Ch. 1481..1490

Chapter 1481 Miserable

After going upstairs, Johanna led Asel to the bathroom for a shower. Unfortunately, the kid was so tired from playing all day that she fell asleep while sitting and getting her hair blow-dried.

Without further ado, Johanna tucked her daughter into bed and sat by her side to watch over her.

As soon as Johanna left the room and went downstairs, Timothy, who had been waiting in the living room, jumped to his feet. After asking if Asel had fallen asleep, he promptly saw the woman out.

He really wanted to drive Johanna home, but sadly, they had returned to the house in the latter's car.

Just like that, both of them walked out in silence.

Timothy glanced at Johanna's profile and suddenly spoke up. "Asel has always loved you dearly. She may be young, but do you remember how she stood up for you at the mall? However, you've only been talking to her over the phone recently, so the kid's starting to feel somewhat alienated. She's also worried that you might not like her."

For a moment, Johanna said nothing. "If Asel really has forgotten me, that might not be such a bad thing," she muttered.

Of course, I love my child. What kind of mother wouldn't? However, Asel is still so young, and I can't always be with her. Therefore, I won't hold a grudge even if she forgets me...

"Don't think like that. There's no way Asel will forget you," Timothy said as he rubbed his temples. "Genev lived in Dartan with her two children for almost five years. Even though the kids had never met Armand they always remembered him as their father. You were sick before and ignored Asel at home. Not long after, you moved out. That's why she's overthinking things."

Since the night air was chilly, Timothy stepped forward to help Johanna button up her coat.

"When you aren't busy, can I bring Asel to see you?" he asked as he caressed Johanna's nape. "If you spend more time with her and treat her better, I'm sure she won't overthink things."

Johanna merely hummed in response.

Timothy deeply inhaled her scent before letting go of her hand reluctantly. "Take care on your way home. If you encounter something like what happened this afternoon, don't hesitate to call me."

Upon hearing that, Johanna chuckled. "It's already eleven at night. The roads are often filled with drunk drivers racing around. Only those with a death wish would go out looking for trouble."

Come to think of it... I would've paid for peace of mind if Timothy hadn't called me this afternoon.

After Johanna's car had driven away, Timothy turned around and returned to the house. However, as soon as he entered, he suddenly remembered something and headed to the garage with his car keys.

It was almost midnight, and the doorbell at Cooper's condominium wouldn't stop ringing.

Biting back his anger, he slipped into his robe and walked to the front door. When he saw Timothy standing outside through the peephole, he quickly opened the door.

"Has something happened?" Cooper asked with furrowed brows.

"It's bad," Timothy said as he fished his phone out. "Give me his phone number."

"Who?"

"The chef who taught you how to cook."

I remember Cooper was merely a novice cook, but after not seeing him for several months, his culinary skills suddenly improved by leaps and bounds. We even prepared the entire annual feast, and the food he made was exceptionally delicious. I don't think Cooper is as naturally talented as Armand, so there's no way he can self-learn and whip up a mouth-watering spread within months. I'm sure he had a skilled chef teaching him.

When Timothy said the situation was bad, Cooper thought something had happened to Armand or Genevieve, and his nerves were on edge. However, as it turned out, Timothy had rushed over in the middle of the night only to ask him for a phone number.

Thinking about how his night of passion had been ruined, Cooper was so furious he could strangle Timothy. "Did you rush here in the middle of the night just for a number? Are you out of your mind, Timothy Jensen?"

With that, Cooper slammed the door in Timothy's face.

Thankfully, the latter reacted fast by leaning into the doorway and preventing Cooper from closing the door. "Please. You have no idea how miserable I am. My wife wants to live separately and has already moved out. Don't you know that when a couple separates, their feelings for each other gradually fade? Who knows? She might even ask for a divorce soon..."

"Shut up!" Cooper snapped, not wanting to hear his prattle.

Chapter 1482 Coaxing

Timothy held his tongue for two minutes before piping up again, "Look. My wife and Genev are best friends, which means she's practically your half-sister. That makes you my brother-in-law. Since we're one family, shouldn't we share our blessings? You've honed your cooking skills and are deeply in love with your wife. It wouldn't be right to ignore your brother-in-law's well-being, would it?"

Alas, Cooper's expression remained grim, and all he wanted was to shove a slipper into Timothy's mouth to shut him up.

"Cooper..." Timothy pleaded, ignoring the man's seething anger and trying to appeal to his emotions. "Asel is only two years old. Imagine how pitiful she would be if her parents divorced. Wouldn't that break your heart?"

"Given how complicated your relationship with Johanna is, it's not something you can fix just by cooking for her and coaxing her," Cooper replied.

"Our relationship isn't complicated. What she needs is a little coaxing from me," Timothy retorted. "If you think culinary skills are useless, why did you still learn them?"

"I'm closing the door now," Cooper said impassively.

For the sake of his wife, Timothy relented. "All right. All right. I was wrong. Please give me the chef's phone number, Cooper. I'll leave after that."

After giving Timothy the number, Cooper kicked him out of the house before he could say anything more.

Feeling disgruntled, Cooper returned to his bedroom to find Sally making a phone call at the dressing table.

The woman had her back to the door, and her nightgown had a layer of light purple tulle. The back of the gown was thin, revealing her slender waist beneath. On top of that, her bare, long legs were delicate and as white as snow.

Seeing Sally bathed in the warm yellow light, Cooper's bad mood disappeared, only to be replaced by a lustful desire.

The next second, he embraced Sally from behind and left a trail of kisses on her back. Sally shivered at his touch, but that didn't stop her from talking to the person on the phone.

She quickly patted Cooper and pointed at her hair draped over her shoulder.

Having caught the hint, Cooper found a hair clip on the dressing table and tied her hair up. With that done, he lifted her into his arms and sat on the chair.

For a while, Cooper couldn't stop caressing Sally's left hand.

Even though the latter often handled guns, which left her with slightly rough hands and calluses on her palms, her long, slender fingers were still pretty attractive. Cooper gently kissed them one by one as if they were the most delicate objects in the world.

Sally, however, felt so harassed that she could barely continue with the phone call.

After assuring the person on the other end of the line that she'd arrive before seven in the morning, she hung up the phone and stared at Cooper. "Don't you think you're going too far?"

"How so? I didn't make a sound while you were on the phone."

"You're kissing me so erotically, and even your breathing has become heavy. Do you think others can't hear you?" Sally scolded. "If this call were from my dad, you'd be in big trouble."

Cooper laughed as he wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her into his arms. "Where are you going tomorrow morning? Can I give you a lift?"

"I'm meeting the leader and escorting him to Kille," Sally said before removing Cooper's glasses and placing them on the dressing table. "After that, we'll be heading to Yartran for the summit. The entire trip's likely to take half a month."

Upon hearing that, Cooper frowned. "There's more than one female bodyguard in the army. Why do they always pick you?"

"What can I do? I'm a soldier."

As it turned out, Sally didn't attend a regular military academy. Graduates from her school were either assigned to covert intelligence agencies or served as bodyguards for some of the most influential leaders.

As long as they were alive, they had to serve their country and could never refuse any tasks assigned by their higher-ups.

Since that was the nature of Sally's job, Cooper knew it wouldn't be right to interfere. He leaned in to kiss her, his voice deep and husky when he uttered, "Give me a video call when you aren't busy."

"There's a time difference abroad, though. What if I call, and it's three in the morning for you?"

"I'll still answer it," Cooper replied resolutely. "After all, you'll be abroad for half a month. I'll be worried if I don't see or hear from you."

"Fine," Sally said before taking a pause. "By the way, don't you like this outfit?"

Chapter 1483 She Is Captivating

Cooper lowered his gaze in puzzlement, and only then did he realize what Sally had on wasn't pajamas.

Instead, she was draped in a light purple tulle with hand-embroidered flowers, her fair skin faintly visible beneath the embroidery.

Cooper had been so focused on teasing her earlier that he failed to notice how enchantingly dressed she was.

"Buy more clothes like this in the future," Cooper whispered hoarsely. After sharing a deep, passionate kiss with Sally, he wasted no time carrying her to bed.

Knowing she'd be busy working abroad for a long time, Sally let the man have his way with her.

Since Sally was in good physical condition, the long night of passion only left her feeling a little tired. By the time she finished her bath, Cooper had already tidied the bed.

"I heard there's a church in Kille known for granting wishes," she remarked.

"But I've also heard that sixty percent of people in Kille are poor," Cooper said as he turned on the bedside lamp. With that, he climbed into bed and pulled Sally into his arms.

"If that church were so powerful, there wouldn't be any poor people in Kille. Furthermore, it's a royal church. The king worships there every year without fail, so why did he still fall ill?”

"You're aware of this too?" Sally exclaimed as she shot the man a glance.

Cooper pinched her cheek playfully. "Can't I know about these things without being involved in politics? I heard the king fell at the stable, and given his age, his health deteriorated significantly after that accident. That reminds me... He has yet to name a successor, so his children are fighting for power behind the scenes. Why are you guys still planning a visit when the situation in Kille is so unstable?"

"This visit was arranged a year ago," Sally replied. "Besides, no matter how much the king's children fight among themselves, he's still alive. The protocols of friendly visits between countries must still be followed."

Just then, a sudden realization struck Cooper. "Are they sending you because the situation in Kille is tense?"

"Yes."

Cooper was somewhat worried, but after seeing how calm and unfazed Sally was, he had no choice but to force himself to relax.

Sally rested her head on his arm. "Darling, do you want to hear some juicy gossip?"

"Oh? You have gossip, too?" Cooper asked bemusedly.

"I know more gossip than you could ever imagine!" she retorted. However, most of the gossip she knew had nothing to do with her or Cooper, and she didn't want to discuss politics at home. Therefore, she never mentioned any of it to him in the past.

"The first queen of Kille was a descendant of the Kaqite family from Xucror. Not only is the Kaqite family the wealthiest family in Xucror, but it also has close ties to the royal family," she added.

Needless to say, Cooper was well aware of the Kaqite family's fame and reputation.

"The Kaqite family values bloodline highly, so why would they let their child marry into Kille?" he asked.

Like the Helt family from Dartan, the Kaqite family from Xucror was also bound by strict traditions due to their ancient lineage. As a result, they practiced family intermarriages to maintain the purity of their bloodline.

However, marriages between close relatives often led to a high probability of genetic disorders in their descendants, causing the Kaqite family's lineage to dwindle over the years.

"Although the queen is from the Kaqite family, she's not from the main branch," Sally explained. "Her father had a good relationship with the head of the Kaqite family back then, so her family was treated well. Later, the queen attended an aristocratic school where she met the current king. The king was the crown prince then, and the Kaqite family was eager to expand their business into Kille. Naturally, they were more than thrilled about the marriage proposal."

Cooper instantly burst into laughter. "Haha! I've got to hand it to those sly, old foxes. I can't believe they even disguised their self-interest as love."

"You're right. The queen truly disliked the king," Sally answered calmly. "Even before he was crown prince, the king had numerous lovers and illegitimate children. His private life was a mess. On the other hand the queen had graduated from a prestigious university and was working in Xucror's royal court. She had an incredibly bright future ahead. However, since she and her family had been enjoying the privileges provided by the Kaqite family, they, too, were considered descendants of the Kaqite lineage. Hence, she had to accept the marriage even if she didn't want to."

Cooper furrowed his brows as he pondered over Sally's words. "I recall that the queen died of tuberculosis, didn't she?"

"That was what the royal family claimed to prevent arousing public suspicion. The truth is that after the queen married into the royal family, the king continued his philandering lifestyle. He even allowed his mistresses to provoke and bully her. Slowly but surely, the queen's depression worsened until she eventually died from her illness."

"So, the gossip you wanted to share with me is someone else's love story?" Cooper mumbled as he caressed Sally's face. "I thought it'd be something more scandalous."

Chapter 1484 Most Likely Dead

Sally pulled down the man's hand from her face. "I wasn't done talking yet. The king had previously appointed and deposed his heir, and since then, he has hesitated to appoint another. There's a reason for that and the infighting among his children. Can you guess what it is?"

Unsurprisingly, it didn't take long before Cooper came up with an answer. "He has a child he wants to appoint as his heir, but this child isn't by his side."

"Who do you think it is?" Sally asked again.

Cooper gently ran his fingers through her hair, a faint smile on his face. "The king had a lover for over forty years, but her background wasn't good enough for the royal family to accept her. Eventually, the king married one of his cousins to secure his throne. She later gave birth to twins-a boy and a girl. Meanwhile, his lover bore him two sons and two daughters. He could amend the rules of succession to appoint his cousin's daughter as the heir, but sadly, the daughter failed to rise to the occasion. The other son was also useless, so the king deposed him. With the pressure from the royal family elders, and his lover not having a legitimate status, he can't appoint her sons as heirs even if he wanted to..."

After a pause, Cooper continued, "The only one who can be appointed as the rightful heir and also satisfy the royal family is the son of the former queen."

"Everyone knows the former queen had no children, yet you still guessed it correctly." Sally said with a chuckle, "How are you so clever?"

Cooper lowered his head and kissed her. "Haven't I always been smart? Anyway, what's the inside scoop?"

"I heard from a few uncles that the queen was pregnant before she died. She lied to the old king by saying she had a miscarriage, but in reality, she gave birth to a child and sent it to the Kaqite family. However the king's lover accidentally found out about it. Fearing that the queen will raise the child in the Kaqite family and that he might one day return to claim the throne, she bribed someone to kill those escorting the child."

Everything was finally crystal clear to Cooper. "I see... The queen probably died of a broken heart after her child's death. In any case, even if the queen has no children and the king marries his cousin after her death, the position of the crown prince will not fall to the children of his mistress."

"What if the cousin's children are arrogant, extravagant, and indulgent?" Sally queries. "Although the king's lover can't get a legitimate status, she has always lived in the royal palace and is inseparable from him. She was the one who spoiled the two children in secret. If the queen's children are useless, but the lover's children are the cream of the crop, the royal family will have no choice but to make concessions for the sake of their country."

"Why did her calculations go wrong, then?" Cooper asked.

By then, Sally had found the man's arm uncomfortably hard and lifted her head. Understanding her discomfort, Cooper promptly withdrew his arm and placed a pillow under her head.

Now that she was lying sideways in Cooper's arms, Sally continued, "One of the bodyguards escorting the queen's child didn't die, but he did lose the child. When the Kaqite family learned about this, they secretly searched for the child far and wide. Alas, even after over a decade, they still haven't succeeded. The Kaqite family, aware of the old king's failing health and limited years left, informed him about the child. They insisted that he find this child and pass down the throne to him. If the throne were to fall into the hands of his other children, the Kaqite family would throw the royal family of Kille into chaos like no other."

After all, the Kaqite family was once very wealthy, and no other families in the rest of the world could rival their wealth and influence.

The Kaqite family might be dwindling, but the wealth left by their ancestors was still substantial, to the point where even the modern ultra-rich families would pale in their comparison.

Since their businesses were spread across the entire nation, it wouldn't be difficult for them to stir up trouble in a country.

Upon hearing that, Cooper became somewhat puzzled, "Didn't you say the queen isn't from the direct line of the Kaqite family? Even if her child were still alive, they wouldn't be considered a member of the Kaqite family. Why is the family so determined to find this child, then? Do they want to use the fact that the child's mother is from the Kaqite family to strengthen their relationship with Kille's royal family?"

"I suppose so. The Kaqite family has been looking for that child for over a decade without any luck. He's probably long dead," Sally replied.

"In that case, why is the king still sending people to continue the search?"

"Perhaps he's nearing death and feels guilty about everything he had done in his youth. He probably thinks he has let the queen down," Sally speculated. "To make matters worse, he found out that the lover he had doted on for over a decade had caused the death of his child with the queen. No matter how exceptional the children with his lover are, he wouldn't want to appoint them as heirs... Then, there's also the threat from the Kaqite family. If the child can't be found, and the Kaqite family gets involved, the Vermont family will undoubtedly have to make way for a new ruler."

"If the king is so worried, he could use an impostor," Cooper reasoned. "His children would get rid of the impostor in their fight for power without him ever lifting a finger. If the child is found but subsequently killed, he can't inherit the throne, and the Kaqite family wouldn't have a reason to go after the king."

Sally laughed and shook her head. "Those in politics are always cunning. Do you think the king hasn't considered the solutions you came up with?"

"Why wouldn't it work?" Cooper asked.

Chapter 1485 You Have The Money And Me

Sally pressed her cheek against his palm, her brow furrowed as she thought. "I've heard that the members of the Kaqite family have distinctive features. Anyone in the family can tell at a glance whether he is truly a Kaqite or an imposter. The old king knew this, so he didn't dare to send a counterfeit."

"I'm exhausted just hearing about all these family secrets," Cooper said. Seeing that the two had been chatting until two in the morning, he turned off the desk lamp and went to bed.

Sally said, "You mentioned the old king, didn't you? It reminded me of some gossip I'd like to share with you."

"That temple is truly miraculous. I heard the king's cousin went there to pray for blessings and later gave birth to twins," said Sally, placing the man's hand on her belly. "I'll go there to pray for a child too."

Cooper chuckled. "Those are all lies. Why would you believe them? You have money if you need it, and you have me if you need me. I think living in our own little world is quite nice too."

"I don't have noble blood, nor is there a throne waiting for a child to inherit at home," he added.

Sally was amused and snuggled into his broad embrace, "If we had a child, my dad might soften up. Every time I see him ignoring you, it breaks my heart."

The mere thought of his ruthless father-in-law gave Cooper a headache.

The company had a lot going on, so Timothy couldn't visit Johanna at the studio every day. However, whenever he had a moment, he would send a message to Yuvan reminding him not to get too close to his wife.

Yuvan was left speechless, wishing he could just block this guy.

That afternoon at one o'clock, Johanna had just stepped into the studio and put on her art apron to prevent paint from staining her clothes, when there was a knock at the studio door.

Yuvan went to the tea room to make coffee, Johanna went over to open the door; unexpectedly, it was Timothy.

He was holding Asel in one arm while carrying a bunch of stuff in the other. Underneath his black overcoat, he wore a light grey three-piece suit, clearly indicating that he must have been busy at the office since morning.

Asel was enjoying a lollipop. When she saw Johanna inside the door, her little legs kicked in Timothy's arms.

"Mommy!"

The little one leaned forward as if wanting Johanna to hold her, but seeing her wearing an apron, Timothy coaxed the child, "Mommy needs to paint, wait until she is done, then she'll hold you."

"I want to draw too," Asel raised her chubby little hand. "I want to draw a whale!"

"Alright." After entering the studio, Timothy took out a crawling mat from the bag he was carrying and placed it next to the floor-to-ceiling window. Then, he set Asel down to sit on it.

While Johanna was rummaging through her bag, she discovered that it was filled with numerous toys, sketchbooks, and a set of color pencils.

She took out all the items and placed them on the crawling mat while chatting with Timothy, "You can just have the maid bring Asel to the studio. I see that you're quite busy."

"I only go home after I finish my work," he turned his head and asked Johanna, "Don't I look handsome in a suit?"

The man's almond-shaped eyes, as beautiful as peach blossoms, were fixed on Johanna. They were filled with deep affection as if he was about to pull her in for a kiss any second.

Just as Timothy was about to make a move, the ambiguous atmosphere was shattered by Yuvan, "Oh, Timothy is here too?"

Johanna averted her gaze, gently rubbing Asel's chubby cheeks, then she stood up.

Timothy noticed his wife suddenly distancing herself from him. Her melancholic eyes turned toward Yuvan, who had an innocent look on his face. "I didn't know you were coming, so I didn't make your cup of coffee."

"Drinking too much coffee in the afternoon isn't good. One cup with Jojo is enough for me." Timothy took off his coat and hung it on the rack by the door.

Johanna seemed not to hear him. She sat in front of the easel, mixing paints.

Johanna already had a solid foundation in art. Although she had never studied oil painting, she was intelligent. Under the hands-on guidance of Yuvan, her painting skills advanced by leaps and bounds after just a few lessons.

Yuvan stood next to the easel, talking to Johanna, explaining to her which types of ore could be refined into pigments for painting.

The two of them were chatting away, each taking turns to speak, thoroughly enjoying their conversation.

Timothy felt a hint of jealousy. He walked over and asked, "Is there anything I can help with?"

Chapter 1486 Time Alone With You

"Just in time, Jojo is drawing people today. You can be her model," said Yuvan, knowing why Timothy was here, and unceremoniously directed him, "Move the sofa over there."

Timothy was busy moving the sofa in front of the easel when Yuvan's phone rang. He went to the pantry to answer it.

In less than two minutes, Yuvan finished his call and came out. He said to Johanna, "The people from the art gallery need me for something. Take your time with your drawing, I'll check your work when I'm done with my tasks."

Johanna nodded. "Alright, you can go on with your work."

Originally, she asked Yuvan to teach her oil painting because she wanted to decorate the walls of her studio. If taking classes from him would interfere with his work, she would feel embarrassed.

Watching Yuvan put on his coat and leave, the furrowed brow of Timothy finally relaxed.

Finally, I can spend some alone time with my wife.

Timothy didn't rush to sit down. He unbuttoned his vest and looked at Johanna. "Jojo, should I sit directly on the sofa, cross my legs, or lie down on my side?"

Johanna seemed to ponder for a moment, then said, "Please sit down. It will make it easier for me to draw."

"Alright, I'll listen to you."

Johanna picked a pencil from the tool tray, her gaze drifting past the canvas to the man sitting on the sofa. His long legs were spread out, his elbow resting casually on the armrest of the sofa, his movements nonchalant yet captivating.

The man's brow bore a sense of fatigue that came after the satisfaction of accumulating enough wealth. His thin lips were slightly pursed, and the outline was incredibly sensual.

Johanna knew that Timothy's mother passed away early. Later, Jeremiah married Vanessa.

Her mother, Vanessa, couldn't bear a life without money. Even though she married Jeremiah for wealth, she was always kind to Timothy, her stepson. Despite his cold attitude towards her, she took care of him.

Therefore, even though Timothy was fooling around in his youth, he remained clear-headed and never developed any bad habits.

Johanna was lost in thought. If only she hadn't been foolishly tricked into returning by her father, or if she had found out from Vanessa that she was Timothy's stepmother, she could have quickly severed ties with Timothy...

Vanessa would continue to care for Timothy as if he were her own son. In a few years, when he got married, she would help him take care of his children.

Vanessa was not at fault, she was the one who was wrong.

She severed her birth mother's life of wealth and prosperity in the latter half of her life and also altered the course of Timothy's life.

Timothy saw Johanna staring at him, seemingly lost in thought with a troubled expression. He rose from the sofa. "Jojo, what's wrong?"

"There's nothing." Johanna shook her head after coming back to her senses.

She refocused her energy on painting, but whenever she looked at Timothy sitting on the sofa, she felt his posture lacked artistic appeal. Unintentionally, her gaze swept over to the bunch of red roses on the bar counter.

Johanna picked four or five roses from the vase, wrapped them in clear wrapping paper, and handed them to Timothy.

As Timothy reached out to take the rose, he unexpectedly pulled Johanna towards him. Johanna lost her balance and fell onto him. Timothy supported her by the hips, making sure she was comfortably seated on his lap.

Timothy's voice was soft. "Asel misses you. That's why I brought her to the studio to see you. If you don't like it, we won't come next time."

He thought Johanna felt uncomfortable because he had disturbed her while she was painting.

"I don't dislike it. I actually miss Asel quite a bit," Johanna explained to Timothy, "I was just lost in thought because I was thinking about something else."

Timothy asked, "Does it have anything to do with me?"

Johanna remained silent, bending down to pick up the bouquet that had fallen to the ground. However, Timothy held the back of her head, not allowing her to avoid his gaze.

Timothy noticed the lip gloss she had applied today. Her lips were pink, glossy, and moist, even carrying a hint of fragrance.

Timothy was so enchanted by her that he forgot to ask his questions. His Adam's apple bobbed as he leaned in to kiss Johanna, but his trousers were unexpectedly tugged at.

Chapter 1487 I Also Want A Kiss

Asel stared at them with her big eyes, expressing her grievance, "I also want a kiss from Mommy."

Johanna swiftly brushed aside Timothy's hand and got off him. She looked down at the little one for a moment, then held the child's chubby face and gave it a kiss.

"Mommy's kiss smells so sweet!" Asel exclaimed excitedly, puckering her small lips to give Johanna a return kiss.

Johanna's heart softened. "My darling, you smell so sweetly of milk."

Asel didn't even know how long it had been since her mom last hugged and kissed her. Hearing her mom praise her, she kissed Johanna several times, smearing his face with her saliva.

With a gentle smile, Johanna took a tissue and wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth.

Once Asel happily went back to her drawing, Timothy leaned over to Johanna. "Jojo, you kissed Asel, now give me a kiss too."

"You're not a child. Go back and sit properly on the sofa."

Feeling wronged, Timothy picked up the bouquet from the ground and obediently sat on the sofa. He quietly watched Johanna behind the canvas, observing her eyebrows, her eyes, her rosy lips...

Her lips curled up slightly, looking incredibly adorable.

To distract herself, Timothy started a conversation with Johanna, "Jojo, Asel's second birthday is in a few days. What are you planning to give her as a birthday gift?"

Johanna had been busy lately, so she didn't realize that Asel's birthday had come around so quickly.

"With a wealthy father like you, she can have all the peculiar toys she wants." Johanna couldn't think of what else to give. "I'll make her a couple of little dresses."

Timothy said, "Asel has recently fallen in love with whales, hasn't she? I'll have someone buy two blue whales for her."

Johanna looked at him speechlessly. "It's illegal to raise whales privately."

Timothy noticed a change in his wife's emotions as she spoke to him. With a playful smile, he said, "I never mentioned raising it privately. We could buy a large aquarium and raise the whale there."

Upon hearing the word 'whale', Asel immediately lifted her head to look at Timothy, "Daddy, I like whales. They are so big, so big."

"Come give Daddy a kiss, and Daddy will buy you a whale."

Asel immediately scampered over. As soon as Timothy leaned in, she planted a kiss on his cheek. After the kiss, she commented, "Daddy's face isn't soft at all, and he doesn't smell nice either. He's stinky."

"Are you fed up with Daddy?" Timothy playfully feigned anger, tickling the little one's waist and making her giggle non-stop.

Johanna saw this heartwarming scene and gave a gentle smile.

Johanna worked swiftly. By the time Yuvan returned around four o'clock, she had already sketched out the object's outline and was now refining the details of the clothing.

After reviewing Johanna's work, Yuvan praised her, "You're quite clever. You've remembered everything I've taught you over the past few days. Why don't you consider switching your career to painting? I can be your teacher..."

Timothy interrupted him expressionlessly, "Even if Jojo changes her profession, there's a group of masters waiting for her. She doesn't need your guidance."

He was afraid that Johanna would chat too much with Yuvan, so he made the excuse that Asel was hungry and needed to eat. As soon as Johanna finished packing up her painting supplies, he grabbed her bag and impatiently led the mother and daughter away.

Asel happened to see all this and curiously asked her dad, "Dad, don't you like Uncle Yuvan?"

"No, he has ill intentions toward your mother."

While waiting for the elevator, Timothy glanced at Johanna standing nearby, then quietly said to Asel, "Sweetie, if you ever see a handsome uncle near your mom, go tell them that your dad is very handsome, and they shouldn't even come near your mom."

"Um-hum." Asel nodded. "I remember now."

"You really are Daddy's good girl." Timothy wanted to reward her with a kiss, but Asel quickly slapped her hand over his mouth, her little brows furrowing tightly.

Timothy suddenly felt that he had been wronged. His daughter wouldn't let him kiss her, and he couldn't even kiss his wife.

Chapter 1488 Is There Any News That Can Still Scare Me

After leaving the building, Timothy called Armand, intending to join them for dinner. However, both Armand and Genevieve were busy, and Sally was on a business trip abroad. So, Timothy drove to the school to pick up the twins and they had lamb stew at Golden Restaurant that evening.

Armand didn't finish work until after six. He sent a message to Genevieve, knowing that she was discussing matters with a producer at the club. He decided to wait for her at the club.

Around half past seven, he saw Genevieve emerge from the club with a few people.

Genevieve also spotted his car. After seeing everyone off, he came over to open the car door for her. Once she was seated, Armand picked up the milk tea from the glove compartment and handed it to her. "It hasn't been more than two hours, the taste should still be fine."

Genevieve had been drinking Chinese tea in the private room until her mouth tasted bitter. Now, her mood finally improved a bit after sipping several mouthfuls of warm milk tea.

"It's all Jerry's fault," Genevieve said, slumped in her seat like a corpse, massaging her brow as she spoke to Armand. "Remember he was supposed to start shooting that film in early March? However, the director couldn't get a hold of him. Besides, Joash told me that Jerry called him, saying he won't have time to film for the next few months..."

The contract for this drama hadn't been signed by Jerry yet, but it was previously negotiated on his behalf by Charlotte. The director was also very satisfied with him.

If they knew that Jerry was on strike, both Kieron and the producer would be furious.

Genevieve knew that Jerry wouldn't be back for a while, but the filming schedule was already set. She first contacted Zander from Ingenuity Entertainment, and after agreeing on the terms of exchange, she arranged a detailed discussion with the director at the club.

A few of them had a lengthy discussion in the private room. Thanks to Genevieve's concessions, they finally reached an agreement with the production team and the director.

After finishing her complaint, Genevieve asked Armand, "Is he alright?"

"He's fine, but the Pann family might not be." Armand drove away from the clubhouse entrance.

"What's wrong?" Genevieve asked urgently.

Armand didn't want to tell Genevieve about this matter, fearing it would traumatize her. But Genevieve said nonchalantly, "I've experienced death several times, what news could possibly scare me?" Armand said, "Jerry can't find Charlotte, but Sebastian said he has already dealt with Charlotte..."

"Jerry brutally interrogated Sebastian's people for several days before he managed to pry some information out of one of them. In fact, Sebastian had secretly gone to the capital in January, and only took action after he waited for Mr. Lohan's film crew to kidnap Charlotte.

"Charlotte was indeed dead, and it was this bodyguard who stuffed her into an iron barrel and threw it into the sea.

"But Jerry refused to believe. He suspected that Sebastian was hiding someone. As long as Sebastian didn't reveal where Charlotte was, he would kill a member of the Pann family each day." Before he could finish speaking, Genevieve took a deep, cold breath, her face filled with shock.

Armand glanced at her from the corner of his eye, helplessly saying, "I told you that you wouldn't like what you heard, but you insisted that I tell you."

"Is he serious?" Genevieve asked with her hand over her heart, still feeling a hint of lingering fear.

Armand said calmly, "Now, everyone in the Pann family is loyal to Jerry. As long as their surname is Pann, he spares no one regardless of their blood ties, whether they are male or female, young or old." Jerry had always despised the Pann family. After his foster father's death, he had absolutely no more affection for the Pann family.

"Mando, you've known him for many years, so you can't just stand by and watch him turn into a demon." Genevieve knew that the Pann family was once mafia, but they had long since taken the righteous path. Jerry was now completely consumed by rage.

"I couldn't persuade him, and I couldn't find an excuse to deceive him either." Armand sighed slightly before he continued, "I had people search that sea area, but they found nothing."

The bodyguard admitted that he was the one who sealed the iron barrel, and the lid could only be unscrewed from the outside. Charlotte was tied up and thrown into the barrel. Even if she was alive at the time there was no way for her to escape.

Chapter 1489 His Cooking Is Even Worse Than Mine

Upon hearing this, Genevieve was stunned for a long time, "How did it turn out like this?"

A few months ago, she had pulled Charlotte out of the pit, igniting her fighting spirit to make money.

Unfortunately...

Jerry loved Charlotte, and there was no doubt that he would take care of the Gaudette family. However, he never expected that his actions would drag his own family into trouble, leading Sebastian to blame Charlotte, and even harm her.

"This isn't your fault." Armand held Genevieve's hand in his palm. "I'm going to tell you something you would never expect."

Genevieve's thoughts were diverted by him, and she asked curiously, "What's the matter?"

"A few days ago, Timothy ran to Cooper's apartment in the wee hours of the morning," Armand said, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry. "Cooper was so annoyed that he blocked him, and then vented to me for quite a while."

"What is he doing at my brother's apartment?”

Armand chuckled. "He thinks that if Cooper can learn to cook, so can he. He asked Cooper for the chef's phone number."

"So he went to find my brother in the wee hours, just for a number?" Genevieve said, laughing heartily.

"He probably feared that Cooper wouldn't respond to his messages, so he went to ask him in person," Armand said. "The chef at Golden Restaurant told me that Timothy is quite diligent, learning from him for an hour every morning."

"He actually wants to be the perfect husband. It's like the sun rising from the west." Genevieve sighed.

Genevieve rose from her chair, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Aren't we going to have lamb stew at Golden Restaurant later? Mando, you should persuade Timothy to cook. I want to taste his cooking." Armand said, "Not everyone has a knack for cooking like I do. Besides, he's only been in the kitchen for a few days. Don't set your expectations too high."

"You really know how to toot your own horn," Genevieve said with a smirk.

Once they arrived at Golden Restaurant, Armand pulled Timothy aside for a private chat. He mentioned that he was aware of Timothy's culinary training with the chef. Seeing the great opportunity that day, he suggested that Timothy should cook a dish for Johanna to taste.

After practicing his cooking skills for a few days, Timothy really wanted to show off his abilities. With just a few words from Armand, he suddenly found an excuse to go to the kitchen.

As Genevieve was enjoying the lamb stew, she chatted with Johanna, "Scarlette is going to attend an event in Kille. Jojo, isn't your shop still under renovation? Why don't you come with me to Kille for a visit? There's a Water Splashing Festival at the end of February, and I heard it's quite lively."

"Asel's birthday is on the twenty-first," Armand reminded her. "Also, next Friday, your two treasures have their school's summer sports day. All parents are expected to attend." Genevieve said, "Then I'll let Camilla accompany her. Asel's birthday is more important."

Genevieve looked at Asel's soft and squishy face with affection, playfully pinching it. "Sweetie, what gift do you want? How about I wrap up Luc and give him to you as a present?" "Mommy, I think this is great!" Amanda was the first to raise her hand in agreement, while Lucian gave her a sidelong glance.

Armand wore a helpless expression on his face. "Don't corrupt the child."

"I'm just joking around." Genevieve chuckled, leaning in to whisper to Armand, "Mando, could you check on Timothy in the kitchen? What's taking so long to cook a dish?" Armand also felt that Timothy had been in the kitchen for too long. Just as he was about to go look for Timothy, he returned.

Armand asked him in a low voice, "What are you doing?"

"You'll see when the waiter brings it over," Timothy replied softly, his eyebrows brimming with confidence. "Just wait for my wife to praise me."

Before long, the waiter knocked on the door and came in, placing a plate of savory spaghetti bolognese on the table.

Genevieve guessed that this must be Timothy's doing. The spaghetti looked quite appetizing. She handed a fork to Johanna, saying, "I heard this spaghetti bolognese is made by a master chef. Jojo, you should try some too."

Genevieve took some into her mouth. As soon as she tasted it, her face contorted. No matter what, she just couldn't swallow the food.

While pretending to wipe her mouth with a napkin, she discreetly spat the pasta into it.

Armand noticed that Genevieve's expression was off, so he poured a glass of orange juice and handed it to her. Genevieve quickly took a couple of sips, then she muttered under her breath, "Good grief, Timothy's cooking skills are even worse than mine."

She simply couldn't cook. At least her pasta is edible, but the spaghetti made by Timothy was just...

Chapter 1490 He Is Quite Adorable

Genevieve watched as Johanna took some spaghetti. She was so startled that she wanted to say, "Don't eat it," when Johanna had already put it in her mouth. Her expression visibly changed. Genevieve quickly grabbed a tissue and handed it over.

Perhaps feeling it would be inappropriate to spit it out, Johanna swallowed the mouthful of spaghetti, then silently picked up her juice and started drinking.

After putting down her glass, Johanna said, "This chef's spaghetti... it's truly an acquired taste."

"Perhaps the head chef was too busy, so he let his apprentice cook the spaghetti." Genevieve glanced at Timothy, suppressing a laugh as he said, "I bet this apprentice of the head chef thinks that the seasonings are free, so he added a lot during the cooking."

Even Timothy, as naive as he was, understood everything when Genevieve looked at him and said those words.

He was somewhat unconvinced. Hey, the spaghetti and side dishes were all prepared by the chef. I added the seasonings in the right order, and the spaghetti looks so delicious. How could it possibly not taste good?

Timothy took a bite of the spaghetti, only to find the flavor too overpowering. It took him several seconds to force himself to swallow it.

Genevieve almost burst into laughter. She deliberately asked Timothy, "Mr. Jensen, aren't you quite picky about your food? You've been to all the gourmet restaurants in Jadeborough. What do you think of this spaghetti?"

"It tastes awful," Timothy said without changing his expression, "But I think that apprentice just needs more practice."

Genevieve had never seen someone so adept at making excuses for their own mistake.

After she finished laughing, she hinted, "I think some people are not cut out for doing kitchen work, they might as well stick to what they're good at."

"I don't agree," Timothy said defiantly, "No one is born suited for anything. Practice makes perfect. As long as one is willing to spend time, even moving mountains can be achieved."

She interjected again, "I know there's an idiom that fits perfectly with what my godfather said, it's called 'foolish something'..."

"The Foolish Old Man Moving the Mountains," Lucian added for her.

"Yes. it's like the Foolish Old Man Moving the Mountains," said Amanda. Turning her head towards Timothy, she asked, "Uncle Tim, do you know how to cook?"

"No, I don't." Timothy denied that the spaghetti bolognese on the table was his work. He added, "But your godfather is very skilled. He can whip up something delicious in just a few minutes." "Really?" Amanda's eyes lit up, "Then, how about you cook for us this weekend!"

Seeing Timothy lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot, Genevieve couldn't help but laugh. She whispered to Armand, "I find Timothy quite adorable, but I still think he is annoying."

Just as Armand was about to get jealous, the second half of her sentence left him speechless. What was that supposed to mean?

In the morning, Johanna took her car to the 4S shop for a new system installation. In the afternoon, she took a taxi to the art studio. After Asel fell asleep in the evening, Timothy finally had the chance to drive her back home.

Inside the car, Timothy chatted with Johanna, "Jojo, isn't your painting unfinished? I'll continue to be your model tomorrow afternoon."

After some thought, Johanna said, "I have something to do tomorrow, so I won't be able to go to the art studio."

"No worries as the day after tomorrow works too." He stole a glance at Johanna in the passenger seat. "Although I've never cooked before, I'm sure I'm pretty good at it. Let me know what you'd like to eat someday, and I'll make it for you."

Johanna couldn't help but laugh at the man's inexplicable confidence before she finally nodded. "Alright, I'll let you know when I decide what I want to eat."

After dropping Johanna off at the residential area, Timothy waited until she entered the condominium before getting into the car.

The car drove out of the residential area, and Timothy dialed the number of the chef who was teaching him. "Master, one hour of cooking practice during the day is not enough. Could you accompany me for some extra classes in the evening?"

The master tactfully suggested, "Mr. Jensen, if you fancy something to eat, why not hire a private chef? It's quite tiring for a busy person like you to cook."

"My goddaughter and my wife are waiting for me to cook for them," Timothy said, not backing down. "Besides, if Cooper can whip up a feast, there's no way I can't."