LOGINFelix’s icy stare made Xena’s heart sink.She realized she might have pushed things too far.Even Lily held her breath, knowing Xena shouldn’t have provoked Felix at a time like this.“Miranda, you and Mia go ahead and eat. I’ll be right back,” Felix said.Then he rose from his seat and looked at Xena.“Ms. Spencer, step outside. We need to talk.”It was not a request.Xena’s face paled. The look in Felix’s eyes made it clear that he was truly angry.She forced a smile.“Felix, I wasn’t trying to interrupt your dinner. I just—”But Felix had already turned and headed toward the exit.Xena stood there awkwardly for a moment, exchanging a look with Lily. Then she noticed Miranda watching her.A stubbornness rose in her. She refused to look weak in front of Miranda.“Lily, I’ll be right back.”With that, Xena forced herself to follow Felix outside.Lily’s heart tightened, and she hurried after them.In a secluded corner just outside the restaurant, Felix stood waiting. Eve
“Mommy’s home,” Miranda replied.“Then will Mommy come have dinner with us?”“I...”“Mommy, please come,” Mia pleaded before Miranda could finish. “Please?”Miranda’s heart softened.“All right. I’ll come.”“Then come down to the garage, Mommy. Daddy’s here to pick you up.”Miranda wanted to take Mia out for a change too. After letting Mrs. Young know, she headed downstairs.Felix’s car had just pulled into its space when she reached the garage. The window rolled down, and Mia waved excitedly from the backseat.“Mommy, hurry up!”Miranda smiled and shook her head at Mia’s impatience before opening the door and getting in.As soon as she settled into her seat, Felix turned to her.“What are you in the mood for? Italian, or something else?”“Either is fine. You decide,” Miranda said evenly.“All right. I’ll take care of it.”Felix pulled up outside an upscale Italian restaurant.The moment they got out, Mia took Miranda’s hand.“Mommy, I’m starving.”Miranda led her tow
As Miranda was still looking at it, Felix came over.He caught her glancing at the narrow black band around his upper arm, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.“Stop staring,” he said quietly. “You bought it.”Miranda’s breath caught.For a moment, she had no idea what to say.Sophie, meanwhile, looked like she had just been given a front-row seat to something interesting. She quickly found an excuse.“Miranda, I’m going to use the restroom. You two talk.”Before Miranda could respond, Sophie was already gone.Felix added, “The sleeves on this shirt ran a little long. The band keeps them in place.”Miranda looked away.Back when they were married, she had taken care of everything from Felix’s shirt sizes to the colors and styles he wore.But she didn’t believe for a second that he was incapable of buying a shirt that fit now.Not wanting to stay on the subject, she looked up at him.“Why hasn’t Mr. Carter arrived?”As the fund’s primary investor, Edward Carter sho
“Mm.” Miranda nodded, but her gaze shifted away from his, a little uneasy beneath his attention.Felix noticed the way she avoided his eyes. A faint smile touched his expression, but he didn’t press her. Instead, he turned to speak with one of the event managers.Outside the backstage area, Sophie handed Miranda a glass of champagne.“There’s still some time. Have a sip. It’ll help settle your throat.”Miranda accepted it and had barely taken a sip when Sophie said, “I just saw Felix arrive.”Miranda nodded. “Mm.”At exactly two o’clock, the launch ceremony began.After a brief introduction from the host, Felix rose from his seat and made his way to the stage.Under the spotlight, he stood tall and composed. His tailored suit only added to his cool, commanding presence.As chairman of the Chamber, his opening remarks were concise, confident, and forward-looking.When he finished, the host’s voice rang out warmly.“Next, please welcome Dr. Miranda Stone of Hamilton Medical Un
That afternoon, Felix texted Miranda to say that he needed to go to Hamilton. If she couldn’t pick Mia up, he would ask Sienna to do it instead.Miranda was free that afternoon, so she could pick Mia up herself.The handover work had eased up, and she had been able to leave on time lately.When Miranda arrived at Mia’s preschool that afternoon, Mia came racing over as soon as her teacher brought her out. Even after a full day at school, she was still full of energy.Miranda scooped her up in a hug, took her hand, and led her to the car.The second Mia climbed into her seat, she blurted out, “Mommy, I told Daddy this morning! I told him you said he did a good job.”Miranda paused with her hand on the ignition. Her smile faltered for a moment.She hadn’t expected Mia to repeat that casual remark from the night before to Felix.It wasn’t a big deal, but she didn’t want Mia to feel like she needed to report every little thing back to him.She turned and smiled gently at Mia.“Tha
From the terms Felix had included in the new agreement, Gavin could tell that Felix had no intention of interfering with Xena’s marriage or her plans to have children.Whoever Xena chose to attach herself to was her business, as long as it didn’t affect the agreement.Gavin couldn’t help thinking that if Xena had stayed within the boundaries of her original arrangement with Felix, things might have turned out very differently for her.Felix might even have made sure she was comfortably provided for.But while enjoying the resources and material comfort he gave her, Xena had wanted more.She wanted the title of Mrs. Gibson.She wanted Felix’s heart.Xena got into the car with the new agreement clutched tightly in her hands.She understood that as long as she stayed in line and honored the contract, Felix would leave her alone.But if she tried to break free, the enormous penalty and Gibson Corporation’s legal team would make sure she understood the cost.Taking a deep breath,
Sienna got up and headed toward the kitchen again. Miranda seized the moment and turned to Mrs. Gibson Sr. casually.“Grandma, do you know much about Mrs. Gibson’s side of the family? How were her parents’ health?”It was a personal question, but Mrs. Gibson Sr. didn’t hesitate. After thinking for
Sienna understood now.Everything she was doing was about her own and Susan’s survival. She had no choice but to cooperate with Felix.It felt as if, in the span of just two hours, the once-spoiled heiress had grown up overnight. Before coming here, she had still been living in a kind of fairy tal
Hayden called out sharply, “Get up here!”The housekeeper hurried upstairs. “Yes, sir.”“Tell me the truth. Who else came here last night?” Hayden demanded, his face darkening.The housekeeper had no choice but to answer honestly. “Ms. Yates came by. She stayed in your room for about two hours be
It wasn’t until Hayden leaned down to kiss her that Sera truly panicked. But he was far too drunk to recognize anyone but the woman he loved. Once he had convinced himself she was that person, he wasn’t going to let go easily.She didn’t know how much time passed.Eventually, his breathing grew he







