《Love Her to No End》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 A Troubling Call From A Stranger Early in the morning, a ray of sunlight sneaked past the curtains and shone on a woman still fast asleep, making her seem as gentle as a baby. The woman had soft skin, cherry-red lips, a tall nose, and eyshes so long that they could shield her eyes from the sun. There was a sense of tranquility about her as she slept under the golden sunlight. Suddenly, the abrupt ringing of a phone interrupted the sweet calmness of the scene and woke the woman from her dreams. With her eyebrows furrowed tightly, she rolled over and covered her ears with a pillow, intending to ignore the phone call. However, the caller refused to give up. Only after being tortured by the ringing for a while did the woman finally decide to extend her long fair arm to grab the device on the bedside table. ¡°Hello.¡± The woman¡¯s voice was hoarse as she was only half awake, and there was a hint of irritation in her tone. ¡°Your fianc¨¦ is all over the news, yet you don¡¯t seem to have lost any sleep over it.¡± The voice from the other end of the line was as deep as a cello. It sounded pleasant but foreign to the woman. Immediately after hearing that, the woman opened her eyes wide to stare at the unfamiliar phone number on disy before eximing, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°This is our first phone call. I¡¯ve prepared something special for you as a wedding gift. I believe the timing should be just right.¡± The woman¡¯s heart began to race after listening to the mysterious voice. For some reason, she had an ominous feeling about it, but before she could seek out answers, her butler knocked on her door. ¡°Ms. Micha, there¡¯s a package for you that requires your signature.¡± Immediately, the woman knew it was the gift the stranger had just mentioned. What does this person want from me? The woman was knitting her eyebrows in hesitation when she heard another knock on the door before the butler called out, ¡°Ms. Micha?¡± ¡°All right, I heard you. I¡¯ming!¡± As soon as the woman responded to the butler, the stranger hung up on her. All she could hear was the beeping of a disconnected phone call. What a weirdo! Even though the woman shook her head as she thought about how odd the whole thing was, she was determined to figure out what the stranger was ying at nheless. After changing into a fresh set of clothes in the shortest time possible, the woman hurried downstairs and saw a somewhat restrained delivery man at the main door. ¡°Sorry for making you wait.¡± Then, the woman habitually signed her name, Micha Lingard, on the delivery man¡¯s document before taking the parcel off his hands and watching him leave. At that moment, her family had already woken up and was enjoying coffee in the living room. Another young woman, also casually dressed, immediately jumped to her feet from the couch and hurried over when she saw Micha. With a cheeky expression on her face, the woman snatched the package from Micha¡¯s hands. ¡°This must be the piece of jewelry the Xanders had custom-made just for you! Let me see!¡± Micha smiled slightly as she let the woman open the package for her. However, her face immediately hardened when she saw the colorful magazine inside and the unmissable headline printed on its cover. What shocked her even more was seeing her fianc¨¦, Zack Xander, behaving intimately with the woman beside her, Lucille Lingard, on the magazine cover. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. ¡°What is this?¡± questioned a stern voice after a moment of awkward silence. Seated beside the stern man, a middle-aged beautiful woman narrowed her eyes at the magazine before she heard the entertainment news host on the television. ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m your host, Amy.¡± Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 The Rumors Before The Wedding ¡°Everybody knows that the Xanders and the Lingards will be holding a wedding soon. What we didn¡¯t expect was that Zack Xander would be involved in a scandal just days away from the ceremony. In the photo, Zack Xander and Lucille Lingard were intimately embracing each other in the famous Land of Roses. If we didn¡¯t know that the man was already engaged to the eldest daughter of the Lingards, Micha, we would¡¯ve thought that he had a thing for Lucille. Now that the photo has spread like wildfire online, it¡¯s gotten the attention of countlessizens. With the wedding just days away, how will the Xanders and Lingards respond? Will the ceremony proceed as nned? Stay tuned,dies and gentlemen, and let me keep you updated on thetest entertainment news!¡± Thud! As soon as the host finished her sentence, Jacob turned the television off and violently threw the remote control to the coffee table. ¡°This is bullsh*t!¡± cursed the man, whose blood boiled with anger. Jacob stood with arms akimbo as his face began to turn red from rage. ¡°What nonsense!¡± The subject of the scandal, Lucille, quickly turned to Micha after regaining her senses. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. This isn¡¯t what they say it is. I would never¡­ You have to believe me, Micha! I would never do such a thing!¡± Lucille got so anxious that her eyes turned red. They even began to well up as she tried to exin herself to her sister. My fianc¨¦ and my sister? What the heck is going on? Micha was still trying to figure out what happened when Jacob roared once again, ¡°You better have an exnation for this! What¡¯s going on?¡± With that, the man snatched the magazine and threw it at Lucille, who dared not even move out of the way. Unable to ept Jacob¡¯s behavior, the woman beside him voiced, ¡°You¡¯re scaring her! Can¡¯t we just talk it out peacefully?¡± ¡°Do you have any idea how humiliating this is? How do you expect me to stay calm in a situation like this?¡± Jacob then red at Lucille before looking away, disgusted by her actions. ¡°It¡¯s not like that!¡± eximed Lucille after getting on her knees. Her face was as pale as a ghost when she tried to exin herself once again, ¡°I identally sprained my ankle at Rose Peak. Zack was helping me get back to the hotel when this photo was taken. Had I known that people would spread rumors of us like that, I¡¯d never have agreed to go with him.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Feeling aggrieved, Lucille started crying uncontrobly. Anybody who saw the pitiful state she was in would feel sorry for her. Even Micha was moved by her sister. Sighing, she approached Lucille to help the woman up. ¡°I¡¯m the one who asked you to go, so are you ming me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m trying to say, Micha!¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s not your fault. You can stop crying now.¡± After getting back on her feet with Micha¡¯s help, Lucille widened her eyes at her sister in surprise. ¡°So you believe me, Micha?¡± At that point, Micha could no longer put on a stern front. She wiped Lucille¡¯s tears away before chuckling. ¡°Of course, I believe you. After all, we grew up together! Why would I choose to believe those reporters instead of my own sister? Don¡¯t worry about the rumors. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll disappear on their own on the day of my wedding. And don¡¯t me Dad. He just got a little too emotional. That¡¯s all.¡± Lucille nodded understandingly before turning to nce at her father. All of a sudden, Micha¡¯s phone started ringing again. After checking the number on disy, she suggested to her sister, ¡°You should go wash up since your face is drenched in tears. I¡¯m going to answer a phone call.¡± Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Do You Really Want To Marry Zack Micha only took the call after she had hurried into her room and closed the door behind her. ¡°Who the heck are you, and what do you want?¡± Micha deliberately questioned the caller in an icy- cold tone. Micha¡¯s phone had not stopped ringing even though she took some time to get to her bedroom from the living room. It was as if the caller knew for sure that she would answer the call. Hence, Micha was confident that the caller had an ulterior motive for sending her the package. However, Micha¡¯s rude tone did not seem to bother the caller at all. ¡°I just helped you see the truth. Shouldn¡¯t you be thanking me?¡± asked the voice from the other end of the line, which remained calm and collected. If it were not for the phone call she received that morning and the fact that Lucille was the subject of the scandal, Micha would not be so sure that the mysterious caller was scheming against her. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. However, everything the caller had done made it difficult for her to believe otherwise. Even though I have no idea what this guy is trying to achieve, I¡¯m sure he has an ulterior motive for ¡°helping¡± me. With rage zing in her eyes, Micha sneered, ¡°So I should be thanking you for taking the time to prepare such a shocking surprise for me? Maybe I should thank you for trying to drive a wedge between my sister and me too.¡± Micha stared out the window with her obsidian eyes as she continued to question the mysterious person coldly, ¡°Why are you doing this? What do you get from ruining our wedding?¡± ¡°Does that mean you don¡¯t believe what¡¯s reported on the news?¡± Suddenly, the voice from the other end of the line no longer sounded amiable. Instead, it had turned extremely icy and hostile. The stranger¡¯s words were so brusque that anyone who heard them would feel offended. However, Micha was unperturbed by the change of tone. ¡°Yes, because I don¡¯t see why I should trust you!¡± replied Micha candidly. Even though Lucille was an adopted member of the Lingard family, she grew up with Micha. Hence, Micha had no reason to believe the mysterious caller instead of Lucille. On top of that, it was Micha who decided that Lucille should go to Rose Peak. In order to get slim enough to fit into the wedding dress the Xanders had custom-made for her, Micha decided to go on a diet. However, due to an improper diet n, Micha eventually ended up being too frail to travel to Rose Peak with Zack. They were supposed to pick the flowers for their wedding there, and since the ceremony was just around the corner, Michaele had asked Lucille to go in her ce. She never expected the two to end up all over the news because of that. Micha was convinced that the only reason Lucille did not bring up the matter was that the woman did not want her or her family to worry. Instead of making Micha doubt Lucille, the stranger¡¯s words made Micha even more certain that she was right to trust Lucille and that the outsider was plotting something against her. After her straightforward answer, the conversation stopped for a moment. Micha thought the caller would just hang up on her, but the person calmly continued, ¡°Do you really want to marry him?¡± ¡°What?¡± Micha and Zack got engaged after graduating high school and began nning their wedding after university. It was as if their journey as a couple was scripted. Everybody knew they were childhood sweethearts, but nobody ever asked her if she really wanted to spend the rest of her life with Zack. Outsiders probably just thought that Micha should consider herself lucky to be able to marry into the Xander family. To Micha, however, the rtionship between Zack and her was more like that of siblings rather than an engaged couple. However, she never told anybody that. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 4 The Shameless Xander Zack was a year older than Micha, and even though the man had always taken good care of her, she never truly fell in love with him. Everything unfolded naturally between them, but Micha never felt lovestruck. Since their families pre-arranged their marriage, Micha had already epted the fact that she had no freedom of choice and that she was no longer the captain of her own ship. Hence, Micha had a strange feeling when being questioned like that by a total stranger. She even had the impulse to speak her mind, but before she could do so, the stranger voiced, ¡°Your hesitation has already told me what I needed to know. I just hope that you¡¯ll continue to listen to your heart.¡± With that, the stranger ended the call without giving Micha a chance to reply. Upset that the call ended so abruptly, Micha found the whole thing somewhat difficult to process. It felt like nothing more than a dream to her, but at the same time, everything seemed so realistic. When the news notification on her phone sounded, Micha immediately returned to her senses. It had only been half an hour since the news broke out, but articles online had already received over a million clicks. Many were interested to see what would develop from the love triangle and were fervently discussing the topic on the inte. Micha could still hear the stranger¡¯s voice in her head as a sense of insecurity began to build up in her. Meanwhile, in the traditionally decorated study at Shappiray Mansion, a tablemp gleamed on a luxurious hand-carved desk while a man in his thirties satfortably on the couch. The man had fair skin and a pair of deep-set eyes that showed not the frivolity of a youngster but the maturity of a wise individual. His facial features were well-defined and clearly showed how much he had been through. At first nce, one might think that the man was a meek schr, which was far from the truth. After putting the phone down, the man reached out for his piping-hot cup of coffee and casually took a sip. The chinaware containing the beverage somehow seemed more exquisite with the man¡¯s slender fingers wrapped around it. ¡°Mr. Xander, about Mr. Zack¡­¡± uttered somebody near the man. ¡°Continue to keep an eye on him because I¡¯m determined to convince her,¡± ordered the man in a chilly tone while stroking his cup. The respectful subordinate beside the man was well aware of what his boss intended to do, yet he still thought it was necessary to rmend caution. Hence, he hesitantly warned, ¡°Mr. Xander, if Mr. Quentin finds out about this¡ª¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If you can¡¯t even do this right, then I see no point in keeping you around!¡± The stern man simply nced at his subordinate, but it was enough to strike fear into the poor fellow¡¯s heart. Unaware of how pale his subordinate had be, the man furrowed his eyebrows slightly as he continued, ¡°The Lingard girl was Old Mr. Simmons¡¯ favorite granddaughter when he was still around. That alone is enough reason to justify my actions. The fact that Zack brought shame to our family by cheating on his fianc¨¦e is all the more reason for me to do this. Don¡¯t you think so, Walter?¡± ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Mr. Xander!¡± Walter kept his eyes on the floor until his boss gestured for him to leave. As though he had been granted amnesty, Walter breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he stepped out of the study. D*mn it! That was scary as hell! I don¡¯t think anybody is bold enough to say no to that man. Still, I can¡¯t say that I¡¯ve seen anyone plot so mercilessly against their own family member. The man just called his future niece-inw to tell on his nephew and still acted like he was doing her a favor. I¡¯m pretty sure I can¡¯t find anybody else as shameless as Mr. Xander. Is it really okay to do what he asked of me? Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Restlessness Time flew by, and the day of the wedding soon drew near. Both families continued remaining silent in the face of all the rumors between Zack and Lucille. No matter how much some malicious parties tried to spread the gossip, both the Xanders¡¯ and Lingards¡¯ reactions, orck thereof, appeared to be the best answer. Micha no longer received any more news from that mysterious figure since that phone call which ended on a sour note. The unknown person was so secretive that had that number not remained in her call history, Micha would have thought everything had been just a dream. The day before the wedding came in a blink of an eye. Lucille dragged a sleepy Micha out for a spa first thing in the morning, insisting that thetter was going to be the most beautiful bride in the world the next day. Not wanting to disappoint Lucille, Micha agreed despite having dark circles under her eyes from her recentck of sleep. It was apparent that the mysterious figure¡¯s words had impacted her in some way. Ever since that day, she would ask herself if this was truly what she wanted. I haven¡¯t even had a chance to explore the world or fall in love. But now, I¡¯m about to get married. A sense of loss had tormented her over the days, and nothing she did seemed enjoyable. She had also lost a lot of weight in just a short period of time. Moreover, she had clearly be more prone to spacing out. At that moment, Lucille kept calling out to her sister who was lying on a bed at the beauty salon, only to receive no response. It wasn¡¯t until a beautician gently prompted Micha that thetter snapped back to reality. ¡°What did you just say, Lucille?¡± she asked apologetically. ¡°Something¡¯s been really off about you these days, Micha! You don¡¯t actually have gamophobia, do you?¡± asked Lucille with concern while lying on the bed next to Micha¡¯s. ¡°What on earth are you talking about, silly?¡± Micha responded sheepishly as though her mind had been read. But just as she wondered how to conceal her true feelings, she heard Lucille let out a chuckle. ¡°I didn¡¯t think that¡¯d be the case either!¡± the other woman said mischievously. ¡°I mean, let¡¯s not even talk about the Xander family¡¯s power. Zack is so charming, and he likes you so much. Even Mrs. Xander adores you, so you won¡¯t have to deal with a nasty mother-inw when you get married. What are you even worried about, anyway? You should¡¯ve seen the looks on my friends¡¯ faces when I gave them your wedding invitation card. They were so envious when they knew you¡¯re finally getting married to Zack!¡± Micha fell silent at her words. She¡¯s right. I¡¯m about to join the renowned Xander family. My fianc¨¦ is tall and handsome. Besides, he and his parents treat me like a princess. Who knows how many other women want but can¡¯t have the life I¡¯m about to have? What am I still so unhappy about? Maybe Lucille¡¯s right. I might actually have a serious case of gamophobia. Micha looked visibly better after leaving the beauty salon. Lucille had initially wanted to organize a bachelorette party for her sister, but she canceled those ns after receiving a call from Zack asking her to help decorate the couple¡¯s soon-to-be home. ording to old superstitions, it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. Hence, Zack must have figured that approaching Lucille for help would be the best way to make his wife happy. Lucille couldn¡¯t help but tease Micha over how considerate Zack was, and it wasn¡¯t until she pushed her older sister into a car and watched her leave that the chaffing stopped. Before this, Zack had even called to exin the situation when the rumors spread. He, too, had said the exact same thing as Lucille. Initially, Micha didn¡¯t doubt him either. She merely thought it was all a hoax and didn¡¯t let it affect their rtionship. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. When she arrived home, Hannah so happened to walk out of the kitchen with a pot of kale soup. ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± the older woman remarked with a tender gaze. ¡°Where¡¯s Lucille?¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Sisterly Love In The Lingard Family ¡°Zack just called her to ask for help decorating our new ce, so I came back on my own.¡± ¡°That¡¯s so kind of Zack!¡± While speaking, Hannah ced the pot of soup on the table and beamed. ¡°I used to be skeptical when your father suggested adopting a child so you wouldn¡¯t get too lonely when we¡¯re gone, but it looks like he made the right decision.¡± Lucille was only five at the time she joined the Lingard family. Perhaps due to the environment that she had previously been raised in, she was already a very observant child by then. Because of what she had been through, Hannah would dote on her more, which then led to a young Micha¡¯s discontent. It was only after learning about Lucille¡¯s background that Micha truly understood what it meant to be an older sister, and she then started to look out for Lucille. Even so, Lucille was a thoughtful child by nature and would selflessly let Micha have everything she wanted. Despite not being rted by blood, the two sisters shared a deep bond, which made Hannah extremely d. ¡°She¡¯s been helping out so much with the wedding,¡± Michaele praised as she sat next to her mother. ¡°Try this soup I just made!¡± With the wedding due soon, many had dropped by to visit. Right then, Jacob was sleeping soundly in his room after a drinking session with the guests, who had just left a while ago at noon. Treasuring the rare alone time she had with Micha, Hannah gazed at her now grown-up daughter, who was about to be wedded, as emotions swirled within her. ¡°Your cooking is impable as ever, Mom. But most importantly, I can feel all the love you put into making this!¡± Michamented generously. She then nced at her mother, only to see thetter forcing a smile with reddened eyes. ¡°Mom? What¡¯s wrong?¡± the younger woman asked worriedly, putting her spoon down. ¡°Oh, I just thought of how soft and wrinkly you used to be when I held you just after you were born. It feels like it happened just yesterday, but now, you¡¯re about to get married.¡± The memory remained fresh in Hannah¡¯s mind as though it just happened the day before, but there was no denying that time had flown by. ¡°Mom¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re not mad at us for choosing this for you, are you, Mich?¡± Seeing her mother¡¯s apologetic gaze, Micha shook her head fervently. ¡°I¡¯m not. I know you just want the best for me.¡± Her parents had bickered countless times over her engagement with Zack. It wasn¡¯t just once that she had heard Hannah use Jacob of treating their daughter as a bargaining chip for his business. In response, the man rebuked his wife for not being foresighted. The disagreements had thrown the once-happy family into turmoil until Micha eventually stepped forward and agreed to marry Zack. She knew without a doubt that her mother loved her. But if this wedding could give her father everything he wanted, she would grant him that wish. Although, this would be the source of her worries which she would bury deep within her heart as her new life began. At present, a sudden phone call disrupted the tranquil atmosphere. Hannah wiped tears from the corners of her eyes, but her expression changed as soon as she heard a cry for help over the phone. ¡°Lucille? What happened? Lucille!¡± Yet, the only response Hannah received came from a deep and alluring but spine-chilling voice. ¡°This is Jonathan Xander.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Chapter 7 A Cmity Golden rays engulfed the sky as the sun began to set in Quakersville. With Hannah and Jacob apanying her, Micha sped in the direction of Sommer Gardens in her Land Rover. They had not received much information through that phone call, not even a greeting. All Jonathan had said was that they should head to Sommer Gardens as quickly as possible before hanging up abruptly. Sommer Gardens was the mansion that had been prepared for Micha and Zack. Worried that the newlyweds might be ufortable living with inws, the Xander family had graciously provided them with plenty of personal space. However, Hannah had heard a woman sobbing during the call. The phone number belonged to Lucille, but there wasn¡¯t a word from her apart from that cry for help. Weren¡¯t they supposed to be decorating the new house? Why were we asked to head over right away? What on earth happened to Lucille? Numerous questions formed in Micha¡¯s head. For some reason, she began to recall that mysterious phone call she had received a while ago. No. It can¡¯t be! Just as she tried to dismiss her own thoughts, a cold and hoarse voice rang out from behind her. ¡°What the hell could¡¯ve happened that Mr. Jonathan had to call us over personally? What did that idiot Lucille do?¡± I¡¯ve been waiting all this while to be part of the Xanders, only for something like this to happen on the day before the wedding! It was only natural that Jacob wanted to find out what had happened. Micha peered at her grim-looking father through the rearview mirror. Perhaps still hungover, the man was rubbing his temples with his brows slightly creased. Comparatively, Hannah appeared much calmer, despite being unable to hide the distress in her eyes. ¡°He didn¡¯t say much over the phone. We¡¯ll just find out when we get there,¡± she said ndly. ¡°It¡¯s Mich¡¯s wedding tomorrow. If that little brat does something to disgrace our family, I¡¯m going to skin her alive!¡± Hearing that, Hannah could no longer suppress her anger. ¡°Ha! So, are you truly worried about Mich¡¯s future, or are you just scared that this is going to ruin your ns of buttering up the Xander family?¡± she sneered. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Are you aware of what you¡¯re saying in front of our daughter? Why would I have to butter the Xanders up when we¡¯re about to be connected by marriage? Of course I¡¯m worried about Mich¡¯s future, but if Lucille¡¯s done something to get on Mr. Jonathan¡¯s bad side, I may not be able to save her!¡± After all, everyone knew how ruthless Jonathan Xander was. Despite looking like a gentle and elegant schr, the man was, in fact, extraordinarily cold-blooded and monstrous. There were also many rumors concerning him in the corporate world. After many who tried plotting against him went bankrupt, it became publicly acknowledged that Jonathan was like a cmity. No one should ever invoke his wrath. As such, Jacob, a somewhat reputed real estate developer, was certainly no match for a man like Jonathan, whose business spanned across the entire nation. Thus, it was no surprise that Jacob could not help but panic at the mention of Jonathan. But I don¡¯t get it. Ever since Jonathan left the country when he was twenty-two, he¡¯s been working in the dark and never makes a public appearance except during New Year¡¯s and his parents¡¯ birthdays. So why did he suddenly decide toe back? Is he here to attend Zack and Mich¡¯s wedding? Feeling his headache intensify, the man red at Hannah icily, bringing her back to her senses. Taking into ount that their daughter was in the car with them, Hannah swallowed her words and gazed out the window expressionlessly. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Marital Strife Hannah had been this way with Jacob for the past twenty years, as though she wanted nothing to do with him apart from her daughters. Jacob used to be extra patient with her during their first few years of marriage, and he would often coax her. But as time passed, all that remained by then were endless squabbles and cold nces. Seeing the way her parents interacted with each other, Micha retracted her gaze. When did this begin? It probably started when Dad got busier with work after making more connections. He went from rarely coming home for dinner to not evening back at all. They seem like they just hate each other now. Does love always fade away with time? Micha subconsciously tightened her grip on the steering wheel to the point that her knuckles turned white. Even so, she didn¡¯t seem to feel any pain. Sommer Gardens was in the suburbs of Quakersville. The Xander family had bought this piece ofnd in the year Micha and Zack¡¯s union was confirmed, despite it being undeveloped. Then, the Xanders spent the next few years getting the best architects and designers to establish the mansion, indicating how much they treasured their future daughter-inw. Located halfway up a hill and surrounded by lush greenery, the area had a stunning view and was the perfect ce to live in. Micha had fallen in love with this mansion the moment she visited it. But this time, she had conflicting feelings going over there. As they drove into the courtyard, the Lingards spotted Zack¡¯s parents exiting their Lincoln. The couple, who noticed that Micha¡¯s family had arrived, nced at each other before Yvonne began walking toward the Land Rover. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Xander!¡± After parking the vehicle, Micha hopped down and greeted her future inws politely. Yvonne held the younger woman¡¯s hand with affection before turning to Jacob and Hannah apologetically. ¡°You¡¯re both here too? Seriously, what on earth is Zack up to at this time? The wedding¡¯s tomorrow! What¡¯s so urgent that he had to call everyone over?¡± Despite looking calm, Yvonne was rather bewildered too. She had received her son¡¯s phone call half an hour ago, telling her and Quentin toe over at once. It was after seeing the Lingards here, too, that she realized the situation wasn¡¯t as simple as she thought it was. Little did the woman know that what awaited her inside the mansion was something she would have never expected. Hannah¡¯s expression turned solemn as she heard Yvonne¡¯s words. ¡°We also rushed over after getting a call. We were worried that something might¡¯ve happened here.¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh,e on! What could ever happen?¡± Having concealed his wrath the moment he alighted the car, Jacob was smiling from ear to ear. After hearing what Hannah had said, he even shot her a re before turning to Quentin with a grin. ¡°Maybe Zack just wants to give Mich a surprise. The love between them matters more than anything else!¡± Surprise? Would there be crying in the background if it were really a surprise? Micha scoffed deep down. It¡¯d better not be a shock instead. ¡°You might be right! Let¡¯s head in.¡± Having given Zack a good lecture internally, Yvonne remained smiling and walked into the mansion with Micha¡¯s hand in hers. ¡°You look gorgeous as always, Mich. You¡¯re going to stun everyone at the wedding tomorrow.¡± She genuinely liked thisdy. However, they soon heard sobsing from inside the building. After exchanging nces, everyone strode along the hallway beforeing to a horrific sight in the living room. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Utter Shock As soon as the few of them arrived inside the living room of Sommer Gardens, they saw a disheveled- looking Lucille slumped to the ground. Her clothes were in a mess as she wept with her head kept low. Right beside her was a man kneeling with his upper body exposed and visible scratch marks all over his broad back. It was clear that the two had just enjoyed a passionate moment together. More importantly, everyone could easily recognize the man as the groom tomorrow¡ªZack. Such a sight sent the crowd into utter shock. ¡°What the hell were the both of you up to?¡± The first one to break the silence was Zack¡¯s father, Quentin. The man¡¯s expression darkened as soon as he had realized what was happening, and his body trembled with rage. Although Quentin had a reserved personality, he had been very strict toward Zack. Despite that, never had he ever been this ovee by fury. Despite not being able to see his father¡¯s face, Zack immediately began to shudder as soon he heard the former¡¯s stern voice, and a chill ran down his spine. He was at a loss all of a sudden. Perhaps due to how appalling the scene was, no one seemed to notice that there were other people in the living room. Just as Quentin was about to unleash his wrath, the man seated on the couch stood up and walked toward them. ¡°Hello, Quentin and Yvonne.¡± ¡°Jonathan? When did you get here?¡± Yvonne asked in astonishment as embarrassment shed in her eyes. The fewer people know about something this humiliating, the better. But of all people, Jonathan had to see this! You¡¯re such a disappointment, Zack! Yvonne felt her head throbbing from frustration. Aware of how awkward Yvonne must be feeling, Jonathan turned away from Micha and nced at Zack. ¡°At the worst possible time, it seems. But I believe it¡¯s time you taught Zack a lesson,¡± he remarked in his deep voice. Quentin¡¯s father, Eric, was the younger brother of Jonathan¡¯s father, Nick, making Quentin and Jonathan cousins. Quentin had lost his parents in a ne crash while sitting for his university entrance exam, so Nick took him in after that, treating Quentin as his own child. That was why Quentin always held Nick in high esteem. Even Yvonne treated Jonathan¡¯s parents with the utmost respect. At present, Yvonne¡¯s expression stiffened as she heard Jonathan¡¯s words. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Jonathan?¡± she asked in puzzlement. ¡°My dad isn¡¯t well enough to attend Zack¡¯s wedding, so he asked me toe by and see if there¡¯s anything I can help out with. But I heard some unusual noises as soon as I got here and thought the house had been broken into, so I told Walter to use force if he had to. I just never saw thising¡­¡± The man spoke softly, but he soundedposed and firm. He also deliberately left out hisst few words to avoid humiliating both families further. On the other hand, Walter¡¯s mouth twitched as he stood next to Jonathan, hearing thetter lie through his teeth. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Are you sure you came over to help, Sir? Didn¡¯t youe over to ruin the wedding? Broken into, you say? What kind of thief would make so much noise while breaking into a house? You may have never gotten laid before, but haven¡¯t you at least heard of how it works? What¡¯s a grown man like you acting all innocent for? Besides, you were the one who came over to enjoy the show after hearing about this, yet here you are ying dumb! A flurry of thoughts erupted in Walter¡¯s mind, although he could never say them out loud. Still, he had to admit that his boss had a knack for acting. It¡¯s a shame he didn¡¯t choose to be an actor! Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Intense Stare Down In truth, no one doubted what Jonathan said because everyone knew he wasn¡¯t interested in girls. Since he didn¡¯t have a girlfriend or a family of his own, no one expected him to know anything about sex. Perhaps Walter had jumped to a conclusion and assaulted someone. Only then did Lucille call Hannah, asking her for help. A hush descended over the living room after Jonathan said that. The afterglow of the sunset happened to seep into the living room and fell on Jonathan¡¯s body while blurring his facial features, leaving the deep impression of a benign andposed gentleman. As such, one couldn¡¯t help but have their eyes fixated on him. His picturesque, gentle, and elegant appearance showcased his unique ethereal aura. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, Micha was standing nearby when she sized Jonathan up. Compared to the handsome young man I remember he was, the one before me has turned into a sophisticated man. Elegance and splendor have taken over the defiance he used to have when he was younger. Also, why is his voice so familiar? She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn¡¯t even realize that Jonathan was looking back at her. She¡¯s gotten more beautiful and refined over the past five years. Indeed, her previously palm-sized face had grown more exquisite, giving her a pointy chin and smiling eyes in addition to her translucent porcin skin. Moreover, she had be taller and more slender. At that moment, she was exuding a sophisticated and elegant aura that did notplement her age. It did seem like she had been doing just fine in the past few years. Micha was unaware of Jonathan¡¯s burning gaze on her as she was still struggling to recall where she had heard the voice from. Right then, she was frightened by an abrupt roar and shuddered in fear. Micha quickly returned to her senses and was about to retract her gaze. However, she realized the man was staring back at her. Micha was flustered when their eyes met. She quickly shied away from his gaze as if she had been caught red-handed whilemitting a crime. When Jonathan saw the woman who looked like a startled bunny, he couldn¡¯t help but grin. Is she embarrassed? While Jonathan was retracting his gaze discreetly, he saw Quentin dashing toward Zack with a scowl. The mannded a kick on his son and roared, ¡°B*stard! See what you¡¯ve done!¡± Caught off guard, Zack let out a low grunt as he rolled on the floor in pain. Zack never expected things to spiral out of control. Although the marriage was arranged by his parents, he had never objected to their decision. However, Lucille suddenly told him that she was into him on the night when they were in a foreign country. She was hugging him tightly and unwilling to let go while she told him how much she liked him. As the man had drunk a ss or two, he gave in to his desires and ended upmitting an irreversible mistake. He had admitted to his mistake after that and apologized to Lucille, even offering to send her out of the country so that they could return to their respective lives. However, never had he expected her to tell him that she would not interfere with his marriage with Micha. Zack had thought she meant it, but what happened next utterly stupefied him. At first, the photo of him and Lucille taken when they were overseas was exposed. After that, Lucille requested to see him onest time before his wedding. In the end, he sumbed to his desires once again when he saw her. He couldn¡¯t even remember who initiated the kiss in the first ce. All he knew was that Jonathan had walked into them having sex. Even after a long time, Zack was still in a daze, and he could only protest, ¡°Dad! Please let me exin!¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Til Death Do Us Part Exin? Isn¡¯t this scene enough to exin everything? Because of Zack¡¯s irresponsibility, Quentin¡¯s already gloomy face was furtherced with a hint of hostility. The movement of his hand was the first to convey the violent storm brewing in his eyes. Almost as soon as Zack finished speaking, Quentin swung a decisive fist at his son. Though she knew that it was all Zack¡¯s fault, Yvonne still felt sorry for her son for having to face her husband¡¯s unrelenting wrath and rushed over to stop him. ¡°Yes, Zack made a mistake. Will beating him to death solve the problem?¡± At that moment, Quentin was so angry that his wife¡¯s pleas fell on deaf ears. Just as he was about to push her aside, Lucille threw herself onto Zack. ¡°Mr. Xander, please don¡¯t hit Zack! Hit me instead. It was all my fault. I came on to him.¡± The crowd had not noticed it before as Lucille kept her head lowered, but her act of diving before Zack showed traces of lipstick and teeth marks on their faces and necks quite clearly to those present. Lucille¡¯s clothes were torn so badly that they revealedrge areas of her skin. Even Zack¡¯s pants were put on backward while his face was full of bruises and scars, which Walter had identally caused. The crowd grimaced at having caught the couple in such an indecent situation. Even Micha was dumbfounded. Though Zack and I are about as tonic as siblings, Lucille and I grew up together! I never believed the gossip surrounding them this entire time. However, the scene before Micha¡¯s eyes was irrefutable proof that her sister had betrayed her. With a sudden tightening of her shoulders, Micha regained herposure and found her mother holding her hand tightly with a worried look, though she did not remember when her mother appeared beside her. I can¡¯t believe her fianc¨¦ cheated on her with Lucille! Hannah was worried that her daughter would not be able to deal with such a scandal right before her wedding. The two women exchanged a silent nce before noticing a figure passing by their peripheral vision. Before they could get a closer look, a smack followed by a clear, furious voice exploded in the living room. ¡°Shameless b*tch!¡± ¡°Dad!¡± Lucille¡¯s eyes were as red as the unmistakable handprint on her cheek, stained with tears. Overwhelmed with shock, she was about to tug on Jacob¡¯s cor but was cast aside in disgust by thetter. ¡°You are no daughter of mine!¡± The truth, so clearlyid out before them without a shadow of a doubt, had thoroughly unhinged Jacob. If members of the Xander family were not present, Jacob would have beaten Lucille to death.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Jacob¡¯s shove caused Lucille to fall headfirst onto the coffee table, and its sharp corner created a gash on Lucille¡¯s forehead. Bright red blood slid down her cheeks and made her look even more wretched than she already was. Despite that, Lucille still refused to give up. Sprawling on the ground, she grabbed Jacob¡¯s trouser leg with both hands. ¡°It was all my fault, Dad,¡± she wept hoarsely. ¡°I have disgraced the Lingard family and sinned against my sister. I was the one who initiated it, and it had nothing to do with Zack!¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Jacob was so angry that his usatory finger pointed at his cowering daughter trembled slightly. ¡°You have lost all privileges! Go home. I will deal with you tonight.¡± ¡°Lucille!¡± Zack stood up with concern at the sight of Lucille struggling to her feet and stumbling out of the vi. What heartfelt drama! Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Chapter 12 All ording To n ¡°It had nothing to do with Lucille, Dad,¡± Zack said. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Unable to stop Lucille¡¯s departure, the only thing he could do was cast his fear aside and appeal to his father. Although he had resented Lucille for putting him in such apromising situation, witnessing Lucille¡¯s desperate attempt to defend him ultimately inspired his masculine instincts to protect her. ¡°Shut your mouth and remain on your knees!¡± Zack relented under his father¡¯s furious gaze by doing as he was told without further protests. The going awry of the impending wedding made Jacob anxious and the Xander family embarrassed. Only Hannah and Micha remained so impassive that their emotions were indiscernible. As humiliating as the predicament was to Yvonne, it was her son¡¯s actions that had led up to that. Despite her embarrassment, Yvonne walked up to Micha and her mother. ¡°It was all Zack¡¯s fault, Hannah,¡± she said with some hesitance. ¡°You have no idea how sorry the Xanders are for Mich. Look, I ¡ª¡± ¡°Cancel the wedding!¡± Hannah¡¯s voice was full of certainty, and her determined expression made her deration impossible to repudiate After all, everybody was aware that it was Zack¡¯s fault. Despite the impossibility of going through with the wedding in the face of such a scandal, Jacob was not ready to concede defeat. As such, Hannah¡¯s promation made him anxious. He hurriedly approached Micha and said cautiously, ¡°All men are like that, Mich. Infidelity is in our nature. It¡¯s your wedding tomorrow, can¡¯t you¡ª¡± ¡°He was so charged by his nature that he was forced to get in bed with my sister? I didn¡¯t know you were so unprincipled, Dad.¡± Micha¡¯s eyes were cold and distant. Though embarrassed by his daughter¡¯s public reprimand, Jacob did his best to remain patient. ¡°I want you to think carefully, Mich. Marriage is a seriousmitment. Zack has already admitted to his mistake, hasn¡¯t he? Why are you being so unforgiving?¡± ¡°I can forgive anything except a vition of principles,¡± Micha said tly. The resolve in her tone was evident. I can tolerate my marriage being nothing more than a business deal of my father¡¯s, but I cannot ept Zack¡¯s infidelity. It¡¯s sad enough that I can¡¯t live the way I want. But if he couldn¡¯t even stay loyal to me before our wedding, there would be no need for us to go through with it. Micha pretended not to notice Jacob¡¯s expression darkening after her repeated rejections as she turned around to address Yvonne. ¡°My mother and I feel the same way, Mrs. Xander,¡± she said with polite indifference. ¡°I will return the dowry tomorrow.¡± Micha was about to turn around and leave when Quentin¡¯s apologetic voice rang out behind her. ¡°Wait a minute, Mich!¡± Instantly, Micha paused in her tracks. Quentin spoke again while she was hesitating, but it sounded harsher this time. ¡°Do you have anything to say to Mich?¡± Being a proud person since he was a boy, Zack could not find it in him to utter the words he owed his fianc¨¦e despite being fully aware that he was in the wrong. However, Zack quailed under the pressure of his father¡¯s re. As he was about to speak, he was interrupted by a cold voice. ¡°Apology not required. I¡¯m not going to forgive him anyway. It makes no difference whether he says it or not. Just stay out of my sight for as long as I live.¡± Meanwhile, Jonathan¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he watched the departing silhouette of Micha¡¯s upright and haughty figure. There seemed to be a glint of tenderness and affection in his eyes. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Time Flows The setting sun sank silently to the bottom of the ocean, taking away with it thest rays of the day. Glowing orange merely moments before, the ocean slowly descended into ckness, making everything seem inexplicably mncholy and sad. Micha was seated atop the hood of her Land Rover as she gazed into the distance where the ocean and the sky met, hidden by a mysterious veil of the night. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Shadowy figures could be vaguely seen on the beach not far away. Running barefoot, they were engaged in carefree y upon the shore. The asional peals ofughterpleted the beautiful innocence of the scene. The breath of the sea lingered, sighing with the ebb and flow of the tide. Micha remembered thest time she came here. It was the night she and Zack got engaged. Back then, she was only eighteen years old. She hade alone to clear her thoughts from the dread of finally bing an adult. Though she knew that everybody in the world had their own baggage and that she was not entitled to lament her fate, she could not help but feel sad to lead a life that was not hers. Never had she expected that she would be there this time because of the cancetion of her engagement. To her surprise, all she felt was calmness instead of sorrow. Such is life, I guess. I did my best then, and I did my best now. At least I realized this now and not after ten years of an unhappy marriage. Immersed in the quiet space she had created for herself, Micha did not notice the silent arrival of a ck Lincoln not far away. Its passenger did not descend immediately after rolling to a halt. Instead, a window wound down, and a pair of thoughtful eyes studied the slender figure not far away. At the same time, a tall man quickly got out of the Audi in the adjacent parking space and walked to the open window before addressing the passenger respectfully, ¡°Mr. Xander.¡± ¡°Has she been sitting like this the entire time?¡± His voice was as calm as water, yet his sad, dark eyes shone brightly against the fairness of his handsome face. Since his arrival, the man¡¯s deep and fathomless gaze did not leave the figure of Micha. ¡°Yes, Ms. Lingard did not cry or throw a tantrum. She seems very calm.¡± The tall man¡¯s expression remained stoic. A slight smile appeared in Jonathan¡¯s eyes at the unexpected answer. It seems that I have been worrying over nothing! He thought she would have gotten drunk alone in her temper like most girls tended to, but her calmness had managed to surprise even him. ¡°Stay here. I¡¯ll go have a look.¡± Jonathan pushed the door open and walked toward the Land Rover. Walter scrambled out of the passenger seat at the departure of his boss and hurried toward therge man with a curious expression on his face. ¡°Gary, why do you think he is so concerned for the girl? So much for being a cold and emotionless person who has no interest in women, eh?¡± ¡°You think you know what Mr. Xander is thinking now, do you?¡± Gary nced at him coldly as he took a step to the left, deliberately widening the distance between them. Walter was unaware of the dangerous position he was cing himself in by edging closer toward his companion with a grin. He then stretched out his hand to tug on the cuff of his suit. ¡°Mr. Xander can¡¯t hear us anyway. Let¡¯s talk about it!¡± ¡°You should have seen how furious Mr. Quentin and Mdm. Yvonne were. The consequences would be unimaginable if they knew that Mr. Xander was behind everything.¡± ¡°I thought the boss only cared about Ms. Lingard for Old Mr. Simmons¡¯s sake, but something feels off. Gary, Mr. Jonathan trusts you the most. Do you know what¡¯s going on? Can you tell me about it?¡± ¡°Keep your hands off me!¡± Gary jerked his hand away ufortably, his voice ringing with warning. ¡°Feel free to discuss Mr. Xander¡¯s private affairs loudly if you want a trip to the Southern branch. I would dly help you along.¡± At the mere mention of the Southern branch, a particr image appeared in Walter¡¯s mind and made him shiver involuntarily despite the hot summer air. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to be brothers for life?¡± he said, his tone bing somewhat resentful. ¡°It turned out to be a lie, after all. I won¡¯t ask anymore, happy?¡± Gary shot him a silent nce before turning his attention back to the boss¡¯ movements. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Tender Constion The depth of the ocean, fed by the rush of hundreds of rivers, was as unfathomable as the resolve of a wall that stood a thousand miles long. Everything seemed insignificant before the sea. Instead of mourning the loss of a rtionship, it was better to bid farewell; say goodbye to everything in the past, no matter how good or bad they were. Unbeknownst to Micha, her surging mood had receded so gradually that even she temporarily forgot about the embarrassing situation she would have to face after canceling the engagement. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Even though she only wanted to enjoy the rare moment of peace, a sudden voice behind her denied even that simple request. ¡°I¡¯m sure canceling a wedding isn¡¯t as depressing as that?¡± From a distance, all he could see was the girl seated alone with the wind in her hair. He did not notice her shaking shoulders until he got closer, which he construed to indicate some suppressed emotion. Having thought that all her sadness was hidden under her calm appearance, he did not realize the hint of anger in her voice. In truth, his sudden voice merely startled Micha. She turned around suddenly, and her lips curled into a smile upon seeing who it was. There were no traces of tears on her pretty little face. On the contrary, the girl appeared to be in a great mood. She was merely caught off-guard to see him. By the next second, she slid deftly off the hood of the Land Rover and subconsciously tugged at her shirt. ¡°M-Mr. Jonathan!¡± she stammered in greeting. ¡°What are you doing here alone?¡± Jonathan was still wearing the suit from earlier that day. Despite being debonair, it lookedically out of ce with the rxing and casual atmosphere by the sea. Even so, it did not affect the regal way he carried himself. ¡°I was just heading back!¡± Jonathan merely nodded with no intention of leaving. There was a hint of charming tenderness in his voice when he spoke again. ¡°Life isn¡¯t all smooth voyages, you know. No matter what kind of life experiences one goes through, the sun will always shine tomorrow no matter which corner of the world you live in!¡± ¡°What?¡± Micha¡¯s expression froze momentarily before she quickly regained herposure. ¡°Did you think I¡¯m here to kill myself, Mr. Jonathan?¡± Jonathan did not deny it. Instead, he turned to face the sea and stood with his hands behind his back. His perfectly straight posture exuded masculinity and confidence. Micha smiled so broadly that her eyes were reduced to slits. Did he say all those strange things because he thought I was going to throw myself into the sea? Do I look that weak? The deep male voice sounded again while Micha was dumbstruck with incredulity. ¡°Zack is the one who has wronged you! Trust me. You deserve better!¡± ¡°I think so too!¡± Jonathan nced sideways and saw the moonlight shining down on Micha¡¯s shoulder, illuminating the smile that softened her brows and eyes. When their eyes met, Micha even saw her reflection quite clearly through his dark eyes, which reminded her of the idental eye contact in Sommer Gardens that afternoon. Having the flustered feeling renewed by that recollection, Micha felt a sudden loss of her faculties. Feeling her heartstrings tremble, she quickly dropped her flickering eyes. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I should head home! Goodbye, Mr. Jonathan!¡± He watched the girl hurriedly bid him farewell before turning around and scrambling into the Land Rover. Due to the fluster, she almost scraped her knee. After mming the door shut, the car sped away from where he stood without stopping as if it was a panicked beast. As he shook his head and chuckled, Jonathan suddenly felt a pang of affection in his heart. The Land Rover was at a considerable distance when Jonathan muttered, ¡°We will be meeting again soon!¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Obvious Disgust Not many vehicles were returning to the city from the seaside at night. After the hustle and bustle of the main street dissipated, only a few straggling passersby were seen. From time to time, the noise of chatter woulde from the stalls by the side of the road that had not yet been closed. Illuminated by the dim yellow street lights, the patrons sat in twos and threes as they chatted and drank without a care in the world. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Micha saw all of that through a haze as her mind was busy reying the previous scene. Compared with five years ago, Jonathan¡¯s features had be more gentle and mellow. Years of life experiences had polished off the brashness of youth and made him more sophisticated. Like a born aristocrat, his elegance and splendor were beyond the reach of most people. She did not expect that their reunion after many years would be under these circumstances, especially the way she fled in that awkward manner earlier. Even thinking back on it made Micha cringe with embarrassment. Though she admitted that the powerful aura emanating from Jonathan was enough to frighten an inexperienced girl like her, she did not see the need to run away in hindsight. How absolutely embarrassing! Arriving back at Haversville Pavillion from the beach, atst, Micha deliberately hid outside after driving the car directly into the garage. In addition to craving solitude, the more important reason was that she was at a loss on how to face Lucille. In truth, she did not care about the wedding¡¯s cancetion, but she could not figure out why Lucille and Zack did not tell her directly that they were in love with each other. Why did it have to escte out of control like what happened today? Even though she did not like Zack, she could not ignore the fact that the two of them had caused her irreparable damage. The scene she saw at Sommer Gardens made her suddenly realize that the well-behaved and sensible sister she thought she knew was perhaps a stranger. I supposed there¡¯s no getting around this. Micha took a deep breath and was about to open the garage door leading to the mansion when she heard a man¡¯s angry voice. ¡°Send somebody out to look for her! The stupid girl haspletely tarnished the Lingard family¡¯s reputation. Now that she has learned her lesson, I refuse to believe she will never step into this house again for as long as she lives!¡± A loud bang apanied the voice. Micha surmised that he must have thrown something in his fury. Lucille hasn¡¯t returned home after leaving Sommer Gardens? Micha breathed a sigh of relief at that thought. Just as she was about to push the door open, she heard another gentler voice. ¡°What¡¯s the use of getting all worked up? At this point, why don¡¯t you think about how to salvage the situation?¡± If the wedding tomorrow isn¡¯t held as scheduled, it will arouse the suspicion of the media. An affair between the groom and the bride¡¯s sister. If this bes news, the Lingard family will be the subject of Quakersville¡¯s post-dinner ridicule! Therefore, it is imperative toe up with countermeasures as soon as possible. ¡°Why do you keep talking about canceling the wedding?¡± Jacob shouted, panicked by the thought. ¡°Where is Mich now? Call her and have here back immediately! You call yourself a mother? Can¡¯t you talk some sense into her? Blind indulgence will only harm her!¡± Already worked up to the extreme, Jacob exploded with rage when he heard Hannah¡¯s words. Unfortunately for him, all the relentless coaxing he did in Sommer Gardens went to waste because his wife and daughter were not on the same page as him. As a result, a perfectly sound marriage was about toe to nothing, and he could not allow such a thing to happen. Unbeknownst to him, Micha heard everything from the garage. She suddenly felt cold all over, and even her hand that was clenching the doorknob trembled. She had indulged in the delusion that her father actually cared about her and that because of all the pressure he faced, his paternal love could not be easily expressed. Now it seems that everything was in my own head all along. How could he say that about Mom for agreeing to cancel the wedding! I¡¯m obviously the victim here! Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Monstrous Father As Jacob¡¯s eyes were gradually filled with frigidness, he heard a sarcastic scoff. ¡°Hah! Jacob, are you really saying that I¡¯m pampering her? I simply didn¡¯t want you to use my daughter¡¯s happiness as your bargaining chip. As her mother, I can¡¯t let my daughter marry that scumbag of a man!¡± ¡°What do you know? Don¡¯t you think I¡¯m doing this for Mich¡¯s sake? Don¡¯t you know how powerful the Xander family is? Yes, Zack has made a mistake, but if Mich were to forgive him now, he¡¯ll be all over her to make things right! Besides, Quentin and his wife will also feel indebted to Mich. Can¡¯t you understand that?¡± That wasn¡¯t the first time Micha had heard her parents bickering. However, it was only at that moment that the realization of just how much of a hypocrite her father was finally dawned upon her when she heard him expressing his worry over how her happiness was at stake. Her lips eventually curled up, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of amusement in her eyes. How could he act like he¡¯s doing me a favor? It seems like Lucille having an affair with my fianc¨¦ isn¡¯t the saddest part, after all. What a tragic life I have to be simply seen as a pawn in my father¡¯s eyes¡­ At the moment, the argument in the living room was still ongoing. Micha¡¯s mother was still trying to fight for Micha¡¯s happiness. ¡°Are you saying that it¡¯s good that he¡¯s trying to make it up to her only after he¡¯dmitted an atrocious act? That¡¯s something only a scumbag like you would say! I¡¯m not going to risk my daughter¡¯s happiness, and that¡¯s that!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you move, Hannah!¡± Right after Jacob shouted, he turned around and spotted a figure in the living room. At that moment, his image of a loving father had beenpletely destroyed. Instead, he had be a disgusting and despicable father figure in Micha¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mich!¡± Worried about her daughter, Hannah wanted to bring her upstairs. However, Micha stopped in her tracks when she was walking past Jacob, and she said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard everything you guys said. As I said, Zack has gone over the line, so no matter what, I¡¯m not marrying him. You should give up on that thought, Dad.¡± Jacob¡¯s eyes turned icy-cold, and he red viciously at Micha after she said that. Hannah grew anxious when she saw how neither Micha nor Jacob was willing to back down from the stare-down. In the end, she had to drag Micha away and went up the stairs. The moment they arrived inside Micha¡¯s room, they heard Jacob thundering, ¡°Why can¡¯t either of you just make my life easier? I¡¯ve provided you guys with everything in life! Is this what I get in return? F*ck!¡± Having seen all his hopes and dreams going down the drain, Jacob had lost his temper and started smashing everything in the living room in a fit of rage. Unbeknownst to Micha, Jonathan, who had followed her home, had seen everything through the window. ¡°Mr. Xander, I can¡¯t believe Jacob has the heart to sacrifice his daughter just for the sake of building a rtionship with the Xander family! He¡¯s such a monstrous father!¡± A jet-ck Lincoln could be seen parked outside the mansion. With its taillights on, the car looked like a beast hiding in the dark. The car windows were lowered halfway, and they could hear all the unpleasant words being said in the mansion. Angry at what he was witnessing, Walter grumbled non-stop. Even Jonathan, who had always been a cool and collected person, had his lips pressed into a thin line. He couldn¡¯t stop gazing at one of the bedroom windows on the third floor. His eyes were filled with concern until he saw a graceful figure emerging from behind the curtains. Right then, Gary opened the door of his Audi and went up to Jonathan. In a low voice, he said, ¡°Mr. Xander, Mr. Quentin and Mdm. Yvonne is heading toward Shappiray Mansion.¡± ¡°Stay here and report back to me if anything happens.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Understood.¡± The car windows rolled back up, and the Lincoln sped away. Gary¡¯s gaze fell on the mansion once again. He was usually an expressionless man, but he couldn¡¯t help but look at the mansion with sympathy in his eyes. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Embarrassment Half an hourter, the Lincoln rolled to a stop at the front porch. The butler, Wayne Holmes, was already waiting at the entrance. Just as the car came to a halt, he rushed to the car before opening the door and greeted, ¡°Mr. Xander.¡± ¡°Wayne, where are Quentin and Yvonne?¡± ¡°They¡¯re in the main hall.¡± Jonathan nodded before heading to the main hall. As he was getting nearer, he heard Yvonne grumbling woefully, ¡°What¡¯s with Jonathan? Why did he have to escte things? Why did he have to make everyone feel so humiliated? Did he forget that Zack is his nephew?¡± ¡°Keep your mouth shut before you humiliate yourself further! How could you still have the audacity to say that when you¡¯ve failed to educate your son?¡± Quentin was already feeling agitated, to begin with, and he had gotten even angrier when Yvonne mentioned Zack. Upon hearing those words, Yvonne retorted angrily, ¡°Am I really the only one responsible for what our son has done? After all, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s been so busy that you¡¯ve neglected your own son! So how could you put all the me on me? If Jonathan were to inform us beforehand, things wouldn¡¯t have gotten so ugly!¡± ¡°Y-You!¡± ¡°Oh? Are you saying that this is my fault then, Yvonne?¡± Jonathan walked in with a faint smile on his face, and he looked at her in amusement. Yvonne¡¯s face drained of all colors when she heard that. She didn¡¯t know how to react because she didn¡¯t expect Jonathan to hear what she said. In truth, she was justining out of frustration. ¡°Jonathan! That¡¯s not what Yvonne meant!¡± Quentin quickly exined. ¡°At that time, I didn¡¯t know what was happening either. I thought someone had broken into the house, and I only knew that wasn¡¯t the case after Walter had taken action. But it was already toote since Lucille had already called for help. Besides, do you really think Zack can keep this under wraps for long?¡± ¡°Jonathan, I¡­¡± Yvonne had only rambled on without thinking twice because she was panicking. Tomorrow is already the wedding! Not only do I have to take into ount the public opinion, but I also have to ease up the tension between the two families. Also, what am I supposed to tell Old Mr. Xander? She was merely grumbling, and she didn¡¯t think Jonathan would show up at the exact moment to hear what she said. She was speechless and flushed with embarrassment. Jonathan, on the other hand, sat down and took a cup of coffee served by the butler before asking, ¡°So, Quentin and Yvonne, to what do I owe the pleasure?¡± Since Quentin had grown up with Nick, he was close with Jonathan¡¯s two elder brothers. However, he wasn¡¯t close with Jonathan because Jonathan was still little when he got married and moved out. Over the years, Jonathan had be more unpredictable and harder to deal with. Hence, Quentin would always put his guard up whenever he spoke to him. Quentin breathed a sigh of relief when he saw how calm Jonathan looked. After ring at his wife, he uttered, ¡°I¡¯ve discussed this with Yvonne. Since Zack is an adult, he should be held responsible for his actions. As such, I have no intention of sweeping this matter under the rug. We¡¯ve actuallye here because we need your help. I know you¡¯re close with that guy from the Sullivan family. Tomorrow morning, I¡¯d like to do an interview with him to respond to the canction of the wedding between the Lingard family and the Xander family. We need to suppress the public¡¯s opinion because ultimately, Mich is still a young girl. Eventually, she¡¯d need to find someone to marry.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Quentin had always been a righteous and direct man, so his decisions were rather in line with his personality. When Jonathan was on his way back from Haversville Pavillion, he had already expected Quentin to decide so. Hence, he wasn¡¯t surprised to hear what the man had to say. After hearing Quentin out, Jonathan nodded calmly. ¡°I¡¯ll do as you¡¯ve instructed, Quentin. After all, Zack is my nephew. So how could I not help him, right?¡± Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Malice Behind A Smile Yvonne, who had just regained herposure, couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy again upon hearing what Jonathan said. Since when did Jonathan be so easy to deal with? He had always been a vengeful person ever since he was young. In fact, I¡¯d akin his personality to a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing! However, what she didn¡¯t know was that Jonathan¡¯s ability to scheme against others had reached its peak after so many years. Seeing how fidgety Yvonne was, Jonathan nced at her with a smile and uttered, ¡°Yvonne, are you feeling warm? Wayne, turn the temperature down, will you?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Xander!¡± Seeing how Jonathan was toying around with Yvonne, Walter tried his best to hold back hisughter. It¡¯s not the first time Mr. Xander had teased someone that way. But since she¡¯d used Mr. Xander to vent her frustrations, she was definitely asking for it! But why did Mr. Xander ask Gary to stay at Haversville Pavillion? He seemed to care a lot about the mother and daughter of the Simmons family. After Quentin and his wife left, Walter gave in to his curiosity and strode to the butler discreetly. ¡°Wayne, don¡¯t you think Mr. Xander cares a little too much about the mother and daughter of the Simmons family? Is he just acting so out of respect for Old Mr. Simmons? Or is there something else at y here?¡± ¡°Old Mr. Simmons was Mr. Xander¡¯s mentor. As such, Mr. Xander had always held the former in high regard. Considering how close the two families are, Mr. Xander is just doing what¡¯s right,¡± Wayne answered. The Simmons family was regarded as a family of academics. In fact, rumors suggested that the family was once rted to the royal family in ancient times. After Adrian Simmons had obtained a master¡¯s degree in management, he stayed in Quakersville to teach business and management to other master¡¯s degree pursuers in a business school. Later, he was employed as the leader of Quakersville¡¯s Human Resource Management Expert Group, providing consulting and training services for the local businesses. He then used his second source of ie to set up an education fund. It was specially established for those children whose families lived in poverty and couldn¡¯t afford to go to school. Back then, Adrian¡¯s deeds had gotten him rather famous within themunity. Not only were the people supporting his actions, but he also had the government¡¯s backing. That was when he was poprly known as ¡°Old Mr. Simmons.¡± Although Wayne had answered him in a serious manner, Walter shook his head in response. He then came up with an interesting theory of his own. ¡°Wayne, do you think Mr. Xander might have a crush on Mdm. Simmons?¡± Since I¡¯ve never seen him get close with other women, maybe that¡¯s because he has someone on his mind all along! In that case, what others have been saying might be true! At that moment, Walter felt as if he had just figured out a secret no one else knew. After shuddering at his thoughts, he raised his head in a daze to look at Wayne, only to see Wayne signaling something at him with his eyes. Walter was confused upon seeing that. Before he could ask what was going on, however, a deep voice boomed from behind, ¡°Walter, you seemed to have a lot of energy to spare? Would you like to visit the Southern Branch?¡± ¡°No! Please, Mr. Xander!¡± ¡°How long would you like to stay there?¡± Jonathan stared at him with a straight face. ¡°A year? Five years? Or perhaps ten years?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Walter¡¯s face went pale at that, and he immediately dropped to his knees. Holding on to Jonathan¡¯s legs, he sobbed and begged, ¡°I¡¯ve been loyal to you, Mr. Xander! I¡¯ll learn from my mistakes! So please, don¡¯t send me there!¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯d better mind what you say next time then. I¡¯ll be keeping an eye on you.¡± After hearing that, Walter quickly got up and ran away with cold sweat streaming down his face. It seems like I¡¯ve guessed right! Otherwise, why would Mr. Xander get so embarrassed and make a big deal out of it? But d*mn, that was frightening! Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 The Shocking Reveal It wasn¡¯t until the sun had risen from the horizon that Micha noticed she hadn¡¯t slept a wink. Jacob¡¯s tantrum hadsted until the early morning. When he saw the mess he had made, he drove out on his own after mming the door shut. It turned out that that was the first time Micha had gone against Jacob¡¯s wishes and stood her ground. She had always been worried about the stress her father had to go through while keeping thepany running. Since he was able to make something of himself in the highlypetitive business world, it was only natural to assume how tough his life had been. That was why Micha majored in marketing at university. She wanted to lessen her father¡¯s burden in the future. However, no one appreciated the work she had done because of her status as the eldest daughter of the Lingard family. Nheless, she knew sess was through hard work, so she had been working hard to prove her worth. After what happened the night before, Micha realized that the rtionship she thought she had with her father was nothing but an illusion. He was unreasonable, and his love for me was nothing but a ploy for his financial gains. Today is a new day, and more challenges lie ahead. I must be prepared for whateveres my way. She got out of bed and brought a set of clean clothes to the bathroom. She wanted to take a bath to wash her exhaustion away. As expected, all the media talked about was the canceled marriage between the Xander family and the Lingard family. Hence, Micha wasn¡¯t fazed by the news headlines she saw on her phone after getting out of the bathroom. Before she could tap into the articles written about the marriage, her phone rang. She instantly frowned when she saw the number of the iing call. She picked up the phone and asked in an angry tone, ¡°Everything is happening ording to what you¡¯ve said. So why are you calling me again?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. ¡°I¡¯m calling to tell you to ignore the things you read on the inte. Stay at home today, and this fiasco will blow over eventually.¡± After a moment of silence, Micha suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity gradually ovepping with a certain figure in her mind. That deep and powerful voice¡­ Without much thought, she blurted out, ¡°Mr. Jonathan? Are you Mr. Jonathan?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s me.¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t bother to deny it. Instead, a slight smile appeared on his face after Micha had guessed his identity right. Micha, on the other hand, was bewildered. She froze in her bed because she couldn¡¯tprehend the shocking revtion. Does this mean it has been Mr. Xander all along? But why? Isn¡¯t Zack his nephew? He has no reason to do what he did! Could it be because of my grandfather? Is he doing this for the sake of justice? Why didn¡¯t he reveal his identity from the beginning, then? He made me think that he was a person with ulterior motives! While Micha was still pondering, she heard the gentle and calm voice saying, ¡°You can call me if you need anything. All right, that¡¯s all for now.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Micha finally came back to her senses when she heard that he was hanging up. She then asked anxiously, ¡°Mr. Jonathan, w-why are you doing this?¡± ¡°What if I told you that I¡¯m doing it for you?¡± His voice was melodious and alluring. At that moment, Micha could feel her ears burning up, and the burning sensation was spreading toward her fingers. She almost tossed her phone away because of that. For some unknown reason, she started blushing, and she could feel her heart pounding frantically. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Cooperation Between Father And Daughter Meanwhile, at Jacob Real Estate, David Xuereb, Jacob¡¯s assistant, said, ¡°Mr. Lingard, Mr. Turner from Gerton Corporation called to tell us that our deal with them had been called off by their directors. Also, Mr. Little from Yewshire Corporation called regarding thend. They¡¯ll take the form of an open tender, and they will not meet with anyone in private before the tender starts.¡± ¡°Hah!¡± Jacob curled his lips in a sneer. After so many years in the industry, everyone is still the same! They¡¯re all only interested in money and power! The news about the canction of the wedding had just been released, and these people have already abandoned the Lingard family. I should¡¯ve seen this coming. Feeling exhausted, he rubbed his temple and noticed David had no intention of leaving. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Mr. Lingard, the office has already received countless phone calls from the reporters. They were all asking about the canction of the wedding between Ms. Micha and Mr. Zack. Would you like the Public Rtions Department toe out with a statement?¡± ¡°Do as you see fit.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Seeing Jacob waving at him in dismissal, David left without saying anything further. Just as the door was shut, Jacob stood up abruptly, and the fury in his eyes broke out instantly. Enraged, he raised his hand and swept all the items on the desk to the ground. Still, he wasn¡¯t done throwing his tantrum. He then tore off his tie in frustration and kicked the items laying on the ground. Despite his best effort to conceal it, the dark eye circles and lethargy in his expression proved that even a good vent the night before couldn¡¯t grant him a good night¡¯s sleep. He was utterly dissatisfied. When he was attending university, he had sworn to make something out of himself. Now that I¡¯ve finally done that, I must do everything in my power to hold on to what I¡¯ve achieved! Initially, he thought the wedding with the Xander family would be a perfect opportunity to achieve more sess. He didn¡¯t expect that he would end up losing out instead. Just then, someone suddenly opened the door to his office. Despite the messy scene, the ier pretended like everything was fine. She smiled and asked, ¡°You look terrible, Dad. Did you get a good night¡¯s sleep?¡± ¡°Lucille!¡± Upon hearing the familiar voice, Jacob¡¯s eyes turned cold, and he strode toward her while raising his right palm. I sent people to look for her the whole nightst night, and she was nowhere to be found! How dare she show up now? If it wasn¡¯t for her, none of this would¡¯ve happened! At that moment, his gaze was cold and violent, as if he was about to tear Lucille apart. In fact, the aura he was emitting felt rather terrifying and dangerous. Despite the tense moment, Lucille remained unmoved and unperturbed. Instead of shying away, she raised her head as if she was inviting him to p her across her face. ¡°Once you¡¯ve pped me, yourN?velDrama.Org owns ? this. dream of having a rtionship with the Xander family would be gone, Dad!¡± ¡°What the hell are you on about?¡± Jacob halted, and his expression softened. However, there was still a hint of reticent in his eyes. He was staring at Lucille intently. If she fails to give me a satisfying answer now, I¡¯ll tear her apart! Everything was happening as Lucille had nned. She looked at him with a hint of amusement and uttered, ¡°Dad, I know you want to marry your daughter into the Xander family, but why must it be Micha?¡± Jacob wasn¡¯t particrly pleased with Lucille acting so mysteriously. As his patience was running thin, he questioned coldly, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve actually been together with Zack for a while now. In fact, I might already have his baby in me. Since both our families have seen us together, the Xander family would have to be responsible for me in the future. Besides, I want the same thing as you, Dad. If I can use Zack to establish a rtionship with the Xander family, yourpany will have a bright future. When that happens, it¡¯ll be up to you whether you want to expand thepany or even retire early, Dad. The most important thing is that I¡¯m the daughter who shares a blood rtionship with the Lingard family! So I¡¯m the only one who cares about the Lingard family! Don¡¯t you think I¡¯m right, Dad?¡± Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Public Apology The Wedding Has Been Canceled! Mr. Xander Had Apologized to the Lingard Family Publicly, and Admitted His Failures in Educating His Son! At ten that morning, Voguish Multimedia¡¯s Nixon Magazine published an article with an eye-catching title. It was regarding the highly anticipated canction of the wedding between the Xander family and the Lingard family. Even on the homepage of the magazine¡¯s official website, there were reports about the interview. In the article, Quentin bluntly stated that it was Zack who made a mess that led to the canction of the wedding between the two. He even shared that in truth, he and his wife were very fond of Micha. Considering how things turned out, he hoped the incident wouldn¡¯t cause any friction between the two families. In addition, he had offered his most sincere apologies to the Lingard family. Apart from that, in the interview, Quentin repeatedly emphasized that he hoped the incident wouldn¡¯t cause further spections and criticisms. He also asked the media outlets to respect the Lingard family¡¯s privacy. He then announced that the Xander family wouldn¡¯t hesitate to pursue legal actions if any parties were to attack or nder the involved parties. As soon as the article was published, it spread across the inte like wildfire. Based on the previous reports surrounding the scandal between Zack and Lucille, the public quickly noticed the crux of the problem. However, if anyone were to make any remarks regarding the Xander family and the Lingard family, the network engine would automatically indicate that an illegal act was being carried out. At first, Micha didn¡¯t notice the interview done by Quentin. When she eventually tabbed into the article, however, she noticed there wasn¡¯t a single negative remark made by the public. Even after a few attempts to refresh the page, the same result was shown. Right when Micha tried to search for keywords regarding the wedding, the same illegal act indication appeared. She tried to search for the keywords several times, but her attempts proved futile. At that moment, she suddenly recalled the words Jonathan said to her previously. How did he manage to get it settled so fast? It hasn¡¯t even been a day! What surprised Micha more was the attitude Quentin and his wife had shown regarding the matter. After the article was published, they¡¯d have to bear all the responsibilities in this incident so that the Lingard family would suffer less damage. For an influential figure like him in Quakersville, it means a lot. Since the matter had seeminglye to an end, Micha¡¯s mood had been lifted quite a lot. She got changed and headed downstairs. After what happened the night before, the living room looked much more spacious and empty. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Although the butler had already cleaned up the ce with the others, one could still see the signs of Jacob¡¯s monstrous tantrum. At the moment, Hannah was sitting on the couch reading a magazine. When she saw her daughter coming down the stairs, she quickly kept the magazine aside and stood up with a smile. ¡°You¡¯vee down just in time! We¡¯ll head to the furniture store after our meal. Since we¡¯ve used those for over twenty-odd years, it¡¯s time for a change! You shoulde along and see if anything else is needed!¡± Although Hannah¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t in any way unusual, her reddened and puffy eyes indicated that she had been crying. Their mother and daughter looked at each other, and neither of them broke the tacit understanding. Evidently, they were both deliberately avoiding talking about Jacob. However, they knew for certain their family would never be the same again. ¡°Don¡¯t you have to be at work today?¡± Without revealing her mother¡¯s deliberate cover-up, Micha nced at the magazine before heading toward the dining room with Hannah. ¡°No. I¡¯m not going to work today. It seems like we¡¯ll have a lot of shopping to do. So we¡¯re going to be busy for the next few days.¡± Hannah tried her best to steer the conversation away from the solemn topic, but it was still obvious she was choosing her words very cautiously. Naturally, Micha knew she was just doing her duty as a mother. With her heart aching for her mother, she held Hannah¡¯s arm and smiled faintly. ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t have to ¡ª¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you unwilling to go out with me because I¡¯m old?¡± Hearing those words, Micha instinctively retorted, ¡°Nonsense! Mom, you¡¯re still young, pretty, and¡ª¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Hannah smiled smugly and interrupted, ¡°It¡¯s settled, then!¡± Before long, the dining table was filled with all of Micha¡¯s favorite breakfast dishes. Still, Hannah was busy bringing her more food. Indeed, her love for Micha was evident. At that moment, Micha had temporarily forgotten about the disappointment she feltst night. The love her mother had shown her made her feel less lonely after what she had gone through. At the same time, a fancy Maserati was seen driving into Shappiray Mansion¡¯s front porch. The young man that got out of the car had fair skin with a faint lip color. He had thick eyebrows and handsome facial features. With a dazzling diamond on his left ear, he looked especially handsome and gave off a rebellious vibe. With a smile hanging on his face and a rolled-up magazine in his hand, he walked quickly across the front hall to the backyard. ¡°Jonathan! Where are you?¡± His voice was deep and husky, and he sounded like he was on cloud nine. The moment Wayne heard the car stopping on the front porch, he rushed out and greeted, ¡°Mr. Vincent, Mr. Xander is having his breakfast.¡± In response, Vincent Sullivan smiled and greeted back, ¡°Good morning, Wayne.¡± With that, he strode toward the dining room and saw Jonathan having his breakfast at the dining table while reading the newspaper at the same time. Jonathan was wearing a linen gown. Apart from his usual elegant and aloof temperament, he looked to be in a rather peaceful state with hisnguid movements. Although he heard Vincent, he ignored him. Vincentughed and teased, ¡°Jonathan, I think you¡¯re aging way too fast! You¡¯re living like a retiree! In fact, you¡¯re acting like my dad!¡± ¡°Then perhaps you should address me ordingly.¡± Jonathan folded the morning newspaper with his fair and slender fingers before putting it aside. He then gazed at Vincent and shed him a faint smile. His talk of seniority had struck a chord in Vincent. As a child who grew up with Jonathan, he had witnessed how cunning Jonathan had be. Hence, Jonathan was definitely more distinguished than him and was indeed his elder. However, Vincent had never been one to y by the rules. Not only was he extremely close to Jonathan, but he was also involved in an unorthodox importing and exporting business. At first, the Sullivan family thought he was going to fail, but he managed to grow his business until he had a worth of over a hundred million. Since he knew Jonathan¡¯s antics with his words, he wasn¡¯t bothered for long. Instead, he raised his eyebrows and tossed the magazine onto the table. ¡°Why are you doing this? How could you burn the bridges before utilizing them? Isn¡¯t that too obvious?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look too bad to me.¡± The huge title on the cover was very eye-catching. Jonathan flipped through a few pages and smiled slightly before lifting his head. That was when he saw Vincent looking back at him, seemingly amused. Vincent¡¯s dark eyes were gleaming when he smiled wickedly and said, ¡°You asked me to get someone to expose Zack cheating, only to go through the trouble of cleaning up his mess after that? Why do I have the feeling there¡¯s something else at y here?¡± Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Fake Friends Hurt Each Other Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Underneath Vincent¡¯s scrutinizing gaze, Jonathan finished his bowl of pasta without looking up. Subsequently, he took out a tissue and wiped the corners of his mouth elegantly. Getting to his feet, Jonathan¡¯s steady voice rang out. ¡°Zack is my nephew. What¡¯s wrong with me helping him?¡± After a busy morning, Vincent was already hungry. Just when he thought he could catch Jonathan off guard to reveal some clues, the man remained asposed as ever. When he saw Jonathan about to leave the dining room, Vincent sprang to his feet and grabbed his sandwich. Following the former, he continued to rattle on, ¡°Theoretically, there isn¡¯t. However, taking into ount what you have done previously, why do I get the feeling that you¡¯re just using your nephew as a stepping stone?¡± Suddenly, Jonathan stopped in his tracks. Giving Vincent the side-eye, he cracked a faint but gentle smile. ¡°Let me remind you to keep your mouth shut. After all, you were the one who got someone to leak the rumor. If Quentin finds out about this, he will probablyin to the Sullivan family. When that happens, you will be the one to suffer the consequences.¡± Jonathan¡¯s eyes glistened as if they were smiling. Ignoring the stunned expression on Vincent¡¯s face, he walked to the couch and sat down. The sight of Jonathan¡¯s nonchnt expression exasperated Vincent. He plonked his butt down on the couch opposite the man. ¡°Jonathan, I can¡¯t believe how heartless you can be.¡± It was true that he leaked the rumor. In fact, he even found a few other magazines just to avoid Quentin¡¯s suspicion. Nevertheless, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to do it without Jonathan¡¯s permission. After deliberating on the matter, Vincent¡¯s suspicions were raised. It was only then that he realized he had fallen into the trap that Jonathan hadid. D*mn it! How could I have fallen into his trap for so long without even realizing it? As cold sweat broke out all over his body, Vincent felt a chill down his spine. Suddenly, he felt like crying. Oh, God, how I wish time could go back to before I met this man. I just want to go home. I¡¯m nothing but an innocent child. Faced with Vincent¡¯s gaze, Jonathan broke into a disarming smile. It wasn¡¯t long before Vincent gave up and raised his hand to block the smile from view. ¡°Wipe that smile off your face. Isn¡¯t it enough for me to admit my mistake?¡± Ever since they were young, Vincent would always be terrified by Jonathan¡¯s innocent-looking smile. It was a phobia left behind from the trauma of being sabotaged by Jonathan when they were young. At that moment, Jonathan¡¯s phone vibrated. When he checked it, he saw that it was a message from Gary. Gary: Mr. Xander, Ms. Lingard and Mdm. Simmons are at the furniture store. From the constant updates Gary had been giving him, Jonathan was well-informed of everything that went on in the Lingard family. She must be bored at home. I guess it¡¯s not such a bad idea for her to go out and clear her mind. Nevertheless, Jonathan was still worried due to the special circumstances. Hence, he replied: Keep a close eye on them. Let me know if there¡¯s anything. ¡°Whose message is it that have you so captivated?¡± When he saw Jonathan crack a vibrant smile from the corner of his eye, Vincent leaned over boldly. By the time his gaze fell upon the man¡¯s phone, Jonathan had already put it away. He then hinted for Vincent to leave. ¡°Don¡¯t you have work at the office?¡± ¡°I have finally realized how Machiavellian you are for discarding me once you have no need of me,¡± Vincent grumbled. Cocking his brows, Jonathan looked at Vincent as if he was an idiot. ¡°In that case, are you admitting that you¡¯re useless?¡± Every time they sparred verbally, Vincent would end up on the losing end. Feeling the urge to p himself twice, he got to his feet in exasperation and prepared to leave. On his way out, he grumbled, ¡°Jonathan, from now on, I¡¯ll never get involved in your affairs again!¡± After taking a few steps, Vincent stopped abruptly and pped his forehead. He turned around and asked, ¡°D*mn. I was so pissed off I forgot something important. Thepany has taken on a new project, and I¡¯ll be traveling to Gerton for it. If you¡¯re staying for the time being, why don¡¯t youe along with me? After all, Gerton is famous for their beauties. So don¡¯t you dare use me of not inviting you along!¡± ¡°No,¡± Jonathan rejected outright. What¡¯s so interesting about ogling at beauties? I should focus on pursuing my future wife! After pointing his finger at Jonathan, Vincent turned around in disappointment. Even though the wedding had been canceled and the matter had be the talk of the town, both mother and daughter went out shopping without a care in the world. When the engagement was first decided, Micha was still very young. An engagement banquet wasn¡¯t organized since both of them were still students. Hence, the ceremony was just marked by a dinner between both families. Back then, Hannah felt bad for her daughter. But given what had happened recently, she realized that she had saved a lot of trouble. The furniture store was located in the city center on Harmony Street. Itprised twenty-five floors and sold many home products that spanned many brands. As a result, it would take a lot of time and stamina to browse through every single one of them. As the pair of mother and daughter walked through the store, their simrly exquisite features caused them to easily be mistaken as sisters. Consequently, their beauty and elegance naturally attracted the attention of many. Over three days, Hannah had set her work aside to apany Micha shopping as a way to clear her daughter¡¯s mind. They had gone shopping for furniture, home products, clothes, bags, and even makeup. Ever since the day Jacob smashed everything in the living room, he never returned home. Even Lucille seemed to have disappeared into thin air. At that moment, the mother and daughter duo were heading to a caf¨¦ on the first floor with their hands filled with shopping bags. Unexpectedly, Micha¡¯s phone rang the moment they stepped out of the elevator. What was even more surprising was the chaotic noise that rang out from the phone. ¡°Hello, are you Lucille¡¯s family? I¡¯m calling from City Hospital. Lucille hasmitted suicide and is currently being treated in the emergency room. We need you to hurry over to get some paperwork done.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Micha stopped in her tracks, looking stunned. Faced with Micha¡¯s question, the nurse lost her patience and demanded again, ¡°Are you Lucille¡¯s family or not?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m her elder sister.¡± ¡°In that case,e over here immediately because this might be thest time you see her!¡± Once the call ended, Micha remained frozen where she stood. Sensing that something was amiss, Hannah asked anxiously, ¡°Mich, what¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡± ¡°Mom!¡± When she finally regained her senses, Micha¡¯s voice was both trembling and choking. ¡°Lucille¡­ Lucille hasmitted suicide!¡± In truth, Micha had given the matter a lot of thought over thest few days. Even though Lucille had done something wrong, she was still the sister she had grown up with. Therefore, she was still willing to believe that Lucille had her own reasons for doing what she did. Even if she has feelings for Zack, she still wouldn¡¯t have ruined her reputation like that, would she?¡± In fact, Micha was prepared to trust and forgive Lucille if she was willing to exin herself. Micha figured that Zack shouldn¡¯t be the reason for both of them to fall out with each other. It wasn¡¯t until she received the call from the hospital that Micha was sure that Lucille acknowledged her mistake. Or else, she wouldn¡¯t have chosen to take such drastic action. During the journey to the hospital, Micha was seized by helplessness and panic. More than that, she med herself. If she had given Lucille a call the night before, the circumstances might have turned out differently. The frustration, regret, and self-me culminated in an avnche of emotions that almost overwhelmed her. When she frantically arrived at the hospital and saw two figures hugging intimately in the room, the complex emotions she felt earlier were reced by an icy glint in her eye. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Chapter 23 A Complex Agenda ¡°Why did you save me? Why didn¡¯t you let me die?¡± Inside the emergency room, Lucilley on the bed, looking like a lifeless doll. Her palm-sized face had lost all color, while her wrist was wrapped in thick gauze. Blood was already oozing out of it due to how desperately she had struggled, which made for a gruesome sight. Meanwhile, Zack was attempting to pull the emotional Lucille into his embrace. His towering back had hidden the expression on his face from view. However, one could still hear his trembling voice ring out. ¡°Why were you so foolish to take your life so lightly? Lucille, you shouldn¡¯t have done that!¡± Just an hour ago, Zack had received Lucille¡¯s message. In addition to a photo of her lying in the bathtub, there was also a worded message. it wasn¡¯t a long one, but every word was filled with conviction. She wrote: Zack, I didn¡¯t realize that loving you would result in such devastating consequences. If someone needs to take responsibility for what happened, I¡¯m willing to be that person. All I wish for is to meet you again in my next life. Is that all right? Realizing something was amiss, Zack called Lucille¡¯s phone, but no one answered. Finally, he found clues from the photo that lead him to the hotel Lucille was in. On the way to the hotel, he called for the ambnce. Even then, the doctor told him that they had just gotten to Lucille in the nick of time. Or else, the consequences would have been unthinkable. When he saw Lucille¡¯s ashen face, Zack was filled with regret. Ever since their affair was exposed a few days ago, Zack hadn¡¯t contacted Lucille at all. Moreover, he didn¡¯t even reply to the messages she sent to apologize and show concern for him. Nheless, it never crossed his mind that Lucille would unterally take responsibility for the matter. Because of that, he was unable to let her go. His warm hug caused Lucille to curl the corner of her lips. As tears welled up in her eyes, they gushed out like water that had burst its dam even before she said a word. ¡°Zack, leave me. I¡¯m too embarrassed to face you or even Micha and my parents. In fact, I don¡¯t even dare to go back home or out in public. Other than death, I have no other way out. Since everything is my fault, I will be the one to bear it. Zack, you should just leave and forget about me!¡± Just as she spoke, Lucille was already bawling, causing her tears to flow even more intensely. As she tried to struggle free from Zack¡¯s arms, she attempted to push him away. Nevertheless, she barely had any strength to do so and was so weak that she could copse anytime. The scene in front of him reminded Zack suddenly of what Lucille had been through and how she shielded him with her body the day before. At that moment, a pang of pain struck his heart inexplicably. Blinded by the moment, he dered without hesitation, ¡°If you don¡¯t know how to face it, then don¡¯t. Just let me take care of you, all right?¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Lucille froze before her tears continued to drop incessantly. As if his deration hade as a big shock to her, she stared listlessly at him. Subsequently, she saw Zack nod with conviction. ¡°From the beginning, this wasn¡¯t your fault alone. Besides, both families have already seen us together. So there¡¯s no need for us to hide anymore. Since you don¡¯t know how to face it, let me do it for you. Come what may, we will shoulder the burden together, all right?¡± To Zack, Lucille and Micha had totally opposite personalities. He found the former passionate and courageous in confessing her feelings and taking responsibility for their mistake. Given that she liked and cherished him, and was also brave and innocent, there was no reason for him to turn down a girl like that. There¡¯s no way I can disappoint her at all. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t expect his promise to be heard by Micha who was standing by the door. ¡°Mich!¡± Just a while ago, Micha was so concerned about Lucille¡¯s condition that she had made a beeline toward the emergency room, leaving Hannah far behind her. The moment Hannah finally caught up, she was greeted by the intimate scene inside the emergency room. As she shifted her concerned gaze toward Micha, she called out in a sympathetic tone, ¡°Mich¡­¡± ¡°Mom.¡± Micha turned around and threw her a faint smile. Her voice was so calm that it caused one to worry. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± After staring at her daughter¡¯s leaving silhouette, Hannah nced at the two hugging figures in the emergency room. As a cold glint shed in her eyes, she turned around without hesitation before hurrying in the direction Micha went. It wasn¡¯t until her mother and sister¡¯s silhouette disappeared by the corridor that Lucille recovered her gaze. At the same time, her eyes began to glisten in a frosty manner. Don¡¯t worry, Micha, this is just the beginning. Soon, you will lose even more. I will take back everything that belongs to me, including the position and honor of being the eldest daughter of the Lingard family. On her way home, Micha was strangely at peace. Worried about her daughter, Hannah took the initiative to drive. She then tried her best to distract Micha¡¯s attention. However, all thetter did was stare out the window in silence. ¡°Mich, let¡¯s go on a trip. After all, it¡¯s been a long time since we have gone somewhere. Where would you like to go? I¡¯ll apany you there, all right? Would you like to visit a hot spring? Or perhaps¡ª¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± Before Hannah could finish, Micha turned to look at her mother. Her deep and tranquil gaze was tinged with a little confusion. ¡°Why do I suddenly feel as if Lucille is different from the person I have grown up with? Why is she so scheming and can put on such a convincing act? I feel as if I don¡¯t know her at all!¡± I thought she was feeling distraught because of Zack. It never crossed my mind that Lucille is the reason. Wait a minute¡­ Hannah¡¯s mind suddenly clicked. As the shocking thought shed across her mind, she spun the car around and stopped by the roadside. ¡°Are you saying that she had nned everything?¡± ¡°What else can it be? Mom, can¡¯t you see that she has killed two birds with one stone with the drama? Not only did she obtain Zack¡¯s promise, but she was also able to warn me to not have any designs on him. Marrying into the Xander family has been her true goal all along!¡± Before she left, she had locked gazes with Lucille. Thetter¡¯s eyes were so vicious and sharp that Micha felt as if they could pierce through her anytime. If it wasn¡¯t for the look in Lucille¡¯s eye, Micha wouldn¡¯t have been able to tell that it was all part of the former¡¯s plot from the very beginning. ¡°Mich, let me deal with this. Going forward, you should just ignore her affairs.¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. The moment the scandal between Zack and Lucille broke, the Lingard family was forever changed. To avoid embarrassment and worried that Micha would be saddened by the sight of her sister, Hannah had originally nned to send Lucille overseas. After realizing what was going on, her conviction to do so intensified. It wasn¡¯t until she saw Micha nod in acknowledgment that Hannah¡¯s mind was put at ease. Only then did she start the car again. Since the incident with Lucille had ruined their mood for shopping, Hannah turned the car around and drove back to Haversville Pavillion. However, before they arrived back home, they saw a Bentley parked outside their entrance. Just when the mother and daughter duo were hesitating, the car¡¯s passenger seat door was opened from the outside. Subsequently, a man with a distinguished and elegant aura alighted. He was none other than Jonathan. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Chapter 24 A Distinguished Guest As the Xander family¡¯s youngest son, Jonathan was exceptional in every aspect ever since he was young. Given that he was born when his father was old, he was naturally the apple of his father¡¯s eye. In reality, there was a big gap in Jonathan¡¯s age with that of his eldest brother, the second eldest brother, and cousin, Quentin. Due to the fact that Jonathan¡¯s mother, Mavis, liked daughters, she got pregnant with Jonathan when she was forty-seven and was determined to give birth to him. Unfortunately, she was disappointed that he turned out to be a boy instead of a girl. Because of that, she was exasperated over the matter for a long time. When Jonathan was born, the Xander family¡¯s eldest son, Zachary, already had a son of his own who was four years old, Jeffrey. Therefore, no one had expected Jeffrey to end up having an uncle that was younger than him. In fact, Jeffrey had gotten a lot of grief for not greeting Jonathan appropriately. In the end, he had no choice but to ept Jonathan¡¯s seniority just to save himself from more beatings. As for the Xander family, they were well respected in themunity due to the fact that Nick was a famous entrepreneur, and more importantly, a well-known phnthropist. On top of that, he was a staunch supporter of Adrian¡¯s charity foundation. That was how the rtionship between both families began to develop. In the present day, both families still maintained close ties even though Adrian had passed away, to the extent Micha¡¯s marriage was arranged by Nick himself. Back then, Hannah objected to it but didn¡¯t expect Jacob to ept the proposal. Jacob had assumed that by ingratiating himself with the Xander family through a marriage alliance, his status would be elevated ordingly. However, from how things turned out, Zack was just a jerk compared to Jonathan. Even though Hannah had no idea what Jonathan¡¯s visit was for, she quickly led Micha out of the car and approached him. ¡°Mr. Xander?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the sudden visit.¡± His deep voice brought with it a sense of calm. Smiling faintly, he exuded an invigorating sense of elegance, which seemed to contradict his reputation as someone cold and ruthless. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Pleasee in!¡± Cognizant that Jonathan must have a reason for his visit, Hannah didn¡¯t waste any time as she stepped forward to guide the man into the house. Meanwhile, Walter swiftly brought the presents that were prepared beforehand out of the trunk and followed behind them. After everyone had taken their seats, Hannah realized that Jonathan had not only visited in person but also came bearing expensive gifts. Thus, she remarked cordially, ¡°Mr. Xander, you shouldn¡¯t have. Mich, go make some coffee right away.¡± Given Jonathan¡¯s legendary status in the business world, his visit alone was considered a great honor for the Lingard family. Furthermore, he had nothing to do with what happened with Zack. Consequently, Hannah was grateful for the gesture and had no hard feelings toward the Xander family. When Jonathan was overseas, he led his fellow citizens in oveing an economic crisis. Since then, his feats were known far and wide, causing him to be greatly respected and admired. It was during that time that Nick insisted Jonathan take over the family business despite the fact that Jonathan had his own business empire. After handing the reins over to Jonathan, Nick subsequently retired. Over the years, Jonathan¡¯s fame continued to grow despite the fact that he was overseas most of the time. Considering how outstanding he was at a young age, Hannah was already impressed with him back then. Fortunately, all the furniture that had been ordered previously had already arrived. Or else, it would have been embarrassing to wee Jonathan in an empty mansion. When he saw Micha striding calmly into the kitchen and didn¡¯t look out of sorts, Jonathan¡¯s mind was put at ease. With a gentle expression, he dered, ¡°I¡¯m here today at my father¡¯s request. The gifts are just a small token of our sincerity. Mdm. Simmons, I do hope you like them.¡± When Hannah saw how warm and sincere Jonathan was, she was surprised by the amount of respect he showed. ¡°You¡¯re really too kind. Since we¡¯re of the same seniority, there¡¯s no need to be so formal.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°That might be true, but you¡¯re older than me. As such, it¡¯s appropriate for me to show you due respect. Since Old Mr. Simmons was my master, it is only right that I address you as Mdm. Simmons. If you don¡¯t mind, you can just address me by my first name.¡± Jonathan was indeed her father¡¯s student. Ever since the former went overseas, Hannah was filled with admiration when she heard all the rumors about his exploits. Therefore, when she saw how humble Jonathan was, Hannah dly epted his suggestion. In fact, the favorable impression she had of him grew even stronger. Even though the rumors made him out to be a vicious and cruel person, she felt that he was someone sincere who did not put on airs and treated others congenially. Little did she know that if Walter knew what was going through her mind, he would definitely tell her that she had been fooled by Jonathan¡¯s acting skills. Soon, Micha returned with freshly brewed coffee and personally serve Jonathan a cup. ¡°Mr. Jonathan, please have some coffee.¡± Mr. Jonathan? Jonathan furrowed his brows in exasperation over how she addressed him. If only I could get her to call me Jonathan again just like when we were kids. The thought of her gentle voice caused his Adam¡¯s apple to bob subconsciously. With his fingers curled slightly, he touched the tip of Micha¡¯s fingers just as he received the cup of coffee from her, which in turn jolted her into retracting her fingers by reflex. All she felt was a burning sensation in her fingers that gradually traveled up to her cheeks. When he saw the look on her face, Jonathan¡¯s eyes glistened. Taking a sip of coffee, he smiled inly at her. ¡°This tastes good. Thank you.¡± The hell? Is this humble and gentlemanly man still the same Mr. Xander I know? Countless thoughts shed across Walter¡¯s mind. Not only did you rush here impatiently, you even bribed their daughter. Mr. Xander, there is no one in this world that is more skillful in capturing another¡¯s heart than you. Wait! Mr. Xander was the one who insisted on being respectful in how he addressed Mdm. Simmons. Could it be that she isn¡¯t the one he¡¯s after, and instead it¡¯s¡­ Walter began to shift his gaze between the three people. Finally, he trembled in surprise. So, Mr. Xander is doing all this because of Ms. Lingard? Does Mr. Xander fancy his nephew¡¯s fianc¨¦e? No wonder he not only exposed Zack¡¯s affair but also suppressed the scandal subsequently. Moreover, he even sent Gary to keep an eye on the Lingard family. It turns out that Mr. Xander has long plotted to take his nephew¡¯s fianc¨¦e for himself! Oh my God, this is such a mess! Upon the sudden realization, Walter felt his heart beat furiously. Just when he wanted to restrain Jonathan¡¯s actions, thetter¡¯s voice rang out instead. ¡°Initially, my father wanted to visit you in person. But he wasn¡¯t feeling well, so he headed to the nursing home with my mother earlier than expected. Therefore, he instructed me toe and apologize for what Zack has done. The Xander family is at fault for not raising him well. At the same time, Mich didn¡¯t deserve to suffer from his actions. ¡°Mdm. Simmons, don¡¯t you worry. Even though the wedding has been canceled, Mich is still considered a member of the Xander family. I will personally protect her and I won¡¯t allow anyone else to harm her ever again. On top of that, the Xander family will definitely make it up to both you and Mich.¡± An exchange between adults did not need to be explicit. Hence, Hannah naturally read between the lines of Jonathan¡¯s words. Since the matter between Zack and Lucille involved both families, having Jonathan resolve it personally was the best possible solution. Furthermore, with the Xander family¡¯s reputation, Micha¡¯s safety and happiness would be secured by their promise to protect her. All this while, Hannah had never imagined that Jonathan was interested in her daughter. In fact, she was even impressed with howprehensive his methods were. During the visit, both sides had a pleasant chat with each other. It wasn¡¯t until Jonathan took his leave that Hannah nudged her daughter forward. ¡°Mich, you should walk Jonathan out. Back when you had your appendix removed, Jonathan was the one who helped you catch up with your homework. That was just a few years ago. Have you already forgotten about it?¡± Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Adorable With A Strong Front In truth, Jonathan was only older than Micha by five years. The first time they really met was during one particr summer. Micha had brought some food to the business school for Adrian as instructed. Coincidentally, Jonathan was in thetter¡¯s office then. At that time, a twenty-year-old Jonathan was working on his doctorate, while fifteen-year-old Micha was in her first year of senior high after skipping a few grades due to her excellent academic performance. She remembered how Adrian praised Jonathan and even encouraged her to learn from him. Subsequently, when Micha had her appendix removed, Jonathan tutored her on the sses she missed due to how important her studies were. Furthermore, he even gave her his notes for the university entrance exam. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. In a twist of fate, Adrian¡¯s student would turn out to be the uncle of her fianc¨¦. The year Michapleted her university entrance exam, she and Zack held a simple ceremony for their engagement. During that time, Jonathan had gone overseas and never kept in touch. During that five years, other than a fleeting meeting during Adrian¡¯s funeral, she only heard about him when someone else brought him up. The distance between them grew further along with the passage of time. If she hadn¡¯t run into him at Sommer Gardens the other day, his existence would likely have slipped her mind. Compared to the charming youth back then, the man in front of her exuded a dignified and masculine aura. Intimidated by his reserved demeanor, Micha felt the urge to avoid him. As a result, she kept a wary distance from him as she escorted him out of the mansion. Sensing her apprehension, Jonathan stopped in his tracks, feeling upset. He turned toward her. ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡± Panicking at the candidness of the question, Micha shook her head in reflex and denied, ¡°No. What¡¯s there to be afraid of? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re some kind of beast, right?¡± Even though she had tried to calm herself down while speaking, her shifty eyes betrayed her true emotions. When Jonathan saw how she was desperately putting on a strong front to cover up her unsettled emotions, he almostughed in amusement. She¡¯s so cute when she does that! ¡°I heard that you did well in your university entrance exam and are doing two majors concurrently in university, is that right?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Micha was disoriented by the sudden change in topic. Compared to the genius standing in front of me, I¡¯m too embarrassed to talk about my academic achievements. Unsure of what Jonathan¡¯s intention was for asking the question, Micha was stunned. By the time she regained her senses, he had closed the distance between them. His deep obsidian eyes looked like a bottomless abyss that seemed to pull her in. As Micha felt her heart squeeze, Jonathan¡¯s bassy voice rang out beside her ear. ¡°After tutoring you in high school and suppressing the recent scandal, don¡¯t you have something to say to me for helping you out twice, Mich?¡± His voice sounded especially melodious. Lowering his gaze while speaking, he unleashed his warm breath across her face. The warm sensation she felt added to the amorous tension in the atmosphere. Furthermore, the tone in which he pronounced ¡°Mich¡± was simply intoxicating. When he mentioned it in front of her mother, Micha thought of it as nothing more than a term of endearment from someone who was more senior than her. But this time, his voice seemed to have the ability to bewitch her, causing her heart to pound furiously. Gulping nervously, she blurted, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jonathan!¡± ¡°After betraying my own nephew for you, are those two words the only thing you can manage?¡± With glistening eyes and a calm expression, he observed her quietly without revealing his emotions. Even though she had just graduated and wasn¡¯t experienced in the ways of the world, she still picked up a thing or two from the environment she grew up in. Upon Jonathan¡¯s reminder, a sudden realization dawned upon her. With a gentle look in her eye, she probed, ¡°Then, why don¡¯t I¡­ treat you to a meal sometime?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± The corners of Jonathan¡¯s lips curled gleefully. ¡°It¡¯s decided then. Call me once you¡¯ve settled on a date!¡± When he saw how Jonathan was shamelessly flirting with Micha, Walter felt utterly embarrassed. Isn¡¯t he supposed to be famous for staying away from women? Ever since Jonathan¡¯s return to the country, Walter felt that the former was no longer the Jonathan of old. Can he stop staring at her like he¡¯s going to ravage her at any moment? Just when Walter was pursing his lips and grumbling to himself, Jonathan had returned to the car. After warning his subordinate with a look, Jonathan lowered his head and got in. From the moment the Bentley sped out of Haversville Pavillion, Jonathan was in a good mood. On the other hand, a sense of disquiet had crept into Walter. Just thinking about the thoughtful look in Jonathan¡¯s eyes before he got into the car sent a chill down his spine. At that moment, he tried to fade into the background as much as he could. In fact, he already had a phobia of hearing Jonathan¡¯s voice. ¡°Walter.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see anything just now, Mr. Xander.¡± The denial-filled response even drew a sympathetic look from the driver. Closing his eyes, Walter felt like giving himself a p. Suddenly, Jonathan¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Continue to monitor Lucille. We can¡¯t afford to have her cause any more trouble.¡± He had just been informed by Gary that Micha had rushed to City Hospital after receiving a phone call. There, she was greeted by the intimate scene of Lucille and Zack after the former¡¯s failed suicide attempt. After realizing that Lucille had plotted everything, Jonathan was so worried that he rushed to Haversville Pavillion and brazenly used his father¡¯s name as an excuse for the visit. In reality, Jonathan had his suspicions about Lucille after he learned of her affair with Zack. It was just that he didn¡¯t expect her to be so ruthless in achieving her objectives. Given how vicious she was, he knew that he had to be extra wary of her. From arriving in an anxious mood to leaving with peace of mind, Jonathan finally understood why he had to stay away back then. Just the mere mention of Micha¡¯s name was enough to pierce through all his defenses. In fact, he would subconsciously care about everything that was rted to her. Not only did he want to protect her from any suffering and keep her safe from harm, but he also wanted to give her the world. More importantly, he wasn¡¯t going to allow anyone else to steal her from his side. Unaware that someone had imed her for the rest of her life, Micha was fussing over the matter of treating the man to a meal. Usually, treating someone to a meal is just a casual remark between adults. But why do I get the feeling that Jonathan is taking the matter seriously? I mean, he did indeed tutor me for a while back then, but the difference is that he is a lot scarier now! Even though she admitted that she owed him a debt of gratitude, the thought of sitting opposite him for a meal felt pressuring to her still. Sighing in resignation, she struggled with herself before deciding against keeping her word. I¡¯m not working and don¡¯t have any money. How am I¡¯m going to treat him? There. I finally have a good excuse, perfect! Having resolved her predicament, a vibrant expression descended upon her face. It was at that moment that she received a notification on her phone. When she read the contents of the message, the delightful smile she just had was wiped off her face. It read: Don¡¯t forget our promise. Call me. Jonathan. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Hidden Intentions In a matter of a week, the spotlight on Quentin¡¯s interview shifted to the news of some celebrity cheating and bing a mistress in a rtionship. Even though the behind-the-scenes of wealthy families could attract the attention of the public, it seemed as though people were more interested in the personal lives of celebrities. Following suit, more and more secrets of famous people were revealed, overtaking the inte. Before long, the Xanders and the Lingards were no longer the topics of discussion. Meanwhile, ever since they had bid farewell at Haversville Pavillion, Jonathan had been waiting for Micha¡¯s phone call. Usually, a phone was like an essory to Jonathan. It was something he could live with or without. However, ever since that day, Jonathan had not let his phone out of his sight. As Walter put it, it was as though Jonathan sprang up to life whenever his phone rang, but when the caller ID was not who he expected, all of the excitement would drain from his body as he tossed his phone aside. The destion in Jonathan¡¯s eyes made Walter¡¯s skin crawl. Because of that, everyone in Shappiray Mansion had been actively avoiding Jonathan, afraid that they would identally trigger the ticking time bomb and cause themselves unnecessary issues. In the beginning, Jonathan would even request Walter to check if there were any intercepted messages due to connection problems, or if there were something wrong with his phone that was preventing him from receiving phone calls. It wasn¡¯t long before Walter started avoiding Jonathan as well, praying not to bump into thetter, for he could not bear to trample on the poor man¡¯s hope. However, Walter could not help but think it strange. Many women would have given anything to be in Jonathan¡¯s bed, yet Micha seemed to have no desire to be associated with Jonathan. On the other hand, Jonathan seemed determined to win her over. Walter could almost predict the storms of theing days. He had no doubts that life would no longer be simple. In the end, Micha still did not call. Rather, it was Gary who brought the news that Jacob had returned to Haversville Pavillion with a mountain of gifts. From the looks of it, Jacob had finally caved under the pressure. It was already nearing the end of autumn, yet it did not cool down after the summer. In fact, the humidity was almost overwhelming. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Before dinnertime, Micha had just stepped out of the shower when she heard someone calling her from outside her room. ¡°Ms. Micha, Mr. Lingard is back!¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be down in a minute,¡± Micha shouted in response before hurrying into the closet to change. In truth, she had been thinking if she should find an opportunity to invite Jacob back home for the past two days. After all, at the end of the day, they were a family. If she could not marry Zack, then she would work harder and help Jacob with thepany in the future. She never expected Jacob to return first. Doesn¡¯t this prove that Dad still cares about me? As Micha made her way downstairs, Jacob was handing a box to Hannah. In a doting voice, he cooed, ¡°I think this watch would look great on you. Why don¡¯t you try it on and tell me if you like it or not?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Evidently, Hannah was still furious at what Jacob had done. Without even ncing at the box, she immediately shoved it back at him. ¡°If the reason you¡¯re back is to talk about Mich¡¯s and Zack¡¯s marriage, I¡¯d advise you to keep your mouth shut because I will never agree to it!¡± ¡°Am I that kind of person in your eyes, Hannah? Mich is my daughter too, so of course I want her to be happy as well!¡± A hint of helplessness was detected in his voice as Jacob sighed, seemingly acknowledging that he was at fault. Micha had been listening in on the conversation closely. Aware that tension was high, she quickly emerged from the corner and descended the stairs. The moment her silhouette appeared, Jacob immediately turned to look at her and gestured to her with a loving smile. ¡°Hurry over, Mich. Look what I¡¯ve got you!¡± As he was speaking, Jacob ced the rest of the bags onto the coffee table. Inside those bags were boxes of all shapes and sizes. Inside those boxes was an assortment of limited edition purses, designer gowns, limited edition perfume, and all sorts of luxury goods. For a long while, Micha gaped at those gifts on the table in surprise, speechless. ¡°Dad, these¡­¡± she faltered. ¡°Mich, about your marriage, I have thought long and hard about it during my time away and have been self-reflecting. It was my fault. I have failed you and your mom. I promise that this will never happen again. Please, consider all these an atonement for what I have done.¡± As Jacob spoke, he gestured to the gifts on the coffee table. ¡°So Mich¡­ would you forgive me?¡± The sincerity in Jacob¡¯s voice moved Micha. Micha sniffled as her eyes turned red. When her voice failed her, all she could do was nod fervently as her tears streamed down her face. All she had ever wished for was for her family to live together happily and peacefully, regardless of riches and status, just like the heartwarming scene that was happening at the moment. That night, dinner was extremely pleasant. Jacob did not eat much as he kept giving more food to Hannah and Micha. It had been so long since the family had such a happy time together that even Micha could not recall thest time they had such a fun time. After dinner, the three of them had tea in the living room while watching the news as per usual. Just as Hannah was cutting fruits in the kitchen, Jacob took the opportunity to sit next to Micha. After a moment of hesitation, he broke the silence cautiously. ¡°Mich, there¡¯s something I want to discuss with you.¡± ¡°Sure, Dad. What¡¯s up?¡± Without a second thought, Micha answered Jacob with a bright smile. Her amber eyes turned to look at him intently. ¡°Mich, I want to discuss about your sister.¡± Taken aback by the mention of Lucille, Micha¡¯s smile faltered. Before she could speak, a cold voice rang out in the living room. ¡°The Lingard family only has one daughter, and that¡¯s Micha. What sister are you referring to?¡± Jacob had originally nned to discuss the matter privately with Micha. If he could convince Micha, Hannah would have no other choice but toply. To his dismay, Hannah had overheard their conversation. However, it was toote for him to take back his words. Without any other choice, Jacob steeled himself and continued the subject. ¡°Hannah, even though Lucille was adopted, she¡¯s still part of our family. With the whole fiasco between her and Zack, the reputation of the Lingard family has been severely and negatively impacted.¡± ¡°So what? This is the true intention behind your apology and all those gifts, isn¡¯t it?¡± Seeing through Jacob¡¯s ns, Hannah pointed it out right in the open. Although displeased, Jacob bit his tongue. After all, he still needed to exploit Hannah¡¯s rtionship with the Xander family. He was well aware that he alone could not persuade the Xander family to let Lucille marry into their family. ¡°Hannah, it was our choice to adopt her. Naturally, we have to take responsibility for her. Think about it, how will she get married in the future after what happened with Zack? If word got out, people won¡¯t be talking about Lucille¡¯s character. They would be judging us and saying that we didn¡¯t raise her well.¡± As an experienced businessman, Jacob possessed a sense of dominance. At that moment, however, he had suppressed hismanding presence in order to gain Hannah¡¯s agreement, but to no avail. ¡°You want Lucille to marry Zack?¡± Hannah asked in disbelief. ¡°Jacob Lingard, have you no shame? How could you do this to Mich? Have you considered her feelings? Does she have a ce in your heart at all?¡± she thundered. Seeing Hannah¡¯s persistence, a hint of annoyance flickered across Jacob¡¯s eyes, but he managed to reign in his anger. ¡°Hannah, think of it as showing her pity. Surely you can¡¯t be heartless enough to see Lucille having no future, right? Once she got married, whether or not she¡¯s happy will no longer be our business. That way, we don¡¯t have to feel sorry for her anymore. What do you say?¡± Without missing a beat, Jacob continued, ¡°Besides, ever since Mich¡¯s and Zack¡¯s wedding got canceled, many projects of Jacob Real Estate had been forced to be terminated. I can¡¯t afford to lose any of my projects anymore.¡± If Jacob had not brought up his business, perhaps he would have a higher chance of convincing Hannah. Lo and behold, Hannah¡¯s wrath went off the rails at the mention of work. All of a sudden, Micha, who had remained silent throughout the entire time, suddenly stood up. With a calm expression and a faint smile on her lips, her eyes glimmered as she looked Jacob in the eye. ¡°I agree with you, Dad.¡± Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Happy And Safe The moon hung high in the dead of night, enhanced by the twinkling stars around it. The autumn breeze rustled the curtains, bringing along a trace of coolness and chasing away the heat of the day bit by bit. Nevertheless, the breeze had no effect on the dark clouds in Micha¡¯s mind. The ¡°atoning¡± gifts that Jacob bought piled miserably in the corner of the room. Ever since Jacob revealed his true intentions, all the joyful and heartwarming emotions she had felt before vanished into thin air as all of her hopes shattered. As of then, Micha did not even want to look at those luxury goods, for all they did was remind her once again of Jacob¡¯s ulterior motives. Micha could not help butugh at herself, thinking her life was nothing but a joke. She was not a fool, but it was apromise she was willing to make for the sake of her family. Knock, knock. Just then, the door to her bedroom was knocked on, followed by Hannah¡¯s gentle voice. ¡°Hey Mich, it¡¯s me. Can Ie in?¡± Micha raised her hand to close the ss door of the balcony before turning to open the door. The slight worry on Hannah¡¯s face did not escape Micha¡¯s notice. With a subtle smile, she greeted, ¡°Why are you still awake, Mom? It¡¯ste.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re still awake too, aren¡¯t you?¡± Hannah rolled her eyes in feigned annoyance. ¡°I got you some hot milk. Drink it while it¡¯s still warm.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡± Micha wore a subservient smile on her face. The smile made her look more delicate than most women. Hannah¡¯s heart ached as she reached out to nudge Micha¡¯s head. ¡°What were you thinking when you agreed to it? Why cause yourself all the pain?¡± Hannah¡¯s voice wasced with devastation. ¡°Was I supposed to let you and Dad argue nonstop then? Have you ever thought about what will happen when he finally had enough and cut ties with us? He had done so much today just so that Lucille can marry into the Xander family. There was nothing we could do to convince him otherwise, so why bother?¡± Truth be told, it was impossible for Micha to not feel upset and disappointed after finding out Jacob¡¯s true intentions. However, besidespromising, there was another reason why she had done what she did. ¡°Besides, didn¡¯t Mr. Jonathan promise us the other day? He said that he would provide us with a satisfying solution. Since the Xander family would be taking care of it, there was no need for us to do anything,¡± stated Micha. ¡°I¡¯ll give Lucille my blessing to marry Zack, but if the Xander family refuses to ept her, then the me would no longer be on our heads. There¡¯s such a simple solution to it, so why should you take it on yourself, Mom?¡± she proceeded to exin. Before that, Micha was still a child in Hannah¡¯s eyes. However, upon listening to Micha¡¯s reasoning, Hannah suddenly realized that her daughter was no longer the baby that she had held in her arms.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. A bittersweet emotion swirled within her. Althoughforted, her heart ached at the same time. Tears welled up in her eyes as she held Micha by the hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mich. It¡¯s my fault that you have to go through all of this.¡± As of then, Micha did not understand the full weight behind Hannah¡¯s words. She merely viewed it as a mother¡¯s rightful care for a daughter. Not wanting Hannah to feel bad, Micha threw herself into her mother¡¯s embrace coquettishly tofort Hannah. ¡°As long as I¡¯m with you, Mom, I¡¯m the luckiest child in the world!¡± ¡°My, my, such a sweet mouth!¡± Hannah patted Micha on the shoulder with a soft smile etched across her face. However, the smile faltered when Micha¡¯s voice rang out once again. ¡°Mom, there¡¯s actually something I want to tell you.¡± She sat up straight and looked at Hannah in a serious manner. ¡°Mom, you should return to work. I know you¡¯re worried about me, but I¡¯m doing well, aren¡¯t I?¡± With a smile, she continued, ¡°Besides, I never liked Zack anyway. I only went along with it since I was forced into the marriage. Now that I don¡¯t have to marry him, I¡¯m feeling better than before. So, you can stop fussing over me and go back to work in peace.¡± In her heart, Hannah knew she could not protect Micha forever. Micha¡¯s request was the final push that she needed to stop being overprotective of her daughter. ¡°All right, Mich, I promise you I¡¯ll go back to work, but there¡¯s something you need to promise me too.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Seeing the solemn look on her mother¡¯s face, Micha narrowed her eyes suspiciously as she edged further away from Hannah. ¡°You¡¯re not nning to sell me, are you Mom?¡± ¡°Yes, I am. I¡¯m selling you to the foundation. What do you think?¡± ¡°What?¡± The foundation was Adrian¡¯s blood, sweat, and tears. Naturally, Micha knew what the foundation stood for. In her heart, the foundation was the holiest ce to ever exist. Because of that, Micha had never dared to stain it with her presence. ¡°Mich, there¡¯s something that I haven¡¯t told you. When your grandfather decided to start the foundation, he did it because of you. Your grandfather wished that the charity would ultimately be passed to you. In fact, it was mentioned in his will. I¡¯m only managing the foundation for the time being.¡± With a longing sigh, Hannah exined, ¡°Back then, you chose to study sales and marketing and were adamant about helping your dad in thepany after you graduate. Because of that, I never brought it up till now. Mich, right now, I¡¯m asking you toe work at the foundation and fulfill your grandfather¡¯s final wishes. Will you ept?¡± In reality, Micha had been thinking about her future for the past few days. She had originally nned to be a tuition teacher at the school Hannah worked in. She figured that working a nine-to-five job did not sound like a bad option. However, now that she knew about Adrian¡¯s will, there was no way for her to refuse. Ever since she was young, Adrian loved her the most. He would always give her the best things he could afford and never want to give her anything less than the best. He also loved to bring her with him anywhere he went. Micha could still remember Adrian always telling her that he would be old by the time she grew up. As a response, she would always say that Adrian will never grow old. Instead, she would want Adrian to stay with her forever. As of then, she had grown up, but Adrian was no longer with them. If Grandpa could see me today, his heart would probably break at the pain I¡¯ve felt. After a moment of silence, Micha finally raised her head to look at Hannah, only to be greeted by Hannah¡¯s caring gaze. With teary eyes, Micha promised. ¡°I¡¯ll be honored to go work at the foundation.¡± ¡°Great! That¡¯s great!¡± Hannah broke into a wide grin. ¡°Rest soon, Mich. We¡¯ll start this Monday!¡± With a final pat on Micha¡¯s head, Hannah nodded in relief. May you always be happy and safe from now on! When Hannah went back to the master¡¯s bedroom, Jacob had just gotten out of the shower and was just about to carry his nkets to the study next door. The pair exchange nces. Neither of them spoke a word. Just as Jacob walked past her shoulder, Hannah suddenly spoke up. ¡°Jacob, after things settle down with Lucille, let¡¯s get a divorce.¡± The rtionship between the couple had longe to an end. At the moment, they could not even pretend to be at peace with each other. Hannah had lost all hopes in Jacob. Marrying him was a choice she had made in the past, and she was willing to pay the price. However, she was worried that Jacob would once again throw her daughter under the bus ruthlessly, just as he did this time. Without boundaries, there would only be countless sacrifices and exploitations. Hannah would not allow the same thing to happen twice. She definitely would not allow someone as despicable as Jacob to break Micha¡¯s heart again. Jacob stopped in his tracks. The silence in the room was palpable. After a while, he scoffed. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ve had enough of someone as cold-blooded as you anyway.¡± Hannah had long gotten used to his scathing remarks. Hearing those words, there were minimal changes in her expression. Just as Jacob was about to leave, Hannah¡¯s calm tone rang out once again. ¡°Don¡¯t have any ideas on my daughter. Otherwise, I¡¯ll haunt you even beyond the grave.¡± ¡°Hah!¡± With a snort, Jacob exited the bedroom and into the study next door. With a bang, he kicked the door of the study shut. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Keeping A Distance From Jonathan Adrian¡¯s initial purpose in establishing the foundation was to provide financial assistance to poor students and give them a chance to continue their education. Upon receiving special attention and support from various organizations in society, there had been a large-scale development with regard to the charitable work done by the foundation. After the meeting on Monday morning, Micha headed to the project team and reported herself to the Board of Directors with her offer letter. Since she was a regr volunteer on the project team during summer and winter breaks, she was not a stranger to all the team members. Everyone was aware that she was the daughter of the president. Nevertheless, her vibrant and genuine character had won the hearts of many. The staff liked working with her because she was frank, and she never grumbled. Additionally, she also got along well with all her colleagues. Micha was assigned to join the foundation¡¯s most recent project ¡°A Helping Hand¡±. Her main duty was to obtain and consolidate public resources, includingmunicating with all coborators and sponsors to ensure a smooth implementation of the project. Right then, Micha was studying the project information at her desk when a neighboring colleague scooted over. She scanned her surrounding before whispering, ¡°Mich, did Alois send you here just now? His voice was kind of hoarse during the morning meeting. Did he catch a cold?¡± ¡°Why do you ask me? Haven¡¯t won him over yet?¡± Micha looked at Lorelei and chuckled. Thetter blushed instantly. She pursed her lips and muttered, ¡°I don¡¯t dare to confess my feelings to him. I¡¯m afraid that he will ignore me once I do that. What do you think I should do?¡± ¡°You came all the way here for him, anyway. If you don¡¯t take the initiative now to woo Alois, don¡¯t regret when he¡¯s taken!¡± Alois was an orphan, whopleted his studies through his maternal grandfather¡¯s sponsorship. After graduating from university, he declined multiple job offers from different bigpanies as he had set his mind to work for the foundation. Lorelei was his faithful admirer. No matter how she tried to win his heart from their university days to date, Alois had never once responded to her love. All the project team members knew that Lorelei came for the sake of Alois. It was also not a surprise to see Micha gossiping with Lorelei since they were about the same age and had simr interests. Seeing how dejected Lorelei was as she returned to her desk, Micha shook her head. Just when she was about to continue her work, her phone rang. The name shown on the caller ID made her heart skip a beat. Instinctively, she hung up but soon received a threatening message. It¡¯s either you answer the phone now or I¡¯ll go over to you. Oh, screw it. Is this a blessing or a curve? It¡¯s not like I can actually run away from it, can I? It had been days since that incident happened, so she thought that she could close the chapter already. To her horror, her nightmare had just begun. The phone rang again. She picked it up and headed to the hallway. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Jonathan, the line was quite bad,¡± she uttered politely. The line was bad? Jonathan narrowed his eyes. Can¡¯t she put in some effort toe up with a better excuse? He turned around and nced at the staff who were left unattended in the conference room. ¡°How¡¯s the new roleing along?¡± he asked in a crisp voice. ¡°It¡¯s good.¡± It was not a secret that she had joined the foundation. So, she nonchntly gave him aconic reply. After a brief moment of silence, Jonathan asked, ¡°Mich, did you mean it when you said you wanted to treat me to a meal? You were just paying me lip service, right?¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± she blurted. ¡°Then?¡± Jonathan kept pursuing an answer. Though they were just talking over the phone, she could feel his imposing aura suffocating her. ¡°Well, I just graduated from university and haven¡¯t started working officially. I was nning to treat you once I get my first paycheck.¡± By the time she gets her sry, I¡¯m probably living abroad again. Jonathan had always been focusing on his career overseas. While she was smiling smugly at her own wit, Jonathan twisted her words. ¡°In that case, you joined the foundation because of me?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I appreciate what you¡¯re doing for me. Never mind, I can lend you some money first.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Micha shuddered at his suggestion. Though she could not see his devilish smirk, she heard him asking loud and clear. ¡°Are you reluctant to go out with me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that¡­ I¡­¡± ¡°Great. I¡¯ll pick you up after work then.¡± He hung up right away before Micha even realized that she had just been tricked. Suddenly, her recent two interactions with him shed across her mind. First, she was forced to treat him to a meal. Now, he had gotten the upper hand again. Not only must she treat him once more, she even landed herself as his debtor. Mr. Jonathan is a dangerous man. I must keep a distance from him. When she thought about having dinner with him, she felt so uneasy and lost her appetitepletely. At first, Lorelei was nning on discussing her grand confession n with Micha, but to no avail, because thetter was very distracted. Soon, a day had gone by in the blink of an eye. Moments before their office hours ended, the blue sky changed drastically. Dark clouds crept up on the horizon, and a storm swept through every nook and cranny of the city. Shortly after, it was followed by a fierce thunder. Torrential rain poured down, raining cats and dogs. There was a twinkle in Micha¡¯s eyes as a thought suddenly dawned on her. Thank God for this timely rain! I bet Mr. Jonathan won¡¯t brave the weather and show up at the office. At that naive thought, Micha began to like rainy days and the beautiful scenery that came along with it like a package. At that moment, she felt that her life was bliss. ¡°We¡¯re leaving now, Mich.¡± ¡°Bye! See you tomorrow.¡± Her colleagues left the office by twos and threes on the dot. Everyone was cursing the sudden rain which had caused some inconvenience for people getting off work. Lorelei asked, ¡°Mich, let me take you home since there¡¯s a heavy downpour.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you so much.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, please!¡± During lunch, Hannah called to inform her that she wanted to visit the training school and that the driver would pick Micha up in the evening. However, thetter rejected the offer. She thought that she would have dinner with Jonathan, but the rain ruined all of her ns. ¡°I hope it keeps raining forever.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lorelei frowned at Micha¡¯s weird passing remark as they exited the elevator. The former did not exin herself. Instead, she smiled and shook her head. As long as it keeps raining, I don¡¯t need to eat with that terrifying guy. She was secretly delighted. Unbeknownst to her, a gentle voice called out, ¡°Mich!¡± She stopped in her tracks, and her smile stiffened. Has Mr. Jonathan been starving for days? Why is he so eager to have me buy him a meal, even in this ungodly weather? The towering figure had already walked up to her by the time she turned around. Jonathan departed from his office half an hour earlier because he was afraid that he would arrivete. Hence, he was still dressed in his working attire. He looked utterly dapper and charming in a suit. Staring and smiling at Micha like the boy next door, his domineering and imposing aura was not detected at all. ¡°Mich, who¡¯s this handsome guy?¡± Lorelei thought that her beloved Alois was the most gorgeous and perfect man in the whole wide world until she saw Jonathan with her own eyes. Indeed, there¡¯s always someone better out there. Although she vowed to staymitted to Alois, she could not take her eyes off Alois. I must exercise my rights to feasting on eye candy, right? She nudged Micha by the elbow, and thetter was snapped back to her senses. ¡°This is Mr. Jonathan, an elder I know,¡± she hurriedly introduced him. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29 A Shameless Seductress The whole world knew that the engagement between the Xander and the Lingard families had been called off. Hence, Lorelei was curious to find out about the good-looking guy who braved the rain to pick Micha up after work. Upon hearing how she addressed him courteously, Lorelei bowed and introduced herself in a serious tone, ¡°Hi, Mr. Jonathan. I¡¯m Lorelei Summerfield, Mich¡¯s colleague.¡± She seemed like a well-mannered andposed girl, but she was in fact, fretting deep down like one who had ants in her pants. This is my first time meeting Mich¡¯s elder, who is so young and handsome. If it weren¡¯t for Alois, I bet I¡¯d have fallen head over heels for him. ¡°Hmm,¡± he briefly acknowledged without any emotions. His eyes remained fixated on Micha¡¯s delicate face. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he urged softly. An elder? What on earth is she trying to do? Who wants to be her elder? ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now, Lorelei. See you tomorrow!¡± Micha could sense the air growing thicker. She was also puzzled when she noticed a slight change in Jonathan¡¯s expression. Did I say something wrong? Why is he even angry? What a bad temper! There¡¯s no wonder rumor has it that he doesn¡¯t get along well with the opposite sex. With an attitude like this, which girl will ever be willing to stay by his side? After bidding Lorelei goodbye, Micha quickened her steps and trailed behind like a mouse. She was afraid to step on his toes again. His mood swings are so unpredictable! When they were about to exit the building, he stopped abruptly. Micha was not able to stop in time and bumped into him. ¡°Ouch!¡± She felt a sharp pang on her forehead and let out a groan. Before she could rub it, someone else¡¯s hand was already doing the action. Surprised, she looked up and was met by Jonathan¡¯s worried gaze. His palm on her forehead was so warm. A red spot became pronounced on Micha¡¯s fair skin. Frowning, Jonathan questioned, ¡°Why are you so careless?¡± Feeling aggrieved, sheined, ¡°I was trying to catch up with you.¡± Unexpectedly, Jonathan did not get upset. Conversely, he was listening to her attentively. Then, he replied with a smile, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to y catch up. I¡¯m always here, Mich.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± She looked up and was captivated by his bright, alluring eyes. One could easily fall into that mesmerizing abyss. Her face flushed as they locked eyes with each other. Subconsciously, she took a step back, but he pulled her back into his embrace. ¡°Let¡¯s go now and not stand here in the cold weather.¡± She could feel the warmth exuding from his body despite being separated from the fabrics of his suit. Additionally, there was a fresh scent lingering around him. Micha¡¯s heart raced rapidly, and she could not resist burying her head deeper into his arms. Upon catching a glimpse of Jonathan stepping out of the premises, Walter quickly got out of the car with an umbre. When Micha was finally seated, she realized that Jonathan¡¯s suit was all wet. He¡¯s probably worried that I¡¯d be drenched in the rain. Therefore, he sacrificed himself just to make sure that I was fully covered under the umbre. Feeling rather bad about it, she took out a tissue and handed it over to him. ¡°Hurry up and wipe yourself dry. Don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± Hearing that, Walter immediately hid away the towel that he was about to pass to Jonathan. Subsequently, he held his breath and tried to make his presence go unnoticed. What Mr. Xander needs right now is Ms. Lingard¡¯s care and concern, not this towel. He took a peek at the backseat via the rear mirror, and he almost burst into a series of loud cheers when he saw the corners of Jonathan¡¯s lips curled upward. At that moment, nothing seemed more satisfying than making the right move for the sake of his boss¡¯ happiness. Shortly after, he heard Jonathan tease her shamelessly, ¡°Mich, you care for me, don¡¯t you?¡± Walter nearly choked on his saliva. Oh my, why is Mr. Xander acting like a drama king? A conflicting expression shed across Micha¡¯s face. A whileter, she eximed, ¡°Well, Mr. Jonathan, you are my elder. It¡¯s only natural that I show concern toward a senior.¡± Though he cringed at her word choice, a warm and fuzzy feeling still rose within him. Whatever it is, the bottom line is that she cares about me. Feeling delighted, Jonathan epted the tissue. However, he did not use it. Instead, he kept it in the pocket closest to his heart. I must treasure this like a collectible. It¡¯s the first time this girl proactively does something nice to me. His action did not go unnoticed. While Micha was still staring at him, Jonathan turned and saw her scrutinizing him. Instantly, a pinky blush spread through her face to her ears, and her heart pounded furiously. In the next second, she quickly averted her gaze and faced the window. She¡¯s actually shy? How cute! About half an hourter, the car pulled over. The weather was rather chilly since it was still drizzling. It was Micha¡¯s first day reporting to work. Hence, she picked a body-hugging pastel power suit paired with high heels to look prim and proper. Previously, she would often dress casually like a university student. Donning in a set of formal working attire made her look more mature and femininely attractive. However, the thin outfit was certainly not good for a rainy day. Suddenly, she felt warmth on her shoulders as a familiar scent drifted into her nose. Someone had wrapped a long ck trench coat around her. As far as she could recall, Zack had never showed her any affection during the few years they were engaged. She felt so ufortable having a man¡¯s coat around her body. ¡°Mr. Jonathan, this¡­¡± ¡°Wear it, for it¡¯s cold outside. You can return it to me next time.¡± What? Is there next time? Can I choose not to wear it? Before she could reject, he grabbed hold of her shoulder while taking the ck umbre from Walter, and strode into the restaurant. ¡°It¡¯s a small umbre, so don¡¯t fidget,¡± reminded Jonathan. Not knowing what to do, Micha side-eyed Walter who had left them for the car. She tried to pursue further, ¡°Is that gentleman not going to join us for dinner?¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. She was dying to find another person to join them, so that she could be spared from the awkwardness of eating alone with him. Who would have known that her question fetched a sharp re from Jonathan! ¡°Did you just call him a gentleman?¡± A tinge of grimaceced his tone. The next moment, he snapped without waiting for her answer, ¡°He doesn¡¯t need to eat!¡± Unbeknownst to Micha, he was not going to let Walter off so easily just because she asked an innocent question. That night, the poor Walter starved for the entire night as a punishment by his boss. He had nothing but only water to drink. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Chapter 30 His Considerate Words And Actions Upon entering the restaurant, Micha realized that Jonathan had picked a fondue shop. As a hard core foodie, fondue was her top favorite. When she was gazing at the falling rain through her office windows earlier on, a big pot of piping hot cheese fondue was what she was craving. Great minds think alike! Suddenly, Micha did not find Jonathan as annoying and frightening as he was before. In fact, she thought that he was quite friendly. The change in perception made her feel more at ease. As soon as they entered the restaurant, someone came up to them and collected the umbre from Jonathan¡¯s hand. At the same time, he addressed him reverently, ¡°Mr. Xander.¡± ¡°Hi, just go ahead and carry on with your work. We¡¯ll head upstairs ourselves.¡± He did not want to be bothered by anyone when he had the chance to spend quality time with Micha. ¡°Noted.¡± As the restaurant manager retreated, he took a nce at her. Subsequently, Jonathan led Micha to the second floor. They walked past a row of private rooms, took a few turns, and arrived at one with a striking wooden carving on its door. Mich in My Heart. She hesitated to take a step forward. A peculiar feeling rose within her but vanished a momentter. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he saw her gaze fall on the block of wood and asked the obvious. His voice snapped her back to her senses. Micha shook her head and said, ¡°Nothing.¡± Meanwhile, a hand appeared from behind and turned the knob to open the door right before her. Though it was a simple action, she felt like he did it on purpose, seemingly hugging her in a way. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± He continued to behave indifferently. ¡°Okay.¡± She strode into the room, not realizing a smirk had settled upon Jonathan¡¯s face. The private room was so huge that it could easily host about thirty people at any one time. Yet, there was only one long table inside. Jonathan removed his jacket and went ahead to make a pot of hot tea, whereas Micha made her way to the French windows by the balcony. She had always found them fascinating. Coupled with the pitter-patter of the rain, she was also captivated by the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city. Cars zoomed past the busy roads, and the pedestrians quickened their steps to get to their destinations; everyone seemed to know where they were heading to. Micha was so engrossed in the eventful scenes unfolding before her eyes until a familiar baritone voice resonated behind her and interrupted her thoughts. By the time she turned around, the room was filled with a faint fragrant of earl grey. Jonathan waved at her. ¡°Come on over and try the tea that I¡¯ve made for you. It will warm you up in no time.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jonathan.¡± She kept on addressing him formally as if he was a stranger. On the other hand, she spoke casually to Walter. Am I that old? Jonathan¡¯s gaze darkened. Right when Micha was about to take another sip, a crisp voice said sarcastically, ¡°I remember clearly that back in the days, you refused to use honorifics when Old Mr. Simmons insisted that you do so when talking to me. Ironically, you¡¯ve not dropped the title once these days.¡± Cough¡­ cough¡­ Micha¡¯s face was flushed a crimson red when he brought up the past. She choked on a gulp of warm tea and started coughing violently until tears filled her out. Jonathan shook his head helplessly when he saw that she was all tensed up. He knew that he was growing impatient. ¡°Why did you drink so fast? No one is fighting for the cup of tea with you,¡± he saidnguidly as he approached her and gently patted her back. I wouldn¡¯t have panicked if he didn¡¯t startle me like that! Admittedly, she was repulsed by the honorific terms back in the day. Moreover, she was going through a rebellious stage then. Due to that, she even threatened Jonathan before. At that time, she was reluctant to acknowledge him as an elder because he was only a few years her senior. Well, kids say the darndest thing. How could he take it seriously? He must have an elephant¡¯s memory to remember such a thing that I¡¯ve said before and try to use it against me now. How vengeful and petty! While she was still cursing him in her head, the restaurant manager knocked on the door courteously and entered the room thereafter. After supervising the waiters to serve an array of gourmet dishes, he intended to leave two waiters in the room to wait on the duo. However, his suggestion was rejected by Jonathan. The manager was astounded to see thetter rolling up his sleeves, ready to serve his guest food. Whoa, thisdy must be a special someone to Mr. Xander! The cheese fondue was absolutely delicious. Jonathan was very good at pairing the cheeses and keeping the burner at the most ideal temperature. Micha enjoyed herself thoroughly. In contrast, Jonathan had very little because he was busy tending to her needs. By the time dinner was over, it was already nightfall. And so, it¡¯s not exactly that bad to dine with Mr. Jonathan after all. I¡¯m supposed to treat him to this meal, but I clearly ate more than him. Thus, she came up with an excuse to go downstairs, wanting to foot the bill. The manager saw her and asked immediately, ¡°Is there anything that I can help you with, Miss?¡± ¡°Please get me the check.¡± The manager chuckled. ¡°You must be joking. This restaurant belongs to Mr. Xander. There¡¯s no need for you to pay, Miss.¡± What? This ce is owned by Mr. Jonathan? There¡¯s no wonder he¡¯s so familiar with it like he¡¯s a regr here. Oh no, I was supposed to give him a treat. Now, it¡¯s apparent that I owe him another favor. Left with no choice, Micha thanked the manager with a smile and headed to the stairs. Suddenly, a couple who were walking down caught her attention because they were publicly disying affection for each other. Wait, aren¡¯t those two Lucille and Zack? What a pathetically small world to run into this pair at dinner! Ever since the incident at the emergency ward, Lucille had officially moved into Zack¡¯s condominium. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. The few days before their engagement was called off, Zack was grounded by Quentin. However, the grounding period did notst long. Yvonne felt so sorry for her son and restored his freedom in the name of work. Now that the two finally lived together, they were inseparable and could not keep their hands off each other. Zack was stunned to bump into Micha. Upon noticing that the arm wrapping around his was trembling, he patted Lucille¡¯s hand and consoled her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here.¡± Micha was taking in all their reactions and little interactions. She burst outughing and decided to go up the stairs. Surprisingly, Zack took the initiative to greet her, ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Mich.¡± Micha ignored him and continued walking upstairs. When she was passing them by, she heard Lucille called her name under her breath, ¡°Micha.¡± She wanted to disregard their presence and strode forward, but a hostile voice held her back. ¡°Micha, must you be so heartless? Do you want to see Lucille dwell in sorrows and guilt forever? Is that what you want? To err is human, to forgive divine. Why can¡¯t you stop being so overbearing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m heartless and overbearing? Wow!¡± Micha repeated his words through her gritted teeth. She looked him straight in the eyes and faked a skin-deep grin. ¡°Zack, who are you to lecture me after doing all those disgusting things?¡± ¡°You!¡± Zack had been a favored child all of his life, and no one had ever publicly humiliated him. ¡°I see your true colors now. Thankfully, I called off the wedding. A woman like you don¡¯t deserve to bear my surname. Nobody will find you lovable.¡± Feeling embarrassed, he responded with a grimaced look and harsh words. Her fianc¨¦ cheated on her with her sister, and she became the victim. Although Jonathan managed to suppress all the rumors and hate messages that had gone viral, he could not stop anyone from gossiping. She had never expected Zack to rub salt on her wound with no qualms about hurting her deeper. Instantly, tears welled up in her eyes. Before she could react to anything, a calm voice spoke on her behalf, ¡°So, that¡¯s how you roll huh, Zack?¡± Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Chapter 31 A Small World There was a restroom in the private room, so when Micha made an excuse to leave the ce, Jonathan immediately realized what she was trying to do. However, he did not call her out on the lie. After a rough estimation of the time, he then slowly went down the stairs. Nevertheless, just as he reached the corner of the stairs, he heard Zack¡¯s harsh words. When those words made his girl fume to the point her eyes turned red, his expression darkened. How dare he say that no one will like my girl? He¡¯s bloody gutsy! A second ago, when Zack heard the familiar voice, he thought he was dreaming. However, the moment he saw the figure that abruptly appeared in front of him, he went pale instantly. The rules in the Xander family were strict, but he was not one to lord over others. Nevertheless, the soft and sweet look Micha usually had was twisted into a ferocious look. It made him wonder how harsh Micha would usually be to Lucille. No wonder Lucille would feel so scared to the point she tried to end her life. There was a kind of person in the world who would fantasize about himself being the white knight once he encounter a scene that triggered his chauvinistic instinct. What that person never realized was that they were not living in a fairytale. When he saw his uncle ambling down the stairs, Zack held his breath as fear gripped him. It was only when Jonathan stood in front of him did he stammer out, ¡°Uncle Jonathan!¡± ¡°I¡¯m old, and my ears aren¡¯t working as well now. Would you like to repeat what you just said to me?¡± Jonathan spoke in a clear voice, and the dark eyes on his face looked gloomy but calm. However, Zack could sense an icy wave of hostility rushing toward him. His legs weakened, and he stuttered, ¡°U-Uncle Jonathan¡­¡± When Lucille saw Zack¡¯s fearful demeanor, she quietlymented in her mind about how cowardly Zack was. Nevertheless, she soon calmed herself down and said to Jonathan, ¡°Mr. Jonathan, don¡¯t me Zack for this. I was the one who did the wrong thing, and it¡¯s normal that Micha is upset with me. Moreover, she¡¯s only ignoring me now. It¡¯s fine even if she hits or curses at me because I deserve it. Zack¡¯s just trying to defend me. He doesn¡¯t mean to do anything else.¡± Somehow, she had managed to shift the me onto Micha, making Micha seem like the petty one who did not know how to read the room. Sessfully, she managed to unt her love and achieved the goal of her ying the pitiful role. At the same time, she had also managed to make it seem like she had suffered humiliation and abuse from Micha in the Lingard family. After all, only the weak were capable of getting sympathy and attention from others. Micha sneered in her heart. She had been living with her for seventeen years, but she had underestimated the other woman the entire time. If we knew about this earlier, we should¡¯ve sent her to learn performing arts. Maybe she¡¯ll end up as the best actress of the century or something along the lines of that. Lucille kept a docile look on her face, thinking that what she said was wless. However, Jonathan only nced at her before uttering in a t tone, ¡°A Xander is teaching a junior in the family a lesson. May I know what right you have toment, Ms. Lingard?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± That was a sin too heavy for Lucille to bear, and the colors drained out of her face immediately. She had long heard about Jonathan Xander¡¯s reputation. Thest time they met, his subordinates had assumed that she was a robber and had beaten her up. This time, it was worse. The words that came out of his mouth were ruthless. Indeed, he was a merciless character. Micha, who had been furious and embarrassed earlier, widened her eyes at Jonathan¡¯s speech. At that moment, she felt that Jonathan seemed extremely attractive to her. The feelings of dissatisfaction and anger dissipated, and all that was left was admiration and respect. ¡°I hope not.¡± Seemingly satisfied with Lucille¡¯s response, Jonathan nodded. ¡°Also, I¡¯m not close with you, Ms. Lingard, so Mr. Jonathan seems a little too intimate. Therefore, Ms. Lingard, please don¡¯t call me that.¡± Lucille froze. Her pale face was then tinged red by embarrassment. She looked like she was trying to smile but bawl at the same time. Even her voice sounded uncertain, and it was as if she had suffered a miserable moment as she whispered, ¡°Of course, Mr. Xander.¡± This time, Jonathan ignored her. He turned to look at Zack again and said, ¡°Zack, when have the Xander family allowed you to be so arrogant despite your mistakes? What did Father teach you? How did you treat Mich? I haven¡¯t settled the score with you about the earlier incident, so did you think that matter is over? Zack, tell me, who gave you the courage to do this?¡± ¡°Uncle Jonathan, I didn¡¯t-¡± There was no trace of arrogance left in Zack after getting confronted by the aggressive Jonathan. ¡°Apologize to her now,¡± came Jonathan¡¯s order. Instinctively, Zack wanted to reject him. However, he knew the consequences of disobeying his uncle. Even if he were to put aside the fact that he was currently doing his internship in his uncle¡¯spany, there was this other matter about how his parents did not know about his involvement with Lucille. Furthermore, Jonathan returned as a representative of his grandfather and grandmother. Thus, there was no way Zack would dare to go against him. After a moment of mulling over the matter, and despite the reluctance he felt, Zack turned to Micha and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Micha did not speak. She only stared at Jonathan. ¡°Mr. Jonathan, I want to go home.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± came Jonathan¡¯s reply. He then draped the coat on Micha¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Wear this and don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± The gentle way he treated her waspletely unlike the way he interacted with Lucille. Lucille slowly clenched her fist and red at the two retreating figures. She wished she could re holes into Micha as she stared at her with vicious, grim eyes. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Why? Why can Micha stand proud like a princess while I have to bow before the others like a speck of dust? Even Mr. Xander thinks of her differently, but I can¡¯t even call him Mr. Jonathan. I should be the Lucille refused to ept that. Meanwhile, Zack was frightened out of his wits. When he saw his uncle finally gone, he let out a sigh of relief and rxed his tense muscles. However, his legs were jelly, and he nearly fell to his knees. ¡°Zack!¡± Lucille quickly helped Zack up. Something shed in her eyes, and she pretended to nonchntly say, ¡°I never thought that Micha would be with Mr. Xander. Technically, Mr. Xander shouldn¡¯t chide you in front of others even if you¡¯ve done wrong. After all, you¡¯re still his nephew at the end of the day. It seems like Micha is really angry with me.¡± Clearly, she was trying to imply that Micha was with Jonathan to tattle tale on Zack. That was why that scene had urred. Hearing that, Zack halted in his tracks. His face was pale after the bout of embarrassment, but when he turned to look at Lucille, the look in his eyes was a dangerous one. Upon seeing that look in his eyes, Lucille quickly lowered her eyes as if she was frightened. ¡°I was the one who did something wrong. It¡¯s normal for Micha to me me for it. But, Zack, please don¡¯t defend me like this next time. I don¡¯t want to see you upset.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s go.¡± Lucille¡¯s meek look reminded Zack of how she had defended him earlier, so the dark expression on his face turned less tense. After pulling Lucille into his arms, he walked out of the restaurant. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Happy Ever After By the time they left the restaurant, the rain had ceased. Everything around them felt damp, and the air was cold. Micha never spoke after entering the car. It was only when Jonathan¡¯s phone rang did the strange atmosphere in the car disperse. However, after picking up the call, Jonathan¡¯s expression turned even gloomier. ¡°Okay, I got it. Don¡¯t let them into the restaurant in the future.¡± Jonathan ended the call after giving his instructions. When he looked at Micha again, he realized that she was still in the same position as earlier¡ªstaring out of the window. He did not know what she was thinking about, only that she seemed lost in her thoughts. Zack¡¯s words had been a dagger to her heart, and it was not surprising that Micha was unhappy about the incident. Even though he had already avenged her, Jonathan felt that it was not good enough. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Jonathan¡¯s voice was deep and maic. When Micha snapped back to her senses, he was the first thing she registered. The lights outside of the window were dim, but the concern in Jonathan¡¯s eyes was visible to her.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Micha¡¯s heart melted, and she shed Jonathan a small smile. ¡°Thank you for helping me out earlier, Mr. Jonathan.¡± The way she tilted her head upward to look at him was like a doe, and it made Jonathan¡¯s heart skip a beat. In the end, he could not help but reach out to caress the top of her head before saying, ¡°I¡¯ve already told you that you¡¯re part of the Xander family, Mich. Of course I have to make sure that you¡¯re fine. You don¡¯t need to be so formal with me.¡± Before Micha could recollect herself from the intimate touch, she heard the same promiseing from him again. Indeed, it was not the first time Micha had heard that. Thest time they were at Haversville Pavillion, Jonathan had said the same thing to her before. What was different was that, currently, her heart was beating loudly against her ribcage. In fact, a blush was creeping onto her face. In her panic, Micha quickly changed the topic and said, ¡°Let me treat you to a meal next time then, Mr. Jonathan.¡± She meant it. The way Jonathan had helped her out earlier had made her feel immensely better, so she felt that she should express her thanks to him properly. ¡°All right, we¡¯ll do anything you want.¡± Jonathan smiled and returned to his seat. The smile on his face never left even after a long time, and it seemed like he was in a good mood. Upon hearing their conversation, Walter closed his eyes, unable to bear watching them any longer. Ms. Lingard is too inexperienced. What she¡¯s doing is equivalent to leaping into his arms. Mr. Xander must be feeling thrilled right now. He has always wanted to find an excuse to get close to her, but now, he has managed to kill two birds with one stone. What a smart man Mr. Xander is! So she is part of the Xander family? Zack is part of the Xander family too, but you set him up and fooled him well. The real goal is that you¡¯re trying to make her yours! Before Jonathan¡¯s n even came to an end, Walter could already imagine the sly way Jonathan was going to eat Micha whole. Yes, that¡¯s definitely going to happen! They went all the way back to Haversville Pavillion. When the Bentley finally came to a stop, Micha opened the door. Just as she did that, she saw Jonathan standing in front of her and even stretching his hand out to her. Jonathan had a fairplexion and his fingers were slender and bony. In other words, he was attractive. Just as she was hesitating, he said, ¡°There¡¯s water on the ground, so let me help you down from the car.¡± At that point, Micha knew not to reject him any further, so she reached out to him. Her hand was soft. Even if he did not wish to let go of that soft hand, once Micha regained her bnce after getting out of the car, he still did. It was a gentlemanly move. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jonathan. I¡¯ll give this coat back to you the next time we meet.¡± ¡°All right. There¡¯s no need to rush.¡± He said that mainly because he now had another opportunity to meet her again; he didn¡¯t need to think of an excuse to make them both meet again. ¡°I¡¯ll go in first, then. Goodbye, Mr. Jonathan.¡± After bidding Jonathan goodbye, Micha turned to leave. However, just as she took a few steps away, she heard the gentle voice behind her saying, ¡°Mich!¡± ¡°Hm?¡± When she turned around, she found Jonathan ambling toward her. As he fixed his dark eyes on her, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve promised that I¡¯ll bring you to eat your favorite fondue after your university entrance exam. Although it¡¯s a littlete, I¡¯m wondering if this means that I didn¡¯t break my promise.¡± ¡°Are you back?¡± When Micha reached home, Hannah was seated on the couch, reading the proposal for developing new schools in the area. When she saw her daughter entering the house with a blush on her face with a man¡¯s coat draped on her, she narrowed her eyes. After putting the proposal aside, she asked, ¡°I didn¡¯t get to ask you this in the call earlier. Who did you eat with on your first day of work?¡± ¡°Mom! You might as well ask me whose coat this is,¡± Micha mumbled. She already has the question written across her face, so what¡¯s the point in her beating about the bush? Her daughter¡¯s honesty made Hannah chuckle in embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to interrogate you. I just wish to say that my Mich has grown up. It¡¯s time for you to make new friends.¡± Although most of what Hannah was trying to say was implied, Micha understood immediately. She knew her mother was worried that she would be averse to men after Zack¡¯s incident and therefore make herself miserable for the rest of her life. Frankly, Micha did not dwell that much on the incident. She just felt that she was still young, and she did not n to waste much time on that matter. After nodding at her mother, Micha changed her shoes. Instead of rushing upstairs, she sat down beside her mother and said, ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t you say you didn¡¯t want me to marry someone that quickly a few days ago? Now you¡¯re asking me to make more friends. Are you afraid that I¡¯ll end up old and single?¡± ¡°Silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about?¡± After flicking Micha¡¯s forehead, Hannah sighed wistfully. ¡°If it¡¯s possible, I¡¯d like to have you apany me for the rest of my life. But I¡¯ll get old. That¡¯s why I wish to see you marry someone who is good to you while I¡¯m still alive so that I¡¯ll be at ease. Moreover, I¡¯ve only asked you to get more friends. If there is anyone suitable, you can try things out with him. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m urging you to marry him instantly.¡± ¡°Got it, My Lady. So, can this humble servant finally go upstairs to take a shower?¡± It had been a happy meal earlier, but the price of that was the lingering scent of fondue on her. Hence, Micha was desperate to take a shower as soon as she could. Nevertheless, she only managed to take two steps up the stairs before Hannah tentatively asked, ¡°Mich, so who did you eat dinner with tonight?¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually¡­ a man!¡± Micha deliberately uttered a cliffhanger before grinning gleefully and running up the stairs. At that, Hannah shook her head and thought, I hope my worries are unnecessary. Still, what¡¯s most important is for my daughter to be happy. After returning to her room, Micha folded Jonathan¡¯s coat and kept it in a bag first. It was not that Micha did not want to tell her mother about her interaction with Jonathan, but if she were to mention her encounter with Zack, she was fearful that her mother would be worried about her again. Therefore, she decided to keep things from her mother. At the thought of Jonathan, Micha was reminded of the scene when he sent her home earlier. Indeed, that was a promise they made back then. However, after her university entrance exam, she was engaged to Zack, and Jonathan left the country. As time passed, Micha forgot about it but he did not, to her surprise. With the kind of status Jonathan had now, there was no need for him to waste his time on a fondue. Could it be that he was trying to make up for that promise back then? The question in her heart was something Micha never asked him. All of a sudden, her phone rang. She quickly took it out of her bag and realized that it was a message from Jonathan. Just a nce at the screen, and her face was red again. Jonathan: Trust me, Mich. The right person for you is surely waiting for you toe. From then on, it¡¯ll a happy ever after life. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Jealousy The next morning, just as Micha entered the office, she saw Lorelei Summerfield walking over to her with a smile. ¡°Mich, was that really someone you knewst night?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Micha nodded. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you knew such a young man? Not only is he handsome, rich, and gentlemanly, but he¡¯s also considerate. He¡¯d rather get drenched by the rain than let you get wet. If he¡¯s someone¡¯s boyfriend, he¡¯d definitely spoil his girlfriend!¡± As Micha nced at Lorelei¡¯s yearning look, she raised a brow. ¡°What if everything was just an act?¡± Jonathan kept a low profile and rarely showed up in public. Even after hearing the things he did, the mediapanies would still not rush over to step on and mine. Therefore, it was nothing unusual for Lorelei not to recognize Jonathan. Still, isn¡¯t she a little hasty to assume that he¡¯s a considerate gentleman after just one nce? ¡°How can that be? Everything can be faked except for the elegance and nobility he exuded. That¡¯s something that can¡¯t be learned inter life. Also, do you know how much that custom-made suit he was wearing was worth? It¡¯s almost the same price as one year of our sry!¡± Lorelei actually came from a well-off family as well. Her father was a famous construction material supplier. However, Lorelei had hidden that from everyone so she could court Alois.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. She had expensive cars at home, but she did not drive them. Instead, she drove an inexpensive, small car to work and wore in clothes. Indeed, she had gone to great lengths for him. ¡°You¡¯ve got good tastes. Does that mean you¡¯re nning to turn over a new leaf ande to the bright side?¡± Micha smiled and nced at her¡ªthe look in her eyes was a teasing one. At the mention of Alois, Lorelei quickly returned to a solemn demeanor as she shook her head and denied, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. How can I when I have fallen for him and gone down the path of no return? Not even the beauty of another man will be able to change my heart. In this life of mine, he will be the only one I-¡± Before she could say ¡°marry,¡± a figure suddenly appeared by the doorway of the office. Instantly, Lorelei rposed herself and politely greeted, ¡°Hi!¡± Alois did not respond to her. The first thing he did was nod at Micha before letting his eyes drift toward Lorelei. ¡°Lorelei, can youe with me for a while?¡± Without waiting for her reply, Alois went out of the office. Lorelei was stunned by the sudden turn of events and froze. Unable to stand watching her stay rooted to her spot, Micha waved her hands in front of her face. That snapped Lorelei back to her senses. The delight she felt was too overwhelming to be described in words, so Lorelei ended up stuttering, ¡°Mich, are t-the-¡± ¡°Are the darkest days finally over?¡± ¡°Yes, yes! That¡¯s what I mean!¡± Lorelei nodded fervently. At that, Micha could not help but remind, ¡°I¡¯ll have to say that your dear Alois is going to leave if you don¡¯t go out now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so annoying!¡± Lorelei shot Micha a half-hearted re before running out of the office. At the sight of Lorelei¡¯s excitement and her attempts in concealing that, Micha shook her head and returned to her workstation. The project ¡°A Helping Hand¡± mainly focused on the donation of books to various elementary and high schools, as well as mental health education and the sponsoring of teaching equipment for special needs schools. The project was currently in its preparation stage, and Micha¡¯s task was to follow up on the progress and make sure that the project went smoothly. To read all of the information, Micha had stayed up until early in the morning. Initially, she wanted to send Jonathan¡¯s coat for dry cleaning, but that did not happen as she woke upte after burning the midnight oil. It seemed like she could only send it for dry cleaning after work. Soon, Lorelei returned with a shy look on her face. When she walked past Micha, she whispered, ¡°Mich, Alois invited me for a meal on Friday night. Why don¡¯t you apany me to buy some clothes after work?¡± At Micha¡¯s hesitation, Lorelei quickly tried to raise her pitch and whined, ¡°Come on! Come with me!¡± ¡°All right.¡± Micha did not have many friends aside from Lucille since young. Lorelei was an honest and upright character, so she would be a good friend. Moreover, Micha wanted to send the coat to dry cleaning anyway, so she epted the invitation. What Micha did not know was that, at that moment, Jonathan was already in a ne, about to fly to the other side of the world. He had returned in a rush, so there were many things in thepany he had not been able to settle in time. Originally, he nned to head back in three days, but something else happened, and his schedule was dyed. The Epean headquarters had called and urged him to return many times. After all, there were many projects that Jonathan had to approve before they could proceed. Furthermore, there were some important meetings on new coborations he had to be present for as well. As work was stagnant, Jonathan could not avoid his responsibility forever despite his continuous postponing. Nevertheless, Jonathan was still concerned about what happened the night before. Thus, before he left, he sent Zack out for a business trip while instructing Gary to stay back and keep Micha safe. Simultaneously, he told Gary to inform him on everything about Micha. What Jonathan never expected was for the dense young man Gary to do exactly that. Just as hended, feeling tired, he received Gary¡¯s bombarding messages. Gary: Lunch. Ms. Lingard ate with her coworker at a restaurant. There was a man who approached her. Gary: Afterwork. Ms. Lingard went shopping with her coworker. Gary: Ms. Lingard has bought a miniskirt and a tank top. Gary even sent him a photo. Gary: Ms. Lingard ate at the mall¡¯s restaurant with her coworker. A man took some photos of her. The more he read, the more exasperated Jonathan became. Were my instructions not clear enough? Meanwhile, Walter was watching Jonathan stare at his phone with grim eyes. The temperature around him had dropped a few degrees. Walter shrunk away, thinking, Who¡¯s the idiot who crossed Mr. Xander? In the photo, Micha was wearing a whitece mid-riff tank top and the miniskirt that Gary mentioned. There was no extra fat on her waist at all, and with the miniskirt, her slender legs seemed even longer. The very sight of her was alluring, and he could not tear his eyes away from the photo. D*mn it, I really want to fly back right now and keep her close to me. Right then, Micha, who was still apanying Lorelei on her shopping trip, sneezed. When Micha came out of the dressing room, she narrowed her eyes suggestively and said, ¡°Mich, it can¡¯t be that someone is missing you, right?¡± A sudden chill shot up her body from her soles, and Micha frowned. ¡°Why do I think that someone¡¯s cursing at me instead?¡± What baffled Micha most was when she returned home the next day after work¡ªshe saw dozens of bags in various sizes on her coffee table. Although they were all luxury brands, they were brands that young women liked. After a nce at them, Micha turned to see Hannah walking out of the kitchen. Hence, she asked, ¡°Mom, why are you back so early today? What¡¯s going on with these clothes?¡± ¡°Jonathan sent them here.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± When Hannah saw the confusion in her daughter¡¯s eyes. she gently smiled and praised, ¡°Everyone says that Jonathan is ruthless, but he seems to be a pretty nice man to me. Look. When he heard that you¡¯ve gone to work at a charity organization, he sent all these here. He said it¡¯s a small gift from him.¡± ¡°For me?¡± Micha had no idea that the gifts were a result of that man¡¯s shock after seeing the photos, so she only became even more puzzled by her mother¡¯s exnation. Are we close enough to send each other clothes now? Hannah did not notice the strange look on her daughter¡¯s face as she patiently said, ¡°Jonathan¡¯s concerned about you, and you should be grateful. Don¡¯t forget to call him and thank himter. I¡¯ve written his number down on the bag.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Micha obediently replied. After going back to her room and putting away all the in-looking clothes in her wardrobe, Micha thought, No wonder Mr. Jonathan can¡¯t find a girlfriend. His choice of clothes is certainly unique. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Running Wild Mr. Jonathan, I¡¯ve received the clothes. I¡¯d like to treat you to dinner this Friday to express my gratitude. Would that be a convenient time for you? Jonathan was in a meeting when he received the text message. He had not had any rest since he got off the ne and rushed to the office to work overtime. He had not gotten more than four hours of sleep every day and had been having several meetings consecutively. Due to that, both he and Walter had dark circles under their eyes. Thetter couldn¡¯t help but think that the power of love was indeed powerful as he watched Jonathan work like he had been drugged. When Jonathan heard the phone vibrate and saw that there was a text from Micha, he instantly interrupted the executive who was talking, ¡°Let¡¯s take a break and continue after ten minutes.¡± Then, without caring about the people in the room, who had varying reactions, he got up and walked out of the conference room to call Micha. The woman guessed that Jonathan must be busy seeing that he didn¡¯t reply to her, so she gave Lorelei a video call. Lorelei was still basking in glee at the fact that Alois had invited her out for dinner. She kept asking questions about what she should do during the dinner. ¡°What should we talk about to ease the tension?¡± ¡°Would it seem too udylike if I told him how I feel now? Or do you think I should use this chance to invite him out again?¡± However, Jonathan¡¯s call came through when she was getting invested in the conversation. Micha almost threw her phone when she saw the call. But she quickly bid farewell to Lorelei and feigned calmness before answering the call. ¡°Mr. Jonathan!¡± ¡°Are you going to sleep soon?¡± Her heart thumped upon hearing his deep and alluring voice. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep in a while,¡± she answered softly. ¡°Is everything going well with your new job?¡± Hisposed voice sounded hoarse from having several meetings consecutively, but it sounded extremely attractive. Micha felt her face burn, and she wanted to end the call as soon as possible. ¡°It¡¯s great! As for the dinner I mentioned earlier, it¡¯s fine even if you¡¯re not free on Friday night¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯lle pick you up from work this Friday night.¡± Jonathan held himself back from contacting her. However, now that he heard her voice, whatever self- control he had left him, he wanted so much to return to her side. The man couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter at the thought of this. Thinking back, he wondered how he had spent thest five years. Frankly speaking, Micha had chosen Friday because she needed to retrieve his coat from the dry cleaner so that she could return it to Jonathan. Otherwise, her mother would be asking about the owner of the coat. When she heard that he wanted to pick her up, she subconsciously rejected, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll send you the location when I make the reservation. I can head there myself.¡± ¡°Just wait for me to pick you up. Be good!¡± His low voice sounded as though he was beside her. She couldn¡¯t help but shudder at his seductive voice. ¡°Okay. Goodnight, Mr. Jonathan.¡± As he listened to Micha¡¯s panicked voice, the corners of Jonathan¡¯s lips tilted upward into a smile. ¡°Goodnight, Mich.¡± Micha¡¯s face flushed red just from hearing the two simple words from him, and she felt the heat spread across her body. A tingling sensation then spread across her skin. She reached up to touch her burning cheeks before pulling the nkets to cover her face. Meanwhile, Walter, who was on the other side of the world, couldn¡¯t stop himself from shuddering when he heard Jonathan speaking so gently, burning himself with the ss of hot water in the process. Crap! It burns! However, the pain was nothingpared to how his boss had spoken earlier. Just as he was about the hand the ss to Jonathan, he saw the corners of the man¡¯s lips curl upward into a charming smile. Walter froze in an instant at the sight of this. He quickly put the ss down and turned to leave. He walked away hastily in huge strides as if a beast was chasing after him from behind, worried that he would be murdered if he knew too much. However, Walter had only taken a few steps when Jonathan¡¯s voice came from behind. ¡°You heard that, Walter. I need to rush back this Friday night to have dinner with Mich. Quickly book a ne ticket,¡± he ordered. ¡°But Epea¡­¡± ¡°Are you trying to teach me what to do?¡± He took a side nce at Walter. His gaze was so cold and terrifying that one could barely bring themselves to look directly at him. It had only been a moment, but thetter¡¯s forehead was already covered in sweat. ¡°No! I¡¯ve crossed the line!¡± he said as his face turned pale out of horror. Jonathan¡¯s temper had gotten a lot better since returning to the country, which was also why Walter had be a little carefree and offended the former. Mr. Xander was always someone who wouldn¡¯t repeat something twice. It seems like what happened today wouldn¡¯t go without punishment. Yet, he didn¡¯t expect Jonathan to look away. The terrifying aura on him was then slowly reced by a lazy and casual attitude. Thetter waved his hand and said indifferently, ¡°Go ahead and do what you need to. The meeting will continue in five minutes.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Walking out of the office, Walter wiped the sweat off his forehead, his lips pursed. That was close. I¡¯ll have to get on Ms. Lingard¡¯s good side so she can act as my protection amulet once we go back. Jonathan¡¯s mood improved significantly at the thought of being able to meet Micha on Friday. In fact, he had a warm smile on his face throughout the next half of the meeting. However, he never would have expected that Micha had never spared another nce at the clothes he told Gary to buy for her since she hung them up in her closet. To Jonathan, Gary was an honest and cautious person. He wouldplete any task given excellently, which was why he was assigned to protect Micha. However, since he was in Epea, it wasn¡¯t possible to buy her the clothes himself. Hence, he entrusted this task to Gary. The only requirement he had was for thetter to buy something less revealing. Little did Jonathan know that he had underestimated thetter¡¯s taste in clothes. It was only when he entered Micha¡¯s room that he saw the clothes, still with their tags on, hanging in her closet. ¡°Are these your clothes?¡± he asked in confusion. ¡°Didn¡¯t you send someone to give them to me when I just started work?¡± she asked with a frown. Hearing that, he coughed lightly in an attempt to hide his worries. It seemed like he was richly blessed since he was able to get himself such a beauty. It was indeed true love since she didn¡¯t feel disgusted by him because of what his subordinate had done. Everything was going well with the campus at Gerton. However, there were pushbacks with some procedures that needed Hannah to handle personally. She was worried about her daughter and wanted to bring her along. However, Micha refused with her work as an excuse. Seeing that her daughter was being so adamant, Hannah didn¡¯t try to further convince her. Instead, she told Micha to stay at the Simmons residence for a few days. In all honesty, she was worried that Jacob would have something nned for her daughter. On Friday afternoon, Micha had deliberately taken two hours off to have lunch with her mother. She only rushed back to work after sending her to the airport. She would never have expected that when she reached herpany, she would meet with an unexpected guest. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. She walked toward the entrance once the car came to a stop. At the sight of this, Lucille, who was waiting by the entrance, quickly got up and greeted her awkwardly, ¡°Micha!¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Irrefutable The sun shone warmly, but the autumn breeze was cold. Lucille looked gentle and obedient wearing her business suit, and she was quite the beauty. Nheless, she couldn¡¯t help but clench her fists at the sight of Micha. The scene before her was just like how it had been when she was five years old. She followed behind Jacob timidly into the Lingard residence. Thetter, who was wearing a pink princess dress, happened to be walking down the stairs. She looked as beautiful as a princess as she looked down at her with arrogant eyes. For so many years, Micha seemed so precious that she was far out of her reach. On the other hand, Lucille was just like a maid standing beside her. She was never treated equally and even had to get tormented by nders. The only reason she had intentionally tried to please and act courteously was to gain Micha¡¯s trust. However, it had long been since she decided that she would take back everything that belonged to her. Then, she had sessfully taken the first step. As long as she got married into the Lingard family, she would be able to reduce her sister to dust. Even if Zack hadn¡¯t exposed what had happened between him and Lucille, Micha¡¯s wedding wouldn¡¯t have gone as nned anyway. Later on, she took advantage of the situation and put on an act to try to commit suicide. Hence, earning the man¡¯s promise. She even told someone to give Micha a call. Wasn¡¯t that just another way to dere war? Still, even if she had everything nned, she did not expect Jonathan to be involved. Moreover, Zack still didn¡¯t dare to bring her home to meet his parents. Since Micha¡¯s the ideal daughter-inw in everyone¡¯s eyes, I¡¯m going to ruin everything and destroy her reputation. A cold glint shed across Lucille¡¯s eyes, but she quickly pulled herself back to reality. With a sweet smile, she called out to her sister, ¡°Micha!¡± Thetter¡¯s brows creased at the sight of the familiar figure. Just as she was about to get back into the car, Lucille had already caught up to her. ¡°I know I was wrong, Micha. I came today to apologize to you. Can¡¯t we talk for a while?¡± ¡°What else is left to say between us?¡± Micha said with an icy look in her eyes. Ever since the matter of Zack cheated on her with Lucille had been exposed, together with how thetter putting on a pitiful act at the emergency room, and her words with a hidden meaning behind them from a few days ago; she didn¡¯t think that there was even an ounce of sisterly bond left between them, much less the fact that they could still talk things out. On the contrary, Lucille¡¯s appearance made her feel as though she had been yed like a fool in the past ten years. Whatever excuses she had were proven wrong, and what had happened in the past turned into a huge joke. Micha sneered at the sight of her sister¡¯s vulnerable act. Right when she was about to take a sidestep around her, Lucille grabbed hold of her arm. ¡°I know you hate me, Micha. I know that you don¡¯t want to see me, but I know that I was wrong. It was my fault for falling for Zack. But no matter how hard I tried to hide my feelings, I couldn¡¯t lie to myself any longer. Micha, I¡¯ve been avoiding everything you like since we were young. Nheless, Zack and I truly love each other. Can you please forgive me just this once?¡± She was close to tears as she spoke. Micha fought the urge to p and apud her for having such great acting skills. With an amused look in her eyes, thetter said coldly, ¡°There¡¯s no one else here, Lucille. You don¡¯t have to continue acting anymore. Aren¡¯t you tired of having to put up an act like this every day? I don¡¯t care if you snatch Zack away from me anyway.¡± But Lucille was still engrossed in her act. Tears streamed down her face, and she still wouldn¡¯t let go of her sister¡¯s arm. ¡°I was wrong, Micha. Please don¡¯t be angry with me anymore, okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to call the cops if you¡¯re going to continue to act unreasonably like this.¡± Micha gritted her teeth out of anger toward her sister¡¯s pitiful act. Then, with a swing, she finally managed to get herself out of Lucille¡¯s grasp. Just as she was about to leave, she watched as thetter threw herself against the car that was stopped beside them. A loud bang sounded, and by the time Lucille turned back, her forehead was already covered in red. Micha was aghast. She noticed a sly smile on Lucille¡¯s face for a split second before she kneeled on the floor. Then, with her body trembling, Lucille wailed, ¡°Please don¡¯t hit me, Micha! I was wrong. I won¡¯t do it anymore. I swear I won¡¯t see Zack anymore.¡± A strong sense of foreboding nagged at her. The former took a few steps back. Yet, a swarm of reporters came out of nowhere and surrounded her, each one of them shoving a mic in her face. ¡°Ms. Micha, did you hit Ms. Lucille because she snatched your fianc¨¦ away from you?¡± ¡°Ms. Micha, is it true that Ms. Lucille and Mr. Zack are the ones who love each other, and you¡¯re the one who came between them?¡± ¡°How could you be so ruthless and hit Ms. Lucille when you¡¯re her sister? Ms. Micha, seeing that Ms. Lucille is so afraid of you, it seems like it¡¯s a normal urrence for you to hit her, right?¡± ¡°Ms. Micha, why do you not care for the sisterhood between you and Ms. Lucille when she and Mr. Zack love each other? Why don¡¯t you give them your blessing?¡± ¡°Please tell us something, Ms. Micha.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Please say something.¡± With so many reporters surrounding her, Micha couldn¡¯t get a word out of her mouth. Meanwhile, Lucille wiped off the blood from her forehead as a vicious look crossed her face. Just as she was about to get up to continue with her act, she heard the sound of a car braking. Before she could even react, she saw Jonathan getting down from a Bentley. Panic shed across her face, but she quickly acted miserable again as she walked toward him. ¡°Mr. Xander, please help Micha¡­¡± Right when Lucille went up to Micha earlier, Gary had sent a video of what had happened to the man. At first, Gary didn¡¯t want to show up. However, it was toote when he wanted to help Micha as there were too many reporters surrounding the woman. Fortunately, Jonathan was already on his way from the airport. Having found out that everything was Lucille¡¯s n, the man¡¯s face darkened. Even his voice was icy as he said, ¡°I¡¯m no good man, Ms. Lucille. You better stay far away from Mich and stop using such underhanded methods!¡± The woman¡¯s eyes constricted and cold sweat beaded on her back. Once he finished speaking, he brought his men along with him and rushed into the crowd. Lucille dared not stay a second longer. She quickly hailed a taxi and left. Ever since she was young, Micha had attended countless banquets. Yet, this was the first time she was blocked and questioned by so many reporters. In an instant, her face paled. Even though she knew that this was all a part of Lucille¡¯s scheme, she understood that was no point in exining anymore. She knew that people would find more faults the more she said. Thus, she decided to keep quiet about their questions. Instead, the woman chose to back away from them. But she overlooked the fact that there were stairs behind her. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Micha suddenly staggered backward and fell down the stairs the next second. There was a road right next to the stairs. Fear spiraled through her when she heard the sound of a car approaching. There would be catastrophic consequences if she fell just like that. Right at that moment, someone held her from behind. The woman fell into someone¡¯s warm embrace the next second, and a soothing voice came from above her, ¡°Be careful!¡± Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Going To Great Lengths For A Beauty Stunned, Micha looked down and saw arge hand with slender fingers on her waist. Her whole body seemed to be burning from the warmth of the hand. By the time she had regained her bnce, the hand had already left her waist. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± She shook her head at the sight of the concerned look on Jonathan¡¯s face. A refreshing scent hit her nose and in an instant, it seemed as though all worries and restlessness left her. The reporters couldn¡¯t get a thing out of Micha, and a man appeared beside her at such a critical moment. Wanting to carry on with the gossip, one of the reporters asked brazenly, ¡°Ms. Micha, can you introduce the man beside you? Based on your intimate actions, it seems like there is something going on with the two of you. Were you the one who cheated first when you called off your wedding with Mr. Zack? Or was it really because of Mr. Zack¡¯s mistake?¡± When the reporter finished speaking, everyone could clearly see the face of the man beside Micha darken as an indescribable sense of oppression filled the air. He shot daggers at the reporter. His eyes were so vicious and sharp that thetter felt as though they could pierce through him anytime. Thetter couldn¡¯t help but shudder at the sight of this. Then, an intimidating voice sounded, ¡°To everyone present today, Caelfall Corporation will be taking legal action on behalf of Ms. Micha for all the irresponsible words and questions you have raised. Go home and wait for the letter from our attorney.¡± As soon as he said that, he led Micha to the car with her in his arms without a care for the people around him. Caelfall Corporation? Is he¡­ Jonathan Xander of the Xander family? The reporters stood frozen at the thought of the rumors regarding Jonathan. Panic filled their eyes instantly. A momentter, one of them finally snapped back to their senses and quickly deleted all the photos they had taken earlier. Nheless, the fear they were feeling lingered. The crowd earlier disappeared without a trace almost immediately. Micha was still in a daze in the car as if she still hadn¡¯t snapped back from what had happened earlier. Sorrow started to fill her heart. Jonathan¡¯s heart ached at the sight of this. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to imagine what would have happened if he didn¡¯t make it in time. He had been rushing to pick up Micha since he got off the ne. On his way, he received the video from Gary and had been anxious since. Who would have thought that he would see her surrounded by a group of reporters the moment he stepped out of the car. Helplessness and confusion were written all over her pale face. At that moment, Jonathan was so furious that he was even gripped by the urge to kill someone. Tension filled the inside of the car. Walter didn¡¯t even dare to take in a deep breath. Yet, he wasn¡¯t able to escape his fate of receiving the order from his boss. ¡°Walter, contact thepany¡¯s legal team and get everything done as soon as possible.¡± He felt a shudder down his spine hearing that. Is he going to such great lengths all for a beauty? Before he could say anything, he heard Micha saying, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mr. Jonathan. They were being used too.¡± Everything happened because of Lucille. She wanted to ruin my reputation and make everyone think that I¡¯m someone who has been abusing her. Even though the reporters were despicable, they were just Lucille¡¯s tools to get at her. Now that she thought about it, it exined why Lucille had appeared so suddenly and said something so ridiculous. So, she has nned everything out. Micha could never match the malicious intentions her sister had. She was originally worried about Lucille, but thetter had ruined thest bit of yearning she felt. Jonathan was well aware that Micha was a smart woman. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to refuse her when she was staring at him like that. Reaching up to pat her head, he said, ¡°Okay. Whatever you say.¡± However, when Micha turned to look out the window, his gaze turned darker and darker. In the adult world, one would need to pay for their mistake. Furthermore, they had hurt his girl. There was no way he would let them off the hook just like that. After experiencing such a thing, the woman was surprisingly calm. She looked so calm that it seemed like the incident had nothing to do with her at all. Nheless, her heart was bleeding. The person who always treated her as though they were sisters ended up resorting to such cheap tricks, cutting the ties between them without any hesitation. She would be lying if she said she was not affected by this matter. Jonathan¡¯s phone rang suddenly, but his attention was all on the woman next to him. He immediately rejected the call. Yet, the person who called didn¡¯t seem to get the hint at all as they called Walter instead. Taking a nce at the number on the screen, thetter leaned in slightly and said, ¡°Mr. Xander, it¡¯s Mr. Sullivan.¡± ¡°Answer it.¡± Knowing Vincent¡¯s temper, he knew that the man would continue calling to no end if he rejected the call. ¡°Mr. Sullivan!¡± A few seconds after picking up the call, Walter handed the phone to Jonathan and said, ¡°Mr. Xander, Mr. Sullivan wants to talk to you about something important.¡± Taking a nce at Micha, thetter took the phone and said, ¡°Hello?¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Jonathan, hurry up and take a look at the trending topics! Our ex-niece-inw is in trouble! They said that she ruined her image, abused her sister, and was the one who got in between her sister¡¯s rtionship. There were even images attached to the article. The article already has a million views now.¡± Both Jonathan and Micha were sitting at the back of the car. Since there wasn¡¯t much distance between them, it was only natural that the woman heard everything Vincent said. She quickly pulled out her phone and clicked on the article. The first thing she was Lucille holding onto her and crying her eyes out. That photo was followed by another one of Lucille hitting the car after she pulled her hand away from her grasp. Lastly, it was one with Lucille¡¯s forehead covered in blood with a terrified look on her face. If she didn¡¯t know the truth herself, Micha would have believed that she was the viin here. Besides the three photos, the author also wrote mean things about Micha, saying that she was just a dignified and gentle person on the surface and that she was a person with violent tendencies in reality. It was written there that not only did she separate Lucille and Zack, but she also constantly abused her sister. The reporter wrote the article as if he had witnessed everything himself. She clutched onto her phone tightly when suddenly, she received a call from Jacob. Steadying herself, she answered the call. ¡°Dad!¡± ¡°Where are you? Get home right this instant!¡± The man sounded so indifferent and frosty as he shouted over the phone. ¡°Dad!¡± ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done, Micha! Didn¡¯t you promise me that you wouldn¡¯t stop your sister from marrying into the Xander family? What¡¯s up with the article that¡¯s trending now? And you even hit her? Look at what you¡¯ve done now. The Lingard family has turned into a joke! I¡¯m utterly embarrassed. You have disappointed me, Micha.¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Watch Your Behavior Everyone in the car could hear the man yelling through the phone. Feeling utterly embarrassed by what was going on, Micha¡¯s eyes reddened as she tried her best to hold back her tears. Unaware of the awkward situation his daughter was currently in, Jacob carried on bellowing furiously, ¡°Micha, when will you stop messing around? Are you only going to stop when our Lingard family is completely ruined? I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re already so evil at such a young age! No wonder you agreed to it so readily that day. Only now I know it¡¯s because you wanted to sabotage your sister. How would you benefit from that? You are such an ungrateful wretch! Come back immediately!¡± The man was so angry that he had almost fainted when he saw the article that had gone viral on the inte. That was especially so when he saw the blood on Lucille¡¯s forehead. Jacob had also believed his younger daughter¡¯s words and was furious that Micha had almost caused him to lose his trump card. In fact, that was what he feared most. As such, he rang Micha immediately,shing out at her. Unbeknown to him, Jonathan, who was right next to the woman, had heard everything he said. When Micha noticed Jonathan¡¯s expression bing darker, she quickly switched her phone to the other side of her ear and tried to lower her voice. However, before she couldplete her series of actions, the man had already reached out and snatched her phone away. With a frosty expression, Jonathan said coldly, ¡°As her father, not only did you notfort your daughter after she was being bullied, you¡¯re scolding her instead? How can you simply believe anything anyone says blindly? If someone tells you that your daughter is a murderer, are you going to believe that as well? If you can¡¯t even differentiate truth from lies and right from wrong, you¡¯re not fit to be a father.¡± Jonathan had been tolerating Jacob¡¯s behavior for quite a while, but at that moment, he could not stand it any longer. While he was talking, the man did not notice that tears had already welled up in Micha¡¯s eyes and were about to fall any moment. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Aspared to Lucille and Jacob, Jonathan was merely an outsider to Micha. However, he was the one standing by her side, showing her care and concern. The biggest joke was that her so-called family was the one hurting her instead. Perhaps it was because Jonathan had lowered his voice, Micha did not hear anything that he said subsequently. Just then, she saw a crease appearing between the man¡¯s brows before hearing him say impatiently, ¡°I¡¯m Jonathan Xander. If Mr. Lingard has any questions, feel free to look for me anytime! Mich won¡¯t be going back for the time being. Mr. Lingard, please watch your behavior!¡± Right after he ended the call, Jonathan met Micha¡¯s gaze and saw tears rolling down her cheeks uncontrobly. At that moment, the man felt his heart aching immensely. He wanted to wipe the tears off Micha¡¯s face but was at a loss of what to do. He was so overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions that his hands were trembling slightly. As Jonathan was inexperienced with women, he did not know what to do to cheer Micha up. Walter started to panic as well, seeing that his boss was in a fluster. He could not help but wonder why the man was so good at picking up girls but could not even say a few words offort at such a crucial moment! Noticing that Jonathan had ended the call, Micha quickly wiped her tears away and said, ¡°Mr. Jonathan, can you send me back to the Simmons residence?¡± The woman did not want to cry! She had never shed a tear despite having gone through so much because she knew that crying wouldn¡¯t solve anything. Even when she was sad or disappointed, she kept all her emotions to herself as she did not want her mom to worry, nor did she want to be judged by others. However, not showing her emotions did not mean she did not feel them. Feeling Jonathan¡¯s concern for her, Micha finally lost control of her emotions and let her tears fall. The woman¡¯s eyes were red and swollen from crying, and when she spoke, her voice quavered and sounded nasal, as if she was trying hard to suppress her feelings. When Jonathan saw that, he instinctively reached out and caressed her cheeks. As he did that, he met Micha¡¯s gaze. When they locked eyes, Micha could only stare nkly at the man as she was stuck in her spot. ¡°Micha!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± the woman replied in a low voice. The next moment, Jonathan¡¯s fingertipsnded on her face as he wiped away the tears on her cheeks. Such an intimate gesture caused Micha¡¯s heart to skip a beat. When she was about to turn her face away subconsciously, Jonathan¡¯s gentle voice rang out again. ¡°I¡¯m only going to say this once, so you better listen up! From now onward, I won¡¯t let anyone hurt you ever again as long as I¡¯m here! You just need to focus on the things you enjoy doing and express your emotions freely,ughing or crying whenever you want to. Leave the rest to me. Understand?¡± The man spoke in a gentle and coaxing voice. Hearing that, Micha burst out in tears once again. ¡°What a silly girl!¡± After saying that, Jonathan sighed helplessly and pulled Micha into his embrace. Witnessing all of that, Walter breathed a sigh of relief and rolled up the privacy screen in the Bentley. It seems like Mr. Xander¡¯s bachelor life is ending soon! The man¡¯s minty scent filled Micha¡¯s nostrils as she remained in his embrace. She was feeling so tense that she stayed extremely still, almost having difficulty breathing. With her mind nk, the woman muttered, ¡°Mr. Jonathan¡­¡± Right after she started speaking, she was interrupted by Jonathan. In his raspy voice, he said, ¡°The Micha I know is carefree and fearless. She didn¡¯t even blink an eye when she threatened me years back. What happened to that girl?¡± When the man mentioned what happenedst time, a blush spread across Micha¡¯s face at once. Before she could reply, Jonathan continued, ¡°In the future, if anyone bullies you again, promise me that you will retaliate! If anything happens because of that, I¡¯ll bear the consequences. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yup!¡± Micha agreed obediently. At that moment, her grievances seemed to have dissipated and were reced by a warm and fuzzy feeling in her heart. ¡°Good girl.¡± After Micha¡¯s emotions gradually calmed, Jonathan released the woman from his embrace and distanced himself from her before tousling her hair gently. Even though he did not want to let go of her so quickly, the man knew that Micha needed time. He could not afford to make any mistakes and let all his efforts go to waste. It was a good start for Jonathan, seeing that things were progressing ording to his expectations. At that moment, the car was filled with a romantic atmosphere. When Micha recalled the way she was sobbing miserably a moment ago, she felt rather embarrassed and started behaving awkwardly. Just then, the car stopped, and Walter¡¯s cautious voice rang out. ¡°Mr. Xander, we are here!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get down!¡± Jonathan nced at Micha before getting out of the car. After taking a deep breath, Micha quickly followed behind him. However, she found herself in front of apound with a rustic-looking gate and a quaint garden. It was apletely unfamiliar environment for her and not the Simmons residence where she wanted to go. Feeling perplexed, Micha turned to look at Jonathan with a confused expression. The next moment, someone stepped out of the house and greeted Jonathan respectfully, ¡°Mr. Xander!¡± Jonathan nodded in acknowledgment before waving at Micha, beckoning her over. ¡°Mich,e here!¡± Then, he turned toward the butler and said, ¡°Wayne, take Mich to my room for her to wash up. We¡¯ll be having dinner at home tonight. Inform the kitchen and have them prepare dinner.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Wayne replied before he turned to look at Micha and said in a friendly manner, ¡°Ms. Micha, pleasee with me!¡± Instead of leaving immediately, Micha looked at Jonathan subconsciously. She only followed Wayne up the stairs after seeing the reassuring look in Jonathan¡¯s eyes Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Chapter 38 She Is Still Inexperienced Ever since Walter realized that Jonathan was interested in Micha, his discussions with Wayne mostly revolved around the woman. As such, when the butler heard Jonathan addressing Micha by the shortened form of her name, he knew who she was straight away. Besides, ever since the Shappiray Mansion was built, it was the first time Jonathan brought a woman home, and that alone showed how much Micha meant to him. Jonathan had always been a conscientious and cautious man. The fact that he had brought the woman home was a sign that he was very serious about her. At the thought that Micha could be the futuredy of the house, Wayne was secretly delighted and made a point to introduce the features of the mansion to her as they walked from the main hall to the inner courtyard. He started off with the vintage rosewood tables and chairs in the living room before showing her the standalone quadrangle courtyard. Apart from the main hall, there were private rooms on both the left and right sides of the courtyard. ording to Wayne, the luxuriously-designed area was used to host guests. The main hall was the dining area while the rooms at the sides functioned as guest rooms. After they walked past the main hall, Micha was stunned by the enchanting view in front of her. There was a beautiful pavilion, and tall pine trees lined the sides of the garden. There was also a man- made fountain surrounded by rockery and exquisite nts. It was a truly lovely sight to behold. Noticing the woman¡¯s astonished expression, Wayne smiled as he led her down the long corridor and said, ¡°Ms. Micha, we will reach the inner courtyard after passing by the garden, and Mr. Xander¡¯s room is in the main building of thepound!¡± ¡°Is this really Mr. Jonathan¡¯s home?¡± Mr. Jonathan¡­ The corners of Wayne¡¯s lips twitched slightly before he replied with a straight face, ¡°Yup. In fact, Mr. Xander had designed the entire house himself. Ms. Micha, be careful of the steps!¡± After the two of them walked down the steps and left the garden, two mansions appeared in front of them. Wayne started speaking again, ¡°This is the building that Mr. Xander lives in, while the grey building is the servants¡¯ quarters. There¡¯s also a golf course behind. Feel free to take a walk around and explore thepound when you¡¯re free!¡± After the butler finished speaking, he swiped a key card in a card reader, unlocking the door of the main building. As he opened the door, he said, ¡°Mr. Xander does not like noise. Apart from the servants who are in charge of tidying up the ce, no one elsees here.¡± The interior of the mansion was designed in a stylish manner, filled with elements of postmodernism with a hint of vintage, and the contrast created a stunning visual effect. Wayne stopped at the door and pointed upstairs while saying to Micha, ¡°Mr. Xander¡¯s room is the third one on the third floor. There is an inte in every room. If Ms. Micha needs anything, please feel free to let me know through the inte.¡± ¡°Thanks, Wayne!¡± ¡°You¡¯re most wee, Ms. Micha!¡± Wayne was smiling from ear to ear and showed no intention of leaving. Instead, casting a meaningful nce at the woman, he continued, ¡°Apart from Old Mrs. Xander who visited this inner courtyard when it was first built, you¡¯re the first woman Mr. Xander brought home.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Micha asked, not quite understanding what the butler meant. How is that relevant? Why does it feel like there¡¯s a hidden meaning in his words? ¡°Well, I shall take my leave now and not disturb you any longer. Ms. Micha, please make yourself at home!¡± Noticing the woman¡¯s perplexed expression, Wayne did not speak any further and walked out of the mansion, closing the door behind him. Unknown to Micha, after the butler left the mansion, his smile grew even wider. It doesn¡¯t matter that Ms. Micha was previously engaged to Mr. Zack. The most important thing is that Mr. Xander likes her. Besides, not only is the girl pretty, but she¡¯s also understanding and mature, unlike those pretentious heiresses from prominent families. She seems exactly like the kind of woman Mr. Xander would fancy. However, she appears to be quite inexperienced and unaware of Mr. Xander¡¯s feelings. It seems like Mr. Xander has to work harder in order to seed! After watching Wayne leave, Micha heaved a sigh of relief. Why was he looking at me in such a strange manner? The next moment, she shook her head and decided not to think too much about it. After changing into a pair of slippers, Micha followed Wayne¡¯s instructions and headed to Jonathan¡¯s bedroom on the third floor. She had assumed that having stayed overseas for five years, the man¡¯s room would be designed in a grand and ssy manner, which was the trend overseas. However, when she pushed open the door, she saw that the room was designed in an oriental style, incorporating modern elements. Even though she was rather surprised at Jonathan¡¯s choice of design, she found that itplimented the man¡¯s schrly looks as well as his gentle and graceful manners. The bedroom was decorated in a very sophisticated way that only neutral colors were used. One look and one could tell it was a man¡¯s room. Without much dy, Micha headed straight into the attached bathroom. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she saw that her eyes were still slightly red, and it was obvious that she had been crying earlier on. The woman let out a sigh before taking out her phone, intending to call her team leader to exin her absence from work. However, just then, her phone rang. After ncing at the screen, Micha hesitated for a second before answering, ¡°Lorelei, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Mich, I saw the article on the inte. Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m currently a viin who attacked someone. Of course, I am alright!¡± Micha said with a self- deprecating smile, sounding rather helpless. Right after she finished speaking, Lorelei¡¯s furious voice rang out. ¡°That article is bullsh*t! How can they write something so irresponsible! Mich, where are you now? I¡¯ll go look for you. Let¡¯s drink to our hearts¡¯ content!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be having a candlelight dinner with Alois?¡± Micha teased. ¡°Of course, it is more important to keep youpany in times of crisis. Quick, send me your location now!¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Feeling her friend¡¯s concern for her, tears welled up in Micha¡¯s eyes once again. However, remembering where she was, she quickly replied, ¡°Lorelei, you don¡¯t have to apany me. I¡¯m really all right. Go and enjoy your date with Alois. I¡¯ll wait for your good news!¡± ¡°Are you really all right by yourself?¡± Lorelei asked, sounding worried. Feeling a surge of warmth in her heart, Micha replied at once, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just go! All the best!¡± ¡°OK then. I¡¯ll update you after I get the man!¡± ¡°Sure, bye!¡± After the call ended, tears began to stream down Micha¡¯s eyes. A simple gesture of concern was exactly what she needed in such times, not to mention the absolute trust her friend had in her. That was indeed even more precious. The woman had never felt so defeated before in her entire life. As Jonathan approached the bathroom, he heard muffled cries and stopped in his tracks. An unfathomable expression shed past his face as he narrowed his eyes. A short whileter, Micha left the bathroom and was about to leave the bedroom when she heard someone speaking as she walked past the balcony. When she looked over, she saw the man¡¯s tall figure at once. Jonathan was talking to someone on the phone. His head was slightly lowered as he listened attentively while having a faint smile on his face. Just when he was about to pick up his cigarette from the table and take another puff, the man spotted Micha from the corner of his eye and stopped his actions. The next second, Jonathan tossed the cigarette into the bin next to him and opened the sliding door in the balcony. As he walked back into the bedroom, Micha heard him saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mdm. Simmons. I¡¯ll settle everything and not allow Mich to be wronged!¡± He¡¯s talking to Mom? Just when Micha was feeling slightly shocked, she noticed Jonathan looking at her. Lifting her chin slightly with his slender fingers, the man¡¯s eyes lingered on her face for a moment before whispering next to her ears, ¡°It¡¯s Mdm. Simmons!¡± If that¡¯s the case, Mom has probably already seen the article. But why did she call Jonathan and not me instead? While Micha was deep in her thoughts, Jonathan had already retracted his hand, and his calm voice rang out once again. ¡°Sure. Mich will be fine staying at my ce. I¡¯ll take good care of her.¡± Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Into The Den Of A Lion Jonathan turned to Micha again after hanging up the call. Micha had just washed her face, so wet strands of hair clung to her forehead. Her bare face was fair and smooth like porcin, and her cheeks flushed like peach blossoms. Even though she tried her best to hide it, Jonathan could see that her eyes were red and knew she had just cried. It pained him to know that Micha had cried. Since Micha did not say anything, Jonathan decided not to expose her. Instead, he caressed her hair and asked softly, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± ¡°Why did my mom call you, Mr. Jonathan?¡± Micha asked. Jonathan regarded her quietly. His eyes were dark and gloomy, but his tone sounded gentle. ¡°Do you want Mdm. Simmons to hear your voice hoarse from crying? Or, do you wish to pour your sorrow onto her?¡± Micha was stunned by his response. She looked down quickly and did not reply. Is he helping me because he knows I don¡¯t want my mother to worry? Jonathan noticed a subtle change in her expression and smiled. He pulled her by her wrist and walked out of the bedroom. ¡°Let me show you your room!¡± It worked as Jonathan expected. He easily distracted Micha from the topic with just a few words. He would never tell Micha that he was working hard to please her mother and fight for the chance to be with Micha. Meanwhile, Micha was stunned as she followed Jonathan. She could not resist looking down at their tightly held hands. It looked like an adult holding a child¡¯s hand. She felt warmed by the gesture and was aware of how her heart was racing. They had only taken a few steps when Jonathan suddenly stopped. Micha quickly withdrew her hand and shook her head in a refusal. ¡°You don¡¯t have to trouble yourself. I think I will stay in Grandpa¡¯s house.¡± Jonathan did not say anything but opened the door to the opposite room. Then, he looked at her with dark eyes and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear it just now? Mdm. Simmons said you should stay here with me while she is away. You don¡¯t want Mdm. Simmons to worry about you, right?¡± Jonathan pushed Micha into the room as he spoke. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Micha nced around and realized the room had the same design as Jonathan¡¯s room across the corridor. Even the furnishings were the same. It felt like she and Jonathan were living in the same room. Somehow, it seemed improper. That thought prompted Micha¡¯s heart to skip a beat. ¡°The servants frequently cleaned this room, so the bedsheets and other things are clean. Feel free to use everything here, and let me know if you need anything else. I will tell someone to prepare it for you!¡± Jonathan said. So, does this mean I have to stay in this mansion with him while Mom is away? Although this ce is beautiful, and I like it, it feels awkward to live with him. As Micha was still considering, Jonathan suddenly came over and leveled his gaze with her. He seemed to be studying her expression. ¡°You seem focused. What are you thinking?¡± They were so close that Micha could feel his breath. She instinctively took a step back. Then, she pondered for a moment before answering, ¡°Wayne mentioned the guestrooms are in the east and west wings. I should stay there.¡± Jonathan curved his lips into a smile. ¡°As you said, they are guestrooms and are thus for guests. However, you are under my care. Therefore, it is natural that we should stay together.¡± His gaze seemed to see through her and made her feel like she had nowhere to hide. Furthermore, his low but soothing voice sent tremors through her heart. Micha suddenly felt nervous and tightened the grip on her shirt. Then, she heard his voice saying, ¡°Perhaps¡­ Do you want me to live with you in the guest rooms near the front yard?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not necessary!¡± Micha replied. Jonathan took in Micha¡¯s panicking expression and fought the intense urge to hug her. He did not come any closer to her. After all, he had achieved his goal. Since Micha was now by his side, he had plenty of opportunities. ¡°Good girl! Let¡¯s go downstairs to have dinner!¡± Jonathan said. Seeing Jonathan turning around to leave the bedroom, Micha finally breathed a sigh of relief. She leaned against the wall and panted for breath. Micha looked troubled as she realized this was only their first day living together. No, this won¡¯t do. I must find a chance to convince Mom to let me stay at Grandpa¡¯s home! Then, Micha calmed her emotions and left the bedroom. However, she realized that Jonathan had not left. He was standing at the corner of the staircase, waiting for her to head downstairs with him. Jonathan smiled the instant he saw hering out of the room. He watched Micha keeping her gaze to the floor as she hurried past him and walked down the stairs. Jonathan arched his eyebrows and followed behind Micha. They had just reached the stairwell when they saw Wayne smiling at them and saying, ¡°Mr. Xander, Ms. Micha, dinner is ready.¡± ¡°Thank you, Wayne,¡± Jonathan replied. Wayne smiled when he saw that Jonathan was in a good mood. It seems Shappiray Mansion shall be a more lively ce from now on. Jonathan reached the dining room and sat at one end of the long dining table. Micha was about to head to the other end, but Jonathan quickly grabbed her hand. ¡°Where are you going? Sit here!¡± Micha nced at the empty seat beside Jonathan and felt her heart skip. However, before she could refuse Jonathan, he looked at her with a kind smile. Although Micha did not wish to sit next to him, she had no choice but to sit there. Jonathan did not say anything but observed the changes in Micha¡¯s expression. He had a barely noticeable smile on his face. This ce finally feels like home. Their dinner was a four-course meal with soup. The food was simple but tasty. Micha felt famished after everything she had gone through in the afternoon. She smelled the aroma of food in the air when she came downstairs. Then, she tasted the food and found them even tastier than the food in restaurants. However, Micha did not know a chef from a Michelin restaurant prepared their dinner. The chef was adept at cooking all kinds of ingredients and well versed in various types of cuisines. Jonathan had made a lot of effort to hire this chef. He felt his effort was worth it when he saw how much Micha enjoyed the food. Micha had a good appetite and was not picky with food. Her enjoyment of the food influenced Jonathan. Even as he kept serving Micha more food, he realized he had eaten a lot too. After dinner, Micha felt she should do something to thank him for the meal. She stood up to clear the tes, but Jonathan dragged her out of the dining room. He brought her to the living room. Wayne stood there and directed people to bring in various packages. Then, Wayne saw Jonathan and immediately came to him. ¡°Mr. Xander, they have sent everything here!¡± ¡°Bring everything to Ms. Lingard¡¯s room,¡± Jonathan instructed. ¡°These are¡­¡± Micha was confused. Jonathan smiled at her and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have any clothes suitable for ady, so I asked a department store to send some over. If I missed out anything, you can let me know, and I¡¯ll instruct someone to get it for you.¡± At this moment, Jonathan¡¯s face looked warm and gentle under the warm light. His thoughtfulness touched Micha, so she looked down and said, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jonathan.¡± ¡°There is no need to thank me!¡± Jonathan responded. He had just finished speaking when Walter¡¯s voice came from outside the mansion. ¡°Mr. Jonathan, Mr. Zack has arrived in the foyer!¡± Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Scolding His Stupid Nephew Zack went away on a business trip for a few days. He called Lucille daily to ask how she was doing and tell her how much he missed her. Zack had never dated anyone before this. Even though he and Micha were engaged for a few years, they were busy with their studies and hardly ever met privately. Therefore, they never had any intense romantic rtionship. However, Zack finally experienced the wonders of romance after he got together with Lucille. People had said absence makes the heart grow fonder. These words held some truth. As it was the weekend the next day, Zack booked flight tickets and applied for a half-day off work to give his girlfriend a surprise. However, he received news that someone had beaten Lucille when he got off the ne. Zack rushed home from the airport and found Lucille with a bandage over the wound on her forehead. She looked pale and was rather shaken from the incident. Seeing Zack, Lucille immediately flung herself into his embrace and apologized tearfully. Initially, Zack was confused. After asking her, Zack finally understood that Lucille went to meet with Micha for his sake. After what happened previously, Lucille did not want Zack to suffer due to her, so she went to meet with Micha and sought her forgiveness. However, she did not expect Micha to hit her. Furthermore, she did not know why those reporters suddenly appeared. She also did not expect Jonathan to show up. Therefore, she felt guilty and worried that she had caused a misunderstanding between Zack and Jonathan. Lucille cried profusely and did not mention a word about her injury. Instead, she kept worrying about how the incident would affect Zack. Zack was passionately in love with Lucille. Seeing that she still worried about him despite her injuries made him furious and heartbroken. He was angry with himself for going on a business trip and leaving Lucille to face the cruel consequence alone. At the same time, he hated Micha for being spiteful. Therefore, he felt an urge to rush out of the door to settle the score with Micha. However, Lucille tried to stop him with all her might, saying that Micha was now with Jonathan. She feared Zack would get scolded again. Hearing this made Zack even more furious. After dinner, he coaxed Lucille to sleep before sneaking out of the house. However, Zack did not know the supposedly asleep Lucille opened her eyes the instant Zack closed the door. She stood behind the curtain and grinned as she watched Zack¡¯s car drive away. At this moment, Zack sat in the foyer of Shappiray Mansion with a gloomy expression. Anger burned in his chest as he recalled Lucille crying in his arms pitifully. Hearing footstepsing his way, Zack stood up. He saw it was Jonathan and shouted immediately, ¡°Is Micha here? I want to see her!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know who you are speaking to? Where are your manners?¡± Jonathan scolded. Zack stiffened at Jonathan¡¯s stern tone. He struggled to force down his fury but managed to sound polite as he said, ¡°Uncle Jonathan, I would like to talk to Micha!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Jonathan nced at him. He spoke briefly as usual and without a hint of emotion in his tone. Seeing that Jonathan did not deny what he said but asked for a reason, Zack became more confident that Micha was there. Zack¡¯s eyes glowed with fury. ¡°Uncle Jonathan, I know you are protecting Micha because she is Old Mr. Simmons¡¯ granddaughter. But I am your nephew!¡± ¡°I admit I was wrong previously. However, Micha is too vicious. Lucille went to her to apologize, but she hit Lucille. I must see her today!¡± Zack added. ¡°What makes you think you can walk into the inner courtyard without my permission?¡± Jonathan spoke in an unbothered tone as he looked at Zack indifferently. Then, he epted a teacup offered by the housekeeper. ¡°Uncle Jonathan!¡± Jonathan¡¯s expression twisted with fury. The anger burning in his chest gave him the courage to meet Jonathan¡¯s gaze. What he saw was a re colder than the dead of winter, causing Zack to shiver. Before Zack could speak, Jonathan ced his teacup heavily on the rosewood table and said fiercely, ¡°How dare youe here to cause trouble over a shameless woman? Zack, it seems you have forgotten your ce!¡± ¡°Uncle Jonathan, Lucille is a good woman. She is kind and honest. Furthermore, she loves me. If I had never met Lucille, I would never have understood how it feels to love someone. On the other hand, Micha had never cared about me in the years we were engaged. There was no chance of intimacy like a romantic couple. Otherwise, I would never have¨C¡± Zack said. ¡°Otherwise, you would never have cheated on her with her sister?¡± There was a sudden crashing noise. Jonathan had swept the teacup on the table toward Zack. A wrathful aura overflowed from Jonathan as he said, ¡°Zack, it seems you are good at finding excuses for your mistake! Is this the reason for you to hurt Micha?¡± Jonathan paused before continuing, ¡°You could have told us that you don¡¯t like her and canceled the engagement to pursue your true love. That would not have been an issue. However, instead of doing that, you insisted on dragging the Xander family down into such a shameful situation. What right do you have to talk to me about love?¡± The teacup shattered into tiny pieces on the floor, spilling tea onto Zack¡¯s shirt and leaving a brownish stain. However, Zack did not dare to move a finger. Walter saw what happened and pitied Zack. Are you still going to be obsessed with that woman and believe everything she said? When are you going to learn? How dare you seek to harm thedy Mr. Xander cares about tremendously? You are really looking for trouble! Actually, Zack knew that Jonathan was right while he was wrong. He became less arrogant after Jonathan threw the teacup at him. Thus, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Uncle Jonathan, I know my mistake brought humiliation to the Xander family and broke Grandpa¡¯s heart. After everything is over, I will bring Lucille to seek Grandpa¡¯s forgiveness. Still, Micha has no right to beat Lucille!¡± ¡°If it was up to me, Lucille shall no longer have any ce in Quakersville!¡± Jonathan did not speak loudly, but his tone was heavy with warning. After saying that, Jonathan suddenly stood up and nced at Zack. ¡°What a brainless fool!¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Uncle Jonathan¡­¡± Zack was confused. Before he could demand to talk to Micha again, Jonathan had turned around and left. Zack wanted to follow him, but Walter suddenly stood before him and said, ¡°Mr. Zack, allow me to walk you out.¡± ¡°But-¡± Zack was unwilling to give up. However, Walter interrupted him and said, ¡°Mr. Zack, Mr. Jonathan instructed me to give this to you!¡± ¡°What is this?¡± Zack was confused as he saw a ck object the size of a fingernail on Walter¡¯s hand. ¡°We found this in your bridal chambers the day before the wedding,¡± Walter said. He looked at Zack¡¯s frown and continued, ¡°Allow me to say something in defense of Mr. Jonathan. Mr. Zack, I believe you know how Mr. Jonathan has treated you all these years. When you graduated from university and wanted to intern in thepany, Mr. Jonathan found the best person to guide you.¡± Walter paused before continuing, ¡°When you wanted a marital home, Mr. Jonathan found the most renowned architect in the country for you. Even after youmitted mistakes, Mr. Jonathan still found ways to resolve the mess. Furthermore, Old Mr. Xander still does not know about the matter between you and Ms. Lingard. Who do you think has been helping you, Mr. Zack? Therefore, your behavior today has hurt Mr. Jonathan!¡± Walter continued to nag Zack. Once he had finished speaking, Zack raised the pinhole camera in his hand and asked, ¡°So, what does this have to do with anything?¡± ¡°Here is the fingerprint identification report. Mr. Zack, you will understand after reading it,¡± Walter answered. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Chapter 41 She Is Adorably Cute When Walter returned, Jonathan was giving his instructions to the butler regarding breakfast the next day. ¡°Mich loves omelet. Also, prepare some mushroom soup. She¡¯s too skinny, so it¡¯s a must to ensure she gets a nutritious and well-bnced diet.¡± ¡°Got it, Mr. Xander!¡± the butler answered with a broad grin. Who says Mr. Xander doesn¡¯t know how to care about others? It¡¯s just that he hasn¡¯t met the right one before this! Isn¡¯t he doing great now? After the butler left, Walter approached and asked in a low voice, ¡°Mr. Xander, Mr. Zack has left. I¡¯m afraid Lucille would never dream that you would be able to find the pinhole camera. But she has her alert high up too, and that¡¯s why she managed to escape from the clutches of our men and hurt Ms. Micha.¡± At the mention of the incident earlier that day, a frown instantly formed between Jonathan¡¯s eyebrows. A cold glint shed across his eyes, and there was a hint of aloofness in his icy voice. ¡°Do you have everything ready?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve obtained the surveince footage of Lucille meeting up with the representatives from the magazine company. However, I can¡¯t hear their conversation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Jonathan said slowly. ¡°Get someone to work on it. I want to see results by tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Xander!¡± Walter agreed. He knew very well that Jonathan was not a kind person. Barely anyone could escape his clutches if he secretly wanted to teach someone a lesson. At the thought of that, Walter¡¯s lips curled. ¡°About Lucille¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to be bothered about that anymore. No matter how much of a ruckus she caused, it¡¯ll never amount to anything.¡± There was barely any expression on Jonathan¡¯s face, yet his sharp gaze alone was enough to send a chill down everyone¡¯s spine. That Lucille is totally shooting her own legs. She¡¯s on the way to seek her death! Walter scoffed as he secretly mourned and prayed for her. Right then, they heard footstepsing their way. Looking in the direction, Gary walked in with a nk face and stopped right before Jonathan. ¡°Mr. Xander, I¡¯m sorry for the oversight today. I failed to protect Ms. Lingard. Please punish as you deem fit, Mr. Xander!¡± Gary was riddled with guilt ever since the incident urred, and that pang of guilt was even more apparent on his face at that point. He dared not picture what would happen then if Jonathan did not arrive in time. ¡°Everything happened too suddenly. I can¡¯t possibly me you for that but be extra careful about Mich¡¯s safety from now on. I will never allow the same thing to happen again!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Gary wore a serious look on his face as he answered. Standing up, Jonathan gave a pat on Gary¡¯s shoulder and started to make his way into the house. It was only a few steps when he paused in his tracks. Without turning around, amanding voice filled with overflowing vitality resonated in the air. ¡°I guess it has been too quiet for Jacob Real Estate recently. We should keep Mr. Lingard upied with some problems then.¡± ¡°I got it, Mr. Xander!¡± Walter eagerly responded. It was until Jonathan went far that Walter leaned closer to Gary and gave him a nudge on his shoulder. ¡°Do you think Mr. Xander is doing this for the sake of justice? He¡¯spletely disregarding his father-in- law just to please his wife!¡± But at the mere thought that Jacob might not even have the time to cry soon, he suddenly felt so good. In response, Gary coldly threw him a nce. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask Mr. Xander just now?¡± ¡°Oh gosh! It¡¯s no fun being around a log like you!¡± Walter babbled as he followed behind Gary after seeing that he had turned to leave. As soon as those words fell, Gary tly responded, ¡°Haven¡¯t you been single since birth even though you¡¯re a fun person?¡± Walter was so mad he almost coughed blood out as he red furiously at him. This guy is doing it on purpose, isn¡¯t he? On the other side, the housekeepers in the mansion had already gone back to their quarters when Jonathan returned. Amidst the quiet house, there was only a warm orange glow from a wallmp illuminating the interior. The only difference was that the man knew he was no longer alone. Because of Micha¡¯s arrival, Jonathan felt that his wandering heart had finally calmed down after so many years. At the same time, Micha was still wide awake in the other room of the mansion. She was too embarrassed to ask for help and hence had been organizing her boxes of items all by herself. Other than Jonathan¡¯s so-called extra sets of clothes and toiletries, there were also cosmetics, footwear, and bags. They had even factored in facial masks as well. What left her in disbelief and shock was how the boxes of clothes before her eyes were all clothing from thetest season, and most importantly, the undergarments were all her size. Just as she felt her face ming at the sudden revtion, she heard a knock on the door. Lifting her gazes, she saw Jonathan standing by the door. Almost instinctively, she hastily shoved the bag of undergarments in her hands into the closet and awkwardly muttered, ¡°M-Mr. Jonathan!¡± ¡°Why are you not asleep yet?¡± She thought no one had noticed what she was doing, but it turned out that Jonathan had witnessed every single action of hers. ¡°I¡¯m not done arranging these items.¡± Sensing the intense gaze from the man, Micha lowered her eyes to answer. After giving it some thought, she looked up again and added, ¡°Am I causing you trouble?¡± Well aware that Jonathan¡¯s visit was about Lucille¡¯s matter, she disyed a remorseful look. ¡°Why do you have such ridiculous thoughts in your head?¡± The lighting in the room that shone on her face entuated her delicate and beautiful facial features. Yet, there was an apparent hint of cautiousness in her gaze that made the man feel his heart wrenched for her. Resorting to remain deadpan, he changed the subject and asked, ¡°Any ns for the weekends?¡± ¡°I might get thrown rotten eggs if I head out now, so I reckoned it¡¯s better to stay at home!¡± Despite theughter, she could not hide the exasperation within her. Jonathan could still see through her and thus decided not to go on anymore. ¡°Take a bath and rest early.¡± His low, deep voice had turned a little raspy at that point, almost as if he was trying to suppress something in his mind. Micha nodded her head in response. Just as Jonathan turned to leave, she delicately said, ¡°Thank you for taking me in and even preparing everything for me!¡± ¡°You¡¯re showing your gratitude verbally again?¡± Jonathan nced sideways with a faint smile hanging on his lips. He had a pair of stunning eyes that resembled the starry skies¡ªdeep yet clear. In fact, it felt like there was a special magical quality to it. One could easily fall into that mesmerizing abyss and not able to extricate from it. ¡°N-No! That¡¯s not it!¡± Micha instinctively refuted. Even though Jonathan had caught sight of her nervous appearance, he had no intention of sparing her. ¡°Then, what is it?¡± ¡°I-I¡­¡± ¡°There is no hurry. Take your time to think. I can wait!¡± I¡¯ll be more than willing if you offer your body as a reward! Of course, he did not say that out loud. That unhurried voice made Micha¡¯s heart race uncontrobly and threw her into a state of panic. All she could feel was her face burning at intense heat. Noticing a bashful look on Micha¡¯s face, Jonathan curved his lips into a captivating smile. She is indeed adorable! That night, Micha had a peculiar dream. In her dream, she told a boy: When I grow up, I want to have a ce of my own. Hopefully, it¡¯s as gigantic as a quadrangle, a garden asrge as those in the royal pces, and a personal vi to myself. Inside, there will be a home theatre system, an indoor swimming pool, and arge room to keep my nice clothes. And that was not all. She also added: Jonathan, what should I do? Given how greedy I am, I probably won¡¯t be able to have my wishese true! The sun had already risen when she jolted awake from her dream. Thinking of the scenario in her dream, she suddenly recalled that she had indeed said those words to Jonathan many years ago. It was just that during then, she stubbornly refused to greet him politely and instead called him by his name. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. With those thoughts in mind, Micha¡¯s pupils dted with shock. Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Chapter 42 She Freaks Out The dream fromst night continued to linger in Micha¡¯s mind, seemingly stabbing right through her heart as the tumult of emotions brewing within her could not calm down even after a long time. She had long put those immature words she had once said while she was young at the back of her mind as time slipped away. I have to admit theyout and structure of Shappiray Mansion are exactly like what I¡¯ve envisioned, or possibly even better, and I¡¯m more than d about it. But again, I¡¯m sure this is nothing more than pure coincidence. Or perhaps, those words I said years ago have inspired him to build Shappiray Mansion in such a manner! Oh well, I don¡¯t even dwell on those ideas, so why will others? After getting things reasoned out, Micha swiftly brushed her teeth and get changed. She thought she had woken up quite early, but only to find that Jonathan was already seated on the couch working on his laptop ced on his thighs when she headed downstairs. As his slender and defined fingers danced across the keyboard, the crisp ttering of the keys sounded rhythmically in the room. The man had a tall build and long legs. Verily, as he slightly extended his legs and leaned back onto the couch slothfully, there was an inexplicable sense of casualness and attractiveness. While Micha was engrossed in what was before her eyes, Jonathan suddenly threw a side nce in her direction. He wore aposed look and had his lips slightly curled upward. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Jonathan!¡± She stopped abruptly in the middle of the flight of stairs and obediently greeted him. ¡°Mmm.¡± Jonathan withdrew his gaze. She honestly looks good in anything. Despite those thoughts, the wordsing out of his mouth sounded extremely serious. ¡°Did you sleep wellst night?¡± ¡°I-I guess so!¡± Micha replied with her eyes lowered. Being in an unfamiliar environment, she thought she would not be able to fall asleep. Little did she expect that she would have a good night of sleep till dawn, much less a dream. The thought of how she used to call Jonathan by his name brazenly made her feel a little guilt-ridden. She felt like there was a me ignited and burning fierily on her chest. ¡°Why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Recognizing that the voice came from above her head, Micha immediately raised her head. Only then did she realize Jonathan was standing right in front of her, staring at her concernedly. His warm breath brushed against her face, causing her to blush so much that she looked like a tomato. ¡°Did you forget to close the windowsst night?¡± Without getting a response from her even after a long while, the man lifted his hand and ced his palm on her forehead. Micha¡¯s body stiffened up, and she almost forgot how to breathe as immense astonishment crept within her. Every part of her skin that Jonathan had just touched felt like they were set aze with fire. The temperature of her face remained peak high as her cheeks blushed even wilder than before. ¡°N-No!¡± she staggered a few steps backward, deliberately distancing herself away from Jonathan. ¡°I-I¡¯m just hungry and rushed down in a hurry!¡± She blinked as she gave an excuse. ¡°Is that so?¡± It was clear that the man did not believe those words. Nheless, he grabbed her by her wrist and pulled her toward the dining room. ¡°The kitchen has finished preparing breakfast. There¡¯s your favorite omelet.¡± The sunlight filtered in through the windows reflected off Jonathan¡¯s body, making him radiate a blissful tenderness. His handsome features were further made distinct by the warm glow casting on him. In the dining room, the butler had been waiting for their arrival. Noticing their intimate behavior as they walked in, he wore a delighted look as he greeted, ¡°Good morning, Ms. Micha!¡± ¡°Good morning, Wayne!¡± she replied politely. However, when she caught sight of Wayne¡¯s meaningful smile, she bowed her head even lower. For some reason, she felt that everyone there was acting strangely. The housekeepers sized me up curiously; though Wayne is extremely friendly, he has a baffling smile. And not to mention how Jonathan was so intimate by having physical contact with me. Can¡¯t he just talk properly? While her thoughts were in a jumbled mess, Jonathan¡¯s deep voice sounded from beside her ear. ¡°I haven¡¯t had time to ask you yesterday. What do you think of Shappiray Mansion?¡± Ahem, ahem¡­! Micha choked on her soup as that question reminded her of her dreamst night. She had managed to convince herself earlier, yet Jonathan¡¯s question only triggered her to rethink the meaning behind it. Her face was flushed a crimson red, and her tears nearly streamed down. ¡°Why are you so careless?¡± As those words rang out, Mich felt a sudden pressure on her back. Even with her blouse on, she could feel the warmth from Jonathan¡¯s palm permeating into her skin, leaving her with a burning sensation on her back. As much as he had patted her back, she felt a numbness creeping up to her head and her body shivering as anxiousness filled her. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jonathan. I¡¯m fine now!¡± Micha spoke in an apologetic voice after the difort in her faded. However, Jonathan was more concerned about getting an answer to his question earlier. ¡°You have yet to answer me. What do you think of this ce?¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite cool!¡± Micha acknowledged with a gentle grunt. ¡°Just that?¡± Those three simple words supposedly were not enough to satisfy Jonathan, which exined why he persisted in getting a longer answer. Micha stopped drinking the soup and her exquisite face nked out as she fell into deep thought for a while before she turned to the man and solemnly said, ¡°And also, you¡¯re just like what everyone says! You¡¯re indeed extremely wealthy!¡± Casting a tender look at her, he suddenly inched closer to her while she was unprepared, leaving her jumping in fright that the fork in her hand dropped as she shivered. His oppressive aura had left Micha¡¯s body frozen on the spot, not daring to move an inch. Right then, a soft voice rang next to her ear. ¡°Mich, you¡¯re doing it on purpose, am I right? Tell me¡­ what should I do to punish you?¡± The man¡¯s voice turned high-pitched toward thest syble, and there was an indescribable affection and obvious trace of seduction. Listening to that only made Micha¡¯s ears tickle with embarrassment. Is this man deliberately trying to seduce me? At this untimely moment, a voice came outside the dining room. Following that, Walter appeared at the door. ¡°Mr. Xander, Mr. Sullivan is here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not seeing him.¡± Jonathan straightened his back and sat back at his original spot. Then, he swept his grim and frosty gazes at Walter, leaving thetter flinching in fear. In the blink of an eye, he had already ducked out of the room. Walter had only managed to heave a sigh of relief after making sure that he was out of Jonathan¡¯s line of vision. By now, cold sweat was breaking out on his back, and he was in extreme puzzlement. Did I do something wrong? Mr. Xander¡¯s gaze was too terrifying. It felt like he was about to kill me! Because of Walter¡¯s sudden appearance, Jonathan finally returned to normalcy. Breakfast had been a mind-shuddering experience. Even with Micha¡¯s favorite omelet, she found it tasteless and unappetizing, almost as if she was chewing on wax. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. I¡¯m just stating facts. Why did he think I was teasing him? Besides, I wouldn¡¯t dare to do that! She thought they could both return to their rooms after breakfast without the need to interfere in each other¡¯s personal lives. Unexpectedly, she heard Jonathan¡¯s clear voice again as soon as she put her spoon down. ¡°Go and pack yourself two sets of clothes. We¡¯ll head outter.¡± ¡°Head out? Where are we going?¡± Ever since the scandal broke out, Micha was subconsciously repulsive about heading outdoors. ¡°To take a break.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Unbothered about the doubts Micha had, Jonathan seemed like he was in a good mood. He looked very rxed and even had a faint smile as he nced at the watch on his wrist. ¡°We¡¯ll leave in ten minutes. Go get ready now!¡± Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Walter And Gary Try To Help Even though Jonathan let Micha take some time to pack her luggage, she did not bring many things. Once they stepped out of the mansion, Jonathan tossed his luggage to Gary. At the same time, he shot Walter a re for raining on his parade a while ago. Perplexed, Walter twitched his lips indignantly. When Micha fastened her gaze on Gary, he realized he should not let the chance to butter her up slip away. Thus, he moved toward her and greeted her earnestly, ¡°Ms. Micha, nice to meet you! I¡¯m Walter, and he¡¯s Gary. We look forward to serving you in the future.¡± Walter and Gary? Micha recalled what she had previouslye across about the definition of names. Ah! If I¡¯m not wrong, the name Walter means the mander of the army¡±. Meanwhile, the name Gary means ¡°powerful with the spear¡±. What a heroicbination! She greeted them affably, ¡°Nice to meet you too!¡± No doubt, she was well aware that Jonathan disliked boisterousness. Hence, it never came across her mind that there would be someone bbering blissfully like Walter alongside him. After a while, she shifted her gaze away from him and cast a look in Gary¡¯s direction again. Micha was sure as h*ll that she had seen Gary before. She could recall vividly how she first bumped into the man lining up coincidentally while shopping with Lorelei that night. Since he was well-built and devoid of expression, Micha could not resist scrutinizing him for quite a while at that moment. It never urred to her that he was Jonathan¡¯s subordinate. Could it be¡­ Micha tended to stop in her tracks as something came to her. Sensing that she had slowed down her pace, Jonathan, already quite a distance ahead, turned abruptly and broke her reverie. ¡°Mich, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Oh! Nothing!¡± She regained herposure and quickened her pace to catch up to him. Earlier on, Micha was overwhelmed by thevish Shappiray Mansion. Even so, she had to admit that the breathtaking view of thetter¡¯s private car porch was beyond description. Her jaw dropped when all the luxury cars came into view. A few were even worldwide limited editions she hade across from a television program earlier. Unbelievably, she had the opportunity to set her eyes on them in real life then. Ah! Someone actually presumed Mr. Jonathan¡¯s worth to be approximately forty billion two years ago. Evidently, these are just the tip of the iceberg! Even when Micha was seated in the Lincoln, she was still gasping inwardly. Good gracious! Now I understand why Dad is thinking of cozying up to the Xander family! After a while, Walter drove off from the back door. However, he was stunned when he caught sight of a slender figure while driving past the front yard. ¡°Mr. Xander, it¡¯s Lucille Lingard!¡± Since it waste autumn, there was even a hint of coolness in the air during the day. Jonathan and Micha looked up instinctively in Lucille¡¯s direction. Dressed in a long dress with a knee- length overcoat, her dainty face was reddish. Apparently, she had been there for quite a while. On the other hand, Zack did not return after he left the night before. Nheless, Lucille only sensed something awry when she tried to call Zack but could not get through. Recalling Jonathan¡¯s attitude toward her earlier, Lucille was worried stiff that he might grab the opportunity to matchmaking Zack and Micha. The surge of uneasiness from within her intensified as time psed. Hence, she headed straight to Shappiray Mansion to try her luck. Nevertheless, it was not a ce anyone could enter. After being barred from entering the mansion and caught off guard, her eyes lit up at the sight of a Lincoln advancing from far away. Even though she could not make out the passengers in the luxury car, she had a hunch Jonathan was seated in it. As the Lincoln drew nearer, Lucille darted toward it without a second thought, stretching out her hands to stand in its way. ¡°Mr. Xander¡­¡± Walter piped up hesitantly. Even so, Jonathan cut him off by instructing indifferently, ¡°Head straight!¡± Regardless of what type of person Jonathan was in others¡¯ eyes, he had been exuding the vibe of gentleness amid dignity in the face of Micha. Even though he might be acting weirdly at times, he was undoubtedly a dignified gentleman. It was the first time Micha came across such a different Jonathan, with petrifying murderous intent in his eyes. Meanwhile, Walter even stepped on the elerator after being instructed by his boss to go ahead. Snorting inwardly, he had been repulsed by the double-faced woman long ago. Pfft! What a two-faced woman! She¡¯s hiding her maliciousness behind a false front of pitifulness! Initially, Lucille tried to put up a brave front by remaining on the spot. She was convinced that Jonathan would not take the risk of annihting anyone despite his omnipotence. However, the car speeding toward her scared the wits out of her. Eventually, she had no choice but to back off. Right after she dodged, the Lincoln sped past, barely an inch from her side. Panic-stricken, she broke out in a cold sweat, although she was rtively unscathed. Walter let out a disdainfulugh when he caught a glimpse of her face turned ashen from the rear-view mirror. ¡°Ha! She has seemingly received Mr. Xander¡¯s gift. But she shouldn¡¯t havee to look for Mr. Zack impulsively!¡± he sneered with a flicker of abhorrence in his eyes. ¡°Gift? What¡¯s that?¡± Micha asked in bafflement. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Sensing his slip of the tongue, Walter zipped his mouth at once. At that moment, a stern voice sounded from behind him. ¡°What a busybody!¡± After Walter was reprimanded, Micha dared not infuriate Jonathan further by asking another question. Secondster, she threw a nce at the man alongside her, only to find that he had leaned himself against the backseat with his eyes closed. Only then did she realize there were utterly visible dark circles under the man¡¯s eyes. He seemed to be exhausted. Thus, Micha held her tongue and sat quietly in the car. After a while, she whipped out her phone to pass the time. After the phone conversation with Lorelei the previous night, her phone had run out of battery. As she was in a rush in the morning, she forgot to turn it on till then. Unexpectedly, the push notifications popped up one by one right after she pressed the power button. Startled, Micha switched it to silent mode instantaneously and turned to look at Jonathan. After ensuring he was not awakened, she heaved a sigh of relief and continued to browse the social media page. She foresaw theizens would bombard her with oppressive rebuke, but things suddenly turned the other way around. Even the title that topped the trending list was reced by a mind-boggling one¡­ The Despicable Adopted Daughter of the Lingard Family Put On A Show to Gain Sympathy and ndered Her Sister With Underhand Tactics! Apart from the pictures showing Lucille meeting the reporter discreetly, there was a detailed article on the affairs between her and Zack. The writermbasted the other author for telling cock-and-bull stories in the news report the previous day relentlessly. Lucille¡¯s deviousness was well described by the former¡¯s impressive eloquence based on concrete evidence, crystal-clear reasoning, and soundness of logic. Surprisingly, Micha even noticed quite a fewizens left apologetic messages in thement section below the article chiding her the previous day. They were seemingly guilty of bombarding her with oppressive mockery impudently. There were evenizens tracking down the identity of the author defaming her. In a blink of an eye, all the particr author¡¯s private information and heinous deeds in the past were exposed. Micha was not the slightest bit astounded as she had foreseen that earlier. After a while, she suddenly felt something heavy on her shoulder when she was absorbed in reading theizens¡¯ments. As she nced obliquely in Jonathan¡¯s direction, she noticed he had drifted into a deep sleep with his head leaning against her shoulder. Feeling the man¡¯s light breath against her skin and breathing in his refreshing smell, Micha blushed uncontrobly. Sensing Micha¡¯s awkwardness, Walter cleared his throat before rifying in embarrassment on behalf of Jonathan, ¡°Ms. Micha, allow me to make an apology on behalf of Mr. Xander. He has been worn outtely. In fact, he has been attending numerous conferences since he went overseas on Tuesday and barely slept for three hours these few days. Not to mention, he only went to bed after midnightst night. I hope you don¡¯t mind that, okay?¡± ¡°Huh? He went overseas on Tuesday?¡± Micha queried quizzically. She could remember vividly that she had a phone conversation with Jonathan on Wednesday. Nevertheless, thetter did not mention to her that he was overseas. If I¡¯d known about that earlier, I would not ask him for a meal. Did he actually rush back for the dinner scheduled on Friday? Stifling his doubt, Walter spoke up for Jonathan by emphasizing, ¡°Yeah! There were actually tons of matters pending Mr. Xander¡¯s decision at our headquarters. But after receiving your call, he instructed me to book the flight ticket to fly back at once!¡± Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Jonathan Was Pleased Astounded by his words, Micha¡¯s eyes glittered with sparkles as she felt a rush of inexplicitplex emotions. ¡°As for the gift you mentioned a while ago, was that referring to the online news this morning?¡± she questioned in bewilderment, tightening the grip on her phone subconsciously. ¡°Mr. Xander had written the articlest night and requested the persons-in-charge to help pull string for him. ording to him, it would only stir another wave of turbulence if he opted to suppress the defamatory article and theizens¡¯ments. In other words, it would only escte the situation when everyone¡¯s suspicion was piqued,¡± Walter exined further. Ah! No wonder he looks exhausted! It¡¯s all because of me! Micha could not help feeling bad for Jonathan. Thetter sacrificed his time willingly to have dinner with her and ended up having insufficient rest. On top of that, he even had the matter resolved with the method that wore himself out even more. No words could describe how touched Micha was by Jonathan. All of a sudden, Walter lowered his voice and uttered ambiguously, ¡°But this is not the gift I meant.¡± ¡°Oh my! You¡¯re such a big mouth!¡± Gary could not help but snap at Walter, hinting at thetter to stop babbling. As a man of few words, he was a typical man of action. If not for Walter, Micha might not have the chance to know how much Jonathan had been sacrificing for her. However, Walter paid no heed to Gary¡¯s warning. He even tried to reassure him by bbering, ¡°Take it easy. There¡¯s nothing to fear. After all, Ms. Micha is not an outsider! It¡¯s been a while since Mr. Xander assigned you to protect her. Thus, she is considered our boss in a way!¡± Ha! My instinct is proven right! Gary is specially assigned by Mr. Jonathan to protect me! Even though she was not sure when it all started, she had a feeling Jonathan must have assigned Gary to do so, fearing that she would be in deep water at any moment after her wedding with Zack was called off. Nheless, if Walter did not mention it, she would never know. But why is he sacrificing so much for me? Even if he was Grandpa¡¯s student, he doesn¡¯t have to do so too! Undeniably, things were bing more unfathomable for her the more Jonathan treated her nicely. Right that instant, Walter shed Micha a nce again through the rear-view mirror. Grinning ear to ear, he bbered, ¡°Ms. Micha, there¡¯s something I need to tell you. When Mr. Xander came across Mr. Zack and Lucille Lingard¡¯s shameful moments in Sommer Gardens, I¡¯d spotted a pinhole camera in the bedroom. So when Mr. Zack was here to confront youst night, Mr. Xander had handed it to him together with a copy of the report on the fingerprint identification.¡± Huh? So Lucille¡¯s the culprit? Does it mean that even if Mr. Jonathan did not discover their affair, there would be other hups to my wedding with Zack? Deep down, Micha was well aware that Jonathan had initially decided to keep it under wrap to save the reputation of both families. If Lucille did not get on his nerves numerous times, he might not hand over such concrete evidence to Zack. Needless to say, it must be a bolt from the blue for Zack, who had been indulging himself in the passionate moments with Lucille. Thus, Micha presumed a devastated Zack did not go home the whole night. That was why Lucille had no choice but to head for the Shappiray Mansion early in the morning to look for him. Mr. Jonathan is worn out by everything, but he still takes me out just to cheer me up? At the thought of that, she felt a ripple of warmth flowing through her heart. Meanwhile, Walter reminded her softly, ¡°Ms. Micha, you mustn¡¯t tell anyone that I¡¯ve told you these, okay?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± She nodded in acknowledgement. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. In actuality, there was a lot more than what Walter had told her. For instance, all the reports surrounding Micha in front of her office building the previous day were issued demand letters from the attorney. Subsequently, the magazinepany was in a precarious state and had to sack all of them, forcing them to take the fall. Apart from that, all the media in Quakersville had received Jonathan¡¯s warning concurrently the previous night. If they dared to publish any news reports about Micha, they would have to pay the price. However, Micha did not have any chance to know about that. At that very moment, a ray of sunlight prated the window, cascading on Jonathan¡¯s captivating profile. Micha stretched out her hand intuitively, attempting to block the golden illumination so the man could sleep morefortably. Catching sight of that, Walter tilted his brows triumphantly at Gary, who kept glowering at him. Ha! Mr. Xander can¡¯t shoot a dagger at me again this round! Momentster, their car was out of the town and heading toward a remote area. Jonathan finally woke up when Micha¡¯s arm was almost numbed by intense soreness. He even grabbed hold of her hand before she was in time to put her arm down. Dumbstruck, Micha¡¯s eyes widened. At the same time, Jonathan sat straight and stated casually, ¡°Ah! I didn¡¯t realize I¡¯d dozed off. Mich, you were worried that I¡¯d feel ufortable because of the heat from the sun, weren¡¯t you?¡± As he had just woken up, there was a hint of unmistakable hoarseness in his voice. Micha was at a loss for words. Her face was flushed red when he massaged her arm and shoulder lightly. Shortly after, his lips curved into a smile as heplimented, ¡°Mich, you¡¯ve be more mature. I¡¯m impressed that you have turned into a caring youngdy! How¡¯s your arm now? Still feeling sore?¡± He sounded casual as ever, but Micha blushed up to her ears. She pulled her hand away, getting a grip of herself. ¡°Mr. Jonathan, thank you.¡± Having a sense of vignce, she sat straight, keeping a distance as far as possible away from Jonathan. In fact, she would rather look elsewhere than have any eye contact with him. Ha! She¡¯s feeling shy! Jonathan recalled how Zack was still grumbling to him that Micha hardly showed any concern to anyone the previous night. Now that she was undoubtedly concerned about him, he was utterly pleased. In the twinkling of an eye, his fatigue for the past few days seemed to have vanished. His Adam¡¯s apple boobed unknowingly at the positive change in Micha¡¯s demeanor. At the same time, he could not resist anticipating more of their interactions in the future. Soon, Walter turned into a junction on the highway and continued to drive along a treacherous mountain path. Not far away from the peak, he drove past quite a few checkpoints before turning into a picturesque region. Micha¡¯s curiosity seemed to be piqued by the stringent management there. Jonathan had his eyes on Micha all the time. Sensing the curiosity in her eyes, he cleared her doubt. ¡°This ce is reserved for entertaining my business coborators. It¡¯s not open to anyone else!¡± Micha turned to stare at him inquisitively. ¡°Mr. Jonathan, is this your property too?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Jonathan nodded. ¡°Mr. Jonathan, mind telling me how rich you are?¡± Micha asked jokingly; a hint of mischief shed across her eyes. The charm of her daintiness and innocence was irresistible to him. As a result, he felt like teasing her. Wearing a look of subtleness, he asked, ¡°You wish to know?¡± Micha nodded earnestly. There was utter reliance in her crystal-clear eyes. She listened attentively like an obedient student, not knowing she had fallen into the man¡¯s trap. ¡°I might not be as rich as how you think. Anyway, I can¡¯t reveal it to you now due to privacy, unless¡­¡± Jonathan¡¯s eyes glimmered with an indecipherable sparkle as he leaned closer to her ear and murmured, ¡°You be my woman. Otherwise, how can I share such confidential information with you right away?¡± As he mumbled, she could feel his hot breath against her sensitive ear. The utter ambiguousness caused her to stiffen and blush crimson. Even so, his seductive voice continued swirling around her as he whispered, ¡°Mich, do you still feel like knowing about it?¡± ¡°A-Ah! There¡¯s no need for that. Forget about it!¡± She descended into stammering incoherence. My goodness! How I wish I could swallow my words! Unequivocally, curiosity kills the cat! Oh my! I shouldn¡¯t have shot myself in the foot by asking about his worth! The Lincoln finally pulled to a halt before Micha was suffocated by intense embarrassment at that moment. Before Walter and Gary got off from the car, Micha flung open the door and got off it hastily. Jonathan could not help feeling amused and arched his brows at the youngdy burying her face in her hands in embarrassment. His obsidian eyes curved slightly into crescents with a glint of affection. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Chapter 45 My Leg Cramps Beep! Beep! Gary came up to the car to open the door for Jonathan. Before Jonathan could stand still, a jarring honk of a vehicle cut through the air. As soon as a Maserati stopped right behind Jonathan¡¯s car, a man who looked stylish hopped out. The man had fair skin, naturally pink lips, and enchanting facial features. He wore a pink coat, a floral shirt, and a dazzling earring on his left ear. One couldn¡¯t help but feel that he was a little wild and unrestrained. It was none other than Vincent. Vincent came up to Jonathan to greet him. However, he didn¡¯t realize that annoyance was already written on Jonathan¡¯s face. ¡°Jonathan, I drove as fast as possible and finally caught up with you! Anyway, why would a workaholic show up here today? Let me guess¡ªdid Cupid strike you?¡± Vincent went to Shappiray Mansion early in the morning for a reason. Last night, when Vincent was busy entertaining guests, his mother called and asked him to settle down soon. When his mother told Vincent that Jonathan had a girlfriend, Vincent found it hard to believe. Why didn¡¯t I know such a piece of important news? Vincent¡¯s mom exined that shop assistants were busy packing luxury items for women in many shops when she was in the shopping mall. The shop assistants also revealed that the items would be delivered to Shappiray Mansion. Even the shop assistants guessed that Jonathan purchased so many luxuries for his girlfriend. Rumor had it that no guests were allowed into the inner courtyard of Shappiray Mansion. Even Vincent didn¡¯t have the chance to set his foot in it. Since his mom described the situation vividly, Vincent tried to call Jonathan to check it out. However, no one answered his call. Vincent returned to his table to entertain other guests but eventually fell asleep. It was already the next day when he woke up. Hoping to find out the truth, Vincent headed to Shappiray Mansion early in the morning but was chased away. Initially, Vincent thought it was a rumor, and Jonathan worked overtime at hispany. On his way back, he happened to stop by the roadside and was surprised to see Jonathan¡¯s car. More importantly, Jonathan wasn¡¯t heading toward thepany. After recalling what his mom told him, the nosy Vincent decided to follow Jonathan¡¯s car. At that time, Vincent purposely teased Jonathan and even pressed Jonathan¡¯s chest with his hand. Suddenly, Jonathan shot him a cold nce and pped his hand away. ¡°Remove your hand! Do you have to use your hand when you¡¯re talking?¡± As Micha observed their interaction, she couldn¡¯t help but think that Jonathan was a hypocrite. Isn¡¯t he the same? He likes to touch someone without a warning! Even though Jonathan visibly disdained him, Vincent seemed to have not realized it. Instead, he came closer and blinked at Jonathan. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you have a girlfriend now. Have you brought her into your house? Why didn¡¯t I know such important news? Now I know why you didn¡¯t want to join me on the trip to Gerton.¡± Well, I¡¯ve brought her into my house, but she¡¯s not my girlfriend yet! Since Micha wasn¡¯t in a good mood, Jonathan decided to take her for a break. Besides, he could grab the chance to get closer to her. Nheless, he didn¡¯t expect that Vincent would brazenly follow him. At that moment, displeasure was written all over Jonathan¡¯s sullen face. He pursed his lips and didn¡¯t want to entertain Vincent. The next moment, he waved at Micha and said, ¡°Mich,e here!¡± Mich? Micha Lingard? Material ? N?velDrama.Org. The answer dawned on Vincent. Pointed at Micha, who wasing over, and said in shock, ¡°Jonathan, isn¡¯t thisdy your nephew¡¯s ex-wife-¡± Jonathan red at Vincent coldly right before he could finish his sentence. Vincent had no choice but to hold his tongue. It¡¯s goddamned terrifying! Did I say something wrong? ¡°Mich, this is Vincent Sullivan-¡± Before Jonathan could finish, Vincent came up to Micha with a smile and grabbed her hand, ¡°Hi, Mich! You¡¯re indeed a beauty. Moreover, you¡¯re even more beautiful than how you look in newspapers!¡± ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Jonathan cleared his throat lightly and red at Vincent. Urgh! You¡¯re rubbing salt on her wound! Meanwhile, Micha put on an awkward smile. She wanted to withdraw her hand but was restrained by Vincent¡¯s grip. She had no choice but to greet him back. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Sullivan!¡± Even if Jonathan didn¡¯t introduce Vincent, everyone in Quakersville heard about his nickname. Due to his involvement in Voguish Multimedia, Vincent got to know a lot of famous stars. Even though Vincent was allegedly in a rtionship with many of them, none sessfully got on his good side. Realizing that he had said something wrong, Vincent giggled awkwardly and changed the subject of the conversation. ¡°Jonathan and I have been friends since we were young. Mich, feel free to call me Vincent if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Vincent? ¡°Hi, Vincent!¡± Jonathan squinted when Micha called Vincent his first name as requested. At the same time, Jonathan¡¯s face turned grim when he noticed that Vincent and Micha held hands tightly. Although Jonathan was visibly irritated, Vincent seemed to be unaware of it. ¡°Jonathan, why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? I thought you were keeping a lover in your mansion. Anyway, since you¡¯re taking Mich on a trip, how could you not invite me?¡± Given that Jonathan was Adrian¡¯s student, Vincent wasn¡¯t suspicious of Micha¡¯s presence in Shappiray Mansion. As Vincent talked neen to the dozen, he suddenly felt excruciating pain in his calf and nearly went weak at the knees. He quickly let go of Micha¡¯s hand and squatted down. ¡°Oh my, Jonathan! Did you kick me?¡± Vincent was all upset. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. My leg cramps!¡± Jonathan replied cidly. Ignoring Vincent, Jonathan grabbed Micha¡¯s hand and took her into the mansion. ¡°Let¡¯s go. You should get some rest in your room.¡± ¡°How about Vincent¡­¡± Micha pointed at Vincent, who was wailing in pain. Surprisingly, Jonathan raised his eyebrows and didn¡¯t even nce at Vincent. ¡°Well, he won¡¯t die!¡± Walter stood at the back of the car when Jonathan and Micha left. He couldn¡¯t help but shoot a sympathetic nce at Vincent. Meanwhile, Gary was taking down the luggage from the trunk. When Gary saw Walter¡¯s expression, he said calmly, ¡°I¡¯d suggest that you should mind your own business. How dare you talk so much to Ms. Lingard just now?¡± ¡°You know nothing. I was doing Mr. Xander a favor!¡± Walter pretended to be secretive. However, Gary only nced at Walter for a while and continued to carry the luggage into the mansion. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me why?¡± ¡°Why then?¡± What a blockhead! Walter felt bored but told Gary the answer anyway. ¡°Did you think Mr. Xander really fell asleep? In that case, why didn¡¯t he lean against the window but thedy instead? It was all a trick. Do you get it? Besides, has Mr. Xander ever failed in getting anything he wants?¡± Gary couldn¡¯t grasp what Walter said, for he thought Jonathan only dozed off. Is Mr. Xander really such a person as Walter says? While Gary was at a loss, Walter shook his head and patted Gary¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You might be outstanding in fighting but you¡¯re too naive. Gary, how can you survive without me?¡± Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Values Romance Over Friendship Ding-dong! Ding-dong! When the doorbell rang, Jonathan opened the door. With a slightly resentful look, Vincent grumbled, ¡°Jonathan, what happened to you just now? My leg still hurts after you kicked me!¡± Vincent felt disgruntled, for everyone disappeared after he rubbed his leg and stood up in pain. Fortunately, Vincent knew where Jonathan¡¯s room was because he had visited the mansion many times. Although Jonathan stood at the door arrogantly and was unwilling to entertain him, Vincent wanted to turn his body sideways to enter the room. Suddenly, Jonathan lifted his arm to stop Vincent at the door. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Let me get in and take a seat! My leg hurts!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible because Mich is in the middle of a shower now.¡± Jonathan cruelly declined Vincent¡¯s simple request. ¡°My god! Jonathan, isn¡¯t keeping a distance from women your mantra? Why do you allow your nephew¡¯s ex-wife to stay in your room?¡± While Vincent found it hard to believe, Jonathan frowned deeply and exined, ¡°Firstly, I don¡¯t wish to hear the word ¡®nephew¡¯s ex-wife¡¯ anymore. Secondly, because Mdm. Simmons specifically asked me to take care of Mich, so she will have to stay with me!¡± Vincent didn¡¯t doubt Jonathan¡¯s words. After a while, he asked straightforwardly, ¡°How about me?¡± ¡°Are there not enough rooms for you to stay?¡± When Vincent wanted to add something, Jonathan warned him, ¡°Also, stay away from Mich. Don¡¯t use your tricks of flirting with other women on her, or else our friendship ends right away!¡± With a thud, Jonathan swung his door shut before Vincent came around. ¡°Jonathan, how can you get angry with me over Old Mr. Simmons¡¯s granddaughter!¡± Vincent couldn¡¯t contain his anger and hit the door hard twice. The next moment, he murmured as if he had thought it through, ¡°All right. I understand that he respects his mentor. However, he didn¡¯t have to be mad at me, right?¡± Feeling aggrieved, Vincent decided to go downstairs to get a room. Just then, a receptionist came up to him and said politely, ¡°Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Xander instructed us to get a room ready. Also, he specifically asked me to show you the room.¡± Instantly, Vincent¡¯s grievances against Jonathan vanished. He murmured to himself in delight, ¡°Well, we¡¯re still good friends.¡± Vincent then shed the middle-aged receptionist a smile and said, ¡°Thank you!¡± Nevertheless, on the way to his room, Vincent got pissed off and silently scolded Jonathan. Why is my room far away from Jonathan¡¯s? Did he arrange it on purpose? Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Uncle Jonathan¡­¡± Micha dried her hair after taking a shower. Suddenly, the hairdryer broke down, and strands of her hair were stuck in it. The pain was so evident to the point that tears filled her eyes. She quickly pulled off the plug and sought Jonathan¡¯s help. When Micha opened the door, Jonathan happened to step out of the bathroom with only a towel around the lower part of his body. Jonathan¡¯s muscr and burly body exuded a sense of artistic strength. With only a nce, Micha felt a surge of blood flowing down from her nose. After casually wiping her nose, Micha saw blood on her palm. Micha was shocked at the sight. Even though Jonathan is hot, why do I have a nosebleed? This is really embarrassing! Although Micha¡¯s instinct told her to run, she couldn¡¯t move an inch, as if someone had ced weights around her legs. ¡°Are you still looking at me?¡± Micha came to her sense upon hearing Jonathan¡¯s deep voice. She hastily turned around and stammered, ¡°Uncle Jonathan, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t do it on purpose!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Jonathan murmured a response. With a glint in his eyes, he said calmly, ¡°If you did it on purpose, you have to be responsible for me!¡± Micha wiped her nose in embarrassment. At the same time, her heart thumped non-stop, and her ears reddened. Just as she wanted to run away, Jonathan stood before her and instructed, ¡°Look up at me!¡± Deep down, Micha knew she was in the wrong for not knocking on the door before entering Jonathan¡¯s room. She met Jonathan¡¯s beaming eyes as soon as she raised her head. While Jonathan was emotionless, Micha was mesmerized by his perfect facial features. After cleaning Micha¡¯s nosebleed for a while, Jonathan seemingly noticed Micha¡¯s stare. With his quirked lips, he said, ¡°It appears that you are pleased to see my great figure.¡± ¡°I-¡± Just as Micha wanted to exin, Jonathan interjected, ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Jonathan gently brushed his fingers through Micha¡¯s hair near her cheek. After cleaning the blood on her face, Jonathan took the hairdryer and noticed the strands of hair in it. He frowned and asked, ¡°How could you be so careless?¡± ¡°I had no idea why it broke down all of a sudden. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Micha¡¯s face flushed, and her voice trailed off. Meanwhile, Jonathan could smell Micha¡¯s scent after her shower. Besides, he could not help swallowing hard when he saw her flushed face and glistening lips. In the end, Jonathan suppressed his desire to kiss Micha and cautiously pulled out her hair. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Jonathan!¡± Micha wished to run away from Jonathan, for her face had flushed for some time. She couldn¡¯t help but feel that time crawled so slowly. When Micha was about to leave, Jonathan suddenly grabbed her arm and said, ¡°Where are you going? Come and dry your hair!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡± Although Micha declined it, Jonathan suddenly leaned closer and stared at her. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m not asking you to marry me!¡± Micha¡¯s face immediately turned red. Given that Micha¡¯s mind was a mess, she couldn¡¯t remember why she followed Jonathan into his bathroom. All she knew was that her face flushed right through until Jonathan finished drying her hair. After that, Micha returned to her room in a daze. cing her hand on her chest, she scolded herself for what had happened just now. Micha felt that Jonathan drove her nuts every time he was with her. Gosh, I have to get a hold of myself! I¡¯m so useless! Micha stepped out of her room after getting changed. Meanwhile, Jonathan was already waiting for her in the living room. Jonathan was wearing a sleeveless polo shirt and khaki pants instead of the tailored-made suit that he usually put on. Jonathan¡¯s choice of clothes showed his narrow waist, perfect figure, and sturdy biceps. Micha¡¯s heart skipped a beat, for she was stunned by his appearance. Noticing that Micha was scanning him, Jonathan squinted and put on a faint smile. After a while, he said calmly, ¡°Well, have you seen enough?¡± Instantly, Micha¡¯s face flushed red. She lowered her gaze and cleared her throat. ¡°Well, let me see what I can get you some breakfast from the dining room.¡± With that, Micha swiftly left the room. She didn¡¯t notice that Jonathan¡¯s lips quirked seductively. Micha looks tempting when she is shy! Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Chapter 47 A Perfect Match ¡°Over here, Mich!¡± Micha saw Vincent waving to her from a distance as she walked into the restaurant. Though it was only their first encounter, Micha already had a good impression of Vincent. Aside from his attitude toward rtionships, she found him very likable. After a slight pause, she walked over and Vincent noticed it immediately when she was close enough. ¡°Why is your face so red, Mich? Are you unwell?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not!¡± Subconsciously touching her cheek, Micha was horrified to discover that it was scorching and scrambled for an excuse. ¡°It¡¯s been a hot couple of days.¡± ¡°Has it been?¡± Vincent raised his eyebrows suspiciously, having just intended to ask the waiter to turn up the air conditioning temperature. He was beginning to question if he was the only one who felt the chills. Finally realizing Micha had appeared alone, Vincent changed the topic. ¡°Where is Jonathan?¡± ¡°Mr. Jonathan is right behind!¡± Vincent did not notice the palpable difort in Micha¡¯s eyes. After Micha was seated, he immediately summoned the waiter and handed the menu to Micha. ¡°I¡¯d just arrived as well. Here, have a look and order whatever you like! It¡¯s on me today!¡± ¡°Thank you, Vincent!¡± Micha smiled gratefully. After ordering two portions of jpe?o-vored fondue, she pushed the menu in front of Vincent. ¡°Your turn!¡± What a pleasant girl she is to be around. Not only is she a good sport, but she¡¯s also a beauty! Zack must be blind to give up a gem like her. Receiving the menu from her, Vincent ordered a few more nd dishes. It was not until the waiter left that Vincent said, ¡°Jonathan has a delicate stomach. He won¡¯t be able to have any if it¡¯s too spicy!¡± ¡°Mr. Jonathan can¡¯t have spicy food?¡± Micha was quite surprised. She had thought Jonathan was also fond of spicy food, given their previous rendezvous at the fondue restaurant. ¡°That¡¯s right. He¡¯s always been a light and dainty eater.¡± Though it was a throwaway tease by Vincent, Micha took notice of it. No wonder he barely ate thest time we had fondue. Every two bites he took were washed down with tea. Was the dinner he fought so hard for wholly prepared for me alone? I had been so resistant then! As Micha was reeling in shock by the discovery, she heard Vincent speak again. ¡°Hey, could that be her?¡± Following Vincent¡¯s gaze, she saw that Jonathan was already in the restaurant. There was a stylishly dressed woman next to him. She was d in a sleeveless ck short skirt with white high heels entuating her legs. Her chestnut hair fell down her shoulders in a cascade of femininity. They seemed very well acquainted with one another from where Micha was sitting. Jonathan was talking to the woman with his head tilted, gazing upon her with gentle eyes and a slight smile. It appeared that they got along very naturally. The striking bnce between their respective good looks made them appealing to behold. Micha could not help but ask Vincent who was watching with relish. ¡°Who is she, Vincent?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Vincent smiled mysteriously and leaned closer to Micha before lowering his voice. ¡°She is Louise, the eldest daughter of the Johnson family. A smart girl from a young age, too. She wasn¡¯t just his ssmate when they were abroad, you know. She is also his fianc¨¦e. How about that, eh? Shocking news, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Fianc¨¦e?¡± Micha¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Yeah. Speaking of which, it was arranged by old Mrs. Xander. The Xander family and the Johnson family are family friends, you know. They are a match for each other! Louise is now the CEO of a wealth managementpany under her family¡¯s banner, which is doing extremely well from what I heard. What¡¯s more, she has a gentle and decent appearance. Definitely worthy of Jonathan, if you ask me.¡± ¡°Let me tell you something, Mich,¡± Vincent added. ¡°Jonathan only looks emotionless on the outside. To think that I¡¯d been so worried that he would be single forever! It appears that I have been yed this entire time. I was surprised to see him, a workaholic, appearing here at this time of day. Turns out he has a date here!¡± Micha did not doubt Vincent¡¯s words. The restaurant they were in belonged to Jonathan. Having just mentioned that it was not open to the public aside from his partners, Louise¡¯s appearance was self-exnatory. Though she had only managed to catch a distant glimpse, Micha was forced to admit that Louise was indeed ster. Under her meek and feminine appearancey the ability of a strong and capable woman. Her manners were as elegant as her dress. Turns out that he is into girls like this. Having thought that Jonathan took her out to cheer her up after finding out that she was in a bad mood, it just urred to her that she might have expected too much. So much for not being close to other women? He¡¯s just flirting with everybody! All men are the same! Brutes! Especially the Xander family men, who always look for opportunities to fool around. All men are pigs. Without noticing Micha¡¯s expression, Vincent winked enigmatically at the exciting topic of discussion. Unbeknownst to him, Jonathan saw everything. ring at the space between the two, Jonathan walked up with a scowl and kicked Vincent¡¯s chair. ¡°Sit over there!¡± he indicated. Vincent did not dare speak. He got up and sat on the other side and watched as Jonathan sit next to Micha. ¡°Have you ordered something to eat?¡± he asked in a soft voice. ¡°What were you talking about?¡± ¡°The love story between you and Ms. Johnson, Mr. Xander!¡± Vincent replied frankly. Jonathan nced sideways and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Love story?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it so?¡± Vincent jerked his chin toward Louise in a tant attempt to hint at something. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes, how long would you have kept it hidden from me, Mr. Xander?¡± ¡°Vincent!¡± Though his voice was not loud, his tone was heavy with warning. Sensing danger, Vincent slid up and sat on Micha¡¯s right meekly as he mumbled, ¡°Embarrassed that I had guessed what was on your mind? There¡¯s no need for all this. I¡¯m not going to rob you! Don¡¯t you think that Jonathan is overreacting, Mich?¡± Micha¡¯s eyes flicked between the two. Amid her dilemma, she saw a middle-aged man in a ck suit walking toward Jonathan with a respectful expression. ¡°I¡¯d just heard that you are here, Mr. Xander. Would you like me to arrange for you to dine in the private room?¡± ¡°No need!¡± Jonathan¡¯s tone was not friendly. As if recollecting something else, his clear voice sounded again. ¡°By the way, don¡¯t you have regr maintenance of the appliances here? Aren¡¯t you aware that your air- conditioning unit is broken?¡± ¡°I apologize for my negligence, Mr. Xander. I will have it checked and reced!¡± The middle-aged man looked flustered as he bowed frantically in apology. He did not leave until he had personally delivered all the food they had ordered to the table. After the middle-aged man left, Vincent piped up sarcastically, ¡°What¡¯s the use of trying to cover up? Aren¡¯t you going to great lengths for a beauty?¡± At that moment, Micha was drinking the soup Jonathan had served her and began to cough at Vincent¡¯s words. That was uncalled for! Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Crises And Disappointments The atmosphere within Jacob Real Estate had dropped to freezing point, but the caller on the other end had no way of knowing. Despite being hung up on repeatedly, she kept up her stubborn persistence in dialing. When he could not bear it anymore, Jacob finally picked up. ¡°Hello!¡± he barked, trying to suppress the anger in his voice. ¡°I can¡¯t find Zack, Dad!¡± After leaving Shappiray Mansion, Lucille searched almost everywhere for where Zack might appear but did not manage to find anything. After ignoring her calls, he eventually turned off his phone. It was as if Zack¡¯s appearance the night before had been a hallucination. I had everything nned. What went wrong? Intuition told Lucille that something must have happened. Calling her father in desperation, Lucille did not expect Jacob to be overwhelmed at that moment. After hearing Lucille¡¯s voice, Jacob became even angrier. ¡°What good are you if you can¡¯t even keep an eye on your own man, Lucille? Let me be clear. I apud you for sessfully marrying into the Xander family. But if Zack doesn¡¯t want you, never show yourself before me again. Do you know that it was because of you that I have even managed to offend Jonathan? Do you want the entire Lingard family to be ruined because of you?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you see, Dad? I¡¯m the only one who makes sacrifices for the Lingards! Micha only ys the victim to gain sympathy. Earlier, if I hadn¡¯t managed to get out of the way in time, Mr. Xander¡¯s car would have run me over. I am your true heir, Dad!¡± Upon recalling her earlier encounter, Lucille¡¯s pulse quickened with fear. Originally intending to obtain a sliver of sympathy from her father, she was dismayed to discover that the voice on the other end was nothing but livid. ¡°Shut your mouth! Didn¡¯t I warn you yesterday? Never provoke Micha again. Did your brain fall out? You might as well die and spare us all the trouble of having you around!¡± Jacob was happy to see Lucille and Zack make things work as he aspired to curry favor with the Xander family. He would never have imagined that Jonathan would protect Micha to such a degree. It only took several misced words of anger to have the entirepany plunged into peril. Despite having rushed back to thepany in the middle of the night to deal with the matter, it was already toote. By that point, self-preservation was a higher priority than his unrealistic endeavors. Though she always knew of her father¡¯s distance, Lucille¡¯s eyes screwed up at the cruel words from his mouth. ¡°Dad!¡± she cried in disbelief. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you again ¨C Micha is now being protected by Jonathan. You will not provoke her anymore. Also, I will not offend Jonathan for you. I expect you to think for yourself and never bother me again!¡± After hanging up, Jacob threw the phone on the ground in a rage just as his secretary knocked on the door and came in. She froze in her approach upon witnessing the scene. With the sudden predicament thepany was ced in, every employee was equally susceptible. There were rumors that Jacob had offended somebody he could not afford to offend and that Jacob Real Estate may go bankrupt at any time. Despite Jacob pulling an all-nighter to resolve the issue, there was nothing he could do. If it was not for the emergency, the secretary did not want to be in Jacob¡¯s vicinity at that moment. ¡°What is it?¡± Jacob asked coldly. ¡°The survey report for the plot ofnd hase out, Mr. Lingard. Nothing can be built on it. The foundation cannot be prated from being full of hard stones and dense rock. The businessman who sold the piece ofnd to us has run away. The reports he provided were also false.¡± The secretary observed Jacob¡¯s expression cautiously as she delivered her report. As the final syble rang from her lips, Jacob suddenly stood up and swept everything off his desk to the floor. ¡°Godd*mn it!¡± Since the cancetion of Micha and Zack¡¯s wedding, Jacob Real Estate had lost several projects one after another. Even the partnerships that had been sessfully secured prior were suddenly backing out. It was then that the businessman appeared with the plot ofnd. Being originally untempted, Jacobter heard that several real estatepanies in the city were actively expressing their interest and gathering preliminary research. Sensing an opportunity, Jacob brought a professional team to the site for an inspection before making contact with the businessman. After smashing its way through countless obstacles and breaking through the siege of itspetitor¡¯s pressure by spending almost everything it had, all Jacob Real Estate got in return was a plot of wastnd. Jacob¡¯s mood at that moment was easy to predict. With his hands on his waist, he panted heavily with anger for a long while before speaking again. ¡°If we keep the media quiet now, what are the chances of flipping this piece ofnd?¡± ¡°Almost none!¡± the secretary said bluntly. If it were not for the urgent news they received about thend the night before, they would not have thought that there would be problems with the plot ofnd. As the news was already leaked, it was easier said than done to stop tongues from wagging. ¡°What do you think we should we do now?¡± Hardly built as a businessman, Jacob had only managed to make some money from following the trend as the past couple of years had been good. On top of the special privileges of being Old Mr. Simmons¡¯s son-inw, he naturally received much attention and rmendations. Ever since Adrian¡¯s demise, the pressure exerted by hispetitors had been steadily increasing year by year. The emergence of many young people who had better brains, ideas, and capabilities than him revealed the extent of Jacob¡¯s actual potential. Surprised that her boss had sought her opinion, the secretary took her time to consider the matter before answering cautiously. ¡°Call the police!¡± In the best-case scenario, the businessman would be apprehended before he spends all the money. If that happens, Jacob Real Estate would still be able to recover somepensation which would spare me from having to lose everything as I have now. ¡°I¡¯ll keep it under advisement!¡± Jacob could not hide the tiredness on his face. Once the matter became a police case, it would be as good as announcing to the public that Jacob Real Estate had been deceived. By then, it would be hard to imagine anybody willing to do business with him as the joke of Quakersville. But if the police was not alerted, the businessman would get away scot-free. The loss alone would be unbearable for Jacob Real Estate which would make thepany¡¯s demise only a matter of time. Although everything that was happening seemed to have nothing to do with Jonathan, Jacob had the vague suspicion that it was he who was orchestrating everything from the shadows. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°One more thing!¡± The secretary put the list of ounts sorted in her hand on the desk before reminding him. ¡°Our cash flow at this juncture can only keep us afloat for another three months, Mr. Lingard. You must make a decision as soon as possible!¡± ¡°I am aware of it. You may leave!¡± Recognizing Jacob¡¯s gesture of dismissal, the secretary turned and walked out of the office. At that exact moment, Lucille dragged her tired body back to Zack¡¯s apartment. From the time she was sent to the orphanage, she knew that she would have nowhere to turn to and rely on. She had long since seen through her father¡¯s indifference toward her. Zack was the only lifeline she had that she could not afford to lose. Still lost in thought about where Zack might be, it took her several moments to notice the pair of men¡¯s leather shoes at the door of the apartment when she walked in. Joyous surprise shed in her eyes. ¡°Zack!¡± Lucille was about to remove her shoes when she froze in her movement at the sight of the briefcase. Lucille raised her head at the sound of footsteps approaching and saw Zacking out. He appeared hungover the night before and reeked of alcohol. There was stubble on his cheeks. His cor was undone and his sleeves were rolled up, revealing his strong and powerful forearms. When he saw Lucille, the love and affection of the past were no longer there. Only coldness and indifference remained in his eyes. ¡°How much did you drink, Zack? You didn¡¯te back all night. I spent an entire day looking for you. What happened? Did your uncle teach you another lesson?¡± Lucille was about to step forward but Zack took a step back to avoid her touch. ¡°Go away,¡± he said inly. ¡°Never show yourself before me again.¡± Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Countermeasure Even though Zack appeared to be a bit childishpared to Jonathan, who had a more noble and graceful air around him, Zack was still charmingly handsome. He had a dashing look, and he carried the energy that young people had, which made him the type of person who would easily tempt others to fall for him. However, at that moment, he was wearing a cold expression, colder than a fall¡¯s breeze. After ncing at Lucille arrogantly for a moment, he shifted his line of sight away. Zack¡¯s steeled look stunned Lucille a little. Suddenly, countless questions rushed into her mind, though she had to pretend to be calm. ¡°What happened, Zack? We can resolve it together if you let me know what¡¯s bothering you.¡± His expression was neutral as he stared annoyingly at the anticipating look in her eyes with slightly furrowed eyebrows. Her eyes immediately became wet when she saw the change in his expression. ¡°Did I do something wrong, Zack? Tell me what¡¯s wrong and I¡¯ll do it better. I promise I¡¯ll change, okay? I love you. You¡¯re the only one I have left. I can¡¯t leave you, so don¡¯t chase me away, okay? Back then, you promised to take care of me. Do you not want me anymore? In that case, why did you give me hope? There must be some misunderstanding, Zack. Say something! You¡¯re scaring me.¡± Fear and anxiety colored her face as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her voice sounded like she was choking. She grabbed his shirt tightly with her cold, small hands. He tried to pull away from her, but he failed each time. The reason he still acted in a pretty reasonable manner, despite feeling disappointed with her actions, was because she was technically his first true lover. He looked away and uttered firmly in a hoarse voice, ¡°You know what you did. I¡¯m showing you mercy right now, so stop asking and leave!¡± If he hadn¡¯t made his way to Shappiray Mansion impulsivelyst night, he wouldn¡¯t have known there was a hidden camera in his and Micha¡¯s mansion, and that Lucille was the one who installed it. A revtion like that made him feel scared. When he thought about how the woman who once slept next to him didn¡¯t seem to be as pure and simple as she appeared, his back was covered in a cold sweat. It was the first time he truly felt sorry for Micha. He felt like an idiot being yed by Lucille like a fiddle. With nowhere to vent the rage in his heart, he ran to the pub and drank there all night. To his surprise, that was just the appetizer. The morning news was worse because it made him question how much of her he knew was genuine, if at all. At that moment, Zack was on the verge of exploding in fury. Despite his attempts to keep it suppressed, Lucille provoked him again and again, as though she didn¡¯t see his anger at all. ¡°Are you referring to the news in the morning? I didn¡¯t do that, Zack. True, that person was working in a magazinepany, but she¡¯s my ssmate. Originally, she invited me for coffee, and we were just having a chat. How would I know she would use my rtionship with Micha for her own selfish gain? I didn¡¯t notice she was following me! Yes, it was my fault that I didn¡¯t find out in time, but I really didn¡¯t mean to hurt Micha! No matter what happened between us, it was just a family affair. There¡¯s no way I would do a thing like that! Don¡¯t tell me you believe it, Zack. Am I really that vicious in your eyes?¡± In the past, Zack wouldn¡¯t have suspected anything. In his heart, Lucille was a pure and kind-hearted woman, unlike anything he saw on the news. However, afterst night, he just found it funny. His lips curved upward in a sarcastic manner while danger shone in his cold look. He asked in a deep, sullen voice, ¡°Okay, what aboutst night? Are you going to tell me that¡¯s a coincidence, too?¡± The moment he finished, he threw the camera inside his pocket to her. ¡°I believe you know what this is. Or do you want to read the fingerprint identification report I got? I never thought you¡¯re such a scheming woman, Lucille.¡± When Lucille saw the camera, she froze. Indeed, she was the one who put it there. Her n was to gift it to Micha at the wedding. However, Jonathan¡¯s appearance saved her the trouble. She was going to Sommer Gardens to retrieve it. However, it was discovered before she could do that. As far as she knew, Zack didn¡¯t have that kind of awareness. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been that fearless facing him. That meant it was Jonathan who ruined that part of her n. She would¡¯ve panicked if she hadn¡¯t ounted for it in her master n. The camera being discovered just meant she was given an opportunity to take her n in another direction. Lucille calmed herself and picked up the camera. Then she looked at Zack with disappointment. ¡°So, this is the reason you drank all night outside?¡± She wiped her tear away and revealed a self- deprecating smile. ¡°Indeed, I was the one who put it in Sommer Gardens!¡± Instead of hiding the truth, she revealed a twisted version of it. ¡°I thought it was going to be thest time we ever met, which was why I put it there to record onest precious memory I could revisit. I didn¡¯t think things would turn out like this.¡± He was pursing his lips tightly. It was clear he didn¡¯t believe her. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. She smiled and pulled out a ne ticket from her bag. ¡°I can tell you don¡¯t believe me. Consider this the proof that I¡¯m telling the truth. I was going to leave right after you and Micha¡¯s wedding and live out the rest of my life with the memories of us together. What happened afterward was something I never thought would happen! Do you really think I was intentionally ruining your wedding? I didn¡¯t do anything at all!¡± He grabbed the ticket and nced at her suspiciously. The first thing he saw was the date on the ticket. It was the day after his and Micha¡¯s wedding. This¡­ There¡¯s no way she can change the date on the ticket, no matter how capable she is. Does this mean I really did misunderstand her intentions? Just as he lifted his head, his heart still filled with doubt, he saw her smiling inly at him. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize there wasn¡¯t even a shred of trust between us anymore. In that case, forget it!¡± Lucille grabbed the ticket and camera before putting both items on the cab next to the door. Her voice still sounded gentle, but there was an undeniable coldness to it. ¡°It¡¯s a blessing that I was able to love you, Zack. As you said earlier, we should part ways while our rtionship is still amicable instead of tainting thest memories we had of each other. In any case, I hope I resolved your misunderstanding. Take care of yourself, Zack.¡± The moment she finished, she turned around without hesitation and left. She didn¡¯t even take the box that Zack had packed up for her. If she had kept crying and begging for forgiveness, perhaps Zack wouldn¡¯t have hesitated. Her firm attitude sessfully made him question his suspicions. When he thought about the disappointment in her expression as she left, he felt horrible. In the end, he couldn¡¯t let it go and chased after her. ¡°Lucille¡­¡± Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Dense Material ? N?velDrama.Org. There was panic and turmoil outside of the resort. However, on the inside, it was serene and peaceful as usual. After the meal was over, Jonathan prepared to take Micha out for a stroll. He finally got some alone time with her, so of course he wasn¡¯t going to let that opportunity slip away. However, hepletely forgot about Vincent, whose face was so thick that his signaling nces went unnoticed. There was a reason Vincent stayed single for so many years. Jonathan stared angrily at Vincent, who kept orbiting around Micha. The more he looked at Vincent, the more he thought the guy looked like a loyal pug. He raised his leg as he thought about how much he wanted to kick Vincent far, far away. Micha was so immersed in the beautiful view that she didn¡¯t notice the strange look in Jonathan¡¯s eyes. The resort was built in the middle of a bamboo forest. Aside from natural hot springs, the ce also had perfect facilities and recreational activities. Most importantly, the environment looked pretty, and the air was refreshing. It provided an unforgettable experience to any and all visitors. On top of that, Vincent set the mood pretty well, and time passed very quickly. Micha was really impressed that Vincent, despite being the CEO of a mediapany, was able to maintain a carefree attitude. Even if he was the only one performing, he wouldn¡¯t feel awkward. ¡°It¡¯s quite a rush today, so I¡¯ll bring you to hike the bamboo forest tomorrow. Behind the forest is a viewing tform. You can see everything here at a nce there. Actually, you came at the right time, because this ce looks the most beautiful in this season. Red leaves covered the entire mountain, making it look more colorful. The view in the early morning and evening are uniquely beautiful. How about we set off early tomorrow? After I take you to see the sunrise, we¡¯ll go to the viewing tform.¡± Jonathan was already feeling pretty pissed off, but when he heard what Vincent was saying, his face darkened even further. He¡¯s already nning the hiking and sunrise viewing! Does he think I¡¯m a ghost over here? Just as he was about to explode, Vincent¡¯s phone rang. He smirked. You should be d your phone saved you! Since Vincent was finally gone, he draped his coat on Micha¡¯s shoulders and spoke in a maic voice. ¡°It¡¯s getting windy; you don¡¯t want to catch a cold.¡± He was standing next to her and pressing his hands on her shoulders. It looked as though he was half hugging her. Micha abruptly blushed as she felt a clear, domineering scent dancing on the tip of her nose. It made her subconsciously want to dodge away. ¡°I¡¯m not cold, Mr. Jonathan.¡± To her surprise, the force she felt on her shoulders became greater as the masculine voice next to her ear lowered in volume. ¡°You don¡¯t want to wear my clothes? Do you want me to carry you away?¡± His gentle voice had a beautiful coda. It made her heart skip a beat when she heard it. The dictatorial tone he used did make Micha freeze in ce. She could feel her ears burning as she lowered her gaze to avoid eye contact with him. While Vincent was still there, she did not doubt Jonathan¡¯s words. ncing at her blushing and delicate appearance, his eyes glinted with sparks of joy. At that moment, Vincent, who was still talking on his phone, approached the two of them again with a resigned look. He sounded helpless. ¡°Mom, I really am with Jonathan right now. I¡¯m not drinking. Why do you think I¡¯m lying to you? If you don¡¯t believe me, talk to him yourself!¡± Upon finishing, he handed his phone to Jonathan. ¡°My mom is convinced I¡¯m drowning myself in alcohol outside. Do you think I¡¯m that kind of person? Help me convince her that I¡¯m not lying!¡± Jonathan cursed him in his heart as he grabbed the phone and answered softly, ¡°It¡¯s me, Jonathan. Yes, he¡¯s with me right now.¡± Even though I wish that thick-headed idiot will disappear from my sight right away! ¡°No, he¡¯s not drinking. I¡¯m making sure of that.¡± I would be happy if he drinks until he¡¯s dead drunk and sleeps in his room instead of bothering me! ¡°Girlfriend? No, no. Of course, he¡¯ll tell you about it if that is the case. Okay, see you. Goodbye.¡± He then ended the call. Vincent pouted andined, ¡°I don¡¯t know why she doesn¡¯t trust me even a little. A small matter like this shouldn¡¯t have needed you to vouch for me!¡± ¡°It¡¯s your fault that you have a record of doing that,¡± Jonathan critiqued mercilessly as he turned to face Micha. ¡°Have you heard of someone who got so drunk that he sent a message to his own mother to make her call him Mom before? Not only that, threatening to blow his own house sky high if his mother didn¡¯t do that?¡± Pft! Micha looked at Vincent, astounded. She didn¡¯t know he had a drunk experience like that before, even though he was the CEO of Gale Incorporated. Vincent smiled awkwardly, indirectly admitting that it wasn¡¯t an incident he was proud of. ¡°That was just a special situation!¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Jonathan, surprisingly, didn¡¯t retort that. He paused for a short while and continued, ¡°What about last time? Your dad called you to ask when you wereing home, and you told him you want to have a drinkingpetition with him to death. The one who lost would have to call the winner Dad!¡± ¡°What happened next?¡± She wasughing so hard that she was getting out of breath, but she still really wanted to know what happened next. ¡°He reaped what he sow!¡± Jonathan smirked and answered bluntly, ¡°After he woke up, he was beaten by his dad so hard that he couldn¡¯t get down from the bed for three days!¡± Even though Micha was trying her best to hold back herughter, she failed and snorted. She still tried to pretend like she was sorry to hear that. ¡°I apologize, Vincent. I didn¡¯t mean to do it.¡± ¡°Laugh all you want!¡± Vincent red at Jonathan. ¡°You know you¡¯re destroying my image as a respectable boss in front of Mich, right, Jonathan?¡± He finally felt like it was unfair for Jonathan to reveal his shameful stories. I didn¡¯t do anything to piss him off, so why did he tell those stories in front of her? Unbeknownst to him, he did actually piss Jonathan off, a lot. Ever since he stepped into the resort, he was already annoying Jonathan to no end. ¡°Are you sure you still have an image to speak of?¡± Jonathan continued his mockery. ¡°You¡¯re just a crazy man who attracted people who think they have an umon taste. Not to mention, you act like you have a personality.¡± When Jonathan said that, Vincent couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to mock his pursuit of beauty. ¡°Hey, you just don¡¯t get fashion! In this current era, people are forever chasing after greater beauty and art. The market needs professional influencers, especially in this era of materialistic abundance, to show everyone the beauty of fashion. I¡¯m simply providing a great service to the good citizens of this country. Do you understand that?¡± ¡°Nope!¡± Jonathan appeared to be humble and continued without hurry. ¡°That¡¯s just your scheme to flirt and hook up with women, yet you¡¯re trying to make it sound grander than it is. I really don¡¯t get it.¡± It was then Vincent truly felt he had lost his dignity, yet Jonathan reminded, ¡°Your mom told me if she heard you speaking insolently with me like that again, she¡¯ll spank you with her duster once you get back home. ¡° As Micha stared at Vincent¡¯s lifeless expression and thought about both of their ages, sheughed again at a low volume. At that moment, Jonathan felt as though the colors in the scenery fade away, with the sole exception of the beautiful womanughing in front of him. It wasn¡¯t until dusk approached that they returned to the main building. The moment they stepped in, a soft voice was heard from a distance. ¡°Jonathan!¡± Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Honest Man When they turned to the origin of the voice, they saw Louise approaching them. She probably just returned after her bath in the hot spring. Her hair was wet, and she was only wearing a laced dress on top of her sexy bikini. Thatbination of clothing was really inviting people¡¯s imagination to run wild. She had an extremely attractive figure, and she knew how to put on the right clothes to disy her beauty. When looking at her, it felt as though she was simultaneously showing off her perfect, sexy figure without losing her modesty. Her craftiness was evident. Seeing that she had juste from the resting area, it would appear she was waiting for Jonathan. As a woman herself, of course, Micha could see the affection in Louise¡¯s eyes. Just as she was going to find an excuse to leave, Louise approached her instead of Jonathan and stood in front of her. ¡°You¡¯re Old Mr. Simmons¡¯ granddaughter, Ms. Lingard, right? There are quite a lot of mosquitoes during the night here, so I specially prepared a bottle of mosquito repellent for you. It¡¯s quite useful. I wanted to deliver it to your room, but I didn¡¯t know which room it was, so I decided to wait here after taking a bath in the hot spring. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s brand new. I haven¡¯t even opened it yet!¡± Even though it was the first time they met, Louise was acting like she was familiar with Micha. There was a bright smile stered on Louise¡¯s face while she spoke, as though she wanted toe off as gentle and generous. If Micha wasn¡¯t experienced enough to know Louise clearly had an ulterior motive, she would have been moved by that benevolent offer. In actuality, it only made her suspect Louise¡¯s intentions. Sure, it¡¯s natural that she¡¯s calling me Ms. Lingard since we¡¯re not familiar with each other. However, it¡¯s definitely suspicious that she intentionally brought up my granddad. Is she reminding me that, if Adrian wasn¡¯t my granddad, I wouldn¡¯t have the chance to stand next to Jonathan? Or is she reminding me to know my ce and don¡¯t get in her way? Which is it? It not only made her dislike Louise, but it also made her stop thinking that she was an excellent woman and that she was a good fit with Jonathan. Staring at the mosquito repellent in Louise¡¯s hand, Micha stepped backward and rejected without hesitation, ¡°I won¡¯t take it if you need it too. Besides, I¡¯m allergic to that kind of stuff. I¡¯m afraid I have to reject your offer, Ms. Johnson.¡± Louise was taken aback slightly, as though she didn¡¯t expect Micha to reject her generosity. She quickly returned to her senses and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I apologize for being presumptuous, Ms. Lingard.¡± Micha smiled as well. I don¡¯t understand why people love to put on an act. First, it was Lucille, and now it was Louise. I¡¯m so disappointed that even someone from a prominent family acts like this too. If she likes him, then she should just say it out loud. Louise was going to use Micha to show Jonathan how nice she was. Her n backfired because Micha had the stubbornness young people possessed. Even though Louise¡¯s n had failed, she didn¡¯t show her displeasure on her face. Instead, she smiled at Jonathan and invited in a tender tone, ¡°There¡¯s a campfire party during the night, Jonathan. Do you want to join me?¡± That was probably her ultimate goal. Micha smiled and turned to the two men. ¡°I¡¯ll head back to my room now, Vincent, Mr. Jonathan. You guys have fun talking!¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Then, without waiting for their responses, she strolled toward her room. Since she didn¡¯t have a keycard, when she passed by the customer service counter, she politely asked, ¡°Can you help me unlock the door to room 1314? Thanks! ¡° 1314? Isn¡¯t that Jonathan¡¯s suite? They¡¯re staying in the same room? He usually treats women pretty coldly, so why is he allowing someone like her to get so close to his life? Also, that coat on her shoulders. That¡¯s Jonathan¡¯s right? I also saw him treating her very differently when they were having a meal. He not only put food on her te, but he alsodled a bowl of soup for her. The wildest part was he did all that with a gentle look. I know he can be pretty sweet and tender, but when he was doing something out of hospitality, there should be an obvious cold, distant look in his eyes. There must be something different about her. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t act so humbly to please a woman. It was then Louise realized something. As jealousy filled her heart, shock shed across her eyes. Seeing Micha was about to disappear from his sight, Vincent finally realized what was going on. ¡°Er¡­ I¡¯m pretty tired after running around the entire afternoon too. You guys have fun talking to each other!¡± The moment he finished, he gave Jonathan a profound look before zooming away. It wasn¡¯t until it was only the two of them left that Louise looked at Jonathan somewhat shyly. ¡°Since it¡¯s still early, how about I treat you to a cup of coffee, Mr. Xander? If you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°I still have something I need to do. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be taking my leave now, Ms. Johnson.¡± He still sounded gentle, but the coldness in his voice was impossible to ignore. C She thought he agreed to her invitation when he didn¡¯t say no earlier. Unbeknownst to her, he just didn¡¯t want to make her look bad. The truth was not what she thought it would be. Louise was stunned. Right as Jonathan curved his lips upward and was about to leave, she asked, ¡°Is it because of her?¡± He abruptly paused and turned to look at her with a cold, sharp look, unlike the elegant one he had before. His voice sounded pretty sterilized, too. ¡°Do I need to report my personal matter to you, Ms. Johnson?¡± She subconsciously retorted, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, Mr. Xander¡ª¡± However, she was cut off by his deep voice as he stared at her with a threatening look. ¡°Regardless of what you mean, Ms. Johnson, I bear no affection toward you. I suggest you stop being presumptuous and y tricks in front of me, Ms. Johnson.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± With her schemes exposed, she clutched her hands tightly and anxiously. Before she could exin herself, he spoke up again with an even deeper voice. ¡°Also, if anything that happened today leaks out, I¡¯ll make sure the entire Johnson family will pay the price. You should know I¡¯m capable of that, so don¡¯t challenge my bottom line again, okay?¡± His re was so cold that it sent a chill down her spine. When he finished, he turned around without dy and left. So that Micha is his bottom line? Louise snorted coldly. I don¡¯t doubt that he was serious when he said he¡¯ll take down the Johnson family if I push him further because he definitely can. However, seeing as he¡¯s willing to threaten me like that, it¡¯s pretty obvious he loves Micha a lot. Everybody knew Jonathan was a prideful man, so it was natural she knew too. Back then, after Jonathan achieved that legendary feat overseas, he became a hero many people admired and respected. It was then she started wanting her parents to match up with him when she returned to visit them. She never expressed her desire for him, because she was a prideful woman. It was her assumption that, when she became powerful and excellent enough to stand next to Jonathan¡¯s side, he woulde to her. Unfortunately, reality had proven her wrong. When she saw how nicely Jonathan treated Micha, she had to admit she was jealous, and that it threw her off her game. It was why she discarded her prideful facade to seize her opportunity. Sadly, it failed, and she made herself look like a clown to Jonathan. He liked Micha so much that he didn¡¯t care he was worsening the rtionship between his family and the Johnson family. At that previous moment, the impression of a gentle, elegant Jonathan in her mind vanished and was reced by a terrible and vicious demon. Logically, there shouldn¡¯t have been any reasons left for her to like him after seeing him like that. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Chapter 52 How Dare He Touch Me When Micha returned to her room, it was still early. She thought it was going to be a while before Jonathan returned from his trip with Louise, so she decided to start a video call with her mother. Perhaps it was because of what happenedst night that it made her feel like they hadn¡¯t met for a long time, even though only a day had passed. When the call connected, the phone showed her a busy figure. Hannah was still sitting in front of her desk that has a big stack of documents on it. ¡°How¡¯s it going on your end, Mom? Are things going smoothly? Have you eaten yet?¡± ¡°Not yet. I¡¯ll go and eat after I finish my current work. Besides, I¡¯m not hungry yet. I¡¯ve been spending two days preparing all the materials I need. So, I won¡¯t know if things will go smoothly until Monday. What¡¯s up? Are you missing me?¡± Hannah tied up her long hair into a ponytail, exuding the unmistakable aura of a career woman in the process. ¡°Of course!¡± Micha was going to say something, but seeing how busy her mother was, she hesitated. However, as a mother, Hannah still managed to notice there was something going on with her daughter. She put down the paper in her hand and smiled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you have something you want to tell me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really.¡± Micha grabbed the pillow on the couch and chuckled dryly. ¡°I¡¯m your mother, you know. I can tell there¡¯s something weighing down on you. Just tell me about it. You can always tell me anything.¡± Hannah picked up the phone and walked to the couch. Then she slumped on it, taking the opportunity to rest. ¡°Can I stop living in Mr. Jonathan¡¯s house? I can stay at Granddad¡¯s ce. There are housekeepers there, too. Besides, I¡¯m grown up now. I can take care of myself.¡± Micha¡¯s crisp voice traveled into Jonathan¡¯s ears as he arrived at the entrance of the door. It caused him to stop turning the knob and subconsciously hold his breath. I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s already nning to escape from me after I left for a brief moment. What kind of ce does she think Shappiray Mansion is? Does she think she can stay or leave as she pleases? No way. The look in his eyes darkened as he listened to the conversation inside the room. Hannah asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re not having a good time with Jonathan? Where are you right now?¡± Micha answered, ¡°He brought me to a resort! It¡¯s not that I¡¯m unhappy. I just think it¡¯s a little inconvenient!¡± She was slightly upset because she wasn¡¯t sure how to put it in a way that her mother would understand. After all, it wasn¡¯t like she could tell her mother Jonathan had a girlfriend, but at the same time, he was seemingly flirting with her, especially when Jonathan didn¡¯t do anything extreme. Besides, he still treated her pretty well, despite his tendency to act like a pig sometimes. Hannah couldn¡¯t read her daughter¡¯s mind, so when she heard Jonathan brought Micha somewhere nice, she secretly praised his attentiveness in her mind. At the same time, she gentlyforted, ¡°You really are grown up, Mich. I¡¯m happy to hear that you can take care of yourself. However, I¡¯ll still be worried about you if you¡¯re staying outside. It¡¯s different if you stay with Jonathan because I know he¡¯ll take care of you. I¡¯m aware he¡¯s your elder, and it can be a little stressful living with him. I promise you that the moment I wrap up my work, I¡¯lle back to you right away. Okay? You shouldn¡¯t say stuff like that anymore. Otherwise, if he hears about it, he¡¯ll think he mistreated you, and it¡¯ll make him feel sad.¡± In her mind, Jonathan was a noble man who never went against his word. If he promised something, he would definitely do it, which eased her worries. Besides, after what happened before, she was worried that Jacob would give her daughter a hard time. If Micha stayed with Jonathan, then even Jacob wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything drastic. Unbeknownst to her, someone was actually keeping a close eye on her daughter and preparing to take her daughter back home at an opportune moment. Ever since Micha was a child, Hannah did everything she could to fulfill all of her requests. She thought her mother was going to do the same again, but she didn¡¯t expect her mother would trust Jonathan that much. Micha bit her lip and tried to persuade her mother, ¡°But, Mom¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, Mich. Tell me, is the resort fun? Why aren¡¯t you out ying right now? Is Jonathan not with you?¡± Seeing how conflicted her daughter looked, Hannah smiled and changed the subject. When Jonathan was brought up, Micha pouted. ¡°I just came back. Mr. Jonathan¡ª¡± Before she could tell her mother he was on a date with another woman, a warm voice was heard from behind her. ¡°Mdm. Simmons! I went to grab a few incenses for Mich at the front desk!¡± Jonathan wasn¡¯t going to let Micha destroy his image as an honest man after spending years building it up. Besides, he was going to do everything he could to leave a good impression in front of his future mother- inw. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. His sudden appearance made Micha freeze. When did hee back? Why didn¡¯t I hear anything? Did he overhear my conversation? Her delicate face hung low. Why do I have a bad feeling about this? As expected, just as she peeked backward, she saw Jonathan staring at her with a half-smile. She chuckled dryly as she heard her mother speaking on the phone. ¡°You¡¯re so thoughtful, Jonathan! I hope Mich didn¡¯t cause you too much trouble.¡± ¡°Not at all, Mdm. Simmons. Mich has been behaving very well,¡± Jonathan replied politely as he caressed Micha¡¯s head like a kind elder. His hand was warm. When it was rubbing her head, it gave her a fuzzy feeling. Blood rushed into her ears, causing her to shift her head to hide it. How dare he touch me in front of my mother! ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll leave Mich in your care, then. You two have fun! I¡¯ll return to my work now.¡± Hannah waved. Have fun? Micha squeezed out a smile as her sixth sense was strongly warning her of her impending doom. The phone in her hand began to feel like a hot potato as her mother gently reminded her, ¡°Listen to Jonathan, okay? Bye-bye, Mich!¡± ¡°Okay. Goodbye, Mom!¡± She waved at her mother until the call ended. Silence filled the room. She could feel the intense stare aiming at her head. The panic in her heart grew more intense as she stood up immediately and smiled at Jonathan. ¡°You¡¯re back so early, Mr. Jonathan!¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t¡­¡± He uttered softly, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have known you hated me so much that you want to leave my side this badly.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± She was confused. I just want to leave his house. How is that rted to me hating him? That was obviously not the time for her to argue with him as she stared into his dark eyes. They looked like ck holes trying to swallow her whole. It shook her, which prompted her to smile brightly at him again. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ feeling a bit tired. I¡¯ll return to my room now. You should rest early, Mr. Jonathan.¡± As she was speaking, she had been slowly backing away and preparing to escape if needed. However, she failed to take the stairs into consideration. When she suddenly missed her step, her body lost control, and she fell backward. Her rosy cheeks were instantly drained of their color and turned pale. Thankfully, Jonathan had already arrived next to her and stretched his hand toward her. He directly pulled her into his embrace. Micha subconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck in a panic. Their current posture and position were really suggestive. Her head was still spinning as a deep voice pierced into her ear. ¡°Are you throwing yourself at me, Mich?¡± Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Caring Jonathan¡¯sughter was soft and maic. There was a bit of a tremble at the end of his beautiful coda. It was so pleasing to the ear that it would make anyone feel moved. Throwing myself at him? When Micha returned to her senses and lifted her head, her eyes met with his. They were dark and seductive. When she processed what he said, she felt like she was running out of breath in an instant as her cheeks felt as if they were burning up. Red began appearing from the back of her ears toward her delicate face. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Jonathan, who saw all that, sexily swallowed and uttered in a hoarse voice, ¡°Don¡¯t want to let go, eh?¡± It was then Micha noticed her arms were still wrapped around his neck. She quickly moved her arms away and wanted to stand up. Suddenly, her legs gave in, and she almost fell again. Once again, he caught her in time and steadied her body. His heated, somewhat coarse fingers touched her slender arms and rubbed on them silently. It made her body freeze stiffly. The more nervous she was, the more things went wrong. Yet, Jonathan still refused to let her go and teased her, ¡°What are you panicking about? I¡¯m not making you take responsibility.¡± His deep, maic voice made Micha almost cry. Who¡¯s taking responsibility for who? Why is he talking like I¡¯m taking advantage of him? This man, even though he looks serious, he¡¯s actually a shameless scoundrel who keeps pushing my limits. She didn¡¯t know he was actually holding himself back. On one hand, he really wanted to pull her closer, much closer. On the other hand, he was afraid he was going to scare her and make her actually run away. At the moment, Micha was like a frightened rabbit as she froze at her spot. Her watery, clear eyes were slightly red with anxiety. In the end, he sighed resignedly and went to the couch before patting the spot next to him. ¡°Sit down. There¡¯s something I want to ask you.¡± ¡°N-No need! I can hear you perfectly from here!¡± There was no way she was going to send herself into the lion¡¯s den just as soon as she escaped it. She shook her head subconsciously, showing that she really wanted to maintain her distance away from him. ¡°Do you want me to hug you like I just did and talk to you like that?¡± The edge of Jonathan¡¯s eyes lifted upward slightly. There were sparkles in his seductive eyes, yet the look he was giving her undoubtedly carried a touch of threat. Micha could feel her heart thumping like a jackhammer, especially when she recalled how he acted when he was standing up. She waved her hand and sat next to him in a sh before squeezing out a ttering smile. ¡°No need, it¡¯s fine. You don¡¯t have to do that.¡± As she spoke, the image of him holding herself in hisp barged into her mind uncontrobly, which sent a shiver down her spine. If this continues any longer, my heart¡¯s going to jump out! God, just let me get this over with already! Seeing her sitting next to him obediently, Jonathan¡¯s lips curved upward as he stared at her. ¡°Do you dislike me that much, Mich?¡± Even though it was a simple question, she felt like he sounded weirdly aggrieved and sultry, for some reason. It was like¡­ a child who couldn¡¯t get the candy they wanted. Jonathan? A child? I must be losing my mind. Why do I have such weird thoughts? ¡°N-No!¡± Micha refuted. ¡°You treat me well, Mr. Jonathan. I know that. I haven¡¯t even gotten the chance to thank you properly. Why would I hate you?¡± She sounded very sincere, without a tinge of forcefulness in her voice, because she really meant what she said. Jonathan did treat her well, despite his asionally odd behaviors. Those behaviors didn¡¯t make her hate him. It just made her feel somewhat embarrassed. Upon receiving a satisfying answer, Jonathan¡¯s worries vanished. He pursed his lip and asked again, ¡°Then why do you want to move out of Shappiray Mansion?¡± After Hannah returned, their lives would go back to normal. He was already upset that the time they could spend with each other was short because he really wanted to spend all day, every day with her. Yet, she wanted to escape from him. It made him desperate for an answer. He didn¡¯t want his efforts to go to waste and only get her disdain in return. She hesitated for a while before she answered his question under his scorching gaze. ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to give you any trouble and cause any unnecessary misunderstandings, Mr. Jonathan. Besides, you probably want to live with your girlfriend there, and I don¡¯t think it¡¯s nice if I stay there¡­¡± The more she spoke, the smaller her voice became. ¡°What are you saying? Speak louder!¡± He leaned closer to her and intentionally requested in a deep voice. Micha fiddled with her fingers. She was so nervous that she didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Why did you stop talking?¡± Jonathan narrowed his eyes at her, who appeared like a deer caught in the headlight. Both of them were really close to each other at that moment. Their eyes met as they listened to each other¡¯s breathing. It caused the atmosphere to be more sensual. As if she was hit by something, she was utterly stunned. Suddenly, she forgot to dodge and stared straight at him. Her shy appearance looked really cute. To him, she was like an irresistible toxin. Jonathan kept telling himself to give her more time. However, the more he interacted with her, the more he lost control of himself and wanted more. He kept narrowing his eyes as he pulled himself away from her and nestled his body on the couch. One of his arms was even ced on the spot behind her. He looked casual, yet seductive. In fact, he stopped giving Micha a hard time and asked in a low voice, ¡°Okay, let me ask you this. Who told you I have a girlfriend?¡± He¡¯s definitely doing it on purpose! He pretends like he didn¡¯t hear what I said to tease me! I really don¡¯t like how I¡¯m always in a disadvantageous position. She suppressed the anger within her heart and pressed her fingers against each other. ¡°Vincent told me¡­¡± ¡°Do you really believe every word thates out of his mouth?¡± Jonathan knew Vincent was up to good when he saw Vincent¡¯s mischievous look in the restaurant. However, he didn¡¯t expect it to be that. I¡¯m going to get back at him for this. Micha raised her eyebrow, speechless. Is he angry? He really does have an awful, vtile temperament. If a woman can fall in love with him, then it means she really, really loves him. Seeing that she was still keeping her silence, Jonathan softened his tone and asked in a gentle, maic voice, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to what other people tell you blindly, Mich. You have to use your heart to feel if someone¡¯s telling the truth and believe in your instincts. Get it? Besides, Louise and I aren¡¯t like what you imagined.¡± What I imagined? How does he know? She pouted. ¡°Sure, my family and her family are close, and our parents were interested in pairing us up together. However, I feel nothing toward Louise, which was something I told her about before already. Vincent is just running his mouth. He doesn¡¯t know anything!¡± Is he exining himself to me? Why? What does this have to do with me? Micha was confused. ¡°Additionally, you never bring me any trouble. I protect you because I care about you. So please, don¡¯t say you want to move out, okay?¡± His deep voice revealed a bit of coaxing. If I hadn¡¯t appeared earlier, she would¡¯ve ruined my image in her mother¡¯s mind. I wouldn¡¯t be able to clear my name if that had happened. It¡¯s already difficult courting her, so if her mother gets in my way too, I may as well just jump off a building. He smiled somewhat forcefully. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Skirt Is Too Short Jonathan¡¯s words tickled Micha¡¯s heart like a feather. A feeling shed by too quickly and she was unable toprehend it. Under Jonathan¡¯s scrutiny, Micha finally nodded her head obediently. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do what you say.¡± Resolving the misunderstanding had lifted the weight from Jonathan¡¯s heart. He gently caressed Micha¡¯s long hair as gratification filled him. ¡°Go change. I¡¯ll bring you to the campfire party.¡± I think girls her age like lively events. I don¡¯t mind catering to her demands as long as it makes her happy. I can do more than this for her. Noticing Micha was still rooted in ce, Jonathan asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Mr. Jonathan, I don¡¯t want to go to the campfire party. I¡¯m hungry.¡± The meal earlier was tasteless, and now I¡¯m feeling my stomach is empty. Her stomach let out a hungry growl with impable timing. Jonathan¡¯s eyes darkened, seeing her acting coquettishly with him. ¡°Let¡¯s grab some food then. Put more layers on. The mountain is chilly at night.¡± His gazended on her pair of slender legs. My phone still has the photo Gary sent me. I don¡¯t understand what fashion designers are thinking these days. Why did they make the skirts so short? It¡¯s way too distracting. Oblivious to Jonathan¡¯s thoughts, Micha assumed he was worried about her health. She muttered an acknowledgment and got up to head back to her room. After a few steps, she halted and asked, ¡°Should we invite Vincent?¡± That idiot again! Jonathan was pissed when he heard the way she addressed Vincent. He paused and trained his intense gaze on Micha. ¡°Mich, he and I grew up together. Do you think it¡¯s appropriate to call him Vincent, and me, Mr. Jonathan?¡± What a melodramatic old man! Does he have to be so adamant about the way I address people? Micha wanted to tease him all the more when he got like that. A gleam of cheekiness shed across her eyes. She feigned ignorance and said, ¡°But didn¡¯t you ask Vincent to treat you with respect? Since Vincent and I are friends, I should be more respectful too!¡± Did I just shoot myself in the foot? ¡°Micha!¡± A charming smile tugged at the corners of Jonathan¡¯s lips, and his eyes narrowed slightly at her. Sensing danger, Micha perked up in rm. She was about to dash to her room when she was saved by the doorbell, apanied by Vincent¡¯s shoutout. ¡°Mich? Open the door, hurry. I brought something tasty for you!¡± Vincent sneezed when he was alone in his room just now, probably due to his empty room. Hence, he brought dinner for Micha. Hearing Vincent outside hardened Jonathan¡¯s expression, but Micha simply shed him a grin and shouted, ¡°Coming!¡± Seeing Micha skip happily to open the door, coldness filled Jonathan¡¯s eyes. Since he¡¯s serving himself up on a tter, I can settle some old scores with him. Once the door opened, Vincent gestured for the servers to push the meal delivery carts into the room, ndering Jonathan in the process. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that hiberdating Jonathan left the two of us here and went somewhere to enjoy. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep youpany-¡± Before Vincent could finish talking, a tall figure appeared in his line of sight, staring at him with a grin. ¡°Hiberdating?¡± The expression on Jonathan¡¯s face sent chills running up Vincent¡¯s spine. All Vincent could manage was a dry chuckle. After the servers left and Micha had shut the door, Vincent starteding up with an excuse for himself. ¡°Did you say hiberdating? You must have misheard. Who dares to nder you like that? I¡¯ll be the first to object. Our Jonathan is a man who exercises self-control. I knew you would be in the room, so I called for room service.¡± Vincent¡¯s mind was running a thousand miles an hour. He knew Jonathan best since they were childhood friends. Knowing Jonathan couldn¡¯t be fooled easily, Vincent had prepared to run for his life. Instead, Jonathan merely cast him a nce and walked toward the dining table. ¡°Mich is hungry. Let¡¯s eat first.¡± That¡¯s it? He¡¯s let it go and turn the page? Vincent was in disbelief as he watched Jonathan tug Micha to the dining table and cut the steak for her. Seeing Jonathan focused on his task, Vincent let out a breath of relief. Jonathan must¡¯ve not wanted to embarrass me in front of Micha. It looks like I¡¯ll have to hide somewhere for the time being. I¡¯ll have to remain hidden until he forgets about this slip-up, at least. Vincent had been overthinking a little.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. When Vincent sat at the dining table and picked up his fork and knife, Jonathan had set the te of cut steak in front of Micha and took away the te of steak in front of Vincent. ¡°Hey-¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you just said you specifically called room service for me? Didn¡¯t you order the steak for me?¡± Vincent couldn¡¯te up with a retort. It slipped his mind that he only requested dinner for two. Feeling Jonathan¡¯s stare on him, Vincent felt an overwhelming pressure looming over him. Without a choice, he resignedly went with Jonathan¡¯s narrative. ¡°Yeah. I ordered that for you! I just wanted to help you cut it.¡± ¡°No need to trouble you. I can do it myself.¡± ndering me behind my back, and even trying to have dinner with Micha without me! Is he nning to decorate the table with candles and wine too? There was no change in Jonathan¡¯s expression despite the jealousy burning within him. Yet, Vincent could feel a murderous aura exuded by Jonathan as he cut the steak. Vincent ducked his head and tried to make himself as small as possible. Vincent felt wronged. He didn¡¯t have any ulterior motive. He just wantedpany, so he went looking for Micha. Since they already had stir-fries for lunch, he figured they should have something different for dinner. He never thought it would cause someone to be jealous. Most importantly, Vincent didn¡¯t see through Jonathan¡¯s intention. Feeling the tense atmosphere between the two, Micha kept herughter in check and passed a te of pasta to Vincent. ¡°You can have this, Vincent.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± A distorted smile sadder than crying tugged at Vincent¡¯s lips. He speared the pasta and was about to pop it into his mouth when Jonathan stopped him. ¡°Your mom called me earlier to watch out for any good girlfriend material with a suitable background for you.¡± ¡°Huh? What did you tell her then?¡± He almost choked on the pasta in his mouth at Jonathan¡¯s disclosure. Yet Jonathan feigned ignorance to his choking and casually continued, ¡°I asked what requirement she had, and she answered as long as it was a woman and alive would do. If that was too difficult, she asked me to add men into the line up too.¡± Vincent didn¡¯t suspect one bit thosements were something his mom would say and began coughing urgently. From his side-eye, he caught Jonathan gently urging Micha to eat more. At that moment, he realized something. He must be doing it on purpose! Does he have to be so petty? I just judged him a little. My life is so difficult! Vincent didn¡¯t know that this was only the beginning. For almost the entire night, Vincent couldn¡¯t shut his eyes. The phone in his room kept ringing. The callers were either asking whether he needed a massage or a foot spa. Vincent made aint to the front desk about the endless calls he¡¯d been receiving. Their response was the resort was a legitimate business premise and guaranteed those calls weren¡¯t from within the resort. Furious at their response, Vincent detached the line to the phone and returned to bed. A few minutes after he closed his eyes, someone came knocking, iming there was a leak next door, and wanted to check if his room was affected. In the end, Vincent couldn¡¯t take the torture any longer and left the resort alone in the middle of the night. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Watching The Sunrise Just when Vincent gained a new perspective on Jonathan¡¯s craftiness, Jonathan received a message from the resort about Vincent¡¯s departure. Satisfied that he would be alone for the morning hike with Micha the next day, Jonathan returned to bed. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Micha had a good night¡¯s sleep that night. Maybe it was due to a lot of walking around the resort during the day. She jerked from her deep slumber when Jonathan came knocking on her door before dawn. Only then did she remember the promise to watch the sunrise. She quickly washed up and changed into appropriate attire. They had a simple breakfast of oatmeal, then made their way to the mountain top. Halfway there, Micha finally realized it was too quiet. She turned to Jonathan confusedly. ¡°Mr. Jonathan, is it truly okay for us not to invite Vincent along?¡± ¡°He left,¡± Jonathan replied nonchntly. She¡¯s still thinking about that idiot? ¡°Huh?¡± Micha was surprised at the news. He didn¡¯t mention about leaving at dinnerst night and even reminded me to set the rm for this morning before returning to his room. Why did he leave so suddenly? Jonathan met her gaze and said, ¡°He told me his mom had arranged a blind date for him, so he left in a hurry and didn¡¯t get to say his goodbyes. He did leave a short message though.¡± Worried Micha would be interested in Vincent, Jonathan sacrificed his friend¡¯s reputation to avoid any possibility of that happening. ¡°Oh,¡± Micha muttered gloomily. Is she sad at Vincent¡¯s sudden departure? The thought annoyed Jonathan. His eyes narrowed as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s with your reaction?¡± ¡°I just felt sorry that Vincent was forced into marriage.¡± The unexpected answer had Vincent exhaling a breath. Before he could rx, Micha spoke in a soft voice. ¡°But I understood the reason he was forced into marriage. After all, he¡¯s not getting any younger, but what confuses me the most is even my mom asks me to meet more new friends and to start dating some of them if they aren¡¯t that bad. I¡¯m only twenty-two!¡± Not getting any younger? Jonathan frowned as he counted. Vincent is younger than me by a year. Am I old? I thought seniority was thergest obstacle to taking our rtionship further, but age was really the main issue instead? Before he could resolve the burning issue, Micha started going on about Hannah hounding her to date. Jonathan felt he was swimming against the current at that point. Even though he was panicking, he kept a calmposure. ¡°What do you think about it?¡± ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t want to look for a boyfriend so early on. Besides, men are pigs. They always break their promises and do something different than what they said. They cheated on girls and changed their minds at a drop of a hat. When they were wooing you, they whispered sweet nothings into your ears and pampered you, but what did they do in the end? It¡¯s always the girls that got hurt.¡± Micha was giving her speech passionately when she felt a dark gaze trained on her. Realizing her slip of a tongue, she stuck out her tongue cutely andughed dryly. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about you, Mr. Jonathan. No offense.¡± ¡°None taken.¡± Jonathan said casually, ¡°You never dated me before, so of course, I¡¯m not going to assume you¡¯re talking about me. Micha continued to ster a forced smile on her face at his answer. ¡°Mich, you can¡¯t lump everything and everyone together. It makes sense for Mdm. Simmons to worry. All you have to do is listen to your heart.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jonathan.¡± Micha shed him such a bright smile that even her eyes lit up. As the resort wasn¡¯t open to the public, the hike to the mountain peak was empty. When they reached the peak, they saw a few small groups of hikers there. They were all facing the east, waiting for the sun to rise as they shivered in the cold wind. The mornings in fall were starting to get colder, especially in the mountains. The heat their bodies had umted from the hike vanished as time passed. Seeing Micha¡¯s excitement even though her nose had already turned red from the cold, Jonathan drew closer to her and asked with a smile, ¡°Feeling cold yet?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± she replied in a chirpy voice. He could imagine the notes dancing in the air. He liked how lively and energetic she was now, aspared to the gloomy her at the beach. Ever since her engagement was annulled and he decided to stay in the city, he swore he would be the one to evoke Micha¡¯s every feeling from then on. However, I don¡¯t want to see her getting sick. Jonathan lifted his hand to unbuckle the buttons on his coat. Knowing what he was trying to do, Micha stopped him by cing her hand on his. ¡°I¡¯m not cold, Mr. Jonathan. The wind is blowing strongly. It¡¯s best if you keep it on. I don¡¯t want you getting sick.¡± Her hands were cold and soft. The vivid sensation warmed his heart. With an arch of his brow, he asked smugly, ¡°Worried about me?¡± His husky voice had a certain charm that enticed the listener. Micha was stunned briefly but didn¡¯t notice anything amiss. He began speaking in a deeper baritone. ¡°I have a way to keep both of us warm.¡± Before Micha could realize what was happening, Jonathan stretched his arm and pulled her into his embrace. He swiftly covered her with his wide coat. It does feel warmer. But it¡¯s too intimate. Micha¡¯s heart started racing, and her breathing turned heavier. The hot breath on her ear felt amplified every time he exhaled. He noticed her ears were turning red, and a warm smile yed on his lips. ¡°See? Not cold anymore?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Micha nodded woodenly, but her ears were turning redder. Not far away, a shivering Walter was wiping the snot dripping down his nose. He elbowed the statue beside him. ¡°Say, why did Mr. Xandere all the way here for this torture? Could it be just for a hug?¡± Gary cast a condescending nce at Walter. Even though I don¡¯t know Mr. Xander¡¯s n, I¡¯m sure he has his reasons. However, he wouldn¡¯t let Walter know he was clueless too. Walter was not offended or surprised by Gary¡¯s attitude. Not caring whether he would agree, Walter inched closer to him. ¡°I think Mr. Xander is feeling quite warm with his method. Should we give it a try?¡± ¡°F**k off!¡± Gary shot him a disgusted nce and shrank away. Walter was upset at his disgust. ¡°F**k! I¡¯m straight too! I¡¯m f**king doing it to get some warmth. Let the cold freeze you to death then.¡± Walter jumped on the spot, trying to warm his body up. ¡°It¡¯s too f**king cold here.¡± At that time, the sun¡¯s rays had shone through the horizon, illuminating the faraway cloud that was slowly rolling away to reveal the peaks of the mountains. As the red sun peaked through, its rays painted the sky red. The magnificent view of sunrise had everyone agitated. Not far away, a few people started cheering loudly and whipped out their phones for a photo session. Micha waved her hands excitedly as though her arms could reach the fiery sky. ¡°Mr. Jonathan, look at that! Vincent was right! It¡¯s beautiful!¡± As the ball of light rose higher, Micha¡¯s pretty face lighted up. It cast a sensual charm on her looks. ¡°Mich!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Oblivious to Jonathan¡¯s darkened gaze, Micha was still submerged in the overwhelming beauty of nature. ¡°Guard your heart well.¡± ¡°What?¡± The loud cheers had drowned out Jonathan¡¯s deep voice. Before Micha could turn around and ask him, his husky voice sounded again. ¡°I said, guard your heart for me. I¡¯ll nning to steal it from you.¡± Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Chapter 56 He Needs To Learn His Lesson Though thest business trip was in haste, Jonathan still managed to delegate thepany¡¯s duties to his subordinates. He had also informed the others that he would now shift his focus to the business in the country. In other words, he would try to avoid traveling in and out of the country unless he had to attend important meetings. After returning to the country on Friday, Jonathan immediately took care of the rumors that revolved around Micha and took her for a walk instead of diving straight into his work. Initially, he wanted to send Micha to work on Monday, but the cheekydy went into Gary¡¯s car instead because she did not want to trouble Jonathan. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Jonathan gave in and reminded Gary to take good care of her. He then left in another car. She has been dodging me since the trip to the holiday resort. She must be terrified of me because of what I said in the mountains. But at this point, Jonathan decided to take a step back and give Micha some space. Since I¡¯ve told her what I had in mind, I should give her some time to ept that I¡¯d be around her. Jonathan might have permitted Micha to travel in Gary¡¯s car, but he still instructed his chauffeur to follow right behind them. He could only set his mind at ease after seeing her enter the office building safely. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s go!¡± When Jonathan was about to wind up the car window, Walter alerted him with a whisper, ¡°Look, Mr. Xander. It¡¯s Jacob!¡± Upon hearing that, Jonathan froze for a moment before lifting his eyes. He then saw Jacob running in his direction with a grin. It was as if Jacob was not intimidated by the icy-cold expression on Jonathan¡¯s face. But it was not difficult to tell how exhausted he was. Jacob bent and leaned forward to greet Jonathan in a ttering tone, ¡°Mr. Xander.¡± He came to Micha¡¯s office early this morning because he wanted her to get Jonathan¡¯s help to salvage thepany. The moment he saw Jonathan¡¯s car from a distance, he thought he had lucked out. Jonathan gave him a perfunctory reply, ¡°Mr. Lingard. How can I help you?¡± Jacob¡¯s face turned pallid as he could tell Jonathan was not keen on engaging in the conversation with him. He gave Jonathan an awkward smile and apologized, ¡°I¡¯ve thought about the incident that had happened the other day, and yes, you¡¯re right, Mr. Xander. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± He thought Jonathan would ept his apology and let it slide, considering the rtionship between the Xanders and the Lingards, but that was not the case. Jonathan looked at him with a scowl and asked, ¡°And?¡± ¡°S-So could you give Jacob Real Estate another chance, please?¡± Jacob bowed and pleaded respectfully. Even Walter was disgusted by his ingenuity. Jonathan kept mum and stared nkly at Jacob for a moment. The condescending look on his face would cause anyone around him to shudder. ¡°Mr. Lingard!¡± When Jacob was about to break into cold sweats, Jonathan finally responded, ¡°Old Mr. Simmons might not be around anymore, but I¡¯ll not allow anyone to bully the mother and daughter from the Simmons family. For your information, I¡¯ll do what it takes to protect Mich, so please don¡¯t test my patience.¡± ¡°Yes, most definitely. I agree with you, Mr. Xander!¡± Jacob knew Jonathan was threatening him. He could only nod and bow repeatedly before the man. He tried to be as lowly and humble as possible. Jonathan responded with a cold snort while taking a sidelong nce at Jacob. ¡°I¡¯ll help you find the businessman, but whether Jacob Real Estate can survive the ordeal, it¡¯s beyond my control!¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Xander!¡± Jacob chuckled and sent Jonathan off. After leaving Michael¡¯s office, Walter could not help but express his thought about Jacob. ¡°That man is a disgrace to the Simmons family!¡± ¡°Time to learn how to keep your opinion to yourself, Walter.¡± Jonathan¡¯s deep voice immediately prompted Walter to talk about something else. ¡°Mr. Xander, you¡¯ll have to attend a product briefing at nine in the morning, a meeting with Morningste Corporation¡¯s Mr. Liryll at ten-thirty, and lunch with Mr. Chowzell from Valkins Corporation. Later at two in the afternoon, you have a conference call, and in the evening-¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Do not arrange anything for me at night. I want to go home and spend time with Mich! By the way, remember to ask Wayne to call Mich and ask her what she wants to have for dinner. Get him to prepare everything in advance!¡± ¡°All right, Mr. Xander.¡± Walter nodded. I can¡¯t believe a workaholic like Mr. Xander is willing to sacrifice his hours to spend time with a woman! After the project briefing, Jonathan walked out of the conference room and heard Zack calling him. ¡°Uncle Jonathan!¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Jonathan arched a brow. Zack nodded and lowered his eyes. He said hesitantly, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have said what I said the other day, Uncle Jonathan.¡± Jonathan let out a deep grunt, but no visible changes in his expression. ¡°Lucille had already exined to me about the pinhole camera incident, and the issue with the journalist is also all a misunderstanding!¡± Jonathan tilted his eyes and nced at him. ¡°What exactly are you trying to say?¡± ¡°If my parents asked you about my rtionship with Lucille, I hope you can help me keep it a secret. Once the dust settles, I¡¯ll tell my parents about it.¡± Walter, who was standing behind Jonathan, could not help but feel anxious for Zack. Is he an idiot or what? But to Walter¡¯s surprise, Jonathan nodded and replied, ¡°Since it¡¯s your problem, solve it yourself!¡± ¡°Thank you, Uncle Jonathan!¡± Zack heaved a sigh of relief. Jonathan then walked away. After returning to the office, Walter could no longer suppress his curiosity. He cautiously asked Jonathan, ¡°Lucille is such a cunning woman. She¡¯ll definitely take advantage of Mr. Zack!¡± ¡°He¡¯s not my son, so he¡¯s not my responsibility! Besides, he¡¯ll only learn his lesson when he falls on his sword. Why should I stop him?¡± No matter what happens, the Xanders will never allow Lucille to join the family. I hope Zack will eventually learn his lesson! Walter shuddered when he saw how casual Jonathan was when he made those remarks. He may seem like he did everything for his nephew¡¯s own good, but deep in his heart, he¡¯s one ruthless uncle! How terrifying! In the afternoon, Jonathan received a call that had foiled all his n. The drama between Lucille and Micha had be the talk of the town, even though Jonathan had done his best to keep the issue out of the limelight. Somehow, news traveled fast and eventually reached his parents at Neb Castle Nursing Home. Upon hearing that, Nick exploded with rage. He wanted to know how long Jonathan nned to hide this from him had the secret not been exposed. Mavis tried to stop him from calling Jonathan but to no avail. Jonathan tried to talk it out nicely over the phone, but Nick refused to listen. He had no choice but to buy the ticket to Neb Castle. Meanwhile, Micha learned that Jonathan would be making a trip to Neb Castle Nursing Home when she was busy going through the list of book donors in the library. Upon receiving Jonathan¡¯s text message, she nearly eximed with joy. Since this morning, she had been thinking about how she could face Jonathan in the evening. She even brainstormed a hundred ways to avoid him, even though she eventually thought those methods would not work. That was why Micha was relieved when she found out that Jonathan would be traveling out of town! The things Jonathan said in the mountainsst night still reverberated in her head. He must be joking with me. Why would the cream of the crop confess his love to me when he would have no trouble getting any woman he pleases? But somehow, she would get emotional whenever she tried to convince herself that he was out of her league. She was so confused by the contradicting feelings in her heart that she did not know how to face Jonathan. Perhaps being separated for a few days would give us time to think things through. And I hope Mom can come back as soon as possible! Yet, not having Jonathan around made her a feel a little uneasy. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Vengeance For Life Micha was relieved to spend the first night without Jonathan. At first, she wanted to watch a film and enjoy some me-time, but she dozed off halfway through. When she woke up the next day, she continued to bask in the euphoria of Jonathan¡¯s absence. Even the air smells sweet! Wayne was afraid that Micha might get bored, so on the second night, he told her about the indoor pool and family theater upstairs. That gave Micha an idea. She went upstairs, took a tour, and realized the independent living space looked exactly like the one she had always wanted as a child. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized the space was simr to her childhood vision. Instead of lingering around, she decided to sneak back to the room. When she felt thirsty and was about to go downstairs to get a ss of water, she suddenly noticed how empty the mansion was. Why does the mansion look so spacious when Mr. Jonathan is not around? That night, Micha could not sleep. When is heing back? Should I call him? But what should I say to him? She continued tossing and turning in bed for some time and eventually fell asleep at midnight. The next day, Micha went to work with dark circles under her eyes. When she stepped into the office, all her colleagues walked up to her and expressed their concerns. ¡°What happened to your eyes, Mich? Did you not sleep well?¡± ¡°Yeah, insomnia,¡± she said matter-of-factly. Micha seldom used cosmetic products, but she had worn some make-up today to conceal the dark circles under her eyes. Still, people could see them. ¡°Mich, are you dating someone?¡± someone teased. Micha¡¯s face blushed instantly and denied. She then tried to change the topic. ¡°Please. By the way, where¡¯s Lorelei? Hasn¡¯t shee back to work?¡± Ever since the call on Friday, Lorelei seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth. Micha had tried contacting her, but all her calls went to voice mail. Even when she came to work Monday, she only heard that Lorelei was on sick leave. For some reason, Micha had a bad feeling about this. Upon hearing that, the team leader nced at Lorelei¡¯s empty seat and answered, ¡°Nope. She¡¯s on sick leave for a week. It feels weird not having her around. She¡¯s always full of the joys of spring, and we all miss her smile andughter.¡± ¡°I know right!¡± another person concurred. Micha knitted her brows. She picked up her phone and called Lorelei again but still could not get through. She pulled herself together and started diving into her work. At noon, when she was about to go to the cafeteria to have lunch, she bumped into Alois, who stood in front of the window. What¡¯s with that expression? He has always been a steady man, but why does he look troubled today? Is something bothering him? Micha hesitated for a moment but decided to approach him. ¡°Alois?¡± Alois was Hannah¡¯s assistant. During his years in school, he had always been the top student in his batch. Now, he had be a capable assistant whom Hannah had high regard for. Upon hearing Micha¡¯s voice, Alois turned around and responded with a stiff expression. ¡°Ms. Lingard!¡± ¡°Did youe to look for Lorelei? She hasn¡¯t reported duty in thest three days, though. Did you not know?¡± There was a flicker in Alois¡¯ eyes. ¡°Would you like to have a cup of coffee?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± He must havee to look for me because of Lorelei. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Micha thought something was amiss when Lorelei applied for several days of sick leave. She agreed to Alois¡¯ invitation because she could tell he wanted to talk to her about Lorelei but seemed hesitant. Ten minutester, they arrived at Ripple Caf¨¦. After the waiter had served them two cups of Americano, Micha looked at Alois and asked frankly, ¡°Can you tell me what happened to Lorelei?¡± Alois said, ¡°Lorelei has been missing for thest couple of days, and I¡¯m worried about her. That¡¯s why I came to see you, hoping you could visit her in the evening.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you go yourself?¡± Micha asked. Micha could easily tell how worried the man was, though he had tried to hide his emotions. ¡°I told her I¡¯ve got a girlfriend, and she knew it. So-¡± ¡°Was that why you asked her outst Friday? You asked her out so that you could tell her you¡¯ve got a girlfriend?¡± Yes. No doubt Alois and Lorelei went on a so-called datest Friday, but Alois had also brought another girl to pretend to be his girlfriend. It was not exactly a date in the first ce. To Alois, he was merely buying her junior dinner. In the end, Lorelei left without eating anything that night after telling Alois she was under the weather. Alois had finally achieved his objective. But upon seeing how dispirited Lorelei was when she walked away, Alois¡¯ heart sank. His worry became more pronounced when Lorelei had stoppeding to work since Monday. Micha looked at Alois with a faint frown when she saw him nod. In an icy tone, she said, ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, why should you worry about Lorelei? And why did youe to me for help?¡± ¡°Ms. Lingard-¡± ¡°Alois, being direct and unsympathetic is your modus operandi for both work and women, huh? How could you hurt Lorelei¡¯s feelings like this? How could you be so cruel?¡± Micha¡¯s gaze was frosty when she was ring intently at the man. She finally found out why Lorelei was on sick leave and felt sorry for her. When Micha was about to stand up and leave, Alois said, ¡°Could you please hear me out, Ms. Lingard?¡± ¡°I know how Lorelei feels for me, and I¡¯m grateful that she has been staying by my side for years. She had never looked down on me, even though I was an orphan. You have to understand Loreleies from the Summerfield family. Do you think an orphan like me ispatible with her?¡± ¡°You knew about it?¡± All this while, Lorelei had been extremely cautious not to hurt his feelings as she was afraid their status differences might be a stumbling block in their rtionship. Yet, Lorelei¡¯s greatest fear still came true. ¡°Yes. I saw Lorelei attending a dinner with her father by chance. She¡¯s such a genuine woman with great positive energy, yet every time she¡¯s around me, she¡¯d always be cautious not to hurt my feelings. I want her to be who she is and don¡¯t want people to make fun of her! I also don¡¯t want her to regret her decision, and more importantly, I don¡¯t want people to regard me as her trophy boyfriend!¡± A corner of Micha¡¯s lips quirked up, and she let out a cold snort. ¡°You¡¯re making these excuses because you don¡¯t love her enough!¡± Micha had the opportunity of working closely with Alois because of Hannah, and she had always known that he was a man with a big ego. But she had never thought he would be this egocentric. Alois did not defend himself or deny her usation. ¡°I want Lorelei to be happy, but I know I¡¯m not the man who could bring her happiness. I hope you could keep this conversation a secret from Lorelei!¡± ¡°And I hope you¡¯ll disappear from Lorelei¡¯s life and stop giving her false hope!¡± Micha then stood up gracefully and walked off. Micha was not particrly fond of Alois, but at the same time, she did not think he was a person with evil intent. She had always felt Alois was aplicated man whom she had a hard time trying to understand. But at this point, she was utterly disappointed in him! Alois stood still and watched Micha leave. After she had disappeared from his sight, he lolled on the couch. Deep in his heart, Alois was in love with Lorelei. But after learning about his past, he knew he would have to seek vengeance for the rest of his life. Everything that¡¯s supposed to be mine, I¡¯ll im them back one step at a time. By hook or by crook, I¡¯ll take everything back! That was why he had to leave Lorelei. Since the day he decided to embark on a journey of revenge, he no longer deserved Lorelei¡¯s love. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Getting Drunk With Lorelei The talk with Alois weighed so heavily on Micha that she felt suffocated by it. Even if he didn¡¯te to see her, she had nned to visit the Summerfield residence after work. After giving Wayne a call to inform him that she wouldn¡¯t be home for dinner, Micha drove to the Summerfield residence when it was time to get off work. The Summerfield residence was located in a wealthy neighborhood in Xenhall. The residents who lived there were made up of rich and prominent families. Evidently, the Summerfields were also a distinguished family in Quakersville. As the only daughter, Lorelei was the apple of the entire family¡¯s eye. Unfortunately, falling in love with a man like Alois was considered a misfortune of hers. It was a twenty minutes drive from the foundation to Xenhall. The moment her car turned into the neighborhood, she saw a ck Maybach drive out from inside. More importantly, the person in the driver¡¯s seat was none other than Lorelei, who was in mboyant makeup. Even though Micha honked in reflex, the Maybach had already driven past her. Hence, she quickly spun the car around and followed it from behind. In her mind, Lorelei was a youthful and vibrant-looking girl. Just a simple ponytail alone was enough to let her natural beauty shine through. However, the person Micha saw just now wore such heavy makeup that she looked like an entirely different person, which caused Micha to feel sorry for her. As she followed Lorelei into the city, Micha finally found thetter¡¯s Maybach parked outside somece called Broken Hearts Bar. At that hour, there weren¡¯t many patrons in the bar. The dim lighting and ear-shattering music caused Micha¡¯s heart to thump alongside the rhythm. While searching for Lorelei, she saw men and women dancing and kissing passionately all around her, to the extent there was no ce for her to avert her gaze. Since she had never patronized a ce like that before, she naturally felt uneasy inside. Meanwhile, Lorelei was sitting at the bar. With her porcin-white legs crossed, she looked exceptionally eye-catching. Wearing a short ck sequined dress and a headful of long wavy hair, the dignified aura inherent in her shone through the chaotic surroundings of the bar. ¡°That girl looks hot!¡± ¡°This is the third day that she is getting herself drunk. Furthermore, she¡¯s a feisty one. Plenty of men have tried and failed to get her to leave with them.¡± ¡°I like feisty ones. Hehe!¡± As Micha could hear the entire conversation clearly, she was disgusted by the man¡¯s row of yellow teeth when he let out a lecherousugh. Just when he was still nning on how to bed Lorelei, Micha had alreadye up to the bar and snatched the whiskey away from Lorelei¡¯s hands. ¡°Stop drinking!¡± Although Lorelei had just arrived, there were plenty of empty sses in front of her. She was already a little drunk from the reddish tint on her cheeks. ¡°Mich!¡± Lorelei giggled at the sight of Micha as she settled thetter down beside her. Subsequently, she waved at the bartender, ¡°One more!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be sick?¡± Micha pretended to be oblivious to the truth. Lorelei¡¯s smile was just as vibrant as ever. After receiving the drink from the bartender, she pushed it over to Micha. ¡°Mich, since you¡¯re already here,e and drink with me!¡± ¡°Answer my question first! Have you seen yourself in the mirror? Why do you insist on tormenting yourself?¡± As Lorelei¡¯s expression froze, the smile on her face faded away. She then finished her drink in one gulp underneath Micha¡¯s intense gaze. A short whileter, she remarked with a mncholic look in her eye, ¡°Mich, do you know that Alois has rejected me? Not only that, he even introduced his new girlfriend to me. Both of them were sitting in front of me, all lovey-dovey. It made me feel¡­ as if I¡¯m nothing but a fool!¡± Just as Lorelei spoke, she curled her lips into a faint smile. Nevertheless, there was a tinge of brimming sorrow visible in her eyes. If it wasn¡¯t for her slightly moist and reddened eyes, one couldn¡¯t tell that her smile was actually forced. ¡°Lorelei.¡± Micha¡¯s heart went out to her. In truth, Micha disapproved of the harsh method Alois had used. As Lorelei was a girl, there was no need for him to resort to such tactics. If he didn¡¯t like her, all he had to do was tell her. Why the need for such drama? Love is supposed to be something beautiful, but it turned out to be a razor-sharp knife that was plunged into Lorelei¡¯s heart. At that moment, Micha was worried that Lorelei would be lost in her own despair. ¡°Mich, do you think that I¡¯m really that undesirable? Why doesn¡¯t Alois like me? What am Icking? As long as he¡¯s able to tell me, I¡¯m more than willing to change. All my plotting was just so that I could be near him. But now, I realize that it¡¯s meaningless to do so. Other than getting drunk, what else can I do? Mich, my heart hurts like hell!¡± The moment she finished, Lorelei threw herself into Micha¡¯s arms as teardrops kept streaming down her cheeks. ¡°Lorelei, you¡¯re a wonderful person. It is he who doesn¡¯t deserve you!¡± Micha patted Lorelei on the back to console her. The next second, Lorelei backed up from her embrace and wiped the tears off her face. She held Micha¡¯s hand and cozied up to her. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about such depressing matters. Come, let¡¯s drink!¡± ¡°Whatever you want to do today, I¡¯ll do it with you. However, you must promise me that from tomorrow onward, you will get a grip and stop tormenting yourself, all right?¡± ¡°All right, all right. I¡¯ll do as you say from tomorrow. But tonight, you will drink with me to our hearts¡¯ content!¡± Just as she spoke, Lorelei raised her whiskey-filled ss and clinked it with the one in front of Micha. Subsequently, she downed it in one gulp again. All this while, Micha had never stepped into a bar before, for she was someone disciplined. Since it was a rare asion for her to let her hair down, she downed her drink in one shot too. As whiskey was a strong drink, Micha¡¯s cheeks reddened the moment it entered her stomach. Meanwhile, in a discreet corner, Lucille, dressed in a mature and sexy outfit, was staring at the bar in surprise. Zack had gone overseas for a business trip after having a meeting in the morning. Feeling bored, she had invited her usual gang out for drinks. It was just that she had never expected to run into Micha there. Isn¡¯t she supposed to be above all this? How did she end up in such a sleazy ce? Watching the twodies happily downing one drink after the other, Lucille¡¯s gaze grew incredibly icy. The act she had previously devoted much effort to didn¡¯t just fail to ruin Micha¡¯s reputation, it also ended up arousing Zack¡¯s suspicion. In fact, it almost backfired on her. If it wasn¡¯t for her ability to think of her feet, she would likely be the one who was drowning her sorrows in alcohol that day. At that stage, Jacob had dered that he would no longer help her and even warned her to stop causing trouble for Micha. Although she came close to finishing Micha off, thetter someone managed to escape unscathed. How could she? It took me so much effort to finally take Micha¡¯s ce, but why does everyone insist on protecting her? Is it all because of the dead old man from the Simmons family? She was filled with indignance over the situation. The higher Micha soared, the more Lucille wanted to pull the former down and inflict suffering upon her. Suddenly, a wicked glint shed in Lucille¡¯s eyes. If myst attempt failed to tarnish her reputation, let me try and ruin it again. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Another Scheme ¡°Come on, let¡¯s drink!¡± With her friends urging her on, Lucille finished half a bottle of wine in one go. Just as she sat back down, she heard someone ask, ¡°Lucille, given how rare it is for us to gather, why do you seem so distracted? You had better not be ogling at other guys, or we¡¯ll snitch on you to Mr. Zack!¡± Lucilleughed. ¡°Stop messing around. My sister is over there. Hence, I¡¯m just worried that she has too much to drink.¡± Lucille was inherently cunning. Ever since she was young, she knew how to form alliances, leverage resources, and put up an act. Compared to the cold Micha, it wasn¡¯t difficult for her to make friends with a bunch of young men anddies from prestigious families. The fact that she was now Zack¡¯s partner elevated her status further. Consequently, she attracted many who seek to ingratiate themselves with her. The moment Micha¡¯s name was mentioned, someone added at once, ¡°I must say, Lucille, considering how Micha has treated you, why do you still care about her?¡± ¡°I think Lucille is being too kind. When ites to matters of the heart, there¡¯s just no forcing it. Regardless of what happens, she shouldn¡¯t resort to violence. After all, a girl¡¯s features are everything to her. Any girl would be devastated if she were to be disfigured, isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Micha didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± Knitting her brows, Lucille put on an aggrieved expression. ¡°Stop it. There¡¯s no need for you to defend her, for all of us have seen the video. Now that Old Mr. Simmons is dead, the Lingard family¡¯s influence has waned. She has no reason to behave so arrogantly anymore.¡± ¡°Exactly! When Lucille finally marries into the Xander family, I want to see how she grovels on the ground, asking to reconcile!¡± ¡°At the end of the day, I¡¯m the one that has betrayed her. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve discussed the matter with Zack. If Micha doesn¡¯t find happiness, both of us will not stop worrying about her.¡± Lucille¡¯s spoke with such a sincere tone that seemed to have convinced everyone. At that moment, the eyes of one of the seated guys, who had not said a word throughout, glistened. With a mischievous smile, he suggested, ¡°Lucille, why don¡¯t I be your brother-inw!¡± The man had a perfect shape for a face, long and thick eyshes, bushy eyebrows that are half-hidden by his fringes, a high nose bridge, and pouty lips. It was just that the man exuded a naughty vibe. Just as he spoke, he tilted his head at Lucille and curled his lips. He had a charming smile that was tinged with wickedness at the same time. As the man¡¯s half-joking suggestion rolled off his tongue, everyone teased him. ¡°Oh my, Liam has fallen for her!¡± Even Lucille was stunned. Nevertheless, she quickly regained her senses and purred, ¡°Mr. Yale, stop messing around. I remember you having a young sweetheart by your side thest time we went drinking!¡± ¡°He must be thirsting to try something new,¡± someonemented suggestively. Liam Yale was the heir to the Horace Group. As the Yale family only had Liam when they were older, they naturally spoiled him and would fulfill all of his requests. Even if he asked for the moon or the stars, his father would get it for him by hook or by crook. As a result, Liam was among the most scious among the men from prominent families and was famous for his phndering behavior. Despite cleaning up his mess all the time, Liam¡¯s parents neverined about it at all. In the beginning, Lucille had designs on Liam. It wasn¡¯t until Micha was engaged to Zack that she changed her target. After all, Zack was a significantly better catch than a yboy like Liam. Furthermore, as long as Lucille had the opportunity to ruin Micha, she would definitely go all out to do so. In the face of everyone¡¯sughter, Liam leaned back into the couch and sniggered, ¡°You know men, we like to put on a show. As for those women, they¡¯re good for a fling but don¡¯t deserve to be married into the Yale family due to their lowly backgrounds. However, your sister is different!¡± Liam gave Lucille a thoughtful look before adding in a leisurely tone, ¡°Despite having fallen from grace, the Lingard family is still a prominent family in Quakersville. Given that I have fallen in love with Micha at first sight, both of us will be happily married, and my galivanting days will be over. Besides, wouldn¡¯t I be doing you a favor? ¡°Just think about it, once your sister is married into the Yale family, wouldn¡¯t it put you and Mr. Zack¡¯s mind at ease? With my help, wouldn¡¯t the Yales and Xanders be considered one family?¡± Even though Liam was unreliable, his upbringing had taught him to form exceptional insight into interpersonal and business rtionships. At the end of the day, Micha¡¯s beauty was only one factor that drove the idea. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Since Lucille and Zack¡¯s matter hade to a conclusion, swooping in and resolving the issue with Micha would be considered as doing the Xander family a favor. Consequently, the Yale family could leverage on the matter to elevate their status further. However, Lucille hesitated under Liam¡¯s intent gaze. ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Lucille, are you worried about me mistreating your sister?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t mean that!¡± Lucille put on a conflicted expression. ¡°I was just worried that Micha¡¯s pride might¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Leave the pursuit to me.¡± When Lucille finally relented, Liam regained his smug expression as he crossed his legs confidently. ¡°Exactly. Don¡¯t forget who Liam is. There¡¯s no woman who can resist his charms. If there really is, all he needs is to sleep with her. After all, any woman, regardless of how proud and aloof they are, would naturally submit in bed.¡± When the guys around Liam began to sing his praises with a suggestive tone, it was evident that Liam hadmitted plenty of simrly dirty acts. As for Liam, he denied with a serious expression, ¡°That¡¯s utter nonsense!¡± Turning to Lucille, he reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll treat her well. On top of that, I¡¯ll behave and not betray her at all. If you¡¯re still worried, why don¡¯t I report my itinerary all the time?¡± ¡°Come, let¡¯s drink to Liam¡¯s marriage!¡± Amidst the cheers, everyone raised their sses. The kind look on Lucille¡¯s face shed with malice just when everyone else wasn¡¯t looking. She wasn¡¯t worried that Liam would misbehave when he was with Micha. On the contrary, she was concerned that he was actually sincere in wanting to treat Micha well. Just when I was racking my brains on how to destroy Micha, didn¡¯t Liam just volunteer himself? In that case, what is there for me to worry still? Even though he had described it in a disgusting manner, that is still the undeniable truth. As of then, Liam had never been rejected by any woman he pursued before. It wasn¡¯t just because of his good looks, but also his generosity when it came to spending money on them. Thebination of both factors enabled him to fulfill every girl¡¯s fantasy in both love and materialism. In Liam¡¯s own words, he wasn¡¯t particrly into love but just enjoyed the rush of conquest. In fact, Lucille didn¡¯t believe one word of Liam¡¯s when he dered that he would turn over a new leaf and be the epitome of a fateful man. Coincidentally, that was what she was also looking forward to. She had wanted to see Micha¡¯s pathetic face after being manipted and abandoned. When the timees, let¡¯s see how she can still maintain her virtuous front. Once Micha is not there for me to bepared against, Zack¡¯s parents would be moring to have me as their daughter-inw. Narrowing her gaze, Lucille let out a vibrant smile. Evidently, the show was about to begin. As if she could already visualize the scene where Micha¡¯s reputation was destroyed, Lucille was visible ted. Grabbing the hand of the girl beside her, she pulled her onto the dance floor. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Handsome And Familiar Meanwhile, Jonathan was exasperated. The two times I left abruptly, she would definitely cause me to worry. The first time was when he returned to the headquarters in Epea, Micha had gone shopping. Not only did she buy a super short skirt and a top that exposed the mid-riff, but she was also picked up by guys asking for her number. Now that I had to rush to Yaleview, she actually had the gall to get herself drunk in a bar? Even though he wasn¡¯t worried about her safety due to Gary¡¯s presence, he was still incensed when he saw the video Gary sent him. The sight of all the scious men¡¯s preying eyes drove Jonathan to such anger that he felt like murdering someone. On the way home from the airport, Jonathan checked his phone repeatedly and managed to keep the anxiety he felt well hidden. Nevertheless, his eyes were spitting fire when he saw the intoxicated look on Micha¡¯s face. ¡°Jonathan, are you waiting for a call?¡± Mavis probed when she noticed the look on Jonathan¡¯s face. In her mind, her son had always beenposed due to him maturing at a young age. Therefore, it was a rare sight to see him feeling so unsettled. Can it be that he¡¯s in love? ¡°There¡¯s something I need to deal with. Once we reach home, I won¡¯t be going back into the house with you and Dad. Given the long and arduous journey, both of you must be tired. Hence, you should rest early once you have your meal.¡± The moment he heard that something had happened, Nick insisted on returning despite being dissuaded from it. After Jonathan had already rted everything in detail, Nick was further infuriated and scolded Zack for being so careless. As Adrian was the person Nick respected the most, he had initially nned to join the two families via marriage. Now that Zack had betrayed the Simmons family with his actions, Nick was well aware that it was his mistake. Consequently, he insisted on personally apologizing to both Hannah and Micha for it. However, as Hannah wasn¡¯t in Quakersville, he knew there was no point rushing. Nheless, he still felt lingering anger over Jonathan hiding the matter from him. The moment he heard thetter¡¯s words, he snorted, ¡°What are you so busy with all the time? Despite your age, you don¡¯t even seem concerned that you¡¯re still single. When I was your age, your brother was already two years old. You should really hurry!¡± His father seldom interfered in trivial matters such as pestering him to get married or introduce a girl to him, for such matters were usually within his mother¡¯s domain. As a result, Jonathan was startled by the former¡¯sments. Before he could reply, Mavis jumped into the fray. Even though you¡¯re the sponsor, you¡¯re still not allowed to criticize my son! ¡°I¡¯m surprised that you have the cheek to say it. Jonathan had his own ns initially, but in the end, you had to dump your entirepany on him. How is he supposed to have to go dating? Just talking about this makes my blood boil!¡± In the face of his wife¡¯s temper, Nick broke into a sheepish smile and pulled her into his embrace. ¡°Look, you alwaysin that I don¡¯t care about Jonathan¡¯s affairs. But now that I want to do my duty as a father, you end up scolding me instead. In that case, I¡¯ll just stopmenting, all right?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my son. You¡¯re not allowed to reprimand him!¡± Refusing to ept his exnation, Mavis turned her head grumpily to the side. ¡°I won¡¯t, I won¡¯t. You can calm down now.¡± Jonathan was amused to see his father react submissively after being at the receiving end of his mother¡¯s stick. Trying desperately to hold back hisughter, he averted his gaze when he caught the death re his father shed at him. Worried that he would get on his father¡¯s nerves again, he quickly gazed out the window instead. Even Walter, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was surprised by the scene. He had assumed that Jonathan had picked up his smooth skills in pursuing girls from his diligent study of romance novels. He didn¡¯t expect thetter to have inherited them from Nick instead. When their car arrived at the Xander residence, Nick shot Jonathan another re while Mavis was gradually alighting. With an authoritative voice, he ordered, ¡°Invite Mich over to lunch one day. Even though Hannah is not at home, we still have to treat Mich right. Also, I¡¯m going to give Quentin and Yvonne a call and admonish them over their son¡¯s behavior. At the end of the day, What¡¯s the use of making so much money?¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Got it, Dad,¡± Jonathan grunted in acknowledgment. Despite being filled with anxiety, Jonathan saw Nick stop and turn around again. ¡°Since Mich is staying with you, you had better mind your manners and treat her well!¡± ¡°Of course!¡± When he saw the obedient expression on Jonathan¡¯s face, Walter sniggered to himself, You can rest assured that Mr. Jonathan will definitely not neglect Ms. Lingard. In fact, his excessive interest in her is enough to make everyone feel awkward. After giving out his instructions, Nick walked into the Xander residence without looking back. Thus, he did not see how Jonathan anxiously slip back into the car and barked to the driver, ¡°Head to Broken Hearts Bar at Fragrance Street!¡± I must teach her a lesson for being rebellious while I¡¯m away. Even though he had steeled his resolve, he didn¡¯t know whether tough or to cry at the sight that greeted him at the bar. ¡°Mich, let me tell you. I¡­ I have seen the light. Men¡­ They are nothing but jerks. Just like Alois¡­ He never bothered to tell me that he had no feelings for me. Instead, he made me wait for so many years. In the end, he rejected me after I have devoted so much of my emotions to him. Tell me¡­ Did he do it on purpose?¡± Both of them had a lot to drink. In contrast to Lorelei¡¯s rants, Micha sat quietly at that bar. Suddenly, she eximed in support of her friend, ¡°That¡¯s right! Men are pigs!¡± Micha¡¯s cheeks and the corner of her eyes were already tinted red. Her dreamy gaze and intoxicated look further enhanced her alluring aura. At the same time, her pinkish lips pouted invitingly from the effects of the alcohol. Faced with the sight before him, Jonathan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed in reflex. She really looks adorable when she has too much to drink. It just makes me feel the urge to pull her gentle body into my embrace. Amidst his shock, he heard Lorelei ask Micha suggestively, ¡°Mich, do you also have someone you fancy?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t!¡± Micha denied while shaking her head innocently. ¡°I¡¯m not as spineless as you are, for I want to be the queen of my own life!¡± ¡°Very good! A queen indeed!¡± Lorelei nodded. ¡°Nheless, I¡¯m sure you will find love within your lifetime.¡± When he caught a glimpse of the empty sses in front of bothdies, Jonathan¡¯s expression darkened. Walking up to Micha, he called out softly, ¡°Mich!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Looking lost, Micha tilted her head in his direction. ¡°Hey, handsome¡­ Erm¡­ You look really familiar!¡± The moment Micha giggled in front of him, Jonathan¡¯s expression drastically changed. Handsome? I don¡¯t deny it. But familiar? Has she be so brazen as to not recognize me? Instead, it was Lorelei who still had the presence of mind to realize what was going on. With an intoxicated expression, she looked at Micha before turning toward Jonathan. The very next moment, she pped her forehead. ¡°Mich, this handsome guy is your guardian!¡± ¡°My guardian?¡± Before Micha realized what was going on, Lorelei chuckled mischievously. ¡°Micha, if you hadn¡¯t told me that he was your guardian, I would have assumed that he was your boyfriend. Looking at how anxious he is over you, I think he is better than any boyfriend you might have. Considering how caring, rich, and handsome he is, you must have done something right in your past life to have such a wonderful guardian!¡± At that moment, Lorelei was still oblivious to Jonathan¡¯s intentions. The moment it finally dawned upon her, she was dumbstruck by it. This is utterly shocking! A guardian has feelings for his ward? What the hell is going on? Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Hugging A Handsome Boyfriend To Sleep In Jonathan¡¯s mind, Micha was a gentle and obedient girl. Even when she was betrayed by Zack, she never drowned her sorrows in alcohol. Therefore, when he learned that she had gone out drinking with Lorelei, he developed a negative impression of thetter. However, his resentment for her eased right after he heard her ttering comments about him. You have taste! I gotta give you that. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Sometimes, alcohol could cloud one¡¯s judgment, just like the drunkards in front of him. Both of them covered their mouths as they giggled over the gossip they shared as if he couldn¡¯t hear what they said at all. The very next second, Micha got to her feet by supporting herself against the bar. Suddenly, she felt her knees buckle and lost her bnce. Fortunately, Jonathan caught her in time. Threading hisrge hands around her waist, he pulled her into his embrace. ¡°Be careful!¡± ¡°Hey, handsome, did you hear that? Lorelei says that you¡¯re my boyfriend.¡± As if she hadn¡¯t had enough, Micha reached out to rub Jonathan¡¯s cheeks. Smiling gleefully, she mumbled, ¡°Oh my, my boyfriend is really handsome! Given how real it feels, I¡¯m probably not dreaming, am I?¡± Meanwhile, Walter and Gary, who were standing by the side, felt their hearts skip a beat when they saw Micha pinch the sides of Jonathan¡¯s face. Ever since Micha entered Jonathan¡¯s life, she seemed to have pulled him down from his pedestal and broke all the protocols he used to have. Just when they were taken aback by what was going on, they were unaware of the shocking scene that was about to follow. Despite having his face contorted by her, Jonathan wasn¡¯t bothered at all. Instead, he remarked affectionately, ¡°Mich, that¡¯s enough drinking for the night. Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we say that we wouldn¡¯t leave until we¡¯re drunk?¡± Micha widened her glistening eyes and blinked at him reluctantly. Jonathan couldn¡¯t hold back his smile, as the look she gave him melted his exasperation away. Thus, he suggested in a gentle tone, ¡°In that case, let¡¯s drink at home, all right?¡± ¡°What about Lorelei?¡± ¡°She¡¯sing with us!¡± Upon hearing Jonathan¡¯s approval, Micha cracked a vibrant smile and eximed, ¡°All right! Let¡¯s go with my boyfriend¡¯s idea. Lorelei,e, I¡¯ll challenge you again when we¡¯re home!¡± Challenge? Is she revealing her true self under the influence of alcohol? After giving Walter a knowing look, Jonathan helped Micha through the crowd. When he saw that Lorelei was beginning to doze off with one hand on the bar, Walter gave Gary a pleading look. However, all he got in response was Gary turning around and leaving with an indifferent expression. Left without a choice, Walter frantically tried to find an appropriate ce to hold her. In the end, he closed his eyes to steel himself before putting her hand around his shoulder and hurrying after Jonathan. Even though he was single, Walter didn¡¯t find the drunk Lorelei attractive at all. Instead, he resented his task. A short while after they left, Lucille and her gang returned to their seats after having a st on the dance floor. However, they were startled to see the two vacant seats at the bar. When he saw the increasing amount of drinks Micha had downed, Liam¡¯s eyes began to sparkle in excitement. Tonight is certainly a wonderful opportunity. Just a moment ago, Lucille was wondering what excuse she should use to provide an opening for Liam. However, by the time they finished dancing, Micha was nowhere to be found. When they enquired with the bartender, thetter told them he wasn¡¯t paying attention. After all, seeing couples going off for one-night stands was amon urrence in a bar. Since everyone was doing so willingly, there was no reason for him to take special notice at all. Upon learning that Micha had left, Liam was visibly disappointed. Having lost his mood for fun, all of them went home after a few more drinks. Meanwhile, Micha was especially quiet on the journey back. After they had started driving for five minutes, she fell asleep amidst her grogginess. As she nodded sleepily, her head almost knocked onto the car window a couple of times. Not knowing what else to do, Jonathan gently pulled her into his arms and murmured in a tender tone, ¡°You have outdone yourself this time.¡± While the driver was focused on the journey, Gary was sitting in the front passenger seat. After pondering a moment, he informed, ¡°Mr. Xander, I saw Lucille at the bar just now.¡± ¡°Looks like she knows how to enjoy life,¡± Jonathan responded with an emotionless expression. While that foolish nephew of mine is working hard for a living, she actually has the mood to go drinking? What an inconsiderate woman! ¡°She saw Ms. Lingard too!¡± Gary continued to report. ¡°As Lucille is a vengeful person, I¡¯m worried that she will hold a grudge over what happened thest time and exact revenge on Ms. Lingard.¡± ¡°If she has a death wish, I¡¯ll dly send her on her way.¡± As Jonathan spoke in a high-and-mighty tone, the gentle expression on his face was quickly reced by a ruthless one, stunning even Gary. Given how reserved Mr. Xander has always been, it¡¯s rare for him to bare his fangs. Looks like only Ms. Lingard is capable of eliciting such emotion from him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Xander. I will protect Ms. Lingard with my life!¡± After having served Jonathan for a long time, Gary would be a fool if he still didn¡¯t know how to read the latter¡¯s mind. Moreover, after almost being defeated during Lucille¡¯s unexpected visit, Gary felt as if he hadn¡¯t done justice to all that Jonathan had taught him. Consequently, he wasn¡¯t going to let Michae to any harm this time. ¡°Thank you.¡± Lowering his gaze at Micha who was sleeping soundly, Jonathan¡¯s eyes were filled with warmth and bliss. Once they arrived home, Jonathan instructed Walter to send Lorelei to the guest room, while he carried Micha back to hers. Having drunk a lot, Micha reeked of alcohol. Nheless, Jonathan didn¡¯t mind it at all. After lowering her onto her bed, he wet a towel in the bathroom so that he could wipe her face. However, by the time he returned, he could no longer find her there. ¡°Mich?¡± Seized by a sudden panic, he threw the towel aside and almost dashed out to search for her when he suddenly heard someone sobbing softly. Tracking the sound to its source, Jonathan finally found her curled up in a corner of the wardrobe. Her arms were wrapped around her knees as tears streamed down the side of her cheeks. As an inexplicable heartache swelled within him, he asked in a trembling tone, ¡°Why are you hiding here?¡± Feeling the weight in his feet, Jonathan was about to approach her and carry her out when he heard her choking voice. ¡°I have already tried my best. So, why do you have to treat me this way? Is it because I¡¯m not worth it? Is selfish interest more important than family ties? Or, am I not good enough for you? However, my heart really hurts!¡± Ever since the incident, Micha had put up a strong front. Even though she was the victim, she was willing to sacrifice her own interest for the sake of others. Therefore, everyone assumed that she had gotten over the matter. In truth, no one knew how much pain she was in. While she was disappointed in Lucille and Zack, it was the repeated blows that Jacob dealt her that were truly devastating. Upon hearing her words, Jonathan exuded a frosty aura and couldn¡¯t hold his emotions back any longer. Subsequently, he carried her back into the room. ¡°Mich, stop crying now, will you?¡± Just when he reached out to help her wipe her tears, he noticed that her breathing had slowed down. Lowering his gaze, he noticed that she had already fallen asleep. Nevertheless, herck of security caused her to grab onto Jonathan¡¯s shirt tightly, refusing to let go. ¡°Mich¡­¡± With a gentle look in his eye, he asked in a deep and raspy voice, ¡°What can I do to make you feel better?¡± Just as he spoke, Jonathan kissed her on the forehead before carefully pulling her into his embrace. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Chapter 62 A Staggering Fluke The next morning, Lorelei woke up feeling mildly suffocated and was always about to choke with every breath she took. While her senses were still yet to be fully awakened, she subconsciously glided her hands to her chest area, where she felt something pressing down on it, and caught an arm. As her brain was still starting up its engine, despite feeling something was off, she only moaned in annoyance and yeet the arm off her chest. Right when she wanted to get back into sleep, her eyes flicked open, and she sat up violently. Her clouded eyes turned crystal clear in a sh. Lorelei remembered that she went drinking at a bar the night before and bumped into Micha. They were chugging drinks like nobody¡¯s business, and what came next was an absolute blur. Argh! What happened after we drank? She rubbed the ball of her thumb on her aching forehead and groaned. Lorelei couldn¡¯t really hold her liquor, and she barely drank. She has been the model girl-next-door since day one and wouldn¡¯t have tried to drown her sorrows a few days in a row if it weren¡¯t for Alois. What she could faintly recall was that she and Micha had tons to drink the night before. I wonder where she went? she thought and turned her head to the other side of the bed. On top of a handsome face, a naked body of a man was presented before her. She was so shocked that she literally jumped out of bed and fell onto the floor. With her hands pressing on her eyes, ¡°Ah!¡± she screamed. ¡°Why are you shouting so early in the morning? Shut up!¡± The man, irritated by her reaction,ined. He didn¡¯t bother to open his eyes, nor did he sit up to see who was next to him before getting back to sleep. ¡°Who are you? Why are you on my bed? Don¡¯t act like you didn¡¯t hear me. Get up now and put on your clothes, you thug!¡± Lorelei had read novels epassing plots of one-night-stands under the influence of booze, but never had she imagined that she would, one day, be like the heroines in the stories. She was too scared to move her hands away from her eyes, and her face turned as pale as a ghost. Vincent sprung up into a sitting position when he heard the voice of a woman. That shook him wide awake before he looked down at his naked body. While on tenterhooks, he frantically covered his manly organs with his hands and cursed the unclear situation he was in. ¡°F*ck!¡± ¡°Wow, Jonathan. Just wow! My mom asked you to introduce a girl to me, and you sent her straight onto my bed! I trusted you so wholeheartedly and this is what you do to me?¡± Vincent mumbled to himself while scuffling his clothes on. It wasn¡¯t Vincent¡¯s first time staying at Shappiray Mansion. He would usually stay at that mansion when his drinking sessions ended in the wee hours. Since he had quite a lot to drink the night before, his driver sent him to the mansion directly per usual protocol. The only recollection he could summon was stumbling his way to the room he usually slept in, taking off his clothes, dumping himself onto the bed, and dozing off instantly. He definitely wasn¡¯t expecting to see a woman lying next to him the next morning. He had been a carefree character and wasn¡¯t restricted by any rules at the mansion. Also, sleeping naked was his thing, and it was never an issue here since he was usually the only guest present. He was mortified by the thought of being fully exposed to a woman! After having his arms tucked into the sleeves of his shirt and his cks zipped, he turned his head toward Lorelei who was still blindfolding herself with her hands. ¡°Who are you? What did Jonathan offer you in return?¡± He was still seething in anger. Lorelei didn¡¯t utter a reply, and that made him more aggressive. ¡°You¡¯ve already seen everything, haven¡¯t you! What¡¯s the point of covering your eyes now?¡± ¡°What makes you think I wanted to see your body willingly?¡± Lorelei flung her hands down and stared into Vincent¡¯s eyes. ¡°You are the one who made yourselffortable on my bed, and now you¡¯re making a fuss about it? Unbelievable!¡± ¡°Are you saying that I have to be responsible?¡± Vincent had a solemn face a second ago, but he broke into an impish grin when he saw Lorelei¡¯s face. It seemed like he had something mischievous up his sleeves Lorelei narrowed her eyes to the familiar voice and was surprised after recognizing the man in front of her. ¡°You?¡± ¡°Not too bad. You still remembered me. Aren¡¯t you sweet?¡± Vincent pushed the buttons on his shirt into their respective holes one by one in slow-mo while looking at Lorelei with a conniving smile. Thetter, however, didn¡¯t catch what he was trying to say and furrowed her brows in confusion. ¡°Huh? What?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Vincent replied insouciantly and gave her another nce. ¡°How did you get to know Jonathan?¡± Curiosity was in y. ¡°Who?¡± Jonathan? ¡°Ah! Are you talking about Jonathan of the Xander family? I don¡¯t know him.¡± After analyzing the situation they were in, Lorelei figured out who Vincent was referring to. Although Jonathan¡¯s name frequented newspapers and magazines, pictures of him were never published, which exined why Lorelei didn¡¯t recognize him. This wasn¡¯t the answer Vincent was expecting, and he gave Lorelei a sidelong nce. ¡°You don¡¯t know him? Then how on earth did you get into this mansion?¡± he asked her with suspicion. Wait a minute. I thought Jonathan put her on my bed. Did I get it wrong? Anyway, I¡¯ll just go to Jonathan and ask him what¡¯s going onter. Vincent then took his jacket, and again, looked at Lorelei before leaving. ¡°I see that you¡¯re okay now. If there¡¯s nothing I need to be responsible for, peace out!¡± How could he be so bold and tell me that I looked okay? We slept on the same bedst night! Lorelei was on the warpath and wanted to chastise Vincent but stopped when she noticed she was in the same dress from yesterday. It was in a mess from the sleeping and tumbling and was showing some skin. Lorelei blushed at the sight and quickly straightened and readjusted the dress to cover whatever needed to be covered. After she was done with that, she lifted her head only to see Vincent looking at her like she was a weirdo. He swiftly turned around and was ready to get out of the room. The moment the door was opened, two of them almost jumped out of their skin to see two tall figures outside. It was Walter and Jonathan. During his morning exercise, Walter heard a scream from Lorelei¡¯s room and made his way here as fast as he could. As for Jonathan, he was nning to have a chat with Lorelei before Micha got up when Walter told him about the scream, making the two of them run to Lorelei¡¯s room. Little did they foresee that they woulde across two familiar faces instead of one after opening the door. To add fuel to the fire, Lorelei¡¯s face was as red as a tomato, whereas Jonathan was unkemptly dressed with a jacket in his hand. Jonathan¡¯s imagination ran wild and simpered at them ¡°Jonathan, w-w-we¡ª¡± Vincent was trying to exin himself to the person he was ming silently a moment ago. ¡°Ms. Summerfield, I have some matters to discuss with you. Someone will bring you to me after you¡¯ve freshened up.¡± Jonathan put on a lopsided smile and perked his brows a few times while looking at Vincent before shifting his attention to Lorelei. He left after conveying his message, leaving Vincent and Lorelei in the room. After darting a confused nce at thedy, Vincent closed the door and ran after Jonathan. ¡°Hey, Jonathan, you did this on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s very audacious of you to justify your actions like that after sleeping with my guest!¡± ¡°N-N-No! You know that I¡¯ve been using this room since day one. I was so drunkst night, so how am I supposed to know that someone was using the room?¡± Jonathan swirled his eyeballs toward Walter, and thetter immediately dropped his head and exined what had taken ce. ¡°It was Ms. Summerfield who had insisted on using that roomst night. I thought it would be alright since Mr. Sullivan wasn¡¯t in.¡± Jonathan¡¯s death stare was so spine-chilling that Walter didn¡¯t dare to admit that he was the one who asked Lorelei to use the room as she was reeking alcohol. He couldn¡¯t stand it for another second and decided to toss her into the nearest room they had. Of course, he didn¡¯t expect Jonathan toe over that night. ¡°Listen to me, Jonathan. I¡¯m not the one to be med!¡± Vincent was still trying to defend his innocence. Jonathan came to a halt all of a sudden and looked Vincent in the eye steadfastly. ¡°Vincent, aren¡¯t you averse to body contact with women? Could it be that Ms. Summerfield is an exception?¡± Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Chapter 63 The Shocking Truth Of Jonathan Legendary libertines were known to be at the helm of all their impermanent rtionships. They had mastered the art of courting and knew if they should charge or retreat at any given point in time. Every step they executed was well calcted to give them the desired oue. They, with minimal to no effort, could pique one¡¯s interest and make their targets swoon over them. Simrly, they could exit stage left like a seasoned performer, making women willingly ept that it was merely a game. Rumors had it that Vincent was a particrly dashing one, who yed this game very well, and that his life was a party with no strings attached. It was true that Vincent got to know many famous actresses, models, and socialites due to the nature of his profession. However, the rumors of him swinging from one woman to another were marketing stunts intended by others and not himself. He chose to ignore them and couldn¡¯t care less about clearing his name. It was his way to conceal the malign intentions of others so they wouldn¡¯t lose their creditability. The real Vincent, contrary tomon beliefs, was never a phnderer. On top of that, he genuinely had this aversion to physical contact with women. He was in an ident when he was a child, but no one knew exactly what had happened. Since then, Vincent developed this peculiarity. Only a few of his closest friends knew about it. He even kept this a secret from his parents. Vincent had never skipped a session with his psychologist regarding this matter, but the consultations didn¡¯t seem to be working. Jonathan believed that a gentleman like Vincent could get any woman he had his eyes on. He needn¡¯t come to his mansion and take advantage of his guest. What bewildered him was how Jonathan could share a bed with a woman without realizing it. Even Jonathan himself was baffled by that. At the dining table, Vincent seemed more interested in the conversation that was happening in the other room. He tried to munch as soft as he could, but the words remained inaudible. Losing his interest in filling his tummy up, he put down his sandwich, got up, and pussyfooted to the door. He was curious about what Jonathan and Lorelei were talking about. What could they be possibly talking about? Nothing! he thought. ¡°Ms. Summerfield, please, have a seat.¡± Jonathan pointed at the seat across from him as he sank into his armchair. He had his long legs crossed and his body leaning on the arm in anguorous manner. The cozy-looking tracksuit he was in didn¡¯t discount his powerful aura. On the other hand, Lorelei appeared cautious and kept telling herself to be on her guard. Nevertheless, she couldn¡¯t help but adore Jonathan¡¯s physique. Wow, the stories about this guy are true. Noyman is comparable to him in terms of looks and the energy he exudes. Only very few were lucky enough to have seen Mr. Xander in person, I supposed. The thought of this unlikely chance to be sat right in front of the legendary Jonathan Xanderunched Lorelei into exultation! She was wallowing in this proud moment when a cold voice knocked her out of her daze. ¡°Ms. Summerfield?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Lorelei was scooped back to reality. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± She plonked her shuddering body on the couch after Jonathan patiently pointed to it the second time. She sped her hands tightly, and the tion she was experiencing a moment ago was reced by apprehension. Any movement she made felt gawky. ¡°Ms. Summerfield, I brought you backst night because everything happened so quickly. My apologies for not having your consent beforehand, and I hope you understand that I meant no harm. Please forgive me.¡± Lorelei was smashed the night before, and if Jonathan didn¡¯t take her in, something worse could have happened to her. She was in no position to criticize his action let alone forgive him. When she recalled that Micha also drank quite a fair sum, she realized how serious the problem was. She propped herself up on her feet, and with a red face, apologized for what had transpired. ¡°Mr. Xander, I¡¯m so sorry. Mich drank because of me. I promise that things like this will never ever happen again. Mr. Xander, please, don¡¯t be mad. I¡ª¡± ¡°Ms. Summerfield, take it easy. I¡¯m not ming you for anything.¡± Jonathan was angry at first when he knew that Micha was drinking because of Lorelei. Though, thanks to that, he got the chance to sleep with thedy he was so in love with in his arms. Sharing a bed with someone might not be the most enjoyable to him, but sharing it with Micha was a dream he never dared hanker after. After Lorelei had calmed down and showed eagerness to know what was going on, Jonathan spoke. ¡°Ms. Summerfield, I called for a discussion as I¡¯d like to ask you a favor.¡± ¡°Mr. Xander, please tell me what it is. I¡¯ll do anything I can to help you out!¡± Jonathan was a fabled figure in the country. It wouldn¡¯t be exaggerating if one said that every participant in the business industry had to y on his terms, which more often than not, altered ording to his mood. His slightest displeasure could shake the whole industry. It was only natural for Lorelei to feel uneasy and anxious that someone so eminent was asking for her help. Jonathan was pleased by Lorelei¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Micha had just graduated and is still a simple girl with pure thoughts. What I¡¯m asking from you, Ms. Summerfield, is to keep an eye on her and let me know immediately if she was caught in any trouble.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Sharp-witted Lorelei could somehow see where the conversation was going. ¡°Mr. Xander, you¡¯re worried that Mich might fall prey to people like Lucille again, right? Don¡¯t worry. You can count on me. I guarantee you¡¯ll be the first to know if anything were to happen to Mich, Mr. Xander!¡± To Lorelei, Jonathan¡¯s concern for Lorelei was purely tonic. Hmm¡­ Jonathan is Zack¡¯s uncle. Why does he show Micha so much care? Was it because Zack betrayed her, and Jonathan felt guilty about it? Lorelei had no intention to dig deeper into Jonathan and Micha¡¯s rtionship. After exchanging numbers with Jonathan, she sang her praises. ¡°Mich is so lucky to have an uncle like you to care for her!¡± ¡°Uncle?¡± Jonathan looked as cross as two sticks when he heard that. Obviously, he wasn¡¯t happy with thatbel. Lorelei sensed the sudden change in Jonathan¡¯s face from warm and smiley to cold and steely. Hmm? Did I say something wrong? But it can¡¯t be! I¡¯mplimenting him! ¡°Mich and I are not rted by blood,¡± Jonathan blurted calmly just as Lorelei racked her brain on what she had done wrong. His deep and husky voice sent shivers down her spine, and she could only get herself to nod and stutter. ¡°I-I-I understood!¡± She already knew that they weren¡¯t rted by blood when she got to know that Jonathan was a Xander, and she didn¡¯t see a problem with that. ¡°Also, Mich and I have decided that we¡¯re going to be a couple. We made that decisionst night.¡± Jonathan went on. ¡°What?¡± It was a jaw-drop moment for Lorelei. She was shocked to the hilt. All the things that had happened that day hit her like a train, and she desperately needed some time to process them. Vincent, who was eavesdropping by the door, walked up to Jonathan, looking dumbfounded. ¡°What did you just say? I didn¡¯t catch it. Say it one more time!¡± He wanted to double-check what he had heard and put his hand behind his ear as if it would capture every word. Jonathan only nodded, and his eyes gleamed with happiness. His response after announcing his rtionship with Micha proved that he wasn¡¯t joking. Before Vincent could pull himself back into his senses, Jonathan gave him a pat on the shoulder and left.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Vincent was thrown into a daze until Jonathan¡¯s silhouettepletely disappeared from his sight. ¡°What the hell? I was wondering why you¡¯ve be so nice and diligent all of a sudden. Now I know! You¡¯re into your nephew¡¯s ex-wife!¡± The term ¡°ex-wife¡± felt like thorns in Lorelei¡¯s ears, and she had her heart in her mouth. Oh my god! This is like the biggest secret of the century! Will they kill me for knowing about it? Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Not Hate But Like It was fall. Leaves rustled in the chilly wind. Micha¡¯s biological clock was what woke her up. When she opened her eyes and saw the familiar scent in front of her, she closed her eyes in despair. It seemed like she had drunk quite a lot the night before, for she could not remember how she even came back. It was only until the sounds of running water traveled into her ears did Micha abruptly sat up. The room seemed familiar, but after a closer look, Micha realized that it was not quite the same. The monotonous color scheme for the interior told her that it was Jonathan¡¯s room. Could it be that I went to the wrong room after drinking too muchst night? Micha then rubbed her temples. She could not believe that the first drink she had would be the strongest alcohol¡ªwhiskey. Furthermore, as she was suffering a hangover, she felt a gnome pounding away in her head. Even if I¡¯ve gone to the wrong room, what¡¯s with the sound from the bathroom? This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Right as Micha was about to get out of bed and find out what really was going on, someone opened the bathroom door from inside. Then, Jonathan, in a ck bathrobe, walked out. The ck bathrobe had a low V-neck, and Jonathan had only loosely tied the bathrobe¡¯s belt around his waist. Jonathan was usually an elegant gentleman, but in that bathrobe, he looked even more attractive than usual. Right then, a bead of water rolled down his cheek and to his corbone before disappearing down his chest. Just a brief glimpse at him, and Micha could already see Jonathan¡¯s great figure. The suave man had the perfect body shape of an inverted triangle, and he had defined muscles. As his bathrobe reached his knees, his muscr calves could be seen. They were a wless mix of beauty and strength, a deadly temptation. In the blink of an eye, Micha¡¯s face turned bright red. She did not know where to look, but she could not tear her eyes away either. It was especially so when she saw Jonathan¡¯s smiling eyes. Subconsciously, Micha pulled her nket higher to block her line of sight. Jonathan smiled at her actions. He then dried his hair with the towel for a while before heading straight to the bed and sitting down beside Micha. Upon feeling the cave-in of the bed, Micha¡¯s face turned even hotter. As a matter of fact, the heat from her face traveled to the tip of her ears. Just then, a maic voice sounded out, ¡°You¡¯re now shy after a night of us sleeping together?¡± Instantly, Micha¡¯s eyes widened, and she whipped her head around to look at Jonathan in disbelief. She then saw Jonathan raise a brow and uttered in a low voice, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Have you forgotten everything that happenedst night? Do you need a reminder? Hmm?¡± The way he dragged hisst word made Micha¡¯s heart skip a beat. Panicking, her temples throb. Her brows knitted, and snippets of memories ofst night shed past her mind. Finally, with Jonathan¡¯s reminder, her memories gradually returned. When she recalled calling Jonathan her boyfriend, Micha immediately covered her face and wished for the ground to open up and swallow her whole. That way, she would not need to see anyone else for the rest of her life. This is so embarrassing! I even caressed his face! Oh my god! When she turned to look at Jonathan to see him looking at her with a gentle smile, Micha felt certain that she would soon be murdered. I have to lie on the bed I make. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll be able to avoid this issue by pretending to be an ostrich. ¡°Mr. Jonathan, I¡¯m sorry. I¡­¡± What Micha wanted to say to him was that she had drunk too much and to ask him not to be mad at her. However, before she could finish her sentence, the man¡¯s maic voice rang by her ear, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Letting yourself go wild is a way of ridding yourself of stress. You don¡¯t need to take the matter to heart.¡± It was an unexpected answer that made Micha snap her head upward. Instantly, her eyes met his sharp ones. He had a solemn expression on, but the words he said made her face red and her heart skip a beat. ¡°Moreover, I should be forgiving and nice to you as your boyfriend.¡± Boyfriend? All of Micha¡¯s blood rushed to her face at the mention of that word, making both her face and neck flushed. Micha did not know how to respond to his blunt words, but still, she tried to exin, ¡°Mr. Jonathan, I drank too muchst night and was spouting nonsense. How can you take my drunk speech seriously?¡± ¡°But I did.¡± Jonathan stared at her with a burning gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t they say that people speak only the truth after drinking? I never thought that you¡¯ve always had a crush on me, Mich.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I¡ª¡± Micha instinctively denied, but the next thing she saw was Jonathan gazing at her with a hurt look. ¡°Do you hate me, Mich?¡± ¡°No!¡± Micha denied again. Jonathan was the only one who treated her extremely well other than her grandfather and mother. She knew that he was sincerely nice to her. Perhaps it was all because of her grandfather, but still, she was grateful for his kindness. Therefore, she did not hate him. Even the initial anxiety she felt upon meeting him again slowly dissipated as the two met more and more frequently. However, if someone were to ask her to rify the feelings she had for Jonathan, she would find herself at a loss for words. A tinge of delight entered Jonathan¡¯s eyes as he watched Micha deny everything in a panic. It was as if she was terrified of him misunderstanding her. He then uttered, ¡°If you don¡¯t hate me, Mich, it means you like me. I knew it!¡± Micha froze. She was baffled. Does not hating him mean I like him? Is that really how things work? Is he really still Mr. Xander who is supposedly uninterested in girls? Why is he so childish? ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Micha was panicking to the verge of tears. No matter what she said, she could not win against Jonathan. It felt as though none of her words would be able to rify the situation. It was until Micha¡¯s face and ears were as red as a tomato did Jonathan finally change the topic. ¡°There¡¯s honey water by the bedside. Drink it after you wash up. Then,e downstairs for your meal. If you don¡¯t start moving, you¡¯re going to bete.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± At that, Micha turned around to nce at the time. Upon registering the time, she tossed the frustrating issue to the back of her mind and pulled the nket off her. In the next second, she was up and running toward the bathroom of the opposite room. The smile on Jonathan¡¯s face deepened at the sight of the young woman¡¯s hurrying figure. He stared at her unblinkingly, seemingly unwilling to miss out even a second of her. By the time Micha changed and went down the stairs, Jonathan was already seated at the dining table. At the thought of what happened earlier, Micha walked to the other side of the table and sat down opposite Jonathan. The girl¡¯s always been sitting with Mr. Xander, but she¡¯s deliberately sitting on the other side today. Could it be that the two are arguing? Wayne wondered. That can¡¯t be, right? Mr. Xander looked thrilled this morning. I thought the two have confirmed their rtionship, but what¡¯s going on with them right now? Despite the confusion he felt, Wayne still brought Micha¡¯s breakfast to her. After giving Wayne a soft thanks, Micha dug in. When she sensed the burning gaze opposite, Micha was even more afraid to lift her head and meet his eyes. All she could do was steel herself and pretend as if she did not notice his staring. Jonathan did not push Micha any further when he noticed her avoidance. The change in their status already delighted him enough. He knew that she needed time to ept the fact, and he was worried that pressuring her might end up backfiring on him. However, Jonathan never knew that would continue until Friday. Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Avoidance In the afternoon on Friday, Micha received a message from Jonathan. He was asking her to head to the Xander residence after work first, for he had a meeting at night and would only be able to go there later. Micha was relieved to go to the Xander residence by herself. When she found out that the two elderly of the Xander family wasing back, she immediately realized they must have returned because of Zack and her. After work, she went to buy some supplements before rushing to the Xander residence. In the past, she used to go to the Xander residence with her mother, so her mother was the one to prepare the gifts. Now that she was alone, she had to make sure to be as polite as usual. The Xander residence was located in a remote area away from the noisy crowds. It was a brilliant ce for the elderly to live at. By the time Micha reached her destination, the sky was darkening. Even from afar, she could see a figure standing by the doorway of the courtyard. When she came closer to the house, she realized it was Mavis. Mavis was old, and her white hair wasbed neatly. Although her face was full of wrinkles and her skin was sagging, anyone would realize from her features that she used to be a beauty when she was younger. Even as time went by, the elegance in her behavior never went away. Instead, she became more and more graceful over time. At that, Micha¡¯s heart melted, and she hastily opened the car door to greet her. ¡°Old Mrs. Xander, why are you standing here. It¡¯s cold out here at night. You might catch a cold here!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve always been sweet and sensible since young. Zack¡¯s a fool to not appreciate you. This is our fault¡­¡± Mavis and her husband had been in remorse ever since they learned about the incident. Back then, they thought both Micha and Zack would click with each other since they were around the same age and Zack was a hardworking child. Neither thought that there would be a day when both of them would misjudge the situation. There were a few times when Mavis woke up in the middle of the night and found her husband sitting alone in the study, looking at Adrian¡¯s photo. She had heard him muttering his apologies to Adrian, as Zack had caused Adrian¡¯s beloved granddaughter to be aggrieved. Mavis¡¯ heart ached even more for Micha when she found out about what Lucille had done. That was why she had waited by the doorway when she learned that Micha wasing for a visit. When Micha saw the tears welling in Mavis¡¯ eyes, she quickly shook her head. ¡°Old Mrs. Xander, please don¡¯t say that. I know that Old Mr. Xander and you both dote on me.¡± ¡°What a good girl you are. Come on,e with me into the house.¡± Right as she said that, Mavis held Micha¡¯s hand and walked into the courtyard. When she saw the supplements that Micha was carrying, she uttered, ¡°Don¡¯t be so courteous in the future, or else I¡¯ll be upset.¡± ¡°I should be nice to you and Old Mr. Xander!¡± Micha¡¯s docile demeanor only made Mavis¡¯ heart melt even more. At the same time, she sighed inwardly, Zack¡¯s really an idiot! By the time the two entered the house, Nick had already put down the newspaper in his hands. He then raised his head to look at her before softly saying, ¡°Mich, you¡¯re here. Come over and take a seat.¡± Nick, who was sitting with a straight back, was wearing an old-fashioned cotton dark blue suit. He looked lively, and the smile he had on his face was a doting and soft one. Micha walked over to him and asked, ¡°Old Mr. Xander, I heard from Mr. Jonathan that you were unwell a while ago. Are you feeling better now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m feeling fine with me in your thoughts! Mich, about Zack¡¯s matter¡­ You must have had it tough.¡± Although Zack was the one at fault, the profuse apologies from Mavis and Nick made Micha, who was indeed upset about the matter, feel awkward. She quickly said, ¡°Old Mr. Xander, let¡¯s not talk about past matters. If both of you get angry and be ill because of this, I¡¯ll be sorry too!¡± ¡°You¡¯re so thoughtful, silly girl,¡± Mavis chimed in an approving tone. Indeed, she felt bad about the matter, but she was also concerned about the old man¡¯s body. He was old, and everything seemed to be malfunctioning¡ªfrom high blood pressure to heart issues. Therefore, Micha was right in that anger would make him ill. Mavis was worried that Nick would be sick from the anger he felt over the incident. Hence, when Mavis heard the young woman¡¯s words, her eyes reddened. Simrly, the smile on Nick¡¯s face deepened. Despite his prior arrangements, he subtly changed the topic. ¡°I heard from Jonathan that you¡¯ve gone to work at a charity. I¡¯m sure your grandfather will be at peace to know that. How is your work?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Micha softly replied. When Jonathan was done with the video conference and rushed home, he returned to find the young woman sitting beside his parents, chatting away merrily. The moment Micha saw who was by the doorway, she quickly stood up and called out, ¡°Mr. Jonathan!¡± Mr. Jonathan? Jonathan narrowed his eyes as a displeased look appeared on his face. The young woman had been avoiding him for two whole days, and she even had her breakfast and dinner outside. In other words, she left home early and returnedte. Once she was home, she would then hide away in her room and refused toe back out. When he saw that the lights were on in Micha¡¯s room the night before, he knocked on her door. Perhaps it would have been better for him not to have done that, for the moment he knocked on the door, the young woman turned off the lights and pretended to be asleep. Still, he was not angry about that. He thought that she was only hiding from him because she was shy. Yet, this was what greeted him. Micha had been in a merry conversation with Jonathan¡¯s parents, but Jonathan¡¯s appearance made her turn tense. Nick noticed the exchange and thought that Jonathan did not treat her well. Thus, he scowled and shot Jonathan a look before turning to Micha. ¡°Mich, sit. Ignore him. He¡¯s just an unwanted old man. Even I feel embarrassed for him!¡± An unwanted old man? Upon hearing that description, Micha gave Jonathan a look of sympathy, having forgotten about the awkwardness between them for a moment. Is Jonathan that lowly in the family? Still, it¡¯s not as bad to the point he¡¯s unwanted, right? As far as she knew, Jonathan was a man many women wanted. Unfortunately, it was difficult to rouse his interest, and Micha could not begin counting how many women¡¯s hearts he had broken. When Jonathan saw the look Micha gave him, he lowered his head. Is she feeling bad for me? Sometimes, making himself look pitiful was a way to win her back. Meanwhile, when Mavis heard her husband¡¯sment about her youngest son, she frowned. However, as Micha was there, she could not possibly begin an argument with Nick. Therefore, she shot Nick a re and said, ¡°Jonathan¡¯s back, so we can start with our dinner.¡± Mavis then stood up and began walking to the dining area. At the start, Jonathan wanted to take the opportunity to talk to the young woman, but Micha swiftly went to Mavis¡¯ side. ¡°Old Mrs. Xander, let me hold you.¡± ¡°My, at the end of the day, daughters are the best. My greatest regret in life is that I didn¡¯t have a daughter. Instead, I gave birth to three brats,¡± Mavis said in a soft tone. She then held Micha¡¯s hand tightly and continued, ¡°Mich, if you don¡¯t mind me being a naggy old woman, pleasee and keep me company more often. I really adore you!¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Of course, Jonathan and his brothers were filial children as well. However, despite everything, boys were not as meticulous as girls. Mavis always felt sad that she had not been able to have a daughter, and every time she mentioned that, she would sigh wistfully. Meanwhile, Jonathan, who was behind the two of them, heard everything they said. Then, he heard Micha say, ¡°No, Old Mrs. Xander, I¡¯m lucky that you¡¯re so kind to me.¡± Old Mrs. Xander? Jonathan raised a brow. Doesn¡¯t that sound awkward? Micha, she will be your future mother-inw! Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Chapter 66 ying With Fire At the table in the dining room long enough to amodate a dozen-odd people, the two elder Xanders sat on one side while Micha and Jonathan took their ces opposite them. Coming in, Micha was under the impression that the head of the Xander family would preside over the table. That way, she might seize the opportunity to sit with Mavis and away from Jonathan. Little did she anticipate being grabbed by the wrist as soon as she stepped in. The sensation of therge mitts wrapped around her wrist had the immediate effect of putting a thorough blush upon Micha¡¯s dainty cheeks. There was no way she could have expected Jonathan to behave so insolently in front of the elder Xanders. In the midst of her trepidation, Jonathan said, ¡°My father wants to sit with my mother, so you shoulde and sit next to me!¡± So, it would seem that having been so loving throughout their lives, the older couple were equally inseparable even at mealtimes. That was something that hade to be normalized within the Xander family. Micha was somewhat uneasy about returning to Jonathan¡¯s side once more. Her movements became extremely conservative out of fear that she might make contact with any part of Jonathan¡¯s body. There was still a warmth left around the circumference of her wrist where he had held her a moment ago. It left a tititing sensation so overwhelming that it nearly swallowed her whole. Hence, she was fearful of making any further physical contact with him again. Mavis was oblivious to the awkwardness between the pair. All that was apparent to her was Micha scraping away at only what was on her te with her head bowed. Eventually, she said, ¡°Since you are seated closer, Jonathan, help serve some food to Mich!¡± ¡°Got it!¡¯¡° Correspondingly, Jonathan did as he was told, only to hear Mavis let out a sigh of disapproval, ¡°How could you ever hope to bring home a wife for yourself being as klutzy as you are? Even your Dad and I wonder whether we would ever live long enough to see you have a family of your own!¡± Klutzy? In Micha¡¯s esteem, she felt strongly that Mavis did not understand her own son well enough. Never mind starting one family, her son was so adept at the game of seduction that starting several families at a time would be considered child¡¯s y to him. ¡°Have I not arranged for you to undergo anywhere between a minimum of eight to over ten matching- making sessions previously? You weren¡¯t happy with any of the options presented to you, and even that girl from the Johnsons failed to catch your eye. Although I am aware that you possess some great qualities, Jonathan, surely you cannot expect to spend the rest of your life alone? Your Dad and I can¡¯t possibly be around to keep youpany forever, so won¡¯t you make it so that we could depart without worries?¡± In consideration of her youngest boy¡¯s predicament, Mavis¡¯ consternation became palpable on her face. In the end, she ced down her utensils and looked over with mixed emotions. ¡°Mich isn¡¯t an outsider, Jonathan, so you can give it to me straight today. What sort of girl do you fancy? That way, I might have a better idea as to what sort of prospects I should be scouting for on your behalf. Unless you mean to tell me that you are interested in men, just like they are saying out there?¡± Him interested in men? With her head lowered, Micha attempted to restrain her own amusement. Old Mrs. Xander is really progressive, able to so have the mention of same-sex attraction roll so casually off her tongue. It¡¯s as if she¡¯d be receptive to anyone who is remotely human. That scenario was, in actuality, a monthly spectacle within the Xander family. Mavis would rehash the same thing as and when Jonathan came home to eat, as though being without a girlfriend was a matter of aggravating shame. Jonathan was especially skilled at maneuvering his way out of such insipidity. Only that time, he had his yful impulses surprisingly drummed up in response to that littless¡¯ gleeful gloating at the side. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m already attached,¡± he dered in ambiguity. ¡°What?¡± That pronouncement that came out of nowhere left Mavis her momentarily stunned. Reflexively, she exchanged a look of astoundment with her husband beside her. ¡°Attached? To whom? Tell me, what¡¯s the name of this girl? Where does she work at? How did you be acquainted, and when did you both start dating? Is she someone known to your Dad and me? If this was true, why did you not tell us about it earlier? You know, Jonathan. Your father and I have always taught you to be honest and forthright since you were little. It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t have a girlfriend, but don¡¯t you try to lie to us about stuff like that!¡± Amidst the well-meaning nature of Mavis¡¯ words was a measure of self-reproach, as she wondered if she had been heaping too much pressure on her own son. Who was to expect that Jonathan would maintain his own stance in the face of Mavis¡¯ doubts. ¡°I have a girlfriend and that¡¯s a fact. Why would I need to lie about it?¡± Being as poised as he was since young, not once has Jonathan ever said anything that he was unsure of. Seeing the steadfastness in his demeanor, Mavis¡¯ eyes glinted with joy. ¡°Then, when do you intend to bring her home to meet us? Since we have no need to engage in strategic unions, we aren¡¯t that particr about her family background, so long as she is a youngdy of fine character. We have no objections so long as you love each other and are happy together!¡± Jonathan refrained from responding immediately and instead cast Micha a meaningful nce. ¡°She¡¯s right¡­¡± Choking on a mouthful of soup, Micha started coughing up a fit until her lovely face turned red from ear to ear. ¡°Oh dear. How careless you are!¡± Jonathan¡¯s low inflection was tinged with chastisement, prompting Micha to regard him askance. Whose fault was that? Do you mean to scare me to death? In spite of being told that words of the inebriated cannot be taken at face value, he seemed intent on being as loud as possible about it, as though hoping that the whole world woulde to find out about them as a result. Regardless of how Jonathan viewed the situation, the fact that he was Zack¡¯s uncle would be scandalous enough in itself should word about this spread. She was almost embarrassed to the core. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. In the belief that she was merely there for a simple meal, she had not anticipated that Jonathan might seek to set her up. That, per se, was a misstep on her own part. As much as Jonathan was eager to let everyone in on his rtionship with Micha, he was aware that the timing was premature for that big reveal then. He could ill-afford to ruffle that youngss¡¯ feathers, or at the very least, not before she was fullymitted to him. In truth, he only meant to have some fun at her expense. Only after Micha¡¯s coughing subsided did Jonathan steadily state before the two elders¡¯ watchful eyes, ¡°She¡¯s a little shy and besides, we¡¯ve barely started bing serious. That¡¯s why I¡¯d probably have to wait to have her over at a more appropriate time!¡± ¡°Oh, praise the heavens above! Our Jonathan now has himself a girlfriend!¡± Smiling broadly, Mavis, however, did not neglect to caution Jonathan, ¡°May I remind you, Jonathan, you absolutely have to treat her right. Getting a girl to think enough of you isn¡¯t that easy, so you better make sure that you hold on to her!¡± ¡°Roger that! I¡¯d keep that in mind!¡± While he answered in his deep inflection, Jonathan saw Micha¡¯s cheeks reddened once more In the corner of his eyes. She seemed to be on the verge of wanting to throttle someone. At that very moment, Nick, who had been silent all that while, chimed in, ¡°Yes. Chances are, this girl who has taken a fancy to you must be someone kindhearted in spite ofcking a discerning eye. I bet she probably took pity on you for still being single at your age. Seeing that it¡¯s thepany¡¯s anniversary next month, you might as well invite her over to see us. After all, such a girl is really hard toe by nowadays!¡± Could there be anyone else in this world who would diss his own son any more than he does? That heartstopping meal served to lead Micha to a singr realization; the rumor of Jonathan being the apple of two elders¡¯ eyes would seemrgely unfounded. After dinner, the few of them chatted briefly about Hannah¡¯s effort to start a school in Gerton over coffee. Through a call with her mother, Micha learned that things were not going swimmingly over in Gerton. Within the week, they were not even sessful at their aim of acquiring all the materials they needed, and Hannah also really had her work cut out for her. Initially, Micha wanted to inquire of Hannah when she would be returning. She decided against asking about that after she heard what happened, and only requested that her mother take care of herself. In response, Mavis purposefully instructed Jonathan to reach out to Hannah to help pull some strings to smooth things out whenever possible. Naturally, Jonathan was not going to pass up on the opportunity to get on his mother-inw¡¯s good side. He, however, felt conflicted. For in the event that everything became settled in Gerton would mean that Micha would be moving away from him. He had nned to discuss the matter with her in-depth after they returned hometer at night. That was until they were both unexpectedly asked to stay over at Mavis¡¯ insistence. Giving Jonathan no choice in the matter whatsoever, Mavis went on to have the butler settle Micha in a guest room. Jonathan¡¯s expression grew increasingly sullen as he watched Micha happily follow the butler upstairs. Did she think that staying in the family home would allow her to be free from his grasp? Haha. Fat chance! c Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Chapter 67 I Yield ¡°I don¡¯t have any clothing here that¡¯s suitable for young women, Mich. What I do have is a new nightie that I¡¯ve recently bought, so try to make do with it today. I¡¯ll have someone get that sorted out tomorrow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Old Mrs. Xander. I¡¯ve already imposed myself on you quite enough already. My mom might get upset with me if she were to find out how much work I¡¯m putting you through.¡± Most kids nowadays are ill-bred and incurably willful, being spoilt rotten the way they are. That, however, is not the case with this girl right here; she is polite, gracious, witty,petent, unfussy with food, and dresses modestly. Mavis¡¯ fondness for the young woman only grew the more she saw of her. To her, the young woman before her possessed all the qualities that would make her the ideal wife one day. As such, she could not help butment the fact that the Xanders simply did not have the good fortune to have her be part of their family. Worried that Micha would be unable to settle in well since she was staying over for the first time, Mavis spent some time chatting with her before getting up to leave. Nevertheless, she did not neglect to remind Micha to turn in early. Micha saw Mavis to the stairs where she watched the elderlydy descend them with assured steps. She was about to turn back when she spotted Jonathan who was standing not too far away. Already changed out of his suit, Jonathan was dressed in a more casual outfit that was morefortable to be worn around the house. For some inexplicable reason, it conferred upon him the geniality of a boy- next-door that was conspicuously absent from his usual high-and-mighty bossman persona. He had his hands tucked inside the pockets of his pants as he regarded her with aid-back expression, and when their eyes met, the man¡¯s deep-set eyes and unfathomable gaze were akin to a bottomless pit that threatened to suck her in. Steadily curling up his lips, he cast her a devilish smile that made her shudder, and in response, Micha turned and broke into a run, almost without apprehension. ¡°Stop right there, Micha Lingard!¡± Jonathan furrowed at the woman¡¯s audacity to torment him by her avoidance. Did she really expect to be able to get away scot-free during our time at the Xander residence after entertaining herself at dinner at my expense? Getting too far ahead of herself, I¡¯d say! Jonathan¡¯s long and narrow eyes squinted. His pretty and piercing gaze, coupled with the fact that there was not much physical separation between them, to begin with, sent a chill down Micha¡¯s spine. Unexpectedly, Micha¡¯s limbs betrayed her at the most crucial moment. Her slightly trembly hands failed to open the door no matter how hard she tried, leaving her fretful to the verge of tears. At that moment, Jonathan unhurriedly strolled over to her side and leaned his forearm against the wall next to the door. Smiling wryly, he said, ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? Have you forgotten that this is the ce where I lived growing up? Don¡¯t tell me that you intend to flee to the ends of the world?¡± He stared at her intently, his gaze burning, causing her to shrink away. ¡°My bad, Mr. Jonathan!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± His lips curled up subtly as though he was in a splendid mood. ¡°Now, why don¡¯t you tell me, Mich, who is in the wrong here?¡± he said in his deep and husky inflection. ¡°I-I¡­¡± Micha was so unnerved that her eyes reddened. She could certainly start pointing fingers, but she had no idea how to get started. While she struggled with her indecision, Jonathan had already leaned in with his deep-set eyes fixated upon her. ¡°Why did you try to avoid me?¡± ¡°I-I didn¡¯t!¡± Although she was prompt to answer, she could not help but feel a little self-conscious under the re of Jonathan¡¯s intense scrutiny. Not daring to regard Jonathan directly, she began to avert her gaze. Gaining herself a boyfriend under such ridiculous circumstances was not something that she wanted. Apart from avoiding him, Micha did not know what else to do. In Micha¡¯s esteem, with his background and stature, there was no woman out of Jonathan¡¯s reach. He¡¯s merely toying with me, and this entire affair is nothing but one practical joke taken too far. ¡°Are you refusing to look at me? Do you find me that repulsive?¡± Jonathan pressed her once more with a mystifying look in his eyes as though to prate Micha¡¯s innermost thoughts. When she did not respond, he nodded, and growled sonorously and dourly, ¡°Fine. In that case, I¡¯ll swear that I¡¯d never show myself in front of you again!¡± After his voice trailed off, Jonathan swiftly turned to depart, only to hear the woman¡¯s firm denial. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think! Besides, this is your home. If anyone should leave, it should be me.¡± Micha had her own reservations, as it was the Xander residence they were in. Hence, she sought to suppress her own voice until it tapered down to barely more than a squeak toward the end. What came unexpectedly to her was theck of surprise from the smirking Jonathan. I just knew that she could not bear to be apart from me! Sometimes, it takes the right sort of duress to help one confront one¡¯s own true feelings. Once more, Jonathan turned to face Micha and lifted her chin with his slender digits. When Micha declined to meet his gaze, he snickered. ¡°Then, what do you say to the two of us staying put?¡± His attitude changed so quickly that it rendered Micha speechless. He never had any intention of walking away. If nothing else, he was really looking to score sympathy points! Before Micha could speak, she heard Nick¡¯s energetic voice ringing out from downstairs. ¡°Have you any idea what time it is already? Why are you still going back and forth like that? I reckon that Mich should be asleep by now, so why don¡¯t you give it a rest?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you. Girls have always been ustomed to sleeping in familiar beds, you old coot, but you just wouldn¡¯t listen. This warm milk that I have here can help. Run along to bed now. I¡¯ll be back once I have this sent over to her.¡± Footsteps were hearding up the stairs right after Mavis¡¯ voice faded off. Micha¡¯s eyes widened asudden, especially when it urred to her how intimate Jonathan and her must appear right now. Pushing the man away without any hesitance, she prepared herself to duck back inside the room. Seeing how eager Micha was to avail herself of him, Jonathan reached out and pulled her into his arms outright. Then, he regarded her with an ambiguous smile. ¡°How do you think my mother would react if she saw us together like this?¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Infuriated, Micha sought to free herself, only to find his grasp tightening around her several-fold. In the end, she could only resign herself to her fate. ¡°Please stop fooling around, Mr. Jonathan.¡± ¡°Mr. Jonathan?¡± His thin lips curled up charmingly as he said, ¡°I don¡¯t like the way you address me, Mich.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re my elder, so I¡ª¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you address me as Jonathan without inhibition back then? Besides, we aren¡¯t rted by blood. Or could it be that you are still harboring hopes of getting back together with Zack? Is that why you are so insistent on being so formal with me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing like that¡­¡± Reflexively, Micha tried to remonstrate but before she could do that, the man went on to force the issue. ¡°If that¡¯s not the case, then let¡¯s hear you call me by my name, shall we?¡± There was a sliver of coaxing in his tone that set a flush upon her dainty cheeks. The sound of every tap of the foot that echoed up the stairs seemed like a direct encroachment upon Micha¡¯s psyche. Her heart only pounded ever harder the closer they approached. Unable to withstand that sort of distress, she could only yield. ¡°Jonathan.¡± Her voice was tender and supple. Even though it was just a single word, it fueled his yearning to get more intimate with her still. Now emotionally gratified, Jonathan decided not to continue to make things difficult for Micha. Pushing downward with his hand, he opened the door and had her carried into the sanctuary of the guest room. In the same crisp sequence, he had the door locked behind them and also the lights turned off. That series of maneuvers from Jonathan only made Micha even more dibobted inside. She was under the impression that it was about time Jonathan ought to have let her off then. But to her astonishment, the man was brazen enough to follow her into the room. What should we do if Old Mrs. Xander were to catch us like this? In that instant, Micha became livid and perturbed. ¡°What are you thinking,ing inside my room? How do you expect me to exin your presence here to Old Mrs. Xander if she saw you? Hurry up and get out of here!¡± Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Coaxing It was a pretty heart-pounding night, which made Micha angry and frustrated. Despite her attempts to leave, she couldn¡¯t, because Jonathan was too strong. His one-meter-and- eighty-five-centimeter tall figure didn¡¯t budge as he stared at her calmly. ¡°It¡¯s toote for me to go out now! If you don¡¯t want my mother to know, then you better stay quiet! It doesn¡¯t matter to me either way, so do as you please!¡± His threatening tone made her face flush with red silently. In the dark, she red at him with frustration. However, she quickly realized she was still trapped in front of the handsome man¡¯s strong, broad chest. While their clothes still physically separated them, she could clearly feel the warmthing from his body continuously. His unique scent was also flowing into her nose. Micha uneasily squirmed, but she was quickly stopped by Jonathan. Soon, a warning uttered by a deep voice entered her ear. ¡°Stop moving!¡± His hot breath brushed past her ear, making it slightly itchy. Although, it felt more like a ball of me passing her by. It made her internal organs tremble as she froze. At that moment, knocking sounds were heard on the door, which was then followed by Mavis¡¯ voice. ¡°Mich? Are you asleep? Mich?¡± Jonathan might have locked the door, but Micha was still worried about it. Her heart thumped faster as she started having difficulty breathing. When she thought about how Mavis was just right outside of the door while she was hugging Jonathan so tightly, it made her feel embarrassed. The knocking continued for a few more moments before Mavis assumed Micha had fallen asleep and stopped. She descended the stairs and muttered, ¡°It¡¯s just as he said!¡± It wasn¡¯t until the footsteps werepletely gone that Jonathan stared at the woman in his embrace. With the help of the dim lighting from outside the room, he saw how she was pouting at him in anger. Upon noticing his attention had shifted to her face, she red at him and pushed him away without hesitation. Then she walked over to the bed and sat. Creepy old man! He really will do anything, including scaring me and embarrassing me! Jonathan smirked silently. He knew he had gone overboard tonight, so he sat next to her and softly comforted, ¡°Are you angry?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Micha was so furious that steam was about to rise from her ears. She had no choice but to submit to him in her current circumstances, which was something she didn¡¯t expect she would experience in the past. Additionally, she really was afraid that he would do far more extreme things to her. If that happened, then she wouldn¡¯t be able to exin herself, no matter how hard she tried. So, she turned her head to the other side and ignored him. Jonathan sighed and spoke in an aggrieved tone. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you¡¯re such a ygirl, Mich! Sometimes you¡¯re passionate, other times you¡¯re cold. Even though you hugged me and slept with me all night when you were drunk, you refused to admit it when you woke up! Then there¡¯s the time during the bar. You threw yourself at me and told me I¡¯m your handsome boyfriend. You seemed pretty happy at that moment, and now¡­¡± The more he spoke, the more embarrassed and angrier Micha got. Her ears couldn¡¯t help but turn red again. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Thus, instead of waiting for him to finish, she stretched her hand out and covered his mouth to stop him from speaking any further. However, because her movement was so sudden, both of them lost their bnce and fell to the bed, with her lying on top of him. Her eyes widened speechlessly. Jonathan, on the other hand, put his hand on the back of his head and teased in a deep voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you can get this passionate, Mich! It¡¯s a blissful, eye-opening experience for me!¡± ¡°What the hell are you saying? I didn¡¯t do it intentionally!¡± Micha was absolutely furious at just how shameless he was. Right as she was going to get off his body, he held her waist and switched their positions. He stared down at her and teased further with his maic voice. ¡°But I am.¡± ¡°What are you doing? Are you crazy?¡± She was seething with anger while gritting her teeth. That intimate position was making her very ufortable. ¡°Shush¡­¡± He propped his body up on the bed with one hand while using the other hand to make a silent gesture. ¡°My parents are pretty old, so it¡¯s pretty easy to wake them up. If you aren¡¯t worried they¡¯lle knocking on the door again, feel free to speak loudly!¡± The threat was effective as she promptly shut her mouth, though her eyes still zed with a look of resistance. Jonathan stopped giving her a hard time. Hey down next to her, held her hand, and put it on his chest. Micha could feel the muscles beneath his clothes clearly, especially his obviously powerful heartbeats and his warm body temperature. She moved uneasily, which only made him hold her hand tighter. His warm and maic voice filled the room. ¡°Do you feel that? It¡¯s because of you that it¡¯s pounding right now.¡± Despite the fact the room was still dark, she could feel her cheeks turning red after listening to his flirtation. Jonathan had already gotten up to the side as he continued to support his head with one arm and stared at her with affection. ¡°You heard my mom, Mich. If I lost you, I won¡¯t be able to exin myself! You aren¡¯t cruel enough to let me get reprimanded by my parents, are you? ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is that, since you don¡¯t hate me, if you think I¡¯m OK, how about you try to ept me? I can give you time, and I¡¯ll respect you as well as hide our rtionship for now. I just hope you¡¯ll give me a chance, even if it¡¯s out of pity. Look at me. At my age, I still haven¡¯t had a romantic rtionship before. Maybe if we stay together, we¡¯ll get something unexpected out of it? I¡¯ve already told my parents about it. If you don¡¯t agree, then I really have no idea what to say to them! Think of this as me asking you for a favor, okay? Promise me just this one time, all right?¡± His voice sounded very sweet and persuasive. It was as though he was advising her and begging her at the same time. It made her head spin and a tingling sensation crawled into her body. After a while, under his watchful eyes, she nodded. If Jonathan had done it the hard way, she would¡¯ve just rejected it outright. However, at that moment, his neutral tone and puppy eyes had softened her. She couldn¡¯t bear to reject him when he was pleading lowly. Besides, if the man in front of her really was the living legend whom everyone admired and praised, then it would make her feel bad for rejecting him. It was like she was in a dream. It felt so unreal to her until she felt a warm sensation on her forehead. It was gone in a sh, but it managed to pull her heartstring. ¡°Good girl!¡± His deep, maic voice rang out again. ¡°There¡¯s no rush, Mich. We can take it slow!¡± He had waited for five long years, and he endured it. She¡¯s lying next to me right now. I can see her and touch her. Am I in heaven right now? Because he was afraid of scaring her and ruining all his efforts, he had been holding himself back. That wasn¡¯t the case any longer as he was currently filled with confidence. We¡¯re meant to be with each other. It took us five years to establish and strengthen our bond. There¡¯s no way anyone can separate us ever again. Upon achieving his goal, Jonathan reminded her to sleep early and left satisfactorily. It wasn¡¯t until she heard the sound of the door closing that Micha snapped back to her senses and abruptly sat up. Her heart was still pounding with anxiety, and her mind was still in a daze. She wanted to take a shower in the bathroom but had to turn back when she realized she didn¡¯t bring her pajamas with her. It was beyond Micha¡¯s wildest dream that she would one day be her ex-fianc¨¦¡¯s Aunt! The truth was so wild that it was mortifying! Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Jerk Micha couldn¡¯t sleep well that night. She was staring wide-eyed at the ceiling while lying on her bed after taking a shower. Her mind was still in a daze. The scene from earlier reyed in her mind. Jonathan¡¯s sickly sweet voice continued to ring in her ear, stirring her emotions. It took a long while, but she did manage to calm herself down and enter dreand. She had a simrly heart-pounding and cheek-blushing experience in the dream. In the dream, she found herself taking the initiative and wrapping her arms around his neck. Once his lips were close enough, she kissed him. Even though it was a dream, she could clearly feel her disordered breath and pounding heart. That made Micha wake up abruptly. As she sat on the bed, she realized the sun was already hanging in the sky. The dream affected her pretty greatly. Her entire body was covered in sweat as she panted. I can¡¯t believe I had that kind of dream! How shameful! She got off the bed, took a bath to wash her sweat away, and changed her clothes. Just as she descended the stairs, she saw the elder Xander couple sitting in the living room watching the morning news. ¡°Good morning, Old Mr. and Mrs. Xander!¡± she greeted. Upon hearing her voice, Mavis removed her sses and smiled at her. ¡°Good morning, Mich. Why didn¡¯t you sleep in?¡± Whenever her grandchildren returned, they would sleep until the sun was hung up high in the sky. She knew how nice it was to be able to sleep that long, and she knew young people loved to sleep. Therefore, she was used to it. It was why she was surprised by how early Micha woke up. Is it because she¡¯s not used to sleeping here? ¡°I had a good sleep, Old Mrs. Xander!¡± Micha replied sweetly. It¡¯s all thanks to your son. He managed to chase my sleepiness away, so now I¡¯m really energetic! ¡°Jonathan just returned from his morning exercise and is currently taking a bath upstairs. We¡¯ll eat breakfast together once he¡¯s done,¡± the old woman informed. ¡°Then I¡¯ll help out in the kitchen!¡± Micha didn¡¯t feelfortable living in their house and eating for free even though they were close with her granddad. When she finished speaking, she zoomed into the kitchen, as though she was worried Mavis was going to stop her. ¡°The more I interact with Mich, the more I like her. Zack is an unfortunate man. I can¡¯t believe he was captivated by that woman and did such a horrible thing.¡± Mavis shook her head and sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing.¡± When that was brought up, Nick¡¯s face darkened as fury burst out of his eyes. He stood up and spoke in a deep voice. ¡°We¡¯ll eat first. Once that punk returns, I¡¯ll teach him a lesson!¡± Jonathan arrived at the dining room just as his parents were seated. The moment he saw Micha help setting up the table, a gentle look surfaced in his eyes. I can never get sick of watching her! When she heard footsteps, she turned around subconsciously and saw him. That triggered her mind to pull out the images from her dream again and made her blush. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Jonathan!¡± He blinked. Is she feeling shy right now? Even though all he could think of was her, he still had to act serious and replied warmly, ¡°Good morning!¡± Mavis waved at Micha. ¡°You can stop now, Mich. Come and eat with us!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Micha replied and sat next to Jonathan. Both of them were sitting pretty close to each other. The fragrant smelling from him, because he was fresh out of the bath, caused images to pop into her mind again. It made her blush so hard that she had to lower her head to prevent the old couple from noticing it. Because the couple was pretty old, the breakfast consisted of nutritious and easily digestible food. It was in but tasty. Surprisingly, Jonathan put food on Micha¡¯s te. It was a big enough improvement that it prompted Mavis to take a few extra nces at them. Nothing seems out of order, but I can tell something¡¯s different about himpared to yesterday. Is it because of love? The power of love sure is great. It¡¯s hard to believe that he is finally in a rtionship. Maybe he¡¯ll get married soon. At that moment, the butler walked in and took a nce at Micha before announcing, ¡°Mr. Zack is here!¡± Before Mavis could say anything, Nick ordered in a deep voice, ¡°Make him wait in the living room!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± the butler replied. However, instead of leaving, he looked like he got more to say. ¡°There¡¯s more?¡± Nick raised his eyebrow. The butler gulped and continued, ¡°Mr. Zack has also brought Ms. Lucille with him!¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Nick mmed the fork in his hand down on the table, as though his mood for eating had been ruined. His face darkened further. ¡°What a jerk! I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s this stubborn.¡± ¡°Well, since they¡¯re already here, just let them wait!¡± Mavis finally said something. There was a simr frown on her face. It¡¯s unbelievable that he still has the guts toe back here with that mistress of his after everything. Micha¡¯s heart dropped when she heard Zack had arrived with Lucille. As much bad blood as there is between us, we shouldn¡¯t cause a scene here! When she thought about the awkward meeting she would have with the two of themter, her expression darkened too. Upon realizing the change in her expression, Jonathan held her cold, little hand under the table despite the presence of his parents. Heforted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. My parents are here. They¡¯ll help you out.¡± The old couple didn¡¯t notice what they were doing below the table because they were paying attention to what Jonathan was saying. Mavis turned to Micha and assured tenderly, ¡°The both of us were the ones who called Zack over, Mich. That brat did something unforgivable to you, and so he must give you an exnation for it.¡± However, Lucille¡¯s appearance was not part of the n. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. It was pretty obvious that Lucille wanted to be acknowledged as Zack¡¯s partner. Quentin and his wife had always treated the old Xander couple with respect. If thetter couple epted Zack¡¯s rtionship with Lucille, then the former would stop getting in their way. Sadly, Zack would not receive the old Xander couple¡¯s blessing, and his n would not go smoothly. Micha wanted to tell them there was no point in it since the wedding wasn¡¯t held. Besides, she didn¡¯t really want a guy like Zack, anyway. However, she couldn¡¯t just swat the old couple¡¯s kindness away. Just as Mavis finished speaking, Nick uttered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mich. With the two of us supporting you, there¡¯s nothing you need to be concerned about.¡± The old couple exchanged a nce before leaving the dining room. Only Jonathan and her were left in the room, and they were still holding each other¡¯s hands underneath the table. Suddenly, Micha felt her heart thumping loudly, and she subconsciously removed her hand. Jonathan didn¡¯t stop her. He simply smiled at her and asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°Did you sleep wellst night, Mich? I didn¡¯t sleep well. I missed you a lot, and I wanted to talk to you, but I was afraid of disturbing you. How about we go back home tonight?¡± His words unintentionally triggered her to think about her dream again, which caused her face to blush once more. She hurriedly lowered her head. This man¡­ I promised to tryst night, yet he¡¯s already saying this kind of sweet nothings in the morning. I can¡¯t help but wonder if he was lying about not falling in love before. Suddenly, all she could feel was embarrassment, so much so that it pushed away all the uneasiness in her heart. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Pet Zack wrapped up the business trip Jonathan asked him to attend, so yesterday afternoon, Lucille intentionally rushed over to the airport to pick him up. They didn¡¯t expect to receive a call from the Xander residence right after they entered the car. When Zack received the call from the old Xander couple, he knew he couldn¡¯t hide the cancetion of the wedding anymore. Thankfully, his parents were out on a business trip, so he decided to make the best out of that opportunity and brought Lucille with him. He knew the old Xander couple loved him the mostpared to their other grandchildren. If he sincerely begged for forgiveness, then the old couple would stop giving him trouble. Upon hearing his suggestion, Lucille was overjoyed. She really wanted to obtain her rightful title as soon as possible, so she didn¡¯t refuse when Zack proposed his idea to her. Both of them were so eager toplete their n that they rushed to the Xander residence without eating breakfast. Their idea was to apany the old couple and made them happy before resolving the issue. However, things went differently than Zack had imagined. He was told by the butler to wait in the living room first. It was something that had never happened before, which was why, despite his calm appearance, he was feeling a little uneasy. Seeing how nervous Lucille was, heforted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They both love me very much. It¡¯s going to be fine!¡± ¡°What if they don¡¯t like me? After all, I was the one in the wrong with what happened to Micha. I don¡¯t want to put you in a difficult spot, Zack.¡± While she was anxious, the most important thing to her was testing his loyalty. She wanted to know what kind of decision he would make when facing opposition from multiple sides. Would he continue to stay with her, or would he give up on their rtionship? That was what she was trying to figure out. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Lucille¡¯s thoughtfulness always made Zack¡¯s heart ache. When he heard that, he tenderly wrapped his arm around her shoulder andforted, ¡°It won¡¯t happen. Don¡¯t worry, no one will stop us from being together!¡± ¡°You¡¯re so nice, Zack!¡± She smiled happily upon receiving the answer she wanted to hear. Her bodyy joyously in his embrace. The butler, who was standing at the side observing the both of them, shook his head in his mind. No wonder the old couple is disappointed in him. It only takes a few sweet words from her to mesmerize him. Seems like today¡¯s discussion is doomed to be an upsetting one. As expected, when the old Xander couple walked out of the dining room, they were not happy to see Zack and Lucille acting all lovey-dovey. In fact, Nick was so angry that he looked as though the fire was about to burst out of his eyes at that moment. Mavis was worried about her husband¡¯s health, so before he could explode in fury, she coughed lightly to remind the young couple not to go overboard. At the same time, her cold re swept across Lucille¡¯s face. Her look was sharp, as though she was trying to read the young woman¡¯s mind. Lucille intentionally picked an outfit with a warm color to leave a good impression on the old couple¡¯s minds. She wore a pair of beige trousers, which left her pale feet naked, with the same-colored short-sleeved windbreaker and a white shirt. It made her look innocent and pure. Sadly, no matter how well-dressed she was, Mavis didn¡¯t care. ¡°Grandma, Grandpa!¡± Zack immediately let go of Lucille when he heard the coughing and greeted them politely. He wanted to hold Nick as he used to, but the old man pushed him away and sneered mercilessly, ¡°I¡¯m not that old to need someone to hold me! You just need to take care of yourself.¡± Even though he could feel Nick¡¯s fury, he still forced himself to go along with it. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re still strong and healthy despite your age, Grandpa.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you learn something other than being a sweet-talker!¡± Zack¡¯s obvious attempt at pleasing Nick only garnered a contemptuous re from the old man. Nick then sat on the couch with Mavis. ¡°What did Albert tell you yesterday on the phone, Zack?¡± Albert Thompson, the butler, told Zack that Nick was inviting him to the Xander residence. And yet, Zack made the decision to bring Lucille along. It was no wonder that Nick was pissed off at Zack. Feeling guilty, an embarrassed look shed across Zack¡¯s eyes. He then pulled Lucille closer to him and stood in front of the old couple. ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, Lucille is my girlfriend now. She¡¯s not an outsider!¡± Turning to Lucille quickly, he urged, ¡°Greet them, Lucille.¡± Lucille took in a deep breath and felt the intense pressure building up in the living room. She knew the old couple didn¡¯t like her, but she still squeezed out what she thought was a perfect smile. Before she could speak, Mavis uttered in an indifferent tone, ¡°No need! If I remember correctly, she¡¯s the one who¡¯s adopted by the Lingard family, right?¡± Lucille had suffered endless mockery since she was a child due to that fact. When she understood what the old woman truly meant, all she could do was bit her lip and pretended to look pitiful. ¡°Grandma¡­¡± ¡°Shut it, Zack! Go stand at the side!¡± Last night, Mavis spent a lot of effort persuading her partner. After all, Quentin wasn¡¯t their biological child, so even if Zack did something wrong, they still had to do things by the book to avoid hurting the family¡¯s harmony. However, she changed her mind when she saw Zack hugging Lucille in the open and going all out defending his ¡°girlfriend¡±. Mavis could no longer suppress her rage and exploded in fury. She turned back to Lucille again and questioned, ¡°Where are you living right now? Do your parents know you¡¯re here today?¡± Lucille didn¡¯t expect the old woman¡¯s question to be that straightforward. Her expression froze as she squeezed out a smile. ¡°They don¡¯t know yet.¡± ¡°Of course they don¡¯t know! Because ever since Mich and Zack¡¯s wedding was canceled, you haven¡¯t returned to the Lingard family! Instead, you moved into Zack¡¯s condominium. Am I right?¡± The old woman¡¯s sharp words drained the blood from Lucille¡¯s cheeks. Thetter uttered in a small voice, ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°It was my idea, Grandma! You can¡¯t me her!¡± Zack tried to exin their situation, but all he got was a cold look from his grandmother. Mavis roared at him. ¡°I asked your Uncle Jonathan to arrange a condominium for you because I was worried you would waste a lot of time on the road traveling back and forth to thepany. I wanted to give you more time to rest. Instead, you use that space to raise a pet.¡± In a rich family, if a woman was called a pet, it meant she was just one of the women the man was ying with. It sounded nice, but it was pretty degrading. After all, it meant the woman was merely a pet and was entirely at the master¡¯s mercy. Despite Lucille¡¯s efforts, it would appear that was all she was in the eyes of the Xander family. Such harsh words turned her small face pale. Her body felt light as tears streamed down her cheeks. Zack¡¯s heart ached terribly, but he didn¡¯t have the guts to step forward. Instead, he just stood at the side silently. ¡°I¡¯m an old woman now. I can¡¯t keep up with you young people¡¯s tempo or understand the way you love. There¡¯s just something I don¡¯t get, and I hope you¡¯ll help me clear up my confusion, Miss.¡± Mavis narrowed her eyes at Lucille. Lucille knew the old woman was intentionally putting her in a tough spot, yet the former didn¡¯t have the nerve to show her displeasure. All she could do was ask in a soft tone, ¡°Please ask.¡± ¡°As the Lingard family¡¯s adopted daughter, not only did you fail to repay the kindness your foster parents had shown you, you also snatched their biological daughter¡¯s fianc¨¦ away. I¡¯m wondering, how could you do such a cruel and traitorous thing?¡± Tears welled up in Lucille¡¯s eyes. Her lips were trembling, yet no words escaped her mouth. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Wretched Woman Micha and Jonathan didn¡¯t leave the dining room after they finished their meal. It would be awkward if they did. Besides, she was in the Xander residence at the moment, so it wouldn¡¯t be nice for an outsider to make things worse. It wasn¡¯t until she heard Mavis¡¯ harsh words that she hid behind the dining room¡¯s entrance and carefully observed the situation inside the living room. She always thought the old woman was kind and warm. It wasn¡¯t until that moment she saw what Mavis was capable of. Even the crafty Lucille was taken care of in seconds when the old woman unleashed her sharp tongue. However, Lucille wasn¡¯t the type to go down easily. She might look weak, but she would never stop fighting for an opportunity to stand up for herself. ¡°I know I don¡¯t deserve to be with Zack based on my status, but we¡¯re truly in love with each other! It was something I tried to prevent from happening before, but no one can control an emotional affair with logic. I admit, I was wrong, but I¡¯ll never regret loving Zack!¡± Her tears poured out of her eyes even harder, so much so that almost everyone would¡¯ve pitied her. It was a shame that her opponent was Mavis, who had lived for far longer than her. The old woman had seen all kinds of woman in her long life. While she wasn¡¯t a schr, she certainly picked up the ability to read people by observing them over the years. It was something that no beautiful young woman couldpare to her. Intending to get her sympathy with some tears would never work. Mavis¡¯ mouth curved upward as she spoke in a mocking tone. ¡°A woman can live humbly but not lowly. Do you think I said all that because of your status? No! I said all that because you are a wretched woman!¡± Lucille¡¯s heart tightened as she stared at the old woman in disbelief. When her eyes met with the old woman¡¯s, she felt as though her thoughts wereid bare for Mavis to see. It made her feel scared and want to hide in a hole. ¡°The Lingard family adopted you from that orphanage and gave you afortable life. Yet, when you managed to climb up to the top, you¡¯d go as far as to kick them down. If you knew what¡¯s best for you, you would be spending your time in Quakersville right now and let your foster parents find another partner for you to marry. You could¡¯ve livedfortably for the rest of your life, too, but you chose not to. Do you think I¡¯ll let any random person marry into the Xander family? Sorry, but we don¡¯t ept people who could perform vile acts without even a hint of remorse. You¡¯re not marrying into the Xander family for the rest of your life! If it wasn¡¯t because I wanted to tell you where the Xander family stands, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to stand inside this building today! If you¡¯re smart, you¡¯ll leave Zack right now, and you shall preserve your dignity. Otherwise, things will get very ugly for you.¡± Mavis¡¯ harsh reprimand had exceeded what Lucille could ept. Last night, Lucille had even had a nice dream. She was nning to do whatever it took to make the old couple happy. If she seeded, then her marriage with Zack would be sealed. Unfortunately, reality had other ns, and it prepared a nasty morning surprise for her. At the moment, her fingers were subconsciously clenching tightly. Her body was trembling, and a vicious look shed across her lowered head. She approached the old couple, bowed at them, and then turned to Zack. ¡°Your grandmother is right, Zack. I don¡¯t deserve you. Let¡¯s break up! I won¡¯t disturb your life any longer. Please let me go and let¡¯s not meet again!¡± Lucille¡¯s heart was pounding when she said that. She was afraid Zack would take his grandparents¡¯ words to heart. However, she had no other choice but to make her riskiest bet to seed. If she won the bet, then not only would she find out just how loyal he was to her, but it would also show the old couple that Zack wanted her and that she wasn¡¯t a lowly woman. Even if she lost, she would still have enough leverage over Zack to make him listen to her. As expected, just as she turned around and prepared to leave, Zack suddenly grabbed her hand and stared at the old couple with a serious expression. ¡°I really do love Lucille, Grandma, Grandpa. She¡¯s a kind, thoughtful, and sensible woman. Please don¡¯t me Lucille for what happened to my and Micha¡¯s wedding. I¡¯m a man. I should be the one who takes up the responsibility for a mistake. Don¡¯t vent your anger on her!¡± He was a man who worshiped the way of machismo. When he saw how badly Lucille was crying as she tried to break up with him for his own good, his desire to protect her surged instantly. Words leaped out of his mouth without going through his mind first. Seeing how Zack had caused his lover to be so infuriated that she couldn¡¯t say a word, Nick red at his grandchild and pped on the couch¡¯s armrest loudly. The mes of fury in his eyes looked as though it was going to swallow the young couple whole. ¡°I dare you to say that again, Zack!¡± He was a renowned man in the business market for many years, and he had umted a lifetime¡¯s worth of experience. From that, he formed an imprable cold fa?ade that he could use whenever necessary. The only person he wouldn¡¯t use that facade against was his wife. All the armor he put on his heart and mind turned into cotton candy when he was around her. He had used his entire life to love and protect her. It was a well-known fact in the family that their rtionship was very strong. What Zack said had undoubtedly touched Nick¡¯s bottom line. The young man couldn¡¯t help but feel a shiver down his spine when he saw his grandfather¡¯s cold look. He immediately recognized the mistake he had made on impulse and tried to remedy it. Before he could speak, Nick cut him off with his booming voice. ¡°You b*stard! How could you still have the guts to stand in front of us after causing such a mess with the wedding? Have you ever thought about what our family will look like to outsiders if they heard about this? Or the rtionship between our family and the Lingard family? What did you say earlier? You said you can take responsibility for your mistakes, right? Fine, I¡¯ll give you a chance to make up for your mistake! Mich is currently in the dining room. Go and beg her for forgiveness. If she forgives you, then you can stay with whoever you want, and we won¡¯t say a word about it!¡± Micha, who was eavesdropping on the conversation behind the dining-room door, was still amazed by how oppressive Nick could be, when she heard him mention her name. It prompted her to retract her neck in response. Just as she was turning around, a deep, calming voice was heard next to her ear. Jonathan¡¯s sudden appearance made her blush. She shook her head subconsciously and heard his maic voice again. ¡°He¡¯s usually not like that. It¡¯s pretty clear he was pissed off by Zack. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here to protect you.¡± There was a coaxing tone in his voice, which pulled at her heartstring. All she felt was her burning cheeks, which then led to her ears feeling hot. I can¡¯t believe this old man is still trying to flirt in this situation. He¡¯s shameless! Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Just as she was cursing him in her mind, she heard a set of heavy footstepsing straight at her. When Zack heard his grandfather bring up Micha, his mind suddenly decided to channel all his anger toward her. He had subconsciously decided to push all the things that went wrong onto her. He turned and headed to the dining room. As he walked, he roared with anger, ¡°I was the one who decided to divorce you, so why did you keep comining about me again and again to my family, Micha? You hit Lucillest time to seek revenge, so what¡¯s yourtest scheme now? Lay it all onto me! You can scold me or punch me however you want, but after that, please get out of my life forever, okay? I¡¯ve never seen a more vicious woman than you in all my life. You¡ª¡± Just as he entered the dining room, the first thing he saw was Jonathan¡¯s cold expression and dark eyes. That made Zack swallow everything he wanted to say back. He gulped anxiously and greeted in a trembling voice, ¡°U-Uncle Jonathan.¡± Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Protective Jonathan Jonathan¡¯s re was fierce and cold. His sharp eyes were fixed on Zack as he pursed his lips so tightly that they became a straight line. When Zack met his uncle¡¯s eyes, his heart mysteriously thumped, and he immediately shut his mouth. ¡°Why did you stop?¡± Jonathan sounded gentle, but there was a very clear coldness in his tone. He red at Zack so viciously that it made him tremble in fear. ¡°Y-You¡¯re here, Uncle Jonathan!¡± Even though Jonathan was only a few years older than Zack, Zack respected his uncle a lot, whether in terms of his uncle¡¯s abilities or temperament. To be more precise, he was afraid of Jonathan. It was not just him. All family members who were younger than Jonathan feared him, despite their achievements. They would show him respect, either genuinely or out of fear. That fear and admiration were carved into their bones. Having an uncle like Jonathan was their pride, and he was their role model. Zack had caused quite a lot of trouble recently, and adding to the fact that Jonathan heard how insolently he was speaking earlier, he was basically acting like a mouse in front of the cat now that he saw his uncle. While Jonathan saw the fear in Zack¡¯s eyes, he wasn¡¯t going to go easy on his nephew. ¡°Or what?¡± He narrowed his eyes so sharply that his look was like a de cutting into Zack. His voice grew louder with each word he uttered. ¡°What do you think this ce is, huh? How dare you act so brazenly here! You¡¯re getting bolder huh!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it¡­¡± Zack refuted subconsciously. His intention was to obtain the old couple¡¯s acknowledgment. Of course, he didn¡¯t want to escte the conflict. However, since all his family members were opposing his wish to be with Lucille, it caused the bnce in his mind to topple, and he temporarily lost his temper. ¡°So what was it then?¡± The casual aura around Jonathan vanished and was reced by an oppressive one. Even the tone he was using was much harsherpared to before. ¡°Are you not the one who talked back against the elders? Are you not the one screaming at the top of his lungs and bullying girls? Do you think I¡¯m so old that my hearing¡¯s gone bad?¡± ¡°No, of course not!¡± As Zack was figuratively pushed back again and again by his uncle, he shut his mouth. ¡°I always thought you¡¯re the most well-behaved one among the three of you since you were a child. It turns out you¡¯re the exact opposite of what I thought of you. What kind of upbringing did Quentin and his wife give you? Tell me, Zack. Who gave you the newfound courage and confidence?¡± ¡°I was wrong, Uncle Jonathan!¡± Zack was scolded so badly that his cheeks were turning red, but Jonathan had no intention of stopping. The look in Jonathan¡¯s eyes was as cold as a block of ice on a winter¡¯s night. The words he uttered became more merciless than thest. ¡°Weren¡¯t you acting all insolently earlier? Well, I¡¯m giving you a chance today to speak your mind! Go! Say what¡¯s on your mind!¡± While Zack submitted to his uncle, he was still pretty pissed. His anger was triggered again when he saw Micha, who was sittingfortably at the side. When he thought about the grievance and me Lucille had to suffer, blood rushed into his mind, and he shouted fearlessly, ¡°You mustn¡¯t allow Micha¡¯s innocent and pure appearance fool you, Uncle Jonathan! Likewise for Grandma and Grandpa! She¡¯s just putting on a false facade in front of you all because she didn¡¯t like me being together with Lucille! Don¡¯t trust what she says!¡± Jonathan¡¯s icy look was now frozen as he barked, ¡°Continue!¡± Upon receiving his permission to continue, Zack exined, ¡°You all never spent time with Lucille before. How can you be so certain about who she is? She¡¯s a good person, unlike a certain someone who cooks up vile schemes behind everyone¡¯s back!¡± ¡°How did you know for sure that Michined to us?¡± Jonathan raised his eyebrow and asked faintly. Despite his neutral expression, those who truly knew him could tell it was a sign of a raging storm brewing in his heart. Zack didn¡¯t know, so he thought his uncle believed him and he resumed, ¡°The truth wille to light. She almost forced Lucille to take her own life, and she even have the nerve to hit someone! Not only that, she intentionally twists the truth to show herself in a better light and tear our family¡¯s rtionships apart! There¡¯s nothing she isn¡¯t willing to do! How can a vile person like herin that I fell in love with someone¡ª¡± ¡°B*stard!¡± In an instant, the coldness in Jonathan¡¯s look plummeted further. Without waiting for Zack to finish, he kicked his nephew to the ground. Zack couldn¡¯t react fast enough to dodge, and itpletely bbergasted him. Didn¡¯t he ask for me to continue? Why did I still get hit after he listened to what I had to say? That kick was so powerful that it made him grit his teeth in pain. Before he could take another breath, he was lifted into the air abruptly and punched hard. ¡°Is this how you take responsibility as a man? You make a mistake and then find a bunch of bullsh*t reasons to justify your actions? Did you feed your brain to the dogs?¡± As terrible as Zack was, he was still a child of the Xander family. Jonathan watched him grow up, so he knew his nephew was a good man who was coaxed by someone to say hurtful stuff like that. Sadly, Zack didn¡¯t pay attention to what Jonathan was trying to say at all. He just stared nkly at his uncle as he tried to find a reason for his uncle¡¯s action. Micha was nning to just sit by the side and watch the show. After all, it felt good for her to watch Zack getting hiseuppance in the hands of the furious and scary Jonathan. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. However, she changed her mind when Jonathan suddenly hit his nephew. Even she felt it was too extreme for an uncle to hit his nephew. Still, she had to admit Jonathan looked really handsome as he did it. Just as she was considering stopping him, Jonathan struck again and dragged Zack out of the dining room. She stopped hesitating and followed them into the living room. Zack was kneeling in front of the old couple with a bruised face. He looked utterly miserable. As for Lucille, who just promised to break up with Zack, was kneeling next to him and crying her heart out. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Zack¡­ I¡¯m so sorry¡­ You¡¯re doing all these for me¡­¡± ¡°Send thedy out, Albert! There¡¯s a familial affair that needs to be taken care of right now. Outsiders shouldn¡¯t be here!¡± ¡°Roger!¡± Upon receiving Jonathan¡¯s order, Albert approached the crying Lucille and dragged her out of the building. The sound of crying no longer filled the living room, and it was reced by silence. Nick was so angry that his head was spinning, which was why he was currently resting on the couch. Mavis sat next to him with a worried expression. ¡°Is Old Mr. Xander fine, Old Mrs. Xander?¡± Micha asked. Upon hearing that, Mavis¡¯ expression softened. She requested, ¡°Can you help me take him back to our room to rest, Mich?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The couple was getting old, so it wasn¡¯t easy for them to get up to the first floor, which was where their room was located. Micha and Mavis each held one side of Nick back to the room. That rebellious Zack just has to push everyone to their limits. We tried our best, but if it still doesn¡¯t work, then there¡¯s nothing much we can do. Mavis stared at her partner worriedly. I really hope this doesn¡¯t worsen Nick¡¯s health. I don¡¯t care about that brat anymore. Jonathan will handle him. Afterying Nick on the bed, Micha wanted to grab a ss of water for the old man. Just as she exited the room, she heard Jonathan¡¯s cold voice. ¡°Do you know what you did wrong now?¡± Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Zack Kneels ¡°I don¡¯t get it! All I want is to be with the woman I love! Why is everyone against that? You all like Micha, but to me, even a single strand of Lucille¡¯s hair is worth more than her! I just can¡¯t stand how pretentious Micha is!¡± Zack waspletely humiliated by now. Not only could he not protect the woman he adored, but he had also been struck by his own uncle. There was nothing more insulting than having to kneel here like this, and he was prepared to burn bridges if he had to. That was why he had no qualms yelling at Jonathan, regardless of how terrifying thetter looked. Even Albert began to worry for him. Mr. Zack really doesn¡¯t know his ce. He¡¯s already made a huge mistake by defying Old Mrs. Xander, and now, he¡¯s picking a fight with Mr. Jonathan? He shook his head, feeling nervous for Zack. As expected, Jonathan responded imposingly, ¡°Go kneel outside and talk to me again after you¡¯re done reflecting!¡± There was no arguing with Jonathan. No matter how indignant Zack felt, he could only force himself up and walk out of the house as though he had just lost a battle. Jonathan narrowed his eyes at the younger man. You need to learn your lesson. You have some nerve talking about my wife like that in front of me. Who do you think you are? Nick was absolutely furious over the stir Zack had caused. He had previously gone to a nursing home because of his high blood pressure, and after finding out about what Zack had done, his blood pressure now began to spike once more to a dangerous level. Thankfully, the family doctor rushed over immediately, and the older man seemed fine aside from how his blood pressure was unstable. The doctor advised Nick to rest well and avoid getting aggravated, leaving only after thetter had taken his medication and fallen asleep. Jonathan walked the doctor to the entrance and had Albert see him off beforeing back to see an anxious-looking Micha seated on the couch with her two hands sped together. He had already noticed her reddened eyes while the family doctor was examining Nick, but he was too busy to approach her then. Now that the doctor was gone, he could finally sit down beside Micha. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all my fault that Old Mr. Xander got so worked up.¡± Seeing how self-reproaching she looked, he caressed her head gently. ¡°My dad¡¯s at an old age, and he¡¯s had high blood pressure for a long time. Besides, it¡¯s Zack¡¯s fault. You¡¯re the victim here, so don¡¯t me yourself. Got it?¡± ¡°But you hit Zack. How are you going to exin this to his parents?¡± Quentin and Yvonne founded the environmental protection group after graduating from university. The couple had spent all those years building the business together¡ªthrough good times and bad¡ªuntil they became a name in the corporate world. One could only imagine the struggles Yvonne would have faced when she first delved into the world of business. After years of hard work, the fact that she could now do her job with ease and even receive praise for it was a testament to her relentlessness. However, she certainly didn¡¯t have the best character either, as shown by how she had tried to stop Quentin from teaching Zack a lesson back at Sommer Gardens despite knowing that their son was in the wrong. Micha had witnessed how the older woman had protected her son while disregarding his mistakes. Although Yvoer called to apologize, no amount of words could reverse the damage that had already been done. At present, Micha was worried that the Xander family would stop getting along because of what had just happened, given how Quentin wasn¡¯t Nick¡¯s own son. Yet, her words seemed to carry a different meaning to Jonathan. The man smiled faintly and gazed at her with his obsidian eyes. ¡°Are you actually worried about me?¡± Does he really think that? Ugh! How shameless can he be? ¡°Of course not!¡± Micha shot him a re before running upstairs. But the moment she turned around, Jonathan swiftly noticed how rosy the woman¡¯s neck had be. She¡¯s blushing. A smile yed on his lips, but his gaze quickly darkened at the thought of serious matters. It doesn¡¯t matter if I had pissed Quentin and his family off. They¡¯re bound to be offended once I announce my rtionship with Micha anyway. Besides, Jonathan didn¡¯t think he had gone overboard with his words and actions that day. Meanwhile, Zack initially still felt disgruntled while kneeling outside the Xander residence. He then grew fearful after learning that the family doctor had toe over. But since he dared not tell his parents what he had done, he could only endure the punishment he was now going through. Ever since word about his and Lucille¡¯s private matters got out, Zack¡¯s parents had already warned him to break things off with that woman. But had it not been for his firm assurance, he wouldn¡¯t have regained the freedom he now had. Now that all his wishful thinking had amounted to nothing and he could no longer hide his rtionship with Lucille, even Zack began to wonder how to navigate the future. Just then, he heard a series of footsteps. ¡°Albert! How¡¯s Grandpa doing?¡± he asked upon realizing that Albert had returned from seeing the family doctor off. ¡°The doctor says he¡¯ll need to get lots of rest and stop getting riled up,¡± the butler answered truthfully. He noticed Zack¡¯s eyes turning red. Thetter spluttered, ¡°How did this happen? I-I really didn¡¯t mean to upset him. I¡­ I just¡­¡± Zack looked visibly distressed. ¡°I suggest you keep your voice down, Mr. Zack. If you were to anger Mr. Jonathan by disrupting Old Mr. Xander¡¯s sleep, you might not get away with just kneeling like this.¡± Albert knew all too well that Zack was being used. Despite not wanting to say too much at first, he regarded Zack as his own son since he had practically watched thetter grow up. Thus, he began to advise the younger man in detail, ¡°You were out of line today, Mr. Zack. It was also wrong of you to me Ms. Micha. The truth is, she¡¯s never badmouthed you and Ms. Lucille, at least not here at the Xander residence. In fact, she even tried to calm things down when Old Mr. Xander suggestedpensating her. You¡¯re still young, Mr. Zack. That¡¯s why you don¡¯t understand Old Mr.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Xander¡¯s intentions. He just wants what¡¯s best for you. It¡¯s true that he and Old Mr. Simmons used to be good friends, but why did he decide to have you marry Ms. Micha back then? Is it not because he holds you in high regard?¡± The butler continued, ¡°So, even if you¡¯ve now fallen for someone else, the least you could do is to just quietly cancel the wedding, but you ended up causing such a huge stir instead. Don¡¯t you know what you¡¯ve done to the Xander family? All Old Mr. Xander wanted was for you toe over and apologize to Ms. Micha so that things wouldn¡¯t get too awkward when both families meet again. But instead, you stubbornly decided to call Ms. Lucille over too. Is this not a p in Old Mr. Xander¡¯s face? He¡¯s loved you more than his own grandchildren all these years, but your actions today were simply uncalled for. Can you really bear the consequences of talking back to Old Mrs. Xander and being rude to Mr. Jonathan?¡± Had it been Jonathan speaking, Zack would have surely used him of blindly siding with Micha. However, now that the one speaking was their butler who had served the Xander household for so many years, he couldn¡¯t help but reflect upon those words. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Catching A Cold This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. A breeze flew by that early morning, and the once-clear sky turned dark in an instant. Apanied by a gust of wind,rge droplets of rain began to fall, causing the already-chilly weather to turn even colder. A ck Maybach sped on the road at three in the morning before arriving at the entrance of Mansion No. 3, Square Garden. Seeing that, a butler walked toward the vehicle immediately while holding an umbre. ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Xander,¡± he greeted respectfully upon opening the door for the woman seated inside. ¡°How is Zack?¡± Yvonne had received a phone call from the Xander residence informing her that Zack had fallen ill. In response, she had left Quentin abroad and flown back home right away, not caring that negotiations on their current project had not gone through. Despite having been married for many years, the couple only had one son as they were constantly busy with work. Environmental protection was a budding industry that had gained much attention, and its future prospects seemed endless. But at the end of the day, all of Quentin and Yvonne¡¯s hard work was merely to pave the way for their son. The couple had always felt remorseful for not spending enough time with Zack as a child because of work. Given how much Yvonne doted on him, it was no surprise that she hade rushing back after hearing about his condition. ¡°His fever isn¡¯t subsiding even after medication,¡± reported Howard Zahn, the family butler. ¡°Dr. Abbott¡¯s currently giving him a jab for the fever.¡± ¡°How did he get so sick all of a sudden?¡± With a furrow of her brows, Yvonne walked swiftly into the mansion, her feet not stopping even once. Zack was born with a silver spoon, but yesterday, he had gone to the Xander residence without eating breakfast, only to be hit and left to kneel outside in the cold rain. He then fell ill right aftering home at night. The doctor was just done administering a shot when the two walked into Zack¡¯s room. ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Xander.¡± ¡°How is he doing, Dr. Abbott?¡± Yvonne immediately teared up at the sight of her son lying in bed, his face having turned red due to the fever. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Xander. It¡¯s just a cold. He¡¯ll be fine once the fever subsides.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to trouble you at this hour.¡± In spite of her angst, Yvonne did not forget to be courteous. ¡°Not at all,¡± the doctor answered while packing up his medical kit. ¡°Be sure to only give Mr. Zack mild foods when he wakes up. He also needs to get plenty of rest.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Yvonne nodded. ¡°Please see Dr. Abbott off, Howard.¡± After watching the two leave, she grabbed a wet towel from the bathroom to wipe her son¡¯s face with. As she dimmed the lights to ensure Zack could sleep better, she finally noticed the bruises on his face, and her pupils dted in shock. ¡°Get some rest, Mrs. Xander,¡± advised Howard as he returned to the room. ¡°You¡¯ll fall sick if you stay up after such a long journey home. Leave Mr. Zack to me¡ª¡± ¡°What happened to his face?¡± Yvonne demanded before the butler had finished speaking. Someone obviously hit him! She had neverid a finger on her son all these years, and yet he was now here with a face full of injuries. Howard instantly felt the air tense up as Yvonne¡¯s words fell, and he noticed her expression turning grim. Lowering his head slightly, the butler exined, ¡°I heard from the person who dropped Mr. Zack home from the Xander residence saying that it¡¯s Mr. Jonathan who hit him, although it wasn¡¯t mentioned why. Mr. Jonathan also¡­¡± ¡°He also what?¡± Yvonne narrowed her eyes as Howard trailed off. ¡°He also made Mr. Zack kneel outside the house. That¡¯s why he¡¯s caught a cold, and his fever isn¡¯t going down.¡± Howard was already shaking as he described exactly what had happened. Knowing how Yvonne¡¯s love for her son had no bounds, he knew she would be angered by Jonathan¡¯s actions. Coupled with the fact that Quentin was not at home, a huge fight would surely ensue if she were to demand justice for her son. Even so, Howard could only report every information he had received, for he knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to keep the incident a secret. As expected, Yvonne immediately jumped to her feet in rage. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have said anything if the boy¡¯s uncle only made him kneel, but how dare he hit him? This is too much! I¡¯m going to see Jonathan right now!¡± With that, she prepared to storm out of the room. Snapping back to his senses, Howard hastily stopped her despite his worries. ¡°It¡¯s still raining outside, Mrs. Xander! Besides, they¡¯re still resting at this hour. It¡¯d be trouble if you woke Old Mr. and Mrs. Xander up!¡± ¡°Well, wouldn¡¯t that be ideal? I¡¯ll make Jonathan exin himself in front of his parents for hitting my son!¡± Yvonne was so enraged that her body trembled. ¡°But Mr. Zack still needs care. He¡¯ll need to be hospitalized if his fever worsens! What would we do if you¡¯re not home?¡± At the mention of her son, Yvonne finally came to her senses. Disregarding her wrath, she stopped in her tracks and responded with slight fatigue, ¡°Get some rest, Howard. I¡¯ll take care of him.¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Xander.¡± Howard quickly scurried out of the room. Still, the seeds of hatred had already been nted, and there was no escaping the internal strife that would soon gue this household. Someone else was just as frantic on this rainy morning. d in a white bathrobe, a sleepless Lucille stood beside a window in Room 507 of the Yannick Hotel, gazing out at the pouring rain as she recalled yesterday¡¯s events. She didn¡¯t leave right away after being chased out of the Xander residence. Instead, she remained outside waiting for Zack for a long time, getting her clothes soaked in the process. When Zack never emerged out of the house, she then took a cab back to the condominium, only to see the door grill unlocked as severalrge men were seen rapidly going through all the things inside the building. ¡°Who are you guys? What are you doing inside my ce?¡± asked Lucille in a panic. One of the men turned around with a taunting smile. ¡°Is there some sort of misunderstanding, Miss? This building belongs to Stanplex Corporation. It¡¯s not your personal property. These, however, are your items. So please take them and leave.¡± While speaking, the man grabbed a box from his subordinate and tossed it in front of Lucille. However, just as he was about to turn and close the door, Lucille screamed at him, ¡°This is Zack Xander¡¯s condominium! We haven¡¯t moved out yet, so what you¡¯re doing is trespassing! I can sue you if I want to!¡± ¡°Sure. Go ahead then!¡± the man replied with a sneer before mming the door shut. There was no questioning that everything Lucille had experienced was carried out at the behest of Jonathan. s, not even the Lingard family had the power to retaliate, let alone her while she was on her own. After leaving the condominium, Lucille then found a nearby hotel to crash in. Yet, she never heard from Zack, and his phone was eventually switched off after multiple attempts at calling him. An ominous feeling rose in her chest. It seemed as though something bad was about to happen. Is all my effort really about to go to waste? Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Chapter 75 I Like It Since Nick wasn¡¯t feeling well, both Jonathan and Micha decided to stay another night to care for him. Jonathan lived a strict routine. Years of habit had turned his body into a biological rm clock. No matter where he was, a morning jog was necessary. Since early morning, Jonathan had gone out for a jog. He went straight to the kitchen when he returned, wanting to exhort the staff to take extra care of the food for Nick. Instead of entering the kitchen, he paused outside as a conversation inside caught his attention. ¡°Ms. Micha, you¡¯ve been busy all morning. You¡¯ve done all the most important steps in making the soup. I¡¯ll watch the fire for you.¡± ¡°Martha, I can handle this. You go and rest.¡± Jonathan¡¯s foot wavered with reluctance. With a glimpse at the clock and it wasn¡¯t six-fifteen in the morning yet. I saw the door to her room being shut before I left for my jog, thinking she was still asleep, but instead, she was here making soup? Jonathan caught a busy figure moving around through the ss door that led to the kitchen, and it was Micha. She was wearing a light gray long knitted sweater paired with ck leggings. The outfit entuated her tall, slim frame even more. With an apron tied to her front, she stood in front of the counter, cutting vegetables skillfully as she watched the pot of soup over the fire. Her hair was casually pulled into a ponytail with two strands of flyaway framing her face. She looked beautiful and pure. The soup had been boiling on the stove for a while suffusing a delicious scent all over the kitchen. She seems skilled in cooking. At that moment, a profound feeling swirled within Jonathan¡¯s eyes. It was gentle yet lingering. There was a strong sense of attachment and satisfaction in his gaze. God had treated me well to bestow a scene that would only appear in my dreams toe to life. This must be a reward for the deep feelings I have for her. I had thought about simply finding someone and putting up with her my whole life. Since it wouldn¡¯t be the person I wanted anyway, it didn¡¯t matter. However, imagining and actually doing it were vastly different. I couldn¡¯t lie to myself and ept anyone else but her. For five years, I left the country for a foreign one and isted myself there. I kept myself in that alien ce to bury my feelings for her deep in my heart. I never thought distance could separate two people but wouldn¡¯t diminish the longing in my heart. Everyone assumed I didn¡¯t have a girlfriend because I was picky, but what I wanted was simple. I would willingly ept anything as long as Micha was the one giving it. Micha was bustling in the kitchen and didn¡¯t notice Jonathan at all. Martha, on the other hand, noticed him and was about to greet him when Jonathan gestured for her to stay silent. With a knowing smile, Martha didn¡¯t linger around and left the kitchen with light steps. Jonathan took Martha¡¯s ce in the kitchen, but Micha was oblivious to it. After the soup hade to a boil, she lowered it to a small-medium fire. Suddenly, she lost her focus briefly and swiped her fingers across the scalding hot side of the pot. Micha sucked in a painful breath at the burn. She instinctively retracted her hand, but an arm had reached past her and grabbed her wrist faster than she could react. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Micha couldn¡¯tprehend the sudden appearance of Jonathan and had temporarily forgotten about the pain in her fingers. However, the only response she got was a pair of arms looping under hers and lifting her. This is the Xander residence! Nick and Mavis are resting right upstairs! Micha¡¯s face paled from the shock after falling into his embrace. ¡°Put me down, Jonathan, hurry!¡± Her struggles were pointless as Jonathan sat her on the counter, pulling her hand to the sink to rinse under the cold running water. The cool liquid immediately soothed the burning sensation on her fingers, but Jonathan continued to grasp her hand tightly despite the relief. The water was cool, but his palm was hot, sending warmth into her now-cool fingers. His hand was beautiful with pronounced lines. His long and slim fingers with neatly trimmed nails made him look well-groomed. The owner of the hand seemed to be in a bad mood with his lips pressed into a line and him not answering her. Yet from a closer look, she noticed the concern, worry, and heartache for her in his gaze. Having just returned from his jog, so he was still dressed in a ck tracksuit that emphasized his muscle lines. They were so close that she could feel the heating off of his body. It was so hot that it was about to burn her. Micha blushed hard at his closeness and forced her gaze to focus on her hand. ¡°It¡¯s not painful anymore,¡± she said. ¡°Luckily, there aren¡¯t any blisters, or you would¡¯ve been crying in pain,¡± Jonathan said casually, with his gaze still locked on her fingers. Micha felt uneasy under his avid attention and was about to pull her hand from his when she heard his chilling tone. ¡°Getting braver now, are we? You even dared to call my name now, huh?¡± His eyes narrowed and gleamed with a dangerous glint. No one could¡¯ve guessed what he was thinking at that moment. It was an urgent situation, that was why I called his name. Even though she had a reason, it still felt awkward. Her heart began to pound harder, feeling Jonathan¡¯s direct gaze on her. Trying to alleviate the awkwardness, sheughed dryly and was about to say something nice, but he beat her to it. ¡°But I like it, and I want to keep hearing it, so call me by my name from now on.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Micha was stunned at Jonathan¡¯s sudden change. My god! I thought I was minutes away from dying! That expression of his was him liking and being happy about it? ¡°We have staff preparing breakfast for us, so what are you doing here in the early morning? Luckily, this is only a burn. What if you¡¯re injured?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Although his tone was unpleasant, she heard his concern for her. She coveted the warmth filling her heart, but still obediently answered, ¡°Old Mr. Xander got upset yesterday, causing his health to take a dive, so I wanted to make soup for him to get better.¡± ¡°Oh, so our Mich wanted to please her future father-inw.¡± Her cheeks and even her ear blushed red at his tease. ¡°It was my fault, so I wanted to do whatever I could,¡± she exined. ¡°I get it.¡± Mirthced his gentle voice as he answered. He released her hand with a smile, ignoring her wide eyes, and turned around to retrieve a bag of ice from the freezer to pass it to her. ¡°Quietly sit here and ice your hand. Leave the rest to me.¡± Micha was worried that Nick¡¯s deteriorated health would affect his appetite, so she nned to prepare another two healthy light sds. The ingredient preparations were all done, and the only thing missing was the condiments. Jonathan¡¯s hands moved agilely under Micha¡¯smand as he seasoned and tossed the sd. ¡°How do you know how to cook? Mdm. Simmons is willing to let you step into the kitchen?¡± ¡°I learned it when Grandpa was sick, but I was terrible at it then. After Mom took over the foundation, her work kept her busier and busier. I didn¡¯t get to see Dad much either. Lucille refused to eat any food the housekeeper made, so I had to step up and do it.¡± Micha exined it matter-of-factly, but Jonathan¡¯s heart ached for her. Without bringing Lucille into the equation, he was well aware of the effects of Old Mr. Simmons¡¯s death on Micha. To this day, a memory of her sobbing that day would still sh across his mind. Jonathan had wanted to go up to her andfort her but dashed it off when he saw Zack standing beside her. His chest still felt stuffy when the memory surfaced. His movements paused as he apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mich.¡± Sorry that I wasn¡¯t by your side when you were in pain, but I hoped I would be the one to give you all your happiness in the future. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Shocking Secret ¡°Old Mrs. Xander! Martha came out of the bathroom and saw Mavis walking away from the kitchen. Recalling something and Marthaughed. ¡°Ms. Micha woke up at five this morning, saying she wanted to make soup for Old Mr. Xander. She kicked me out of the kitchen when I tried to help.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Mavis nodded. She might look fine at first nce, but upon closer look, she was absentminded. Her gaze wasn¡¯t even focused on Martha when she replied to her. After muttering an acknowledgment, she turned on her heels to head back to the bedroom. Martha was still rooted in ce as she stared at Mavis¡¯ back, thinking something was strange, but couldn¡¯t put her finger on it. Could it be that Ms. Micha being in the kitchen had angered Old Mrs. Xander? Or has Old Mr. Xander¡¯s condition worsened? Spections filled her mind when Mavis suddenly halted and whirled around to nce at Martha. Seeing Martha was still standing there, Mavis beckoned for her to approach. Martha didn¡¯t dare to drag her feet and immediately drew closer. ¡°Nick¡¯s condition had the entire family in an agitated state. Go to the backyard and get some vegetables and fruits.¡± The Xander residence backyard was wide, so Mavis utilized the space and nted vegetables and fruits there in her free time. She didn¡¯t use any fertilizers or pesticides, so everyone in the family could consume them without worry. Martha instantlyplied with Mavis¡¯ demand and beelined for the door. Seeing Martha disappear through the front door, Mavis cast a nce in the kitchen direction with a sigh. Suddenly, a deep, strong voice sounded from her back. ¡°Why are you standing here sighing in the early morning? I¡¯m not dead yet!¡± ¡°Touch wood! What nonsense are you saying? We¡¯re old now, so stop saying all these taboo words around us. Don¡¯t you have even a bit ofmon sense?¡± Nick¡¯s sudden appearance caught Mavis by surprise. Shooting a re at Nick, she pushed him back to the bedroom and didn¡¯t forget to shut the door. Noticing Mavis¡¯ hard look, Nick instantly put on a ttery smile. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll remember everything you say, Mavis, and won¡¯t repeat it.¡± Her expression softened at his promise. ¡°What are you doing wandering around and not staying in bed?¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who woke me up for breakfast?¡± Nick said, feeling wronged. Life is hard! Whether I listen to her or not, I¡¯m in the wrong either way. She¡¯s getting older by the day and harder to please. Mavis mulled over it briefly and recalled that she did say so earlier. It¡¯s all Jonathan¡¯s fault! I almost forget about it from that scare earlier! It was a habit of Mavis to visit the kitchen every morning. With Nick¡¯s condition, she had to pay extra attention. Also, at her age, she couldn¡¯t help but nag. She had wanted to make breakfast, but Nick didn¡¯t want to tire her, so he forbade her from preparing it herself. In the end, she conceded and only made rounds in the kitchen to check on everything. As usual, she got up and went straight to the kitchen. Yet before she entered, she caught Jonathan carrying Micha and setting her on the counter. He wouldn¡¯t let go of her hand, and after whispering something into her ear, Mich¡¯s pretty face blushed red. Mavis was bashful at the entire scene. Even though she had been married for a long time, they weren¡¯t so open with affection back in the old days. Both of her sons were married, but her daughters-inw and sons had always been well-behaved in front of her. They never acted too intimate, so it was a first for her. I couldn¡¯t believe I was worried about Jonathan not finding a wife. Now I could see that it wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t know how to date, but he didn¡¯t want to date. Mavis realized something when she recalled the scene at breakfast the day before. So the girlfriend Jonathan was referring to was Mich? Even though she was old, she wasn¡¯t senile. Her mind was sharper than anyone else. Combining Jonathan¡¯s behavior and actions for the past five years, she finally realized the truth. So that brat¡¯s unwillingness to date or befriend any girls and not epting all the blind dates no matter how perfect they were for the past five years was all because he liked Mich. Mavis didn¡¯t know if she should be happy or sad about that. If their rtionship is exposed, it¡¯ll cause an uproar within the family, but keeping it to myself without a partner in crime is troubling. Despite her uneasiness, Mavis continued to guard the door to the kitchen silently for their sake. That was why she sent Martha to the backyard. At that thought, Mavis nced at Nick and sat beside him. She hesitantly started, ¡°It was all because of Zack that I couldn¡¯t sleepst night! Zack is a man who doesn¡¯t know how to appreciate his luck. If I had known earlier, I would¡¯ve arranged for Jon to engage with Mich. ¡°Now that I think about it, their ages aren¡¯t that far apart. An older man is more mature and wouldn¡¯t have caused the situation into a mess like today.¡± Anger began bubbling in Nick¡¯s chest again at the mention of Zack. He scoffed as he recalled Zack arguing with Mavis the day before. ¡°Quentin has pampered that child too much. Moreover, it¡¯ste to say that now. ¡°We¡¯ll be theughingstock if our granddaughter-inw bes our daughter-inw, and Quentin¡¯s whole family would be awkward if they meet her in the future. Since we¡¯re a family, I supposed it¡¯ll happen frequently. ¡°Seeing your face pale from being worried sick yesterday had me thinking things through. Our children and grandchildren have their own lives. Let¡¯s treat Mich like our own granddaughter from now on and ignore the rest.¡± Granddaughter? It should be daughter-inw instead. Yet Mavis kept the thought to herself, considering his blood pressure that had just stabilized that morning. He¡¯s right about one thing, though. Our children and grandchildren have their own lives. As long as Jonathan is happy, everything else isn¡¯t important. I¡¯m happy that he has a girlfriend and I like Mich too. Even though the switch from granddaughter-inw to daughter-inw was a big change for me, I can still ept it. As for the awkwardness when Quentin¡¯s family meets her, it¡¯s not like they have to meet each other. Being theughingstock? Awkward and embarrassed? All of those aren¡¯t importantpared to Jonathan¡¯s happiness. After organizing her thoughts, Mavis stopped worrying and repeated to herself. Before Jonathan achievesplete victory, I have to keep it a secret. Breakfast was seaweed soup, cucumber sd, celery sd, and onion rolls. All the dishes were healthy and light. After hearing that Micha specifically got up early to make the soup for him, Nick finished a bowl and asked for a refill. ¡°I searched on the inte yesterday night and found that seaweed soup could help patients with high blood pressure. They not only increase iodine intake but also increase calcium absorption. It helps in prevention and enhances the effect of the primary treatment. Old Mr. Xander, I¡¯ll make it for you again if you like it.¡± Micha¡¯s soft voice brightened Nick¡¯s mood. After resting for the entire night, his pallor had improved. ¡°I like it! Your cooking skill is splendid! You¡¯re so attentive too.¡± ¡°This is something I should do!¡± After seeing through Jonathan¡¯s intention toward Micha, Mavis began to observe Micha like how a mother-inw observed her daughter-inw. Mavis was satisfied and d about her observation. Jonathan is lucky and has a good eye. His candidate for a wife is perfect. Once Micha marries him, she can apany me to watch opera performances or take a stroll around the park. I won¡¯t be stuck looking at Nick¡¯s face anymore. If she can bless me with a grandson, that¡¯ll be perfect! I won¡¯t be bored then. Just thinking about it makes me happy. Mavis got even more urgent at the thought. It looks like I need to give Jonathan a little push. He won¡¯t be able to catch a break if he doesn¡¯t marry such a perfect girl quickly. Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Being Understanding Unlike the oppressive atmosphere from the day before, breakfast was very pleasant. After breakfast, Micha even prepared fruit. Usually, Nick disliked eating fruits more than anything else. No matter how much Mavis coerced him, he would take two bites with the utmost reluctance just to get it over with. As Micha was there to cook for them at the crack of dawn, prepare fruit, and even thoughtfully stick toothpicks into each piece, Nick could not find it in him to deny her of her wish of caring for him. Furthermore, the girl was so persuasive that he could not even refuse. ¡°The doctor said that high blood pressure is no cause of rm, Old Mr. Xander. The most important thing is to have a bnced diet. Look at how you frightened Old Mrs. Xander yesterday. Be good and have your fruits and vegetables! We¡¯ll go for a walkter in the afternoon. You¡¯ll be in great shape in no time!¡± After the baptism of heavy rain throughout the night before, the sky that day was bright and clear. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. If it were anybody else who spoke to him that way, Nick would have already told them off. However, the old man was so mollified by the girl¡¯s words that he could not stop smiling. In between bites of his apple, he nodded vigorously in agreement. Even Mavis looked relieved at her husband¡¯spliance and could not refrain from expressing her admiration. ¡°Well done, Mich! He¡¯s usually much more stubborn than this and would not give anybody the time of day. You can¡¯t be unreasonable anymore with Mich around, Nick!¡± Mavis red at her husband as she spoke before turning to take Micha¡¯s hand with a motherly expression. ¡°You¡¯d promised me toe often whenever you have the time to. You¡¯re not getting away now that you have Nick under your spell!¡± When she said that, Mavis¡¯s gaze slid subtly over Jonathan. She was prepared to work hard for her youngest son¡¯s happiness. I¡¯m doing my best. If the kid doesn¡¯t take the opportunity, it won¡¯t be on me anymore! ¡°The pleasure is all mine,¡± Micha responded earnestly. ¡°I just hope that you won¡¯t find me annoying!¡± ¡°What a cheeky girl! Of course we wouldn¡¯t!¡± Demure and witty, Micha¡¯s voice was a delight to the old couple¡¯s ears. When she spoke, mischief shed in her eyes like a naughty fox and made Mavisugh. Even Jonathan, who was always busy, put aside his work to join them. In an instant, the Xander residence was full ofughter. Taking advantage of their upbeat mood, Micha recalled what she had spent all night rehearsing and cleared her throat tentatively. ¡°Actually, I have something to ask you both.¡± The old couple exchanged a nce at the solemnity and determination in her tone, consciously aware that it may have something to do with the events of the day before. Nick was the first to break the silence. ¡°Speak your mind, Mich. I¡¯ll do what I can.¡± Micha smiled with relief. ¡°Thank you, Old Mr. Xander! I do not wish for both of you to worry about me. I know you love me and do not wish to see me upset, but seeing you fall sick over me hurts, Old Mr. Xander. I¡¯m really sorry. Though I can¡¯t understand and forgive Zack¡¯s mistake, it remains our problem to deal with, not yours. I care more about your health than my stupid engagement. I do not wish to hurt you both again. Can we consider the matter resolved and never speak of it again?¡± No matter how sweet Micha is, she¡¯s still a young and inexperienced girl. Furthermore, Mavis had thought that Micha must have meant Zack and Lucille given their appearance the day before. To her surprise, the girl had been most understanding about the whole thing. The admiration in Mavis¡¯ eyes deepened at Micha¡¯s words. She became even more certain that Micha was destined to be her future daughter-inw. Even Nickpsed into astonished silence for a while before grunting in agreement. With the immense weight finally off Micha¡¯s shoulders, the rest of the morning flew by amid carefree chatter with the Xanders. The sun was warm by ten in the morning. Micha walked with the old couple in the small garden. Jonathanmenced work on hisptop, sitting on the rattan chair beside them. His eyes fell on Micha from time to time, and felt more smitten the longer he watched her. asionally, the two of them would catch each other¡¯s eye. Under his scorching gaze, Micha¡¯s heartbeat would speed up for no apparent reason. Mavis enjoyed tending to her garden in her spare time, which was a striking symphony of color and scent. Although Micha did not know about flowers enough even to tell them apart, she was attracted by the cacophony of colors in full bloom before her eyes. Mavis was delighted to have found a confidante when at the sight of Micha¡¯s interest. ¡°This is the osmanthus, Mich,¡± she exined patiently. ¡°One of the top ten traditional flowers of our country. It symbolizes wealth and glory. And that is the chrysanthemum, another one of the top ten. It has a wide variety of subspecies and remains the most abundant nt in my garden!¡± ¡°And over there,¡± she continued with feverish excitement, ¡°is the golden camellia, which is known as the magic tea of the east in other countries. It is known as the ¡®Giant Panda of the nt World¡¯ and the ¡®the Queen of Teas¡¯. Pretty, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°You are amazing, Old Mrs. Xander!¡± Micha trilled. ¡°It looks as though you have moved nature into your yard. Everything looks beautiful!¡± Jonathan pouted at the sight of his girl nodding enthusiastically with a look of admiration on her face. Shouldn¡¯t the gardener be the one who deserves the praise? Despite their ordinary appearance, the flowers were rare specimens. They were also challenging to maintain. If the gardener did not show up every week, the beautiful scenery before them would have already turned into mulch. Jonathan felt a little ufortable. Although it was embarrassing for him topete for his mother¡¯s affection, he felt entitled to that look of admiration reserved only for him. At that moment, a car¡¯s engine turned offing from outside the door. Before he could see who it was, Albert jogged into the garden. ¡°Mdm. Yvonne is back, Madam!¡± That was quick! Having just sent Zack back the day before, Yvonne¡¯s arrival on the very next day could not make her intention any more explicit. At the sound of the rapid and purposeful stride of high-heels outside, Jonathan narrowed his eyes and turned to Micha. ¡°Help my parents indoors, Mich.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Cognizant of what was at stake, Micha nodded in response. As she lifted Nick¡¯s arm, Yvonne¡¯s voice preceded her appearance. ¡°Uncle Nick, Aunt Mavis, where are you going?¡± Yvonne had arrived at the garden. Admittedly, she was considered a sessful womanpared to her peers. With a sessful career, a happy family, and graceful gestures, she carried herself like an aristocrat, strong and fearful of majesty. The only thing that looked out of ce was the suppressed fierceness that gave her a permanent scowl. Yvonne¡¯s eyes glinted when she saw Micha standing beside the old couple. ¡°You¡¯re here too, Mich!¡± ¡°Hello, Mrs. Xander.¡± Though Micha greeted her politely, Yvonne ignored the girl in her anger and turned her attention to the old couple. ¡°I heard that Zack said some hurtful things to you yesterday, and I¡¯m here to apologize on his behalf.¡± Despite the im, her blunt tone sounded more like an interrogation. Noticing Micha¡¯s embarrassment and his parents¡¯ cold expression, Jonathan¡¯s eyes grew darker than ever. Sounds like a confrontation to me. Jonathan shut hisptop with a soft snap and was about to get to his feet when he heard Nick¡¯s low rumble. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it inside!¡± Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Shut Yvonne Up Due to Yvonne¡¯s appearance, the originally rxed and happy atmosphere within the Xander residence instantly turned ice-cold. Micha fidgeted in her seat next to Mavis, with her hands subconsciously sped together. As the root cause of all the conflict over the past weeks had been indirectly caused by her, it was only natural for her to feel anxious. Jonathan walked in and sat on the single-seater directly opposite Yvonne. With a carefully nk expression, he waited for Yvonne¡¯s next move in silence. The grim atmosphere did nothing to return Yvonne to her senses. She spoke again as soon as she sat down. ¡°Zack has had a high fever since yesterday night. His face was covered in bruises when I saw him. I was so scared that I thought he had gotten beaten up outside. Only when I asked did I find out he was punished here. The boy is young and immature. As his mother, I will naturally take responsibility. I also beg you not to hold a grudge against Zack, Uncle Nick and Aunt Mavis. There¡¯s just one thing I don¡¯t understand. What did Zack do that was so bad to warrant such a beating after a visit to the Xander residence? Please enlighten me!¡± After all that build up, she finally got to the point. Jonathan leaned backzily on the couch and stretched out his long legs before ncing at his sister-in- law carelessly. ¡°Since you¡¯re clearly addressing me, Yvonne, why don¡¯t you juste right out and say it? Why beat around the bush?¡± Mavis frowned. ¡°Jonathan!¡± Despite being she was highly disappointed by Yvonne¡¯s attitude, the matriarch did not want to make things difficult for Quentin¡¯s wife. Mavis¡¯ gesture of trying to spare Yvonne the embarrassment was not appreciated by thetter. Already simmering with rage, Yvonne lost her temper at Jonathan¡¯s words. ¡°Have I ever wronged you over the years, Jonathan? Zack has been respectful to you as well, hasn¡¯t he? Did you reciprocate the respect? Zack is your nephew. Why did you have to be so heavy-handed with him? Kneeling in punishment is embarrassing enough, and you even resorted to physical assault. What kind of an elder are you?¡± Yvonne felt distressed at the thought of how her son had suffered from a high fever the night before. Her gaze toward Jonathan turned hostile. Jonathan¡¯s eyes narrowed in return. Emanating an aura of silent fury poured out of him, his tone became sharp. ¡°Have you asked Zack why I did that?¡± ¡°Zack has been obedient and sensible since he was a child. You are his elder and his employer. How would he dare say anything?¡± Zack¡¯s fever had subsided when Yvonne departed. He had some oatmeal before falling asleep again. At the mention of the events that had urred the day before, Yvonne took Jonathan¡¯s hesitance as an opportunity to push the me on him. Yvonne responded strongly to his rebuttal. Her eyes glimmered coldly as if she had already decided that everything was Jonathan¡¯s fault. ¡°Hah!¡± Jonathanughed instead of taking offense, though his gaze was colder than ever. ¡°Now I understand how Zack turned out this way,¡± he said in a merciless whisper. ¡°It has been an eye-opening day for me to learn about your parenting style, Yvonne.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that, Jonathan? Are you questioning the Fandel family¡¯s upbringing?¡± Yvonne asked loudly with a rare trace of arrogance in her voice. Her brows hardened haughtily. Her arrogance stemmed from the position of her family in the city. Though the Fandels were not as powerful as the Xanders in Quakersville, they were still considered societal elites. However, seated across her at that moment was Jonathan. A legendary figure who forged the business world and would have no fear of the Fandel family¡¯s influence. Jonathan¡¯s brows twitched. His calm voice wasced with cold stiffness as he raised his eyebrows aggressively. ¡°So what?¡± The arrogance contained within merely two simple words far exceeded Yvonne¡¯s. Uttered by Jonathan, the authority in his provocation could not be ignored. Even Yvonne seemed instantly discouraged. Though she did not speak again, she was unwilling to show weakness by refusing to lower her defiant gaze. Jonathan merely smiled in response, which did not reach his eyes. His voice was lower and colder than ever when he spoke again. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a duty of us elders to discipline our young, Yvonne? He spoke up against my mother and made my father faint from anger. Is that decent behavior?¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Yvonne gazed at him in disbelief. Instinctively frowning, she looked as if she was expecting a different answer. Jonathan¡¯s expression remained stony. ¡°After the cancetion of the wedding between the Xanders and the Lingards,¡± he said with deliberate slowness. ¡°My father rushed back without regard for his health as soon as he heard the news. He summoned Zack to initiate the reconciliation between both families but your son ended up bringing Lucille here and tried to get my parents¡¯ blessing. Why don¡¯t you question why Zack behaved that way and ced the Xander family in such a predicament? Since the dissolution of the engagement, your son and Lucille have been together. You¡¯re his mother. Didn¡¯t you know? Could Zack¡¯s actions have been silently condoned by you? Or have you already acknowledged Lucille to be your daughter-inw?¡± ¡°I have not!¡± Yvonne denied it at once. ¡°Quentin and I have been abroad. How could we have known about that?¡± After the incident, Yvonne and Quentin traveled abroad for a partnership negotiation. Over that period, she spoke to her son every day and did not discover anything unusual. Furthermore, Zack had agreed to her anxious reminders every time she brought them up. Yvonne could scarcely believe how he had never actually ended things with Lucille. ¡°That¡¯s exactly the problem. Being so busy with work every day, have you really cared for your son, Yvonne? Despite looking obedient, Zack is actually very assertive. For example, I once found a pinhole camera in Sommer Gardens. Despite proof that the fingerprints have been identified as Lucille¡¯s, Zack later told me that he believed her innocence. Lucille bribed the magazine to sabotage Mich. Zack came to confront Mich before rifying matters.¡± ¡°Speaking of yesterday,¡± Jonathan continued, ¡°Zack actually defended Lucille against Mom¡¯s sharp words toward her. He contradicted his elders for a woman. Very rudely, too. Was it wrong for me to hit him? Despite Dad fainting from anger, Zack still did not repent. He even asked me what was wrong of him for wanting to be with the woman he loves. I watched Zack grow up. I disciplined him because he is my own nephew. You not only did not thank me but instead came to confront me about it? If that¡¯s the case, I will not bother myself in the future!¡± Yvonne¡¯s finger tightened involuntarily. She looked as though she had swallowed something unpleasant. Having been part of the Xander family for over twenty years, she had never embarrassed herself before the elders until that day. For the sake of her son, she hade to blindly seek justice without first rifying the matter. Not only did she anger the old couple, but she also offended her powerful cousin-inw. Yvonne could no longer refute Jonathan¡¯s unshakeable logic. Finding herself at a loss for words, she felt her face turning red in the ensuing silence. As she was still stewing in regret, Yvonne wondered how she was going to exin to her husband how she had managed to anger Nick over the matter of their son. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. She finally sumbed after several seconds of ufortable silence. She stood up and faced the old couple. ¡°Uncle Nick, Aunt Mavis, please forgive me for speaking out of turn earlier. I was merely anxious.¡± Nick simply shook his head impassively and headed straight to his bedroom. Mavis, on the other hand, Mavis felt obliged to return Yvonne¡¯s courtesy no matter how unhappy she felt about the incident. ¡°Forget it,¡± she said with an airy wave of her hand. ¡°We¡¯re family, aren¡¯t we? At least we managed to clear the air of any misunderstanding! I¡¯ll check on the old man. Please, sit around a little longer.¡± Since Quentin¡¯s parents passed away, the old couple regarded him as theirs. In fact, they even held him in higher regard than their own son. Yvonne¡¯s outburst undoubtedly caused much sorrow in the old couple. After waiting for the elderly couple to retire into their bedroom, Yvonne turned her attention to Jonathan again. ¡°Please forgive me, Jonathan,¡± she said with an unnatural-looking smile. ¡°You were right to put me in my ce. Your firm hand in guiding Zack assures me, you know. We are a family. Though we bicker sometimes, I would like you to continue guiding Zack. Will you?¡± ¡°And Mich,¡± she said, turning to the girl, ¡°it was Zack who had let you down. I¡¯ll teach him a lesson for everything he has put you through, poor girl!¡± Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Sweet Stolen Kiss After apologizing to each of them in turn, Yvonne was visibly embarrassed. Upon closer recollection of her son¡¯s uneasy and shifty appearance that morning, it just urred to her that instead of looking like he had been victimized, it was clearly a sign of guilt. Yvonne only had herself to me for being unable to control her temper. Having heard the housekeeper report that her son had been beaten and punished in the Xander residence the night before, she was too overwhelmed with distress to think straight. Now that she came to think of it, the elderly couple had spoiled Zack since he was young. They would never have allowed him to suffer a shred of indignity if he had not done something wrong. It looks like I have angered the old couple and as a result, offended Jonathan. Yvonne was so embarrassed that she wished the ground would swallow her whole. Faced with Jonathan¡¯s cold re, her confrontational demeanor dissolvedpletely. Just as she was about to find a reason to leave, Albert hurried in and stopped before Jonathan. ¡°Mr. Jonathan,¡± he said respectfully, ¡°Mr. Quentin called and asked for Mdm. Yvonne.¡± Albert heard the quarrel in the living room andmented to himself the degree to which Yvonne had spoiled her son. His previous trip to the house had caused great sorrow in the elderly couple. ¡°Hmm!¡± Jonathan grunted his assent. Due to being in a bad mood, his face looked a little gloomy. Even so, it was difficult to conceal his air of regality. Upon obtaining permission, Albert handed the phone over to Yvonne. ¡°Mdm. Yvonne.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Yvonne smiled like she had a toothache as she received the phone. ¡°What is it, Quentin?¡± she said softly. ¡°Yes, our son has been in contact with Lucille behind our backs. I came to discuss Zack¡¯s affairs with Jonathan. We didn¡¯t quarrel¡­ I know¡­ Well, don¡¯t worry¡­ Do you want a word with Jonathan? I¡¯ll pass him the phone.¡± Quentin had lost both parents when he was sitting for the entrance exam. Thanks to the love of the elderly couple, he managed to be the man he was. To Quentin, Nick and Mavis were the parents to whom he owed everything. Although the way he greeted them did not change, Yvonne did not doubt the filial respect he had for the elderly couple. If Quentin knew that she came to seek trouble with them, he would not let the matter go easily. Yvonne¡¯s arrogant attitude disappeared when she handed the phone to Jonathan. The silent pleas in her eyes spoke volumes. In response, Jonathan merely nced at her coldly before taking the phone. ¡°Quentin.¡± As it turned out, Zack fell asleep after waking up just long enough to have some oatmeal. The butler was about to go upstairs to alert Yvonne that her meal was ready before suddenly hearing the roar of an engine in the yard. Yvonne had already disappeared when the butler went outside for a look. Amidst his anxiety, Quentin called home and was informed of the entire incident by the butler. Knowing his wife and her adoration for their son well, Quentin called the Xander residence for fear of Yvonne¡¯s propensity to make trouble. Instead ofining about her, Jonathan merely muttered asionally in response to Quentin¡¯s queries. Yvonne¡¯s anxiety began to subside. After her husband hung up, Yvonne did not dare remain much longer. She slinked out of there with a mumbled excuse of some unattended matters as fast as possible. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Mavis came out of her room at the noise of Yvonne¡¯s departure from the Xander residence. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how we¡¯re going to coexist as we used to after the fiasco today, Jonathan,¡± she sighed sadly. ¡°She was the one who was unreasonable, Mom,¡± Jonathan answered in a low, indifferent voice. ¡®Despite coming here to make trouble, I gave her a dignified way out by not telling her husband everything.¡± Micha nced at Jonathan silently from her seat. Despite not believing the longstanding rumors that Jonathan of the Xander family was ruthless and outspoken, Micha was astonished and pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong. As a mere observer of the confrontation, Micha felt the palpable dominance exuding from his being when he subdued Yvonne. Mavis shrugged helplessly. ¡°It¡¯s done, anyway. Everything¡¯s out in the open now. Let them simmer!¡± Though she had not birthed Quentin, Mavis treated him as her son from the moment he was brought into their home. Although Quentin was already at the cusp of adulthood when he was adopted, she wished for nothing more for him to be part of the family. Mavis also knew very well that she could not me her youngest son. She was merely berating him out of habit. ¡°Quentin said he¡¯s going to take Zack abroad. His tenure at mypany had been an internship. It¡¯s time for him to put his skills to the test in the real world.¡± Mavis nodded approvingly. ¡°That¡¯s good. Saves him from causing trouble here!¡± As far as Mavis was concerned, Micha had already secured her position as the former¡¯s daughter-in- law. Besides, Lucille and her scheming nature were not a good match for Zack. Her rtionship with Micha aside, Lucille was best kept from marrying into the Xander family to avoid embarrassment in the future. The weekend passed in a sh. As they had to work the following day, Walter arrived at the Xander residence to pick Micha and Jonathan up after dinner on Sunday night. ¡°What did your mother say to you before you got in?¡± Since getting in the car, Jonathan had been staring at her so tenderly that Micha assumed it had something to do with Mavis¡¯ whispers. Jonathan¡¯s smile widened at the look of curiosity on her face. His dark eyes twinkled as he asked in a low voice, ¡°Do you really want to know?¡± Micha nodded. ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°As you know, Mich, I¡¯m a businessman. There¡¯s a price for everything.¡± Jonathan turned to look at her. ¡°What will I get in exchange for satisfying your curiosity?¡± ¡°What?¡± Micha only intended to make small talk to ease the ufortable atmosphere of being in the same car. How did it be an exchange? Is he trying to trap me? Jonathan¡¯s eyes twinkled from making her flustered. ¡°How about a kiss?¡± he whispered. Jonathan was already leaning over to Micha¡¯s face before obtaining her permission. His warm, sweet breath felt refreshing on her face. Micha¡¯s ears zed at once, looking so red that they appeared almost transparent. Even her neck was flushed pink in an adorable fashion to his delight. Jonathan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed nervously as he watched Micha pull away from him and press herself against the door as if he was a dangerous beast. He burst intoughter at the sight. Jonathan recalled his mother¡¯s words when she tugged at his arm before he got into the car. ¡°There aren¡¯t many good girls out there now, Jonathan. If you find somebody suitable, hurry up and lock them down, will you? Don¡¯t regret it if somebody else snatches her up!¡± It was a point that he agreed wholeheartedly with his mother. Micha ignored Jonathan after being teased by him. After a while, she fell asleep leaning against the door. She had gotten up early that day to prepare breakfast again. In between that and taking walks with the elderly couple, Micha was exhausted. Jonathan lifted an arm and scooped the girl in his arms. He then procured a thin nket from a side compartment and draped it over her. Walter¡¯s eyes bulged with amazement at his employer¡¯s considerate behavior. ¡°Mich?¡± In response to Jonathan¡¯s low voice, Micha merely snorted and adjusted herself before falling deeper asleep. She looks as cute as a kitten taking a nap. Jonathan smiled silently before leaning over and kissing her on the lips. How sweet she tastes, too! Unbeknownst to him, Walter watched the entire scene unfold and felt scandalized. Mr. Xander really is bing more shameless. He did not even flinch when he stole a kiss from the girl! Unbelievable! Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Relentless Teasing Micha woke up the following day feelingpletely stunned. Why am I in Jonathan¡¯s bed again? Thest thing she remembered was the shameless man teasing her again on the way back from the Xander residence the night before. She must have fallen asleep after that. Perhaps I have been exhausted from yesterday¡¯s exertions. In addition to the sleepless night before that thanks to Jonathan¡¯s confession, I¡¯ve been having less sleep than I need. I must have been so tired to have fallen asleep and not remembered anything. Could Jonathan have brought me back here? I must have slept like a log! Though annoyed and disoriented, Micha did not lose herposure. She held her breath and listened carefully and found herself alone in the room. Upon ascertaining that fact, Micha tiptoed off the bed and ran barefooted to the room across the corridor. Only after the door clicked shut that Jonathan, who had changed into a suit in the cloakroom, walked out and nced at the closed door across the hall with a slight smile upon his lips. Jonathan was already seated in the living room listening to Walter¡¯s report when Micha arrived downstairs after washing up and getting dressed. Despite being d in a simple white shirt and ck trousers ensemble, Jonathan still looked elegant. The top button of his shirt was undone to reveal his attractive corbone. Coupled with his chiseled brow and his cold temperament, Micha thought he looked delectable. Jonathan was sipping coffee with his head bowed when he heard her descending footsteps. ncing upward at Micha, his eyes were as arrogant and indifferent as ever. Micha felt a little guilty under the scrutiny. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Jonathan!¡± she chirped with a slightly sheepish smile. ¡°Far from it.¡± Jonathan¡¯s tone was a little solemn. ¡°You¡¯re getting braver by the day, Micha. You¡¯re leaving just like that after having your fill of sleep? Do I look like someone you would do that to?¡± At the time the remark was made, Wayne happened to walk out of the kitchen to alert the couple that breakfast was ready. He froze in his tracks upon hearing it. However, upon seeing Micha blush and freeze in her own descent down the stairs, he smiled and shook his head before heading back into the kitchen. Did the pair of them finally sleep together? Jonathan finally got his wish! It seems like Shappiray Mansion is about to have cause for celebration soon. Micha, who was rooted to the spot, subconsciously pursed her lips in the face of the scorching gaze and flushed a deep crimson. Though I did sleep on his bed, we didn¡¯t do anything he was insinuating! He¡¯s distorting the facts. Somehow, I¡¯m getting the feeling he¡¯s doing that on purpose. Unable to bear the indignity of being misunderstood any longer, she blurted defensively, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you send me directly back to my room after I fell asleep in the carst night, Mr. Jonathan?¡± ¡°I was intending to,¡± Jonathan replied coolly, ¡°but you held on to my clothes and refused to let go. What could I have done? Would you have preferred it if I slept in your room?¡± After watching how Jonathan had demolished an opponent as formidable as Yvonne, a tough woman in the world of business dominated by men, Micha¡¯s status as a fledgling girl was naturally no match for him. Micha was beside herself with indignant rage at Jonathan¡¯s feigned innocence. However, Jonathan had no ns to let her go that easily. ¡°It was my fault for not understanding your intentions better, Mich. I¡¯ll know what to do next time!¡± No! Micha felt the sensation of millions of insects all over her, making her skin crawl with embarrassment. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant!¡± Micha tly denied it. However, Jonathan merely smiled indulgently. ¡°Do you prefer my bedroom, Mich? Well, I¡¯m sure we can amodate your wishes next time.¡± Micha had no more words to convey her horror. Bowing her head to hide the redness in her cheeks, she gritted her teeth to steady herself. ¡°Excuse me, Mr. Xander, you must have misunderstood. Under whose tutge did you learn to be this shameless?¡± ¡°Did you forget that your grandfather was my teacher?¡± Ouch! Way too close to home! Please, somebody stop him! By then, Micha was more convinced than ever of the fact that Jonathan was teasing her on purpose. Having no way of knowing when she was asleep, he took the opportunity to push the me on her. Of course, his word was the truth as usual. Rogue! Scoundrel! ¡°Don¡¯t feel embarrassed, Mich. We¡¯re family, after all. I¡¯ll be more than happy to oblige you. Let¡¯s have breakfast!¡± Jonathan, who remained in control the entire time, saw that Micha was already sufficiently embarrassed and annoyed. Deciding to stop teasing her finally, he got up and pulled her to her feet before leading her toward the dining table. Walter was left standing alone in the living room halfway through his sentence. Oh my God, what did I just witness? Mr. Jonathan has forgone every shred of dignity he has for the girl! Walter was worried for Micha. Ms. Lingard is too innocent for his vicious bullying. How is she going to fend for herself once she bes his wife? After breakfast, Micha rejected Jonathan¡¯s offer and drove to work alone. Having either been flirted with or bullied every time she was in his presence, Micha had enough of him for a little while. If this goes on, I¡¯ll be left a shadow of my former self from all the teasing I¡¯m subjected to. What can I do? I miss my mom! After parking her car at the foundation, she saw Lorelei getting off her Maybach which was parked across from her. Thetter trotted over and opened the door for Micha with a ttering expression. ¡°You want something.¡± Micha raised her eyebrows and exposed Lorelei¡¯s intent. The two have not seen each other since the morning of their hangover. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. In fact, Lorelei was so taken aback upon learning of Jonathan¡¯s identity that she did not even have time to meet Micha when they departed Shappiray Mansion. Although the two had spoken on the pher that day, Lorelei only mentioned that she would be back to work on time on Monday before hanging up in a hurry. After letting the revtion set in over the weekend, Lorelei had alreadye to terms with the discovery. At the same time, her admiration for Micha had only grown since then. What¡¯s so bad about being cheated on by her fianc¨¦? After locking down Jonathan, she would be even better off than if she had married Zack! Even Lorelei could not help but apud Micha for the swing in her fortune. After holding on to the knowledge over the past couple of days, she could not hold back her curiosity any more. Clinging to Micha¡¯s arm affectionately, she attempted to lead the discussion toward what had been gnawing at her over the weekend. ¡°I say, Mich, you hid it well, didn¡¯t you? If I had not identally stumbled upon the truth, how long would you have hidden it from me?¡± ¡°What truth? What do you mean? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Micha was thoroughly confused by Lorelei¡¯s ambiguous expression. ¡°Come on!¡± Lorelei red at her. ¡°Mr. Jonathan has already admitted that day that the two of you are now a couple. That¡¯s not very nice to hide something this big from me!¡± ¡°He said that?¡± ¡°He did!¡± Lorelei interpreted Micha¡¯s stumble as embarrassment and was about to say something when she looked up and saw Alois walking out of the cafe on the first floor. Though her expression froze, the steps beneath her feet did not. Tugging at Micha¡¯s arm, she walked over in front of Alois with her eyes straight ahead. Micha was a little surprised by Lorelei¡¯s sudden change. It was not until they had managed to stride out of Alois¡¯ earshot that Micha asked, ¡°Are you really past it?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Lorelei shot her a sideways nce. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one to tell me that I should live for those who care about me? By the way, my mother arranged a blind date for me at night. Come with me!¡± ¡°What would I do there?¡± Micha felt a chill at the mention of ¡°blind date¡±. At the thought of twoplete strangers sitting together with nothing to talk about, Micha felt a preemptive difort. Showing up was even further out of the question. ¡°I know that every other man pales inparison to Jonathan, but you still need to spend time with your friends, don¡¯t you? You¡¯re only there to keep mepany, not meet somebody. We¡¯ll leave after dinner, I promise. ¡°Perhaps you have a date with Jonathan? By the way, I haven¡¯t had the chance to ask you this. At what stage are you and Jonathan currently at? Have you held hands? Have you kissed? He really is a handsome man. You should be very happy.¡± Micha red at her friend for her heavy emphasis on the word ¡°happy¡±. Feeling goosebumps all of a sudden, she relented inpromise. ¡°All right, I¡¯lle with you.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!