Ch. 891..900

Chapter 891 Chapter 891 Listening to her words, Lucas furrowed his brows. "But this way, you'll feel wronged."

After all, they were getting married for the second time.

He had wanted to give her a grand and romantic wedding, where everyone would witness their happiness and love.

Aveline, however, responded, "As long as I'm happy and I like it, that's all that matters."

Lucas pulled her into his arms, inhaling the faint scent that lingered on her. He tightened his embrace but was careful not to press against her belly, cautiously adjusting his strength. "Alright, whatever you want."

Aveline smiled softly and hugged him back.

What she didn't expect was that while the wedding would be understated and elegant, the proposal turned out to be grand and extravagant.

It was a sunny morning.

Selena came by the Tudor family home, inviting her for a walk. The weather was warming up, making it the perfect time to go out and enjoy the fresh air. Throughout the drive, Selena was unusually excited. Aveline looked at her, puzzled. "What's going on with you?"

Selena drove carefully, smiling. "It's been so long since we went shopping together. I'm just excited!"

Aveline raised a brow. "But we went out just last week."

"That's different." Selena shook her head, growing even more nervous inside.

"How is it different?" Aveline asked, her suspicion rising.

"Trust me, it just is. Don't ask me any more questions. I need to focus on driving."

Oh.

Alright then.

Aveline didn't show much emotion on her face, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Selena was acting strangely-very strangely.

They arrived at Moonlight Bay Forest Park, a place surrounded by lush trees and natural beauty. After parking, Selena linked arms with her and led her to a small sightseeing cart. The cart offered a clear view of the serene surroundings as they traveled. After about ten minutes, the cart came to a stop.

"Let's camp here today! I found a perfect spot, it's absolutely beautiful," Selena said as she walked ahead.

Aveline nodded. "Sure."

In the distance, she could already see a group of people busy setting things up.

Several tents were already pitched, and Aaron, dressed in a floral shirt and sunglasses, was studying the grill with great focus.

"We're here!" Selena called out, drawing everyone's attention.

Lance was unloading the gear, while Lucas made his way over to Aveline.

She looked at him curiously. "Weren't you supposed to be busy today?"

He had left early that morning, and she assumed he was off to work.

The Tudors had recently opened a branch in Labor City, with Desmond managing the headquarters. Most important matters were handled via video conference, allowing Lucas to focus on running the local branch.

His eyes softened as he looked at her. "I wrapped things up early and came over. How could I miss out on camping and a picnic?" "And you can't forget me either!"

A familiar voice suddenly rang out.

Aveline turned to see Maria approaching, with Sidney by her side.

Maria's face was lit with her usual confident, r her Ct, radiant smile. She opened "It's wide as she came been so long, Avelinese" ~ Aveline's gaze grew a bit complicated, remembering the words she had said to Maria back then.

For some reason, she now felt a little embarrassed.

Still, she returned the hug.

Maria immediately joked, "Oh no, someone bumped into me! I might need to file a claim!"

Her eyes fell dramatically on Aveline's slightly rounded belly.

Aveline burst out laughing. "It's still. too young to compensate you. have to o seek out the compl the father."

Maria nodded, turning straight to Lucas and extending her hand. "Your little one bumped into me what are you going to do about it?"

Chapter 892 Chapter 892 Lucas glanced at Maria with an amused smirk. "You're really pushing it. Trying to scam a pregnant woman? How impressive."

Unfazed, Maria kept her hand out. "Doesn't matter. I got bumped, so you owe me compensation."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his voice calm and teasing. "How about I compensate you with no vacation for the next two years? Sound good?"

Maria's smile instantly faded as she turned to Aveline. "Aveline, look at him..."

Aveline, clearly enjoying the exchange, chuckled. "And this is why he's your boss and not the other way around."

Maria sighed dramatically. "Unbelievable. You two are ganging up on me now!"

She turned to Sidney, her eyes filled with mock sorrow, clearly fishing for some comfort. But Sidney pretended not to notice, walking straight to Aveline and handing her a small box. "Congratulations. These are some little gifts I picked out for the baby. I hope both you and the baby will like them."

Aveline smiled warmly as she took the box. "Thank you, we'll love it."

"What's everyone standing around here chatting about?"

At that moment, Gernard approached, while not far behind, Gavin was on his phone, looking serious as he walked over.

Selena spoke up. "Everyone's giving gifts to Aveline and the baby! As the baby's uncles, what did you two prepare?"

Gernard raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Isn't it a bit early?"

Aveline was only four months pregnant, with plenty of time before the baby arrived.

Selena, however, insisted, "Not early at all! Start giving gifts now and keep giving more when the baby's born. That way, both the baby and the mom will be happy!"

Gernard twitched his lips slightly before replying, "Of course I've prepared something. I just didn't bring it today."

Selena then turned to Gavin. "And you? What about your gift?"

Gavin, having just finished his call, glanced at her with mild disinterest. "Even if I did, it's for Aveline. Why are you making a fuss?"

Selena's eyes widened in disbelief. "Hey! How could you talk to me like that? Can't I even ask?"

She immediately turned to Aveline for backup. "Did you hear that? Your older brother's being mean to me. Can we stop acknowledging him?"

Gavin just sighed in silence, while Gernard chuckled. "Gavin, messing with her is like messing with our little sister. No difference at all."

Sure enough, Aveline nodded and said, "Alright, let's ignore him for three days!"

"Hmph!" Selena huffed, giving Gavin a cold glare before linking arms with Aveline and walking away.

Gavin was left speechless, watching them go with a look of mild exasperation.

Meanwhile, Baron and Braden had finished setting up the chairs and arranged food and drinks on the small table.

"Mrs. Tudor." Desmond greeted Aveline with a warm smile as she walked over.

Aveline was surprised. "You're off work too?"

Desmond nodded. "I took a day off and decided to join."

Aveline raised an eyebrow. "It's rare for you to take a break, but you're here helping out-how is this any different from being me work?

swn' Desmond's smile faltered for a second. She wasn't wrong-it really wasn't much different from work. But with what was coming later, he decided to just roll with it. "Once we're off the clock, there's hierarchy. Mr. Tudor would act more causally."

Aaron chimed in, "I can vouch for that. Lucas doesn't put on airs."

Aveline sat down in one of the chairs, the tent providing a pleasant shade overhead as a gentle breeze blew through. Everyone was busy teasing and laughing as they worked. The day felt serene, the el:

atmosphere peaceful and perfect.

Watching everyone together like this, her heart stirred with a sense of contentment.

Chapter 893 Chapter 893 "Ave, look over there!" Selena's voice called out suddenly.

Aveline turned her head and spotted Zachary walking toward them, his pace steady and calm.

Surprised, she stood up and made her way over.

"Zachary, you're here too."

He smiled warmly. "Yeah, Lucas sent me an invite. Said it's been a while since we've seen each other, and that you've been through a lot lately. Figured you might miss me, so here I am."

Aveline glanced over at Lucas, who was chatting with Aaron, and felt a wave of warmth. She turned back to Zachary with a smile. "I did miss you. It's been too long. How've you been?"

Zachary nodded. "Pretty good. The redevelopment project in Arthur Town is moving along smoothly. The orphanage is part of the plan, and we've already got two volunteer teachers there. The kids are doing much better now." Aveline pictured the scene and felt a sense of contentment. She nodded. "That's wonderful to hear. Come, let's sit over there."

"Sure," Zachary agreed.

Everyone gathered near the riverbank, where a gentle stream flowed nearby.

Aaron pulled out a fishing rod and looked at Lucas and Lance. "What do you say? Let's have a little competition. Whoever catches the least has to handle the barbecue later. Sound fair?"

Desmond jumped in immediately. "Mr. Fletcher, we've got to join this! Time to show you what we're really made of."

Baron and Braden both nodded enthusiastically, their eyes filled with competitive excitement.

Aaron grinned. "No problem."

There were plenty of fishing rods to go around, and soon, the group settled by the river, each of them earnestly focused on catching fish.

Selena couldn't help but chuckle and turned to Aveline. "So, who do you think will win?"

Aveline thought for a moment before replying, "I'd bet on Zachary. He's really good at catching fish."

Selena snickered. "Better keep that opinion from Lucas. He'd definitely get jealous."

Aveline sipped her juice calmly, watching the men as they focused on their fishing.

Lucas, Aaron, Lance, Desmond, Baron, Braden, Sidney, Zachary, Gernard, and Gavin...

They had practically taken over the entire riverbank. The poor fish living in that river didn't stand a chance today.

Maria pulled out her phone and "While they fish, we should take some photos-no point just sitting around being bored. Let's capture some beautiful s.

Selena nodded in agreement. "I'm in."

Aveline smiled and nodded too. After all, who could resist taking gorgeous pictures with friends? The girls busied themselves snapping photos and having fun while the guys fished. en FindNovel As noon approached, the first victor emerged.

Desmond grinned widely. "Well, folks, looks like I win-ten fish!"

Braden, with a hint of reluctance, said, "Eight."

Gernard raised an eyebrow. "Six."

Gavin chimed in, "Eight."

Zachary sighed softly. "Five."

Baron shook his head. "So, you all caught all those fishes before they even got to me, huh?"

Aaron quickly turned to him, excitement lacing his voice. "How many did you get? Are you on barbecue duty today?"

Baron chuckled. "Nine fish."

Aaron's face fell. He looked at the lone fish in his bucket, biting back his frustration. "I swear, I could jump in the river right now."

Sidney walked over, rubbing the back of his neck. "I've only got one, too."

Aaron clicked his tongue, clearly pleased not to be the only one. "Hey, not bad, at least I have company. Lance, Lucas, what about you two?" Lance kept his expression neutral. "One more than you."

All eyes turned to Lucas. He slowly stood, calmly reeling in his line. "You guys figure out who's handling the barbecue. I'm out-I've got a wife and kid to look after."

With that, he turned to leave.

Aaron rushed over to check Lucas' bucket. "Hey, Lucas, you didn't catch a single fish! You're not getting away that easily!"

Chapter 894 Chapter 894 Lucas had already made his way back to Aveline's side, taking her hand with a playful smile. "Ave, do you feel like you need my company? Do you want me by your side all the time?" Aveline, who had witnessed the whole exchange, simply stared at him, speechless.

Could this man be any more shameless?

Aaron approached with a look of disdain. "Lucas, have you no shame? You'll say anything to avoid grilling. Aren't you afraid your son will grow up and laugh at you?" Without missing a beat, Lucas replied, "My daughter wouldn't laugh at me."

Aaron was momentarily stunned.

Daughter?

He hadn't even confirmed the baby's gender, and yet Lucas was already claiming it was a girl.

"Your daughter, huh? You sure about that?" Aaron scoffed. "Do you even deserve one?"

Lucas remained unfazed. "Of course I do. I make all this money just for my daughter to spend, so it has to be a girl."

At that moment, Aveline chimed in, her voice soft but teasing, "Well, I think your daughter would love to taste the barbecue her dad grills himself."

Aaron burst out laughing. "Well said, Aveline! Lucas, looks like your daughter's waiting are you really not going to grill for her?"

Lucas gave Aveline a look, surprised she had thrown him under the bus. He sighed dramatically, placing a hand on her belly. "Fine, if it's for my daughter, I'll grill." Reluctantly, he made his way toward the grill but not before dragging Desmond, Baron, and Braden along with him.

The three of them were speechless.

They exchanged glances, quietly questioning the whole point of the fishing competition.

"At the very least, shouldn't we get an extra serving of grilled fish out of this?" they thought in unison.

Nearby, Selena was laughing so hard she could barely stand. She gave Aveline a thumbs-up. "Only you could handle Lucas so well."

Aveline shook her head. "It wasn't me. It was his daughter."

Selena raised an eyebrow. "So... you really want a girl?"

Aveline's smile softened. "I'm hoping for a boy, honestly. At least then, he won't have to face as many struggles and hardships when he grows up." As a woman, she understood too well the challenges girls faced.

Selena chimed in, "Don't be so pessimistic, it's a girl, there's nothing spoil worry about. Lucas would spoil her to no end, and if anyone dared to bully her, it wouldn't just be Lucas-her two uncles would be there too. She'll never have to suffer."

Aveline smiled but didn't reply.

By the afternoon, the delicious aroma of grilled food filled the air. With plenty of people cooking, everyone was able to dig in together.

Of course, Aveline always got the first bite. Watching Lucas carefully grill the skewers, she couldn't resist snapping a few pictures with her phone.

Selena peeked over her shoulder with a teasing grin. "Feeling the happiness again, Ave?"

Aveline smirked, quickly putting her phone away.

"Here, try this," Aaron said, walking over to Selena with a freshly grilled chicken wing.

Instead of taking it with her hands, Selena simply opened her mouth.

Aaron, worried it might be too hot, blew on it gently before feeding it to her.

The two of them wrapped up in their own little world.

Aveline sidled up with a playful smile. "Looks like you're feeling the happiness too, Selena."

Selena immediately started coughing, her face turning bright red. Aaron patted her back quickly concerned. Just then, a glass of water was handed to her. She grabbed it and took a big sip "Thanks," she said, finally catching her breath.

Looking up to see who had helped her, she was met with the sight of Gavin's back as he walked away, acting like it was no big deal. Selena pressed her lips together, saying nothing more.

Aveline, noticing the moment, shifted her gaze to Aaron, who was watching Gavin walk away with a thoughtful expression on his face.

Chapter 895 Chapter 895 No one knew men better than other men, and Aaron could see right through Gavin's intentions in an instant.

He shifted his gaze away, looking at Selena, who was happily munching on her chicken wing, blissfully unaware of Gavin's feelings.

But that was fine-Selena was already his, and he had no intention of giving anyone the chance to take her away.

"Taste good?" Aaron asked.

Selena nodded eagerly. "Delicious! Did you grill this?"

Aaron raised an eyebrow. "I've been working the grill for ages, and you didn't even notice? Seems like your attention wasn't on me at all."

Selena laughed cheekily. "What can I say? Too many handsome guys around-I can't keep track."

Seeing Aaron's face darken, she quickly added with a grin, "I want some grilled fish, honey."

That one word, "honey," instantly lit up Aaron's mood.

With a smile, he turned to start grilling some fish for her.

Aveline watched the entire exchange, a quiet smile tugging at her lips.

After the meal, everyone started to relax and have fun. Maria pulled out her streaming setup and, to Aveline's surprise, began singing live.

Curious, Aveline glanced at her phone and noticed tens of thousands of people had joined Maria's stream.

"That many viewers? Are you a streamer?" Aveline asked, surprised.

Maria smiled modestly. "Just a hobby."

She then turned to the camera, her smile growing even more charming. "What songs do you want to hear, my darlings? I can sing a few more today." Aveline quietly edged a bit farther away, feeling a wave of goosebumps rise on her skin.

The afternoon sun was warm, and a gentle breeze blew through the air, making Aveline feel drowsy. She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and drifted off. Selena covered her with a blanket, and the noise around her softened as everyone let her rest.

After some time, Aveline woke up, but something felt off. It was too quiet.

What's going on?

She looked around and only saw Baron and Braden cleaning up nearby.

"Where did everyone go?" she asked, confused.

"They went to watch the sunset," Baron called out, pointing in a direction. "It's really beautiful over there."

Aveline glanced toward the direction Baron had pointed, but the tall trees blocked most of her view.

She couldn't see anything.

Did they go that far?

Curious, she stood up, slipped on a jacket, and started walking in the direction of the sunset.

As soon as she moved away, Baron subtly pressed the button on his earpiece and whispered, "She's on her way. Get ready!" "Selena? Lucas?" Aveline called out as she walked, her voice echoing through the trees.

There was a small path through the dense woods, and as dusk settled in, the surrounding area grew dimmer Only a few slivers of golden light from the setting sun filtered through the leaves, casting an orange glow over the path.

An unexpected feeling of unease crept over her, making her quicken her pace.

But then, as she rounded a corner, the scenery suddenly opened up before her, and her breath caught.

The grass was covered in soft pink rose petals, leading the way down a glowing path. At the end of the path stood a crescent-shaped arch, constructed entirely from pink rose petals Illuminated under the fading light. And beside it, a tall, striking figure stood, holding a bouquet of vibrant red roses, a warm smile lighting up his face.

It was Lucas.

In the distance, scattered around the clearing, were her friends and family, holding glowing lanterns and waving them gently, their faces filled with excitement and joy.

Aveline stood at the beginning of the path, a wide smile slowly spreading across her face as the realization sank in. Everything was planned for this moment.

Everyone she loved was here, and deep down, she had felt it coming, but she hadn't dared to let herself fully believe it. Now, there was no denying it-it was all real.

With a heart full of happiness, Aveline began walking down the rose-covered path, step by step, toward Lucas.

Chapter 896 Chapter 896 Nearby, Gernard glanced at Gavin and quietly asked, "What's going on? Is Dad still not here?"

Gavin, watching Aveline walk toward Lucas, responded in a calm tone, "Dad said he didn't want to witness this. His daughter just came back, and now she's already getting married again-it frustrates him." Gernard clicked his tongue, a faint smirk playing on his lips, but said nothing more.

On the other side, Maria held up her phone, watching as more viewers flooded into her live stream. She smiled slyly and whispered, "Everyone, you're witnessing a live proposal! Don't forget to send your blessings!" Beside her, Sidney looked on, his gaze complicated as he watched Aveline.

Memories of everything that had happened since meeting her flashed through his mind. He was grateful to her-there had been a time when he even felt something deeper-but by then, it was already too late. When he finally realized how much he cared, Aveline had already fallen for Lucas, her heart completely devoted to him.

A deep sense of melancholy washed over him.

Maria, noticing Sidney's expression, jabbed him with her elbow. "If you don't want to get kicked out, you better fix that look on your face."

Sidney frowned, stepping back a little and schooling his features, trying to mask his emotions.

Maria saw him pull away and felt a wave of irritation.

But with her live stream still going, she couldn't fully express her annoyance, so she bit her lip in frustration.

"Still pining for Aveline? Hmph! Too bad-she belongs to Lucas now!" she thought.

Meanwhile, Zachary stood nearby, offering his heartfelt blessings. He had grown up with Aveline and had witnessed much of her life. He hadn't been able to help her through many difficult times and felt a deep sense of guilt. But now, seeing her find her family and her happiness, he was genuinely relieved.

On the other side, Selena was the most emotional of them all. She had been there from the start, witnessing every step of Aveline's journey.

From the day Aveline brought an amnesiac Lucas home, to all their moments together, and then Lucas regaining his memory-she had seen it all. The struggles, the pain, the heartbreak Aveline had endured...

Selena's heart ached for her friend, but she also knew, without a doubt, that Aveline truly loved Lucas.

Fate had bound Aveline and Lucas together.

No matter what happened, they were destined to be entwined for life.

Selena, fearing that her sobs would ruin the atmosphere, bit down hard on her lip and covered her mouth, struggling to control her breathing. Yet tears still streamed down her cheeks.

en FindNovel Aaron, standing beside her, noticed her emotional state. He quietly took out a tissue and gently wiped her face, sighing softly.

It had been such a long, difficult journey for all of them.

The sunset bathed the horizon in a brilliant glow casting a soft orange light over the clouds, the hills, and the trees wrapping everything in a gentle warmth. The pink crescent arch before them was both fragrant and beautiful, and the breeze carried the delicate scent of roses through the air.

Step by step, Aveline walked toward Lucas.

There he stood, in the middle of the sunset, kneeling on one knee.

His eyes were filled with sincerity as he looked up at her, his expression calm yet full of emotion. "Aveline, will you marry me?"

There were no elaborate words, just a simple, heartfelt question-the one that mattered most. Aveline extended her hand, her face lit up with a joyful smile.

"I will," she said softly.

Lucas slid the ring onto her finger, then lifted her hand and kissed it gently.

Comments flooded the live stream, brimming with excitement and heartfelt blessings. Meanwhile, across the ocean, Russell watched the moment unfold on his phone. A bittersweet yet resigned smile played on his sharp, handsome features.

In the end, she and Lucas had found their way back to each other.

Chapter 897 Chapter 897 At the Cooper family residence, Wilfried stared at the live stream, watching the proposal unfold. He lifted his gaze to a framed photo of a smiling, graceful woman.

"Suzy, did you see that? Our daughter... she's getting married. We just found her, and now she's already getting married... I'm so sorry, I've let you down..." He choked up, his voice breaking into sobs. Not far away, the butler sighed heavily, rubbing his temples in exasperation. "He's acting like Miss Aveline is never coming back."

...

As the day wound down, everyone started heading home.

Selena clung to Aveline, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Ave, how could you agree so easily? Doesn't that make it too easy for him?"

Aveline looked at her, puzzled. "So, what should I have done?"

Selena huffed. "If you ask me, you should've set up 81 impossible challenges for him. Only if he passed them all should you have said yes! And if he failed even once, forget about him!"

Aveline couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head. "By the time he finished, our kid would probably be starting elementary school."

"Hmph!" Selena grunted, still holding onto her grudge. "I don't care! After everything he put you through, he deserves it!"

She was still bitter about everything Aveline had gone through in the past, unable to let it go.

Aveline didn't argue, knowing Selena's feelings came from a place of care.

She appreciated it.

But Selena didn't dwell on the topic for long and soon asked, "So, where are you two planning to live?"

The Tudors were based in Cloudflare City, but Aveline had only just reunited with her family less than a year ago. Going back to Cloudflare with Lucas now-would her family be okay with that? Aveline herself wasn't ready for such a move. "We'll stay in Labor City for now. Lucas said he's fine commuting between both cities. Cloudflare and Labor City aren't that far apart, so it won't be a problem." Selena nodded thoughtfully. "Alright."

Then, wrapping her arms around Aveline, she sighed. "But I'm going to miss you. Aaron would never agree to go back and forth like that. Boo hoo..." Aveline smiled helplessly. "Well, if he won't, you can always come visit me. After the baby's born, I'll visit you too-we can have fun visiting each other." There wasn't much else they could do for now.

What Aveline hadn't expected was that, in the months that followed, Selena would spend half of every month in Labor City.

Each time, she'd arrive excitedly, only for Aaron to come by later with an exasperated look to pick her up.

This routine repeated itself, and the two of them seemed to enjoy it thoroughly.

That was until Selena got pregnant.

From then on, she was firmly settled at the Fletcher family home.

They were taking no chances with her pregnancy, guarding her closely and ensuring nothing went wrong.

Her freedom vanished overnight.

Whenever she called Aveline, it was to complain between tears, though she had noticeably rounded out from the pregnancy glow.

She'd barely get through her grievances before Aaron would appear wrapping his arms around her from behind and soothing her, doing everything he could to fulfill her every whim. en FindNovel He had truly turned her into a pampered princess.

Seeing Selena so cherished brought Aveline a deep sense of happiness for her friend.

One evening at dusk, Aveline on the balcony, gazing at the scenery outside. Her own lood had grown large, and her due date was fast approaching.

Lucas approached from behind, wrapping his arms around her and pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. "What are you thinking about?"

Aveline rested her hand on her belly, her voice soft as she stared into the distance. "I'm thinking about everything I've been through-witnessing and experiencing so much. In the end, I've found this happiness, this life. I'm content."

Lucas smiled, his gaze following hers into the fading horizon. "Aveline, I love you."

"And I love you."

As the last rays of the sun disappeared, taking with them the brilliant hues of the sunset, night gently settled in.

Their chapter came to a close, filled with peace and love.

Chapter 898 Chapter 898 The proposal was over, and that same night, Maria and Sidney returned to Cloudflare City.

Maria lived in a cozy and beautifully decorated one-bedroom apartment in the Waterfront District. As they arrived at the door, she turned to look at Sidney, her pretty eyes holding a teasing emotion. "It's so late. Do you want to come in and rest?"

Sidney's handsome face showed signs of fatigue, and he directly refused, "I'm tired. I want to go home and get some proper rest."

Maria chuckled softly, reaching out and slowly sliding her finger down his chest. Under her touch, she could feel his muscles tensing slightly.

"Do you think I'm inviting you in for something else? You're overthinking it. I just want you to rest here."

As her words fell, she stepped closer to Sidney, slightly tilting her head up, her crimson lips curving into a seductive smile.

"Of course, if you're up for something more exciting, I wouldn't mind either."

Sidney immediately grabbed her wrist, stopping her from moving further.

His breathing became heavier, and his tone grew colder as he spoke, "Lucas and Aveline have reconciled. You don't need to keep fulfilling his orders. I'll be submitting my resignation tomorrow." With that, he released her hand and turned to leave.

Maria's smile deepened as she spoke, "Once you resign, where will you find such a good job? You can rest whenever you like, get the highest commissions, and the boss even visits your mother from time to time. Sidney, you should know better than to refuse." Sidney's steps halted, his hands clenched tightly at his sides. "Maria, don't you find this laughable? You're doing all this just because you're afraid I'll go after Aveline, right? Stop playing these games. I won't disturb her happiness, and I never want to see you again." He stepped into the elevator, turning around as the doors slowly closed. He saw Maria standing there with her arms crossed, looking at him with an ambiguous gaze that made him deeply uncomfortable.

From the start, he knew Maria's intentions!

She had deliberately spiked his drink, and after he drank it, they ended up sleeping together. The next morning, he felt like his whole world had shattered.

He actually slept with her!

How could he ever face Aveline after that?

He liked her!

But now, it was over. He couldn't pursue ne anymore because he Maria were entangled in a mes Maria directly stated her intentions.

She had noticed his affection for Aveline, and she intended to stop it.

Sidney felt deeply embarrassed, but there was little he could do. Maria wasn't wrong-this job was great, especially so. Leaving this studio meant he wouldn't find anothe position with such eyan Studie (

benefits.

In the beginning, he had endured it.

But every time he saw Aveline, he felt ashamed, unable to face her.

However, things were different now.

Aveline was with Lucas.

Maria didn't need to keep pretending anymore.

He could finally make the tough decision to resign. He needed to stay from r away from Maria-farnet this scheming woman belongs to FindNovel The next day.

Maria arrived at the studio and, sure enough, saw that Sidney's desk was already empty.

She opened her phone, finding a new email in her inbox-Sidney's resignation letter.

As she read through the formal message, a smile tugged at her lips.

Immediately after, she made a phone call, issuing a few orders to the person on the other end.

Chapter 899 Chapter 899 At night, Sidney sent out numerous résumés. His abilities were exceptional, and his designs were innovative. During his time at Maria's studio, he had only collaborated with Aveline on one project; after that, he worked independently. He was confident he could find a good company.

However, three days passed, and there wasn't a single response.

On the seventh day, he finally received a reply and was invited for an afternoon interview. But when he arrived, he was informed that the position had already been filled.

Sidney stood at the bus stop, wearing a white shirt and black trousers, his entire appearance clean and handsome. He stared at the cold message on his phone, his eyes reflected in the screen with a hint of chill.

He had a pretty good idea of what was happening.

Recalling Maria's ambiguous smile, he took a deep breath.

Forget it.

He'd find something else and try again later.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.

Maria had been waiting for Sidney to come back to her, but he never showed.

Tsk tsk...

Sidney was proud. Once he made a decision, he rarely regretted it.

Maria, however, refused to believe it. She wanted to see him broken, his pride crushed under the weight of her manipulations.

Seeing his clean, handsome face clouded with restraint, pain, and defeat gave her a thrill like no other.

She wasn't done playing with him.

How could she let him go so easily?

Maria opened her computer, her delicate fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard, and soon, Sidney's current location appeared.

Oh, working as a waiter in a restaurant now, was he?

In the evening, Maria had arranged to meet a client for dinner at a restaurant. When she saw Sidney moving swiftly through the restaurant, dressed in a shirt and vest, a satisfied smile appeared at the corner of her lips. She raised her hand, snapped her fingers, and then rested her chin on her palm, watching Sidney with great interest as he approached.

"Does your restaurant have any signature dishes?" she asked.

Without a change in his expression, Sidney introduced the restaurant's specialties.

Maria nodded. "Then bring out a few of those signature dishes first."

Then, she casually pulled a few bills from her pocket and slipped them into Sidney's hand.

Sidney's fingers tightened briefly before he handed the money back to her, his tone growing colder as he said, "Sorry, this restaurant doesn't allow tipping."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Maria watched his retreating figure, her lips curving into a faint smile.

Her client, a woman, noticed Maria's demeanor and asked, "Do you two know each other?"

Maria nodded, replying, "He's my boyfriend. We had a fight, and now he's giving me the cold shoulder."

The client was a bit surprised because their interaction didn't feel like that of a couple at all.

Instead, it was... something difficult to put into words.

Soon, the dishes were served.

"What on earth is this?"

Maria suddenly spat out a bite of food, exclaiming in shock.

"What's wrong?" the client asked, looking at her in confusion. Covering her mouth, Maria said, "I think I just bit into some glass."

The restaurant manager quickly approached upon hearing this and immediately responded, "Ma'am, we assure you that our dishes are of the highest standard. There's absolutely no chance of glass being in the food."

Maria cast a lingering glance at the manager before saying, "If your dishes are fine, then maybe one of your waiters is the problem. He's the one who served me the food "Sidney, come here!" the manager called out.

QUMS Sidney approached, his face darkening as anger flashed in his eyes. He glared at Maria and said coldly, "I didn't put glass in your food. Stop making baseless accusations!" en FindNovel

Chapter 900 Chapter 900 "You think I'm being unreasonable?" Maria asked, her expression full of mock surprise. "Do you really think I would falsely accuse you?"

The manager, seeing Sidney's lack of an apology and his confrontational attitude, quickly intervened. "You better apologize to the customer right now, then take her to the hospital for a check-up. If anything happens to the guest, you'll be held responsible!" Sidney's gaze turned cold as he looked at Maria, noticing the faint smile of amusement in her eyes.

Of course.

She wanted to see him crushed, to have control over him, and eventually forced to bow to her will. This was all just a game to her.

If, in the beginning, Maria had approached Sidney to complete Lucas' task, now, she was simply driven by the desire to see him broken.

"Fine, then call the police. There are security cameras from the kitchen to the dining area. I didn't do it, and I stand by that." Sidney's tone grew calm and cold.

He pulled out his phone and was about to dial the authorities.

The manager panicked and immediately blocked his way. "Just apologize and be done with it. Why call the police? You offended the customer, don't drag the restaurant into this mess! You can leave now we can't afford someone like you, without responsibility or professionalism!"

He then turned back to Maria with a smile. "Ma'am, I deeply apologize for this inconvenience. Whatever discomfort you're feeling is entirely due to his personal actions, and it has nothing to do with our restaurant. I assure you, our food is safe."

Maria raised an eyebrow, watching as Sidney's face darkened.

Tsk... he got fired.

Now what?

Was he still unwilling to bow to her?

To her surprise, Sidney didn't spare her another glance.

He simply removed his work badge, handed it to the manager, and walked out without a word.

The manager quickly addressed Maria, "I apologize for the poor experience you had. Your meal is on the house today. If there's anything else you need, feel free to let me know."

Maria's lips curved into a smile. "Alright, bring the menu over."

Realizing that Maria wasn't going to pursue the matter further, the manager hurried to bring her the menu.

Maria ordered a few more dishes and then pulled out her phone to send a text to Sidney.

"How fun was that?"

But as soon as the message was sent, a red exclamation mark appeared.

She had been blocked.

Tsk! He's learned something!

Instead of getting angry, Maria's smile only deepened.

Later that evening.

At the hospital, cheerful laughter echoed from inside the room. Sidney pushed the door open, carrying the dinner he had bought, only to find Maria sitting by his mother's bedside, chatting away with ela her.

swny On the small table beside the bed, steaming dishes were laid out. Sidney recognized them immediately-they were from the restaurant where he had just been working.

His face darkened instantly.

When Ruth saw him, she greeted him warmly, "Sidney, you're here! You must be tired after a long day, aren't you?"

Not wanting to show his frustration in front of his mother, Sidney quickly composed himself and walked over, saying, "I'm fine, not tired at all."

He glanced at the food on the table and reached out to start tidying it up.

"Mom, the doctor said your health doesn't suit greasy foods like these. You should stick to lighter meals."

But Ruth waved him off. "Oh, these were brought over by Miss Maria. Even if I can't eat them, you shouldn't put them away. You should have some."