Judy's sobs stopped very quickly. She let out a victorious smile."Larissa, it's not that I don't want to help you …" Judy acted like she was put in a difficult situation. "You heard Mr. Logan Junior … I'm sorry, darling. You'll have to do the slideshow yourself."Larissa stared at her coldly before looking away. She walked back to her workplace without looking back. She was scared that if she stayed any longer, she might slap Judy for real.Seeing Larissa come back with a dark face, Marilyn stopped herself from asking any questions. She did not dare to ask.Her workplace was rather far from Judy's, so she did not hear anything Larissa said when at Judy's workplace. She only knew that the commotion there was pretty big, and it alarmed Mr. Logan Junior, who normally never left his office during working hours.And from the look on Mr. Logan Junior's face when he came back, he did not seem too happy with whatever it was that had happened.…Larissa opened up the software and began

Afraid that Marilyn would wait too long, Larissa only worked overtime for half an hour. Then, she turned off her computer. She put the statements and reports that were not yet typed into the slideshow into her bag. She intended to finish the slideshow at home."Let's go," she said to Marilyn once she was packed."So soon?" Marilyn had been playing with her phone while waiting for Larissa. When she heard Larissa speak, she put down her phone in surprise."Yeah." Larissa smiled. "It's late, and I feel a little hungry.""Me too." Marilyn rubbed her stomach. Then, she walked over to Larissa and hugged her arm, and dragged her away quickly. "Let's go then!"…Marilyn must have been really hungry because she drove her car like crazy.Westonia was like Bartham. The traffic was awful. Marilyn's pink smart car was able to weave among the crowd size to its size. Soon, they reached Queensway.The restaurant they wanted to go to was on the main road of Queensway. It was a really obvious sh

"Here, warm your hands." Marilyn gave Larissa the cup. "I got someone to boil some water for you right now. So, there was a little delay."Larissa held the paper cup with both hands. The heat spread from her palms into her body. It made her hunched shoulders relax.She sighed in gratitude. If it were not for the fact that she would get stares from others, Larissa wished she could press the paper cup to her frozen cheek."If it weren't for you, I would've died," Larissa said to Marilyn. "I'm not even kidding."Marilyn stared at Larissa with those large eyes of hers. "What nonsense are you saying? I just asked too, by the way. The customers earlier are finished and they're paying right now. We'll be able to go in soon. You won't have to freeze any longer."This made Larissa come to life at once.As predicted, the waiter came to inform them that the table was ready for them less than five minutes later.The thermostat in the restaurant was turned up. It did not take long for Lariss

Larissa recognized that unique profile picture at once. The background was an endless night sky. There was a golden crescent moon in the middle of it with bright stars nearby.This was Aster's art homework from last week. According to him, the name of this painting was called "Mommy and Me." Larissa was like the gentle moon that was always by the little stars' sides.Larissa thought that the person who liked her post was Aster. Just as she was amazed by his speed, she was greeted by Kevan's name when she tapped into the notifications tab.It was not strange for Kevan to like her post. Yet, the fact that he used Aster's profile picture, one that had such a significant meaning, made her feel strange.Marilyn had already put down her phone and started eating. Every bite made her moan in satisfaction."Larissa! C'mon, try this! It's so good!"Larissa jolted as she looked away from Kevan's profile picture. "Sure." She smiled and shoved her phone back into her bag.She was anxious

This scene was too familiar. Larissa used to experience this every day. Watching the poor waitress getting shouted at by Judy, Larissa could not help but think back to her old self. She used to get abused all the time by weird hotel guests.Unable to keep watching, Larissa tugged on Marilyn and said, "Let's go."Marilyn put away her phone, which she had been using to record the scene. She agreed with much anger and pity. "Alright."When they left the restaurant, Marilyn was still angry. "Judy is horrible! I didn't even know she was like that in private!"Larissa did not comment on Judy's actions. She did not want Marilyn to think that she was creating trouble or fanning the flames of conflict.When they said goodbye to each other, Marilyn said, "I must let Mr. Logan Senior know about Judy's true face!"…During dinner peak hours, Queensway was jammed with cars. There were no empty cabs that would pass by here.Marilyn offered to take Larissa home, but Larissa refused because of

Kevan was wearing a light gray sweatshirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows."How come you're back so early?" He was wiping his hands dry with a paper towel as he walked out of the kitchen.Larissa kicked off her heels. She walked toward Kevan with Aster."It's just dinner." She took the chance to throw her handbag onto the couch. She asked Kevan, "How about you two? Have you eaten?""We just finished," Kevan replied. "I was washing the dishes."Larissa froze as she looked at his hands. They were red because of the cold tap water. She hurriedly reminded him, "We have a dishwasher!""The dishwasher isn't as clean as my washing." Kevan's voice was mild, but his weird personality was on full display. Larissa knew how bad his clean freakishness was. She sighed. "Use hot water, at least!"Kevan threw the balled-up paper towel into the trash bin far away from him while standing where he was."It's fine." He stared at Larissa. "It's not cold.""Your hands are already this red

Stuck between two live "hand warmers," Larissa's frozen hands soon warmed up. She was relieved."Can you let me go now?" she asked Kevan.His face remained unchanged. He was still stone-faced when he removed her hands from under his shirt."I will fill the bathtub for you. Take a nice bath." With that, Kevan instructed Aster, "Make mommy a glass of orange juice. Make sure she finishes it.""Okay!" Aster ran off once he got his task. Larissa could not even stop him.Kevan stared at her. "Finish it before coming to the bathroom."…Kevan had already told Aster where the oranges were. So, Aster juiced the fruits and brought the cup to his mother slowly."Drink it quick, Mommy!" Aster put the cup into Larissa's hands. He dropped to his knees on the floor and put his head on her lap. He looked up to stare at her—clearly following Kevan's orders.The smell of the oranges made Larissa frown. She teased Aster. "This doesn't taste good. Can I not drink it?""Nope!" Aster glared hard a

Larissa's body jolted. She backed away automatically. But just as she had taken a step, her back was pressed up against the wet door, and her shirt was immediately drenched. The cotton fabric stuck to her skin, and it became transparent.Kevan walked closer to her. His face became clearer in the steam.Larissa was like a mouse that was caught by a cat. She trembled in the corner. "Don't—don't come here," she warned him ineffectively. "My ankle is fine. I don't need your help."Kevan watched her. Then, he held out his hand to her. "Come." His voice was very light, but there was a threatening tone to it.Larissa's hand was already on the door handle. Her brain was calculating the chances of successfully escaping.Kevan took one step forward and had her in his arms in a bridal carry before she could open the door.Larissa screamed so loudly that one's ears could have exploded.Kevan looked at her and reminded her, "Be quiet, don't scare Aster."Larissa immediately covered her mout

"Thank you," Larissa said.Hearing this, Kevan frowned.Aster did not understand what exactly was happening between them. When he saw that Kevan did not say anything, he put his hands on his hips and scolded the man. "Daddy! You must tell Mommy 'You're welcome'!"Kevan stared at Larissa dully before he finally said, "You're welcome."Aster was happy, but Larissa felt a chill run down her spine. She finished the milk, abandoned the glass, and escaped to her bedroom."I'm going to bed! You two go to bed too!"Aster watched her go and sighed. "Mommy is so old now, why is she still so naughty?"Kevan patted Aster's head as his expression softened. "It's okay if Mommy isn't good. We just need to protect her."…Larissa was able to fall asleep because the milk helped. Still, she was so cold that she woke up at midnight.The thick blanket was still covering her. It had not been kicked off by her while she was asleep like she thought.Larissa curled up, hugging herself m. She tried

Larissa did not sleep well. Previously, she was so cold that she was shivering. Alas, now she was so hot that she kept sweating.Still, there was a somewhat cold hand that kept holding hers. It gave her strength.When she woke up, the house was still dark. She stared at the ceiling for a while before she woke up fully. As usual, she rolled over to get her phone. But a strong grip pulled her back the moment she moved.Larissa hissed before getting a good look at what it was. Only then did she notice the dark figure half-lying on the bed. Even though she could not see the person's face, she knew it was Kevan.He was sleeping with one arm pillowing his head. He was sitting on the floor in a twisted position so that he could stretch out his legs.Her heart aching for him, Larissa pushed him using their joined hands. "Wake up!"Kevan did not sleep very deeply. He woke up the moment she called him. "You're awake?" He sat up. His voice was hoarse from sleep. Without waiting for Larissa