Ch. 1391..1400

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 1391-Corinne did not seem perturbed. “Hurry up. Which song would you like to listen to? I’ll play it for you so it won’t feel awkward when we don’t have anything to talk about during the call.” Jeremy remained composed and unaffected. Even her shallow breathing was comforting to her. He replied, “Let’s listen to ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’.” Corinne used her music player to search for the song and found several by different artists. She asked, “Who’s the singer?” Jeremy replied, “Simon and Garfunkel.” Music soon filled the air as Corinne played the track. After listening briefly to the song, she suddenly remarked, “I never felt such a significant generation gap

between us before this, but I feel it now that I’m listening to this song! We listen to songs from different eras, haha…” Jeremy stopped typing on his keyboard. He seemed to take some offense to Corinne’s remark. “Are you bothered by my age?” Corinne sighed. “There’s nothing I can do about it even if I am. You being older than I am is a fact. We can’t turn back the clock.” Jeremy’s expression soured, and the atmosphere in the car became heavy. He did not usually care much about his age, but he did so when it came to Corinne.

His silence elicited a chuckle from her. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you upset?” “No,” Jeremy replied curtly.

Corinne then said, “Your song choice is a little dated, but it’s pretty nice, especially the lyrics. It’s quite fitting for the moment.” Jeremy did not respond to her remark. Instead, he asked, “What songs do you like to listen to? Choose one that youngsters like you enjoy.” “You probably won’t enjoy the songs I listen to,” Corinne replied.

“You don’t know that. Put one on,” Jeremy insisted.

Corinne proceeded to play a song that was chock full of rapping, leaving Jeremy at a loss.

As expected, Jeremy could not quite appreciate that sort of music. The two of them continued to share their music preferences and made small talk as three hours passed.

The car eventually arrived at Adam Manor where Sophia’s father resided.

Jeremy informed Corinne, “I’ve arrived.” He then placed the phone—of which the call was still connected—into his pocket before exiting the car and walking into the house.

Adam had arranged for several people to wait for Jeremy’s arrival. One of them greeted him, “Mister Jeremy, we’ve been told to receive you on your arrival here.” Jeremy nodded and replied, “Take me to see Mister Adam.” “Of course. Please follow me,” the man said politely, bowing slightly as he gestured for Jeremy to come with him.

Jeremy, along with Tommy, followed the man into Adam’s vast estate. He finally arrived at a spacious gym where Adam was lifting weights.

Adam had maintained an impressive physique despite his old age, and that could be considered a testament to his discipline.

The young man who led Jeremy there said, “Sir, Mister Jeremy is here.” Adam placed the barbell down and smiled at Jeremy. “My son-in-law has arrived!”

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 1392-Jeremy approached Adam calmly, projecting strength while being very polite. He said, “I’m just a friend of your daughter, so you shouldn’t call me that. Please, just call me by my name.” Adam replied with an emotionless smile, “Why shouldn’t I? You have a marriage certificate with my daughter. Who else are you if you’re not my son-in-law?” Jeremy explained, “Sophia and I obtained the marriage certificate to convince my grandfather to undergo surgery. This was the agreement your daughter and I made. The agreement clearly stated that the marriage certificate was solely for that purpose. It has no other significance. Once that situation is resolved, both parties can agree on a date to annul the certificate.”

Having said that, Jeremy nodded to Tommy, signaling for him to present the agreement to Adam.

Adam glanced at the agreement with a menacing expression but did not reach out to take it.

Jeremy continued, “If you’re dissatisfied with this agreement, feel free to raise your terms. I’ll do my best to compensate Sophia reasonably.” Tommy extended the agreement to Adam again, saying, “Please have a look, Mister Adam.” Adam tore up the agreement without even reading it. He sneered, “Do you think my daughter wants your compensation?” Jeremy remained unruffled by Adam’s reaction. He maintained his composure and asked, “Then what do you propose? I’m all ears.” Adam’s expression turned even more sullen as he sneered wickedly. “Do you think you can provide any sort of compensation for my daughter? She has everything she wants. Sophia is my everything, yet she was deceived by a sc*mbag into getting a marriage certificate for no good reason. Now that you’ve gotten what you want, you have no qualms about abandoning her. Do you think you can just use her and dump her whenever you like? I want you to take responsibility for my daughter!” Jeremy’s expression remained calm as he corrected, “I’ve never misled Sophia.

She was fully aware of the reasons and intentions behind obtaining the certificate, and she willingly offered her help. I genuinely appreciate her assistance, and I’m willing to compensate her as much as I can, but I must apologize because I cannot take responsibility for her. I have a family now and with a child on the way too. My obligations lie solely toward my wife and children.” Adam stared at him and retorted sarcastically, “You want to take responsibility for that bratty Corinne at the expense of my daughter? To think that a young woman like Sophia would have to face divorce because of you! Sophia might be able to find someone she loves in the future and get married to him, but that will be considered her second marriage! You’ve caused her immense physical and emotional distress, not to mention a tremendous amount of damage to her reputation. Do you think I’ll let you do as you please and be with Corinne?” There was anger in Adam’s eyes when he mentioned Corinne’s name.

Jeremy’s expression sank, but he responded calmly, “Mister Adam, I’d like to inform you that I did my research before asking Sophia for help in obtaining the certificate. There is significant flexibility in terms of having the marriage annulled. What I’m seeking right now is an annulment, not a divorce. An annulment erases all traces from Sophia’s records, indicating that there was never a substantive relationship between us to begin with. I am nevertheless still willing to compensate her and express my gratitude for her assistance.” Adam sneered. “Easy for you to say!”

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 1393-“You’re a grown man. This might not affect your reputation at all, but Sophia’s marriage history might someday come to light even if you annul the marriage.

There would be disdain and criticism from her future spouse and in-laws! Do you have any idea how much this would affect a young woman’s life? You seem to be taking this very lightly!” Adam’s irritation grew as he spoke. He signaled to the men beside him, and they promptly handed him a professional baseball bat.

Adam gently tapped the baseball bat in his hand and said, “It is my duty as a father to prevent anyone from mistreating my daughter like this! You mentioned compensating Sophia, right? Very well! I’ll present you with two options now.

The first is to forget about Corinne, have a grand wedding with my daughter,

and be responsible for her for as long as she lives. As for the other option, I’ll allow you to annul your marriage with Sophia if you’re able to survive a hundred strikes of this baseball bat. The ball is in your court!” Jeremy glanced at the baseball bat in Adam’s hand. He frowned, but his emotions remained indiscernible.

After observing Jeremy’s silence, Adam sneered and said, “What’s wrong? Can’t make up your mind? You’re a coward, Jeremy. You’re unwilling to take responsibility for my daughter, and you don’t dare endure a hundred hits for Corinne.

“Is that all you’ve got going for you? Where did all that big talk about wanting to take responsibility for your wife and children go? If you don’t have the balls to endure that, you can always choose the option of giving my daughter a proper wedding. I’ll pretend as if nothing happened and accept you as my son-in-law!

“Oh, and that’s not all! I’ve had people investigate Corinne’s whereabouts. You might have hidden her at the Riveras for now, but she can’t hide there forever.

My people will get to her eventually. At the end of the day, she’ll have to go to the hospital when her pregnancy comes to term. I’ll bomb the entire hospital if it means I’ll be able to stop you both from escaping.” Jeremy was visibly troubled by the threat to Corinne’s safety. He could protect her for a while, but he could not guarantee being constantly by her side. Having someone keep watch on her around the clock would make her unhappy as she cherished her freedom very much. If she felt as though she was being controlled, she would almost certainly find a way to escape.

Jeremy knew that Adam Group was infamous for its unethical business practices, and Adam himself was a shady character too. They would resort to any means necessary to achieve their aims. Adam was a madman who had no hesitation in carrying out a hospital bombing, all while ensuring he would have a scapegoat that would allow him to evade justice.

Jeremy was hesitant not because he feared the 100 strikes. He was primarily concerned that getting injured would prevent him from returning within three days to keep Corinne company in the delivery room. However, that was but a minor concern to the issue of her safety.

Jeremy removed his suit jacket with a composed expression and said, “Okay, then. I’ll take a hundred strikes from your baseball bat. I expect you to honor your word after this. Allow Sophia and I to proceed with the annulment and never trouble my wife and children in the future.” Adam was taken aback. He had not expected Jeremy to choose the beating over taking responsibility for Sophia.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 1394-Adam sneered disdainfully, “Don’t worry. In all my life of making deals, I never go back on my word.” Jeremy reached surreptitiously into his pocket and ended the active call. He then smiled at Adam and said, “Let’s get on with it, then. The quicker we end this, the better.” Jeremy had shown tremendous resolve to avoid becoming Adam’s son-in-law, so Adam rubbed his hands vigorously without any intention of going easy on Jeremy.

“Good. You had a better option, but you just had to choose the toughest one.

You’ve made your bed, so sleep in it!”

Jeremy handed his coat to Tommy and instructed, “Go outside and wait for me.” Tommy expressed concern and warned earnestly, “Sir, he’s renowned for his formidable strength. Taking a hundred blows from him could be fatal!” Jeremy, however, remained unfazed. He had no intention of changing his mind and replied pointedly, “If she calls again later, tell her I’m fine and that I’ve gone to bed.” Tommy frowned. “But, Sir…” Jeremy ignored his pleas and approached Adam calmly. “Please proceed.” Adam flexed his wrist mercilessly as he swung the bat at full force.

Jeremy groaned but remained standing. The first blow struck Jeremy’s back, and his forehead began to sweat due to the intense pain.

Tommy could not bring himself to leave. He never witnessed such a situation before, and he wanted to intervene. “Sir!” Jeremy issued a stern order. “Stay away. Don’t interfere.” Although Tommy hesitated, he ultimately defied Jeremy’s order for the first time.

He rushed over in a desperate attempt to protect Jeremy, but Adam’s associates blocked him and stopped him from going any further. Tommy had no choice but to grit his teeth and watch helplessly.

Adam delivered the second blow, eliciting another agonized groan from Jeremy.

The strike hit the back of his knee, nearly causing him to kneel. Before his knees could touch the ground, the man clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he stood straight up again. He then continued to endure the punishment.

Adam did not stop there.

After several blows, Sophia barged into the room all of a sudden and threw herself in anguish and shock at the battered, bruised Jeremy. She cried out, “Jeremy! Jeremy… Dad! What are you doing?!” Jeremy lay on the ground. His leg bones were broken, his body was covered in bruises, and blood stained his mouth. He gazed firmly at Adam and did not even turn to look at Sophia. His voice trembled weakly due to the pain as he said, “… Ten more to go. Please continue.” Adam had almost vented out all his anger after swinging 90 blows. However, when he witnessed Jeremy’s unyielding demeanor, his pupils constricted, and he had nothing but admiration for his determination to face death rather than surrender. In that case, he would be happy to grant that request!

As soon as Sophia saw her father raise the bat again, she threw her arms around Jeremy and shielded him. She begged her father, “Stop it, Dad! Stop hitting him!” Adam furrowed his brow and scolded his daughter. “Stand up, Sophia! I’m going to teach this wretch a lesson for letting you down. I’ll find someone better for you in the future!” Tears welled up in Sophia’s eyes. She shook her head vehemently and refused to budge. “Didn’t you promise me that you’d talk with him? Why are you beating him up? You’re going to kill him! I’ll join him in the afterlife if he dies!”

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 1395-Adam could not help but express his frustration when he saw her daughter’s desperation. “Do you truly believe he has any affection for you? He’d rather endure a hundred blows from me than take responsibility for you! Why would you still want to cling to him? He’ll only look for other women!” Sophia ignored this. She knew her father’s temper well, and Jeremy was bound to die if Adam continued to strike him.

“I don’t care! If you want to hit him, you’re going to have to go through me!” “You’re nothing like me, Sophia…” Adam gazed at his daughter as she protected Jeremy in such a steadfast fashion. Sophia’s interruption left him displeased, but he eventually compromised and spared Jeremy’s life.

In the meantime, Jeremy poured in all his energy to get to his feet. His voice was firm and cold as he said to Adam, “Are you tired already? You have ten more strikes to go. Do it and complete the job.” Just as Adam was about to throw the bat away, Jeremy’s defiant request— showing a distinct lack of fear toward death—rekindled his anger. ‘Does he think I won’t beat him to death?’ he thought to himself.

He tightened his grip on the baseball bat and raised it while declaring fiercely, “Move aside, Sophia! I’ll be tarnishing the reputation that I’ve built up over the years if I don’t keep my word!” Sophia looked at her father’s resolve and realized she could no longer dissuade him. She turned her attention to Jeremy and pleaded urgently, “Please don’t provoke my father at this time, Jeremy. He’ll kill you!” Jeremy remained unmoved and told Sophia off. “Move. Don’t be a busybody.” Sophia was distraught and on the verge of tears. “Jeremy! Please don’t do this, Jeremy! Please! My dad has a terrible temper. Stop provoking him! Do you want him to kill you? I’m begging you… Don’t…” Jeremy ignored her and continued to taunt Adam. “Do it!” Adam lost control of his anger. He signaled his men to come over and move Sophia out of the way. Several people then came forward and forcibly pulled Sophia away despite her resistance. With Sophia no longer in the way, Adam struck Jeremy forcefully with the bat.

Jeremy coughed up blood as he lay on the ground.

Sophia collapsed and shouted, “That’s enough, Dad! Are you sure you want to kill him? I’ll sever all ties with you if you do!” Despite Adam’s fondness for his daughter, she was no deterrent to his temper when it flared up. He paid no heed to Sophia’s cries and continued to assault Jeremy relentlessly. It was not until Sophia’s scream reached Adam’s current wife that the violence ceased. She entered the gym with her young daughter and was horrified by the gruesome scene before her.

Melinda shouted, “Stop it, Brian! What are you doing?” As soon as his wife and youngest daughter arrived, Adam stopped hitting even though there were only a few strikes left to go. He said to his wife, “Please stay out of this, Mel! I’m going to prove to him that I have no hesitation in crossing the Holdens for bullying my daughter!” Melinda approached with a stern expression and wrested the baseball bat from his grip. “Brian! This has gone far enough! Have you forgotten our agreement?

Are you willing to jeopardize our stable life?” Adam remembered his promise and kept quiet. He no longer attempted to take the bat from him.

Melinda wasted no time and ordered, “Quick! Someone, call a doctor for Mister Jeremy!” Adam sighed in disappointment. “Fine! He got lucky today.”

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 1396-Following Melinda’s instructions, several men stepped forward to carry Jeremy away for treatment. Sophia finally managed to break free from the men’s grasp and followed Jeremy. A concerned Melinda also joined the group because the situation could turn dire if someone died.

The Holdens were not to be trifled with, especially considering Adam’s volatile temper.

Adam snorted when he saw how concerned his wife and eldest daughter were toward Jeremy. He then noticed that his youngest daughter, Lilin, was still clutching her beloved bear doll.

Lilin appeared to be more considerate when she chose to stay by her father’s side. Adam knelt and opened his arms, saying, “Come here, Lilin! I’ll bring you to get some ice cream!” Lilin took a step back and gazed at her stern father unhappily. She pouted and uttered, “You’re a meanie!” Adam was taken aback and could not help but feel a bit hurt. “How could you say that about me? You made me feel sad! I was seeking revenge for your sister because he bullied your sister first. I won’t allow anyone to bully you and your sister! You might not understand this because you’re still young, but you will when you grow up! Let’s go get your favorite vanilla ice cream while Mom isn’t here. You’re not going to continue thinking that I’m a bad person after that, right?” Lilin seemed to show some resistance to her father’s kindness. Her cheeks puffed out, and she retorted, “Other people have kind and gentle fathers. Mine is fierce and mean. My classmates are scared of me and won’t play with me!” Adam’s expression soured. “Which one of your classmates is afraid to play with you? Tell me, and I’ll have a good ‘talk’ with those naughty kids’ parents tomorrow! That’ll teach them to instill some manners in their children!” Lilin clung to her little bear doll and turned away stubbornly. “I don’t want you to come to my kindergarten, or I’ll never make any friends again! You’re a big meanie!” She ran off to look for her mother after that, leaving Adam bewildered.

‘Am I that fierce?’ Adam thought. ‘I’m being fierce toward outsiders, not family!

What an ungrateful little rascal!’ … After preparing some milk for Joey, Corinne frowned when she noticed that the call on her cell phone had been disconnected.

Joey was able to consume solid food for all three meals, but he still wanted milk before bedtime. She left the phone on the table while preparing the milk, and she returned to see that the call had ended.

“Did you touch the phone?” Corinne inquired.

Joey was engrossed with his toy car, but Corinne’s question prompted him to look up and shake his head. “I didn’t.” Corinne tested the milk powder’s temperature using the back of her hand before handing it to Joey. While Joey sipped his milk, Corinne picked up her phone and attempted to call Jeremy.

The phone rang for an extended period without a response, and Corinne’s heart began to race. Her frown grew even deeper because they had agreed not to hang up.

She was beginning to grow anxious, and she had even considered seeking Lucas’s assistance in reaching Molomia when the call finally got through.

Corinne’s heart eased slightly. “What happened, Mister? Why did you hang up?”

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 1397-“Hello, ma’am,” came the voice on the other end of the phone. Only Tommy would call her that.

Corinne frowned and asked cautiously, “Why are you answering the phone?

Aren’t you with Jeremy?” On the other end of the line, Tommy stood in the guest room of Adam Manor and watched anxiously as several professional doctors treated Jeremy’s injuries. They tended to his flesh and skin wounds while applying bandages to his legs. Jeremy’s face was pale, and there were glistening beads of sweat on his forehead due to the pain.

He had been with Jeremy for many years and had never seen him beaten up like that before. Jeremy might be able to endure that suffering, but Tommy could not bear to deal with it. However, confronting Adam directly would render Jeremy’s earlier ordeal meaningless, and all the pain Jeremy went through would end up in vain.

Jeremy endured all that with the singular motive of ensuring that the marriage certificate to Sophia would be annulled without any complications. It would ensure that they no longer owed each other anything. He wanted to be with Corinne in an upfront manner and without any baggage.

Tommy remembered Jeremy’s instructions when handing over the jacket, so he took a deep breath and pretended to answer calmly, “He fell asleep because he was a little tired.” ‘He fell asleep?’ Corinne thought to herself. She felt that something was amiss because it was supposed to be daytime in Molomia. Jeremy had just arrived after a flight that lasted more than 20 hours, though, so he might have been exhausted from the jetlag.

“Have you reached Sophia’s house?” she inquired.

Tommy felt guilty but managed to lie flawlessly. “We haven’t arrived yet. Mister Jeremy is resting in the car. Would you like to speak with him? I can wake him up if you want.” After some consideration, Corinne decided against it. “It’s fine. You don’t have to longer, but tell him to call me back when he wakes up.” Tommy replied. “Of course. Don’t worry. He’s perfectly fine.” “All right, then,” Corinne replied, feeling somewhat reassured. She hung up the phone and turned around to see Joey falling asleep with the bottle in hand.

She placed her phone down and took a deep breath. At the same time, she reminded herself not to be overly anxious and to trust in Jeremy. He promised her that he would return, and she knew he would keep his promise.

Meanwhile, Tommy breathed a sigh of relief after ending the call. He had been extremely nervous because he feared that Corinne might sense that something was amiss. Her due date was anytime soon, and she could not afford to go through any additional stress. Finding out about Jeremy’s injuries would certainly make her anxious.

Thankfully, he had not let anything slip.

Nonetheless, Corinne would likely call again soon to check on Jeremy, and Tommy did not know how to handle that situation.

He then put away Jeremy’s phone and saw that the doctors had finished treating Jeremy’s injuries. They explained the situation to him and described Jeremy’s injuries as being rather severe. By their examination, Adam had been very ruthless. Fortunately, none of the injuries affected his vital organs, and Jeremy would be back on his feet after several months of rehabilitation.

Tommy nodded after understanding everything and signaled for the doctors to leave the room.

Once the doctors had left, Sophia and Melinda entered the room after waiting outside for some time. Since they were women, they tactfully remained outside because Jeremy’s clothes would have to be taken off for the treatment.

The doctors’ exit demonstrated that Jeremy’s treatment was complete, so they decided to come in

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 1398-Sophia threw herself onto the bed. Her eyes were red with concern as she looked at post-treatment Jeremy. She asked, “How do you feel, Jeremy? Do you feel any pain?” Jeremy neither looked at her nor said a word.

Melinda had a worried frown as she observed the man on the bed. She then turned to Tommy instead of approaching Jeremy. With a sincere look on her face, she expressed her sincerest apologies and said, “You’re Mister Jeremy’s right-hand man, yes? Please accept my apologies for how things have turned out. My husband has a bad temper, and Mister Jeremy was on the receiving end of his anger when his temper flared up. Rest assured that our family will take full responsibility for the injuries inflicted upon Mister Jeremy today. We’ll find the

best doctors and provide the best medicine to ensure that Mister Jeremy will have a full recovery.” Though Melinda was amiable to him, Tommy still had some measure of animosity toward Adam’s family after what happened. He stated straightforwardly, “Mister Jeremy has access to ample medical resources. He has endured the beating, so I genuinely hope your husband will fulfill his end of the promise.” Melinda’s mind went blank for a moment. She had not been present during the incident and was therefore unaware of what transpired, but she nodded earnestly in a demonstration of her goodwill and cooperation. She reassured him, “Please don’t worry. My husband will honor his word.” Tommy replied politely, “I sure hope so.” Meanwhile, Sophia remained by the bedside. Still overwhelmed with sorrow, she exclaimed between streams of tears, “Why are you so stubborn, Jeremy? You didn’t have to provoke my dad like that! None of this would’ve happened if you didn’t provoke my dad…” Jeremy did not respond. He looked ahead and breathed steadily.

Tommy approached her and instructed her to leave in a less-than-cordial tone.

“Mister Jeremy needs rest at the moment. I suggest you leave so he can continue to recover in peace, Miss Sophia.” “No, I can’t leave. I want to stay with Jeremy,” Sophia insisted, refusing to budge.

Tommy frowned and advised, “Please don’t get agitated, Miss Sophia. Your presence may disrupt Mister Jeremy’s rest.” Melinda approached Sophia and gently urged her while offering some advice, “You won’t speed up Mister Jeremy’s recovery if you stay here. Let him rest for now. You can always visit him later.” Though Sophia was still visibly concerned, she realized that her stepmother’s suggestion made perfect sense. Jeremy was in severe pain after suffering those injuries, and the most important thing he needed was proper rest. After some hesitation, she stood up and said, “Get well soon, Jeremy. I’ll see you some other time.” She then turned away, even though she was still very worried.

At that moment, Jeremy opened his eyes calmly and spoke with an insipidly cold tone. “Get all the documents ready. I want the issue regarding the marriage certificate settled between us.” Sophia turned around and looked at him with a frown. “Why are you still thinking about that when you’re so seriously injured? Can’t it wait?” she asked.

Jeremy replied calmly, “No. If you don’t cooperate when tomorrow morning comes, then I hope you won’t hold it against me for renouncing our past friendship.” His determination left Sophia in a brief silence. She had no choice but to agree.

“All right, I promise. I’ll go through the marriage annulment process with you. But you need to focus on recovering for now.” Jeremy kept quiet and closed his eyes. His calm and pale face was thoroughly emotionless.

Melinda could not help but feel sympathy for her stepdaughter’s predicament after they left the room. She looked at Sophia, who appeared deeply hurt, and understood the pain of loving someone secretly for many years.

Unrequited love was the worst.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 1399-Melinda comforted Sophia gently, “Please don’t dwell on it, Sophia. You don’t have to force yourself when it comes to matters of the heart. Jeremy is already taken, so don’t hang onto him so tightly. You need to believe in yourself that you’ll find someone who captured your heart just as he has captured yours.

You’re a good person, and other people will be able to see that side of you.” Melinda’s words caused Sophia’s sorrowful expression to suddenly turn cold.

She lifted her head and glared at Melinda, retorting, “Are you trying to teach me how to live my life? Who do you think you are?” Melinda’s face froze. She looked rather exasperated and awkward as she responded, “I’m not. I’m just worried for you. I hope to see you move on and find

your happiness. I’ve treated you as my daughter ever since I married your father!” Sophia sneered sarcastically. “Enough! Spare me your hypocrisy! Who are you trying to fool by pretending that you’re a good person? I bet you enjoy seeing me heartbroken over a man! You must think I’m stupid if you expect me to believe your act! Mark my words, Melinda. My dad might fall for your act, but I never will! Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. There’s still a long way to go! The man that I set my heart on will become mine!” Sophia turned around and marched angrily toward her room.

Melinda sighed helplessly as she watched Sophia leave in a huff. Being a stepmother was very difficult, as it was evident when her stepchildren misconstrued her genuine concern.

At that moment, her younger daughter Lilin tugged at the hem of her clothes.

Melinda snapped out of her thoughts and looked down. Lilin gazed up at her mother in concern. “Did Big Sister upset you again?” Melinda smiled gently and reached out to caress her daughter’s hair. She reassured the girl, “No, it’s just a misunderstanding. Everything will get better with time.” Lilin frowned. “But she never treats you properly even after all these years! I don’t like her!” Melinda hoisted her daughter into her arms and advised, “Don’t think that way, Lilin. Even if Sophia is rude to me, it doesn’t change the fact that she’s your sister. When your dad and I are no longer in this world, she’ll be your only family. The two of you must support each other and be there for each other.

Okay?” Lilin nodded reluctantly and did not want to upset her mother any further. She muttered, “Okay, Mom. I understand.” Melinda lifted her mature-thinking daughter and headed off to find her husband, Adam. She wanted to talk with him as she was appalled he would act so violently earlier. His fiery temper had not diminished one bit despite his age.

Inside the guest room, Tommy tidied up Jeremy’s belongings and turned to get Jeremy up to speed. “Miss Corinne called earlier. I told her that you were resting in the car because you were too tired, and she wants you to call her back after you wake up.” Jeremy glanced up with a weary gaze. He replied, “Sure. Hand me the phone, and I’ll call her back.” Tommy nodded. He took out Jeremy’s cell phone and dialed Corinne’s number.

The call was answered in no time. Corinne, with her worry-tinged voice, asked, “Are you awake?”

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 1400-Jeremy endured the pain coursing through his body and spoke in a slightly hoarse voice. However, he maintained a relaxed tone as he said to Corinne, “Yes, I’m awake.” The relief on Corinne’s end was evident. Though she had noticed the hoarseness in his voice, she attributed it to the typical morning hoarseness and did not immediately think that something was wrong. She asked, “Where are you now? Have you arrived at Sophia’s house yet?” Jeremy replied truthfully, “Yes.” Tommy knew it would be inconvenient for Jeremy to hold the phone because of his injury, so he placed it near Jeremy’s pillow and left the room to stand guard

outside.

Corinne then continued to ask, “How did it go? Have you met Adam? Did he give you a hard time?” Her concern left Jeremy feeling a sense of warmth in his heart. A faint smile graced his lips, but his voice still held a hint of seriousness. “He did.” Corinne raised her voice when she heard that. “What happened? How did he cause trouble for you?” Jeremy replied in a somewhat dejected tone, “He hit me.” Corinne nearly blurted out an expletive. “I’ll have Aaron buy me a plane ticket right now!” Her anxious reaction elicited a chuckle from Jeremy. His laughter gradually became more audible, and he said teasingly, “I didn’t think you’d grow so worried about me that you’d fly over to stand up for me after hearing that I got beat up.” Corinne was annoyed after realizing she was being teased. The mood lightened, and she retorted indignantly, “Are you pulling my leg?” Jeremy’s statement was intended to reassure Corinne by eliminating her worries and suspicions. If he simply told her everything was fine, she might be skeptical as to whether he was telling the truth. By making her believe he was still in the mood to joke with her, she would believe that everything was fine—thus easing her concerns.

Jeremy chuckled and said, “I just wanted to hear how much you care for me.

You used to treat me as dispensable and leave whenever you wanted, right?” Corinne, still somewhat irritated, responded, “Is this the time for jokes? Don’t you have anything better to do?” Jeremy adopted a more serious tone. “Okay, okay. I’ll stop joking. Everything has been resolved. Sophia and I will go through with the annulment process tomorrow, and I’ll return to you immediately.” Corinne was surprised that everything was resolved so smoothly. She asked, “How did you reach an agreement so easily? Didn’t Sophia’s father demand any unreasonable conditions from you?” Jeremy did not want her to worry too much, but he also did not want to deceive her a second time. He decided to gloss over the details and reply nonchalantly, “I did have to make some necessary concessions, but everything went without a hitch. I’ll be back soon. Is there anything you’d like as a gift? I can ask Tommy to get it for you.” Corinne frowned cautiously, sensing that it was odd for things to have progressed so smoothly. “I don’t want a gift! I want a video call so I can see your face!” Jeremy was taken aback and felt a pang of guilt, yet he was also in full admiration of Corinne’s perceptiveness. As the girl that he genuinely fell in love with, he was unable to hide anything from her. Nevertheless, he could not let her see his injuries lest she purchase a plane ticket and rush over.

Jeremy felt a warmth in his heart as he genuinely believed that Corinne cared for him. However, he made sure not to cause her any undue worry and declined her request. “Not now. I haven’t groomed today, and I look bad.” Corinne found that rather amusing. “You? Look bad? As if. Let’s start the video chat now. I want to see your face.” Jeremy was hesitant because he was aware that there were some visible injuries on his face. He asked, “I just took off my clothes and am about to get ready for a shower. Are you sure you want a video chat with me right now?” Corinne’s cheeks reddened and she stammered, “I… I w—w—won’t look at your body! Just your face.”