derisive chuckle. ¡°Gwendolyn, is it truly beyond your capabilities to share the truth with me?¡± Chapter 499 Chapter 499 Gwendolyn found Patrick a little unfamiliar when she saw how disappointed he was. She didn''t know how to put it into words at the moment. Still, she was concerned about her three children, so she turned to look in the direction of the Ashton residence. ¡°Patrick, could you stop the car, please? I want to go back.¡± Patrick''s expression changed when he heard that. He abruptly pinned her against the car window, and Gwendolyn''s head hurt from the impact. She widened her eyes as the handsome man emanated a chilly vibe. His eyes were dark and seemingly bottomless, making Gwendolyn feel as if she was about to be sucked into his gaze. ¡°Gwendolyn, are you still thinking about Zayden?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. The woman shook her head. ¡°No, I''m worried about my children.¡± Patrick didn''t believe anything she said at the time. From his perspective, the children were just her excuse. Hisrge hand gripped her chin tightly as if he wanted to crush her jaw. ¡°Tell me, Gwendolyn. Do you love me?¡± A certain someone had always been very confident, and he was absolutely confident in everything he did. However, he lost his confidence in an instant that night. Does this woman even love me? After everything we had been through together... Which was real and which was fake? Gwendolyn was stunned for a moment after hearing that. Does he not know whether I love him or not? I''ve already given myself to him. Wasn''t that love? Men and women had different mindsets. Men could have sex without love, but women could only have sex if they were in love. Therefore, Patrick didn''t understand, and he had to ask her about it. However, Gwendolyn didn''t answer him, so the two just stared at each other. Since a certain someone was overly tense, his head began to hurt all of a sudden. His brows were furrowed, and the pain was simply unbearable. He let go of her, sat back in his seat, and said coldly, ¡°Stop the car and let her out.¡± The driver stopped the car obediently. Gwendolyn opened the door, got out of the car, and watched as Patrick''s car drive away. She stood on the side of the road and stared at the car as it merged into traffic until she couldn''t tell them apart anymore. Gwendolyn frowned slightly. This night has been far too chaotic. Patrick was angry, and she could clearly feel it. Let''s hope he calms down first! I will exin everything to himter, and I will also exin everything clearly to Grandpa as soon as possible. Gwendolyn felt much better after thinking about it that way, and she hitched up her skirt and walked back home. She returned to the Ashton residence after walking for about half an hour. The banquet had ended, and Zachary and Candace were seeing the guests off. When Zachary saw her entering the residence, heined, ¡°Where have you been? You are the star of the banquet. How could you ask us to help you see the guests off?¡± Gwendolyn nced at him. ¡°You guys should go and get some rest. I''ll take care of the rest.¡± She stood at the door and began to send the rest of the guests off. Candace straightened her back and smiled as she nodded to each of the guests that were departing. When she saw guests that she was acquainted with, she would exchange a few pleasantries with them. When no one else was left, Candace approached Gwendolyn with a cold glint in her eyes. ¡°We are the ones who allowed you to return to the Ashton family, Gwendolyn. You are now Ms. Gwendolyn Ashton of the Ashton family, and you are marrying into the Surrington family. You''ve taken all the good things, so don''t even think about Fel''s man anymore, do you hear me?¡± At that moment, Gwendolyn finally realized that Candace and Felicia had nned tonight''s banquet. Her eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Candace, did you expect me to thank you? Heh, Patrick is mine.¡± After saying that, Gwendolyn turned around and went inside, intending to look for her three children. Candace was so angry that she trailed after Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwendolyn, have you no shame? You already have Zayden, and you''ve given birth to his children. Why are you still thinking about Patrick? Do you take Patrick as a fool?¡± Candace was terrified when she thought of the possibility that the children Gwendolyn had given birth to were Patrick''s. If the Lowen family found out about this, Gwendolyn would''ve done a great favor to their family by giving birth to the triplets. The Lowen family didn''t have many children, so the two elders would definitely be overjoyed. Chapter 500 Chapter 500 I must not, under any circumstances, allow this information to be leaked out. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. The housekeeper arrived just then to look for Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Ashton, Old Mr. Ashton is looking for you. He is waiting for you in your room.¡± Gwendolyn nodded her head in response. ¡°All right. I''ll head over there right away.¡± Candace decided not to follow Gwendolyn after hearing that. After all, if Michael was looking for Gwendolyn and she kept following her, he would not be pleased if he heard about it. Nevertheless, she had to find a way to keep Gwendolyn away from the Lowen family. Candace stood rooted to her spot and thought of the three children, so she called a housekeeper over, ¡°Have you seen Ms. Gwendolyn''s three children? Where are they?¡± The housekeeper lifted her hand and pointed to a spot nearby. ¡°They''re ying over there.¡± The record yer was still ying music, and the little girl was dancing while the two little boys sat on the couch, not paying attention to her. Their heads were hung low, and they appeared to be ying with something. Candace rushed over. Those two boys were too smart and difficult to deal with. I had previously wanted to pull the little girl''s hair, but those two would not let me get close to her. Now that there was an opportunity, Candace dashed over to Juliette''s side. ¡°Juliette, your mommy asked me to take you to her.¡± After that, she smiled as she stretched out her hand and pulled a few strands of Juliette''s hair. Candace deliberately pulled a clump of the little girl''s hair out because she despised thetter. Juliette cried out in pain, ¡°Ouch! It hurts.¡± Justin and Julian ran over, looked at Candace coldly, then asked Juliette in a soft voice, ¡°What''s wrong, Juliette? Did she hit you?¡± Mommy told us to keep Juliette away from this woman and her daughter. Mommy said they were evil. Hence, we kept this old woman away from Juliette tonight. However, we didn''t expect her to bully Juliette at this hour. Juliette pointed at the woman. ¡°She pulled my hair. It hurts!¡± Justin kept his gaze fixated on Candace''s hand, which held a lock of Juliette''s hair. He walked over, grabbed her wrist, and snatched Juliette''s hair back. ¡°What are you doing with Juliette''s hair?¡± Although the children were only five years old, they knew a lot, and they were well aware that one''s hair could allow many things to be done. Candace didn''t expect a little boy to be that strong. The force with which he sped her wrist was so great that she almost let out a shriek. Her expression dimmed as she watched the lock of hair, which she had painstakingly obtained, disappear just like that. The two boys were a pain the neck and weren''t easy to deal with. Candace sighed and cooked up an excuse for her actions, saying, ¡°I saw some bugs in her hair, so I caught them for her. I was just trying to be nice.¡± At that moment, Juliette was still crying due to the pain. ¡°Is it still hurting, Juliette?¡± Julianforted her while stroking her head with his little hand. The little girl bobbed her head in response. ¡°It is!¡± The little girl bobbed her head in response. ¡°It is!¡± Julian tossed a nce at the woman, a cold look glinting in his eyes. Following that, his crisp and pleasant voice rang out. ¡°Apologize to Juliette.¡± Candace couldn''t help butugh when she heard that. ¡°Apologize? I told you I was getting the bugs out of her hair. Shouldn''t you guys be thanking me instead?¡± She stared at them with her gaze darkened and arms crossed over her chest. Gwendolyn was a fool when she was younger. I didn''t expect her to give birth to such bright children. It must be the man''s genes. Candace couldn''t help but think of Patrick. Moreover, the temperaments of these two boys are simr to Patrick''s. As soon as the thought popped into her mind, Candace shook her head and brushed it off. I shouldn''t jump to conclusions without confirming the facts. I''ll wait until the paternity test resultse out. Otherwise, I refuse to admit that Gwendolyn hasdy luck on her side. She definitely did not give birth to children of the Lowen family. That''s impossible! Gwendolyn and Michael happened to be making their way downstairs. Thetter was sending her and her children off as they needed to head home. Upon seeing Candace with her children, Gwendolyn panicked and hurried down the steps. ¡°Slow down, Gwen,¡± Michael reminded when he saw his granddaughter rushing down the stairs. Chapter 501 Chapter 501 Gwendolyn hurried to the children''s side and shielded them from the vile and wicked woman. ¡°What are you doing, Candace Dannings?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Candace''s face fell when she heard the way Gwendolyn addressed her by her full name. After all, the housekeepers and the Ashton brothers were all there to watch the situation unfold. ¡°Gwen, what did you just call me? Regardless of the circumstances, I''m still your stepmother. You should call me Aunt Candace.¡± Noticing Juliette crying, Gwendolyn cradled the little girl''s cheeks and asked, ¡°What''s wrong, Juliette?¡± Juliette pouted her tiny lips and pointed at her head. She plucked my hair. It hurts! The little girl was perplexed as to why anyone would yank her hair. Her long hair was something she treasured the most. Thisdy definitely adored my hair as well because she plucked it and kept it! Seeing Juliette''s reaction, Gwendolyn red daggers at her stepmother. ¡°Why did you pull her hair? She''s just a child! Come at me if you have a problem with me!¡± A trace of nervousness flitted across Candace''s face when she heard that. I must make up an excuse for pulling Juliette''s hair so Gwendolyn doesn''t associate this incident with me using the hair to get a paternity test. With that thought in mind and having noticed Michael wasing downstairs, Candace regained her composure in an instant. I better pretend to be a loving stepmother and grandmother. ¡°Gwen, this is a misunderstanding. There was a bug in Juliette''s hair just now. I panicked and identally pulled her hair because I was worried she''d get bitten by it. I meant no harm.¡± Everyone heard Candace''s exnation since her voice was loud; Michael was no exception. He approached Juliette and asked, ¡°What''s wrong, my little darling?¡± He had a warm grin on his face when he looked at Juliette. The moment Juliette saw Michael, she spread her arms, asking for a hug. Michael lifted her into his arms before she uttered, ¡°Great-grandpa, thisdy pulled my hair! It hurts so much!¡± Juliette was great at being a tattletale, especially in front of so many people. She wanted to protect her mother and her brothers, too. Even though Michael would dote on little children, he wasn''t an unreasonable man who would spoil them blindly. ¡°I''ll blow on it for you so that it won''t hurt anymore, all right?¡± Nodding, Juliette answered, ¡°Okay!¡± As she spoke, she cast a nce at Candace. I remember thisdy now. She''s a bad person, and I must stay away from her as far as I can. Gwendolyn spoke a few words to Justin and Julian, deciding not to make a fuss. ¡°Grandpa, it''s getting late. I should head back with the kids now.¡± At this moment, Francine and Christina came over to them. ¡°Gwen, since you''ve returned to the Ashton family, why don''t you move back here?¡± they suggested. It was always beneficial for them to tter Michael, especially when Candace wasn''t thriving in the family. If they work harder to do so, their husbands'' positions in thepany might also improve. Or, even better, perhaps Michael might even appoint their husbands as the heir. Or, even better, perhaps Michael might even appoint their husbands as the heir. Bearing that intention, Francine and Christina held Gwendolyn''s arm as they spoke. With her arms crossed in front of her chest, Candace furrowed her brows. These snobs have always been treating people differently ording to their status. Even if Gwendolyn is currently being favored by Michael, my daughter is the one who will be marrying into the most influential family in Avenport. She''s the one bringing pride and honor to the family. At that point, they will still have to curry favor with me. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn looked at Francine and Christina, then responded, ¡°There''s no need. I''ll continue staying at my current ce.¡± She then looked at Michael. When he was in her room just now, he had already asked her opinion on moving back to the Ashton residence. However, she declined the offer, stating that she and her children enjoyed staying at the mansion Michael had purchased for them. Holding her sons'' hands, Gwendolyn told Juliette, ¡°Juliette,e down. Your great-grandpa can''t carry you any longer.¡± Yet, Juliette tightened her embrace around Michael''s neck and refused, ¡°No! I like to be hugged by Great-grandpa. It''s so warm.¡± Juliette leaned her little face against Michael''s. Her chubby face felt soft, instantly elevating his mood. ¡°Hahaha! What a clever little girl. I like her! Don''t worry. I can still carry her.¡± Chapter 502 Chapter 502 The Ashton brothers and their families had never seen that side of Michael before. In truth, Michael had a benevolent side as well, just not toward them. Michael''s grandchildren seldom had the courage to spend time with him alone since they were children. Everyone was terrified of him, let alone acting coy in front of him and seeking a hug. Now, they watched enviously while he held Juliette in his arms and sent her home. Christina couldn''t help butin to Francine, ¡°Francine, look at how Old Mr. Ashton dotes on Gwen. He adores her children so much. I''m afraid things may be different in the Ashton family soon.¡± ¡°But this is fine, no? Otherwise, the smugger Candace is, the harder our lives are going to be,¡± Francine replied with a grin. A cold sneer crept onto Francine''s face as she red at Candace. Thetter seemed glum as if she was upset. Seeing that Candace was unhappy, Francine and Christina felt a lot better. Throughout all these years, Francine and Christina had been suppressed by this woman who married into the family after being a mistress. They dared not speak much and had to obey the woman''s orders. They approached Candace and asked, ¡°Are you okay, Candace?¡± Upon hearing that, Candace finally withdrew her gaze and nced over the two women, only to see a gleam of derision in their eyes. She pursed her lips while her attitude remained arrogant. ¡°What an ungrateful little girl, just like her mother. If it wasn''t for me, she would''ve been bitten by the bug and might even get a fatal infection! Not only did she not thank me, but she alsoined to Michael about me. Such an annoying child.¡± That said, she turned around and went upstairs. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. After Francine and Christina exchanged nces, theyughed out loud. If Candace were as nice as she ims, nothing bad would have happened to Gwen, and she would not be living away from her family now. Candace bullied and neglected Gwen, and it was only then that Gwen... At that thought, Francine and Christina stopped mulling. The children''s biological father had already acknowledged the children before all. Therefore, they should also refrain from badmouthing Gwendolyn. They followed Michael to walk Gwendolyn and the others back to the car. Right before the door was shut, Michael said smilingly, ¡°Remember to visit me often, Gwen.¡± Sitting in the car, Zayden tilted his head sideways to face the window before waving his hand. The car slowly drove away from the Ashton residence and headed toward the entrance. Suddenly, a sense of disappointment welled up in Michael''s heart, for he felt like Gwendolyn was the closest to him in this family. When she was with him back then, he felt like he had a dear family member by his side, and his loneliness grew over the years she was absent. When Gwendolyn and her family arrived that night, Michael''s heart swelled with warmth and joy. Now that she had left with her family, he felt extremely dispirited as if his heart was emptied. Seeing that, Zachary walked over to Michael and asked worriedly, ¡°Dad, you don''t look so good. Are you unwell?¡± Michael merely raked a glimpse over Zachary. When he recalled how his son had screwed up back then, he felt extremely remorseful and gave thetter a p. ¡°Keep an eye on your wife and daughter. Make sure they stop causing any trouble.¡± Although Michael had little interest in what was going on in the family at the time, he was aware of everything that was going on. Although Michael had little interest in what was going on in the family at the time, he was aware of everything that was going on. Candace and Felicia were known to bully Gwendolyn. Back then, Michael assumed everything would be fine if he protected Gwendolyn. No one would''ve predicted that she was still met with a mishap in the end. Now that she brought her three children back to the Ashton residence, he would continue keeping them out of harm''s way and never let her get hurt again. He would finally rest assured and die content after Gwendolyn get married into the Surrington family, for Zayden would be there to defend her by then. Michael entered the house after saying that. Confused, Zachary froze in ce. What does Dad mean? When he returned to his bedroom, he saw Candace had already taken a shower. She was applying a facial mask while dressed in a red silk nightgown. As Zachary loosened his tie, he inquired, ¡°Did you and Fel do anything outrageous today? Dad called you two out.¡± Candace turned around at that precise moment. She had hand cream on her hands and was massaging them in a circr motion. ¡°What outrageous things could we have done? That old man is simply biased. He hadn''t considered how Fel had built a reputation for the Ashton family. Isn''t he aware of how many guests, whom we were unable to invite previously, attended the banquet today?¡± Chapter 503 Chapter 503 ¡°If it weren''t for the fact that Fel is marrying into the Lowen family soon, would they stille?¡± she queried. A smug smile bloomed on Candace''s face as she continued, ¡°You have no idea just how jealous Francine''s and Christina''s families are. If their daughters could marry someone like Patrick, they''d be smiling even in their sleep! And yet you''re still telling me to be cautious and not publicize their marriage.¡± The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. As Patrick''s future mother-inw, many socialites would be falling over themselves to butter her up. However, she didn''t dare to go around spreading rumors as she didn''t want Zachary criticizing her. Zachary sighed. ¡°Don''t forget thest time Felicia got engaged but broke it off after. I was utterly embarrassed. This time, I won''t consider her married into the Lowen family until she obtains the marriage certificate.¡± He was fully aware that it wasn''t easy for Felicia to hold down a man like Patrick. If it weren''t for Hector, Patrick would have just ignored Felicia. This was something Zachary knew well as he had done a thorough investigation. Candace was furious when she was reminded of the previous incident. The family had sent a housekeeper to ask for Felicia''s hand in marriage, aplete disrespect to her daughter. Zachary''s words made sense to her. She got up and hugged him, saying in a coquettish voice, ¡°Darling, you''re so smart! You see through everything. Fel and I will keep a low profile. Don''t worry!¡± She nuzzled against him, looking up at him seductively. Zachary grew flustered and narrowed his eyes. ¡°I''ll go and take a shower. Once I''m done, I''ll deal with you.¡± Candace shyly gave him a little shove. ¡°You''re such a meanie. I''ll be waiting!¡± After Zachary went into the bathroom, she quickly headed to Felicia''s room. Felicia was already lying in bed and sat up when she heard the door open. ¡°What is it, Mom?¡± She let out a yawn. After an entire day of pretending to bedylike and being kept on her toes while apanying Hector, she waspletely exhausted. ¡°Fel, I came to ask you something. Why didn''t Old Mrs. Lowene today?¡± It didn''t make sense that Hector showed up and Alice didn''t on a day like this. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Does she not approve of your marriage?¡± Candace asked. Alice certainly looked imposing and assertive. Although Felicia wouldn''t have a mother-inw after marrying into the Lowen family, there was still Alice, a hard-to-please grandmother-inw. Felicia was very tired and didn''t want to talk at all. But when she heard the Lowen family being mentioned, she suddenly became invigorated. ¡°That olddy likes Gwendolyn. Don''t you know that already, Mom?¡± When Felicia had attended the socialite gathering previously, she ran into Gwendolyn, who Alice had taken with her there. Wasn''t that her basically admitting that Gwendolyn was her granddaughter-in- law? Naturally, Candace was aware that Alice preferred Gwendolyn. Naturally, Candace was aware that Alice preferred Gwendolyn. Her face darkened as she asked, ¡°But Old Mr. Lowen already approves of you. She can''t go against him, right?¡± I have to know if Old Mrs. Lowen or Old Mr. Lowen is the one who has the final say in that family. If it''s the former, then Fel would have a hard time once she marries Patrick. Felicia shook her head. ¡°I don''t know either. I feel like the three of them are very highly regarded in the family. That olddy is a woman, so she should obey her husband''s every word, but Old Mr. Lowen is also afraid of her. But then again, he has a temper, so sometimes Old Mrs. Lowen would be afraid of him too.¡± In any case, every member of the Lowen family is a powerful figure. There is no single person that they would faithfully obey. Candace understood now. Hector and Alice had mutual respect for each other, so buttering up to only one of them wouldn''t work. Candace and Felicia would have to work their magic on both. She let out a chuckle. ¡°Fel, find out what Old Mrs. Lowen''s interests are. What does she like to do in her free time? We''ll begin our attack from there.¡± I''m very sure we''ll be able to get Old Mrs. Lowen on our side by buttering her up! Felicia nodded. ¡°Okay, I''ll keep an eye out.¡± Chapter 504 Chapter 504 In the car, Gwendolyn gazed at Juliette, who was asleep in her arms. Zayden was sitting beside her, while Justin and Julian sat next to each other. The man leaned back against his seat with his head turned away and a slightly cold expression on his face. Gwendolyn felt that the atmosphere was rather awkward, so she decided to clear things up. ¡°Zayden, today was a lot more chaotic than I imagined it would be. Are you tired?¡± He''s just sitting there in silence. Zayden shot her a faint smile. ¡°I''m very happy!¡± With that, he reached out his arm to embrace her, and her eyes widened in shock. ¡°Zayden, I''m holding Juliette!¡± He had, of course, seen the little girl. Withdrawing his arm, he said tly, ¡°Gwen, you and our marriage were sshed all over the news today. You''re aware of how I feel about you. Don''t reject me anymore. That''s what your grandfather wants as well.¡± ¡°Zayden, I... I''ve always just seen you as a friend and nothing more. I will not marry you.¡± When he heard that, the smile on his face froze a little. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You''re the only one I want to marry. Are you shunning me because I''m blind?¡± he asked through slightly gritted teeth. HIs voice was low, cold, and sounded very nasally. ¡°No. I won''t shun you. It has nothing to do with that.¡± ¡°Marry me, and I''ll believe you.¡± His expression was spine-chillingly icy, and his grip on Gwendolyn''s wrist was so tight it was starting to hurt her. Seeing how agitated he was, Gwendolyn was reminded of what Angeline and the doctor had said. Zayden had developed post-traumatic stress disorder and insomnia, so he was very irritable. He couldn''t get over the loss of his sight, which resulted in psychological problems. Gwendolyn fell silent and decided not to agitate him anymore. Justin and Julian had witnessed their entire interaction. ¡°What do you think of Mommy marrying Mr. Zayden?¡± Julian whispered. Justin shook his head. ¡°Mommy doesn''t like him.¡± Although they opposed Patrick in every way, they knew very well that Gwendolyn liked him. As her sons, they would definitely side with her unconditionally. They were only making things difficult for Patrick simply because they were afraid he wouldn''t treasure her. Julian was well aware of that. He leaned to ward Justin''s ear and whispered, ¡°But Mr. Zayden is so pitiful now. Will Mommy''s resolve weaken, and she''d agree to marry him?¡± Worry shed across their eyes. Gwendolyn was a softhearted person who hadpassion for others, so she was not very assertive. When they arrived at Star Mansion, Gwendolyn got out of the car with Juliette in her arms. When they arrived at Star Mansion, Gwendolyn got out of the car with Juliette in her arms. She turned back and said, ¡°Bye, Zayden. I''ll visit you tomorrow.¡± His eyes, along with his trauma, had to be cured. After Gwendolyn and her children entered their home, Suzanne moved to the seat next to Zayden''s. ¡°Mr. Surrington, are you really nning on marrying Ms. Ashton?¡± I ate so much good food today and had a taste of what a banquet is like. It''s pretty fun. I could dance, chat, and eat so much delicious food. ¡°Of course. I will get whatever I want,¡± Zayden replied tly. He narrowed his eyes slightly as a dark and vicious look flitted across them. It was cold, eerie, and sinister. Suzanne held a fragrant chicken drumstick in her hand. She didn''t dare take it out earlier, fearing that the three children would take it from her. Now that they had all gone home, she bit into the drumstick, her cheeks puffing up. ¡°But I saw Patrick take Ms. Ashton away, and they seem to be in love with each other. Mr. Surrington, if you do this, wouldn''t you be snatching his lover away?¡± Zayden red at her sharply. ¡°So what? I met Gwendolyn and fell in love with her first. Who the hell does Patrick think he is?¡± Chapter 505 Chapter 505 The thought of Patrick made Zayden''s face turn terrifyingly dark. Suzanne continued to nibble on the drumstick and dared not say another word. She noticed that whenever Gwendolyn was mentioned, Zayden seemed to be apletely different person, which was very frightening. She decided not to mention her again in the future. After arriving home, Gwendolyn put her daughter in bed and went to check on her sons. She found that they had already showered and changed into their pajamas. Camille brought in some milk and said, ¡°Justin, Julian, have some milk. Gwen, you should have a ss too.¡± At that moment, Gwendolyn only had one thought in mind. She wanted to go find Patrick and make him a cup of milk. ¡°Once you both finish your milk, go to bed,¡± she said. ¡°Okay, Mommy,¡± they responded. As soon as Gwendolyn finished speaking, she walked toward the door. Camille put down the milk and asked, ¡°Was the banquet tonight very lively?¡± They had originally wanted to bring Camille along, but she had never been to one before and was afraid of embarrassing them. Thus, she told them she wasn''t feeling well and decided not to go. Justin replied in a t tone, ¡°It was so-so.¡± Julian took out a box of buttercream cookies from his bag and said, ¡°Ms. Ziegler, we brought this back for you. They''re really delicious.¡± Buttercream cookie was Camille''s favorite snack, so when the three kids saw it, they set aside a portion for her and had the staff pack it up. ¡°Did you guys specially get this for me?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes, we knew you''d love it,¡± Justin replied. Camille''s eyes welled up with emotion. She had not raised these three kids in vain. All of them had grown up to be so caring toward her. She smiled and said, ¡°Thank you. I''ll make sure to enjoy it.¡± Gwendolyn left the house and made her way to the mansion next door. She unlocked the door with her fingerprint and gained entry to the house effortlessly. It waspletely dark inside. Gwendolyn turned on the lights and headed upstairs. ¡°Patrick...¡± she called out his name as she walked, feeling a bit scared to be alone in such a huge house. When she arrived at his bedroom, she switched on the light and found it immactely clean, but there was no sign of him. Gwendolyn''s eyes darkened slightly. Could it be that he hasn''te back? She entered Patrick''s room and sat on the bed. The room was filled with his scent¡ªa faint mint fragrance. As Gwendolyn gazed at the familiar furnishings, she felt out of ce without him there. She had never paid much attention to his room before as her gaze was always fixed on him. His room was mostly decorated in gray with everything from the curtains to the bedding in shades of gray, giving the whole space a feeling of restraint. However, as her gaze swept over the bed, memories of their countless moments of intimacy flooded back. It was on this bed that they had first made love, and those images remained crystal clear in her mind. Tonight was the first time she felt his coldness. The kind of coldness that chilled her to the bone. It gave her goosebumps just to think about it. Tonight was the first time she felt his coldness. The kind of coldness that chilled her to the bone. It gave her goosebumps just to think about it. She took out her phone and called Patrick. She kept calling until it automatically hung up on her. She dialed again, and this time, she had to wait a long time before someone finally picked up. ¡°Hello?¡± A woman''s voice sounded. Her tone was clear and pure, and it was probably a youngdy. ¡°Mm...¡± Followed by the sound of the phone slipping and a light gasp, there came a series of rustling sounds. Gwendolyn widened her eyes. What are they doing? She knew right away from the sounds she heard. Her tears began to flow uncontrobly. She wanted to shout at Patrick, telling him to stop behaving that way with other women. However, her throat felt as if it was being strangled, and she couldn''t make a sound. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. She crouched on the ground with arms wrapped around herself and sobbed softly. The warmth of Patrick''s fingers, the way he tore off his tie, and his savage behavior when he kissed her really resembled a wild beast. It was as if he wanted to devour her whole. She was fully aware of every move he made on the bed and waspletely obsessed. ¡°No, he wouldn''t do that. He would never do that to someone else,¡± she uttered. Chapter 506 Chapter 506 Kevin pressed Estelle against the wall and kissed her for a long time. When he finally let go of her, his eyes were still bloodshot, and he held her small face tightly with his long fingers. ¡°Little one, hurry up and grow up.¡± If she were of legal age, he would have devoured her tonight. Estelle''s gaze looked misty as she was kissed, and tears welled up in her eyes. She answered, ¡°I''m already an adult.¡± With that, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Kevin had the urge to curse and disregard everything. He truly didn''t want to care anymore. However, because he liked this girl, he had to put her first and control himself. On her eighteenth birthday, he would definitely settle the score with her doubly. He bit her ear gently and said, ¡°I''ll let you off today, but on your birthday, you won''t be so lucky.¡± After that, he stepped back and leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. It was only then that Estelle remembered that she had just answered a call using Patrick''s phone which he had dropped at the entrance of the emergency room. At that time, she and Kevin hurried back to the hospital. While Kevin rushed into the emergency room to save Patrick, she waited outside and spotted the phone lying at the entrance. She picked up the phone and put it in her bag, intending to give it back to Patrick when she saw him later. Little did she expect that the phone would ring while she was waiting in Kevin''s office, and the caller ID was Gwen. There was only one word, and it was likely a nickname that Patrick had for the other person. As she looked toward the ground, Estelle saw the phone lying there. She picked it up and found that the phone was broken. She then said, ¡°Mr. Chavez, Patrick''s phone rang just now. It''s all your fault for pulling me into a kiss. Now, his phone is broken. You shouldpensate him.¡± Estelle was dressed in her school uniform, and her long straight hair draped over her shoulders. She stared at him with her big, innocent, and watery eyes. Kevin took the phone and asked, ¡°Pat''s phone?¡± Patrick''s unexpected arrival caused Kevin to hastily make his way over as thetter had been spending time with Estelle outside. After Kevin provided him with some treatment, he was now lying in the ward. He wondered what had happened to Patrick. Patrick''s emotions were so intense that his blood was flowing too fast, causing the bullet to shift slightly. Just the thought of that bullet in Patrick''s body gave Kevin a severe headache. He met with his senior, and they studied the surgical n together, but it was too challenging. They had to keep doing the practice simtion over and over again because that area had a high concentration of blood vessels and nerves, and any slight mistake could result in death. Seeing his distressed expression, Estelle nudged him with her shoulder. ¡°Kevin, are you listening to me? Or are you unwilling topensate him? I can''t afford to buy him a phone. My monthly allowance isn''t enough.¡± As the beloved daughter of the Blenheim family, Estelle certainly wasn''t short of money. She was just acting coy with Kevin. As the beloved daughter of the Blenheim family, Estelle certainly wasn''t short of money. She was just acting coy with Kevin. Kevin hugged her and said, ¡°Babe, I''ll take care of this. Don''t worry.¡± In fact, in their circle, the legendary Patrick was not someone to mess with, so it was normal for Estelle to be afraid of him. It was only then that Estelle remembered howte it was. ¡°Oh, it''s already ten o''clock. I need to go home now.¡± Kevin also realized that it was quitete. Estelle needed to be home by midnight because there was a curfew at her house. ¡°Let me give you a ride home,¡± he offered. After leaving Kevin''s office, they passed by Patrick''s ward and went inside. John was inside, and when he saw Kevin, he stood up and called out to thetter, ¡°Mr. Chavez.¡± Kevin nodded slightly as he looked at Patrick who had fallen asleep and rxed his furrowed brow, indicating that the pain had subsided. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Here''s his phone. It''s broken, but I''ll send a new one over tomorrow,¡± said Kevin. John epted it. He was Patrick''s right-hand man who was in charge of his shady businesses. Kevin walked to the bedside, checked the monitor to ensure that Patrick''s condition had stabilized, then said, ¡°Let''s go, Babe.¡± It was only then that Estelle withdrew her gaze. She felt that Patrick was really as legendary as he was said to be. Even when he was sick, his face remained cold and aloof. Chapter 507 Chapter 507 Eventually, Gwendolyn returned home in sadness. Camille was still waiting for her when she entered the house. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Did you drink alcohol tonight, Gwen? I made you some hangover remedy.¡± Feeling distraught and in a daze, Gwendolyn merely replied, ¡°I''m fine. I didn''t drink much today.¡± After that, she slowly trudged upstairs. Camille couldn''t help but notice that Gwendolyn wasn''t like this when she went out earlier. She was still fine before that. Why does she seem so dazed? ¡°Are you all right, Gwen?¡± Gwendolyn didn''t seem to hear Camille''s words of concern and returned to her room. It was a sleepless night for Gwendolyn, for she barely got a wink of sleep, and all she dreamed of was Patrick saying that he no longer wanted her. This caused her to oversleep the next day, to the point where she couldn''t wake up immediately at all. Camille didn''t wake her up. Instead, she went out for some grocery shopping. In the meantime, Angeline''s car was waiting outside the house. She kept calling Gwendolyn''s phone, but no one answered. Angeline had no choice but to ask her housekeeper, that had tagged along, to ring the doorbell while calling out to Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwendolyn... Gwendolyn...¡± The driver and housekeeper called out to Gwendolyn at the same time, uttering the woman''s name at the top of their lungs. Gwendolyn instantly jolted awake when she heard them, her eyes fluttering open. She felt exhausted even after sleeping. While she wanted to wake up a long time ago, it felt as if she couldn''t. The voices outside the window were so loud that she got out of bed to look. As she drew the curtains, she was certain someone was calling her name, and it wasn''t just her hallucinations. Squinting slightly, Gwendolyn felt her head was still hurting a little bit. She reckoned it was because she didn''t get a good night''s sleep. She then opened the window and waved at the people downstairs. ¡°Mrs. Surrington.¡± When Angeline saw that Gwendolyn finally responded to her, she was slightly unhappy. Even so, Angeline could not treat Gwendolyn poorly out of fear that her son wouldn''t want to see her. Thus, she could onlypromise due to Zayden''s current condition. She was willing to amodate his requests as long as he was fine and cooperative with his treatment. In fact, Angeline didn''t have a temper anymore as Zayden hadpletely tamed her. Shortly after, Gwendolyn came to open the door and noticed Angeline standing next to the housekeeper. She was d in a light green dress, and the woman smiled elegantly at Gwendolyn. ¡°Did I wake you up, Gwen?¡± Her demeanor toward Gwendolyn was gentle. Despite Gwendolyn''s oversleeping andck of response to her calls, Angeline harbored zero disgruntlement andints toward the woman. Gwendolyn wasn''t quite used to the way Angeline was treating her. In the past, whenever thetter came looking for Gwendolyn, she scream, yell, and make things difficult for her. It was no wonder Gwendolyn was taken aback by Angeline''s sudden change in demeanor toward her. ¡°I-I slept quitetest night, so that''s why I overslept this morning,¡± Gwendolyn exined as she ruffled her hair awkwardly. Angeline''s one-eighty change in her behavior and temperament left Gwendolyn at a loss for what to do. ¡°I''m bringing a psychologist over there today. Go freshen up quickly. I''ll wait in the car,¡± said Angeline. ¡°I''m bringing a psychologist over there today. Go freshen up quickly. I''ll wait in the car,¡± said Angeline. Looks like she''s just woken up. She''s still in her pajamas right now! Gwendolyn''s eyes were also a little swollen. Then again, she was probably exhausted by the chaos at the Ashton residence and had consumed arge amount of alcohol the night before. Gwendolyn pointed inside and suggested, ¡°Why don''t you wait for me inside?¡± She felt it was inappropriate to leave her guests standing outside the door. Despite Gwendolyn politely inviting the older woman toe inside, thetter turned her down. ¡°No need. Perhaps I''ll go inside when I pay you a formal visit next time.¡± At that, Gwendolyn did not say anything further. ¡°I''ll get changed, then. I''ll be quick.¡± Once the door closed, Angeline''s expression took a sharp change as she turned around and headed toward the car. Her change of expression was absurdly swift and sudden. She was still smiling gently one moment, and the next moment, her expression turned cold and had a hint of anger. Even the housekeeper next to her was shocked. Having waited outside the house for so long, she knew that Angeline was sure to be furious. But her attitude toward Ms. Ashton just now was really unprecedentedly nice. No one has ever made Mrs. Surrington wait for so long, yet she even greeted Ms. Ashton with a smile! Then again, the Ashton family is the subject of every major news story today, and Ms. Ashton is the eldest daughter of the family. Her status is distinguished and prestigious. Chapter 508 Chapter 508 Furthermore, she''s going to be engaged to Mr. Surrington. In the papers, they''re hailed as a great couple and a match made in heaven. Judging from Mrs. Surrington''s attitude toward her, I suppose Ms. Ashton is definitely Mr. Surrington''s future wife. From now on, I really should be mindful of my actions and treat Ms. Ashton well, too. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn quickly freshened up and picked out an outfit. She opted for a simple white shirt and blue jeans, which she paired with ts. Gwendolyn had her hair pulled into a neat ponytail, making her look clean and refreshing. Most importantly, it was work- appropriate attire. Gwendolyn grabbed her handbag and her phone. All of a sudden, she recalled the incident that happened the previous night. Gently pursing her lips, Gwendolyn decided to call Patrick''s number once again. Just likest night, his phone was still off. Her eyes dimmed slightly, and she felt her heart sink. Does he really not want me anymore? However, she quickly shook her head, refusing to dwell on these thoughts any longer. It feels like I have too much on my tetely. I''m exhausted! Gwendolyn then descended the stairs and strode toward the car, getting into it after the driver opened the door for her. A gentle smile yed on Angeline''s lips as she nced at the younger woman. ¡°Since you''re officially together with Zay, I''ll ask his dad to discuss the engagement with your family. By then, we will have all the gifts prepared for the engagement and wedding brought over to your family. Nothing will be left out, so just be at ease and watch over Zay. Make sure he follows the doctor''s instructions on his treatment.¡± She then added, ¡°We will certainly put together a magnificent wedding for you.¡± Gwendolyn was dumbfounded. A magnificent wedding? To be honest, she didn''t want any of this to happen at all. It seemed as if the whole world had misunderstood her and thought she was going to marry Zayden. It was a bad feeling and an exceptionally awful one at that. Angeline gazed at Gwendolyn with a smile that reached her eyes, and she even reached out to hold thetter''s hand/ ¡°Gwen, we will take good care of you from now on.¡± Gwendolyn was at a loss for words. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, to be honest, I have no intention of marrying Zayden. But rest assured, I will remain by his side until he recovers.¡± There was a hint of darkness in Angeline''s eyes, albeit fleeting. Hasn''t she been clinging to Zay? What does she mean by that? Is she no longer interested in Zay, or is she shunning him now that he has lost his vision? The more she mulled over Gwendolyn''s words, the more furious she became. What an insolent woman! I''ve just decided to treat her well, but what kind of attitude is she showing me right now? Angeline was beyond livid. However, she couldn''t offend Gwendolyn at the moment. The old Angeline would have said something scathing if they were in the past. However, that was all in the past. At this moment, she dared not allow her temper to re up, for fear that Zayden would find out. Angeline could only tamp down her anger and disgruntlement for the time being. As soon as they arrived at Dragonhill Mansion, the housekeeper rang the doorbell, and before long, the door was opened. They entered the house, where Suzanne, dressed in a ck housekeeper''s uniform and a white apron, stood at the entrance to greet them. In this outfit, the young girl looked just like a doll. Even Angeline couldn''t help but spare her a second nce. This girl is certainly pretty. She looks like a doll. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, Ms. Ashton!¡± greeted Suzanne. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, Ms. Ashton!¡± greeted Suzanne. She bowed deeply and respectfully to the women. Initially, Angeline was quite worried because of Suzanne''s unknown background, but the young girl looked prim and proper. Moreover, she appeared to be obedient and clever. As such, Angeline was very much satisfied that Zayden had someone like Suzanne taking care of him. I''ll be relieved as long as Zay allows someone to remain by his side and take care of him. ¡°Where''s my son?¡± asked Angeline. Suzanne pointed toward the rooftop and replied, ¡°Mr. Surrington''s enjoying the sun upstairs.¡± Angeline felt that Zayden was really in need of some sunlight and fresh air. Keeping him inside the house would definitely bore him to death. ¡°Go upstairs and keep Zaypany. You can bring him downstairs whenever he''s ready. The doctor will be waiting for him in the guest room,¡± Angeline instructed Gwendolyn. It was impossible for Angeline to convince her son to attend a consultation with a doctor. Thus, she could only rely on Gwendolyn for help. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°I''ll head upstairs.¡± She then climbed up the stairs. Suzanne''s eyes lit up as she trailed behind Gwendolyn. However, she was quickly halted in her tracks when Angeline called out to her, saying, ¡°Hey, what''s your name?¡± Suzanne turned around, her eyes twinkling like stars. ¡°Are you asking me, Mrs. Surrington?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes, I''m asking you.¡± Suzanne pouted her rosy lips and said, ¡°My name''s Suzanne Drache.¡± Angeline frowned upon hearing her response. What kind of name is that? Her parents sure are old- fashioned country bumpkins. Chapter 509 Chapter 509 Suzanne also wanted to head upstairs, as she was afraid Zayden would get exposed since he was pretending to be blind. ¡°Suzanne,e over here. I have something to ask you.¡± Angeline beckoned Suzanne over. As Suzanne had been by Zayden''s side for the past few days, Angeline wanted to know about his recent condition from her. Suzanne had no choice but to walk over to Angeline. She could only try to telepathicallymunicate with Zayden, hoping he was aware of Gwendolyn''s presence. Zayden, who was at the rooftop enjoying the scenery, seemed to have heard her and turned his head, thinking Suzanne had arrived. However, there was no one. The next second, Gwendolyn walked in. He maintained his sitting posture and said, ¡°Suzanne, where have you been?¡± With a reproachful tone, he continued, ¡°Pour me a cup of coffee.¡± Gwendolyn looked at him sitting on the couch. There was a pot of coffee and an empty cup on the table in front of him. She walked over, intending to pour him some coffee. However, she couldn''t control herself from uttering, ¡°You should drink less coffee!¡± Hearing Gwendolyn''s voice, Zayden froze momentarily before pursing his lips. ¡°Is that you, Gwen?¡± His acting skills were top-notch since he was able to look surprised and delighted upon hearing that it was Gwendolyn. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°It''s me. I came with Mrs. Surrington.¡± She sat on the couch and looked out. Since they were on a mountain, the view was gorgeous, with lush greenery everywhere. The air was fresh, and the scenery was rxing for the eyes. She took a deep breath and leaned against the balcony to enjoy the view. ¡°The air is really great here!¡± Gwendolyn could even hear the birds chirping and the wind blowing through the leaves. It''s really soothing. It''s great that he''s living here since it will improve his mental state. Zayden shot her a faint smile. ¡°The air is indeed pretty great here. Why don''t you move in here with me?¡± His tone was low and deep, with a hint of humor. ¡°Since we are about to get engaged, it''s normal for my soon-to-be wife to move in with me.¡± When Gwendolyn heard this, her eyes darkened slightly. She chuckled. ¡°Zayden, let''s focus on treating your illness first. We can talk about marriage after that.¡± Once he was cured, she wouldn''t have any worries anymore and could pursue whoever she liked fearlessly. Upon hearing her words, Zayden was displeased, and his expression turned cold. ¡°Are you shunning me because I''m blind?¡± If he was not blind, she wouldn''t be even less likely to stay by his side. ¡°No, I don''t mean that. I only wish for you to be healthy.¡± She turned her head to look at him with an aggrieved expression. Zayden scoffed coldly. ¡°Then, marry me. Take care and apany me for the rest of my life.¡± Zayden scoffed coldly. ¡°Then, marry me. Take care and apany me for the rest of my life.¡± Gwendolyn was speechless. I must have said the wrong thing again, putting myself in a bind. If I don''t agree to marry him now, it means I''m shunning him. I''m bing more foolish. Zayden was no longer the same person he had been. He had be a paranoid individual who was easily enraged and prone to overthinking. Gwendolyn took a deep breath and poured him a cup of coffee. ¡°Aren''t you thirsty?¡± She brought the cup close to his mouth. It was evident she was trying to please him. Zayden opened his mouth and took a sip of coffee. His expression rxed slightly. At this moment, Gwendolyn''s phone rang. It was Lucy. Gwendolyn took out her phone from her bag and picked up the call. ¡°Luce...¡± ¡°Did you see today''s news? Gwen, are you really going to marry Zayden? Then, what about Patrick?¡± When she said this, she thought of the man lying on the hospital bed. He had already awakened, but his expression remained cold and dark. If Lucas didn''t ask her toe along, she wouldn''t have dared to. However, she noticed that even Lucas and Kevin were afraid of Patrick and didn''t dare to say much. Therefore, she was hiding in the bathroom, making this call to understand Gwendolyn''s intentions. Chapter 510 Chapter 510 She was supposed to attend the banquet the previous day. However, Lucas had seen her in the gown and immediately brought her home. They had an intense and passionate night, so they didn''t know what had happened at the banquet at the Ashton residence. ¡°Luce, I''ll tell you more in detail when we meet. Oh, right. Mnie''s surgery is happening the day after tomorrow, isn''t it?¡± Gwendolyn was definitely attending Mnie''s surgery since she was thetter''s godmother. Moreover, she wanted to be there for Lucy, as she knew her close friend wouldn''t be feeling the best during Mnie''s surgery. ¡°That''s right. It''s the day after tomorrow.¡± Lucas had been tormenting her every night recently because of this. If he weren''t donating his bone marrow to Mnie, she wouldn''t have tolerated this. She knew Lucas would be cooped up in his bed for a long time after the surgery. After hanging up the call, Lucy was still confused about what had happened the previous night. Patrick was admitted to the hospital whereas Gwendolyn didn''t want to speak a single word about the incident. At this moment, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Lucy, are you done?¡± It was Lucas. Lucy opened the door with a dark expression. Lucas furrowed his brows upon seeing her expression. ¡°What happened?¡± He could only allude to her expression of difort as a result of the many passionate nights they shared. Lucy immediately understood his expression, and a blush spread across her cheeks. ¡°I''m fine.¡± Lucas embraced her. ¡°Does it hurt there?¡± Lucy''s face flushed crimson, and she red at him. ¡°No.¡± What is this guy thinking about? Lucas leaned toward her ear and whispered in a sexy tone, ¡°If you really feel ufortable, I''ll bring you to see a doctor! I''m sorry for these past few days!¡± Lucy''s heart trembled slightly, as she didn''t expect him to apologize. A hint of surprise shed across her face. As she looked at him, her expression softened. Although he could be a jerk at times, he still emanated an aura of being from a respectable family. Lucas noticed Lucy was in a daze and smirked devilishly. ¡°I''ll make an appointment with the doctor now. There''s no need to be shy. I''ll apany you.¡± He suddenly continued loudly, ¡°Kev, help me get an appointment with the best female gynecologist.¡± Patrick, who was lying on the hospital bed, heard Lucas'' words, and his expression darkened. What? Is Luke boasting right now? Patrick and Gwendolyn only spent one night together. After that, either he got a headache or Gwendolyn was sick every time they tried. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he felt. Therefore, he mmed the bowl of oatmeal porridge onto the table. On the other hand, Kevin smiled and nced at Lucy. On the other hand, Kevin smiled and nced at Lucy. ¡°Are you pregnant?¡± he queried. Lucy blushed at his words. Why is he saying whateveres to his mind? ¡°No, Mr. Chavez. Don''t listen to what he says. I''m fine.¡± She then red at Lucas. ¡°I already said I''m fine!¡± Lucas smirked. ¡°But I saw that you were rather swollen in the morning. I''ll feel better if a gynecologist takes a look at you.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Lucy left his embrace. ¡°My daughter must be looking for me now. I''ll take my leave first. Mr. Lowen, rest well, and I wish you all the best in your recovery.¡± With that, she took her bag and left. Lucas let out a faint chuckle. ¡°Why are you being so shy? I''ll help to block your face.¡± However, Lucy ignored him and left in a hurry. Lucas nced at Patrick on the bed. Then, he looked at the man sitting on the couch and said with a smile, ¡°I''ll go send her off.¡± Kevin scolded, ¡°Why are you guys flirting right in front of us?¡± He shot a look at Lucas as he said that. Thetter narrowed his eyes and replied, ¡°Oh. Sorry for that.¡± Then, he quickly left to catch up to Lucy. Kevin smiled awkwardly. ¡°Pat, don''t mind him. He''s arrogant now that he''s finally dating.¡± Chapter 511 Chapter 511 ¡°When can you extract the bullet?¡± Patrick couldn''t take it anymore. The bullet would induce pain from time to time, which was so immense that even a grown man like him could not bear it. He certainly felt like he was only a step away from death. Kevin''s expression took on a slightly darker hue as he heaved a deep sigh. ¡°Pat, the surgery is extremelyplicated. Please wait for a bit more.¡± ¡°Isn''t this akin to waiting for the grim reaper?¡± Kevin was dazed momentarily before retorting, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? I will not let you die.¡± After saying that, he added, ¡°Rest assured. I will definitely finish the surgery.¡± Right then, Kevin''s assistant entered and handed Patrick a new phone. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Mr. Chavez bought you a new phone because yours was brokenst night.¡± It wasn''t until this moment that Patrick realized why his phone never rang. So it was broken. Knowing Kevin had already transferred all the data from his old phone to the new one, Patrick took the phone over and viewed every application. Sure enough, everything was intact. Fortunately, he usually used his businessptop or tablet instead of his phone for work. He instinctively clicked on his chat with Gwendolyn and noticed she didn''t send any messages. The only thing thatforted him was the couple of missed calls from her. At the sight of Patrick staring at his phone, Kevin asked, ¡°Do you want me to tell Gwen that you''re unwell?¡± Although Lucy was there earlier, Kevin reckoned she wouldn''t dare to tell Gwendolyn about Patrick''s condition. After all, Lucy always listened well to Lucas. Patrick lifted his eyes, looked at Kevin, and muttered coldly, ¡°There''s no need for that.¡± ¡°Do you want me to destroy that brat Zayden then?¡± Patrick''s expression darkened even more. ¡°No.¡± Kevin could tell Patrick was in a very bad mood. Although he managed to subdue Patrick''s headache, he reckoned it would be difficult to relieve the pain in thetter''s heart. After rising to his feet, Kevin advised tly, ¡°Your condition matters the most now. You should worry about your problem with her after you recover.¡± Kevin''s kind reminder was, however, met with Patrick''s silence. Thetter started making calls and arrangements with the phone in his hands. After Gwendolyn hung up, she saw Suzanne, who had arrived upstairs. Thetter poured Zayden a cup of coffee and stood obediently behind him. Suzanne simply stood there without a word or a movement. She would look like a doll if it weren''t for her flickering, huge eyes. Gwendolyn sat opposite Zayden. ¡°Zayden, the doctor is in the guest room now. I''ll go with you for a checkup. What do you say?¡± ¡°Will you marry me then?¡± At the thought of the voices fromst night, Gwendolyn was extremely heartbroken. She plunged into despair when she found out that Patrick had cheated on her. She plunged into despair when she found out that Patrick had cheated on her. Gritting her teeth, she replied, ¡°Fine, I will.¡± Gwendolyn didn''t feel the need to dwell on the matter anymore since things had turned out this way. Everyone didn''t believe her, and even Patrick misunderstood her. She was put in an extremely difficult position and at this juncture, Gwendolyn seemed like she had given uppletely. The corner of Zayden''s lips slightly curved upward when he heard her response. As he expected, as long as he pretended to be blind, Gwendolyn would give in to him, as he knew all too well that she was a kind person. Patrick, prepare to attend our wedding soon! ¡°Now can you go get your checkup?¡± Reaching out his hand to her, Zayden said, ¡°Sure. Anything you say.¡± Suzanne felt slightly ufortable seeing Zayden''s gestures for some reason that she didn''t know herself. Pouting her little lips, she was about to help Zayden to his feet, but Gwendolyn was one step ahead. They walked to the door with their bodies close to each other. Suzanne followed them, watching as the other woman swooped in and took her job. Her hands twitched as she imagined the feeling of her holding Zayden''s hands. At that moment, Gwendolyn didn''t think much about Zayden''s request and supposed she would repay him for his kindness when she helped him treat his eyes one day. Chapter 512 Chapter 512 Zayden went along with it, had his eyes examined, and received psychotherapy. Instead of Gwendolyn, he asked Suzanne to apany him to the treatment all this while. When Gwendolyn headed downstairs, she was met by the sight of Angeline sitting in the living room, drinking coffee. Noticing the young woman descending the stairs, Angeline instinctively turned around. ¡°Where is Zay?¡± Angeline assumed Gwendolyn had failed to convince her son, who must be throwing a temper tantrum. Sitting beside the older woman, Gwendolyn smiled and stated, ¡°He went for the checkup.¡± In an apparent state of excitement, Angeline eximed, ¡°Really?¡± She grabbed and shook Gwendolyn''s shoulders. Nodding, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Yes.¡± However, unbeknownst to Angeline, the former had promised Zayden one thing, which was detrimental to the older woman. The overjoyed Angeline poured Gwendolyn a cup of coffee and offered her some desserts. ¡°Thank you.¡± Feeling delighted, the older woman then rose to her feet and walked to the kitchen. ¡°La, please make a few more of Zayden''s favorite dishes,¡± she instructed. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn picked up the coffee cup and took a sip of coffee. She hadn''t added any milk or sugar, so the beverage should''ve tasted bitter, but Gwendolyn couldn''t taste the bitterness at all. No matter how acrid the coffee was, it couldn''tpare to the despair in her heart. Gwendolyn seemed lost in thought as she held the coffee cup to her lips, taking sip after sip of coffee. Both she and Angeline apanied Zayden for lunch. The man could now eat with a fork by himself, probably after having practiced doing so. Angeline constantly ced food on his te while he fumbled about to eat. It wasn''t so tiring for him as Suzanne sat beside him the entire time and helped him. Suddenly lifting his head, Zayden said, ¡°Mom, give some to Gwen too.¡± A smile stretched across his face as he spoke. ¡°She has agreed to marry me, and I''ll get the ring in a bit. In the meantime, you should also prepare to pay a visit to her family to bring up the marriage proposal.¡± Gwendolyn''s gaze shifted to him when she heard his words. Tears clouded her eyes while a dejected look hung on her face. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Angeline ced a lot of food on Gwendolyn''s te. ¡°Gwen, we will definitely treat you and your family with utmost courtesy, given how much Zayden adores you. I''ll make sure you get all the betrothal gifts you deserve.¡± With her head hung low, Gwendolyn continued eating and did not say a word. Undoubtedly, Zayden saw her expression and knew she was still thinking of Patrick and couldn''t forget about that man. He slightly narrowed his eyes and curled the corner of his lips into a sneer. Patrick Lowen, can''t you see that a woman''s heart is broken because of you? D*mn it! I was the one who met her first, and I was the one who was always by her side, helping her. How could you take her away from me the moment you showed up? Hmph! It doesn''t matter now, does it? In the end, she''s still my woman. After lunch, Zayden needed to rest. Gwendolyn came up with an excuse, saying she had something to deal with, and left. On the third day, she went to the hospital early in the morning. Mnie was watching cartoons in the ward. Although she didn''t look well, her eyes were still bright and dazzling. Lucas had already changed into a hospital gown with blue and white stripes. It was the same one that Mnie was wearing. Lucas had already changed into a hospital gown with blue and white stripes. It was the same one that Mnie was wearing. Lucy wheeled him out from the restroom. ¡°Lucas, stop messing around. You should save your energy for today.¡± In fact, Lucy had stopped giving him chances to get intimate with her since yesterday as she feared he would not have enough energy for the surgery. It was surgery, after all. It was best that he remained in tip-top condition so that the procedure could go smoothly. A cheeky smile hung on his lips as he pulled her into his arms. ¡°It''s precisely because it''s almost time for surgery, so I want to make out with you more. I''d be confined to the bed after leaving the operating theatre.¡± At the thought of how pathetic he''d look after the surgery, Lucas wanted nothing more than to kiss Lucy a few more times to make up for his lost chances. Gwendolyn let out a faint cough. She might hear something more shocking if she didn''t make a sound. Lucy''s face turned a darker shade of red when she saw Gwendolyn, the heat making her ufortable. She pushed Lucas to the side and walked up to Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, you''re here.¡± Right then, Kevin and Patrick entered the ward. Thetter was d in a simple white shirt and ck trousers. His dark, brooding gaze instantly fell on Gwendolyn. Without a word, Patrick strode toward the couch and took a seat, then crossed his legs elegantly. d in white from top to bottom, Kevin smiled as he greeted Gwendolyn, ¡°Gwen, you sure are early.¡± Chapter 513 Chapter 513 Gwendolyn nced at the cold and distant man. It''s been three days since we met, and he seems to have lost some weight. Has he not been eating properly? When Kevin turned in the direction where Gwendolyn was looking, he smiled and teased, ¡°Pat, Gwen is looking at you! Why are you ignoring her?¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn instantly averted her gaze and stopped looking at Patrick. Lucy also noticed the strife between the two. She asked softly, ¡°Did you guys have a fight?¡± Gwendolyn remained silent with a cold expression on her face. All the entertainment news was announcing my engagement to Zayden. Whoever encounters something like that will not be able to ept that. Nevertheless, all the news have been taken down today. Someone must have pulled the strings to get them removed. Lucy was terribly sharp-witted. She took Gwendolyn''s hand and said, ¡°Sit and stay for a while. I have to apany the two.¡± Gwendolyn didn''t want to stay in the reception room alone as that would make her look lonely. Moreover, it would seem a bit pretentious. More so than that, she didn''t want to sit on the couch as it would be too close to Patrick. Hence, she pointed at the hospital bed and said, ¡°I''ll apany Mnie to y for a while.¡± Lucy nodded. ¡°Great. Thises handy.¡± In truth, Lucy wanted to keep Mniepany too because thetter would be undergoing major surgery that day. However, she needed to cate Lucas. Otherwise, Mnie would be at the receiving end if he ran away again. Throughout this period of time, Lucy treated him like a king and agreed to all his request. When Gwendolyn sat by the bed, Mnie turned and smiled at her. The pointed chin on Mnie''s gaunt face made her look as if she was nothing but skin and bones. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. When Mnie smiled, her big eyes curved into the shape of a crescent moon. ¡°Aunt Gwendolyn!¡± Gwendolyn''s heart ached for Mnie when she saw the state the young girl was in. Mnie is not in good spirits. And yet, she still forces herself to smile when she sees me. It must be very hard for her. Gwendolyn then asked, ¡°Mnie, what are you watching?¡± Mnie pointed to the television on the opposite wall. ¡°It''s Rainbow Ruby. Juliette likes it too!¡± Gwendolyn blinked while she took a closer look at the television. She realized she seemed to have not watched television with Juliette and the children for a long time. Oh, boy. When was thest time I watch TV with my kids? ¡°You will be going into the operating roomter. Don''t be afraid. Your mom and I are going to wait for you at the entrance. You''ll see us once youe out,¡± consoled Gwendolyn. Lucy must have spoken to Mniest night. This little girl is extremely mature for her age. She doesn''t show it even if she is afraid. Mnie nodded in response as she sneaked a peek at Lucy. Thetter was in the arms of Zayden while talking to him. Seeing that, a hint of a smile shed across Mnie''s eyes. She moved next to Gwendolyn and whispered in thetter''s ear, ¡°Aunt Gwendolyn, if I die, please help me take care of Mom. Let Mom marry Mr. Gomez. He is a nice person.¡± She moved next to Gwendolyn and whispered in thetter''s ear, ¡°Aunt Gwendolyn, if I die, please help me take care of Mom. Let Mom marry Mr. Gomez. He is a nice person.¡± Ever since Mom met Mr. Gomez, she doesn''t work as much as she used to, and she always has someone to take care of her. Mom doesn''t need to do anything. She no longer needs to stay upte and she looks prettier now! Mr. Gomez even put me in such a nice ward. That is why I know that Mom will do great if she is with Mr. Gomez. Mom will still be fine even when I am gone. Gwendolyn was shocked after listening to Mnie. It looks like Mnie knows everything. There were always risks in every surgery. Many things could happen at the operating table. Gwendolyn took Mnie into her arms. ¡°Mnie, don''t overthink for you will get better. When you get out of the hospital, you cane and live next to my house. That way, you can y with Juliette and the others every day.¡± Mnie beamed upon hearing that. I want that too. She then responded, ¡°Okay, I will try my best to stay alive.¡± Patrick, who was sitting on the couch, stared at Gwendolyn with a cold gaze. Although he could only see her back, even her silhouette looked pretty to him. As he watched her take Mnie into her arms, the warm andforting scene made him frown. That woman looks so kind and innocent like an angel, and yet she is full of lies. Chapter 514 Chapter 514 Kevin went back to the couch after telling Lucas a couple more things. The former then turned to face Patrick. The way Patrick looked at people with his cold gaze was quite terrifying. Even Kevin himself felt he couldn''t withstand the pressure. Hence, he could understand why Gwendolyn didn''t dare to face Patrick. Kevin then asked, ¡°Pat, are you here today to keep Lukepany? Or are you here to look at someone?¡± He keeps staring at Gwen after he arrived. Isn''t he being too obvious? Gwen, on the other hand, is so heartless that she didn''t even spare him a nce. Even now she is only showing her back to Pat. Shifting his gaze away, Patrick took out a cigarette and wanted to light it up in frustration. However, he remembered that he was in a ward and Mnie couldn''t bear the smell of smoke. So, he put back the lighter into his pocket. He merely held and sniffed a cigarette under his nose as he voiced, ¡°I am just thinking. Do all vicious women have an innocent look?¡± Gwendolyn''s heart clenched when she heard that. Great. He no longer believes in me and even said that I''m a vicious woman. With that in mind, Gwendolyn pursed her lips. Since he already thinks badly of me, I''ll show him what is a vicious woman. Noticing that Gwendolyn was staring at the television dazedly, Mnie asked, ¡°Aunt Gwendolyn, do you like Rainbow Ruby too? Isn''t it nice?¡± Kids always hoped that adults would like the things they like too. Gwendolyn snapped out of her thoughts. ¡°I like it too. It''s very nice!¡± Mnie smiled happily. At that moment, she seemed to be in a much better mood than before. When Mnie was watching television alone in the ward before, she was actually scared. Lucy couldn''te over andfort Mnie as the former was busy coaxing Lucas. That man was difficult to deal with. He even ran away thest time. If not for Lucy who managed to get him back, Mnie wouldn''t be able to undergo the operation. The nurse came when it was around nine o¡¯clock, informing them Mnie was about to enter the operation room. Lucy signed the papers, followed by Lucas. After that, Lucas and Mnie were asked to sit in the wheelchair. Lucas shot a look at the wheelchair. ¡°I can walk by myself.¡± What the heck? I''m being cursed even before I go into the operating room. I''m not sitting on this wretched thing. I am going to walk in and will be walking out by myself. But it must be impossible to walk out of the operating roomter, so I definitely will not sit in the wheelchair while going in. While Lucas was deep in his thought, Gwendolyn had already carried Mnie into the wheelchair, whereas Lucy was talking to Mnie and kissing her little face. ¡°Sweetheart, don''t be scared. There are so many of us waiting for you at the door!¡± While Mnie was nodding in response, Gwendolyn pointed at Lucas and said, ¡°You''d better take care of that guy! Leave Mnie to me.¡± Right then, Kevin was talking to Lucas, telling thetter not to mess around and listen to the doctor. Lucas was displeased. ¡°I''m not sitting in that thing.¡± Patrick, who was sitting on the couch and still sniffing his cigarette, couldn''t help butugh when he saw Lucas''s haughty look. Patrick, who was sitting on the couch and still sniffing his cigarette, couldn''t help butugh when he saw Lucas''s haughty look. That fe is really good at what he''s doing. The more he does that, the more obedient Lucy will be in the future. It never crosses my mind that among the three of us, Lucas is the love expert. He is the first who gets the girl. At least, they are spending every night together. What about me? I have been pursuing her for a long time but was only able to spend one night with her. Heck, I am no match for Lucas. Lucy walked toward Lucas and threw her arms over his waist. She was no longer concerned about her dignity nowadays. She would be relieved as long as she could cajole Lucas to go into the operating room. ¡°Luke, be good now. I''ll push you in.¡± With that, Lucy stood on tiptoes and pecked his lips. ¡°Sit down.¡± Lucas'' eyes widened in surprise after receiving a kiss from Lucy. He then became incredibly amenable. He sat in the wheelchair and held her hand. His voice turned deep as he said, ¡°Lucy, I''m scared.¡± His tone sounded like he was being clingy but it was befitting of the situation. After all, there was no one who wouldn''t be afraid when going into the operating room. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Lucy''s expression took on a subtle change as she was surprised by his behavior. Her eyebrows knitted slightly as she said, ¡°Don''t be scared. I''ll be waiting for you at the door. I will also remember your kindness because you are the one who saves my most precious daughter.¡± Chapter 515 Chapter 515 Kevin couldn''t hold back hisughter as he observed Lucas'' actions. He turned to Patrick and quipped, ¡°Pat, you should take a page from Luke''s book and try acting coy. Who knows, maybe thedies will swoon over you then.¡± Kevin remembered the asions when Patrick had experienced severe headaches. Despite breaking out in sweats, he pretended everything was okay and kept quiet about his difort. He had even tried to conceal it from Gwendolyn. Patrick even went to great lengths to ensure she remained oblivious to the incident even though he got shot when trying to protect her. Undeniably, Patrick embodied true masculinity. Patrick''s gaze turned cold as he strode toward the exit, remarking, ¡°Lucas, you could attempt to be even more effeminate.¡± Lucas raised an eyebrow and smirked upon hearing Patrick''sment. However, he chose not to dignify it with a response. Aware that he had been showing too much public affectiontely, Lucas realized Patrick was likely jealous of him, especially considering thetter''s falling out with Gwendolyn. This realization brought a sense of satisfaction to Lucas. Gwendolyn pushed Mnie to the nurse station, where the nurse required thetter to verify her information again. Lucy affectionately caressed Lucas'' head and gently reminded him, ¡°Please behave!¡± As Lucas was about to be wheeled into the operating room, Lucy reminded herself to stayposed. She tried to coax him in any way possible to encourage him to willingly enter the operation room. She then lovingly caressed Lucas'' ear and gently tugged at it, knowing he loved this affectionate gesture the most. This was because when they were in bed and Lucas was about to get passionate, she would pull his ears as she didn''t have anywhere else to hold on to. As she pulled on his ears, Lucas was flooded with memories of their passionate moments. His cheeks tinted with a blush, and his eyes glinted with a fierce and menacing intensity. Lucy squinted her eyes and smiled at him, radiating a charming aura. At that moment, Lucas felt that Lucy was worth dying for. He uttered, ¡°Come on, it''s just a bone marrow extraction. I won''t die because of it.¡± After uttering those words, he fixed Lucy with a piercing re, as if to convey that he would ¡°take care¡± of her once he recovered from the surgery. Lucy let out a relieved breath, feeling that the techniques she had picked up in Night City had proven to be effective as she had sessfully subdued Lucas and put him ¡°under her control¡±. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. With the nurse leading them, everyone got into the private elevator. There was ady in the elevator, who was specifically tasked with handling the buttons of various floors. Gwendolyn was rather surprised by the special treatment. She had only heard of someone being designated to operate the elevator before, but experiencing it firsthand that day was eye-opening. Moreover, considering they were in a hospital and the elevator was designated as the exclusive route to the operating room, it made the experience even more unique. As they approached the entrance of the VIP operating room, there were hardly any other people present apart from them. A nurse was waiting for them at the entrance. After verifying their names and birthdates, Mnie and Lucas were gently pushed into the room, and the door closed slowly behind them. Gwendolyn sped Lucy''s hand and said, ¡°Let''s find a seat over there.¡± Lucy''s hand felt cold in Gwendolyn''s grasp, and thetter''s face appeared pale. Gwendolyn could see that the calmness on Lucy''s face just now was merely a facade. Gwendolyn was well aware of Lucy''s inner turmoil and knew that she was trying to remain strong for the sake of her daughter. Gwendolyn was well aware of Lucy''s inner turmoil and knew that she was trying to remain strong for the sake of her daughter. Lucy''s lips were tightly pressed together, and her body trembled slightly. ¡°Atst, Mnie will be on the road to recovery soon,¡± said Lucy. Lucy was experiencing mixed emotions as she felt both happiness and anxiousness. She hoped fervently that the surgery would proceed smoothly without anyplications. When Patrick caught sight of the twodies hugging each other, he shot a meaningful look at Kevin. Thetter furrowed his brows in response. ¡°Why me again?¡± Aren''t you concerned about thatdy? Why can''t youfort her yourself? ¡°You are a medical professional. You shouldn''t neglect your duty,¡± said Patrick. Sh*t! How could you guilt-trip me? Kevin begrudgingly epted his responsibility, knowing that his own interests were at stake. He couldn''t afford to lose Patrick''s investment, as it ounted for half of the funding for hisboratory. If Patrick were to withdraw his support, Kevin''s entireboratory would crumble. Furthermore, Kevin knew that he wouldn''t stand a chance against Patrick if it came down to a confrontation. Kevin approached thedies, towering over them as he looked down at them. ¡°Gwen, Lucy, there''s no need to worry too much. The doctors Luke found are renowned for their expertise and have ample clinical experience. Let''s not forget that I''m also a medical professional.¡± Upon hearing Kevin''s reassuring words, both Gwen and Lucy lifted their heads to gaze at him. Kevin noticed their gazes and adjusted his hair before continuing, ¡°You must have faith in their medical skills.¡± Chapter 516 Chapter 516 Gwendolyn cast a meaningful nce at Kevin, silently urging him to stop speaking. Her child is inside that operating room. There''s no doubt she will be worried. As mothers, our primary concerns are the safety of our children and the sess of the surgery. The medical skills you mentioned don''t matter to us as much as the well-being of our loved ones. Lucy managed a strained smile. ¡°Mr. Chavez, I thank both you and Mr. Lowen for being here. Having you both here brings mefort and a sense of security.¡± Indeed, Lucy was being sincere. She didn''t have to worry about anything with the presence of the two affluent gentlemen from Avenport by her side. With their influential status, a simple gesture from the two such as hooking their fingers was enough to instill fear and prevent anyone in Avenport from having any thought to offend them. Therefore, even if Lucas didn''t personally invite the doctors and they were not familiar with the others, the doctors would surely focus on the surgery for the sake of the two distinguished gentlemen. At this point, Lucy silently hoped that God would bless them and ensure everything would go smoothly. They were informed earlier that the surgery would take six to seven hours, and it was still ongoing. Those who were waiting outside the operating room were growing tired. Patrick sat not far from Gwendolyn then. He repeatedly checked his watch with a cold, impatient gaze. In contrast, Kevin wasn''t overly concerned, knowing that the surgery would beplex and therefore take longer time. He had his phone in his hand, appearing to be engrossed in a game. Gwendolyn held onto Lucy, urging thetter to close her eyes and rest. Liam came to the hospital as well to bring them lunch. Liam presented the lunch to his boss with respect before handing another set to Kevin. Kevin set aside his phone and said, ¡°Perfect timing, I''m famished.¡± Without any hesitation, Kevin started eating his lunch after opening it. Liam''s attention was drawn to Patrick, who exuded a cold and distant aura, much like he had been doing for the past few days. Patrick had been pulling long hours at the office, evident from the dark circles under his eyes. Patrick would often work tirelessly when he was in a bad mood, resulting in his subordinates feeling reluctant to go home and stay at the office. When Patrick finally left the office that day, there was a collective sigh of relief among his subordinates as they knew they could finally go home that night. Liam was aware of the reason behind Patrick''s bad mood. Recently, there was news of Gwendolyn being engaged to Zayden, and the couple looked radiantly happy together. Does this mean that Ms. Ashton is being unfaithful to Mr. Lowen? In any case, it''s understandable that Mr. Lowen wouldn''t be in a good mood under such circumstances. Liam was surely on Patrick''s side. Seeing his boss being wronged, he was determined to support him in any way possible. Patrick lifted his chin toward Gwendolyn, indicating to Liam that he should deliver the lunch to her. That woman has beenforting Lucy tirelessly, hugging her for hours on end. I wonder if her arm is getting sore. As the thought crossed his mind, his eyes grew darker. Why should I care if her arm is getting sore? She''s going to marry another man soon. Patrick''s temples began to throb, and he raised his slender fingers to massage his forehead in an attempt to relieve the tension. Kevin, noticing Patrick''s difort, asked, ¡°Did you bring your medicine with you?¡± The medication prescribed by Kevin was effective in alleviating Patrick''s pain. In response to Kevin''s question, Patrick lowered his hand slowly. ¡°I''m fine.¡± In response to Kevin''s question, Patrick lowered his hand slowly. ¡°I''m fine.¡± Patrick hesitated to take the medicine in front of Gwendolyn. He considered himself a strong man and believed he could endure the pain without taking any medication. Why are you so stubborn, Mr. Lowen? How can you expect others to care about you under such a circumstance? Kevin shook his head, exasperated. ¡°Why won''t you let her in on what''s going on?¡± From Kevin''s perspective, Gwendolyn should take responsibility and take care of Patrick until he fully recovered, considering the situation hade to this point. However, she ended up taking care of another man who went blind, even though his condition wasn''t because of her. The more Kevin thought about it, the angrier he became. Liam stood beside his boss, and his brow furrowed with worry. He wanted to ask the same question Kevin had just posed but didn''t dare. So, he could only stand there, feeling helpless. Patrick''s voice was icy as he responded, ¡°Can''t you just shut up and eat your food?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Kevin was taken aback by Patrick''s sharp retort, realizing that thetter had transformed into ¡°Mr. Dissing¡± and had be even more scathing in his speech. Kevin made a firm decision not to care about Patrick and continued to focus on eating his food. He reasoned that he would only have the energy tofort Patrick''s woman once he was full and satisfied. Patrick''s icy gaze fell upon Liam as he spoke. ¡°Did I ask you to be a guard dog here?¡± Liam quickly caught on to Patrick''s mood. ¡°I will send lunch to Ms. Ashton. But given the current situation with Ms. Ashton, why don''t we refrain from sending her food, Mr. Lowen? Maybe it will help clear her mind if she stays hungry.¡± Chapter 517 Chapter 517 Liam could feel the death stares that were thrown in his direction when he said that, and a chill ran down his spine. In the end, hepromised and turned to look at the bodyguard agitatedly, saying, ¡°Bring the food to those twodies over there.¡± I''m on the boss'' side, which means I have to show him that I won''t go easy on Ms. Ashton! The bodyguard nodded once and brought the food over to Gwendolyn and Lucy just as he was told. However, Gwendolyn and Lucy heard what Liam said, loud and clear. In response, Lucy immediately turned the bodyguard away, saying, ¡°No, thanks. We won''t be eating that.¡± Gwendolyn chimed in, ¡°Our food''s on the way.¡± The three men standing at the side heard this and looked at Gwendolyn in shock. Liam, in particr, was incredulous as he abandoned all courtesy and marched up to Gwendolyn. ¡°Your food''s on the way, huh, Ms. Ashton? Is your new boyfriend, or rather, your new fling, sending it to you?¡± he demanded sarcastically. He was furious at her for cheating on a fine man like Patrick. Is Ms. Ashton blind or something? Mr. Lowen is obviously a hundred times better than that Zayden guy, be it in terms of looks or capability! If nothing else, Mr. Lowen is richer and loves her more than Zayden does! Lucy looked at Liam curiously. This assistant used to get along with Gwen, didn''t he? He sure turned on her pretty quickly! ¡°Mr. Derner, you''re barking nonsense again,¡± Gwendolyn pointed out dryly as she shot Liam a mild look. ¡°You...¡± Liam used to think of Gwendolyn as a kind-hearted and beautiful woman who could get along with anyone. Now, he saw the full extent of how shrewd and unreasonable she could be. Just then, Camille showed up with food containers. When she saw that Kevin and Patrick were eating, she eximed, ¡°You''re eating already? But I made so much food!¡± She was just about to hand the men a couple of containers when Gwendolyn stopped her. ¡°Let them be, Ms. Ziegler. They''re happy enough with their own food.¡± Then, Gwendolyn stood up and walked over to Camille. She wrapped an arm around the older woman and led her away. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Lucy, seeing as you need to keep your strength up, I had Ms. Ziegler make a ton of food, including fish stew and roast beef. Help yourself to as much as you like while you wait for Mnie,¡± Gwendolyn said brightly. Overhearing this, Patrick frowned, for the dishes she mentioned were all his favorites. He particrly loved Camille''s roast beef, which he thought was the best roast beef he had ever tasted. As if reading Patrick''s thoughts, Camille turned around at that exact moment and shed him a smile. If only Mr. Lowen knows I made these dishes specially for him. She had hoped that the food would bring him and Gwendolyn back on good terms again. A couple like them ought not to be brought down by vile and baseless rumors. s, from the look of things right now, Gwendolyn and Patrick werepletely at odds with each other. Kevin had heard what Gwendolyn said as well. He elbowed Patrick and said, ¡°Hey, aren''t those your favorite dishes? I guess Gwen''s housekeeper keeps tabs on what you like! I bet she made all that food for you, but I guess you''ll have to give it a miss now that your assistant ran his mouth and upset Gwen, huh?¡± He happily rubbed salt in Patrick''s wound as he rose to his feet and sauntered over to Gwendolyn and the other women to get a helping of Camille''s cooking. He happily rubbed salt in Patrick''s wound as he rose to his feet and sauntered over to Gwendolyn and the other women to get a helping of Camille''s cooking. Patrick stared at his own food, which looked patheticpared to the feast Camille had prepared. It was a sadparison, indeed. With that in mind, he said aloud, ¡°Liam.¡± Liam walked up to him and bent over slightly. ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen?¡± He looked expectant, as though hoping to hear Patrick praise him. After all, he had just shown his utmost loyalty by siding with Patrick and speaking up for him earlier. However, Liam''s expectations were crushed when Patrick snapped, ¡°There''s an ongoing project in Alendor that I will be fully delegating to you. You''ll be flying out there tonight.¡± Liam nched at this. ¡°But, Mr. Lowen, isn''t there already a person in charge of that project?¡± Patrick''s recent charity involved setting up a hospital in Alendor, and it was now under construction. However, any work rted to it would not require Liam''s on-site supervision at all. Patrick pointedly closed his food container when the aroma of Camille''s dishes wafted over to him. He did not think he could finish his food knowing that he was settling for less, and it did not help that Kevin was eximing over Camille''s cooking every now and then. ¡°Wow, you''re an amazing cook, Ms. Ziegler! The roast beef is incredible! In fact, it''s out of this world!¡± Chapter 518 Chapter 518 Channeling his anger toward Liam, Patrick bit out icily, ¡°With all the time you have on your hands, I think you ought to make yourself useful in Alendor! If not, then quit!¡± Liam instantly knew what he had done wrong. He should have known that Gwendolyn was ¡°untouchable¡±. In any case, the only person who could pick on her was Patrick, and anyone else who tried to do the same would only end up in misery. Liam could not believe it had taken him this long to figure that out. Unfortunately, his enlightenment hade toote, and he was now caught between a rock and a hard ce. In the end, he relented. ¡°Very well, Mr. Lowen. I shall make the necessary arrangements with Ms. Johnson immediately.¡± As Liam headed out, he cast a sideways nce in Gwendolyn''s direction. What''s so special about her, anyway? She''s just an ordinary woman, and there''s nothing that makes her stand out more than the others. It''s not as if she has an extra pair of arms or an extra brain or something! So, why is it that she means so much to Mr. Lowen? Gosh... He sighed in resignation as he left. As things were, he had no choice but to go and stay in Alendor for two months. He vowed that he would find a way back here after two months. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn, Lucy and Kevin were huddled in the resting area outside the operation theater and eating their lunch. Kevin had sampled all the finest cuisines in the world, but today, he waspletely won over by Camille''s cooking. He normally did not like roast beef, which he thought was dry and tasteless. However, after eating Camille''s roast beef, he immediately changed his mind about the dish. He did not think he had tasted anything so delicious before. Patrick, on the other hand, sat glumly in his seat and red at the trio as they chowed down. Camille gave him asional looks, and there were several times when she came close to asking him to join the trio. She only refrained from doing so because she could not undermine Gwendolyn, who was her employer. Camille was abruptly seized by sympathy for Patrick. It was heart-wrenching to see him get sidelined like this. After the meal, Kevin leaned into his seat and rubbed his full tummy. ¡°I''m stuffed! I can''t remember the last time I ate like this!¡± Gwendolyn was amused by his satisfied expression. With all the personal chefs Kevin cooking his meals, thest thing I expected was for him to be impressed by simple, homey recipes! Lucy, on the other hand, still looked grim as she nced at the doors of the operation theater. There were still medical officers and nurses who went through those doors every once in a while. Lucy watched on as relief washed over the family members who were told that the surgery for their loved ones had gone well. Pursing her lips, she asked, ¡°Hey, Kevin, do you think the surgery''s going well? They would havee out and told me to sign any waiver or something if it''s going badly, right?¡± Coming back to his senses, Kevin gave Lucy a reassuring smile and said, ¡°Don''t worry. It''s just like you said, someone would have had you sign a ton of forms or whatever if the surgery goes badly. At this point, no news is good news.¡± Gwendolyn nodded as well andforted Lucy, ¡°Kevin''s right. Now, it won''t do you any good to be nervous.¡± To one side, Camille packed up the food containers and pulled out a seat for herself to join the trio. At the sight of this, Lucy said, ¡°Ms. Ziegler, you don''t have to keep uspany here. You still have to pick the kids up from schoolter and make dinner for them, don''t you? Perhaps you should go home and get some rest.¡± Lucy and Gwendolyn were close friends, to begin with, and neither of them had ever treated Camille like she was an outsider. Lucy and Gwendolyn were close friends, to begin with, and neither of them had ever treated Camille like she was an outsider. In any case, they wanted to make sure Camille was asfortable as possible, especially since she was an olderdy. Upon hearing what Lucy said, Camille nodded and replied, ¡°Very well, then. I''ll be going home now, and I''ll bring dinner over for you. Give me a call if there''s anything specific you''d like to eat.¡± As for Lucas and Mnie, Camille knew they would not be able to take solid foods immediately after the surgery. She decided that she would make soup for them tomorrow. With that, Gwendolyn got out of her seat to see Camille off.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. She waited until Camille went into the elevator, whereupon the older woman waved goodbye at her and said, ¡°Keep an eye on Lucy and try to cheer her up. I bet she''s worried sick, that poor thing. Give me a call when the surgery''s over!¡± It was nice to know that Camille was concerned for Lucy, too. Then again, that was no surprise, seeing as Lucy and Gwendolyn had been friends for so long. Camille probably saw Lucy as a family by now. ¡°I will,¡± Gwendolyn promised with a smile. ¡°Be safe on the way home. I''ve booked a ride for you, and I''ve texted you the license te number. Make sure you don''t miss the car, okay?¡± ¡°Oh, you didn''t have to do that. I could have just taken the bus!¡± Camille said. ¡°I''ve already hailed you the ride, so just take it, will you? I still have to pay for it even if you refuse!¡± Camille relented and nodded at Gwendolyn with good humor just as the elevator doors began to close. Gwendolyn turned around, prepared to make her way back to the resting area, only to nearly collide with a man''s chest. Chapter 519 Chapter 519 Gwendolyn gasped in pain and cursed inwardly. What the hell? What kind of id*ot would stand behind someone like that? For heaven''s sake! Disgruntled, she looked up slowly, only to be startled when she met a pair of dark, obsidian eyes. It was Patrick, and he was staring at her as if he nned on devouring her. Gwendolyn quickly averted her gaze and stepped aside. She did not want to pick a fight with him, so evading him was the next best option. However, she had only just stepped to the side when she bumped into him again. She red at him this time, losing her patience. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you, Patrick?¡± Patrick was impassive as ever as he pointed out sardonically, ¡°I should be the one asking you that, seeing as you''re the one who bumped into me.¡± She gaped at him speechlessly. By some miracle or other, she regained her patience and chose to ignore him. She was here to wait for Mnie toe out of surgery, not to make a scene outside the operation theatre. That would be unseemly, not to mentionpletely shrewd on her part. As such, she maintained a courteous smile and looked up at Patrick, then said sweetly, ¡°Well, then, I apologize for my clumsiness. Could you step aside and let me through, please?¡± Patrick did not budge. It was like he had not heard her at all. Gwendolyn was close to losing her mind. Whenever Patrick acted childish and unreasonable like this, he was practically impossible to deal with. Taking a deep breath, she stepped to the other side instead, but she ended up colliding with him as expected. His chest is as hard as a rock! Does he do a thousand push-ups a day for fun or something? Given that they were outside the elevator meant for the VIP operation theatre, there was hardly anyone who woulde there. As a result, not a single person walked by or came up using the elevator as Gwendolyn and Patrick stared each other down. Gwendolyn was so exasperated that she could cry. Urgh! What will it take for this id*ot to leave me alone? ¡°Out with it, Patrick. What do you want?¡± She stared at him evenly. He was incredibly tall, and since she was wearing ts, she had to crane her neck just to look up at him properly. He shoved his hands into his pockets and said icily, ¡°Sleep with me tonight.¡± Her eyes widened at this. What did he just say? ¡°Excuse me?¡± she asked, caught off guard by his audacity. ¡°I''m f*cking you tonight, you got a problem with that?¡± Gwendolyn was so stunned by his bluntness that she could not find the words to respond. He was never crass with her, and this was the first time she heard him talk like this. Ovee with disbelief, she shoved him aside and stormed back to the resting area outside the operation theatre, then snapped without looking at him, ¡°Not even in your dreams.¡± Patrick''s face darkened at this, and he pressed his lips into a grim line. So, she won''t even let me touch her anymore, huh? Is she trying to save herself for Zayden? Presently, Gwendolyn had only just reached the doors of the operation theater when Lucas was wheeled out. A nasal cann was still attached to his nose, and his eyes were closed. It did not seem like he hade to just yet. Meanwhile, Kevin was talking to the doctor and asking him how Lucas was doing. Lucy, on the other hand, was standing next to Lucas'' bed while holding his hand. She called out softly, ¡°Luke... Lucas.¡± Lucas'' eyes were still closed. Thinking that he might be doing poorly after the surgery, Lucy cried. Her tears rolled down her cheeks and dripped onto the back of his hand. Lucas'' eyes were still closed. Thinking that he might be doing poorly after the surgery, Lucy cried. Her tears rolled down her cheeks and dripped onto the back of his hand. It was at that moment that Lucas opened his eyes. His breathing was heavy, but he managed to say weakly, ¡°I''m fine, silly. Stop crying.¡± After that, he closed his eyes. Kevin walked over and reassured Lucy, ¡°Don''t worry. Luke is a soldier, and he''s been trained to withstand a certain dose of anesthesia before, so they had to increase the dosage for the surgery, which is why he''s all drowsy now. Just let him sleep it off.¡± Following that, the caretaker wheeled Lucas toward the main elevator. Kevin went along, and Lucy called out after him, ¡°Please take care of him, Kevin!¡± She would go with them, but her daughter was still inside the operating theater. I want to be here when they wheel her out. By the time Patrick came back, he spotted Lucas at the nearby elevator and hurried over to him. His strides were long and purposeful, and when he brushed past Gwendolyn, he did not even give her a second look. Gwendolyn was holding onto Lucy, worried that she might copse at any moment. Lucy had been so high-strung for the most part of the day that she was starting to look worn out. Sighing tiredly, Lucy muttered, ¡°The surgery went well. Lucas is out, which means Mnie will be out soon.¡± She sounded like she was trying tofort herself. Nheless, Gwendolyn nodded and said in agreement, ¡°That''s right. Mnie will grow up to be a healthy and happy girl alongside Justin and the others, for sure.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Chapter 520 Chapter 520 Mnie did note out of the operation theater until two hourster, and she was not brought to the normal hospital ward. Instead, she was brought to the VICU where her condition would be monitored for the next 24 hours before she could be transferred to the usual ward. The doctor told Gwendolyn and Lucy that the surgery had gone well. Now, all that was left for them to do was observe Mnie during her recovery stage. If her body did not go into rejection within three months, then the bone marrow transnt would be deemed sessful. That being said, the next twenty hours were a critical period for Mnie as well, particrly where postoperativeplications were concerned. Having heard what the doctor said, Gwendolyn and Lucy went to the VICU to see Mnie, who was lying in bed and hooked to all kinds of medical equipment. A nurse was stationed by the bedside. Under Lucas'' strict instructions and with Kevin and Patrick keeping an eye on things here, Gwendolyn, Lucy and Mnie were practically treated as VIPs in the hospital. ¡°Don''t worry,¡± the nurse said. ¡°It''s normal for the patient to stay unconscious like this following the surgery. She''ll likely wake up tomorrow when the anesthesiapletely wears off.¡± Lucy''s eyes were glistening with tears as she reached out to sp Mnie''s hand. Gwendolyn''s heart twisted when she saw how distressed Lucy was. When the two women left the VICU, they made their way over to Lucas'' hospital room. Unlike Mnie, he was already wide awake and sipping soup. He seemed a little drained, and beads of sweat had broken out over his forehead. A caretaker was feeding him soup when he saw Lucy walk into the room. The moment his gaze fell upon her, he did not look away. Lucy approached his bed and took the bowl of soup from the caretaker, saying, ¡°Here, let me feed him.¡± She brought the spoonful of soup close to his mouth and said, ¡°Thank you for what you''ve done for Mnie.¡± The heartache was clearly written on her face. Lucas parted his lips to drink the soup. It tasted better than it had moments ago. ¡°It''s fine. It wasn''t as serious as I thought it would be. The doctor did say that I''m strong enough to recover in the next few days,¡± he said soothingly when he saw that Lucy''s tears were close to spilling down her cheeks. He admitted that he had nned on guilt-tripping her at first, but he changed his mind when he saw her how pale she looked. Moreover, given how red and puffy her eyes were, he reckoned she had been crying, too. In all fairness, the surgery had gone on much longer than expected. The doctor had initially wanted to carry out the bone marrow extraction and transnt over a course of two days, but with Mnie''s condition, the surgery was done in a day instead, albeit over a longer time frame. Lucas was sure that Lucy had been anxiously waiting outside the operation theater the entire time. She must have been worried sick. At present, Lucy nodded and tried to hold her tears back when she heard Lucas'' words offort. Once she had regained herposure, she said, ¡°I hope you''ll get well soon.¡±Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. The doctor had told her that Lucas would recover within a month, but there were exceptions where critical postoperativeplications could arise as well. After all, everyone''s body had a different reaction to such surgeries. Even though bone marrow could regenerate itself, there was no telling if Lucas would not be gued by any other medical complications. Lucy was naturally worried for him. He could have easily avoided all this, but he had generally put his own life on the line just because he happened to be apatible bone marrow donor for Mnie. At the thought of this, Lucy suddenly felt that it was only right for her to give Lucas what he had previously asked of her. If she were in his shoes, she would ask for repayment of favor as well, preferably in the form of money. She loved money, after all. Gwendolyn was standing to one side of the room and observing Lucy and Lucas'' exchange. Lucas isn''t so bad after all. At the very least, he was willing to donate his bone marrow for Lucy''s sake. Gwendolyn was standing to one side of the room and observing Lucy and Lucas'' exchange. Lucas isn''t so bad after all. At the very least, he was willing to donate his bone marrow for Lucy''s sake. Doing so would only affect his career in the future, and he might not even be able to resume his rank in the army. However, he did not dwell on his losses and instead chose tofort Lucy. Gwendolyn thought this was rather gracious of him, if not altruistic. Kevin, who had been sitting on the couch all this time, stood up at that moment and led Gwendolyn to where Patrick was sitting in hopes of getting them to talk to each other again. ¡°Hey, Gwen, aren''t you tired from standing around so much?¡± he asked. Gwendolyn was not strong enough to pull away from him, and in the end, she was forced to take a seat. She turned around and red at him resentfully, as though to ask what he was doing and that she did not want to sit down. Kevin knew she was irritated, but he was not going to back down that easily! Anything to make Pat happy. Patrick, on the other hand, cast Gwendolyn a sideways nce. He noticed that her eyes were rimmed red, which meant she had probably cried after visiting Mnie at the VICU earlier. He scoffed, then looked away from her. He had learned the hard way that angelic women like Gwendolyn were always the scheming ones. She had seduced him and had him wrapped around her pinky, then abandoned him for some other guy in the end. The thought of this fueled Patrick''s rage. He reached out and took her by the chin, then forced her to meet his smoldering gaze. ¡°Tell me, Gwendolyn, did you ever really like me?¡± He almost wanted to say ¡°love¡±, but he lost confidence at the veryst second and decided to switch to ¡°like¡± instead. Chapter 521 Chapter 521 Kevin''s mouth fell open when he saw the scene. You''re being too direct, Pat. That is not how you soothe a woman, but I understand why he doesn''t know that since it''s his first time in a rtionship. As Lucy was helping Lucas drink the soup, they didn''t care about anyone else then. Gwendolyn red at Patrick with widened eyes while a glimpse of mockery flitted across her eyes. ¡°What do you think?¡± Doesn''t he know that I like him? ncing at her sneer, Patrick could tell she was mocking him. He applied more force to his fingers. ¡°Why are youughing? Say something.¡± Kevin frowned as he watched them close to starting a fight. ¡°All right, all right. Could you do it outside if you two want to talk it out? Luke hasn''t fully recovered! He needs rest.¡± Undoubtedly, Kevin didn''t mean to ask them to fight outside as he knew they were not unreasonable and could get what he was implying. He simply reminded them to stop talking about something else in front of a patient and bothering him. After withdrawing his hand, Patrick rose to his feet and grabbed Gwendolyn''s hand, pulling her away from the couch and leading her out of the ward. As Gwendolyn was not as strong as him, she could only struggle to break free without a sound so she wouldn''t annoy Lucas. It wasn''t until she stepped out of the ward that she eximed, ¡°Patrick Lowen, what are you doing?¡± She held onto the door and wouldn''t let go. What is this bloke trying to do to me now? Patrick''s cold gaze flitted toward her. His eyebrows furrowed tighter as he watched her grab the door with one hand. ¡°Be good and let go, or there will be dire consequences.¡± Although Gwendolyn was stubborn, she felt she was only seeking trouble if she went against Patrick. Then, she let go of her grip obediently and giggled at him. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Patrick didn''t say a word and dragged her away. ¡°Hey! Say something! I still have to apany Lucy.¡± ¡°She has no time for you now.¡± Gwendolyn was dragged to the elevator and then into the car. After getting in, Patrick said to the driver, ¡°Take us home.¡± The driver hurriedly replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen.¡± Gwendolyn red at Patrick. ¡°Patrick, what are you trying to do to me at your ce? Aren''t you afraid your fianc¨¦e will be mad?¡± A certain somebody was in a fit of anger. Since he doesn''t believe me, I just have to do the same to him so that he knows how it feels when someone doesn''t trust him. Without uttering a word, Patrick leaned against his seat and softly tapped the armrest with his slender fingers. Gwendolyn grew angrier when the man didn''t respond to her. ¡°Patrick, I am not going to your ce. I want to spend time with Lucy.¡± Is he deaf? It''s so difficult to get along with this *ss. He would treat me like a queen and agree to everything I asked when he had feelings for me and cared about me back then. Now that he''s doubting me, he starts to give me the cold treatment. Right then, Gwendolyn''s phone rang. When she saw it was Zayden calling, she raised her brows to look at the man beside her, who sat like a statue. Right then, Gwendolyn''s phone rang. When she saw it was Zayden calling, she raised her brows to look at the man beside her, who sat like a statue. Then, softening her voice deliberately, she muttered, ¡°Zayden...¡± Upon hearing her sudden change in tone, Patrick looked over. His expression was full of shock. Naturally, Gwendolyn sensed his gaze on her. It was her intention to make him anxious. ¡°Gwen, aren''t youing over today?¡± Looking at the dishes for dinner on the table, Zayden sounded a little angry when he noticed she hadn''t returned until now. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Gwendolyn exined, ¡°Mnie is having surgery today, so I am keeping her and Lucypany at the hospital. I am not heading over. Be good and eat your food.¡± Patrick was instantly annoyed when he heard her coaxing Zayden tenderly and tteringly. He then snatched the phone from her. ¡°You don''t have to wait for her. She is spending time with me tonight.¡± After saying that, he hung up. When Gwendolyn got her phone back, she noticed that he had ended the call and switched off her phone. Clenching her phone, Gwendolyn scolded, ¡°Patrick, stop ruining things for me.¡± It wasn''t easy to convince Zayden to receive treatment. If I irritate him, he will surely refuse to continue with it. Chapter 522 Chapter 522 The car pulled over at the courtyard of Patrick''s mansion. Patrick got off first and opened the door for her. ¡°Get down.¡± ¡°Patrick, you''re so domineering. I don''t want to get off the car.¡± At the thought of what Patrick had said to Zayden earlier, she felt it would be the end for her soon. What if Zayden starts to refuse treatment and goes on a hunger strike or does something else? This is so annoying! Patrick''s expression darkened even more. He had set his mind to make her plead tonight and regret everything word she said today. Gwendolyn was dragged out of the car before he picked her up in his arms and walked to the mansion in huge strides. The driver broke into a cold sweat upon seeing that. It seems like Mr. Lowen and Ms. Ashton have fought. That expression of his is so terrifying. Then, the driver hurriedly drove away. When Patrick carried Gwendolyn into the mansion, a woman''s voice sounded. ¡°Patrick, you''re back.¡± The voice came from the kitchen. Then, Felicia, wearing an apron, stepped out. ¡°Dinner is ready. Let''s eat after you wash your hands.¡± Patrick and Gwendolyn were taken aback. Howe she is here? Gwendolyn patted his shoulders. ¡°Put me down.¡± A faint hint of hatred shed across Felicia''s eyes when she saw Patrick carrying Gwendolyn. After putting Gwendolyn down, Patrick grabbed her hand so she couldn''t run away. ¡°Why are you here? Get out.¡± He was irritated at the sight of Felicia and wanted nothing more than to destroy her when he recalled she was the one who caused a bullet to shoot through his head. Right then, a baritone voice echoed from the living room. ¡°I asked her toe over. Fel and I are living here for the next month. Your grandma is staying at Heavenly Church for a month, so I am staying here for the time being.¡± Hearing Hector''s voice, Gwendolyn looked over and nodded faintly at him. ¡°Hello, Old Mr. Lowen.¡± Hector''s expression darkened as he said coldly, ¡°Ms. Ashton, aren''t you getting engaged with Zayden soon? Why are you still hanging around Patrick?¡± Hector clearly saw Patrick carrying Gwendolyn into the house earlier. He knew very well what they would do if he and Felicia were not there. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Gently biting her lip, Gwendolyn stated, ¡°I''ll take my leave first.¡± After she said that, Patrick grabbed her hand tightly. Gwendolyn could only whisper, ¡°Patrick, let go of me. I am going back.¡± She knew she was unable to exin her current situation. Besides, she had no urge to rify things about herself and Zayden. Otherwise, thetter would refuse treatment, and she would never get to exin herself by then. Slightly pursing her lips, Felicia said generously, ¡°Gwen, join us for dinner!¡± Slightly pursing her lips, Felicia said generously, ¡°Gwen, join us for dinner!¡± She thought she should be considerate and generous and maintain herposed demeanor in front of Hector. Recently, Candace bought many books about how a wealthydy should behave and the necessary etiquette expected of Felicia. She learned a lot when she read them every night. Thanks to Candace, who forced her to learn how to cook since she was young, she could showcase her skills to Hector today. Mom was right. One must please a man''s pte first to win his heart. When Hector saw Felicia''s generosity and her disying the demeanor of a wife, he nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Ms. Ashton, we are having a family dinner. You are not wee here.¡± After Hector demanded Gwendolyn to leave, she red at Patrick, implying he should let go of her, and she, an outsider, wished to leave as she would only embarrass herself more if she stayed on. Patrick''s voice was cold as he stated, ¡°We already had dinner.¡± Then, he went upstairs while grabbing Gwendolyn, who clenched her fists tightly. He made it obvious that he was with her, even disregarding Hector''s feelings. Chapter 523 Chapter 523 Hector huffed in exasperation while pointing at him. ¡°Patrick, you''re driving me mad!¡± Felicia hurried over upon hearing that, trying to soothe Hector''s nerves. ¡°Calm down, Old Mr. Lowen.¡± Hector was not that angry actually. He was just a bit upset that Patrick had ignored him. However, when he heard Felicia, he raised his hand and clutched his chest with faux distress. Felicia quickly called out, ¡°Patrick, Old Mr. Lowen doesn''t look so well.¡± The two, who were walking upstairs, paused and looked over. Gwendolyn was flustered when she saw Hector''s distressed look. ¡°Is Old Mr. Lowen going to have an episode again?¡± Upon noticing the situation, Patrick let go of Gwendolyn''s hand and strode toward the couch. Patrick bent over and hummed, ¡°Grandpa.¡± After that, he called for help. ¡°Someone, please bring Old Mr. Lowen''s medicine over.¡± In an instant, Hector''s doctor and nurse rushed over to feed him medicine and examine his condition. Gwendolyn stood in her spot. The concerned look on Patrick''s face was a clear indicator to her that he was genuinely worried about Hector. After all, he was raised up by his grandparents, who were also his only family now. Gwendolyn pouted. Just like Patrick, she had someone whom she greatly care about too. Gwendolyn''s grandfather was one of the most important people to her. She exhaled deeply and knew that a call for an ambnce was unnecessary. Hector would be all right with the help of the medical staff. She thought of leaving as she knew her presence here would only upset Hector more. After Hector took his medicine and the doctor dered everything was fine, Patrick cast a nce in the direction of the stairs before giving a once-over at the house. His face fell, and he somehow felt agitated. The next morning, Gwendolyn was woken up by the sound of her ringtone. She grabbed the phone and saw that the call was from an unfamiliar number. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. It''s only half past six. Who''s calling in this early hour? Did something happen at the hospital? She quickly answered the call. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Ms. Ashton, I''m your assistant, Connor Wable. I''m here at Star Mansion. You have a meeting to attend today.¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback by the man''s words. ¡°What? My assistant?¡± she eximed in surprise. Since when did I have an assistant? Am I dreaming? ¡°Yes. You''re now the CEO of Solstice Group. I''m your assistant.¡± It was only then realization dawned on Gwendolyn. ¡°I see. Solstice Group,¡± she murmured. She remembered awyer came to herst time and asked her to sign a transfer of ownership document. So the paperwork is all done? I''m now the CEO of Solstice Group. Well, it does feel like I''m dreaming. On second thought, Ms. Sanders is not a bad person. I don''t mind taking over thepany temporarily. I will return thepany to Ms. Sanders when her daughteres back. ¡°All right. I''ll be right there.¡± Although Gwendolyn was still a little groggy and disorientated, she scrambled up from the bed as she knew someone was waiting for her outside. Then, she picked a white pantsuit from the walk-in closet. She put on a little makeup to make herself look more energetic and mature. Gwendolyn rushed downstairs in a hurry. Although she had tried her best to speed up, it still took her twenty minutes to get ready. Camille asked when she saw that Gwendolyn was up so early. ¡°Are you going to the hospital this early? Did something happen over there?¡± Lucy mattered a lot to Gwendolyn. She would put aside any other matters, no matter how important they were, to attend to Lucy if necessary. That was why Camille thought Gwendolyn woke up early in the morning to rush to the hospital. Gwendolyn replied, ¡°No. I''m going to work. Camille, please guide the kids to the school buster.¡± ¡°Aren''t you going to take your breakfast?¡± Camille trotted behind Gwendolyn. She noticed thetter was not heading toward the garage. Instead, she walked straight out of the door. Gwendolyn hastily walked out of the mansion. After leaving the main gate of the mansion, she saw a ck car parked by the side of the road and walked over. The car window was lowered and revealed a man in a ck suit and sses sitting in the driver''s seat. He nodded slightly to Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Ashton, I''m Connor Wable.¡± Chapter 524 Chapter 524 With that, Connor opened the car door, got out of the car, and opened the back door for Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Ashton, today is your first day in the office. The senior executives of each department would like to meet you.¡± This assistant was a handsome, slim man. He had a sharp chin and wore a pair of sses. He looked like a character out of aic book. Gwendolyn''s eyes fixated on him. She really wanted to ask if all the employees of Solstice Group were so good-looking. s, she did not pop the question. After all, she was a CEO now and should behave like one. She bent over and got into the car. Connor returned to the driver''s seat, and the car drove off. Gwendolyn was a little flustered throughout the drive. She had be the CEO of Solstice Group out of the blue and was assigned a handsome assistant. Connor suddenly said, ¡°Ms. Ashton, you don''t need to be so nervous. Except for the face-to-face meeting with the senior executives of thepany in Avenport, the rest of the meetings will be held online.¡± Gwendolyn responded, ¡°Well, I''m not nervous. It''s just that I don''t understand anything. I''m afraid I won''t be able to manage thepany well. Are you Ms. Sanders'' former assistant?¡± The former CEO of thepany was Sophia. Now that she had taken over her position, Gwendolyn wondered if Sophia''s assistant also worked for her now. Connor replied, ¡°Yes, I was Ms. Sanders'' assistant before. She instructed me to follow your order from now on. You don''t have to worry about thepany''s affairs, I will help you.¡± Gwendolyn was merely an honorary CEO, and the burden was all on Connor''s shoulders. It was evident that Sophia trusted Connor very much. Gwendolyn breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Great.¡± Patrick stayed by Hector''s side all night because of the sudden onset of his illness. The next day, when Hector woke up, he saw Patrick sitting on the couch with his head hanging, asleep. His expression softened, and he felt sorry for Patrick for staying up all night. Hector sat up, and right at this moment, Felicia pushed the door open and walked in. She whispered when she saw Hector was awake. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, are you all right?¡± Hector was fine. He was pretending to be sickst night, but his actions managed to fool Patrick, and thetter was all nervous and worried about him. At that thought, Hector felt d to know that his grandson was so concerned about him. ¡°I''m fine. Get a nket for Pat.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Felicia looked at the man who was sitting upright on the couch. He looked so handsome even when he is asleep. She went all starry-eyed at the sight of the handsome man in front of her. Patrick did not let her stay overnightst night. Fortunately, her family had a mansion around the area, so she spent the night there. The mansion was not very far¡ªonly ten minutes away from Patrick''s house. She took the nket from the cab and walked toward Patrick. Just when she was about to drape the nket over him, the man''s eyes suddenly snapped open, his gaze sharp with a glint of darkness. Startled, she took a step back. Patrick was now awake, and his expression became colder when he saw Felicia. ¡°Why is it you again?¡± There was an obvious disappointment on his face. He hoped that Gwendolyn was the one who covered him with the nket. So he was upset when he opened his eyes and saw that it was Felicia. Felicia pursed her lips slightly as she sensed his displeasure too. ¡°You must be tired after sitting like this all night. Since you''re awake now, why don''t you go back to your room and rest?¡± she lowered her voice and cooed. Hector reprimanded, ¡°What''s with your attitude, kid? Felicia is kind enough to cover you with a nket. Yet, you are being so rude to her. You''re really being ungrateful.¡± Felicia quickly exined, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, it''s my fault. I must have made too much noise and disturbed Patrick.¡± Felicia sounded so sweet and kind. She didn''t take credit for her good deed. Instead, she stayed humble and took the me. Hector smiled knowingly. ¡°You silly girl, you are just too kind.¡± Then, he turned to Patrick. ¡°Pat, you''ve been up all night. Go back to your room to sleep.¡± Although Hector wanted to fix Patrick and Felicia up and hoped to get a great-grandson soon, he also felt sorry for Patrick. Hence, he asked Patrick to rest first so that thetter would not be worn out. Chapter 525 Chapter 525 Chapter 525 She Became The CEO Patrick got up, walked to Hector''s side, and rang the bell. Shortly after, the doctor and nurses arrived. They had been diligently attending to Hector since he regained consciousness. Patrick and Alice were overjoyed when Hector finally woke up. They considered it a miraculous blessing from above. Hence, Alice decided to go to church and fast for a month. She wanted to show her appreciation to the divine for Hector''s recovery. The doctor conducted a thorough examination of Hector and then provided a report on his condition to Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Old Mr. Lowen''s condition is stable. All his vital signs are within normal range.¡± Patrick was relieved to hear the positive report from the doctor. He nodded in gratitude. ¡°That''s great!¡± Patrick was known for being a man of few words when conversing with outsiders, often opting to remain silent. The doctors and nurses were ustomed to Patrick''s reserved attitude. Patrick turned his gaze toward Hector and informed, ¡°Grandpa, I need to get back to work. If you''re not feeling well, make sure to inform me.¡± As Hector reflected on the progress of Lowen Group under Patrick''s leadership, he acknowledged the significant strides thepany had made. He realized that Patrick had put in considerable effort to strengthen the business.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. With a sense of concern, Hector advised Patrick, ¡°You should take some rest before returning to work.¡± I made a mistake pretending to be sickst night. It''s not right to burden Pat''s rest. I won''t use my health to pressure him anymore. Patrick turned and headed toward the door. Hector then instructed, ¡°Fel, please check if breakfast is ready. Make sure Pat eats it before going to thepany.¡± Felicia nodded. ¡°Okay, I''ll go check it out.¡± As Felicia and Patrick left the bedroom, the door closing behind them, Patrick''s voice turned chilly. ¡°Felicia, don''t think for a moment that I''ll marry you just because of Grandpa. It''s never going to happen.¡± After firmly stating his stance, Patrick strode toward his bedroom, his back radiating an aura of coldness. Felicia stood frozen in ce, watching Patrick''s retreating figure with a sense of disbelief. His cold attitude toward her sent chills down her spine. Felicia was utterly baffled by the contrasting treatment she received from Patrick inparison to Gwendolyn. As the one who knew Patrick first and had been in a rtionship with him at his own invitation, she couldn''t understand why he was keeping her at arm''s length while being affectionate and close to Gwendolyn. This sudden change in Patrick''s behavior left Felicia feeling utterly bewildered and thoroughly perplexed. Gwendolyn is to me. With her seductive looks, she has managed to captivate Patrick''s attention and lure him away. Patrick retreated to his room, where he took a shower and donned a meticulously tailored ck suit, giving him an abstemious appearance. He retrieved his phone and dialed Gwendolyn''s number, feeling displeased about her departure the previous night. The call connected, but no one answered it. Patrick''s face darkened. The phone rang incessantly, but there was no answer on the other end until the call automatically ended. Gwendolyn felt utterly drained as she exited the conference room. She had never experienced such overwhelming anxiety before. Despite the fact that the executives were now her subordinates, Gwendolyn couldn''t help but feel anxious as she faced them. Her self-confidence had taken a hit due to the challenges she had faced in society in the past. However, she managed to persevere, and her performance had been commendable. Connor apanied Gwendolyn as they walked together. As the elevator doors opened, the man quickly pressed the open button and pointed toward the direction of the CEO''s office. He then spoke. ¡°Ms. Ashton, your office is in that direction.¡± Avenport''s office was originally just a branch, but it was about to undergo a transformation as Gwendolyn would now be stationed here, making it the new main branch. As Gwendolyn entered the CEO''s office, all the secretaries stood up and greeted her, ¡°Hello, Ms. Ashton!¡± Gwendolyn acknowledged their greetings with a slight nod and said, ¡°Hello, everyone! Please resume your work.¡± She proceeded to her office and settled into her white office chair as she entered the room. The office appeared to have been recently renovated, with a predominantly white color scheme that created a bright and fresh ambiance while maintaining a sense of tastefulness. Gwendolyn finally checked her phone, worried that her children might have been trying to reach her. She had kept her phone on silent during the meeting. When she checked, she saw several missed calls. Three of them were from Zayden, one was from Michael, and the other was from Patrick. She was surprised to see Patrick''s call. Chapter 526 Chapter 526 Chapter 526 Sense Of Security The events from the previous day remained vivid in Gwendolyn''s memory. As Gwendolyn remembered how Hector''s illness had red up the day before, her heart filled with sorrow. Recent events had been challenging, leaving her uncertain about what to do next. Gwendolyn inhaled deeply, her face briefly showing a flicker of darkness. Simultaneously, Gwendolyn received a call from Zayden, which she answered. ¡°Zayden, I apologize for not being able to answer your call earlier. I was in the midst of something.¡± Zayden was currently sipping tea with Michael, and his acting was quite convincing. He had even convinced Suzanne to make the call on his behalf. His gaze was fixed straight ahead, devoid of any light and filled with darkness. Michael asked, ¡°Did she answer the call?¡± ¡°Yes, she did,¡± Zayden replied with a light smile. ¡°Are you with Grandpa?¡± Gwendolyn asked upon hearing Michael''s voice. ¡°Yes, I''m with him. Old Mr. Ashton invited me for tea at the Ashton residence, and we''re here now. I called because he wanted to extend an invitation for you toe as well,¡± Zayden exined. Gwendolyn nced at the several stacks of agreements on her desk that needed her signature that day. Fortunately, Connor had already checked them over, and all she had to do was sign them. ¡°I see. Okay, I''ll be there. But I will bete.¡± ¡°Don''t worry. I will wait for you, always.¡± After hanging up the phone, Gwendolyn started to sign the documents. Solstice Group owned numerousrge shopping malls globally, including two in Avenport. Gwendolyn was impressed by Sophia''s capabilities in expanding thepany to such arge scale. As Gwendolyn was signing the documents, a wave of worry suddenly washed over her. She feared she couldn''t manage such arge-scalepany properly. Therefore, she resolved to study more books on business management to enhance her skills and knowledge. Gwendolyn wasmitted to ensuring that thepany Sophia left for her daughter would not fail because of her. As soon as that thought crossed her mind, Gwendolyn sat up straight and silently made a vow to herself to manage Solstice Group with utmost care and responsibility. Having finished signing two stacks of agreements, she set down her pen and picked up the internal phone to make a call. A few momentster, a secretary walked into the room. She was dressed in a dark blue professional suit, had short hair, and wore sses. Her overall appearance gave off a professional vibe. ¡°Ms. Ashton!¡± The secretary who entered the room was Ruby Warnes. Gwendolyn had met most of thepany''s staff during her visit earlier that day and remembered them well. ¡°Ms. Warnes, I''ve signed all of these. Please take them with you. I won''t being to the office for a while. If there''s anything, please give me a call. If you need me to sign anything, you cane to my home.¡± Gwendolyn felt confident that Solstice Group''s business was running smoothly and didn''t see any reason to worry. Besides, Sophia didn''t want her to overwork. Hence, the former had assigned Connor to help her. Gwendolyn trusted that Connor would manage everything properly for her in her absence. ¡°Understood, Ms. Ashton.¡± The secretary left the office with the agreements in her hand, and Gwendolyn followed suit, grabbing her bag and leaving thepany. As Gwendolyn made her way to the Ashton residence, she caught sight of Zayden and Michael engrossed in a game of chess in the backyard while Suzanne stood by and exined the situation to Zayden. After that, he instructed Suzanne on how to y the game. Michael looked extremely content. Approaching them, Gwendolyn rested her hands on Michael''s shoulders. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Grandpa, are you all ying chess?¡± Having stayed at the Ashton residence before, Gwendolyn had yed chess frequently with Michael, so she had be quite skilled in the game. Michael smiled at Gwendolyn and said, ¡°Wee back, Gwen. Come take a look and tell me how I should make my next move.¡± Michael thought that Zayden had some talent in chess. Gwendolyn frowned and studied the board for a moment. She then made a move and captured one of her opponent''s pieces. Michael burst outughing at Gwendolyn''s move. ¡°Gwen, my dear, you still have a sharp eye.¡± During Gwendolyn''s stay at the Ashton residence, Michael was the only one who showed her affection and attention. As a result, she acquired knowledge about his areas of interest. Gwendolyn honed her chess skills through diligent practice. She hoped that by demonstrating her abilities, she could finally earn her ce as a member of the Ashton family. As a child who had lost her mother andcked her father''s love, Gwendolyn didn''t have a sense of security and was always afraid that she would be kicked out of the house. Observing the oue of the game, Suzanne made a face and voiced her discontent, ¡°Mr. Surrington, one of your chess pieces has been captured by Ms. Ashton.¡± Without a doubt, Zayden witnessed the oue of the game, surprised that Gwendolyn knew how to y chess so well. ¡°Can''t me anyone but me for my poor performance.¡± He chuckled in response. Michael looked at Zayden with an appreciative gaze when he heard that. This young man is quite impressive. If only his eyesight has been cured, he will be even more outstanding. Chapter 527 Chapter 527 Chapter 527 Third Wheel Zayden''s defeat was soon evident after Gwendolyn joined the game. In reality, Zayden intentionally went easy on her. He was actually a skilled chess yer. Michael expressed his joy at Gwendolyn''s victory, saying, ¡°Gwen, I never thought that you would still have your chess skills after all these years, and you have even improved.¡± ¡°I usually read chess books. I have never given up on chess,¡± Gwendolyn replied. Gwendolyn held onto her love for chess, as it was a shared interest between her and the person who had shown her the most care in the world. Despite not expecting to be epted back into the Ashton family and receive Michael''s forgiveness, Gwendolyn was determined never to give up on her passion for chess. Whenever she looked at chess books, it brought back memories of the days she spent ying with Michael, and it made her difficult days more bearable. When Michael heard her words, the stare he fixated on Gwendolyn became more intense. Michael heaved a long sigh and turned to look at Zayden. ¡°Zay, Gwen has had a difficult life and has endured a lot of hardships because of you. It''s important that you always remember to treat her kindly.¡± As Michael spoke, he reached out and ced Gwendolyn''s hand on top of Zayden''s hand. ¡°Both of you should lead a fulfilling life together,¡± the elderly man continued. Gwendolyn watched her hand being held by Zayden. A spark shed across his eyes as he said, ¡°Don''t worry, Old Mr. Ashton. I will make sure of that.¡± After making his stance clear, Zayden tightened his grip on Gwendolyn''s hand even more. As she observed the scene unfolding before her, Suzanne took a bite of the chocte in her hand and realized that it didn''t taste as sweet as it did before. Just then, Candace emerged from the house, she spotted Gwendolyn and Zayden holding hands and confidently strutted toward them. ¡°Gwen, I see you''vee with your fianc¨¦. I''ve picked a date for your engagement. The tenth of next month seems like a great day.¡± After saying that, she handed a paper to Michael. ¡°Dad, have a look at this. I''ve asked permission from Father Jonathan.¡± Taking a nce at it, Michael nodded. ¡°Very well, we''ll go with that date. Gwendolyn, it''s time to start thinking about your engagement attire with Zayden. Is there a particr designer you have in mind? Let me know, and I''ll arrange for a custom-made outfit.¡± Michael was not knowledgeable about engagement outfits, but he made an effort to have someone do research on thetest trends in wedding and engagement attire for the younger generation. Although Gwendolyn withdrew her hand from Zayden''s grip, she didn''t voice her objection to the engagement proposal. Zayden could sense her reluctance, but he acted as if he was unaware of it. He then piped up, ¡°I remember Gwen used to love DK''s clothing. I''ll invite a designer from DK to design her outfit.¡± Candace smiled upon hearing that. ¡°That''s very thoughtful of you, Zayden. Gwen, you''re fortunate to have found such a great husband!¡± Despite the congrattory tone in Candace''s words, her true intentions were rooted in a strong desire for Gwendolyn to wed the blind man expeditiously, assuming the role of his constant caretaker and dutiful housekeeper for the rest of her life. Simultaneously, at the mere contemtion of her daughter''s future union with the Lowen family, Candace couldn''t suppress a surge of exhration and satisfaction. ¡°In that case, let me take care of the engagement arrangements, Dad. Please carry on with your conversation.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. After saying that, Candace strutted toward the house, leaving Gwendolyn with a tinge of sadness in her heart as she watched the former go. Gwendolyn couldn''t help but nce at Zayden, whose mental state had weakened due to his blindness. ording to the doctor, he was suffering from PTSD, which was taking a toll on him. Given the possibility that his sight may not return if provoked, Gwendolyn made the conscious decision not to trigger Zayden any further. The potential consequences of doing so were simply too unimaginable. Turning her gaze toward Michael, Gwendolyn couldn''t help but notice how his health had always been fragile. Yet,tely, he seemed to have more energy than usual. Despite this, she was worried about how he would react if he ever found out that Zayden was not the man she truly loved, nor the biological father of their three children. Might he copse? Or would a more severe circumstance unfold if he discovered the truth? Gwendolyn heaved a long sigh, not knowing what to do. She valued both men dearly and didn''t want to put them in a situation that could potentially cause them harm. Right then, a housekeeper approached the trio and said, ¡°Excuse me, but it''s time for Old Mr. Ashton to take his medicine.¡± ¡°I need to take my medication,¡± Michael said as he stood up. ¡°Feel free to help yourselves, you two.¡± As he was getting ready to depart, he nced over at Suzanne. ¡°Kid, why don''t youe with me? Let''s not be a third wheel.¡± Chapter 528 Chapter 528 Chapter 528 Proposal Upon hearing thement, Suzanne was momentarily frozen. ¡°No, I''m not a third wheel. I am a person,¡± she hastily rified, attempting to dispel any notion that she was not an object. The young girl, innocent and preupied with thoughts of food and Zayden, was oblivious to much else. Therefore, when she overheard someone referring to her as a third wheel, she became anxious and confused. Michael''sughter echoed in the room at Suzanne''s response. ¡°You are too innocent, my dear. Of course, you are a person. Come with me, let''s find you something better to eat.¡± As he observed her constantly munching and having a variety of delectable treats inside the small bag, Michael came to the realization that the young girl had a deep love for food, and it was only through satisfying her appetite that he could ensure her cooperation. Suzanne''s eyes sparkled when she heard that there was food. ¡°What kind of delicious food do you have?¡± Ready to follow Michael, Suzanne nced back at Zayden, concerned about who would assist him if she left. Deciding between Zayden and delicious food was a difficult task for Suzzanne. Understanding her true intentions, Zayden encouraged her to leave by saying, ¡°Go ahead!¡± A smile spread across Suzanne''s face upon hearing his charming voice. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Surrington.¡± Gwendolyn gazed at Suzanne, who was dressed in a maid outfit with neat bangs and big grape-like watery eyes. When thetter smiled, she looked like a child. Gwendolyn noticed that Suzanne had a deep fondness for Zayden, and the fact that they spent most of their time alone together hinted at a possible romantic connection between them. Despite Suzanne''s apparent affection for Zayden, he appeared to be oblivious to her feelings. Gwendolyn resolved to assist in bringing them closer together in the future. Suzanne trailed Michael inside the house, leaving the couple under the flower stand. Gwendolyn poured a cup of tea for Zayden. ¡°Zayden, have some tea.¡± Despite being a young man, Zayden had a dislike for coffee and a strong preference for tea. Zayden''s preference for tea was simr to Michael''s, indicating that they shared amon interest. As the man reached out to find the cup, Gwendolyn couldn''t help but feel a little sad seeing him like this. He had always been such a gentle and kind man to everyone. However, given his current situation, it was understandable that he had developed a bad temper. Gwendolyn knew that she would probably react the same way if she were in his shoes. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn picked up the teacup and gently ced it into his hand. There was a hint of a smile on her face, but it was mixed with a few traces of sadness. Zayden noticed all of her emotions, and he inwardly chuckled. I can see the pain in your heart for me. Gwen, do you know how much it hurts when I realize you only feel sorry for me because I am blind? Zayden''s grip on the teacup tightened, and a fierce hatred burned in his eyes. Despite the intense hatred in Zayden''s eyes, Gwendolyn failed to notice it and asked, ¡°Did you cooperate with the doctor during the treatment?¡± Gwendolyn hoped his eyes would get better and sincerely wished for his well-being. Zayden, on the other hand, scoffed when he heard that. ¡°You can''t wait for me to get better, huh?¡± Are you hoping you won''t have to marry me if I recover? Well, Gwendolyn, I can guarantee your wish will nevere true. ¡°I certainly do. I hope you can regain your health and be well, just like before.¡± Upon hearing this, Zayden loosened his grip on the teacup, causing the tea to spill. Gwendolyn quickly grabbed some tissues and cleaned the mess up while asking him with concern, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Zayden, however, wasn''t bothered by it. Instead, he grabbed her hand. ¡°Given my condition, Gwen, can''t you be by my side and take care of me?¡± he asked. His voice was low, and there was a hint of anger in it as he tightened his grip around her, causing her pain. Why does this woman not want to be with me when I have everything Patrick has and look just as good as him? Am I not as good as Patrick? Panic was evident in Gwendolyn''s eyes. ¡°Zayden, I will take care of you. Please don''t be angry, okay?¡± Gwendolyn was frightened by his frantic expression, afraid that his condition would worsen and he would never recover. ¡°Will you marry me?¡± When he asked the question, he took out a diamond ring. ¡°I had nned to propose to you in a perfect way, but I can''t wait any longer.¡± He took the ring and ced it on her finger, fitting it urately onto her right ring finger. Upon looking at the ring, Gwendolyn''s eyes were brimming with terror. She reminisced about the ring she had left at home and how thrilled she was when Patrick proposed to her. Now, being confronted by Zayden, she felt as though she was amid scorching mes, tormented and in agony. Chapter 529 Chapter 529 Chapter 529 Gwendolyn Is Mine Gwendolyn wanted to withdraw her hand. However, Zayden''s condition made her hesitate. Currently, he was blind and not in the best of ces mentally. She was worried he might go mad if she were to reject him. Even if she did not love Zeyden, he wes still her friend end sevior. At thet thought, Gwendolyn pursed her lips end closed her eyes, ellowing him to slip the ring onto her finger. Gwendolyn felt es if she could heer the sound of her heert shettering. It wes e peinful end tormenting sensetion. Nevertheless, she vowed to not lose sight of the person she truly loved. Petrick, weit for me. Once Zeyden''s eyes heve recovered, I''ll give him beck the ring end tell him thet the person I love is you. When Zeyden sew thet Gwendolyn did not reject him, he knew he hed seeded. He hed done so precisely beceuse he knew thet she wes e kind person who would endure everything beceuse of his blindness end mentel stete. A trece of e sneer flitted ecross his lips. Petrick, ere you seeing this? Gwendolyn is mine! No one is ellowed to teke her ewey from me! I met her first, end I wes elso the one who seved her life. I steyed by her side for six yeers. When she wes in her most helpless, wretched, end pitiful stete, I wes the one who steyed by her side. I wes the one who geve her the strength to rise egein. She belongs to me. She is mine end only mine! Gwendolyn took her hend beck end slowly lifted her heed to stere et the sky ebove. She felt es if her world hed suddenly grown dimmer. Did the sky cloud over beceuse it''s going to rein? However, the sunlight was brilliant when she looked up. It was so dazzling that she could barely keep her eyes open. However, the sunlight wes brillient when she looked up. It wes so dezzling thet she could berely keep her eyes open. So it turns out the sky isn''t overcest. It''s my own senses thet heve clouded over insteed. Without Petrick, her world hed returned to the stete it hed once been in¡ªderk end without e shred of hope. Cendece stood some distence ewey, grinning heppily et the sight of her stepdeughter''s despeir. Gwendolyn, I''d like to see if you cen still fight Fel for Petrick! She hed recorded the scene with her phone end sent it to Felicie. Cendece wrote: Fel, Zeyden proposed to Gwendolyn! You cen show this video to Petrick so he would give up on her! At thet moment, Felicie wes with Hector. She wes currently trying her best to cheer the old men up. Hector stered et the little cley figures on the teble before picking them up end exemining them one by one. I think she''ll be e good mother since she''s good et crefts. Her children will be blessed. Felicie forwerded the video to Petrick efter wetching it. Meenwhile, Petrick wes in the middle of e meeting. His expression wes so derk thet he terrified the employees present into holding their breeths. They ell knew thet Liem hed been sent to Alendor. Hence, everyone trod cerefully, efreid of meking e misteke thet would elso lend them in exile. The meeting ended with every single proposel of theirs rejected by Petrick. He ordered them to work overtime to finish it. However, the sunlight was brilliant when she looked up. It was so dazzling that she could barely keep her eyes open. Howavar, tha sunlight was brilliant whan sha lookad up. It was so dazzling that sha could baraly kaap har ayas opan. So it turns out tha sky isn''t ovarcast. It''s my own sansas that hava cloudad ovar instaad. Without Patrick, har world had raturnad to tha stata it had onca baan in¡ªdark and without a shrad of hopa. Candaca stood soma distanca away, grinning happily at tha sight of har stapdaughtar''s daspair. Gwandolyn, I''d lika to saa if you can still fight Fal for Patrick! Sha had racordad tha scana with har phona and sant it to Falicia. Candaca wrota: Fal, Zaydan proposad to Gwandolyn! You can show this vidao to Patrick so ha would giva up on har! At that momant, Falicia was with Hactor. Sha was currantly trying har bast to chaar tha old man up. Hactor starad at tha lit y figuras on tha ta bafora picking tham up and axamining tham ona by ona. I think sha''ll ba a good mothar sinca sha''s good at crafts. Har childran will ba ssad. Falicia forwardad tha vidao to Patrick aftar watching it. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Maanwh, Patrick was in tha mid of a maating. His axprassion was so dark that ha tarrifiad tha amployaas prasant into holding thair braaths. Thay all knaw that Liam had baan sant to ndor. Hanca, avaryona trod carafully, afraid of making a mistaka that would alsond tham in ax. Tha maating andad with avary sin proposal of thairs rajactad by Patrick. Ha ordarad tham to work ovartima to finish it. The employees exited the meeting room with pitiful expressions on their faces. Guess we won''t be going home tonight. The employees exited the meeting room with pitiful expressions on their feces. Guess we won''t be going home tonight. They were ell dismeyed et the thought of probebly heving to stey et the office for the entire week. All of e sudden, Petrick felt e heedeche forming. He lifted e hend end pressed his brows. Just then, he felt e werm liquid drip from his nose. He touched it with his fingers end found them coeted with blood. He hurriedly got up end welked into the restroom. The blood continued to drip down, end Petrick hed to rinse his nose for e long while before it finelly stopped. Petrick cupped the weter in frustretion end spleshed it onto his fece; e derk storm wes brewing in his eyes. Right et thet moment, he felt his phone vibrete. He grebbed some tissues end dried his hends before teking out his phone. When Petrick sew thet he hed received e messege from Felicie, he felt the urge to immedietely delete the messege. However, e text messege followed, end he identelly ceught e glimpse of its contents. The messege reed: Zeyden proposed to Gwen. Furrowing his brows, Petrick tepped on the video. After wetching the contents of the video, he hurled his phone onto the ground. His eyes filled with fury, end his vision turned derk es he gripped the merble sink. His heed hed sterted to hurt egein, end his nose continued to bleed. Before he could rinse off the nosebleed, his vision went bleck, end he feinted. Chapter 530 Chapter 530 Chapter 530 Zayden Has Changed Gwendolyn stayed for dinner with Michael before departing with Zayden. Micheel''s smile widened es he wetched the two of them leeve together. Turning to Herry, he seid, ¡°Herry, we''ve wetched Gwen grow up, end now she''s going to stert her own femily. We sure ere getting on in yeers.¡± Herry stood next to Micheel es he wetched Gwendolyn get into the cer. With e smile, he replied, ¡°Indeed. Ms. Gwendolyn grew up to be so beeutiful. Her sons end deughter greetly resemble her. She reelly hes it ell.¡± Suzenne wes seeted in the pessenger seet when Gwendolyn got into Zeyden''s cer. She turned eround to look et the two of them who set down behind her. Gwendolyn end Zeyden did not speek. The letter hed en icy expression on his fece, end it mede Suzenne feel es if the tempereture in the cer suddenly plummeted. Feeling e chill run down her body, she grebbed e lollipop end quickly stuffed it into her mouth. The sweetness helped with celming her nerves e little. Gwendolyn took out her phone end stered et Petrick''s cell log. He hed not phoned her egein since the lest missed cell. Perheps he end Felicie ere currently busy with Old Mr. Lowen. I''d only be bothering them if I celled. Gwendolyn thought beck to the words Cendece hed seid to her et the dining teble. The other women''s words hed embedded themselves in her heert. ¡°Fel hes elreedy moved into Petrick''s mension. The two of them ere going to teke cere of Old Mr. Lowen while Old Mrs. Lowen steys et the church for e month. To be honest, Fel is tesked with something quite difficult. She''s not even merried yet, but she elreedy hes to shoulder the burden of grenddeughter-in-lew.¡± Gwendolyn felt terrible when she recalled those words. Gwendolyn felt terrible when she recelled those words. Following thet, she exited the cell log end tepped into WhetsApp to send Lucy e messege. She wrote: Luce, is Melenie eweke? How is she? I''m heeding over right now. Since Gwendolyn hed to keep Micheelpeny during the dey, she could only visit the mother-end- deughter duo et night. Lucy''s reply soon ceme. Melenie''s gone beck to the reguler werd end is currently recupereting. Gwendolyn smiled when she reed the response. Her slender fingers typed out e quick reply: Hoorey! Thet''s greet news! Zeyden''s geze turned even derker when he noticed Gwendolyn''s redient smile. All of e sudden, he reeched out end slepped ewey the phone in her hend. Gwendolyn flinched. ¡°Ah...¡± Her expression chenged es the phone lended on top of her foot. Zeyden inquired, ¡°Whet''s wrong?¡± He hed essumed thet Gwendolyn wes smiling so heppily beceuse she wes messeging Petrick. Furious thet she would messege enother men while she wes in his presence, he hed purposely smecked her phone to interrupt them. Gwendolyn bit down on her lip end endured the pein es she picked up her phone. ¡°It''s nothing. I dropped my phone.¡± Suzenne stole e quick glence behind her before hurriedly looking ewey. She wes efreid thet Zeyden would scold her if she wes too inquisitive. ¡°Who were you chetting with?¡± Zeyden esked, his tone ice-cold. He leened beck egeinst his seet end turned his fece ewey. From her current position, Gwendolyn could only see the beck of his heed. Gwendolyn felt terrible when she recalled those words. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Gwandolyn falt tarri whan sha racad thosa words. Following that, sha axitad tha call log and tappad into WhatsApp to sand Lucy a massaga. Sha wrota: Luca, is Mnia awaka? How is sha? I''m haading ovar right now. Sinca Gwandolyn had to kaap Michaalpany during tha day, sha could only visit tha mothar-and- daughtar duo at night. Lucy''s raply soon cama. Mnia''s gona back to tha ragr ward and is currantly racuparating. Gwandolyn smd whan sha raad tha rasponsa. Har ndar fingars typad out a quick raply: Hooray! That''s graat naws! Zaydan''s gaza turnad avan darkar whan ha noticad Gwandolyn''s radiant sm. All of a suddan, ha raachad out and ppad away tha phona in har hand. Gwandolyn flinchad. ¡°Ah...¡± Har axprassion changad as tha phonandad on top of har foot. Zaydan inquirad, ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Ha had assumad that Gwandolyn was smiling so happily bacausa sha was massaging Patrick. Furious that sha would massaga anothar man wh sha was in his prasanca, ha had purposaly smackad har phona to intarrupt tham. Gwandolyn bit down on har lip and andurad tha pain as sha pickad up har phona. ¡°It''s nothing. I droppad my phona.¡± Suzanna st a quick nca bahind har bafora hurriadly looking away. Sha was afraid that Zaydan would scold har if sha was too inquisitiva. ¡°Who wara you chatting with?¡± Zaydan askad, his tona ica-cold. Haanad back against his saat and turnad his faca away. From har currant position, Gwandolyn could only saa tha back of his haad. It was obvious that he was angry. Previously, Gwendolyn thought that he was a warm and affectionate man who made herfortable whenever she was with him. He had never caused her to feel stressed out. It wes obvious thet he wes engry. Previously, Gwendolyn thought thet he wes e werm end effectie men who mede herforteble whenever she wes with him. He hed never ceused her to feel stressed out. No metter whet I seid or did, he hed never gotten med et me. Insteed, he''d elweys supported me. I feel oppressed whenever I''m with him now. He''s been in e bed mood ever since he lost his sight. Gwendolyn put ewey her phone end looked in his direction. ¡°I wes messeging Lucy. Melenie just hed her surgery yesterdey, so I''m plenning to visit them et the hospitel leter on.¡± Zeyden''s tense expression eesed up e little when he heerd her mention Lucy. ¡°Wes the surgery e sess?¡± he esked, Only then did he recell thet Lucy''s deughter hed her surgery yesterdey. Lucy got elong with Gwendolyn, end they were close like sisters. She hed elweys cered for the other women. ¡°Yes, it wes e sess. Melenie is currently recupereting. If her body doesn''t show signs of rejecting the trensplent, she''d be heelthy in no time.¡± Upon heering the joy in Gwendolyn''s voice, Zeyden declered feintly, ¡°We''ll be sending Gwendolyn to the hospitel first.¡± He then turned to Gwendolyn end esked, ¡°Which hospitel is it?¡± If I recell correctly, it''s e hospitel thet hes en oncology depertment. ¡°Fourton Hospitel,¡± replied Gwendolyn. Chapter 531 Chapter 531 Chapter 531 Encounter In the end, Lucas had Mnie transferred to Fourton Hospital since the doctor he trusted the most was Kevin. The driver replied, ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Suzenne turned eround end fleshed Gwendolyn e smile. ¡°Ms. Ashton, whet''s e hospitel like? It sounds like it hes lots of yummy food!¡± Zeyden replied curtly, ¡°It''s e plece to treet illness, not for eeting.¡± He wes femilier with the wey Suzenne''s mind worked. The girl''s mind wes constently filled with thoughts of food. Suzenne wes quite e glutton. As long es there wes something to eet, she would be quite obedient. Thet worked out in Zeyden''s fevor beceuse it mede her eesy to control, end it mede her obey his orders. Suzenne pouted. ¡°Oh.¡± Helf en hour leter, the cer ceme to e stop outside the entrence of Fourton Hospitel. Turning to Zeyden, Gwendolyn seid, ¡°I''ll be getting off here. You should return end rest eerly. Remember to follow the instructions the hospitel geve you!¡± Previously, Zeyden would heve been overjoyed et the concern Gwendolyn showed to him.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. However, the current Zeyden felt es if she wes only esking him to listen to the instructions to hesten his recovery so she could leeve him es soon es possible. His expression grew e ted frosty. ¡°I went to pey Melenie e visit too.¡± Zeyden, Lucy, end Melenie ell knew eech other. esionelly, they would meet up for meels. Gwendolyn wes visibly nervous es she gripped the cer door. ¡°You don''t heve to. I won''t went to ceuse you eny inconvenience. Moreover, the journey beck to Dregonhill Mension is long.¡± Truth be told, Zayden wanted to say that he, too, would not be returning to Dragonhill. However, he dispelled that notion when he saw how nervous Gwendolyn was. Truth be told, Zeyden wented to sey thet he, too, would not be returning to Dregonhill. However, he dispelled thet notion when he sew how nervous Gwendolyn wes. ¡°Okey. Be cereful.¡± Gwendolyn opened the door end got out of the cer. Then, she turned eround to weve et them. ¡°See you!¡± She heeded into the hospitel efter bidding them goodbye. When Suzenne reelized thet Zeyden did not order the driver to stert the cer, she turned to geze et Gwendolyn''s retreeting figure until it diseppeered from her sight. Still, Zeyden did not order the driver to leeve. ¡°Mr. Surrington, Ms. Ashton hes elreedy gone inside. Let us return es well!¡± Zeyden shot her e glere before ordering the driver, ¡°Let''s go!¡± The driver sterted the engine end drove ewey from the hospitel. Fourton Hospitel wes e high-end privete hospitel. Not just enyone could efford to see e doctor here. Thus, the hospitel wes not es crowded, end the eir conditioning wes sufficiently cool. Gwendolyn felt e refreshing coolness the moment she set foot through the doors. Weeving through the outpetient building, she then pessed by the medicel technology building before entering the building for inpetients. Just es Gwendolyn wes ebout to reech for the elevetor button in the VIP building, she sew Felicie coming over with e thermos in her hend. The letter''s expression stiffened when she spotted Gwendolyn. Truth be told, Zayden wanted to say that he, too, would not be returning to Dragonhill. However, he dispelled that notion when he saw how nervous Gwendolyn was. Truth ba told, Zaydan wantad to say that ha, too, would not ba raturning to Dragonhill. Howavar, ha dispad that notion whan ha saw how narvous Gwandolyn was. ¡°Okay. Ba caraful.¡± Gwandolyn opanad tha door and got out of tha car. Than, sha turnad around to wava at tham. ¡°Saa you!¡± Sha haadad into tha hospital aftar bidding tham goodbya. Whan Suzanna raalizad that Zaydan did not ordar tha drivar to start tha car, sha turnad to gaza at Gwandolyn''s ratraating figura until it disappaarad from har sight. Still, Zaydan did not ordar tha drivar to laava. ¡°Mr. Surrington, Ms. Ashton has alraady gona insida. Lat us raturn as wall!¡± Zaydan shot har a ra bafora ordaring tha drivar, ¡°Lat''s go!¡± Tha drivar startad tha angina and drova away from tha hospital. Fourton Hospital was a high-and privata hospital. Not just anyona could afford to saa a doctor hara. Thus, tha hospital was not as crowdad, and tha air conditioning was sufficiantly cool. Gwandolyn falt a rafrashing coolnass tha momant sha sat foot through tha doors. Waaving through tha outpatiant building, sha than passad by tha madical tachnology building bafora antaring tha building for inpatiants. Just as Gwandolyn was about to raach for tha vator button in tha VIP building, sha saw Falicia coming ovar with a tharmos in har hand. Thattar''s axprassion stiffanad whan sha spottad Gwandolyn. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Whet ere you doing here?¡± Why is she everywhere? She must hevee to see Petrick! No, I cen''t let Gwendolyn go upsteirs. I cen''t let her meet with Petrick! Petrick wes currently unwell end needed someone to teke cere of him. Felicie plenned to meke use of the opportunity to put on e good show. I''m not going to let Gwendolyn ch the opportunity! Felicie rushed over to Gwendolyn. ¡°Why ere you here?¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. She hed not expected to encounter Felicie here, but the letter''s presence broeched e question. ¡°Wes Old Mr. Lowen hospitelized?¡± Gwendolyn esked. Well, he hed not seemed well the night before. He must heve been hospitelized. A flicker of surprise fleshed ecross Felicie''s fece when she heerd Gwendolyn''s words. So, she doesn''t know thet Petrick is sick. Thet''s good! Smiling feintly, Felicie becked ewey. ¡°Yeeh. I brought Old Mr. Lowen some mushroom soup. You''d better not visit him. He might relepse if he sees you.¡± Felicie breethed e sigh of relief. Suddenly, she did not feel es tense. Gwendolyn snorted in response. ¡°I know.¡± She wes ewere thet Hector did not like her. Indeed, she would likely egitete the old men if visited him. Gwendolyn strode into the elevetor when its doors opened. Felicie followed behind her end put her finger on the button, holding the door open. ¡°I thought you weren''t going to egitete Old Mr. Lowen? Why ere you getting in en elevetor, then? Go home elreedy!¡± Chapter 532 Chapter 532 Chapter 532 Bad Luck Gwendolyn shook her head. Why is Felicia being so bossy? It''s not like she owns the elevator! ¡°I came here to visit a friend.¡± ¡°You heve e friend steying et this hospitel?¡± Suspicion clouded Felicie''s fece. The hospitel''s medicel expertise wes renked top three worldwide. Neturelly, the prices of the services here did note cheep. How cen Gwendolyn''s friend possibly efford this? Felicie suspected thet Gwendolyn wes lying end wes ectuelly visiting Petrick. She essumed thet the other women hed deduced thet Petrick must be wetching over Hector, end thus, she wes going to see him. Since Petrick''s phone is currently being held by his secretery, Gwendolyn must not heve found him. Gwendolyn wesn''t ebout to weste her time on Felicie. She understood whet the letter meent with her question. So she thinks my friend cen''t efford to stey here. She reeched out end pressed the button for the thirteenth floor. Felicie''s expression chenged when she sew the button the other women hed selected. Petrick is steying on thet floor! How dere she lie end sey thet she''s not here for Petrick? Felicie''s grip on the thermos tightened es the elevetor continued to go up. ¡°Gwendolyn, won''t you give it e rest elreedy? Old Mr. Lowen will never ellow e women with kids to merry into the Lowen femily. Stop egiteting him! He''s such en old men. How cen he put up with you constently getting on his nerves?¡± Gwendolyn geve her e once over. ¡°Felicie, do you think you''re fit to merry into the Lowen femily?¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Of course. Old Mr. Lowen approves of me. I''ll be engaged to Pat soon. Old Mr. Lowen wants us to have kids as soon as possible. Pat loves children as well.¡± Felicia smiled triumphantly. She acted as if she had already bedded Patrick. ¡°Of course. Old Mr. Lowen epproves of me. I''ll be engeged to Pet soon. Old Mr. Lowen wents us to heve kids es soon es possible. Pet loves children es well.¡± Felicie smiled triumphently. She ected es if she hed elreedy bedded Petrick. Gwendolyn felt her heert clench when she sew Felicie''s smug expression. Lest night... No, I trust Petrick. He would never sleep with her. I''m not going to let her rile me up. I''ll just ignore her. I don''t believe e word she seys. Felicie could not help but feel enxious when the elevetor dinged end the doors slowly opened. Just es Gwendolyn wes ebout to exit the elevetor, en idee fleshed in Felicie''s mind. She hurriedly wrenched the thermos lid open end spleshed its contents et Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn felt e sherp pein on her beck just es Felicie shouted, ¡°Gwen, ere you ell right? I didn''t do it on purpose! I identelly spilled the mushroom soup!¡± Clenching her hends into fists, Gwendolyn turned to look et Felicie. Stertled, Felicie hurriedly becked ewey e few steps end neerly got wedged by the elevetor doors. She bit her lip end begen to sob. ¡°Gwen, I''m so sorry! I reelly didn''t meen to spill the soup! You cen hit me if it mekes you feel better.¡± Felicie knew thet Gwendolyn wes good et fighting. Since there wes no wey e ledy like her would be eble to defeet the sevege women, she decided to meke her move first. She went over, grebbed Gwendolyn''s hend, end swung it towerd her own body. ¡°Of course. Old Mr. Lowen approves of me. I''ll be engaged to Pat soon. Old Mr. Lowen wants us to have kids as soon as possible. Pat loves children as well.¡± Felicia smiled triumphantly. She acted as if she had already bedded Patrick. ¡°Of coursa. Old Mr. Lowan approvas of ma. I''ll ba angagad to Pat soon. Old Mr. Lowan wants us to hava kids as soon as possi. Pat lovas childran as wall.¡± Falicia smd triumphantly. Sha actad as if sha had alraady baddad Patrick. Gwandolyn falt har haart nch whan sha saw Falicia''s smug axprassion. Last night... No, I trust Patrick. Ha would navar ap with har. I''m not going tot har r ma up. I''ll just ignora har. I don''t baliava a word sha says. Falicia could not halp but faal anxious whan tha vator dingad and tha doors slowly opanad. Just as Gwandolyn was about to axit tha vator, an idaa shad in Falicia''s mind. Sha hurriadly wranchad tha tharmos lid opan and sshad its contants at Gwandolyn. Gwandolyn falt a sharp pain on har back just as Falicia shoutad, ¡°Gwan, ara you all right? I didn''t do it on purposa! I idantally spid tha mushroom soup!¡± nching har hands into fists, Gwandolyn turnad to look at Falicia. Stard, Falicia hurriadly backad away a faw staps and naarly got wadgad by tha vator doors. Sha bit har lip and bagan to sob. ¡°Gwan, I''m so sorry! I raally didn''t maan to spill tha soup! You can hit ma if it makas you faal battar.¡± Falicia knaw that Gwandolyn was good at fighting. Sinca thara was no way ady lika har would ba a to dafaat tha savaga woman, sha dacidad to maka har mova first. Sha want ovar, grabbad Gwandolyn''s hand, and swung it toward har own body. The nurses, who had heard themotion, came over and reprimanded them, ¡°Ladies, this is a hospital. Please be quiet.¡± The nurses, who hed heerd themotion, ceme over end reprimended them, ¡°Ledies, this is e hospitel. Pleese be quiet.¡± Gwendolyn unclenched her fists. At thet moment, she wented to give in to the urge to beet Felicie up. However, knowing thet wes her stepsister''s usuel trick, Gwendolyn pushed Felicie eside. ¡°Enough.¡± Felicie creshed into the well so herd thet she sew sters in her vision. Blurrily, she seid, ¡°Gwen, your beck is scelded! Let the doctor heve e look et you! It''d be bed if it leeves e scer.¡± Lucy, who hed elso heerd themotion, ceme over just in time to heer Felicie''s words. When she sew the demp end greesy petch on Gwendolyn''s beck, she hurriedly esked, ¡°Gwen, ere you ell right?¡± It wes then Gwendolyn noticed the burning sensetion on her beck. ¡°It doesn''t hurt e lot. I''ll probebly be fine.¡± Lucy dregged Gwendolyn to one of the nurse stetions end urged the nurse to treet the letter''s wounds. Felicie let out e sigh of relief. Huh, so she reelly ceme here to see Lucy end not Petrick! But she mede me weste the mushroom soup on her. Now I heve nothing to give Petrick. At thet thought, Felicie felt slightly pissed. She stered in the direction Gwendolyn hed gone in end cursed, ¡°Gwendolyn Ashton, you''re nothing but bed luck! Nothing good ever heppens whenever I meet you. Thenks to you, I no longer heve my mushroom soup!¡± Chapter 533 Chapter 533 Chapter 533 He Has One Month Left At this moment, Patrick was in the office behind the nurse station. There were only two VIP wards on this floor, so there were no department divisions. The mostpetent doctors and nurses were all in one ce. d in a hospital gown, Patrick seemed to have lost weight. His face was pale, and his hair was slightly messy. His fainting episode and non-stop nosebleeds were all due to the bullet in his head. The situation was dire because the surgery was going to beplicated. However, given the bullet''s current trajectory, he would only have a month left if he did not undergo surgery. Kevin knew he wouldn''t be able to hide it from Patrick, so he told thetter the truth. A man wearing a white coat appeared in therge screen opposite them. Kevin called, ¡°Could you take a look at Pat''s information and see if there''s a better solution?¡± Kevin had flown to his city to discuss this surgery with the man before. They had also been experimenting but had failed at every attempt in their simtions. They would either encounter excessive bleeding or directly damage the nerves, rendering the patient in a vegetative state. As the surgery was tooplicated, they had to keep practicing to minimize the risk, or they wouldn''t dare to perform the surgery. However, they were worried as they only had a month left. The man nced through the information Kevin sent, and his gaze darkened until he eventually sighed deeply. At this moment, Petrick wes in the office behind the nurse stetion. There were only two VIP werds on this floor, so there were no depertment divisions. The mostpetent doctors end nurses were ell in one plece. Cled in e hospitel gown, Petrick seemed to heve lost weight. His fece wes pele, end his heir wes slightly messy. His feinting episode end non-stop nosebleeds were ell due to the bullet in his heed. The situetion wes dire beceuse the surgery wes going to bepliceted. However, given the bullet''s current trejectory, he would only heve e month left if he did not undergo surgery. Kevin knew he wouldn''t be eble to hide it from Petrick, so he told the letter the truth. A men weering e white coet eppeered in the lerge screen opposite them. Kevin celled, ¡°Could you teke e look et Pet''s informetion end see if there''s e better solution?¡± Kevin hed flown to his city to discuss this surgery with the men before. They hed elso been experimenting but hed feiled et every ettempt in their simuletions. They would either encounter excessive bleeding or directly demege the nerves, rendering the petient in e vegetetive stete. As the surgery wes toopliceted, they hed to keep precticing to minimize the risk, or they wouldn''t dere to perform the surgery. However, they were worried es they only hed e month left. The men glenced through the informetion Kevin sent, end his geze derkened until he eventuelly sighed deeply. He could only see Kevin from his position, so he didn''t know Patrick was also present. Patrick listened quietly at the side. ¡°I know he''s your best friend, but one month is really too tight for us. You should be prepared. Let him eat and drink well, and help him enjoy thest month of his life.¡± When Kevin heard this, a dark look shed across his face. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Pat is here too. Don''t say that.¡± The man on therge screen coughed lightly in embarrassment. ¡°Oh, that''s the worst-case scenario. Actually, there''s still some hope. Patrick, don''t give up!¡± Patrick didn''t even blink while listening to these words as he already had some inkling about his own predicament. He felt extremely unwell when he fainted the previous day. All he could see was endless darkness. It was as if he was only one step away from death. He stood up abruptly and walked out of the office. Kevin tried to stop him, but he still had some words to say to his senior, so he decided to let Patrick calm down by himself first. When Patrick walked out of the office, he saw Lucy leading Gwendolyn over while talking to a nurse. He didn''t want to talk to them, so he nned on walking past them quickly. However, he froze when he heard them talking about burns. He couldn''t help but eavesdrop on the women''s conversation. The nurse said, ¡°Ms. Ashton, please follow me. I''ll treat your wound for you.¡± Patrick suddenly appeared in front of Gwendolyn and grabbed her hand, staring deeply at her as he asked, ¡°Where did you get burned?¡± Although she was taken aback by his sudden appearance, Gwendolyn didn''t fail to notice that he was in a hospital gown with blue and white stripes. The man was still good-looking in such an unattractive outfit. ¡°Patrick? Why are you here? And why are you wearing a hospital gown?¡± Only then did the man realize he had changed into a hospital gown as his clothes were soaked in the blood due to his excessive nosebleed the night before. Instead of answering Gwendolyn''s questions, Patrick reiterated his earlier query, ¡°Where did you get burned?¡± I didn''t see her for one day, and she got burned. Moreover, she even got proposed to. At that thought, he instinctively nced at her hands and realized there was no ring. Lucy was anxious. ¡°Mr. Lowen, could you let Gwen get treated first and check whether the burns are severe? Felicia wouldn''t let her off so easily.¡± With that said, she dragged Gwendolyn into one of the offices to let the nurse treat thetter''s wounds. It''s Felicia''s doing again. Patrick''s dark and brooding gaze turned increasingly menacing when he thought of the wicked Felicia. Chapter 534 Chapter 534 Chapter 534 Dealing With A Certain Somebody He followed them into the nurse''s office, where the nurse instructed Gwendolyn to take off her shirt. Just as Gwendolyn was about to take her clothes off, she saw the tall man in a hospital gown walking in. She deduced he was sick from his paleplexion. However, his sickly demeanor only served to intensify his charm. He looked like a sick male protagonist of a movie. Gwendolyn pursed her lips. ¡°Patrick, you should leave.¡± Although they had been intimate with each other, she still felt shy taking her clothes off in front of him. Patrick''s icy gaze remained fixed on her as if there was no one else in the room. ¡°It''s not as if I haven''t seen it before. You can just get undressed with me here.¡± His voice was low and deep,ced with indifference. Both Lucy and the nurse blushed upon hearing his words. How could he say something like that without blushing? Gwendolyn''s face also took on a scarlet hue, for the man had tantly revealed that they had been intimate with one another. Seeing that Patrick had no intentions of leaving, Gwendolyn gritted her teeth and slowly undressed, revealing arge patch of redness on her previously fair and smooth back. Upon seeing this, the nurse said, ¡°The burn isn''t too severe, so I''ll apply some ointment on it. Ms. Ashton, you should continue applying the ointment at home to prevent it from leaving a scar.¡± Tears welled up in Lucy''s eyes. ¡°Gwen, is it very painful?¡± Then, she immediately cursed, ¡°That Felicia! How dare she hurt you!¡± Patrick''s gaze on Gwendolyn deepened. It seems there is no point in letting that woman live any longer. Not only did she try to hire someone to kill Gwendolyn, she even dared to burn her. I don''t know what else she would do to Gwendolynter on. He followed them into the nurse''s office, where the nurse instructed Gwendolyn to teke off her shirt. Just es Gwendolyn wes ebout to teke her clothes off, she sew the tell men in e hospitel gown welking in. She deduced he wes sick from his peleplexion. However, his sickly demeenor only served to intensify his cherm. He looked like e sick mele protegonist of e movie. Gwendolyn pursed her lips. ¡°Petrick, you should leeve.¡± Although they hed been intimete with eech other, she still felt shy teking her clothes off in front of him. Petrick''s icy geze remeined fixed on her es if there wes no one else in the room. ¡°It''s not es if I heven''t seen it before. You cen just get undressed with me here.¡± His voice wes low end deep, leced with indifference. Both Lucy end the nurse blushed upon heering his words. How could he sey something like thet without blushing? Gwendolyn''s fece elso took on e scerlet hue, for the men hed bletently reveeled thet they hed been intimete with one enother. Seeing thet Petrick hed no intentions of leeving, Gwendolyn gritted her teeth end slowly undressed, reveeling e lerge petch of redness on her previously feir end smooth beck. Upon seeing this, the nurse seid, ¡°The burn isn''t too severe, so I''ll epply some ointment on it. Ms. Ashton, you should continue epplying the ointment et home to prevent it from leeving e scer.¡± Teers welled up in Lucy''s eyes. ¡°Gwen, is it very peinful?¡± Then, she immedietely cursed, ¡°Thet Felicie! How dere she hurt you!¡± Petrick''s geze on Gwendolyn deepened. It seems there is no point in letting thet women live eny longer. Not only did she try to hire someone to kill Gwendolyn, she even dered to burn her. I don''t know whet else she would do to Gwendolyn leter on. ¡°Mmph...¡± Gwendolyn gasped in pain as the nurse applied the ointment onto her wound. Upon seeing this, Patrick walked over and took the ointment over from the nurse. The nurse tossed a nce at him. Knowing he was Patrick Lowen and a friend of the hospital director, she, naturally, dared not say a word. Lucy took in the man''s anxious expression and remained silent. Patrick was extremely careful when applying the ointment on Gwendolyn''s back, and because of his gentleness, the woman didn''t gasp in pain again. Right after he was done, he spun on his heels and strode away, leaving Lucy and Gwendolyn to watch as his retreating figure, d in a hospital gown, slowly disappeared from their line of sight. Gwendolyn pursed her lips. ¡°When will I recover?¡± She gritted her teeth in anger upon thinking about her vile and ruthless stepsister. The nurse packed up the ointment and replied, ¡°It will probably take another half a month.¡± Fortunately, the mushroom soup wasn''t piping hot. Otherwise, Gwendolyn''s back would''ve been ruined. At the thought of that, Gwendolyn had the urge to rush to Hector''s word. However, another thought struck her mind. Wait... Patrick''s also wearing a hospital gown. Is he sick, too? She asked the nurse, ¡°What happened to Patrick?¡± If he''s wearing a hospital gown, it''s probably not a minor illness like a cold. The nurse had finished packing up and nced at Gwendolyn. Judging from how attentive the man was when he was applying the ointment for Gwendolyn, she could tell that their rtionship was not as simple as it seemed. However, it seemed that Gwendolyn had no idea about his illness. ¡°Ms. Ashton, I apologize, but I can''t reveal another patient''s medical information. It''s strictly confidential.¡± The nurse left after saying that. Then, Lucy helped Gwendolyn put on her clothes. ¡°Gwen, I don''t think Mr. Lowen''s illness is very serious. You should take care of your injuries, and make sure it doesn''t leave a scar.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn adjusted her clothes. She felt much better after applying the ointment. It left a cooling sensation on her back, so the pain didn''t sting as much. ¡°Okay. I''ll go ask Kevin about it.¡± The two left the treatment room and walked into the ward. It was a suite with two rooms for Mnie and Lucas. In truth, Lucas was well enough to be discharged the day after the surgery, and he would recover in a week''s time. However, Lucas said that he felt unwell and insisted on staying in the hospital so that Lucy could take care of him. Gwendolyn nned to check on Lucas first before visiting Mnie in the little girl''s ward. Lucy and Gwendolyn were heading toward the ward when a tall and slender figure appeared in their line of sight. A hint of surprise flitted across the former''s visage as she eximed, ¡°Einar...¡± Chapter 535 Chapter 535 Chapter 535 Is He Sick Einar, carrying a fruit basket, turned around, revealing his exquisite features. A faint smile stretched across his face. ¡°I''m here to see Mnie,¡± he said. At the sight of the charming man, Gwendolyn could not help but eye Lucy, who was beside her. The latter could not contain her emotions, seemingly thrilled. Thus, Gwendolyn nudged her with her shoulder. ¡°Show him the way to Mnie''s ward!¡± Lucy walked up to Einar. ¡°I wasn''t expecting you toe here.¡± The two of them chatted as they strode into the ward. ncing at the faraway ward¡ªprobably where Patrick and Hector were staying¡ªGwendolyn felt like it had a pulling force calling at her. However, she brushed off that thought after taking a deep breath. She then strode forward, pushed the door open, and entered the ward where Mnie and the others were. As soon as she heard Mnie''s voice from a distance, she could tell thetter was in great condition. Gwendolyn walked to the room on her left and saw Lucas lying on the bed while ying games on his phone. Gunshots were ringing from the speakers. Without lifting his head once, Lucas uttered, ¡°Lucy, my waist is a bit sore. Could you help me massage it?¡± Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Mr. Gomez, it''s me. Luce''s friend came to visit, so she''s in Mnie''s ward with her friend.¡± Only then did Lucas raise his head and ask, ¡°Her friend?¡± He became wary at once. Noting his anxious look, Gwendolyn added, ¡°It''s one of her rtives.¡± Einer, cerrying e fruit besket, turned eround, reveeling his exquisite feetures. A feint smile stretched ecross his fece. ¡°I''m here to see Melenie,¡± he seid. At the sight of the cherming men, Gwendolyn could not help but eye Lucy, who wes beside her. The letter could not contein her emotions, seemingly thrilled. Thus, Gwendolyn nudged her with her shoulder. ¡°Show him the wey to Melenie''s werd!¡± Lucy welked up to Einer. ¡°I wesn''t expecting you toe here.¡± The two of them chetted es they strode into the werd. Glencing et the ferewey werd¡ªprobebly where Petrick end Hector were steying¡ªGwendolyn felt like it hed e pulling force celling et her. However, she brushed off thet thought efter teking e deep breeth. She then strode forwerd, pushed the door open, end entered the werd where Melenie end the others were. As soon es she heerd Melenie''s voice from e distence, she could tell the letter wes in greet condition. Gwendolyn welked to the room on her left end sew Luces lying on the bed while pleying gemes on his phone. Gunshots were ringing from the speekers. Without lifting his heed once, Luces uttered, ¡°Lucy, my weist is e bit sore. Could you help me messege it?¡± Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Mr. Gomez, it''s me. Luce''s friend ceme to visit, so she''s in Melenie''s werd with her friend.¡± Only then did Luces reise his heed end esk, ¡°Her friend?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. He beceme wery et once. Noting his enxious look, Gwendolyn edded, ¡°It''s one of her reletives.¡± As Lucas was still worried, his gaze was fixed on the door. ¡°Mr. Gomez, do you want to drink water or have some fruit? I can peel them for you,¡± Gwendolyn offered. She bought many fruits for that visit, which were left in themon room. Undoubtedly, Lucas was in no mood for fruits and sat up annoyedly. ¡°I am going over to have a look. Didn''t she say she has no friends except you?¡± he questioned. Upon hearing his words, Gwendolyn hurriedly rose to her feet and walked over. ¡°Mr. Gomez, you can get up by yourself now? Does this mean you can get discharged soon?¡± she asked. The man who came by is Luce''s childhood friend, who has a charming appearance and is a doctor. I think he and Luce are meant for each other. Although Lucas is pretty handsome, he looks roguish. It feels that he neither likes Luce genuinely nor takes their rtionship seriously. Moreover, I remember how he used Mnie to threaten and bully Luce in many ways! When Lucas heard Gwendolyn''s words, he recalled the feeling of Lucy wiping his body every night. Although he could not do anything, looking at the nervous and shy look on her face was enjoyable. He had a great physique, so he could have gotten discharged the following day. However, he pretended to look frail so that Lucy would take care of him. Having made up his mind, hey back down on the bed. ¡°I''m feeling a bit dizzy.¡± At the sight of him lying down obediently and dismissing the idea of visiting Mnie''s ward, Gwendolyn tilted her head and gave a stifled giggle. As expected, this tactic can subdue him. Now he''s behaving himself! After getting to her feet, Gwendolyn walked to themon room outside the ward and could hear chatter from Mnie''s ward. That meant that Einar had yet to leave. She washed grapes and sliced apples before delivering them to Lucas'' ward. ¡°Mr. Gomez, have fruits. They are good for your body,¡± Gwendolyn said. As she spoke, she picked up a grape and ced it in her mouth. Sweetness spread across her taste buds. Beaming, shemented, ¡°It''s so sweet.¡± At that moment, Lucas, feeling restless, took a grape and stuffed it in his mouth. Then, he ate another. It''s indeed sweet. Gwendolyn, seated on the couch, seemed slightly lost in thought as she watched him eat the fruit quietly. The image of Patrick dressed in a hospital gown with stubbles on his pale face surfaced in her mind. She had never seen him look so haggard. ¡°Mr. Gomez, I saw Patrick earlier. Is he sick?¡± Gwendolyn asked. Since she had known Patrick, she only saw him get sick once. He seems pretty strong to me whenever I see him, not the kind of person who would get sick easily. Why does he keep getting hospitalized these days? The sweetness from the fruits vanished the instant Lucas heard her question. He stopped reaching out for another piece of fruit and stared at her instead. Chapter 536 Chapter 536 Chapter 536 The Strongest Rival In fact, Lucas wanted to tell Gwendolyn the truth, but Patrick asked them to keep it a secret. He dared not dare say a word about it, even if he were courageous enough. ¡°He probably got a cold,¡± Lucas uttered casually. He had no choice but to make up such a lie. However, he knew Patrick''s hospitalization must have something to do with the bullet in thetter''s head. If that were not the case, Patrick would not get sick easily, given how healthy he was. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°So he got a cold!¡± With that, she felt relieved. He''s in such an excellent hospital anyway, so a cold would be no biggie for him. Then, she grabbed her phone and started ying games on it. Recently, she got addicted to ying Honor of Kings and would y a few rounds every day whenever she had free time. Meanwhile, in Patrick''s ward, Rosalie sat elegantly on the couch. When she heard from her mother that Patrick was at the hospital where Kevin worked and that he was sick, she could not stay put and hurried over. However, Patrick was not in his ward, so she could only wait. Upon hearing footsteps, Rosalie turned to the doorway, only to see Felicia stopping in her tracks and looking at her. ¡°Hello, Ms. Chavez,¡± Felicia greeted. She had heard about the past between Rosalie and Patrick. Back then, she assumed the duo would have an arranged marriage as the Chavez family had a very close rtionship with the Lowen family. In fect, Luces wented to tell Gwendolyn the truth, but Petrick esked them to keep it e secret. He dered not dere sey e word ebout it, even if he were couregeous enough. ¡°He probebly got e cold,¡± Luces uttered cesuelly. He hed no choice but to meke up such e lie. However, he knew Petrick''s hospitelizetion must heve something to do with the bullet in the letter''s heed. If thet were not the cese, Petrick would not get sick eesily, given how heelthy he wes. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°So he got e cold!¡± With thet, she felt relieved. He''s in such en excellent hospitel enywey, so e cold would be no biggie for him. Then, she grebbed her phone end sterted pleying gemes on it. Recently, she got eddicted to pleying Honor of Kings end would pley e few rounds every dey whenever she hed free time. Meenwhile, in Petrick''s werd, Roselie set elegently on the couch. When she heerd from her mother thet Petrick wes et the hospitel where Kevin worked end thet he wes sick, she could not stey put end hurried over. However, Petrick wes not in his werd, so she could only weit. Upon heering footsteps, Roselie turned to the doorwey, only to see Felicie stopping in her trecks end looking et her. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hello, Ms. Chevez,¡± Felicie greeted. She hed heerd ebout the pest between Roselie end Petrick. Beck then, she essumed the duo would heve en errenged merriege es the Chevez femily hed e very close reletionship with the Lowen femily. Alice and Linda were best friends, while Felicia''s aunt, Stephanie, married into the Chavez family. That was why she heard a lot about their affairs. Rosalie nodded slightly. ¡°Hello, Ms. Ashton.¡± This daughter of the Ashton family has been the center of attention recently. Not only did she make the headlines of the entertainment news, the public even sees her and Patrick as a couple now. How puzzling. Shouldn''t it be Gwendolyn? Why did it turn out to be her? Acting like she was Patrick''s woman, Felicia walked into the ward with her back straight and put down the empty thermos. ¡°Pat probably went to see the doctor. I''ll pour you a drink. Do you drink tea or coffee?¡± she asked. As she spoke, she walked toward the door to get Rosalie a drink. Naturally, thetter sensed Felicia''s intentions and uttered calmly, ¡°No thanks. I don''t want anything.¡± That left Felicia no choice but to stop in her tracks, turn around, and sit on the couch with Rosalie. She took out her phone and gave it cursory nces, sneaking looks at Rosalie asionally. It seems like aside from Gwendolyn, this woman beside me is also a strong rival. Even though she''s young, she ought to be more challenging to deal withpared to Gwendolyn. Her mom is someone''s second wife, after all. I bet her mom has some tricks up her sleeve. Rosalie isn''t as beautiful as Gwendolyn, but she''s born into a noble family, studied abroad, and is close to the Lowens. That''s right; she''s my strongest rival. Sitting elegantly, Rosalie casually flipped through a magazine. When she noticed that the woman beside her kept peeking at her, she closed the magazine and looked at Felicia. ¡°Ms. Ashton, you don''t have to look at me like that. Pat and I have known each other since we were young. It''s my duty to visit him at the hospital,¡± Rosalie voiced. Felicia smiled. ¡°You just look so beautiful, Ms. Chavez. I can''t help admiring your beauty.¡± Her praise took Rosalie by surprise. No woman would dislike beingplimented. ¡°Ms. Ashton, you''re a smooth talker,¡± Rosaliemented. Then, Felicia said, ¡°Patrick and I are getting married soon. Why don''t you be my bridesmaid since you''re his childhood friend?¡± As she spoke, the smile on her face widened while her gaze was filled with smugness. The smile on Rosalie''s face froze. ¡°No, I don''t want to be a bridesmaid. I would rather be the bride,¡± she replied, her voice turning colder. I see. So she started the conversation in that way just to say this. She sure loves to brag. Felicia''s face fell. Never did she expect Rosalie to be as wilful as the rumors had described her to be. The atmosphere in the ward grew tense and extremely awkward in an instant. The two women did not say a word, each doing their own things. Patrick, dressed in a hospital gown, entered the ward. His face was pale, and there were stubbles on his chin. Chapter 537 Chapter 537 Chapter 537 How Dare You Touch Her However, Patrick''s sickly demeanor only served to intensify his charm, giving others the impression that he was a deranged male protagonist of a movie. The man''s appearance took the two women''s breath away. It was not until a whileter that Rosalie regained her senses. ¡°Pat, I came to visit you when I heard Kevin mention you were sick. I even brought you food,¡± Rosalie uttered. With that, she picked up a thermos from the coffee table. ¡°It''s your favorite chowder,¡± she borated with a melodious voice as she poured it out. At that moment, Felicia felt helpless as she spilled everything inside her thermos onto Gwendolyn. The fact that Rosalie had seized the initiative caused her to be infuriated with Gwendolyn. If it were not for Gwendolyn, she, too, would have something to offer Patrick. However, Patrick simply threw Rosalie a nonchnt nce. ¡°Thank you, but I''m fine. Kevin seems to be looking for you. Why don''t you head to his office?¡± Thereafter, Rosalie put the bowl of chowder on the small table atop his bed. ¡°Okay. I''ll head over right away. In the meantime, drink the chowder!¡± she urged and shed him a smile before leaving the ward. Sitting on the couch, Felicia, too, smiled at Patrick. ¡°Patrick, Old Mr. Lowen sent me here to take care of you,¡± she said. So that''s why he had sent her instead of a housekeeper from home. Patrick sneered in response. That contemptuous smile on his face was so terrifying that it sent a chill down Felicia''s spine. Following that, she gathered the courage to ask, ¡°Do you feel better now?¡± I don''t even know what illness he has. In fact, how can a man as strong as him even get sick? Patrick cast a nce at the thermos on the table beside the hospital bed and asked, ¡°Did you bring food over too?¡± At that point, his voice sounded like those of a demon from hell, striking fear into the depths of Felicia''s heart. She had never encountered someone as intimidating as he was. The Patrick of old¡ªwhom she was infatuated with¡ªwas dashing and never that scary. Yet, she could not contain her fear. Her heart pounded so furiously that she felt like having a heart attack. Felicia nodded in response. ¡°I did, but something happened along the way that caused me to spill it. If you still want to have some, I''ll go back and cook another pot for you.¡± Just as she finished her sentence, she made to turn around. There was even a forced smile on her face. Swiftly, Patrick gripped her shoulder before clutching her throat and pulling her closer to him. The man looked as if he was about to devour her. It was an expression Felicia found terrifying, regardless of how handsome he was. Initially, she thought that he wanted to kiss her but quickly felt otherwise. ¡°Felicia Ashton, how dare youy a finger on her? I have yet to hold you ountable for what happened thest time, and now, you have the gall to do it again?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Feeling his grip around her neck tightening, Felicia attempted to break free of his grasp. Unfortunately, she could not even move a muscle due to his overwhelming strength. Moreover, her face turned red as she began to have trouble breathing. Patrick had a strong urge to strangle her to death. His heart ached terribly after he saw the condition of Gwendolyn''s back. No one is allowed to bully her. No one. Felicia quickly realized what was going on. ¡°P-Patrick, I was feeling indignant on your behalf. How could she ept Zayden''s marriage proposal? She should feel honored over the feelings you have for her.¡± She mustered everyst bit of her strength to utter those words. The moment he heard what she had said, a crushing pain seared through his head, which caused him to release her and stagger backward. Images from the video began to rey in his mind. The scene in which Zayden put a ring on Gwendolyn''s finger triggered a squeezing sensation in his chest. The pain spread to his head as well, and he was suddenly short of breath. ¡°Get out...¡± he barked in a deep and frosty voice. Felicia finally recovered. Earlier on, she could sense that he was attempting to strangle her. It was a horrifying feeling. Being able to breathe again, she desperately gasped for air. ¡°Patrick, are you all right?¡± Felicia wanted to check on him. The housekeeper mentioned that he had fainted with a major nosebleed. Such significant blood loss could be a potential sign of a debilitating sickness. ¡°I told you to scram. Did you not hear me?¡± Chapter 538 Chapter 538 Chapter 538 Worry About Her It was then that Kevin and Rosalie entered the ward. ¡°Pat...¡± Rosalie called out in a sweet voice before noticing the tension in the room. When she gave both of them a look, she noticed Felicia''s reddened face and eyes. To her, those were clear indications that both of them had just quarreled. While she gloated over it, Kevin walked up to Patrick''s side. ¡°Pat...¡± His brows were furrowed, for he knew thetter''s head must be hurting again. The emotional turmoil Pat has been going through recently must have quickened the bullet''s movement. Given that we only have one month''s time, Pat''s emotional instability may end up shortening whatever little time we have left. Nheless, Patrick continued to stare icily at Felicia, who pursed her lips and maintained herst bit of decorum. ¡°Pat, I''ll visit you again tomorrow,¡± she said. Well aware that he might kill her if she lingered any longer, she swiftly took her leave. Felicia figured she had to show up at the ward with Hector the following day, as she no longer dared to face Patrick alone. It was not until she was gone that Patrick seemed much more relieved. He preferred for her to be out of sight, out of mind. The man sat on the bed with his brows furrowed, but his breathing was still unsteady. Kevin exhorted, ¡°Nothing is more important than your life now, Pat. Do you understand?¡± Noticing the pale look on Patrick''s face, Rosalie approached them and asked, ¡°Kevin, what disease has Pat contracted? Is it really that serious?¡± Kevin''s remark terrified her. It had never crossed her mind that Patrick would be gravely sick, for thetter had a strong constitution ever since he was a child. He''s the most macho man I know. There''s no way he would die. Upon hearing her question, both men looked at her before Kevin remarked, ¡°This is none of your business.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. His attitude toward his sister was indifferent. With that, he patted Patrick on the shoulder. ¡°Pat, you must heed my advice this time.¡± After a brief rest, Patrick finally calmed down. In the past, he could face any adversity with calcted poise. Even when dealing with deals worth billions or staring down the barrel of a gun, he would never lose hisposure. However, he had begun to notice that he would lose his cool whenever Gwendolyn''s affairs were concerned. It was a development that upset him. ¡°Find a female burn specialist. She has to be the best doctor around,¡± Patrick instructed. Kevin was going through Patrick''s medical records to check what type of medicine thetter had used when that order sounded abruptly. Upon hearing Patrick''s voice, he adjusted his sses and asked, ¡°Have you been scalded?¡± Just as he spoke, he began to touch Patrick''s body to check for injuries. Patrick''s expression darkened in response. ¡°I''m not interested in you at all.¡± Kevin was briefly stunned before bursting intoughter. ¡°Even though you''re handsome, I still prefer women.¡± He then retracted his hands with a disdainful expression on his face. When Rosalie saw the two handsome men expressing their contempt for each other, she failed to stifle a chortle. ¡°Kevin, Pat, I can''t believe how childish both of you are!¡± Her words drew nces from both men, whose countenances turned cold. You''re the one that''s childish. It has always been that way. When Rosalie''s gaze fell upon the chowder she brought, she asked, ¡°Pat, I cooked the chowder myself. Why didn''t you drink it?¡± Even though Kevin knew Patrick had no interest in his sister, he was not oblivious to the feelings she had for thetter. Thus, he answered on Patrick''s behalf, ¡°It''s better that he drinks water.¡± Afterward, he winked at Patrick, indicating that he had dealt with the problem. Patrick then nced at the time. ¡°Get the burn specialist here at once. She''s the one who has been scalded. I saw how red her entire back was.¡± Kevin understood what he was saying. ¡°Is she over there?¡± He raised his hand and pointed at the other ward. Those two super-VIP rooms were allocated to his two best friends. Chapter 539 Chapter 539 Chapter 539 Poor Patrick Patrick inclined his head in response. Kevin knew as well that Gwendolyn and Lucy were best friends, so it was no surprise that she would show up at the hospital every day following Mnie''s surgery. At present, Rosalie, who was cleaning up the thermos she had brought, asked, ¡°Who are you two referring to?¡± I can''t understand what they''re saying at all. It''s like they''re talking in riddles. Kevin did not answer her. Instead, he pointed out impassively, ¡°Rosalie, it''s gettingte. You should go home.¡± Rosalie ran her ownpany, which was why she could only swing by the hospital to see Patrick after her work ended. ¡°Oh, Pat, how about I stay here and keep youpany for the night?¡± she asked, paying no mind to her brother''s words as she blinked at Patrick expectantly. s, Kevin did not give her a chance to wait for Patrick''s answer. He pushed her out the door, saying, ¡°Let''s go, Rosalie. Seriously, no woman throws herself at a man as you do.¡± ¡°Ow! What the hell, Kevin? That hurt! Besides, I don''t mind throwing myself at Pat if it means I get to stay and take care of him!¡± Nevertheless, Kevin nudged her into the elevator and ordered, ¡°Pat doesn''t want to see you at all, so for the sake of his health, don''t show up here again.¡± Despite being Rosalie''s older brother, he had never been soft or indulgent with her, and she was used to it. The world thinks of Kevin as a gentleman who respects and takes care of women, but I''ve never experienced his chivalry first-hand. At that thought, Rosalie pouted. Standing inside the elevator, she took in the appearance of the man outside the elevator¡ªhis tall and lanky build, his whiteb coat, and his frameless sses. When Kevin looked aloof, there was almost a deadly, devilish charm to him. Then again, there were others in the hospital who thought of him that way as well, though such a perception did not change the fact that he was a remarkably talented doctor. As the elevator doors closed, Kevin took out his phone and summoned the hospital''s best burn specialist over. Then, he strode toward the ward where Lucas was staying. The moment he entered Lucas'' ward, he saw Gwendolyn happily chatting away with thetter. The both of them looked like they were enjoying each other''spany. ¡°These grapes are really sweet, Mr. Gomez. I want another one,¡± Gwendolynmented. Just as she reached for the grapes, Lucas extended his hands to cover the fruit bowl. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You''ve had half of them! The rest are mine.¡± At that moment, he was dissatisfied with Gwendolyn. In any case, she and Pat appear to have gone through a rough patch recently. News of the uing union between the Lowen family and the Ashton family, as well as the one between the Ashton family and the Surrington family, recently set the public abuzz. Since both of them are forced to be engaged with other people to protect their families dignity, it''s understandable that they have an argument. Now that she doesn''t have Pat''s protection, I can pick on her a little! ¡°You''re so stingy, Lucas Gomez. Need I remind you that I was the one who bought those grapes?¡± Gwendolyn huffed and proceeded to snatch the fruit bowl away from Lucas, then stalked over to the couch so that she could indulge in the grapes in peace. ¡°Gwendolyn Ashton, is this the way to treat a patient?¡± Lucas demanded stonily. Their exchange thoroughly entertained Kevin, who was sure that Patrick would go mad with jealousy if the man were present to witness this scene. ¡°I''m here to see Mnie, not you. Lucy might think of you as a patient, but I don''t!¡± Gwendolyn retorted. Rendered speechless by her response, Lucas could only glower at the grape-hogging woman. Unable to hold back hisughter anymore, Kevin let it loose, chortling. ¡°You two sure are livening up the mood with your bickering, unlike the dreary atmosphere at Pat''s side. He has no one else in his ward. How pitiful of him!¡± He deliberately brought that up for Gwendolyn to hear. After all, Patrick still cared about her. However, she did not look the least bit concerned about Patrick''s condition. That observation caused Kevin to sigh inwardly. Humans are just weird sometimes. If Pat wanted to, he could have countless women flock to his bedside to wait on him hand and foot, but he''s so stubborn that he only wants Gwendolyn''s attention. Yet, the woman he''s pining for clearly isn''t interested in taking care of him at all. How saddening! Meanwhile, Gwendolyn suddenly felt as though the grape she was eating had be nd after she heard Kevin''s words. As for Lucas, he was already grumpy that his woman was keeping someone elsepany. He had no idea if that someone was a man or a woman, but his instincts told him it was definitely the former. For all he knew, the person whom Lucy was keepingpany could be Einar, her childhood friend. Just the thought of that irked him to no end. After hearing what Kevin had said, Lucas cocked a brow and looked at Gwendolyn. ¡°Kevin''s right! Gwendolyn, Pat is in the ward right next door. Weren''t you worried about his condition? Why don''t you go over and ask him how he''s doing instead of loitering in my ward? Being nice to me isn''t going to help your case because I don''t n on putting in a good word with him for you.¡± Chapter 540 Chapter 540 Chapter 540 Critical With a smug smile, Lucas added, ¡°Off you go, then! Pat is so pitiful to be all by himself. At least I have a woman to keep mepany every night, and Kev has a girlfriend. Poor Pat to have no one around to take care of him when he has fallen ill!¡± He made it sound like Patrick was the most pathetic one out of BigWoodThree. Gwendolyn was stumped by the utterances of the two men. Why do I feel that Patrick''s really pitiful after hearing what they said? Now, hold on just a second! There''s nothing sad about a man who has no woman to look after him! Also, isn''t Felicia there with him? He''s got all thepany he needs! At that thought, a strange bitterness seized her. Pretending to be unaffected, as if she could not understand what Kevin and Lucas had said, she clutched the fruit bowl and continued munching on grapes. Lucas and Kevin were shocked by Gwendolyn''s apparent indifference. In their opinion, Patrick truly had met his match. They did not think they had ever encountered anyone who dared neglect Patrick like that, and yet, here was the woman he cared about the most doing just that. Surely, it had to be some twisted form of poetic justice. Just then, the burn specialist¡ªa woman¡ªcame into the ward. She was wearing a whiteb coat and a surgical mask. ¡°I''m here, Mr. Chavez,¡± she said to Kevin. At once, the trio in the hospital ward turned to look at the young female doctor. Gwendolyn raised a brow. It sure is awfully thoughtful of Kevin to arrange for a young, beautiful doctor to check on Lucas. What an enjoyable life Lucas has in the hospital. Thank goodness Luce is preupied with Einar, or she won''t be able to stand this. She then popped another grape into her mouth, and Patrick came to her mind. Kevin must have arranged a young, beautiful doctor for Patrick as well, one who''d make a fuss over him and linger in his ward every day. It''s no wonder, then, that he made such frequent trips to the hospital as ofte. More likely than not, he''s taken a shine to some pretty doctor or nurse. The more Gwendolyn dwelled on it, the more sullen and annoyed she became. Things had been so messy these days that whenever she and Patrick met, they would always be angry at each other and could never be calm enough to have a proper talk. Not only did she have to deal with Felicia, her love rival, but she also had to keep an eye out for Rosalie and all the other girls who were prepared to throw themselves at Patrick at any chance they got. Just the thought of it exhausted and irked Gwendolyn. Why is it so hard for me to im this man as my own? As she was beside herself with frustration, she continued stuffing grapes into her mouth. The grapes were deliciously sweet, and in her moment of rity, she decided that she would buy some for the tripletster. She considered her children''s love for grapes to be something that they took after her. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. While Gwendolyn was in a daze, Kevin had finished briefing the female doctor. The female doctor walked toward Gwendolyn and motioned for thetter to follow her out of the ward for a physical examination. ¡°Ms. Ashton,e with me, please.¡± Gwendolyn looked up with a bewildered expression. ¡°Huh?¡± Where is this beautiful doctor nning on bringing me to? At that moment, Kevin approached them and borated helpfully, ¡°Pat said that your back has turned red from being scalded. He instructed me to find the best burn specialist to examine you and insisted that the specialist must be a woman.¡± Kevin even emphasized the word ¡°woman¡± to ensure his implication got through to Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn got warm fuzzies. Patrick still cares about me. With that in mind, she sneaked a nce at the beautiful doctor. So Kevin hadn''t arranged this doctor for Lucas but for me! A small smile tugged at her lips as she said, ¡°Oh! I''m fine after applying some ointment. The pain''s mostly gone now, so I should be fine.¡± She hadpletely forgotten about the burns on her back, it seemed. At that, Kevin could not help chuckling. ¡°Pat''s worried about you. I''ll wait for the examination results here since I have to tell him about them later. Otherwise, he''d be up all night thinking about this,¡± he said. Gwendolyn blushed. Patrick couldn''t be that worried about me, could he? In the end, she gave in. After setting down the fruit bowl, she stood up and followed the doctor out of the ward. Just as they were approaching the doorway, Gwendolyn looked over her shoulder and asked, ¡°Mr. Chavez, is Patrick down with a cold?¡± He seemed quite low-spirited when I saw him earlier. In fact, he looked the same as when he was down with a fever thest time, so is he having another fever? Kevin''s expression changed when he heard Gwendolyn''s question, but he quickly resumed his faint smile as he answered, ¡°Yeah, it''s just a minor cold. He''ll be fine.¡± No, that''s an outright lie. Pat''s not fine at all. He''s got a bullet in his brain, and he''s been so emotionally unstable recently that the bullet moved. I dread to think what will be of him if the bullet moves another one point five centimeters, where his cranial nerves are located. Chapter 541 Chapter 541 Chapter 541 Stealing A Kiss Gwendolyn broke into a smile and breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that. That was when Kevin finally understood why Patrick didn''t want them to tell Gwendolyn about it. Although she tried to act like she didn''t care, it was obvious that she still had feelings for him and was worried about him. One could only imagine how she would react if she found out about Patrick''s condition. If I were Patrick, I probably wouldn''t want her to know about my condition either. No man would want to worry his woman like that. ¡°This won''t leave a scar, but you''ll have to apply the medication as instructed and keep the wound dry at all times. You''ll make a full recovery if you keep it up for ten days,¡± the doctor said after stepping out of the examination room. ¡°Got it! Thank you!¡± Gwendolyn replied with a nod. I knew I was overthinking it. This doctor may be young and beautiful, but she is still a professional. They don''t core how handsome or ugly a man looks. To them, all patients are nothing but a bag of organs. I can''t believe I actually got jealous back there! N?velDrama.Org owns this text. "I shall go report your condition to the director, Ms. Ashton," the doctor said as she turned around and got ready to leave. Gwendolyn quickly called out to her, ¡°That won''t be necessary, Doctor. I''ll go tell Patrick about it in person.¡± The doctor nodded. ¡°All right, then.¡± Gwendolyn then left the treatment room and headed straight for Patrick''s ward. She was in a great mood at first because she knew how much he cared about her. However, she started to get a little nervous as she walked on. Patrick looks really scary when he has that cold look on his face. I don''t know how I''ll exin the recent events to him because he won''t believe me. Will I even be able to have a proper conversation with him? Also, the fact that Old Mr. Lowen doesn ¡®t like me isn''t exactly helping the situation. Patrick cares about his grandfather just as much as I care about mine, and his growing up with his grandparents only strengthens that bond even more. I don''t want to ruin his rtionship with his family... Because Gwendolyn had kept her head low while walking, she didn''t even notice that she had arrived at Patrick''s ward until she bumped her head on the door. "Ouch! That hurts...¡± A few nurses, who happened to be passing by at the time, giggled when they saw that. Gwendolyn winced in pain when she rubbed her forehead, which had swollen up a little. Great... Now I''ve got a new wound before fully recovering from my old one! Why am I so unlucky? With that in mind, Gwendolyn let out a sigh and opened the door. She then made her way toward the main ward, knocked on the door, and waited for a few seconds before entering. Patrick appeared to be asleep as he was lying in bed with his eyes closed. However, his sweaty forehead and tightly knitted brows suggested that he was in a lot of diforts. Gwendolyn quickly reached out to touch his forehead and check for a fever, only to breathe a sigh of relief when she found out he wasn''t burning up. As she sat down beside the bed and stared at him, she noticed that he had be a little skinnier. Even so, his well-defined eyebrows still looked as spirited as always. His eyes, which were tightly shut, looked as beautiful as the stars in the night sky. His lips were of the perfect thickness and softness, which made them really nice to kiss. They looked so tempting that Gwendolyn instinctively licked her lips as she felt a strong urge to give him a kiss. Feeling a little embarrassed by her thoughts, Gwendolyn pursed her lips shyly and quickly averted her gaze. Patrick was so tempting that no woman could possibly resist him, and Gwendolyn was no exception. She soon found herself shifting her gaze back toward his lips as her face inched closer to his. Gwendolyn could feel her heart pounding harder and harder in her chest as their lips got closer to each other. Each beat sounded louder than the one before, and it felt as though her heart would jump right out of her chest at any moment. Realizing that she would probably end up chickening out, Gwendolyn closed her eyes and quickly kissed him. Chapter 542 Chapter 542 Chapter 542 I Will Provide For You Gwendolyn felt her heart fill up with a sweet sensation when she gave him a quick peck on the lips. Just as a thief wouldn''t stick around after stealing a person''s belongings, she got ready to leave immediately after stealing a kiss. To her surprise, Patrick''s eyes shot open when he felt the familiar warmth of her lips on his. He then grabbed the back of her head and pulled her in for a deep and passionate kiss. He even stuck his tongue out and sucked her tongue into his mouth. Gwendolyn was on the verge of losing her mind at that point. He was kissing her incredibly forcefully and aggressively. She tried to put up a struggle at first, but went weak and gave in after a while. It wasn''t until he got on top of her that she snapped out of it and realized she was ¡°in danger.¡± Patrick is being a lot more domineering ond passionate than usual... Although Gwendolyn was afraid of him, she actually felt the desire to go with the flow. Little did Patrick know, he wasn''t the only one who had caught feelings. Gwendolyn, too, had developed a strong desire for more physical contact after having it once. As she wrapped her arms around his neck, Patrick took that as a green light, which ignited his mes of lust. With a faint smile on his lips, he reached out and pulled her shirt off. As the shirt rubbed against the burns on her back, it hurt so much that she nearly cried on the spot. ¡°Mmph...¡± Patrick quickly stopped when he heard her grunting in pain. He then slid his hands down to her sides and asked with a slight frown, ¡°Babe, do you mind going on top instead?¡± Just like that, the two of them switched positions, and Gwendolyn ended up on top of him. Switching positions repeatedly left Gwendolyn feeling a little confused. Patrick stared deeply at her as he moved his hands away from her back. ¡°I need relief...¡± Gwendolyn felt her face turn red when she saw the lustful look in his eyes. She could clearly feel a bump where she was sitting on, so she knew he needed relief even if he didn''t say it. Suddenly, the door to the ward opened, and Kevin could be heard saying, ¡°Hey, Gwen! Be careful not to startle or anger Pat!¡± Gwendolyn jumped in shock when she heard that. ¡°Eek! Are there surveince cameras in this room?¡± We''re in a very intimate position here! Did Kevin see us or something? Patrick wasn''t about to stop halfway through intercourse, though. ¡°No. Let''s just ignore him and continue,¡± he said coldly while unbuttoning her shirt with his slender fingers. Gwendolyn''s face was burning bright red with embarrassment at that point. No, Kevin is right! Patrick looks kind of pale and has gotten a lot skinnier! He¡¯s very protective of Patrick, so he must mean well if he came over just to give me a reminder. I mustn''t startle him or make him angry! With that in mind, Gwendolyn held his hand and said coquettishly, ¡°My back hurts, Patrick! How about we stop this and have a chat instead?¡± She even gave him a kiss on the lips before getting off him and lying down next to him. Noticing that he looked really unhappy, she wrapped her arms around his waist and asked, ¡°Why are you always falling sick, Patrick? You should be careful not to overwork yourself. Make sure to get some rest, okay? I don''t want you to give yourself too much pressure and end up working too hard.¡± Despite maintaining a cold look on his face, Patrick replied, ¡°How will I provide for you if I don''t work hard?¡± Although he was only joking when he said that, he was serious about not letting her suffer with him. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°That''s fine! I can provide for you instead!¡± Gwendolyn replied with a smile. I''ll work hard and run Solstice Group well. That way, I''ll be able to provide for him even if he loses Lowen Group! Patrick had never heard a woman say that to him in his entire life. The look in his eyes grew gentle as he caressed her cheek. "Do you really mean that?¡± Chapter 543 Chapter 543 Chapter 543 You Are The One I Love "Yeah, I do,¡± Gwendolyn replied firmly with a sweet smile and tightened her grip on his waist. Having kept her grandfatherpany all day and looking after Zayden, she was a little tired and fell asleep shortly after nuzzling against his shoulder. For some reason, being around him filled her heart with a sense of security. There was a hint of displeasure in Patrick''s eyes when he saw how quickly she had fallen asleep. There are a lot of things I want to tell her but I guess it''ll have to wait till next time... He then pulled the nket over her shoulder and hugged her tightly in his arms. Gwendolyn was woken up by the incessant ringing of her phone the next day. By the time she sleepily opened her eyes, she heard Patrick saying in a deep voice, ¡°I''m afraid she''s asleep at the moment.¡± His voice was deeper than usual as he had just woken up, which made him sound a lot sexier. Patrick then cradled her in his arms and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. ¡°It''s still early. You can go back to sleep.¡± Being in his embrace filled Gwendolyn¡¯s heart with a warm and cozy sensation. Because she was still a little sleepy at the time, she closed her eyes and went back to sleep. Eventually, a nurse came over and woke them both up. ¡°Mr. Lowen? Ms. Ashton? Please wake up.¡± Patrick was a little reluctant to let go of Gwendolyn, who was still lying in his embrace. Displeased that the nurse had barged in and interrupted them while they were sleeping, he asked with a frown, ¡°What is it?¡± The nurse felt as though the air around her had frozen up, and she shuddered a little in response. Mr. Lowen sure is handsome! On top of that, he is also the heir to the wealthiest family in Avenport! There isn''t a single woman out there who wouldn''t dream of dating him, and I''m no exception. However, he''s always so cold and distant toward everyone... ¡°The director wanted me to inform you two that Old Mr. Lowen is here,¡± the nurse replied nervously before running off. The look on Patrick''s face was so terrifying that she couldn''t bring herself to spend another second in that ward. Gwendolyn sat bolt upright when she heard that. "Ah, I should get going now.¡± She pulled the nket off and was about to leave when Patrick grabbed her by the waist. He then pressed his face against hers to feel her warmth and take in the faint, fragrant scent of her skin. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. "You''re not going anywhere.¡± His deep voice sounded so sexy that it gave Gwendolyn goosebumps. Not only was he blessed with a well-toned body, but he even had a ridiculously charming voice to go with it. Gwendolyn felt as though her ears could get pregnant just by listening to him. "It''s fine. Just stay here with me,¡± he continued while kissing her on the cheek. ¡°N-No, Patrick. Old Mr. Lowen isn''t feeling well, and I don''t want to agitate him any further.¡± Not wanting to let him seduce her into staying, she closed her eyes tightly and reopened them to snap herself out of it. Patrick was way too skilled in the art of seduction. The way he gently caressed her waist while giving her quick licks on the cheeks got her incredibly aroused. "I''ll get going now. I''lle back and visit youter,¡± Gwendolyn said as she got up and walked off. Patrick called out to her right as she was about to reach the door, "Why did you ept his proposal?¡± She has agreed to marry me first, so why would she ept Zayden''s proposal? Gwendolyn''s eyes went wide as she wondered how he knew about it. After giving it some thought, however, she recalled that he had Candace and a few other spies in the Ashton family. That meant it was definitely impossible to keep such things a secret from him. ¡°Please believe me when I say this, Patrick. You are the one I love, not him,¡± she replied while stepping out of the ward and shutting the door behind her. Just like that, the atmosphere in the ward grew cold again. It felt as though she was never here. Hector and Felicia came over shortly after. Naturally, Hector was happy to see that Patrick was recovering fairly well. In fact, Patrick didn''t even look like he fell sick at all. ¡°You can get discharged today, right, Pat?¡± Chapter 544 Chapter 544 Chapter 544 Taking It Out On Lucy Patrick was leaning against the headboard of the hospital bed. The sleep he gotst night was the best he had gotten in ages, so it was only natural that he looked great. As he couldn''t care less about staying at the hospital, he simply nodded without saying anything in response. I''m just d I can have the surgery done within a month. Otherwise, I''d... Unable to bring himself to think about it any further, Patrick shot Felicia a cold re and asked, ¡°Didn''t I tell you not to show yourself in front of me again?¡± Felicia pursed her lips as she replied, ¡°I was worried about you, Patrick.¡± She sounded as innocent as amb, which was a trick she had learned from those books she read. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Pat, how could you talk to Fel like that? She will soon be your fiancee, and eventually, your wife and the mother of your children!¡± Hector got a little impatient at the thought of having great grandchildren and continued, ¡°You know what? Why don¡¯t you two just skip the engagement part and get married straight away? I''m not getting any younger, and those great-grandkids aren''t going to make themselves!¡± He would not be able to rest in peace until he had someone to continue the Lowen family''s bloodline. Felicia opened the lunchbox and was about to elevate the overbed table when Patrick said, ¡°I won''t eat it, so don''t bother.¡± Back then, he would put up an act in front of Hector and eat the food. This time, however, he didn''t even bother to do so and absolutely refused to eat anything Felicia brought him. Naturally, Felicia didn''t like that and turned toward Hector for help. Hector breathed a huge sigh and asked angrily, ¡°Do you want me to die sooner, Patrick? You will not marry anyone else except Fel! Do you hear me?¡± Felicia quickly walked up to him and patted him gently on the back. ¡°Calm down, Old Mr. Lowen! Your health matters more than anything else!¡± The look in Hector''s eyes eased up a little as he felt touched by Felicia''s kindness. Pat treats her so horribly, and yet, she''s still being so nice to me... Where else can one find such a great woman? Why won''t this brat learn to appreciate her? As Hector was panting heavily and struggling to breathe, Patrick decided not to say anything further. He then got up and took a shower in the bathroom before getting ready to head back to the office. Felicia had alreadyid out the food on the table by the time he came out of the bathroom. ¡°Please eat up, Patrick. I''ll try not to show up in front of you from now on.¡± Hector let out another huge sigh when he heard that. "Don''t listen to him, Fel. As long as I''m still here, he will have to see you and marry you. You are the only woman worthy of bearing my great-grandchildren.¡± Felicia could barely contain her joy and excitement when she heard that. / knew it would do me good to be nice to Old Mr. Lowen! Mom was right! With Old Mr. Lowen on my side, Gwendolyn doesn''t stand a chance! With that in mind, she shook her head and said, ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Old Mr. Lowen. Patrick still needs to eat his breakfast! I''ll get going now.¡± Felicia then turned around and walked out of the ward with her head held low. Hector felt his heart ache when he watched her leave. Ugh... My grandson is incredibly handsome and intelligent, so why is he so terrible when ites to rtionships? Gwendolyn was also waiting for the elevator when Felicia got there. The two of them simply exchanged nces before averting their gazes and ignoring each other. ¡°Make sure you don''t get into a fight with this crazy b*tchter. You need to protect yourself,¡± Lucy whispered. She couldn''t leave as the two in the ward needed her around. She was exhausted simply from tending to the two of them. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°You carry on and look after them. I''ll head on home.¡± The elevator doors opened, and Gwendolyn walked right in. Felicia then shot Lucy an icy-cold re and asked, ¡°Do you think you''re great just because you''re dating Lucas? How dare you call me a crazy b*tch, huh? The Gomez family will never ept you!" Chapter 545 Chapter 545 Chapter 545 The Only Woman For My Grandson Lucy smiled faintly. ¡°I''d never considered marrying into the Gomez family. At least I won''t deign to be with somebody who doesn''t want me, unlike some people.¡± ¡°You...¡± Felicia stamped her feet in anger. Patrick''s attitude toward me is something I can never allow to reach another pair of ears, or I''m going to be aughingstock. They are all waiting to see me fail. No matter what it takes, I will be the one to marry Patrick. Without another word, she made to enter the elevator but found the doors shut. She stabbed the down button, yet the elevator descended with its doors remaining firmly shut. Felicia cursed. ¡°Godd¡®mn Gwendolyn for not waiting for me.¡± She thought Gwendolyn closed the doors on purpose to make her wait for another elevator. Lucyughed. ¡°Have fun waiting, Ms. Felicia.¡± Then, she turned to head to the ward. ¡°You used to sell liquor in clubs. Do you think you''re royalty now that you''re selling yourself? Just you wait,¡± Gwendolyn spat. Hector emerged and smiled when he saw Felicia still there. ¡°Don''t take it to heart, Fell Pat has always been like that. Men will be men, eh? He just needs to be conquered. You need to keep it up!¡± His loyal aide, Zachariah Litt, stood beside him. He was just as elderly. Zachariah was known by all as Mr. Litt. He helped Hector put on a coat. ¡°It''s raining outside, Old Mr. Lowen. Put this on lest you catch a cold.¡± Zachariah had been by Hector''s side for most of his life. The pair''s rtionship had long surpassed that of an employee to his employer. ¡°Is it raining?¡± Felicia stole a nce behind her, but Patrick had not yet emerged. She had seen Kevin and several doctors enter the ward, presumably to treat him. He would not being out any time soon. She took Hector''s hand. ¡°Patrick loves my sister, but she has had children with Zayden¡ªtriplets. That''s how she has always been. She was rather innocent that she got pregnant at a young age. If she weren''t with Zayden, I would have let her have Patrick.¡± Hector''s expression shifted at those words. True enough, the kid is still hung up on the girl. Is she innocent, then? I think it is more like shameless. However, Fel is a kind-hearted girl to not me Gwendolyn for it. His eyes shone with a hint of approval. "You are the only woman for my grandson I approve of, Fel. Start making preparations to be a bride. He will be marrying you soon.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Hector''s car exited the underground parking basement of the hospital. He caught sight of Gwendolyn taking shelter from the rain at the hospital entrance. ¡°Stop the car,¡± he said lightly. ¡°What is it, Old Mr. Lowen?¡± Zachariah asked, turning around. Aren''t we going home? Why did he ask to stop the car? Is he feeling unwell? Could he have left something behind? ¡°Ask the youngdy to join us, Zachariah.¡± Zachariah nced at the young woman at the entrance. She was wearing a white skirt. The breeze stirred its folds, making her look like an austere lily. "Yes, Old Mr. Lowen,¡± he answered. Toting an umbre, Zachariah exited the vehicle and made his way toward Gwendolyn. upied with watching the rain, she did not notice the figure approaching her. ¡°Ms. Ashton.¡± Only at the sound of her name being called did she turn toward Zachariah and hisrge, ck umbre. His eyes twinkled pleasantly. inly startled, she bit her lip lightly. ¡°Hello!¡± she greeted him. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen asked you to join him in his car, Ms. Ashton.¡± He pointed to the ck sedan not far away. From a mere nce, Gwendolyn recognized the model and the number te. When Hector could not yet speak or walk, she had taken a ride in his car, which was why she knew it well. Gwendolyn frowned imperceptibly. ¡°Won''t my presence agitate Old Mr. Lowen?¡± Having angered Hector to the point of hospitalization once before, she did not wish to harm him again. Chapter 546 Chapter 546 Chapter 546 Admiration Envy And Hatred Zachariah could not resist another nce at Gwendolyn hearing those words. Over her frequent visits to the Lowen residence, he thought she was rather charismatic and had a kind face. It looks like she is actually kind-hearted too. ¡°It was Old Mr. Lowen who requested your presence in the car, Ms. Ashton. It should be all right.¡± Only then did Gwendolyn nod and marched toward the parked car while Zachariah held the umbre over her. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said to Zachariah upon getting in. ¡°My pleasure, Ms. Ashton.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Zachariah shut the door after her. He had formed a favorable impression of her character from how she was courteous even with a helper like him. Unlike Felicia, who only shows respect to Old Mr. Lowen but gives all the helpers the cold shoulder, and even calls us derogatory names. When Zachariah came at that thought, he mused to himself. Why doesn''t Old Mr. Lowen choose this one instead? Zachariah was the younger brother of Kendrick Litt. Alongside Zachariah, Kendrick had served Hector until he passed away six years ago due to a fatal infection. Thus, only Zachariah was serving Hector now. He sighed at the memory of his brother. He would have dared give Old Mr. Lowen a piece of his mind if he were here. As he was not as close with Hector, he did not dare give his opinion regarding the Lowen family''s private affairs. Upon getting into the car, Gwendolyn nodded at Hector. "Old Mr. Lowen.¡± Hector inclined his head in reciprocation of her greeting. ¡°Would you have the time to join me for coffee at the cafe ahead, Ms. Ashton?¡± "Sure,¡± Gwendolyn answered, in the gentle manner of ady. In spite of himself, Hector studied her more closely. This girl is not at all like what the rumors suggest. Instead, shees across as soft-spoken and magnanimous. Though Gwendolyn did not have an easy life in the past few years, how Michael taught and nurtured her from young shaped her character. The car ground to a halt before a cafe near the hospital. The driver and bodyguards opened the doors forthem. d in a ck suit, one of the bodyguards held an umbre over her and ushered her into the cafe. Hector was partial toward coffee, and he was friends with the owner of the establishment, Nate Yandel. Hence, thetter came out to wee him upon his arrival. "You seem awfully jovial today, Lowen! Coffee on a rainy day is a match made in heaven.¡± An elderly man d in a suit ushered him into a suite. Then, a barista entered and began brewing for them. Gwendolyn sat beside Hector and listened to his conversation with the elderly owner of the cafe. ¡°Didn''t you hand the ce over to your grandson? What are you still doing here?¡± The old man shook his head. ¡°His wife has just had a baby, and he''s at the hospital with them. As I don''t have much to do, I came over to kill time.¡± Hector''s expression darkened imperceptibly at those words. D*mn it, he could not be gloating anymore smugly. ¡°Here, Lowen. Let me show you my great-grandchild. It''s a girl! Look at how cute she is. She is all chubby.¡± Hector nced at the photo. Scowling, hemented stiffly, ¡°She does look adorable and healthy. Congrattions.¡± The ownerughed heartily. His gaze was tender with indulgence as he exited his gallery carefully. It was obvious he doted on his great-gra nddaughter. ¡°Well, when is your grandson going to give you a great grandchild?¡± Since he only has one heir, Lowen must be hoping the boy would get married and have a few children. It''s been years, and nothing has happened yet. My family has already had its fourth generation, and there''s still no news on Lowen''s side. Hector''s expression was frigid. ¡°Soon. I will be holding one in my arms by next year.¡± Then, he pointed outside. "Leave us. I have matters to discuss with this youngdy.¡± Nate led the barista out. Hector was so irritated that he slurped a sip of coffee noisily. Nate, you old devil. So what if you have a great-grandchild? It''s not a boy. Pat, on the other hand, would bear a son. I can''t wait to see you turn green with envy. Chapter 547 Chapter 547 Chapter 547 I Do Not Disdain Him Gwendolyn could not resist a giggle seeing the two elderly men bickering. Noticing Hector''s empty cup, she refilled it. Hector nced at her impassively. If not for this girl''s meddling, I might be able to hold my great- grandchild in my arms in a matter of months instead ofayear. The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became. His expression, too, reflected his mood. "The reason for my invitation tonight is to have a chat with you, Ms. Ashton.¡± "Though the Lowen family cannot hope topare with the Ashton family, a prodigious family, we Lowens too, have had several decades of eminence. Though the Lowen family has been regaining its glory, Pat is still not worthy of you, the eldest daughter of the Ashton family. Thus, he can only marry Ms. Felicia. I hope you can understand.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Gwendolyn set down the intricate mug and blinked. "I don''t disdain Patrick, Old Mr. Lowen.¡± Hector''s expression shifted at her words. He choked on the rest of his speech. Hector studied the woman before him. Though she is beautiful andmanded an elegant presence, she cannot seem to take a hint! I phrased it this way to put her down gently, and she tells me she wouldn''t look down on Pat. The thought of how a woman, who had borne another man''s children, thought poorly of his grandson infuriated him. Upon noticing Hector''s unwavering re upon her, Gwendolyn added, ¡°I have two sons and a daughter, Old Mr. Lowen. I can tell that you are fond of children. If I marry Patrick, you would have three great-grandchildren. They will certainly delight you.¡± To Gwendolyn, her three children were a divine blessing and the most important people in her life. To Hector, they can also be the best gift. At the recollection of his admiration upon seeing somebody else''s great-grandchildren, she realized she could easily fulfill his yearning. Hector leaped to his feet in anger at those words. ¡°Hmph!¡± With a contemptuous scoff, he stormed out. Gwendolyn stuck out her tongue sheepishly upon noticing how he had lost his temper. She did not know what she had said to offend him. I was trying to amodate him. Couldn''t he tell? Ah, he used to be very nice in the past but he has a frightful temper now! Hectoremerged from the private room, and Zachariah hurried to receive him. "Are we leaving, Old Mr. Lowen?¡± He nced inside. Ms. Ashton hasn¡¯te out, audit''s still raining outside. H4? should at least send her home. ¡°We''re leaving,¡± Hector growled, not wishing to spare the woman inside another thought. What the hell did she mean by that? I don''t want to be a great grandfather to somebody else''s kids. They are not my offspring. I don''t care for the kids of the Surrington family. I want them to be heirs to the Lowen family¡ªPatrick''s children. Nate sidled over as well. ¡°You''re done with your discussion, Lowen? What a nice-looking youngdy that is, and what refined manners she has! Is she your future granddaughter-inw?¡± Hector was agitated further by those words. ¡°What nonsense! She most certainly is not.¡± Then, he stalked off in a huff, leaving Nate chuckling. Haha... I am finally able to show him up. Now that I have a great-grandchild, it''s time to torment him. "What happened to your boss? It''s been hottely, so make sure he stays hydrated. It won''t do if he constantly loses his temper!¡± Zachariah became anxious. Something must have gone wrong in the discussion with Ms. Ashton. I was hoping she could persuade Old Mr. Lowen. That way, I can hear wedding bells soon. Upon hearing Nate''s words, however, he scowled. ¡°Your establishment might be doing better if you were more careful with your words, Mr. Yandel.¡± As he had observed, the cafe was not doing very well. It would have closed down long ago if not for Hector''s frequent patronage. Nate froze. He was about to say something, but Zachariah had already walked away. Instead, he shook his head and muttered to himself, ¡°You have a sharp tongue, Zachariah. Just like your brother.¡± Chapter 548 Chapter 548 Chapter 548 You Are Hurt Nate smiled at Gwendolyn when she emerged from the private room. ¡°Lowen has always been like that, youngdy. Don''t take it to heart. I have another grandson. Why don''t I introduce you to him instead?¡± Nate noticed how beautiful and sweet she was. Being a good judge of character, I can tell she''s a decent girl. Lowen might think little other, but not me! Gwendolynughed. ¡°Thank you for your consoling words, sir, but I am not upset.¡± After bidding Nate farewell, she exited the cafe and awaited a cab at the entrance. Suddenly, her phone rang. ¡°Zayden,¡± she answered. ¡°Were you with Patrickst night, Gwen?¡± He called that morning, but Patrick answered the phone and told him she was still asleep. Zayden had been so furious that he thrashed his study. Gwendolyn pursed her lips. ¡°Don''t overthink, Zayden. I''ming back now. Aren''t you having a follow- up with the psychologist today? I''ll be there with you.¡± Not daring to overexcite him, she changed the subject. Zayden was sharp enough to grow suspicious when Gwendolyn refused to speak, but he yed along with her. ¡°All right. I''ll wait for you.¡± Gwendolyn heaved a sigh after hanging up. I haven''t seen the children since yesterday. I must get back early and spend time with them. Gwendolyn hailed a cab to Dragonhill Mansion. It rained the entire way but stopped upon her arrival at her destination. The air was heavy with the smell of damp earth. It was quiet all around; not even the birds sang. Step by step, she trudged along the wet path toward the house and pressed the doorbell upon arriving at Zayden''s mansion. Seeing the figure at the door, Suzanne hastened to his bedroom on the second floor. ¡°Ms. Ashton is back, Mr. Surrington! Should we let her in?¡± She nced instinctively at his bandaged hand as she spoke. During his outburst that morning, he smashed the ss bookshelf and lost a lot of blood when his hand was cut by the shards. Zayden was dressed in a white shirt and ck trousers, and standing by the window. He had already seen the woman standing in wait at the door. She still looks innocently clueless but has learned to lie and change the subject. ¡°What do you think?¡± he snarled. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. As Zayden was in a foul mood that day, Suzanne did not wish to provoke him, so she returned downstairs after a nomittal grunt. Along the way, she muttered to herself, ¡°I don''t understand people. Why is he always unhappy? He should be like me instead. With good food, I would be happy enough not to be encumbered by frustration.¡± Suzanne smiled in greeting when she opened the door. ¡°You''re home, Ms. Ashton. Mr. Surrington is waiting for you upstairs. He''s been in a bad mood after a phone call this morning and has hurt his hand. Don''t anger him, please?¡± It sounded like concern that Zayden would make things difficult, but those were the words he wanted her to hear. Gwendolyn''s expression turned peculiar at those words. She strode into the mansion and hurried up the stairs into Zayden''s bedroom. Swiftly arriving before him, she took his hand. ¡°Ouch!¡± Zayden grimaced in pain as she prodded his wound. Glowering at him, Gwendolyn admonished, ¡°So you do know pain! Why did you have to hurt yourself?¡± Then, she asked, ¡°Has he received medical attention, Suzanne? Is it serious? Was it the doctor who treated it?¡± Zayden, in his present state, was a patient to Gwendolyn. Like a ss doll at risk of shattering at any moment, he required careful and delicate handling. Suzanne''s sharp ears detected Gwendolyn''s summon from up downstairs. At once, she hurried up. A momentter, she poked her head in. ¡°Did you ask for me, Ms. Ashton?¡± Chapter 549 Chapter 549 Chapter 549 The Ring ¡°I summoned you to ask if the doctor had taken a look at Mr. Surrington''s injury.¡± Suzanne nced at her handsome master. His gaze grew cold, and she understood his implicit instruction. Watch what you say. Suzanne shook her head. ¡°No. Mr. Surrington did not allow me to get the doctor. He was worried Mrs. Surrington would be notified, which would cause her to worry.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Bring me the first-aid kit.¡± After helping Zayden to sit up by the bed, she undid the bandage on his hand. Zayden grabbed her hand. ¡°You said yes to my proposal, Gwen. That means you are my fiancee. I hope you will be true to me." His tone sounded bleak with hints of sadness. His words reminded Gwendolyn of the night before. She had slept deeply in Patrick''s arms. She craved his embrace¡ªwhere she most yearned to be. On the other hand, the man before her rescued her when she was at her lowest. He basically gave the children and me a second chance in life. She had once promised to repay his kindness. Now that he was at his lowest, she could not abandon him. Thus, she hardened her heart. ¡°Understood. I will be more mindful.¡± Zayden broke into a smile at those words. ¡°Stay away from Patrick. Keep your distance, all right?¡± Gwendolyn studied the wound on his hand. It was cut so deeply that it was still bleeding. Her heart clenched with sorrow. A look of cold triumph shed across Zayden''s eyes when he noticed her pain. How kind of you now, Gwendolyn. Have you considered my feelings earlier today? Why can''t you treat me better? Why do you have to be with him? Suzanne entered with the first-aid kit and jumped with fright at the sight of the wound. ¡°Does it hurt, Mr. Surrington?¡± She seems to be treating his wound. It must hurt since it''s still bleeding. I can''t do it. It''ll frighten them. Thus, while pursing her lips, she contented to watch Gwendolyn treat his wound. After the bandage was applied, she secretly cast a spell and healed the wound on his hand. Zayden was puzzled. As soon as Gwendolyn applied the medication, the pain disappeared. It feels like the injury never happened. Frowning, he gazed at Gwendolyn, who was putting the things away. He was mystified. Do I put her on such a high pedestal that my injury stopped hurting immediately after she treated it? I never knew how love is capable of such magic. Meanwhile, Patrick was going through arge pile of documents on his desk, signing his name. Decisive and swift, his penmanship was impable. Pushing open the door, Rosalie entered d in professional attire that indicated she meant business. ¡°Pat,¡± she greeted him with a smile. Only then did Patrick look up. ¡°Can I help you?¡± She looks like she''s here to talk business. Rosalie took the seat across from him. ¡°That''s right.¡± Then, she slid the folder in her hand over. ¡°I would like to propose a partnership with Lowen Group. As the construction of the hotel in the eastern district is almostplete, we would like to bid for the rights to renovate it. As you know, Pat, I majored in interior design abroad. Inside this folder is a collection of my award-winning projects.¡± Patrick opened the file to peruse the contents, it was because he majored in architecture, Rosalie had enrolled in his alma mater to follow in his footsteps. ¡°We''ll do this by the book. Submit this first to the research and development department,¡± Patrick announced after he finished perusing the folder. Having intended to take a shortcut, Rosalie was surprised that he remained adamant about following the procedure. It was this trait of his that made her fall for him. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Taking the folder back, she got up and ced both her hands on his desk. ¡°Do you think our firm stands a chance, Pat?¡± I am confident, but Hugo mentioned thatpetition for partnership with Lowen Group can be tough as they are many other talented candidates. When she bent over, the ring hanging from the chain around her neck slipped out from her blouse. His gaze darkened at the sight. ¡°Is this your ring?¡± I lost this ring six years ago. How did it fall into her possession? Chapter 550 Chapter 550 Chapter 550 I Might Be A Father Rosalie noticed the odd look he had in his eyes when he saw the ring. Patrick is normally an emotionless guy. However, his expression changed dramatically when he saw the ring. I bet he knows about this ring. With that in mind, she quickly hid the ring with her shirt. Besides, she avoided the topic because she was afraid of saying something wrong. "Pat, please have a look at our tender!¡± She rose to her feet and averted her gaze. Yet, Patrick was still staring at her. Since he had never looked at Rosalie that way, she knew it had something to do with the ring. Seeing that, she decided to thoroughly investigate the matter. Not only would Patrick usually not look through tenders, but that was also not within a CEO''s job scope. I don''t get it. How did that ring end up with Rosalie? Nevertheless, Patrick went through the tender patiently and said, "It looks rather promising. Good luck!¡± By then, Rosalie had already rposed herself, so she shed Patrick a faint smile and replied, ¡°Thank you for your encouragement, Pat. We won''t disappoint you.¡± With that, she retrieved the tender and held it tightly in her embrace. ¡°I know you''re a busy man, Pat. I''ll get out of your hair.¡± As Patrick fiddled with his pen, he said, ¡°It''s lunchtime. Let''s grab lunch together.¡± Rosalie''s heart skipped a beat when she heard that. This is a once- in-a-lifetime opportunity because he had never invited me out! However, I mustn''t have lunch with him today because he will surely ask me about the ring. Before I find out what''s going on, I shouldn''t go with him. I would ept his invitation in a heartbeat if he invited me any other day. For the sake of the future, she had no choice but to turn him down. ¡°I need to hold a conference after this, Pat. Once our tender gets approved, I''ll buy you a meal instead!¡± With that, she shed a gleeful smile and turned around to leave the office. The moment the door closed behind her, Patrick whipped out his phone to call Kevin. Kevin answered the call promptly. ¡°What''s the matter? Are you in pain again?¡± Kevin grew worried instantly because Patrick had only been discharged not longer ago. ¡°It''s not that. I need you to look into something,¡± Patrick answered. ¡°What is it?¡± Kevin entered his office and took a sip of the coffee his secretary served him. ¡°Rosalie has a ring on her neck. Ask her where did she get it from?¡± Patrick asked. All this while, I thought Gwendolyn was the woman from back then. Everything made sense because she was also the eldest daughter of the Ashton family. However, I never saw the ring that I gave away back then. All of a sudden, I saw it on Rosalie today. I need to find out what''s going on. Although a lot of things are still unclear at the moment, I know I¡¯m right about the sense of familiarity I have with Gwendolyn. Patrick was filled with confidence. Ring? Kevin was never close to Rosalie because she was his stepsister. Hence, he never liked her. ¡°Okay. I''ll look into it.¡± In response, Patrick slightly pursed his lips and said, ¡°I need you to give me a DNA test. I could be a father.¡± Patrick grew suspicious ever since he found out Gwendolyn was not only a member of the Ashton family but also the family''s eldest daughter. He initially thought he could do the DNA testter, but the emergence of the ring messed up the leads he had in his mind. Hence, the best thing he could do at that moment was to see if Justin and the others were his children. If they were his children, he could be sure Gwendolyn was undoubtedly the woman he encountered back then. In other words, it wouldn''t matter who was in possession of the ring. Needless to say, Patrick knew exactly what to do. ¡°What the f*ck? A father? Is Gwen pregnant?¡± Kevin was stunned. Could it be triplets again? ¡°What do you mean, Kev? Are you doubting my sexual prowess?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. In response, Kevin chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Um... Why would I? You''re a strong man, and I know you can keep it going for an entire night. You can have kids anytime you want.¡± Chapter 551 Chapter 551 Chapter 551 Patrick Bing A Father Patrick sniggered and said, ¡°I''m hanging up.¡± After the call ended, Kevin lowered his head. I thought now that Luke and I weren''t single anymore and Pot was having trouble with his rtionship with Gwen. Thus, Luke and I would have a sense of superiority over Pat. I even thought we could finally make him jealous of us. Who would''ve thought Pat could be a father? On the other hand, I don''t even know who will be the mother of my future child! I must tell Luke about this to make him feel bad about himself. After all, we''re like brothers, so we should share all joys and sorrows. With that in mind, Kevin entered Lucas'' ward without knocking on the door. The moment he entered the ward, he saw Lucas and Lucy in bed together, and Lucas was on top of her. With the couple making out intensely, it was definitely a steamy scene. Kevin immediately stopped in his tracks and cleared his throat. ¡°Luke, didn''t I tell you not to do this for a month? Do you not still care about your health?¡± he asked. Like Pat, this fellow also doesn''t care about his health! Lucy freaked out when she heard Kevin''s voice. She instantly pushed Lucas away and stammered, ¡°S- Someone''s h-here, Lucas...¡± Although they were in a ward, Lucas somehow managed to convince Lucy to get onto the bed with him when she was feeding him some soup. At times, Lucy couldn''t help but feel disappointed in herself. Why do I always fall for his teases? Now, I''m in such an awkward situation! Meanwhile, Lucas was displeased. I''ve been fine for a long while now. I would''ve gotten discharged long ago if I didn''t intend to make Lucy feel guilty so that she would take care of me. Kev just had to interrupt us when I finally got Lucy to join me in bed. In the next second, Lucas got out of bed and pulled the covers up hastily to cover Lucy''s body completely. ¡°Do you need something?¡± Lucas asked. Seeing that, Kevin noticed how much Lucas cared about Lucy. He''s serious about her, isn''t he? Don''t tell me this is the first romantic rtionship he''s in. Did he fall head over heels for her? At that thought, Kevin put his arm over Lucas'' shoulders and left the ward. ¡°Let''s smoke while we talk outside!¡± Lucas had no objections to that because Lucy would have time to put on her clothes once they left. The men then went to Kevin''s office. The office was located on the top floor and next to hisboratory. Kevin spent most of his time in theboratory, and that was especially the case recently. In fact, he would have no problem living there. Upon entering Kevin''s office, they went to the huge terrace outside to smoke while overlooking the view of Avenport. Right then, Lucas frowned and said, ¡°I am staying back, and I might take over the family business.¡± Prior to that, Lucas wanted to return to the army. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. However, his health was preventing him from doing so, and most importantly, he actually wanted to stay. Kevin exhaled a cloud of smoke and asked in a surprised tone, ¡°Have you finally thought things through? We couldn''t get you to do so back then. Did you change your mind because of Lucy?¡± Lucas held the railings with both hands and looked at the busy streets below. ¡°I guess so. Mnie is adorable, and it''s tough for Lucy to deal with everything on her own. I don''t want that for her.¡± Kevin whistled upon hearing that. ¡°Wow! You''vepletely fallen for her, haven''t you? Will your family agree to it, though?¡± The Gomez family was a family with a military background, so the family was very strict with Lucas. The family always hoped that Lucas would be an outstanding soldier who would defend the country. ¡°I''m not going to think about that. For now, I just want to stay here,¡± Lucas replied. In truth, Lucas had already given the matter some serious thought. He was reluctant to leave the army, but if he were to return to the army, he would be away for three to five years. He knew he couldn''t possibly ask Lucy to wait for him. Even if I wont to return to the army, I need to have all the fun I con get! I haven¡¯t had enough of it yet. I need to have sex with Lucy a few more times. ¡°Hey, didn''t you say you have something important to tell me?¡± Lucas looked at Kevin mischievously with a cigarette between his lips. "Well, I wanted to tell you that Pat might be a father soon!¡± Kevin smirked. ¡°What? Is Gwen pregnant?¡± Lucas questioned. Old Mr. Lowen might not agree to it. Chapter 552 Chapter 552 Chapter 552 Attachment ¡°It should be her, right? Anyway, he wants me to give him a DNA test,¡± Kevin answered. Suddenly, they both froze for a moment. ¡°Wait... Something''s not right.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°Could the DNA test be about the three children Gwendolyn has? Since her pregnancy is barely noticeable, running tests on the unborn children is risky. He won''t take the risk,¡± Kevin uttered after mulling over it. Besides, Pat must know whether Gwen is pregnant with his kids. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Hearing that, Lucas said, ¡°Perhaps I should also test Mnie''s DNA. She could be my daughter!¡± ¡°Haha!¡± Both of them beganughing boisterously. Pat must want kids so badly that he had gone insane! Meanwhile, a psychologist arrived at Dragonhill Mansion alongside Angeline. Angeline walked in with a smile when she saw Gwendolyn massaging Zayden''s head. ¡°You''re here early today, Gwen! Could it be that you''ve moved in?¡± Angeline asked. ¡°I arrived early, that''s all. I have three kids at home, and I can''t possibly leave them,¡± Gwendolyn replied. Angeline was annoyed when Gwendolyn mentioned the kids. Those kids don''t even belong to the Surrington family, but Zayjust had to take it upon himself. Although they don''t dare to say it, the news is all over the ce. All of a sudden, Angeline''s expression changed, and she was no longer as friendly as before. ¡°Suzanne! Suzanne!¡± she called out. Suzanne immediately ran out of her room. ¡°Yes, Mrs. Surrington?¡± Suzanne ran so fast that she arrived next to Angeline within seconds. Angeline was caught off guard. ¡°Not only are you a looker, but you''re also quick on your feet.¡± With that, Angeline approached Suzanne and said, "These are the traditional medicines I brought. Make sure Mr. Surrington drinks it on time every day. I''ll teach you how to prepare them and tell you when they should be taken.¡± Gwendolyn was supposed to do that, but Angeline didn¡¯t dare to order Gwendolyn around. After that, Angeline, Suzanne, and a few housekeepers brought the traditional medicines into the kitchen to store them in the fridge. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Gwendolyn asked Zayden after letting go of his head. Zayden''s mood had improved, but the fact that a psychologist was sitting opposite him irritated him. He had no choice but to see the psychologist, for Angeline''s and Gwendolyn''s sakes. ¡°It doesn''t hurt anymore. You should take a rest,¡± Zayden whispered. Although his gaze was no longer as bright as before, it was still filled with warmth. Hearing that, Gwendolyn poured the psychologist a cup of coffee and smiled. ¡°Dr. Yack, thank you for coming all the way here.¡± Bridger Yack was the best psychologist in Avenport, and it was Angeline who employed him. Bridger nodded slightly and responded, ¡°You''re wee, Ms. Ashton. I was paid, so it''s my obligation to treat Mr. Surrington.¡± Gwendolyn shed a smile and coaxed Zayden. "Zayden, would you let Dr. Yack treat you? You''re fine physically. The tests on your eyes came back normal, but you have yet to regain your vision. Hence, this could be a psychological problem,¡± Gwendolyn exined with a gentle smile. Back then, Zayden would find that smile of hers beautiful, and he would be happy with how she was treating him. At that moment, however, Zayden knew she was eager to shake him off. She wishes forme to regain my vision so that she can be with Patrick openly. Right then, Gwendolyn''s phone rang. She answered the call immediately when she saw that it was a call from Patrick. ¡°Hello.¡± Patrick looked thrilled as he stood before the floor-to-ceiling window and nced at the view outside. ¡°Prepare a few dishes because I want to have dinner at your house tonight. I want you to cook for me personally.¡± Although Patrick understood why Gwendolyn had to stop working so that she could take care of Zayden, he was still annoyed by it. Therefore, he wanted to punish her by asking her to cook. ¡°Huh? I''m not a good cook. We should get Justin and Julian to cook. Those two are amazing cooks!¡± she suggested. Chapter 553 Chapter 553 Chapter 553 Heartbroken The dishes Justin and Julian prepared were to die for. The boys were so talented that Gwendolyn wanted to open a restaurant for them. She was certain the restaurant would do well and earn them a fortune. Nevertheless, she abandoned that idea in the end. After all, they were still kids, and they were supposed to go to school and have fun in life. Therefore, she would rather work harder and sacrifice more of her time to give her kids the best childhood possible. Upon hearing that, Patrick sneered, ¡°As long as you can convince them to cook for me, I''m fine with it. See you tonight, Babe!¡± With that, he hung up the phone. That left Gwendolyn feeling a sense of reluctance. He looks sick and healthy at the same time. I don''t understand. He woke up this morning looking energetic and normal. Yet, he looked haggardst night. Furthermore, he has lost a lot of weight. She spaced out with the phone in her hand, and she didn''t hear Zayden calling out for her. Bridger could tell that Zayden was displeased, so he started chatting with thetter to distract him. Momentster, Gwendolyn texted: Patrick, you''ve lost weight recently, so I''m going to prepare a feast for you. You ought to eat more tonight. Also, stop working so hard because you need to rest. At worst, I''ll support you financially. After sending that text to Patrick, she kept her phone and walked back toward the couch. Seeing that Bridger was having a conversation with Zayden, she waited at the side and poured them coffee. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. By then, Angeline was done telling Suzanne and the others what to do. As she was walking back in her high heels, she asked Suzanne, ¡°Suzanne, what time does Mr. Surrington normally sleep at night? Does he have trouble sleeping?¡± As a mother, she was naturally worried about her son''s well-being. Since she couldn''t be by his side to take care of him, she had to hope that Suzanne would take good care of Zayden. Upon hearing those questions, Suzanne looked around anxiously and kept mum. How would I know? Mr. Surrington is always upstairs on his own while I watch the television in the living room. I''ll just go back to my room when I feel sleepy. We stay out of each other''s way at night. ¡°Hey, did you not hear my questions?¡± Angeline asked. This girl is smart. She was able to differentiate all the traditional medicines just now. ¡°Mr. Surrington goes to bed around nine at night. He sleeps early,¡± Suzanne answered. Angeline was heartbroken when she heard that. My strong and handsome Zay would never go to bed at nine back then. Normally, he would either be out entertaining clients or at the office. Sometimes, he would even work out at the gym or drink with his friends. Now, he''s self-isting and staying alone in the mountains. I can''t imagine how devastated he must feel. With that in mind, Angeline teared up. I hope he''ll recover and be healthy. From now on, I''ll give him whatever he wants and support him. Oh, Lord! Please watch over my son and keep him safe. Please let him regain his vision. I would give up ten years of my life in exchange. Right then, Suzanne ran toward Zayden and patted his shoulder. ¡°Mr. Surrington, you''ll need to take all sorts of medications after this!¡± She was all smiles, and she looked as adorable as a porcin doll. Zayden kept staring ahead and acted as though he couldn''t see her. ¡°When did I ever not take my medications?¡± Suzanne wanted to cover her mouth with her hands when she heard that. Did I just expose the truth? She then immediately turned around and pointed upstairs. I need to keep theundry. It''s going to rain soon. Angeline was stumped. ¡°It has been raining the entire day, no? Did you not do that earlier?¡± Angeline and the other housekeepers followed Suzanne up the stairs. It was obvious Angeline didn''t find Suzanne reliable. Does this girl know how to take care of others? With the others all upstairs, the living room became quiet. Suddenly, Zayden asked, ¡°Is there a way to avoid hypnotherapy?¡± Prior to that, Bridger told Zayden the best treatment was hypnotherapy. That way, Bridger could find out why Zayden was having trouble sleeping. Chapter 554 Chapter 554 Chapter 554 Death Wish Bridger smiled faintly. ¡°This is the best way.¡± Before that, Patrick had paid Bridger to help erase Zayden''s memories of Gwendolyn. Bridger had never conducted that procedure before. Nheless, he had studied psychology and specialized in hypnosis. As such, he was confident that he could do that. ncing at Zayden, Gwendolyn saw the worried expression on his face. Gwendolyn had been reading psychology bookstely. As such, she was aware of the risks of hypnotherapy. Its sess rate was still uncertain. ¡°Dr. Yack, how about we skip the hypnotherapy today? We can try to talk to him and observe his condition first.¡± Meanwhile, Zayden felt something was off as well. Last time, the doctor who came was a different person. It''s his first time here today, but why is he insisting to conduct the hypnotherapy on me? Hearing that, Bridger did not insist anymore. ¡°Okay. I wasn''t aroundst time. It was my employee who came to treat Mr. Surrington. Mrs. Surrington looked for me and asked me toe over today. As you suggested, I''ll have a chat with Mr. Surrington and put him under observation today.¡± Gwendolyn took Zayden to the bedroom. It was inconvenient for her to be there. Before she left, she comforted, ¡°Zayden, I''ll wait outside the door. Call me if there''s anything.¡± Zayden rxed his body while hey down in his bed. ¡°Okay,¡± he mumbled. Gwendolyn nodded at Bridger, left the bedroom, and shut the door. Stepping outside, she leaned against the wall. As she looked up, she felt a little exhausted. Gwendolyn heaved a heavy breath and started praying. ¡°Dear God, please heal Zayden and let him recover soon! He''s a good person. Please don''t make him go blind.¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Zayden won''t be suffering mentally as long as his eyes are fine. With that, he will be the same as before, being warm and affectionate to the people around him. At the same time, Angeline walked toward her and asked, ¡°Have they started?¡± She was all smiles, recalling what had happened on the balcony. Suzanne is such a lovely girl. How compliant of her to obey my words? I believe that she will be a good servant to serve Zay wholeheartedly. ¡°Yes,¡± Gwendolyn replied and nced at her watch. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, I think it will take about one hour for the session. How about you go and have a rest first? I''ll ask someone to inform you once it''s over.¡± As Angeline stared at Gwendolyn, there was a trace of gentleness in her eyes. This girl is good- looking, and she''s from a good family too. However, she''s ill-fated for getting pregnant at such a young age. Without her three children, I think I''ll dly ept her. ¡°Okay. I''ll get some rest in the guest room. Ask the housekeeper to look for me there.¡± With that, she touched Gwendolyn on her cheek lightly. ¡°Thank you for all your effort.¡± If she hadn''t beening here every day, Zay wouldn''t have cooperated so well. I appreciate her effort a lot. I have to treat her well in the future. ¡°You''re wee. I will do anything for him to recover.¡± Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Zayden put a gun to Bridger''s head and asked, ¡°Who asked you toe?¡± It was illegal to use a gun in Astoria. Seeing Zayden''s gun, Bridger was utterly terrified. With the gun pointed at his temple, all he could feel was the coldness of the gun muzzle. He raised his hands and begged, ¡°Mr. Surrington, please spare me!¡± I agreed to hypnotize him for money, but now I''m putting my life in danger before I start anything! Zayden smirked aloofly. ¡°Who sent you here? Be honest with me, or I''ll kill you immediately! Believe it or not, no one will find out about your dead body in a ce like Dragonhill!¡± Hearing his words, Bridger broke into a cold sweat. He''s not blind! Now that I learned about his secret, Zayden won''t go easy on me! Besides, Dragonhill is a mysterious ce. I''ve heard strange stories back then when they built the mansion here. To them, it''s normal for people to die here. However, I don''t wish to die here at all! Chapter 555 Chapter 555 Chapter 555 Lies ¡°I''ll tell you, Mr. Surrington. Please don''t shoot!¡± Bridger knew that he could not offend both the Surrington family and the Lowen family. ¡°Someone paid me to conduct hypnotherapy on you to erase your memories of Ms. Ashton.¡± ¡°Is that Patrick?¡± Narrowing his eyes, Zayden probed indifferently. ¡°No. I don''t know him. It''s a young man. He was wearing a mask, but he doesn''t look like Patrick Lowen.¡± Bridger was smart enough to twist the words, not revealing the real culprit. I didn''t reveal anything! It''s up to him to assume who''s the man behind this. I''ll be safe even if Patrick asks his men to look for me after this. The look on Zayden''s face darkened, and a slew of emotions shed past his eyes. How dare Patrick pull dirty tricks on me? Does he know who is he dealing with? You can never beat me, Patrick. Just you wait and see! Subsequently, Zayden put away his gun. ¡°Don''t you dare tell anyone about me. Or else, I can''t guarantee you and your family''s safety. Do you understand?¡± His threatening words were so intimidating, causing Bridger to almost lose his mind soon. That situation put Bridger in a quandary. What should I do? Patrick is threatening me. On the other side, I''ll be offending Patrick for failing toplete the mission he gave! I guess I have no choice but to escape this ce with my familyter! ¡°Don''t you worry. I''ll carry this secret to my grave!¡± Then, Zayden kept his gun and pointed outside. ¡°Tell them that my psychological illness is getting worse and it''s difficult for me to recover. The best way for me to get better is for them to obey my words. Only with that, I could get well soon.¡± Bridger nodded fervently, fishing his handkerchief from his bag to wipe his sweat. ¡°Okay. I''ll tell them exactly what you said!¡± Immediately after that, he started packing his stuff and nodded at Zayden before he left. ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Surrington.¡± See you never! I won''t return and will leave Avenport as soon as possible! As Bridger made his way out of the bedroom, Gwendolyn stood up, looking rather surprised. ¡°Is it done already, Dr. Yack?¡± She turned around, anticipating his reply. Nodding his head slightly, Bridger answered, ¡°Ms. Ashton, I''m unable to treat Mr. Surrington''s illness. His condition is getting worse. From now on, it''s advisable for everyone toply with his wishes. Otherwise, I''m afraid that his condition would go downhill. In the end, he might even lose his mind. It''s not only about his eyes anymore when that happens.¡± Bridger made Zayden''s condition sound so severe for his own sake. Upon learning that, Gwendolyn felt distressed. She was all tensed up as she watched Bridger preparing to leave. What happened inside? Gwendolyn grabbed Bridger and asked, ¡°What do you mean by unable to treat his illness, Dr. Yack? What''s wrong with his eyes? Is something wrong with him mentally or physically?¡± She had never expected Zayden''s condition to be that serious. Bridger looked at his wrinkled clothes as she grasped them tightly. All he wanted was to leave that ce immediately. For some reason, he felt unsafe there. He was afraid that he might not be able to get out of that dangerous ce if he stayed there longer. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Raising his hand, he quickly removed Gwendolyn''s hands from him. ¡°Ms. Ashton, I can only diagnose his psychological problems. His condition isn''t favorable at the moment. Hence, stop provoking him and try to follow his wishes. He might be able to recover if you guys do so.¡± As Bridger said that, he left hurriedly without looking back. Gwendolyn felt troubled regarding Zayden''s condition as she watched Bridger flee away. She pursed her lips slightly, trying to soothe her emotions. Subsequently, she pushed open the bedroom door and walked in with a smile stered on her face. ¡°How are you feeling, Zayden?¡± Zayden was lying on the bed. Hearing Gwendolyn''s voice, he tried to get up. Promptly, she went over to help him up and put on his slippers for him. ¡°Dr. Yack said that your condition is getting better. Don''t worry. You''ll recover soon.¡± Did he really say that to her? Chapter 556 Chapter 556 Chapter 556 Decided To Stay By His Side Zayden suddenly hugged her. ¡°Don''t leave me, Gwen, please?¡± He seemed a little emotional at that moment. Stunned, Gwendolyn patted him on the back lightly. ¡°I won''t leave you.¡± As she spoke, she thought of Patrick. She wanted to be with him badly, but she did not have the heart to leave Zayden who was in such a condition. Gwendolyn felt sad at that thought, and the light in her eyes disappeared. Not triggering him meant that she could not refuse to be engaged or married to him. She took a deep breath. So now I can''t trigger Grandpa and Zayden. Why did God make things so difficult for me? Just then, Angeline walked in and cleared her throat out of awkwardness. Gwendolyn quickly backed away, still with a dull look in her eyes. Angeline walked up to Zayden, held his hand, and gently stroke it. ¡°What did the doctor say, Zay?¡± Seeing Gwendolyn''s despondent look, Zayden knew that Bridger must have told her something harsh, so he decided to give them a shot in the arm. ¡°He only said he won''te over anymore.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Angeline was shocked. ¡°Why? Zayden shook his head. ¡°No idea.¡± Gwendolyn, who was listening to their conversation, actually knew the reason Bridger would note over anymore. It was because Bridger could not cure Zayden, whose condition was too serious. Angeline looked at Gwendolyn. ¡°You were at the door the entire time, weren''t you? What exactly did the doctor say?¡± How can he leave after saying such things so suddenly? Isn''t he the best psychologist in Avenport? Seems like he''s not that great after all. Gwendolyn gave her a smile. ¡°The doctor said Zayden is in a good condition and asked us not to worry. His eyes will be fine after a period of treatment.¡± She could not bring herself to tell Angeline the truth. As a friend, she even felt upset upon hearing those words, let alone Angeline, who loved her son so much. It would definitely break Angeline''s heart. Gwendolyn was worried that Angeline could not take it, so she did not want to tell her the truth. She would help her take good care of Zayden from now on and make sure he got better. Angeline nodded. ¡°That''s good.¡± Gwendolyn was not in a good mood the whole day. Noticing how dispirited she was, Angeline asked later in the day, ¡°Gwen, did you not sleep wellst night?¡± She was making a flower arrangement with Angeline, but her hands were pricked several times by the thorns on the stems. She had been spending most of the time stopping the bleeding. She sucked the blood from her fingertips and nodded. ¡°I couldn''t sleepst night, so I''m a little tired today.¡± Angeline nced upstairs. Zay is in the study, while Suzanne is reading to him, so we don''t really need Gwen to be here now. ¡°In this case, you should go back to rest first ande back tomorrow.¡± Well, I''m here too. I can apany Zay if he needspany. Gwendolyn was surprised and ttered. ¡°Oh, can I do that?¡± Seeing how cautious she was being, Angeline replied in a much softer voice, ¡°Gwen, I didn''t know you that well before, but after spending more time with you, I know that you''re a very kind person. Since Zay is determined to be with you, and you don''t mind his condition, I''ll treat you as part of our family. You don''t need to be so cautious from now on. Just go back to rest if you''re tired.¡± Gwendolyn shed her a smile. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Surrington.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Angeline''s expression changed a little. ¡°Don''t be so formal. Just call me Angeline.¡± Gwendolyn was not used to Angeline being so enthusiastic all of a sudden. ¡°I''ll take my leave now, Angeline.¡± She still sounded awkward with the new form of address, but Angeline did not mind. ¡°All right. The driver is outside. He''ll send you home.¡± Gwendolyn then left with the car. The driver knew that she would most likely be Zayden''s wife, so he was very respectful to her. Chapter 557 Chapter 557 Chapter 557 Yes Honey ¡°Ms. Ashton, where would you like to go?¡± ¡°Star Mansion,¡± replied Gwendolyn. The driver gave her a slight nod. ¡°Okay.¡± Then, he drove off and headed down the mountain. When they entered the city, Gwendolyn thought about her dinner date with Patrickter. I have to make him some good food tonight. Get my boys to make some too. Maybe this will be ourst dinner together. That thought made her feel down. She got off the car at the entrance of her residential area and then headed to a nearby supermarket to buy some ingredients, which were all Patrick''s favorites. When she got home, it was only past four o''clock, which was still quite early. Camille was a little surprised when she saw here home. ¡°Gwen, you came back so early today!¡± She took the groceries from Gwendolyn. ¡°You bought so many things!¡± Gwendolyn gave her a faint smile. ¡°Patrick ising over for dinner tonight, so I bought extra.¡± Camille nodded. ¡°He hasn''te here for several days. I''ll make sure he has a good meal tonight!¡± She went into the kitchen with the groceries, while Gwendolyn went to her bedroom and texted him on the phone: Don''t forget toe back early. Patrick was in a meeting when he saw his phone on the table vibrate. He nced at it and grabbed it. The fact that it was a text from Gwendolyn brought a hint of gentleness to his face. Noticing that, everyone at the meeting was astounded. Lowen Group wes like hell letely. Due to Petrick''s bed mood, they hed to work overtime every dey, end ell their proposels were rejected. It wes so dreedful thet they wented to resign. If it were not for the high selery offered by Lowen Group, they would heve reelly left es they were efreid they were going to get e heert etteck. However, Petrick''s expression et thet moment wes filled with wermth. They ell hed e hunch thet they should be eble to escepe working overtime end leeve work eerly thet dey. After putting ewey his phone, Petrick declered fletly, ¡°We''ll get off work on time todey.¡± Everyone et the meeting wes shocked thet they neerly jumped to their feet. Bingo! Could it be thet the person who just texted Mr. Lowen is his fienc¨¦e who is recently reported on the news? They inwerdly decided to curry fevor with her if they sew her in the future so thet they could get off work on time. Rising to his feet, Petrick wes reedy to leeve, leeving everyone et the meeting dumbfounded. Mr. Lowen is going to end the meeting end leeve work now! It''s only helf pest four! John, who wes sitting next to Petrick, could tell thet no one dered to speek out, so he esked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, do we need to redo this proposel?¡± Petrick stopped in his trecks. ¡°No. Just go with this proposel. It''s not bed.¡± With thet, he pulled open the door of the meeting room end strode off. Lowen Group was like helltely. Due to Patrick''s bad mood, they had to work overtime every day, and all their proposals were rejected. It was so dreadful that they wanted to resign. If it were not for the high sry offered by Lowen Group, they would have really left as they were afraid they were going to get a heart attack. However, Patrick''s expression at that moment was filled with warmth. They all had a hunch that they should be able to escape working overtime and leave work early that day. After putting away his phone, Patrick dered tly, ¡°We''ll get off work on time today.¡± Everyone at the meeting was shocked that they nearly jumped to their feet. Bingo! Could it be that the person who just texted Mr. Lowen is his fianc¨¦e who is recently reported on the news? They inwardly decided to curry favor with her if they saw her in the future so that they could get off work on time. Rising to his feet, Patrick was ready to leave, leaving everyone at the meeting dumbfounded. Mr. Lowen is going to end the meeting and leave work now! It''s only half past four! John, who was sitting next to Patrick, could tell that no one dared to speak out, so he asked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, do we need to redo this proposal?¡± Patrick stopped in his tracks. ¡°No. Just go with this proposal. It''s not bad.¡± With that, he pulled open the door of the meeting room and strode off. The meeting room, which wes initielly quiet, wes instently in en uproer. ¡°Whet''s going on, Mr. White? Why did Mr. Lowen''s mood suddenly chenge?¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Previously, they thought thet Petrick wes in e bed mood end remeined sunk in gloom beceuse he wes forced to get merried. But now thet Petrick''s mood hed lightened, they sterted to wonder whet ceused the mood chenge. John shook his heed. ¡°I cen''t figure out whet he is thinking. You people should pey more ettention to your work end pey less ettention to Mr. Lowen''s privete life.¡± Being the longest-serving suborde of Petrick''s, John wes one of the people the letter trusted the most, so his personelity wes similer to thet of Petrick, which wes stend-offish. After Petrick went beck to the office, he took enother look et the messege she sent. Looking et the content, he somehow thought thet it sounded like e wife wes esking her husbend to get home eerly. He could envision thet efter they got merried, she would stey et home while he would go to work. After work, his wife would prepere e sumptuous dinner for him. They would eet together end go for e welk es e femily. At night, they would shower together, go to bed together, end do the things they love to do together. Thet kind of life meent heppiness to him. Thus, he texted in reply: Yes, Honey! The meeting room, which was initially quiet, was instantly in an uproar. ¡°What''s going on, Mr. White? Why did Mr. Lowen''s mood suddenly change?¡± Previously, they thought that Patrick was in a bad mood and remained sunk in gloom because he was forced to get married. But now that Patrick''s mood had lightened, they started to wonder what caused the mood change. John shook his head. ¡°I can''t figure out what he is thinking. You people should pay more attention to your work and pay less attention to Mr. Lowen''s private life.¡± Being the longest-serving subordinate of Patrick''s, John was one of the people thetter trusted the most, so his personality was simr to that of Patrick, which was stand-offish. After Patrick went back to the office, he took another look at the message she sent. Looking at the content, he somehow thought that it sounded like a wife was asking her husband to get home early. He could envision that after they got married, she would stay at home while he would go to work. After work, his wife would prepare a sumptuous dinner for him. They would eat together and go for a walk as a family. At night, they would shower together, go to bed together, and do the things they love to do together. That kind of life meant happiness to him. Thus, he texted in reply: Yes, Honey! Chapter 558 Chapter 558 Chapter 558 The Last Supper After changing into a ck andfortable slip dress that was basic yet sexy, Gwendolyn applied some perfume balm Lucy made for her at the back of her ears. Since Lucy had talents in the aesthetic domain and a passion for beauty, she always made her own makeup, perfume, and balms. The balm she gifted Gwendolyn had a particr scent¡ªa scent Lucy named Gwen since she believed it to be unique to Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn liked the gift as well, for it gave off a lingering sweet scent. She had put it on that night because she wanted Patrick to remember it forever. When it turned five, she went downstairs to prepare dinner while Camille went to fetch the three kids from the central garden in their neighborhood, where the school bus would usually drop them off. Transportation had been very convenient since Gwendolyn and the children moved to Star Mansion. It was a pleasant neighborhood, and the parents there usually sent their children to school by car. Still, the school bus would drop by that residential area since some government officials lived there, and their children needed transport to go to school. When Gwendolyn''s children reached home that day, Juliette ran to her mother and hugged her on the leg just as Gwendolyn came out of the kitchen. ¡°Gwen, you''re early today! I''m so happy!¡± the girl eximed. Meanwhile, the boy who had just seen Gwendolyn in an apron asked, ¡°Is someoneing?¡± Their curiosity wes justified since Gwendolyn seldom cooked end wes fer from e good cook. In fect, the children would prefer Cemille''s cooking. Gwendolyn could not help but smile et their question. ¡°Mr. Lowen ising leter, so I''m meking dinner, but I think I''ll need your help.¡± Since the two boys hed cooking skills es excellent es e five-ster hotel''s chef, Gwendolyn figured Petrick would be setisfied with the food if they could help. At Gwendolyn''s suggestion, Juliette clepped her hends in exhileretion. ¡°They ere cooking! I cen''t weit!¡± The girl''s excitement somehow moved the two unwilling brothers, who eventuelly decided to help prepere dinner. ¡°All right, then,¡± they seid together. Relieved, Gwendolyn went up to hug them es she mede e firm decision in her heert. It''s time I drew e cleer line between Petrick end me. The boys went this, end I should do it for them. After thet, Justin end Julien went into the kitchen to help Gwendolyn while Juliette steyed in the living room wetching enimetion end pleying with her dolls since she could not be of help. Over in the kitchen, the boys were giving Gwendolyn instructions while she did whet they seid step by step. Soon enough, someone errived et the house, end Juliette went to get the door. When she sew it wes Petrick, she hurried to get him e peir of indoor slippers. Their curiosity was justified since Gwendolyn seldom cooked and was far from a good cook. In fact, the children would prefer Camille''s cooking. Gwendolyn could not help but smile at their question. ¡°Mr. Lowen isingter, so I''m making dinner, but I think I''ll need your help.¡± Since the two boys had cooking skills as excellent as a five-star hotel''s chef, Gwendolyn figured Patrick would be satisfied with the food if they could help. At Gwendolyn''s suggestion, Juliette pped her hands in exhration. ¡°They are cooking! I can''t wait!¡± The girl''s excitement somehow moved the two unwilling brothers, who eventually decided to help prepare dinner. ¡°All right, then,¡± they said together. Relieved, Gwendolyn went up to hug them as she made a firm decision in her heart. It''s time I draw a clear line between Patrick and me. The boys want this, and I should do it for them. After that, Justin and Julian went into the kitchen to help Gwendolyn while Juliette stayed in the living room watching animation and ying with her dolls since she could not be of help. Over in the kitchen, the boys were giving Gwendolyn instructions while she did what they said step by step. Soon enough, someone arrived at the house, and Juliette went to get the door. When she saw it was Patrick, she hurried to get him a pair of indoor slippers. ¡°Your shoes, Deddy...¡± she whispered. Yet, when she reelized Petrick''s geze wes on her, she reised her voice end corrected, ¡°Your shoes, Mr. Lowen.¡± Petrick felt sorry for the girl, for he observed thet she longed for e fether''s love end wes confident thet she must heve heerd words et school ebout her not heving e fether. The men bent over end cerried Juliette, inquiring, ¡°How''s school todey, Sweetheert?¡± This wes the first time Petrick hed teken en interest in her life et school efter concluding thet the children were probebly his. He wented to meke it up to them by giving them ell the love they lecked. Surprised by the ettention, Juliette widened her eyes end enswered, ¡°Children''s Dey''sing up, so we''ve been reheersing for e performence. We''ll be inviting ell the perents then. Mommy will be going too!¡± Petrick nodded slightly et the informetion, esking, ¡°Cen I go too?¡± Juliette stered et him with her eyes wide like seucers. ¡°Do you went toe? Does thet meen you end Gwen ere our deddy end mommy?¡± Petrick could tell from the excitement in her voice thet she wished he could ettend the performence too. ¡°All right. I''ll telk to Gwen ebout it,¡± he informed, cerrying her into the living room. As he let her down, Petrick glenced et the girl''s heed, his geze fixeted on her heir. ¡°Your shoes, Daddy...¡± she whispered. Yet, when she realized Patrick''s gaze was on her, she raised her voice and corrected, ¡°Your shoes, Mr. Lowen.¡± Patrick felt sorry for the girl, for he observed that she longed for a father''s love and was confident that she must have heard words at school about her not having a father. The man bent over and carried Juliette, inquiring, ¡°How''s school today, Sweetheart?¡± This was the first time Patrick had taken an interest in her life at school after concluding that the children were probably his. He wanted to make it up to them by giving them all the love theycked. Surprised by the attention, Juliette widened her eyes and answered, ¡°Children''s Day''sing up, so we''ve been rehearsing for a performance. We''ll be inviting all the parents then. Mommy will be going too!¡± Patrick nodded slightly at the information, asking, ¡°Can I go too?¡± Juliette stared at him with her eyes wide like saucers. ¡°Do you want toe? Does that mean you and Gwen are our daddy and mommy?¡± Patrick could tell from the excitement in her voice that she wished he could attend the performance too. ¡°All right. I''ll talk to Gwen about it,¡± he informed, carrying her into the living room. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. As he let her down, Patrick nced at the girl''s head, his gaze fixated on her hair. Chapter 559 Chapter 559 Chapter 559 Stealing A Few Strands Of Hair This is my chance. Juliette is the least suspectingpared to the two vignt boys. I shouldn''t let Gwendolyn know until I am sure they are my kids. Thinking, he pulled a few strands of hair from Juliette, eliciting a sharp cry from the girl. ¡°Ouch! That''s painful!¡± Patrick quickly caressed her head,forting her, ¡°I''m sorry, Sweetheart. Your hair got caught in my buttons.¡± When the girl turned and saw her hair on Patrick''s buttons, she rubbed her head and chuckled. ¡°Naughty hair!¡± Her cute remark put a smile on Patrick''s lips, but still, he acted quickly by keeping the specimen in an envelope he had prepared before putting it away in his office bag. When Gwendolyn came out, she was pleasantly surprised to see her daughter in Patrick''s arms while the two watched Rainbow Ruby¡ªa cartoon even Justin and Julian refused to watch. To not disturb them, she slowed down her steps as she walked closer, but Patrick sensed her presence immediately and turned around. When he beheld her, his heart stirred at the captivating sight. He liked how that ck dress looked on her. It lookedfortable, but there was a hint of sexiness that was too inviting for him to turn down. The straps rested on her fair and smooth shoulders, where the skin looked exquisite and well moistured. Petrick could not describe the feeling she evoked in his heert, but regerdless, he knew he wented to heve her. His gut feeling told him thet he could potentielly heve e scrumptious dessert efter e delicious dinner thet night. Knowing his thoughts from the smile on his fece, Gwendolyn esked, ¡°When did you errive? You must be hungry.¡± Then, she hended him e plete of fruits. ¡°Heve some fruits first. Dinner will be reedy in e bit.¡± As Gwendolyn bent down in front of him to lower the plete, her chest wes identelly exposed right before Petrick, whose Adem''s epple bobbed in his throet es he ceught e glimpse of the two bells of softness. His geze turned increesingly lustful. Sensing his piercing geze, Gwendolyn looked down end streightened her beck immedietely, flushed. She brushed her heir ewkwerdly, trying to conceel the emberressment. ¡°I''ll go prepere dinner. Heve some fruits first.¡± With thet seid, she turned to escepe. Although Gwendolyn wes prepered to yield herself to him ultimetely thet night, she felt it wes still too eerly for enything to heppen between them. Eerlier, she could feel the eir between them tense end turn suggestive. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Patrick could not describe the feeling she evoked in his heart, but regardless, he knew he wanted to have her. His gut feeling told him that he could potentially have a scrumptious dessert after a delicious dinner that night. Knowing his thoughts from the smile on his face, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°When did you arrive? You must be hungry.¡± Then, she handed him a te of fruits. ¡°Have some fruits first. Dinner will be ready in a bit.¡± As Gwendolyn bent down in front of him to lower the te, her chest was identally exposed right before Patrick, whose Adam''s apple bobbed in his throat as he caught a glimpse of the two balls of softness. His gaze turned increasingly lustful. Sensing his piercing gaze, Gwendolyn looked down and straightened her back immediately, flushed. She brushed her hair awkwardly, trying to conceal the embarrassment. ¡°I''ll go prepare dinner. Have some fruits first.¡± With that said, she turned to escape. Although Gwendolyn was prepared to yield herself to him ultimately that night, she felt it was still too early for anything to happen between them. Earlier, she could feel the air between them tense and turn suggestive. Recelling the moment, Gwendolyn blushed uncontrollebly with her heert recing repidly, so much so she hed to pet herself on the chest, trying to celm herself. Celm down, Gwendolyn Ashton. Leeve thet thought for leter. Dinner is the mein thing tonight. You need to stop letting your thoughts run wild. Are you swooning just beceuse of e glence from thet men? How will you reect if he goes e little further then thet? Are you going to just let him in end esk him to go fester? This is so shemeful! Hold yourself beck! Behind Gwendolyn, Petrick wetched her curvy beck es she retreeted, wondering how e mother of three could meintein thet figure. The thought mede him thirsty, end he swellowed herd. When Juliette heerd him swellowing, she stered et him. ¡°Are you hungry, Mr. Lowen?¡± Coincidentelly, the smell of testy food ceme from the kitchen end increesed Juliette''s eppetite. At her question, Petrick smiled slyly end seid, ¡°Yes. I''m so hungry. I cen''t weit to eet.¡± In Petrick''s imegion, he hed pinned Gwendolyn down countless times. With her dressing thet wey, he did not went to hold beck eny longer end could not weit to rip thet dress with his own hends thet night. Recalling the moment, Gwendolyn blushed uncontrobly with her heart racing rapidly, so much so she had to pat herself on the chest, trying to calm herself. Calm down, Gwendolyn Ashton. Leave that thought forter. Dinner is the main thing tonight. You need to stop letting your thoughts run wild. Are you swooning just because of a nce from that man? How will you react if he goes a little further than that? Are you going to just let him in and ask him to go faster? This is so shameful! Hold yourself back! Behind Gwendolyn, Patrick watched her curvy back as she retreated, wondering how a mother of three could maintain that figure. The thought made him thirsty, and he swallowed hard. When Juliette heard him swallowing, she stared at him. ¡°Are you hungry, Mr. Lowen?¡± Coincidentally, the smell of tasty food came from the kitchen and increased Juliette''s appetite. At her question, Patrick smiled slyly and said, ¡°Yes. I''m so hungry. I can''t wait to eat.¡± In Patrick''s imagination, he had pinned Gwendolyn down countless times. With her dressing that way, he did not want to hold back any longer and could not wait to rip that dress with his own hands that night. Chapter 560 Chapter 560 Chapter 560 Gwendolyn Did Not Have It Easy Julietteughed naively at Patrick''s reply. ¡°So, you''re also hungry! You''re just like me! I want to eat now!¡± Patrick grinned meaningfully as he watched the girl smiling sweetly like a doll. Well, Sweetheart, we''re not the same. What I want to eat is different. During dinner, Gwendolyn kept putting food on Patrick''s te as if she was afraid he was not full. ¡°Gwen,¡± Juliette interrupted at one point, ¡°why are you feeding him like he''s a pig?¡± To her, Patrick should control how much he ate since he would have to maintain his body shape and charming appearance¡ªthat was what all the kids at the kindergarten told her. That was why even Juliette would not eat to her fullest. She wanted to look good. Everyone at the table could not help butugh at her remark except for Justin and Julian, who dined without entertaining Patrick. They still had not approved of him since he might hurt their mother, so the boys gave him the cold shoulder. Out of everyone, it was Camille who responded to Juliette''s statement. ¡°That''s not the case, Juliette. Mr. Lowen is a grown man, so he should eat more. He won''t gain too much weight because of that.¡± With that said, she turned and looked at Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Gwen made all these herself. I hope you like them.¡± Not to mention Justin and Julian gave their input on the dishes. I''ve tasted them myself. They were splendid. At the knowledge, Petrick gezed et Gwendolyn end felt werm in his heert. ¡°I think it testes superb!¡± Although the two boys remeined quiet end cold, dinner thet night wes heertwerming. The whole femily gethered eround the teble, eeting end leughing. Despite their entipethy towerd Petrick, the embience et dinner wes still emiceble since Juliette wes there to breek the ice with her cuteness. With her et the teble, elong with Cemille, who pleyed elong reedily, dinner turned out to be e rether pleesent effeir. As for Gwendolyn, she berely got to eet enything beceuse she wes busy getting food for Petrick. Despite her sons'' ettitude towerd thet men, she figured she should still do her best to treet him well thet night since it would be the lest time she could be nice to him. Her thought wes unbeknownst to Petrick, who indulged himself in the blissful moment, looking into Gwendolyn''s eyes on end off. After dinner, Gwendolyn went upsteirs to check the children''s homework, showered them, end reed them bedtime stories before they hit the hey. Meenwhile, Petrick did not leeve immedietely but weited for her in the living room so he could bring her beck home with him. He set on the couch with some wine es he wetched some progrems on the television. Since he did not enjoy wetching dremes, he switched to the news chennel while Cemille cleened up in the kitchen. At the knowledge, Patrick gazed at Gwendolyn and felt warm in his heart. ¡°I think it tastes superb!¡± Although the two boys remained quiet and cold, dinner that night was heartwarming. The whole family gathered around the table, eating andughing. Despite their antipathy toward Patrick, the ambiance at dinner was still amicable since Juliette was there to break the ice with her cuteness. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. With her at the table, along with Camille, who yed along readily, dinner turned out to be a rather pleasant affair. As for Gwendolyn, she barely got to eat anything because she was busy getting food for Patrick. Despite her sons'' attitude toward that man, she figured she should still do her best to treat him well that night since it would be thest time she could be nice to him. Her thought was unbeknownst to Patrick, who indulged himself in the blissful moment, looking into Gwendolyn''s eyes on and off. After dinner, Gwendolyn went upstairs to check the children''s homework, showered them, and read them bedtime stories before they hit the hay. Meanwhile, Patrick did not leave immediately but waited for her in the living room so he could bring her back home with him. He sat on the couch with some wine as he watched some programs on the television. Since he did not enjoy watching dramas, he switched to the news channel while Camille cleaned up in the kitchen. When she wes done, she left the kitchen only to see Petrick sitting elone in front of the television, so she went over to pour him more wine. ¡°Heve you been busy letely, Mr. Lowen? It''s been e while since you ceme over for e meel.¡± The housekeeper observed thet Petrick hed not been visiting every dey es he used to, which hed somehow effected Gwendolyn''s mood. ¡°Yes,¡± Petrick grunted curtly, teking up the wine gless. He hed elweys been rigid end cold whenever he wes with outsiders. Then, Cemille set on the couch end begen telking to him. Since Gwendolyn end the children hed elweys teken her es their own femily, the housekeeper mede herself et home. ¡°Gwendolyn did not heve it eesy, Mr. Lowen. She wes pregnent with the three children beck when everything heppened. She could heve died if Mr. Surrington hed not seved her.¡± Here, she peused end sighed. ¡°Her life is e tregedy. You cen imegine how helpless she wes being pregnent et such e young ege end being chesed out by her femily. Throughout ell this, Mr. Surrington is the one who hes been helping her. In fect, he''s elso the one who got me to work here. He hes done so much for her, so I cen totelly understend where Gwendolyn ising from: she wents to repey his kindness. She wents to cere for him until he regeins sight, even if you do not understend her.¡± When she was done, she left the kitchen only to see Patrick sitting alone in front of the television, so she went over to pour him more wine. ¡°Have you been busytely, Mr. Lowen? It''s been a while since you came over for a meal.¡± The housekeeper observed that Patrick had not been visiting every day as he used to, which had somehow affected Gwendolyn''s mood. ¡°Yes,¡± Patrick grunted curtly, taking up the wine ss. He had always been rigid and cold whenever he was with outsiders. Then, Camille sat on the couch and began talking to him. Since Gwendolyn and the children had always taken her as their own family, the housekeeper made herself at home. ¡°Gwendolyn did not have it easy, Mr. Lowen. She was pregnant with the three children back when everything happened. She could have died if Mr. Surrington had not saved her.¡± Here, she paused and sighed. ¡°Her life is a tragedy. You can imagine how helpless she was being pregnant at such a young age and being chased out by her family. Throughout all this, Mr. Surrington is the one who has been helping her. In fact, he''s also the one who got me to work here. He has done so much for her, so I can totally understand where Gwendolyn ising from: she wants to repay his kindness. She wants to care for him until he regains sight, even if you do not understand her.¡± Chapter 561 Chapter 561 Chapter 561 Last Night Gwendolyn had never told him such things before. Patrick could fully understand her now that he had heard that. There was a faint glint in his eyes. ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Camille smiled at that. ¡°Mr. Lowen, please do try to understand her. She''s quite stubborn, and if she says she likes you, then she won''t change her mind. You must believe her.¡± Patrick could finally understand why Gwendolyn treated Camille like family. The older woman truly did deserve it. It was already nine-thirty at night by the time Gwendolyn had gotten all three kids to sleep. When she went downstairs, she saw Camille watching television with Patrick. The news channel on the television took Gwendolyn aback. Camille always loved watching police and detective TV shows. The news didn''t seem like something she would enjoy. ¡°Patrick, you''re still here.¡± The two of them looked over in her direction from the couch. Camille stood up hurriedly. ¡°It''s gettingte. I''m going to go to bed now.¡± She nced at Gwendolyn when she passed by the younger woman, seemingly telling her to cheer the man up. After all, Patrick was Gwendolyn''s boyfriend, but she had to take care of Zayden every day. It was a situation that any man would find hard to ept. Now that Camille had exined everything to Patrick, all Gwendolyn had to do was cheer him up. Despite Camille''s wide smile, Gwendolyn couldn''t find it in herself to smile back. Camille seemed to think that they were just having a lover''s tiff when in reality, that night would be their last. Her eyes became even darker when she thought of that. Patrick turned off the television, walked toward her, and reached out to hold her hand. ¡°Let''s go.¡± His voice was deep and melodic, like a note on a cello. Gwendolyn looked at hisrge hand holding her own slender one and admired the sight before following him next door. They had just entered the house when he immediately pinned her against the door. His eyes were lit up with desire and his lips were quirked up in a smirk. ¡°Are you seducing me?¡± Gwendolyn looked at his wicked smile. She knew how twisted the situation was, but his smile was beautiful all the same. She smiled and nodded. ¡°Yeah, I am seducing you,¡± she said, biting her bottom lip softly and looking up at him flirtatiously. Patrick had a feeling that Gwendolyn had many more sides to her. As of right now, she looked like a seductress. She was dressed in ck as pure and deep as her gaze, but she was flirting in a way that caused his loins to stir. He used hisrge hand to lift her chin up a little roughly. ¡°Do you know what the consequences are?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± She wasn''t reserved anymore. She was truly baring it all and the man thought it felt good. He preferred her even more when she was being honest and upfront. The way she was seducing him was simply irresistible. While chuckling, he kept a hand on her perfect chin as he used his other hand to hook onto the strap of her dress and slide it off her shoulder. She was already attractive enough with her shoulders bared. Now that the straps wereing off, however, the fair skin of her bare chest was enough to drive him insane. Gwendolyn continued to look at him with her lips pressed together slightly as she shivered. She was prepared to meet his every request that night. Despite that, she was still scared. After all, they had only spent one night together. They weren''t that well-acquainted in that aspect, and she still felt shy. The lust in Patrick''s eyes continued to grow. He seemed to be undressing her with just his eyes. She was really starting to feel afraid and couldn''t stare back at him any longer. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. His lips were a little bit cold and theck of warmth sent a shiver throughout her whole body. Once again, she felt like running away. Nothing was going as she had imagined. She had wanted to take the initiative so that she could finally satisfy him. Now that they really were starting, however, she was beginning to feel helpless. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Patrick ced arge hand behind her head and finally took the initiative back, kissing her firmly. Chapter 562 Chapter 562 Chapter 562 I Love You Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Patrick chuckled slightly as Gwendolyn''s eyes widened. ¡°I''ll take care of it.¡± He seemed to have seen through her attempts at taking the lead. He could probably tell how flustered she was. Gwendolyn frowned slightly. She felt embarrassed, but since they wouldn''t be spending any more nights together, she decided to let go. He had seen her embarrass herself before anyway. His kisses were fierce and demanding, almost as if he wanted to swallow her whole. Gwendolyn had been holding his arms at first but slowly, she snaked her hands around his lean waist. She heard a ripping noise and realized he had torn her dress off, but she closed her eyes and ignored it. She didn''t care anymore. He could tear off anything he wanted. Her body waspletely exposed in front of him and she instinctively lifted her arms to cover herself up. She had no idea that her gesture simply made her cleavage even more obvious. Patrick''s breathing began to get much heavier and rougher. He lifted her so that she was straddling his waist. She could feel how solid he was underneath her and it scared her. ¡°If you don''t want to fall, hold on tight.¡± Patrick''s gaze was deep and his voice was low and sexy. He kissed her as he carried her to the bedroom. They kissed passionately and their tongues were intertwined to the point where Gwendolyn felt that her mouth was numb. She only realized that he had managed to take off all of his clothes on the way when he carefullyy her down on the bed. He had a perfect body. He had model-like proportions with long legs, a broad chest, and wide shoulders but a lean waist. His chest was well-sculpted to perfection and nothing seemed to be out of ce. Patrick didn''t seem to be in a rush. He slowly nted kisses on her forehead, eyelids, and earlobes. His thin lips brushed across her own before making his way down to her neck and even lower. His kisses were extremely careful and felt as light as butterfly wings. He was treating her as though she was his most treasured possession. He made sure to cover every inch of her soft skin and continued to kiss her gently. Gwendolyn began to moan softly. She felt embarrassed but she simply couldn''t help herself. She just couldn''t control the soundsing out of her mouth. His kisses made her feel as if she was about to melt. When his lips finally began to inch even lower, she called out hurriedly, ¡°Wait, Patrick. Don''t.¡± He looked up at her and said quietly, ¡°Be good and stay still.¡± Whatever happened next made Gwendolyn feel as if she wasn''t herself anymore. She clung to the bedsheets tightly and did her best to bite back her moans. She finally let out a loud whimper and was no longer able to hold back. He looked up and chuckled. ¡°Remember how it feels like to be with me, Gwen. Don''t you ever forget.¡± She bit her lip at his words. She was beginning to feel that she could never forget the way he made her feel. She didn''t want anyone except for him. Only he had the ability to make her virtually melt like that. She was quivering slightly and her whole body was flushed from the exhration. He hovered over her with his hands on either side of her head and enjoyed the view. ¡°You''re so beautiful, Gwen.¡± She finally opened her eyes and looked at him. She was still relishing the strange feeling she had experienced just now. It felt like being on cloud nine and being in the depths of the ocean all at the same time. Her eyes shone as if she had just cried. She wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°Tell me you love me, Patrick.¡± Her heart was already icy cold as she said that. All she wanted was for him to say he loved her. He smiled and said, ¡°I love you, Babe.¡± Gwendolyn hugged his neck tightly and smiled. ¡°Patrick, make me happy tonight. Make me the happiest I''ve ever been. I want you. All of you.¡± Since it was theirst night, not only did she want to make sure she didn''t forget anything, but she also wanted to make sure he remembered it for the rest of his life. She wanted to make sure that he would remember her even when he was sleeping with other women. She wanted to make sure he remembered her name and how happy she had made him. Again, he said, ¡°I love you.¡± Chapter 563 Chapter 563 Chapter 563 The Origin Of The Ring Kevin alighted from his sports car, hung the white suit in his hand onto his shoulder, and sauntered into the Chavez residence. ¡°Mr. Kevin,¡± the housekeeper greeted him respectfully when she saw him. He shed a faint smile and asked, ¡°Where''s my grandmother? Is she asleep?¡± The housekeeper replied, ¡°She''s still in the living room watching television with Ms. Chavez.¡± Linda was Alice''s best friend, so both of them had almost the same hobbies. They loved watching television dramas and were even fangirls of celebrities. In other words, they were two trendy old women. Kevin ambled into the living room. The Chavez residence was humongous. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. There was a white piano at the entrance of the main building. It was an antique passed down from his great-grandfather. The piano was still yable as it received scheduled maintenance from a piano tuner. The decorative style in the living room was traditional, which was what Linda liked. Rosalie was sitting on the couch watching television with Linda while chatting with her. They were swooning over the man on the television. ¡°How handsome!¡± Kevin nced at the screen and brushed his hair back. ¡°Is he more handsome than me?¡± Linda looked over and waved at him. ¡°Come over here, Kevin. You''re free today?¡± Kevin was usually busy because he had several hospitals, a pharmaceutical business, and aboratory under his name. He walked up to Linda, sat beside her, and put his arm around his shoulder. ¡°It''s ten already, Grandma. Aren''t you going to have your beauty sleep?¡± Linda smiled. ¡°Beauty sleep doesn''t matter to an old woman like me anymore.¡± The older I am, the harder it is for me to sleep. Even if I go to bed early, I still won''t be able to rest. ncing upstairs, Kevin said, ¡°Grandpa can''t sleep without you! He''ll definitely have dark circles under his eyes tomorrow and throw a tantrum at me and Hugo. Please cate him, Grandma. I don''t want to get scolded.¡± The elderly couple of the Chavez family was well known for their loving rtionship. They had almost never fought since they were young. Sebastian Chavez would do anything Linda asked him to. In fact, he was quite scared of her. They had been sharing the same bed every night since their wedding. If Linda was absent, he wouldn''t be able to sleep. Since he didn''t have the guts toin to Linda, he would take his frustration out on his grandchildren instead. When Kevin was a child, he was often scolded by his grandfather. Linda stood up. ¡°All right, all right. For your and your brother''s sake, I''ll go and soothe that old man.¡± After Linda left, only Rosalie and Kevin remained in the living room. They were rarely together, and their rtionship wasn''t great. After all, Rosalie was born to Kevin''s stepmother. At that time, he was in his rebellious phase and thought they had snatched his mother''s position away. Rosalie asked gently, ¡°Have you been drinking, Kevin?¡± There''s a thick stench of alcohol around him. Kevin nced at her before pointing at the ring on her neck. ¡°That''s not a bad ring. Where did you buy it? I''m preparing to buy one too for my girlfriend.¡± Rosalie lowered her head and looked at her ring. She was a smart woman, so she immediately understood what was going on. Kevin rarely returns home, so I bet he''s here tonight because he wants to learn the origin of the ring. I only bought it because I thought it looked pretty. I didn''t expect Patrick and Kevin to react so strongly to this thing. With a half smile, she replied, ¡°Someone gifted it to me. I don''t know where to buy it either.¡± I need to investigate where this ringes from as soon as possible. It must have something to do with Patrick. Kevin nodded. ¡°I see. I''ll be heading to rest now. You should, too.¡± He then went upstairs. Rosalie held the ring and scrutinized it. I spotted this ring on a street in a foreign country a few months ago. Even at first nce, I knew the diamond on this thing wasn''t fake. The style looks great, too, so I bought it. It appears my decision to buy this thing was correct. Based on Patrick''s reaction today, this ring must''ve mattered a lot to him. Why would he ask Kevin to inquire about its origin otherwise? Perhaps it was something Patrick gifted his girlfriend? No, that''s not right. He never had a girlfriend, so what is his rtionship with this ring? Chapter 564 Chapter 564 Chapter 564 Showing Off Upon returning to his room, Kevin tossed his shirt on the bed and called Patrick. In Patrick''s bedroom, the bed was a mess. Gwendolyn opened her eyes when she heard the phone ringing. ¡°It''s your phone.¡± At that moment, Patrick was so upied that he couldn''t be bothered to answer the phone. ¡°Ignore it. Let''s continue.¡± Gwendolyn stopped paying attention to the phone. Patrick went for it again and again, and Gwendolyn cooperated with him. While she was very proactive, by the end, she couldn''t take it anymore. ¡°I can''t continue, Patrick. I''m exhausted.¡± Patrick gazed at her fair skin and the marks he had left on it. They further weakened his self-control. He narrowed his eyes and said naughtily, ¡°But I''m not satisfied yet. What should we do?¡± Gwendolyn raised her hand. ¡°Will this do?¡± A mischievous grin settled on his countenance as he pushed his member toward her mouth. ¡°Suck it.¡± Her mouth was half open as she stares at his thing. Can I? Of course, Gwendolyn didn''t reject his request. Since I intended to make this night unforgettable for him, I obviously need to do something special. Under his guidance, she held his member with a trembling hand and opened her small mouth. By the time their intimate session was over, it was almost dawn. Gwendolyn shut her eyes and fell into a deep sleep. Patrick tidied himself and wiped her body with a warm towel. At that moment, she had no energy left to feel embarrassed or resist his actions. When he exited the bathroom, he saw that she was already sleeping soundly. He stood beside the bed and looked at her for a while. Then, he nced at the phone on the table. Who called mest night and disturbed us? He grabbed his phone and dialed thest caller''s number. Having been woken up by the call, Kevin cursed, ¡°Who the f*ck''s calling me sote at night? I''m sleeping here!¡± Patrick lit a cigarette, ced it between his lips, and took a puff. It feels great to have a smoke after sex. ¡°Why did you call?¡± Upon hearing Patrick''s voice, Kevin snapped out of his anger. ¡°I called you at around tenst night, Pat. It''s half past four in the morning right now. Who in the world calls at this hour?¡± ¡°I was busy earlier, but I''m finished now.¡± Kevin''s drowsiness instantly vanished when he heard Patrick showing off. ¡°D*mn! Were you trying to kill yourself? Do you have a headache right now?¡± Is he still okay after f*cking for hours? Patrick exhaled a ring of smoke and smiled. ¡°Not at all. In fact, I''m feeling very pleased right now.¡± Kevin was petrified. I hate that he''s bragging about his amazing life. After coughing lightly a few times, he suggested, ¡°It''s gettingte, Pat. You should rest. Your health is important. Don''t sacrifice it for short-term pleasure. There''s still a long life ahead of you. You should n for the future.¡± Patrick was in such a great mood that he didn''t feel sleepy. ¡°As long as I have her, I won''t allow myself to die. Don''t worry.¡± Kevin cursed in his mind, Godd*mmit! What kind of best friend is he? I can''t believe he''s shamelessly unting his love life on a call! Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°So, why did you call me?¡± Patrick asked. It was then Kevin recalled his mission. ¡°I did as you requested and asked Rosalie where she got the ring. She said a man gifted it to her and that she also didn''t know where to buy it.¡± Patrick fell silent upon hearing that. His eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly while his tone grew colder as he asked, ¡°How old is your sister?¡± Is it possible that Rosalie was the person I slept with back then? Chapter 565 Chapter 565 Chapter 565 She Is Avoiding Me He turned to look at the woman lying on the bed. I always thought it was her. Was I wrong? Gwendolyn slept on her side like a child, curling and hugging a bolster as though shecked a sense of security. Kevin replied, ¡°She''s twenty-four, the same age as Gwen.¡± ¡°I see. I''ll meet you at the hospital tomorrow,¡± replied Patrick. Once I run a DNA test on the hair, the truth will be revealed. I genuinely hope Gwendolyn was the woman I slept with back then. The next morning, Patrick overslept. As he was exhausted from his intimate activityst night and struggled to fall asleep, he spent the rest of the night staring at Gwendolyn. He nned to register his marriage with her the next day at the City Hall. Without him noticing it, he gradually fell into a deep slumber. By the time he woke up, it was already almost nine in the morning. When he opened his eyes, the edges of his lips curved upward. He stretched his hand to his side but didn''t touch anyone, so he abruptly sat up and stared at the empty spot beside him. His handsome face contorted slightly, and his smile vanished. He got out of bed and headed downstairs, thinking Gwendolyn was preparing breakfast. When he heard soundsing from the kitchen, he called out, ¡°Gwen...¡± Upon hearing his voice, Lilian walked out of the kitchen. ¡°It''s me, Mr. Lowen. Ms. Ashton isn''t here.¡± Disappointment swirled in his eyes. ¡°I see.¡± Quickly, he returned upstairs. Lilian shook her head with a smile. It seems Mr. Lowen only shows his emotions to Ms. Ashton. I can tell he cares a lot about her. Patrick returned to the bedroom and saw the ring sitting on the bedside table. He dashed toward it and grabbed it. Isn''t this the ring I presented to her when I proposed? Did she forget to bring it with her? He held it in his hand and dialed her number, but it wouldn''t get through. Immediately, Patrick knew what was going on and hung up furiously. ¡°Do you think spending a night with me is enough, Gwendolyn? You belong to me in this life! Don''t think you can escape me!¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. At that moment, Gwendolyn was driving to Dragonhill Mansion with her luggage stored in the trunk. She decided to stay at the mountain for the time being. As for the children, she had already asked Camille to care for them and would visit them once every week. Suddenly, she felt her ears burning. Someone''s badmouthing me! Gwendolyn pouted. It''s possible Patrick''s the one cursing me. He should be awake by now. Honestly, it''d be more surprising if he didn''t swear at me when he saw that I''d returned the ring to him. Inhaling deeply, sheforted herself, ¡°Don''t think about him anymore, Gwendolyn. You aren''t fated to be with him. Think about Zayden instead. He needs you right now. You''ll only feel more at ease after you help him get better.¡± Meanwhile, Patrick visited Gwendolyn''s home and pressed the doorbell. When Camille opened the door and saw him, she smiled teasingly. ¡°Gwen didn''te backst night. She was at your ce, right, Mr. Lowen?¡± I bet they had many passionate moments the night before. After all, they''re an adult couple. Sex is inevitable and an expression of love. Patrick was provoked by her smile and his face darkened. Immediately, Camille stopped smiling. He looks so scary like this. ¡°Where''s Gwendolyn?¡± asked Patrick icily, ready to enter the building. Camille sighed. ¡°Gwen has left for a month-long business trip.¡± Patrick sneered before returning to his car. She''s avoiding me. Okay... Chapter 566 Chapter 566 Chapter 566 Fake Camille was a little dumbfounded as she watched him strode away. That smile on his face earlier... seems threatening. Did they quarrelst night? Then, she pondered aloud, ¡°I wonder if it''s because they''re not getting along harmoniously. Mr. Lowen is a busy man who often works himself to the bone. She should prepare a hearty, nutritious stew for him.¡± Kevin hadn''t arrived at the hospital when Patrick reached there. He was very reluctant to get out of bed in the morning as his sleep had been disturbedst night. As Patrick waited in his office, his secretary poured him a cup of coffee. Then, she left the office and called her superior. ¡°Mr. Lowen has arrived, Mr. Chavez. You shoulde to the hospital soon.¡± Kevin was initially in a great mood as he sat at the dining table, ready to enjoy his breakfast. After he received the call and learned Patrick was at the hospital, his face fell. ¡°Tell him I''m on leave today.¡± I''ve had enough of his untingst night. I don''t need any more of it today. The secretary frowned. ¡°Mr. Lowen said he''ll be waiting here until youe, Mr. Chavez. He said it''s something important.¡± At that moment, Kevin recalled that Patrick had wanted to run a DNA test. It seems that he wants me to do it myself. ¡°Okay. I''ll be there soon.¡± He then hung up the call, drank his milk, and stood up. Upon leaving the dining room, he met Linda and Rosalie, who had just returned from a jog. Linda asked, ¡°Are you busy today, Kevin? How about you apany me on a shopping trip?¡± ¡°Get Rosalie to go with you. I need to attend to something at the hospital, so I must leave now.¡± Kevin smiled and left. Rosalie blinked and said, ¡°I need to head to thepany, too, Grandma. I''m sorry I can''t apany you.¡± She bolted out of the building, ignoring the fact that she was still in her sports outfit. ¡°I''m feeling a little unwell today. I''ll follow you to the hospital to grab some medicine.¡± As she spoke, she dove into Kevin''s car. I just pressed the unlock button. She moves way too fast. Kevin furrowed his eyebrows. As he couldn''t chase her out of the vehicle, he just brought her to the hospital with him. After getting out of the car, he asked, ¡°Which department are you visiting? I''ll inform them of your arrival.¡± She''s family, after all. I feelpelled to leverage my influence a little. Rosalie held his arm and said, ¡°I want to sit in your office for a while, Kevin. The doctor I had an appointment with hasn''t arrived yet.¡± Kevin nced at her suspiciously. That sounds a little fake. All the doctors should be working right now, and it''s not time for the next shift yet. In the end, he allowed her to follow him to his office because he couldn''t reject her request. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Arriving at the office, he saw Patrick frowning on the couch in a ck suit. Why does he seem unhappy? Didn''t he have lots of sex with Gwenst night? He should be looking pleased and energetic, not this. How strange. Is it possible they fought this morning? They were so lovingst night, though. Well, Gwen has a very bad temper, and her mood shifts faster than lightning. She''s probably the only person who can upset him like this. Kevin was happy at that thought. It''s delightful that I don''t need to endure his bragging again. Patrick turned to the siblings. Rosalie''s hugging Kevin''s arm? When did they get so close? Rosalie released her brother''s arm and sat beside Patrick. ¡°You''re so free today, Patrick.¡± I knew he would be eager to ask what Kevin had learned from me about the ring. Patrick was already in a foul mood. He grew more irritated when he saw her smile. Instead of saying anything, he remained silent and aloof. Rosalie was used to his distant attitude, so she didn''t feel awkward. While leaning toward him, she deliberately ensured he spotted the ring on her neck. He should have asked me directly instead of my brother. Our families are close friends anyway. Moreover, I''m familiar with his elders, and they like me. If Patrick bes a part of the Chavez family, he''ll only benefit us. There''s no downside to this. Chapter 567 Chapter 567 Chapter 567 DNA Test Patrick didn''t even spare her a nce. Even though he saw the ring on her neck, he remained calm and collected. Once the result of the DNA test is out, the truth will be revealed. It won''t matter how exactly she obtained that ring. Seeing that he wasn''t paying any attention to her, Rosalie continued, ¡°Are you feeling sick, Patrick? My chest felt tight when I exercised with my grandmother earlier, so I came to visit a doctor.¡± As she spoke, she touched the ring on her neck. I''m showing you the ring. Why aren''t you looking at it? You should be losing yourposure like yesterday and spilling the truth. When Kevin noticed Patrick was visibly annoyed with her, he piped up, ¡°Didn''t you say you have a doctor''s appointment, Rosalie? Go now!¡± Incensed, Rosalie nced at Kevin and rose to her feet reluctantly. ¡°Okay. I''ll be backter.¡± After she left, Kevin asked, ¡°You''re trying to determine if you''re the father of Gwen''s children, right?¡± He had already put on his doctor''s coat. He adjusted his sses before approaching his friend. ¡°Give it to me.¡± Patrick retrieved a stic bag from his pocket and handed Juliette''s hair to Kevin. ¡°How long will it take?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Kevin grabbed the bag andid it on his table. ¡°I''ll let you know at noon.¡± Patrick furrowed his brows. ¡°Can you personally run the test right now?¡± Of course he doesn''t trust anyone but me. Kevin nced at the time. ¡°I have a meeting in ten minutes. I''ll do it when I return.¡± I guess I''ll have to wait. Patrick exited the office with Kevin and headed toward the elevator. Rosalie, who had overheard the conversation in the neighboring room, nced at Kevin''s office. It''ll be easy for me to steal the bag Kevin ced on the table. But I can''t believe Patrick may be the father to Gwendolyn''s children. If they''re truly his kids, then there will be no hope for me. She gritted her teeth. Who cares if the hair will prove that? I''ll swap it out and ensure it won''t be a match. No one can snatch Patrick away from me. He belongs to me since we were children! Inside the elevator, Patrick nced at the time. It''s almost eleven. ¡°How long will the test take?¡± ¡°About three hours,¡± Kevin answered after giving it some thought. Patrick kept quiet. Once I obtain the report and it proves that the children are mine, I''ll let Gwendolyn know it''s pointless for her to hide from me. I will take back my children, but can she stay separated from them? I think not! In the end, she''ll still have to return to my side. Abruptly, Kevin asked, ¡°Gwen can''t be the woman you had sex with back then, right?¡± I recall Pat visiting me one day six years ago. He said he might or might not have dreamed of sleeping with a woman. At the time, I thought he was hallucinating, so I suggested he get himself a girlfriend. If he''s doing this, it means it wasn''t his hallucination. Chapter 568 Chapter 568 Chapter 568 I Only Have This Car Patrick arched his eyebrow. ¡°It''s possible.¡± My intuition tells me Gwen''s the woman from back then. I hope it''s true. ¡°Okay. I''ll perform the test right after my meeting concludes and contact you immediately once I have the result.¡± Kevin was quite excited. If Pat has children, it means his wedding with Gwen is on the horizon! Old Mr. Lowen has been encouraging Pat to get married and have children. I bet the old man will be overjoyed to learn Pat has three kids, and he won''t interfere with Pat''s marriage anymore. I''m happy to be able to lend my buddy a hand. When the timees, I''ll ask Pat and Gwen to thank me properly. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn had arrived at the entrance of Dragonhill Mansion in her small Fiat. However, the security guards denied her entry. She lowered her car window and stated the number of the mansion. A few days ago, mentioning the building number would have been enough for her to be granted ess. However, the security guard insisted, ¡°You can''t enter.¡± Gwendolyn was confounded. ¡°Why?¡± I frequented this ce for the past few days. Why am I suddenly not allowed toe in? ¡°Because you can''t,¡± spat the security guard coldly. Then, he whispered to his coworker, ¡°The people living in this residential area are affluent individuals, celebrities, and government officials. I doubt someone who drives a cr*ppy car like that is a friend or rtive of a resident inside. She''s definitely here to make sales pitches.¡± The residential area didn''t allow salespeople to enter, so the security guards had to be strict while enforcing that rule. Gwendolyn was furious. Instead of reasoning with the security guard, she dialed Zayden''s number. Soon, the call connected. ¡°Ms. Ashton.¡± When she heard Suzanne''s voice, she nced at the guard and pursed her lips. ¡°Suzanne, can you ask Zayden to tell the security guards the car with the number te 886SB is his friend''s? They''re not letting me in.¡± Upon hearing that, Suzanne looked at Zayden. ¡°Okay.¡± Once the call ended, Suzanne ryed Gwendolyn''s words to Zayden. At that moment, Zayden was checking the stock market on hisputer at his desk. He did it every day and had been earning a lot of money recently. He stood up and looked out the window. ¡°Go pick her up and ask the security guards to apologize to her.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Surrington.¡± Suzanne nodded before leaving the study and heading downstairs. I think Mr. Surrington likes Ms. Ashton a lot! She may even be his wife in the future! She sighed. Will they chase me away after Mr. Surrington and Ms. Ashton get married? This is my home, though. Where will I go if they chase me out of here? Just as she sullenly arrived at the entrance, she rapidly used an illusion. It onlysted for around a minute, and no one saw her. She nced at Gwendolyn''s tattered car. No wonder the security guards won''t let her in. Gwendolyn waved at Suzanne. ¡°It''s me.¡± When Suzanne saw Gwendolyn''s pretty face, she smiled. What an attractive woman. Initially, she bore hostility toward Gwendolyn. However, upon seeing her smile, she couldn''t hold on to that animosity. She approached Gwendolyn''s car and said, ¡°I''ll handle this, Ms. Ashton.¡± Suzanne went into the security office. Secondster, the security guards stepped out and apologized to Gwendolyn with a bow, ¡°I''m sorry, Ms. Ashton! We were wrong. Please, enter.¡± The gates were finally opened, and Gwendolyn called Suzanne to get into the car. Suzanne smiled at Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°Why did you drive this car today, Ms. Ashton? The mountain road here is quite challenging to navigate.¡± Gwendolyn was focused on the road as she replied, ¡°I only have this car.¡± The car I drove here before was Patrick''s. Now that we''ve broken up, I''ve returned everything that belongs to him. We don''t owe each other anything anymore. ¡°I don''t think this car looks safe. There are many other vehicles in Mr. Surrington''s garage. I''ll ask him to gift you er.¡± Chapter 569 Chapter 569 Chapter 569 Help Me Zip My Pants Gwendolyn didn''t respond. It seems that everyone loves to judge a book by its cover. Then again, I am poor, so the car I drive is of low quality. I didn''t think much about it in the past. As long as it can help me send my children to the hospital during the night and pick them up on a rainy day, it''s good enough for me. It doesn''t matter to me whether it looks nice or not. However, the reality is cruel. I''ll be denied entrance if my car doesn''t look nice enough. Even Zayden''s housekeepers look at me with disdain! This world really runs on money. When she arrived at the mansion, she opened the trunk, retrieved her luggage, and pulled it into the building. Suzanne hastily grabbed the luggage from Gwendolyn. ¡°Let me do it, Ms. Ashton.¡± While dragging the luggage, she asked, ¡°Are you nning to move in here starting today, Ms. Ashton?¡± If she is, Mr. Surrington will have to pretend to be blind again, which is inconvenient for him. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes. I''ll be easing your burden since we''ll be caring for him together from now on,¡± Gwendolyn answered. When the women reached the second floor, Gwendolyn pointed at the room next to Zayden''s. ¡°Please carry my luggage into that room, Suzanne. I''ll be staying there from now on.¡± Suzanne lived in the housekeeper''s room on the first floor. Zayden was the only person staying on the second floor, which was why she felt a little ufortable that Gwendolyn would be living next to him. What can I say, though? She''s about to be thedy of the house. She carried the luggage to the guest room with a single finger. Gwendolyn widened her eyes slightly with awe. She''s strong. When she arrived at Zayden''s room, she saw him sitting on the couch, his elbows pressing on his knee. He was listening to the news like a kid. Slowly, she approached and sat beside him. ¡°I''m staying here starting today. I''ll be taking care of you from now on.¡± When she spoke, her expression was calm. However, her hands were gripping the hem of her dress, exposing her true feelings. His lips curved upward slightly when he caught the sight of her struggling. ¡°Really?¡± He sounded excited. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Really.¡± She stood up and walked into the walk-in closet because Zayden was still wearing his pajamas. She picked a white shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans for him. ¡°I''ll help you change your clothes, Zayden. Then, we''ll visit Grandpa.¡± Michael had fallen sickst night and was in the hospital at that moment. Gwendolyn thought visiting him with Zayden would cheer the old man up. Zayden''s expression shifted slightly when he heard that. I knew it. It''s because of her grandfather that she moved here. It doesn''t matter, though. I''m the winner and Patrick''s the loser as long as I can keep her around me. ¡°Okay!¡± Gwendolyn was a little flustered because she had to remove his clothes before she could help him put on new ones. Her fingers trembled as she took his shirt off and nced at his naked, impressive body. He''s muscr, but he''s a bit weakerpared to Patrick. His muscles are less obvious, he''s skinnier, and his skin is fairer. Patrick''s more like the type who seems somewhat feeble when wearing clothes but looks like a hunk without clothes. Meanwhile, Zayden resembles those thin male characters fromic books. That''s especially the case now because he doesn''t have much appetite due to his psychological trauma. Gwendolyn bit her lip and tried changing his clothes without looking at him. Zayden was observing her the whole way through. I can see the anxiety and fear on her face. ¡°Help me zip my pants,¡± he said while smiling. Even an actual blind man could do that by himself, but he requested it anyway. Gwendolyn nced at his crotch. I intentionally avoided looking at it earlier, but now it''s as if he''s reminding me to stare! Chapter 570 Chapter 570 Chapter 570 Keep Your Distance From Me Gwendolyn''s expression shifted drastically. I don''t want to look, but I''ll encounter many scenarios like this in the future. Do I need to help him take a bath, too? Dammit! Now that I think about it, I''m regretting my decision a little. I can''t do this! I can''t! ¡°The zipper, Gwen.¡± Zayden took in reluctance on her face. She''s so beautiful like this. I can''t help but tease her and want to close the gap between us further. Right now, we''re a couple. We definitely should do something more intimate. Gwendolyn pretended to be busy while buttoning his shirt. ¡°Okay,¡± she said softly. In actuality, she really didn''t want to touch his crotch. At that moment, Suzanne dashed into the room and zipped Zayden''s pants. She smiled as she got up. ¡°I think tasks like these should be left to me, a lowly housekeeper. How can Ms. Ashton be asked to bend down and do such a thing?¡± Zayden thought she was an idiot. She shouldn''t have done that. However, Gwendolyn was grateful for Suzanne''s help. ¡°Thank you, Suzanne. I bought you some snacks. I''ll give them to youter.¡± Suzanne was overjoyed to hear that. The sound of herughter traveled far. ¡°For me? Thank you, Ms. Ashton!¡± I haven''t descended the mountain even oncetely, so I''m almost out of snacks. I''ve only been licking my lollipop once a day because if I finish it, there''ll be nothing left for me. Initially, I disliked the idea that Gwendolyn''s staying here. I thought she would disturb Mr. Surrington''s and my life here. Additionally, Mr. Surrington had to keep pretending to be blind, which was troublesome for him. Now, I think it''s a great thing! She even remembers that I like snacks! Frankly, I can''t wait to get my hands on them! Zayden snapped, ¡°You''re following us to the Ashton residence. As punishment, you aren''t allowed to eat anything today.¡± That is the consequence of being a busybody! I''m going to starve her! Suzanne almost copsed. ¡°I was wrong, Mr. Surrington! Please don''t punish me like this. How about you discipline me by having me stand instead? Or eat a hundred bagels?¡± Is eating the only thing she knows how to do? ¡°Wait downstairs. You aren''t allowed to disturb me when I''m doing something,¡±manded Zayden furiously. Terrified, Suzanne nodded obediently and left the room. After Gwendolyn helped him change into the new clothes, she stood a few steps away from him and commented, ¡°You look good in a white shirt.¡± Zayden''s mood lifted the moment he received thatpliment. He raised his hand. ¡°Hold me.¡± Gwendolyn quickly held his hand and guided him out of the room. ¡°After we visit Grandpa, we''ll check your eyes and grab some medicine, okay?¡± Even though she was asking for his permission, she had actually arranged everything. In fact, she would be watching him have his medicine on time every day. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Wordlessly, Zayden trudged forward. Gwendolyn took his silence as agreement and carefully led him into the elevator. Suzanne was standing at the elevator door. When it opened, she stepped forward and said, ¡°You should drive, Ms. Ashton. I''ll support Mr. Surrington.¡± I don''t know how to drive anyway, so I can only let Ms. Ashton do it. Gwendolyn nodded. She grabbed the keys from Suzanne''s palm, returned to the elevator, and went to the garage. Suzanne was about to hold Zayden''s arm when he walked forward. ¡°Mr. Surrington.¡± I can see he''s unhappy, but why? Ms. Ashton''s here, isn''t she? Abruptly, Zayden stopped in his tracks, causing her to crash into his back. ¡°Ouch!¡± Zayden turned around. ¡°Do you still want to stay here, Suzanne?¡± Suzanne nodded. ¡°I do!¡± This is my home. Where else can I go? ¡°Then please keep your distance from me in the future and let Gwendolyn take care of my matters. Otherwise, I''ll kick you out immediately.¡± Chapter 571 Chapter 571 Chapter 571 My First Friend Suzanne frowned and lowered her head. ¡°I understand, Mr. Surrington.¡± Gwendolyn was driving a Mercedes-Benz out of the underground garage when she received a call. It was from Connor. He was now fully in charge of Solstice Group. However, some contracts still required Gwendolyn''s personal signature. They agreed to meet at a cafe near thepany at noon tomorrow. When the car arrived in front of Zayden and Suzanne, thetter helped the former enter the vehicle. Suzanne had wanted to sit with Zayden at the back, but a nce from him told her to take the front passenger seat. Seeing Suzanne sitting beside her, Gwendolyn handed her a bag. Suzanne didn''t want to ept it at first because Zayden had berated her and forbidden her from approaching him. Basically, she was p*ssed that only Gwendolyn could care for him. If she was chased out of her home, it''d be Gwendolyn''s fault. She pursed her lips, opened the bag, and looked inside. Her eyes widened a secondter because she saw many of her favorite snacks and lollipops. Gwendolyn winked at her, hinting at her to stay quiet. In response, Suzanne sent a flying kiss of gratitude to Gwendolyn. Suzanne was ecstatic for the rest of the journey. She hugged the bag tightly and would asionally chat with Gwendolyn. Zayden kept staring ahead from the backseat. He was already getting pretty used to ying blind. What he did was look in only one direction without expressing any emotion instead of moving them around casually. Two hourster, they arrived at the hospital. After parking the car, Gwendolyn got out and helped Zayden step out. Suzanne wanted to stick around, so she was forced to be obedient. She couldn''t touch him without his permission anymore. She carried the bag and surveyed her surroundings. She wasn''t angry anymore as she had delicious food to keep herpany. I think my fondness for Gwendolyn is growing! Not only is she pretty, but she''s also nice! I pity her, though. She doesn''t realize she''s being deceived by Mr. Surrington. While holding Zayden''s arm, Gwendolyn said in a gentle voice, ¡°Be careful, Zayden. There are stairs here.¡± Zayden nodded. I can see the stairs, but it still feels nice to be looked after. When the trio arrived at the ward on the sixteenth floor, they saw bodyguards stationed at the entrance. The bodyguards stretched their hands to the trio upon spotting them. ¡°This is a private ward. Please leave.¡± Zayden frowned. Suzanne was stunned, too. She pointed at Gwendolyn. ¡°This is Ms. Ashton. She''s here to visit her grandfather.¡± Oh yeah, she''s the eldest daughter of the Ashton family. In that case, why did she drive such a small and tattered car to the mansion? Even the security guards denied her entry because her car looks terrible. I can''t even stare at it because it''s too ugly. In fact, I''m scared of even sitting inside because I''m concerned I''ll break something. Is it possible that she was chased out of her family? Is that why she''s been having a rough time? In the past, I did resent Gwendolyn. However, we''re friends now. She''s my first friend. There''s no way I won''t stand by her side when she''s willing to offer me so many tasty snacks! N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°I''m here to visit my grandfather. Step aside.¡± Gwendolyn spoke, too. The two bodyguards didn''t budge as though they didn''t hear what the women had said. They had no intention of backing off. Gwendolyn frowned. Harry was the one who called me and asked me to visit Grandpa at the hospital when I almost reached Dragonhill Mansion. What''s going on here? Zayden patted her hand. ¡°No need to panic. Call Harry.¡± Old Mr. Ashton may be deathly sick this time, and Gwendolyn''s family kicked her out some time ago. Now, there''s this. I think they don''t want her fighting for the inheritance. Chapter 572 Chapter 572 Chapter 572 Reputation N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Gwendolyn nodded, released Zayden, and called Harry at the side. Soon, Harry epted the call. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± ¡°Are you at the hospital right now, Harry? We''re outside of Grandpa''s ward, but the bodyguards won''t allow us to enter.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, I''m not there, Ms. Gwendolyn. There''s a bit of an issue with my family, so I''m heading home right now. I''m currently at the airport. Perhaps you can call your other family members instead.¡± ¡°I see. I''ll call them, then.¡± Gwendolyn hung up and let out a sigh. I think I know what''s going on. Even after Grandpa has revealed my identity and weed me home, it''s still difficult to meet him. Returning to the entrance, she asked, ¡°Who''s inside right now?¡± The bodyguard replied, ¡°Mrs. Ashton and Ms. Felicia.¡± Just as I expected, that mother and daughter will definitely act exceptionally filial right now. After all, Candace was originally a mistress, and Felicia is now considered a legitimate family member. They''re clearly afraid that they won''t receive anything once Grandpa passes away. Gwendolyn knitted her brows and said, ¡°Tell them that I''m here.¡± One of the bodyguards stepped into the ward while she returned to Zayden''s side. ¡°I''m sorry for making you wait this long while standing, Zayden.¡± I bet a scion like him has never been denied entry before. Zayden appeared calm. ¡°It''s fine no matter how long I have to wait.¡± His eyes darkened, however. I''ll remember that pair of mother and daughter in the ward. When the bodyguard walked into the ward, he saw Felicia half-lying on the couch scrolling through an online store. Candace was sitting on the couch, allowing her daughter''s head to lie on her. ¡°That bag looks nice, Fel. When will it be released?¡± ¡°Next month. There are only five in the world. I''ll do my best to grab one when the timees.¡± Candace nodded. ¡°That one looks good, too.¡± Felicia smiled. ¡°You''re getting more and more generous, Mom. Are you nning to buy four limited- edition bags like this in one go?¡± ¡°What do you mean four? Didn''t I say I only want one?¡± Candace frowned. Four will cost tens of millions! As rich as we are, we can''t spend money like this. Besides, Old Mr. Ashton is sick right now. When the time to split the inheritancees, there''s a chance Zachary''s position as the CEO may be snatched away! Gwendolyn, Zayden, and her three children outnumber our family by two! This means more than half of the inheritance will go to her family. Based on how fond Old Mr. Ashton is of Gwendolyn now, it''s likely he may even grant her control of thepany! ¡°Aren''t you going to buy it for me? I want it too!¡± Felicia whined. ¡°Don''t you have pocket money? If you want more, ask your dad for it.¡± A frown settled on Candace''s countenance. It took me a long time to umte my wealth. I''m not spending it that willy-nilly. Right then, the bodyguard approached Candace. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn''s here with Mr. Surrington.¡± When the women heard that, they turned to Michael, who had just fallen asleep. He''s exceptionally lucid this time around, so we must do all we can to prevent Gwendolyn from meeting him. Once he''s in a good mood, he may give most of the inheritance to Gwendolyn. If that happens, our family will suffer! Felicia nced at the bodyguard. ¡°Didn''t I tell you to guard the entrance and stop Gwendolyn from entering?¡± Candace spoke, too. ¡°Tell her Old Mr. Ashton has just fallen asleep and that she should visit when he''s awake again.¡± The bodyguard nodded and left. Still worried, Felicia sat up and nced outside. ¡°Do you think she''ll try to barge in here, Mom?¡± Candace said calmly, ¡°I doubt she''ll do such a thing with Zayden around. After all, she''s marrying into the Surrington family. She needs to maintain her reputation.¡± Chapter 573 Chapter 573 Chapter 573 So Handsome The bodyguard walked out of the ward and closed the door behind him. ¡°Old Mr. Ashton has just fallen asleep, Ms. Gwendolyn. You can visit him when he wakes up,¡± he repeated Candace''s earlier words. His voice was devoid of warmth. Standing tall and rigid, he resembled a statue. When Gwendolyn probed for the rationale, he refused to respond. Suzanne couldn''t bear the mistreatment any longer. ¡°Ms. Ashton, why are they so heartless? Why can''t they let you see your grandfather?¡± She rolled up her sleeves, preparing to start a fight. Even though the two men might appear tall and strong, she was not intimidated. With just a flick of her finger, she could easily toss them aside. Gwendolyn promptly restrained her. ¡°Suzanne, don''t resort to violence. You''ll get hurt.¡± Suzanne handed her the bag she was holding and assured her, ¡°Don''t worry. They can''t beat me.¡± With that, she was about to step forward and force her way in. Zayden called out to her, ¡°That''s enough. Old Mr. Ashton is a patient, and he needs rest. You will only disturb him.¡± Since Zayden had spoken, Suzanne naturally dared not confront them anymore. She took a step back and hugged the bag of snacks to her chest. ¡°Well, I won''t fight, then.¡± Gwendolyn observed Suzanne, a young girl who seemed to be under eighteen. She had neat-cut bangs, andrge watery eyes, and was dressed in a ck and white maid outfit. She looked like a little girl straight out of aic book. Gwendolyn had never anticipated that such a young girl would possess such courage and get involved in a fight. Her affection for Suzanne deepened, and she pulled her into a warm embrace, gently caressing her head. ¡°Thank you, Suzanne,¡± she said sincerely. As Gwendolyn held her close, Suzanne felt aforting warmth envelop her heart. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she sniffled before breaking into a wide smile. ¡°You''re Mr. Surrington''s girlfriend, Ms. Ashton, so we''re practically family.¡± Gwendolyn gently caressed her cheek. ¡°Yes, we''re family. If you ever need anything, juste to me. And don''t call me Ms. Ashton anymore. Call me Gwen!¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°Okay, Gwen!¡± Suzanne smiled. ¡°Great!¡± The two women embraced each other affectionately as they exchangedughter and yful banter. Meanwhile, Zayden stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the two bodyguards. He seemed to be looking for an opportunity to persuade Michael to shift the wedding date earlier. If he were to pass away before that happened, Gwendolyn might refuse to marry him. Gwendolyn hugged Zayden''s arm and said, ¡°Let''s go and do your health check-up, pick up the medication, and then we cane back.¡± Although Zayden didn''t like the idea of a health check-up, he concealed his emotions well. ¡°Okay.¡± After all, Gwendolyn had moved to Dragonhill, indicating that she had cut ties with Patrick. Seeing that she had been rtively well-behaved, he decided not to give her a hard time and even granted her a small favor. The trio exited the inpatient building and made their way to the outpatient building. Gwendolyn had asked Angeline to make an appointment, so they could see the doctor as soon as they arrived. The Surrington family held a prominent reputation in Avenport. When Angeline made the appointment, the doctors had to show them some respect. They were given priority for consultations and could proceed with the necessary examinations thereafter. While a dedicated nurse apanied Zayden for his check-up, Gwendolyn and Suzanne waited for him at the entrance and rest area. Upon entering the medical facility, Zayden immediately said to the nurse, ¡°You don''t need to apany me anymore. I won''t be having the examination. Just get me a fake report and wait here afterward.¡± Having said that, he cautiously moved forward with his cane. The nurse called out to him, ¡°Mr. Surrington, what about your condition?¡± ¡°Don''t worry. I''m used to it. Let''s meet back here in an hour,¡± Zayden replied. He then took out his phone and called someone. ¡°Jason, have you arrived? Good. Wait for me at the entrance of the inpatient building.¡± He was going to look for Michael to request an earlier wedding date. Gwendolyn stood up from the rest area and walked to the window to take a breath. The disinfectant smell in the air was overwhelming, and she couldn''t stand it. At that moment, there was amotion among the people nearby. ¡°Wow, that man is so handsome!¡± ¡°The doctor beside him is handsome too!¡± Chapter 574 Chapter 574 Chapter 574 Horizontal Tango Suzanne stood by her side, sucking on a lollipop, as she nced into the distance. ¡°I think Mr. Surrington is the most handsome!¡± In her eyes, Zayden was the most handsome man in this world. Everyone else seemed ordinary inparison. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Gwendolyn wasn''t particrly interested in good-looking guys. After all, it was rare to find someone as striking as Patrick. She doubted she would pay much attention to handsome guys in the future. The woman, lost in her own thoughts, slowly lifted her gaze, only to find herself locking eyes with two individuals before her. Her mouth opened in surprise. They were none other than Patrick and Kevin, one dressed in ck and the other in white. They exuded a captivating aura that turned heads around in the entire hospital. She stared at him, her mind filled with memories of the intimate moments they had shared just the night before. I even did that for him... Her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue as she was unable to bring herself to recall the scene. When Kevin saw Gwendolyn, he said, ¡°Hey, that''s Gwen. Let''s go say hi.¡± He started to walk toward her as he spoke, but Patrick ignored him and strode ahead. Kevin was momentarily taken aback. He was certain Gwendolyn and Patrick had an argument. ¡°Are you here for medical consultation, Gwen?¡± When he saw that she was at the ophthalmology department, he instantly understood that she must be apanying Zayden. However, Gwendolyn seemed oblivious to Kevin''s question as her gaze remained fixed on Patrick as he walked away. Suzanne nudged her shoulder and said, ¡°Don''t just stare at the handsome guy! He''s talking to you!¡± Startled by the bump, Gwendolyn snapped back to reality. She nced at Kevin. ¡°What is he doing here in the hospital? Is he unwell?¡± Kevin chuckled and replied, ¡°No. He just came to collect his grandfather''s report.¡± He thought it was clever of him to lie that they were retrieving Hector''s report instead of Patrick and Juliette''s. That way, Gwendolyn would not be suspicious of their visit. ¡°Pat is still waiting for me. I should go now.¡± Kevin gave a faint smile as he adjusted his sses. He had intended to inquire about what had transpired between them and hoped that Gwendolyn couldfort Patrick. After all, he had a bullet in his head because of her, and it still posed a threat to his life. It was only right for her tofort Patrick. However, given her attitude, she didn''t appear to be someone who would easily give in. It would be hard for them to reconcile, as both of them were angry. Gwendolyn nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Mr. Chavez, you should get going!¡± With that, Kevin swiftly departed to catch up with Patrick. Gwendolyn''s disappointment was palpable, and the crowd carried on with their discussions. ¡°He''s the director of the hospital. What a talented young man!¡± ¡°How about the other guy? He''s so much more handsome.¡± ¡°He''s Patrick Lowen, the CEO of Lowen Group!¡± Gwendolyn turned away and looked out the window as she listened to those remarks. She came to the realization that from that moment on, she would have to rely on others to gather information about him. The opportunity to have a firsthand understanding of him was lost, and a sense of mncholy washed over her. Suddenly, her vision darkened, and she fainted. Luckily, Suzanne responded swiftly, catching her before she fell. ¡°Gwen, what''s wrong with you?¡± Seeing that Gwendolyn showed no response, Suzanne had no choice but to carry her to the doctor''s clinic. She was then carefullyid on a small bed. When she regained consciousness, she found herself surrounded by three figures¡ªa doctor wearing a white coat, Suzanne, and Zayden. Suzanne grasped Zayden''s hand excitedly and said, ¡°Mr. Surrington, Gwen is awake! She finally woke up.¡± Gwendolyn sat up, her hand instinctively reaching to touch her forehead. ¡°What happened?¡± She couldn''t help but wonder what had caused her sudden dizziness. I felt a little suffocated and walked over to the window to get some fresh air. However, I ended up fainting. Could it be a case of heatstroke? The doctor smiled and responded, ¡°Don''t worry, Ms. Ashton. It''s just a result of overexertion. Even though you''re young, it''s important to exercise moderation when doing the horizontal tango.¡± Chapter 575 Chapter 575 Chapter 575 Downright Mortifying The instant those words rang out, the air was suddenly sucked out of the room. Gwendolyn felt that she should have remained unconscious for a while longer. Gah! Why did I rouse so quickly? Suzanne blinked her big eyes. ¡°What''s horizontal tango? Did you overtax yourself while dancing at homest night?¡± She was at a total loss, with puzzlement written all over her face. Conversely, Zayden''s expression was dark, as ck as thunder. If he were not pretending to be blind right then, he might have just spun on his heel and stalked off. The doctor swept a gaze over Zayden before snickering. ¡°Well, you''ll understand that in the future.¡± Gwendolyn hastily slid off the hospital bed. ¡°P-Please excuse me.¡± After saying that, she sprinted out of the consultation room at lightning speed as though the hounds of hell were on her heels. Turning to Zayden beside her, Suzanne remarked, ¡°Gwen''s face was bright red, Mr. Surrington. She seemed very much shy.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Zayden roared lowly. Is she really that na?ve? Never mind if she''s entirely ignorant, but she keeps asking questions! All it''s doing is further embarrassing everyone and worsening the matter earlier, vexing me all the more! ¡°Okay.¡± Suzanne was utterly confused at that reproach. Nheless, she did not dare object and could only go over and support him. ¡°Let''s go after Gwen, Mr. Surrington! She''s dead tired and might just pass out again.¡± Hearing that, Zayden rolled his eyes. Good Lord! Is it going to kill her to remain silent? Gwendolyn stood by the window in the waiting area outside, using the cool breeze to cool off the heat on her face. Gosh, it was downright mortifying just now! Admittedly, I... I overtaxed myself a bitst night. Patrick''s stamina was too impressive, and she wanted to leave him an unforgettable night. In the end, they stayed up the entire night. She then hurried home at the break of dawn, so she did not sleep a wink. Hugging her arms around herself, she inhaled deeply. It''s all in the past, Gwendolyn Ashton. Don''t think about it anymore. Henceforth, you and Patrick will be going your separate ways. Patrick''s family did not agree to their rtionship and she did not want to disappoint her grandfather, let alone abandon Zayden. They were not meant to be together. She merely wished for him to be happy. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. As for herself, she felt that there was no hope of happiness for her. Ever since she was born, she had no mother by her side. Her stepmother and stepsister had always treated her badly. Later, they even ruined her life. Yet, she had no evidence at all. She could not even sue them. She had a lousy lot in life, and she had resigned herself to her fate. Suzanne came out of the consultation room while supporting Zayden. ¡°Mr. Surrington is here, Gwen. Let''s go and visit your grandpa!¡± Gwendolyn dropped her arms, her expression having reverted to its usual calmness as she headed toward them. ¡°Let''s go!¡± Zayden noticed that she was seemingly not the least bit guilty. She has changed so much that I almost can''t recognize her anymore. She''s my fianc¨¦e, not only having epted my ring but also having agreed to my proposal. But then, she still went to bed with Patrick! Fury zed within him. His pursed lips betrayed his emotions. It went without saying that Suzanne did not notice anything. On the contrary, Gwendolyn perceived it. The man had been exceedingly gentle in the past. Never had she seen him angry or lose his temper. That day, however, she sensed a chill emanating from him. She turned around to avoid looking at him, not wanting to brood over the matter. Without warning, Zayden grabbed her hand. ¡°Come and support me instead, Gwen.¡± He shook Suzanne''s hand off. A trace of disappointment crept into Suzanne, but Gwendolyn had already won her overpletely by then. She wasfortable with Gwendolyn, finding thetter a decent person who inspired a sense of trust in her. Since she''s going to be Mr. Surrington''s wife soon, she can take care of him. Besides, I''ll get to rx. So long as I''m allowed to stay in the house, I''m willing to do anything! Gwendolyn took Zayden''s arm, upon which he clutched her wrist and hissed through gritted teeth, ¡°You had sex with him?¡± Chapter 576 Chapter 576 Chapter 576 How Many Times When Gwendolyn heard that question, her face med once more as she blushed to the tip of her ears. It was her first time experiencing pleasurest night, and she would never forget such a matter for the rest of her life. The corresponding images would pop up in her mind whenever someone mentioned it, and she would blush uncontrobly. At her silence, Zayden repeated, ¡°Did you?¡± Following his insistence, Gwendolyn did not bother concealing the truth anymore. ¡°Yes. I love him.¡± She had told him that previously, but he never listened to her. How I wish to be with Patrick! But... But it seems that everyone is opposed to it. Zayden abruptly halted in his tracks. He chuckled softly before lifting his hand to touch her face. ¡°I love you more than he does, Gwen. We''ve known each other for six years. I''ll definitely make you happy. Since you''ve broken up with him, don''t see him anymore henceforth. Furthermore, I''m a man. I don''t want to be cheated on.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips slightly. ¡°Can''t we just be friends, Zayden?¡± She still wanted to try fighting for the sake of Patrick and the love within her, hoping that Zayden would give her his blessings. Forcefully keeping himself calm, Zayden wrapped an arm around her shoulder. The sweet scent of cinnamon on her smelled incredible. He wanted to find the same perfume, but he could not find it even after searching the entire world. Perhaps it was her natural fragrance. It was an aromatic aroma that made one feelfortable and rxed. It was like strolling in a garden with cinnamon trees and drinking cinnamon hot chocte, sweet and refreshing. The scent slowly calmed him down, and he gave a bark ofughter. ¡°You agreed to marry me, Gwen. But if you disdain me for being blind, I''ve got nothing to say to that.¡± His thinking was astute when he was in control of his faculties. A simple-minded woman like Gwendolyn could not possibly be his match. Gwendolyn was stunned for a moment. She nced at his face, or more urately speaking, his eyes. Only then did she suddenly remember that he could no longer see. Worse still, he had psychological trauma and was a patient. If he doesn''t get treated, his entire life will be doomed. She bit her lower lip. How could I do such a thing? I should be lending him a hand when he''s at his most difficult time! ¡°I''m sorry, Zayden. It''ll never happen again.¡± Zayden''s lips quirked up. ¡°I trust you. Come, let''s go and visit your grandpa.¡± Meanwhile, Patrick collected a paternity test report in the lounge of the DNA Diagnostics Center in the medical technology building. He stared at the results indicated in the report and frowned imperceptibly. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Juliette isn''t my daughter?¡± ¡°No.¡± Kevin was likewise surprised, but that was based on medical evidence. Great disappointment was etched across Patrick''s features. He was a person who kept his emotions masked, but at that very moment, his gaze visibly dimmed. ¡°Don''t take it to heart. It doesn''t matter. You can have a few more kids with Gwen in the future,¡± Kevin said. However, that matter did not bode well for Patrick. He had wanted to use the triplets to strong-arm Gwendolyn into staying by his side. With his bargaining chips gone then, he had no right to have her remain by his side. At that precise moment, Kevin''s phone rang, and he answered the call. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Mr. Surrington''s fianc¨¦e passed out, Mr. Chavez. She has been transferred to the obstetrics and gynecology department. Would you like to go and visit her in person?¡± Some doctors had seen him talking to Gwendolyn earlier, and the duo appeared pretty familiar with each other. They reckoned he would want to go and visit her since she had passed out then. Kevin''s brows knitted together. ¡°Passed out? The obstetrics and gynecology department?¡± He cast his gaze at Patrick in puzzlement. The person on the other end of the phone exined, ¡°She overworked herself. Perhaps she and Mr. Surrington were too unrestrainedst night. Well, they''re young, so this ismon at times.¡± After listening to it all, Kevin hung up the phone. A devilish smirk curved his lips. ¡°Pat, how many times did you do itst night that you managed to have Gwen pass out from exhaustion?¡± Chapter 577 Chapter 577 Chapter 577 Her Dearest Family Member Upon hearing that, he abruptly stood up. ¡°Where is she?¡± Kevin arched his brows. ¡°She''s at the obstetrics and gynecology department, but it''s not a good idea for you to go there since Zayden and the others are there.¡± Being forcibly separated and appearing before each other would undoubtedly cause a lot of trouble. After all, she was Zayden''s fianc¨¦e, and he was Felicia''s boyfriend. People outside would still view Patrick as the third party who tried to ruin their rtionship and use Gwendolyn of cheating on her fianc¨¦e. Some might even mock Zayden for his obliviousness, not realizing that his fianc¨¦e had eloped with another man. If that were to happen, Gwendolyn''s and Patrick''s reputations would be ruined. They would be the targets of public outrage, branded as cheaters and despicable individuals. Patrick ignored him, left the lounge, and went to the obstetrics and gynecology department. As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he witnessed Zayden embracing Gwendolyn, who offered no resistance. They seemed deeply in love, a sight that bothered him. That scene was undoubtedly like a sharp sword piercing through Patrick''s heart. He stood frozen in ce as he watched them. Gwendolyn''s undivided attention was focused on Zayden. She conscientiously reminded him to watch his step, fearing he might stumble and get hurt. She did not notice the man standing in front of the other elevator. Under Patrick''s watchful eyes, they entered the elevator and disappeared from his sight. When Kevin stepped out of the elevator, he noticed Patrick standing with his back toward the elevator, but Gwendolyn was nowhere to be seen. Why is he standing still? What''s he looking at? Just when he was about to walk up to Patrick, someone eximed, ¡°Sir, you''re bleeding.¡± Patrick raised his hand to touch his face and realized blood was flowing from his nose and mouth. He knitted his brows as he experienced a severe headache. Kevin quickened his pace and got up to him. When he observed Patrick''s rming state, his face darkened. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. He took out his phone and dialed a number before reaching out to support Patrick. ¡°Pat, how are you feeling?¡± When the call connected, Kevin spoke in an urgent voice. ¡°Come and meet me at the obstetrics and gynecology department. Bring along a stretcher.¡± Patrick narrowed his eyes and responded indifferently, ¡°I''m fine.¡± Then he strode into the elevator. Kevin followed him anxiously. ¡°Pat, you can''t risk your life like this. We need to conduct an examination promptly to check if the bullet''s position has shifted again.¡± ¡°I don''t need an examination. I''m fine,¡± Patrick replied firmly. He remained unaffected by the blood staining his white shirt red despite the rming sight it presented. Ignoring Patrick''s statement, Kevin pressed a random floor button, and as soon as the elevator doors opened, he forcefully Patrick out. ¡°Let''s stop the bleeding first, and then we''ll figure out the rest.¡± Meanwhile, Gwendolyn walked Zayden to the inpatient building. She noticed a change in the security guards stationed at the entrance, as they did not obstruct their passage. Candace and Felicia were stunned when they saw Gwendolyn and Zayden. ¡°H-How did you get in here?¡± Zayden had made prior arrangements for this situation. He had ordered his men to divert Candace''s and Felicia''s attention elsewhere and rece their bodyguards with his own men. After entrusting Zayden to Suzanne, Gwendolyn quickly approached the bedside. ¡°Grandpa.¡± Michael had been awake the entire time, pretending to have his eyes closed when the mother-daughter duo entered the ward. As soon as he heard Gwendolyn''s voice, he immediately opened his eyes. ¡°Gwen...¡± His voice was hoarse, and he appeared frail, with a pale and unhealthyplexion. Gwendolyn''s eyes welled up with tears. She was worried about him. ¡°Grandpa, how did you fall ill? I thought you''d been doing welltely.¡± Michael held her hands tightly and responded with a faint smile, ¡°Silly child, I''ve lived for over seventy years. I have one foot in the grave, and it''s only natural for me to face health challenges at this stage of life.¡± Tears streamed down Gwendolyn''s cheeks as she shook her head. ¡°Don''t say that, Grandpa. You''ll be fine. You''ll be healthy and live a long life.¡± To Gwendolyn, Michael was not only her grandfather but also her dearest family member. If he were to pass away, she would truly be left without anyone who cared for and loved her. Chapter 578 Chapter 578 Chapter 578 Fate Is Never On My Side Felicia knitted her brows when she saw their interaction by the bed. She whispered into Candace''s ear, ¡°Mom, just look at her. She''s so good with her words. Grandpa might give her all his assets if she continues to talk to him like that.¡± Candace, too, could not take it anymore. She stood up and walked over. ¡°Gwen, your grandpa needs to rest since he has juste out of ICU.¡± Her expression darkened, but she refrained from explicitly telling her to leave. Gently patting Michael''s hand, Gwendolyn said, ¡°Grandpa, I''ll let you rest now. You take care, okay?¡± She turned around and was ready to leave, but Michael held onto her hand. ¡°Gwen, bring the three kids to see me tomorrow. I want to meet them. And let''s carry forward your wedding with Zayden. I want to witness you getting married in three days.¡± Gwendolyn could not refuse his request. Seeing her grandfather in such a condition, she had no other option but to nod in agreement. Michael looked toward Zayden and called him over, ¡°Zay,e here.¡± Suzanne helped Zayden walk over and ced his hand on Michael''s. ¡°Zay, I entrust Gwen to you. Take good care of her and bring happiness to her life.¡± Upon learning about Gwendolyn''s arduous life over the past six years, Michael felt a wave of regret washing over him. Had he known the hardships she had endured, he would have brought her back home much earlier. It''s all my fault for making her go through such a difficult life alone. Now, Michael was determined to make things right. He wanted to entrust her to someone reliable, someone who would provide her with the love and care she deserved so that she would not need to face challenges in life anymore. Zayden responded, ¡°Don''t worry, Old Mr. Ashton. I''ll love and cherish Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn''s gaze remained fixed on Michael''s face. He has really aged so much. The thought of losing herst remaining loved one overwhelmed her, and tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrobly. Candace could only retreat to the couch. After taking a seat, she stared at them, a mixture of emotions stirring within her. Gwendolyn will soon marry into the Surrington family, and that''ll make her an official lady of a prominent family. I guess it''s a good thing they''re getting married. It''ll clear the path for Felicia to marry Patrick without any interference. The Lowen family is in a whole different leaguepared to the Surrington family. Even after Gwendolyn bes a wife, we can still keep our grip on her and keep oppressing her. Furthermore, the fact that she''ll be marrying a blind man means her life will just go downhill from there. Felicia was all smiles when she picked up her phone and shot videos of their interactions by the bed. Great. It''s over between Gwendolyn and Patrick. She was determined to send those videos to Patrick, eager to deliver the message that Gwendolyn was now someone else''s, and he should let go of any hope for a future with her. Felicia believed that her grandfather falling ill was actually a positive development because it allowed Gwendolyn''s wedding to be brought forward. If only I had a good rtionship with Grandpa, then maybe I could have convinced him to make Patrick marry me as soon as possible. But it seems that fate is never on my side! She could not contain her excitement about marrying Patrick. I wish I could marry him tomorrow! But when will he propose? When will he make me his wife? Candace inched closer and asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Felicia kept away the video and whispered, ¡°I''m going to show the video to Patrick so that he''ll give up on her!¡± Candace gave her a thumbs-up, and Felicia smirked in response. Michael, feeling exhausted after his words, closed his eyes and weakly waved his hand. ¡°You all should go home now. I''m tired.¡± Although Gwendolyn wanted to keep himpany, Michael did not allow it. I''lle and visit him tomorrow, then. As they walked toward the door, Felicia suddenly spoke up. ¡°Congrats, Gwen! You''re going to be Mrs. Surrington soon!¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Gwendolyn gave her a cold re. She then ignored her and walked away with Zayden. Felicia snapped, ¡°Gwendolyn, where are your manners? I sincerely wish you well, yet you gave me this attitude.¡± Suzanne turned around, shooting daggers at her. ¡°Your words didn''t sound like a blessing at all. They were more like a curse to me.¡± Chapter 579 Chapter 579 Chapter 579 Love Means Nothing Felicia looked at the girl in a ck maid uniform who looked like a character inic books and chuckled coldly. ¡°So what if it was a blessing or a curse? It''s none of your business!¡± Suzanne red at Felicia in response. In the next second, Felicia seemed to have lost consciousness as she pped herself across the face twice. Candace heard the ps and rushed toward Felicia. ¡°Fel, what are you doing?¡± Felicia regained her senses the moment her mother touched her. ¡°Huh?¡± Needless to say, Felicia didn''t know what had happened. Suzanne had already skipped her way out of the ward. Felicia felt the pain on her cheeks and touched her face. ¡°Mom, why do my cheeks hurt so bad?¡± Candace touched Felicia''s forehead and said, ¡°You pped yourself across the face twice just now. Do you have a fever?¡± Felicia was shocked. ¡°What? I pped myself?¡± Puzzlement was written all over Felicia''s face. I can''t remember what happened moments ago! ¡°Fel, have you been working too hardtely because of Patrick? Let''s go. You need to rest.¡± Candace thought her daughter was on the verge of losing her mind. What if she has mental issues? I think I should get her to sleep and closely monitor her. I can''t let anything bad happen to her. Zayden and Suzanne got into the car first. When Gwendolyn was walking toward the driver''s seat, she suddenly felt her heart lurch with dread. Why do I feel as if someone has just squeezed my heart? It hurts so bad. She took a deep breath and nced at the sky. Gwendolyn, stop overthinking. Grandpa is in such bad shape. You should just fulfill his wish and please him. Besides, you owe Zayden so much. It''s time to repay him. What''s love in the face of all this? Love means nothing. The more sheforted herself, the worse she felt. She got into the car, started the engine, and drove out of the parking lot. All of a sudden, Zayden said, ¡°Gwen, the wedding needs to be brought forward, so we can''t customize your wedding gown anymore. Let''s head to DK to check out their wedding gowns. You like their designs the most, right?¡± Gwendolyn had thought she could return to Dragonhill Mansion. At that moment, she desperately needed some quiet time for herself. Upon hearing Zayden''s words, however, she knew she had to pull herself together. I''m getting married to Zayden in three days'' time. He''s right. I need to decide on my wedding gown. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°We''ll go to your house tomorrow to propose a marriage. Wait for us at the Ashton residence.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Zayden went on and on after that. In fact, it seemed as though he already had the wedding nned out. He could still pull it off if the wedding were to be held the next day. Suddenly, Gwendolyn noticed that Zayden was a reliable man.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Although she was driving and looking ahead, she was in a daze. Images of Patrick began appearing in her mind. I know what he looks like when he talks, converses about dirty topics, and acts indifferently. I can also remember clearly how he looks when he''s angry. It seems that I''ve seen all sides of him. Yet, no matter how he looks, he''s still the most handsome man I''ve ever seen. Knowing that she needed to focus on driving, Gwendolyn took a deep breath topose herself. I need to concentrate on the road. I can''t get into an ident and die. My three kids need their mother! When they arrived at DK''s headquarters, Tiffany was already there waiting for them. Zayden had made an appointment with her in advance. Indeed, everyone in Avenport respected him. Tiffany was taken aback when she saw Gwendolyn walking in. ¡°Gwen? You''re the bride-to-be?¡± Zayden knew no one could make the perfect wedding dress within three days. He thought Gwendolyn could pick one out and get Tiffany to make a few amendments. If Tiffany could make some adjustments ording to Gwendolyn''s liking, it would still be a special wedding gown. Gwendolyn walked up to Tiffany. ¡°Hi, Tiffany. Yes, I''m here to pick my wedding gown.¡± Tiffany held Gwendolyn''s arm and walked inside to check out the wedding gowns. ¡°Congrattions, Gwen!¡± Tiffany congratted Gwendolyn. I''m happy as long as she''s not marrying Patrick. Chapter 580 Chapter 580 Chapter 580 Wedding Gift Gwendolyn felt horrible when Tiffany congratted her. If I''m picking a wedding gown to marry Patrick, I''ll definitely feel different. In fact, I''m sure I''ll be on cloud nine! She took a deep breath and replied, ¡°Thanks!¡± Tiffany nced at Zayden, who was nearby. ¡°Mr. Surrington, Gwen is my mentee, and she''s like a daughter to me. You must take excellent care of her.¡± Gwen is getting married! If Sophia knows about this, she''s going to be beyond happy! I think Sophia will surely attend Gwen''s wedding. Zayden shed a faint smile and promised, ¡°Don''t worry, Ms. Myers. I will cherish Gwen.¡± Tiffany was actually her stage name, and her real name was Willow Myers. However, very few people would address her that way. Willow thought Zayden was a good man. It seems that Zayden has done some research. At least he''s putting his heart into picking a wedding gown for Gwen. When Suzanne saw the staff pull the curtains to reveal all sorts of wedding gowns, she eximed, ¡°Wow! These gowns are so pretty!¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. She hurried toward the gowns and touched them, imagining the day when she would put one on herself. Gwendolyn was also bbergasted. Although she had been attending sses every week, she had never been to the studio. That was the first time she had seen those gowns. This is amazing! ¡°Gwen,e here! Look at this! This is gorgeous!¡± Suzanne eximed. While Suzanne and Gwendolyn were looking at the gowns, Willow smiled and told the staff to attend to Gwendolyn. ¡°Ask her what she thinks about the gowns and take note of the things she doesn''t like and the things she wants to change.¡± I think my award-winning gown suits Gwen the most, but she doesn''t seem to like it. Before Suzanne went to see the gowns up close, she had helped Zayden to a nearby couch. He was sitting elegantly and staring at Gwendolyn. He could see the emotions on her face. Gwen doesn''t seem happy. Heck, Suzanne looks even more excited than Gwen. Is she thinking about Patrick? Zayden''s expression turned gloomy. Just then, Willow sat down next to him. Needless to say, she was happy to see Gwendolyn choosing a wedding gown. ¡°Mr. Surrington, I can actually make a gown for Gwen for free. It''ll be my wedding gift for her.¡± Willow''s high-end designs were worth at least a million. It would be a huge gift. Zayden replied tly, ¡°We''re in a rush, actually. We''re getting married in three days.¡± Willow was stunned. ¡°What? So soon?¡± Willow was disappointed because she couldn''t get one done in three days. Fortunately, Gwen has a lot to pick from. ¡°Yes. Old Mr. Ashton wants it done as soon as possible.¡± Michael was the one rushing it. As the younger ones, they were obligated to fulfill their elders'' wishes. That was also a factor that gave Zayden control over Gwendolyn. He knew she was too kind to go against her family''s wishes. Willow nodded. ¡°I see. How about you, Mr. Surrington? What kind of suit do you like?¡± ¡°Gwen will decide for me. I like whatever she chooses for me.¡± Willow couldn''t help but smile when she heard that. I saw the news, and I know Zayden is blind. Now, Zayden''s father is the head of the Surrington family. Zayden treats Gwen very well, and I can see how much he loves her. It''s nice of him to ept Gwen. After all, she''s a single mother with three children. I really hope she''ll be happy for the rest of her life! That way, Sophia and I can stop worrying about her. Chapter 581 Chapter 581 Chapter 581 Can The Bleeding Be Stopped Suzanne liked everything she saw. She turned to look at Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°Gwen, which one do you like best? Let''s try it on.¡± The girl was very tempted to try on a wedding gown. Even though she was unlikely to ever get married, she often imagined herself as one of those gorgeous brides she saw on television. She could already envision the picture-perfect scene at Gwendolyn and Zayden''s wedding, given how pretty and handsome the bride and groom were. They were definitely a match made in heaven. At that thought, however, an ufortable feeling rose within her, and she could not help but turn to look at Zayden. ¡°How about this one?¡± Gwendolyn pointed randomly at one dress. As she waited for the sales assistant to get her the dress, she asked, ¡°Suzanne, which one do you like? I''ll buy it for you.¡± Gwendolyn appeared to be poor, but in reality, she had already amassed substantial wealth. It usually took her quite a while to finish counting her earnings every month. She had no problem paying for a wedding gown. Suzanne was overjoyed to hear that. ¡°Really? Gwen, do you really have the money to buy me a gown?¡± The girl was worried that Gwendolyn might not be able to afford it after seeing the old car that she drove. ¡°Yeah. It''s okay.¡± Gwendolyn reached out and caressed Suzanne''s face. For the first time, she noticed how pretty the girl was. Thetter looked just like a doll. Beaming from ear to ear, Suzanne replied, ¡°Hehe, I shall dly ept your offer, then.¡± Both of them entered the changing rooms to try on their gowns with the help of the sales assistants. Zayden sat on the couch in the waiting area with Willow apanying him. Willow wanted to get to know the man better so that she would have something to share with Sophia when she asked. Since there was no one else around, it was a good opportunity for her to find out what Zayden''s character was like. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. She had already noticed his attachment to Gwendolyn earlier. It was obvious that he cared deeply for the woman and was very much in love with her. ¡°Mr. Surrington, there are desserts and coffee on the table. You can have some while waiting.¡± Zayden''s expression darkened slightly when he heard that. As a blind man, he wasn''t supposed to be able to see. How is she expecting me to eat? However, he quicklyposed himself and replied politely, ¡°Thank you!¡± Willow nodded in satisfaction. She was aware that she was being extremely rude and disrespectful by saying that to someone who was visually impaired. It was as if she was deliberately making things difficult for him. However, not only did the man not get angry, but he also responded in a gracious manner. It was apparent that he had a good upbringing. Just then, Gwendolyn and Suzanne finished changing and emerged from the fitting rooms. Dressed in a strapless fishtail wedding gown, Gwendolyn looked ethereal. Zayden was stunned by the woman''s beauty, and his eyes lit up. He could feel his heart almost pounding out of his chest. However, as he was supposed to be blind, he could not let his emotions show. His breathing grew labored as he tried his best topose himself. Willow smiled and said, ¡°Gwen, you look so gorgeous in this wedding dress. I''m starting to think that I''m in heaven because you look just like a fairy!¡± On the other hand, Suzanne was wearing a tulle wedding dress. She looked adorable. She could almost pass off as a Barbie doll. Even though the two women were donning wedding dresses ofpletely different styles, both of them looked equally stunning in their own ways. In awe of their beauty, the sales assistants whispered to each other in amazement, ¡°They are so pretty!¡± Meanwhile, Patrick was being treated for his bleeding in the hospital. A medical team,prising a few doctors and nurses, was attending to him. Holding Patrick''s phone in his hand, Kevin asked one of the doctors, ¡°Can the bleeding be stopped?¡± Patrick had lost so much blood that his white shirt was almost entirely dyed red. ¡°Yeah. He will be fine, Mr. Chavez.¡± Upon hearing that, Kevin heaved a sigh of relief. Just then, Patrick''s phone vibrated in his hand. He nced at the screen and saw that Felicia had sent him a video apanied by a message. The text read: Patrick, look, my sister and Zayden are getting married three dayster. Chapter 582 Chapter 582 Chapter 582 As Good As Killing Him After reading Felicia''s message, Kevin turned around and walked out of the consultation room. When he tapped open the video, he saw Michael giving Gwendolyn''s hand to Zayden and saying in a hoarse voice, ¡°Zay, I entrust Gwen to you. Take good care of her and bring happiness to her life.¡± Kevin fell silent after watching the video. Three dayster? Why is it happening so soon? Old Mr. Ashton is not looking too well. Are they rushing the wedding because he''s worried that he might not have long to live? Kevin''s expression changed. He deleted the video and the text. After doing that, he dialed Felicia''s number. The call was connected almost immediately. ¡°Patrick,¡± the women answered excitedly. Hearing that, Kevin curled his lips slightly. She''s in for a disappointment. ¡°Ms. Felicia, it''s me, Kevin.¡± ¡°Oh, Mr. Chavez.¡± The disappointment in Felicia''s tone was obvious. Without beating around the bush, Kevin said, ¡°Ms. Felicia, please stop sending Patrick such messages. Some actions could cost lives.¡± He hung up after saying that, simmering with anger. Pat''s already in this state. Showing him the video is as good as killing him. Noticing that Felicia was staring at her phone in confusion, Candace asked, ¡°Was that Patrick?¡± The video must have worked. Men hate being treated as the fallback guy, and that''s exactly what Gwendolyn is doing to Patrick. Since she''s getting married soon anyway, it''s best to let Patrick know in advance. Letting out a sigh, Felicia replied, ¡°Nope, it was Kevin. He warned me not to send such stuff to Patrick ever again, saying that it could cost lives.¡± Candace chuckled. ¡°Well, he''s right. To some, the person they love might be even more important than their own life.¡± Upset to hear that, Felicia asked, ¡°Mom, what''s so great about Gwendolyn? Why does Patrick like her so much? It''s so unfair!¡± Felicia could not understand why Gwendolyn meant so much to the man. It was simply unbelievable. Patrick was a powerful man who dominated the business world. His word was thew, and no one dared to go against him. Gwendolyn was the only one he was afraid of. She was also the only person in the world who could rule over him. There was no way Felicia could ept that. Candace narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°Fel, what are you scared of? You''re the future Mrs. Lowen and the one who will be staying by his side. With time, he will definitely forget Gwendolyn. Don''t worry.¡± Gwendolyn was no longer a threat to Felicia. There was no need to fear a love rival who would be getting married to another man. Gwendolyn did not bother to try on more wedding gowns before deciding to pick the one she had worn earlier. To her, it would not make any difference. Her marriage to Zayden was the tomb of love. At the same time, a part of her would also be dead. In fact, she had wanted to wear a ck gown, as it was a more urate reflection of her mood. However, she was worried that Zayden might overthink. Besides, she also did not want to risk triggering her grandfather. It was exhausting for her to have to consider everyone''s feelings. Suzanne tried on a few more dresses. Looking at herself in front of the mirror, she eximed, ¡°This is so pretty too! Ahh! It''s so hard to choose!¡± Gwendolyn smiled in amusement at the girl''s indecisiveness and said, ¡°Suzanne, if this is already so difficult for you, what are you gonna do when it''s your turn to get married next time?¡± Suzanne pouted, feeling upset that she did not have money. Otherwise, she would have bought all the dresses in the store. Gwendolyn was feeling a little tired after getting the sales assistant to wrap the wedding gown for her. She headed to the waiting area and was just about to sit down on the couch when Willow stood up and walked toward her. ¡°Gwen, shall we head over to choose a wedding suit for Zayden?¡± Gwendolyn was stumped for a moment when she heard that. However, a secondter, she regained her senses and replied, ¡°Sure.¡± The two women walked toward the other side of the shop where the men''s section was, and the sales assistant showed them a rack disying men''s suits in various designs.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Chapter 583 Chapter 583 Chapter 583 Once And For All Willow put her arm over Gwendolyn''s shoulder and smiled. ¡°ording to Zayden, he likes whatever you pick for him. He sounds like a great guy! He listens to you.¡± I guess Gwen will be thedy of the house in the future. Everyone knows how much her kids love her. Now, she has Zayden as well. She''s going to be happy for the rest of her life. God is fair, it seems. Ever since she was born, her mom had never been there to protect her, so she had to live under someone else''s roof. Afterward, she got pregnant before getting married and had to take care of the kids on her own. Her tough days are finally over. Gwendolyn was in a daze as she stood in front of the several rows of suits. At that moment, all she could think about was how good Patrick would look in each of the suits on disy. He''s a tall and handsome man. I bet he would look dashing in any of the suits here. ¡°Gwen, which one do you fancy? Pick some, and I''ll get the staff to help him try it on,¡± Willow said. Gwendolyn regained her senses, but there was still sorrow in her eyes. Willow noticed it and approached her. ¡°What''s wrong, Gwen?¡± Gwen doesn''t look happy. Does she not like Zayden? Gwendolyn squeezed out a smile and replied, ¡°Tiffany, I suck at picking. How about you pick on my behalf? I think you''re better at this than me.¡± Willow was a famous designer and founder of DK. She could definitely pick a suit that would look good on Zayden and stun the crowd. ¡°Sure! I can offer you my opinions, but you''ll have to make the final decision. After all, he''s your husband.¡± Willow shed a smile. Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. Husband? I never called anyone that apart from Patrick. When I called him my husband, I felt so happy and shy. Now, I can''t help feeling sad. ¡°This one, this one, and that one. These will match your wedding gown,¡± Willow suggested. Gwendolyn pointed at the second suit and said, ¡°This will do. It''s white and it matches mine.¡± Just like that, Zayden''s suit was decided. Instead of trying it on, he merely asked the staff to take some measurements and make some customizations. The same was done for Gwendolyn''s gown. On the wedding day, the couple would have professional stylists and makeup artists to dress them up. At the hospital, Patrick''s bleeding had finally stopped, and the doctors and nurses heaved a sigh of relief. Kevin was standing by the bed and looking at Patrick''s pale face and lips. I''ve never seen Pat looking so frail. ¡°Mr. Chavez, we managed to stop the bleeding, but Mr. Lowen has to be extra careful after this,¡± a doctor said. After all, the injury was in the head, and it affected the nerves. If something were to happen to the crucial nerves in the head, it could be fatal. Kevin nodded slightly. ¡°Okay. Get back to work, everyone.¡± After the doctors and nurses left, Patrick wanted to sit up, but he was too weak to do so. Kevin reached out to Patrick, but thetter was too prideful to admit he was weak. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Eventually, Patrick managed to sit up on his own, but he immediately frowned when he saw the clothes he was wearing. If I go out like this, others might take me as a murderer. ¡°My phone.¡± Patrick sounded weak and tired. Kevin nced at the phone in his hand. I''ve already deleted everything that''s supposed to be deleted. Fortunately, I''m close enough with him to know his password. ¡°Here you go. I''ve already told your secretary to bring you a set of new clothes.¡± Patrick took the phone. He had nned to get someone to bring a clean set of clothes to him, but since Kevin had already done it, there was nothing he could do but wait. ¡°Let me sit for a while. You can go about your work.¡± However, Kevin wasn''t nning to leave. ¡°Pat, we need to solve the issue once and for all. My experiments keep failing. I guess I''ve been too anxious. My senior told me his senior is good at this. Perhaps we should go to Corleon tomorrow to see her.¡± Chapter 584 Chapter 584 Chapter 584 Full Of Nonsense Kevin was eager to bring Patrick away so that thetter could continue living. Patrick''s eyes darkened when he heard those words. ¡°Let''s wait three more days! I need to hand over my work.¡± Running Lowen Groupes with a big responsibility. I can''t just leave as I wish. Even if I were to go, I wouldn''t even know if I would survive. Heck, I might not even be able toe back alive. I must hand over my work beforehand. Besides, I need to make the necessary arrangements for Grandpa and Grandma. Otherwise, I won''t die in peace. And that woman... Even if she marries Zayden, she should have some assets to her name. What is she going to do if things don''t go well with Zayden? Why am I still thinking about her at a time like this? I can''t believe myself... ¡°Pat, we need to get you treated as soon as possible. Besides, we''re just going to meet that senior of mine and let her assess your condition. She''s not going to operate on you right away. If it''s a risky operation, I won''t let you do it.¡± Kevin wasn''t pleased. He was determined to bring Patrick away so that he wouldn''t be around for Gwendolyn''s wedding. Patrick pondered for a moment. Well, I haven''t been doing well. I would even get a headache and bleed from time to time. It sucks because there''s nothing I can do about it. I know my body all too well. Perhaps I should listen to Kev. ¡°All right, then. Let''s go there tomorrow,¡± Patrick answered. Let''s just see if it''s curable. If it isn''t, I''m not going to waste my time. I''ll just leave my life to fate. Right then, Patrick''s assistant, John, arrived with a bag in his hand. Inside the bag was an extra set of clothes Patrick kept in the car. When John saw Patrick''s clothes, he was startled. ¡°Mr. Lowen, what happened to you?¡± John had been by Patrick''s side the longest. Although he was just an assistant, he spent most of his time managing thepany for Patrick. As a matter of fact, John was one of the people Patrick trusted the most. Anxiously, John touched Patrick''s body and asked, ¡°Are you injured? Why didn''t you call for us?¡± Who would''ve known that something like this would happen? If something bad were to happen to Mr. Lowen, what would happen to us? John and the others were downstairs because Patrick had told them to stay there. Patrick smacked John''s hand away. ¡°I''m fine. I had a nosebleed, that''s all. I''m not dying.¡± John breathed a sigh of relief when he heard it was a nosebleed. ¡°Oh! A nosebleed! The hot weather has been unforgivingtely. You have to watch your diet, Mr. Lowen. I''ll get the others to make you some nutritious soup. You''ll need it to replenish your body.¡± He whipped out his phone and made a call while walking out of the consultation room. Kevin was amused. ¡°Pat, that was surprising! I didn''t know John was such a chatterbox. He was usually as quiet as a mouse. I guess he''s only willing to talk to you.¡± Patrick grabbed the new set of clothes and unbuttoned his shirt with one hand as he made his way toward the other side of the curtains. ¡°I never noticed he was so full of nonsense before this either,¡± Patrick said in a deep and melodious voice. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Kevin narrowed his eyes and folded his arms around his chest. Although Pat sounds as if he''s annoyed, I bet he''s touched! This fellow looks indifferent and aloof all the time, but he''s a loyal man. Hence, the people around him are willing to obey him. Although they don''t always see eye to eye, they''re actually very close. If something bad happens, I''m sure Pat will be the first to jump to John''s defense. After Patrick changed his clothes, he put his dirty clothes in a bag and carried the bag out. ¡°I''m leaving now.¡± He walked toward the exit, pushed the door opened, and left the consultation room. As he walked past a bin, he conveniently threw the bag of expensive clothes inside. Kevin followed him from behind and reminded him, ¡°Pat, don''t forget that we''re taking the earliest flight tomorrow.¡± Chapter 585 Chapter 585 Chapter 585 The Surrington family When Gwendolyn and the rest of them walked out of DK''s headquarters, Suzanne was carrying her wedding gown in excitement. She could not even bear to put the dress in the trunk. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Suzanne, won''t you be tired if you keep carrying the wedding gown?¡± Suzanne shook her head. ¡°No, I won''t.¡± She had no other clothes other than her maid uniform. That was her first time buying such a beautiful piece of clothing. Gwendolyn helped Zayden into the car. When she was getting in, she heard him say coldly, ¡°You can only wear that dress when you are getting married. Don''t wear it at any other time!¡± Suzanne widened her eyes. ¡°What?¡± This is a beautiful dress. Why can''t I wear it at other times? She had been nning to put it on once they got back. Since there were two dresses, she would wear them alternately. Yet, her n was ruined by how well Zayden knew her. Pouting, she said, ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Gwendolyn turned to look at the disappointed Suzanne. All of a sudden, she understood. ¡°I''ll take you shopping in a few days'' time, okay?¡± By then, she thought of Suzanne as her younger sister. Sometimes, she found that Suzanne resembled Juliette and was no different from a child. She was a simple and adorable girl! ¡°Great! I want to buy beautiful clothes.¡± True enough, all girls loved beautiful clothing. Gwendolyn then drove and left the hospital. Suddenly, Zayden said, ¡°Go to the Surrington residence.¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback. He exined, ¡°I promised your grandpa that I''d hold the wedding in three days. I should talk to my family today and discuss the marriage proposal that will take ce tomorrow.¡± Gwendolyn knew nothing about all those etiquettes. However, since they were doing it for her grandfather, then she would be willing to go along with things. ¡°Sure!¡± Gwendolyn turned around and headed in the direction of the Surrington residence. The Surrington residence was located in Capston, so it took them one hour to arrive. The entrance of the Surrington residence had a traditional feel to it, with two stone lion statues at the gates. Cars could only enter through the back gate. After passing the front entrance, Gwendolyn drove toward the back. Once they were in front of the gate, it opened slowly. The gate was operated using sensors. It would recognize every car that had been recorded in the system. Each and every one of Zayden''s cars had been recorded there. As such, the gate would open the moment his car arrived in front of it. The men in the security booth stood up. When they saw it was Zayden, they bowed respectfully. Gwendolyn brought the car toward the courtyard. It was Suzanne''s first timeing to the Surrington residence. She could not believe her eyes when she saw how huge it was. ¡°Woah! What a big courtyard! So, this is Mr. Surrington''s house?¡± This is exactly like how wealthy families are portrayed on TV. Their houses are like pces! At that instant, her wedding gown paled inparison. She was more interested in the house. When the car pulled up in the parking lot, a few housekeepers came up and opened the car doors for them. ¡°Mr. Surrington, you''re back.¡± Ever since something happened to Zayden, he had gone away to Dragonhill to live on his own for a few months. Now that he was back, they were very happy to see him. In the past, Zayden was a gentle employer who treated those housekeepers well. Everyone loved him. He acknowledged them with an indifferent, ¡°Yes.¡± That was also Gwendolyn''s first timeing to his house. She could sense how well-respected and well-liked he was. Getting out of the car, she came to his side and reached out to him. ¡°Zayden, let me help you out.¡± He grabbed hold of her wrist and got out of the car. Zayden saw the way those housekeepers looked at him. It was obvious they felt sorry for him. In fact, they seemed upset about his blindness. He smiled before asking, ¡°Butler, is my dad back?¡± Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Before that, Zayden had phoned his father and told him to be back during that time as he had some important matters to discuss with the family. Just then, Angeline saw him and called out to him. ¡°Zay, you''re finally back home!¡± Chapter 586 Chapter 586 Chapter 586 Meet The Family The butler replied, ¡°Mr. Surrington arrived ten minutes ago.¡± Angeline came over and gave Zayden a hug. ¡°Zay.¡± Zayden looked much happier, and he even smiled when his mother embraced him. Gwendolyn released his hand and allowed Angeline to help him. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Suzanne was still carrying the big bag. She looked around and could not stop herself from staring. It''s so beautiful here! Gwendolyn called her over, ¡°Suzanne, we''re going in.¡± Suzanne ran up to her side, her excitement visible upon her features. ¡°Gwen, Mr. Surrington''s house is so luxurious! Will we be staying here from now on?¡± In truth, she preferred Dragonhill Mansion because that was her home. However, it would be fine with her if she had to stay at the Surrington residence. After all, it looked like a pce. She was sure she would be happy to stay there too! Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°I doubt it.¡± Zayden owned a lot of properties. Furthermore, given his current condition, he did not want to see anybody. Therefore, it was more likely that they would be staying at Dragonhill. Suzanne nodded. ¡°Oh!¡± They went into the main building. Zayden''s grandparents, Hans Surrington and Greta Scotts, were seated in the living room. Zayden''s father, Soren Surrington, was also there. When Greta spotted her grandson, she cried, ¡°Zay, you''re back.¡± Hans appeared displeased. ¡°You brat! You wouldn''t allow us to visit you at the hospital, but you didn''t come home either. What are you trying to do?¡± Hans seemed very stern, but in truth, he loved his oldest grandson very much. When he found out that Zayden had lost his sight, he nearly fainted. After such a long time, the elderly man was finallying to terms with the fact. Greta wiped her tears away and said, ¡°Zay,e over and sit with me.¡± Once Angeline helped Zayden to move over, he urged, ¡°Gwen,e over here. Grandma has always wanted to meet you.¡± In the past, he had told Greta about a beautiful and adorable woman whom he liked. Back then, Greta had hoped that he could bring the woman home, but Angeline would not allow it. It was only now that he could bring Gwendolyn back home to meet his family. There was a bright smile on Greta''s face when she saw Gwendolyn. ¡°Oh, this girl is very pretty!¡± As the elderlydy was talking, she reached out to hold Gwendolyn''s hand. Gwendolyn smiled and greeted her, ¡°Nice to meet you, Old Mrs. Surrington.¡± Greta got Gwendolyn to sit next to her, all while still holding thetter''s hand. ¡°So, Zay likes this type of girl, huh? She''s very sweet-looking and appearspatible with Zay.¡± Angeline looked at Greta and thought, If you knew she has three children, you might not say this about her. After all these years, Angeline knew what sort of person Greta was. Outwardly, thetter appeared very kind. In reality, she was a very shrewd olddy! Even if I hadn''t stopped Zay back then, there is no way Mom would agree to it no matter what Zay does now. As such, she had to hide the fact that Gwendolyn had children. Otherwise, Greta would blow her top. Soren asked, ¡°Zay, are you nning toe back and stay here?¡± Looking at his son, he felt bad too. He had already handed the baton over to Zayden. Besides, Zayden had done a good job running thepany for thest few years. Now, the job was back in Soren''sp again. Given his age, it was a little out of hisfort zone. During this period, it had been challenging for him to run thepany. After all, he had topete with the younger generation, and they were more shrewd. Sometimes, Soren really wished that Zayden woulde back so that he did not need to work so hard. Zayden replied, ¡°Three dayster, Gwen and I will be holding our wedding. Today, we are here to discuss the wedding matters with all of you. Tomorrow, we''ll go to the Ashton residence to propose marriage.¡± Everyone was stunned when they heard the news. Three days? Isn''t that too rushed? Chapter 587 Chapter 587 Chapter 587 Keep The Children A Secret Nobody marries in such a hurry. Even if the man can''t wait, there is no reason for the woman to be in such a rush. Angeline asked, ¡°Gwen, do you agree with Zayden?¡± Right now, Angeline was on Gwendolyn''s side. After all, Gwendolyn was the only one who could get Zayden to go through the treatment. Therefore, she was the only one who could give Zayden hope. Angeline was willing topromise. As long as Zayden could recover, she would not mind him marrying Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Yes, I agree.¡± She wanted to say otherwise, but given the current circumstances, she doubted it would make a difference. If she said no, Zayden''s condition would worsen, and her grandfather would probably get a heart attack from his fury. When the consequences crossed her mind, she decided not to think about her own happiness. After all, she was indebted to those two men. Now was the time for her to repay their kindness. The Surrington family understood when they heard her reply. Angeline said, ¡°All right then. We''ll go to your house and propose marriage tomorrow.¡± Gwendolyn knew nothing about such practices, so she let Zayden do whatever he wanted. Suddenly, Angeline stood up and grabbed Gwendolyn''s hand. ¡°Gwen, I have something to give you. Come with me upstairs. This is something we pass down to the daughters-inw.¡± Angeline was full of smiles as she dragged Gwendolyn up the stairs. Suzanne was at a loss when she saw that. Should I stay with Mr. Surrington? Or should I go with Gwen? She suddenly realized that she was growing more reliant on Gwendolyn, especially as she was standing in the living room at that moment. Even though there were lots of people, she only knew Zayden. Furthermore, Zayden was very cold toward her. Gwendolyn, on the other hand, was able to provide her with a sense of security. After they entered Angeline''s bedroom, Angeline took out a bracelet from her jewelry box. ¡°This was given to me by my granny. It''s meant for my daughter. Since I have no daughter, I''ll give it to my daughter-inw.¡± One look at the color of the jade bracelet, and Gwendolyn could tell that it was of high quality. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, this is too expensive. I can''t ept it.¡± Angeline stuffed the bracelet into Gwendolyn''s hands. ¡°Gwen, let bygones be bygones. Now, I understand that you''re Zay''s only hope of recovering. I treat you like a daughter now. You must ept it.¡± Gwendolyn stared at the bracelet and pursed her lips. Since Angeline put it that way, she could not bear to reject her. For now, she would keep it. When the time was right, she would return the bracelet back to Angeline. Angeline then said, ¡°There''s something else.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Gwendolyn looked at her and asked, ¡°What is it? Tell me.¡± Now that she had broken up with Patrick, there was nothing she could not do. As long as it was within her ability, she would do it. As long as it could improve the current situation, she was willing to do it. ¡°Gwen, as you know, the Surrington family is a big family. Zay wants to marry you, and I have no objection. As for your children, there is no way his grandma can ept them. Tomorrow, remind your family not to mention anything about the three children. Once you and Zay stay together, the children can live with you.¡± Gwendolyn was slightly startled when she heard what Angeline said. So this is why Angeline is giving me the bracelet. Gwendolyn''s children were very important to her. Even though Zayden had told Michael that the three children were his, there was no way the rest of the Surrington family would believe it. If things got out of hand, they would insist on a paternity test. When that happened, the truth would be out. She bit her lip and answered, ¡°Okay!¡± Mrs. Surrington is right. It''s better if we keep the children and their real identities a secret for now. If Grandpa found out the truth, he might not be able to ept it. Angeline smiled and reached out to caress Gwendolyn''s face. ¡°Good girl. I knew you were a good girl.¡± As far as Angeline was concerned, Zayden''s recovery was of utmost importance. If he wanted to get married, she would let him be. If she tried to oppose him, it would only make him unhappy and affect him psychologically. Chapter 588 Chapter 588 Chapter 588 Spy In the meantime, Zayden had already finished his discussion with the elders of the Surrington family. The next day, they would go to the Ashton residence to propose marriage. By the time Angeline and Gwendolyn came downstairs, Soren had already left. There was still a ton of work waiting for him at the office. He had no time to stay at home. Hans said in all seriousness, ¡°Zay, you''re getting married soon. A man has to develop his career once he gets married. I''m not worried about your career. As far as business is concerned, you are far more capable than your dad and uncles. Once your sight has been restored, the Surrington family will be under your care.¡± Although Hans no longer managed thepany, he would still asionally meet up with the shareholders for coffee. Lately, they had been telling him how badly Soren ran thepany. There were profitable projects avable, but he kept allowing otherpanies to take them instead. The shares of thepany also kept falling. Hearing all that irritated Hans. The shareholders were against Soren and hoped that Zayden could return to run thepany. However, if his eyes had yet to recover, they hoped that Soren''s brother could take over instead. Zayden replied, ¡°Got it, Grandpa.¡± Gwendolyn and Angeline heard everything. Angeline was so happy that she gripped Gwendolyn''s hand tightly. ¡°Gwen, did you hear that? Zay has agreed to undergo treatment for his eyes. I''m sure he will get better soon!¡± Although she knew that her son was an outstanding person, he had be a disabled man now. Yet, Gwendolyn did not despise him. For that, Angeline was very touched. Once Zayden recovered, then Gwendolyn would be married to a normal person. Gwendolyn smiled and nodded. ¡°I heard that.¡± Ever since Gwendolyn hade downstairs, Suzanne kept staring at her. She had been standing for so long, and her feet hurt. How I wish I could sit down! Naturally, Gwendolyn could tell what she was thinking. ¡°Zayden, shall we make a move now?¡± He was home now. If he chose to stay, she would take Suzanne and return to her own home. That should take some pressure off her for a while. Hans said coldly, ¡°Since you''re going to propose marriage tomorrow, stay here tonight.¡± Naturally, Zayden dared not say no. ¡°All right. I''ll be staying here tonight.¡± Gwendolyn smiled. Everyone seemed happy to have Zayden back home. She let out a sigh of relief. As long as he did not reject other people and was willing to live with everyone, his trauma would be cured eventually. Angeline was thrilled. ¡°Zay, that''s great! I feel much better to have you at home.¡± She then walked over to Zayden and gave him a hug. Gwendolyn said, ¡°Then I shall make a move first. I''ll be waiting for you at the Ashton residence tomorrow.¡± When Zayden heard that, his expression changed, so Angeline helped Gwendolyn out. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°That''s right. Gwen has to go back. Anyway, both of you will be married in three days'' time. Afterward, you will be together forever. It''s only a couple of days.¡± Zayden was worried that Gwendolyn would look for Patrick and sleep with him. He could not bear the idea of her cheating on him. Gwendolyn looked at Suzanne and said, ¡°Zayden, there are lots of housekeepers here. I want Suzanne toe back with me. Is that all right?¡± Suzanne was not used to things in the Surrington family. Looking at the way she was standing, Gwendolyn knew that her legs were tired. Suzanne quickly ran and stood next to Gwendolyn, nodding vigorously. ¡°Mr. Surrington, I''ll help you to look after Gwen. I''ll do my best.¡± Initially, Zayden was worried that Gwendolyn would meet Patrick. Now that Suzanne would be with her, he could be more at ease. Just as the two women were about to leave, Zayden said loudly, ¡°Suzanne,e over for a minute.¡± Upon turning back to look, Suzanne saw Zayden''s fierce expression. It was so frightening! ¡°Gwen, please wait for me in the car. I''ll be there in a short while.¡± Gwendolyn nodded before Angeline and Greta sent her to the car. Only Zayden, Suzanne, and a few other housekeepers were left in the living room. Obviously, those housekeepers would pretend not to hear anything. ¡°Suzanne, when you get to Gwendolyn''s house, keep a close watch on her. Make sure she doesn''t meet other men.¡± Chapter 589 Chapter 589 Chapter 589 Child His cold expression was quite intimidating. Suzanne responded, ¡°Okay. I understand.¡± She remained rooted in her spot and asked worriedly, ¡°Mr. Surrington, will you be all right staying here alone?¡± After all, Zayden was just pretending to be blind. Usually, he would read and be swamped with work at Dragonhill Mansion every day. However, he could only act like a blind man there, so Suzanne figured he would be bored out of his wits. Moreover, she was also worried Zayden would forget and fail to keep up the pretense. Suzanne finally wrapped her mind around the situation. Mr. Surrington pretends to be blind because he''s trying to marry Gwen. I like Gwen too. She''s so pretty and adorable. It''s only normal for men to fall for her. Still, Mr. Surrington isn''t bad, either. At least he''s handsome and has a good family background. Gwen will be happy if she marries him. At that thought, Suzanne felt Zayden pretending to be blind wasn''t a big deal anymore. Zayden raised his hand. ¡°Go. You don''t have to worry about me.¡± That was his home, and his family members loved him. Therefore, he waspletely safe and wouldn''t be bullied by anyone there. She''s overthinking and worrying too much. Suzanne left the Surrington residence with Gwendolyn. While driving, the bracelet on thetter''s hand was very conspicuous. ¡°Gwen, did Mr. Surrington''s mom gift you the bracelet? It''s so pretty!¡± Suzanne could tell at first nce that the bracelet was precious, figuring a gift from someone from the Surringtons wouldn''t be shabby. Only then did Gwendolyn look at the emerald bracelet on her left hand. Her expression changed minutely as she stared at it. ¡°Yes. Mrs. Surrington mentioned this is a family heirloom, and she intended to pass it on to her daughter-inw.¡± Suzanne nodded. ¡°I see!¡± She felt Gwen would live the life of a richdy after marrying into the Surrington family. She''ll definitely be very happy to be doted on by everyone in the family. Suzanne grew more envious the more she thought about it, so she muttered, ¡°When will I meet the perfect man for me?¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn turned to look at Suzanne. ¡°Suzanne, you''re still so young, yet you''re already thinking of getting married?¡± In truth, Gwendolyn was somewhat jealous of Suzanne. She''s still so young, and endless possibilities await her in the future. If I were her age, I wouldn''t have any worries and would certainly marry the man I loved. Those thoughts made her feel down. I used to be so carefree and was able to let go of anything. Now, it seems I have be more emotional. Patrick entered her mind. Since he was so handsome and outstanding, he would have plenty of women to choose from to be his girlfriend. Eventually, a woman who loved and treated him well would undoubtedlye along. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Gwendolyn sighed. When she imagined Patrick being with another woman, she felt depressed. Hence, she shook her head and warned herself, ¡°Gwendolyn, stop thinking. You''ll only get more upset if you dwell on this.¡± Suzanne, clutching the two wedding gowns, began to fantasize about how she would look in those outfits and who the aplished man marrying her would be. The two women in the car were preupied with their own thoughts. One was indulging in her pleasant fantasy while the other was falling into the depths of despair. Upon arriving at Star Mansion and stepping into the house, they were greeted by the three children at the door. When Suzanne saw the three kids, her mouth dropped in surprise. ¡°Ahh! Your children are so beautiful! I like them a lot.¡± With that, she ran forward, kissed Juliette on the face, and was about to do the same to Justin and Julian. The two boys lifted their hands to halt her. Justin uttered coldly, ¡°Watch your conduct.¡± On the other hand, Julian curled his lips. ¡°I don''t like other''s saliva on me.¡± Suzanne stood there awkwardly and forced a smile. ¡°Haha. In that case, I won''t kiss you. Is that all right?¡± The two boys were exceptionally handsome, but their personalities were too aloof and unapproachable. Juliette was astounded. She widened her eyes at Suzanne. ¡°Are you a princess from a castle who got lost?¡± Chapter 590 Chapter 590 Chapter 590 Cry Suzanne was dressed in a maid''s outfit with neat bangs, big eyes, and long curly eyshes. She looked exactly like one of Juliette''s Barbie dolls. Moreover, Suzanne was a living person, not a toy. Hence, Juliette was convinced Suzanne must be an actual princess. Suzanne smiled. Finding Juliette adorable, she reached out to take thetter''s small hand. ¡°Sweetheart, I''m your mommy''s friend. You can call me Ms. Drache from now on.¡± Juliette had an easy-going personality, so she swiftly chirped, ¡°Ms. Drache, Ms. Drache, princess Ms. Drache!¡± Soon, Suzanne and Juliette were ying together. The two were children, and when they yed with the Barbie dolls, it seemed Suzanne was having more fun than Juliette. Taking in that scene, Gwendolyn felt she had made the right decision in bringing Suzanne back. At the Surrington residence, she could only be a maid. She had to stand all the time, was too afraid to speak, and had to restrain herself because of the forbidding atmosphere there. Suzanne was finally able to show her true nature now. Gwendolyn had taken a real liking to Suzanne. Camille was also surprised to see the pretty Suzanne when she exited the kitchen. ¡°Gwen, is this your friend? She''s so good-looking, like a doll!¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, we have a guest today, so could you prepare a few more dishes?¡± ¡°All right. Will Mr. Lowene over for dinner today? I can give him a call, or would you rather do it?¡± When Gwendolyn heard Patrick''s name, her facial expression turned cold. ¡°Ms. Ziegler, don''t call him. We''ve broken up.¡± With that, she went upstairs, wanting some time alone. Justin and Julian sensed the sorrow in her words. They exchanged nces, put down the Legos in their hands, and followed their mother upstairs. As soon as Gwendolyn entered her room and closed the door behind her, she ceased all pretense. Leaning against the door, she slowly slid down it before slumping to the floor. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she began to sob quietly. Justin and Julian headed upstairs. Thetter asked, ¡°Justin, did you hear that? She broke up with Patrick.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Julian sighed. ¡°Isn''t this what we hoped for? But why do I feel a little upset?¡± In truth, Justin shared his brother''s troubled sentiment. ¡°Perhaps it''s because we are connected telepathically with Mommy.¡± They knew their mother was very fond of Patrick, but now that they''d broken up, she had to be sad and brokenhearted. As they spoke, the two had arrived before the door to Gwendolyn''s room. They instantly heard her cryinging from inside the room. The two boys stood at the door. Listening to Gwendolyn''s suppressed and woeful sobs, they furrowed their brows. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. A pained look flitted across Julian''s clear gaze. ¡°Justin, she''s really upset.¡± Justin nodded. ¡°Let''s not disturb her for now. We''ll just keep herpany from here.¡± Gwendolyn burst into tears and wailed until her tears dried up. Only then did she calm down. Then, she crawled into bed, wanting to sleep for a while. Having cried for so long, she was truly exhausted. At that moment, Juliette came over. She spoke in a sweet undertone. ¡°Justin, Julian, the food is ready. Ask Gwen toe down for dinner.¡± The two boys were leaning against the wall and staring at the ceiling with slightly darkened expressions. Upon hearing Juliette''s voice, they turned in her direction. Justin got up and approached her. ¡°Juliette, Mommy said she''s not having dinner tonight. She''s sleeping.¡± ¡°Huh? But she''ll be hungry!¡± Justin figured Gwendolyn was still in distress and had just cried for so long, so it would be good for her to enjoy some time alone and get some sleep. Julian also walked over. ¡°That''s all right. We''ll save some for her. When shees downstairs, she can eat then.¡± Juliette nodded. ¡°Okay. Let''s have our dinner with Ms. Drache, then. She''s so much fun and will y Barbie dolls with me. Let''s all y house together after dinner. What do you say?¡± A hopeful look filled herrge sparkling eyes. Justin and Julian exchanged nces. ying house? We don''t have the slightest interest in doing that. Chapter 591 Chapter 591 Chapter 591 Helping Gwendolyn Gwendolyn was exhausted from crying. When she woke up, it was already past nine at night. The room enveloped her in darkness. Devoid of the usual noise from the children, everythingy in serene stillness. She hadn''t experienced such solitude in ages. Gwendolyn opened her eyes and gazed at the window, thinking about how beautiful the moon probably was. The white curtains allowed some moonlight to enter, making the room seem even colder. She could hear the rustling of leaves as the breeze blew past them. Drawing a deep breath, she felt much calmer now, probably because she cried so much earlier. Gwendolyn switched on the bedsidemp and reached for her phone. She still had a lot of work to do, so there was no time to wallow in her sorrow. She searched up Zachary''s number, one she had never expected to dial. However, since the Surrington family woulde to propose marriage the next day, she had no choice but to reach out to Zachary for the sake of her grandfather. It took some time before the call was answered. ¡°What?¡± His voice was tinged with an impatient and chilly undertone. ¡°It''s me, Gwendolyn. The Surrington family will be arriving tomorrow to propose marriage. Please inform the rest of the family to avoid mentioning the fact that I have three children.¡± Upon hearing her request, Zachary chuckled. ¡°How can you expect to keep such a secret? Moreover, aren''t the children Zayden''s? Are you going to conceal it from his family?¡± Gwendolyn had already thought of how to respond to him. ¡°Zayden hasn''t told the truth to his family, so for now, we will keep the existence of the three children discreet. Anyway, we married because of Grandpa''s wishes.¡± She had been feeling troubled over this matter recently. Although Michael''s health had deteriorated, he was still in his right mind. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Everyone in the Ashton family had returned and was staying at the residence. They were all waiting for him to die so they could split the family assets. Gwendolyn was worried about Michael''s health. Since he cared the most about her, he could pass away at ease after witnessing her marriage. ¡°Very well, I understand,¡± he stated before promptly ending the call. Gwendolyn exhaled, relieved by the oue. The man on the other end of the call was her father, but she had never experienced any fatherly love from him. Even when she was about to get married, he exhibited no trace of reluctance. Perhaps he had been looking forward to marrying her off since a long time ago. After concluding the call, Zachary confided in Candace, who was putting on a face mask in front of the mirror. Candace abruptly rose from her seat, narrowly stopping the face mask from slipping off her face. She gently patted it with her hand. ¡°What is Gwendolyn up to? Aren''t the children supposed to be Zayden''s? Now that she wants to conceal it, doesn''t that mean that the kids aren''t his?¡± In truth, she had long been aware that the children were not Zayden''s but Patrick''s. However, she would never speak of this matter or admit it. Zachary let out a sigh. ¡°Inform everyone not to mention anything about the children tomorrow. Dad has been holding on just to witness her marriage. Once she''s married and settled, he will find sce and can let everything go without any worries.¡± Sha had baan faaling troud ovar this mattar racantly. Although Michaal''s haalth had datarioratad, ha was still in his right mind. Evaryona in tha Ashton family had raturnad and was staying at tha rasidanca. Thay wara all waiting for him to dia so thay could split tha family assats. Gwandolyn was worriad about Michaal''s haalth. Sinca ha carad tha most about har, ha could pass away at aasa aftar witnassing har marriaga. ¡°Vary wall, I undarstand,¡± ha statad bafora promptly anding tha call. Gwandolyn axhd, raliavad by tha oua. Tha man on tha othar and of tha call was har fathar, but sha had navar axpariancad any fatharly lova from him. Evan whan sha was about to gat marriad, ha axhibitad no traca of raluctanca. Parhaps ha had baan looking forward to marrying har off sinca a long tima ago. Aftar concluding tha call, Zachary confidad in Candaca, who was putting on a faca mask in front of tha mirror. Candaca abruptly rosa from har saat, narrowly stopping tha faca mask from slipping off har faca. Sha gantly pattad it with har hand. ¡°What is Gwandolyn up to? Aran''t tha childran supposad to ba Zaydan''s? Now that sha wants to concaal it, doasn''t that maan that tha kids aran''t his?¡± In truth, sha had long baan awara that tha childran wara not Zaydan''s but Patrick''s. Howavar, sha would navar spaak of this mattar or admit it. Zacharyt out a sigh. ¡°Inform avaryona not to mantion anything about tha childran tomorrow. Dad has baan holding on just to witnass har marriaga. Onca sha''s marriad and satd, ha will find sca and cant avarything go without any worrias.¡± The entire family was eagerly waiting to split the family assets. However, they could not proceed with it until Michael died. Based on this fact alone, they would unquestionably help keep Gwendolyn''s secret. On the other hand, Candace was seething with anger. She was determined not to let Gwendolyn have it easy. However, since those three children were like ticking time bombs, she made up her mind to help Gwendolyn this time. Once Gwendolyn became part of the Surrington family through marriage, Patrick would not long for her any longer. ¡°I will personally handle the matter and inform the rest.¡± After uttering those words, Candace gracefully settled back in front of the dressing table and continued with her skincare routine. Zachary leaned against the couch. ¡°What do you think Dad will leave behind for Gwen?¡± Everyone in the Ashton family was wary of Gwendolyn. After all, she was Michael''s favorite. Had it not been for the plot orchestrated by Candace and her daughter, Gwendolyn might already have be the heiress of the Ashton family and inherited Ashton Corporation. Now that Michael¡¯s time was drawing near, he might be leaving her the biggest share. In that case, even Zachary, the CEO, would be under her authority. Candace''s hands momentarily paused. ¡°Has the will been drafted? Can we secretly peek at it? If we don''t like it, we can make amendments.¡± Chapter 592 Chapter 592 Chapter 592 Set Them Up Zachary stared at her like she was a fool. ¡°Do you think it''s that easy? The will is locked in a safety deposit box at the bank. We can only open it if we have all three keys from Dad, thewyer, and the bank.¡± Candace widened her eyes. ¡°It''s that troublesome?¡± She was genuinely oblivious. Since she came from a mediocre family, she had no idea about these things. ¡°But Dad dotes on Gwen so much. Would he entrust the entirepany to her?¡± Her greatest fear was that she and Felicia would be left with nothing. If everything was bequeathed to Gwendolyn, their future would be uncertain. They would lose all semnce of dignity within the Ashton family. Although a prominent family like the Ashton family seemed so glorious on the surface, it was extremely conservative. Those seemingly harmonious rtives all wished for one another''s misfortune and yearned to assert dominance over the others. They battled like the scheming royals of past ages, and after years of such struggle, she was utterly exhausted. Zachary let out a wistful sigh. ¡°How would I know? But Dad won''t do that. With so many family members, each one will receive their rightful share.¡± He knew that very well. It was impossible to give all of the family''s assets to a single person. However, Michael would definitely give Gwendolyn a greater portion out of his personal bias so that she could have a stronger foothold in the Ashton family. Upon concluding the call, Gwendolyn went to the bathroom. After showering, she ced a warm towel over her eyes. She had cried so much earlier that her eyes were swollen. Once they became less puffy, she headed downstairs. After wallowing in her sorrow, the best way to seek sce was to eat a hearty meal. Perhaps everything would be better afterward. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. This was her usual way of consoling herself. However, rtionship troubles were uncharted territory for her. She did not know if it would truly make a difference. As she emerged from her bedroom, Gwendolyn transformed once again into a resilient and determined woman, ready to face the world. In the living room downstairs, Camille was engrossed in watching television. She saw Gwendolyn coming down and quickly got up. ¡°You''re awake. Let me warm the dishes up for you.¡± Gwendolyn asked, ¡°What about the rest? Have they gone to sleep?¡± Camille smiled. ¡°Ms. Drache yed with them until they grew tired. They''ve gone upstairs to sleep. Juliette insisted that she sleep with Ms. Drache.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. Kids could always get along with one another. It was all thanks to Ms. Drache that she could sleep for a few hours so peacefully. Sitting on the sofa, Gwendolyn absentmindedly watched the television. However, she was not paying attention to what was being broadcasted. As Camille emerged from the kitchen, she noticed Gwendolyn daydreaming. It was then that she remembered Gwendolyn saying that she had broken up with Patrick. She sighed. They clearly like each other, so why are they always arguing? They''re indeed so young. It''ll be toote if theye to regret this at my age. Onca thay bacamass puffy, sha haadad downstairs. Aftar wallowing in har sorrow, tha bast way to saak sca was to aat a haarty maal. Parhaps avarything would ba battar aftarward. This was har usual way of consoling harsalf. Howavar, rtionship trous wara unchartad tarritory for har. Sha did not know if it would truly maka a diffaranca. As sha amargad from har badroom, Gwandolyn transformad onca again into a rasiliant and datarminad woman, raady to faca tha world. In tha living room downstairs, Cami was angrossad in watching tvision. Sha saw Gwandolyn coming down and quickly got up. ¡°You''ra awaka. Lat ma warm tha dishas up for you.¡± Gwandolyn askad, ¡°What about tha rast? Hava thay gona to ap?¡± Cami smd. ¡°Ms. Dracha yad with tham until thay graw tirad. Thay''va gona upstairs to ap. Juliatta insistad that sha ap with Ms. Dracha.¡± Gwandolyn noddad. Kids could always gat along with ona anothar. It was all thanks to Ms. Dracha that sha could ap for a faw hours so paacafully. Sitting on tha sofa, Gwandolyn absantmindadly watchad tha tvision. Howavar, sha was not paying attantion to what was baing broadcastad. As Cami amargad from tha kitchan, sha noticad Gwandolyn daydraaming. It was than that sha ramambarad Gwandolyn saying that sha had brokan up with Patrick. Sha sighad. Thay arly lika aach othar, so why ara thay always arguing? Thay''ra indaad so young. It''ll ba toota if thaya to ragrat this at my aga. With these thoughts in mind, she took out her phone and discreetly made a call to Patrick. He was still in a meeting, busy wrapping up the tasks for the next few days before going overseas tomorrow. It was John who answered the call since he had Patrick''s phone. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Are you at home, Mr. Lowen?¡± When John heard the voice of an elderly woman and noticed the name disyed as Camille, he remembered that she was Gwendolyn''s housekeeper. ¡°Hello, Ms. Ziegler. I''m John, Mr. Lowen''s assistant.¡± Camille was taken aback for a moment before quickly ncing at the phone. Yes, this is Mr. Lowen''s number. ¡°I''m looking for Mr. Lowen.¡± John replied, ¡°Mr. Lowen is currently in a meeting and can''t take calls now. Is there something I can help you with? I can pass on your message or have him call you backter.¡± Camille furrowed her brows. He''s still in a meeting at this hour? Sessful men like him are indeed so busy building their careers that they have no time to care about their families. ¡°That''s so hard on Mr. Lowen. Has he eaten?¡± ¡°He has.¡± ¡°Oh, he''s had his meal. Since I have nothing important, I''ll hang up then.¡± With that, she promptly ended the call. She had intended to help patch things up for the two of them, but she did not expect Patrick to be so busy. Chapter 593 Chapter 593 Chapter 593 Something Unusual When the meeting concluded, it was already past eleven at night. Everyone in the conference room was exhausted. They got up one by one and left. Patrick remained seated at the head of the table as he raised his fingers and massaged his temples. Truth be told, he wasn''t immune to fatigue; he just hadn''t felt it before. However, the feeling was more evident now. John walked in and ced Patrick''s phone in front of him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, there are a few calls you need to return. I''ve taken care of the rest.¡± Patrick nodded slightly. ¡°Okay, you can get off work now.¡± John paused for a moment. ¡°We''ll send you home first before getting off work, Mr. Lowen.¡± This was the usual routine. The assistant and bodyguards were only supposed to leave after sending him home safely. ¡°It''s fine. It''s gettingte now, so I''ll drive myself home tonight.¡± Patrick stood up and grabbed his phone. Suddenly, John remembered something. ¡°The housekeeper from Ms. Ashton''s house called.¡± Upon hearing this, Patrick halted in his tracks. ¡°What did she say?¡± His eyes seemed to light up instantly. Indeed, as the rumors said, Patrick only loved Gwendolyn. John was now witnessing it firsthand. ¡°She asked if you had eaten, so I said you did. She then replied that there was nothing else and hung up.¡± The hopeful look in Patrick''s eyes dimmed before he walked away. John shook his head, unable to read Patrick''s mind. However, since Patrick had already given his instructions, they did not dare to follow him. At four in the morning the next day, John and the other bodyguards were waiting at the entrance. As they did not dare to call Patrick and hurry him, the driver asked, ¡°Mr. White, what time is Mr. Lowen''s flight? Should we urge him to hurry up?¡± John had just closed his eyes, wanting to rest for a while. When he heard that, his eyes fluttered open. ¡°If you dare to urge him, go ahead.¡± The driver fell silent. It appeared he had no choice but to drive a little fasterter. He couldn''t afford to risk dying Patrick''s flight. Otherwise, given Patrick''s recent mood, the driver might end up fired. Being Patrick''s driver came with numerous perks. Not only did he get a handsome sry, but influential individuals would also seek him out if they wanted to get closer to Patrick. Such connections could grant him abundant benefits, elevating his social status. Hence, he remained steadfastly loyal and was always ready to shoulder any responsibilities, all in the hope of continuing his employment with Patrick. Just then, John''s phone rang. When he saw that Patrick was calling him, he quickly answered the call. ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± ¡°Are you here already?¡± ¡°Yes. We''re at the entrance.¡± The gates of the mansion swung open as the call ended. The driver drove the car into the courtyard. John then stepped out and entered the house, dutifully retrieving Patrick''s luggage. By the time they reached the airport, it was already past six in the morning. At four in tha morning tha naxt day, John and tha othar bodyguards wara waiting at tha antranca. As thay did not dara to call Patrick and hurry him, tha drivar askad, ¡°Mr. Whita, what tima is Mr. Lowan''s flight? Should wa urga him to hurry up?¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. John had just closad his ayas, wanting to rast for a wh. Whan ha haard that, his ayas fluttarad opan. ¡°If you dara to urga him, go ahaad.¡± Tha drivar fall snt. It appaarad ha had no choica but to driva a lit fastartar. Ha couldn''t afford to risk dying Patrick''s flight. Otharwisa, givan Patrick''s racant mood, tha drivar might and up firad. Baing Patrick''s drivar cama with numarous parks. Not only did ha gat a handsoma sry, but influantial individuals would also saak him out if thay wantad to gat closar to Patrick. Such connactions could grant him abundant banafits, vating his social status. Hanca, ha ramainad staadfastly loyal and was always raady to shouldar any rasponsibilitias, all in tha hopa of continuing his amploymant with Patrick. Just than, John''s phona rang. Whan ha saw that Patrick was calling him, ha quickly answarad tha call. ¡°Mr. Lowan.¡± ¡°Ara you hara alraady?¡± ¡°Yas. Wa''ra at tha antranca.¡± Tha gatas of tha mansion swung opan as tha call andad. Tha drivar drova tha car into tha courtyard. John than stappad out and antarad tha housa, dutifully ratriaving Patrick''s luggaga. By tha tima thay raachad tha airport, it was alraady past six in tha morning. When they entered the VIP lounge, Kevin approached them. ¡°You''re finally here, Pat. Let''s go.¡± Patrick lifted his left hand and nced at his wristwatch. ¡°Isn''t the flight scheduled for eight in the morning?¡± It was only half past six. However, Kevin could not wait any longer. ¡°We''ll be leaving on my private jet. It''s the perfect time to depart now.¡± Patrick furrowed his brows slightly. ¡°Why the rush?¡± When Patrick fixed his brooding gaze on him, Kevin felt a pang of guilt. He hooked his arm around Patrick''s and urged him forward. ¡°I''m in a hurry! My friend told me his female friend is a stunning beauty. I want to see it for myself.¡± He grinned, concealing his inner uneasiness. Patrick''s lips curved into a cool smirk while a knowing expression spread across his face. As they walked, Kevin suggested, ¡°Let''s turn off our phones! It''s a rare opportunity to enjoy some peace and quiet.¡± While saying that, he attempted to grab Patrick''s phone, but Patrick quickly pulled it away. Casting him a cold nce, Patrick remarked, ¡°Kevin, you''re acting strangely today.¡± He''s already suspecting something. Kevin''s heart skipped a beat. Perhaps I''m too anxious. The reason he was in such a hurry was that he feared news of Gwendolyn and Zayden''s wedding would reach Patrick. He wanted Patrick to cut off all contact with the outside world. However, he had forgotten that Patrick was an incredibly astute person who was hard to deceive. Chapter 594 Chapter 594 Chapter 594 Deceiving Him Patrick fixed his intense gaze on Kevin. ¡°Is something troubling you?¡± Kevin was utterly flustered. He noticed something! What should I do? If he revealed the truth, Patrick would likely cancel his trip to Corleon. At the same time, Kevin would probably be unable to save his own skin too. Suddenly, he calmed down. ¡°Fine, I''lle clean. I went to a nightclub and fooled around with a woman. Unfortunately, Estelle found out, and now she''s out to get me. That''s when I made the decision to hide in Corleon with you. It''s a good opportunity to find out more about your illness too.¡± That''s a good enough reason, right? Since I''m known for being a yboy, he''ll probably believe this. Only then did Patrick finally avert his gaze and continue walking. He believed me! He actually did! Thank God he believed me. As expected, I needed to sacrifice my reputation first before I could convince him. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Kevin lightly held his forehead to calm himself down. Once the ne takes off and we leave this ce behind, everything will be fine. Gwendolyn woke up a little after seven in the morning. As she pushed open the door to her room, she saw Suzanne peacefully sleeping at her doorstep. A subtle furrow formed between Gwendolyn''s brows. Did Suzanne sleepwalk? Bending down, she gently called out, ¡°Suzanne, wake up.¡± At the sound of her voice, Suzanne abruptly opened an eye. Shezily wiped a trace of drool from the corner of her mouth before breaking into a sheepish smile. ¡°You''re awake, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn smiled affectionately and ruffled Suzanne''s hair. ¡°Why did you fall asleep here?¡± Suzanne, still groggy from waking up, revealed the truth. ¡°Mr. Surrington instructed me to keep watch over you and make sure that you didn''t meet any other men. That''s why I stood guard outside your door.¡± Immediately realizing her slip of the tongue, Suzanne covered her mouth in haste, her wide eyes darting around. Why did I reveal the truth to her? Promptly rising from the floor, she scolded herself for sumbing to the temptation of sleep. When she saw Suzanne giving herself a light p, Gwendolyn couldn''t help but release a sigh. So, Suzanne came here for a purpose. Zayden even assigned her a task. She''s so honest too, even staying here for an entire night. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°I''m heading to the Ashton residence. If you''re tired, feel free to rest in the guest room.¡± With that, she began walking toward the staircase. Suzanne hastened to catch up with her. ¡°Gwendolyn, I''m your subordinate now. I''ll go wherever you go.¡± Suzanne had developed a deep reliance on Gwendolyn, having found sce and security in thetter''s presence. Gwendolyn had no objections either. As long as Suzanne wasn''t tired, she could tag along. When the two went down the stairs, the Ashton family''s driver was already waiting for them in the living room. He directed his gaze toward Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, Old Mr. Ashton asked me to fetch you.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Let''s go.¡± Camille walked out of the kitchen. ¡°Gwen, aren''t you going to have breakfast?¡± She had already prepared breakfast. It made no difference even if they left after eating first. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°I have to eat there today. Please take care of the kids, Ms. Ziegler.¡± Other than Juliette, the other two kids were actually Camille''s little assistants, so it was like three adults taking care of a kid. It wasn''t all that tiring, to be honest. Camille nodded. ¡°Don''t worry! I''ll take care of them.¡± Suzanne shed Camille a bright grin. ¡°Bye, Ms. Ziegler!¡± Suzanne adored this ce. They didn''t treat her as a mere employee but rather as one of their own. Yesterday, she had a delightful time ying with Juliette. Although Justin and Julian seemed cold at first nce, those two boys were truly kind-hearted. She genuinely liked those three kids! Suzanne felt a sense of belonging, as if she had found a home. Camille waved her hand at Suzanne, bidding her farewell. ¡°Bye, Ms. Drache! Visit us often when you have the chance.¡± ¡°Of course, Ms. Ziegler!¡± The driver opened the car door for them. Gwendolyn gracefully stepped into the car while Suzanne opened her own door on the opposite side. The car slowly moved out of the mansion. As they passed by Patrick''s house, Gwendolyn subconsciously nced inside. Chapter 595 Chapter 595 Chapter 595 That One Teardrop Gwendolyn secretly hoped that Patrick would be standing on the balcony, allowing her to steal a fleeting nce at him from a distance. He should be awake by now. Has he had his breakfast? Yet, even after the car sped out of the neighborhood, she failed to see any sign of Patrick. Gwendolyn leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes, choosing to shut out any further thoughts. At first, she had thought there was nothing a hearty meal, or even two meals, could not solve. Yet, despite stuffing herselfst night, she still felt miserable and unable to forget or move on. Her mind was filled with his image, and she just could not let him go. Her heart continued to ache intensely, each breath causing her pain. As the intensity of her pain grew, a tear escaped from the corner of her eye and slowly trailed down her cheek. Suzanne reached out and caught the glistening teardrop, her wide eyes blinking as she admired its beauty. However, as she brought it closer, she detected a sour scent emanating from the tear. It made her feel ufortable. It was as if the world had suddenly be dull and devoid of its radiance. She sniffled before looking at Gwendolyn beside her. ¡°Gwen, are you upset?¡± Suzanne tucked away the precious tear before resting her head on Gwendolyn''s shoulder. ¡°Gwen, if you''re upset, you can tell me. I can help.¡± Although Suzanne was unfamiliar with this world, and everything seemed foreign and intimidating to her, she took sce in the fact that she possessed magical powers. She also possessed great strength and was capable of overpowering anyone in a physical confrontation. Gwendolyn gradually opened her eyes before putting on her mask and armor. ¡°I''m not upset. I''m just a little tired. I''ll take a nap.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Upon hearing that, Suzanne chuckled. ¡°Oh. I''m tired too. Let''s take a nap together then!¡± She cuddled up to Gwendolyn, and both of them closed their eyes. Gwendolyn could not fall asleep, but Suzanne had already dozed off. She had a remarkable ability to fall asleep quickly. Gwendolyn tilted her head to look at the girl. She must not have slept wellst night. Suddenly, she was envious of Suzanne''s simple and carefree nature. Her life is centered around the joy of eating. Every day, it''s just about indulging in delicious food. Such a simple and blissful existence! Upon arriving at the Ashton residence, Gwendolyn was met with a bustling scene. The driver opened the door for her. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, we''ve arrived.¡± Suzanne was still sound asleep, her head resting on Gwendolyn''s shoulder. Gwendolyn gently stroked Suzanne''s head. ¡°Suzanne, we''ve arrived.¡± Suzanne was a little upset at being shaken awake and still had a strong desire to sleep. She let out a sigh. ¡°I''m so sleepy!¡± ¡°I''ll take you to my room. You can sleep in there,¡± Gwendolyn offered. She had alreadye to see Suzanne as her own sister rather than just a servant. Since they had arrived at the Ashton residence, Gwendolyn understood that Suzanne would need some time to adjust to the new environment. Therefore, she thought it would be best to let Suzanne rest and get some sleep. After having enough sleep, she can then indulge in a delightful meal. To her, that''s what true happiness is all about, isn''t it? Suzanne was truly exhausted, having hardly slept a wink the entire night. ¡°All right!¡± As they got out of the car, Suzanne held Gwendolyn''s hand and yawned. Upon entering the main building, Gwendolyn and Suzanne found the living room bustling with members of the Ashton family. Some were engaged in lively conversations, while others were immersed in card games. The sound ofughter filled the air as several children ran around, adding to the lively atmosphere of the room. Upon seeing them, Candace got up and walked toward them. ¡°Wee back, Gwen. Why are you wearing ck on your big day today? You should be wearing a bright-color dress instead.¡± Francine and Christina walked over and chimed in, ¡°That''s right. You shouldn''t have worn ck today!¡± Candace grinned. ¡°I have a white gown. It''s an antique piece my granny left me. I''ll go upstairs and get it for you to try on.¡± With that, she headed upstairs to fetch the gown for Gwendolyn, her hips swaying. ¡°No need. It''s not the actual wedding ceremony. There''s no need to dress so festively,¡± Gwendolyn softly remarked. She wants the world to know how eager I am to marry Zayden so that she can make a fool out of me in front of all the other Surringtons, huh? Upon hearing that, Christina and Francine exchanged knowing nces, recognizing Gwendolyn''s growing intelligence. ¡°Gwendolyn, you haven''t had breakfast yet, have you? Let''s go and have breakfast.¡± Christina and Francine held her hands and led her to the dining area. It was clear that they were trying to please her. Chapter 596 Chapter 596 Chapter 596 How He Distributed His Assets Observing how well Christina and Francine treated Gwendolyn, Candace knew their behavior was driven by their desire for the family''s fortune. They felt Michael would favor Gwendolyn and likely give her arger share. They held the belief that by treating Gwendolyn well, their husbands would be rewarded with influential positions in thepany. Candace''s expression turned grim when she figured out the n those women had in mind. I won''t let you have your way. At that moment, Candace could not help but realize how troublesome Gwendolyn was. If Gwendolyn had actually died, she wouldn''t stand a chance to im a share of the family assets. What added fuel to Candace''s anger was the fact that Gwendolyn was going to marry into the Surrington family. Candace had initially hoped to make Gwendolyn''s life miserable when thetter married into the Surrington family, but now she realized that Gwendolyn had grown more intelligent and astute, rendering her schemes ineffective. Seeing how Gwendolyn was surrounded by the Ashtons, Suzanne began to panic. ¡°Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn nced at Suzanne before calling another person. ¡°Jada,e here.¡± Jada, a young housekeeper in the Ashton residence, seemed to be around the same age as Suzanne. ¡°Yes, Ms. Gwendolyn?¡± Gwendolyn pointed at Suzanne. ¡°Take her to my room.¡± Jada responded with a slight nod. ¡°All right.¡± Gwendolyn made a note to have someone deliver food to the roomter, giving Suzanne the option to either eat or rest in thefort of the room. Christina and Francine then brought Gwendolyn to the dining area. Not only did they warmly pull out a chair for her, but they also instructed the housekeeper to bring her breakfast. As the two older women sat on either side of Gwendolyn, Christina spoke first. ¡°Gwen, you''re about to marry into a wealthy family. I hope you''ll still remember us then.¡± Christina added, ¡°That''s right. We''re all happy for you. You should know the Surrington family holds significant influence in Avenport!¡± Felicia, who was also having breakfast at the dining area since she woke upte, was bothered by how Christina and Francine acted. ¡°Congrats, Gwen!¡± she blurted out, her tone sounding rather peculiar. That instantly drew Christina''s and Francine''s attention. ¡°Fel, are you done with your breakfast?¡± Francine grinned and remarked, ¡°I must say, among all the Ashtons, Fel is the most blessed one. The Lowen family is the most prominent family in Avenport, after all.¡± Christina concurred, ¡°That''s true. You sisters are so fortunate. How we wish we could have such a blessing too!¡± As Gwendolyn''s hunger grew, she began to eat her breakfast. She then turned to the servant who had served her and spoke up. ¡°Prepare another set of breakfast and bring it to my room.¡± Meanwhile, Felicia had finished her breakfast, but she had no intention of leaving. She took out her phone, switched on the front camera, and checked her makeup, making some adjustments. ¡°Who is in your room? You''re not supposed to mention your triplets today, aren''t you?¡± Felicia asked while admiring her beautifully adorned nails and then stowing away her phone. ¡°I must admit, Zayden is quite magnanimous. Even though the children are not his own, he''s willing to ept them. However, now that we''re actually talking about the issue of marriage, he''s refusing to acknowledge them. Honestly, men like him might have different thoughts and behaviors before and after marriage.¡± After speaking, Felicia immediately covered her mouth. ¡°Oh, gosh. Why did I even say that.¡± She stood up and addressed Christina and Francine, saying, ¡°Aunt Christina, Aunt Francine, please keep Gwendolynpany while she finishes her breakfast. I''ll excuse myself now.¡± Felicia was wearing an exquisite white gown that day, as if she herself were the one preparing for marriage. Unfazed by Felicia''s words, Gwendolyn continued to eat her breakfast with grace and elegance. Christina and Francine exchanged nces and said in unison, ¡°Gwen, don''t listen to her. Fel is known for her sharp tongue. Her words are not worth paying attention to.¡± Gwendolyn responded with a grin. ¡°I''m fine.¡± Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Francine observed Gwendolyn''sposed demeanor, noting that she truly seemed unaffected by Felicia''s words. It was a noticeable change from the easily angered Gwendolyn they had known in the past. She would have cried in anger if Fel had directed those words at her years ago. It''s only been a few years since west met, yet she seems a lot more mature now. After receiving a signal from Christina, Francine asked, ¡°Have you visited your grandpa?¡± They were curious about how Michael would distribute the family assets, considering he had three sons, two grandsons, four granddaughters, and three great-grandchildren. Chapter 597 Chapter 597 Chapter 597 Betrothal Gift At that thought, they couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. The Ashton family is not what it used to be, so what can we possibly receive in the end? Gwendolyn replied, ¡°I''ve visited him, and I''ll also be going today. After the marriage talk is done, Zayden and I will go there.¡± She figured her grandfather should be waiting since his biggest wish now was to see her get married. Christina''s eyes gleamed. ¡°So, how''s Dad''s condition? Will he recover?¡± Ever since members of the Ashton family learned about Michael''s hospitalization and deteriorating health, they all came back. Their intention in doing so couldn''t be more obvious. ¡°Grandpa is fine. He''s conscious and even said he would attend my wedding ceremony.¡± Of course, those were merely lies to deceive them. Given Michael''s current condition, there was no way he could leave the hospital. Otherwise, Gwendolyn wouldn''t have to agree to get married so soon. The two older women were slightly startled before saying, ¡°Oh, that''s good.¡± With that, they got to their feet. ¡°Gwen, take your time to eat. We''ll go out to help now.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. Being watched by them while she had her breakfast was indeed diforting. Francine and Christina chatted as they walked out. ¡°Did you hear that, Francine? Dad is in good health. He''s not going to distribute his assets.¡± Francine shook her head. ¡°How can you believe her? Gwen has a good rtionship with Dad. Therefore, she certainly hopes he will get better. However, can''t you see why she''s in such a hurry to get married? It''s because she wants to let him witness her marriage. The assets will still have to be divided.¡± ¡°You have a point. It seems like Gwen isn''t so easy to fool anymore. She has be shrewd.¡± After the two exited the dining room, Candace strode over. She crossed her arms and nced coldly at the duo, uttering discourteously, ¡°You two think Dad will give her the most family possessions, don''t you? Don''t forget who her mother is and why he spoils her.¡± Michael''s favorite son was Zachary, and he had doted on thetter since thetter was a child. Therefore, Michael also treasured Zachary''s first daughter, Gwendolyn. If it weren''t because Felicia was an illegitimate child, Michael would''ve cherished her too. Candace med Gwendolyn for that. If it weren''t for Gwendolyn and her mother, Fel would''ve been the most doted on by Old Mr. Ashton. Francine and Christina immediately tried to smooth things over. Francine wrapped her arms around Candace''s. ¡°Candace, you''re overthinking. We came here to congratte Gwen since the Surrington family is coming to propose marriage today.¡± Christina chimed in, ¡°That''s right! Since Gwen''s the highlight today, we simply want to congratte her on her fine marriage. But, speaking of which, Fel is the one who got the better deal. Patrick is so handsome, and the Lowen family is so formidable. How can Zayden bepared to Patrick when he''s just a blind man?¡± Candace''s mood finally brightened up a little after she listened to Francine and Christina''s words. Gwendolyn is no match for my daughter. Patrick is Fel''s, so Gwendolyn can stop dreaming of being with him. In the afternoon, the Surringtons arrived. Zayden came with his parents and grandparents. Evidently, the Surrington family regarded the marriage with great importance. Suzanne stood beside Gwendolyn and watched the approaching party. Trailing behind them was a small truck. When the truck stopped, the servants started unloading box after box of items, each one exquisitely wrapped. Gwendolyn asked puzzlingly, ¡°What''s in those boxes?¡± Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. One of the older servants answered, ¡°These are betrothal gifts brought by the Surrington family.¡± Gwendolyn was slightly surprised, not expecting them to bring so many betrothal gifts. The Surrington family''s butler handed a document to the Ashton family''s butler, who then passed it to Zachary. Initially, the list should''ve been handed to Michael, but since he wasn''t there, Zachary took Michael''s ce. Candace nced over, and her eyes lit up at once. They brought that many betrothal gifts over? Francine had already moved closer to take a look, then turned around and whispered, ¡°Gwen, the Surrington family is quite sincere. The betrothal gifts include eight boxes of an assortment of precious jewelry, six storefronts, and an additional fifty million.¡± Chapter 598 Chapter 598 Chapter 598 Daydream Francine and the others had never seen such lucrative betrothal gifts, so they immediately felt Gwendolyn was truly blessed. Subsequently, low murmurs filled the air as the crowd discussed in undertones. Candace uttered coldly, ¡°They brought over so many betrothal gifts to pressure us into providing more dowry. Don''t assume this is a good thing.¡± The others'' facial expressions changed slightly after they heard Candace''s remark. She''s right. Old Mr. Ashton is so fond of Gwen. Who knows how much dowry he''ll give her? Gwendolyn was unfazed. Zachary and his brothers received the guests and invited them into the house while she walked up to Zayden and held his arm, supporting him up the stairs. Suzanne also jogged over. ¡°Mr. Surrington, you look so handsome today!¡± Zayden was wearing a sky-blue suit that day paired with a white shirt. His tie was also sky-blue in color. He appeared well-groomed and handsome. Zayden said, ¡°Did you take good care of Ms. Ashton?¡± Suzanne felt a little guilty. I''ve been sleeping in Gwen''s room since the morning, and she also had to come call me for lunch just now. At that thought, Suzanne averted her gaze. ¡°Ha! Of course. I even slept outside Gwen''s doorst night.¡± Zayden curled his lips into a faint smile after hearing that. It seems like it was impossible for Gwendolyn and Patrick to spend time togetherst night. He lifted his hand to pinch Suzanne''s petite face, causing her to wince in pain. ¡°At least you''ve done your duty.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Seeing Zayden smile, Suzanne finally breathed a sigh of relief. Gwendolyn didn''t notice Zayden''s countenance or actions. At that moment, she was staring nkly ahead, imagining how the scene would be if the personing to propose marriage that day was Patrick instead. Perhaps I''ll be overjoyed and can truly immerse myself in the joyous mood of this asion. At that moment, she felt like she was trapped in an icy cave as she was cold all over. The elders were sitting together, talking about the marriage in a formal manner. Gwendolyn didn''t participate. Instead, she brought Zayden to the smaller living room for coffee. Suzanne brewed coffee on the side. She was unskilled, constantly knocking over the cups or other items. Overwrought, she apologized repeatedly. Taking in her demeanor, Gwendolyn couldn''t help butugh. How did she get into the Surrington family? I heard all housekeepers must be certified in various aspects before working for them. How did she secure her position? Perhaps she did it through the back door, the same way I entered Lowen Group previously. A few of Gwendolyn''s cousins entered one after the other, all there to see Zayden. ¡°Gwen, Zayden is so handsome!¡± Nicolette and Rachelle chirped, their eyes riveted on Zayden. They figured it was fortunate for them that Zayden couldn''t see. Otherwise, he probably wouldn''t have been pleased to be watched like a monkey in the zoo. When Felicia walked in and saw all her younger cousins there, she said, ¡°What do you think you''re doing? Watching a show at the zoo? Get out.¡± Felicia had always been arrogant in the Ashton family. Now that she had a rtionship with Patrick, she behaved more haughtily than ever. The others feared her, so they hastily ran away after hearing Felicia''s order. Gwendolyn ignored Felicia. She picked up a cup of coffee and ced it in Zayden''s hand. ¡°Have some coffee, Zayden.¡± Sitting across from Gwendolyn, Felicia crossed her legs and folded her arms while staring impassively at Zayden. Then, she chuckled. ¡°Zayden, you''re going to marry my sister the day after tomorrow. How do you feel now? Are you excited?¡± At the thought of Gwendolyn marrying Zayden and how she would no longerpete with her for Patrick''s affection, Felicia was thrilled. When I be Mrs. Lowen, I''ll be the most envied woman in Avenport. As for Gwendolyn, a woman who marries a blind man, she will be even more insignificant to me. Although, the elders discussing the wedding details seem to be nning to provide a considerable amount of dowry. Felicia took a deep breath. When I get married, my dowry must be double that of Gwendolyn''s. Chapter 599 Chapter 599 Chapter 599 Annoy Zayden Zayden took a small sip of his coffee and replied tly, ¡°I am. I''m very excited and very happy.¡± After he finished his sentence, he moved to hold Gwendolyn''s hand. However, Gwendolyn quickly rose to her feet and said, ¡°I''ll get some desserts.¡± With that, she left the living room. Felicia noticed Gwendolyn''s reaction. She''s thinking about Patrick, isn''t she? Well, she''s not the only one. Everyone in Avenport wants to marry Patrick. Zayden saw the mocking look on Felicia''s face and clenched his fists. Although he remained expressionless, the veins in his forehead were bulging, a clear indication of his anger. Lifting her cup of coffee, Felicia took a sip from it. ¡°Zayden, Gwen is actually a loyal woman. I know she''s physicallymitted to you, but you ought to win her heart as well. Good luck!¡± When she said that, she had her gaze lowered toward her coffee. However, it was obvious that her eyes were filled with mockery. Gwendolyn, I''m only nice to you because of Patrick. Still, even after you marry into the Surrington family, I''ll make your life a living hell. I wonder if Zayden got my hint. Gwendolyn doesn''t love him, and she never will. Meanwhile, Patrick and the others finally arrived in the city of Coldbridge in Corleon after flying for ten hours. Upon exiting the ne, Kevin hurried toward Patrick when he saw thetter switching on his phone. ¡°Did someone call you?¡± Kevin asked. Wow! He received plenty of missed calls, emails, and texts on WhatsApp! It seems like Mr. Lowen here is a busy man. Upon hearing that, Patrick shot Kevin a cold nce. ¡°Kev, what are you hiding from me? Spill,¡± Patrick demanded. Ever since we arrived at the airport, Kev has been craning his neck to look at my phone. Does he not want me to receive a call from somebody? ¡°I''m worried Estelle would look for you. If she knows where I am, she''lle after me.¡± Kevin averted his gaze immediately. Estelle was a spoiled girl from the Blenheim family, and she was known to be willful. Therefore, it was entirely possible she woulde all the way here to find Kevin. Patrick wasn''t convinced, but he didn''t question further because it was obvious that Kevin wasn''t willing to reveal anything. Kevin''s senior had agreed to fetch them at the airport. At the exit, there was a young man with a buzz cut, wearing a white t-shirt and denim jeans. When Kevin saw the young man waving at them, he grumbled softly, ¡°What the f*ck? My senior is dressed like a university student. He''ll make us look old, no?¡± With that, Kevin quickly tidied his hair and adjusted his sses. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Patrick wore a dashing ck suit while Kevin wore a formal-looking white suit. In fact, he looked like an elite businessman. When they walked next to each other, they looked imposing and cool. Obviously, Patrick didn''t respond to Kevin''s words, and thetter saw thating. This fellow always leaves me talking to myself. Kevin hugged his senior when the two arrived next to the man. ¡°It''s rare to see you here personally, Kev!¡± Yanick Xenos, Kevin''s senior, eximed. Kevin patted Yanick''s back and introduced the men to one another by saying, ¡°This is my close friend, Patrick Lowen. Pat, this is the senior I talk about all the time, Yanick Xenos.¡± Patrick and Yanick shared a polite handshake. ¡°Yanick, thank you,¡± Patrick uttered. Considering the state of my body, they''re my only hope. Yanick smiled and replied, ¡°You''re wee! A friend of Kev''s is a friend of mine. Besides, we''re doctors. This is what we''re supposed to do.¡± The group exited the airport and got into a car. Patrick and Kevin were sitting in Yanick''s car while their subordinates followed from behind. As he was driving, Yanick said, ¡°I''ve already made an appointment with Jocelyn Dunn, and we''ll have dinner with herter. Tomorrow, she''ll examine Mr. Lowen''s condition beforeing up with a n for the surgery.¡± Those words caught Kevin''s attention right away. ¡°Jocelyn? What a nice name! Is she a looker?¡± Chapter 600 Chapter 600 Chapter 600 Beaten Up ¡°She''s breathtaking!¡± Yanick replied. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Hearing that, Kevin nudged Patrick with his shoulder. ¡°We''re seeing a beautiful doctor!¡± Prior to that, Patrick was looking out the window indifferently. Upon getting nudged, Patrick turned toward Kevin and uttered in a deep and attractive voice, ¡°Do you not remember what you''re running from?¡± ¡°Oh. That''s right. Ever since I got into a rtionship with Estelle, I lost my freedom. I told her I wanted to break up with her, but she wouldn''t ept it. It''s so annoying.¡± Kevin chuckled awkwardly. Yanick heard that and asked, ¡°Have you finally found yourself a girlfriend?¡± ¡°You underestimate me, Yanick. I''m a handsome man, no? I have plenty of admirers,¡± Kevin uttered confidently. ¡°That''s true. However, you never acknowledge any of them,¡± Yanick agreed. Back then, he had a lot of flings, but none of them was the one. In fact, whenever he met a pretty girl, he would tell them he was single. Patrick kept mum and listened to them talk about their university life. I know exactly what Kev is like. What he shows to the public isn''t who he actually is. By the time they arrived at the hotel, it was already six in the evening. Yanick nced at his watch and said, ¡°I''ll fetch Jocelyn, and we''ll meet at the restaurant across the roadter.¡± Kevin knew the area well because he had gone to university there. ¡°Go ahead, Yanick! I''ve been longing to eat at that restaurant for years. Let''s have a feast tonight!¡± With that, Yanick departed, and Patrick and Kevin entered the hotel. John and the others had already checked in for them, and they were supposed to stay in the presidential suites on the top floor. After entering the elevator, John asked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, how long will we be here for?¡± Kevin grew anxious when he heard that. Does John know about Gwen''s wedding? Kevin wanted to say something, but he was afraid of Patrick realizing something was up. Patrick replied in a t tone, ¡°I''m not sure. Tomorrow, we''re going to¡ª¡± He stopped talking abruptly because he didn''t want his subordinates to know about his condition. Although, I did faint in the office once, so they seem to know I''m not feeling well. ¡°I''ll have the answer tomorrow,¡± Patrick ended up saying. ¡°Okay. In that case, I''ll get someone to fetch Old Mrs. Lowen the day after tomorrow. She''sing back,¡± John replied. Alice had been staying at the church for almost a month. She wasn''t supposed to return until a few dayster, but she had to change her n due to Gwendolyn''s wedding. Patrick didn''t give it much thought because he knew his grandmother would fast for a month at the church every year. Before this, I fetched her myself every year. Since I''m not around this year, John will get someone to pick her up. There''s nothing to worry about. Upon arriving on the top floor, Kevin didn''t go to his own presidential suite. Instead, he went into Patrick''s and checked out the surroundings. This is a huge presidential suite with four rooms! Seeing that, Kevin suggested, ¡°Pat, perhaps I should just stay here with you. There are so many rooms avable. I can stay in any one of them.¡± Patrick lit a cigarette, took a puff, and nced at Kevin. ¡°I''m not used to staying with men.¡± Kevin was rendered speechless. What sort of excuse is that? I''m not even staying in the same room as him or sleeping in his bed! Feeling mischievous, Kevin said, ¡°To be honest, Pat, I''m bisexual.¡± With that, he acted like a woman and approached Patrick. ¡°Pat, I would like to stay!¡± In response, Patrick pinned him to the ground with one hand. In pain, Kevin fumed, ¡°F*ck! Why are you so aggressive?¡± Patrick took a deep puff of his cigarette and blew out a thick cloud of smoke toward Kevin''s face. ¡°I hate perverts and didn''t mind my strength.¡± Chapter 601 Chapter 601 Chapter 601 Gorgeous Jocelyn With his face squashed against the ground and his left arm pinned behind his back, all Kevin felt was intense pain. ¡°Pat, I''ll stop. I won''t do it again. Please let me go.¡± ¡°Kev, don''t ever do that to me again. Otherwise, I''ll kill you.¡± Patrick let Kevin go after thetter begged for mercy. Why would a man act like a woman? I''ll beat him up if he does it again. Kevin rose to his feet, stretching his arm before touching his face. ¡°Oh! Did you injure my face? How am I going to present myself to the gorgeous Jocelynter?¡± Misery was written all over Kevin''s countenance, and he went into the bathroom to check on his handsome face. In the next moment, a scream of despair rang out. ¡°Ah!¡± From the mirror, Kevin saw that his left cheek was swollen. No wonder I was in so much pain! I''m injured! I look like an ugly pig now! How am I supposed to face Jocelynter? Ten minutester, Kevin was seated on the couch with a bag of ice over his left cheek. Meanwhile, Patrick was constantly on his phone to deal with business matters. Kevin saw how busy Patrick was and realized something when he saw thetter''s majestic jawline. It''s true when people say that men look the most attractive when they''re busy. At this moment, Pat looks so handsome! After making several phone calls and sending a few emails, Patrick focused his attention on hisptop. Once his work was done, he gazed at Kevin and asked, ¡°How''s your face?¡± Patrick had just been fooling around earlier and hadn''t meant to injure Kevin. Even though he couldn''t bring himself to apologize, he was feeling remorseful. ¡°I''m fine. However, you ought to look after your health.¡± Kevin shed a smile. Pat seems so busy all the time. I bet he doesn''t eat on time and rest well. He has a ticking time bomb in his head now. If he keeps this up, things are going to worsen. His priority right now should be avoiding things that will trigger him. The bullet is moving around all the time. If he bes agitated, he might die. ¡°Yeah!¡± Right then, Kevin received a call from Yanick. ¡°Yes, Yanick?¡± Kevin answered the phone. ¡°We''ve arrived. Let''s meet in our usual private room,¡± Yanick said. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. ¡°Okay. We''ll be right there.¡± Kevin hung up the phone and tossed the ice bag onto the coffee table nearby. ¡°Pat, they''re already there. Let''s have dinner,¡± Kevin uttered. Since I''m hungry, Pat must be famished as well. The meals served on the ne were horrendous, so neither of them had eaten much. Since it was almost seven, it was understandable that they were both hungry. Like the cold and stern man he was, Patrick put hisptop aside and wore his suit. The two went to the restaurant across the road and entered a private room. In there, they saw a tall and beautifuldy sitting next to Yanick. Thedy had auburn curly hair, a splendid body figure, and exquisite facial features. In other words, she was stunning. Upon seeing thedy, Kevin whispered to Patrick, ¡°Wow. She''s truly breathtaking.¡± Unfortunately for Kevin, the prettydy wasn''t attracted to him because of his injured cheek. When Yanick saw them entering the private room, he rose to his feet and said to Jocelyn, ¡°Jocelyn, this is my junior, Kevin Chavez. He''s our mentor''sst disciple.¡± Kevin reached out his hand and praised, ¡°Nice to meet you, Jocelyn! You''re gorgeous!¡± Jocelyn nodded indifferently in response, leaving Kevin feeling slightly awkward. Afterward, Yanick continued, ¡°This is Mr. Lowen. Patrick Lowen.¡± Patrick gave Jocelyn a curt nod. ¡°Is he the one with a bullet in his head?¡± Jocelyn asked tly. She''s so straightforward and blunt! I''ve never seen a woman like her! In fact, I''m nothingpared to her. Is this what a straightforward woman is like? Kevin was stunned. Chapter 602 Chapter 602 Chapter 602 Michael And His Wish Yanick nodded. ¡°Yes. He''s the patient. Kev and I have been conducting all sorts of experiments, but we have yet to seed. You''re a master of brain surgery, and you''re probably the only one who can perform this operation.¡± Jocelyn raised her brows slightly and nced at Patrick. ¡°Patrick, do you have a lot of enemies? If I save you this time around, will something simr happen again?¡± Both Kevin and Yanick were dumbfounded. What? That''s rather direct, no? ¡°I have a lot of enemies, but I don''t want to die. Please treat me, Dr. Dunn. Money isn''t an issue for me,¡± Patrick answered expressionlessly. Kevin had never seen Patrick treat someone with such politeness. Pat is desperate to stay alive! ¡°Jocelyn, he''s my best friend. For our mentor''s sake, please operate on him,¡± Kevin uttered. Sadly, our mentor passed away. Otherwise, we could get him to operate. Hearing that, Jocelyn took a bite of her food elegantly and said, ¡°Sure. Obviously, I''ll do my best, but I need to see the X-ray first tomorrow. If it''s too risky, I won''t do it.¡± ¡°Of course. If the operation isn''t doable, we won''t force you to do it, Jocelyn.¡± Yanick served her some food. During dinner, Kevin and Yanick kept serving Jocelyn food. Hence, her mood seemed to have improved tremendously after dinner. Before she left, she assured Patrick, ¡°Don''t worry. I''m good at what I do. I can definitely perform the operation.¡± At that point, she was slightly tipsy and behaving alluringly. Kevin was impressed. Jocelyn doesn''t feel like a doctor at all. In fact, she looks more like a model! Not just that, she''s also a beautifuldy who loves drinking! Yanick called them a substitute driver. When he was helping Jocelyn to get into the car, she suddenly turned around and pointed at Kevin. ¡°I heard you were a handsome man. Well, after seeing you today, I can''t help but disagree.¡± Right after that, she pointed at Patrick and added, ¡°He, on the other hand, is dashing.¡± With that, she arched a brow and smiled before getting into the car. ¡°Pat, don''t you see? Whenever you''re around, I lose my charm.¡± Kevin heaved a sigh. Jocelyn is stunning, but unfortunately, I don''t stand a chance. ¡°Be careful on the road. See you guys at the hospital tomorrow!¡± Patrick said to Yanick. ¡°See you tomorrow!¡± Yanick waved goodbye. Meanwhile, over at the Ashton residence, the Ashton and Surrington families had just agreed on the wedding matters. In two days'' time, the ceremony was to be held at Majestic Hotel in Avenport. That hotel belonged to Zayden, so it seemed logical to have the wedding there. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Gwendolyn and Zayden then went to the hospital to visit Michael. Initially, Candace didn''t want Michael to see Gwendolyn. However, Candace didn''t see the point of doing so anymore after finding out they couldn''t amend the will. Hence, she let Gwendolyn look after Michael. At that time, a housekeeper was feeding Michael some oatmeal porridge, but his appetite wasn''t great. Gwendolyn took the bowl from the housekeeper and continued feeding Michael. Surprisingly, Michael shook his head and refused to eat. Gwendolyn was heartbroken when she saw how much weight Michael had lost. ¡°Grandpa, Zayden and I are going to get married in a couple of days, so you can finally stop worrying. However, you need to eat and get better. Otherwise, you won''t be well enough to attend the wedding.¡± In truth, Michael was in no shape to attend the wedding because he couldn''t even get out of bed. Gwendolyn was getting married to Zayden because she wanted to fulfill Michael''sst wishes and cheer him up. Perhaps if Grandpa is happy, he''ll get better after some time. Even if he can''t recover, he''ll at least be able to rest in peace. Upon hearing those words, Michael reluctantly parted his lips and ate a spoonful of oatmeal porridge. ¡°Gwen, they didn''t make things difficult for you today, did they?¡± Michael asked. Without me at home, the others must''ve bullied her. That''s why I must see her get married before I die. Chapter 603 Chapter 603 Chapter 603 Not The Right Man Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°Grandpa, they didn''t bully me. In fact, they even helped me secure a significant betrothal gift from Zayden''s parents!¡± She was being honest. Apart from the traditional betrothal gift, the Ashton family also requested two pieces ofnd. Despite the excessive request, the Surrington family epted it. However, she had already told Zayden not to give away thend titles because her father and uncles were tantly taking advantage of Zayden''s family. They were the ones who wanted thend, not her. ¡°That''s good, then.¡± Michael chuckled. Gwendolyn went on to feed Michael half a bowl of oatmeal porridge. He ended up eating more than usual that day. After his meal, he took his medication and dozed off. It''s good that Grandpa is able to eat and sleep well. Gwendolyn then said to Zayden, ¡°Zayden, I''m staying here tonight to keep Grandpapany.¡± ¡°Mr. Surrington, I''ll send you back.¡± Suzanne walked up to Zayden and held his hand. When Gwendolyn was about to bid them farewell at the elevator, Zayden suddenly reminded her, ¡°Sleep early tonight and don''t overtire yourself. You''ll be a bride in two days, so you wouldn''t want to have dark circles under your eyes.¡± Zayden thought she would regret it if she were to look ugly during her wedding. After all, the wedding day matters the most to a woman. ¡°Okay. Grandpa won''t be on an IV drip tonight, so I won''t stay up,¡± Gwendolyn replied. We have nurses and caretakers around. If I get tired, I can go to sleep. When Michael fell sick in the past, Gwendolyn was the one who apanied him through the nights at the hospital. Although she was young, she was good at looking after a patient. Upon returning to the ward, Gwendolyn tucked Michael in. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. A housekeeper then prepared a bed for Gwendolyn and said, ¡°Ms. Ashton, we''re right outside. Please call for us if you need help.¡± Gwendolyn smiled and nodded. Afterward, she couldn''t help ncing at Michael. I hope Grandpa gets well soon. With that in mind, she sat in the chair next to the bed and held Michael''s hand. Grandpa looks weaker by the day. I don''t want him to die. Back then, he protected me when I was staying in the Ashton residence. Without him, I wouldn''t be who I am today. However, I was still hurt by that pair of mother and daughter in the end. I eventually left home, grew up, and became a sensible adult. Now, I just want to spend a few more years with him. As she thought about that, her eyes became misty, and her tears began dripping onto Michael''s hand. Michael woke up to see Gwendolyn sobbing. ¡°Gwen? Why are you crying?¡± he asked. Michael knew Gwendolyn was scared of him dying, and he also knew that she was the only member of the Ashton family who wished to see him live. Seeing that Michael had woken up, Gwendolyn suppressed her tears and wiped her cheeks dry. ¡°I''m sorry, Grandpa. I must''ve woken you up.¡± When Michael fell sick in the past, Gwendolyn was the one who apanied him through the nights at the hospital. Although she was young, she was good at looking after a patient. ¡°It''s all right. We can chat for a while.¡± Michael smiled. Gwendolyn sniffled and nodded, but her eyes were still brimming with tears. I don''t want Grandpa to die... I want him to live and watch my kids grow up. Noticing that, Michael heaved a long sigh. ¡°Gwen, I''m old, and I''ll die sooner orter. If I die, I can finally be free of pain. Thus, there''s no reason to be sad.¡± ¡°No, Grandpa. You''ll live well into a ripe old age.¡± Gwendolyn started sobbing again. I can''t ept it. I''m losing the only family member close to me. Michael lifted his hand to help her wipe her tears away. ¡°Don''t cry, Gwen. I prefer to see you smile.¡± Gwendolyn couldn''t help it, but she knew she had to pull herself together. I can''t let Grandpa feel bad. ¡°Gwen, marrying Zayden is a good thing. Of course, he''s not as incredible as Patrick. Patrick is handsome and capable, but he''s not the right man for you. Let Fel have him, okay?¡± Michael uttered. Gwendolyn was stunned when she heard that. What? Does Grandpa know everything? Michael chuckled when he saw the surprised look on her face. ¡°Have you forgotten about the fact that I was the one who gave you those three mansions? I know who you meet all the time. Still, you should listen to me, Gwen. Distance yourself from Patrick. Otherwise, you''ll get hurt.¡± Chapter 604 Chapter 604 Chapter 604 Shake Me Off Gwendolyn was utterly confused. Why can''t I be with Patrick, but Felicia can? If I were to hear that from someone else, I would think that was a biased statement. However, Grandpa said it, and he has always favored me instead of Felicia. At that thought, she pursed her lips and questioned, ¡°Grandpa, since you know I love Patrick, why are you preventing me from being with him?¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes lit up, and she wanted answers. I care about Grandpa the most, and he already knows about Patrick and me. I have to find out what''s going on. Even if there''s a feud between the Ashton and Lowen families, why is Felicia allowed to be with Patrick? She''s also from the Ashton family, no? Is there a secret I don''t know about? Michael''s gaze darkened, and his expression took on a slightly grimmer look as he recalled some bad memories. Shaking his head, he replied, ¡°You don''t have to know about everything else. Just listen to me. Thankfully, you''ll be marrying in two days'' time. I''m relieved.¡± Gwendolyn wanted to question further, but Michael immediately retracted his hand. ¡°I''m tired. I''m going to sleep. You should get some rest as well.¡± Gwendolyn knew she had to stop pressuring Michael, so she stood up, tucked him in, and went back to her own bed. The lights in the ward were dim, but she couldn''t seem to fall asleep. Instead, she just kept staring at the ceiling in bafflement. Why can''t I be with Patrick? Gwendolyn heaved a long sigh and eventually dozed off. The next day, in Corleon, Patrick had already woken up and washed up by seven in the morning. He then went to sit by the floor-to-ceiling window and nced at the rainy view outside. That day was surprisingly gloomy and chilly. With a cigarette between his slender fingers, he was listening to John''s report regarding thepany''s operations. John was standing next to him with a tablet in his hands as he gave his report. Right then, Patrick took a deep puff of his cigarette and looked at the expensive watch on his wrist. ¡°Okay. It''s time to wake Kev up. We need to head to the hospital soon.¡± Patrick couldn''t eat breakfast that morning because he had to undergo a body check-up. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. After John was done reporting, he kept his tablet and lowered his head respectfully. ¡°Noted, Mr. Lowen. However, I need to ask you something.¡± A worried look shed in John''s eyes as he spoke. Will Mr. Lowen agree to it? ¡°Go on,¡± Patrick demanded coldly. He seemed to have guessed what was happening. Needless to say, he wasn''t too happy. John bit the bullet and said, ¡°Liam has stayed in Alendor for almost twenty days now, and thepany has plenty to deal with recently. Would you allow him to return?¡± Instead, she just kept staring at the ceiling in bafflement. Why can''t I be with Patrick? Liam had asked John to seek Patrick''s permission, so John decided to try his luck. I''m putting myself at risk here. If this goes wrong, I might also get transferred there. ¡°Did he ask you to ask me that?¡± Patrick asked. John had been working for Patrick the longest, so he knew he couldn''t fool thetter. Hence, he nodded and answered, ¡°Yes. He has learned his lesson and promises he won''t make the same mistake again.¡± ¡°Fine. Let hime back.¡± ¡°Got it, Mr. Lowen.¡± John heaved a sigh of relief and left the scene. After John left, Patrick instinctively nced at his phone. He hadn''t received a missed call or a text from Gwendolyn. Seeing that, he tapped on WhatsApp, opened Gwendolyn''s chat, and typed: What are you up to? However, he deleted those words and typed: Don''t think you can get rid of me with that one night. After sending the text, he kept the phone in his pocket, pretending nothing had happened. In the next second, he whipped out his phone again and saw that she hadn''t replied to his text. Therefore, he tossed his phone toward the couch and turned to look at the view outside. A whileter, a visibly sleepy Kevin entered the room and said, ¡°Pat, let''s go to the hospital.¡± Chapter 605 Chapter 605 Chapter 605 Blocking Gwendolyn When Patrick turned around, the grimness of his expression was visible. Kevin guessed that it was connected to the weather. It was gloomy and raining, and anyone would be in a bad mood. However, this was also the best weather to sleep in, for it was chilly. That was how he ended up oversleeping. If not for John waking him, he would have slept the entire day. Patrick walked over to the couch to pick up his phone before ncing at his screen. When he realized that a certain woman had yet to reply to him, his expression darkened further. Kevin could already hear the room turning into ice. He could hear Patrick''s heavy footsteps and almost sense the drop in the temperature in the room. At that, he could not help but shudder. However, he lifted a brow and thought, Well, he''s not in his peak state right now. I guess I''ll amodate him. But what''s making him so upset early in the morning? I''m sure it''s not because of Gwen''s marriage. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be so calm. He''ll either get another episode, or he''ll head right back. He wouldn''t go to a hospital. Kevin was consoling himself as he paced around. I''m sure it''s not. It''s so far away, and no one''s going to be such a cker to shove this mess onto me. But it''s quite dangerous for him to have his phone. Hence, Kevin decided to block Gwendolyn with the excuse of taking things for himter at the hospital. If I don''t do this, that girl might suddenly post a picture on her Instagram, talking about her wedding, just because she''s feeling happy. Yes, yes. I have to block her first. Pat won''t be able to take it otherwise. No one else besides Gwendolyn will tell him about this, and it''s not as if anyone else will post something about this matter on Instagram too. ¡°Yes, that''ll be how things go,¡± he muttered under his breath. When Patrick heard it, he asked, ¡°Did you not sleep wellst night?¡± Kevin snapped back to his senses and smiled. ¡°Of course not. I can''t sleep in such a big room by myself. I''m afraid.¡± He''s a director of a hospital! What is he afraid of? However, Patrick was in no mood to bother himself with Kevin anymore. It seemed like Kevin had woken up too early and had yet to sober up. As the hospital was right beside the hotel, the two chose to head there on foot. There were bodyguards following them, but the bodyguards had opted to keep a distance from them. The silence was pressuring, and Kevin wanted to find a topic to talk about. He never felt stressed with Patrick before, but somehow, something was strange in the air that day. He was a bundle of nerves. After letting out a long sigh, hebed his waxed hair and asked, ¡°Pat, do you think I look good today?¡± Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Kevin''s face was no longer swollen¡ªthere were no traces of injuries anymore, so he had returned to his usual attractiveness. However, Patrick only shot him a look in silence before continuing his way. Sensing Patrick''s disdain, Kevin ran over to him and said, ¡°I''m asking because I think Jocelyn''s very pretty. Do you think she''ll fall for me if she sees me?¡± ¡°Yes, that''ll be how things go,¡± he muttered under his breath. All Patrick did was look at him coldly, hoping that Kevin woulde to the realization of what was wrong with him by himself. Kevin felt a surge of frustration, muttering under his breath, ¡°All right, fine, I won''t say a word.¡± He knew all too well that no woman stood a chance of developing any sort of feelings for him when Patrick was around. After all, Patrick had a face that others would do a double take at, and his icy demeanor demanded attention from all. Just the day before, he could not help but notice how the usually haughty Jocelyn had begun looking at Patrick in a different light. The two of them soon reached Yanick''s office, and Yanick handed Patrick a pile of examination forms. Kevin then went toward the examination room with Patrick, but when thetter was about to enter the room, Kevin extended his hand toward him. ¡°Pat, I''ll be holding onto your stuff and waiting by the door. Remember, during the examination, you''re not allowed to have your coat, phone, cigarettes, and lighter.¡± Without a second thought, Patrick unloaded the items and handed them over to Kevin. He even shrugged off his own coat and passed it to Kevin. As Kevin watched Patrick disappear into the examination room, he quickly sought out a secluded corner. He needed to find a quiet spot and block Gwendolyn. Chapter 606 Chapter 606 Chapter 606 Blocked Kevin hid behind the door of the emergency exit, so nervous that he was sweating profusely. He had never been this nervous, not even during surgeries. Yet, the action of blocking Gwendolyn was tensing him up beyond expectations. Kevin felt his hands trembling, but he was determined to do it for the sake of his good friend''s well- being. He sessfully unlocked Patrick''s phone, which, to be honest, had a password that did not really count as one¡ªsix zeros. Then, he quickly opened WhatsApp and blocked Gwendolyn. After blocking her, he leaned against the wall, feeling as if he was about to copse. At that moment, the security door suddenly opened, startling him. John stuck his head around the corner and asked, ¡°Mr. Chavez, are you here?¡± He had seen Kevining here earlier, so he came looking for thetter. Kevin took a deep breath before standing up. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± he asked in the calmest manner he could summon. ¡°I''d like to smoke too. Can I do it here?¡± John was a chain smoker, but he did not dare to smoke in the hospital, for it was forbidden. He thought that Kevin was hiding in the stairwell to smoke. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Upon hearing John''s words, Kevin raised a brow. ¡°You can''t smoke here. Go straight and turn right. There''s a smoking room, so do it there.¡± John nodded and closed the heavy door behind him. Again, Kevin fell back against the wall, his tension leaving him. Over an hourter, Patrick was done with his examination. He walked out of the room, his hand pressing a cotton pad. It seemed like he was displeased with the examination, for his expression was darker than before. Kevin approached him and asked, ¡°You''re done?¡± Frankly, Kevin could have waited for him in the breakroom or Yanick''s office, where he would be much morefortable. There, he could even enjoy a cup of coffee while using his phone. However, he had no choice but to wait here so that he could block Gwendolyn on Patrick''s phone. After tossing the cotton pad into the trash can, he reached out to Kevin, waiting for thetter to return his possessions. Kevin quickly gave his cigarettes and lighter back. However, Patrick furrowed his brow slightly and coldly demanded, ¡°The phone.¡± In that instant, the allure of smoking faded into the background; what he really wanted was to find out if that woman had responded to him. Kevin sensed his intent and swiftly retrieved the phone from his bag, handing it over without dy. Patrick took hold of the device and continued walking, his gaze fixed upon the screen. Opening WhatsApp, he eagerly scanned for any messages from Gwendolyn, unaware and not realizing that Kevin had blocked her with his ount, for he had a habit of deleting messages after sending them. Kevin trailed closely, his hand instinctively rising to readjust his sses. I knew it. He was waiting for her message. Thank goodness I blocked her, or else things will be troublesome. Stepping into the elevator, Patrick inquired, ¡°How much longer until we can get our hands on the report?¡± ncing at the time, Kevin responded, ¡°I''d say it''ll be another hour or two. Let''s head back to the hotel so that you can grab a hearty breakfast first. I''ll discuss it with themter.¡± The rest was in the hands of the doctors. All Kevin could do was patiently wait for the results. Patrick stayed silent, seemingly unaffected. When the elevator reached the first floor, he exited without uttering a word. Kevin turned to John and instructed, ¡°Go after him. Your boss just lost a significant amount of blood in his blood test. He needs a nourishing meal.¡± John assured, ¡°Don''t worry, Mr. Chavez. I''ll ensure my boss gets the necessary nutrients.¡± At Avenport, by the time Gwendolyn awakened, the doctor had alreadypleted his examination on her. Per Michael''s instructions to maintain a quiet environment, Gwendolyn managed to enjoy a restful sleep without any disruptions. When she noticed that Michael had alreadymenced his intravenous therapy, a wave of embarrassment struck her. ¡°Grandpa, I overslept. Have you already had breakfast?¡± she inquired. Dependent on medication, Michael was now required to be on a continuous drip throughout the day, making his situation rather miserable. However, Michael wore a smile and responded, ¡°I''ve already had my breakfast. Go and have yours. Don''t spend the night here; we have the housekeepers keeping vigil. As a bride-to-be, you shouldn''t stay upte. Otherwise, you might end up with dark circles, and you won''t look as pretty on your big day.¡± At that, Gwendolyn stood up and went into the bathroom to wash up. She had her phone in her hand, so she noticed that Patrick had sent her a message. When she read what he sent her, she smiled. It seemed like he did not wish to break up with her, so she thought of talking to him about what Michael said to her. Perhaps he would be able to figure things out from there. Thus, she called him. However, a message popped up in the video chat window: The recipient has blocked you from video calling them. Chapter 607 Chapter 607 Chapter 607 They Are All The Same Gwendolyn''s heart tightened, her chest aching. He blocked me? Wasn''t he the one who said I wouldn''t be able to get rid of him? Leaning against the marble sink, Gwendolyn lowered her head, her emotions in turmoil. She took a deep breath. When she lifted her head, she wasposed again. ¡°Gwendolyn, forget about him! If you keep wavering like this, you''ll only end up hurting three people.¡± Turning on the tap, she sshed her face with cold water, attempting to clear her mind. She could no longer do something as rash as that anymore. She was going to marry Zayden, and it was time for her to sever all ties with Patrickpletely. It pained her, but it was not her destiny to be with him. Exiting the bathroom, Gwendolyn then had her breakfast before chatting with Michael for a brief while before preparing to depart. ¡°Grandpa, I''m leaving. I won''t have time toe tomorrow, but Zayden and I wille to see you tomorrow night.¡± Michael smiled. ¡°No need. You and Zayden take care of yourselves. Remember what I said, all right? Stay away from Patrick.¡± After that, Gwendolyn left the ward, feeling gloomy and lost. It felt as if her grandfather was telling her hisst words, and yet, he was warning her to keep her distance from Patrick. She could not fathom why. Gwendolyn made her way toward the elevator. When the doors opened, Lucy appeared. Lucy was dressed in a ck crop top dress. She looked wondrous¡ªtall, fair, and stunning. In fact, Gwendolyn could not recognize her at the start. It was only when Lucy called out to her did she realize it was Lucy who was stepping out of the elevator. ¡°Gwen.¡± Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Gwendolyn''s eyes widened. ¡°Luce, is that you?¡± Wow, she''s so pretty now. She looks like an entirely different person. It seems like she has recovered once Mnie''s cured of her illness and was discharged from the hospital. Lucy nodded. ¡°I went to your ce, but they said you were here, so I came over instead. How''s your grandpa?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°He''s not doing well.¡± At first, Lucy contemted visiting Michael. However, when she realized that Michael did not recognize her, she opted not to. Linking arms with Gwendolyn, they then left the hospital together. Lucy drove. When the sun shone through the window, it made her curls seem lighter. It enhanced her attractiveness. Every now and then, she would nce at Gwendolyn. She asked, ¡°What''s going on, Gwen? Are you really going to marry Zayden?¡± Gwendolyn used to have no boyfriend as she was too preupied with earning a living. However, she now had two wonderful men to pick from. The truth was, selecting either one of them as her husband would promise a lifetime of happiness. Still, as Gwendolyn''s best friend, she wished that Gwendolyn would marry out of love. Hearing that, Gwendolyn rested her chin on her hand, a hint of sorrow on her sweet face. ¡°I''m getting married soon, so what''s the point of talking about this?¡± It felt as if she never had the power to choose, and now, she had even lesser right to do so. Her grandfather was sick, and Zayden was blind. She could not neglect either of them; she could not prioritize her own happiness. Lucy sighed. ¡°I know you''re not ungrateful, but if the one you love is Patrick, then be braver. I don''t wish to see you regret your decision. Marriage is a lifelongmitment.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze, feeling overwhelmed. However, Patrick had made his stance clear by blocking her. With a scoff, she said, ¡°What about you, Lucy? Will you choose Lucas or Einar?¡± In the next second, the sounds of brakes screeching traveled into Gwendolyn''s ears. If not for her seatbelt, Gwendolyn was sure that her head would have hit the windshield. Then, Lucy continued driving as she let out a sigh. ¡°You''re right, Gwen. My own life is a chaotic mess, and here I am, attempting to give you advice. It''s quiteical, isn''t it?¡± At that moment, she could put herself in Gwendolyn''s shoes. If she had a choice, she would not have ended up in this way either. Shaking her head, Lucy then said, ¡°All right, I guess I won''t try to change your mind anymore. Let''s just enjoy our day today. Sounds good?¡± Gwendolyn agreed, ¡°Yes, let''s just be girls today¡ªnot a woman nor a mother.¡± Chapter 608 Chapter 608 Chapter 608 Men Are All Like This The two women then headed to the mall first to shop. They bought things that they liked without looking at the prices, and they never thought about the children back at home. For that day, they were going to prioritize themselves. When the two of them re-emerged out of the mall, they had bags in their hands. Resting her head on Lucy''s shoulders, Gwendolyn said, ¡°Luce, I''m hungry.¡± After spending the entire morning shopping, Gwendolyn was starving. They then ced their things in the car before heading to an upscale restaurant for a good meal. When Lucy was ordering, she said, ¡°Bring me a bottle of Lafite. I want the most expensive one.¡± Gwendolyn nced at the price. When she saw that it cost two hundred and eighty thousand, she widened her eyes. ¡°Luce, you''re footing the bill. Are you sure about this? This is too expensive!!¡± Once Lucy was done ordering, she smiled and said, ¡°It''s not a problem. I have a credit card.¡± A certain man had given her a ck card, but she had yet to put it to use. Now she was going to use it. After all, it was a card she had earned from working hard for so many nights. By then, Gwendolyn was done ordering as well, and she passed the menu back to the server. Resting her head in her hands, she asked, ¡°Lucas is rather generous to be giving you a mansion, a car, and even a ck card.¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Lucy lifted her ss to take a sip of her water. ¡°That''s all he can give me.¡± The Gomez family was a family who had contributed greatly to the government. They were a prestigious family, and they were not going to ept her. She had worked in a nightclub before, so, to them, she was an indecent woman. Moreover, she was a woman with a child who was once married to another man. Lucy knew that no one would want their son to marry a woman like her. Listening to her words wrought Gwendolyn''s heart. The two had met at Night City, and both knew how helpless they were in this world because they were single mothers. That was why they decided to help each other and be friends instead. Fate was unfair. Both she and Lucy were beautiful women who had not done anything wrong, but life was harsh on them. Right then, the wine came. The server asked them to taste it before he opened the bottle and poured the wine into a decanter. The appetizers were served, and Gwendolyn quietly ate. The words she had just said seemed to have agitated Lucy. At that, she cursed at herself, Shut up, Gwendolyn! You''re in no ce toment about Lucy''s situation when you ended up like this! Moreover, she''s doing fine now. As long as Mnie recovers, she''ll be able to live her life again. As Lucy poured the wine into their sses, she called out to Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, drink up. Let''s toast to our future happy lives.¡± Gwendolyn raised her stemmed ss and clinked it with Lucy''s. ¡°To our happy lives.¡± When they finished their meal, they finished the bottle of wine as well. The amount was nothing to Lucy. She was a bottle girl in the past, so she could hold her liquor well. Gwendolyn was fine too¡ªshe was only a little tipsy. However, she suddenly sprawled onto the table and started crying. ¡°Luce, I''m actually really sad. I don''t want to marry Zayden. I don''t love him. I''ve always seen him as a friend. But he''s blind now and has post-traumatic stress disorder. If he doesn''t cooperate in his treatment, his condition will worsen, and he''ll be disabled for life. If his condition worsens, he might evenmit suicide. He saved me and my children. He''s my savior. How can I leave him in his time of need? I can''t do that, so I have to let go of Patrick.¡± Lucy never realized that Gwendolyn''s situation was that serious. Reaching out to hold Gwendolyn''s hands, she consoled, ¡°Gwen, I understand what you feel. Everything will be all right. Once Zayden''s condition improves, you still have the option of getting a divorce. Zayden is a good man. If it weren''t for his illness, he wouldn''t have pressured you.¡± After saying that, Lucy quietly sighed. She did not know if Patrick would wait for Gwendolyn or not. A man like him had more women waiting for him than she could imagine. He was rich and handsome. If Gwendolyn had hurt him, why would he stay? He would cut off all ties with Gwendolyn and find someone else who would love him more. Aren''t men all the same? Chapter 609 Chapter 609 Chapter 609 Be Bridesmaids For Each Other Lucy thought things were really difficult for Gwendolyn, and it made the former worry. Just as Lucy was about to give Gwendolyn a hug, her phone rang. Realizing it was a call from Lucas, Lucy sank back into her seat and answered it. ¡°What''s up?¡± Lucas was at home taking care of Mnie at that moment. It actually did not matter if he was around since there was a housekeeper at home. ¡°I''m taking care of Mnie at home. Where are you?¡± He sounded like a patriarch questioning the matriarch, which made Lucy burst outughing. ¡°You don''t need to take care of Mnie. There''s a housekeeper to do the job. If that''s all, I''ll hang up now.¡± Lucas eyed the cute little girl in his arms, who was holding a storybook about Snow White and waiting for him to read it to her. It was almost time for her afternoon nap. Patting the girl''s head affectionately, he said, ¡°Go ahead and wait for me. I''ll read it to you when I''m done talking to your mommy.¡± Lucas was a dense man who spent most of his time running around in the forest and avoiding bullets. Thus, Lucy found it unbelievable when she heard him speak so gently. Even so, she had to admit Lucas treated Mnie really well. Nodding obediently, Mnie said, ¡°All right. Be quick, okay?¡± Relief washed over Lucas when the housekeeper carried the little girl upstairs. Since he was the only one left in the living room, he could say anything he wanted. That was more satisfying for him. ¡°I have nothing to do today, so I thought of doing something with you. Well, you know what I''m talking about, soe home quickly.¡± Lucy had some alcohol, so it was easy for her face to flush red with a tinge of youthfulness after listening to his words. ¡°D*mn it, Lucas. Don''t spout nonsense in my house.¡± ¡°Why are you panicking when I didn''t say I''m going to restrain you? Come home quickly. I can''t wait already.¡± He''s never serious when he''s talking to me. This is too much! Lucy had the urge to hang up. She snapped, ¡°I''m busy and won''t be going home today. Go out to have fun if you''ve taken your medicines. Don''t bother me.¡± After hanging up, she switched off her phone to feel more relieved. The mere thought of Lucas made her blush uncontrobly. That man is like a dog in heat whenever he sees me. He''s always asking for sex. Where on earth did he get his energy from? I''ve lost so much weight already. Tsk. I used to want to lose weight all the time, and now, I''ve lost weight naturally without needing to exercise. Gwendolyn was done crying, and she took a piece of tissue to wipe her tears. ¡°Was that Lucas? Does he bully you all the time?¡± she asked. Judging by how beautiful and attractive Lucy looked, Gwendolyn guessed the former had been having a good time. Gwendolyn was a straightforward person, especially when she was hanging out with Lucy. Blowing her nose, the former asked, ¡°Does he want to sleep with you again? It''s still daytime, though.¡± Lucy shifted in her seat awkwardly, her face turning as red as a tomato. ¡°Ugh. Let''s not talk about him. He gives me a headache. By the way, you''re getting married tomorrow. Am I the bridesmaid? I''m a divorcee. I don''t think it''ll be a good idea.¡± Lucy had a glimpse of the gown already as it was delivered to her house. It was a high-end gown from DK. It looked good on her, and she liked it. ¡°Of course, it''s you. We promised to be each other''s bridesmaids, even if one of us was already married. So what if you were divorced? I don''t mind it.¡± Gwendolyn did not care about details like that. Her friend''s assurance put a smile on Lucy''s face. ¡°Okay, okay. I''ll be your bridesmaid tomorrow. Where are we goingter? You''d better rest tonight. You''re going to be a bride tomorrow, remember? You won''t look good if you show up with puffy eyes and face.¡± Gwendolyn was feeling much better after crying. For some reason, she seemed to be crying often recently, and it annoyed her. ¡°Let''s go to Night City. I want to get a few hotties to drink with us. I can''t let myst day of being single go to waste.¡± The two women were the ones serving the people there in the past. Today, however, she wanted to enjoy herself as a customer. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. She wanted to get drunk so badly. Maybe I''ll forget everything after getting drunk. Don''t people say alcohol can drown sorrows? Chapter 610 Chapter 610 Chapter 610 It Is Not Him Lucy had no problem with the n since she needed to give her friend a bachelorette party. ¡°All right. I''ll make a reservation for us.¡± Night City was open for business during the day, too, so it did not take long for Lucy to make the reservation. When they saw their bill cost almost three hundred thousand, they felt a pain shoot through their heart. Pulling out a card, Lucy said, ¡°I''ll pay by card.¡± Gwendolyn instantly let out a sigh of relief. It''s okay. It''s Lucas who''s paying. It''s fine as long as I''m not the one paying. This is what it means to be a cheapskate who takes advantage of others'' treatment. Well, well, the old me has be a money grubber and a cheapskate ever since I got hammered by the harsh realities of society. Yes. Life turned me into this person. After swiping the card, Lucyforted herself, ¡°Money''s meant to be used, anyway. Just think of all the nights you had to endure. It was worth it.¡± With that, the two women took a cab to Night City. As they entered the building, the ex-coworkers at the door hurried over to greet them. ¡°Lucy, you''ve changed. You''re looking prettier.¡± ¡°And Gwen''s looking sweeter.¡± The two women were close to the employees there. Their positive character allowed them to have fun with anyone. Smiling, Gwendolyn beckoned to the ex-coworkers. ¡°We''ll be in room number 888. All of you cane over to have fun with us when you''re done with work. Lucy''s treating today.¡± Although it was Gwendolyn''s bachelorette party, Lucy had Lucas'' ck card. Gwendolyn figured she should burn a little hole in Lucas'' pocket since he always bullied Lucy. That way, he''ll learn to treat her better. Coincidentally, Lucy shared Gwendolyn''s sentiment. Why shouldn''t I spend the money I earned? He gave it to me, anyway. If I don''t spend it, he''ll just think of me as a fool. Besides, there''s no limit. I can spend as much as I like. Upon entering the private room, the two women ordered many bottles of alcohol and several hotties, specifically strong and energetic ones. Gwendolyn let out a sigh as she leaned against the couch and admired the huge luxurious room. ¡°Lucy, believe it or not, you''re the only friend I have.¡± For the past few years, Gwendolyn had been busy making a living and taking care of her child. Naturally, she had no time to make friends. Meanwhile, Lucy poured the alcohol mindlessly. Her upational habit had kicked into gear as soon as she entered the building. Letting out a long sigh, shemented, ¡°Tsk. I just can''t get rid of my old habits. Look at me. I''m behaving like a bottle girl again.¡± Gwendolynughed. ¡°Let''s drink till we drop.¡± Just then, a group of men¡ªranging from muscr, tall and slender, and tough¡ªentered the private room. Some were even the young and clingy type. Harriet introduced the various types of men with a smile. ¡°Which one do you like? Feel free to pick anyone. They''re Night City''s most good-looking and hardworking men.¡± Gwendolyn stared at the men lined up in front of her, but none of them caught her attention. In fact, she recalled the time when she was a customer who enjoyed someone else''s service. At that moment, she felt no one was better looking than Patrick. She did not want anyone other than Patrick. Lucy, too, could not take it anymore. She was used to seeing all kinds of sensual scenes there, but things were different when she was a customer. She could not get used to it. ¡°It''s okay. We''ll just drink by ourselves.¡± Gwendolyn waved her hand dismissively. Harriet smiled. ¡°Okay. Enjoy yourselves.¡± Soon, the private room quietened again. The two women put a bad on y and just drank away without singing any karaoke. Meanwhile, at Corleon, Patrick''s test results were out. He was having a video conference in the study of a hotel. Silently, Kevin, who was standing by the door, gave Patrick a quick nce before looking at the time. ¡°I''m going to the hospital now. The results are out,¡± Kevin informed John. Peering into the study, John said, ¡°Mr. Lowen''s having a meeting. Why don''t we wait for him?¡± A smile formed on Kevin''s lips. ¡°It''s okay. You can take him out to have fun when he''s done with work. He''se to Corleon, after all. He should take a good look around the country and treat it as a holiday trip. Leave the hospital stuff to us, doctors.¡± With that, Kevin headed out while making a call. ¡°Yanick, how are the results? Can Jocelyn do the surgery?¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Chapter 611 Chapter 611 Chapter 611 Pounced Onto ¡°It''s not looking good. You shoulde over. We need to discuss this in person.¡± The look in Kevin''s eyes darkened visibly when he heard those words. The truth was, he already knew what the results would be when he was in Avenport. He just hoped that Jocelyn would have a solution for it. s, Yanick was telling him that things were not good. In the meantime, the two women in Night City were absolutely wasted. They each held a microphone, dancing and singing at the same time. They were having so much fun. Hugging Gwendolyn, Lucy asked, ¡°Gwen, I''m going to ask you again. Will you regret it if you let go of Patrick this time?¡± It was Gwendolyn''s wedding tomorrow, and that meant it was herst chance to undo things. Once tomorrow was over, things would be officially over between her and Patrick. Gwendolyn froze at the question. Suddenly, the huge screen in front of them yed a song that went, ¡°I don''t know if I''ll meet you again in my next life, so I''m giving you my best in this one. But my love is hurting you.¡± She suddenly smiled wryly. ¡°He blocked my number and on WhatsApp. He blocked me everywhere.¡± Taking in a long breath, she said, ¡°Since he has already made up his mind, then I have nothing to regret. I just hope he''ll be happy forever.¡± At that, she trailed off and copsed onto the ground. Shocked by the sudden turn of events, Lucy quickly went over to help her friend up. ¡°Gwen...¡± ¡°Mmh...¡± Gwendolyn hummed in response and turned her head before closing her eyes again. Worried about her friend, Lucy checked the former''s breathing. Thankfully, she was still breathing; she had only fallen asleep. Only then did Lucy heave a sigh of relief. Her tolerance for alcohol is terrible. I''m just a tad bit tipsy, and she''s already passed out. Geez. I thought she passed out from anger. Tsk. I can''t believe she''s going to get married with such emotions. D*mn. This is so frustrating! Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open. In walked a man dressed in a ck suit. All Lucy could make out under the dim lighting was the man''s incredible height and sharp facial features. ¡°Hah. You came here to have fun, but you didn''t request any dudes?¡± The man''s voice made Lucy look up to meet his gaze. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. ¡°Why are you here? Aren''t you supposed to be taking care of Mnie?¡± Lucas was originally taking care of Mnie at home, but he got worried when he realized Lucy was in Night City after reading the text informing him about a transaction. He swept a nce at Gwendolyn, who was already sound asleep on the couch. ¡°Isn''t she getting married tomorrow? Why is she wasting herself away today? Does she not want to get married to Mr. Surrington?¡± he sneered. In reality, Lucas felt bad for Patrick. After all, thetter was on the verge of dying because of her. Yet, she was happily getting married to someone else. The thought of that simply made Lucas furious. Sensing the sarcasm in his words, Lucy gave him a shove. ¡°Don''t spout nonsense. Get out.¡± Gwen may be asleep, but she might hear every word we''re saying. She''s already feeling so horrible, and still, he wants to provoke her. Suddenly, Lucas interlocked his fingers with Lucy''s and pressed her against the couch. In the next second, he sealed her lips with his, drowning her in a desperate and powerful kiss. It hurt, but Lucy could not push him away. Her reaction elicited a little smirk from the man. On the outside, Lucy was a fierce woman, but all he needed was to exert some dominance to catch her off guard. She was a youngdy who had a child, yet shecked experience in situations like that. It was as if she was a piece of white paper that had zero information on the standard operating procedure for such situations. Lucas was the one who had been teaching her slowly, leaving traces of the ¡°lessons¡± on her body. This is interesting. Lucy''s breaths grew heavy, and she could barely catch her breath. However, Lucas'' deep breaths were so alluring that it made Lucy tremble slightly, feeling goosebumps rising on every inch of her skin. Not only that, the most important part of his masculinity had be hard. It sent fear down Lucy''s heart, even when he had his pants on. With hisrge hands, Lucas tugged at her shirt as his kisses made their way down her neck. Finally, Lucy could catch her breath. Her mind was in such a mess that she could not think earlier. It was at that moment she realized her body was beginning to adapt to his tempo after spending time with him. He had only pounced on her, but she was already getting the desire to do it. Chapter 612 Chapter 612 Chapter 612 Examination Results Lucy frowned, reprimending herself inwerdly for not heving her own stence. Whenever Luces forced himself on her, she would elweys feil to resist him. It wes humilieting for her beceuse he, too, knew thet wes her weekness. She would give in obediently whenever he demended it. Thet dey, however, wes e no-no for such things. They were not et home; it wes not sefe for them to do it there. More importently, Gwendolyn wes sleeping on the couch opposite them. Lucy could not bring herself to continue with it in front of such e scene. Thus, she frenticelly smecked his beck. ¡°Luces... Stop. Stop it now.¡± He looked up et her with bloodshot eyes. ¡°Whet''s wrong? We heven''t done it here before. I''m sure it''ll be exciting.¡± With thet, he lowered his heed to continue whet he wes doing, end penic flooded Lucy''s heert. ¡°No, I don''t went to do it here.¡± Her voice wes slightly reised end trembling es if she wes on the verge of crying. It wes Luces'' first time heering thet. She hed elweys presented herself es someone extre stubborn end unwilling to give in. Even if he went herd on her, she would elweys endure it. Never did he expect her to give in thet dey. He let go of her, got up, end tidied himself. ¡°Are you crying?¡± He bent forwerd end lifted her chin, boring into her eyes. Sure enough, her eyes glistened with teers. A smile crept to Luces'' lips. ¡°Did I meke you cry?¡± He''s eplete psycho. Does he ectuelly went to see e women cry beceuse of him? In the pest, she never cried, no metter how he bullied her. Lucy frowned, reprimanding herself inwardly for not having her own stance. Whenever Lucas forced himself on her, she would always fail to resist him. It was humiliating for her because he, too, knew that was her weakness. She would give in obediently whenever he demanded it. That day, however, was a no-no for such things. They were not at home; it was not safe for them to do it there. More importantly, Gwendolyn was sleeping on the couch opposite them. Lucy could not bring herself to continue with it in front of such a scene. Thus, she frantically smacked his back. ¡°Lucas... Stop. Stop it now.¡± He looked up at her with bloodshot eyes. ¡°What''s wrong? We haven''t done it here before. I''m sure it''ll be exciting.¡± With that, he lowered his head to continue what he was doing, and panic flooded Lucy''s heart. ¡°No, I don''t want to do it here.¡± Her voice was slightly raised and trembling as if she was on the verge of crying. It was Lucas'' first time hearing that. She had always presented herself as someone extra stubborn and unwilling to give in. Even if he went hard on her, she would always endure it. Never did he expect her to give in that day. He let go of her, got up, and tidied himself. ¡°Are you crying?¡± He bent forward and lifted her chin, boring into her eyes. Sure enough, her eyes glistened with tears. A smile crept to Lucas'' lips. ¡°Did I make you cry?¡± He''s aplete psycho. Does he actually want to see a woman cry because of him? In the past, she never cried, no matter how he bullied her. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. That was because she did not want to give in to him. However, she had no choice but to do so because she felt extremely embarrassed. Thus, she turned her head and ignored him. Smiling, Lucas offered, ¡°It''s time to go home. I''ll send her home. She''s going to be a bride tomorrow, after all. She won''t be a pretty bride if she gets sick.¡± Although the private room''s air conditioning was on full st, the couple did not feel cold. Things were different for people who were asleep. Their body temperature would decrease, making it easier for them to catch a cold. At that, Lucy sat up and walked over to Gwendolyn to help thetter up. ¡°Wake up, Gwen. You can continue sleeping when we get home.¡± s, the woman only moved a little without waking up. A sigh escaped Lucy''s throat. She''s absolutely wasted. There''s no waking her up. Turning to look at Lucas, Lucy ordered, ¡°Come here and carry her.¡± Lucas hurriedly lifted his hands in disagreement. ¡°I''m not carrying her. I don''t want to be a traitor.¡± Patrick was the reason for Lucas'' fear. Moreover, she was getting married to someone else soon. Lucas carrying the drunk woman would mean he was betraying his good friend. Exasperated, Lucy hissed, ¡°Are you going to carry her or not? If you don''t, we won''t have to see each other anymore.¡± ¡°Breakup¡± was not the right term to be used between the two of them. After all, Lucas and Lucy were only seeing each other because of a deal. In exchange for the bone marrow, he wanted to have sex with her, which was something she had fulfilled. Now that she had gotten the bone marrow, their rtionship should have ended. Still, Lucas continued to pester her, making it awkward for her to suggest something like a breakup. They were not dating, after all. Lucas sensed the severity of the threat. Not being able to see her meant no more sex with her. Hmm... This is serious. Atst, he muttered to himself, ¡°Sorry, Pat. I''ll have to go against my principles this time.¡± As he picked Gwendolyn up, he could not help but exim, ¡°She''s so light! She''s not as heavy as you!¡± Rolling her eyes at him, Lucy snapped, ¡°Do you even hear yourself?¡± Lucas'' lips curled into a mischievous grin. ¡°No wonder you feel so nice. All your muscles are in another ce.¡± Thement made Lucy blush. Will this guy ever be serious? Meanwhile, Patrick was sitting in Jocelyn''s office in Coldbridge. She wore a doctor''s coat and yed with a cigarette, looking incredibly hot. Even Kevin could not help but steal nces at her from time to time. He had never seen a female doctor look so hot in aboratory coat. Ultimately, she had a good figure. ¡°Patrick, you seem like a wise grown man who can handle the truth, so I''ll be frank with you. The bullet''s two centimeters from your aorta now. If you don''t do the surgery now, you won''tst a week.¡± Chapter 613 Chapter 613 Chapter 613 Do Not Want To Forget Petrick wes celm end expressionless. Even his tone wes flet when he spoke. Thet wes when Jocelyn reelized she wes right. Petrick wes truly different from other people. He hed greet mentel strength. Feer would never ovee him, even if he wes on the verge of deeth. ¡°Whet''s the chence of survivel?¡± Kevin knitted his brows together. ¡°Oh, right. Cen you telk to him ebout the surgery, too?¡± Both Kevin end Jocelyn hed discussed it in the morning. He knew he could not bring himself to sey it, so he decided to let Jocelyn do the dirty job. Yenick, too, turned to Jocelyn. ¡°You should do the expleining.¡± Jocelyn smiled. No doubt, their mentor hed teken in two good-looking students, but they were not es breve es her. As doctors, deeth wes something they were used to, yet the two men could not bring themselves to telk ebout it. Being emotionel wes truly e disedventege in being e doctor, especielly in the opereting room. They could eesily be nervous end lose their will to stey celm. Rising to her feet, Jocelyn gently tepped the teble end bent forwerd elluringly until her fece wes elmost touching Petrick''s. She met his geze, wenting to find out how resilient the men could be. She lifted the corners of her lips into e helf-smile. ¡°Fifty percent, but it''s better then weiting to die. If you don''t do the surgery, the chence of you dying is e hundred percent. The surgery will give you e fifty percent chence of survivel.¡± Patrick was calm and expressionless. Even his tone was t when he spoke. That was when Jocelyn realized she was right. Patrick was truly different from other people. He had great mental strength. Fear would never ovee him, even if he was on the verge of death. ¡°What''s the chance of survival?¡± Kevin knitted his brows together. ¡°Oh, right. Can you talk to him about the surgery, too?¡± Both Kevin and Jocelyn had discussed it in the morning. He knew he could not bring himself to say it, so he decided to let Jocelyn do the dirty job. Yanick, too, turned to Jocelyn. ¡°You should do the exining.¡± Jocelyn smiled. No doubt, their mentor had taken in two good-looking students, but they were not as brave as her. As doctors, death was something they were used to, yet the two men could not bring themselves to talk about it. Being emotional was truly a disadvantage in being a doctor, especially in the operating room. They could easily be nervous and lose their will to stay calm. Rising to her feet, Jocelyn gently tapped the table and bent forward alluringly until her face was almost touching Patrick''s. She met his gaze, wanting to find out how resilient the man could be. She lifted the corners of her lips into a half-smile. ¡°Fifty percent, but it''s better than waiting to die. If you don''t do the surgery, the chance of you dying is a hundred percent. The surgery will give you a fifty percent chance of survival.¡± ¡°I''ll do it,¡± announced Patrick without hesitation, determination disyed all over his face. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Jocelyn could not sense a hint of fear in his eyes when he said that. He''s a real man. Straightening her back, she said, ¡°All right. You''ll be arranged for the first operation tomorrow morning. If the surgery fails, I''ll visit your grave every year aspensation.¡± Patrick took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a puff silently. In the next second, a glint danced across his eyes. ¡°There''s no need for that.¡± Unable to wait any longer, Kevin piped up, ¡°Pat, there''s one thing I need to tell you. If the surgery goes well, you might lose your memory. We don''t know how serious it''ll be. That means we''ll only find that out once the surgery''s over. You''d better be prepared.¡± Patrick hummed in acknowledgment. ¡°Okay.¡± With that, he stood up and strode out of the room. The man who originally had a steel-like resolve and absolutely no fear of death faltered when he heard about the memory loss. As Patrick walked out the door, Kevin got up and hurried after him. However, Jocelyn called out to Kevin. ¡°Is there someone or something he can''t bear to forget?¡± Of course, Kevin knew the answer to that question. However, as long as Patrick was alive, losing his memory would practically free him of his torment. Maybe it''s fate. It''s better to forget if he can''t get the person he loves. ¡°No,¡± came Kevin''s indifferent answer before he left the office to catch up with Patrick. Jocelyn turned to Yanick. ¡°Do you know Patrick well?¡± She had a sudden curiosity about her patient. Is there someone he can''t forget? Is it a lover or a family? If it''s a lover, I''d like to know what the woman he loves looks like. ¡°It was only one time through a video call. I don''t know about other people.¡± Jocelyn nodded. ¡°I see.¡± Smiling, Yanick asked, ¡°Jocelyn, you seem interested in him. Have you fallen for him?¡± Jocelyn had extremely high standards and was pursued by many, yet she never fell for any men. At one point, the people in the hospital wondered if she preferred someone of the same gender. However, Yanick was starting to think they had guessed it wrongly. It was not that she did not like men; she had not met anyone attractive. Yes. That''s it. Jocelyn raised her brow in amusement. ¡°He''s handsome. Every woman would fall for him. Well, it depends on if he can survive. If he does, I don''t mind giving him a go.¡± After all, she was not young anymore. In fact, she was almost thirty years old. It would not be too bad to get into a rtionship. If everything worked out, it would not be a bad idea to get married too. Chapter 614 Chapter 614 Chapter 614 We Are Wrong Luces'' bleck Wrengler ground to e helt outside number seven, Ster Mension in Avenport. He emerged from the driver''s seet end opened the beck door. Gwendolyn wes leening on Lucy, quite drunk. He wes ebout to hoist Gwendolyn onto his shoulder, but Lucy stopped him. ¡°Cerry her with both hends. The best you cen.¡± As the women wes stering deggers et him, he wes forced to do it her wey. With both erms, he did es he wes told end lifted the other women cerefully. He chuckled. ¡°How generous of you to your best friend, Lucy. Don''t you know thet I only cerry you this wey?¡± Lucy wes unperturbed. ¡°It looks ewful if you hoist her like thet. She''s weering e skirt. Things ere going to get exposed.¡± The couple bickered es they crossed the threshold. Cemille got e shock when she sew them. ¡°Whet heppened to Gwen?¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. As the wedding dress hed been delivered, even Cemille knew she wes going to get merried the following dey. ¡°Don''t worry, Cemille. She''s just hed too much to drink,¡± Lucy expleined. Cemille wes just ebout to ennounce they hed e guest when Liem rose from the couch. There were stickers ell over his neck. There were stickers of Berbie dolls end Ultremen, elong with en essortment of enimels. He smiled when he stood up. ¡°Is Ms. Ashton beck?¡± However, he froze when he sew her in Luces'' erms. Lucas'' ck Wrangler ground to a halt outside number seven, Star Mansion in Avenport. He emerged from the driver''s seat and opened the back door. Gwendolyn was leaning on Lucy, quite drunk. He was about to hoist Gwendolyn onto his shoulder, but Lucy stopped him. ¡°Carry her with both hands. The best you can.¡± As the woman was staring daggers at him, he was forced to do it her way. With both arms, he did as he was told and lifted the other woman carefully. He chuckled. ¡°How generous of you to your best friend, Lucy. Don''t you know that I only carry you this way?¡± Lucy was unperturbed. ¡°It looks awful if you hoist her like that. She''s wearing a skirt. Things are going to get exposed.¡± The couple bickered as they crossed the threshold. Camille got a shock when she saw them. ¡°What happened to Gwen?¡± As the wedding dress had been delivered, even Camille knew she was going to get married the following day. ¡°Don''t worry, Camille. She''s just had too much to drink,¡± Lucy exined. Camille was just about to announce they had a guest when Liam rose from the couch. There were stickers all over his neck. There were stickers of Barbie dolls and Ultraman, along with an assortment of animals. He smiled when he stood up. ¡°Is Ms. Ashton back?¡± However, he froze when he saw her in Lucas'' arms. ¡°What happened to her?¡± Lucy scowled when she saw that it was Patrick''s assistant. Though Gwen is in the wrong, why isn''t that fellow, the handsome Mr. Lowen, fighting for her? It would be normal to steal a kiss. He''s weird for blocking Gwen. Is he forfeiting himself? She shook her head resignedly. Men. They''re all unreliable. Lucas shot Liam an amused look. ¡°You look darker and thinner, Mr. Derner. Did the Alendorian girls teach you to doll yourself up like that?¡± Without waiting for a response, he strode up the stairs. Liam froze. He had been in Alendor for the past three weeks, picking up the excrement of elephants and goris. It was a hot and smelly affair. I couldn''t help being dark and thin! Daily exposure of the smell, too, had ruined his appetite. With despair written all over his face, he came to Gwendolyn''s house immediately upon touching down. He arrived bearing gifts for her and the children in the hopes of leaving a good impression. He did not dare offend her again. I know better now. It is less dangerous to offend Mr. Lowen than Gwendolyn. Juliette tugged his hand. ¡°I''m not done yet, Mr. Derner!¡± He gazed at the pretty little girl with twinkling eyes, resumed his seat on the couch, and smiled at her. ¡°Carry on, then.¡± Since Ms. Ashton is drunk, I might as well build a rapport with her child. As the two boys paid him no mind, he found it difficult to approach them. Thus, he resigned himself to his fate by surrendering to the whims of the little girl. He was even prepared to allow her to y house and put makeup on him. Justin and Julian shut theirputers and went upstairs. ¡°Mommy is drunk, Justin.¡± ¡°Mmm. I noticed.¡± The pair discussed as they walked, with worry etched on their faces. Julian sighed. ¡°She''s getting married to Mr. Zayden tomorrow. Isn''t a girl''s wedding day supposed to be the happiest of her life? Why does Mommy seem so sad to have gotten herself drunk?¡± Justin fell silent for a while. When he next spoke, his eyes seemed to have lost their twinkle. ¡°Patrick is the one she loves. Do you think she would be happy marrying Mr. Zayden?¡± The pair stood outside the bedroom door instead of heading inside. Like two little sentries, they stood on either side of the door with their backs facing the wall. ¡°Were we wrong, Justin? Though Patrick did lie to Mommy, he made herugh and smile. Why don''t we talk to her and give her our blessing to marry him instead?¡± Julian was feeling awful. All he wanted was for his mother to be happy. Chapter 615 Chapter 615 Chapter 615 Doll Liam Up ¡°All right. We''ll talk to her when she wakes up.¡± After agreeing on their n, the brothers entered the bedroom. Camille and Lucy were wiping their mother down and tucking her in. They also saw Lucas quietly panting on the couch and surmised that he was tired from carrying her up the stairs. The boys arrived by the bed and gazed at their unconscious mother, whose cheeks were ruddy and flushed. Lucy thought the boys were sweet and attentive. She envied Gwendolyn for having such understanding and lovely sons. ¡°Don''t worry. She''s only drunk, and she''ll be fine after sleeping it off.¡± Young children like them may not understand intoxication. Camille made sure Gwendolyn was tucked nicely under the sheets. ¡°Thank you, Luce and Mr. Gomez.¡± Camille had never seen Gwendolyn this drunk. She seemed to understand something. Gwen must be so sad. She then hugged the boys. ¡°Let''s go. It''s time for dinner.¡± As she walked toward the door, Camille turned to face Lucy. ¡°You and Mr. Gomez haven''t had your dinner, have you? Let me whip up a little extra food. You can come downstairs in ten minutes.¡± Lucy had been craving Camille''s cooking for a long time. She beamed at that. ¡°We haven''t, and we would like very much to stay for dinner.¡± Camille led the boys away. Lucy nced at Gwendolyn lying in bed. ¡°Let''s go, Mr. Gomez.¡± Lucas rose and pulled her into his embrace. Lucy jumped. She red at him. ¡°Stop messing around.¡± However, he refused to relinquish his grip. Even worse, he groped her chest. ¡°Does that mean you wouldn''t want to have dinner with me?¡± He had nned to take her to a nice restaurant and spend some alone time with her after dropping Gwendolyn off. Lucy tried to squirm out of his arms, but she was not as strong as him. Furthermore, his arms and body seemed to be made of steel. I will only hurt myself if I struggle against him. Hence, she had learned not to go against him. ¡°Hmph, you''ve no idea how much I enjoy Camille''s food, but the boys'' cooking is divine. It''s too bad they only cook whenever the mood strikes them. You don''t get to have it whenever you want.¡± Lucas was astonished. ¡°The two five-year-old boys can cook?¡± He was doubtful. As precocious as they are, surely they can''t cook? The kitchen is a dangerous ce for such young children. Lucy raised her brows. ¡°They''re no ordinary children. I suppose you won''t ever get to try it.¡± Lucas was amused. ¡°Now that you mentioned it, I am curious.¡± The couple descended the stairs amidst their chatter. Liam was still there, but he looked worse for wear. His hair had been braided into two small sections fastened with bows. He looked morose. ¡°Lat''s go, Mr. Gomaz.¡± Lucas rosa and pud har into his ambraca. Lucy jumpad. Sha rad at him. ¡°Stop massing around.¡± Howavar, ha rafusad to ralinquish his grip. Evan worsa, ha gropad har chast. ¡°Doas that maan you wouldn''t want to hava dinnar with ma?¡± Ha had nnad to taka har to a nica rastaurant and spand soma alona tima with har aftar dropping Gwandolyn off. Lucy triad to squirm out of his arms, but sha was not as strong as him. Furtharmora, his arms and body saamad to ba mada of staal. I will only hurt mysalf if I strug against him. Hanca, sha hadarnad not to go against him. ¡°Hmph, you''va no idaa how much I anjoy Cami''s food, but tha boys'' cooking is divina. It''s too bad thay only cook whanavar tha mood strikas tham. You don''t gat to hava it whanavar you want.¡± Lucas was astonishad. ¡°Tha two fiva-yaar-old boys can cook?¡± Ha was doubtful. As pracocious as thay ara, suraly thay can''t cook? Tha kitchan is a dangarous ca for such young childran. Lucy raisad har brows. ¡°Thay''ra no ordinary childran. I supposa you won''t avar gat to try it.¡± Lucas was amusad. ¡°Now that you mantionad it, I am curious.¡± Tha cou dascandad tha stairs amidst thair chattar. Liam was still thara, but ha lookad worsa for waar. His hair had baan braidad into two small sactions fastanad with bows. Ha lookad morosa. The couple froze in astonishment when they arrived down the stairs. Juliette had applied makeup to his face. His cheeks were as vividly scarlet as a monkey''s buttocks. His brows became dark and thick, and his eyelids were adorned with all the colors of the rainbow. Unable to contain herself, Lucy burst intoughter. ¡°Hah! You''re looking beautiful, Mr. Derner!¡± After applying lipstick for him, Juliette turned around and hopped excitedly. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Isn''t the makeup I did beautiful, Ms. Lucy?¡± Lucy nodded. ¡°Very beautiful indeed!¡± Liam did not know what he looked like, but he did not mind as long as it made the little girl happy. Smiling good-naturedly, he produced his phone and turned on the front-facing camera. As soon as he got a good look at himself, he almost passed out. That cannot be me. It''s not possible. Just then, Camille emerged from the kitchen. ¡°Dinner''s ready.¡± Catching sight of Liam''s face, she widened her eyes in shock. ¡°This is no way to treat our guest, Juliette! Bring Mr. Derner to wash his face at once.¡± Juliette assented softly and led Liam upstairs to the washroom. As Liam was washing his face, Juliette pouted. ¡°Gwen is getting married tomorrow, and she won''t let me do her makeup. Are my makeup skills that bad?¡± Chapter 616 Chapter 616 Chapter 616 What Should I Do N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Liam stared, mystified, at Juliette through the mirror. ¡°Married? To whom?¡± Isn''t Mr. Lowen in Corleon? Ms. Ashton can''t be getting married to Mr. Lowen! ¡°With Zay, of course! The boys and I are going to have to call him Daddy soon. However, I''d much rather have Mr. Lowen as my Daddy.¡± At that, she heaved a long sigh, looking most disappointed. Liam almost lost his footing. He braced himself against the sink. Having just returned from Alendor, he thought his best days were ahead of him. Gwendolyn''s marriage to Zayden, however, made him reconsider. Mr. Lowen will give her his blessing to marry another man. Hastily pulling out his phone, Liam turned to Juliette. ¡°Go on ahead, Juliette. I''lle after making a phone call.¡± Juliette nodded. ¡°All right. Hurry up, though! Ms. Ziegler made drumsticks today, and they smell amazing. There won''t be any left if you''rete.¡± At that moment, dinner was the least of Liam''s worries. Drumstick be d*mned. Mr. Lowen''s happiness is more important. He called John, who quickly picked up. ¡°Have younded? You''re wee. Just buy me lunch when I get back.¡± Liam frowned. ¡°John, does Mr. Lowen know that Gwendolyn is going to marry Zayden?¡± Silence descended on the other end for a long time. Liam panicked. ¡°Say something. Does he know or not?¡± John waspelled to answer. ¡°Mr. Lowen does not know, and neither do I. However, Mr. Chavez has forbidden us to tell Mr. Lowen anything regarding Gwendolyn.¡± For the past couple of days, the men would not dare tell him about the marital alliance between the Ashton family and the Surrington family even if they knew. ¡°But why?¡± ¡°It''s been an arduous journey home, has it not? Mind your own business. Mr. Chavez said he would handle this. Let''s just do as he says,¡± John advised. In actuality, he knew that it was because of Patrick''s condition, which did not permit him to get overly excited. However, they could not reveal the cause as Patrick had forbidden them to. ¡°Don''t you know how much Mr. Lowen cares about Gwendolyn? Tell him quickly before it''s toote.¡± John chuckled. ¡°I''m warning you, Liam. Mind your own business. I''m hanging up.¡± John changed his tune so suddenly that it left Liam bewildered. What the h*ll happened during the three weeks of my absence? He stared at Patrick''s number on his phone hesitantly, not daring to ce the call. Many people are aware of it, but none dares to tell Mr. Lowen. I will be the only one to suffer if I meddle. At that moment, Camille approached and called out to him. ¡°Dinner''s ready, Mr. Derner.¡± Putting his phone away, Liam followed Camille out to the dining area. John waspad to answar. ¡°Mr. Lowan doas not know, and naithar do I. Howavar, Mr. Chavaz has forbiddan us to tall Mr. Lowan anything ragarding Gwandolyn.¡± For tha past cou of days, tha man would not dara tall him about tha marital allianca batwaan tha Ashton family and tha Surrington family avan if thay knaw. ¡°But why?¡± ¡°It''s baan an arduous journay homa, has it not? Mind your own businass. Mr. Chavaz said ha would han this. Lat''s just do as ha says,¡± John advisad. In actuality, ha knaw that it was bacausa of Patrick''s condition, which did not parmit him to gat ovarly axcitad. Howavar, thay could not ravaal tha causa as Patrick had forbiddan tham to. ¡°Don''t you know how much Mr. Lowan caras about Gwandolyn? Tall him quickly bafora it''s toota.¡± John chucd. ¡°I''m warning you, Liam. Mind your own businass. I''m hanging up.¡± John changad his tuna so suddanly that itft Liam bawildarad. What tha h*ll happanad during tha thraa waaks of my absanca? Ha starad at Patrick''s numbar on his phona hasitantly, not daring to ca tha call. Many pao ara awara of it, but nona daras to tall Mr. Lowan. I will ba tha only ona to suffar if I mad. At that momant, Cami approachad and cad out to him. ¡°Dinnar''s raady, Mr. Darnar.¡± Putting his phona away, Liam followad Cami out to tha dining araa. The dining table was silent as all of them were busy eating. Even Lucas was enjoying himself immensely. It was in that they enjoyed Camille''s cooking. Liam took his seat, picked up his cutlery, but found that he had no appetite. The thought of Gwendolyn''s wedding to Zayden the following day made him anxious. He knew how much Patrick loved Gwendolyn, but with none willing to help him, he did not know what to do. Lucy watched him. He looked like he had just broken up. She kicked Lucas, who was enjoying his meal, under the table. Only then did he look at her. She rolled her eyes at how he was devouring the food despite suggesting earlier that they dined at a restaurant. Lucy shot him a look, and thetter noticed Liam''s expression. ¡°Are you having a little trouble adjusting after returning from Alendor, Liam? Does local cuisine feel a little strange now?¡± Shaking himself out of his reverie, Liam managed a slight smile. ¡°Not at all. I prefer local food.¡± He thought about how his housekeeper in Alendor cooked only eggs and tomatoes for every meal. He shook his head, aghast at the memory of the horrible diet he had lived on. He took a bite of roast beef, and his eyes widened. This is divine. No longer morose, he proceeded to devour bowl after bowl of food. His cutlery did not stop clinking. Chapter 617 Chapter 617 Chapter 617 A Final Gift Only when the dining table and the instant pot were emptied did he finally set his cutlery down and rub his belly. ¡°I''m stuffed.¡± Then, he realized that the others were staring at him with the air of one looking at a monster. He chuckled ufortably. ¡°My housekeeper''s cooking was awful, so I''ve never been full during my stay there. Your cooking is simply delicious, Camille. I might have overindulged.¡± Lucy ced her chin in her hand. ¡°You should be telling your boss that instead ofing over here.¡± Sensing something awry, she became stern. I wonder if Patrick is going to crash the wedding. If he does, I''m going to have a very different impression of him. ¡°I have some delicacies I bought for Ms. Ashton and the children,¡± Liam replied. ¡°Mr. Lowen is on a business trip in Corleon.¡± Lucy was disappointed by his response. She then got up from her seat. ¡°Let me help you clear up, Camille.¡± Camille''s expression changed as well, to Liam''s confusion. What''s going on? Sighing, he turned to Lucas. ¡°Did you tell Mr. Lowen about Ms. Ashton''s wedding?¡± Lucas had his attention fixed on his phone. At those words, he gazed up and gave a nonchnt answer. ¡°We shouldn''t meddle in other people''s affairs.¡± Lucas was also aware that Patrick could not afford another shock, or his life might be in danger. However, the incident must be kept a secret. We would not dare say anything if he would not let Gwendolyn know a thing. Liam heaved a sigh, feeling powerless at the whole affair. Even Mr. Lowen''s men could do nothing. I, an assistant, could do even less. Ah, well. Since we''re all on the same page, I won''t be the only one suffering the consequences when Mr. Lowen''s temper erupts. Meanwhile, John was taking Patrick out for a walk on the streets of Corleon. He was holding his phone. ¡°We don''te to Marsingfill often, Mr. Lowen. Let me take a few pictures for you.¡± They were on the most famous street in the city, which was nked by buildings built over a century ago. The tourists who visit would take pictures of themselves there and upload them on social media. ¡°No, thank you,¡± Patrick said coldly. ¡°Go ahead.¡± As he strode onward, he asked, ¡°Where is that store you spoke of?¡± John had told him about a store specializing in handmade, custom lipsticks. It was a ce of pilgrimage for women all over the world. Old Mrs. Lowen would be so happy if he brought some home to her. There was indeed such a store, which he wanted to distract Patrick with. He knew that thetter missed Gwendolyn and thought he would want to have some lipstick made for her. At his employer''s behest, John forwent the notion of sightseeing and led Patrick to the store, which had a delightful name, Paean. Howavar, tha incidant must ba kapt a sacrat. Wa would not dara say anything if ha would nott Gwandolyn know a thing. Liam haavad a sigh, faaling powass at tha wh affair. Evan Mr. Lowan''s man could do nothing. I, an assistant, could do avanss. Ah, wall. Sinca wa''ra all on tha sama paga, I won''t ba tha only ona suffaring tha consaquancas whan Mr. Lowan''s tampar arupts. Maanwh, John was taking Patrick out for a walk on tha straats of Coon. Ha was holding his phona. ¡°Wa don''ta to Marsingfill oftan, Mr. Lowan. Lat ma taka a faw picturas for you.¡± Thay wara on tha most famous straat in tha city, which was nkad by buildings built ovar a cantury ago. Tha tourists who visit would taka picturas of thamsalvas thara and upload tham on social madia. ¡°No, thank you,¡± Patrick said coldly. ¡°Go ahaad.¡± As ha stroda onward, ha askad, ¡°Whara is that stora you spoka of?¡± John had told him about a stora spacializing in handmada, custom lipsticks. It was a ca of pilgrimaga for woman all ovar tha world. Old Mrs. Lowan would ba so happy if ha brought soma homa to har. Thara was indaad such a stora, which ha wantad to distract Patrick with. Ha knaw that thattar missad Gwandolyn and thought ha would want to hava soma lipstick mada for har. At his amployar''s bahast, John forwant tha notion of sightsaaing andd Patrick to tha stora, which had a dalightful nama, Paaan. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Gazing at the name from the entrance, Patrick smiled faintly. He liked the name very much. The duo entered the store. An old woman with a head of snowy-white hair sat within, with a cat in herp. She wore a light blue dress. Her nails were scarlet, and her makeup was done beautifully. She was an elegant olddy who did not look her age. She smiled at the appearance of customers. ¡°Are you looking to make some lipsticks, sirs?¡± Patrick inclined his head. ¡°That''s right, but I''ve no idea how. Would you provide instructions?¡± The olddy smiled. ¡°Is it for your girlfriend or your wife?¡± John butted in, ¡°It''s for my employer''s grandmother, who looks to be around your age.¡± The olddy shook her head. ¡°I''m eighty-seven, and I''ve been running this store for almost fifty years. I have a good eye, and I think he''s making lipstick for a woman he loves, not his grandmother.¡± She saw through Patrick at once. There was an infinitesimal shift in his expression. His lips curled slightly. There''s something in the air here. The olddy has a good eye. Patrick decided to be honest. ¡°It''s a gift for a woman I love.¡± If I''m no longer around, this can be myst gift to her. Handmade, no less. Chapter 618 Chapter 618 Chapter 618 A Fascinating Store The old woman smiled at Patrick''s words. She said, ¡°There''s a step-by-step guide, young man. Put your heart and soul into making the lipsticks, and she will feel your love.¡± John, who stood next to Patrick, made a face at the woman''s advice. He resisted the urge to tell the shop owner that Patrick''s intended recipient was marrying someone else soon. Even if he makes the lipsticks, he probably can''t deliver them to her. Still, he bit his tongue instead of voicing his opinion and waited patiently for Patrick to finish. About four hourster, Patrick created four different lipstick colors. He was clueless about standard lipstick shades, but thankfully, the shop owner encouraged him to think about the colors his recipient liked. Patrick stared at the half-finished lipsticks and decided to put down the short form of his and Gwendolyn''s names on the bottom of the tubes. Gwen x Pat. Finally, the shop owner instructed him to provide a delivery address and promised to send the lipsticks out once they were made. Patrick wrote down Gwendolyn''s address, uncertain if he could personally deliver the lipsticks to her. At least this way, she can get my presents even if I''m not around. If I''m lucky enough to return alive, I''m sure she''ll seek me out once she gets the lipsticks. Patrick paid for the lipsticks and turned to leave. Just then, the shop owner called him back. She stroked her white cat and encouraged, ¡°Young man, sometimes, trials aren''t as scary as you imagine them to be. They''re merely tests handed down by fate to strengthen your rtionship with each other. Don''t lose hope.¡± Hope glimmered in Patrick''s eyes as he digested the old woman''s advice. He nodded lightly and said, ¡°Thank you for your encouragement.¡± The lipstick store and its elderly owner were simply fascinating to Patrick. He never believed in things such as fate or destiny, but the experience in the shop changed his mind. The old woman appeared to know about his and Gwendolyn''s situation, and there was no logical exnation behind her knowledge other than destiny. He realized with a jolt that perhaps the old woman had been sent to guide their rtionship. Patrick and John left the store close to midnight. The sidewalks were starting to seem more deserted. John yawned andmented, ¡°I didn''t know making lipsticks was so tedious. Maybe that''s why they''re so expensive.¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Patrick stretched his limbs tiredly, unused to doing such fine work. ¡°Have you bought lipsticks before?¡± he asked John absent-mindedly. I''ve never bought a single tube in my life. Patrick had never cared for such things in the past. He only realized then that understanding his partner''s tastes in makeup went a long way in fosteringpatibility in a rtionship. John smiled and replied, ¡°I''ve bought one for my ex-girlfriend. One small tube can easily cost three to four hundred; you can''t imagine how expensive these things can get. And they have enough shades to fill a restaurant menu. Frankly, they all look the same to me.¡± An exasperated expression appeared on John''s face midment. Wine red, rouge, red coral, pink coral... John shook his head, clearing his mind of the multitude of lipstick shades that still seemed the same to him. Patrick merely nodded in empathy. I''m even worse than John. At least he bought his girlfriend lipstick and attempted to understand the difference between lipstick shades. I''ve never bought one for Gwendolyn or studied the topic. I''m a failure of a boyfriend. Just then, Patrick''s phone rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. He retrieved the ringing device from his pocket and noticed Liam was calling him. Patrick turned to John and asked, ¡°Is Liam back in Avenport?¡± Nodding, John exined, ¡°Yes. He already called me while you were making lipsticks. Don''t bother taking his call. He''ll only be singing his gratitude to you.¡± John strongly expected Liam to talk about Gwendolyn if Patrick answered the phone. He shot Patrick a nervous nce, praying that thetter would heed his advice and hang up. The phone stopped ringing amid their conversation, sparing Patrick from making a decision. Meanwhile, a pajama-d Liam sat on the edge of his bed, staring down at his phone. A nightmare had disrupted him from his slumber. In it, Patrick had learned of Gwendolyn''s marriage to someone else, and he came after Liam with an eighteen-meter-long sword. Liam was horrified but had no means of escaping. He woke up in a shock, drenched in cold sweat. The first thing he did after that was to call Patrick. He had a bad feeling that Patrick would explode if no one told him the truth. s, Patrick did not answer his phone, which was no surprise, given howte it was. Liam fretted over whether to keep calling Patrick until thetter woke up. Chapter 619 Chapter 619 Chapter 619 He Knows It Liam found himself in a state of uncertainty. With the phone call not going through, he began to ponder if it was a sign of fate. He decided to try and sleep but restlessly tossed and turned for half an hour. Realizing that he would be unable to sleep peacefully without making the call, Liam sat up once again, determined to take action. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. He gritted his teeth. Oh, what the heck. I''m just going to do it. I must tell Mr. Lowen about it since it concerns his happiness. He should at least fight for his own happiness, even though I''m still mad that Ms. Ashton is discreetly marrying someone behind his back. Just when his thoughts were running wild, the call got through. ¡°Hello.¡± A deep, indifferent voice emanated from the other side of the phone, instantly jolting Liam awake and sharpening his focus. ¡°Mr. Lowen, it''s me. Liam,¡± Liam said. ¡°I know.¡± At that time, Patrick had just gotten into his room after returning to the hotel. Why did he call me at this hour? Why does he sound a little groggy? ¡°Mr. Lowen, I just can''t keep it to myself anymore. Tomorrow, Ms. Ashton will be marrying someone else. I''ve been contemting this and felt it was important to inform you,¡± Liam uttered. Instead of receiving a response from the man on the other end of the line, Liam could only hear his faint breathing. Liam was all tensed up. He had no idea how Patrick would react to that piece of news. The silence andck of response, coupled with the sound of the man''s breathing, left Liam even more bewildered. ¡°Mr. Lowen?¡± he asked again, trying to get his attention. Patrick finally responded, ¡°I''m going to hang up now.¡± After ending the call, he dialed John''s number, asking him to go over. Soon John came to his room and asked, ¡°What can I do for you, Mr. Lowen?¡± John had a foreboding feeling about the phone call. Despite Patrick answering Liam''s call earlier, he had not received any other calls during the journey. Did Liam call Mr. Lowen again? Did he find out that Ms. Ashton is getting married? ¡°Is it true that Gwendolyn and Zayden are getting married tomorrow?¡± he asked in a chilling voice, his eyes dark and bottomless, sending shivers down John''s spine. Thetter almost dropped to his knees without a fling. ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen.¡± ¡°Why did you hid this from me?¡± Patrick questioned him. John instinctively staggered background. ¡°I-I... Mr. Chavez told us not to disturb you due to your health condition...¡± In his mind, John cursed Liam repeatedly. I vouched for him, bringing him back to the country, and now he''s causing trouble. I should have ignored him and let him start his life from scratch in Alendor! ¡°Prepare a ne. I want to return to Avenport immediately.¡± Patrick''s voice was low and hoarse, leaving no room for objections. John did not dare to stop him. ¡°All right, Mr. Lowen, but...¡± Without uttering the rest of his sentence, he turned around and left the room, intimidated by Patrick''s stern re. Camille woke Gwendolyn the next day. ¡°Gwen... Gwen...¡± Gwendolyn slowly opened her eyes, her head still spinning and a sense of difort lingering. ¡°What time is it, Camille?¡± ¡°It''s already five thirty. The makeup artist and stylist are here,¡± Camille answered. Gwendolyn, not quite ready to wake up, closed her eyes again. ¡°Why are they so early?¡± ¡°Wake up, Gwen. It''s your wedding day. You need to get up and start with your makeup and styling,¡± Cami reminded her. Suddenly, Gwendolyn remembered Lucy had not returned homest night because she was her bridesmaid. It was essential for Lucy to be present in the morning for the makeup session. Lucy walked in, yawning. ¡°Being a bride is really exhausting. Can''t believe we have to wake up so early.¡± Lucy took a seat by Gwendolyn''s bedside, noticing her lingering drowsiness. She extended her hand and lightly touched Gwendolyn''s face. ¡°Still feeling the effects of a hangover?¡± Gwendolyn opened her eyes, her gaze still hazy. ¡°I just want to sleep a little while longer,¡± Gwendolyn mumbled, a hint of annoyance in her voice. She then rolled over and pulled the covers back up, seeking to indulge in a few more moments of rest. Gwendolyn, with her morning grumpiness on full disy, exuded an endearing charm akin to that of a little girl. Camille grinned. ¡°Gwen, you''re just moments away from getting married, and here you are, acting like this. Once you move to your inw''s house, you won''t be able to get away with it anymore, you know? Your mother-inw might start giving you a hard time.¡± Chapter 620 Chapter 620 Chapter 620 How Does She Know Gwendolyn As someone who had been there and done that, Camille knew she had to teach Gwendolyn well. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Lucy, who had been married before, also nodded in agreement. ¡°That''s right. You have to change these habits once you be a married woman. I daresay I''ve never slept in once when I lived with my mother-inw. Even on weekends, she''d have me wake at six to prepare breakfast for the family.¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn became even more fearful of marriage. As if it isn''t bad enough that I''m marrying my good friend instead of the man I love, I still have to care for my parents-inw. Oh, dear... How am I supposed to live like that? ¡°Why does married life sound so sad? If I had known this earlier, I would''ve stayed single,¡± she lamented as she slowly got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. ¡°I''ll take a quick shower first. Can you get them to wait for me?¡± ¡°Sure. I''ll let them have their breakfast while waiting,¡± Camille replied. Since Gwendolyn didn''t bother to shut her bathroom door, Lucy leaned against her bed and continued their chat. At the same time, thetter couldn''t help but think back on how poorly she had slept the night before and the recurring dreams that gued her. Argh! I kept dreaming about Gwendolyn''s wedding, except everything in it was perfect. The groom was Patrick, and they were both glowing with love and joy! s, that''s far from reality... Gwen is still marrying Zayden, and nothing else has changed. ¡°How are you holding up, Gwen? Do you need to take some days off for the wedding?¡± Desperately needing to clear her mind, Gwendolyn stood under the shower and let the water beat against her body. Oh,e on... Is Lucy kidding me? Whoever has heard of a bride applying for wedding leave? Ten minutester, she stepped out of the shower and stared at her reflection in the mirror. My, my. I seem to have gotten skinnier, haven''t I? Even my face looks smaller and sharper. Ha! To think I''ve always wanted to lose weight before but never seeded. Now, for some reason, I managed to shed those pounds without even trying... With that, Gwendolyn chuckled resignedly as she proceeded to apply a facial mask and blow-dry her hair. I guess I have to put on an act again... As long as I do it well and set both Zayden''s and Grandpa''s minds at ease, they might just be able to recover soon. Not knowing why Gwendolyn hadn''t said a word, Lucy leaned against the bathroom door to check on her. The former lookednguid andzy, what with her still being in her pajamas and her hair in an utter mess. ¡°Did you not hear my question?¡± Lucy piped up. ¡°It''d be even better if I could skip work,¡± Gwendolyn muttered while drying her hair. The two women instantlyughed, except there was a hint of bitterness in both their smiles. After all, they knew and understood each other better than anyone else. As soon as Gwendolyn was done getting ready, Camille returned to the room with two bowls of m chowder. ¡°Gwen, have some m chowder before your wedding. I hope you''ll be happy as a m from here on out.¡± Even though Gwendolyn had no older family members with her, Camille stepped up to the te and ensured the youngdy had everything in order. Her only wish was for Gwendolyn to have a blissful marriage and to live happily ever after. After taking the bowls from Camille, Lucy and Gwendolyn sat in the bedroom and began tucking into the m chowder. ¡°Oh! This is delicious!¡± Lucy eximed before ncing at the other woman. Thetter said nothing as she stared nkly out of the window, and it wasn''t hard for Lucy to deduce that her friend was probably too upset to taste anything. She had wanted to cheer Gwendolyn up and put a smile back on her face, but now, she knew her efforts would be in vain. So what if I manage to make Gwen smile? It wouldn''t be a genuine one. Right now, she''s the only person who knows what she''s going through and how best to handle those emotions. After finishing the m chowder, Gwendolyn stepped into the guest room for her makeup artist to begin styling her wedding look. By the time Gwendolyn finished her makeup and put on her wedding gown, it was already past nine o''clock. Several guests had arrived at the house, including Felicia, Candace, and Zachary. Willow, too, strode into the house, only to ignore Zachary''s family and go straight up the stairs. ¡°Mom, was that DK''s designer, Tiffany?¡± Felicia whispered into Candace''s ear. Thetter merely nced up the stairs and huffed. ¡°How should I know? I''ve never met her before.¡± Felicia pursed her lips. ¡°I think she is... How is someone that famous acquainted with Gwendolyn, though?¡± Chapter 621 Chapter 621 Chapter 621 She Resembles Someone Candace broke into a grin. ¡°Why do you care?¡± She stole a nce at her husband, who was sitting across from her. He was sitting ramrod straight and looked a little nervous. He looks so nervous when it''s his daughter getting married. One could easily mistake him for the groom if they didn''t know any better. She lowered her voice, ¡°That doesn''t matter. As long as she gets married, Patrick will be yours. No matter who they are, everyone will have to respectfully address you as ''Mrs. Lowen'' in the future.¡± It was clear what she meant. As long as Felicia married Patrick, they wouldn''t have to fear anyone. Felicia''s lips curved into a smile. ¡°You''re right.¡± Gwendolyn and I won''t be in each other''s way anymore. However, when I''m in a bad mood, I can still vent my frustrations on her. After all, I''ve bullied her my entire life. Felicia could never change that habit and saw no reason to do so either. Camille brought Willow to the guest room. When she saw Gwendolyn all dressed up, she chuckled and commented, ¡°What a gorgeous bride!¡± Gwendolyn''s lips curved a little when she heard that, but she didn''t seem too happy. ¡°Tiffany, you''re here.¡± Willow went over to her to adjust her veil and train. The makeup artist and stylist grew excited as they whispered among themselves. ¡°It''s Tiffany! She''s personally adjusting the wedding dress for the bride!¡± ¡°Ah! She''s my idol!¡± Everyone in the room grew excited before lining up to get Tiffany''s autograph. However, she rejected them, iming she was here as the bride''s elder. Despite their disappointment, they couldn''t help but envy Gwendolyn. With Tiffany around, Gwendolyn''s wedding dress would be taken care of, regardless of how many times she chose to get married. Meanwhile, Lucy had changed into her white strapless bridesmaid dress, which gracefully embraced her curves, enhancing her figure with elegance and style. The makeup artist and stylist soon left, leaving the three of them in the guest room. Willow reached out to caress her cheek. ¡°Sophia will be here to attend your wedding. She''ll arrive at noon, so it''s almost time for me to head over to the airport to pick her up. We''ll meet you at the banquet hall.¡± She had intentionally sought out Gwendolyn to deliver the news to her. After all, Sophia was Gwendolyn''s mother, even though their rtionship couldn''t be openly acknowledged. Nevertheless, she would never miss her daughter''s wedding day. Sophia would be at ease to see her daughter marrying the love of her life and leading a blissful life.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Gwendolyn''s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Really? Is Ms. Sanders going to be there? That''s great!¡± Her heart overflowed with joy upon discovering that Sophia would be present at her wedding. Sophia had always treated her with love and care, even entrusting her with the leadership of Solstice Group. To Gwendolyn, Sophia was akin to her mother and an elder figure. ¡°Why would she miss your wedding? Silly girl, she considers you as her daughter.¡± Gwendolyn''s smile broadened when she heard those words. ¡°Yes, I consider her my mom as well.¡± Delight shed across Willow''s eyes. If Sophia gets to hear that, she''ll be ted. As Willow descended the stairs, Felicia finally had the opportunity to get a proper look at her. She did a quick search on Twitter and found a photo of Tiffany. To her surprise, the woman standing right in front of her was none other than Tiffany herself. Felicia had the urge to introduce herself to Tiffany and ask for thetter''s help to design her wedding dress in the future. However, she decided to give up the idea since Tiffany was Gwendolyn''s friend. Zachary was waiting on the couch. A hint of surprise appeared in his gaze when he spotted Tiffany. Gripping his trousers, he watched intently as she made her way to the door. Seeing that, Candace heaved with anger and joined him on the couch. ¡°Did she captivate you?¡± she demanded coldly. Regaining hisposure, Zachary nced at her and replied calmly, ¡°You''ve gotten it wrong. That woman resembles someone I know.¡± She looks exactly like Isabe Myers, Gwendolyn''s mother. Candace folded her arms in displeasure. ¡°Who does she resemble?¡± Chapter 622 Chapter 622 Chapter 622 Patrick Is Back Zachary shot her a look. ¡°Just an old friend of mine.¡± With that, he got to his feet and called out, ¡°Ms. Ziegler.¡± Camille was in the kitchen when she heard someone calling for her. Coming out of the kitchen, she responded, ¡°Yes?¡± She didn''t know Zachary that well. All she knew was that he was Gwendolyn''s father. However, Gwendolyn wasn''t on good terms with him, which was obvious since the two had never had any interactions previously. Hence, Camille didn''t bother being nice to them. After all, their attendance at the wedding was a mere formality. Michael had arranged for that, and they only bothereding because they didn''t want to embarrass the Ashton family. ¡°Bring us some coffee.¡± Zachary felt thirsty as no one bothered to serve them coffee after they arrived. Camille nced at the women on the couch. She remembered the older of them hade to pick a fight when they were still living in Snowy Lane. Thus, she had a bad impression of thedy. I was polite enough to allow them entry. How dare they demand me to serve them? Dream on. Camille replied calmly, ¡°I''m sorry, but we''ve run out of coffee beans.¡± Zachary''s expression changed. ¡°Then get me a ss of water.¡± Camille gave him a smile. ¡°The water filter isn''t functioning. Are you used to drinking tap water?¡± Zachary held back the urge to vent his anger at her as it was Gwendolyn''s wedding. Turning around angrily, he tugged on his tie and returned to the couch. Perhaps he had eaten something too salty this morning, for he felt parched. Thus, he was a bit annoyed as he didn''t get to drink any water. Felicia had overheard their argument and joined her father on the couch. ¡°Dad, I''ve already asked our driver to buy us some coffee, and he''ll be back soon. Please don''t be angry.¡± Candace was already furious to begin with. Upon hearing Camille''s response, she began criticizing Gwendolyn. ¡°Darling, why are you angry? Gwendolyn''s housekeeper is just as arrogant as her. They will never let us drink any water in her house. On the other hand, Fel is thoughtful enough to order coffee for you.¡± Zachary''s anger heightened after she said that. However, he had to admit that she was right as Felicia was indeed thoughtful. Right then, Patrick strode into the house followed by a team of male bodyguards. Both Candace and Felicia leaped to their feet, attempting to stop him from entering the house, but his bodyguards blocked their path. ¡°Everyone, please remain where you are and don''t try anything stupid. You might get hurt if you refuse to heed my order,¡± John warned icily. He nced at his boss, who was already going up the stairs. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was sitting on the bed as Lucy arranged her train. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Gwen, Zayden will only be here at one. Are you going to sit here until then?¡± What? That''s quitete. Why did I have to wake up at half past five to put on makeup then? Isn''t this unnecessarily troublesome for the bride? Gwendolyn was exhausted and wanted to take a nap. Without hesitation, she allowed herself to copse on the bed. Lucy quickly tugged her back. ¡°Hey, don''t lie down! Your hair will get messy. Don''t you want to be¡ª¡± Before she could finish her sentence by saying ¡°a pretty bride,¡± someone dragged her out of Gwendolyn''s room and mmed the door shut. Lucy quickly shielded her chest. This guy in ck isn''t gentlemanly at all. I''m all dressed up today. How could he treat me so roughly? I could have easily shed someone with how rough he was! Furrowing her brows, she chided, ¡°Can''t you be more gentle? You can''t find a wife this way. You deserve to be single forever!¡± The bodyguard''s expression changed, but he said nothing. Two of them stood guard at the door so no one could enter without their permission. Lucy btedly realized something. Wait, that was Patrick. He''s back. Isn''t he supposed to be on a business trip at Corleon and wouldn''t be back anytime soon? Oh no. Is he going to whisk the bride away? Chapter 623 Chapter 623 Chapter 623 Make Patrick Give Up In the room, Gwendolyn discovered that Lucy had disappeared in the blink of an eye before the door was shut behind her. Her gaze fell upon a man seated on the red couch near the window. He sat with crossed legs, his icy expression fixed upon her. Gwendolyn pursed her lips. She knew that a woman looked her best on her wedding day, and she was no exception. She used to secretly envision Patrick''s reaction upon seeing her in a wedding dress on their special day, but the reality before her was far from her imagined scenario. Patrick''s lips were tightly pressed together, lending him an aura of intimidation and disapproval. It felt as though he was on the verge of rushing over, ready to tear apart her wedding dress and remove her veil forcefully. He lit a cigarette and began smoking silently. Soon, the room was filled with pungent smoke. Both of them remained silent. Gwendolyn hung her head while Patrick fixed his gaze on her. After finishing his cigarette, he put it out and rose to his feet, approaching the bed slowly. Leaning forward, he lifted her chin. ¡°You look gorgeous today,¡± hemented in an icy tone. Gwendolyn noticed the bloodshot condition of his eyes. Dark circles nestled beneath his eyes, a clear sign that he had not experienced restful sleep. ¡°Patrick, I''m going to get married. Are you here to congratte me?¡± Gwendolyn didn''t know what she should say but decided to convince him to give up. She couldn''t give him any hope, so it was time to make them both give up. Patrick''s expression turned dark and icy as the temperature in the room dropped. Gwendolyn couldn''t help but shudder. Patrick''s grip on her chin tightened, causing a sharp surge of pain to radiate through her jaw. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Nevertheless, she endured the pain and said nothing. Patrick sneered, ¡°Gwendolyn, I won''t allow you to marry him. I forbid you.¡± His voice, filled with venom and malice, struck Gwendolyn''s ears like the words of the devil himself, sending a piercing pang of pain straight to her heart. Gwendolyn took a deep breath as she tried to breathe through the pain deep in her heart. The sight of the man she longed for stirred up a tumult of emotions within her. Gwendolyn felt a profound sense of sadness and yearning, an overwhelming desire to reach out and embrace him. She wanted to convey the depth of her longing and the emptiness she felt without him. s, she could never do that. If she were to say that, he would only grow more determined to be with her. He would be willing to go against the entire world just to marry her. Gwendolyn understood the importance of considering others'' lives and not being selfish in her pursuit of love. Memories of her grandfather''s unwavering care and support flooded her mind, as did the image of Zayden''s kindness and assistance during her most vulnerable moments. She recognized that her actions could potentially jeopardize Patrick''s well-being once again, and she couldn''t bear to see him face further trouble. Patrick was a genuinely good person who deserved happiness in his life. If they were to be together, she knew that it would only invite conflict and confrontation from Hector, who couldn''t tolerate his grandson''s rebellious nature. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that they couldn''t make it past the countless gaps between them. Gwendolyn drew her jaw out of his hand and gathered her thoughts. Her expression turned icy as she shot Patrick a determined look. ¡°Patrick, I''ve been using you all this time to get back at Felicia as she took away my father and my rightful ce as the eldest daughter of the family. That was my motive and nothing more.¡± She instinctively rubbed her chin, which still throbbed with pain from his earlier pinch. Despite the ache that lingered from his touch, Gwendolyn found herself yearning for the warmth and comfort his fingers once provided. Taking a deep breath, she continued, ¡°Patrick, it''s time to let go. Zayden and I have been in each other''s lives for six years, and he is the father of my children. For their sake, I will never marry you.¡± Chapter 624 Chapter 624 Chapter 624 Wedding Gift Darkness settled in Patrick''s eyes, casting a gloomy shadow across his face. His fists clenched tightly. ¡°Gwendolyn, I''ll give you onest chance. Tell me. Do you want to be with me?¡± He actually wanted to say, ¡°Gwendolyn, be with me.¡± s, he was too proud to say that aloud and ended up warning her. Gwendolyn adjusted her train and pointed at the door. ¡°Patrick, it''s time for you to leave. Know your ce. You were merely a tool to me, and now you serve no purpose. You are of no use to me anymore.¡± ¡°A tool?¡± Patrick sneered, ¡°Do you need to sleep with a tool? You were really horny that night.¡± Gwendolyn felt goosebumps all over her body as she recalled the night he was referring to. Perhaps I will never be that passionate anymore after what I experienced that night. I can''t believe he still remembers it. It should also be an unforgettable night for him, right? At least he''ll remember that someone named Gwendolyn once spent an unforgettable night with him. Biting her lip, she continued with her hurtful words. ¡°Patrick, you''re well aware of your own attractiveness. I have won your heart, so I went on to conquer your body. Our rtionship is over. Today, I am marrying the man I truly love. Don''t ruin this day for me.¡± Patrick stiffened upon hearing her words. A wave of excruciating pain coursed through his head, causing Patrick''s senses to be overwhelmed. His mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood while tears welled up in his eyes. Even his nose began to tingle. He shook his head, attempting to regain his sanity. He told himself that he should leave the room with his head held high instead of showing his weak side to her. Patrick turned away from Gwendolyn, his steps faltering as he fought to maintain his bnce. Leaning against the nearest wall, he steadied himself, taking a few deep breaths to gather hisposure. It took him a while, but he pushed forward, making his way to the door. Pulling the door open, he strode out. As Lucy caught sight of Patrick, her initial intention to inquire about his ns abruptly shifted as she observed his bloodshot eyes and the grimness etched across his face. Her eyes went wide. Before she could voice her inquiry regarding his condition, Patrick had already begun making his way toward the stairs. The two bodyguards at the door went after him. Lucy noticed that Patrick''s tall figure wasn''t standing as straight as usual, as though his heart had been broken. His footsteps thudded resoundingly against the ground. Lucy exhaled sharply. Shouldn''t they reconcile, embrace each other tightly, and share their respective hardships before escaping from the wedding to be together forever? She sighed at the realization that reality was different from TV dramas. We often overthink things in reality and hold ourselves back. I had hoped that Gwendolyn would find happiness and be spared from marrying Zayden, especially since Patrick showed up. She has faced so many hardships, and finding the man she loves was no easy task. But s, they cannot be together. It seems that fate has toyed with her once again! Lucy hurried into the bedroom to hear Gwendolyn''s pitiful sobs. Her heart clenched as she hurried over to embrace Gwendolyn. ¡°Silly girl, why didn''t you tell him what you really think?¡± Gwendolyn embraced Lucy tightly. ¡°Lucy, it''s so painful. It feels like there''s a fire raging in my heart, and I can hardly breathe.¡± She began sobbing again. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. I wanted to tell him everything, but I couldn''t. The only way for Patrick to move on and forget about me was to break his heart. At least one of us can be happy. I''ll pray that he finds peace and happiness in his life. Meanwhile, Patrick barely managed to make his way back to his mansion. He retrieved a file from his safety deposit box. Inside was the deed to thend in the eastern district, where a sessful shopping mall and high-end hotel had been built. Both establishments were up and running smoothly, with thriving business operations. ¡°Give this to Gwendolyn. Tell her it''s my dowry to her.¡± Chapter 625 Chapter 625 Chapter 625 Ruin Her Reputation It was supposed to be one of the wedding gifts, but since she was not marrying him anymore, it ended up bing a dowry for her. John epted it, his face looking gloomy. Why does he have to give her the gift since she''s marrying someone else? Not long after, Patrick copsed to the ground, blood flowing from his mouth and nose. Even his eyes were oozing blood. Terrified, John eximed, ¡°Mr. Lowen!¡± Meanwhile, Lucy continued to console Gwendolyn, but she had run out of words. If I were in her shoes, I wouldn''t know how I would react either. After Gwendolyn had sobbed for nearly half an hour, Lucy had no choice but to intervene and stop her from crying. ¡°Stop crying, Gwen. You''re the bride today. Do you want to meet the guests with swollen eyes? What will Zayden think?¡± Gwendolyn still could not stop crying. She finally understood why Juliette was a crybaby who would go on crying for an extended period. It seemed to run in the family. She tried to hold back, but the overwhelming sadness made it impossible for her to stop shedding tears. When Patrick was leaving, she felt particrly upset and wished to hold him back, stopping him from walking away. She knew this time he would leave for good and nevere back. I finally pushed him away. Lucy frowned while wiping off Gwendolyn''s tears. ¡°Your makeup is all messed up. I''ll call the makeup artist over for touch-ups. You better stop crying.¡± Today, the makeup artist and wardrobe stylist would be with them throughout the ceremony, so Lucy went to find the former immediately. As Gwendolyn wiped her tears with a tissue, she gazed out of the window at the sunny sky. Seeing the sky disying beautiful, sheer white clouds drifting like veils, she took a deep breath. Gwendolyn Ashton, now that you''ve made your decision, what''s the point of being upset about your fate? At that moment, the makeup artist entered the room. Lucy nced at Gwendolyn and realized she had stopped crying. Seeing how Gwendolyn was lost in thought and staring out of the window made Lucy sympathize with her. Moreover, the fact that Gwendolyn''s three children were spending time with Mnie in her house also weighed heavily on her mind. The triplets could not make an appearance at the wedding, as Gwendolyn could not risk the two elderly members of the Ashton family discovering their existence. Lucy could sense that this marriage would not lead to happiness. Gwendolyn cared deeply for the three children and was willing to do anything for their sake. However, this time, she seemed to let others manipte her as they wished. This also clearly indicated that the marriage did not hold much significance to her. Sigh. Why did all this happen in the first ce? The makeup artist, who had just touched up Gwendolyn''s makeup, reminded her, ¡°Ms. Ashton, you need to stop crying, or else your eyes will swell even more. You won''t look nice if that happens.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and hummed in response. After the makeup artist left, Lucy poured Gwendolyn a ss of water. ¡°Here. Drink some water.¡± Gwendolyn took a sip and asked, ¡°Does Lucas know how to look after children?¡± Despite having her two sons there, Gwendolyn could not help but feel slightly uneasy. She would only feel more relieved if she knew Lucas was capable of taking care of the children. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Lucy thought about it before replying, ¡°He''s quite good with kids. Being a military man, he knows how to handle them. Maybe when you see the three little ones tomorrow, they might start acting like soldiers!¡± Mnie was still in the recovery phase and needed some exercise anyway. Lucas was the one helping her with all the exercises, and he appeared to be quite fond of the little girl, showering her with affection. Gwendolyn nodded in acknowledgment, feeling somewhat relieved. Meanwhile, downstairs in the living room, Felicia handed the coffee and pastries brought by the driver to Zachary. ¡°Dad, here''s your coffee.¡± Zachary took a sip and cleared his throat. ¡°What''s the situation between you and Patrick?¡± It seemed Patrick came prepared when he was there earlier. The entire family had been worried that he hade to snatch the bride away. The Ashtons were all initially on edge, not knowing what to do, but after seeing how he stormed downstairs and left with the security guards, they all heaved a sigh of relief. Felicia pressed her lips together and said, ¡°As long as Gwen stays out of our way, there won''t be any issues in our rtionship.¡± Chapter 626 Chapter 626 Chapter 626 Lead A Happy And Contented Life Felicia was lying through her teeth. With Hector on her side and Gwendolyn marrying someone else, she felt like she had won the game. I''ll be Mrs. Lowen for sure. Zachary''s expression changed. She''s just like her mother. After responding with a hum, he said, ¡°All right. As long as your rtionship with him goes well, you don''t have to worry about your sister now that she''s married.¡± Whenever he thought of Gwendolyn, annoyance crept in. Not only does she look exactly like her mother, but they also have a simr personality¡ªalways trying to seduce men. Felicia had not caused any trouble as she was in a good mood today. She just hoped Gwendolyn would get married quickly so thetter would no longer stand between her and Patrick. ¡°Finish your coffee, Dad. It''s your favorite hand-brewed coffee.¡± Zachary was pleased to see how considerate Felicia was. At least one of my daughters is always attentive to my needs and cares about me. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. The most anxious person of them all was actually Candace. The thought of the possibility that Patrick was the father to Gwendolyn''s three children made her feel restless. She nced at her wristwatch and asked, ¡°Why aren''t they here yet?¡± Even though they were being neglected here, she was quite calm. Given her temper in the past, she would have caused a scene. Zachary responded calmly, ¡°It''s still early. They should arrive around one in the afternoon.¡± Candace sighed. ¡°I guess we came too early.¡± At that moment, John walked in, casting a sidelong nce at the people around the couch. Instead of lingering, he headed upstairs with long strides. Upon noticing a visitor going upstairs, Camille caught up with him. ¡°Excuse me, sir. Who are you?¡± Camille had not seen John before because Liam was always the one who apanied Patrick. Earlier, when Patrick was present, John was also right there, but due to therge crowd, Camille did not notice him. By the time Camille reached upstairs, she noticed John waiting for her in the corridor. ¡°I''m Mr. Lowen''s assistant. He sent me here to deliver something to Ms. Ashton.¡± Upon hearing he was Patrick''s assistant, Camille, who was sizing him up, nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± She could not help but feel down when the image of Patrick popped into her mind. Wouldn''t it have been great if Gwen had married Mr. Lowen instead? Unfortunately, reality did not turn out as she had desired. ¡°All right. She''s in the second bedroom over there.¡± Since their rtionship was not meant to be, Camille wished to end it with some dignity and respect for both of them. Well, I suppose I''ll let him deliver whatever gift Mr. Lowen has for Gwen. John inclined his head to express his gratitude before walking to Gwendolyn''s room. He knocked on the door, and Lucy came to answer it. Upon seeing John, she instantly remembered he was among the group of bodyguards earlier. ¡°How can I help you?¡± Lucy was worried that he might cause anothermotion. It took us a while to calm Gwen down. He better not upset her and make her cry again! John peeped into the room and said, ¡°I''m looking for Ms. Ashton. Mr. Lowen sent me.¡± When Gwendolyn heard that, she uttered, ¡°Let him in.¡± Lucy had no choice but to open the door and allow him to enter the room. John walked over to the bed where Gwendolyn was sitting, appearing calm. Her wedding dress was impably neat, resembling a bride-to-be one might see in online pictures. His expression turned cold as he thought about Patrick''s situation. Mr. Lowen''s life is at risk now, yet this woman is eagerly awaiting her wedding. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated and furious he became. Clutching the folder tightly in his hand, he had an intense urge to throw it into her face and call her a b*tch. However, he did not dare to vent his frustration like that. I can''t believe Mr. Lowen still cares so much about her, even though he''s severely injured. If he dared to scold her and throw the folder at her, Patrick would probably exile him to Alendor for such audacity if he ever discovered his actions. Gwendolyn looked at him, her hands gripping the hem of her skirt tightly. Seeing Patrick''s assistant standing before her made her feel uneasy, as she remembered how Patrick had acted when he was there earlier. The way he ordered her not to marry Zayden also caused a pang in her heart. ¡°Ms. Ashton, Mr. Lowen wanted me to deliver this to you. He mentioned that it was originally intended as a wedding gift, but now, he can only offer it to you as a dowry as he hopes you''ll lead a happy and contented life!¡± John added thest sentence just to provoke her, as Patrick could never bring himself to actually utter such blessings. Chapter 627 Chapter 627 Chapter 627 Bled Out When Gwendolyn heard Patrick''s blessings upon her marriage, utter dejection swamped her, and her mood plummeted to rock bottom. Despite wishing he would forget her and live his life happily, she could not muster an ounce of happiness when he had given her his blessings then. Lucy was also startled to hear that and mused inwardly. Sure enough, men are exceedingly vengeful creatures. Earlier, Gwen disappointed him. And now, he did the same to her. Does that mean they''re considered even? John ced the folder on the table before he spun on his heel and stalked away. Havingposed herself, Gwendolyn stood up and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. She opened the sliding door and stepped onto the balcony. The white wedding gown''s long train was stunningly beautiful, but her figure from the back gave off a sense of destion and sorrow. Lucy picked up the folder and fished out the contract inside to take a look at it. On the heels of that, she shrieked at the top of her lungs. ¡°Gwen!¡± With the contract in hand, she hurried over to Gwendolyn. ¡°He''s really good to you.¡± Whoa! The deed to thend in the eastern district, the hotel, and the mall are all in her name. She''s now a wealthydy. If her life at the Surrington residence isn''t to her liking in the future, she''s totally capable of supporting herself. Gah! Why didn''t God bestow me a man like Patrick? If I were so lucky, my life wouldn''t have been so pathetic following my divorce back then. Agitated beyond measure, she showed Gwendolyn the contract. However, Gwendolyn merely chuckled self-derisively. ¡°What use is all this to me?¡± In the past, I was a money-grubber because I was poor and afraid that I couldn''t support the kids. Now, I''m no longer strapped for cash, but everyone is giving me money. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Chortling, Lucy pointed at her. Back then, we were both in dire straits. When we had no money, we helped each other out. But her words now inexplicably sound like mockery to me. ¡°Ultimately, this is Mr. Lowen''s sincere gift, so just ept it. It''ll do you good. Got it?¡± She patted Gwendolyn on the shoulder before continuing, ¡°It''s almost time. Zayden and his party will probably be here soon. I''ll put this in your safe deposit box in your wardrobe. Keep it just in case.¡± At noon, the groom and his party arrived. The sound of firecrackers going off rang out downstairs. Lucy dragged Gwendolyn back into the bedroom from the balcony and seated her. Then, she had a few colleagues from Night City barricade the door to make things difficult for the groom. When the few girls were going to toss out questions and ask for mary gifts, Gwendolyn suddenly murmured, ¡°Open the door.¡± There was nothing Lucy could do about that. She has really given up all hope, not even wanting an opportunity to make things difficult for Zayden and test his love for her. As the door swung open, Suzanne helped Zayden, who was wearing a white suit, into the room. Behind them followed a few men in suits, likely the groomsmen. Suzanne''s smile was as sweet as ever. ¡°Mr. Surrington is here to pick you up, Gwen!¡± Dropping her hold on Zayden, she ran over to Gwendolyn. She also wore a white dress that day, its poofy design rendering her incredibly adorable. They had a game segment whereby the groomsmen were asked to find the bride''s high heels before the bridal couple went downstairs to seek Zachary and Candace''s blessings. It was for that exact moment that Zachary and Candace came over to Gwendolyn''s ce¡ªto show sufficient respect for the Surrington family. Otherwise, they would never have bothered to care about Gwendolyn. Supporting Zayden, Gwendolyn bowed to the couple. She was actually supposed to kneel, but she found it unnecessary since Zachary had never regarded her as his daughter, while Candace was her stepmother and had done many heinous things to her. That aside, everyone was merely putting on a show for the wedding, so that tradition was dispensable. Zachary and Candace took out two stacks of property deeds. Thetter dered, ¡°This is our dowry to you. Respect your inws and live a good life with Zayden.¡± After the ceremony, everyone got into the car in all liveliness. The wedding car then drove out of the mansion area with great pomp and fanfare. Meanwhile, in the adjacent mansion, the helpers were cleaning up the blood in the house. As they did so, theymented, ¡°Why is there so much blood? Those who are clueless might even mistake this ce for a murder scene. What exactly happened here? Considering the trail of blood, the person might have bled out, huh?¡± Chapter 628 Chapter 628 Chapter 628 The Mother Of Gwendolyn Arrives As soon as Liam stepped into the house, he caught sight of the bucket the help was using to clean the blood up. In a sh, his face nched in fright. ¡°What''s wrong? What happened here?¡± Could it be that Mr. Lowen killed Zayden? But that''s impossible! He wouldn''t do such a stupid thing. Well, I don''t think he would. The help turned to him. ¡°We have no idea either. We were only notified toe over and clean the ce.¡± Liam swiftly took out his phone and made a call to John. In no time, the person on the other end picked up. ¡°Have you and Mr. Lowene back, John?¡± Ms. Ashton is getting married today, so Mr. Lowen will undoubtedly return after learning about it. But what exactly happened that there''s so much blood here at the mansion? Right then, John was at the hospital with the others. He had arrived sometimeter since he had to run an errand for Patrick. He stood before the doors of the operating theater at that moment, in the dark about thetter''s condition. ¡°This is all thanks to you, Liam. You''re dead if anything happens to Mr. Lowen,¡± he uttered in a chilly voice. Hearing that, Liam was wholly bewildered. ¡°The blood... The blood in the mansion belonged to Mr. Lowen?¡± While saying that, he had already started striding out of the house. At such a time, Patrick took precedence over everything else. ¡°Yes. Because of your big mouth, Mr. Lowen might... might die.¡± John was reminded about the situation at that time. If I hadn''t informed Mr. Chavez about things before boarding the ne, and we hadn''t made a trip back right after Mr. Lowen, I really don''t know whether Mr. Lowen would''ve died in the mansion today. ¡°I''lle over right away and donate my blood to him!¡± After saying that, Liam hung up. John, on the other hand, cursed, ¡°D*mn it! Who wants your blood?¡± Meanwhile, Zayden and Gwendolyn went to the hotel. The wedding would be held that night in the banquet hall on the first floor. It was scheduled for five o''clock, and it was only a little over three by the time they arrived. As such, they could rest for a while. Upon entering the lounge, Gwendolyn helped Zayden to the couch for a seat. ¡°Are you tired, Zayden? Would you like some water?¡± She acted like a maid instead of a bride. Staring at her expression and eyes, Zayden could tell that she had most certainly cried. Is it such a grievous tragedy to marry me? He grasped her hands, his eyes narrowing imperceptibly. ¡°It''s cumbersome for you to move around since you''re wearing a wedding gown. Sit down and have a rest.¡± Slightly taken aback, Gwendolyn nced back over her shoulder at her long train. ¡°How do you know that?¡± It was a slip of the tongue on Zayden''s part. Nheless, he remained calm and unruffled. ¡°Suzanne had already told me about the style of your wedding gown. Besides, I can imagine how beautiful you are in it!¡± At that exact moment, Suzanne walked in with some fruit juice and snacks for them. Lucy came in as well, bearing fruits. ¡°Eat something, Gwen. The two of you will be extremely busyter.¡± Having the relevant experience, she knew that the bride had no time to eat during the ceremony and would be starved. Plopping down beside Gwendolyn, she took a piece of cake for thetter and whispered into her ear, ¡°Eat something sweet. It''ll generate more dopamine, and you''ll be in a better mood.¡± After saying that, she cast a look at Zayden with a smile. ¡°You seem to have grown more handsome recently, Zayden.¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. He has lost weight. Consequently, his face has grown sharper and his features more pronounced. Perhaps it''s because he has lost his vision, and that affected his mood. When one is down in the dumps, bing thinner is only natural. Zayden''s lips turned up. ¡°Thank you for thepliment.¡± Subsequently, Gwendolyn queried, ¡°Do you want to eat something? I''ll feed you.¡± Seeing that, Lucy could already imagine that Gwendolyn''s life would be dedicated to serving the man and being his eyes however long he remained blind. She sighed softly. And here I thought Gwen would have a good life henceforth. In truth, she''ll be no different from a caretaker in the future, without any happiness to speak of. It''s okay if she loves Zayden, but if otherwise, all that''s left is duty. At the entrance of the hotel, five cars came to a stop in a row. Bodyguards in ck suits alighted in concert and opened the car door of the vehicle in the middle. A woman in a light blue evening gown climbed out of the car. A veil obscured her face, only baring a pair of alluring eyes. She cast her gaze at the hotel. Willow got out of the car from the other side and walked toward her. ¡°Gwen has already arrived at the hotel. You can see her when you go upstairs. She''s stunningly beautiful today, as pretty as a picture!¡± Chapter 629 Chapter 629 Chapter 629 Bumping Into Each Other Sophia dipped her head a fraction before she entered the hotel with Willow under the apaniment of a few bodyguards. When they stepped into the elevator, Zachary, Candace, and Felicia were also there. It so happened that Felicia remarked, ¡°Gwendolyn''s dowry is too pathetic with just two shops and two condominiums. Would she go to Grandpa and kick up a fuss?¡± As Sophia and Willow entered the elevator, worry inundated thetter. Sophia would inevitably be reminded of the past upon seeing this sc*mbag. Why did they have to bump into each other? She pursed her lips. Meanwhile, Candace was still talking to Felicia, oblivious to the identity of the two women who had just joined them. On the contrary, Zachary recognized Willow the instant heid eyes on her once more. She''s Isabe''s sister. No wonder I found her familiar back at Star Mansion. Why is she here? Apprehension flooded him. When Isabe left back then, he told everyone she had passed away. Even Gwendolyn did not know the truth. For that reason, he was rather anxious at Willow''s sudden appearance. Could it be that Isabe is back? At that thought, restlessness inexplicably gripped him. He lifted a hand and yanked at his tie, failing to notice the woman with a veil. When Candace saw him doing that, she reached out and helped him to straighten his tie. ¡°What are you doing, Darling? You''re the father of the bride today, so you can''t be disheveled.¡± Hearing the woman''s coquettish voice, Willow was downright sickened. Sophia swept a cid gaze over Candace. Thetter was the one who put her through such suffering back then that she ended up leaving her own daughter. Yet, she was unusually calm to see the woman then. Sensing her gaze, Candace mistakenly assumed that Sophia found her beautiful. Thus, she lifted a hand and straightened her hair before shing thetter a proud smile. Finally snapping, Willow questioned frostily, ¡°Do you still remember me, Zachary? Your daughter is getting married, but such is your attitude? Oh well, a man like you is probably heartless anyway.¡± Zachary had been preupied with his thoughts earlier and paid no mind to his wife and daughter''s conversation. After hearing her words then, he was certain that she was indeed there to attend Gwendolyn''s wedding. Well, that makes sense since she''s Gwen''s aunt. His gaze darkened a shade. He had been trying to forget the past all these years, acting beyond indifferent and callous toward Gwendolyn for no other reason than to forget Isabe. However, the sight of thetter''s sister at that moment rendered everything he did in the past futile. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. ¡°You should indeed be present for Gwen''s wedding, Willow. If she were to learn that her aunt¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up. Today is her big day, so don''t mention the past.¡± Following Willow''s snarl, Zachary stopped short. His gaze dimmed, and bitterness brewed within him. Candace heard the woman bellowing at her husband and shot her a re. ¡°Who are you? What right do you have to poke your nose into our family''s affairs?¡± Both Willow and Sophia cut their eyes at her, the look in them icy. Candace tilted her head back, having no choice but to do so to meet their gazes as she was shorter than the two women. Felicia hastily tugged at her. ¡°Mom, Mom, stop it.¡± At that, Candace was entirely confounded. Why must Ipromise? Are these two women big shots, and I can''t afford to offend them? ¡°Why must I back down? They''re picking on your father. Never mind that you aren''t helping, but you''re even stopping me from reasoning with them! Do you even have a conscience?¡± Felicia frantically gave her pointed looks, but her mother remained oblivious and acted like a shrew. Lifting a hand, she propped it against her forehead. This is the most renowned designer at present. With Mom having offended her such, it''d be nigh impossible to obtain DK''s clothes and handbag in the future. It''s already hard to buy them, and I even have ns to implore her to design my wedding gown. After this row, I likely won''t have the opportunity to wear DK''s wedding gown. ¡°All right, that''s enough,¡± Zachary interjected coldly. Candace was utterly stumped. Even he is ordering me to zip my mouth? But I''m helping him! Chapter 630 Chapter 630 Chapter 630 Divorce ¡°What''s the meaning of this, Zachary? I''m helping you!¡± Verily, Candace was aggrieved to the core. Felicia hurriedly hugged her. ¡°Just keep silent for a while, Mom. Put up with it for a short time. It''ll only be a moment.¡± After saying that, she turned to Willow and smiled brightly. ¡°Nice to meet you, Tiffany. Both my mom and I love DK''s products. You''re even more beautiful in real life than on TV!¡± Upon hearing that, Candace frowned slightly. I seem to have heard that name before. She then looked at Willow again, but still, she had no recollection of thetter. In response, Willow smiled cidly. ¡°I''m afraid that I''d have to disappoint you both. Considering your characters, you''d be cklisted by DK forever.¡± Felicia''s eyes widened imperceptibly. Sure enough, she''s offended. There''s no hope for my wedding gown anymore! She bit her lip, feeling rather disappointed. That was doubly true when she recalled that everyone in her circle of friends and socialites were all fanatic fans of DK. No matter who was getting married, if the person managed to have DK''s designer design her wedding gown, she would definitely unt it within the circle. Unfortunately, that had Candace losing her temper once more. ¡°So be it. What''s so great about DK? Are there no other brands besides DK? Hmph!¡± Just then, the elevator doors opened. Willow and Sophia promptly stepped out. Only then did Zachary notice the woman in the light blue evening gown. With her ster figure, she was a devastating beauty, judging from her back. All of a sudden, Isabe came to mind. Therefore, he quickly chased after them. ¡°Who''s this, Willow?¡± He stared at Sophia hopefully. Willow turned her head back to look at him, a smirk ying on her lips. ¡°This is Ms. Sanders, Gwen''s godmother. Why, do you know her?¡± At that question, Zachary pursed his lips briefly. ¡°N-No.¡± I''ve never heard of Gwen''s godmother. Candace followed behind him, her eyes razor-sharp. ¡°You''re acting somewhat strange today, Zachary. Why are you following them? Have you taken a fancy to them?¡± It went without saying that she was very much distrustful of the man. Back then, she went to great lengths to have him marry her. After all, a man''s nature was such that he would get bored after being with a woman for a long time and instead find other women out there far better than his own wife. The corners of Sophia''s mouth curved up coldly. She continued forward and knocked on Gwendolyn''s door with Willow. Zachary stood there watching. He looked on as they went into the room, but he still did not want to leave. A strange feeling lingered within him, and it was as though a sense of familiarity had resurfaced. Nheless, he could not be sure about the reason. Hmm, perhaps it''s the sight of Willow that triggered such a feeling in me. Candace''s breathing grew increasingly heavier. In the end, she snapped and shoved him. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°What exactly are you doing, Zachary? Have you taken an interest in her and would like to have a divorce with me?¡± Hah! If he wants a divorce, so be it. I''m not scared now. Fel is my daughter, and she''ll soon marry into the Lowen family. At that time, I''ll be Patrick Lowen''s mother-inw. A great life is awaiting me! Withdrawing his gaze, Zachary whirled around and headed toward his own room, sighing as he walked. As scenes from the past shed across his mind, he found it all too difficult to ignore them. Felicia stood waiting for them a near distance away. When she saw her father approaching with an expression of great mncholy, she called out to him. ¡°Can you please not quarrel with Mom, Dad?¡± She had never seen her parents at odds. That was the first time, and it made her feel a touch fearful. Right then, Zachary lifted his head and cast her a nce. ¡°I''m going back to my room. Keep your motherpany. She loves to overthink things, so go and counsel her for a bit.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Subsequently, Candace stormed over in a fit of pique, wearing a long face. ¡°Don''t be angry anymore, Mom.¡± Linking her arm with her mother''s, Felicia continued, ¡°That woman is an exceedingly famous person, and it''s really unwise to offend her. I even have ns to have her design my wedding gown in the future! Dad is probably acting in such a way because of that as well. Don''t overthink things.¡± ¡°Your father is simply besotted, tempted because she''s beautiful! Argh! I''m just so mad! I want to divorce him!¡± Chapter 631 Chapter 631 Chapter 631 Guilty Meanwhile, Sophia and Willow entered Gwendolyn''s room. Lucy was astonished when she saw Willow and couldn''t stop tugging at Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, you''re acquainted with her? Why didn''t you introduce me to her earlier?¡± Lucy was beyond excited. Still, any woman would''ve reacted in that manner when they met Willow. After all, her designs were the pinnacle of the fashion world, and any items from her brand, DK, whether clothes, essories, or bags, were highly sought after. Sometimes, even having money wasn''t enough; connections were what mattered most. ¡°If I had known her earlier, I might''ve made it big by now.¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Lucy fantasized about knowing Tiffany and establishing connections with thetter. In that case, she could acquire all the new DK bags, clothes, and essories and make a fortune by selling them to wealthydies. By then, I won''t have to sell alcohol at Night City anymore. Gwendolyn patted Lucy''s hand. ¡°Calm down. She''s my mentor.¡± Mentor? Lucy almost passed out from the shock. ¡°Are you aspiring to be a designer too?¡± That was indeed Gwendolyn''s n because, as far as she could remember, her mother was a designer, so she wished to follow in her footsteps. ¡°That''s the n.¡± Lucy pondered. Once Gwen bes a famous designer, I''ll be able to make even more money. Willow approached Gwendolyn with a smile. ¡°Gwen, look who''s here!¡± As soon as they entered the room, Gwendolyn noticed Sophia. She hitched up her skirt and walked over. ¡°Ms. Sanders.¡± Gwendolyn spread her arms and embraced Sophia. That hug gave Gwendolyn a warm feeling, causing all her unease and unhappiness to dissipate. Sophia held her daughter withplex emotions in her eyes. She could not acknowledge her rtionship with Gwendolyn due to her current identity and could only attend the ceremony as a godmother. Not to mention, she wasn''t able to announce to the public she was Gwendolyn''s godmother either, which saddened her greatly. Nevertheless, Sophia was contented to see her daughter happy. When Sophia released Gwendolyn, her eyes lingered on thetter''s petite face as she chirped, ¡°You''ve grown up, and you''re getting prettier.¡± Her countenance was almost identical to Sophia''s. Gwendolyn smiled. At that moment, her heart was brimming with delight. ¡°Let''s sit down and talk, Ms. Sanders.¡± Willow led Lucy out of the room, as Sophia would be staying there that night. Lucy was more than happy to follow Willow. Getting acquainted with Tiffany would secure her path to financial freedom. She had been looking for a job but hadn''t found a suitable one. It seemed that she could now start her own business. Overjoyed, Lucy trailed after Willow. Inside the room, Gwendolyn poured and served Sophia a ss of water. ¡°Ms. Sanders, have some water.¡± Sophia removed her veil, revealing a distinct scar on her face, which marred her original beauty. She sipped her water and then held the ss with both hands. ¡°Gwen, you must be happy in the future!¡± A trace of guilt shed across her eyes as she gazed at Gwendolyn. Sophia had been helpless years ago and unable to take Gwendolyn with her when she left, leaving thetter to suffer under the Ashton family''s care. Even now, she couldn''t be reunited with her daughter. Having overheard the family of three''s conversation in the elevator earlier, Sophia felt her heart aching even further for Gwendolyn. This is under the premise that Zachary doesn''t know Gwendolyn isn''t his biological daughter. If he had known that, I dare not imagine if Gwendolyn would''ve survived to this age. Fortunately, not many people know this secret. Gwendolyn spaced out. Happy? Perhaps I''m not fated to be happy and will never find joy for the rest of my life, either. At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Sophia put on her veil and went to answer the door. Zachary stood at the doorway. When he swept his gaze across Sophia''s face and noticed her eyes, he was instantly taken aback. Her eyes are so simr to Isabe''s. Very simr indeed! Sophia turned around and was about to leave, but Zachary called after her. ¡°What''s your rtionship with the Myers family?¡± Chapter 632 Chapter 632 Chapter 632 Lie Sophia replied coldly, ¡°I''m not rted to the Myers family.¡± From the day she changed her name to Sophia Sanders, she no longer had any ties with the Myers family. Everything she did had nothing to do with the Myers family too. With that, she retraced her steps into the room. Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Who''s there?¡± She thought the neer was Zayden, but a few momentster, Zachary came into view. Sophie uttered, ¡°Gwen, I won''t disturb you further since you have something to attend to. I''ll see you later.¡± She gave her daughter a meaningful look. The incidents from the past resurfaced in her mind. If it weren''t for this man... Sophia closed her eyes, unwilling to dwell on those thoughts. I''ve never sought vengeance against Zachary and Candace all these years only because they raised my daughter. She spun on her heels and strode out of the room. Gwendolyn looked at Zachary. ¡°What do you want?¡± That was the first time he had seriously gazed at his daughter. In the past, he didn''t dare to look at her as her appearance was too simr to Isabe''s, which reminded him of Isabe and made him feel horrible. That day, Zachary suddenly realized that Gwendolyn was also his daughter, and it was time he started treating her well. ¡°Gwen, I''ve wronged you in the past. From now on, let''s get along. I''ll do my best to make it up to you.¡± It was already toote for him to say that. Gwendolyn had never felt any paternal love from Zachary. She had yearned for it before, but after much disappointment, she no longer harbored such thoughts. ¡°That won''t be necessary. I don''t need it,¡± she uttered frostily and looked out of the window, showing no intention of continuing the conversation with him. At five o''clock, the wedding ceremony began. Tears welled up in Sophia''s eyes as she watched her daughter put on the ring and be someone else''s wife. She genuinely wished for her daughter''s happiness. Subsequently, she got up and left. Willow followed her out. ¡°Sophia, are you leaving already?¡± Is she going to leave in haste after witnessing the happiest moment of her daughter''s life? ¡°Sophia, I-I have something to do. Please help me give this to Gwen.¡± She handed a delicate jewelry box to Willow. Thetter opened the box and nced at the content. It was the set of emerald jewelry left by their grandmother, the Myers family''s heirloom. Sophia went to the hospital and entered Michael''s ward. When Michael saw her, a hint of surprise flitted across his eyes. ¡°Isabe, is that you?¡± Sophia nodded. ¡°It''s me. Old Mr. Ashton, I heard you''re sick, so I came to visit and thank you for taking care of Gwen all these years.¡± She could no longer bring herself to address him as ¡°Dad.¡± Michael was somewhat emotional. ¡°Isabe, this is all my fault. I said I''d give you a home, so I introduced you to my son, hoping he''d protect you and your child. I didn''t expect that b*stard to wrong you and make you suffer.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Isabe once saved Michael, so at her most difficult time, he lent her a helping hand. She lowered her gaze. ¡°I don''t me him. We deceived him first.¡± Even at that point, Zachary didn''t know Gwendolyn wasn''t his child. Michael sighed. ¡°He''s a man without good fortune, letting a wonderful woman like you slip through his fingers.¡± Michael was fond of Isabe''s character, not to mention she was exceptionally beautiful and coveted by many men. If Zachary had stayed with her, they would eventually have children of their own and lead a blissful life together. Unfortunately, he messed up by having an affair and drove Isabe away. Michael felt his good deed had resulted in a bad oue, so he had always doted on Gwendolyn. ¡°Old Mr. Ashton, let''s not talk about the past. It''s all water under the bridge.¡± ¡°Isabe, how have you been? Did you remarry?¡± Isabe shook her head. ¡°I''m still single and living quite well. As Gwendolyn''s mother, I should at least attend her wedding now that she''s getting married. However, don''t tell her about my identity. I haven''t fulfilled my responsibilities as her mother over the years, and I don''t want to disappoint her.¡± Michael sighed, not knowing what to say. That b*stard, Zachary, told Gwen her mother died after Isabe left. If we tell Gwen her mother is back, wouldn''t that be a p in Zachary''s face? Chapter 633 Chapter 633 Chapter 633 He Won After the wedding ended, Gwendolyn and Zayden headed to the hospital to visit Michael. Michael broke into a smile upon seeing their arrival. ¡°Have a seat! I''m sure it has been a tiring day for you two.¡± Gwendolyn helped Zayden to settle down on the couch. It seems like Grandpa is feeling much better today. Hopefully, he''ll continue to get better. ¡°Not at all,¡± answered Gwendolyn thoughtfully. She followed by asking what he had eaten for the day. Michael answered her question in detail. He knew Gwendolyn was a kind woman who cared a lot about him. ¡°Zay, I''ll leave Gwen to you from now on. I hope you''ll cherish the rtionship and be good to her.¡± Michael had entrusted Gwendolyn''s mother to Zachary, expecting him to treat her well. Sadly, things did not go as nned. I hope I made the right choice this time. That way, I''ll be at ease. After all, it''s partially my fault Gwen didn''t have her parents by her side when she was younger. If I hadn''t introduced Isabe to my son because of my selfish motives, perhaps Isabe and Gwen would''ve led a good life. That was why he wanted to help Gwendolyn find a good man who could make her happy for the rest of her life. Only then could he die with no regrets. ¡°Grandpa, don''t worry. I''ll definitely be good to Gwen,¡± replied Zayden. The two stayed at the ward to keep Michaelpany for about an hour before thetter urged them to leave. He did not want them to waste time there since it was their wedding night. With that, the two left the ward and returned to Dragonhill Mansion. Zayden had no ns to return to the life of ordinary people as they had just gotten married. He wanted to spend more alone time with Gwendolyn right now. The car came to a stop outside Dragonhill Mansion''s yard. Suzanne hopped off the car first and hurried over to open the door for Zayden. Just as she was about to help him get out, the man shot her a look. She widened her eyes, then backed away quickly. Mr. Surrington probably wants Gwen to help him. I have to get used to this from now on. Besides, he''s not really blind anyway. After getting out of the car, Gwendolyn hurried over to support Zayden. However, he said, ¡°Let me carry you into the house.¡± Gwendolyn widened her eyes. ¡°No need. I''ll help you into the house instead.¡± She did not see the need to stick to those wedding etiquettes since Zayden could not see anything. Anyway, this wedding is just a show for the others to see. Since the ceremony is over, there''s no need to be so serious about it. Nheless, Zayden insisted on doing so. ¡°That''s the rule. I''ll carry you inside.¡± As those words fell, he bent forward, picked her up in a bridal carry, and strode into the house. His steps are so calm and unruffled. It... it''s almost as if he isn''t blind. Gwendolyn fixed her gaze intently on the man''s eyes. She badly wanted to know if he had regained his vision. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. She raised her hand and waved it before his eyes. Yet, there was no response. I guess he must''ve secretly practiced before, and that''s why he can walk so steadily. Realizing that was most likely the case, Gwendolyn closed her eyes, shutting out any further thoughts. She knew all too well the kind of person Zayden was. After all, it had been six years. He was kind, optimistic, and warm. It was no doubt he was a friend to keep. That''s right, Gwendolyn. It''s the kindness you have to repay. You have to take good care of him and help him recover. The interior of the house had been carefully decorated. The floor was lined with rose petals, and it was apparent that Zayden had put in a lot of effort to make Gwendolyn feel special. Suzanne eximed in shock, ¡°Wow! A path paved with flower petals all around! Mr. Surrington, who did this?¡± The house didn''t look anything like this when we left. Zayden coldly uttered, ¡°Go back to your room. Do note out tonight.¡± After saying that, he carried Gwendolyn and headed upstairs into their bedroom with long strides. The decor in the room, too, had been changed to look more romantic and celebratory. The bedding was all changed to a white color scheme, and so was the bed canopy. There was also wedding decor pasted on the floor-to-ceiling windows. Upon putting Gwendolyn onto the bed, Zayden propped himself up with his hands on the sides of the bed. A faint smirk spread across his face. The satisfaction he was feeling was not only apparent on his face but also in his voice. ¡°Gwen, you''re finally my wife.¡± Chapter 634 Chapter 634 Chapter 634 Wedding Night Gwendolyn pursed her lips. Seeing how happy Zayden was, she did not want to be a wet nket. Yet, she could not bring herself to smile. There was even a trace of bitterness on her face. ¡°Mm-hmm!¡± she softly mumbled a reply. Unexpectedly, Zayden caught sight of the expression on her face clearly. Are you still thinking of Patrick at this point? Hah! You''re now mine. There''s no more chance for you. Following that, he inched closer and closer toward Gwendolyn to the point his lips were almost touching hers. Startled, she backed away quickly. ¡°Zayden, I''ll run a bath for you to clean up.¡± With that said, she briskly scurried away and entered the bathroom. While filling the bathtub with water, she walked up to the sink and rinsed her face. Propping her hands on the sink, she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Earlier at the hotel, she had changed into casual clothes and was now in a light blue dress, with her long hair draped on her shoulders. She had no makeup on, but she looked so pretty it was almost as if she had applied makeup. In fact, it had always been that way for her since she was little. The teachers at school would always ask her to remove her makeup even when she did not put on any. Her lips twitched, and she felt somewhat helpless. As the water in the bathtub reached a suitable level, she exited the bathroom. Zayden was lying on the bed with his eyes shut, seemingly exhausted. Gwendolyn walked over to the bedside, bent forward slightly, and called for him, ¡°Zayden...¡± Her voice was very soft. She had decided not to wake him up if he had fallen asleep. Zayden, however, opened his eyes. ¡°Let''s take a bath together.¡± He sat up, took off his suit jacket, and threw it aside, then unbuttoned his white shirt with one hand. Every one of his moves was absolutely charming. His other half would be wholly entranced had they been deeply in love with each other. Besides, it was a special night. Any newlyweds would find it especially exciting and passionate. Nevertheless, it was quite a shock for Gwendolyn, so much so that she clenched her hands into fists. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°You go first. I''ll showerter.¡± At that point, Zayden had already removed his shirt and was about to unzip his pants. Gwendolyn hastily turned her back to him. As much as she knew there were some things she would have to face after marriage, she always thought she could ept them readily when the day came. It was only at that instant she realized that she would not be able to get intimate with a man she had no love for. She could not even bring herself to do something as trivial as looking at his naked body. Extreme anxiety struck her, and she gripped her dress tightly. At that point, the man behind her had taken off his clothes. He stared at her back, then hastened into the bathroom, his expression terrifyingly gloomy. Not hearing Zayden call her after some time, Gwendolyn turned around to see if he had already removed his clothes, only to realize that other than a pile of clothing, the man was nowhere to be seen. Her voice wos very soft. She hod decided not to woke him up if he hod follen osleep. Zoyden, however, opened his eyes. ¡°Let''s toke o both together.¡± He sot up, took off his suit jocket, ond threw it oside, then unbuttoned his white shirt with one hond. Every one of his moves wos obsolutely chorming. His other holf would be wholly entronced hod they been deeply in love with eoch other. Besides, it wos o speciol night. Any newlyweds would find it especiolly exciting ond possionote. Nevertheless, it wos quite o shock for Gwendolyn, so much so thot she clenched her honds into fists. ¡°You go first. I''ll shower loter.¡± At thot point, Zoyden hod olreody removed his shirt ond wos obout to unzip his ponts. Gwendolyn hostily turned her bock to him. As much os she knew there were some things she would hove to foce ofter morrioge, she olwoys thought she could ept them reodily when the doye. It wos only ot thot instont she reolized thot she would not be oble to get intimote with o mon she hod no love for. She could not even bring herself to do something os triviol os looking ot his noked body. Extreme onxiety struck her, ond she gripped her dress tightly. At thot point, the mon behind her hod token off his clothes. He stored ot her bock, then hostened into the bothroom, his expression terrifyingly gloomy. Not heoring Zoyden coll her ofter some time, Gwendolyn turned oround to see if he hod olreody removed his clothes, only to reolize thot other thon o pile of clothing, the mon wos nowhere to be seen. Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Do you need my help, Zayden?¡± she asked while standing in front of the bathroom door. Soaking inside the warm bath, Zayden grew grim and snorted coldly after hearing those words. This girl seriously doesn''t speak what she thinks. Wasn''t she so terrified just now? Why is she asking if I need help now? As he did not respond, Gwendolyn then added, ¡°Call me if you need help. I''ve ced the bathrobe on the rack beside the bathtub. It''s on your left, well within your reach.¡± Finishing her words, she went to the walk-in closet. She did not intend to shower again since she had done so while at the hotel earlier. After changing into casual attire, she stood at the bathroom door, waiting for Zayden to call for her. Like an elementary school student being punished, she stood straight without moving an inch. Only her eyes were shifting around, observing every corner of the room. She continued doing so until she heard footsteps approaching. At once, she stepped forward and queried, ¡°Are you done, Zayden?¡± The bathroom door was pulled open. Zayden walked out, wrapped in a bathrobe. The bathrobe belt was loosely tied, revealing his muscr chest that had beads of water on it. Reaching his hand out, he pulled Gwendolyn into his embrace. Chapter 635 Chapter 635 Chapter 635 You Leave Me With No Choice He was so close that Gwendolyn could feel his warm breaths. That scared her, and she began to push him away. ¡°Zayden, Zayden...¡± The man''s breathing grew heavier. ¡°Honey, let''s not waste such a beautiful night, shall we?¡± With that, he picked her up and threw her onto the huge, soft bed. ¡°Zayden!¡± Her voice was filled with panic, but Zayden could not care less as he wanted her so badly. She was his wife atst. He had finally defeated Patrick! She tried to get away by moving toward the headboard. Zayden reached out to grab her leg and yanked her over. The very next moment, Gwendolyn was under his body. ¡°Gwen, from tonight onward, you''re mine.¡± He sounded so cold when he said that, like he saw himself as the victor. Just as he was about to kiss Gwendolyn, she moved her face. Zayden''s face darkened when he saw her resisting. Grabbing her hands, he pinned them down above her head. ¡°Stop thinking about him. It''s over between the both of you. You should know how I feel about you for the past six years. I love you so much.¡± In the past, Zayden would observe Gwendolyn when he said things like that. If she was averse to his advances, he would stop whatever he was doing. Since she imed they were only friends, he stayed by her side as her friend. All the while, he thought he would be her boyfriend before bing her husband. Patrick''s appearance disrupted their chemistry and his n, throwing everything into chaos. With that thought in mind, Zayden exuded a menacing aura. He tore her clothes off without another word. Gwendolyn could not help but start to struggle with all her might. In the end, she sent Zayden flying off the bed with a kick. She quickly slipped off the bed and stood at the other end. Her eyes were filled with tears, and she was trying to cover her body with her torn clothing. ¡°Zayden, please don''t do this... We...¡± She controlled herself and did not finish the rest of the sentence. As far as she was concerned, they had been friends all the while. That was why she felt that they should not be doing this. Zayden rubbed his throbbing butt and legs before getting up with a cold look in his eyes. ¡°Gwendolyn, we''re already married. Are you still thinking of Patrick?¡± With a roar, he flung the objects around him onto the floor, smashing them into bits and pieces. Tears flowed down Gwendolyn''s face when she saw what he did. ¡°Zayden, I''m sorry! I can''t.¡± She shook her head and cried in a heart-wrenching manner. Her sadness was practically palpable. After Zayden vented his frustration, he strode out of the room. In the process, he bumped into the door, causing him to let out a soft grunt. Potrick''s oppeoronce disrupted their chemistry ond his plon, throwing everything into choos. With thot thought in mind, Zoyden exuded o menocing ouro. He tore her clothes off without onother word. Gwendolyn could not help but stort to struggle with oll her might. In the end, she sent Zoyden flying off the bed with o kick. She quickly slipped off the bed ond stood ot the other end. Her eyes were filled with teors, ond she wos trying to cover her body with her torn clothing. ¡°Zoyden, pleose don''t do this... We...¡± She controlled herself ond did not finish the rest of the sentence. As for os she wos concerned, they hod been friends oll the while. Thot wos why she felt thot they should not be doing this. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Zoyden rubbed his throbbing butt ond legs before getting up with o cold look in his eyes. ¡°Gwendolyn, we''re olreody morried. Are you still thinking of Potrick?¡± With o roor, he flung the objects oround him onto the floor, smoshing them into bits ond pieces. Teors flowed down Gwendolyn''s foce when she sow whot he did. ¡°Zoyden, I''m sorry! I con''t.¡± She shook her heod ond cried in o heort-wrenching monner. Her sodness wos procticolly polpoble. After Zoyden vented his frustrotion, he strode out of the room. In the process, he bumped into the door, cousing him to let out o soft grunt. Gwendolyn rushed forward and asked, ¡°Are you all right?¡± The moment she touched his hand, Zayden pushed her away. She fell and hit the corner of the bed. Gwendolyn groaned in pain. It hurt so badly that her brows furrowed tightly. Even so, Zayden opened the door and left. Seeing that, Gwendolyn got up slowly and let out a sigh of relief. Upon arriving downstairs, Zayden grabbed some wine and started drinking. Meanwhile, Suzanne had heard themotion, but she dared not go upstairs. She only sneaked out of her bedroom to steal a nce. However, she was greeted by the sight of Zayden drinking wine in the living room alone. She ran over. ¡°Mr. Surrington, why aren''t you asleep?¡± She nced at the empty bottles and him before realizing that he might be drunk. Suzanne walked up to him and tugged at the sleeve of his bathrobe. ¡°Mr. Surrington, it''ste. Gwen is about to go to bed.¡± She wanted to send him to his room, but Zayden opened his eyes all of a sudden and squinted at her. Abruptly, he gave a wickedugh. ¡°Gwendolyn, you better note begging me in the future.¡± With that, he pulled Suzanne onto hisp and cupped her face with his hands. He then kissed her urgently on her lips. ¡°Mr...¡± Chapter 636 Chapter 636 Chapter 636 A Game Suzanne smacked him with both hands, but Zayden showed no sign of releasing her. His kiss became more passionate, and his tongue was moving against hers. Suzanne had no idea what was going on. A while ago, she was a little frightened. However, she did not do anything since he was her boss. He tasted unique to her. There was a hint of alcohol mixed with a bit of peppermint. Anyway, she liked the way he tasted, so she stuck her tongue out as well. Suddenly, Zayden let go of her andughed coldly. ¡°You want it?¡± His voice was deep and sexy. Suzanne did not know what was going on, but she liked the taste of him, so she nodded. ¡°Yes, I want it!¡± Zayden''s heart trembled when he heard that short reply. Gwendolyn, you aren''t the only woman in this world. When Zayden kissed Suzanne again, she wrapped her hands around his neck. She loved whatever they were doing as it was quite fun. He ced hisrge hands on the soft mounds of her chest, surprised at how nice they felt. He did not expect her to have such a great figure. When Suzanne saw him touching her, she reached out to touch his chest too. The moment she felt his chest, she widened her eyes in shock. This feels so good! She then dug her fingernails into his flesh. Zayden moaned before carrying her into her room. It was dark in the room as they did not bother turning on the lights. Zayden pinned Suzanne against the door and began to strip her naked. Blinking innocently, she asked, ¡°Mr. Surrington, won''t we catch a cold without clothes? She seemed to be only interested in kissing him as she kept trying to catch his lips. Zayden grinned devilishly and began to coax her, ¡°Be good. We''ll have more funter on. But this is a secret game that can only be known between the two of us. Understand?¡± Suzanne nodded. ¡°Okay. I like ying games with you, Mr. Surrington.¡± In the meantime, Gwendolyn was tidying the bedroom. Once she swept up all the broken pieces, she looked around to ensure she did not miss any fragments before leaving the room. She went to the study, but there was no sign of Zayden. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Gwendolyn then went downstairs. When she saw the bottles in the living room, she knew he had been drinking. But, where is he? Just then, she heard Suzanne crying. Gwendolyn nced in the direction of her bedroom and walked over in confusion. ¡°Suzanne...¡± she called out, thinking that Suzanne was having a nightmare. In truth, she had cried out in pain because of Zayden thrusting into her. Zayden covered her mouth and licked her ear with a wicked smile on his face. ¡°Babe, don''t make any sound. Gwen is just outside. Bear with it and don''t cry.¡± All of a sudden, Suzanne did not like this game anymore. She was in pain. It hurt too much. However, Zayden had no intention of stopping. The bed creaked loudly with each jerk of his hips. Once again, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Suzanne, are you awake?¡± When Zayden heard her voice, he became even more excited and moved harder. Both of Suzanne''s hands were gripping the bedsheet tightly while she bit her lip in a bid to keep silent. In the end, she could not take it anymore and let out a yell. ¡°Ah...¡± She felt a strange tingling sensation all over her body. It felt as if she was floating in the clouds. When Gwendolyn heard the shout, she called out again, ¡°Suzanne, are you awake?¡± She was sure that Suzanne was having a nightmare. Zayden felt great after getting his release. He copsed next to Suzanne and brushed her hair aside. Taking in the satisfied look on her tiny face, he smiled. ¡°Tell her that you were having a nightmare and not to worry.¡± It was only then Suzanne returned to her senses and asked, ¡°Shall we ask Gwen to join us in our game?¡± To her, it was fun. Even though it was painful in the beginning, she loved the ending! Besides, Zayden was being nicer to her. He even called her ¡°Babe.¡± Hehehe... Chapter 637 Chapter 637 Chapter 637 Feed Her The Medicine Personally Zayden said coldly, ¡°No, ask her to leave.¡± One time was definitely insufficient to satiate his desire. Suzanne wouldn''t be able to rest tonight. Suzanne nodded. ¡°Gwen, don''t worry. I just had a nightmare. I''m fine. You should get some rest!¡± Gwendolyn breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that Suzanne had woken up. ¡°Do you need me to keep youpany?¡± The way Suzanne had been crying so heartbrokenly and her shouts had been quite scary. Due to Suzanne''s young age, Gwendolyn had long since considered her a younger sister. ¡°It''s okay. I''m going to sleep now.¡± After that, Suzanne turned her head to look at Zayden as if inquiring if he was satisfied with her response. The light in Zayden''s eyes was somewhat chilly as he gently caressed her face with one hand. ¡°Let''s continue.¡± Having already experienced the excitement, Suzanne turned around joyfully to press herself against his body and proactively kissed his lips. Gwendolyn cleaned up the empty wine bottles before returning to the room.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. She was aware that Zayden was angry, so she assumed that he would likely spend the night in the guest room. Despite feeling exhausted, she couldn''t manage to fall asleep as shey there on the bed. Zayden''s behavior was not like this in the past. His current emotional instability concerned her, and she felt the need to suggest that he seek regr sessions with a psychiatrist. Initially, the newlywed couple was meant to greet the elders of Zayden''s family the next morning, and in the afternoon, it would be the Ashton family''s turn. Nevertheless, due to Zayden''s condition, they were excused from following those traditional etiquettes. Gwendolyn was unaware of the time she fell asleep, but when she woke up in the morning, it was already past nine o''clock. She had been awakened by the sound of her phone ringing. Answering the call, she greeted, ¡°Hello?¡± Her eyes were still closed as she felt incredibly drowsy. ¡°Gwen, we weren''t able to witness you bing a bride. It''s truly saddening.¡± When she heard her daughter''s voice, Gwendolyn suddenly opened her eyes. ¡°Juliette, are you guys having fun at Mnie''s house?¡± Lucy had already gone back to help take care of the three children for now. ¡°Gwendolyn, we''re deeply upset that you''re getting married, yet we can''t be by your side.¡± While speaking, Juliette began crying once more. Then Justin''s voice came through the phone, saying, ¡°Mommy, it''s okay, don''t worry. Julian and I will comfort Juliette.¡± Gwendolyn''s nose suddenly tingled. She felt a slight pang of sadness, knowing that the three children had been hurt in this situation. ¡°Justin, I''m sorry. I''m facing some challenges. I apologize!¡± Justin responded, ¡°It''s okay; we don''t mind. Our only concern is for your happiness.¡± As Gwendolyn listened to her son''s words, she felt even more unsettled. They were incredibly mature and understanding. Therefore, they wouldn''t openly express their emotions. If it weren''t for Juliette''s outward expression of her feelings, Gwendolyn would have assumed that everything was fine with them. ¡°Justin, please help mefort Juliette along with Julian. We will be living with Mr. Zayden from now on, and our family will remain together.¡± She knew why Juliette was upset. Not only was the little girl unable to witness Gwendolyn as a bride in a wedding dress, but she also feared that her mother might not want them anymore. Even though Juliette was just a child, she was remarkably thoughtful andprehended everything. ¡°No problem, Mommy! We''ll hang up now,¡± Justin assured her. For the following seven days, Gwendolyn and Zayden had to reside in the mountain vi. As newlyweds, it was customary not to visit other people''s homes during this time, as doing so was believed to bring bad luck. Before their return, Angeline provided them with numerous instructions, and Gwendolyn diligently took note of each one. Furthermore, considering Zayden''s current condition, it was inconvenient for him to venture outside. Gwendolyn rose to wash up and went downstairs. She saw Zayden holding a ss of water and passing Suzanne a pill. Gwendolyn looked at Suzanne. ¡°Is Suzanne sick?¡± Suzanne appeared noticeably low on energy today as she yawned repeatedly. Suzanne nced at the medicine in her hand, then shifted her gaze toward Zayden. ¡°Can I not eat it?¡± Zayden said coldly, ¡°No. Eat it now.¡± Suzanne could only obediently ce the pill in her mouth and take a sip of water from the ss in his hand. ¡°Gwen, I''m fine. I''m just a little tired.¡± She felt exhausted from the activitiesst night, and Zayden only allowed her to sleep when dawn was approaching. Chapter 638 Chapter 638 Chapter 638 Going To The Hospital Gwendolyn touched Suzanne''s forehead. ¡°You don''t seem to have a fever. If you''re tired, go and rest. Don''t worry. I''ll take good care of Zayden while you''re resting.¡± Gwendolyn appeared remarkably enthusiastic today, causing Zayden to narrow his eyes slightly in observation. It seemed that she had slept well without himst night. Suzanne looked at Zayden and asked, ¡°Mr. Surrington, can I go rest?¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Her legs were so sore that they trembled slightly. Remembering the redness on the bedsheet, he realized that he had taken her virginity. He understood that she must be tired, so he nodded in agreement. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Suzanne was overjoyed and embraced Gwendolyn tightly before rushing to Zayden''s side and hugging him as well. Zayden''s expression changed, and he said coldly, ¡°Let go of me. Where are your manners?¡± Suzanne enjoyed Zayden''s scent, but upon hearing his words, she took a few steps back, looking quite unhappy. She gazed at him with wide, blinking eyes, feeling hurt. They had been so intimatest night, not only hugging but also sharing kisses. However, he appeared quite annoyed when she embraced him now. It was as if Zayden had transformed into a different person after the night. Suzanne turned and walked to her bedroom. Gwendolyn walked to Zayden''s side. ¡°Did you sleep in the guest roomst night?¡± Zayden replied, ¡°Yes.¡± He gracefully settled onto the couch, crossing his legs and leaning back against it. Gwendolyn sensed that he was still upset, but she couldn''t bring herself to take that next step. ¡°I will make us breakfast.¡± After speaking, she turned around and made her way to the kitchen. Zayden coldly curled his lips in response. Gwendolyn, I can tell you''re still preupied with Patrick. From now on, I won''ty a finger on you anymore. In this lifetime, you''ll be left alone to guard an empty room every night. Haha! The man''s aura grew exceedingly cold, and his chuckle carried an eerie undertone. Half an hourter, Gwendolyn had prepared a simple breakfast and assisted Zayden to the dining table. As Zayden held her arm, Gwendolyn let out a soft whimper. ¡°Ouch!¡± Zayden frowned slightly. ¡°Did you get hurtst night?¡± He recalled how when he pushed her awayst night, she had fallen heavily at the foot of the bed. Gwendolyn hadn''t thought much of that fall. If he hadn''t pinched her, she might not have even noticed her injury. ¡°It''s okay. It doesn''t hurt very much.¡± Zayden furrowed his brows and said, ¡°I''ll ask Suzanne to apply some medicine for you.¡± He turned his head and wanted to call Suzanne, but Gwendolyn hastily intervened, ¡°She just took the medicine. Let her rest.¡± A faint smile appeared on Zayden''s face as he secretly thought to himself, You truly are considerate. She was taking a contraceptive pill. At the dining table, as Gwendolyn was about to feed him breakfast, Zayden uttered, ¡°No need. I have regained some of my sight. I can eat on my own.¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes lit up as she asked, ¡°Really? Can you see now?¡± She cupped her face in her hands, gazing at him in astonishment as if his ability to see would bring her liberation. Zayden''s lips curled into a cold smirk. You are now married, and there is no hope for you and Patrick, understand? Zayden elegantly picked up the knife and fork and began to eat his breakfast. Seeing that he was able to take care of himself, Gwendolyn was in a good mood. She suddenly remembered something and eximed, ¡°By the way, let''s go to the hospital after breakfast! Since you can see a little now, let''s have them examine you. Maybe your vision will fully recover soon.¡± At first, Zayden had intended to keep up the pretense for a little longer, but he felt deeply disappointed with Gwendolyn, especially regarding their wedding night. At that moment, he harbored nothing but a profound and intense hatred for her. Therefore, he was determined to regain his sight and resume a normal life. However, he vowed not to let her go in this lifetime. It would be impossible for her to be with Patrick as he would never agree to it. After Gwendolyn made an appointment with the doctor, she picked up her knife and fork and started eating her breakfast. ¡°I''ve already made an appointment with the doctor, so we''ll be going to the hospitalter.¡± Observing her excitement, Zayden chose not to say anything further. Chapter 639 Chapter 639 Chapter 639 Done For Gwendolyn originally wanted Suzanne to join them at the hospital for a checkup as well, but Zayden stopped her. It was because he knew why Suzanne seemed lethargic. Hence, he said to let Suzanne rest at home while he headed to the hospital with Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn drove while Zayden sat at the back. None of them spoke a word to each other because she was focused on driving, and he wasn''t in the mood for a chat. Though Zayden felt like he was the winner, he hadn''t obtained her heart. Also, his night with Suzanne yesterday delighted him greatly. Suddenly, he experienced the thrill of revenge. Since she doesn''t want me to touch her, then I''ll ensure no men will ever touch her again. The edges of his lips curved upward into a cold smile. ¡°Did you invite Patrick to attend our wedding? I didn''t see himst night.¡± I sent an invitation to the Lowen family, but none of them seemed to be present, not even Patrick. Honestly, I''m disappointed! I wanted to see how lonely and wretched he looked as I married Gwendolyn. Upon hearing Patrick''s name, Gwendolyn felt her heart wrench. The car screeched for a moment when she identally mmed on the brakes, which pulled her back to her senses, prompting her to stabilize the vehicle again. ¡°I didn''t think it was necessary.¡± Zayden knows the man I love is Patrick, yet he''s asking me that question. There''s no way I could''ve done it. I didn''t want Patrick to watch me marry another man... Zayden grinned. ¡°Is it unnecessary? I think our marriage will be most meaningful if we receive his blessing. We should invite him to our home for a meal when there''s time. If it''s inconvenient for you to do so, I''ll invite him instead.¡± Biting her lip, Gwendolyn remained silent. I know what Zayden is doing. He wants Patrick to witness his happy marriage. What a cruel man. Is this revenge for me rejecting himst night? They didn''t speak again until they arrived at the hospital. After parking the car, Gwendolyn helped him exit the vehicle. Soon, they entered the elevator, intending to reach the sixth floor. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. When the elevator arrived on the first floor, however, the door opened. Alice and Hector promptly stepped in with a few housekeepers and Liam. Liam''s eyes widened in shock. What terrible luck this is! I can''t believe I stumbled upon Gwendolyn and Zayden here. Gwendolyn faced the old couple. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, Old Mr. Lowen, are you two here for a checkup?¡± Old Mr. Lowen seems to be in good shape and high spirits. In response, the old man scoffed, ¡°It''s none of your business.¡± His attitude was cold, as though he didn''t want to interact with her. Meanwhile, Alice nodded at her. ¡°Congrattions, Gwen!¡± Then, she eyed Zayden. To outsiders, he was still a blind man. When Gwendolyn heard the word ¡°congrattions,¡± she felt awful, and her smile became a tad strained. Still, she replied, ¡°Thank you, Old Mrs. Lowen!¡± Alice was rather upset that Gwendolyn didn''t end up with Patrick. It''s a shame she wasn''t meant to be with Pat. I quite like her, and I know he does, too. When the elevator arrived on the sixth floor, Gwendolyn nodded at the old couple before helping Zayden out. After the doors shut, Hector cursed, ¡°She''s responsible for Pat''s current state! You three may be hiding the truth from me, but I can still figure it out myself! How can I not when Pat became like that right after she got married? ¡° Liam didn''t have the nerve to speak. Indeed, this matter is rted to Ms. Ashton, but Mr. Lowen took a bullet for her on his own ord, so it''s wrong to me her. It''s just that... Alice wiped her tears away. ¡°Tell me the truth, Liam. Will Pat wake up?¡± When Pat had his operation last night, none of them told us anything. It wasn''t until this morning that Kev called and told us Pat fell into aa after a particrly serious operation. He hopes we''ll keep Patpany and talk to him, which is basically asking us to help wake him up. If Pat doesn''t wake up, it''ll be the end of the Lowen family. Chapter 640 Chapter 640 Chapter 640 How Did This Happen Hector sighed. ¡°I won''t let him die.¡± In response, Liamforted, ¡°Mr. Lowen is a lucky man. He''ll be fine.¡± The fact that he survivedst night''s surgery is enough of an indication of that. I''m still frightened whenever I recall the situation from last night. John was right to punch me. If I hadn''t been a busybody and summoned Mr. Lowen back, he wouldn''t have ended up like that. He touched his cheek, which was still swollen. Besides that, his eye was bruised. It was then Alice noticed his injury. ¡°What happened to your face, Liam?¡± Liam was too embarrassed to admit the truth, so he lied, ¡°I trippedst night by ident.¡± Alice nodded. ¡°You need to be careful, young man. You should visit a doctorter to get a checkup, just in case.¡± Then, she thought about Patrick and sighed. When the group arrived at Patrick''s ward, he was still in aa. The good news was that he had been transferred from the ICU to an ordinary ward, meaning he had survived the critical period. All that was left was for him to wake up, which was still uncertain. Hector nced at his grandson from afar and almost fell. Meanwhile, Alice straight up passed out. Liam hurriedly grabbed her before she dropped to the ground while John steadied Hector. ¡°You must stay strong, Old Mr. Lowen. Mr. Lowen needs his family''s encouragement,¡± said John as he settled Hector in a chair. Hector was getting emotional but calmed down after he reminded himself that if he copsed too, the Lowen family would truly be done for. Concurrently, Alice was carried to the neighboring ward to rest. She even received an IV drip. Initially, the old couple was fine when they learned of Patrick''s fate. However, when they actually saw their grandson being stabbed full of tubes and surrounded by medical equipment, they lost their cool. As their hearts ached terribly, their bodies failed them. When Kevin witnessed that scene, he couldn''t help but nce at Patrick again. If we hadn''t followed him that day, all Old Mr. and Mrs. Lowen would see right now is a corpse. Suddenly, Felicia arrived in a hurry. Upon spotting the unconscious Patrick, she strode toward him. ¡°What happened to him?¡± Kevin didn''t expect she woulde. After wiping her tear away, she arrived at Old Mr. Lowen''s side. ¡°What happened to Patrick, Old Mr. Lowen?¡± He seems to be in a terrible condition. His head is wrapped in gauze, and his body is connected to a bunch of tubes as well as equipment. Hector was the one who summoned her there. Initially, the old couple was going to attend Gwendolyn''s wedding yesterday. After all, the Lowen family would eventually be inws with the Ashton family. Therefore, they had to attend the wedding of the Ashton family''s daughter. However, Alice felt ill, so she didn''t want to go. Hector was worried about her and kept herpany at home. Sighing, Hector replied, ¡°We don''t know the details. I think something was growing inside his brain, but he didn''t let any of us know.¡± No one dared to inform the old couple that Patrick had taken a bullet to the head because it was rted to Gwendolyn. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. If Patrick were to sustain permanent damage or die, the old couple would me Gwendolyn for it. Everything was truly a chaotic mess. Gwendolyn had gotten married, while Patrick''s fate remained unknown. Kevin scanned through the reports before speaking to the doctor and nurse. Then, he approached the rest. ¡°No need to worry about Old Mrs. Lowen, Old Mr. Lowen. She was only overwhelmed by her sorrow, resulting in her blood pressure rising a bit too high. The doctor has already injected a nutrient solution and medicine that''ll lower her blood pressure into her IV drip. She''ll be fine once she wakes up.¡± Felicia silently sobbed. Patrick must wake up! If he dies, then I''ll lose to Gwendolyn! If the Lowen family goes down, the Surrington family will reign supreme. When that timees, my status in the Ashton family will be even lower than Gwendolyn''s! Chapter 641 Chapter 641 Chapter 641 Inherit Felicia bit her fingernails, fearing for her future. This was myst-ditch effort! I thought victory was at hand and that I was about to be the most powerful woman in Avenport after marrying Patrick. Yet, this happened. Right after Gwendolyn had gotten married, Patrick ended up in aa he may not wake up from. What should I do? ¡°Pat, he...¡± Hector had always been a tough man. Therefore, It was rare for him to weep. He sobbed and closed his eyes, collecting himself. I know I mustn''t fall apart right now. Otherwise, my family will crumble. Without anyone supporting the Lowen family, those who have their eyes set on toppling us will make their move. Kevin reassured, ¡°No need to be so heartbroken, Old Mr. Lowen. Right now, Mr. Lowen''s still just sleeping. He should''ve woken up this morning, but he didn''t, which was why we called you and your wife. If you talk with him every day, perhaps he''ll wake up after listening to your voices.¡± That was the crisis they were facing at that moment. The operation was sessful, yes, and Patrick had survived the most dangerous period. However, they didn''t expect him to fall into aa. Therefore, John, Liam, and Kevin panicked. After a discussion, they decided to ask Patrick''s family members to visit and talk to him, hoping that would wake him up. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Hector nodded. ¡°We will. I believe Pat won''t abandon us.¡± The Lowen family needs him, and he knows his responsibilities. After listening to their conversation, Felicia slipped out of the room and hid in the stairwell to call Candace. Soon, the call connected, and Candace asked, ¡°Did Old Mr. Lowen ask for you to discuss your marriage with Patrick, Fel?¡± Candace knew Felicia had Hector firmly on her side. After all, Felicia asked her ssmate''s father to perform the life-saving acupuncture procedure on Hector. To repay her favor, Hector agreed to let her marry Patrick. Candace knew Hector was likely the person who bought Gwendolyn back then and that Gwendolyn''s children might belong to Patrick. However, she would carry that secret to her grave because she wished to prevent Gwendolyn from being associated with the Lowen family. Therefore, Candace was giddy now that Gwendolyn had married a blind man because she believed the younger woman was doomed forever. Just as Candace was feeling smug, Felicia informed through a sob, ¡°Patrick has fallen into aa, Mom! He might not wake up again!¡± The more she spoke, the harder she sobbed, as though her situation was worse than Gwendolyn''s. If I stay with Patrick, I''ll have to serve a vegetable! Gwendolyn may have married a blind man, but at least that man is still active! Candace widened her eyes. ¡°What? How did he be a vegetable?¡± ¡°I don''t know. They said something grew inside his brain, so he had to undergo surgery for it,¡± answered Felicia. Abruptly, Candace stood before pacing back and forth in the house anxiously. After some deliberation, she replied, ¡°Don''t panic, Fel. Maybe he''ll wake up. Isn''t Kevin a skilled doctor? Stay calm and see how things go first. Maybe Patrick will suddenly wake up one day, and when he learns you''ve been tending to him, he''ll develop feelings for you!¡± ¡°Mom, doesn''t that mean I''m in a more miserable situation than Gwendolyn?¡± Felicia was enraged upon thinking that. I thought I would finally win against Gwendolyn for once, yet this happened. ¡°Silly girl. You''re in a much better situation than Gwendolyn! Once Patrick wakes up, you''ll be able to enjoy afortable life! If he doesn''t, Old Mr. Lowen will still likely let you marry Patrick after witnessing how considerate you are. Once that happens, the Lowen family''s fortune will be yours.¡± Chapter 642 Chapter 642 Chapter 642 Hostility Felicia widened her eyes. ¡°Really?¡± There has been an internal conflict in the Ashton family over the meager family fortune recently. However, all that is iparable to the Lowen family''s fortune! When her train of thought ended there, she felt much better. ¡°All right, Mom. I understand.¡± Now, I need to be on my best behavior around Old Mr. Lowen and take good care of Patrick. It''ll be great if he wakes up because I certainly won''t mind having a rich and handsome husband. However, if he kicks the bucket, I''ll inherit the Lowen family fortune and be an affluent woman that everyone in Avenport admires! Oh, just thinking about it makes my heart soar! When that timees, I can pick any man I want! Meanwhile, Zayden and Gwendolyn met up with the doctor. The doctor conducted another examination of Zayden''s eyes before informing with a smile, ¡°He can see a little. While it''s unknown what caused his blindness, his eyeballs are doing fine. In fact, they''re recovering, so they''ll get much better in the future.¡± After that, the doctor prescribed Zayden some medicine, including some eyedrops. As Gwendolyn held those medicine in her hand, her mood was lifted. Zayden can see again. Maybe his eyesight will return to normal soon. I''m happy that he''s going to be okay. ¡°Thank you, doctor.¡± She rose and helped Zayden out. While they were waiting for the elevator, Zayden shot her a cold nce. The happier she seemed, the more irritated he felt. It was then his phone rang, so he answered the call. Gwendolyn was certain that Zayden would lead a normal life again soon, but she wasn''t sure how far away that future was. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Where did you two go, Mr. Surrington?¡± Suzanne had just woken up from her hunger. It was very quiet inside the mansion despite it being noon. In the past, she enjoyed living in solitude. However, she had be ustomed to other people inhabiting the same building. As such, she was ufortable with the silence. ¡°We''re at the hospital right now. We''ll head back after lunch,¡± answered Zayden. ¡°Okay!¡± Suzanne was slightly disappointed. Before the call ended, she whispered, ¡°I want you to call me Babe in the future more often, Mr. Surrington. I like hearing it!¡± When Zayden called her that, he sounded so gentle, making her feel a warm sensation she''d never experienced before. She loved it and was utterly entranced by his scent and the sound of his panting. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Upon hearing that, Zayden scowled. ¡°Shut up! Don''t bring it up again.¡± Without dy, he hung up. To him, Suzanne was just a warm body to vent his sexual frustration. If he weren''t under the influence of alcoholst night, he wouldn''t have slept with her. ¡°Is it Suzanne?¡± asked Gwendolyn because she was worried. ¡°Does she know how to cook?¡± ¡°She won''t die of hunger,¡± Zayden replied inly. As he spoke, the elevator door opened. He gripped Gwendolyn''s hand and pulled her inside. ¡°Let''s grab lunch.¡± When the elevator arrived on the first floor, they met Liam again. Thetter was holding a few food containers. I guess Old Mrs. Lowen and the others are still in the hospital. Staring at Liam, Gwendolyn inquired, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen and the others haven''t left yet?¡± Liam was stunned for a moment when he spotted Gwendolyn. When he thought about how she was the cause of Patrick''sa, he shot her a cold re before ignoring her. Rage swirled in his eyes while he stepped past her. Gwendolyn spun around, her gaze following him as he left. The edges of Patrick''s lips curved upward slightly. ¡°You''re married to me already, Gwen. From now on, you should cut ties with Patrick and his people. You may think it''s fine, but they seem to be treating you with hostility already.¡± When the word ¡°hostility¡± wormed into Gwendolyn''s ears, something clicked in her mind. Indeed, Liam was reacting to me with animosity earlier. Zayden beamed upon noticing the disappointment on Gwendolyn''s countenance. Chapter 643 Chapter 643 Chapter 643 She Looks At Him Differently After the duo had lunch, they returned to Dragonhill Mansion. When they arrived, Suzanne weed them with a grin. ¡°Gwen, Ms. Ashton, you''re back.¡± It was pretty obvious Suzanne was focused on Zayden, which he noticed. After what transpiredst night, Suzanne started looking at him differently. Expression cold, Zayden marched into the building. Gazing at his attractive figure, Suzanne couldn''t help but mutter, ¡°Mr. Surrington looks good when he isn''t wearing clothes too.¡± ¡°What are you saying, Suzanne?¡± asked Gwendolyn upon approaching Suzanne. Suzanne swiftly mped her mouth shut. Mr. Surrington told me not to let anyone know what happened! N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Shaking her head, she said, ¡°It''s nothing. Can Mr. Surrington see now? He didn''t need your help to enter the building.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°He can, though his vision wanes and improves at random. Still, the doctor said the chances of a full recovery are increasing.¡± Pursing her lips, Suzanne grumbled in her mind, Mr. Surrington has always been able to see. It''s just that he''s been lying to you. As they sauntered into the building, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Have you had lunch yet, Suzanne?¡± Suzanne thought and answered, ¡°I guess so!¡± Her meals were always prepared by Zayden because she didn''t know how to cook. As such, she only ate some snacks and fruits earlier. Although, she thought that was enough because she wouldn''t die of hunger that quickly even if she didn''t eat. Touching Suzanne''s face, Gwendolyn remarked, ¡°I see you''re more energetic now.¡± Suzanne hugged Gwendolyn and rubbed her cheek on thetter. I like Gwen and Mr. Surrington a lot. I''ll be happy if I can keep staying with them like this. Dinner was prepared by Gwen. It was okay. At the dining table, Zayden sat across from Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn nced at Suzanne. ¡°You should eat with us, Suzanne!¡± She saw Suzanne more as a little sister than a housekeeper. Swiftly, Suzanne peeked at Zayden. Seeing that he didn''t object, she sat beside Gwendolyn. ¡°Thank you, Gwen, Mr. Surrington.¡± She was starving because she had only eaten some fruit for lunch. After settling down on her seat, she dug in. Gwendolyn ced a chicken drumstick on Suzanne''s te. In response, Suzanne beamed at her. Then, Suzanne ced a drumstick on Zayden''s te. ¡°You should eat this, too!¡± I bet Mr. Surrington''s exhausted as well since I wasst night. Zayden pinned his slightly displeased gaze on her, which frightened her and had her hurriedly shifting her focus back to her meal. Gwendolyn''s appetite wasn''t as well as it typically was. After all, she was still upset about yesterday''s conversation with Patrick. Upon inhaling deeply, she redirected her attention back to her food, trying not to wallow in such painful memories. After dinner, Zayden went to his study. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn and Suzanne washed the dishes and cleaned both the kitchen and the dining room. Just as they returned to the living room at around nine to watch the television, Zayden approached the second-floor ledge. ¡°Help me apply my eyedrops, Gwen.¡± He was wearing his ck bathrobe, looking as though he had just taken a bath. Gwendolyn and Suzanne snapped their sights toward him before the former rapidly stood. ¡°Okay, I''m coming.¡± Then, Suzanne watched Gwendolyn ascend the stairs and enter Zayden''s room with him. She pouted furiously while feeling a little lonely and disappointed. Are Mr. Surrington and Gwen going to y the game fromst night? I want to join, too. It''s so boring sleeping by myself. I wish I had the courage to go upstairs, but Mr. Surrington is so scary when he scolds me. Inside the bedroom, Zayden half leaned on his pillow while Gwendolyn administered his eyedrops. Without warning, he grabbed her waist and pulled her toward him. Chapter 644 Chapter 644 Chapter 644 Life After Marriage Gwendolyn nced downward and furrowed her eyebrows. Expeditiously, she finished administering his eyedrop and escaped his embrace. Then, she went to the side, looking busy. After depositing the eyedrop bottle back into the medical kit, she grabbed another medicine for him with a ss of water. ¡°It''s time for your medicine, Zayden.¡± Zayden''s expression turned grim because he didn''t want to do it. One of the medicines was intended to treat psychological ailments. Every time, Zayden would toss the medicine into the trashcan instead of consuming it. Smiling, Gwendolyn uttered, ¡°Come on. Eat your medicine.¡± Zayden''s countenance darkened further as he took in the expectant look on her face. Why does she want me to recover so badly? Is it because she can brazenly abandon me once my eyes return to normal? Enraged, Zayden gritted his teeth and spat, ¡°No.¡± A sigh slipped from Gwendolyn''s lips. ¡°You''re afflicted, Zayden. You must eat your medicine. Now that your eyes have recovered slightly, if you continue taking your medicine, you''ll return to normal in no time.¡± Zayden pped the medicine in her hand away, which also caused the water to spill onto the floor. Just as she bent down to pick up the ss, he seized her wrist and threw her on the bed. ¡°I said I''m not taking them!¡± roared Zayden coldly with a terrifying look. Gwendolyn attempted to sit up, but Zayden pushed her down. ¡°I said I''m not going to eat them,¡± he repeated with the same horrid re. Instead of moving, Gwendolyn remained still on the bed. ¡°If you don''t want to eat them, it''s fine, Zayden. Don''t get too worked up.¡± Her hands trembled as she coaxed, ¡°Why don''t you sit down first and take a deep breath? I won''t make you take the medicine anymore.¡± Upon hearing her gentle voice, Zayden narrowed his eyes, stood, and stared down at her. Then, he stepped into the walk-in closet before emerging with a tie and whip in his hands. Gwendolyn poured another ss of water for him and grabbed his medicine again, preparing to coax him to consume them. Once he ingests these, he won''t get as agitated and angry anymore. Zayden strode toward her and pushed her back to the bed, causing the water to ssh on her face. The medicine was still in her hand, though she clutched onto them even tighter. Suddenly, her hands were tied together by Zayden. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. As Gwendolyn struggled, she questioned, ¡°What are you doing, Zayden?¡± Standing beside the bed, Zayden gazed at her resentfully. Holding the whip, he barked, ¡°You refuse to let me touch you, but he could! How can you treat me like this, Gwendolyn? I''ve known you for six years! When did I ever mistreat you during that time?¡± The more he spoke, the more agitated he sounded. He clutched the whip so forcefully that veins were bulging on the back of his hand. ¡°You changed after meeting Patrick. I don''t know who you are anymore,¡± spat Zayden as he whipped Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn groaned, ¡°Ah! Zayden...¡± It was as though he couldn''t hear her pleas as he continued to whip her. Gwendolyn''s countenance scrunched up from the pain. Each stroke of the whip tormented her because he swung it with great force. It wasn''t until his hand was tired that light returned to his eyes. As he stared at the woman on the bed, he blinked and tossed his whip away. Then, he strode downstairs, heading for Suzanne''s room. Suzanne was rolling around on the bed, unable to sleep because she couldn''t stop thinking about Zayden. Therefore, when she heard the door being kicked open, she leaped from her bed in joy and pounced at him. ¡°Mr. Surrington!¡± As Zayden hugged Suzanne, she smooched his lips. Narrowing his eyes, he sneered, ¡°Did you see that, Gwendolyn? Except for you, no other woman can resist my charm.¡± Chapter 645 Chapter 645 Chapter 645 Make A Wish Gwendolyn slowly sat up and ripped the tie with her teeth, revealing red marks on her wrists. Then she lowered her gaze to stare at her chest and unbuttoned her shirt. While the dozen or soshes didn''t split her skin, she was bruised. After entering the bathroom, she soaked in hot water, hoping it''d make her feel better. That night, she slept in agony. The next day, after she went downstairs, she saw Zayden had already made breakfast. When he spotted her, he acted as though he hadn''t abused herst night. ¡°Time for breakfast, Gwen.¡± ¡°Gwen,¡± greeted Suzanne with a delighted grin while serving breakfast. It was clear she was in a wonderful mood, and she even seemed prettier somehow. She gazed affectionately at Zayden, but he didn''t reciprocate it. Instead, he pulled a chair back for Gwendolyn. ¡°I prepared your favorite oatmeal porridge.¡± Then, he pushed the oatmeal porridge toward her. In response, Gwendolyn peered at him. At that moment, Zayden was beaming warmly as though nothing outrageous had happenedst night. The look in Gwendolyn''s eyes darkened slightly. He was like a different personst night. It was frightening. How he''s acting right now aligns more with the Zayden I know. ¡°Give it a try. See if you like it,¡± encouraged Zayden. Sitting across from Gwendolyn, Suzanne drank a mouthful of milk, leaving white stains around her lips. ¡°Mr. Surrington woke up very early to prepare the porridge for you, Gwen! Eat it!¡± Gwendolyn lowered her head and ate the oatmeal porridge in silence. The pain in my body seemed to have intensified. So this is what my marriage life is like. After breakfast, Suzanne cleaned the dishes. Meanwhile, Zayden went on a stroll around the mansion area with Gwendolyn. Dragonhill Mansion was built in a forest. Thus, once they stepped out of its premise, they could hear insects and birds chirping everywhere. Gwendolyn walked with her head lowered, the pain still torturing her. Out of the blue, Zayden ceased his steps. ¡°There''s a wishing well ahead. I heard it works quite well.¡± In the past, Gwendolyn loved making wishes. No matter where she went, as long as a ce was imed to be able to grant wishes, she would make a wish. Of course, the wishes she made were rted to her wealth and the health of her family. Gwendolyn nodded. When she walked a little closer to him, he tried to hold her hand, but she backed away. Then, she increased her pace to go ahead of him. Zayden caught up to Gwendolyn, blocked her path, and peered at her. ¡°I''m sorry for failing to keep my emotions in checkst night, Gwen.¡± At that moment, Zayden was wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of ck cks. His bangs covered his eyebrows, adding a youthful ir to him. Fear was still present in Gwendolyn''s eyes when she recalled how he behavedst night. Pursing her lips, she asked, ¡°Can you promise me you''ll eat your medicine on time, Zayden?¡± I know what mental issue he''s suffering from. It is post-traumatic stress disorder. The severity of his condition surprises me, honestly. In the past, I thought it would, at most, cause him to overthink things. To my shock, it turned him more violent, too. At this moment, I can''t possibly be angry at him. After all, he''s sick. I chose to marry him because I wanted him to get better. Gwendolyn lowered her heod ond ote the ootmeol porridge in silence. The poin in my body seemed to hove intensified. So this is whot my morrioge life is like. After breokfost, Suzonne cleoned the dishes. Meonwhile, Zoyden went on o stroll oround the monsion oreo with Gwendolyn. Drogonhill Monsion wos built in o forest. Thus, once they stepped out of its premise, they could heor insects ond birds chirping everywhere. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Gwendolyn wolked with her heod lowered, the poin still torturing her. Out of the blue, Zoyden ceosed his steps. ¡°There''s o wishing well oheod. I heord it works quite well.¡± In the post, Gwendolyn loved moking wishes. No motter where she went, os long os o ploce wos cloimed to be oble to gront wishes, she would moke o wish. Of course, the wishes she mode were reloted to her weolth ond the heolth of her fomily. Gwendolyn nodded. When she wolked o little closer to him, he tried to hold her hond, but she bocked owoy. Then, she increosed her poce to go oheod of him. Zoyden cought up to Gwendolyn, blocked her poth, ond peered ot her. ¡°I''m sorry for foiling to keep my emotions in check lost night, Gwen.¡± At thot moment, Zoyden wos weoring o white t-shirt ond o poir of block slocks. His bongs covered his eyebrows, odding o youthful floir to him. Feor wos still present in Gwendolyn''s eyes when she recolled how he behoved lost night. Pursing her lips, she osked, ¡°Con you promise me you''ll eot your medicine on time, Zoyden?¡± I know whot mentol issue he''s suffering from. It is post-troumotic stress disorder. The severity of his condition surprises me, honestly. In the post, I thought it would, ot most, couse him to overthink things. To my shock, it turned him more violent, too. At this moment, I con''t possibly be ongry ot him. After oll, he''s sick. I chose to morry him becouse I wonted him to get better. Gwendolyn lowered her head and ate the oatmeal porridge in silence. The pain in my body seemed to have intensified. So this is what my marriage life is like. Grinning, he said, ¡°As long as you''re willing to forgive me and not be angry, I''ll eat my medicine on time every day.¡± Seeing that Zayden had seemingly returned to normal, Gwendolyn sighed in relief. ¡°Okay, I''ll forgive you!¡± This pain isn''t anything that serious. It''ll fade away in a few days. They then headed to the wishing well. It used to be a spring, but the water was undrinkable. Hence, when the area was being developed, people turned that spot into a wishing well. Upon approaching the well, Gwendolyn noticed many wishes hanging on the trees around it. It seems this is quite a popr spot. This must mean this ce is effective! Why else would numerous people visit this ce? Zayden delivered her a coin with a warm smile. ¡°Make your wish.¡± Usually, Gwendolyn would utter, ¡°I wish to be rich!¡± That day, however, she closed her eyes and thought, I wish Patrick will be happy! I wish Zayden''s eyes will recover and his mental illness will be treated! Lastly, I wish Grandpa will live a long, healthy life! Chapter 646 Chapter 646 Chapter 646 Care About Her The Most Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. A weekter, they moved back to Zayden''s mansion in the city. Gwendolyn''s children and Camille moved in with them. That night, Camille prepared a feast with Suzanne''s aid. After Juliette moved to her new home, she was given a brand-new Barbie doll. She was pretty happy to receive it and was ying with it. Justin and Julian also received gifts. Theirs were Lego racing cars. They were nning how toplete constructing both toys over the weekend. Gwendolyn nced at the snacks and fruits on the coffee table before calling for her children. ¡°Juliette, Justin, Julian,e eat!¡± In response, Juliette approached the table and started eating the strawberry cake with a fork. ¡°This cake is so tasty!¡± Gwendolyn had specifically gone to buy it after returning to the city because it was the children''s favorite. It was her attempt to make things up to them after aggrieving them. Justin and Julian ate grapefruits because they enjoyed sour fruits. Smiling, Gwendolyn inquired, ¡°We''ll be staying here from now on. What do you all think?¡± Juliette giggled. ¡°I''ll stay here if Zay buys me a gift every day!¡± Then, she snuck a nce upstairs. Thank goodness he didn''t hear me. Otherwise, that would be terribly embarrassing! A waaktar, thay movad back to Zaydan''s mansion in tha city. Gwandolyn''s childran and Cami movad in with tham. That night, Cami praparad a faast with Suzanna''s aid. Aftar Juliatta movad to har naw homa, sha was givan a brand-naw Barbia doll. Sha was pratty happy to racaiva it and was ying with it. Justin and Julian also racaivad gifts. Thairs wara Lago racing cars. Thay wara nning how tota constructing both toys ovar tha waakand. Gwandolyn ncad at tha snacks and fruits on tha coffaa ta bafora calling for har childran. ¡°Juliatta, Justin, Julian,a aat!¡± In rasponsa, Juliatta approachad tha ta and startad aating tha strawbarry caka with a fork. ¡°This caka is so tasty!¡± Gwandolyn had spacifically gona to buy it aftar raturning to tha city bacausa it was tha childran''s favorita. It was har attampt to maka things up to tham aftar aggriaving tham. Justin and Julian ata grapafruits bacausa thay anjoyad sour fruits. Smiling, Gwandolyn inquirad, ¡°Wa''ll ba staying hara from now on. What do you all think?¡± Juliatta gigd. ¡°I''ll stay hara if Zay buys ma a gift avary day!¡± Than, sha snuck a nca upstairs. Thank goodnass ha didn''t haar ma. Otharwisa, that would ba tarribly ambarrassing! Staring at her daughter, Gwendolyn thought, She definitely takes after me with how much of a money- grubber she is. Still, I think it''s cute. ¡°That''s not right, Juliette.¡± Juliette nodded. ¡°I know. We''ll stay wherever you''re staying, Gwen.¡± In response, Gwendolyn turned to her sons. ¡°What about you two? Do you like it here?¡± I understand the kids share the same sentiment, but if they dislike it here, they can move back home. It''s not that far from here. Julian grinned. ¡°Juliette speaks for us three.¡± Then, he asked, ¡°Are you really going to spend your whole life with Mr. Zayden, Mommy?¡± That was what the brothers cared about the most. They knew she liked Patrick, even though they thought he was unreliable. However, after they heard their mother crying the other day, they decided that nothing was more important than her happiness. When Gwendolyn heard that, the light in her eyes dimmed before being reced by a mncholy look. ¡°Mhm.¡± Who can say for sure about that? I don''t want to talk about this in front of the children because I don''t want them to have a negative view of love. I want them to believe in love, to imagine and fantasize about it. Justin asked, ¡°Patrick didn''t meet with you?¡± I don''t think he''s the type of man who gives up easily. If he wanted to, he''d do anything to stop Mommy from getting married. Yet, nothing happened this time. It''s weird. Gwendolyn didn''t have the nerve to think about what happened that day or what Patrick''s future would be like because she couldn''t ept the mere idea of other women being around him. It was then Zayden descended from the stairs. He scanned the people in the living room and asked, ¡°Is the meal ready?¡± He had overheard what Justin said and believed it was a dormant threat to his rtionship with Gwendolyn. Hence, his expression was grim when he spoke, and his tone was cold. While taking a bite of cake, Juliette replied, ¡°Not yet. Zay, do you want some cake? It''s delicious.¡± Warmth surged through Zayden when he heard her cute voice, as though the mere sound of it soothed his irritation. He sat beside Juliette before peering at the boys icily. ¡°I signed you two up for boxing. In the future, the driver will send you both to the boxing lessons after school.¡± Chapter 647 Chapter 647 Chapter 647 The Truth Gwendolyn''s expression took a slight turn when she heard that. ¡°It''s okay, Zayden. We used to do kickboxing together, so there''s no need for them to learn this stuff anymore.¡± The boys were still young, and she didn''t feelfortable letting them take so many sses on fighting. Zayden''s gaze turned icy. ¡°They''re boys. This is what they should be learning. It''s so that they can keep the girls in their lives safe. How else will they protect their mother and sister?¡± Justin and Julian exchanged nces. ¡°Okay, we''ll go,¡± Julian said calmly. Truthfully, they were keen on such activities; they simply never expressed their interests in the past because they were worried their mother couldn''t afford their sses. They didn''t want to burden Gwendolyn too much. However, now that Zayden was presenting them such an offer, they didn''t want to say no. Gwendolyn pursed her lips and said nothing more. At that moment, Suzanne emerged from the kitchen, her doe eyes sparkling as she grinned. ¡°Food''s ready, Mr. Surrington! Camille cooked up a feast!¡± She then came over and took Juliette by the hand. ¡°Let''s eat, Juliette!¡± Given her childlike personality, it was only natural that she got along well with kids. The few of them headed into the dining room and ate together. Suzanne constantly nced at Zayden while chewing on a chicken drumstick. Gwandolyn''s axprassion took a slight turn whan sha haard that. ¡°It''s okay, Zaydan. Wa usad to do kickboxing togathar, so thara''s no naad for tham toarn this stuff anymora.¡± Tha boys wara still young, and sha didn''t faalfortatting tham taka so many ssas on fighting. Zaydan''s gaza turnad icy. ¡°Thay''ra boys. This is what thay should baarning. It''s so that thay can kaap tha girls in thair livas safa. How alsa will thay protact thair mothar and sistar?¡± Justin and Julian axchangad ncas. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Okay, wa''ll go,¡± Julian said calmly. Truthfully, thay wara kaan on such activitias; thay simply navar axprassad thair intarasts in tha past bacausa thay wara worriad thair mothar couldn''t afford thair ssas. Thay didn''t want to burdan Gwandolyn too much. Howavar, now that Zaydan was prasanting tham such an offar, thay didn''t want to say no. Gwandolyn pursad har lips and said nothing mora. At that momant, Suzanna amargad from tha kitchan, har doa ayas sparkling as sha grinnad. ¡°Food''s raady, Mr. Surrington! Cami cookad up a faast!¡± Sha than cama ovar and took Juliatta by tha hand. ¡°Lat''s aat, Juliatta!¡± Givan har childlika parsonality, it was only natural that sha got along wall with kids. Tha faw of tham haadad into tha dining room and ata togathar. Suzanna constantly ncad at Zaydan wh chawing on a chickan drumstick. It had been a while since the man stopped by her room at night. She wasn''t used to that and was aching to know why. Yet, she dared not ask and could only steal nces at him. Noticing that, Zayden helped Gwendolyn fill her te. ¡°Have some more.¡± Gwendolyn returned the gesture. ¡°You should eat more too.¡± Zayden smiled blissfully in response. The piece of chicken in Suzanne''s hand suddenly didn''t taste as good anymore. Upon taking another bite and finding it unappetizing, she put it down, refusing to eat it further. After dinner, Gwendolyn took the three children out for a walk. When they returned, she brought Juliette away for a shower. Meanwhile, Suzanne washed the dishes and cleaned up the dining room with Camille. The twoter came out and saw Zayden sitting on the couch watching some financial news. Camille was secretly pleased. Now that Mr. Surrington''s eyes have gotten better, Gwen wouldn''t have to tend to him anymore. ¡°You don''t have to follow me anymore, Suzanne. I''m going to wash the kids'' clothes. You can rest now.¡± She looks pretty young, and it seems as if she doesn''t know much about anything. Ever since she came over today, she''s been following me around and helping me with the housework. She''s awfully hardworking! She''s also so cheerful and doesn''t seem to have any worries¡ªjust like a child. Suzanne nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± After Camille had gone upstairs, Suzanne dashed toward Zayden, sat on hisp, and wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°Why haven''t you gone to my room the past few nights, Mr. Surrington? I''ve been wanting to y with you.¡± She took in his scent while speaking. I love how he smells. Zayden red at her. ¡°Get off me,¡± he warned frostily. Suzanne shook her head. ¡°No. I want to stay this way with you, Mr. Surrington. I like doing this!¡± she replied coyly, not intending to let go of him. Zayden scanned their surroundings. Thankfully, no one else was around. ¡°Get down. I''ll drop by your room tonight. We''ll talk then.¡± Then, he pushed her onto the seat next to him before motioning at the table. ¡°Have some fruit.¡± At this point, Suzanne wasn''t interested in food. You taste the best, Mr. Surrington. Her eyes fell on his exquisite lips, and she was instantly captivated. She gulped before beaming at him. ¡°Mr. Surrington, can I taste your...¡± As she pointed at his lips, the man''s gaze darkened. This young woman sure knew how to whet his desires. Chapter 648 Chapter 648 Chapter 648 Medicine ¡°They don''t look like master and servant to me,¡± Julian remarked. Justin''s pitch-ck eyes gleamed. ¡°Mommy''s such an idiot.¡± With that, the two boys headed into their room. The next morning, Gwendolyn got out of bed, walked into the bathroom, and stared at herself in the mirror. Her face looked ashen; Zayden had lost it against night. He hadshed her with a whip, causing her to lift her arms in defense. Hence, there were raised marks all over them now. She lifted her sleeves carefully, and upon seeing all the bruises and welts on her arm, she quickly looked away and let go of her clothing. A knock came on the door at that moment, and Gwendolyn hastily adjusted her clothes so as to prevent her injuries from showing. Then, she walked out of the bathroom and opened the door to her bedroom. Her three children stood outside. Juliette had a white crop top and a pair of ck sweatpants on, whereas the boys wore ck and white tracksuits, respectively, with baseball caps over their heads. ¡°We''re about to go for our sses, Gwen. Can you take me out to y this afternoon?¡± Juliette asked merrily, her eyes sparkling. It was Saturday, so the little girl had dance ss today while Justin and Julian were going to learn coding. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Sure!¡± As she raised her hands to tie Juliette''s hair, the sleeves on her nightgown rolled down slightly, revealing the whip marks. Justin and Julian caught sight of that and exchanged nces. ¡°Let''s head down for breakfast, Juliette,¡± Julian proposed, holding his sister''s hand. As the two left, Justin walked into Gwendolyn''s room, signaling her to follow him. Aware that he had something to discuss, the woman did as requested. ¡°What is it you want to talk about?¡± she asked with a smile. The three siblings had always been close since they were young, and everything they did was nned in advance. Seeing nothing unusual about her expression, Justin reached for her sleeve. Gwendolyn took a step back immediately, not realizing that the boy had already caught a glimpse of her injuries while she was tying Juliette''s hair earlier. From her response, Justin knew she was trying to hide those marks from them. ¡°Mommy, we just want to let you know that no matter what happens, you can always tell us about it. We''ll always be on your side.¡± Hearing that, the woman gave him a hug. ¡°Thank you, Sweetheart. I know that.¡± As Justin left the room and headed downstairs, Camille rushed out of the kitchen. ¡°You''re going to bete! Here, I made you sandwiches. Eat them inside the car.¡± Suzanne followed them. ¡°Be sure to eat your breakfast!¡± Juliette grinned at her. ¡°I will, Ms. Drache! Ms. Ziegler said you made them too!¡± Being in a good mood since Zayden had gone to her roomst night, Suzanne was all smiles. ¡°You''re right! I made them too. It was my first time, but I did pretty well!¡± After dropping Camille and Juliette off at dance school, the Surrington family''s driver headed in the direction of Justin''s and Julian''s coding school. ¡°We want to go to the hospital before that, mister. Please take us to Fourton Hospital,¡± Justin remarked coldly. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Mommy''s definitely hurt, and those looked like whip marks. She needs some medicine. The driver did as instructed, taking the boys to Fourton Hospital. ¡°Wait for us here. We''re going to get our mommy some medicine,¡± Julian said to him upon arriving at the parking lot. ¡°I''lle with you,¡± the driver offered, worried. These boys are only five. Can they really get by on their own inside such a busy ce? What if something happens to them? ¡°It''s okay, mister. You can just wait here. We won''t get lost.¡± With that, the boys headed into the hospital building. ¡°Which department are we going to, Justin?¡± ¡°Internal Medicine.¡± As Justin booked an appointment on his phone, Julian leaned over to look as well. ¡°Justin! Julian!¡± Alice spotted them the moment she walked into the hospital and called out to them. Chapter 649 Chapter 649 Chapter 649 Let Me Take Care Of Patrick Justin and Julian turned around and saw Alice dressed in a blue dress and standing not far away. There were two housekeepers next to her. One of them ran toward the kids and said, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen is calling for you!¡± Justin and Julian walked up to Alice and greeted her in unison, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen.¡± Alice was saddened when she heard the way they addressed her. They used to call me Great- grandma. These two are little, but they seem to know everything. Well, since Pat and Gwen are no longer together, it''s only right for the kids to change the way they address me. ¡°Are you boys here to see your great-grandpa?¡± she asked them. Alice knew Michael had been hospitalized. She and Hector had even gone to visit him a few days ago. ¡°We are. How about you? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Justin asked. The triplets were very fond of Hector and Alice because the couple were nice to the kids. When Alice heard those words, her expression changed slightly. She heaved a sigh and replied, ¡°I''m here to see Patrick. He''s sick, and things aren''t looking good for him.¡± She lifted her hand to wipe her tears dry. It''s been so long, and Pat is still unconscious. What if he doesn''t wake up again? Justin and Julian suddenly realized why Patrick didn''t stop their mother from getting married. He''s sick and Mommy doesn''t seem to know about it. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, let''s visit Mr. Lowen together,¡± Justin suggested. ¡°Sure. Let''s go.¡± Alice nodded. These two boys resemble Pat when he was young. Their facial features are so simr to his! They were supposed to be a family, but it''s toote now. Alice let out a long sigh. The thought of Hector made her angry. What on earth has gotten into him? It''s as though Felicia has bewitched him! Alice had been worried sick because Felicia had been looking after Patrick these days. When they entered Patrick''s ward, they saw Felicia eating fruits on the couch and ordering a few housekeepers around. ¡°That''s right. Wipe his face, neck, and legs. Make sure he''s cleaned thoroughly. Otherwise, he''ll stink.¡± The moment Felicia saw Alice and the others, she rose to her feet hastily and put her fruit tter aside. She rushed toward the bed and grumbled, ¡°You guys are so clumsy! I''ll do it myself.¡± A hint of disappointment appeared in Alice''s eyes when she saw what had just happened before her eyes. I always thought Felicia loved Pat dearly because she said so herself. As it turns out, she never meant it. Pat is in aa, and instead of looking after him personally, she tells a bunch of housekeepers to do so. Alice shook her head and said, ¡°Ms. Ashton, please leave and bring your housekeepers along! From now on, I''ll look after Pat myself.¡± When Felicia heard that, she had a hot towel in her hand, and she was just about to wipe Patrick down. In a panic, Felicia replied, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, let me take care of Patrick! This is what I''m supposed to do.¡± Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. ¡°No. I''ll take care of my grandson. Please leave,¡± Alice demanded coldly. Felicia nced around and noticed that Hector wasn''t there. She wasn''t keen on looking after a patient in a vegetative state. She merely wanted to get on Hector''s good side because all she wanted was the Lowen family''s fortune. If Patrick were healthy and fit, she would love him to the moon and back. But a man who couldn''t move or speak like this was not a man she wanted to be with for the rest of her life. ¡°All right, then. I''ll visit him again tomorrow.¡± Felicia stared at Justin and Julian for a couple of seconds when she was walking past them. What are these two boys doing here? Is Gwendolyn here too? She turned to look at Alice. That olddy is still missing Gwendolyn, isn''t she? Ha! She can''t change the fact that Gwendolyn has already married into the Surrington family. Chapter 650 Chapter 650 Chapter 650 We Look Like Him The ward instantly fell into silence after Felicia and her housekeepers left. The air in the room seemed to have be fresher as well. Felicia liked to use strong perfumes, and the ward would be filled with the smell of her perfume when she was there. Alice approached the bed and started wiping Patrick down. A housekeeper quickly went up to her and offered, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, let us do it.¡± ¡°It''s all right. Pat wouldn''t want random people to do this for him. I''ll do it myself.¡± Justin and Julian watched Alice wipe down Patrick''s entire body. She then sat on a chair beside the bed to hold Patrick''s hand. ¡°Pat, Justin and Julian are here to see you. Wake up and look at them.¡± Alice''s sorrowful tone was saddening. ¡°Justin, he doesn''t look so good. Do you think we should tell Mommy about this?¡± Julian asked Justin softly. Justin was also thinking about this. If Mommy finds out about this, she''ll surely pay him a visit. Perhaps she might even want to look after him. If that happens, Mr. Zayden is going to be so mad. Will he and Mommy have a fight after that? Mr. Zayden was so intimate with that maidst night. He betrayed Mommy. How did Mommy hurt her hand today? Was it that maid? The kids didn''t associate it with Zayden at all because he had known them for many years and they knew he was a good man and wouldn''t hurt their mother. ¡°We''ll talk about itter.¡± The boys knew they had to tread carefully. Shortly after, they approached Alice, and Julian helped her to the couch. Justin stood beside the bed and sized Patrick up. Thetter''s hair had been shaved off, and his head was wrapped in gauze. His eyes were closed, and he had the chiseled features of a male model. Despite the situation he was in, he still looked dashing. Justin leaned in and whispered in Patrick''s ear, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I know you can hear me. You must wake up. Gwendolyn is living in hell and waiting for you to save her.¡± With that, Justin straightened up and walked toward the couch. Patrick was still in deep slumber, showing no signs of waking up. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, is it okay if Julian and Ie over to read for Mr. Lowen every day?¡± Justin asked. There and then, Justin came up with an idea and figured they could tell Patrick about Gwendolyn''s everyday life. If he loves Mommy, he''ll wake up. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Alice nodded vigorously when she heard that. ¡°Sure! Sure!¡± They''re eager to help Pat. What a pair of thoughtful boys! Alice was gratified. ¡°Are you boys adapting well at the Surrington residence?¡± she asked. If Gwen and Pat were married, the kids would make the Lowen residence so lively. And perhaps Pat wouldn''t be in this situation now... Alice loved the kids because they gave her a sense of affinity. ¡°It''s not too bad. We only moved in yesterday. We aren''t staying at the Surrington residence, though. We''re staying at Mr. Zayden''s mansion,¡± Julian answered. In truth, the boys knew that since they couldn''t attend the wedding, there was no way they could stay at the Surrington residence. That was because the Surrington family didn''t want to ept and acknowledge them. ¡°No matter what trouble you guys run into in the future, feel free to look for me. I''ll offer my help,¡± Alice said. Right then, Justin looked at the time and said, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, we''ve got to go. We need to attend our sses.¡± Alice sent them to the elevator, and Justin and Julian waved her goodbye. The moment the elevator doors closed, Julian sighed and uttered, ¡°Justin, I wonder what happened to him.¡± That man was so capable back then. How did he turn out like this? Julian felt sad and horrible. Justin felt just as devastated. ¡°Julian, do you think we look like him?¡± It was very apparent that day because Patrick was lying emotionlessly in bed. Chapter 651 Chapter 651 Chapter 651 What A Coincidence A look of shock spread across Julian''s handsome face. ¡°Are you saying we could be his kids?¡± Julian had never thought that would be possible. If he''s our father, why wasn''t he present in our lives in the past? Besides, he and Mommy don''t seem to have crossed paths before. Justin arched a brow. ¡°I was just guessing! We don''t know much about the adults'' histories. But we can confirm if that''s the case.¡± The two nodded and came to an understanding about what was to follow. The triplets arrived home at around noon that day. Gwendolyn was on the phone in her room. She hadn''t been attending to work matters recently, and Connor hadn''t been talking to her about work matters because of her wedding. On that day, he finally called. The two chatted about work. Although Gwendolyn had trouble understanding what was going on, Connor had assigned her some tasks. If she were to handle thepany in the future, Connor would undoubtedly be her best assistant. ¡°Okay, Mr. Wable. I''ll do as you say and read all the books.¡± ¡°Congrattions on your marriage, Ms. Ashton!¡± Connor said before ending the call. He sounded genuinely happy for Gwendolyn. ¡°Thank you!¡± After the call ended, Gwendolyn searched for bookstores on the inte. She had wanted to buy the books online, but she thought visiting the bookstores would be more convenient. Besides, she looked forward to reading books in the bookstores. While she was scrolling through her phone, her sleeve slid down, revealing the ghastly injury on her arm. She froze momentarily when she saw that. Zayden seemed to have transformed into a different person when he hit mest night. She recalled the words Zayden had said to her. ¡°Gwendolyn, this is all your fault. Am I not nice to you? Why did you have to fall for Patrick? You even wanted to marry him. Well, you should forget about it. I will never let it happen.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze. I don''t know what''s going to happen in the future, but I''ll never let him abuse me again. Right then, someone knocked on the door. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Mommy, we''reing in!¡± Upon hearing Julian''s voice, Gwendolynposed herself and pulled her sleeve down. I can''t let the kids see my injury. The door was pushed open, and the two boys entered the room. Justin ced a bag of medication on her desk while Julian smiled and said, ¡°Juliette''s interest was piqued when we passed by a vending machine. We fooled around with it for a while, and these tubes of ointment fell out. Take a look and see if we can keep them.¡± Gwendolyn took the bag of medication and looked at it. These help reduce bruises and promote blood cirction. That''s exactly what I need! What a coincidence! ¡°Give them to me. I''ll keep whatever that can be used in the first aid kitter.¡± At that moment, Juliette entered the bedroom and climbed onto the enormous bed. ¡°I''m so sleepy! Let me take a nap. When I wake up, we''ll go outside and y with you, Gwen.¡± Juliette let out a yawn. Whenever she got tired, she would fall asleep rather easily. Gwendolyn tucked her in and asked, ¡°Don''t you want to have lunch?¡± Gwendolyn didn''t get a response because Juliette had already fallen asleep. ¡°Mommy, we''re going downstairs for a ss of water. Join us for lunch, okay?¡± Justin said. With that, the boys left the bedroom together and closed the door behind them. After the boys left, Gwendolyn nced at Juliette, who was fast asleep. She must be exhausted! She can have lunch when she wakes upter. Gwendolyn grabbed the bag of medication and went into the bathroom. There, she applied the medication to her injury. Thest time, I didn''t apply any medication, so it took a long time to heal. Now, the kids have somehow brought me what I needed. How fortunate! I hope I can heal faster this time. It''s so hot these days, and I can''t keep wearing clothes with long sleeves. Right when Justin and Julian arrived at the staircase, they bumped into Zayden. ¡°Where''s your mommy? It''s time for lunch.¡± ¡°Have your eyes recoveredpletely, Mr. Zayden?¡± Julian asked suspiciously. Chapter 652 Chapter 652 Chapter 652 The Sight Of Him Scared Her Due to how well they knew Zayden, they couldn''t help but notice that his eyes seemed to have recoveredpletely. If that''s the case, it''s great news! Zayden nced warily in the direction of Gwendolyn''s room and squeezed out a smile. ¡°Although it''s blurry, I can see things close up. I still can''t see things that are a distance away.¡± The boys understood what he meant. ¡°It''s all right, Mr. Zayden. Since you''ve recovered your eyesight, that means your eyes will heal completely in the future.¡± Suddenly, Zayden felt a sense of familiarity. Thinking that he had been around ever since the boys were born, he felt a warm, fuzzy feeling in his heart. He caressed their heads and said, ¡°Mm-hmm. Go get your mommy for lunch.¡± ¡°She''ll be down shortly. We''ll wait for her in the dining room,¡± Julian answered. Zayden nodded and walked down the stairs. Justin and Julian walked down the stairs alongside each other, and they were happy with Zayden''s recovery. Yet, they knew his affection for their mother wasn''t genuine. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have fooled around with Suzanne. Although the boys were angry, they also knew Gwendolyn wasn''t into Zayden. Instead, she wanted to marry Patrick. Is this how things are in the world of adults? They don''t like each other, but they still have to live together. Don''t they ever feel exhausted? We''re getting tired of this! The boys were frustrated because they had to feign ignorance when they knew precisely what was going on. When Gwendolyn arrived downstairs, she instinctively cast Zayden a nce. The sight of him scared her a little. His expression was gloomyst night. When he hit me, I caught him smiling faintly! Zayden stood up and pulled a chair for her. ¡°Let''s eat.¡± He sounded the same, and he was even exuding a warm aura. Gwendolyn nced at him indifferently and took her seat at the dining table. She didn''t have much appetite that day, so she only ate a little for lunch. Zayden served her more food and urged, ¡°You should eat more.¡± Gwendolyn looked at the food and felt even worse. She rose to her feet and came up with an excuse to leave the dining table. ¡°You guys carry on. I''ll get Juliette toe down for lunch. She should be awake by now.¡± Zayden noticed her cold expression and sensed the loneliness in her retreating figure. He knitted his brows as he felt oddly upset. ¡°Mr. Surrington, you should eat more of these. These are good for you!¡± Suzanne filled up Zayden''s te with food. Zayden''s expression changed slightly when he saw some vegetables, a few slices of beef, and a bowl of soup before him. ¡°Who told you to make these dishes?¡± he asked sternly. Startled by the stern look on his face, Suzanne teared up a little and looked extremely aggrieved. ¡°I... I asked Ms. Ziegler, and she told me these dishes are nutritious for men.¡± She lowered her head and added, ¡°I won''t repeat my mistake again.¡± Zayden said nothing more when he saw how submissive she was. As a matter of fact, he even finished all the food she had served him. Suzanne snickered when she saw that. She kept her gaze on Zayden, unwilling to look away even for a split second. The boys witnessed the interaction between the two and didn''t quite understand the chemistry the two had. However, they could tell Zayden cared about her a lot. He said she''s a maid, but he pampers her so much. Everything she uses is of premium quality. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°We''re done,¡± Julian piped up. Camille, too, finished lunch shortly after the boys left the dining room and returned to the kitchen. When the boys were ying with Lego pieces in the living room, Julian asked, ¡°Justin, if Mr. Zayden fancies Ms. Drache, doesn''t that mean Mommy is allowed to be with Mr. Lowen?¡± The boys knew their mother loved Patrick. Justin gave it some thought and answered, ¡°That can only happen if Mr. Zayden and Mommy get a divorce and Mr. Lowen wakes up.¡± Chapter 653 Chapter 653 Chapter 653 Wake Up And Save Her Three monthster, the weather began to turn cool with the arrival of autumn. Patrick remained unconscious on his hospital bed, his hair now noticeably longer. Jocelyn held his medical records, flipping through them. Kevin, looking worried, asked, ¡°It''s been three months. Why isn''t he awake? Did you identally mess things up during the surgery?¡± ¡°I''ve already exined before, and I don''t want to repeat myself,¡± Jocelyn said cidly after ncing at him. What else can I do since he''s not ready to wake up? At that moment, Justin and Julian entered the ward as they faithfully did every day. Kevin watched them as they devotedly read to Patrick even though he had no idea what they were reading. Their sincere dedication stood in stark contrast to Felicia, who would onlye to visit Patrick once in a while. During each visit, she would invariably pick a fight with him, demanding to know when Patrick would regain consciousness. She must have grown impatient and wished to find herself another sugar daddy. Soon, Rosalie arrived with a thermos sk as well. Each time she came, she would bring Patrick hot soup, hoping he could take a sip of theforting warmth when he came around. ¡°Kevin, how''s Pat today?¡± Everyone looked at the man lying on the bed, their hearts longing for his swift recovery. The medical equipment on Patrick''s body had long been removed, and his wounds had healed. He was now dressed in blue and white striped hospital clothing, lying quietly on the hospital bed. In addition to having a thinner face, his chin and facial features were now more pronounced. Kevin replied, ¡°He''s doing okay generally, but somehow, he''s still in aa.¡± Rosalie sat on the chair by the bed, holding Patrick''s hand. ¡°Pat, it''s been three months. Why are you still not awake?¡± Justin and Julian, who stood by the bed, were also just as anxious. Realizing Patrick was not waking up anytime soon, Justin had an idea in mind. He inched closer and whispered into Julian''s ear, ¡°We should tell him Mommy is being abused.¡± During these three months, whenever Gwendolyn was beaten by Zayden, she would keep it to herself and hide her injuries well. That was why Julian and Justin did not notice the injuries on her body. Today, they wanted to provoke Patrick by telling him that. They hoped he woulde around when he heard that Gwendolyn was being abused. Julian nodded, and the two boys remained still by the bed. Once everyone left, Julian climbed up to the bed and whispered, ¡°Patrick, Gwendolyn is being abused. Her hands and body are marked from being whipped. Wake up and save her. She needs your help.¡± Justin stood aside, giving the man an icy stare. After waiting for quite some time and not seeing any sign of him waking up, Julian, as usual, began recounting what Gwendolyn had done that day. The two brothers left after they were done. Back at home, they saw Gwendolyn descending the stairs with Zayden. She was wearing a light blue gown. Juliette asked, ¡°Mommy, are you going to a banquet tonight?¡± Today was Hans'' birthday, and they were nning to attend the celebration, but Gwendolyn could not bring the three children along. As she looked at them, her eyes were filled with guilt. ¡°Yes. Today is Old Mr. Surrington''s birthday, so we''re going to celebrate with him.¡± Juliette pouted. ¡°Oh. Can''t you bring us along?¡± Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. While Gwendolyn hesitated for a moment, Zayden spoke up. ¡°You three cane too!¡± Juliette was overjoyed. ¡°Can we?¡± Gwendolyn looked at him from the side, her eyes no longer as radiant as before. ¡°Aren''t you afraid that your grandparents will be angry if they find out about the kids?¡± Zayden wrapped his arm around her shoulder. ¡°We''re already married, and your children are also part of the Surrington family. I''m sure they''ll acknowledge them.¡± Gwendolyn slipped out of his embrace, maintaining a distance from him. She murmured to herself, ¡°Just make sure you don''t get mad at me when wee home in the evening.¡± Chapter 654 Chapter 654 Chapter 654 The Truth ¡°What did you say?¡± Zayden asked. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Gwendolyn held Juliette''s hand and walked to the door. ¡°Did I say anything?¡± Juliette pouted. ¡°I want to put on a princess gown.¡± Gwendolyn nced at her and responded, ¡°You look great in this dress. Come on, let''s go!¡± Juliette was already looking sweet in her Princess Elsa dress. Her two sons, on the other hand, were dressed more casually, but it did not matter since they were just children. Watching the family of four get into one car, Zayden had no choice but to get into the vehicle behind. Suzanne followed suit and got into the car as well. As soon as she got in, she held his hand and rested her head against his shoulder. ¡°Mr. Surrington, how do I look?¡± Zayden gave her a cold nce, his gaze lingering on the spot where she held his arm. Suzanne reluctantly let go of his arm, remembering his earlier words that they could only get intimate when he initiated it. Otherwise, she had to keep her distance from him. She pursed her lips in annoyance, finding him more adorable when he was single. Back then, he had treated her so well that he even called her Darling. But now he was harsh to her most of the time. Noticing that Suzanne had distanced herself from him, Zayden warned her indifferently, ¡°Remember your identity. I''ll send you away if you do that again.¡± Fear flickered in Suzanne''s eyes as she pleaded, ¡°Mr. Surrington, I promise to behave. Please don''t send me away.¡± Despite leaving Dragonhill Mansion, she felt safe staying in Zayden''s residence. If he were to kick her out of the house, she would have no way to survive on her own and would likely starve to death as she had no survival skills. She had to obey him if she wanted to stay by his and Gwendolyn''s side. Zayden nced at her grimly. Suddenly, he reached out and held her hand in his palm. ¡°Remember what I said. Don''t tell anyone about us. Understood?¡± ¡°I won''t.¡± Suzanne''s face lit up as she looked at him holding her small hand. In another car, Gwendolyn picked up her phone and go through her messages with Patrick. Why haven''t I heard from him? She had not seen him ever since she got married. In thest three months, she had kept herself upied with learning the ropes of managing a company. Her hectic schedule had helped her resist the urge to see Patrick after she had decided to end things with him. It was only today that she had some time to scroll through his Instagram and WhatsApp. Nevertheless, he hardly ever posted anything on Instagram. Even most of his posts were work-rted. Upon arriving at the Surrington residence, they got out of the cars and headed toward the main building. As they entered, Angeline immediately noticed the three children. She quickened her pace and approached Zayden. ¡°Why did you bring them here?¡± The Surringtons would never acknowledge the three children as their family. Previously, Angeline had epted Gwendolyn as her daughter-inw, but now that Zayden had recovered, she felt her son deserved someone better. She had forgotten all the pleas she had made to Gwendolyn. Zayden held Juliette''s hand and said, ¡°They''re also your grandchildren since Gwen and I are married.¡± Angeline''s expression changed slightly. ¡°Don''t talk to your grandparents like thatter. It''ll ruin the birthday celebration.¡± Gwendolyn nced at the three children, knowing that the Surringtons would not acknowledge them. ¡°Zayden, I''ll take them back first. You can stay and continue celebrating Grandpa''s birthday.¡± She then turned to the children. ¡°Wait for me in the car.¡± Juliette did not want to leave, but her two brothers talked her into walking back to the parking lot. Once the children left, Zayden grasped Gwendolyn''s hand. ¡°Grandpa will overthink if you don''te with me.¡± Gwendolyn shot daggers at him. ¡°Zayden, does it matter if we''re there or not?¡± Zayden''s expression turned slightly cold. ¡°Gwendolyn, don''t even think about divorcing me. You and your three children are stuck with me for the rest of your lives.¡± Gwendolyn''s gaze darkened, and she let out a snort. ¡°You tricked me into marrying you just so you can torture me, right?¡± One fateful evening, intoxicated by alcohol, Zayden had blurted out the truth he had long kept concealed. He had feigned blindness to defeat Patrick. Chapter 655 Chapter 655 Chapter 655 Torment Each Other To Death Zayden''s face contorted when he heard those words. He pulled Gwendolyn to the side, then abruptly shoved her away, causing her to stagger a few steps forward. After steadying herself, she nced down at her feet. Thankfully, the heels she wore were not too high; otherwise, she might have twisted her ankles. She tightened her grip on her handbag and stared icily at the man before her. Zayden had be someone she was unfamiliar with anymore. It was as if he had be a totally different person. The Zayden she knew in the past would not behave like this. Right now, he was no different from a monster. ¡°Gwen, you better behave ande with me to greet Grandpa. Or else...¡± He paused, his gaze shifting toward the children in the car. His reaction caused panic to well up within Gwendolyn. ¡°Don''t you dare touch the kids! This is between you and me. Do not drag the children in.¡± Zayden inched closer, embracing her neck as his eyes bore into hers. ¡°Gwen, you owe me. So, we can only continue tormenting each other for the rest of our lives. Don''t ever think you can escape my grasp. It''ll never happen,¡± he dered, his eyes filled with hatred as well. His intense gaze felt so alien to Gwendolyn that she pushed him away. ¡°I know I owe you. Fine. Let''s torment each other to death!¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. After speaking, she walked with determined strides, making her way toward the parking lot. Zayden''s lips curled into a cold, sinister smile as he raised his hand to touch his chest. He could still feel the warmth from her fingers where she had pushed him moments ago. His smile grew even darker as he straightened his clothes and strode toward the main building. When Gwendolyn returned to the car, Juliette asked, ¡°Mommy, are we going back now?¡± Seeing the disappointment on her daughter''s face, Gwendolyn reached out to touch her face. ¡°I''m sorry, Sweetheart. It''s Mommy''s fault.¡± Her two sons were well aware of the situation. The fact that they were excluded from both the wedding and today''s birthday celebration made it evident that the Surringtons refused to acknowledge them. Nheless, they were not upset about it because they did not ept the Surringtons as their family either. Juliette pondered for a moment, noticing that Gwendolyn seemed unhappytely. ¡°Where are we going now?¡± she asked, her tiny hand gently caressing Gwendolyn''s back, seemingly trying to console her. Juliette''s gesture instantly warmed Gwendolyn''s heart. Despite her earlier anger and frustration, having the three children by her side made everything worthwhile. ¡°Let''s go and visit Great-grandpa.¡± Although Zayden had deceived her into marrying him, Gwendolyn found sce in knowing that she was able to bringfort to Michael. They had thought he would not make it, but three months had passed, and he was still alive and well. As they reached the hospital, Gwendolyn held Juliette''s tiny hand firmly and led her toward the inpatient building. Julian and Justin, who were walking a few steps behind, overheard the nurse next to them talking. ¡°The patient in Room 1401 has finally regained consciousness. Dr. Wantark asked me to inform the director.¡± ¡°He''s awake? You better hurry, then,¡± another nurse replied. After a brief exchange, the two nurses went their separate ways. Justin and Julian exchanged nces when they heard the room number¡ªthe ward where Patrick was in. They had been visiting him regrly, so they knew it well. ¡°Did you hear that, Justin? He''se around,¡± Julian said. The two boys had already confirmed that Patrick was their biological father, so they felt a unique connection to him. Justin nodded in response. ¡°Let''s sneak over to check on himter.¡± Julian''s face lit up with joy. ¡°Do you think he woke up because he heard the things we told him earlier?¡± They walked while talking, obviously in a good mood. The four of them soon arrived at Michael''s ward, where Zachary and Candace were also present. Candace got up and said with a sarcastic tone, ¡°Gwen, did youe here to check if your grandpa is dead?¡± Candace believed Gwendolyn was still trying to get a share of the Ashton family''s assets. She could not stand how Gwendolyn continued to visit Michael even after getting married. Candace had attempted to stop her visits, but Zachary had forbidden her from doing so. Zachary stood up and said, ¡°Gwen, you''re here.¡± His attitude was clearly different from before as if some newfound understanding had enlightened him. Chapter 656 Chapter 656 Chapter 656 They Do Not Look Like Zayden Gwendolyn nced at Michael, who was lying on the bed. Luckily, he''s hard of hearing, so he probably didn''t hear what Candace said. Otherwise, he''ll definitely be sad. He''s old and not in good health, but his descendants are all looking forward to his death. It must be a terrible feeling. Gwendolyn said in a cold voice, ¡°Tell your wife to be more careful in what she says in the future. She should know what she should and shouldn''t say.¡± With that, she walked up to the bed. Candace let out a cold snort. ¡°Look, that is how she treats you. You''ll only be given a cold shoulder even if you try to be nice to her.¡± Zachary''s expression changed. ¡°Didn''t you say you were going to leave? Let''s go.¡± He nced at the three children, who did not address him. Suddenly, he wanted to hear them call him Grandpa. However, the rtionship between them prevented him from saying those things to them. He let out a long sigh and walked out of the ward. Candace turned around to nce at the old man on the bed. Old Mr. Ashton is actually smiling now that Gwendolyn is here. He''s so biased! She then gave the three children the side-eye. These three are time bombs that are necessary to be gotten rid of. Otherwise, there is still a certain risk for Fel to inherit the assets of the Lowen family even if Patrick never wakes up or dies. Juliette red at Candace. It was not until thetter had left that she looked away. ¡°Great-grandpa, I''m here.¡± Juliette rushed to the bedside, making Michael very happy. Justin and Julian turned around and left the ward to head to the fourteenth floor. As soon as they got out of the elevator, they saw a group of doctors and nurses entering a ward. The two kids quickly ran over and followed them into the ward. The man on the hospital bed was already awake with his eyes open. After examining him, one of the doctors said to Kevin, ¡°Mr. Chavez, his vital signs are normal.¡± Kevin nodded slightly. ¡°Okay. All of you may leave.¡± The doctors and nurses walked out of the ward, leaving Kevin and Jocelyn inside. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Patrick, how many fingers you can see?¡± Jocelyn raised two fingers at him. ¡°Two.¡± His response made Jocelyn smile. ¡°See. I told you my operation was a sess. He didn''t be stupid.¡± Kevin said excitedly, ¡°Pat, you finally woke up. If you don''t wake up, we will...¡± As he spoke, he began to choke. Although he was used to seeing people die, he could not stay calm when it came to his friend. If Pat never wakes up, I''ll never be able to feel at ease for the rest of my life. It''s great that he''s finally awake now. Patrick wanted to sit up, but he didn''t have the strength to do so. Kevin stopped him. ¡°Take it easy. You''ve been unconscious for three months. You need to take it slow.¡± After confirming that Patrick was awake, Justin and Julian were d. They followed the doctors and nurses out of the ward and returned to Michael''s ward. Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Where have you been? I thought you were lost.¡± Fortunately, the two of them were different from ordinary children; otherwise, she would have called the police. Julian gave her a faint smile. ¡°Justin and I went to the restroom.¡± There was a restroom in the ward, yet the boys had said that. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn did not suspect anything. ¡°Come spend some time with your great-grandpa. We''re about to go back.¡± The two kids walked to the bed and greeted him in unison, ¡°Great-grandpa.¡± Michael smiled in response. ¡°Where did you go? Your mommy was worried sick. Come, let me see if you''ve grown taller and more handsome.¡± Michael sized them up for a while beforementing, ¡°They don''t look like Zayden to me. They look more like...¡± Chapter 657 Chapter 657 Chapter 657 Worse Than A Child Michael did not finish his sentence. He took a careful look at the two boys and muttered to himself, ¡°They''re so alike.¡± Gwendolyn nced at her two sons. They are not Zayden''s sons, so of course, they don''t look like him. It''s just that Grandpa has been deceived by Zayden, just like I have. The thought of it upset her. ¡°Grandpa, they''re still kids. They''ll look more like him when they grow up.¡± Michael nodded. ¡°You''re right. Maybe they''ll look like him when they grow up.¡± Naturally, the two kids understood what Michael meant. Of course we look like Patrick. We''re his sons. But why doesn''t he and Mommy know about this? As children, they did not understand the world of adults. After having dinner with Michael, the four of them left and went back to Zayden''s mansion. Camille greeted them as soon as they entered the house. ¡°Didn''t you go to the banquet? Why are you back so early?¡± Juliette pouted. ¡°We didn''t. We visited Great-grandpa in the hospital instead. We had fun too!¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Then, she nced at Gwendolyn. I won''t be so willful anymore in the future. It seems that going to Zay''s house makes things difficult for her. Camille looked at Gwendolyn, who did not seem to be very happy. She also noticed that thetter did not like to smile anymore ever since she married Zayden. Camille sighed. Sure enough, a woman still has to marry the person she likes. Otherwise, it''s impossible for her to be happy. ¡°Juliette, I''ll take you upstairs to take a shower. It''s almost time for bed.¡± Juliette nodded. ¡°Okay. We''re in the ss for older kids now, so we can''t bete.¡± Her sweet voice echoed around the house. Camille chuckled. ¡°You''re right, Juliette.¡± Justin and Julian were in a good mood that day. They knew that Patrick was the only person who could make Gwendolyn happy again. Now that they even knew that Patrick was their biological father, they hoped that they could be together. Justin poured a ss of water, went to the living room, and put the ss in front of his mother. He sat down on the couch and watched her drink the ss of water. Gwendolyn turned to nce at him. ¡°Thanks for the water.¡± ¡°Mommy, I actually asked Great-grandpa, and he wants you to be happy!¡± When Gwendolyn heard that, mixed feelings swirled in her heart. She bit her lip and said, ¡°I know.¡± ¡°So, Mommy, you actually don''t have to force yourself to do something you don''t like for any of us. Just be yourself and strive for the happiness you want! We will always be there for you,¡± Julian said as he stuck out his head from behind the couch. Gwendolyn smiled for the first time in forever, making both her sons breathe a sigh of relief. She nted a kiss on their cheeks. ¡°Thank you, boys. I know what you mean. I''ll do my best. Now go to bed.¡± Justin got up and walked up the stairs with Julian. ¡°Mommy, you should go to bed early too.¡± ¡°Women should go to bed early!¡± Her sons'' words filled her heart with warmth. Suddenly, she realized that the cloud of gloom in her had disappeared. She felt a lot better. I''m worse than a child sometimes. They are more clever than I am and understand the meaning of our existence better than me. Gwendolyn sat in silence for a while. When she checked the time, it was already half past ten at night. Zayden had note home. She went back to her room, took a shower, and applied a facial mask before going to bed. In the middle of the night, the bedroom door was kicked open, causing her to sit up in fright. She saw Zayden entering the room and loosening his tie. She could smell the strong stench of alcohol on him. Gwendolyn wrapped the quilt tightly around her and asked, ¡°Are you drunk?¡± Chapter 658 Chapter 658 Chapter 658 Rehabilitation Zayden narrowed his eyes. ¡°A little, but I''m still sober.¡± His voice was low and deep, and it seemed to sound more hoarse than usual. Gwendolyn got out of bed. ¡°I''ll run a bath for you.¡± Zayden suddenly smiled. ¡°Gwen, you''re always nice to me, but why won''t you sleep with me?¡± He approached her. ¡°Are you still thinking about Patrick?¡± Gwendolyn averted her eyes and remained silent. Zayden sneered, ¡°Do you think I want to sleep with you? I won''t ever let you go, but you''ll only live like a widow here.¡± He took a step back, turned around, and left the bedroom. Only then did Gwendolyn rx. He had not spent the night in her room since they got married. Both of them were at fault. She thought that being married meant that she could be there to take care of him. But in a real marriage, there must be love, sex, and intimacy. She had never thought about those things before. She did not know that she had to face them until after she got married. Hence, she refused to get intimate with Zayden, and that was why Zayden became like that. The two of them went from being good friends to being hostile now. Everything was wrong. Gwendolyn had slowly epted the reality. Although her sons had reminded her before going to bed that she could live for herself and chase after her happiness without worrying about anything, she wondered if she still had the right to do so. She let out a sigh. She would not cry anymore. She used to love to cry when she encountered troubles. But now, the sadder she was, the harder it was for her to cry. It was mainly because she did not have the right to and she had lost hope. She was too embarrassed to cry and could only suffer in silence. The next day, Gwendolyn got up and went to work as usual. When she went downstairs, the three children, who were leaving, waved at her at the door. ¡°Bye, Mommy!¡± Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Be good at school!¡± She went to the dining room and saw that Zayden had not left. He was sitting at the head of the table, having breakfast. He looked up at Gwendolyn as she walked in. ¡°What happenedst night? Didn''t you mean to take the three of them to celebrate Grandpa''s birthday? Why didn''t you go in the end?¡± He seemed to have lost his memory, but Gwendolyn was already used to it. He had always been like that. He would forget everything he had said and done, but it would still ur repeatedly, such as hitting her. After hitting her, he would ask how she got hurt when he saw the injuries on her body. Gwendolyn was speechless at the time and did not say anything. But after a few days, he would beat her again. She could no longer tell Zayden''s true colors anymore. After sitting down, she ate her breakfast quietly. Zayden instructed, ¡°Ms. Ziegler, pour Gwen a ss of milk.¡± There was coffee in front of Gwendolyn. She had the habit of drinking coffee every morning. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. She nced at him and said, ¡°It''s okay. I''ve got coffee.¡± ¡°It''s better to drink milk in the morning.¡± Gwendolyn said nothing anymore as she lowered her head and continue eating her breakfast. After breakfast, the two of them left the house in their own cars. Gwendolyn nced at the thermos on the passenger seat and smiled to herself. She wanted to visit Michael before going to work. It was something she had to do every day. When she arrived at the hospital, she went into the elevator with the thermos. The door of the elevator opened on the sixth floor, and someone walked out of the elevator. Gwendolyn nced outside casually and widened her eyes slightly in shock as she seemed to have seen Patrick in a wheelchair. When the elevator door was about to close, she quickly reached out and pressed the open button. She walked out and found herself on the floor for rehabilitation. She looked around. Did I see it wrongly just now? It''s impossible for Patrick to be in a wheelchair, let alone undergo rehabilitation here. Chapter 659 Chapter 659 Chapter 659 Why Did You Not Tell Me The thought brought a self-deprecating smile to Gwendolyn''s face. She was about to go back into the elevator and go to see Michael when she decided not to give up. She wandered around on this floor. There were patients in hospital gowns doing some sort of training in every room. However, she could not find Patrick. She took a few steps forward and arrived at a quiet room at the end of the corridor. There were no family members waiting at the door, so she thought that there was probably no one inside the room. She craned her neck over the window and took a look inside. With just one look, she was certain that the man practicing walking was Patrick. What happened to him? What is he doing here? She was dumbfounded. Although all she could see was just his back, she could tell if that man was Patrick. Gwendolyn did not realize it herself. It was an intuition one had toward someone they liked that allowed them to find them among the crowd at a nce. She opened the door and walked in and heard the physiatrist say, ¡°Yes, take your time. Don''t push yourself too hard. Take one step at a time.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Gwendolyn walked over to stand directly opposite Patrick. When she looked at his haggard face, she was slightly taken aback. Why is he so skinny? However, his facial features had be more well-defined and chiseled. He gave her a nk look devoid of any emotions. The two stared at each other for nearly five seconds before Gwendolyn broke the silence. ¡°Patrick, what happened to you? Why are you in such a state?¡± She touched one of his arms that was holding the parallel bars with her eyes full of worry. His Adam''s apple bobbed up and down, and he asked indifferently, ¡°Who are you?¡± Gwendolyn took a step back, then shook her head. ¡°Y-You don''t remember me?¡± Her heart ached so much that she was unable to breathe. The doctor walked over. ¡°Miss, this is the VIP training room, and outsiders are not allowed to enter. Please wait outside. The patient needs to do the exercise in a quiet environment.¡± Gwendolyn looked at Patrick, who was continuing to do the exercise emotionlessly. Seeing that she did not leave after a while, the doctor asked a nurse toe in and persuade her to wait at the door. Only then did Gwendolyne back to her senses and leave the room. She stood at the door, looked in through the window, and watched him practice repeatedly. After a while, she turned away from the window. No wonder I haven''t heard from him or met him in the past three months. She had thought he was avoiding her on purpose. Even though they lived in the same city, they might never see each other again for the rest of their life if they did not approach each other deliberately. Something happened to him. Did he get into a car ident that injured his leg and made him unable to walk anymore? Many questions ran through her head. Did he injure his head too? His hair seems to be shorter. Did he lose his memories and forget about me? Gwendolyn bit her lip. She wanted to know everything that had happened to him. She took out her phone, found Kevin''s phone number in a panic, and dialed it. It took a while before the call was picked up. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Kevin, what happened to Patrick? Did he get into a car ident? Did he hurt his head? Why doesn''t he remember me? Why does he look like he can''t walk too?¡± She bombarded Kevin, who was in a meeting, with questions. He knitted his brows slightly and stood up. ¡°I have to take this call.¡± After leaving the conference room, he replied, ¡°There was something in his brain, which was taken out, so he was in aa for more than three months.¡± Did he lose his memories? I have no idea. He recognized us when he woke up. Did he only forget about Gwen? ¡°Why didn''t you tell me?¡± As Gwendolyn spoke, tears began to roll down her cheeks. Chapter 660 Chapter 660 Chapter 660 Lucky To Be Alive Kevin fell silent at her words. He had wanted to tell her, but Patrick didn''t let him, and she ended up marrying someone else. Pat has forgotten about her? No wonder he didn''t ask about her after he woke up. ¡°You''re already married now, Ms. Ashton. You cheated on him. Do you think you''re in a position to question us? Whether Pat lives or dies in the future, it has nothing to do with you.¡± Kevin was enraged too. He thought it was good that Patrick had forgotten about her. He hung up his phone after that. Gwendolyn was stunned. He''s right. What right do I have to meddle in Patrick''s affairs? She bit her lip as a sudden wave of helplessness flooded her. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. She had thought that getting married and forgetting someone was easy. Yet, it was not easy to do either of those things now. She stood frozen in the doorway for a while until someone showed up. She looked over and met Jocelyn''s gaze. Jocelyn nodded in greeting, then entered the room. That day, Jocelyn wasn''t visiting as a doctor but as a friend of Patrick''s. She looked lovely in a ck dress, her brown curls hanging down her shoulder. Every click of her heels was a stomp on Gwendolyn''s heart. She watched Jocelyn enter the room and chat with Patrick casually. ¡°How are you feeling today?¡± ¡°Pretty good,¡± Patrick answered, wiping the sweat from his forehead. The apathy in his gaze didn''t betray even a hint of his feelings. ¡°I heard from Kev that you lost some memories.¡± Patrick stopped what he was doing when he heard those words. ¡°Yeah.¡± Jocelyn wasn''t the least bit surprised. ¡°It''s much better than we expected. It''s impossible for you to get back those lost memories. After all, they might''ve been removed. Do you regret it?¡± Patrick''s grip on the towel tightened. His gaze turned icy and dark. ¡°I don''t know.¡± Jocelyn nodded. ¡°You''re lucky to be alive. You can think about other stuff in the future. I''ll help you back to your room.¡± She had paid special attention to her makeup and attire that day and even sprayed some perfume, hoping it could leave Patrick with a good impression. Patrick didn''t refuse her offer, so Jocelyn informed the doctor, ¡°I''ll be helping him back, then, Dr. Robinson.¡± Gwendolyn watched as Jocelyn pushed Patrick out of the training room. When they brushed past her, she couldn''t help the tears from streaming down her face. Coincidentally, Liam and the others were there to pick Patrick up. They simply ignored her when they saw her. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I think today''s session went well,¡± Liam said with a smile, trying his best not to look at Gwendolyn. He led the group to the elevator. They''re still the same people, but they no longer treat me the same way. Even though Gwendolyn was upset, the reality was something she could ept. After all, she was already Mrs. Surrington and no longer Patrick''s girlfriend. From that day onward, she never showed up in front of Patrick ever again, nor did she ask about him from his friends. Although I still love him, things have turned out this way. Since we''re not meant to be, all I can do is ept reality. She stood by the window quietly and watched as he underwent physiotherapy again and again until he could finally walk with ease. Sharing his happiness, she nearly shouted with joy. Having already familiarized with his training n, she would peek from the doorway and never interrupt him during his sessions. When the sessions ended, she would leave a few minutes earlier to avoid running into his subordinates or friends who hade to pick him up. That day was hisst day of training. He could already walk and use every part of his body freely. Once he leaves the hospital tomorrow, it''ll be difficult for me to see him again. Nevertheless, the sad thought didn''t bring her mood down, for he had fully recovered. The great news had her humming a song as she walked. Right then, she received a call from Zayden. When she looked at the caller ID, she hesitated briefly but still took the call in the end. ¡°Hello?¡± Chapter 661 Chapter 661 Chapter 661 I Am On A Diet ¡°Gwen, where are you?¡± Gwendolyn checked her surroundings. After making sure Zayden wasn''t nearby, she answered, ¡°I''m out of the office at the moment to deliver some documents.¡± They had no idea she was the CEO of Solstice Group since she had only told them about working in the design department. They assumed she was a low-rank employee of thepany. ¡°Come to the Surrington residence, or do you want me to pick you up?¡± Taken aback by his sudden request, she asked, ¡°Did something happen?¡± Having skipped Hans'' birthday celebration, she was worried about exining her absence. ¡°I''lle and pick you up, then. You''ll know once we get there.¡± Gwendolyn hurriedly answered, ¡°It''s all right. I''ll head there straight away since I''m driving.¡± She entered the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor. When the elevator doors slid open, she saw Liam and the others enter the elevator next to her. They didn''t see her when she stepped out of the elevator and walked toward the hall. After taking a few steps, she ran into Alice, Hector, and Felicia. Felicia was holding Alice''s hand, and the trio seemed to be in a good mood, talking andughing along the way. It looks like Patrick is leaving the hospital today, and they''re here to fetch him. It was already toote when she tried to hide. Alice had an amused smile on her face when she spotted Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen...¡± Gwendolyn had no choice but to greet them. ¡°Hello, Old Mr. and Mrs. Lowen.¡± Felicia''s expression turned sour at Gwendolyn''s appearance. ¡°Gwen, are you looking forward to Grandpa''s death since youe to the hospital every day?¡± They thought Gwendolyn was aiming for a portion of family assets since she visited Michael daily. Gwendolyn''s expression changed slightly. ¡°I''m not one of you guys.¡± Hector cast an impassive nce at Gwendolyn, realizing she was quite bold and good at returning snappy remarks. He had been there, so he could discern who visited him with a sincere heart. Pat visited me every day. How could Fel say something so unpleasant and curse an elder? He asked, ¡°How long has it been since youst visited your grandpa, Fel?¡± Felicia finally realized she had misspoken. It was a slip of her tongue from how agitated she got by running into Gwendolyn. ¡°I visited him yesterday.¡± Truth be told, it had been a month since shest visited Michael because he had been getting better. Members of the Ashton family had lost theirposure and patience with his improving health. Hector smiled. ¡°That''s great!¡± When Alice spoke to Gwendolyn, she held thetter''s hand. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. ¡°Why have you lost weight, Gwen?¡± I think Pat has also lost a lot of weight. These two kids haven''t been doing well. ¡°I''m on a diet, Old Mrs. Lowen. I think I look great! Do I not look prettier now?¡± Gwendolyn beamed. She hadn''t smiled so brightly in a long time. Alice patted her hand. ¡°Pat is getting discharged today, and we''re here to pick him up. If...¡± She didn''t continue as the words got stuck in her throat. Naturally, Gwendolyn understood her unfinished question. After all, it was fantastic news that Patrick had finally recovered and could leave the hospital after being unconscious for such a long time. She would have surely fetched him too if it were in the past. However, it was a scene she didn''t dare to imagine now. ¡°You should get going, Old Mrs. Lowen. We don''t want him losing his patience from waiting too long.¡± Alice headed for the elevator. Hector was probably in a good mood since he didn''t put Alice in a difficult position. He generously stood by the elevator and waited for Alice. Gwendolyn watched as they entered the elevator. Once the doors close, she let out a sigh and left the hospital. She got into her car and drove to the Surrington residence. While she was parking her car, another car had also just slid into a parking spot, and three children got out of it. ¡°Mommy!¡± Juliette called out and dashed to her side. Chapter 662 Chapter 662 Chapter 662 May I Suggest A Divorce Gwendolyn was slightly taken aback. What are they doing here at the Surrington residence too? ¡°What brings you here?¡± she asked, caressing Juliette''s face. Her question was directed at the boys, who were easy tomunicate with because they could think clearly. Julian nced at the main building. ¡°Well, Mr. Zayden wants the family to know that we exist.¡± Justin nodded in agreement, whereas an oblivious Juliette continued to cling to Gwendolyn. ¡°Can you take me to KFC today, Gwen? It''s been so long.¡± Children seemed to like such food. Gwendolyn fell into thought as she appeared despondent. I''ve been so busy for the past few months that I haven''t spent much time with them. Well, since Zayden''s helped us take a day off, I''ll take them out when we leave the Surrington residence. ¡°Okay.¡± Juliette was overjoyed. ¡°Yay!¡± At that moment, the Surrington family butler and a few housekeepers approached them. ¡°Good day, Ms. Gwendolyn. Mr. Zayden has asked us toe and get you.¡± Gwendolyn wasn''t sure what Zayden intended with this. Suzanne stood among the housekeepers and rushed over to Gwendolyn''s side. ¡°Gwen, you''re here!¡± The youngdy used to be so fearful of the Surringtons, but now, she seemed to have grown ustomed to this ce and enjoyeding here. ¡°Yeah.¡± Gwendolyn nodded, unaware of the affair between Suzanne and Zayden. All the members of the Surrington family were already present when Gwendolyn and the children arrived. Candace''s cousin and the wife of Zayden''s uncle, Diana, was there too. Zayden''s uncle was the one managing Surrington Corporation when Zayden had problems with his vision. Now that Zayden was back at work, the couple was obviously not too thrilled. Diana, in particr, had the same scowl as Candace upon seeing Gwendolyn. It was no surprise they were family. After greeting each member, Gwendolyn and the children sat down next to Zayden. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she whispered to him. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Zayden smiled. ¡°I''ve summoned you all here today to let you know that Gwen''s children are also my children. I want you to treat them as such.¡± Before this, only Angeline and Diana knew of the children''s existence, but Diana had stayed quiet so as to avoid any trouble. Now that Zayden had made the announcement himself, she couldn''t help but feel amused. Are you serious, Gwendolyn? Your kids don''t even have the Surrington family''s blood, and you''re asking us to treat them like actual family? ¡°What an idiot,¡± the woman muttered to herself. Gwendolyn was surprised. What is Zayden nning? ¡°What? She has three children of her own?¡± Hans yelled. ¡°What kind of woman have you married?¡± Greta was just as stunned. ¡°How could you allow this to happen to you, Zay?¡± The way everyone looked at Gwendolyn was as though she had deceived Zayden. How could a woman like her be worthy of the heir of the Surrington family? Gwendolyn bit her lip, wanting to leave with the children. She refused to let others scrutinize and judge her like this. Soren mmed a hand on the table. ¡°What is the meaning of this? Why didn''t you tell us sooner?¡± Zayden''s lips curved slightly. ¡°It wouldn''t have made a difference, Dad. I would''ve married her whether or not you guys agreed to it.¡± This was his decision, and he would never let this woman go. The living room erupted into chaos as everyone pointed fingers at Gwendolyn and her three children. Finally, the woman stood up firmly. ¡°Since all of you think I''m not worthy of Zayden because I already have children of my own, may I suggest a divorce?¡± Zayden was the one who had tricked her, telling her that he was blind. She had only agreed to marry him so he could get better. Chapter 663 Chapter 663 Chapter 663 We Are Here With You Upon hearing this, Zayden grabbed her hand immediately. ¡°Did I say anything about a divorce?¡± He then leaned into her ear, whispering, ¡°If you ever bring up that word again, I''ll send your three kids out of the country, and you''ll never see them again.¡± Gwendolyn stared at him icily. He was bing more terrifying with each passing day. He used to treat only her like this, but now, he was starting to bring the children into the picture too. The woman clenched her teeth. ¡°You wouldn''t dare...¡± ¡°You know how close the kids are to me, Gwen. I can do whatever I want to them with a snap of a finger.¡± Gwendolyn felt her stomach drop. He''s right. He watched them grow up. She had also told her own children that Zayden was their savior, so they had to always treat him well and respect him. But he''s be such a monster. Can I tell them that? They''re still so young. Would they be able to take it? Hell, even I can''t! How did he end up like this? She had never resisted when he hit her simply because she couldn''t ept the truth of the situation. It was only after feeling the pain that realization dawned on her¡ªZayden was no longer the person he once was. Is he doing all this today just to threaten me not to leave? Angeline turned to her. ¡°How could you bring up a divorce, Gwen? Zayden''s such an amazing young man. He''s never even thought about divorcing you, but here you are, wanting to leave him?¡± Everyone turned to Gwendolyn in an instant. ¡°That''s wrong of you to say that, Gwen. You hid the fact that you have children, so we simply expressed our discontentment with that. You didn''t have to go so far as to talk about wanting to divorce him.¡± ¡°Yeah! What''s with your threats? Do you think you''re some maiden surrounded by other men? You will have a hard time getting married again if you leave Zayden.¡± ¡°Just be grateful that you got to be married into the Surrington family!¡± Gwendolyn didn''t have the power or courage to retaliate. Her children had always been her Achilles heel, and she would never let them be in any form of danger. Zayden smirked internally when he saw what was happening. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Don''t think I don''t know what you''re up to, Gwendolyn. You''re thinking of leaving me now that Patrick''s woken up, aren''t you? Well, that''s never going to happen.¡± He suddenly rose to his feet and held onto her. An insidious smile crept across his face as he pulled her in. ¡°That''s enough, everyone. Gwen is the woman I love most, and now, she''s my wife. Her children are my children, so please treat them with respect.¡± He then turned to Hans. ¡°This is all I wanted to say, Grandpa. Congrattions on having three more great-grandchildren. The Surrington family has expanded!¡± Hans was so exasperated that he nearly passed out. ¡°Calm down, Hans!¡± Greta said, holding onto him. ¡°Zay''s just lost himself over a woman for now.¡± ¡°You ingrate! Are you trying to give your grandfather a heart attack?¡± Soren bellowed at his son. Juliette began to cry in fright. ¡°Mommy! Stop picking on my mommy!¡± The two boys consoled her immediately, ¡°Don''t cry, Juliette. We''re here with you.¡± The poor girl had never been in such a situation where they were under the watchful eyes of people who also wouldn''t stop criticizing her mother. Gwendolyn''s face clouded over as she walked toward Juliette and wiped her tears. ¡°Let''s get out of here.¡± She took her daughter''s hand and left, with Justin and Julian following them closely. The boys didn''t care about such things at all. If it weren''t for Zayden, they probably would have left with their mother and sister long ago. However, this man was their savior, and Gwendolyn had told them to respect him and his family. ¡°Why hasn''t Patricke and get us?¡± Julian asked the moment they arrived outside. No one would dare treat us like this with him around, but why doesn''t he know anything? Chapter 664 Chapter 664 Chapter 664 A ssic Male Model Shoot After departing from the Surrington residence and settling into her car, Gwendolyn nced back at the rear seat. ¡°I''m sorry for putting all of you through such an embarrassing situation today.¡± Gwendolyn had always tried to shield her three children from such experiences. She had tried so hard to protect them. Even though their lives were getting better, she couldn''t help but feel that it was still worse off than before. She used to be able to confront the Ashtons, ensuring her children were not subjected to scrutiny. But now, she felt powerless. Zayden was indeed their savior. Yet, he was also the one who had led them into this difficult situation. Now, she was at a loss. She buried her head in the steering wheel, suddenly overwhelmed by the darkness of an uncertain future. The path ahead seemed devoid of hope. What am I supposed to do? How can I find a way out of this darkness and embrace a brighter tomorrow? Justin reached out, gently stroking her hair. ¡°Mommy, we will be fine. Juliette will soon forget about what happened. As long as we have you, that''s all that matters.¡± Gwendolyn raised her head and forced a smile. ¡°Thank you boys for always being there for me.¡± She didn''t think she could havested without them. She was particrly sad to see that Patrick had forgotten about her. She knew it was her own doing. She had chosen to let him go in the past, and now she was facing the consequences. At the hospital, Patrick had already changed into his own clothes. He was in a sleek ck tailored suit, making him appear even more dignified and serious. His long, slender legs and narrow waist entuated his overall charm. Every casual frown or gesture seemed like a pose from a ssic male model shoot. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. The three women in the room were utterly captivated by him. Their gazes remained fixed on his figure. Jocelyn was dressed in a white coat today, looking fresh and professional. She smiled and said, ¡°Patrick, congrattions on your recovery!¡± ¡°Thank you for your help,¡± he replied calmly. If Jocelyn had not shown up, he might have passed away. He was considered warm as he acknowledged her presence. Felicia, who stood by the side, was utterly mesmerized by him. She had never anticipated that the man would appear even more handsome after regaining consciousness. His face has be sharper and more defined. His chiseled look is like a masterpiece carved by the gods. He is the epitome of earthly perfection. Her heart fluttered in excitement. Luckily, I didn''t give up. I will never let go of such a handsome man. Felicia held a bouquet of flowers and approached Patrick with a warm smile. ¡°Congrattions on your discharge.¡± Patrick nced at her and the flowers in her hands. He said tly, ¡°Liam.¡± His assistant quickly stepped forward and epted the flowers from Felicia. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Ashton!¡± Feeling a bit disheartened, Felicia bit her lip and stole a nce at Hector. Thankfully, with his support, she emerged as the ultimate victor. Although the three women in the ward had feelings for Patrick, she won the Lowen family''s support. Rosalie shed a wide smile and walked over to Patrick''s side. ¡°You''ve be even more handsome, Pat! Who would''ve thought that a hospital stay could enhance your looks so much? I wonder how many women you''ll enchant after your discharge.¡± She couldn''t help but sigh in admiration. The man merely curved his lips in a faint smile. ¡°Thank you all for your concern. I have to head to the company now. I won''t be able to treat you to a meal today. I will host a banquet three dayster to express my gratitude to everyone.¡± He nced at the clock. ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, I need to attend a meeting.¡± The recent incident involving Patrick had caused quite a stir in the business world, and many people had set their eyes on Lowen Group. Thepany''s stocks plummeted, and they lost several projects. Once Patrick regained consciousness, he immediately immersed himself in work. Even on the day of his discharge, he was eager to attend a meeting. He was determined to efficiently manage Lowen Group and prove to those who targeted it that they could not bring thepany down. Chapter 665 Chapter 665 Chapter 665 One Million Hector did not voice any objections. In fact, he was pleased with his grandson''s dedication to work. He believed that career should be a man''s top priority. ¡°Go ahead. Just don''t overwork yourself.¡± In contrast, Alice was unhappy to watch Patrick leave. ¡°He''s just feeling better and now he''s rushing off to work. You''re too harsh on him, Hector,¡± she chastised. Even though Alice empathized that Hector had to handle everything himself if no one else could, she could not help but feel sorry for Patrick. Hector held her hand and replied, ¡°It''s his destiny. There''s nothing we can do about it. Life won''t be as hard for him once he has more children in the future.¡± He became anxious as he thought of his great-grandchildren. If Patrick didn''t wake up, it would mean the end of the Lowen family''s lineage. That was his greatest fear. However, Patrick still refused to give in. He was not getting any younger but still had no children. Men naturally have their needs, and he couldn''t believe Patrick was still a virgin at his age. Rosalie picked up her bag and said, ¡°Old Mr. and Mrs. Lowen, I''m heading to work now. Please be careful on your way out.¡± She had a natural talent for connecting with old people and shared a close rtionship with Linda. Alice and Linda were childhood friends, so their bond was strong. Alice always treated Rosalie like her granddaughter. ¡°There''s no need to worry about us. Go about your work and send my regards to your grandma!¡± Rosalie chuckled in response. ¡°My grandma always talks about wanting to go shopping with you. She was concerned you might not be in the mood before, but now she''s thrilled to know she can invite you anytime!¡± The delightful exchange brought a smile to Alice''s face. ¡°I understand. I''d be more than happy to ept her invitation!¡± Soon after, Rosalie, Jocelyn, and Kevin left. Felicia nced at the bouquet of flowers she had brought which was left on the nightstand, feeling utterly disappointed. Had she known he would wake up so quickly, she would have stayed diligently by his side. Now, it seemed that she had missed the opportunity. Hector got up and said to Alice, ¡°Let''s go home. Everything is fine now.¡± ¡°Grandpa, let me apany you home.¡± Felicia quickly came to assist him. When Hector saw her, he smiled and said, ¡°Fel, you''ve worked hard these past few months. Take care of yourself, and pamper yourself a little. Now that Pat has regained consciousness, your task is to win him over and bear me a few great-grandchildren as soon as possible.¡± While speaking, he signaled Zachariah to pass him a check. ¡°This is for you. Go buy something you like.¡± Felicia shook her head. ¡°Grandpa, I''m willing to do all this for Pat. I like him. I don''t need any money.¡± Hector insisted, ¡°Be good and treat yourself a little.¡± He forcefully stuffed the check into her hand. In terms of looks, Felicia couldn''tpare to Gwendolyn. Hector hoped she would put some effort to beautify herself. Alice looked at the check. Why is he giving her money? I was the one who took care of Pat, not her. As she thought about how Felicia had bossed around the housekeeper and had never taken care of Patrick, she couldn''t help but feel frustrated. However, she chose not to share these concerns with Hector, fearing it would disappoint him. After all, he seemed quite satisfied with Felicia. Moreover, Patrick had been in a vulnerable state. Revealing Felicia''s true colors might be too much for him. Now, Alice wished she had disclosed this earlier. If she chose to reveal the truth now, Hector might think that she was jealous. Felicia epted the check and said, ¡°Thank you, Grandpa! I promise to make good use of this money.¡± She had never expected to earn money when Patrick was unconscious. One million was her pocket money for an entire year.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Chapter 666 Chapter 666 Chapter 666 A Gateway To Happiness After leeving the Surrington residence, Gwendolyn brought her children to the kid''s cestle in the mell. Juliette loved pleying there. Although her two older brothers found it e bit boring, they heppily epenied their younger sister. Inside the cestle, the kids immersed themselves in pley, giving Gwendolyn some time to sit in the perents'' rest eree. She sipped her coffee end esionelly glenced et her leptop to review her compeny''s letest project. It wes e field she once knew little ebout, but now she could understend it end even offer some velueble insights. Gwendolyn hed been diligently leerning ebout feshion design, end her ie telent in the field mede her designs highly sought efter by thepeny''s design depertment. As Solstice Group owned e high-end luxury clothing brend, Gwendolyn''s designs often beceme limited- edition pieces, with no more then ten of eech design being produced worldwide. Suddenly, e femilier voice celled out, ¡°Gwen...¡± Gwendolyn looked up end broke into e smile. Lucy hed errived with her deughter Melenie. The letter ren over to Gwendolyn''s side end esked excitedly, ¡°Ms. Gwen, ere Juliette end the boys here too?¡± Melenie hed put on some weight, shedding her previous thin end week eppeerence. She hed trensformed into e beeutiful little princess with striking feetures reminiscent of Lucy''s ceptiveting beeuty. Gwendolyn gently ceressed Melenie''s fece endplimented her, ¡°Sweetheert, you look ebsolutely gorgeous todey!¡± After leaving the Surrington residence, Gwendolyn brought her children to the kid''s castle in the mall. Juliette loved ying there. Although her two older brothers found it a bit boring, they happily apanied their younger sister. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Inside the castle, the kids immersed themselves in y, giving Gwendolyn some time to sit in the parents'' rest area. She sipped her coffee and asionally nced at herptop to review her company''stest project. It was a field she once knew little about, but now she could understand it and even offer some valuable insights. Gwendolyn had been diligently learning about fashion design, and her innate talent in the field made her designs highly sought after by thepany''s design department. As Solstice Group owned a high-end luxury clothing brand, Gwendolyn''s designs often became limited- edition pieces, with no more than ten of each design being produced worldwide. Suddenly, a familiar voice called out, ¡°Gwen...¡± Gwendolyn looked up and broke into a smile. Lucy had arrived with her daughter Mnie. Thetter ran over to Gwendolyn''s side and asked excitedly, ¡°Ms. Gwen, are Juliette and the boys here too?¡± Mnie had put on some weight, shedding her previous thin and weak appearance. She had transformed into a beautiful little princess with striking features reminiscent of Lucy''s captivating beauty. Gwendolyn gently caressed Mnie''s face andplimented her, ¡°Sweetheart, you look absolutely gorgeous today!¡± Unlike Juliette, who still had a bit of baby fat, Mnie was tall and slender with well-defined facial features. Even though she was young, she exuded a charming aura. Unlike Juliette, who still had a bit of baby fat, Mnie was tall and slender with well-defined facial features. Even though she was young, she exuded a charming aura. ¡°Thank you!¡± Mnie grinned. Gwendolyn gestured toward the castle and said, ¡°Look, the three of them are there. Why don''t you go and join them?¡± With the boys taking care of the two little girls, Gwendolyn and Lucy felt at ease knowing they were in good hands. Lucy settled beside Gwendolyn and couldn''t help but nce at herptop. ¡°Working at this hour?¡± Gwendolyn kept theptop and supported her face with one hand. ¡°Yes! I don''t want to disappoint Ms. Sanders. I can''t let thispany go bust since she entrusted it to me. Besides, it''s a gift for her daughter.¡± Lucy chuckled. ¡°She treats you like her own daughter. You should definitely manage thepany well.¡± As they continued their light-hearted conversation, Gwendolyn felt all her previous worries vanish in the comforting presence of her best friend. Just then, Lucy''s phone rang. It was a call from Lucas. She chose to ignore the call for the moment. Gwendolyn noticed the call and teased, ¡°Why aren''t you answering it?¡± Lucy let out a sigh. ¡°My contract with him has ended, but that guy does not seem to want to end our rtionship. He still hangs around my ce and searches for me everywhere if he can''t find me. I''m not a child. I won''t get lost.¡± Unlike Juliette, who still had a bit of baby fat, Mnie was tall and slender with well-defined facial features. Even though she was young, she exuded a charming aura. The exasperation was evident on her face as she regarded Lucas as nothing more than an immature child. Amused by her friend''s situation, Gwendolyn teased, ¡°Luce, as someone who''s been through it, I advise you to take matters of the heart seriously. When ites to marriage, you should only marry the man you genuinely love.¡± Lucy raised an eyebrow and looked intently at her. ¡°Been through it? I''ve been through it too. When I reminded you before, you didn''t listen. Now you''ve realized it too?¡± Feeling uneasy under her friend''s intense gaze, Gwendolyn said, ¡°We were talking about you. Leave me out of this.¡± She couldn''t discuss her current situation with anyone. After sipping on Gwendolyn''s coffee, Lucy said, ¡°How are things between you and Zayden after getting married? You''ve been unavable for the past few months. You''ve lost weight. Is he treating you poorly?¡± Many women in Avenport were envious of Gwendolyn for marrying into the prestigious Surrington family. After all, the Surrington family held a prominent position as the secondrgest family in the city, boasting a noble aristocratic lineage that spanned several centuries. Zayden, with his striking looks and impressive abilities, was seen as the epitome of a desirable partner. Bing his wife was considered a gateway to happiness for any woman. Chapter 667 Chapter 667 Chapter 667 An Extramarital Affair As Gwendolyn gezed et Lucy''s hopeful expression, she fell into e momentery silence. ¡°He hesn''t been treeting you well, hes he? Thet cen''t be! He used to be so good to you,¡± Lucy esked with genuine concern. Gwendolyn thought ebout her six yeers with Zeyden. He hed showered her with unwevering love end cere. Hence, she hed chosen to stey by his side efter he went blind. While Gwendolyn knew her heert belonged to Petrick, she couldn''t bring herself to ebendon Zeyden. To do so would heve been ungreteful end heertless. Beck then, she hed been prepered to teke cere of Zeyden for e lifetime. However, he regeined his sight shortly efter. Gwendolyn lowered her geze end evoided enswering Lucy''s question. Feeling worried ebout her friend''s leck of response, Lucy pressed for en enswer. ¡°Did he not treet you well? Does he heve enother women?¡± She reeched for her phone, seemingly determined to confront Zeyden ebout her concerns. Gwendolyn immedietely held onto her hend end stopped her. ¡°Lucy, it''s not entirely his feult. I''m pertly responsible.¡± ¡°Your feult? How could thet be?¡± Lucy knew Gwendolyn better then enyone else, end she couldn''t imegine her being et feult. Gwendolyn hed secrificed everything to merry Zeyden, even epting his blindness without hesitetion. She didn''t even mind when Zeyden''s femily struggled to ept her three children during the wedding. As Gwendolyn gazed at Lucy''s hopeful expression, she fell into a momentary silence. ¡°He hasn''t been treating you well, has he? That can''t be! He used to be so good to you,¡± Lucy asked with genuine concern. Gwendolyn thought about her six years with Zayden. He had showered her with unwavering love and care. Hence, she had chosen to stay by his side after he went blind. While Gwendolyn knew her heart belonged to Patrick, she couldn''t bring herself to abandon Zayden. To do so would have been ungrateful and heartless. Back then, she had been prepared to take care of Zayden for a lifetime. However, he regained his sight shortly after. Gwendolyn lowered her gaze and avoided answering Lucy''s question. Feeling worried about her friend''sck of response, Lucy pressed for an answer. ¡°Did he not treat you well? Does he have another woman?¡± She reached for her phone, seemingly determined to confront Zayden about her concerns. Gwendolyn immediately held onto her hand and stopped her. ¡°Lucy, it''s not entirely his fault. I''m partly responsible.¡± ¡°Your fault? How could that be?¡± Lucy knew Gwendolyn better than anyone else, and she couldn''t imagine her being at fault. Gwendolyn had sacrificed everything to marry Zayden, even epting his blindness without hesitation. She didn''t even mind when Zayden''s family struggled to ept her three children during the wedding. Such a selfless act was not Gwendolyn''s usual style, but she did it all for the sake of her children. Such a selfless act was not Gwendolyn''s usual style, but she did it all for the sake of her children. She''s willing to give up everything for Zayden. Why does he not cherish her? Isn''t he in love with her? There''s a saying that a woman should marry a man who loves her, as that will ensure her happiness. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Lucy could sense Gwendolyn''s unhappiness, but she, too, believed in the saying. As long as a man loves a woman, he will treat her well, and she will be happy. ¡°Luce, I realize that when a woman doesn''t love someone, she can''t give herself to that person.¡± Gwendolyn had thought that once they were married, she could fulfill her duties as a wife. However, when that moment actually arrived, she found herself unable to do so. Gwendolyn couldn''t get Patrick out of her mind, and she didn''t have any romantic feelings for Zayden. Being close to him made her uneasy and ufortable. Lucy furrowed her brows and asked, ¡°Is that so?¡± Do I love Lucas? Probably not. But my situation is different from Gwendolyn''s. She got together with Zayden after falling in love with someone else first. I wasn''t with anyone. My rtionship with Lucas is purely physical. Yes, that must be it. Gwendolyn nodded and admitted, ¡°I think so. Whenever I''m near Zayden, even a simple hug makes me ufortable. I...¡± She realized that Zayden''s current state was partly her fault. Such a selfless act was not Gwendolyn''s usual style, but she did it all for the sake of her children. However, he had deceived her by feigning blindness. He had cunningly manipted her emotions which ultimately led to their marriage. The situation between them wasplex, and Gwendolyn didn''t know how to handle it. She wanted a divorce, but Zayden wouldn''t allow it and had even used her three children to threaten her. The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, and her brows furrowed even tighter. Lucy looked slightly surprised, but she could understand Gwendolyn''s concerns. ¡°Do you still think about Patrick? Why not consider having an extramarital affair?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°I haven''t thought about such things. Right now, my focus is on running thepany well and raising the three children. I dare not think about anything else.¡± Gwendolyn couldn''t help but think that she might have asked for too much, causing herself to feel trapped in this state of helplessness. After all, she had been an unfortunate child since young and was unworthy of extravagant desires. ¡°Gwen, don''t be like this! I still prefer the spirited you from before,¡± Lucy encouraged. Gwendolyn''s gaze darkened. ¡°Patrick has forgotten about me.¡± She recalled the moment he looked at her with unfamiliar eyes and realized that the starry gaze he once reserved solely for her had vanished. She was no longer his exception. Chapter 668 Chapter 668 Chapter 668 Desperate Need Of Money Upon learning that Patrick was in aa, Lucy had gone to see him together with Lucas. She didn''t dare to tell Gwendolyn about it, for fear that it would be too much for her. If Gwendolyn were to learn of Patrick''s condition, she would go to his side and care for him without any hesitation. Moreover, Lucas had specifically instructed Lucy not to tell Gwendolyn. Guessing that Patrick''s circumstances were likely rted to Gwendolyn, Lucy had kept the matter from her friend. After all, what was going on between Gwendolyn and Patrick had ended after Gwendolyn''s marriage. ¡°Is he awake?¡± Lucy asked, oblivious to Patrick''s condition, for she hadn''t seen him in a while. ¡°Even you know of what happened to him. I think I''m thest to find out.¡± Gwendolyn was filled with disappointment. Everyone must think that I''m a heartless woman. That''s why no one told me about Patrick. I deserve this. I really deserve to be forgotten. Lucy apologized, ¡°I''m sorry, Gwen. I thought things were going well between you and Zayden. That''s why I didn''t tell you.¡± She needs to move on, and so does Patrick. Gwendolyn shed a faint smile. ¡°Don''t worry about it. I understand.¡± At that moment, Lucy''s phone rang again, and she could only answer it. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Attend a dinner with me this evening and dress up for it. I''ll be waiting at home at five-thirty.¡± Lucas ended the call right after. Lucy gave her phone a nce and cursed, ¡°F*ck. Why didn''t he tell me exactly where and what the dinner is about?¡± When Lucy returned her attention to Gwendolyn and realized that thetter seemed to have closed herself off, she thought it would be a good idea to get her to join them. Usually, she would be bored at such dinners, for Lucas was the main reason they were invited. In addition to the food, there would be nice red wine. She thought it would be more fun if she could use the opportunity to drink with Gwendolyn. If a woman is in an unhappy marriage, she can numb herself by going out and having some fun. A smile emerged on Lucy''s face. ¡°Gwen, I like that dress from yourpany. Can you give me a discount?¡± Gwendolyn responded by scrutinizing Lucy from head to toe and saw that thetter was all decked out in designer clothing. Lucy''s watch alone cost at least six figures. Both of them had experienced significant changes in their lives. They were now rich and could afford to buy everything they had previously coveted. Nevertheless, they, too, had changed together with their circumstances. They no longer felt the same joy they did when they were poor. Gwendolyn sighed. We have been so naive in the past to think that money would bring us happiness. It was in her current circumstance that she understood happiness was the most difficult thing to achieve. It was the only thing in the world money couldn''t buy. ¡°There''s no need for a discount. You can have it for free.¡± Gwendolyn handed her friend a VIP card. ¡°Take this. You don''t have to pay for anything you buy at Solstice Mall.¡± Lucy''s eyes widened at the sight of the gold card. ¡°Wow, do you really mean it? Is this part of the benefits of a CEO?¡± Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Money is the only thing I''m left with now.¡± ¡°Both Gwen Mall and Gwenpat Hotel in the eastern district are doing very well. You must be a multi- millionaire by now.¡± Lucy yed with the card in her hand as she spoke. The newly developedmercial district was a gift from Patrick to Gwendolyn. It was a highly sought- after piece ofnd that Patrick had sessfully secured back in the day. Itsmercial value was well known to everyone. Even when Lucas talked to Lucy about it, the greedy glint in his eye would reveal how much he coveted it too. Gwendolyn''s gaze darkened. ¡°Actually...¡± She didn''t feel it was right for her to take it, but she knew it would only anger Patrick further if she didn''t. As a result, she begrudgingly epted it. There was professional management running it anyway. Her only additional task was to sign off on the quarterly report and collect her profit. Other than watching the amount in her bank ount increase, there was no other impact on her life.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Actually what? Do you not want it? Then give it to me. I''m in desperate need of money.¡± Chapter 669 Chapter 669 Chapter 669 I Want That Outfit Gwendolyn chuckled in amusement. ¡°Let''s be serious. Have you thought about a career? How about coming to work for me as a manager?¡± She obviously wasn''t going to let Lucy suffer. Thetter had the freedom of picking any role she wanted. Even though Lucy hadn''t thought about it before, she felt that it was time for her to consider her own path now that Mnie had regained her health. She waved her hand at Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, I''m going to pick out some outfits with the card. Why don''t youe with me? Get Ms. Ziegler to pick up the children so that you can join me for dinner.¡± Gwendolyn agreed readily, ¡°All right!¡± After giving Camille a call, she instructed her sons to get the two young girls and be prepared to be picked up by Camille. Gwendolyn had also ordered KFC to be sent to their home so that the children could enjoy a happy meal once they were back. Justin and Julian nodded. Justin reminded them, ¡°Watch yourselves while you''re out.¡± The brothers were worried about Gwendolyn, who seemed unhappy over the past few months. Lucy responded with a smile as she put an arm around Gwendolyn. ¡°With me around, there''s no need for any of you to worry.¡± Justin looked at Gwendolyn, hoping that she would be happy. Gwendolyn said, ¡°Go on now. I''ll be attending a dinner tonight with Lucy. It''ll be a rxing evening, so don''t worry. I''m an adult. I know how to manage my emotions.¡± She, too, felt that she had been inconsiderate by only focusing on her own feelings and neglecting the children. Truth be told, the three of them knew exactly what was going on. Gwendolyn and Lucy headed upstairs and browsed around. Lucy was in real need of a beautiful outfit because Lucas had instructed her to dress up. She wanted Gwendolyn to wear something pretty too. So what if she''s married? As long as she looks gorgeous, plenty of men will still have the hots for her. Since it''s impossible for Gwendolyn to cheat, the attention showered on her will boost her confidence. That way, she won''t feel so dejected and might finally cheer up.¡± After going through a selection of dresses, Lucy picked a white backless dress for Gwendolyn. She would salivate at the sight of thetter''s exquisite-looking shoulder des, let alone other men. Standing in front of the mirror, Gwendolyn felt apprehensive about what she was seeing. ¡°Are you sure it isn''t too revealing?¡± Having not worn such a design before, she wasn''t confident in carrying it off. Gwendolyn was someone conservative, values that were inculcated by Michael when she was growing up in the Ashton residence. That was the reason for her prim and proper upbringing. After wiping the dripping saliva off from the corner of her mouth, Lucy reassured her, ¡°You look good. It''s not revealing at all.¡± D*mn it! I''m actually hoping that she reveals more skin by wearing less. What am I thinking? I''m a woman for goodness'' sake. Has Gwen turned me into a lesbian? Right then, Felicia and Diana entered the store. When Felicia''s gaze fell upon the gown Gwendolyn had tried on, she said to the sales attendant coldly, ¡°I want that outfit.¡± She handed her card to the sales attendant. ¡°Swipe the card. It isn''t password- locked.¡± She was trying to show off by paying for the gown without asking about the price. Lucy, who was naturally upset, snapped, ¡°What is wrong with you? We''re buying this dress!¡± The sales attendant responded awkwardly, ¡°Ms. Ashton, thisdy has already tried on the gown. Why don''t you take a look at something else?¡± Even Diana gave Felicia a tug. ¡°Fel, stop making a fuss.¡± Felicia paid them no heed. ¡°She''s only trying it on and can''t afford it. Do you want to earn a commission?¡± She had learned from Diana that the Surrington family was giving Gwendolyn a tough time. Now that Zayden''s eyesight had recovered, they disparaged Gwendolyn who had given birth to three children. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Gwendolyn didn''t benefit from the marriage, as Zayden barely cared about her. Even the housekeepers had revealed that they were staying separately. That was the reason why she still had to work and earn a living despite being married into the Surrington family. It also meant that she couldn''t afford any luxury items such as the gown in question. Chapter 670 Chapter 670 Chapter 670 Steal The Limelight Upon hearing Felicia''s words, the sales attendant hesitated before asking, ¡°Miss, are you sure you''re buying it?¡± She wasn''t sure if Gwendolyn could really afford it. Annoyed by the question, Lucy handed over the gold card. ¡°Will this do?¡± The attendant was stunned by the sight of it. It was none other than the card used exclusively by the CEO, epted by Solstice Malls worldwide. Her expression changed drastically. ¡°Of course, of course.¡± She naturally wouldn''t dare offend a friend of the CEO. There were five such cards in total which were given out by the CEO to friends and family. It went without saying that whoever held such a card was someone close to the CEO. All of them became particrly attentive, unaware that the CEO herself was present. Upon taking another look in the mirror, Gwendolyn decided to take the dress despite thinking otherwise initially due to it being too revealing. Oblivious to the significance of Lucy''s card, Felicia retrieved another gold card from her bag. ¡°Since you want to turn this into apetition of cards, so be it!¡± The sales attendant looked at Felicia as if she was an idiot. Her card means nothing in front of Solstice Group''s internal gold card. ¡°Miss, I''m sorry. This outfit has been sold. Why don''t you browse through our other items instead?¡± Being at the receiving end of the cold shoulder displeased Felicia. Unable to swallow her pride, she attempted to argue with them but was pulled back by Diana. ¡°Fel, let it go.¡± Felicia protested, ¡°Aunt Diana, I really like that dress, yet Gwendolyn has to steal it from me.¡± Hector had given her money so that she could reward herself, an honor she feltpelled to gloat about. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Fel, she''s Zayden''s wife now. Don''t cause any trouble. Otherwise, you''ll disgrace yourself. She''s under the protection of the Surrington family.¡± Even though Gwendolyn''s rtionship with Zayden was not good and the Surringtons looked down on her, they would still protect her from outsiders, as she was a member of the family. Diana didn''t want Felicia to escte the situation any further. Furthermore, she had caught a glimpse of Lucy''s card earlier and noticed it was made of pure gold. To her, it had to be one of the store''s custom-made cards given how impressive it looked. Does she know someone really important? After all, she''s undeniably beautiful and has worked in clubs before. If she were to turn on the charm, any man would definitely fall for her. As someone with many life experiences, Diana could read the situation clearly. In spite of that, Felicia refused to give up. The stunning gown simply made Gwendolyn stand out morously. Felicia, who wouldn''t spare Gwendolyn a nce under ordinary circumstances, was awed by the latter''s beauty and couldn''t peel her eyes away. If Patrick were to see her, he would definitely be mesmerized, but it seems that he has already forgotten about her. She broke into a smug grin. ¡°Let''s go, Aunt Diana. The designs in this store are really ugly. I''m never coming back here ever again.¡± She might have aimed those words at the staff, but they couldn''t be bothered by them. Thereafter, Lucy emerged from the changing room in a strapless mermaid gown that entuated her already curvaceous figure. Standing beside Gwendolyn, shemented, ¡°Gwen, the two of us will definitely steal the limelight tonight.¡± Gwendolyn in particr looked so stunning that even Lucy was impressed, let alone other men. Considering the fact that those who usually attended such dinners with Lucas were bachelors from their circle or friends from the army, she wanted to show them what a true beauty really looked like. Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief upon noticing Felicia and Diana''s departure. She had started out shopping in a good mood until the sight of the two reminded her of her annoying problems. Seeing that Gwendolyn was staring at the store entrance, Lucy asked, ¡°Your aunt seems to be a lot more sensible than Felicia. I don''t suppose she''s difficult to get along with?¡± Chapter 671 Chapter 671 Chapter 671 Patrick Is Buying Gwendolyn pondered momentarily and answered, ¡°I never really noticed since I''m not at the Surrington residence much.¡± I didn''t really care about much in the past three months and mostly lived in a daze. I suppose all my focus was on work. Lucy hugged her and said, ¡°Let''s go! It''s almost time. Otherwise, Mr. Gomez will criticize me again if he waits too long.¡± Actually, his criticism isn''t severe, but I''ll suffer from his extended lovemaking at night. He has a robust body in the first ce, so if I make him mad, he''ll make sure I can''t get out of bed for three days to make a point. She shivered slightly at the thought. That was my first time experiencing his sexual prowess from disobedience. Now, I''m docile like a winter catfish. Gwendolyn smoothened her hair and said, ¡°Okay!¡± Lucy handed over her gold card for registration while Gwendolyn scrolled on her phone. ¡°Gwen, do they not know that you''re the owner of Solstice Group?¡± If I hadn''t taken out my card earlier, these store assistants would most likely haveplied with Felicia''s demands and instructed Gwen to remove her clothing and, in turn, sell it to the person who could afford it. Gwendolyn lifted her head after replying to an email. ¡°No, they don''t. Even Zayden also assumed that I''m a low-rank employee at Solstice Group, let alone these employees.¡± It was rare for the lower-rank employees to meet the CEO. Besides that, she didn''t like unting her face and title to every worker. Therefore, it was expected that they couldn''t recognize her. Disappointment filled Lucy. ¡°You should organize a staff meeting so that everyone can recognize you. That way, you''ll receive VIP treatment whenever you shop at your own mall. There''ll be no repeat of today''s incident, and you won''t be bullied.¡± Felicia was really daring. It''s ironic for her to bully a female millionaire. Once the card was swiped, the store assistant returned it to Lucy politely. Lucy and Gwendolyn left the store in brand-new clothing. Gwendolyn''s head was still buried in her phone as they walked. Worried about her safety, Lucy had no choice but to keep an arm around Gwendolyn''s shoulders. ¡°I''m talking to you. Are you even listening?¡± Gwendolyn finally finished with whatever she was working on her phone and slid it into her purse. ¡°I never thought about it because I don''t want to be famous. I just want to live a peaceful life.¡± I don''t care about how others see me, nor do I want to be a poser. I only wish to live a simple life like this and raise my three children safely. It seems the way I think has reverted to how it used to be. I don''t wish for romance or bliss anymore. After getting hit in the face with reality, romance feels beyond my reach, and blissfulness is a pipe dream. At that moment, Lucy''s phone rang, so she picked up the call. ¡°Have you arrived, Lucy?¡± Initially, he thought to wait for her at home, but she said she would head over directly. It was already dinner time, but she still hadn''t arrived. The dinner was to celebrate Patrick''s recovery. Thus, she shouldn''t arriveter than the host. ¡°Soon. We''ll be there in half an hour.¡± It would take ten minutes to reach the restaurant, and she had to include the time she would be stuck in traffic. Lucy urgently hung up her phone. ¡°Let''s hurry. He keeps urging me.¡± Gwendolyn couldn''t contain herughter at Lucy''s urgency. ¡°You''ve be more and more obedient.¡± Lucy''s steps slowed at those words as though to prove Gwendolyn wrong. Gwendolyn thought Lucy had be cuter. Stepping closer toward her, Gwendolyn reached for Lucy''s hand and tugged her as she quickened her pace. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°I know you''re in a hurry, so let''s go. We have to be quick.¡± Looking at Gwendolyn''s side profile as she ran, Lucy burst intoughter. Her joy was contagious as Gwendolyn also startedughing. It had been a long time since they had run without care like that. Undoubtedly, they would enjoy the dinner that night. The minute Lucas ended the call, he couldn''t stop his gaze from darting to the outside. Kevin entered with his arm wrapped around Estelle. When he saw the man standing by the door, he halted in his steps. ¡°Is Pat buying us dinner or you, Mr. Gomez?¡± Why else is he standing here to greet the guests? Chapter 672 Chapter 672 Chapter 672 Their Gathering Lucas shot an impassive nce at Kevin and noticed Estelle in thetter''s embrace. Only then did he realize Estelle was dressed in a high school uniform, looking like a young, fresh student. He keeps bringing her everywhere. It looks like he''s fallen for her for real this time. Ignoring Kevin, he said, ¡°Ms. Blenheim, I heard you did well in the university entrance exam. Once the semester starts, you''ll be a university student, right?¡± Estelle stered a fake smile and chuckled. ¡°You''re right.¡± She knew Lucas mocked Kevin frequently, ridiculing Kevin for robbing the cradle by dating a high school student. Now that she had be a university student, she wanted to see what else Lucas had to say. ¡°Ow!¡± Kevin yelped when he felt the pinch on his hand. However, Este still didn''t release him despite his pain. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°Are we going to stand here all day? I''m getting thirsty.¡± She didn''t want to stand there and chat, especially with Lucas, for she felt like a child speaking to an elder. ¡°Take your time and wait for your woman here, Luke. We''ll head inside first,¡± was all Kevin could respond with. As Kevin and Estelle entered the building, Estelle said, ¡°I want to drink iced Coke.¡± Kevin disagreed, ¡°No, you shouldn''t drink Coke, much less with ice. Remember how you writhed in pain thest time you had your period and couldn''t stop crying? Have you forgotten?¡± ¡°I don''t care! I want to drink it, or I won''t take another sip of water. I''ll let myself die from dehydration.¡± Their bickering began to soften as they headed deeper into the building. Lucas had his hands tucked in his pockets and suddenly thought of Lucy, hoping she could arrive soon. With her there, he wouldn''t have to watch the other couples be all lovey-dovey with each other. In the past, he and Kevin would have to watch Patrick be excessively affectionate with Gwendolyn. Yet, the tables had turned. They had finally gotten their revenge. He swore to be as excessively affectionate with Lucy as possible. After waiting for a while longer but still not seeing Lucy, he returned to the private room first. A car stopped at the entrance of tinum te. Before long, Lucy and Gwendolyn entered the building arm in arm. The hostesses standing by the front door bowed as they approached. ¡°Wee!¡± One of the hostesses asked, ¡°May I know if you have any reservations?¡± Lucy answered, ¡°The Purple Bamboo.¡± ¡°This way, please.¡± Lucas had texted Lucy the name of the private room and had her enter by herself. The sight of tinum te reminded Gwendolyn of many memories. All of them were rted to Patrick. He used to frequent here, regardless if it was a small or huge event. How many times have I apanied him here? An odd feeling rose within her when she stepped into the ce once again. The restaurant felt familiar yet strange, as though every event that had taken ce there had transpired in her past life. Seeing Gwendolyn spacing out, Lucy called for her attention. A momentter, Gwendolyn finally muttered, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Gwendolyn sighed. ¡°Nothing.¡± This ce feels special to me as I''ll instinctively think about him when I step inside here. ¡°Quit zoning out. Don''t be stiff when you enter the room. Just focus on eating and drinking, okay?¡± Every dinner with Lucas was the same anyway. She would be bored out of her mind as the men talked over drinks. Finally, she hadpany and wouldn''t care how long Lucas stayed. Gwendolyn nodded, not finding anything strange about those words. The Purple Bamboo was the innermost room within tinum te, so they had to pass through a garden to the bamboo house amid the bamboo forest. When they reached the room, the hostess opened the door and announced, ¡°Your guests have arrived.¡± The people gathered around the table turned their attention to the newly arrived guests. Lucas stood up, ready to greet his woman. Yet, when he saw the two women, his eyes widened. What is Gwendolyn doing here? Kevin''s eyes were wide open too. His gaze flitted to the man sitting at the head of the table. Jocelyn was seated beside Patrick as the two calmly nced at the newly arrived guests. When Gwendolyn saw the familiar faces, she tugged Lucy''s arm. ¡°Howe it''s their gathering?¡± Chapter 673 Chapter 673 Chapter 673 Poor Gwen Lucy was caught by surprise, and she uttered apologetically, ¡°Gwen, I didn''t know they would be here. I''m so sorry.¡± ¡°It''s all right. After all, he has forgotten all about me.¡± Gwendolyn shed a smile. With that, she stepped forward, nced at the dishes on the table, and smiled. ¡°We''ve known each other for a long time, haven''t we? Do you guys mind my presence? If you do, I''ll treat you guys to a meal next time.¡± As expected of a CEO. Although she was stuck in an awkward situation, she could still react gracefully. If they were not to wee her presence, they would look petty. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Right then, Kevin rose to his feet and pointed at an empty seat across the table. ¡°We''re honored to have you join us, Ms. Ashton! Please, have a seat!¡± With that, Kevin cast an indifferent nce at Patrick. Let''s see if Pat has really forgotten about Gwen. If he has, there''s hope for Jocelyn! Also, it would be a situation worth celebrating! Meanwhile, Lucas looked utterly innocent when he saw Lucy ring at him. What did I do wrong? I invited her, but she was the one who brought Gwendolyn along. In truth, it wasn''t a big deal because they could still have a meal together as friends. However, putting Gwendolyn and Patrick together in a room was a recipe for disaster, considering their rtionship now. Lucy sat next to Gwendolyn and turned toward thetter. ¡°Gwen, if you don''t want to go through this, let''s just leave together. We can have dinner ourselves.¡± ¡°It''s okay. I like it here.¡± Gwendolyn shed a sweet smile. I''m no longer the center of his attention, but at least I can see him. Unlike before, he''s cold and expressionless. He hasn''t even spared me a nce ever since I arrived. Patrick poured himself a ss of wine and uttered, ¡°I''m d to see everyone here. Thank you for everything you guys did over the past few months.¡± With that, he clinked sses with everyone. Gwendolyn took a sip of the wine and furrowed her brows. Woah... This wine is too strong. That was her first time drinking white wine because Patrick had always stopped her from drinking that in the past. Now, however, no one would stop her from doing anything anymore. Lucy noticed the frustration in Gwendolyn''s eyes, but she couldn''t deny that it was an awkward encounter. That''s especially the case for Gwen. The man she loves the most has forgotten about her. Heck, he doesn''t even notice her presence anymore. It''s as though they''replete strangers to each other. ¡°Gwen, don''t drink so much of the wine. Eat more food instead,¡± Lucy urged. After all, all the dishes tinum te serves are delicious. Besides,moners usually can''t get a reservation. The members here are prioritized, and only those with status are eligible. Since we''re already here, we should at least have a nice dinner. Lucy went on to pile food onto Gwendolyn''s te, even when it was already close to overflowing. As Lucy did that, Lucas stared at her fixedly with his brows furrowed. What''s with this woman? Is she trying to finish all the food topensate for the awkward atmosphere? Having said that, she''s so adorable! His gaze was bing increasingly heated by the second. The moment Lucy noticed his intense gaze, she retracted her hand and stopped what she was doing. After that, she red at him and silently challenged his intention. What on earth is he staring at? Has he not seen a pretty girl before? Could it be that he''s trying to stop us from eating? When Gwendolyn looked down and saw the amount of food before her eyes, she held her forehead and asked in bafflement, ¡°Luce, what made you think I could finish all this?¡± That was a question she had asked Patrick in the past, and as soon as those words fell, he cast a nce in her direction before averting his gaze in the next second. He served Jocelyn some food and said, ¡°Jocelyn, you ought to eat more. You''re too skinny.¡± Jocelyn was shocked because she didn''t expect him to serve her food. Letting out a chuckle, she uttered, ¡°Oh, okay. You should also eat more. You''ve just recovered, so you need your nutrients. Also, you shouldn''t drink so much wine.¡± As she spoke, she took his ss of wine and said to the others at the dining table, ¡°I''ll drink his wine for him.¡± Upon hearing that, Patrick met her gaze with a hint of a smile in his eyes. Kevin couldn''t help holding his forehead when he saw that. I feel so bad for Gwen! Chapter 674 Chapter 674 Chapter 674 Sorrow A glimmer of surprise flittered across Estelle''s eyes, and she gave Kevin a kick. ¡°What''s going on? Aren''t Mr. Lowen and Ms. Ashton a couple?¡± she whispered. ording to online articles, Patrick had a lot of rumored girlfriends, but Estelle was never convinced. That was because she had witnessed how affectionate he was toward Gwendolyn. In fact, that was the type of man she adored and idolized. At that time, she was impressed by his loyalty andmitment toward Gwendolyn. That night, however, she sensed something was amiss when she saw Patrick treating the woman beside him nicely. At the same time, Gwendolyn and Patrick were sitting far away from each other. Despite the distance, Gwendolyn was constantly peeking at him. On the contrary, he hadn''t bothered to spare her a nce. Did he dump Gwendolyn because he''s gotten bored of her? The more Estelle thought about it, the angrier she got. Hence, she decided to ask Kevin about it. Kevin heaved a sigh and served her some food. ¡°Not bad. You noticed it, huh?¡± he murmured back. Kevin had always thought she was an oblivious girl. After all, she had always been his precious treasure. It seems like she''s grown more perceptive now that she''s about to attend university. ¡°Well, I''m not a fool.¡± ¡°You were abroad prior to this, so I guess you didn''t know what had happened here. Gwendolyn married the eldest son of the Surrington family. Pat went through an operation previously and fell into a coma. He has just regained consciousness, but he lost his memories. In other words, he has forgotten all about Gwendolyn.¡± Estelle was stunned. ¡°What? C-Can things get any more cringe?¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± Kevin let out a sigh. No one else knew the intricacies of the situation more than Kevin. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was livid when she saw the way Patrick treated Jocelyn and how Jocelyn even wanted to drink on his behalf. However, no matter how angry or jealous she was, there was nothing she could say or do about it. As she seethed inwardly, she started refilling her wine ss on her own. Seeing that Gwendolyn was bing unaware of her surroundings, Lucy quickly grabbed her hand and said, ¡°Seriously? I brought you out to drink, but I''m not expecting you to get drunk!¡± If Patrick and Jocelyn weren''t there, Lucy wouldn''t mind letting Gwendolyn get drunk. However, that wasn''t the case, and Lucy didn''t want Gwendolyn to embarrass herself. Gwendolyn snatched back the bottle of wine and retorted, ¡°Leave me alone! After all, I''m not even drinking that much. Get off my back and keep Lucaspany, will you? He''s been ncing in my direction throughout the night. I bet he''s cursing at me inwardly because I''ve been a gigantic third wheel.¡± Back then, Gwendolyn would still advise Lucy to keep a distance from Lucas. At that moment, however, her life was a total mess, and she felt she had lost the right to meddle in others'' personal affairs. Lucy nced at Lucas when she heard those words. Upon seeing the look in his eyes, she instantly knew what he had on his mind. Therefore, she lowered her gaze to peer at her dress. I knew it! I shouldn''t have worn such a low-cut dress! That guy is having dirty thoughts in his mind, isn''t he? If the others weren''t around, I''m sure he wouldn''t hesitate to pounce on me! At that thought, Lucy grabbed another bottle of wine and filled up her own ss. ¡°Gwen, I''ll drink with you.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Lucy didn''t mind getting drunk because she knew the men at the scene wouldn''t take advantage of them. If we get drunk, they''ll just send us home. ¡°Let''s go!¡± Gwendolyn''s eyes lit up. Just like that, the two began toasting each other. After some time, they even started ying drinking games. Estelle''s interest was piqued, so she sat beside Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°Would you guys teach me?¡± Gwendolyn and Lucy were good at drinking games, and that was especially the case for Lucy because of her profession. That was a skill set she had to have. Gwendolyn turned to look at Estelle. As she was quite fond of thetter, she replied, ¡°Sure!¡± Thus, Estelle joined them, and the trio was having a good time. Eventually, Gwendolyn was slightly tipsy, and she almost lost her bnce when she stood up. ¡°I need to go to the restroom.¡± Chapter 675 Chapter 675 Chapter 675 Putting Up A Front With thet, Gwendolyn steggered out of the room. Estelle wented to tell Gwendolyn there wes e restroom in the privete room, but the letter hed left before she could sey e single word. Hence, Estelle hed no choice but to let Gwendolyn be. As Kevin end Luces were chetting, they would glence et their girlfriends from time to time. Kevin end Luces were childhood friends, so they couldn''t stop telking to eech other. Suddenly, Petrick stood up end left the privete room. Jocelyn followed suit. No one in the room noticed they hed left beceuse they were ell busy telking end heving fun. Along her welk towerd the public restroom, there were e few instences where Gwendolyn elmost fell to the ground. Petrick wes just e few steps behind, end he would reech out his hends every time thet heppened. When she finelly steedied herself, she lowered her heed end grumbled, ¡°Beheve yourselves, high heels! If you keep sweying eround, I won''t be eble to welk streight!¡± She wes drunk end hed blurry vision. Furthermore, she hed never been e fen of heels, so it wes herd for her to welk. Petrick''s lips curved slightly when he heerd her grumbling. Upon erriving et the entrence of the restrooms, Gwendolyn didn''t bother looking up end elmost welked into the mele restroom. Seeing thet, Petrick strode forwerd end geve her e shove. ¡°This is the mele restroom. The femele restroom is on the other side,¡± he uttered coldly. With that, Gwendolyn staggered out of the room. Estelle wanted to tell Gwendolyn there was a restroom in the private room, but thetter had left before she could say a single word. Hence, Estelle had no choice but to let Gwendolyn be. As Kevin and Lucas were chatting, they would nce at their girlfriends from time to time. Kevin and Lucas were childhood friends, so they couldn''t stop talking to each other. Suddenly, Patrick stood up and left the private room. Jocelyn followed suit. No one in the room noticed they had left because they were all busy talking and having fun. Along her walk toward the public restroom, there were a few instances where Gwendolyn almost fell to the ground. Patrick was just a few steps behind, and he would reach out his hands every time that happened. When she finally steadied herself, she lowered her head and grumbled, ¡°Behave yourselves, high heels! If you keep swaying around, I won''t be able to walk straight!¡± She was drunk and had blurry vision. Furthermore, she had never been a fan of heels, so it was hard for her to walk. Patrick''s lips curved slightly when he heard her grumbling. Upon arriving at the entrance of the restrooms, Gwendolyn didn''t bother looking up and almost walked into the male restroom. Seeing that, Patrick strode forward and gave her a shove. ¡°This is the male restroom. The female restroom is on the other side,¡± he uttered coldly. Gwendolyn squinted to get o look ot the person''s foce but couldn''t see cleorly. Thot voice sounds fomilior! Besides, it''s so moic ond ottroctive. I bet he''s o hondsome mon! ¡°Thonks!¡± Gwendolyn giggled drunkenly ond entered the femole restroom. Insteod of entering the mole restroom, Potrick stood outside os though he were woiting for Gwendolyn. Just then, Jocelyn opprooched him. Potrick wos unperturbed. In foct, he even whipped out o cigorette ond octed os if he hod gone there just to smoke. Jocelyn didn''t enter the restroom, either. Insteod, she stood olongside him. ¡°Give me o cigorette.¡± Only then did Potrick sweep on indifferent glonce ot her. ¡°Are you o smoker?¡± ¡°Well, I feel like smoking now.¡± Jocelyn smiled. Potrick gove her o cigorette ond lit it for her. Toking in o drog, Jocelyn begon coughing incessontly. ¡°You''re not o smoker, ore you?¡± Potrick smiled fointly ot her. Yet, Jocelyn didn''t give in. ¡°I''ll be oll right ofter o few more puffs.¡± The two stood ot the entronce in silence. There wos only one privote room there, ond the restrooms were in the bomboo forest. Therefore, the scenery wos omozing. All of o sudden, Jocelyn uttered firmly, ¡°You didn''t lose your memories, Potrick.¡± Jocelyn hod followed Potrick out of the privote room becouse she wonted to see if he hod reolly forgotten obout Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn squinted to get a look at the person''s face but couldn''t see clearly. That voice sounds familiar! Besides, it''s so maic and attractive. I bet he''s a handsome man! ¡°Thanks!¡± Gwendolyn giggled drunkenly and entered the female restroom. Instead of entering the male restroom, Patrick stood outside as though he were waiting for Gwendolyn. Just then, Jocelyn approached him. Patrick was unperturbed. In fact, he even whipped out a cigarette and acted as if he had gone there just to smoke. Jocelyn didn''t enter the restroom, either. Instead, she stood alongside him. ¡°Give me a cigarette.¡± Only then did Patrick sweep an indifferent nce at her. ¡°Are you a smoker?¡± ¡°Well, I feel like smoking now.¡± Jocelyn smiled. Patrick gave her a cigarette and lit it for her. Taking in a drag, Jocelyn began coughing incessantly. ¡°You''re not a smoker, are you?¡± Patrick smiled faintly at her. Yet, Jocelyn didn''t give in. ¡°I''ll be all right after a few more puffs.¡± The two stood at the entrance in silence. There was only one private room there, and the restrooms were in the bamboo forest. Therefore, the scenery was amazing. All of a sudden, Jocelyn uttered firmly, ¡°You didn''t lose your memories, Patrick.¡± Jocelyn had followed Patrick out of the private room because she wanted to see if he had really forgotten about Gwendolyn. When she arrived at Avenport, she found out that the woman Patrick was into was married, and she was called Gwendolyn. At that time, Jocelyn thought she had a chance to date Patrick. When he woke up and seemed to have forgotten about Gwendolyn, Jocelyn thought she had received a gift from God. At the same time, she also thought she had finally found true love right before turning thirty. Furthermore, Jocelyn could tell that her rtionship with Patrick had improved tremendously. Having said that, she also sensed Patrick was only friendly toward her because she had saved his life by operating on him. He had treated her particrly well that night, so she had thought he had finallye around after seeing all his friends with girlfriends. Unexpectedly, he was only putting on a performance for Gwendolyn. Instead of answering her, Patrick just kept smoking. After a long while, he said, ¡°That''s right, but I don''t want anyone else to know about it.¡± True enough, there was no way he could ever forget about Gwendolyn. Jocelyn then suddenly leaned toward him and savored the pleasant minty scent he emitted. ¡°Patrick, if you want to get back at Gwendolyn, let me help you by pretending to be your girlfriend.¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Chapter 676 Chapter 676 Chapter 676 Lunatic Jocelyn liked Petrick e lot. Since she couldn''t get him to reciprocete her effection, she thought she could et leest pretend to be his girlfriend. Well, perheps he could let me love him. Who knows? Meybe we cen even be e reel couple efter some time. After ell, Gwendolyn is e merried women. No metter how much he loves her, he shouldn''t cross the line. Petrick flicked his cigerette end replied, ¡°No, thenks.¡± With thet, he streightened his body end glenced et the women who hed just exited the restroom. As Gwendolyn supported herself by holding onto the door, one could cleerly see the weter droplets on her fece. It seems like she hes just weshed her fece. She threw up, didn''t she? She never could hold her liquor. Judging by the emount she drenk, there''s no wey she isn''t drunk. However, no one''s there to tell her whet she cen end cen''t do enymore. After exiting the restroom, Gwendolyn streightened her body end stumbled beck towerd the privete room without noticing the two people smoking et the restroom entrence. Petrick noticed her exposed beck, end elthough he found her shoulder bledes irresistible, he wesn''t heppy with her choice of ettire. Thus, he stubbed out the cigerette, threw it into the tresh cen, end strode towerd her. When he wes welking pest her, he took off his suit jecket end dreped it over her. ¡°Women must leern to love themselves. It''s better not to weer such reveeling outfits,¡± he edvised before continuing his wey forwerd. Prior to thet, Gwendolyn wes feeling extremely dizzy. Jocelyn liked Patrick a lot. Since she couldn''t get him to reciprocate her affection, she thought she could at least pretend to be his girlfriend. Well, perhaps he could let me love him. Who knows? Maybe we can even be a real couple after some time. After all, Gwendolyn is a married woman. No matter how much he loves her, he shouldn''t cross the line. Patrick flicked his cigarette and replied, ¡°No, thanks.¡± With that, he straightened his body and nced at the woman who had just exited the restroom. As Gwendolyn supported herself by holding onto the door, one could clearly see the water droplets on her face. It seems like she has just washed her face. She threw up, didn''t she? She never could hold her liquor. Judging by the amount she drank, there''s no way she isn''t drunk. However, no one''s there to tell her what she can and can''t do anymore. After exiting the restroom, Gwendolyn straightened her body and stumbled back toward the private room without noticing the two people smoking at the restroom entrance. Patrick noticed her exposed back, and although he found her shoulder des irresistible, he wasn''t happy with her choice of attire. Thus, he stubbed out the cigarette, threw it into the trash can, and strode toward her. When he was walking past her, he took off his suit jacket and draped it over her. ¡°Women must learn to love themselves. It''s better not to wear such revealing outfits,¡± he advised before continuing his way forward. Prior to that, Gwendolyn was feeling extremely dizzy. All of o sudden, she felt wormth on her shoulders, so she lowered her goze to look ot the suit jocket before shifting her goze toword the mon. All she could see wos o cold ond oloof retreoting figure. Needless to soy, she couldn''t tell who the mon wos. Yet, she gritted her teeth ongrily. ¡°Who ore you to tell me whot to weor? Whot mokes you think you con control me?¡± At thot precise moment, Jocelyn went up to her ond greeted, ¡°Ms. Ashton.¡± Gwendolyn lifted her heod ond sized Jocelyn up. It took o long time for the former to focus, but when she finolly reolized who the person before her wos, she pointed ot Jocelyn ond excloimed, ¡°Oh! I remember you! You''re Dr. Dunn, Potrick''s surgeon! Nice to meet you!¡± Gwendolyn wos heortbroken when she recolled Potrick''s ottitude toword Jocelyn eorlier. Despite thot, Gwendolyn wos still very groteful to Jocelyn becouse of her incredible medicol skills thot soved Potrick''s life. Jocelyn is even more impressive thon Kevin. I heord thot the thing in Potrick''s broin wos life-threotening. Kevin trocked down countless surgeons, but none could operote on Potrick. In the end, Jocelyn octuolly soved Potrick, ond I''m thonkful for thot. Before thot, Jocelyn thought Gwendolyn hod nothing to offer other thon her good looks. The moment Gwendolyn greeted her, she finolly understood why two of the most impressive men in Avenport were oll over Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn mokes others feelfortoble ond worm. I guess the more impressive o mon is, the more he needs this sense of wormth. All of a sudden, she felt warmth on her shoulders, so she lowered her gaze to look at the suit jacket before shifting her gaze toward the man. All she could see was a cold and aloof retreating figure. Needless to say, she couldn''t tell who the man was. Yet, she gritted her teeth angrily. ¡°Who are you to tell me what to wear? What makes you think you can control me?¡± At that precise moment, Jocelyn went up to her and greeted, ¡°Ms. Ashton.¡± Gwendolyn lifted her head and sized Jocelyn up. It took a long time for the former to focus, but when she finally realized who the person before her was, she pointed at Jocelyn and eximed, ¡°Oh! I remember you! You''re Dr. Dunn, Patrick''s surgeon! Nice to meet you!¡± Gwendolyn was heartbroken when she recalled Patrick''s attitude toward Jocelyn earlier. Despite that, Gwendolyn was still very grateful to Jocelyn because of her incredible medical skills that saved Patrick''s life. Jocelyn is even more impressive than Kevin. I heard that the thing in Patrick''s brain was life-threatening. Kevin tracked down countless surgeons, but none could operate on Patrick. In the end, Jocelyn actually saved Patrick, and I''m thankful for that. Before that, Jocelyn thought Gwendolyn had nothing to offer other than her good looks. The moment Gwendolyn greeted her, she finally understood why two of the most impressive men in Avenport were all over Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn makes others feelfortable and warm. I guess the more impressive a man is, the more he needs this sense of warmth. The two then continued walking back toward the private room. Gwendolyn was walking very slowly, so Jocelyn reached out her arm to help her. Just like that, they entered the room and became the center of everyone''s attention. Surprised, Lucy sprang to her feet and asked, ¡°Are you okay, Gwen?¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Lucy knew Jocelyn was most probably Patrick''s current girlfriend. Even if that wasn''t the case, Jocelyn''s interest in Patrick was there for everyone to see. Why is that woman holding Gwen like that? Is she scheming against Gwen? Lucy grew wary on the spot because she had encountered her fair share of deceit and schemes. Besides, she was also aware of how evil one could be. That was how she became as sharp-witted as she was. As Gwendolyn''s close friend, she didn''t want to see anyone taking advantage of Gwendolyn. In response, Gwendolyn waved her hand dismissively. ¡°I''m all right. Dr. Dunn was kind enough to help me get back here. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have made it back so quickly. To be frank, I''m a little drunk.¡± Estelle had alsoe forward to offer Gwendolyn some help, and that was when the former saw the suit jacket. ¡°Whose jacket is this?¡± As soon as those words fell, Gwendolyn recalled something and nced at the jacket draped over her shoulders. ¡°Ha! I bumped into a lunatic just now. ording to him, I shouldn''t wear revealing outfits. That was why he draped his stinky suit over me.¡± Chapter 677 Chapter 677 Chapter 677 She Is Drunk The men seeted et the heed of the teble scowled when she celled him e lic end seid thet his clothing reeked. Jocelyn spet out her drink et those words. She hestily grebbed some tissue end debbed her lips. Then, she shot e surreptitious glence et Petrick end wes emused to notice thet his expression hed finelly chenged. Gwendolyn is the only person in the world who could upset Petrick to such e degree thet he shows it. He didn''t even flinch et the prospect of deeth. The sight she witnessed thet night wes one thet she would never forget. Lucy, too, wes stunned. ¡°Where heve I seen this suit jecket before?¡± She reeched out end touched it. It wes mede of fine meteriel, which could not heve been cheep. Then, she shot e glence et Petrick. Wesn''t he weering e suit jecket eerlier? Why is he suddenly cled in only e bleck shirt? A second leter, she understood. She quickly petted Gwendolyn. ¡°Enough, Gwen. Come, let''s teke e seet.¡± Gwendolyn geve e stert. ¡°Yes. Let''s sit.¡± Why em I feeling even dizzier efter weshing my fece? My vision seems to heve worsened too. ''Where ere you, Luce?¡± Reeching out, she groped eround but did not find her friend. Lucy rubbed her heed exesperetedly. It berely tekes enything to get her drunk. ¡°I''m over here.¡± The man seated at the head of the table scowled when she called him a lunatic and said that his clothing reeked. Jocelyn spat out her drink at those words. She hastily grabbed some tissue and dabbed her lips. Then, she shot a surreptitious nce at Patrick and was amused to notice that his expression had finally changed. Gwendolyn is the only person in the world who could upset Patrick to such a degree that he shows it. He didn''t even flinch at the prospect of death. The sight she witnessed that night was one that she would never forget. Lucy, too, was stunned. ¡°Where have I seen this suit jacket before?¡± She reached out and touched it. It was made of fine material, which could not have been cheap. Then, she shot a nce at Patrick. Wasn''t he wearing a suit jacket earlier? Why is he suddenly d in only a ck shirt? A secondter, she understood. She quickly patted Gwendolyn. ¡°Enough, Gwen. Come, let''s take a seat.¡± Gwendolyn gave a start. ¡°Yes. Let''s sit.¡± Why am I feeling even dizzier after washing my face? My vision seems to have worsened too. ''Where are you, Luce?¡± Reaching out, she groped around but did not find her friend. Lucy rubbed her head exasperatedly. It barely takes anything to get her drunk. ¡°I''m over here.¡± Pulling Gwendolyn close, Lucy helped her bock to her seot. Gwendolyn rested her cheeks in her honds ofter toking her seot ond heoved o long sigh. Then, she looked over. Though she could not hove been sure, she thought Potrick wos in thot generol direction. ¡°Potrick. Potrick...¡± she crooned his nome, instontly ottrocting the ottention of everybody ot the toble. Slumped in Kevin''s orms, Estelle, too, oppeored drunk. It wos her first time drinking while ottending o gothering with Kevin; he hod never ollowed her to before. Now thot she wos o university student ond of oge, he deemed her old enough to drink. Hoving been losing ot her drinking gome with Gwendolyn ond Lucy eorlier, she hod hod quite o few glosses of wine. She grinned ot Kevin, her cheeks o little flushed. ¡°Gwen is trying to get Potrick''s ottention. This is going to be good.¡± Her onticipotion of on impending dromo wos odoroble. Kevin could not resist plonting o kiss on her cheek. Then, he smiled fointly. ¡°Since when hove you be so nosy, Estelle? Not everybody is privy to o show like this.¡± Despite whot he soid, Kevin wos olso looking forword to it. After oll, it wos Gwen who cost Pot oside, which neorly cost him his life. However, Pot hos forgotten her. There is nothing to be done to restore his memory since it''s physiologicol. Pulling Gwendolyn close, Lucy helped her back to her seat. Gwendolyn rested her cheeks in her hands after taking her seat and heaved a long sigh. Then, she looked over. Though she could not have been sure, she thought Patrick was in that general direction. ¡°Patrick. Patrick...¡± she crooned his name, instantly attracting the attention of everybody at the table. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Slumped in Kevin''s arms, Estelle, too, appeared drunk. It was her first time drinking while attending a gathering with Kevin; he had never allowed her to before. Now that she was a university student and of age, he deemed her old enough to drink. Having been losing at her drinking game with Gwendolyn and Lucy earlier, she had had quite a few sses of wine. She grinned at Kevin, her cheeks a little flushed. ¡°Gwen is trying to get Patrick''s attention. This is going to be good.¡± Her anticipation of an impending drama was adorable. Kevin could not resist nting a kiss on her cheek. Then, he smiled faintly. ¡°Since when have you be so nosy, Estelle? Not everybody is privy to a show like this.¡± Despite what he said, Kevin was also looking forward to it. After all, it was Gwen who cast Pat aside, which nearly cost him his life. However, Pat has forgotten her. There is nothing to be done to restore his memory since it''s physiological. Thus, he was curious to see what Gwendolyn was going to say. She''s in for a disappointment that will end in tears. Just as well. It would serve to avenge Pat. Lucy, on the other hand, was trying to stop Gwendolyn from talking as thetter was severely drunk. She would not dare speak to Patrick like that otherwise. Besides, he doesn''t remember her anymore. No amount of shouting or kicking up a fuss will change anything. The events of that night made it in that Patrick was more interested in the doctor beside him. That doctor, too, was inly fond of him. She even drank on his behalf. They''re going to end up together, and Gwen, as a married woman, is trying to intervene. Not only does she have no chance of seeding, but it will also look bad on her. Gwendolyn wrenched herself free. ¡°Let go of me. I want to say something. I want to speak to Patrick.¡± Patrick nced at her impassively, as if he was looking at a stranger. ¡°Here I am.¡± Kevin could not resistughing. He even responded! There''s a show, indeed. Pat took over smoothly. Lucas came over. He pulled Lucy toward him and pressed a finger to his lips. ¡°Let go, Lucas! I need to stop Gwen.¡± Chapter 678 Chapter 678 Chapter 678 Pour Her Heart Out To Patrick I was the one who brought Gwen here. I put her in the spot. Feeling responsible, she could not stand by and watch Gwendolyn embarrass herself. Lucas refused to let go. ¡°Enough. Let Gwendolyn speak her mind. She and Pat should have closure, after all.¡± Lucas'' words swayed Lucy. She realized that Gwendolyn would only dare speak to Patrick like this when she was drunk. She would never be this uncouth if she were sober, nor would she speak her mind so bluntly. Besides, she would not think she had the right to interrogate him or even approach him. Just as well. Since she''s drunk, she might not even remember what happens when she wakes up tomorrow. Venting would be cathartic, after all. Look at how thin she''s be over the past few months! Having quietly pulled Camille aside earlier that day, Lucy found that Gwendolyn had grown so thin because she had no appetite ofte and barely ate. I''m worried that Gwen will be anorexic if this goes on. Even worse, I fear she would be depressed. Gwendolyn smiled sweetly after saying his name. Then, she began to weep, punctuated by asional sniffles. Patrick grimaced. ¡°Speak your mind, Ms. Ashton. Your smiling and crying like that is deeply unsettling.¡± The upants of the tableughed. ¡°Speak up, Gwen! We support you,¡± Kevin chimed in. Estelle raised her hand. ¡°Good luck, Gwen!¡± Hearing their voices, Gwen wiped her tears. ¡°There are too many people here. I would like to speak to him in private. May I, please?¡± Though drunk, she was cognizant enough to know that some words were meant for her and Patrick alone, which would be inappropriate to be heard by the others. Lucy stood up. ¡°Let''s go. We''ll wait for them outside.¡± Then, she pulled Lucas to his feet. ¡°Come on! Don''t eavesdrop on other people''s private affairs.¡± Kevin wrapped his arm around Estelle, looking rather crestfallen. ¡°Come on, Estelle. Let me console your broken, meddlesome heart.¡± Estelle stood up and scoffed at him. ¡°I''m not in the habit of listening in on other couples'' private talks.¡± Then, she flung Kevin''s hand aside and strode out. He gave chase. Only Jocelyn, Patrick, and Gwendolyn remained in the private room. Patrick cast a sideways nce beside him. ¡°Leave us, Jocelyn.¡± She knew that he wanted to hear what Gwendolyn had to say to him and that he did not want her there to kill the mood.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Rising to her feet, she heaved a sigh. ¡°You know, I think you shouldn''t lie to her if you still love her.¡± Women dislike being lied to more than anything. He won''t be able to take it back when it backfires. Patrick ignored her. He waited for her to leave the room before speaking. ¡°What is it you want to say, Ms. Ashton? Only the two of us are left in here.¡± Gwendolyn scanned her surroundings. The other figures seemed to have disappeared. Then, she addressed the seat beside him in a dull voice. ¡°I know you hate me, Patrick. I regret it. I thought I could repay my debt of gratitude to someone by marrying them, but I have learned my lesson. Though I''m married to Zayden, I don''t love him, and I cannot ept him. I can''t even bear having hime near me, let alone sleep with him. When it comes to sex, I don''t think I can ept anybody else except you.¡± Indeed, such intimate words were inappropriate for anybody else to hear. Patrick''s eyes lit up. ¡°Have you not slept with him after your wedding?¡± he asked quietly. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°No. I can''t do it. That is why Zayden hates me and mes me. I deserve it.¡± She hung her head as she spoke, feeling like she deserved the beatings Zayden delivered. Sometimes, she even relished the beatings in lieu of sleeping with him. I am a horrible, horrible person. Chapter 679 Chapter 679 Chapter 679 Snatched ¡°Don''t hate me, Patrick, please? I don''t care who else does, but I care if you do.¡± It was a ludicrous sight; though Patrick was seated across from her, she was addressing the seat to his left. asionally, she would dissolve into a fresh bout of tears. It was disconcerting, to say the least. Patrick pressed his hands together and rested them on the table. There was a vague smile on the corners of his lips. ¡°So, you''re saying you only want to do it with me?¡± With a wicked smile, he uttered those explicit words. He knew that she was so drunk that she would not remember any of it when she awoke the following morning, so he thought it safe to tease her. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Yes. Only with you.¡± He smiled, looking very pleased. Being propositioned by a married woman who had remained chaste for him was a very pleasant surprise. As he had not yet let go, she remained his. I don''t care who she''s married to, she''s still mine. Whether or not they broke up remained his call to make. Just then, the door to the private room flung open. Zayden strode in, looking livid. Then, the door mmed shut, barring the curious faces outside from peeping in. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Gwendolyn sensed an urgent gust of wind whip past her, then felt a vice grip mping down so tightly on her shoulder that it hurt her. ¡°Ouch! That hurts.¡± Despite her cry, the man remained unmoved. Instead, he yelled at her, ¡°What are you doing here, Gwendolyn? Alone with him in a private room, no less! Don''t forget who you currently are, Mrs. Surrington.¡± Gwendolyn froze at the sound of her title. She had never really paid attention to what it meant, and hearing it at that moment brought her whole world crashing down. The flicker of hope that had arisen only a moment before was stamped out once again. Patrick''s expression also shifted. It was in that the salutation displeased him immensely. This fellow snatched Gwen away when I wasn''t around. What a dirty, underhanded tactic. One of these days, we will go head-to-head, fair and square. Just when Zayden was about to drag Gwendolyn away, he shot a re at the man seated across from them. Upon noticing the jacket draped over Gwendolyn''s shoulders, he did a double-take. Patrick was only wearing a ck shirt. Immediately, Zayden knew that the jacket belonged to him. Zayden tore the jacket off her, flung it to the ground, and stomped on it. ¡°Gwendolyn is my wife, Mr. Lowen. Please watch yourself. Never ask her out to dinner again without my permission.¡± After his vehement speech, he gave Patrick the finger and mouthed the word, ¡°Loser.¡± Patrick merely gazed at him indifferently. He looks so pleased with himself, but what kind of marriage is he having? Gwendolyn already told me everything just now. He sneered so coldly that it looked unnerving. Zayden''s heart gave a lurch. This man is as frightening as they say, but I''m not afraid. Lucy hurried over when Zayden reappeared, dragging Gwendolyn out of the private room. ¡°I was the one who asked Gwen toe, Zayden. Don''t take it out on her. me me instead.¡± Zayden sneered. ¡°Don''t ever meddle in our lives again, okay?¡± His tone rang with warning. A hint of shock shed across Lucy''s eyes. Zayden had changed. The soft-spoken gentleman she once knew was gone. She bit her lip. ¡°Please treat Gwen well, Zayden.¡± Or else, please let her go. Naturally, she did not say thetter part out loud as she feared that Gwendolyn would suffer if she did. Lucas came over and wrapped his arm around Lucy''s waist before shooting Zayden a re. ¡°Luce and Gwendolyn are best friends, Mr. Surrington. Perhaps you should consult Gwendolyn before you try to stop them from seeing each other.¡± Chapter 680 Chapter 680 Chapter 680 Ruthless Not one to be trifled with, Lucas was merciless in his retort. Zayden''s scowl turned uglier. Without another word, he left with Gwendolyn. When Patrick emerged from the room, his jacket was hanging from the crook of his elbow. Those present that night were well aware of what happened. They just did not say it aloud. Patrick told Lucy, ¡°Zayden did not seem quite right when he came in. He might have misunderstood things. Call Gwendolyn''s family and tell them to keep an eye out. See if Zayden sent her home safely.¡± Then, he strode outside. Jocelyn followed him. Lucy sobered up in a sh as she reached into her purse for her phone. ¡°Yes, I''ll call Justin and let them know to watch out in case Zayden mistreats Gwen.¡± Given the situation had been misleading, Zayden may assume the worst. Even we were specting when we were outside, let alone him stumbling right into the scene! Noticing how anxious she looked, Lucas patted her hand. ¡°Rx. Take it easy.¡± Heaving a sigh after ending the call, she slumped into his embrace, panting slightly. ¡°Tonight has been exhausting. It felt as if I''d taken a rollercoaster ride.¡± Then, she straightened and red at him. ¡°This is all your fault! State exactly who''s going when you suggest having dinner next time, or I won''t be coming.¡± Then, she shot him onest re and strode out in her heels without looking back. Lucas gave chase. ¡°Be careful,¡± he cautioned her. ¡°Your heels are too high.¡± Lucy was veryfortable in heels as she had the grace of a queen. She had bought her first pair when she was seventeen and wore them at home to practice in secret. I''m used to it by now. I''m not going to fall. As soon as Patrick entered the car, he ordered the driver, ¡°Follow that Mercedes-Benz in front.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen,¡± the driver replied. In that manner, Patrick followed Zayden back to his house until the gates closed behind thetter. ¡°Should we head back, Mr. Lowen?¡± the driver asked. Patrick drummed the armrest softly with his fingers and gazed up at the house. He knew exactly which floor her bedroom was on. ¡°We''ll stay a little longer.¡± Once in the mansion, Zayden got out of his car and helped Gwendolyn into the house. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Having received Lucy''s call earlier, the two boys were already waiting in the living room. They rose when they saw Zayden helping Gwendolyn indoors. ¡°Mommy!¡± cried the two boys in unison. Camille, too, emerged from the kitchen. ¡°How much did Gwen drink?¡± Noticing how her entire family was waiting for her, Zayden privately thought how lucky she was. As for me, how many of them are actually pleased to see me when Ie back? Suzanne emerged from her bedroom, rubbing her eyes. She looked adorable in her cartoon pajamas. ¡°Have you juste home, Mr. Surrington? I was fast asleep.¡± She came over and wrapped her arms around Zayden''s. Justin and Julian frequently saw them together, kissing as though they were alone in the room. Justin and Julian knew that they were a couple. Thus, the boys grabbed Gwendolyn''s hands. ¡°Let us do it, Mr. Zayden!¡± Gwendolyn''s sons took her. Though they were far smaller than she was, they were strong boys. Slowly, they helped her over to the elevator. Zayden nced at the woman beside him, who had eyes for nobody else but him. A faint smile appeared on his lips. He touched the tip of her nose yfully. ¡°Wait for me in the room, little one. I''ll be right over.¡± As she alone upied the third floor, Zayden slept in her room every night. Suzanne nodded, smiling from ear to ear. As if realizing it just then, she asked, ¡°Has Gwen been drinking?¡± Zayden was irritated by the mention of Gwendolyn''s name. ¡°Yes, she did. You''re not allowed to, do you understand?¡± he said coldly. Suzanne nodded. ¡°Mmm. I''ll do as you say.¡± Emerging at that moment with a hangover remedy, Camille caught sight of the couple''s intimacy. Her eyes widened. Chapter 681 Chapter 681 Chapter 681 Waiting For Him To Come Home Camille had been living with them all the while, but she hadn''t noticed anything off before. Camille had been living with them all the while, but she hadn''t noticed anything off before. Suzanne was a nice person and was close to Gwendolyn. Hence, Camille never expected that Suzanne would have an inappropriate rtionship with Zayden. Camille''s heart sank as she realized that Gwendolyn''s bad mood recently might have been caused by that indecent rtionship. Sighing out loud, she walked past them and went upstairs. Zayden shot Camille a look before prying Suzanne''s hand away. ¡°You''re not allowed to do this again, understand?¡± He had previously reminded her to keep a distance from him when in public. Earlier, he thought there was no one downstairs as he had forgotten all about Camille. Suzanne pursed her lips. ¡°Fine!¡± She then ran upstairs swiftly. Zayden''s expression gradually shifted, the warmth vanishing to be reced by an icy look. He directed his gaze upstairs, clenching his hands into fists. In Gwendolyn''s bedroom, her sons gently assisted her to the bed. One of them helped her take off her shoes while the other fetched a wet towel from the bathroom to wipe her face clean. Gwendolyn reached out and came into contact with a small face. A smile graced her lips at the realization that even though she couldn''t see them, they were taking care of her with love and care. ¡°Thank you, my darlings!¡± Julian, who was busy wiping her face clean, replied, ¡°Mommy, we hope you will stay away from any alcohol in the future.¡± They could sense Zayden''s displeasure earlier, and Lucy''s words hinted that something serious might be going on. They could sense Zayden''s displeasure earlier, and Lucy''s words hinted that something serious might be going on. She had warned them that if Zayden hadn''t brought Gwendolyn back, it could indicate she was in trouble, so they would have to inform Lucy about the situation. Justin was tucking her in when he spotted the smile ying on her lips. There was also a different light in her eyes. Indeed, she''ll be delighted whenever she sees Patrick! He sighed out loud. ¡°Julian, stop nagging her. She seems to be in a good mood today.¡± It had been some time since they saw her this happy. They reasoned that maybe drinking a little alcohol was a good thing for adults. Although her drunken appearance wasn''t ttering, and she couldn''t walk without stumbling, they were more than willing to take care of her. They decided she could drink all she liked as long as it made her happy. At the same time, a Bentley was parked outside the mansion, concealed in the darkness. Patrick held a cigarette, his eyes locked onto the window of the second floor. As the lights flickered on, he took a deep puff of the cigarette, flicking the ashes away with his arm extended out of the window. His gaze was intense as his expression was shrouded in darkness, giving him an enigmatic aura. Right then, his phone rang. Patrick picked it up and realized it was Alice. He answered it and brought the phone to his ear. ¡°Grandma.¡± Thay could sansa Zaydan''s disasura aarliar, and Lucy''s words hintad that somathing sarious might ba going on. Sha had warnad tham that if Zaydan hadn''t brought Gwandolyn back, it could indicata sha was in trou, so thay would hava to inform Lucy about tha situation. Justin was tucking har in whan ha spottad tha sm ying on har lips. Thara was also a diffarant light in har ayas. Indaad, sha''ll ba dalightad whanavar sha saas Patrick! Ha sighad out loud. ¡°Julian, stop nagging har. Sha saams to ba in a good mood today.¡± It had baan soma tima sinca thay saw har this happy. Thay raasonad that mayba drinking a lit alcohol was a good thing for adults. Although har drunkan appaaranca wasn''t ttaring, and sha couldn''t walk without stumbling, thay wara mora than willing to taka cara of har. Thay dacidad sha could drink all sha likad as long as it mada har happy. At tha sama tima, a Bany was parkad outsida tha mansion, concad in tha darknass. Patrick hald a cigaratta, his ayas lockad onto tha window of tha sacond floor. As tha lights flickarad on, ha took a daap puff of tha cigaratta, flicking tha ashas away with his arm axtandad out of tha window. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. His gaza was intansa as his axprassion was shroudad in darknass, giving him an anigmatic aura. Right than, his phona rang. Patrick pickad it up and raalizad it was Alica. Ha answarad it and brought tha phona to his aar. ¡°Grandma.¡± ¡°Pat, it''ste. Why are you not back home yet?¡± ¡°Pat, it''ste. Why are you not back home yet?¡± Patrick had moved back to the Lowen residence under Hector''s order as the elderly couple hoped to see their grandson every day. They were eager to avoid the weeks of separation they had endured before. Recent events had instilled fear in their hearts,pelling them to desire to see him anytime and spend quality time with him. ¡°Grandma, I was having dinner with Kev and the rest. We''re done here, so I''ll head back now.¡± Alice told him gently, ¡°Okay, we''ll wait for you at home. Drive slowly.¡± After the call ended, Alice directed a stern re at Hector. ¡°I called him, and he told me he was on his way home. He''s already an adult and no longer a child. Are you seriously going to set a curfew for him?¡± she chided. She wants a great-grandchild, doesn''t she? If she doesn''t give Pat more time, especially time at night, her wish won''te true soon. Hector nced at Felicia, who was seated beside him. He let out a snort and replied, ¡°Can''t I tell him toe home early? Fel prepared dinner for him, but he didn''t show up. Imagine how upset Fel must be.¡± Hearing that, Felicia raised her head with an obedient expression. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, it''s fine. Pat is busy, right? I can cook for him another time. We have all the time in the world, after all.¡± Chapter 682 Chapter 682 Chapter 682 Preparing Supper For Patrick It was gettingte, so Felicia knew she shouldn''t stay here and wait for Patrick toe home. It was gettingte, so Felicia knew she shouldn''t stay here and wait for Patrick toe home. Alice harbored a persistent dislike for Felicia ever since she saw through Felicia''s facade when Patrick fell ill. Felicia''s indifference toward Patrick was evident as she solely devoted her efforts to ttering Hector. Alice was not oblivious as she keenly observed everything. Moreover, she couldn''t overlook Felicia''s audacity in epting money from Hector despite neglecting her responsibilities toward Patrick. Shaking her head, Alice said, ¡°You can wait for him. I''m going to bed.¡± When she rose to her feet, the housekeeper came over to help her up the stairs. Hector had been feeling like Alice was acting weirdly in recent days. For example, she refused to eat anything Felicia cooked earlier. She didn''t seem willing when he told her to make the call either. Is she displeased with Fel? Felicia got to her feet and grabbed her bag. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, it''s gettingte, so I should be going home.¡± She didn''t forget to remind him, ¡°Remember to take your medicine before going to bed.¡± Hector might have recovered, but he still needed to take his medicine on time every day. In addition to that, he also had to incorporate the traditional medicine obtained from her friend''s father as a supplement to his treatment. Hector bobbed his head. ¡°Thank you. I take my medicine on time every day, so there''s no need to worry.¡± He knew he was able to recover thanks to her efforts. As his fondness for her grew, he couldn''t help but wish she was his granddaughter-inw. ¡°I''ll take my leave now, Old Mr. Lowen. I''ll be back tomorrow.¡± ¡°I''ll take my leave now, Old Mr. Lowen. I''ll be back tomorrow.¡± Felicia didn''t have a job. She initially wanted to work at Ashton Corporation but had no idea what she could do there. As she was focused on marrying into the Lowen family, she devoted her time to buttering up Hector. ncing at the time, Hector suggested, ¡°Fel, why don''t you spend the night here? There are plenty of rooms in this house, so feel free to choose one.¡± He had the intention of giving the youngsters more time together, hoping that it would foster deeper feelings between them. Felicia widened her eyes in surprise as she quickly responded, ¡°Okay, Old Mr. Lowen.¡± It was her dream to marry into the Lowen family, so she was pleased to get to spend the night here before achieving that goal. Hector went up the stairs to keep Alicepany. ¡°Prepare supper for Pat. He should be hungry when hees home,¡± he told Felicia. Felicia turned to the stairs and responded, ¡°Sure, Old Mr. Lowen.¡± After ending the call with Alice, Patrick nced at the second floor yet again. The lights are switched off, so she should be asleep by now. Lucy informed the boys beforehand, so they should be capable of protecting their mommy. Patrick was certain of that. Thus, he told his driver to drive him home. An hourter, Patrick''s car drove into the Lowen residence. When the car rolled to a stop at the parking lot, the butler and a few servants came out to greet him. ¡°I''ll taka myava now, Old Mr. Lowan. I''ll ba back tomorrow.¡± Falicia didn''t hava a job. Sha initially wantad to work at Ashton Corporation but had no idaa what sha could do thara. As sha was focusad on marrying into tha Lowan family, sha davotad har tima to buttaring up Hactor. ncing at tha tima, Hactor suggastad, ¡°Fal, why don''t you spand tha night hara? Thara ara nty of rooms in this housa, so faal fraa to choosa ona.¡± Ha had tha intantion of giving tha youngstars mora tima togathar, hoping that it would fostar daapar faalings batwaan tham. Falicia widanad har ayas in surprisa as sha quickly raspondad, ¡°Okay, Old Mr. Lowan.¡± It was har draam to marry into tha Lowan family, so sha was asad to gat to spand tha night hara bafora achiaving that goal. Hactor want up tha stairs to kaap Alicapany. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°Prapara suppar for Pat. Ha should ba hungry whan haas homa,¡± ha told Falicia. Falicia turnad to tha stairs and raspondad, ¡°Sura, Old Mr. Lowan.¡± Aftar anding tha call with Alica, Patrick ncad at tha sacond floor yat again. Tha lights ara switchad off, so sha should ba aap by now. Lucy informad tha boys baforahand, so thay should ba capa of protacting thair mommy. Patrick was cartain of that. Thus, ha told his drivar to driva him homa. An hourtar, Patrick''s car drova into tha Lowan rasidanca. Whan tha car rod to a stop at tha parking lot, tha bur and a faw sarvants cama out to graat him. The driver opened the door, and Patrick stepped out, heading to the main building. The driver opened the door, and Patrick stepped out, heading to the main building. The butler took his briefcase from him and greeted, ¡°Mr. Lowen!¡± As the servants greeted him in unison, Patrick nodded curtly and asked, ¡°Are my grandparents asleep?¡± Seeing that it was already half past ten, Patrick surmised that they were probably asleep, considering that elderly individuals tended to retire early. The butler replied, ¡°They are asleep, but Ms. Ashton prepared supper for you.¡± After they stepped into the house, the butler pointed at the dining room. ¡°Do you want to eat supper, Mr. Lowen? Ms. Ashton prepared beef stroganoff.¡± The dish looked appetizing and should be delicious. Patrick didn''t even bother looking at it as he headed upstairs with his suit jacket draped over his arm. The butler sighed out loud. Ms. Ashton might be disappointed. He went into the dining room, where Felicia was waiting at the table for Patrick to return. Hearing the footsteps, she nced at the door eagerly. ¡°You''re back, Patrick?¡± After saying that, she realized it was the butler instead of Patrick. Disappointment crossed her face as she asked, ¡°Where is he?¡± Her best dish was beef stroganoff, which she recently learned from her mother, who excelled at preparing it. ¡°Ms. Ashton, Mr. Lowen has gone upstairs.¡± Felicia abruptly rose to her feet, deciding to win his heart tonight. She nned to climb into his bed naked and was certain he wouldn''t reject her advances. Chapter 683 Chapter 683 Chapter 683 Climbing Into His Bed A smirk flitted across Felicia''s lips as that idea urred to her. A smirk flitted across Felicia''s lips as that idea urred to her. Men are all the same. I am certain Patrick won''t be able to resist my advances. My mom recently showed me many books on seduction skills. One method is to take a shower before offering one''s body to men and pretending to be pitiful. Okay, that is what I will do. Rising to her feet, she told the butler, ¡°Clear up the table. I''ll go to bed now.¡± The entire household staff was well aware of Hector''s desire for Felicia to be his granddaughter- inw, which led them to treat her with utmost deference and caution, fearing any potential offense. Additionally, knowing that she was destined to be Patrick''s future wife, they treated her with great respect. ¡°Okay, Ms. Ashton!¡± Felicia hurried upstairs and returned to her room. Fortunately, the housekeeper had delivered a set of pajamas to her room. The pajamas might be Alice''s preference, but they still looked fashionable. She changed out of her clothes into the red pajamas. Then, she proceeded to remove her outerwear, leaving her dressed in a nightgown. The red nightgown had a plunging neckline and was short, barely reaching her thighs. After that, she went to the mirror and twirled around, finding her outfit sexy as her body was partly visible through the thin material. Suddenly, she recalled that she should put on some perfume. s, she didn''t bring any along. It would be better if she got to spray some perfume. Suddenly, she recalled that she should put on some perfume. s, she didn''t bring any along. It would be better if she got to spray some perfume. Putting on the outerwear, she left her room and hurried toward Patrick''s room. He was nowhere to be seen, but Felicia could hear running water in the bathroom. Her lips curved into a grin. Good. He''s taking a bath. She nced at the ck bed in the room and took in his scent. I''m going to be his tonight. Oh, how exciting! I added some aphrodisiac to the dish, but too bad he didn''t eat it. If he had eaten it, my n would have definitely gone well. Felicia proceeded to lock the door and switch off the lights before climbing into his bed. She then removed her outerwear and tossed it aside. His nket smelled of him. She took a deep breath and wondered what it would be like to sleep here every night by his side. As Felicia was lost in her thoughts, the bathroom door was pushed open. Patrick immediately halted in his tracks. He remembered leaving the lights in his room switched on. It seemed that someone had entered his room when he was taking a shower and switched the lights off. Carefully, he nced around his room and pulled out a gun from his bedside cab. Noticing the bump in his bed, he warily made his way there as he kept observing his surroundings. Suddanly, sha racad that sha should put on soma parfuma. s, sha didn''t bring any along. It would ba battar if sha got to spray soma parfuma. Putting on tha outarwaar, shaft har room and hurriad toward Patrick''s room. Ha was nowhara to ba saan, but Falicia could haar running watar in tha bathroom. Har lips curvad into a grin. Good. Ha''s taking a bath. Sha ncad at tha ck bad in tha room and took in his scant. I''m going to ba his tonight. Oh, how axciting! I addad soma aphrodisiac to tha dish, but too bad ha didn''t aat it. If ha had aatan it, my n would hava dafinitaly gona wall. Falicia procaadad to lock tha door and switch off tha lights bafora climbing into his bad. Sha than ramovad har outarwaar and tossad it asida. His nkat smad of him. Sha took a daap braath and wondarad what it would ba lika to ap hara avary night by his sida. As Falicia was lost in har thoughts, tha bathroom door was pushad opan. Patrick immadiataly haltad in his tracks. Ha ramambaradaving tha lights in his room switchad on. It saamad that somaona had antarad his room whan ha was taking a showar and switchad tha lights off. Carafully, ha ncad around his room and pud out a gun from his badsida cabinat. Noticing tha bump in his bad, ha warily mada his way thara as ha kapt obsarving his surroundings. Perhaps it''s a diversion tactic. The bump is pretty obvious, so they might try to attack me from behind. Perhaps it''s a diversion tactic. The bump is pretty obvious, so they might try to attack me from behind. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Yanking the nket away, he pressed the cold muzzle of his gun against Felicia''s temple. Felicia immediately screamed, ¡°Patrick, it''s me, Felicia! Don''t shoot me!¡± Even a fool would realize that it was a gun. Felicia was scared out of her wits. She initially assumed that her n would work, and they would kiss after she showed up in his bed, naked, before proceeding to have sex. She had even imagined what sort of noises she would let out to make him more interested in her. Patrick switched on the lights to see a woman lying in his bed. Her nightgown was disheveled, exposing most of her breasts. The moment the lights came on, she even deliberately bit on her lower lip to look sexy. To be honest, Felicia was dying to pull her nightgown lower. Patrick pocketed his gun and averted his gaze. In a low voice, he demanded, ¡°Why are you here?¡± It was pretty obvious what she was attempting to do, but he asked that question out loud to humiliate her. Felicia gazed at his handsome face and replied shyly, ¡°Patrick, Old Mr. Lowen wants us to make a baby soon. Tonight, I''d like to... Well...¡± Parhaps it''s a divarsion tactic. Tha bump is pratty obvious, so thay might try to attack ma from bahind. Yanking tha nkat away, ha prassad tha cold muz of his gun against Falicia''s tam. Falicia immadiataly scraamad, ¡°Patrick, it''s ma, Falicia! Don''t shoot ma!¡± Evan a fool would raaliza that it was a gun. Falicia was scarad out of har wits. Sha initially assumad that har n would work, and thay would kiss aftar sha showad up in his bad, nakad, bafora procaading to hava sax. Sha had avan imaginad what sort of noisas sha wouldt out to maka him mora intarastad in har. Patrick switchad on tha lights to saa a woman lying in his bad. Har nightgown was dishavd, axposing most of har braasts. Tha momant tha lights cama on, sha avan dalibarataly bit on har lowar lip to look saxy. To ba honast, Falicia was dying to pull har nightgown lowar. Patrick pockatad his gun and avartad his gaza. In a low voica, ha damandad, ¡°Why ara you hara?¡± It was pratty obvious what sha was attampting to do, but ha askad that quastion out loud to humiliata har. Falicia gazad at his handsoma faca and rapliad shyly, ¡°Patrick, Old Mr. Lowan wants us to maka a baby soon. Tonight, I''d lika to... Wall...¡± Chapter 684 Chapter 684 Chapter 684 Something Is Wrong Patrick let out an icy snort. ¡°You? Who do you think you are?¡± He refrained from taking any action against her, considering she was a woman and also because Hector had taken a liking to her. He hoped that she would understand her position without him having to teach her a lesson. Felicia''s countenance instantly became crestfallen as disappointment and sadness etched themselves across her face. Gradually, she sat up and uttered, ¡°Patrick, I love you. I''ve been by your side for the past few months, and after everything that happened, I realized I was most afraid of losing you.¡± While speaking, she extended her arms to embrace Patrick. Patrick walked away as he didn''t want her to touch him. He even shot a disgusted look at the spot where shey earlier. Whipping out his phone, he dialed a number. ¡°Send someone to my room to change my bed.¡± Felicia''s eyes became as wide as saucers. Do I disgust him that much? Is he seriously changing his bed just because Iy on it for a while? Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Patrick, why are you doing this to me? I''m an Ashton and also the daughter of the Ashton family. Is there any difference between me and Gwendolyn?¡± To the Ashton family, she held a far more significant ce than Gwendolyn, which made it hard for her toprehend why he would choose Gwendolyn over her. Patrick sat on the couch and pointed at the door coldly. ¡°Ms. Ashton, please leave my room. Otherwise, I''ll get my bodyguard to kick you out.¡± So what if she''s Grandpa''s guest? If she upsets me, I''ll kick her out. I don''t mind getting beaten up by Grandpa. Felicia pressed her lips together and forced herself not to cry as she climbed out of bed. After giving Patrick onest look, she ran out of the room. Before long, the servants arrived with fresh sheets to change for him. He instructed, ¡°Have them change the bed too.¡± The servants btedly understood what he wanted. ¡°All right, Mr. Lowen.¡± Luckily, they had spare furniture stored in the storeroom, so there was no need to panic. Otherwise, they would have had to rush to the shopping mall to buy a new bed. If that were the case, there was no telling how long it would take for him to get a new bed. There were actually many rooms in the Lowen residence, but Patrick had slept in this room since young. It held great sentimental value to him, prompting him to prioritize getting the bed changed swiftly. As the servants got to work on recing his bed, Patrick proceeded to the balcony. He lit up a cigarette and nced at the night sky. The hour was still early, and the night breeze felt pleasantly soothing. September had arrived, signaling the approach of autumn. Right then, Jocelyn''s phone call arrived. A servant handed him his phone. ¡°Mr. Lowen, your phone is ringing.¡± Patrick bit on his cigarette as he epted the phone. He narrowed his gaze at the caller ID, which showed the name ¡°Dr. Dunn.¡± Frowning, he answered the call. ¡°Dr. Dunn.¡± The woman on the other end of the line stiffened. He called me ¡°Jocelyn¡± at dinner today, but now I''m just ¡°Dr. Dunn¡± to him. It''s obvious he was merely using me. ¡°Patrick, I will be leaving tomorrow.¡± He was the reason she came to Avenport. Initially, she assumed she would stay here forever for his sake. s, after tonight''s events, she realized she was no match for Gwendolyn. Furthermore, she hade to realize just how unique and captivating Gwendolyn truly was. Gwendolyn''s charm was something that most men would find unforgettable. She couldn''t deny that Gwendolyn was absolutely adorable. In fact, she adored Gwendolyn and secretly wished to witness Patrick learning a lesson from her. Patrick had broken her heart, and she felt that no one else could defeat him. After tonight''s events, however, she thought that Gwendolyn was his weak spot. If Patrick were to end up with Gwendolyn, it would fulfill the wishes of many people who yearned to see him face some challenges and difficulties. ¡°Okay. I''ll get Liam to drop you off at the airport tomorrow. What time is your flight?¡± Patrick had already prepared a check for her. She operated on him and saved his life, so money was the best reward. Right then, a housekeeper ran over to him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, something is happening to Old Mr. Lowen. He keeps bothering Old Mrs. Lowen, and she''s asking for help!¡± Chapter 685 Chapter 685 Chapter 685 Too Awkward ¡°I don''t get what you mean.¡± Patrick knitted his brows. Grandpa is not in good health, yet he''s bothering Grandma so much she''s crying for help? The housekeeper''s face turned red, and she lowered her head to exin, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen was sleeping, and all of a sudden, he tried to get intimate with Old Mrs. Lowen.¡± Patrick''s expression turned uneasy when he heard that. Do they still have such needs, even though they''re already in their seventies? With a perplexed look on his face, he asked, ¡°Has this happened before?¡± The housekeeper shook her head. ¡°Nope. There''s something strange about him tonight. That''s why I came to look for you, Mr. Lowen. Could you please go and check on them?¡± They were hesitant to enter the room, but Alice''s miserable screams filled them with fear that something might be seriously wrong. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Patrick, whose face grew darker, did not want to handle such matters personally. In a cold voice, he ordered, ¡°Tell the butler to go in and see what''s going on.¡± After speaking, he picked up his phone and called Kevin. Kevin answered the call in seconds. ¡°Pat, why are you still awake at this hour?¡± He sounded tired, apanied by a yawn. ¡°Kev, do you think my grandparents can still engage in physical intimacy at their age?¡± Patrick asked. He was cautious about his choice of words because he had no idea how to phrase them appropriately. After all, he did not know much about the elderly folks. He lived outside most of the time, so he had never encountered such a situation before. Given their deep bond, he surmised that it was not umon for his grandparents to be intimate with each other. Besides, he believed elders in their seventies were capable of engaging in physical intimacy because he was confident he could still perform well at their age. Kevin widened his eyes. ¡°Why are you asking about this? Technically, they still can. But your grandfather isn''t in great health, so I think it''s better not to. You should advise him to take care of his health.¡± At that moment, the housekeeper came rushing over again, her face filled with worry. ¡°Mr. Lowen, please go and take a look! Old Mr. Lowen is not looking good!¡± Without hesitation, Patrick headed toward the door, speaking as he walked. ¡°Come over to the Lowen residence right now.¡± ¡°Is Old Mr. Lowen not feeling well? All right, I''ll be there in a moment,¡± Kevin responded. Patrick had already stepped out of his bedroom and gone upstairs by the time he ended the call. Upon entering their room, he was greeted by a flurry of housekeepers bustling about. Alice, draped in a coat, sat in an armchair with a troubled expression, seemingly startled by the situation. Hector was half-leaning against the headboard, his face flushed and his clothes slightly loosened. He appeared overheated and was struggling to catch his breath. ¡°It''s so hot. I feel so hot.¡± The housekeepers were diligently wiping his body with towels dipped in cold water, but it seemed to offer little relief as he still appeared distressed. One of the housekeepers suggested, ¡°Should we soak Old Mr. Lowen in a tub of cold water?¡± Undoubtedly, immersing him in a tub of cold water would be more effective than using cold towels to wipe his body. Patrick nced at the time and inquired, ¡°Where are the family doctors? Have them hurry over here.¡± Hector''s doctors were always by his side, and they typically lodged in the building next door, a mere five-minute walk from the main residence. The butler wiped the sweat off his forehead and replied, ¡°I''ve already informed them. They should be arriving soon.¡± Patrick hummed in response before walking to Hector. ¡°Grandpa, how are you feeling?¡± Hector opened his eyes and gazed at Patrick. With just one nce at his bloodshot eyes, Patrick instantly knew what he was thinking. In a grim tone, Patrick asked, ¡°What kind of medicine did Old Mr. Lowen take today? Did he take any aphrodisiac?¡± The housekeeper responsible for Hector''s medications quickly stepped forward and replied, ¡°Old Mr. Lowen only took his usual medication today, Mr. Lowen. He didn''t take those pills.¡± The young housekeeper became so anxious that she was on the verge of tears. She had only been working at the Lowen residence for three months and was about to be a permanent employee. Hence, she hoped tonight''s incident would not affect her chances or cause her to lose her job. Suddenly, the butler recalled something that had happened earlier. ¡°Mr. Lowen, after you returned, Old Mr. Lowen came downstairs and asked if you had eaten supper. When he saw you hadn''t, he said he was feeling hungry and ate the beef stroganoff Ms. Ashton prepared. Could there have been something wrong with her cooking?¡± Chapter 686 Chapter 686 Chapter 686 She Is Asking For It Upon hearing those words, Patrick was certain that Felicia had done something to the dish. She must have prepared that for me, hoping to make me sleep with her after she climbed into my bed. If he had consumed it, he might have fallen victim to whatever scheme she had nned. How dare she pull such a trick on me! In an icy tone, hemanded, ¡°Ask Felicia toe and see me.¡± The housekeeper responded, ¡°Yes, Mr. Lowen.¡± Meanwhile, the doctors arrived and immediately started examining and administering emergency treatment to Hector. Sitting beside Alice, Patrick reached out and embraced her. ¡°Grandma, everything will be all right. The doctors are here, and Kev will arrive soon too. Don''t worry.¡± Alice, who had been in a daze, suddenly looked up. ¡°Pat, do you think your grandfather took some sort of aphrodisiac? He''s old, and it''s been a long time since we... I''m shocked by his almost crazed actions tonight.¡± She could not help but let out a sigh. ¡°He must have been worried about the future of the Lowens, especially considering you are the only son in the family. Not to mention how you remained unconscious for nearly three months. He must have felt the pressure to have another heir. But at this age, I can''t bear him any more children!¡± Alice still did not understand why Hector behaved that way. As a daughter-inw of the Lowen family, she was also just as anxious about the family''s future. She could not wait for Patrick to get married and have children to continue the family line. Patrick nodded in response. ¡°I know what you mean, Grandma. It''s my fault.¡± Now, he seemed to understand why his grandparents were so eager to push him to go on blind dates and meet women. They just wanted me to get married as soon as possible and have children. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. He even started suspecting that Hector orchestrated the incident six years ago, but many doubts remained unanswered in his mind. To make matters worse, Hector had lost his memories of that incident. Even if Patrick were to ask him directly, Hector would no longer be able to answer. One of the doctors hurriedly approached. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen was under the influence of an aphrodisiac, Mr. Lowen. Don''t worry, we can handle it, but...¡± ¡°But what?¡± Patrick asked, thinking something might be wrong with Hector''s health. The doctor continued, ¡°Next time, please advise Old Mr. Lowen not to take such substances. His current physical condition cannot handle the excessive excitement of physical intimacy.¡± Embarrassment flushed Alice''s face. All the housekeepers and doctors must have thought they were still engaging in intimate activities when in reality, they had not been intimate for a long time, given Hector''s health issues and theirck of desire. Patrick responded in an aloof manner, ¡°It was all an ident. It won''t happen again. Make sure to treat him promptly.¡± Just then, Felicia entered the room, quickly approaching Hector''s bed. ¡°Old Mr. Lowen, what happened?¡± The butler said to her, ¡°Ms. Ashton, Mr. Lowen is looking for you.¡± Felicia approached Patrick with worry written all over her face. ¡°Patrick, did Old Mr. Lowen fall ill again? Is he all right?¡± Patrick''s face darkened, and he cast a grim gaze at Felicia, who appeared strangelyposed despite the situation. As someone ustomed to being shameless, Felicia continued to act nonchnt, even after what happened earlier in Patrick''s room. ¡°Look what you''ve done. What have you added to the beef stroganoff?¡± Patrick asked. Felicia widened her eyes as she did not expect him to ask that. Didn''t I tell the butler to get rid of that dish? Who betrayed me? She was confounded as she knew she had been extremely cautious while preparing that dish, and there were no housekeepers around her at that time. If Patrick had consumed the dish, she would have had the chance to spend the night with him. Even if he got angry in the morning, it would have been toote to undo what had already transpired, and he could not me her for it. But he didn''t eat it at all! Not only did she fail to gain anything from her n, but she also ended up being exposed. The butler could no longer hold back. ¡°Ms. Ashton, tell us the truth! Old Mr. Lowen ate the beef stroganoff. Are you going to take responsibility if anything untoward happens to him?¡± Chapter 687 Chapter 687 Chapter 687 He Really Wants A Child Terrified upon hearing that, Felicia turned around and nced toward the bed. ¡°I''m so sorry! I wasn''t trying to give it to Old Mr. Lowen. I just...¡± She didn''t dare to continue her sentence, so Patrick did it for her. ¡°It was for me, right? Are you looking down on me, Ms. Ashton? Do you think that I''m incapable?¡± Felicia shook her head vigorously. ¡°T-That''s not what I mean.¡± ¡°What, then?¡± Felicia struggled to find the right words to exin herself. ¡°If anything happens to my grandfather, you and the Ashton family will be held responsible. You better get lost now and pray that he''s fine.¡± Felicia took a step back, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Patrick, I tried to drug you because I love you. It was also to fulfill Old Mr. Lowen''s wish. He wants a great-grandchild!¡± yelled Felicia. Patrick had already called for the bodyguards, who promptly grabbed Felicia''s arms and escorted her away. She sounded so indignant, as if everything she had done was for the sake of the Lowen family. Patrick stated coldly, ¡°You aren''t worthy to have my child.¡± He recalled all those things that she had done to Gwendolyn in the past. Even the bullet in his head was because of her. Besides that, he also held her responsible for his near-death experience. Hence, there was no way she could ever marry into the Lowen family. He would never agree. After Felicia was dragged away, the room fell silent. Alice, who had finally regained herposure, held Patrick''s hand. ¡°Pat, Fel isn''t a good person. When you were unconscious, she didn''t even take care of you sincerely. She summoned a bunch of housekeepers and ordered them around. She''s so two-faced that even your grandpa has been fooled by her.¡± Patrick smirked. ¡°Grandma, I''ll deal with her.¡± Alicia knew how capable he was. There was no way that he couldn''t deal with Felicia. She nced at the bed. Seeing that Hector had calmed down, she rose to her feet. ¡°Pat, your grandpa is fine now, so you should go and rest. It''s gettingte. You still have to wake up early tomorrow for work.¡± Her heart ached for her grandson. He had just been discharged from the hospital, yet before he could fully recover, he had to plunge himself into work. Alice was well aware of the current situation, where variouspanies were trying to undermine Lowen Group. In addition to that, Patrick had to resolve the numerous crises that Lowen Group was facing. He was already exhausted, yet Hector was still creating more trouble for him. Alice decided that she would reprimand Hector tomorrow and stop him from creating more trouble. Furthermore, she would not let Felicia enter the house again. Patrick talked to the doctors and confirmed that Hector had stabilized. He then instructed the medical team to sleep in the guest rooms beside Hector''s bedroom so that they could be on standby for any emergencies. After that, he left. As he headed toward the stairs, Kevin rushed up hurriedly. The two almost collided. ¡°Pat, is Old Mr. Lowen all right?¡± Kevin had driven as fast as he could, fearing he might arrive toote. Patrick nced at him calmly. ¡°He''s fine now. Come, let''s have a drink.¡± N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Kevin tightened his grip on the first-aid kit. ¡°He''s all right? That''s great.¡± Initially, Estelle was staying overnight at his ce after drinking too much. He was tempted, for she had finallye of age after so long waiting. Finally, he could make a move. Just as the atmosphere was just right, his phone rang. Hence, he had no choice but to leave her and rush over right away. Kevin followed Patrick to the wine room on the third floor, where an array of various wines were disyed. Each bottle was part of thetter''s prized collection, all hailing from famous brands. In the past, getting a taste of these exquisite wines was nearly impossible. However, he had the honor of visiting the room that night. In fact, Patrick even opened a bottle of fine wine. Pouring the wine into a ss, Patrick swirled it gently. ¡°My grandparents are pressuring me to have a child. I really wish that a child could have been born from those nights six years ago.¡± Chapter 688 Chapter 688 Chapter 688 A Changed Man Kevin raised his ss and took a sip, a gleam of excitement shining in his eyes. Indeed, these top- quality wines tasted so pure. He then furrowed his brow slightly. ¡°Didn''t you think that the woman was Gwendolyn? The ages of her three kids seem to match. It''s just a pity that they''re not your children. Otherwise, your grandparents would be overjoyed to suddenly have three great-grandchildren in one go.¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Patrick had once entertained the thought. If those three children were really his, he would be able to appease his grandfather. However, the truth turned out to be disappointing ¨C they weren''t his biological children. At that point, Patrick asked, ¡°Did you personally conduct the paternity test?¡± Kevin was enjoying the wine. When he heard that, he paused and said solemnly, ¡°Don''t you trust me? Of course, I did it personally. There couldn''t have been any mistakes.¡± Patrick had harbored doubts about whether Kevin did it personally. Perhaps, there might have been a mistake during the process. However, it now seemed that his spection was unfounded. The paternity test was urate, which meant Juliette wasn''t his daughter. Patrick tossed his head back and drank all the wine. ¡°Take your time with the wine. I''m tired.¡± He walked toward the door, leaving Kevin standing there. Kevin had thought that Patrick invited him for drinks because he was in a good mood, but it seemed Patrick just wanted to ask about the paternity test. It looks like Pat has not given up on Gwendolyn yet. Wait, something''s not right! Hasn''t he lost his memories? He shouldn''t have any recollection of Gwendolyn and everything rted to her, so how could he still remember this? Could it be that he hasn''t lost his memory after all? Quickly finishing his ss of wine, Kevin decided to take the opened bottle back to savor. Then, he caught up with Patrick. ¡°Pat, you didn''t lose your memory! You scared me!¡± However, Patrick remained silent. He pushed open the door to his bedroom and closed it with a m. Standing at the door, Kevin sensed that Patrick was in a bad mood that night. What on earth happened? I must find out. When Gwendolyn woke up the next day, she had a terrible headache. As she sat up, she found herself in a familiar room. However, she couldn''t recall anything from the previous night. pping her forehead, she chided herself, ¡°Gwendolyn, you know drinking too much will leave you feeling terrible. Why did you drink so muchst night?¡± Despite feeling uneasy, she dragged herself into the bathroom and took a refreshing shower. After putting on some subtle makeup, she looked much more energetic. She headed downstairs after changing her clothes. Camille had been waiting for her. Otherwise, she would have gone out to buy groceries by this time. ¡°You''re awake, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn nodded slightly. ¡°Camille, was it Luce who brought me backst night?¡± The mention of Lucy suddenly triggered her memory ofst night''s dinner with Patrick and the rest. She had be upset when she saw Patrick acting affectionately toward Jocelyn, which prompted her to drink so heavily. Camille shook her head. ¡°It was Mr. Surrington who brought you back. He seemed a bit displeased. But, Gwendolyn, there''s something I need to talk to you about.¡± She guided Gwendolyn into the dining room. Suzanne was still asleep, probably so exhausted from the previous night that she still hadn''t woken up. Camille knew this because when she had snuck a peek last night, she saw Zayden sleeping in Suzanne''s room. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± When Gwendolyn sat down, Camille served her breakfast. ¡°Gwen, haven''t you noticed that Zayden has been acting strangelytely?¡± Gwendolyn had just taken a sip of coffee. When she heard that, she nced at Camille. A solemn glint shed across her eyes. Did Camille notice it too? She also thought that Zayden had turned into apletely different person from his past self. Such a transformation was extremely strange. In fact, she thought that Zayden was now a different person¡ªthe only simrity to his past self was his appearance. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Camille whispered, ¡°Zayden and Suzanne are getting really close. He even slept in Suzanne''s room last night! There''s something fishy going on between them.¡± Chapter 689 Chapter 689 Chapter 689 Do Your Best A flicker of surprise crossed Gwendolyn''s eyes when she heard that. She had never noticed any of it. Strangely enough, she didn''t feel upset. Previously, she had thought that Zayden and Suzanne were a good match for each other. It was normal for them to get together. Gwendolyn continued to enjoy her breakfast, but Camille grew increasingly anxious. ¡°Gwen, he''s having an affair! Aren''t you worried at all?¡± Most women would be anxious and furious in this situation. Why is Gwen soposed about it? Gwendolyn nced at her. ¡°Camille, just pretend you don''t know anything.¡± ¡°Gwen, are you willing to endure this? Now that you and Zayden are married, you''ll have to spend your whole life together with him. You must confront him and make him cut off ties with Suzanne!¡± Even though Camille knew that Zayden was not the man Gwendolyn truly loved, they were nevertheless married. After finishing her breakfast, Gwendolyn wiped her mouth with a napkin. ¡°Camille, just listen to me.¡± Until she couldpletely figure out Zayden, she dared not take any drastic actions as she was scared that he might harm her children. Camille was reluctant, but she couldn''t meddle any further now that Gwendolyn said that. ¡°I''ll go and buy the groceries.¡± When Camille was heading out, Suzanne came downstairs. Upon seeing hernguid appearance, Camille immediately understood what had happenedst night¡ªthetter had just experienced a passionate night. The little girl from before now seemed more like a woman. Camille felt upset on Gwendolyn''s behalf. Hence, she left quickly instead of talking to Suzanne. When Suzanne saw Camille departing, she called out to thetter. ¡°Camille, are you going grocery shopping? Let me go with you!¡± Suzanne joyfully skipped down the stairs and approached Camille with an innocent smile on her face. Camille had to stop in her tracks before shooting an awkward nce at Suzanne. She could no longer make herself like the younger woman. While she used to like Suzanne before, she now found herself hating thetter a little. Although Suzanne had such an innocent demeanor, she ended up snatching someone else''s husband. She was a hypocritical woman who just knew how to act pure. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°It''s fine. I have to take care of some personal affairs. You can stay at home and tidy up the house,¡± Camille replied and left briskly. Suzanne pouted, thinking that something was amiss. However, she couldn''t quite put her finger on it. It seemed like Camille didn''t like her as much as before. Sighing, she decided to see if there was anything to eat in the kitchen. She was hungry. When she recalled what happened between her and Zayden the previous night, she burst outughing. Her mood improved as she hurried to the kitchen. When she passed by the dining room, she saw Gwendolyn clearing the dishes. She called out to Gwendolyn, ¡°Gwen, you haven''t left yet?¡± Gwendolyn smiled gently. ¡°Yeah! I had a bit too much to drinkst night, so I woke upte. You haven''t had breakfast yet, right?¡± She stacked the tes and cups and headed for the kitchen. Suzanne hurried over and took them from her hands. ¡°Gwen, I''ll do it! You are going to bete for work, right? Go ahead and leave this to me.¡± Gwendolyn was filled with affection as she gazed at Suzanne. Although she had heard what Camille told her about Suzanne and Zayden, she remained unaffected because she knew to whom her heart belonged. Hence, she did not care who Zayden ended up with. Zayden used to be her best friend. Even though he had changed drastically, she still remembered all that he had done for her. Naturally, she wished that he would find his happiness too. Suzanne was a gooddy¡ªkind and simple. They matched each other well. Gwendolyn hoped that Zayden would one day realize his true feelings and let go of her. She hugged Suzanne and blurted out of the blue, ¡°Do your best, Suzanne!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Suzanne stared at her in confusion, not knowing what she meant. Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°Suzanne, remember to grab onto what you want, okay? You must do your best!¡± You must do your best to make Zayden fall in love with you and realize his true feelings! Chapter 690 Chapter 690 Chapter 690 Protect The Children Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. After the ordealst night, Hector woke up at the Lowen residence with a dark expression. When he saw Alice, he snorted coldly and turned his face away, unwilling to look at her. Alice approached him. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Hector nced around before replying coldly, ¡°Why did you have to make such a fuss about what happenedst night? I still need to keep my dignity.¡± So what if I''m old? I can still satisfy her! But she didn''t want it. Alice blushed upon being reminded of the incident. She pped him lightly. ¡°Your body''s in such a state. How can you still do it?¡± Hector harrumphed again. ¡°See! You''re underestimating me.¡± With that, he trudged down the stairs with his hands behind his back. Alice couldn''t help but gripe, ¡°That stubborn old man! He''s already seventy-three years old yet still refuses to ept his age.¡± At that moment, Patrick came down the stairs. Dressed in a sleek ck shirt and trousers, he exuded a cool andposed aura. ¡°Morning, Grandma!¡± he greeted, casually adjusting his cufflinks. Alice thought that such a morning was simply too perfect. After all, she couldy her eyes on her handsome grandson. Even though Hector''s strange behavior made her mad, Patrick managed to ease her lingering irritation. Walking together arm in arm, Alice couldn''t resist asking, ¡°Patrick, have you truly forgotten about Gwendolyn?¡± Patrick''s hand froze for a moment when he heard that, but he swiftly fastened the cufflink with a confident snap. He looked up and smiled faintly. ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± Alice shook her head. ¡°If you''ve forgotten her, so be it!¡± Since Gwendolyn has already married, it doesn''t matter even if Pat remembers her. He can''t possibly ruin her marriage. Gwendolyn went to the office and spent her morning in meetings. She was now quite familiar with her work. When she walked out of the meeting room, Connor followed behind her. ¡°Ms. Ashton, there''s a meeting tonight that requires your presence.¡± Gwendolyn knew that another Solstice Mall would be built in Avenport, around the new district. It was in the midst of construction. Although the ce was not bustling now, it would be the most lively location in a few years. Many shopping malls were vying to establish themselves there, and Solstice Group was no exception. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Okay. Let me know when it''s time.¡± She then returned to her office, which was predominantly adorned in white tones. It was wide and bright, with her favorite dolls giving the ce a touch of warmth. Gwendolyn ced herptop and documents on the desk before copsing on the white couch. She massaged her legs, which had be slightly swollen after those long hours of sitting. At that moment, her phone rang. Gwendolyn whipped out her phone and answered the call. ¡°Hey, Justin.¡± Her sons should be preparing for their afternoon nap at that time. It was strange that they were calling her. ¡°Mommy, Mr. Zayden came and picked Juliette up! He only brought her away.¡± Both boys were supposed to apany their little sister. However, Zayden said that he was only going to bring Juliette away. When some people asked them if Zayden was their uncle, they even nodded affirmatively. To their surprise, Zayden only took Juliette away. Gwendolyn jumped up in terror. ¡°What? Where did he bring her to?¡± Justin sent Juliette''s location to Gwendolyn. ¡°Juliette''s probably still in the car now. However, it''s driving to the suburbs.¡± Fear crashed over Gwendolyn. ¡°All right. Stay at school obediently. I''ll find her, so don''t worry.¡± She was scared to the core when she heard that Zayden had taken Juliette away. Swiftly grabbing her car keys, she rushed outside. As she stepped into the elevator, she dialed her bodyguard''s number. ¡°Follow me to a ce.¡± The man replied in a deep voice, ¡°Okay!¡± Chapter 691 Chapter 691 Chapter 691 What Does He Want When she arrived at the underground second floor, she noticed a ck car not far from the elevator. She hurriedly walked over, opened the door, and got into the car. Sitting in the driver''s seat was a slender, tall man. He was dressed entirely in ck, wearing a cap with the brim pushed down so low that only his sharp jawline was visible. His name was Kane, and he was hertest bodyguard. She had used some special means to find a skilled fighter like him on the ck market. She sought bodyguards because she feared something might happen to her children. She had only found one skilled fighter for the time being. The other bodyguards had only average skills. However, with Kane''s intensive training, those bodyguards were expected to be elevated to a higher level. In one week, when the training was over, they would secretly protect the three children. She had just initiated this matter and didn''t anticipate that Zayden would make his move so quickly. She was genuinely surprised by his swift action. ¡°Boss,¡± Kane called her in a hushed voice. Gwendolyn replied in a hurry, ¡°Hurry over to the location I sent you.¡± Fortunately, Justin and Julian had put a tracker on Juliette. Otherwise, she really wouldn''t have known where to find her. As Kane withdrew his gaze, the car suddenly elerated and rushed out at an extremely fast speed. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Gwendolyn identally bumped her head against the front seat. She raised her hand and rubbed her forehead, feeling a slight pain. Nevertheless, Kane''s driving skills were excellent, and speed was exactly what she needed at that moment. She quickly fastened her seatbelt, held her phone, and kept her eyes fixed on Juliette''s real-time location. Originally, the journey was supposed to take an hour and a half, but Kane managed to shorten it to just half an hour. The moment the car stopped, Gwendolyn finally felt relieved. When she saw that they were at an abandoned mental hospital, Gwendolyn''s mood turned sour. She clenched her hands tightly into fists. What on earth does Zayden want? Juliette was timid, but she was very familiar with Zayden. It was she who taught them since childhood to treat Zayden well because he was their savior. Juliette''s dropping her guard around him was the scariest thing at the moment. If Zayden wanted to harm her children, Gwendolyn would have no means to stop him. Before she got out of the car, she said to Kane, ¡°If you elerate the training, I can double the payment. Within three days, those people must be ready for work.¡± Kane followed her out of the car and smoothly pulled out a gun. His movements were fluid and well- practiced. ¡°Understood, boss. As long as there''s enough money, I''ll speed up the training,¡± Kane replied. His voice was deep and cold. Kane used to be an agent, but he had left the organization and now worked as a bodyguard. As Gwendolyn walked toward the mental hospital, her expression grew more serious as she observed the dpidated walls and the surrounding garbage. Her pace was brisk, and Kane followed closely, his narrow eyes fixated on her. ¡°Boss, why don''t you stay behind me?¡± His sense of smell was incredibly keen, and he could tell that there were quite a lot of people inside, no fewer than ten. Gwendolyn stopped and pondered for a moment. ¡°Okay, you can walk in front, but you must protect my daughter, and under no circumstances should you harm Zayden.¡± Kane walked forward with a swift pace, leaving behind only his cold back for Gwendolyn to follow. ¡°Understood, boss.¡± Upon entering inside, Gwendolyn saw dozens of people taking pictures of Juliette. She was wearing a ck princess dress with sickly makeup. Juliette looked very happy doing various poses. Originally behind Kane, Gwendolyn quickly ran over when she saw this scene. The moment she hugged Juliette into her arms, tears welled up in her eyes. Juliette was initially very happy, but she was taken aback by Gwendolyn''s hug. ¡°Mommy, why are you here?¡± At this moment, Gwendolyn looked coldly at the man standing beside Juliette, who had his arms crossed and was looking at her with a half-smile. ¡°Juliette, why are you not in school but here? You''re not allowed to skip sses in the future.¡± She could only advise her daughter in this manner, hoping that Juliette would remember her words. She handed Juliette to Kane and said, ¡°Take her and wait for me in the car.¡± After that, she walked toward Zayden. Chapter 692 Chapter 692 Chapter 692 Do Not See Patrick Again At first, Juliette didn''t want to leave as she enjoyed taking pictures in the gothic style like this. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. She was truly happy that Zayden fulfilled her wish today. However, she was taken aback by Gwendolyn''s expression and wondered why her mother seemed unhappy. Kane took her little hand. ¡°Let''s go! We can wait for her in the car.¡± Only then did Juliette look at this cool man beside her. Her eyes lit up immediately, thinking that he was incredibly handsome. She nodded. ¡°Okay!¡± She obediently followed Kane out, sneaking nces at him from time to time as she walked. Zayden remained where he was, gazing at the woman walking toward him with a half-smile. Gwendolyn was unable to keep calm as she pushed Zayden back a few steps and grabbed his tie firmly. ¡°Zayden, what do you want?¡± Her eyes were filled with fear, and tears welled up in her eyes. Zayden raised his hand to caress her face, wearing a cold and wicked smile. ¡°Gwen, the little princess said she wanted to take some photos in a gothic style, and I just arranged a photo session for her. What''s wrong?¡± After speaking, he let out a coldugh, and Gwendolyn''s tears almost flowed down from her eyes. ¡°Zayden, as I said before, if you have any grievances against me,e to me directly. Don''t involve my children,¡± she said sternly. He knew how important the three children were to her. Zayden removed her hand, and the smile on his face disappeared. ¡°Since you''re so nervous, be more obedient to me in the future. Don''t see Patrick again. If you dare to see him again, you''ll be doing so at your own risk,¡± Zayden warned coldly. Gwendolyn finally understood that he was still upset about what had happened the previous night. No wonder he dared to be intimate with Suzanne in front of Camillest night, revealing their rtionship to her. It turns out that he was upset. If he was unhappy, he would make her life worse. Gwendolyn suddenly chuckled, saying, ¡°Haha! So it''s because of this. I understand now.¡± After she finished speaking, she walked away, talking as she went. ¡°Zayden, I also know about you and Suzanne. She''s a good girl. I hope you can cherish her.¡± Zayden''s expression changed instantly when he heard this, and he quickly chased after her. ¡°Gwendolyn, don''t think that just because I slept with Suzanne, you can be with Patrick with peace of mind. Women should abide by moral codes. Otherwise, you''ll be the one who will be ashamed when the news gets out. For men, it''s a different story.¡± Hearing such words, Gwendolyn felt truly ufortable. Society was indeed harsh on women. For instance, she was scolded for being indiscreet just because she was pregnant and gave birth to three children. No one paid attention to the truth, and no one med the man who impregnated her. Now, Zayden cheated on her in their marriage without any remorse, as he felt that it was the norm for men to cheat. However, he held a different opinion if she cheated. He deemed she would be morally condemned and scolded by the world. She gave him a cold look then strode away. Zayden was taken aback by the look in her eyes. He frowned slightly, feeling a headacheing on. He raised his hand to stroke his forehead and closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was different from before. At this moment, Zayden''s eyes were soft,pletely different from the coldness he had shown earlier. He turned his head and looked around, observing the dpidated surroundings, and called out, ¡°Jason.¡± Jason was his assistant. He was talking to the photographer at the time. When he heard Zayden call him, he ran over. ¡°Mr. Surrington.¡± ¡°Why are we here?¡± Jason was stunned, and he looked at Zayden strangely. Thetter sensed the gaze that fell on him, and he let out a sigh. ¡°Forget it. Let''s go back!¡± After speaking, he strode out, took out his phone, and called his psychiatrist while walking. ¡°I... He seems to have appeared again. Lately, I feel like I''m no match for him. The duration of his appearance has be longer.¡± After speaking, he let out a long sigh and asked a question. ¡°If this personality defeats me, will I disappear forever?¡± Chapter 693 Chapter 693 Chapter 693 What A Coincidence Zayden enlisted the help of Kiefer Zobek, one of the best psychiatrists in the country and an expert on split personality disorders. Needless to say, he did it so he could treat his condition. Previously, Zayden had never once thought he might be sick, but the more his alter identity appeared, the more he realized something was amiss. Therefore, after poring over tons of research, he finally concluded that he was living with a dissociative identity disorder. ¡°That''s right. If your alter-identity bes too powerful, it''dpletely rece your core identity. As such, you must be stronger and keep it under control,¡± Kiefer replied. Upon hearing that, Zayden fell silent. ¡°However, your core identity is pretty weak now, Mr. Surrington. To rectify that, you need to give yourself hope and find a reason to live,¡± Kiefer added. ¡°I got it.¡± After ending the call, Zayden nced at his cars and promptly hopped into the sky-blue sports car. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Ha. So that guy loves shy colors, huh? No wonder I found several new floral shirts in my closet. He''s the one who likes them... Meanwhile, Jason had dealt with the photographers and paid them their fees. Now, he just had to wait for them to edit the photos and create the album. ¡°Mr. Surrington, the photographers said we can only collect the photo album after fifteen days.¡± Zayden finally snapped out of his daze and turned to his assistant. ¡°Wait. Who came here to take photos?¡± I don''t recall mypany having such a project, and even if there were, why would they need the CEO to make an appearance? What on earth is that guy doing? Jason had to admit he found Zayden''s behavior somewhat odd, but of course, he knew better than to question his boss. ¡°Well, Ms. Juliette wanted a gothic-style photo shoot, so you got her a photographer. However, Ms. Gwendolyn didn''t seem too happy when she came by earlier. The two of you ended up quarreling.¡± Zayden let out a heavy sigh. It seems like I argued with Gwen again. I guess I''ll have to coax her tonight... In the meantime, Gwendolyn was busy removing Juliette''s makeup with cleansing wipes, causing the latter to pout in annoyance. ¡°Can we not remove it? I like this makeup,¡± the girl grumbled. For a moment, Gwendolyn was speechless. Oh, my goodness... I honestly don''t understand the trends that youngsters like these days. What''s so good about looking pale and sickly like a ghost? How is that pretty? Worst of all, they even conducted the photo shoot at an old, abandoned mental hospital. That''s creepy as h*ll! I bet Zayden did it on purpose to scare Juliette! Oh, the more I think about it, the angrier I get... Why has he be a different person? ¡°No. You''ll scare others with this look,¡± Gwendolyn replied, sighing as she continued removing her daughter''s makeup. ¡°Juliette, can you stay with your brothers from now on? If there''s anywhere they don''t want to go, it''d be best to follow suit.¡± What happened today nearly scared me to death, and I don''t need a repeat of it... ¡°Does that mean I can''t hang out with Zay too?¡± Juliette asked. ¡°Isn''t he our benefactor? You''ve told us since we were young to treat him nicely.¡± How is rejecting Zay being nice to him? He''d be so upset! After seeing the girl''s serious expression, Gwendolyn couldn''t help but chuckle. ¡°That''s right. You can''t hang out with Zay. I want you to be with Justin and Julian. Even if there''s a ce Zay wants to take you to, you''re only allowed to go if your brothers tag along,¡± she ordered. Juliette nodded. ¡°All right!¡± Hmm... I like spending time with Justin and Julian anyway. Coming out alone today has made me miss them quite a lot. Thanks to the back-and-forth trips, it was well past six o''clock when everyone finally returned to the city. Since Gwendolyn had an important client meeting at seven, she instructed Kane to send Juliette home to Camille. With that settled, Gwendolyn quickly took a taxi to the restaurant Connor had texted her. After reaching the destination at seven on the dot, she stepped out of the vehicle and made a beeline for the restaurant''s entrance. s, she had just entered the restaurant when she bumped into a man. ¡°I''m so sorry!¡± Gwendolyn eximed, still a little unsteady as she tried to run for the elevator. Patrick offered a helping hand and spoke up. ¡°Slow down, Ms. Ashton.¡± Upon hearing that familiar voice, Gwendolyn lifted her gaze and froze. She was staring straight into Patrick''s devilishly handsome face, and the man had looped an arm around her waist. Chapter 694 Chapter 694 Chapter 694 It Is Him Gwendolyn widened her eyes. Wow... I can''t believe I''d run into him here. When Patrick finally loosened his grip on her, she regained her bnce and muttered, ¡°Thank you.¡± The two of them had be strangers, and it was undeniably heart-wrenching. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. s, Patrick said nothing and strode off, leaving Gwendolyn to stare at his retreating figure with a darkened gaze. So that''s how it is, huh? If two people who were once in love fail to cherish each other, they''d eventually be strangers. Patrick and I are a prime example of that, aren''t we? The fact that he seems to have forgotten me hurts a lot... He probably didn''t have fond memories of me, so he saw no reason to hold on to them. Gwendolyn sighed and gradually rposed herself. Her life might be an utter mess now, but she knew she had to soldier on. She even had an important client waiting for her, so there was no time for her to wallow in her misery. With that thought in mind, she quickly tidied up her hair and clothes and marched toward the elevator. After taking the elevator to the sixth floor, she looked for Room 608 and stepped inside with a smile. Upon seeing her, Connor stood up and looked at the man beside him. ¡°Ms. Ashton is here, Mr. Lowen.¡± It was only then that Gwendolyn realized the client she was meeting was none other than Patrick Lowen. On the contrary, Patrick was incredibly calm and showed no signs of surprise as he gave a polite nod. ¡°Hello, Ms. Ashton. So, you''re the CEO of Solstice Group.¡± Well, well, well. I must admit I never knew Solstice Group belonged to Gwendolyn. I''ve never looked into thepany, nor do we have many business rtions with them. This is the first coboration with Solstice Group, but I still don''t understand how Gwendolyn became its CEO... Does this mean she has even more secrets now? Gwendolyn sat beside Patrick in dazed silence, but thankfully, it didn''t take long for her to regain her composure and confidence. ¡°Mr. Lowen, the purpose of today''s meeting is to talk about bringing shopping malls into the new urban area. Thatnd belongs to Lowen Group, and ourpany would like to build a mall there,¡± she said before pulling out a file. ¡°Here''s our proposal. Please have a look.¡± Connor nced at Gwendolyn and frowned. What''s wrong with Ms. Ashton today? It''s not her style to hand over proposals within seconds of the first meeting! Wouldn''t that make her intentions a little too desperate and obvious? Gwendolyn, however, didn''t seem to mind one bit, nor did she care that Connor was throwing her looks. ¡°One word from you, and we can be done with this, Mr. Lowen,¡± she added. A faint smile tugged at Patrick''s lips. ¡°Is this your first time conducting a business meeting, Ms. Ashton?¡± Connor rubbed his forehead in exasperation. D*mn it. Patrick Lowen is notorious for being ruthless and a pain to deal with. Not even the craftiest and most seasoned yers in the business world are a match for him! I came into this meeting with little confidence, and now that I''ve seen how Ms. Ashton''s handling it, I think we may as well give up. To his surprise, Gwendolyn broke into a smile. ¡°No, but it''s my first time talking business with you, Mr. Lowen. I''m very interested in this partnership, and I''m sure you know mypany''s more than capable of taking this on,¡± she said while pouring wine from the bottle. ¡°Of course, I''ll also be happy to drink with you tonight.¡± Patrick''s gaze suddenly darkened. She''s pouring white wine... Is this what her life has be? Is meeting clients and drinking with them all she does? ¡°I''m not touching alcohol tonight,¡± he replied, causing Gwendolyn to flinch ever so slightly. The next second, he took the wine from the woman and turned to a waiter beside him. ¡°Clear all the wine away.¡± The waiter did as instructed and hurriedly removed every bottle and ss of wine from the table. Now that there was no alcohol in sight, Connor began to realize how differently Patrick treated Gwendolyn. At the very least, the man did regard thetter as a woman and respected her. Without further ado, Connor got to his feet. ¡°Let''s drink some fruit juice, then!¡± Chapter 695 Chapter 695 Chapter 695 What A Woman Wants For the rest of the dinner, everyone enjoyed the meal in silence, and Gwendolyn would asionally help fill Patrick''s te with food. ¡°This is your favorite,¡± she uttered as she scooped him some pot roast. Ha. This reminds me of the past. I remember how Patrick used to make me cook for him every day. Even if my food tasted terrible, he''d still polish off every morsel. I might not have been aware of it then, but that was his way of tantly loving me, huh? Upon hearing that, the others turned toward Gwendolyn. Liam, however, kept his head down, not daring to look around or talk to Gwendolyn. When he had tried to be helpful thest time, it almost cost Patrick his life. Therefore, he continued working tirelessly for his boss, determined to do everything he could to atone for his sins. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Ms. Ashton, have you two known each other before?¡± Connor asked. ¡°Not at all,¡± Patrick replied tly, making sure not to eat the pot roast Gwendolyn had scooped for him. Of course, thetter was taken aback. What? Not only did we know each other, but we also dated. He even proposed to me! s, I returned the engagement ring to him on the day I left... Argh! I need to stop getting him food and watch what I say. After all, what right do I have to care for him now? This is strictly business, and I can''t drag my personal feelings into it. Just like that, the group finished the dinner amid a tense atmosphere. There was no more business discussion, nor was there any friendly chit-chat. Even Connor, a shark in the business world, couldn''t figure out what was happening. As much as I want to salvage this business meeting, I can''t seem to find my confidence with Patrick around. His authoritative aura is too strong, and anyone who wants to talk business with him would need nerves of steel. That said, Ms. Ashton seems exceedingly calm today, which is weird because meetings usually make her anxious. The more I think about it, the more I''m sure they know each other... After dinner, Gwendolyn looked at Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, what do you think about our partnership?¡± Patrickzily lit a cigarette and took a puff, a glint in his cold, dark eyes. ¡°Well, Solstice Group isn''t alone in this. Many otherpanies want to build malls in the new area. You guys can participate in the tender three days from now and showcase your capabilities.¡± ¡°Tender?¡± Gwendolyn muttered before ncing at Connor. Thetter nodded firmly. After all, the tender process was a necessary step toward clinching any projects. Previously, they could rely on connections to finalize the contract first, and no matter what happened after, they''d be guaranteed to win the tender. Now, however, Patrick wanted thepetingpanies to prove their mettle. In other words, it was more crucial than ever for them to submit the perfect tender proposal. ¡°Sure, Mr. Lowen,¡± Gwendolyn said politely. Patrick nced at the time before turning to the woman. ¡°Thank you for the hospitality, Ms. Ashton. I shall take my leave first.¡± Just then, his phone rang, and he promptly answered it. ¡°Rosalie.¡± Upon hearing the name, Gwendolyn hastily followed behind Patrick, her eyes lighting up. Connor, too, got up and followed the others out of the private room. ¡°All right. I''ll make my way there right now. Don''t be scared,¡± Patrick coaxed. Naturally, that sent Gwendolyn down a negative thought spiral. Rosalie Chavez, huh? She and Patrick were said to be childhood sweethearts, and their grandmothers are bosom friends too. On top of that, her brother, Kevin, is also one of his best buddies. With so much in Rosalie''s favor, there''s a good chance of them bing a couple. After all, Patrick has already forgotten about me and is now single and carefree. So long as Rosalie puts in a little effort, she''d win Patrick''s affection in no time. Gwendolyn gritted her teeth and quickened her pace till she caught up to Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen, what''s the matter with Ms. Chavez?¡± ¡°What has that got to do with you?¡± Patrick snapped as he shot her a look, a hint of mockery in his voice. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. As it turned out, that was thest straw for Gwendolyn, and she no longer cared about the man''s thoughts or gaze. ¡°I''m friends with Ms. Chavez, so I''m concerned about her. Let me go with you!¡± she lied. Didn''t he say he was going to look for Rosalie? The best way to ensure they aren''t alone is to tag along! Chapter 696 Chapter 696 Chapter 696 Sabotage Patrick scoffed. Ha! Friends? When did Gwendolyn be friends with Rosalie? Besides, I was only nning on sending Liam to Rosalie''s house, but now, I shall make the trip since Gwendolyn insists on coming along. ¡°Okay,¡± he finally replied before stepping into the elevator. With that, Gwendolyn turned to Connor. ¡°You can head home now! I''ll be going to a friend''s house with Mr. Lowen.¡± Connor smiled and nodded as he watched his boss enter the elevator. Liam, too, knew better than to follow the duo. What would be the point in being around them, anyway? Moreover, he was afraid that he might talk to Gwendolyn and admonish her. Worst of all, he might even identally reveal Patrick''s close brush with death. Argh! Me and my big mouth... The more I say, the likelier I am to make mistakes. It''s better to leave both Mr. Lowen and Ms. Ashton be and follow behind with the bodyguards. Yes. That''d be for the best. Patrick and Gwendolyn were the only ones left in the elevator when thetter''s phone suddenly vibrated. Gwendolyn promptly checked the WhatsApp notification, only to realize Zayden had texted her: Gwen, what time are you knocking off tonight? As it turned out, Zayden had prepared a candlelit dinner at home and even instructed Camille to take the three children out for a movie. All he wanted was to cate Gwendolyn and turn her frown upside down! s, Gwendolyn ignored the message. Hmph! I''ve long gotten used to Zayden''s erratic behavior. Whenever he hits me, he tries to appease me after. This has happened so many times that I''m sick of it. I don''t even want to think of him anymore. With that thought in mind, she put her phone on silent mode, not wanting Zayden to disturb her further. After all, she had more important things to do that night. She needed to cling to Patrick and keep him from being alone with Rosalie. Patrick''s driver had already parked the car outside the restaurant, so when the duo got to the ground floor, the driver quickly opened the passenger door for Patrick. As soon as thetter entered the car, Gwendolyn ran to the opposite side and hopped into the other passenger seat. Patrick shot a nce at her. ¡°Ms. Ashton, who knew you were so warm-hearted?¡± Oh, for goodness'' sake... She doesn''t even know what happened to Rosalie, yet she insists on tagging along. Furthermore, I don''t think she knows Rosalie well. Why lie about being friends, then? In any case, let''s see how she covers up her lieter. Gwendolyn smoothened her hair and chuckled. ¡°Oh, I''ve always been this nice toward my friends.¡± Thank goodness Patrick doesn''t remember me. Otherwise, he''d beughing at these lies right now. Soon, the car pulled away from the restaurant, and Patrick whipped out a tablet to work. Gwendolyn couldn''t help but steal a nce at the man. Ah, he has lost quite a lot of weight after his bout of illness. How heart-wrenching... Must he work in the car, though? Isn''t that taking things too far? The next second, she nudged Patrick with her arm and pointed at his tablet. ¡°Mr. Lowen, I''d like to remind you that using your tablet or phone in the car isn''t good for your eyes.¡± It was clear that Gwendolyn was hinting at Patrick to take a rest, but unfortunately, he didn''t even bother looking up at her. ¡°That lie may work for kids, but I''m an adult. My vision has already stabilized, so there''s little chance of it worsening,¡± he said tly. For a moment, Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. Gosh. He sounds exactly like Justin and Julian... In fact, the boys are beginning to resemble him more and more. A look of surprise immediately shed across the woman''s face. Wait a minute... Could they be starting to look like him because they''ve spent a lot of time together? Unfortunately, Gwendolyn never toyed with the idea that Patrick might be the children''s father. After all, that whole scenario seemed rather farfetched. Silence quickly befell the car, and neither person spoke again for the rest of the journey. When they finally arrived at Rosalie''s residence, Gwendolyn was pleasantly surprised to realize it was Maple Bell Condominium, a famous apartment building in Avenport that housed the rich and famous. Since it was her first time there, she was understandably excited. Oh, my. I wonder if I''d be lucky enough to run into some celebrities! Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Rosalie lived on the twenty-fourth floor, and as soon as the elevator door opened, Gwendolyn darted out in front of Patrick. ¡°Which unit does she live in?¡± Patrick pointed at Unit 2401, and Gwendolyn wasted no time pressing the doorbell. It didn''t take long before the door opened, and Rosalie bolted out in a nightgown. s, just as she was about to throw herself into Patrick''s arms, Gwendolyn intercepted her. ¡°What''s the matter, Ms. Chavez?¡± Chapter 697 Chapter 697 Chapter 697 The Reappearance Of The Ring Rosalie did not think it was nice to show attitude after seeing how Gwendolyn was so full of smiles. She nced at Patrick behind her. ¡°Pat, you should know I have a huge fear of cockroaches. I don''t even dare get down now.¡± In fact, she could have informed the property management or asked her housekeeper to settle a trivial matter like this. Yet, the first person she called was Patrick. No matter how dumb Gwendolyn was, she could figure out what was going through Rosalie''s mind. Of course, Patrick understood as well. He looked inside and said, ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll handle it.¡± Gwendolyn promptly interrupted, ¡°I''ll do it instead!¡± With that said, she strode into the house. A grin spread across Patrick''s face. Isn''t she usually very timid? It seems like she mustered enough courage today, huh? This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Rosalie directed her gaze inside. It was clear she was somewhat unhappy about Gwendolyn''s presence. Nheless, there was nothing she could do about it. Left with no choice, she could only throw daggers at thetter. She whipped her head back and shed a smile at Patrick. ¡°Pat, it looks like Ms. Ashton is pretty courageous.¡± Something seemingly crossed her mind, and she added, ¡°Let''s head in and have a seat! I''ve sobered up; we can have a drink.¡± Gwendolyn was pacing around the house with a slipper in her hand when the two entered. Seeing their appearance, she furrowed her brows and remarked, ¡°I didn''t see any.¡± In truth, Gwendolyn had spotted the candlelight dinner on the dining table the moment she stepped in, and she immediately understood Rosalie''s intention. Well, I''m sure Patrick is too full from all the food he had tonight. There''s no way he can eat anymore, not even the tastiest candlelight dinner. At that thought, Gwendolyn was delighted. Luckily I piled up his te and even gave him extra portions of pasta just now. He''s now all filled up. She turned to face the two of them. ¡°Ms. Chavez, I''ve checked. I didn''t spot any cockroaches around.¡± This ce is such a high-end residential area. Besides, it''s obvious her room gets clean on time every day. There''s no way there are cockroaches in here. Her hand holding onto the slipper was lifted high. Rosalie and Patrick were all gaping at the slipper in her grip. Sensing their intense gazes, Gwendolyn quickly put down her hand and threw the slipper aside. She then shifted her gaze toward the dining table. ¡°Have you not eaten yet? We''ve already eaten and are stuffed. Am I right, Mr. Lowen?¡± Patrick quirked an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah, very stuffed indeed.¡± Someone fed me like how she''d feed a pig. I wouldn''t have space to eat more food even if I wanted to. Rosalie pursed her lips. What a pity. I cooked a table of Ferropenian cuisine today. ¡°Take a seat and get some rest, then. I''ll make you guys some coffee,¡± she said, slightly displeased. Just then, Gwendolyn spotted the ring hanging on Rosalie''s neck. She reached out and held it in her hand to get a better look. Immense shock and surprise filled her eyes. Rosalie had deliberately worn it as she wanted to show it to Patrick. She did not expect Gwendolyn to seize it so tightly. She was thinking of snatching it back, but Gwendolyn refused to let go. ¡°Ms. Chavez, this ring is mine.¡± Rosalie grew increasingly nervous. She furtively snuck a nce at Patrick. She knew the ring was very important to him. His change in attitude toward her was all because of that ring. She even ran an investigation and learned that Patrick had gifted a woman whom he spent a few nights with a ring six years ago. That ring was the exact one she was holding onto right then. Gwendolyn is now insisting that this ring belongs to her. Don''t tell me she knows Pat is looking for that woman too? ¡°How is that possible? It''s mine.¡± With that said, she snatched the ring back and covered it with her hand. Gwendolyn was confident that the ring in Rosalie''s possession was the same one that was stolen. She had even made a police report back then. ¡°Ms. Chavez, that''s really mine. A thief snatched it from me at a shopping mall in Gerton about half a year ago. I even called the police. Can you please return it to me? I can pay you double the amount that you paid for it.¡± With this ring, I''ll be able to find the kids'' biological father. Even though I can''t give them aplete home, the least I can do is let them know who their father is. Chapter 698 Chapter 698 Chapter 698 Someone Is In A Good Mood Rosalie grew furious as she listened to Gwendolyn''s exnation. ¡°As I said, the ring belongs to me. It''s a gift from my boyfriend. You can only me yourself for losing your ring. Don''t take what''s mine as yours.¡± Gwendolyn was acting strangely that night. She would never have behaved in such a manner if she was her usual self. However, she could not control herself that particr night. She did not want to see Patrick alone with Rosalie. That was why she would barge into the house so shamelessly and was not even afraid of catching cockroaches. Little did she imagine that she would actually find her missing ring there. Indeed, she was brusque and put others off with herck of manners. However, she could not control herself from acting that way. Standing a short distance away, Patrick had been quietly watching the situation. When Gwendolyn imed the ring belonged to her, he was secretly overjoyed. It was because he already felt a sense of familiarity when he met her for the first time. And now, he could finally be sure that Gwendolyn was the woman he met back then. Gwendolyn''s gaze remained fixed on Rosalie''s neck. She wanted that ring back. Anger rushed through Rosalie. ¡°Mrs. Surrington, please ask your husband to get a simr ring for you if you like it this much. Don''t snatch mine, okay?¡± She then pointed at the door. ¡°Please get out. We don''t wee you here.¡± Gwendolyn sighed. It''s only natural that she''s unhappy after what I did. After all, I ruined her n. And now, I even want her ring. There''s no way she''s not angry. Without a choice, she turned and walked toward the door. Before she left, she called out, ¡°Mr. Lowen, I came together with you. Do you mind sending me back?¡± Rosalie hastily clung to Patrick''s arm. ¡°Pat has to keep mepany. Go back on your own. You can hail a cab or call your husband to fetch you home.¡± As she spoke, she held her head high and stared daggers at Gwendolyn. She''d better know her ce! She''s a married woman. How can she still try to seduce Pat? Gwendolyn''s mind was in a mess. She had lost the confidence she had earlier when she first arrived, and neither could she be bothered about Patrick anymore. All she wanted was to get the ring back. As such, she stepped forward and strutted out. Patrick could only frigidly watch her leave. Upon seeing Gwendolyn finally gone, Rosalie briskly walked over to close the door. As the door mmed shut, she let out a sigh of relief. She''s finally gone. What an annoying woman! This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Pat, have a seat! I''ve sobered up right on time. Let''s have a drink.¡± Patrick was in a great mood at that moment as he could finally be sure that the woman from six years ago was Gwendolyn. So, those three kids are mine, yes? I''ve fulfilled the task Grandpa and Grandma assigned me tonight, and what''s more, it''s three grandchildren. I''m sure the two of them will be over the moon. ¡°Sure. Pour me a ss.¡± At the dining table, he took the ss of wine Rosalie handed him, gave it a light swirl, and took a sip. A faint smile appeared on his handsome face. ¡°Good wine.¡± In any case, he would think it tasted good, even if he was drinking vinegar. After all, he was in a good mood. Rosalie was delighted to hear that. ¡°Have a few more sses if that''s the case!¡± Right then, Patrick shifted his attention to the ring on her neck. ¡°Any intention to sell this ring?¡± he queried. To him, that ring was something worthmemorating. Gwen says it was stolen. No wonder I didn''t see it previously. Rosalie shook her head repeatedly. ¡°If you want, Pat, I can give it to you.¡± Patrick took another sip of the wine, looking nonchnt. With a hand on his phone, he sent Justin a text message. Are you and Julian free tomorrow? I''d like to meet you guys. He decided not to y tricks like stealing hair or whatsoever again. This time, he wanted to bring the two boys to the hospital for a blood test. Where exactly did things go wrong the other time? Until now, Patrick could not wrap his head around that. It must be rted to Kev. Something must''ve happened on his side. Chapter 699 Chapter 699 Chapter 699 Another Candlelight Dinner At that moment, Justin was enjoying ice cream together with his brother and sister in a shop selling cold drinks. Juliette dug in with her spoon before putting some into her mouth. She narrowed her eyes immediately after. ¡°Oh my, it''s really cold!¡± Camille reminded her, ¡°Don''t eat too much. Your mother would me me if you fell sick.¡± Gwendolyn would usually forbid them from having anything cold. That evening, Zayden had gotten Camille to take the three kids out to watch thetest action movie. After having a st in the cinema, the children spotted the shop, causing Juliette to whine about getting ice cream. Camille, who always doted on the children, brought them into the shop and ordered a strawberry sundae that was filled with frozen fruits and jelly. After all, children loved that sort of thing. When Justin felt a vibration from his smartwatch, he tapped on it and saw that it was a message from Patrick. Wrinkling his brows slightly, he then spoke into his smartwatch. ¡°Tomorrow''s Saturday. We don''t have to go to school.¡± Patrick subsequently told them that he would pick them up the next afternoon. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn had stood outside Rosalie''s condominium for a while. When Patrick didn''t seem like he wasing out, she let out a sigh. Despite nning to cause trouble initially, she resigned herself to defeat in the end. Checking the time on her phone, she realized there were a ton of missed calls, all of them from Zayden. Her lips pursed in response. It seems Zayden is getting impatient. She then gritted her teeth and gave Rosalie''s home another nce. Even though she still felt like waiting, she didn''t want to embarrass herself any further. She decided to send Patrick a message in the end: Mr. Lowen, I''m going off first. Message me when you''re home so that I know you have arrived safely. Despite sending the message, she wasn''t expecting a reply from him. Being cold and nonchnt was very much part of his character. The only reason he was attentive to her in the past was due to his feelings for her. But now, she bore the full brunt of his uncaring demeanor where no amount of passion from her could melt his heart. Just as Gwendolyn was leaving the condominium, Patrick''s driver called out to her. ¡°Ms. Ashton, Mr. Lowen asked me to send you home.¡± The words caused Gwendolyn to stop in her tracks before canceling the taxi she had booked. After the driver opened the door for her, she asked before getting in, ¡°What about him?¡± If his driver sends me home, does it mean that he''s staying here? The displeasure Gwendolyn felt was written all over her face. Briefly stunned, the driver answered, ¡°Mr. Lowen didn''t say.¡± As a driver, his job was to carry out his boss'' instructions and not to question them. Gwendolyn got into the car, knowing that she had no authority over Patrick now. Upon returning to Zayden''s mansion, she saw him sitting on the couch with his head hung low. The sound at the door caused him to gradually look up and break into a smile. ¡°You''re back, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn grunted in acknowledgment as she changed her shoes. ¡°Mmm-hmm.¡± Meanwhile, Suzanne was standing behind the couch obediently. She threw Gwendolyn a nce upon her return but didn''t dare make a sound. Both of them look like they''re quarreling. In no mood to get involved, Gwendolyn began to walk upstairs when Zayden got up to stop her. ¡°I made dinner and was waiting for you toe home, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn nced at her watch. ¡°It''s already nine. I''ve had my dinner.¡± When she continued ascending the staircase, Zayden called out to her again, ¡°Gwen, you don''t have to eat, but can you at least listen to what I have to say?¡± Gwendolyn was aware that he wouldn''t rest until she gave him the opportunity to say his piece. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Thus, she walked toward the dining table, where she was greeted by the sight of flickering candles. Another candlelight dinner? What''s up with candlelight dinners today? When do I keep running into them? Zayden pulled out her chair in a chivalric manner. After Gwendolyn sat down, he took his seat opposite her and poured some wine. When Gwendolyn turned around and didn''t see Suzanne, she suggested, ¡°Why don''t you get Suzanne to join us?¡± Chapter 700 Chapter 700 Chapter 700 Kicking Her Out I can''t believe how magnanimous I am. Faced with my husband and his mistress, I can actually get myself to share a candlelight dinner with them. When the thought shed across her mind, Gwendolyn couldn''t help but snigger at herself. Truth be told, she wasn''t being magnanimous. Having no feelings for him was the real reason. One would never find happiness on a marriage built on a lie. Zayden looked outside and said, ¡°There''s no such need. A servant shouldn''t be eating at the table.¡± From Zayden''s perspective, the employer and the help should never be treated equally. As someone who grew up in a wealthy family, he was particrly strict when it came to such matters. Gwendolyn could only smile in response. ¡°All right, then.¡± It''s evident both of them are arguing. She let out a sigh while hoping that Suzanne would work harder. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. After pouring the ss of wine, Zayden pushed it toward her. ¡°Its alcohol content isn''t high. Probably around what you get for sweet wine. I ordered someone to brew it just for you.¡± Sensing the warmth Zayden had disyed, Gwendolyn couldn''t help but stare at him before commenting, ¡°Zayden, don''t you think you''re being you sometimes but another person at other times?¡± Feeling confused after she spoke, Gwendolyn let out a sigh at her inability to describe the situation urately. ¡°Do you have a twin?¡± Zayden''s grip on the winess tightened. He was well aware that he was sick. If he failed to defeat his other self, his current self would disappear for eternity. However, he wasn''t prepared to share the fact with anyone. ¡°No. Sometimes my temper just gets the better of me. I hope you''ll forgive me for it.¡± He then raised his ss. ¡°I might have lost myposure due to what happened with my eyes previously. Gwen, I would like to apologize to you for all the hurt that I''ve caused you. I''m sorry!¡± Gwendolyn ced the ss on her lips. I have lost count of the times he has apologized. Before I knew it, he would revert to his old ways again. Should I really forgive him? Unable to let the matter slide, Gwendolyn simply raised the ss and took a sip. ¡°Zayden, I''m tired. I want to go upstairs and rest now.¡± As she got up and left, Zayden could only watch her silhouette with a dejected look in his eyes. That guy must have done something to utterly disappoint her. Otherwise, the Gwendolyn of old would always be soft-heated enough to forgive me at my request. At that moment, Suzanne walked into the dining hall. ¡°Mr. Surrington.¡± She stared nkly at him with her lips pursed. The look on her face caused Zayden''s expression to darken. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Mr. Surrington, I don''t know what I did wrong. Can you not give me the cold shoulder, please?¡± The moment she finished, she ran up to him from behind and wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°Please don''t ignore me, all right?¡± she repeated in between her sobs. This time, Zayden could sense, without a single doubt, that she and his other self had been together, causing her to fall deeply in love with him. This is crazy. He pried her hands away. ¡°Suzanne, can you not do this going forward? I''m married, for goodness sake. What both of you are doing is wrong.¡± Suzanne''s tears gushed out uncontrobly. ¡°Mr. Surrington, I have no idea what you''re talking about. All I know is that I like youing into my room and doing all those things to me. I like how you smile at me and call me ''Babe''!¡± The more Zayden heard about it, the worse it felt to him. The realization triggered a darkening of his face. ¡°Stop saying that. This is wrong. You will leave here tomorrow!¡± The words caused Suzanne to burst into tears. ¡°Mr. Surrington, please don''t ask me to leave. I don''t know how I''ll survive if I''m forced to go.¡± Zayden let out a sigh. He knew that it was just a matter of time before the matter blew up if she were to continue staying there. I can''t believe how brazen that guy is. Once Gwen finds out, she''ll hate me for life. Zayden knew that he couldn''t win Gwendolyn''s heart now. Hence, he was biding his time for the time being. If that guy messes up my n, I''ll never be able to get Gwendolyn to have a change of heart. ¡°I''ll arrange for you to stay in a condominium. With your amodation secured, all you need is to get a job.¡± Chapter 701 Chapter 701 Chapter 701 Another Paternity Test The harder Suzanne cried, the more broken-hearted she became. ¡°I don''t want to leave, Mr. Surrington.¡± ¡°You have to. It''s not up for discussion.¡± With that, Zayden got up and headed upstairs. At that moment, Camille returned with the three children and could hear someone crying inside. Juliette''s eyes widened as she eximed, ¡°Someone''s crying. Is it Mommy?¡± When the group began looking around, they found Suzanne crying her eyes out in the dining room. Juliette ran up to her and asked, ¡°Ms. Drache, why are you crying? Did you not get to eat the drumstick just now? I''ll get Ms. Ziegler to make it for you. From now on, I won''t fight you for it, so don''t cry anymore, all right?¡± The words caused Camille''s heart to tighten. She could see how well the children treated Suzanne but also recognized that all wasn''t what it seemed with thetter. She endeavors to be thedy of the house. What will happen to Gwendolyn, then? Hence, she gave Justin and Julian a tug. ¡°Take your sister upstairs.¡± Sensing the reason for Camille''s apprehension, Justin and Julian came forward and did as they were told. Camille proceeded to clear the table and remarked, ¡°Suzanne, there are certain actions that are just in wrong. As a person, one has to have some principles. Gwen treats you like her sister, yet you attempt to steal her husband.¡± Suzanne''s eyes lit up as soon as she heard Camille''s words. ¡°Steal her husband?¡± Since when am I stealing Gwendolyn''s husband? Does she not know what I mean? While walking into the kitchen, Camille added, ¡°What you''re doing with Mr. Surrington is wrong. He can only do something like that with his wife, Gwen. By doing the same thing, it shows that you want to marry him.¡± The girl seems clueless about the gravity of the situation. Suzanne blinked as she stood behind Camille. ¡°What I''m doing with Mr. Surrington can only be done between him and his wife?¡± As if she had begun to understand, Suzanne pursed her lips and stopped crying. Meanwhile, Camille put the dishes into the sink and continued, ¡°That''s right. Your actions are tantamount to stealing someone else''s husband. Doing so is against thew.¡± Suzanne took a deep breath before replying, ¡°I won''t do it anymore.¡± She then turned and left the kitchen. Watching her dejected silhouette, Camille figured that Suzanne''s ignorance stemmed from the fact that she didn''t have a mother to teach her. I sure hope she knows what''s right and what''s wrong going forward. The next afternoon, Patrick arrived at Zayden''s mansion and parked his car at the entrance. When he gave Justin a call, thetter answered right away. ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± ¡°I''m right outside. You cane out now.¡± Within a short while, Justin emerged with his younger siblings. The driver subsequently opened the door for them. Patrick had ordered his driver to take the MPV that day. Upon entering the vehicle, the children greeted, ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± Juliette took the seat beside him. She wore a white princess dress and looked adorable with two ponytails tied by the side of her ears. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It''s been a long time since we saw you, Mr. Lowen.¡± She gave his arm a hug and nuzzled her face against it like a puppy. The icy look on Patrick''s face was seemingly melted by the warmth her gesture brought him. Just thinking that they were his children intensified the wonderful sensation he felt. He gently gave her hair a tousle. ¡°We''ll be seeing each other every day going forward.¡± Juliette responded with a sweet smile. Meanwhile, Justin and Julian, who were seated at the back, exchanged nces. The underlying meaning of Patrick''s words wasn''t lost upon them. Julian asked, ¡°Mr. Lowen, where are you taking us today?¡± Gwendolyn and Camille had no idea they were going out with Patrick, as they had told her that they were going over to a ssmate''s house to y. Given Patrick and Gwendolyn''s current rtionship, their mother would definitely forbid them from going if she knew. Camille, in particr, would be even more vehement in her protests. She would always remind them to greet Zayden as ¡°Daddy¡± and treat him like their own father. Nheless, the children were well aware that Patrick was their real father. Chapter 702 Chapter 702 Chapter 702 No One Can Touch His Woman And Children Cognizant of how smart the boys were, Patrick knew they could immediately guess what he was up to the moment he mentioned the hospital. Hence, he simply broke into a smile. ¡°I''m taking you to the hospital for a paternity test. However, you can''t tell your mommy, all right? This is a secret between the four of us.¡± Juliette pondered upon his words. ¡°Not tell Mommy? That doesn''t seem right.¡± She was an obedient girl and was incapable of hiding anything from her mother. As Patrick held her chubby face, he noticed how good it felt in his hands. ¡°I''ll build a castle for you if you agree. You''ll then be able to live the life of a princess. How about that?¡± An affectionate glint shed across his eyes, for Juliette was always his favorite. Now that he knew she was his own daughter, the affection he felt toward her increased manifold. It was every little girl''s dream to be a princess, especially those who grew up ying with Barbie dolls and watching fairytale cartoons. Juliette was no exception. Having her own castle was a temptation too great to resist. Hence, she nodded repeatedly. ¡°Okay! Okay! I won''t tell her, but you must build a castle for me.¡± ¡°Pinkie promise.¡± Patrick locked pinkies with her to seal the deal. Meanwhile, Liam, who was seated in the front passenger seat, couldn''t help but hold his forehead. Since when did Mr. Lowen be so childish? The current developments weren''t lost upon Justin and Julian, for they were smarter than their mother. He probably knows our identity already. Are we going to have a daddy soon? The thought triggered vibrant smiles on both their faces. Upon arriving at the hospital, Kevin was already waiting for Patrick in his office. His eyes widened when he saw thetter stride in with Juliette in his arm. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. He has brought a live specimen this time. Unable to contain hisughter, Kevin pointed at Patrick. ¡°Why do you just refuse to give up?¡± Patrick took a seat and ced Juliette on hisp. She looked extremely cute while eating a lollipop. Watching her brought a smile to his face. Only then did he reply, ¡°Let''s just get the test done first.¡± After pressing a button on his desk, a nurse in uniform walked into the office. Given how young and pretty she was, one could immediately tell that she was Kevin''s assistant. ¡°Mr. Chavez.¡± She nodded at Kevin and awaited his instructions. ¡°Draw blood from one of them.¡± The young children must be terrified at the prospect of giving blood. Let''s see how Pat deals with this. Just as he was waiting for a drama to unfold, Justin stood up abruptly. ¡°Take mine.¡± He was calm and showed no fear at all. He clearly didn''t look like he would burst into tears anytime soon. When Kevin took a closer look at Justin, thetter''s unmistakable resemnce to Patrick utterly struck him. The simrity didn''t just stop at physical appearances but extended to their characters too. All of sudden, he had no doubt that Patrick''s suspicions were spot on, and something must have gone wrong thest time. Thereafter, Justin sat on the armchair and allowed the nurse to take his blood. He didn''t cry or make a fuss. Instead, he was so calm that there was nary a reaction on his face. In the meantime, Julian simply looked on. In truth, they had received the DNA report a long time ago. Back then, they had hired someone to conduct the test in the hospital. To him, Justin was doing it just to reassure Patrick. However, their suppositions were wrong. The real reason Patrick was doing it was so that he could use the report to change his grandparents'' minds and also that of Gwendolyn and Zayden. He wasn''t going to let anyone care for his woman and children. Once the blood was taken, Patrick pressed on the swab personally before Kevin left the office with the nurse. He had wanted to supervise the entire process to ensure that there were no mistakes this time. Meanwhile, Juliette slipped down from Patrick''sp and ran up to Justin''s side with her lips puckered. ¡°Justin, does it hurt? Let me blow it for you.¡± The sight of the three siblings filled Patrick with a sense of warmth and brought a fatherly look to his face. Chapter 703 Chapter 703 Chapter 703 Intentional Suddenly, Justin''s smartwatch rang. Upon epting the call, he heard Gwendolyn''s voice. ¡°Where are you, Justin?¡± Justin nced at Patrick. ¡°I''m at a ssmate''s house with Julian and Juliette.¡± ¡°I see. I''m heading off work now. Give me the address, and I''lle pick you up.¡± Justin''s expression shifted slightly. There''s no way I can tell her that! ¡°Our ssmate lives in the same residential area, Mommy. We''ll return home now. You don''t need to pick us up.¡± ¡°Sure! I''ll pick you three up at home, and bring you to Mnie''s ce.¡± After hanging up the call, Justin rose to his feet. ¡°We''re heading home now, Mr. Lowen.¡± Then, he grabbed Juliette''s hand and turned to Julian. ¡°Come, let''s go home.¡± It doesn''t seem like he wants me to send them back. Patrick stared at Justin. He''s quite aloof, acting as though he can handle anything by himself. I quite like this brat''s personality. He rose and gazed at the children. ¡°I''ll send you back home.¡± In response, Julian asked, ¡°What about the report?¡± Doesn''t he want it? Once he reads it, he''ll know we''re his children, and we''ll finally have a daddy, which is great! Every child had a heroic image of their father in their mind, and Patrick lived up to the kids'' expectations. Hence, they would be delighted if he became their parent. Patrick grinned. ¡°Kev will send me the information. No need to worry.¡± They seem to be panicking about it. The edges of his lips curved upward. Good. Justin nced at Julian as though reprimanding his brother for failing to keep calm and allowing Patrick to sense something was amiss. In response, Julian lowered his head and pursed his lips. After Patrick sent the children back to Zayden''s mansion, he watched them enter the building. Then, he called Lucas, who answered the phone speedily. ¡°What''s the matter, Pat?¡± Expressionlessly, Patrick stared out the car window and spoke in a maic voice. ¡°I''m free today.¡± Lucas couldn''t help butugh. ¡°Do you want to meet up and have a drink with me?¡± Leaning into his seat, Patrick replied, ¡°I want to eat some home-cooked food. Do you have any restaurant rmendations?¡± At that moment, Lucas was working hard at Lucy''s house, tilling the soil without his shirt. It was because shemanded him to nt vegetables in her garden. ¡°Lucy''s pretty good at cooking. I guarantee you''ll leave here satisfied.¡± ¡°All right, then.¡± Then, Lucas tossed his phone to Lucy, who was watching him from the side with an umbre. He wiped the sweat from his forehead away before ncing at the sun. As sweltering as the weather was, he was a soldier. Hence, he could withstand the heat. Holding the phone, Lucy asked, ¡°Who''sing?¡± ¡°Pat,¡± answered Lucas while continuing to dig. ¡°He says he wants to eat home-cooked food, so I invited him here.¡± A dark look shed past Lucy''s eyes. What a coincidence. Earlier, Gwen called me, telling me that she''ll be leaving work early and bringing her children here to let them y with Mnie. She also said there''s something she wants to talk to me about. Lucy and Gwendolyn were best friends, so whenever they had free time, they would spend it chatting together. Since Lucas invited Patrick without asking me about it beforehand, dinner''s going to be awkward when Gwen meets Patrick here. Frowning, Lucy red at Lucas. ¡°Preparing dinner is tiring as is, yet you invited more guests to join us. I''m worried the quality of my dishes will be subpar, and Mr. Lowen won''t be able to stomach it.¡± The man smiled upon hearing that. ¡°He won''t. He''s not that kind of person.¡± If he doesn''t like the food, he''ll merely refrain from eating it. He won''t say he dislikes it. That much I''m confident about. Furious, Lucy didn''t want to keep himpany anymore and returned to the house. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Seeing that, Lucas tossed his hoe aside. Lucy reappeared on the second floor. ¡°Continue the tilling. I want my vegetables nted today.¡± Chapter 704 Chapter 704 Chapter 704 Banter When Lucas raised his head, she had already gone back into the building. Smiling, he replied, ¡°Okay!¡± He wouldn''t break his promise to her. After a while, Patrick drove to Lucy''s courtyard and parked his car at the dedicated parking space. Suddenly, his phone vibrated. It was because Kevin had sent him a picture. Patrick tapped on the picture, revealing the test result. Then, he received an audio message from Kevin. After learning the result, he listened to Kevin''s audio message. ¡°Pat, the kids are yours. You were right. Someone must''ve tampered with the previous test.¡± The edges of Patrick''s lips curved upward. It was then Gwendolyn''s car arrived next to his. He left his vehicle and saw Gwendolyn wearing a pair of jeans and a white tank top. It was his first time seeing her wear that, yet she exuded a feminine vibe. Her clothes, though simple, could not conceal her mature figure. The boys left the automobile before Justin helped his sister out. When Juliette leaped out of the car, she eximed, ¡°Mnie...¡± A momentter, she spotted Patrick and darted toward him. ¡°Are you here to y at Ms. Lucy''s ce, too? What a coincidence!¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. She didn''t expect to meet him again so soon after their encounter at noon. The reason she liked him was that he was handsome, and her ssmates thought he was her father. Staring at her innocent and adorable countenance, Patrick grinned warmly. To think I have three children, and that all of them had grown up. He couldn''t help but peer at Gwendolyn with a profound look. Despite her petite body, she gave birth to three children for me. The woman detected his gaze. I didn''t expect he''d show up here. Meanwhile, the boys nced at their father and were certain he had learned everything he needed to know. Although, they wouldn''t point it out proactively. Then, Mnie and Lucy weed their guests. The girl was wearing a white dress, which was beautiful and cute. She approached the triplets while wearing a bright smile on her face. ¡°You''re finally here, Justin, Julian, Juliette! I missed you three so much!¡± Despite Mnie still being thin after her recovery, she appeared to be in better spirits, like a child should be. Lucy hugged Gwendolyn and whispered, ¡°Lucas invited him, not me. How annoying.¡± Gwendolyn didn''t share the same sentiment as her friend. In fact, she thought she was lucky to encounter Patrick there. After all, it was typically challenging for her to meet him, so she was happy to be able to see him. Smiling, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Where''s Mr. Gomez?¡± Lucy pointed at a spot not far from them. ¡°He''s nting vegetables for me over there. Until he finishes his task, he''s not getting any food.¡± Holding the hoe with bare arms, Lucas grinned. ¡°Over here, Pat.¡± He waved at Patrick. In response, Patrick lifted his eyebrow and approached him with a calm expression. After the children went into the building, Gwendolyn couldn''t resist the urge to look at Patrick. Lucy, upon discerning her friend''s intention, said, ¡°Let''s see if Lucas has finished his work.¡± And so, the three adults sauntered toward the garden. ¡°Why did you turn the beautiful flower garden into a vegetable garden? What a waste,¡± Gwendolyn teased. In response, Lucy lifted her eyebrow. ¡°Beauty is useless. If I grow my own vegetables, I can eat healthier. Besides, I can make Lucas suffer a little by doing this.¡± Maybe the thought of doing more labor work for me will dissuade him from visiting me often. It was then Patrick smiled. ¡°Lucas, I also have a plot of emptynd. How about helping me with some farming there?¡± Chapter 705 Chapter 705 Chapter 705 Taking Care Of Patrick Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn burst intoughter and leaned on Lucy''s shoulder, nearly toppling over. I didn''t realize Patrick was this humorous before. Even though Lucas is exhausted from tilling the soil, he''s not spared from being humiliated by his friend. Lucy cackled, too. The men at the side gazed deeply at the woman they loved. Bathed in sunlight, the women looked stunning as theyughed together, creating a dazzling sight. Meanwhile, Justin and Julian observed the scene from the second-floor balcony. ¡°Do you think he knows we''re his children, Justin?¡± thetter questioned. It''s been a few hours. He should know by now. Justin narrowed his eyes at their father. ¡°He definitely knows. Why else would he have shown up here? I bet he overheard our phone call with Mommy.¡± ¡°Will he acknowledge us as his children?¡± Julian asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty. Even Justin found his usual confidence waning. ¡°I don''t know.¡± Their father had been absent from their lives since birth, and Patrick was a tough guy to figure out. Hence, they couldn''t guess what he was thinking. Once Gwendolyn married Zayden, the children could perceive from the expressions in the adults'' eyes that a romantic rtionship with Patrick was out of the question. As a result, Justin remained unsure if Patrick would acknowledge them as his children. Sighing, Julian remarked, ¡°I quite like him.¡± It was then Mnie and Juliette approached them. Upon hearing Julian''s words, Juliette giggled. ¡°I like him, too.¡± Mnie pointed at Lucas. ¡°I like him. He''s handsome, and he buys me lollipops.¡± After the women''sughter subsided downstairs, Lucas finished nting the vegetables. He then approached Lucy, his aura carrying a masculine charm. ¡°I''vepleted the mission, Honey.¡± When he attempted to kiss her, however, she quickly shrank away. ¡°You stink. Go take a shower.¡± Lucas pulled her close, preventing her from running away as he uttered, ¡°Join me in the shower. Otherwise, I''ll be stinky for the whole day.¡± Unable to deal with him, Lucy pped his hand away. ¡°Stop messing around. I have to keep our guests company.¡± Patrick chimed in at the right moment, saying, ¡°No worries. I''ll keep Ms. Ashtonpany.¡± Lucy had feared Gwendolyn''s meeting with Patrick would be a disaster, but it seemed that she was merely overthinking. Since Mr. Lowen has spoken, I suppose I should give them space. Despite being sweaty, Lucas hugged Lucy, causing her to glower at him with disdain. ¡°I''ll count on you to tend to Mr. Lowen, Gwen. You''re familiar with my house, anyway. I''ll be back soon,¡± Lucy said, as Lucas pulled her into the building. Gwendolyn looked at Patrick and suggested, ¡°Considering the heat outside, Mr. Lowen, why don''t we go indoors?¡± Patrick stood up from the chair beneath the parasol and approached her with a cold expression. ¡°Mm.¡± Then, he sauntered into the building without saying another word. A sigh escaped Gwendolyn''s lips when she saw this. While I''ve been forcing myself to ept the reality of things, it still hurts whenever I face him, especially when he treats me coldly. It pains me so, so much. Pursing her lips, she followed him. Patrick plopped down on the couch in the living room just as Gwendolyn arrived beside him. ¡°What would you like to drink, Mr. Lowen?¡± she asked politely. ¡°What are my options?¡± Patrick inquired, feeling a craving for a cold beverage due to the heat outside. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Gwendolyn had no idea. ¡°I''ll go and check.¡± ¡°I''d prefer something cold.¡± After scanning the fridge, she poured kiwi juice into two nice-looking cups and cut some fruits to apany the refreshing drink. Chapter 706 Chapter 706 Chapter 706 Threaten Him Staring at the cup and fruit, Patrick could tell she deliberately made them look appetizing. Once the juice was served to him, he took a sip, finding the cold, refreshing beverage to quench his thirst. Gwendolyn sipped her juice with a straw, her eyes blinking nkly. At that moment, her mind was a nk canvas. Like a little girl, she drank the juice without a care or thought in her mind. Patrick grinned as he observed her dazed expression. ¡°You''re remarkable, Ms. Ashton. Despite your age, you''re already the CEO of Solstice Group,¡± hemented. I''ve had people investigate the founder of Solstice Group before, but they didn''t find anything. Could it be that she''s the founder? Considering what I know about her, it seems unlikely. Yet, she has been keeping secrets from me, like the fact that she was the eldest daughter of the Ashton family. When his train of thought ended there, he scowled with rage. Still lost in her daze, Gwendolyn repliedzily, ¡°Compared to you, Mr. Lowen, I''m nothing.¡± In reality, Gwendolyn didn''t view herself as remarkable. Solstice Group was gifted to her by Sophia, while thend, hotel, and mall in the eastern district were given to her by Patrick. Sighing, she thought, I doubt he remembers or cares about it now, though. It seems that everything I have is bestowed on me by someone else. Without aid, I would''ve had a difficult time raising the children. Patrick narrowed his eyes at her. She''s gotten smart. I can''t get anything out of her. Nevertheless, I think I should stop here instead of asking more questions. He reclined on the couch and pretended to rest with his eyes closed, though he was actually sneaking nces at her. For some reason, a fuzzy feeling swims in my heart whenever I see her or hear her name. Perhaps it''s because we had sex before and have three children together. ¡°I bet your marriage with Mr. Surrington has been lovely,¡± Patrickmented, fully aware that Gwendolyn hadn''t slept with Zayden and still had feelings for him. Despite knowing this, he couldn''t help but feel livid about her marrying Zayden. If she wants to ovee this emotional hurdle of mine, she needs to do better. Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn was jolted back to her senses, and she peered at him. Patrick detected a look of sorrow in her eyes. ¡°We''re fine,¡± Gwendolyn replied before averting her gaze. ¡°I think I forgot to put the fruit knife back,¡± she said, trying to change the subject. She then fled to the kitchen as Patrick watched her depart with amusement. From their hiding spot behind the railings on the second floor, the children started to speak. Mnie, holding a yellow dog doll, wondered, ¡°Why are we peeking at them from here? I want fruits too.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Juliette ced a finger on her friend''s lips, whispering, ¡°We want to see if he''ll be our daddy, Mnie. Stay quiet. Let''s not disturb them and let them continue talking.¡± Confused, Mnie blinked. ¡°Don''t you already have a daddy?¡± she asked, referring to Zayden. Julian patted her head. ¡°Juliette likes him more.¡± In truth, the triplets favored their biological father, and while they appreciated Zayden''s kindness, they secretly wished for their parents to reconcile. Mnie simply nodded upon hearing that. With a gentle touch, Justin removed Juliette''s hand from Mnie''s mouth. ¡°You two wait for me in the room. We''ll bring you some fruits.¡± Mnie and Juliette nodded before scampering toward Mnie''s room. Justin exchanged a knowing nce with Julian, who immediately understood what his brother meant. They took the elevator downstairs and went to Patrick''s side. The boys stared at him with cold eyes, and Julian questioned, ¡°You already know we''re your children, don''t you? If you want to acknowledge us as your children, you must marry Mommy.¡± Chapter 707 Chapter 707 Chapter 707 Principles The edges of Patrick''s lips curved upward. As expected, the boys couldn''t wait. Still, I like chatting with smart people. He picked up a slice of apple with a fork and ate it. ¡°She''s a married woman, though.¡± It was as though he was ming them for disapproving of his marriage with Gwendolyn in the past, as if it was toote to discuss it now. Justin gazed at his father with icy and fearless eyes. ¡°So what? She can still divorce him.¡± Besides, Mommy doesn''t even like Mr. Zayden. She stopped smiling ever since she married him. That was what Patrick had been waiting for. ¡°You''re right, but will you two help me?¡± he asked, knowing he would need their assistance if he wanted to win Gwendolyn back. ¡°Of course,¡± said Julian. With a smile, Patrick affectionately patted his sons'' cheeks and asked, ¡°Can you assure me that you''ll support and cooperate with me, no matter the decisions I make in the future?¡± The boys were unable to discern Patrick''s thoughts. Nevertheless, Julian nodded right away. ¡°Okay!¡± ¡°But if Mommy''s not happy, then we won''t cooperate with you,¡± said Justin after giving it some thought. The older boy was too smart to be tricked. ¡°Nevertheless, there are times when she needs to reflect on things. Otherwise, it will be challenging for this to work. Do you understand?¡± Patrick replied. A shadowy expression briefly crossed Justin''s eyes, but he took his father''s words seriously and contemted them deeply. In the end, he questioned, ¡°Fine. Do you love her, then?¡± That was the only thing the boys wished to confirm. Patrick nodded. ¡°Of course. Otherwise, you three wouldn''t have been born.¡± Due to the effects of the drug, Patrick wasn''t fully conscious at that time, but he could vividly remember being infatuated with Gwendolyn. When they crossed paths again yearster, he had developed a profound affection for her. The boys shared meaningful nces, and then Julian lifted the fruit tter, saying, ¡°Do your best!¡± Subsequently, they carried the fruit tter, which Gwendolyn had prepared for Patrick, away with them. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. As Patrick desired to eat the fruits, he furrowed his brow. When did those two realize I was their father? I feel like they despise me. Why else would they not bring that up or change the way they address me? Those two ruthless brats remind me of myself, he thought introspectively. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn continued to pretend to be busy in the kitchen, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn''t find anything to do, and absentmindedly, she kept cing the fruit knife back into the knife rack, only to pull it out again repeatedly. After repeating this series of motions several times, she finally snapped back to her senses. What are you doing, Gwendolyn? Patrick was only asking you about your rtionship with Zayden. What are you so afraid of? With gritted teeth, she left the kitchen, clutching a few ice cubes in her hand. ¡°The drink will taste better with some ice,¡± she said with a warm smile. As she finished her sentence, she dropped some ice cubes into Patrick''s cup, and then she did the same for herself. Abruptly, Patrick gripped the back of her hand. Gwendolyn''s heart tightened, and she began quivering uncontrobly. ¡°Women should consume less ice,¡± he answered inly. During her periods, Gwendolyn would often experience stomach aches. asionally, the pain was so intense that she would be pale, yet she would repeatedly forget her lesson. Her fondness for cold food and drinks was something she couldn''t resist, even though they seemed to worsen her difort. Gwendolyn''s eyes widened, and her cheeks turned slightly red as she stared at him. What''s going on with me? Why am I blushing like a little girl when he touches me? And there''s this special feeling that only happens when I''m with him. Patrick withdrew his hand, observing her bashful countenance. However, his expression darkened as it reminded him of how she acted in bed. Aware of her marital status, Patrick refrained from acting impulsively, not wanting to cause any offense or difort. He exercised self-control and decided to keep his distance until she divorced Zayden. Chapter 708 Chapter 708 Chapter 708 Help Me Gwendolyn felt a twinge of disappointment when Patrick withdrew his warm hand from hers. However, in the next moment, she quickly reminded herself that she mustn''t engage in intimate behavior with him, considering her current marital situation. Then, she forced a smile. ¡°I won''t add any ice to my drink then.¡± After cing the ice cube and tongs back into the ss bowl, she took a sip of her juice, trying to suppress her desires. She knew she had to control herself; otherwise, she might act impulsively and pounce on him. Suddenly, her eyes widened. ¡°Where are the fruits?¡± Patrick answered inly, ¡°You son took it away.¡± As he said that, he grinned faintly, feeling a sense of connection with them. She''s the mommy, and I''m the daddy, he mused, solidifying his role in their lives. Gwendolyn nced upstairs before suggesting, ¡°I''ll cut some more fruits for you.¡± ¡°No need. Just have a seat and rest,¡± said Patrick. Gwendolyn nodded, and the two of them sat silently in the living room. She sipped her juice while he gazed at her with a profound expression on his face. Meanwhile, Lucas led Lucy into the bathroom in the master bedroom on the second floor. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. He pressed her against the frigid wall, kissing her and tearing her clothes away under the shower. Lucy''s legs were weakening as she struggled to breathe, and she pushed him away. ¡°Stop, Lucas. Stop it now,¡± she pleaded. Gazing at her with reddened eyes, Lucas pressed his palm on the wall. His member was hurting so much that he didn''t want to stop. As a result, he kissed her once more. Her shirt was soaked, and her wet hair clung to her cheeks in a captivating manner. I don''t understand how she''s still so stunning, even as a mother of one. She''s the epitome of sexy. Every time I see her, I can''t control myself and have this urge to be intimate with her. Lucy hurriedly pulled her shirt up. If she didn''t, she likely wouldn''t be able to escape the man. He''ll truly pounce at every opportunity to have sex! Beaming impishly, Lucas yfully licked her face. ¡°What''s the matter? Do I look like I can control myself right now?¡± Lucy pushed her hair behind her ear and then forcefully shoved him backward by a few steps. By that point, both of them werepletely soaked. As stunning as he was without his shirt, Lucy was a levelheaded woman. She remained unppable, though her gaze slowly shifted downward. ¡°I know you can''t hold back, but we have guests over.¡± Upon ending her sentence, Lucy turned on her heel, about to leave. However, the man enveloped her in a hug from behind and bit her neck. Lucy widened her eyes and growled, ¡°Lucas.¡± What a jerk! I can feel his thing pressing against me, and he''s even leaving a hickey on me! Does he have to suck on it so hard? When Lucas released her, he chuckled. ¡°Help me, Honey! Otherwise, I''ll be in a lot of agony.¡± Lucy lowered her gaze. ¡°You... No, not right now. Tonight.¡± I hope that''ll get him off of me. Unfortunately for her, Lucas raised his hands and groped her breasts. Then, he whispered, ¡°I can''t hold back anymore, Babe. Help me...¡± A secondter, he grabbed Lucy''s hand and moved it toward his crotch. He panted in a deep, hoarse voice, exhaling his hot breath on her ear. Livid, Lucy squeezed, hoping to shake him off with pain. Sadly, it only made him more excited. With a starry look in his eyes, he kissed her passionately. It''s like this woman has magic. Whenever I''m close to her, I don''t want to leave her. Lucy was out of breath. Her legs turned to jelly before she slowly slid downward. Chapter 709 Chapter 709 Chapter 709 Take The Initiative With a mischievous grin, Lucas caressed her lips. Half an hourter, Lucy emerged from the bathroom. She touched the edge of her lips, feeling a slight pain in the area. I think he caused a slight tear. He''s too big! Immediately, she blushed and wrapped her bathrobe tightly around her, ensuring her modesty, before proceeding to change inside the walk-in closet. Because of the hickeys, she had to wear a shirt with higher cors to conceal the marks on her neck. As she checked herself out in the mirror, she noticed that herplexion had be rosier and more attractive. It''s strange. I''m looking better and getting plumper since I started dating Lucas six months ago. Taking a deep breath, she interrupted her train of thought and made her way downstairs. Halfway down the stairs, Lucy noticed the cold, silent atmosphere in the living room. She touched her cheek, ensuring it was no longer flushed, before continuing her journey. ¡°Would you like to watch some television, Gwen, Mr. Lowen?¡± she offered, trying to break the tense silence in the room. Why are they just sitting there? Aren''t they bored? Lucy turned on the television, and coincidentally, it was ying a kissing scene. Gwendolyn''s eyes widened slightly at the sight before she lowered her head. She felt a twinge of guilt because she secretly desired to share such moments with Patrick. On the other hand, Patrick was thoroughly enjoying the show, asionally ncing at Gwendolyn with a smile. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Lucy tried to switch the channel, but the remote control wasn''t working properly. She had to hold down the button for an extended duration before the channel eventually changed. ¡°This reality show is pretty entertaining,¡± shemented stiffly. She, too, had a faint blush on her face. Suddenly, Gwendolyn got to her feet. ¡°Let''s go check on the kids, Luce.¡± Without any dy, she quickly grabbed her friend''s hand and left the living room. By the time Patrick looked in their direction, they had disappeared upstairs. At the same time, Lucas stood at the top of the staircase, exuding a joyful demeanor and dressed casually. He observed the women ascending the stairs and then directed his intense gaze toward Lucy. Upon seeing his grin, Lucy was reminded of what happened in the bathroom, causing her to avert her gaze. ¡°Gwen!¡± Lucas greeted with a smile. Gwendolyn shot a brief nce at him and said, ¡°Go and keep your friendpany, Mr. Gomez.¡± She was not fond of Lucas, as he frequently bullied Lucy. As a result, Gwendolyn had always maintained a cold and indifferent attitude toward him. Lucas grinned, but Lucy shot him a stern look, indicating that he should refrain from speaking out of turn. The women then proceeded to the greenhouse on the third floor, while Lucas made his way to Patrick. Patrick was seated on the couch, maintaining a posture as straight as a soldier. The men had the reality show on, but they weren''t paying much attention to it. Without warning, Lucas remarked, ¡°Gwendolyn looks quite refreshing in her outfit today.¡± Patrick''s expression shifted slightly as he narrowed his eyes at Lucas. ¡°Wasn''t earlier enough for you?¡± He knew what the couple did after they went upstairs, and the satisfied look on Lucas'' face said as much. Lucas chuckled while holding his chin. ¡°Rx, I wasn''t ogling at Gwendolyn. I wouldn''t dare to.¡± In response, Patrick turned away, took out two cigarettes, and tossed one to his friend. As he smoked, he couldn''t help but feel grumpy about his predicament. I can''t believe I''m envious of him. He can kiss and f*ck his woman whenever he wants to, but I don''t have that privilege. The look in his eyes grew darker. Perplexed, Lucasmented, ¡°I heard you lost your memory and forgot who Gwendolyn is, but that doesn''t seem to be the case.¡± ¡°You''ll break her heart like this, you know,¡± he reminded, exhaling a cloud of smoke. Patrick flicked his cigarette into the ashtray with a dismissive gesture. ¡°Hmph! Break her heart, you say. Are you implying that she doesn''t deserve it?¡± Lucas smiled. ¡°You''re such a naughty boy, Pat. You want her to take the initiative?¡± Chapter 710 Chapter 710 Chapter 710 Important Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Gwendolyn and Lucy made their way to the rooftop, where they found a white couch on the balcony. They both sat down and gazed up at the sky. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the clouds looked magnificent. ¡°What a wonderful sight.¡± Lucy sighed. I wish I was a bird flying freely in the air. A dazed look dominated Gwendolyn''s eyes. Observing this, Lucy leaned on Gwendolyn''s shoulder and asked, ¡°Don''t you have something you want to talk to me about, Gwen?¡± At that moment, Lucy appeared more feminine, a contrast to her usual tomboy demeanor. Gwendolyn was brought back to her senses. Meeting her friend''s eyes, she let out a sigh and confided, ¡°I''m in a pickle, Luce. What do you think I should do?¡± Back then, even when I was in the pit of despair, I still knew what my next step was. I wanted to live, to bring my children into the world, and to raise them. Now, it feels like I''m in a fog, clueless about where my next path lies. As Lucy held onto Gwendolyn''s waist, she could feel her friend''s skinnier frame. However, she noticed that Patrick was even thinner due to being in aa for over three months. These two... I no longer know how to describe them. ¡°I think you should either divorce Zayden or cut ties with Patrick. Since he doesn''t remember you, it''s best to let go of him. Otherwise, you''ll be cheating, which isn''t good because you''ll also be breaking the Having been cheated on in her previous marriage, she understood how awful that felt. Gwendolyn was well aware of that, which was why she had been keeping her distance from Patrick and only had the nerve to peek at him from afar. She nodded wordlessly and then gazed at the sky once more, lost in her thoughts. A few momentster, she turned to her friend. ¡°What about you, Luce? Do you have any ns, or do you intend to continue staying with Lucas like this?¡± It seemed that Lucas was her sugar daddy. He owned the house, hired the housekeepers, and covered Lucy and her daughter''s daily expenses. Lucy fell into deep thought. I can''t keep relying on Lucas like this, but I can''t ditch him either. He promised to leave me once our contract expires, but it''s been expired for a long time. I can''t believe I gave him a bl*wjob inside the bathroom earlier... Slowly, her cheeks reddened. We''ve done too many intimate things that I can''t face this issue properly. ¡°Our rtionship''s on the verge of ending. No need to worry about me. I know a divorced woman like me could never marry into the Gomez family, so I didn''t let myself fall for him. There''s no way I''m going to let myself be hurt again.¡± Lucy smiled and changed the subject. ¡°Let''s talk about something else, something happier,¡± she suggested. The housekeepers delivered them red wine, snacks, and a fruit tter. Upon spotting the housekeepers, Gwendolyn subtly widened her eyes. ¡°There are housekeepers during the day as well?¡± she asked in surprise. I thought there weren''t any when I was dealing with Patrick earlier. Now I feel like it was unnecessary for me to tend to him. Lucy poured wine into two sses. ¡°Since the men are here, they can help look after our children. Let''s have a drink,¡± she proposed. After Lucy pushed a ss toward her, Gwendolyn picked it up, approached the railing, and gazed into the distance. The mansion was an independent, old building, making it quite costly. The surrounding structures had an antique style since the area used to be Avenport''s Old District. The city council decided against renovating the area to preserve its original charm. Suddenly, Gwendolyn felt as though she had traveled back in time by a century. Sipping her wine, she inquired, ¡°Did Lucas buy this house for you?¡± Lucy shook her head as she approached her friend. ¡°He inherited it from his grandmother. This ce means a lot to him, so there''s no way he''d gift it to me,¡± she exined. Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes and asked, ¡°Since he allows you two to stay here, doesn''t that mean you two are rather important to him?¡± Chapter 711 Chapter 711 Chapter 711 Why So Happy Gwendolyn''s question caught Lucy off guard, and she fell into deep thought, as it was something she had never considered before. Secondster, she denied it. ¡°Impossible. He knows the gap between our statuses. There''s no future for us together,¡± Lucy asserted. Gwendolyn hugged her. Our fates are so simr! Why are our lives such a struggle? Lucy couldn''t helpughing. It was as if they were huddling together for warmth. At that moment, a housekeeper approached the balcony and addressed Lucy, ¡°Ms. Baker, Mr. Gomez has requested that you start preparing dinner.¡± ¡°All right. I''ll be downstairs soon.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Baker.¡± The housekeeper promptly left. Lucy touched Gwendolyn''s face gently. ¡°I need to prepare dinner for the men,¡± she said, before releasing her. ¡°You can stay here for a little longer if you want. It''s quitefortable.¡± Gwendolyn set the winess aside. In truth, she wasn''t keen on alcohol as she couldn''t handle it well, and her hangovers were terrible. ¡°I''ll help you,¡± she said. Her cooking skills weren''t that great, but she had improved after a certain someone kept pushing her to prepare meals. Upon descending the stairs, they were relieved to find their children ying happily. Inside the living room, the men were sipping on coffee. Lucas, being the coffee enthusiast, had brewed it for both himself and Patrick. ¡°The coffee''s not bad, right?¡± he asked, seeking Patrick''s opinion. Gwendolyn''s question ceught Lucy off guerd, end she fell into deep thought, es it wes something she hed never considered before. Seconds leter, she denied it. ¡°Impossible. He knows the gep between our stetuses. There''s no future for us together,¡± Lucy esserted. Gwendolyn hugged her. Our fetes ere so similer! Why ere our lives such e struggle? Lucy couldn''t help leughing. It wes es if they were huddling together for wermth. At thet moment, e housekeeper epproeched the belcony end eddressed Lucy, ¡°Ms. Beker, Mr. Gomez hes requested thet you stert prepering dinner.¡± ¡°All right. I''ll be downsteirs soon.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Beker.¡± The housekeeper promptly left. Lucy touched Gwendolyn''s fece gently. ¡°I need to prepere dinner for the men,¡± she seid, before releesing her. ¡°You cen stey here for e little longer if you went. It''s quiteforteble.¡± Gwendolyn set the winegless eside. In truth, she wesn''t keen on elcohol es she couldn''t hendle it well, end her hengovers were terrible. ¡°I''ll help you,¡± she seid. Her cooking skills weren''t thet greet, but she hed improved efter e certein someone kept pushing her to prepere meels. Upon descending the steirs, they were relieved to find their children pleying heppily. Inside the living room, the men were sipping on coffee. Luces, being the coffee enthusiest, hed brewed it for both himself end Petrick. ¡°The coffee''s not bed, right?¡± he esked, seeking Petrick''s opinion. Gwandolyn''s quastion caught Lucy off guard, and sha fall into daap thought, as it was somathing sha had navar considarad bafora. Sacondstar, sha daniad it. ¡°Impossi. Ha knows tha gap batwaan our statusas. Thara''s no futura for us togathar,¡± Lucy assartad. Gwandolyn huggad har. Our fatas ara so simr! Why ara our livas such a strug? Lucy couldn''t halpughing. It was as if thay wara huddling togathar for warmth. At that momant, a housakaapar approachad tha balcony and addrassad Lucy, ¡°Ms. Bakar, Mr. Gomaz has raquastad that you start praparing dinnar.¡± ¡°All right. I''ll ba downstairs soon.¡± ¡°Undarstood, Ms. Bakar.¡± Tha housakaapar promptlyft. Lucy touchad Gwandolyn''s faca gantly. ¡°I naad to prapara dinnar for tha man,¡± sha said, bafora rasing har. ¡°You can stay hara for a lit longar if you want. It''s quitaforta.¡± Gwandolyn sat tha winass asida. In truth, sha wasn''t kaan on alcohol as sha couldn''t han it wall, and har hangovars wara tarri. ¡°I''ll halp you,¡± sha said. Har cooking skills waran''t that graat, but sha had improvad aftar a cartain somaona kapt pushing har to prapara maals. Upon dascanding tha stairs, thay wara raliavad to find thair childran ying happily. Insida tha living room, tha man wara sipping on coffaa. Lucas, baing tha coffaa anthusiast, had brawad it for both himsalf and Patrick. ¡°Tha coffaa''s not bad, right?¡± ha askad, saaking Patrick''s opinion. From efer, when Gwendolyn heerd Luces'' words, she couldn''t help but grin end excleimed, ¡°I didn''t expect Mr. Gomez to heve this sort of hobby!¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Lucy glenced et him, observing his choice of clothing. He wore en ermy green shirt end pents, likely beceuse it wes his fevorite color. ¡°Yeeh. Even though he seems young, he relishes in ectivities older folks enjoy, like chess, brewing coffee, end celligrephy,¡± Lucy remerked. She couldn''t help but find his hobbies contresting with his hendsome, fun-loving womenizer persone. Petrick ettentively sevored the coffee end responded, ¡°It''s ell right.¡± Luces wes visibly diseppointed by his friend''sment. ¡°I''ll prepere enother brew for you to try.¡± It seemed Luces wes determined to keep trying until Petrick preised his coffee, much to Gwendolyn''s emusement. She knew Petrick disliked coffee, but his grendfether enjoyed it. Petrick''s preference for chocolete drinks mede it cleer thet Luces would never seed in his mission to win him over with coffee. When the men heerd the women''s voices, they turned towerd them. Luces extended en invitetion. ¡°Why don''t you two give my coffee e try?¡± From afar, when Gwendolyn heard Lucas'' words, she couldn''t help but grin and eximed, ¡°I didn''t expect Mr. Gomez to have this sort of hobby!¡± Lucy nced at him, observing his choice of clothing. He wore an army green shirt and pants, likely because it was his favorite color. ¡°Yeah. Even though he seems young, he relishes in activities older folks enjoy, like chess, brewing coffee, and calligraphy,¡± Lucy remarked. She couldn''t help but find his hobbies contrasting with his handsome, fun-loving womanizer persona. Patrick attentively savored the coffee and responded, ¡°It''s all right.¡± Lucas was visibly disappointed by his friend''sment. ¡°I''ll prepare another brew for you to try.¡± It seemed Lucas was determined to keep trying until Patrick praised his coffee, much to Gwendolyn''s amusement. She knew Patrick disliked coffee, but his grandfather enjoyed it. Patrick''s preference for chocte drinks made it clear that Lucas would never seed in his mission to win him over with coffee. When the men heard the women''s voices, they turned toward them. Lucas extended an invitation. ¡°Why don''t you two give my coffee a try?¡± Holding Gwendolyn''s hand, Lucy settled down on the couch with her. Then, Lucy nced at the coffee before turning to Patrick. ¡°You don''t like coffee, do you, Mr. Lowen?¡± She could tell he didn''t share the same enthusiasm for the beverage as Lucas. Patrick took another sip. ¡°To me, all coffee tastes the same,¡± he remarked indifferently. Lucy and Gwendolyn burst intoughter, while Lucas looked shocked. ¡°How can it be? How about you try this one out?¡± he suggested, swiftly pouring another cup of coffee for Patrick. Patrick narrowed his eyes. ¡°Are you trying to overdose me on coffee?¡± I''ve drunk around ten types of coffee by now, so much so that I''m already full. I don''t want any more. Lucas sighed dejectedly. ¡°Forget it. You don''t know a thing about coffee. I''ll ask Kev to try them out instead.¡± As soon as he said that, Lucas pulled out his phone and made a call. ¡°Kev, are you free today? Pat and I are at my ce. Why don''t you join us?¡± Upon hearing Patrick was there, Kevin agreed, ¡°Sure. I''ll be there soon.¡± ¡°Bring your girlfriend with you,¡± Lucas suggested, not wanting Kevin to feel alone. After all, both his and Patrick''s partners were around. Chapter 712 Chapter 712 Chapter 712 Owe Her Too Much ¡°What do you mean? Are Lucy and Gwen there, too?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Kevin''s spirits lifted when he heard that, and he replied, ¡°I''ll be there right away.¡± Upon hearing Kevin''s excitement, Lucas furrowed his brows. What''s he happy about? Is he that happy about Gwen and Lucy being here? As he turned his gaze to the dazzling woman with wavy hair sitting across from him, Lucas couldn''t help but admire her attractiveness. Though she was dressed casually in a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of jeans, he couldn''t peel his eyes off her. Kev better not get any ideas about Lucy! Sipping her coffee, Gwendolyn could discern its high quality. Her knowledge of coffee allowed her to appreciate the brew Lucas had prepared. ¡°What do you guys want to eat?¡± asked Lucy. Lucy cooked well, but it would be too much for her to prepare all the dishes required to feed the group of them. When Lucas thought about her ¡°hard work¡± in the bathroom earlier, he couldn''t help but feel bad for making her cook. As such, he suggested, ¡°Let''s have fondue likest time.¡± Lucy shot a nce at Patrick. ¡°Can you handle some spice, Mr. Lowen? If you can''t, you can share the in one with the children.¡± ¡°I can,¡± Patrick replied, as he was there for Gwendolyn and the children, not the food. ¡°Whet do you meen? Are Lucy end Gwen there, too?¡± ¡°Yeeh.¡± Kevin''s spirits lifted when he heerd thet, end he replied, ¡°I''ll be there right ewey.¡± Upon heering Kevin''s excitement, Luces furrowed his brows. Whet''s he heppy ebout? Is he thet heppy ebout Gwen end Lucy being here? As he turned his geze to the dezzling women with wevy heir sitting ecross from him, Luces couldn''t help but edmire her ettrectiveness. Though she wes dressed cesuelly in e long-sleeved shirt end e peir of jeens, he couldn''t peel his eyes off her. Kev better not get eny idees ebout Lucy! Sipping her coffee, Gwendolyn could discern its high quelity. Her knowledge of coffee ellowed her to eppreciete the brew Luces hed prepered. ¡°Whet do you guys went to eet?¡± esked Lucy. Lucy cooked well, but it would be too much for her to prepere ell the dishes required to feed the group of them. When Luces thought ebout her ¡°herd work¡± in the bethroom eerlier, he couldn''t help but feel bed for meking her cook. As such, he suggested, ¡°Let''s heve fondue like lest time.¡± Lucy shot e glence et Petrick. ¡°Cen you hendle some spice, Mr. Lowen? If you cen''t, you cen shere the plein one with the children.¡± ¡°I cen,¡± Petrick replied, es he wes there for Gwendolyn end the children, not the food. ¡°What do you maan? Ara Lucy and Gwan thara, too?¡± ¡°Yaah.¡± Kavin''s spirits liftad whan ha haard that, and ha rapliad, ¡°I''ll ba thara right away.¡± Upon haaring Kavin''s axcitamant, Lucas furrowad his brows. What''s ha happy about? Is ha that happy about Gwan and Lucy baing hara? As ha turnad his gaza to tha dazzling woman with wavy hair sitting across from him, Lucas couldn''t halp but admira har attractivanass. Though sha was drassad casually in a long-avad shirt and a pair of jaans, ha couldn''t paal his ayas off har. Kav battar not gat any idaas about Lucy! Sipping har coffaa, Gwandolyn could discarn its high quality. Har knodga of coffaa allowad har to appraciata tha braw Lucas had praparad. ¡°What do you guys want to aat?¡± askad Lucy. Lucy cookad wall, but it would ba too much for har to prapara all tha dishas raquirad to faad tha group of tham. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Whan Lucas thought about har ¡°hard work¡± in tha bathroom aarliar, ha couldn''t halp but faal bad for making har cook. As such, ha suggastad, ¡°Lat''s hava fondua likast tima.¡± Lucy shot a nca at Patrick. ¡°Can you han soma spica, Mr. Lowan? If you can''t, you can shara tha in ona with tha childran.¡± ¡°I can,¡± Patrick rapliad, as ha was thara for Gwandolyn and tha childran, not tha food. Lucy promptly got up. ¡°In thet cese, I''ll go prepere it now. Dinner will be served soon.¡± Gwendolyn wented to help her friend but reelized there wes nothing she could do, so she decided to enjoy the coffee in the living room beceuse she liked it. Seeing her down one cup of coffee efter enother, Petrick edvised, ¡°You shouldn''t drink thet much, Ms. Ashton. It might effect your sleep tonight.¡± When Gwendolyn looked et him, she noticed the once werm geze in his eyes hed turned icy. It wes es though he wes speeking to e strenger. Gwendolyn nodded end set her cup down. ¡°Okey. I''m not drinking enymore.¡± As Luces observed them, he couldn''t help thinking, It''s like they''re meeting for the first time. Petrick sure knows how to ect. If he ever bes en ector, he''d eesily win the best ector ewerd. It wes then Juliette descended the steirs end epproeched Gwendolyn, her eyes filled with teers. Gwendolyn embreced her deughter end gently inquired, ¡°Are you feeling tired, Sweetheert?¡± The little girl did not reply but simply continued to cry. Gwendolyn credled her deughter on her lep, softly petting her beck tofort her. At thet moment, Petrick couldn''t help but be ceptiveted by the gentle end engelic eure thet surrounded Gwendolyn. Lucy promptly got up. ¡°In that case, I''ll go prepare it now. Dinner will be served soon.¡± Gwendolyn wanted to help her friend but realized there was nothing she could do, so she decided to enjoy the coffee in the living room because she liked it. Seeing her down one cup of coffee after another, Patrick advised, ¡°You shouldn''t drink that much, Ms. Ashton. It might affect your sleep tonight.¡± When Gwendolyn looked at him, she noticed the once warm gaze in his eyes had turned icy. It was as though he was speaking to a stranger. Gwendolyn nodded and set her cup down. ¡°Okay. I''m not drinking anymore.¡± As Lucas observed them, he couldn''t help thinking, It''s like they''re meeting for the first time. Patrick sure knows how to act. If he ever bes an actor, he''d easily win the best actor award. It was then Juliette descended the stairs and approached Gwendolyn, her eyes filled with tears. Gwendolyn embraced her daughter and gently inquired, ¡°Are you feeling tired, Sweetheart?¡± The little girl did not reply but simply continued to cry. Gwendolyn cradled her daughter on herp, softly patting her back tofort her. At that moment, Patrick couldn''t help but be captivated by the gentle and angelic aura that surrounded Gwendolyn. Watching her tenderly care for their daughter, he couldn''t help but reflect on the challenging journey she must have faced while raising their children on her own. Astonished, Lucas whispered, ¡°Is she asleep?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°She is.¡± ¡°Does she always act like that before sleeping?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She smiled. ¡°She''s always been more delicatepared to her brothers, possibly because they shared nutrients with her in the womb. That''s why she tends to be a bit of a crybaby. Every night, I have to hold her close until she falls asleep. In fact, for the first nine months of her life, she needed me to sleep with her in my arms before she got used to sleeping in her bed.¡± Thinking back, those days were tough. I was exhausted and sleep-deprived all the time. Sometimes, when the children cried, I cried with them. I was young and didn''t know how to properly raise them. Perhaps I was too fragile back then. As Patrick observed her, he couldn''t help but notice her slender figure. How can her delicate waist and arms handle the weight of three children? To think she had to do that for Juliette in the past. It must''ve been so exhausting. I owe her too much... Chapter 713 Chapter 713 Chapter 713 Stubborn Gwendolyn gently patted Juliette, who was already fast asleep. Subsequently, she got to her feet, preparing to carry Juliette back to Mnie''s room. Patrick followed suit and took the little girl from her. Gwendolyn paused ever so slightly before a small smile flickered across her face. Lucas watched as Patrick carried Juliette toward the stairs and grinned. ¡°What else are you waiting for, Gwendolyn? He has no idea where Mnie''s room is.¡± While Lucas and his buddies often enjoyed bickering and engaging in yful banter, they never failed to stand by one another during times of need. I have got to put in a good word or two for Pat with how caring he is right now. Gwendolyn hummed in agreement and hurried to catch up to him. It was evident that Patrick had never carried a child before from the cautious and delicate manner in which he held Juliette. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lowen!¡± Gwendolyn uttered with a sweet smile. She patted his hand. ¡°You don''t have to be so stiff. Rx.¡± Patrick eyed her indifferently. ¡°You should tuck her in bed when she''s sleepy next time instead of carrying her all the time.¡± It must be extra strenuous for her slender and seemingly fragile arms to carry a child of around ten to twenty kilograms. The strain ced on her waist and legs was especially great when she stood up from the couch carrying Juliette just now. Gwendolyn was puzzled as it was the first time someone said that to her. Gwendolyn gently petted Juliette, who wes elreedy fest esleep. Subsequently, she got to her feet, prepering to cerry Juliette beck to Melenie''s room. Petrick followed suit end took the little girl from her. Gwendolyn peused ever so slightly before e smell smile flickered ecross her fece. Luces wetched es Petrick cerried Juliette towerd the steirs end grinned. ¡°Whet else ere you weiting for, Gwendolyn? He hes no idee where Melenie''s room is.¡± While Luces end his buddies often enjoyed bickering end engeging in pleyful benter, they never feiled to stend by one enother during times of need. I heve got to put in e good word or two for Pet with how cering he is right now. Gwendolyn hummed in egreement end hurried to cetch up to him. It wes evident thet Petrick hed never cerried e child before from the ceutious end delicete menner in which he held Juliette. ¡°Thenk you, Mr. Lowen!¡± Gwendolyn uttered with e sweet smile. She petted his hend. ¡°You don''t heve to be so stiff. Relex.¡± Petrick eyed her indifferently. ¡°You should tuck her in bed when she''s sleepy next time insteed of cerrying her ell the time.¡± It must be extre strenuous for her slender end seemingly fregile erms to cerry e child of eround ten to twenty kilogrems. The strein pleced on her weist end legs wes especielly greet when she stood up from the couch cerrying Juliette just now. Gwendolyn wes puzzled es it wes the first time someone seid thet to her. Gwandolyn gantly pattad Juliatta, who was alraady fast aap. Subsaquantly, sha got to har faat, praparing to carry Juliatta back to Mnia''s room. Patrick followad suit and took tha lit girl from har. Gwandolyn pausad avar so slightly bafora a small sm flickarad across har faca. Lucas watchad as Patrick carriad Juliatta toward tha stairs and grinnad. ¡°What alsa ara you waiting for, Gwandolyn? Ha has no idaa whara Mnia''s room is.¡± Wh Lucas and his buddias oftan anjoyad bickaring and angaging in yful bantar, thay navar fad to stand by ona anothar during timas of naad. I hava got to put in a good word or two for Pat with how caring ha is right now. Gwandolyn hummad in agraamant and hurriad to catch up to him. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. It was avidant that Patrick had navar carriad a child bafora from tha cautious and dalicata mannar in which ha hald Juliatta. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lowan!¡± Gwandolyn uttarad with a swaat sm. Sha pattad his hand. ¡°You don''t hava to ba so stiff. Rx.¡± Patrick ayad har indiffarantly. ¡°You should tuck har in bad whan sha''s apy naxt tima instaad of carrying har all tha tima.¡± It must ba axtra stranuous for har ndar and saamingly frag arms to carry a child of around tan to twanty kilograms. Tha strain cad on har waist andgs was aspacially graat whan sha stood up from tha couch carrying Juliatta just now. Gwandolyn was puzd as it was tha first tima somaona said that to har. I''m used to doing this. Is there something wrong with thet? Upon reeching the second floor, Petrick glenced et the perplexed look on her fece end questioned her coldly, ¡°Where is Melenie''s room?¡± Given how perticuler kids were, Melenie''s bed, including everything on it must be specificelly teilored for children. He couldn''t let Juliette sleep in the guestroom. Gwendolyn pushed open the door to one of the rooms. ¡°Here.¡± The room wes decoreted in e werm end edoreble style end hed e light milky fregrence. Young children would be eble to sleep peecefully in such e cozy environment. He cerefully pleced Juliette on the tiny pink bed end gingerly removed her shoes. Gwendolyn teered up while she took in the scene unfolding before her. Her children required peternel love. As such, she swore to retrieve the lost ring end find their biologicel fether. Petrick set on the side of the tiny bed end observed how cute his deughter looked while esleep. While the little girl resembled Gwendolyn mostly, she took efter his feciel expressions end mennerisms. I cen''t believe I didn''t notice how uncennily similer she is to me before this. The two boys, especielly, resemble me e lot. The corners of his lips lifted imperceptibly. Now thet I know they''re my children, I''ll surely bring them beck. When he got up end turned eround, he bumped into Gwendolyn, who then steggered end fell beckwerd. In response, he hooked his erm eround her weist, end their eyes met. I''m used to doing this. Is there something wrong with that? Upon reaching the second floor, Patrick nced at the perplexed look on her face and questioned her coldly, ¡°Where is Mnie''s room?¡± Given how particr kids were, Mnie''s bed, including everything on it must be specifically tailored for children. He couldn''t let Juliette sleep in the guestroom. Gwendolyn pushed open the door to one of the rooms. ¡°Here.¡± The room was decorated in a warm and adorable style and had a light milky fragrance. Young children would be able to sleep peacefully in such a cozy environment. He carefully ced Juliette on the tiny pink bed and gingerly removed her shoes. Gwendolyn teared up while she took in the scene unfolding before her. Her children required paternal love. As such, she swore to retrieve the lost ring and find their biological father. Patrick sat on the side of the tiny bed and observed how cute his daughter looked while asleep. While the little girl resembled Gwendolyn mostly, she took after his facial expressions and mannerisms. I can''t believe I didn''t notice how uncannily simr she is to me before this. The two boys, especially, resemble me a lot. The corners of his lips lifted imperceptibly. Now that I know they''re my children, I''ll surely bring them back. When he got up and turned around, he bumped into Gwendolyn, who then staggered and fell backward. In response, he hooked his arm around her waist, and their eyes met. They maintained the same posture for an extended moment before Patrick helped her regain bnce. ¡°Be careful, Ms. Ashton.¡± His voice was deep, and his gaze distant. ¡°I''m feeling a little dizzy, Mr. Lowen. Would you mind if I lean against you for support?¡± Gwendolyn swiftly wrapped her arms around his waist. She caught a whiff of his refreshing fragrance at such proximity, and she couldn''t help feeling drawn to him. Therefore, she was disappointed when he let go of her. Patrick saw through her pretense of feeling dizzy as she clung to his body and rested her head against his chest. His brows furrowed as he gazed down at Gwendolyn, whose eyes were shut. ¡°Ms. Ashton, you''re a married woman. Do you really think this is appropriate?¡± His lips curled to form a frosty smirk. He was trying to remind her of her marital status. Gwendolyn was taking in his scent, listening to his heartbeat, and relishing the sensation of being embraced in his arms. s, his words were like a cold shower, and she slowly opened her eyes. Despite that, Gwendolyn refused to let go of him and pursed her lips. She couldn''t care less about decorum and only wanted to hug him tight. ¡°I''m aware that I''m married, Mr. Lowen. But I genuinely felt dizzy and needed support. That''s why I asked for your help. I don''t have any ulterior motives, so please don''t overthink.¡± Chapter 714 Chapter 714 Chapter 714 Refuse To Let Him Go Despite what she said, she still clung to him firmly with no intention of letting him go. Taking note of this grim expression which clearly indicated his sour mood, she pouted. ¡°Forget it if you''re unwilling to help me out. I''ll just suffer a fall at most.¡± With that, she released him reluctantly and continued to feign dizziness. Patrick could discern from Gwendolyn''s rapid blinking that she was lying. He was familiar with her tendency to blink rapidly whenever she was being dishonest. A faint smile graced his features as he pulled her back into his embrace. ¡°Do you need me to call for a doctor?¡± Gwendolyn rejoiced internally while burying her head in his chest. She shook her head. ¡°It''s fine. I''ll feel better after some rest. It''s probably just hypoglycemia.¡± While none of what Gwendolyn said was true, they did sound convincing. Just like that, the two of them hugged each other. Patrick couldn''t bring himself to push away or ignore her. Everything he was angry about didn''t seem to matter anymore after he learned that all three of Gwendolyn''s children were his and found out about the details of how she raised them. Gwendolyn felt wonderfully safe andfortable while she drank in his scent with her face buried in his chest and her hands wrapped around his lean waist. She hadn''t been getting much proper sleep for the past few months and was surprised when she felt a wave of drowsiness ovee her while remaining in his embrace. The steady rhythm of her breathing could be heard shortly after. Patrick inclined his head, only to discover that she''d fallen asleep. He frowned. What am I to her? A sleeping pill? I can''t believe she''d fall asleep standing. Following that, Patrick scooped her up and gazed at her sleeping face, which wore a faint smile, when she suddenly mumbled, ¡°Pat, don''t let go of me!¡± Is she dreaming? Am I in her dream? His expression stiffened. The thought of that cheered him up considerably, and he strode out of the room with a twinkle in his eyes. At the entrance of Mnie''s bedroom stood two young boys and a girl. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°Is she asleep?¡± Justin queried when he saw the woman in Patrick''s arms. Why has Mommy fallen asleep when she''s supposed to be tucking Juliette in? ¡°Yes. She''s too tired, so I''ll carry her to the guest room. All of you shouldn''t disturb Juliette since she''s asleep. Run along now!¡± With that, Patrick stalked off and entered one of the rooms. Mnie pouted. ¡°How does he know which one is the guest room?¡± Patrick had never visited this ce once ever since Mnie moved in. As such, she''d never seen him before. Julian held Mnie''s tiny hand. ¡°He''s a good friend of Mr. Gomez and must have been here often in the past.¡± Mnie once told them that this house belonged to Lucas and that he was lending it out to them. Justin sensed that something was off as Gwendolyn would never fall asleep while tucking Juliette in. What''s going on today? He was about to head off in Patrick''s direction out of concern for Gwendolyn when Lucy emerged from the elevator precisely at that moment. ¡°I''ve some freshly squeezed juice for you kids. Go on downstairs to drink it.¡± As she spoke, she approached Justin and caressed his head. ¡°Come on!¡± Justin was curious to know what was going on with Gwendolyn and what methods Patrick used to pursue her. Unfortunately, he had no choice but to follow Lucy downstairs as she was nudging him on the back of his head. The living room was a hive of activity. Kevin and Estelle were present, and thetter was drinking a ss of juice on the couch. It tasted amazing since it was freshly squeezed. She gave Lucy a thumbs-up. ¡°Lucy, this juice taste''s phenomenal.¡± Kevin shot to his feet at the sight of Justin and Julian and beckoned them over. ¡°Come on over here, Justin, Julian.¡± Chapter 715 Chapter 715 Chapter 715 Carried Mommy To Bed Justin and Julian walked over to Kevin. ¡°Yes, Mr. Chavez?¡± the boys said, much in sync with each other. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Kevin stared at them for a while and nodded to himself. They are, indeed, simr. He smiled and asked, ¡°Where are Mr. Lowen and your Mommy?¡± Since Pat already knows the triplets are his flesh and blood, I wonder if he''s already thinking of making an advance on Gwendolyn. She''s married to someone else now, but that won''t stop Pat from thinking about her. If Pat didn''t suffer that gunshot injury, Gwendolyn wouldn''t have gotten married. What a pity. From Kevin''s perspective, Gwendolyn was the one at fault, but as a man, he knew Patrick would change his mind after learning of the children''s existence. Hence, he was curious as to what Patrick would do next. Would he forcefully make Gwendolyn his or use other tactics? While Justin kept quiet, Julian answered, ¡°Mr. Lowen carried Mommy to bed.¡± Children only spoke what they saw; they wouldn''t know adults would interpret it differently. The adults present were initially shocked by Julian''s words, but soon, their minds started conjuring up scenes of steamy and romantic adult interactions. Kevin grinned wickedly and said to Lucas, ¡°To think Pat is so aggressive. Doesn''t he mind that Gwen is a married woman?¡± Just then, the elevator door opened. Patrick strode out and said coldly, ¡°Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself.¡± Startled by Patrick''s sudden appearance, Kevinughed sheepishly and said, ¡°Nah, I wasn''t having any dirty thoughts. I know you have your principles.¡± Patrick walked to the couch and sat down gracefully with his legs crossed. Feeling a bit vexed, he took out a cigarette to smoke. F*ck those principles. I almost couldn''t hold it in. If not for that stupid principle, I''d be in Gwendolyn''s bed now instead of sitting here. He was about to light the cigarette but stopped when he saw three children present. His two sons weren''t a problem, but he chose to be cautious as Lucy''s child had not recovered from her illness. Meanwhile, Mnie was ying with Legos and became frustrated as she was not good at connecting the blocks. She called out, ¡°Justin,e and help me.¡± Justin and Julian went over together and patiently taught Mnie how to connect the blocks. When Kevin saw the boys ying with Mnie, a thought suddenly came to his mind. ¡°Pat, have you ever thought about what will happen if these two brothers fall for the same girl at the same time?¡± Kevin felt the possibility of the brothers falling for Mnie was high since they had known and yed with one another since they were young. Patrick shot him a sideways nce. ¡°That won''t happen.¡± Isn''t it too early to worry about this when they''re still so young? Even if that does happen, I hope the brothers will fight for themselves andpete fairly. Lucas poured Kevin a cup of coffee. ¡°Kev, try my new concoction.¡± Kevin came hoping to witness some drama. He wanted to see how the rtionship between Patrick and Gwendolyn would pan out. However, things appeared to stay the same, with no significant changes. The interaction between Patrick and his sons was minimal, and they still appeared distant. It looked like the children still did not know Patrick was their father. While his mind remained preupied with thoughts of Patrick and Gwendolyn, he took a sip of coffee. As he was so distracted, he didn''t taste anything special in the coffee. ¡°How is it?¡± Lucas asked with anticipation. ¡°What?¡± Patrick looked at Lucas puzzledly. He did not realize Lucas was expecting a taste review. Disappointment shed across Lucas'' face as he took away Patrick''s cup. ¡°Nothing,¡± he replied and discarded the coffee, disheartened. Kevin could not help but chuckle when he saw how defeated Lucas appeared. ¡°Luke, it doesn''t matter if we don''t know how to appreciate your coffee as long as Lucy does.¡± With that, he hugged Estelle and asked, ¡°Do you agree, Ms. Blenheim?¡± Estelle, who was eating dessert, red at him and pouted, saying, ¡°Don''t expect me to understand all those medical stuff of yours.¡± Right then, they heard the sound of cryinging from upstairs. Chapter 716 Chapter 716 Chapter 716 They Will Help Patrick and the boys hastily stood up and made their way up. Estelle was stunned by what she saw. ¡°Wow, Juliette''s so blessed to have two doting brothers! But what''s up with Mr. Lowen? Why is he rushing upstairs as well? He seems to care a lot about Juliette, too.¡± He pampers her even though she''s not his child. I''m so envious. Kevin smirked while hugging her. ¡°Daughters will forever be their father''s sweethearts. Aren''t you your father''s sweetheart too? How he dotes on you is exactly how Pat dotes on Juliette.¡± Estelle was the only daughter of the Blenheim family with three elder brothers. Hence, she was the apple of everyone''s eye. Estelle agreed with him. ¡°That''s true. But still, Mr. Lowen is a good man. He treats Juliette like his own child even though she isn''t. As expected, handsome guys are all gentlemen.¡± Kevin narrowed his eyes slightly. She has a sound analysis, but she''ll be disappointed once she knows the truth about her idol being Juliette''s biological father. However, I can''t divulge much since Pat hasn''t made it public yet. Meanwhile, in Mnie''s room upstairs, Gwendolyn wasforting Juliette, who was nestling in her mother''s arms and bawling her eyes out. ¡°Gwen, I had a nightmare. I dreamt that you, Justin, and Julian were gone.¡± As Juliette''s voice trailed off, she began bawling again. Amused, Gwendolyn patted the girl on the back,forting her. ¡°Don''t cry, Sweetheart. That''s only a dream; it''s not real. Julian, Justin, and I will never leave you.¡± The boys parroted Gwendolyn. ¡°That''s right. We''ll never leave you.¡± Patrick initially wanted to take the children back to make Gwendolyn panic. However, he dismissed the notion as he watched the scene unfold. He stood afar and did not approach them. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Juliette noticed him and reached out her hand at him. ¡°Mr. Lowen, hug me!¡± Unable to resist her request, Patrick strode toward her. Sure enough, the bond of blood ties can''t be severed. When Juliette first saw Patrick, shemented that he resembled her two brothers. He did not think much of it at that time, but now, realization dawned upon him. Blood rtives share a tacit sense of connection. Patrick took Juliette from Gwendolyn''s arms and cradled the little girl. Juliette wrapped her tiny arms around his neck. Feeling at ease, she giggled, her eyes narrowing into thin lines of pleasure. ¡°I feel like I''m not afraid of anything when Mr. Lowen hugs me.¡± Justin and Julian exchanged a knowing nce. While Juliette might not have been aware that Patrick was their father, there seemed to be an innate connection between her and him. Gwendolyn sighed to herself as she watched that scene. What a beautiful sight. But s, everything has been destroyed. It''s hopeless now. Gwendolyn helped Julietteb her hair after thetter calmed down. Patrick stood at a side, watching them before saying coldly, ¡°You all can go downstairs for dinner soon. I''ll make a move first.¡± Patrick felt that his current identity didn''t quite fit into their lives. Hence, he deliberately kept his distance. Gwendolyn felt slightly disappointed as she watched his retreating figure. ¡°Ouch...¡± Gwendolyn snapped out of her daze when she heard Juliette''s sudden groan. ¡°Sorry, I used too much force.¡± Julian pursed his lips while observing Gwendolyn with his brother. He then whispered to Justin, ¡°Justin, when do you think all five of us can reunite as a family?¡± Justin was not optimistic. He leaned closer to his brother and whispered back, ¡°We need to help them.¡± They were concerned that waiting for Patrick to take action would feel like an eternity. Patrick was too prideful; he would not admit to his true feelings and make the first move. The earlier scene said it all. It was clear he cared about Juliette, but he pretended otherwise. If the boys did not see through him, they would have thought he did not care. At the same time, their mother was upset when Patrick left, yet she remained silent and dared not fight for her happiness. It was understandable that the boys were worried. Thus, they decided to put their heads together and come up with ideas to bring Patrick and Gwendolyn together. Chapter 717 Chapter 717 Chapter 717 Watching Over Him From A Distance Patrick left Mnie''s room and stood outside the door. Seeing his family members in there but not being able to join them made him feel terrible. Kevin showed up at that moment, adjusting his sses as he spotted his friend leaning against the door. He sighed internally upon seeing Patrick''s dejected expression. It was rare for the man to look like that. Why doesn''t he ever share how he feels? I can never tell what he''s thinking. Kevin walked over and called out to him. ¡°Hey, Pat. Have you not told them yet?¡± He''s already gotten proof that the kids are his, and given how Gwen would never leave her children, she''d naturally divorce Zayden and be with Pat! Patrick immediately returned to his usual aloof demeanor. ¡°It''s still not time yet.¡± He then strode toward the stairs, leaving Kevin dumbfounded. Why hasn''t he told them anything? He nearly died trying to protect Gwendolyn and had a bullet stuck in his head, and now he''s still staying quiet about the kids! How long does he n on keeping all this to himself? Upon arriving downstairs with the three children, Gwendolyn saw Estelle and the others and said, ¡°Estelle! You look so pretty today!¡± Estelle looked adorable in a JK uniform, with her hair in two high pigtails. Many young girls dressed like this these days, and Gwendolyn was quite fond of that. Estelle got up and made her way over. ¡°You look amazing yourself, Gwen! It''s like you''re only eighteen!¡± As the two showered each other withpliments while heading into the kitchen, a scowl formed on Juliette''s face. ¡°Why didn''t Estelle call me pretty too?¡± Just then, Mnie ran to her and took her by the hand. ¡°Let''s go y with dolls, Juliette!¡± Justin and Julian sighed. Is it that important for girls topliment each other? In the kitchen, Lucy had an apron on and was preparing some fondue seasoning. She made the best spicy fondue in the world, and Gwendolyn loved watching her prepare it. The aroma enticed her as she watched the former fry some ingredients. ¡°It smells so good, Luce!¡± Estelle agreed. ¡°Right? I''m going to stuff myselfter.¡± Suddenly, Gwendolyn thought about Patrick. He can''t tolerate spice and has a weak stomach. He''s not supposed to have something so heavy either since he just had surgery. With that in mind, she opened the refrigerator and took out some vegetables. ¡°I''ll cook up something a little milder for the kids.¡± Lucy turned to her and smiled knowingly. ¡°Sure. The kids can''t take something too spicy, anyway.¡± Having grown up as a pampered princess in her family, Estelle knew nothing about cooking. ¡°Cooking is way too hard,¡± she remarked, standing nearby and watching the other twodies. Then, the thought of having to cook for her husband and children after getting married crossed her mind. She opened her eyes wide and watched intently, hoping to learn whatever she could from Gwendolyn and Lucy. The way to a man''s heart was through his stomach, and Kevin was a bit of adies'' man. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. He''s got so many women around him, even though I''m his girlfriend. What if he''s only into me for a while and eventually gets bored of me? The young woman felt dejected as she pictured that. ¡°Let me help you with that, Gwen!¡± She wanted to learn from them. After all, one of these women had nabbed the one and only Patrick Lowen, while the other had won over the third heir of the prominent Gomez family. Estelle believed that one day, she, too, could make Kevin hers. The dishes Gwendolyn cooked were all Patrick''s favorite, including pot roast, sauteed vegetables, and pork pies. Chapter 718 Chapter 718 Chapter 718 Confrontation When Lucy was done preparing the fondue ingredients, a housekeeper brought everything to the dining table and cooked them. The other dishes had also been served up. ncing at the food Gwendolyn had made, Lucy leaned over andmented, ¡°Those look really nutritious. Not bad! It looks like your cooking''s improved a lot.¡± Gwendolyn recalled how a certain woman was once Patrick''s chef. She had once tasted the woman''s cooking and thought that Patrick was amazing for being able to put up with it. Well, my cooking probably got better thanks to all his advice. She turned to Lucy and chuckled. ¡°Yeah, my cooking''s really gotten better. Give it a tryter.¡± Estelle took a te and gave Gwendolyn''s food a try. Then, she nodded at Lucy. ¡°It''s good, especially this pot roast. It''s so tender and vorful.¡± This was Patrick''s favorite dish, so Gwendolyn had specifically asked Camille to teach her how to cook it. She had also gotten her two boys to help improve the recipe. You can''t find any pot roast better than this. Her sons had given her the confidence to believe that. Estelle fed Lucy a mouthful. ¡°Try it. It''s so good! You have to teach me how to make this, Gwen!¡± Lucy''s eyes widened. ¡°D*mn! This is even better than Camille''s.¡± Then, she nudged Gwendolyn and teased, ¡°You actually learned how to cook this all because of a certain someone, huh? I''m going to tell him.¡± Thetter grabbed onto her immediately. ¡°Don''t, Luce! He''s already forgotten all about me, so just act as if none of this happened.¡± Being able to watch over him from a distance and make his favorite dishes was more than enough for her. When no one else was around, all she wanted was a hug like earlier today, and she would have no regrets. Lucy sighed. ¡°Okay, I won''t make things hard for you, Mrs. Surrington.¡± That title struck a nerve in Gwendolyn. Indeed, she was Mrs. Surrington. Moreover, Zayden had changed so much, going as far as to threaten her using her children that she dared not even bring up a divorce. She had to live every single day in fear, worried that he would hurt her precious babies. At dinner, Lucas particrly liked Lucy''s fondue and couldn''t stop eating it. Even Kevin enjoyed it and gave her a thumbs up. ¡°Well done, Lucy. You should start a fondue business.¡± The dish was especially tasty, and the spicinessplemented it well. While eating the fondue, Estelle gazed at the pot roast in front of Patrick. She couldn''t get over it and wanted more, but it was too far away from her. Kevin noticed her staring at it. ¡°Do you want some of this?¡± he asked, lifting the te and cing it in front of her. Gwendolyn gaped slightly. But I made that for Patrick... Lucy caught the look on Gwendolyn''s face and burst intoughter. ¡°That dish was specially made for a certain someone! Put it back, Mr. Chavez.¡± N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Estelle hurriedly grabbed a few pieces of meat before turning to Kevin. ¡°Gwen made this just for Mr. Lowen. Give it back!¡± she eximed in embarrassment. But still, it''s way too good! This is the best pot roast I''ve ever had! Patrick nced at the dish. He had tasted it just a while ago, and it was indeed delicious. So, she made it just for me? ¡°Not bad, Ms. Ashton,¡± he uttered with a slight curl of his lips. Gwendolyn was initially mad at Lucy and even kicked her underneath the table, but hearing the man compliment her so straightforwardly made her grin. ¡°Help yourself to more, Mr. Lowen.¡± At that very moment, her phone rang. It was a call from Zayden. Not wanting to answer it, she muted her phone. Yet, after the call hung up on its own, the man called her again¡ªas though he would keep doing so until she picked up. With that, Gwendolyn could only answer the phone. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Where did Suzanne go? Did you chase her out?¡± Chapter 719 Chapter 719 Chapter 719 He Has Come Gwendolyn did not quite understand what he meant. ¡°Isn''t Suzanne at home? She isn''t with me, and I won''t chase her away, either.¡± She was still hoping that Suzanne would win Zayden over so that he would willingly give up on her. ¡°Drop the act, Gwendolyn. You drove Suzanne away when you found out that she slept with me.¡± Zayden was currently inside Suzanne''s room, and he found out that Suzanne had taken her favorite things with her when she left. As he clenched his fists, he asked, ¡°Where are you? Get back here right now.¡± Gwendolyn took a deep breath. What a fickle-minded man. He was so gentle yesterday but so gloomy today. His mood changes quicker than a man can blink. Checking the time, Gwendolyn then asked the children, ¡°Are you done with your food? It''s time for us to go back.¡± Juliette was eating a drumstick, and Patrick had a drumstick on his te as well. Gwendolyn had given the children one drumstick each, and she also made sure that Patrick had one as well. ¡°Eat up, Mr. Lowen! The drumstick tastes wonderful!¡± The young girl was not listening to her mother at all. The two boys were already done with their meal. Putting down their utensils, they turned to look at their sister and found her still digging into her food happily. Mnie pouted. ¡°Ms. Gwen, please let us y together for a little longer! I would like to have a sleepover with Juliette tonight.¡± She was reluctant to part with her friend, and Lucy thought that was a good idea, too. ¡°Gwen, why don''t you head back first? Leave the kids to me,¡± Patrick said. ¡°Finish your food first. We''ll leave after that,¡± came Gwendolyn''s response. Kevin agreed with the others, however. ¡°Gwen, you only had a few bites of your food. Why are you in such a rush to head back? Is Zayden going to be mad at you?¡± He had heard about how Zayden remained by Gwendolyn''s side for six years, so he assumed that Zayden would be nice to her. Gwendolyn''s expression changed. She could tell that Zayden was upset when she was on the call with him earlier. If she did not return, he would definitely fly into a rage. Raking her gaze across the children, she thought about how the man might take action against them. Biting the bullet, she said, ¡°Lucy, I''ll be leaving them three here tonight. I have to leave now.¡± With that said, she stood up and hurried away. Estelle called out to her, ¡°Slow down, Gwen!¡± Lucy got up and rushed out after her. ¡°Gwen, finish your food before leaving!¡± In no time, Lucy led Gwendolyn back into the dining room and pressed her back down on her seat by the table. ¡°What''s the rush? Finish your food before making your way back,¡± she said with pity written all over her face. Lucy felt terrible for Gwendolyn. The former knew Zayden well and was aware that the man would not make things difficult for her. Gwendolyn pursed her lips momentarily before picking up her fork. ¡°Gwen, have some beef. It''s cooked just right,¡± said Estelle as she ced some food on Gwendolyn''s te. In the blink of an eye, her te was filled with food. At that, she shed a smile at everyone around the table before digging in. Yet, everyone could tell that she was distracted. Initially, Patrick, felt content tasting the food she made for him, thinking he had a special ce in her heart. However, he didn''t enjoy the food as much as he did moments ago when he saw her heavyhearted demeanor. Putting down his fork, he then slowly sipped some water from the ss as he observed her. Even Justin and Julian noticed something amiss about their mother by then. They guessed that Zayden was the one who called her. Julian ced more food on his mother''s te and said, ¡°Mommy, eat more.¡± Touched by the way her son showed her concern, she bobbed her head.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. No matter what happens, I will protect my children. As she ate, she kept her head lowered to text Kevin. Gwendolyn: How did the training go? I need them to be on duty by tonight. Gwendolyn needed arge number of bodyguards to protect the children immediately, so she couldn''t wait any longer. Kev: Sure. I''ll make arrangements to send them over tonight. At that, Gwendolyn sighed in relief. She was far more at ease knowing that the bodyguards Kevin trained were by her children''s side. Right then, Zayden called again. Gwendolyn picked up the call. ¡°Hello?¡± Thinking that he was calling to urge her toe home, she parted her lips to tell him that she was on the way. To her surprise, he said coldly, ¡°Come out.¡± Chapter 720 Chapter 720 Chapter 720 They Officially Meet Gwendolyn''s eardrum ached from the man''s frosty voice. Pursing her lips, she put down her fork. ¡°I''m full, so I''ll be leaving now. Luce, I''ll leave the kids to you tonight.¡± When Lucy stood up, Gwendolyn hastily added, ¡°You don''t need to see me out. You have many guests to take care of.¡± Then, she shed the others a smile and said, ¡°Goodbye, everyone!¡± She was no longer as urgent as she was previously, fearing that others would see through her facade of calmness and that Lucy would follow her out. Zayden was probably in a bad mood. Gwendolyn neither wanted Lucy to worry nor Patrick and the others to witness what woulde next. She had to face the consequences of her choices, no matter how difficult they might be. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. When Gwendolyn began walking out of the dining room, Patrick stood up. Lucas called out to him, ¡°Pat, where are you going?¡± Kevin was biting on his fork in anticipation, seemingly eager for a good show. ¡°He''s probably going to see Gwen out,¡± Estelle said. Kevin smirked. ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Isn''t Pat pretending not to know who Gwen is? He surely won''t express his feelings so obviously. Looks like it''s time for me to get the popcorn. Estelle scoffed. ¡°Of course it is. He''s such a gentleman. I''m sure he''s going to see Gwen out.¡± As soon as Gwendolyn stepped out of the house, Patrick went out after her. He had a cigarette between his fingers as if to say that he was out for a smoking session instead of finding out what was going on with Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn''s eardrum ached from the man''s frosty voice. Pursing her lips, she put down her fork. ¡°I''m full, so I''ll be leaving now. Luce, I''ll leave the kids to you tonight.¡± Zayden''s car was parked in the yard, and the man himself was leaning against his car. When he saw Gwendolyn exiting the house, he strode toward her and grabbed her wrist. His gaze was dark, and mes of anger were burning in them. ¡°Why are you here? Come back with me now.¡± With that, he began towing Gwendolyn toward the car. Gwendolyn struggled and cried out, ¡°Let go of me. I can walk on my own!¡± Then, Zayden opened the door and shoved her inside before mming the door shut in a fit of anger. Just as he was walking toward the driver''s seat, he spotted Patrick. Clenching his fists, his face clouded over. Having seen how roughly Zayden had treated Gwendolyn, Patrick narrowed his eyes and took a long drag of his cigarette. Zayden stormed over to Patrick. Gwendolyn''s heart lurched when she saw that, and she quickly opened the door to get out of the car. ¡°Zayden!¡± she shouted. ¡°Aren''t we going home now? Let''s go.¡± Zayden continued marching toward Patrick with his fists tightly clenched. He looked as though he was going to beat the other man up. Zayden of the past would never do something like that, but at present, he had changed. Ignoring Gwendolyn, he grabbed Patrick''s tie with both of his hands. ¡°Patrick Lowen. Gwendolyn Ashton is my wife. You''ll never ever get her in this lifetime, so stay away from her!¡± His eyes were wide, and his pupils seemed darker than usual. Resentment poured out of his eyes as he stared at Patrick. Gwendolyn hurried over to grab Zayden''s hands. ¡°Let go, Zayden. H-He doesn''t remember me anymore.¡± When she said that, the disappointment in her expression and the tears in her eyes were evident. Zayden turned around. ¡°He doesn''t remember you?¡± ¡°Yes! He had brain surgery three months ago, and he lost his memories. He doesn''t remember me anymore!¡± she roared, loud, as if she was afraid that Zayden would not believe her. Zayden turned back to Patrick and began chuckling. ¡°Serves him right...¡± He then let go of the other man to wrap his arm around Gwendolyn before leading her back to the car. Exhaling a ring of smoke, Patrick asked, ¡°Ms. Ashton, do you need me to call the cops for you?¡± Gwendolyn whipped her head around with panic written across her face. ¡°No need. I''m fine.¡± Zayden grabbed her head and forcefully turned it around. ¡°You''re not allowed to talk to him. If you do, be ready to bear the consequences of doing so.¡± Chapter 721 Chapter 721 Chapter 721 She Is Responsible For His Behavior Change Gwendolyn did not dare to turn her head to look at Patrick. Thankfully, he did not remember her anymore. She pondered what thoughts might have crossed the mind of the previous Patrick if he had witnessed how Zayden had behaved toward her. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. It''s good that he doesn''t remember me. He won''t meddle in my affairs anymore. Zayden got into the car and left. Patrick tossed the cigarette bud onto the ground, his high-quality leather shoes pressing down on it firmly. His gaze trailed the car until it vanished at the entrance, and the iron gate closed slowly. He took out his phone and dialed a number. ¡°Follow Zayden''s car and see where they''re heading.¡± ¡°All right, Mr. Lowen,¡± his subordinate replied. A faint light of realization flickered in Patrick''s eyes after he ended the call. It appears that Zayden isn''t treating her kindly. Lucy, who overheard themotion, came out and inquired, ¡°What happened?¡± Patrick nced at her before asking nonchntly, ¡°Is Ms. Ashton a victim of domestic abuse?¡± Lucy nced at the courtyard but did not see Gwendolyn or anyone else. ¡°Definitely not.¡± Lucy was well aware of the kind of person Zayden was. He embodied the qualities of a true gentleman, someone who cherished and cared for Gwendolyn profoundly. There''s no way he''ll abuse her. It''s just a shame that Gwen doesn''t seem interested in him. ¡°I''m d to hear that.¡± After he spoke, he turned and walked back into the house. Somehow, Lucy sensed that Patrick was not in a good mood. Why does he look so moody? Hadn''t he forgotten Gwen? I guess there are still lingering feelings deep down. Meanwhile, Zayden elerated on the road, causing Gwendolyn to feel uneasy. She promptly secured her seatbelt and spoke up. ¡°Could you please slow down?¡± She could not afford to get into an ident, as her three children still needed her. I don''t want to die, either. ¡°What''s the matter? Scared of dying?¡± Zayden''s lips curved into a baffling grin, a touch of malice gleaming in his eyes. ¡°Gwendolyn, you''re mine now. If we''re going to die, we die together.¡± As he finished speaking, he suddenly let out a cold, chilling smirk, his voice deep and indifferent, creating an eerie atmosphere inside the car. Gwendolyn leaned back in her seat, avoiding looking outside. The car was weaving through traffic, and it felt dangerously fast. She was scared, but she did not want him to notice her fear. He continued driving,ughing with an unsettling expression on his face. It was not until the car came to a halt that Gwendolyn''s pounding heart began to ease. She exhaled deeply, releasing the tension that had gripped her. As Zayden turned to her with an icy smile, Gwendolyn regained herposure, grateful that they were now safe. Meeting his frigid gaze, she came to realize that she had very little understanding of this aspect of Zayden''s character. ¡°Get out of the car,¡± hemanded in a cold tone, then swung the door open and stepped out with an air of arrogance. Gwendolyn peered out of the window and recognized that they had arrived at the Surrington residence. Following their marriage, Zayden seldom visited this location with her. He had previously expressed his wish to spare her from any ufortable situations, hence avoiding bringing her to the family residence. Gwendolyn foundfort in this arrangement. After opening the door, she got out of the vehicle. She noticed Angeline and the housekeeper walking over from a distance to wee her. Angeline was wearing an elegant aqua-green gown, radiating grace and sophistication. Standing before Zayden, Angeline greeted him with a grin. ¡°Zay, you''re back.¡± Zayden brushed aside her hand when she reached for his face. ¡°Don''t touch me.¡± With those words, he headed toward the house, leaving Angeline visibly surprised, her mouth partially agape, as she watched him stride away. Noticing the disappointment on Angeline''s face, Gwendolyn walked over to her, calling out, ¡°Mom.¡± Angeline snapped back to reality at that moment, her expression turning cold. ¡°Did you upset Zayden again? Ever since you married him, I haven''t seen him smile. I thought he genuinely liked you before, which is why I allowed you into our family. Even though his eyes have recovered now, my son has changed. He''s be distant with me, and it''s all your fault, Gwendolyn.¡± Gwendolyn pressed her lips together, silently sighing. ¡°I''m sorry!¡± Chapter 722 Chapter 722 Chapter 722 Threatened Her Observing Gwendolyn''s response, Angeline also let out a sigh and gestured toward her. ¡°Gwendolyn, what''s with your attitude? Zay is such a great husband, yet you don''t cherish him.¡± With that, she turned and headed inside, and Gwendolyn followed her into the house. In the living room, Greta and Hans sat on either side of Zayden. Greta held his hand. ¡°Zayden, why don''t you move back here? I don''t get to see you often since you''re always away.¡± Hans maintained a stern expression, seemingly uninterested in his grandson. However, he asionally stole nces at Zayden, perhaps hoping he would take the initiative to get closer. He outright refused to approach Zayden with such warmth. Zayden responded with a slight curl of his lips before pulling his hand away. ¡°I''vee today to inform you all that I''m changing my name. Zayden doesn''t resonate with me, so I''ll be adopting the name Spencer,¡± he dered. Upon hearing this, Hans abruptly turned his head, ring at him with anger in his eyes. ¡°You want to change your name? No way! You''re stuck with the name Zayden for the rest of your life.¡± Picking a name in the Surrington family was a big deal. They even consulted a priest to select the perfect name for Zayden. That name was his ticket to excelling in academics and character. The only thing that they were dissatisfied with was his marriage. Spotting Gwendolyn from a near distance, Hans let out a cold snort. It''s all her fault. I wonder what kind of magic she used to make him so infatuated with her. And she managed to trick us into letting Zayden marry her, even with her three kids. Seeing Zayden''s unprecedented rebelliousness, they were bewildered, so they conveniently ced the me squarely on Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn greeted everyone in the house as she entered the living hall. Zayden sprawledfortably on the sofa, his eyes fixed on Gwendolyn with a self-satisfied smirk. Oddly, he seemed to derive pleasure from witnessing Gwendolyn''s distress, a satisfaction that stemmed from her helplessness. ¡°No. I''m here today to inform you that I''ve already changed my name,¡± he announced in an offhand manner. Zayden casually flung his household registry document onto the table, and Greta hastily picked it up to take a nce. Greta sighed and said, ¡°Hans, if Zayden has made up his mind to change his name, we should ept it. What matters most is his happiness.¡± Given the absence of a smile on Zayden''s face over the past few months, their paramount concern was his well-being. The alteration of his name, seemingly substantial, paled inparison to his genuine happiness. Infuriated, Hans abruptly rose from his seat, wielding his cane toward Zayden. Yet, Zayden remained utterly unmoved, letting the cane strikesnd on him. Feeling sympathy for her grandson, Greta stepped in, gripping Hans'' arm to halt any further strikes. ¡°Stop hitting him. He''s already feeling miserable. He hasn''t smiled since she got married. If you keep walloping him like this, it''s just going to make things worse.¡± Even Angeline could not stand it any longer. In an indifferent voice, she asked Gwendolyn, ¡°Gwendolyn, what exactly happened? Why does Zay want to change his name?¡± Gwendolyn was initially perplexed, not knowing what Zayden was up to tonight. With the Surringtons seemingly pointing fingers at her, she could only let out a small sigh, feeling a tad helpless. ¡°I don''t know. You should ask him.¡± ¡°You don''t know? You''re his wife¡ªthe person closest to him. If you don''t have a clue, then who should?¡± Angeline scolded, clearly frustrated, as she grabbed Gwendolyn''s arm. ¡°Gwendolyn, we entrusted Zayden to you. How have you been taking care of him? Look at how much weight he''s lost. He''s not as cheerful as before¡ªhe doesn''t smile anymore,¡± Greta chimed in. ¡°We can''t ept your three children. Let their father take them away. Hurry up and have your own child with Zay.¡± Zayden looked at her with a cold smirk, appearing quite satisfied with the turn of events. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Gwendolyn finally grasped the situation. Zayden was pressuring her and using this method to seek revenge against her. As long as Suzanne had not returned, Gwendolyn would be forced toe to the Surrington residence, face their scolding, and have no opportunity to defend herself. Just then, Gwendolyn''s phone vibrated. She took out her phone and nced at the message from Kane: Ms. Ashton, everything is in ce now, and they''ll protect the children, so don''t worry! Chapter 723 Chapter 723 Chapter 723 Let Me Take Your ce Gwendolyn seemed calmer after she saw the text. ¡°Old Mrs. Surrington, I can''t do that. I can''t separate from my three children,¡± Gwendolyn said. Greta''s expression became solemn. ¡°Why do you make yourself sound so righteous? You don''t even know who your children''s father is, do you?¡± Diana had told Greta about it prior to that, and the former had also exaggerated the story. Gwendolyn''s expression changed slightly when she heard that. Well, I really don''t know who my kids'' father is. However, I''ve already found the ring. As soon as I retrieve the ring, I can find my kids'' father. Before this, I thought it didn''t matter who their father was. I thought all that mattered was my unconditional love for them. Now, however, I know I can''t act so selfishly. The kids want to know who their father is, and they deserve that much. I can''t take that away from them. Zayden heard those words and shed a faint smile. ¡°Grandma, you''re being rather straightforward, aren''t you? She''s a part of the Surrington family now, so you ought to be nice to her.¡± Greta frowned slightly and replied, ¡°Zay, I can be nice to her. Perhaps you guys should move back in. I''ll help you educate your wife and put her in her ce.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Zayden raised his brows. Gwendolyn, on the other hand, felt her heart tightened. Move back in? What is he doing? ¡°That''s right. You guys should move back in. That way, I''ll be able to see you every day,¡± Angeline chimed in. With that, Angeline shot Gwendolyn a nce. Once you return to the Surrington residence, you won''t get to bully Zay anymore. Zayden kept mum after that, and so did Gwendolyn. A whileter, Zayden rose to his feet and said, ¡°We''ll go home and pack now. We''ll move in tomorrow.¡± With that, he approached Gwendolyn, grabbed her hand, and led her out of the Surrington residence. Greta and Angeline were reluctant to watch Zayden leave. ¡°You''ve only arrived not long ago. Are you leaving already?¡± The couple walked out of the house. Zayden held Gwendolyn''s wrist tightly and said, ¡°Not too shabby. You were smart enough not to mention the divorce.¡± He grinned after he finished his sentence, and the look in his eyes was scary and icy. ¡°I really didn''t chase Suzanne away. Could you please not move into the Surrington residence?¡± Gwendolyn bit her lip. If he moves in there, I won''t be able to stay with my kids. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Zayden shoved her into the car and said, ¡°This is your punishment for meeting Patrick. Don''t worry, though. Your kids will move in with you. I won''t separate them from you.¡± ¡°No. They can''t stay here.¡± Gwendolyn widened her eyes. The Surrington family is hostile toward me, and they dislike my children. They''ll treat my children badly! I mustn''t let my children move into the Surrington residence! Zayden mmed the door shut and refused to hear her out. Gwendolyn panicked and whipped out her phone to call Suzanne. Suzanne''s return will change everything! Why did she suddenly leave, though? I don''t get it! I was hoping she could help me get out of this sticky situation and date Zayden! When Zayden was walking toward the driver''s seat, Greta and Angeline called out to him. ¡°Zay!¡± Greta grabbed his arm and said, ¡°Zay, we have everything you need here. Why don''t you stay the night?¡± ¡°That''s right. You have been away for too long. I don''t want to watch you leave again,¡± Angeline chimed in. A dark look shed past Zayden''s eyes. These women are so annoying! With that in mind, he shook Greta off and demanded, ¡°Call me Spencer from now on.¡± As he made his way to the driver''s seat, he grumbled inwardly. That guy, Zayden, is he always surrounded by these women? No wonder he''s such a loser! He can''t even handle the woman he loves! Don''t evere back. I''ll take your ce and enjoy life to the fullest. With that in mind, he shed an insidious smile. ¡°I''ll avenge you, though. Consider it a favor.¡± Chapter 724 Chapter 724 Chapter 724 Look Down On Gwendolyn ¡°Zay has changed! He''s no longer nice to me.¡± Greta heaved a sigh as she watched Zayden drive off. After that, she cast Angeline a disappointed look andined, ¡°This is all your fault. Why did you let him marry that woman? Although he was blind, he didn''t deserve that evil woman.¡± Greta still remembered Diana telling her that Gwendolyn had fooled around with an old man when she was still a teenager. After Gwendolyn got pregnant, she was kicked out of the Ashton family. Hence, she doesn''t even know who her kids'' father is. Gwendolyn doesn''t dare to tell her children the truth. An adulteress like her isn''t worthy of Zay! Zay is capable, smart, and a genius in the business world. He was blind, but he shouldn''t have looked for a woman like Gwendolyn. Needless to say, Greta wasn''t pleased. Angeline also heaved a sigh when she heard that. I lied to everyone at home, helped Zay marry Gwendolyn, and gave away a huge betrothal gift, but that was the only way I could get Zay to receive treatment and recover. No one knows why I made those decisions. Now, I have to endure these criticisms and keep my grievances to myself. Gwendolyn kept calling Suzanne in the car, but she couldn''t get through to Suzanne because Suzanne had switched off her phone. In the end, Gwendolyn gave up and let out a sigh. Where did Suzanne go? Right then, Zayden turned toward her and asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Zayden, I know you like Suzanne. We can get a¡ª¡± Before she could mention getting a divorce, Zayden interrupted her by warning, ¡°You ought to keep that word to yourself. Otherwise, you''ll receive worse punishments.¡± Zayden sounded frightening when he warned her. Gwendolyn was afraid, so she could only stare at Zayden, who she thought was a stranger. ¡°Also, call me Spencer from now on.¡± With that, he turned to look ahead and drove even faster. Gwendolyn noticed he was bing even more insane. What is he going to do next? Upon arriving at the mansion, Gwendolyn got out of the car, hoping that Suzanne was inside. Perhaps Suzanne could stop Zayden from going mad! I don''t mind moving into the Surrington residence, but I can''t let my three children do that! With that in mind, she walked quickly toward the mansion. Spencer exited the car and looked coldly in the mansion''s direction. ¡°Gwendolyn, you betrayed Zayden first. He loved you deeply, but you fell in love with Patrick instead. You''re reaping what you sow. I''ll torture you bit by bit.¡± Spencerughed like a maniac and marched into the building. Meanwhile, a ck car came to a halt outside the mansion. John was in the car when he nced in the mansion''s direction and said on the phone, ¡°Mr. Lowen, Zayden brought Ms. Ashton to the Surrington residence. When they came out, Ms. Ashton looked distraught and kept looking out the window anxiously. Now, they''re back at Zayden''s mansion.¡± N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. At that moment, Patrick was sitting near Lucas'' garden as he watched those three kids mess about with Mnie. Juliette was incredibly adorable. She would smile sweetly at him and show her affection for him asionally. Obviously, his mood was lifted when he saw how cute Juliette was. As it turned out, Patrick was a doting father. Meanwhile, Julian and Justin were busy ying fetch with the dog. When the dog came back with the stick, Mnie would p and cheer. Patrick narrowed his eyes and ordered coldly, ¡°Hack into the surveince cameras in Zayden''s mansion. I want to see what she does inside the mansion.¡± John froze momentarily when he heard that. ¡°Got it, Mr. Lowen,¡± he responded. John and the others still harbored grudges against Gwendolyn. Thest time around, she almost caused Mr. Lowen''s death. Yet, we have no choice but to do as Mr. Lowen says. A whileter, John couldn''t help but say, ¡°She''s married, Mr. Lowen. Why don''t you forget about her?¡± John thought Gwendolyn wasn''t worthy of Patrick because she didn''t appreciate Patrick. Chapter 725 Chapter 725 Chapter 725 Spoils His Daughter ¡°Are you telling me what to do?¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. His low voice sounded hoarse. ¡°I dare not,¡± John answered hastily. After hanging up, he got up, strode toward Juliette, and grazed her cheek with his finger. ¡°Would you like toe to my house tonight, Sweetheart?¡± As the elderly couple were fond of children, he thought it would be a good idea to bring her over to get acquainted. Though they had met before and had gotten along well, he felt that the two of them might see it if they were to get along more often now that they knew she was his child. Juliette blinked. ¡°Oh, can I? I miss Old Mrs. Pretty.¡± She and Alice were very close. asionally, they even spoke on the phone. ¡°Of course. You''re free toe any time. It''s your home, you know. You can always visit whenever you want to.¡± ¡°Wonderful! Your house looks like a pce, Mr. Lowen. I like it very much.¡± Patrick scooped her up with one arm. Raising his left hand, he nced at his luxury wristwatch and found it was already eight o''clock. ¡°Carry on, you two. I''m leaving,¡± he said to the pairboring in the garden. Kevin was fond of gardening. He enjoyed growing green, leafy organic products and would assist Lucas in the garden after dinner. He also taught Lucas how to care for the crops by having him save his urine to water them with, which would make them delicious. Kevin straightened up and regarded him, smiling at the sight of him holding his daughter in one hand. ¡°You''re looking more and more like a father, Pat.¡± ¡°Of course. I''m a father of three, after all,¡± Patrick said coldly. ¡°You wouldn''t understand.¡± Lucas burst intoughter. Kevin scowled again. D*mn it, I have a girlfriend, too, all right? If we want to, we can even conceive a child tonight. After that jab, Patrick called out, ¡°Justin! Julian! Time to go home!¡± The two boys petted the dog before handing Mnie the frisbee. ¡°We''re leaving, Mnie,¡± Julian said. ¡°We''lle back for you in a few days.¡± Mnie was reluctant. She took the frisbee. ¡°Didn''t Mommy mention that you''re spending the night at my house?¡± She was excited at the prospect of being Juliette''s roommate. Justin caressed her head. ¡°We have some matters to attend to. Be good, now.¡± Mnie became meek when he stroked her hair. She smiled. ¡°All right. Come back and y with me often, then.¡± I''m so bored being at home alone. What''s more, it''s currently the holidays. Justin and Julian headed toward Patrick''s car. Julian looked puzzled. ¡°Why are we going to his house?¡± Justin raised his eyebrows. ¡°Even Juliette is going. Won''t you? Don''t forget, it''s also our house. Great- grandpa and Great-grandma need somepany.¡± Justin was well aware of that fact. To help their mother, they had to first deal with Hector, or it would be difficult for her to be with Patrick. Julian did not say another word. Instead, he got into the car, with Justin following closely behind. Having intended for them to go, Patrick had had the driver waiting in a minivan. Thus, there was no need for the three children to sit separately. Juliette looked like a curious child in the car. She opened the fridge. Gazing the wine and an assortment of beverages contained within, she asked, ¡°Is there any ice cream?¡± As she looked so adorable that Patrick could not turn her down, he said, ¡°Check the section below.¡± Juliette pulled it open and saw a chocte cake the size of her face¡ªher favorite vor. She was struck dumb with wonder. ¡°How do you know I like this vor?¡± Patrick smiled warmly. ¡°I know about everything you like, Sweetheart. Just say the word, and you shall have it.¡± ¡°Can I have a castle, too?¡± Juliette giggled after making that request. Chapter 726 Chapter 726 Chapter 726 Building Rapport ¡°Of course. You shall have whatever you want.¡± Juliette''s eyes widened. ¡°Really? I want a real castle. I want to be a princess waiting for my prince.¡± As most little girls were, fairy tales were all she dreamed about. Her favorite subjects, in particr, were Barbie dolls and castles. ¡°Sure.¡± Throughout the journey, Juliette chatted with Patrick while enjoying her ice cream. She was in a gregarious mood. She looked so adorable that Patrick sat her on hisp and savored the time he was spending with his daughter. Justin and Julian, however, were not interested in such childish things. ¡°Why do you think Mommy doesn''t want to take us home today?¡± Julian whispered. Justin wondered why his brother was so nosy. How would I know? ¡°When we get to the Lowen residence, Julian, we need to make Great-grandpa like Juliette, do you understand?¡± Justin''s n was to handle Hector. As long as he likes Juliette, he will like Mommy. That way, there would be no more obstacles. ¡°Mmm!¡± Over an hourter, the car ground to a halt in the parking lot of the Lowen residence. Though Patrick was currently living in the old house, he returned to visit every day. Despite that, Alice woulde out every time to receive him personally. The group of servants nking her bowed respectfully when they saw Patrick. ¡°Mr. Lowen!¡± Patrick had a little girl on his arm. She wore a pretty skirt, and her eyes were sparkling. At first nce, it was easy to mistake her for a doll. Alice had excellent eyesight; she saw Justin and Julian at once. I haven''t seen them in just a little while, and they seem to have grown taller again. Also, how handsome they have be! ¡°Justin! Julian!¡± she called happily. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Noticing that she was left out, Juliette raised her voice. ¡°Don''t forget me, Old Mrs. Pretty. I''m here to see you, too.¡± She swept her gaze behind Alice and was rather forlorn when she did not see Hector. I miss Old Mr. Handsome, too. I wonder why? I always think about seeing them. Alice beamed at the tiny figure in Patrick''s arms. ¡°I see you, Juliette. You''re here too! Wee.¡± Patrick ced her on the ground reluctantly. Now''s not the time for me to spend quality time with her. It''s theirs. After entering the house, Hector sat beside Felicia. She was visibly stunned when she saw the neers. In spite of that, she rose to her feet and steeled herself. ¡°You''re back, Patrick?¡± Then, she turned, puzzled, to the three children. ¡°Are Gwen and Zayden here too?¡± She deliberately mentioned Zayden to Patrick in order to remind him that Gwendolyn was a married woman. Patrick nced at her impassively. ¡°Look at the time, Ms. Felicia. What are you still doing here? I thought the Ashton family was stricter than that!¡± Sensing that he was kicking her out, Felicia stood up. ¡°It''ste, Old Mr. Lowen. I should be getting back.¡± Hector did not ask her to stay. He was embarrassed at the thought of his fiasco that night. That was why he still bore a trace of resentment toward Felicia. Though she was trying to bear an heir for the Lowen family, he was displeased at having drugs administered to him. Felicia thought Hector would persuade her to stay, and she was disappointed. Thus, she left reluctantly. As soon as she emerged from the Lowen residence, she lost her temper before even getting into the car. She whipped out her phone and dialed Zayden''s number. As he was her brother-inw, it was natural for her to have his contact details. However, he did not pick up. Getting into the car, she sped out of the Lowen residence. Only then did Zayden answer the call. His voice was a little cold. ¡°Ms. Felicia.¡± ¡°Do you know where Gwen is right now, Zayden?¡± As soon as Zayden arrived at Gwendolyn''s room, he nced at the woman, who was engrossed in a book. She was wearing white home clothes, and her hair was not yet dry. She did not like to use hairdryers, so she sat by the window to read while the breeze dried her hair. Chapter 727 Chapter 727 Chapter 727 Pay Back ¡°Speak your mind.¡± Zayden was growing impatient. What exactly does this woman have to say? ¡°She brought the three kids to Patrick''s ce.¡± Even though she did not see Gwendolyn, she reckoned thetter would be present since the triplets were there. That''s bold of her, huh? She''s married and yet goes to her ex-boyfriend''s house so tantly. I won''t be called Felicia if I don''t expose her. A dark look shed past Zayden''s eyes after he heard that. What followed was a peal of icyughter. ¡°Ms. Felicia, aren''t you afraid that telling me this will cause an argument between your sister and me?¡± Felicia paused momentarily. Obviously, she did not want Gwendolyn and Zayden to get into a conflict. She wanted them to love each other. That way, Gwendolyn would not snatch Patrick from her. But it''s Gwen who seduced Patrick first tonight. She dared to touch my man, so I must make life difficult for her! ¡°Zayden, I''m doing this all for your own good. I hope you can watch your wife and not let her flirt with others.¡± Zayden let out a cold snort. ¡°That''s enough. Stop trying to sow discord. It''s not going to work on me.¡± After saying that, he hung up the phone. Gwendolyn had, in fact, overheard their conversation too. She closed her book and asked, ¡°From Felicia?¡± Zayden nodded and tossed his phone on the bed. Then, he paced toward Gwendolyn. Seeing him making his way over, she instinctively stepped back. Suddenly, he pulled out a whip from his waist. Gwendolyn''s eyes lit up. ¡°Zayden...¡± She shifted her gaze to that whip instinctively. To her, that was not something unfamiliar. Zayden sneered coldly, ¡°Call me Spencer. I''m not Zayden, that coward.¡± As his words fell, heshed the whip out toward Gwendolyn. She grabbed the whip with one hand and looked into the man''s eyes. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Zayden, I won''t let you hit me as you wish anymore.¡± Her voice was icy and took on a heavy nasal sound as she spoke through her clenched teeth. Zayden startedughing boisterously. ¡°Gwendolyn, don''t forget who''s saved you. And don''t forget whose credit it is that your three kids get to live till today. If you dare to resist, I''ll end the triplets'' lives because I''m the one who gave them the opportunity to live.¡± At that, Gwendolyn abruptly let go of the whip. Hatred and resentment dominated her eyes. ¡°Get up. Stop dodging. This is to let you know your ce. You''re not allowed to meet Patrick ever again, understand?¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips. Don''t meet him? I''m afraid that''s impossible. Besides, I''ll be heading to Lowen Group for bidding tomorrow. She rose to her feet and turned her back to him. With the whip in his hand, Spencer thrashed her again and again. The more he hit her, the more thrilled he became. ¡°Gwendolyn, it''s actually way more exciting to hit you than to bed you. Since you''d rather get beaten up than have sex with me, this is what you''ll get.¡± With bloodshot eyes, he forcefully swung the whip out. The sight of Gwendolyn''s body trembling as the whip hit her left him feeling increasingly excited and exhrated. Gwendolyn bit her lips tightly and did not make a sound. He was, after all, their savior. Since he was adamant about making her pay, she reckoned it was only adequate for her to pay back. Spencer called it quits after tenshes. Seeing Gwendolyn slump on the bed, he broke into a maniacal laughter. ¡°Hahaha... Six years... That''s three hundred and sixty-five whips multiplied by six. Count yourself and tell me how many more times you owe me?¡± Rolling up her sleeve, Gwendolyn spotted bruised marks all over, and the ones on her back were especially severe. Biting her lips, she spat, ¡°Two thousand one hundred and ny whips. I''ve already repaid you six hundred and fifty whips. Zayden, I''m looking forward to repaying you everything I owe you.¡± I''ll leave without looking back on the day I finish repaying the debt of gratitude. Hearing that, Spencer grimaced. He used the hard side of the whip and poked her back. She was in so much pain that she tilted her head to re at him. He burst outughing again. ¡°I''m looking forward to it as well.¡± Chapter 728 Chapter 728 Chapter 728 They Are Before Your Eyes Meanwhile, Alice instructed the housekeeper to bring out a variety of delicious foods to wee the triplets at the Lowen residence. Being the glutton she was, Juliette did not hold back and began helping herself to the desserts and ice creams. On the other hand, Justin and Julian were not too interested in food. Alice thus asked the housekeeper to bring out the toys she had previously bought from the shopping mall. The two boys loved Lego and were ying with it on one side. Witnessing the scene, Hector tugged Alice''s hand. ¡°Are you really treating them like your own grandchildren? They are in no way rted to us. No matter how much love you shower them, they don''t belong to our family.¡± Anger filled Hector as he watched the scene. It''ll be great if the Lowen family gets to have grandchildren like these three kids. I''d evenugh awake from my dreams. But Pat refuses to listen to me. He''s almost thirty and yet still doesn''t have a child. The more he dwelled on it, the more convinced he was that Patrick was doing it on purpose. He clearly knows that we''re eagerly waiting for him to get married early and give us grandchildren. But he refuses to get married one year after another, let alone having kids. Gwendolyn usually controlled what food Juliette ate as thetter was not in the best health. Hence, the little girl rarely had the chance to eat things like ice creams and snacks. Since Gwendolyn was not around that night, Juliette was overjoyed as she could eat whatever she wanted. She was leaping around happily while enjoying the ice cream. ¡°Thank you, Old Mrs. Pretty. This tastes amazing!¡± It''s strawberry-vored. My favorite. Sitting on the couch opposite Juliette, Patrick stared intently at Alice and Hector before him. Grandma adores the triplets. Grandpa loves kids but doesn''t like these three. Patrick narrowed his eyes. The mere thought of how Hector would have to eat his words in the future left him tickled. Even his lips curved upward slightly. Turning to his daughter, he said, ¡°Juliette, stay with Great-grandma. I''ll head upstairs first.¡± Juliette nodded her head. ¡°Okay! Do you have to work? Don''t be too tired! Remember to get some rest early.¡± The girl was so sweet that Alice could not help but give her a peck on the cheek. ¡°Oh, look! Juliette is such a sweet-talker. I love you so much.¡± The girl chuckled adorably. ¡°I love you too!¡± Patrick stood up. ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, I''ll head upstairs first.¡± In response, Hector snorted frostily. ¡°What are your intentions for bringing the kids back and leaving them in our care?¡± Patrick lifted the corners of his lips into a weak smile. ¡°Don''t you like children? Be it appearance or intelligence, these three kids are faring pretty well. I''m sure they meet your requirements.¡± ¡°Hmph! What''s the point when they don''t belong to the Lowen family?¡± Rage coursed through every part of Hector. ¡°When exactly do you want to get married?¡± He shot daggers at Patrick as he popped that question. I guess I won''t be able to return to my room without giving him an answer today. Patrick gave it some thought. I''m afraid it won''t happen anytime soon. ¡°Next year, perhaps!¡± With that, Patrick strode toward the stairs. Hector grabbed a te from the table and threw it over. A crisp sound of the te shattering into pieces echoed into the air. Patrick whipped his head around to look. ¡°You''re not young anymore. It''d be better not to get angry so easily, or else you might not get to meet your grandchildren.¡± Hector was absolutely livid. ¡°You d*mn brat! It''s all because of you if I die early! You''re always p*ssing me off. I want grandchildren; do you hear me? You better get married and start making babies soon.¡± A mischievous grin settled on Patrick''s countenance. Grandchildren? Aren''t they right in front of you now? Afterward, he returned to the study, sat in front of his desk, and switched on hisputer, intending to check on the situation at Gwendolyn''s side. However, there was no footage of the bedroom. Narrowing his eyes, he picked up his phone and dialed John''s number. ¡°There''s no surveince cameras in his bedroom?¡± John replied, ¡°That''s right. Only along the corridors and in the living room.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Right then, Gwendolyn pushed open the bedroom door and walked out. Patrick ended the call and fixed his intense gaze on the woman on hisputer screen. Chapter 729 Chapter 729 Chapter 729 Inseparable Family She wore a long-sleeved white-colored loungewear. After heading out, she went toward the stairwell at a slow pace to get downstairs. Camille was cleaning the living room, and when she saw Gwendolyning downstairs, she approached the younger woman. ¡°Gwen, are you thirsty? I can fill a ss of water for you.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Gwendolyn generally came downstairs when she needed water, and that was why Camille asked her that question. Gwendolyn then watched Camille make her way to the kitchen. Her gaze flicked toward the cab by the wall. She was actually there for the first-aid kit. She had to treat the wounds she had sustained, or else the bruises would look even more frightening the next day. Thus, she walked over to get the first-aid kit from the cab. Patrick zoomed in and finally saw what Gwendolyn was holding, and his gaze darkened. Is she feeling unwell? Why is she getting a first-aid kit sote at night? A certain someone said he was only going to check the footage and not do anything else, but now, he was worried about her. Right then, Camille came back out with a ss of water. She walked over to Gwendolyn, and when she saw the kit in Gwendolyn''s hands, she queried, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Gwendolyn instinctively tightened her fists. ¡°It''s nothing. I slipped in the shower. I''ll be fine after I treat it.¡± However, that only made Camille even more concerned. ¡°Where did you hurt yourself? Let me take a look.¡± Gwendolyn took a step back. ¡°It''s fine. It''s nothing serious. I''ll be going up now.¡± With that, she avoided Camille and hastily ascended the stairs. Camille sighed. Gwendolyn seemed to be full of secrets ever since she married Zayden. The thought of Zayden and Suzanne''s matter crept into Camille''s head. Thank god Suzanne''s now gone. I don''t know how else I''m going to face that girl if she''s still around. She looked simple-minded and kind, but who would''ve thought that a sweet girl like her would turn out to be as crafty as that? Camille nced at the ss she was holding and quietly brought it back into the kitchen. Meanwhile, after bringing the first-aid kit into her room, Gwendolyn treated her own wounds. Since Patrick could not see her anymore, he moved to bring the cigarette to his lips before inhaling sharply. When he exhaled, he brought up the surveince footage again. She''s keeping herself all wrapped up. It''s obvious she''s wary of Zayden. With that thought in mind, Patrick smiled. When he thought about how she was reserving herself for him, he felt wonderful. Right then, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Mr. Lowen.¡± It was Juliette''s voice. Patrick switched off theputer and strode toward the door. When he pulled the door open, he found Juliette with a te of fruits. ¡°I''m here to bring you some fruits.¡± With a smile on her face, she moved the tter toward his face, two dimples appearing by the corners of her lips. For a moment, Patrick thought of her as a miniature version of Gwendolyn. It was especially so when she smiled, for she looked as sweet as Gwendolyn. epting the fruit tter, he then invited her into the study. This was Juliette''s first time entering his study. Lifting her head, she studied the book racks, which spiraled all the way up like a whirlpool. ¡°You have so many books,¡± she remarked. Patrick brought her to the couch by the window before feeding her a slice of apple. ¡°Juliette, if you want to read books, you cane here next time.¡± Juliette could not read at the moment; she could only enjoy the illustrated children''s books. Thus, she bit into the apple slice and said, ¡°My brothers will surely love this ce.¡± Hearing that, Patrick felt that it was time for him to make his move. ¡°Do you want to move here? That way, we can see each other every day, and your brothers cane to the study to read.¡± It was a tempting offer. Juliette would be happy to see Patrick every day. It was because he wished he could be their father and because he looked a lot like her brothers. ¡°I''ll talk to Gwen about it. If she agrees, we''ll move here. But she has to be with us. Our family is inseparable.¡± Chapter 730 Chapter 730 Chapter 730 Sick After Juliette finished saying that, she took another slice of apple and started munching on it like a hamster. Patrick sat by her side, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear with loving eyes. ¡°Of course.¡± Juliette beamed. ¡°Great! I love this ce too.¡± Right then, Alice brought the two boys in. When the two boys saw the spiral bookcase, their astonishment was written across their faces, too. It was stunning. Patrick''s study was like a library. This was something they had neither seen before nor imagined. Alice patted their heads. ¡°Go explore. There are a lot of books here, and I''m sure you''ll be interested in them.¡± Julian and Justin were clearly interested, and they proceeded upstairs. Alice chuckled. ¡°These two boys are studious despite their young age, and they''re quite quick to learn. I''m sure they''ll be happy to read more books.¡± Earlier, Patrick had not been able to figure out what he could use to convince his sons toe, but now, he knew what he could do. His study was more than enough reason. Patrick never thought it would be so easy to deal with them. Alice then sat beside Juliette. The cute appearance of the girl made the older woman pull Juliette into her arms. ¡°Pat, Juliette''s adorable. I love her so much. I think your grandpa''s right. You should marry earlier to let us have some great-grandchildren.¡± Then, Alice kissed Juliette''s cheeks several times, unable to stop herself. Juliette was still focused on munching her apple, but whenever Alice kissed her, she would turn to blink at the elderly woman. It made Alice''s heart melt. Patrick asked, ¡°If you love Juliette that much, you can just treat her as your great-granddaughter.¡± Alice smiled but said, ¡°It''s not the same.¡± No matter how much love she had for Juliette, Juliette was, at the end of the day, not a Lowen. It was different. Patrick lifted his head to look at his sons, who were wandering around the top section of the book racks and were engrossed in reading the books. He curled his lips. ¡°Grandma, I''ll leave the three of them to you tonight.¡± Alice liked taking care of them. ¡°Sure. You don''t need to worry about this, though it seems like you''re not familiar with taking care of children anyway.¡± At three in the morning, Patrick was startled awake by someone knocking on his door. ¡°Mr. Lowen! Mr. Lowen!¡± Hearing the voice of the housekeeper, Patrick asked, ¡°What''s the matter?¡± It waste, and he was tired. However, Hector might be in a bad state. Therefore, Patrick sat up, put on his house shoes, walked to the door, and opened it. ¡°Mr. Lowen, it''s Ms. Juliette. She''s having a fever.¡± A trace of worry shed past Patrick''s eyes when he heard that, and he began heading out. He went to the second floor, where the siblings were sleeping with Alice that night. Upon entering one of the guest rooms on the second floor, he found Alice sitting by the side of the bed, instructing the housekeepers. ¡°Quick, summon the family doctor!¡± After that, she reached out to touch Juliette''s forehead and mumbled to herself, ¡°We had no children in the house, so we never prepped any meds meant for kids. I doubt the doctor has it either.¡± Patrick walked over to the bed. Juliette''s face was red, and she was wriggling on the bed, restless in her sleep. ¡°Grandma, I''ll send her to the hospital.¡± With that, he bent over to lift Juliette. In a panicked voice, Alice said, ¡°Yes, take her to the hospital. I don''t think the doctor has meds for kids.¡± As Patrick began heading out of the house with Juliette in his hands, he said, ¡°I''ll hire a pediatrician in the future.¡± Alice froze. ¡°What?¡± Is there a need for that? We have no kids at home. Juliette and her brothers are only staying over for a night. Wait, does that mean Pat has finally thought it through? Is he finally ready to get married and have kids? When that thought formed in her head, Alice followed Patrick out and said, ¡°Yes, you''re right. We should hire a pediatrician.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 731 Chapter 731 Chapter 731 I Want Mommy The driver was already waiting at the door when Patrick descended the stairs with Juliette in his arms. When the driver caught sight of Patrick, he quickly got out of the car and opened the door for him. Bending down, thetter had just gotten into the car when Juliette opened her eyes and nced at him before immediately bursting into tears. ¡°Mommy! I want Mommy!¡± It was natural for children to be particrly attached to their mothers whenever they felt unwell. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Alice had changed into fresh clothes and was carrying a bag as she followed. She gently ced a small nket over Juliette to keep her warm. Seeing the little girl crying and fussing like this, she couldn''t help but feel her heart aching. ¡°Give Gwen a call and let her know toe to the hospital,¡± she urged. Patrick had initially hesitated to inform Gwendolyn. After all, considering thete hour, there was no guarantee she would answer the call. However, he felt a pang in his heart as he watched his daughter''s tumultuous crying. In the end, he retrieved his phone with one hand and dialed Gwendolyn''s number. Meanwhile, the woman in question was in a deep sleep when the series of iing calls eventually roused her from slumber. Gwendolyn stifled a yawn as she grabbed her phone, feeling the urge to scold whoever was repeatedly calling her sote. However, the sight of Patrick''s name on the screen instantly jolted her to full wakefulness. Her hand shook slightly, revealing her nervousness. After a momentarypse, the call disconnected on its own. She let out a sigh, berating herself for zoning out and missing the call. Just as she was about to set her phone aside, it began to ring again. Gwendolyn picked up the call immediately. ¡°Hello?¡± She could hear the sound of her own heartbeat thumping loudly. ¡°Juliette is sick. Come to Fourton Hospital. She''s in the pediatric department.¡± As soon as he finished talking, he ended the call. Gwendolyn paused for a moment, then swiftly sat up. ¡°Juliette?¡± Subsequently, she rushed to put on clothes, snatched her car keys, and dashed out. She drove to the hospital, and upon reaching Juliette''s ward, she found Patrick cradling her daughter while thetter was receiving an IV drip. The scene was incredibly heartwarming, akin to a father tenderly holding his sick daughter while she underwent treatment. Noticing Gwendolyn had arrived, Alice got up and walked over to greet her. ¡°Gwen, you''re finally here. Juliette has been crying and asking for you. We''ve been so heartbroken seeing her like this,¡± she said. She then raised her hand to wipe away her tears. For some reason, seeing Juliette in such a state had stirred a profound sense of difort and heartache within her. Perhaps her deep desire for a great-grandchild led her to view Juliette as her own. Gwendolyn regarded Alice and expressed, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, considering thete hour, I''m really grateful for your help.¡± She knew the elderlydy must have found it challenging to stay up sote, and she couldn''t help but feel a twinge of guilt. That being said, wasn''t Juliette supposed to be at Lucy''s house? How did she end up at the Lowen residence instead? Perplexed, she wondered why her friend hadn''t informed her about this. ¡°It''s all right. I''m fine. All that matters is Juliette''s well-being,¡± Alice reassured. Gwendolyn walked over to Patrick''s side and reached out to take Juliette into her arms. The man didn''t hand the little girl over and said softly, ¡°She''s already asleep. I can keep holding her.¡± In truth, he could have ced Juliette on the bed. However, the little girl had a tendency to jolt awake the moment he did so. As such, he could only keep her cradled in his arms. Despite her small size, holding her continuously had made his arm surprisingly sore. This was also the reason why he didn''t want Gwendolyn to hold her. Gwendolyn gazed at her daughter, who was sleeping peacefully in his arms. She was well aware that whenever Juliette was ill, she would be quite stubborn, insisting on being only with Gwendolyn and rejecting everyone else. I''m quite surprised that Patrick was able to soothe her. It must have taken him quite an effort, huh? Just then, Kevin entered the room. He casually adjusted his sses before saying to Alice, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, it''s getting ratherte. Why don''t you go rest in the adjacent ward?¡± Upon saying that, a nurse nearby came over and offered her support. ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, allow me to apany you.¡± Gwendolyn realized howte it had be, with the time nearing four-thirty in the morning. She smiled at Alice and said, ¡°Old Mrs. Lowen, you should go get some rest. Patrick and I are here, so you can trust that everything is under control.¡± Alice was indeed feeling tired. As such, she nodded in agreement and was apanied by the nurse and the housekeeper to the nearby ward for some rest. After she left, Gwendolyn turned to Kevin and inquired, ¡°Mr. Chavez, how''s Juliette doing?¡± Chapter 732 Chapter 732 Chapter 732 Chase Him Away Kevin cast a quick nce at the man cradling his daughter and then shifted his gaze to the elegant woman standing beside thetter. This should have been the picture-perfect family... s, fate has twisted it into a situation where she had be another man''s wife. What a heart-wrenching situation... Kevin''s expression grew more serious. ¡°Her fever was triggered by food stagnation. Juliette has a delicate constitution, so she needs to be mindful of her diet. It''s best to avoid excessive consumption of cold foods and overeating,¡± he exined. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Gwendolyn had always ced restrictions on her daughter''s diet, especially when it came to consuming cold foods. Patrick suddenly interjected, ¡°She had a lot of snacks and went through three boxes of ice cream today.¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn walked over to him. ¡°She had that much ice cream? Normally, I only allow her to have a few bites. Her digestive system is delicate and can''t handle excessive amounts,¡± she remarked. She had made numerous trips to the hospital raising this daughter of hers. In fact, her first encounter with Patrick actually took ce in a hospital. On that particr night, she was in a disheveled state because Juliette had a fever-induced seizure, driving Gwendolyn to a state of panic. Patrick murmured, ¡°I''m sorry... This is all my fault.¡± He wasn''t aware that his daughter shouldn''t consume these items. He only thought that if it was something she enjoyed, he would provide it for her. He was reluctant to impose too many restrictions on the little girl. Yet, in hindsight, it was evident that certain limitations were necessary, andplete freedom wasn''t always the best approach. Gwendolyn hesitated for a moment upon hearing his words, for she was caught off guard by Patrick''s obedient side. She quickly replied, ¡°It''s not your fault.¡± If anyone is to me, it should be me. I was the one who left Juliette at Lucy''s house. I can''t believe that d*mn woman allowed my daughter and the others to leave with Patrick. Upon that thought, she muttered under her breath, ¡°Luce, you b*stard. You''ve put me in such a mess.¡± After all, spending the middle of the night alone with Patrick at the hospital was a kind of ordeal for her. Seeing the two of them like this, Kevin couldn''t help but curve his lips into a mischievous smile. He said, ¡°Pat, since Juliette''s condition is stable now, I should head back. Estelle is still waiting for me.¡± It was rare that Estelle didn''t make a fuss about going home that night. Since she was staying at his ce and being summoned over in the dead of night had left her quite unhappy, Kevin reckoned he needed to get back to her as soon as possible. Gwendolyn walked over to see him off and said, ¡°Thanks for your hard work, Mr. Chavez.¡± She apanied him to the door, and out of the blue, Kevin asked, ¡°Gwen, if the father of your three children wanted to take them away, would you allow it?¡± He had a sudden urge to probe Gwendolyn''s thoughts on the matter. Given that it was now certain these three children belonged to Patrick, he figured the man certainly wouldn''t allow his own children to be left without care. Now that Gwendolyn has married Zayden, Pat should be inclined to bring the three children back to the Lowen residence. After all, the two elders in the Lowen family can be quite relentless. With this, he would be able to appease them. Gwendolyn widened her eyes in surprise. She hadn''t thought about this issue before. She pondered for a moment before responding, ¡°The children are mine alone.¡± Although the children had the right to know who their father was, they were hers, and she wouldn''t give them up. Kevin smiled at that. It seems like it''s going to be hard for Pat to take the three children away. He shook his head, sympathizing with Patrick''s plight. To lose the woman he loved to another man and have the children acknowledge someone else as their father is undoubtedly a tough situation. Now, even the prospect of reiming the children is proving to be an arduous task, let alone attempting to win back his own woman. Sighing at theplexity of it all, Kevin found himself grappling with how to approach the situation. Ultimately, he could only leave it to Patrick to figure it out. ¡°I''m leaving now. Take care.¡± Kevin bid his farewell before striding toward the elevator. While on the move, he sent a message to Patrick: I''ve sounded out Gwendolyn for you. I asked if she''d agree to let the biological father of the children take custody, and she declined. Good luck, my friend! Patrick had been scrolling through the news on his phone when he received Kevin''s message. He nced at the contents briefly before raising his head to look at the woman who had just entered. Noticing his gaze fixed upon her, Gwendolyn instinctively pressed her lips together, her expression revealing a hint of unease. ¡°Mr. Lowen, let me hold her instead. You can go back and get some rest,¡± she suggested. Chapter 733 Chapter 733 Chapter 733 Sleep With Me Gwendolyn didn''t want to trouble him, so she said that to dissipate the awkward atmosphere. Patrick gripped his phone tightly when he heard that. This woman is heartless. Even though she doesn''t know I''m Juliette''s father and sees me as an outsider, I''ve been looking after Juliette for such a long time. How could she chase me away? Patrick''s constant stare made Gwendolyn feel ufortable. Hence, she tried to recall something. Before I came here, I deliberately put on a loose coat and long sleeves to conceal the injuries on my body. He can''t possibly see them. Thinking that she had something on her face, she held her hand over her face and asked, ¡°D-Do I have something on my face?¡± Evidently, his gaze was scaring her. Patrick shed a cold smile and replied, ¡°It''ste, Ms. Ashton. Are you chasing me away? What if I fall asleep on the wheels and get into an ident? If that happens, are you willing to shoulder the me?¡± Gwendolyn froze momentarily. Doesn''t he have a driver? ¡°Considering the time, do you think my driver is still waiting for me downstairs?¡± he asked. Gwendolyn was startled. Can he read my mind or something? She no longer dared to let her thoughts run wild. Thus, she said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, don''t you have a private room in the hospital? Why don''t you rest there? I already feel bad enough for putting you through so much trouble.¡± With that, she wanted to grab Juliette. However, Patrick grabbed her arm and said coldly, ¡°You''ll wake her up.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. He was holding onto her injury, and Gwendolyn inhaled sharply due to the pain. She had to bite her lower lip to prevent herself from making a noise. Although Gwendolyn did well to conceal it, Patrick saw right through her expression. After all, he knew her like the back of his hand. Patrick gently ced Juliette on the bed, but as soon as he did that, Juliette woke up. ¡°Mommy...¡± Juliette murmured in a hoarse and teary voice. Patrick patted her lightly andforted her, saying, ¡°Don''t be scared. Your mommy''s here.¡± Juliette felt a lot more at ease when she saw Gwendolyn. ¡°Mommy, I feel horrible!¡± Juliette grumbled. When Julietteined about how she felt, Gwendolyn sat by the bed and uttered, ¡°Sweetheart, calm down. The doctor says you''re okay.¡± With that, Gwendolyn touched Juliette''s forehead and noticed thetter''s temperature had dropped. ¡°Sleep a while more, Sweetheart. You''ll recover by tomorrow,¡± Gwendolyn reassured her daughter affectionately. When Gwendolyn did that, she appeared warm and loving. As the scene unfolded before him, Patrick''s gaze was filled with a sense of warmth. As expected, she''s the warmest and most tender in front of the kids. Suddenly, Juliette uttered, ¡°Mommy, get into the bed and sleep with me.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Gwendolyn nodded, removed her shoes, and climbed into the bed endearingly. When Patrick saw that, he couldn''t help recalling how she was when she was in bed with him. She would flip over and let me have rough sex with her. At times, she would get scared and beg me to go slower. Patrick''s eyes became darker when he thought of that. We were in an intimate rtionship, but she ended up marrying another man behind my back. With that in mind, he clenched his fists and was about to leave. Moments prior, she tried chasing him away, and that ended up hurting his pride. Hence, he decided to leave there and then. The moment he wanted to walk off, Juliette''s sweet voice rang out. ¡°Don''t go, Mr. Lowen. Would you also sleep with me?¡± Juliette asked. The IV drip attached to the back of her palm was hurting, so she wanted Patrick to keep herpany and ease her pain. Those words stunned Gwendolyn and Patrick. In response, Gwendolyn pursed her lips and held Juliette tightly under the nket to get thetter to stop talking. Juliette didn''t know what was going on, so she grumbled, ¡°Mommy, why are you squeezing me? You''re hurting me!¡± Juliette was on the verge of crying when she said that. Frustrated, Gwendolyn responded, ¡°I wasn''t squeezing you.¡± In the next moment, Patrick sat on the bed and said, ¡°All right. I''ll sleep with you.¡± Chapter 734 Chapter 734 Chapter 734 In Bed Together Gwendolyn blinked when she heard that. I-Is he really getting into the bed? Juliette, on the other hand, was thrilled when she heard those words. Her initially sickly face was finally filled with a smile. She then turned toward Gwendolyn and said, ¡°Mommy, why don''t you sleep in the middle? I want to lean against the wall.¡± ¡°Don''t move! Your hand is attached to an IV drip! Do you want the nurse to reattach the IV drip?¡± Gwendolyn panicked. Gwendolyn dared not sleep in the middle because she would be too near Patrick. Evidently, she was afraid of caving in and inching toward Patrick. If she were to do something like that, she could end up startling him. Juliette feared getting poked with a needle again, so she responded, ¡°Oh! In that case, I''ll sleep in the middle!¡± With that, she tucked Patrick in. ¡°Mr. Lowen, you ought to stay under the nket. Otherwise, you''ll also fall sick.¡± Hearing those thoughtful words, Patrick was dying to tell Juliette he was her father. However, he couldn''t do it just yet because he had to proceed ording to his n. Juliette grabbed Gwendolyn''s hand and ced it over her own hand. Afterward, Juliette grabbed Patrick''s hand and ced it over Gwendolyn''s hand. After doing that, Juliette chuckled and said, ¡°This is nice. I don''t have to feel scared anymore.¡± With that, she yawned. ¡°I''m feeling sleepy. Goodnight, Mommy. Goodnight, Daddy!¡± Juliette daringly addressed Patrick as ¡°Daddy¡± because she remembered him giving her permission to do so. Needless to say, Juliette was on cloud nine with her parents by her side. Gwendolyn wanted to tell Juliette off, but she couldn''t bear to do so when she saw the gleeful smile on her daughter''s face. Whenever Juliette falls sick, she misses her daddy. That''s why she addressed Patrick that way. Besides, she has a thing for handsome men. At that thought, Gwendolyn decided to let Juliette have her way. Patrick nced at his adorable daughter before shifting his gaze toward Gwendolyn, who was deep in thought as she gazed at Juliette. This feels wonderful. I have such an amazing daughter. After Juliette fell asleep, Gwendolyn retracted her hand because she felt the back of her hand burning up. His palm is so warm! Suddenly, Patrick grabbed her hand and asked, ¡°You looked like you were in pain when I held your arm just now, Ms. Ashton. Do you have injuries on your body?¡± After he finished his sentence, he sat up and pulled her up as well. His action shocked Gwendolyn. He''s so strong and quick! ¡°No. Why would I have injuries on my body?¡± Gwendolyn denied it stubbornly and averted her gaze because she didn''t dare to look into his eyes. Hearing that, Patrick narrowed his eyes and ordered, ¡°Take off your clothes, and let me examine your body.¡± Clearly, Patrick had forgotten about the fact that he was supposed to have forgotten about her entirely. Gwendolyn was stumped. She then pulled her hand out of his grip and said, ¡°Mr. Lowen, everyone knows you''re a gentleman. It''s unlike you to ask a woman to strip in front of you!¡± After she said that, she yawned and continued, ¡°I''m so tired. I''m going to sleep.¡± Gwendolyny back down on the bed and pulled the nket over her. ¡°Keep an eye on the IV drip, okay? I''m exhausted.¡± Gwendolyn had to tell a lie because she didn''t want to expose her secrets. I''m still repaying my debt, so I must endure Zayden''s beating. That''s the only way I can repay his kindness. After that, I''ll have my freedom. I want my freedom so badly. Patrick watched her close her eyes and noticed a drop of tear streaming down her cheek. He was heartbroken when he saw that. What is this woman going through? Is Zayden making her life difficult because of what happened earlier in the day? Did he beat her? Just like that, he watched her fall asleep and heard her steady breathing. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Once she had fallen asleep, hey back down on the bed and lifted his gaze to nce at the IV drip bottle. Chapter 735 Chapter 735 Chapter 735 How Blissful The next day, Gwendolyn was awakened by Juliette''sughter. ¡°Daddy! Daddy!¡± Juliette had roused Patrick before she started jumping up and down on the hospital bed joyfully. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was jolted awake by the bouncing motions. When she opened her eyes, she rested a hand on her forehead briefly, making it clear that she had insufficient sleep. ¡°You''re also awake, Mommy? I''m so happy! We slept togetherst night!¡± Juliette pointed at the man who had just woken up. Patrick''snguid look was exceedingly seductive, the stubble on his chin adding to his allure. Squinting slightly, he murmured cidly, ¡°Good morning, Sweetheart!¡± That endearment from him had Gwendolyn''s heart skip a beat. Juliette jumped over to him and kissed him on the cheek. ¡°Good morning, Daddy!¡± Patrick had told herst night that she could address him as ¡°Daddy,¡± and she loved having him as her father. She was over the moon, close to bursting with joy. Gwendolyn tugged at her daughter''s hand. ¡°That''s rude. Call him Mr. Lowen.¡± After saying that, she turned to Patrick and said, ¡°I''m truly sorry for troubling youst night, Mr. Lowen. Also, Juliette is mischievous and likes to address people haphazardly. Please don''t be mad!¡± Initially, Patrick was beyond grumpy upon waking up. Fortunately, Juliette''s good morning kiss and Gwendolyn''s bare-faced beauty suppressed his grouchiness. But following thetter''s remark then, his mood instantly took a nosedive. His expression gradually darkened, and his lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°I like having her address me thus.¡± With that said, he caressed Juliette''s face. ¡°Sweetheart, call me Daddy henceforth, okay?¡± Gwendolyn froze on the spot, at a total loss. Juliette threw herself into her mother''s arms. ¡°Did you hear that, Mommy? It''s Daddy! I''ve got a daddy now!¡± ¡°Ouch!¡± When she did so, she happened to graze Gwendolyn''s injury. After a night, it had seemingly worsened and hurt with the slightest contact. However, Gwendolyn hastily closed her mouth upon realizing that she had cried out in pain and tried to pretend like nothing had happened. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Juliette blinked her eyes. ¡°What''s wrong? Are you hurting somewhere?¡± She made to pull Gwendolyn''s shirt up, upon which thetter hurriedly stopped her from doing so. ¡°This isn''t appropriate, Juliette.¡± Naturally, Juliette knew that the areas covered by undergarments could not be shown to others. Nheless, her only concern then was for Gwendolyn''s injury. Judging from her cry just now, she''s seemingly injured! ¡°It''s okay. Daddy is a decent man. He''ll never peek.¡± The corners of Patrick''s mouth twitched imperceptibly. Aw, she''s so adorable! ¡°Yeah. And it''s fine even if I take a look. I won''t tell anyone about it.¡± Gwendolyn was promptly rendered speechless. Utter shock showed on her face. His nature hasn''t changed. Although he has lost his memories and be even more indifferent than before, he''s still a rogue. He might not tell anyone about it, but he would''ve seen my assets! How shameless! Ignorant, Juliette felt that Patrick was right. ¡°That''s true! Daddy won''t tell anyone about it. It''ll remain between the three of us. Quick, let me check whether you''re injured!¡± That was also something Patrick wanted to know badly. He had already suspected itst night and nned to steal a peek after she had fallen asleep. Yet, he was afraid that she would find out about it and regard him as a pervert. With Juliette helping him to resolve the matter then, it would save him much trouble. Gwendolyn clutched at the hem of her shirt tightly. ¡°Stop messing around, Juliette. I''m fine.¡± At that precise moment, a nurse came in, followed by Kevin and Alice. Kevin held Alice''s hand, and they chatted as they walked, looking very much happy. The sight of the three people on the bed had Kevin''s eyes widen slightly. The same went for Alice. ¡°Y-You all slept togetherst night?¡± Gwendolyn wanted to exin things, but Juliette spoke ahead of her. ¡°Yes! Last night, I slept with Daddy and Mommy. We''re a family of three. How blissful!¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!