When I entered the living room, I saw Luke's black suit jacket and tie draped over the armrest of the sofa. He came out of the kitchen holding a bottle of water, casually unbuttoning the top two buttons of his shirt. The simple act was so effortlessly graceful that I couldn't help but steal a few glances.I used to be completely focused on Max. People often said that Luke and Max were equally matched, but I believed Max was sunny, gentle, and approachable, far more perfect than the aloof and unattainable Luke.However, once Max's facade was torn away, revealing his dark, violent, and selfish nature, I realized that comparing Luke to him was an insult."Mr. Walker, I'm here to pick up some things for Marianne," I said, explaining my presence when Luke looked at me.Luke unscrewed the bottle cap and took a sip of water. "Calvin told you the password. Remember it. In the future, if you need anything, you can come in directly without ringing the doorbell."Was Luke implying that I cou

"Let me see your hand," Luke said.A few minutes later, Luke returned to the kitchen with a tube of ointment. He reached over to turn off the faucet."My finger doesn't hurt anymore," I said.Based on my experience, the small, one-centimeter burn on my finger wouldn't leave a scar even without the ointment."Dry your hand," Luke insisted, handing me a dark blue checkered handkerchief.Luke's seriousness about this made me smile wryly as I took the handkerchief."The professor said you used to be afraid of pain and would cry over a small scratch.""That was in the past."Back then, I was spoiled by my parents and loved to act cute around them. Now, the only person who will spoil me is Wendy. No one else will coddle or protect me."Max is really impressive indeed, turning someone who used to cry over a scratch into a tough person who can even cook."I understood the underlying meaning of Luke's words and lowered my head. "Mr. Walker, you're impressive too. You've shown me that

"She's not doing charity! She's causing trouble. That idiot Max, so clever that he's outsmarted himself, doesn't even have evidence of Cindy using him.""Someday, she will pay for what she's done."Cindy manipulated me like a toy, planning everything from the beginning. She kept provoking me, confident that I couldn't touch her. But no plan is foolproof. I just have to wait patiently for her downfall."Absolutely! Max is terrible, but Cindy is even worse. If it weren't for the fact that Old Mrs. Lansworth is in poor health, I would have already gone to her to expose Cindy."Old Mrs. Lansworth, Lucy, doesn't like Cindy. With her poor health, any stress could worsen it and deepen the rift between the Lansworth and Smith families."Calm down, Wendy. We'll find another way.""Jen, are you okay?"Wendy asked with concern in her voice."I'm not your favorite anymore, Wendy. You only just now remembered to ask how I'm feeling?"Feigning a pout, I glanced at the TV screen, took a bite

"The incident back then was your doing too," I said, trying to control my rising anger as I confronted Cindy, who had hurt me so many times without any repercussions."So what if it was? What can you do about it?" Cindy taunted, clearly pleased with herself. "Jen, with your level of intelligence, going against me is just setting yourself up for humiliation. You're not even a challenge. But before I declare a temporary truce, I'll do you a favor.""The identity of the man that night means nothing to me. This isn't worth meeting you over," I said, suspecting she was just trying to find another way to hurt me."If you don't come, I'll take your father's ashes abroad and bury them with my mother. He was with your mother in life; in death, he can be with my mother. That's fair.""Address," I demanded. Cindy was crazy enough to follow through on her threat. She had already proven she would go to any lengths to hurt me."That's more like it. Come to Asta Residence. I want to see you in t