Holly backed up slightly, causing Bryce's kiss to land on her chin. His change in mood was palpable.Bryce's hand, which had been holding her chin, traveled down her back and rested around her waist. He asked, "Why did you tell Hayden I'm your cousin?"Holly cast her gaze downward and answered softly, "We're going to be divorced soon, anyway. There's no point going around telling others that we're a married couple."Besides, you've got a strong family background. My colleagues would judge me if they were to find out about us. I don't want to be labeled as an outcast of a prestigious family. It'd be much easier telling him that you're a distant relative."Bryce looked at her with a thoughtful look. "You've thought things through pretty well."Holly smiled self-deprecatingly. "I've got no choice, have I? Inconsequential people and their survival instincts.""You're no inconsequential person. You're one of the few people in the whole of Jardington who can order me around," Bryce s

Holly stood there until Bryce's car disappeared from view, and even then, she stared straight at the curve where the car drove away. She couldn't clearly describe how she felt. It was an empty feeling mixed with hints of melancholy.A breeze swept up the leaves on the ground, causing them to swirl around her feet. Holly stood there a little while longer before returning to her grandfather's house.She got the keys and entered a room on the right side of the house. That was his art restoration studio and the place where Holly had spent most of her younger years.The room remained how it looked all those years back. There were two large, red, solid wood tables in the middle of the room, and on them were fine paintbrushes, palette knives, cotton swabs, and an array of other restoration tools. As the room hadn't been cleaned up in quite some time, a thin layer of dust had settled on the tables.The thought of her deceased grandfather who'd passed away due to stomach cancer brought a

Seeing how Olivia and Holly were suspicious of her, Samantha quickly showed them her injured hand. "Granny, someone broke my hand with a hammer a few days ago, too! My fingers were fractured. I was so upset I no longer want to live anymore!"Olivia raised a brow. "Such coincidence?"Eyes red-rimmed, Samantha said, "I suffered similar injuries as Holly's. It's on the left hand, and I got four fingers fractured, too. The authorities deduced that the culprit was someone with malicious and vengeful intentions." She was hinting at Holly. A mirthless smile crept up on Olivia's lips. "Is that so? Why didn't she take revenge on anyone else but you?"With tears brimming in her eyes, Samantha said pitifully, "Perhaps it's because of how close I am with Bryce. Maybe that's why Holly's upset at me."What she meant was clear as day. She was implying that it was Holly who had gotten someone to get revenge on her.Holly's expression remained unchanging, but a hint of mockery flashed in her

Ten minutes later, Bryce returned.Sitting next to Holly, he reached out and stroked her head, saying softly, "Samantha is ill. She can't handle stress. Don't let her get to you."He was asking her to endure.Holly pursed her lips slightly and didn't respond.In reality, she had high endurance. She had already endured Samantha's presence several times before. Now, any hint of resistance from her seemed like a confrontation in Bryce's eyes.The word "endure" felt like a dagger piercing into her heart.Only the one who endured knew the taste of it.During those two years when Bryce was wheelchair-bound and would frequently lose his temper and throw things, she endured it all. Initially, it was out of gratitude, but later on, it was because she had fallen in love with him.But who the hell was Samantha, anyway? Why should she have to bear with her?The more Holly thought about it, the angrier she became. Her lips pressed tightly together, and her face was gloomy like a storm clou

Holly hastily turned her head away, widening her eyes and looking at him cautiously. "What are you trying to do?""What do you think?" Bryce pinched her delicate chin and uttered casually, "Certainly not trying to discuss calculus problems with you."Holly pressed her fingers against his chin, stopping him from getting close to her lips. She said seriously, "You said you wanted a divorce.""And you said you didn't want to divorce anymore earlier at the hospital.""I said that on purpose to piss Samantha off."Bryce stared at her intently. "I took it seriously."Holly lowered her gaze. "I don't want to do this sort of thing with you right now."Bryce raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who was the one seducing me just now?""I wasn't. I mean, I…" Holly suddenly didn't know how to express herself.In her panic, her face turned red again. Not only that, even her fair neck and wrists were all tinged with a faint blush. The combination of innocence and allure was irresistible.Bryce pre