Time to go meet Daisy’s kitten.

Annabelle Winters stopped by the pet store and bought a whole bunch of supplies before hailing a cab.

She made it to the gates of the community, but couldn’t get inside. Left with no choice, she called John Cook.

"Wait for me," he said.

Annabelle Winters obediently waited at the entrance.

Under the bright sunlight, John Cook approached, dressed simply in a white T-shirt and black trousers.

The security guard at the gate saw John Cook and immediately opened the door.

John Cook took the bags from her hands. "We have plenty of this stuff at home, but since it’s from you, he’ll be even happier."

"I’ve only met his mom before, never him."

"You’ll get to see him often from now on. Daisy looks just like his mother."

John Cook’s face didn’t betray a thing when he lied.

The moment Annabelle Winters saw Daisy, she knew John Cook wasn’t wrong.

He really did look just like the old Daisy!

"After Daisy was bred, I only kept this one. He’s a male too, already neutered."

Annabelle Winters opened a can. The little orange cat peeked out from under the sofa, glanced at her, gave John Cook a look, then strutted over and tucked in for a meal.

"Hello, Daisy baby."

"You’re so adorable!"

"Such a chubby boy."

John Cook lounged lazily on the sofa, grabbing a glass of water. Sunshine poured through the tall floor-to-ceiling windows, landing just on Annabelle Winters and Daisy.

Back in school, he’d been short and scrawny. Only Annabelle Winters had helped him—stood up for him, fed the cats with him.

This scene overlapped with his memories.

It was like his life had become whole again.

After Annabelle Winters fed Daisy some canned food, the kitten had clearly decided she was its favorite.

Wherever she went, Daisy followed.

Not even John Cook’s efforts to tease him worked.

Of course he wouldn’t come over—Daisy had only arrived today.

He wasn’t close to John Cook at all.

"Ungrateful little thing. One can of food from your ‘sister’ and now you’re all hers, not your old owner anymore." John Cook sighed. "What am I supposed to do? Soon my cat will only listen to you. Want to come be my secretary? Then you can come feed Daisy often."

Last night, Annabelle Winters had thought a long time after returning home.

A flower boutique wasn’t a long-term plan. She might have a bit of money, but this was Kingston.

Even five million here can’t buy you a decent house.

It was tough.

She crouched down and spread her hands. Daisy leapt onto her palms.

"Wow!"

"They say cats are aloof, but Daisy, you’re not shy at all—you really like me! Is it Daisy’s genes?"

Annabelle Winters beamed, blissfully petting Daisy—she’d successfully been won over by the kitten. "Okay!"

"When can you start work?"

"Next Monday. I’ll report to the office then."

"Good."

Annabelle Winters played with Daisy a while longer before reluctantly heading out.

After she left, John Cook stood in the cats’ room.

Daisy lounged on the top level of the cat tree, grooming himself, blatantly ignoring John Cook.

Back then, it had been John Cook who’d brought Daisy to Kingston—giving her the good food, good drink, always accompanying him.

Barely a month after he went abroad, his family messaged to say Daisy had died.

Heh.

Didn’t matter.

What he wanted, he would get himself.

Monday: Annabelle Winters officially started work at Cook & Co..

That very evening, she was assigned to accompany John Cook to a social dinner.

"Executive Assistant An, this is the dress President Huo prepared for you."

Executive Assistant Ada handed her a white spaghetti-strap fishtail gown, plus a pearl necklace and a pair of silver high heels.

"Come with me—after you change, we’ll get your hair styled."

No work on the first day, just getting to know coworkers, adapting to the office.

But she hadn’t expected John Cook to take her to an event on day one.

She knew nothing about the company.

If someone asked her something, how would she answer?

Once they left, the secretaries in the office began whispering.

"What's her background? I heard the boss personally picked her!"

"I know! She used to work for the Gu family. Rumor is she was a stand-in for Gu’s ‘white moonlight’—the real favorite. Girl’s got skills!"

"Now that the real white moonlight is back, she got kicked out of Gu’s!"

"Isn’t this straight out of a web novel? So, what’s her relationship with our boss? Day one, and already tagging along—something’s going on!"

"Who knows? Our boss just got back from overseas. Wait—does he also like Miss Young from the Young family, and is using Annabelle Winters as a stand-in too?"

"So jealous! That face is gorgeous. If white moonlight is even more beautiful, I can’t even imagine!"

"She’s got the looks, so she can make money at it! If it were me, I’d just chill in a mansion and be a professional stand-in—why bother with a regular job?"

"Raise the bar! She can be a stand-in for all the rich heirs in Kingston—a different one every day of the week. If I juggled a bunch of stand-in jobs, I can’t even dream what I’d earn!"

Annabelle Winters changed, put on light makeup, and styled her hair up before returning to the secretaries’ office.

The other secretaries looked at her with unconcealed envy.

She picked up her bag and headed out.

John Cook was waiting for her outside.

When he saw her, his eyes lit up. "I remember you always wore white dresses back then."

"You have a good memory."

"Thanks for the compliment. I remember a lot from our school days." He held out his arm. "Shall we?"

Annabelle Winters had secretary experience and was well aware of the social protocol for these occasions.

She slipped her arm through his, stepping into the elevator. "Is this okay?"

"Perfect. Let’s keep it like this."

"Alright."

Annabelle Winters gently withdrew her hand.

Once her arm was gone, John Cook almost felt like a hollow emptiness inside.

Back in the office, the secretaries clustered together.

They were looking at last year’s official Weibo announcement from the Feng Group.

It featured wedding photos of Frederick Fairfax and Olivia Young.

"That’s her!"

"A goddess! Stunning!"

"OMG—I’m a woman, but even I’m blown away by her beauty."

"Wuwuwu, I planned to look like that in my next life."

"Nuwa!* If you’re taking requests, I want that face next time!"

*Nuwa: The goddess in Chinese mythology said to have created humanity (often used humorously to praise someone’s looks).

"Comparing them, Annabelle Winters barely even looks 50% like her!"

"She’s still gorgeous, though!"

Some people really are blessed—it’s just fate. They had to work.

They had no such luck.

Night fell. The car stopped at a hotel entrance.

Annabelle Winters, arm-in-arm with John Cook, walked into a private dining room.

Was it fate, or just coincidence? On her very first night working, the dinner party included Grace Gordon.