Jeff savored the sweetness in his mouth and commented with a smile, "The banana bread from this bakery is sweet but not greasy. The taste hasn't changed after all these years.""Yes, it truly hasn't changed." Matthew agreed, holding an unfinished piece of bread. "Dad, the bakery has been around for decades, hasn't it? Maintaining the original taste is no easy feat."However, sitting beside him, Melissa rolled her eyes. 'Isn't it just a piece of banana bread? What's the big deal?'"Only things that can't withstand the test of time change their flavor along the way. Some things will always remain the same no matter how many years pass," Jeff remarked.After Jeff said that, he glanced at Cedric and Sophie.Austin naturally understood the underlying meaning of his words, which were also directed at him. He forced a smile and said, "I also hope all great things will remain unchanged. It's getting late, Grandpa, Uncle Matthew, and Aunt Melissa, I shall head back now.”Seeing him rise t
"The one who's always been hurting her all along is you. Otherwise, would Grandpa need to fake an illness to push you two together? Cedric, if you need someone else's help to get closer to your own woman, don't you think that makes you incompetent?" Austin asked with a smirk, his eyes betraying a sense of gloom.Just hours earlier, as he pushed open the door to the mansion, he beheld a family gathered around the table for dinner. At that moment, only one thought raced through his mind: Austin Carlson was an outsider among the Carlsons.Mistakes of the past lingered like unhealed wounds, where even a gentle touch could evoke intense pain.Cedric's eyes narrowed dangerously, yet just as he teetered on the brink of an outburst, he managed to quell the anger swelling within his chest. "Are you trying to provoke me? Even if I hurt her before, she still doesn't like the bright red roses you cherish. And do you know why Soph doesn't like roses?"It's because I don't like them."Cedric ut
Sophie knew the villa's layout intimately, having lived there for three years. As she briskly walked to the room Jeff had prepared for her, her hand had just touched the doorknob when another hand covered hers.The unexpected warmth of the hand sent a flutter through her heart, and she looked up, avoiding direct eye contact."You...""This is my room. Yours is further down.""Your room?" She glanced at his face in surprise, realizing they had just passed what used to be their shared bedroom.Cedric seemed to read her thoughts. He smiled with a mischievous sparkle in his eye. "Our bedroom. I'll wait for you to move back in willingly."That room had been left vacant for five years. Unable to face a space filled with her presence yet devoid of her, he had occasionally stayed next door during his infrequent visits.The word "bedroom", already laden with intimacies, was emphasized by his tone, causing Sophie’s cheeks to flush. She struggled to suppress the indescribable feelings stir
Sophie looked up from her pile of files, her brow furrowed in frustration. She and Cedric were like players navigating a minefield. Over the years, they had set too many traps for each other, and any misstep could trigger an explosion.Just like last night's 'goodnight'. For three years, she had maintained this routine. Even when he was out with other women, she always called to say goodnight. She believed true love meant saying 'good morning' upon waking and 'goodnight' before sleep.But now, this idealized love felt like a horrifying mirror, reflecting her past naivety and the painful wounds it left behind."Taking a holiday is fine, but first, tell me, did anything happen between you and Cedric?" Jeanna leaned forward on the desk, unable to contain her curiosity.Feeling pity for her friend's sore neck and back, Sophie sighed. "Really, nothing happened. He stayed in his room, and I stayed in mine, that's all. Now, dear, why don't you turn right, put on some lovely makeup, and go
Sophie glanced at Charlie, who, despite signing the contract, still refused to be cordial. After he "reviewed" all the scripts, she smiled and asked, "Did any of these scripts appeal to you?""Appeal? What are these scripts? They're all mindless drivel. Ms. Luxford, surely you didn’t sign me to Paramount just to make me star in this kind of trash, did you?""Charlie, how can you talk to Ms. Luxford like that? These scripts are from top directors with huge investments, each worth several hundred million. I think they’re quite good, especially this one by Director Ali Xavier, 'The Grand Life'. It's a major production with a strong team, and the script seems tailor-made for you. I think you should take this role."His meticulous agent, Florence Rivers, picked up a script with a professional's satisfaction. This role would surely secure Charlie the Golden Reels Award next year if he just performed decently."What kind of taste do you have? Calling this tailor-made is an insult to me!"
Everyone thought they must have misheard. Charlie was expected to dismiss the final script and criticize the writers for wasting his time. Why would he suddenly declare he wanted to take on the role?Sophie, still in shock, stared at the script in his hand. Compared to the others, this script was only half as thick. She could not help but wonder, 'Did he choose it just because it is shorter?'Clearing her throat, she tentatively asked, "Are you sure you want to take this role?""Of course. If you want me to pick a script, it’ll be this one. Otherwise, I’m not interested in any of those I just saw."Seeing Charlie’s domineering attitude, she quickly grabbed the script to skim through its contents. There must be something special about it for him not to have dismissed it outright.Florence also flipped through a few pages and then promptly dismissed it from a professional standpoint. "This script won’t work. It has a small budget and a limited audience. It’s too much of an art film!
Sophie needed an artist who could reach the heights expected of an actor while also generating substantial revenue.Charlie's smirk widened as he met her gaze, amusement gleaming in his eyes. "Then find me a new agent to negotiate this film and tell the director my fee doesn’t matter. Save the money to ensure the serious work gets done properly."He delivered his statement with arrogance and began to walk away, only to be stopped by an irritated Florence. "Charlie, what do you mean by this?""It means our ambitions don't align. Continuing to work together might land you in the hospital in a few days. We're better off parting ways now." With a dismissive glance, Charlie strutted off, leaving the scene with a swagger.Florence turned to Sophie, her eyes full of indignation. "Ms. Luxford, does he have any of the virtues an artist should have?"Sophie felt somewhat helpless. She had dealt with many arrogant stars before, but few were as blatantly indifferent as Charlie. Caught between
"Why are you here?" Charlie could not hide his delight upon seeing her, but his brows soon furrowed. 'When did she return? I hadn't heard anything about it.'"Take a guess?" Her laughter grew sweeter, a playful charm in her tone. The brim of her large hat shadowed her eyes, tempting him to lift it and see her face fully."Did you come back because of that matter?" He knew she was not there just to see him, yet he found himself enchanted by her smile, unable to look away."I'm not telling you." Her smile was sweet, the dimple on her cheek making it hard to look away.-At Carlson Group, Austin sat at his desk, his expression composed yet tinged with a subtle coolness. He reviewed the information his assistant had gathered, his eyes narrowing slightly.At first, he only thought the Charlie that Sophie had signed was somewhat extraordinary, but he had not expected the investigation to reveal so much. It was beyond his expectations.The assistant entered, lowering his voice. "Mr. Ca