"That amusement park is really fun. My parents took me there once!""Maybe they just didn’t want to bring you along.""Yeah, it must be that. Jacqueline went with her two brothers and another boy. That boy is really good-looking! I wish I could get to know him too.""My mom said that boy is from a really rich family…"The chatter of his classmates made Morris feel more uncomfortable. He wondered if it was Frederick who had gone to the amusement park with Jacqueline’s family.After school, Morris borrowed Fernando’s phone, saying he wanted to watch cartoons. But once he got the phone, he searched online for news about the Valor family and their trip to the amusement park.It didn’t take long for him to find gossip articles, complete with photos.The photos mostly featured the Valor family, including Jacqueline and her two brothers. Morris had seen her brothers before. They didn’t resemble Jacqueline, but he could still recognize them at a glance. Apart from Micah and Caden, the
"What's the big deal? It's just $75,000; we'll earn it back soon enough," Marissa said dismissively."Even though the Valor family gave us new jobs, our annual income is only a little over $30,000. Even if we don’t spend any money, it'll still take us more than two years to pay the debt!" Fernando retorted."Don't you worry about the debt. I'll take care of it," Marissa said confidently. As long as they had the Valor family's backing, she believed she could definitely find a way to pay the debt.She was beaten earlier because the creditors were growing impatient. She would think of a way to come up with the money!Turning to her son, she said, "After you recover, make sure you make Miss Jacqueline happy, understand? If she's happy, our family can deal with any problem. Who knows? She might even give you money!""I don't want to please her just for money," Morris said, biting his lip."What did you say?" Marissa snapped, her frustration boiling over. She was already in a bad mood
Fred accepted it. "As long as it’s a gift from you, I’d like it.""Don’t you want to open it?" she asked with a smile."I'll open it after I get back to Lanford," he replied. He observed the presents in the cabinet again and saw one bearing Morris' name.After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Are you giving Morris a present too?""Of course, he’s my friend!" Jacqueline said matter-of-factly.Fred’s expression dimmed slightly. He knew that the people who received Christmas presents from her were all people who were very important to her. Most of them were her family members. Very few friends would receive Christmas presents from her. Was Morris one of them now?"Jackie, you have many friends, but promise me that I'll always be your most important friend, okay?" Fred earnestly requested.Jacqueline looked at him in confusion.Fred's heart sank. "What’s wrong? Is my request strange? I just—"Before he could finish, she interrupted, "Fred, that’s such a strange thing to ask! Of
But now that he had seen her present, which was so beautifully wrapped, he was embarrassed to give her his.His present was way too shabby in comparison."Well, next time then. Make sure you give me a Christmas present next year!" Jacqueline said.Morris hesitated, unsure how to respond, but she had already taken his hand. "It’s decided! Pinky promise – you must give me a Christmas present next year!"As she spoke, she linked her pinky with his, sealing the promise.Morris stared at their hooked fingers, unsure of what to do. But for some reason, he also felt a little happy.This Christmas was special as it was the first one after Coco and Lucas' marriage. Since Coco was pregnant, it felt like the first Christmas the three of them would celebrate as a family.Lucas had planned a special day, taking Coco to her favorite restaurant. After their meal, Coco wanted to stroll around; she hadn’t been out much recently, and the lively Christmas atmosphere was enticing."Sure," Lucas ag
"Yes, I was captivated. Are you an actor?" Coco asked.The man was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I am an actor."Noticing the gloom in his eyes, Coco said, "Well, I hope one day you achieve your dreams. The hardest thing in this world is perseverance."It reminded her of her own journey to become a professional comic artist, which had faced many setbacks. Therefore, she wanted to encourage him.She genuinely found his performance interesting, even though he was ignored by most of the passersby on this festive day."Thank you," he replied as he removed his hat and fake beard.Suddenly, a handsome face with distinct features emerged before Coco. She blinked a few times. She recognized him. He's Claude Road! The actor Lisa had mentioned when they were playing cards!He had debuted at 18 and was only 22 now. Recently, he had gained immense popularity from a TV series and was drowning in scripts. Lisa had even joked about going to the studio city to catch a glimpse of h
"No way! Is that really Claude Road? I didn’t even notice him earlier!""I should have paid more attention to that Santa!""I did not expect to see Claude Road dressing up as Santa!""He even invited that woman to his movie premiere!""She looks like she's pregnant. Is the man next to her her husband?" Some people began to pay attention to Coco. Though she was six months pregnant, her slender figure and loose coat made her bulging belly not very noticeable.Meanwhile, the program staff held back the crowd on both sides to keep things from getting too chaotic. The bodyguards who were shadowing Lucas stepped forward to ensure that he and Coco were safe from the throng.Suddenly, one of the cameramen frowned, as if he had noticed something. Then, he stammered, "That... That... That's..."Noticing his reaction, the host asked, "What’s wrong?""That's the Crown Prince!" the cameraman whispered.The Crown Prince?! The program team members were stunned. In their circle, there was on
"Of... Of course!" Claude quickly answered.Lucas scanned the crowd and said, "Let’s head back. It’s not safe here; it’s too crowded.""Sure," Coco agreed.The driver had already moved the car over. The bodyguards kept the throng at bay as Coco and Lucas got into the car. Even after that, people continued to take photos.Once they left the scene, the program team stopped filming. Some staff members looked at Claude with envy. The young actor actually managed to get acquainted with the Crown Prince through sheer coincidence. If things went well, he would get a boost in his career.Inside the car, Coco sighed. "That was actually Claude Road. It’s a shame Lisa’s not here – she really likes him.""Terry White wouldn't think it's a shame," Lucas remarked.Coco chuckled at that. He's probably right! "Are you taking Lisa to that guy's movie premiere?" Lucas asked."Not just Lisa – I’ll ask Serenity, Minnie, Clara, and Summer too," she said.Lucas noticed he wasn't mentioned. "You
She figured his "wasn’t that naughty" probably meant not the slightest bit naughty."I wonder who the baby will take after," she pondered aloud."Hopefully you," Lucas replied, imagining how nice it would be to have a mini version of Coco.Reflecting on her own childhood, Coco recalled being quite naughty before her parents' unexpected passing. She remembered being scolded and punished often. After their sudden deaths, she matured seemingly overnight, leaving behind her playful nature and becoming more quiet.If only she could have continued being naughty under their care; that would have been a kind of happiness too."I hope the baby looks like you but has my personality," Coco suggested, adding, "And hopefully, the baby inherits your intelligence!"Lucas chuckled, "Alright, whatever you say."Coco took a shower after returning to the mansion. When she came out of the bathroom, her phone rang. It was Lisa. "Coco, you met Claude Road today, right? Take me with you to his movie p