The call ended abruptly.

Mr. An was furious.

The manager hurried to snatch the phone back, afraid it would be smashed.

"So you have money to open a shop, but no money for your own father, huh!"

Mr. An vented his anger by smashing a flower pot in the shop.

The two clerks cowered in a corner.

The owner had instructed them to prioritize their own safety and not get hurt. Everything else, let him rage as he wishes.

Before long, two police officers arrived.

"Someone’s causing trouble and damaging property here. That’s you, right?"

"You’re coming with us!"

Seeing the police, Mr. An’s legs began to tremble. "No, no! This is my daughter’s shop! Let me go!"

Meanwhile, after finishing the phone call with the manager, Annabelle Winters turned around—only to see John Cook’s face.

What was he doing here?

The stairwell was usually a place for low-level employees like her.

How much had John Cook overheard?

"Trouble?"

"N-no, nothing at all!"

"That kind of charge only gets you a few days in detention," John Cook said with a playful glint in his eye. "I’ll help you send him back to your hometown."

"No, Mr. Huo, there’s really no need."

"Wanwan, since we’re both co-parents to Daisy, we’re close. You don’t need to be so formal with me. You’re my secretary—no one gets to bully you, not even your biological father."

"Thank you, I’ll work even harder from now on!"

John Cook reached out and ruffled her hair. "I have high hopes for you."

Annabelle Winters stood frozen in place.

Why did John Cook just pat her head? That definitely crossed the line between boss and secretary.

She had no idea how John Cook managed to send her father away, but for quite some time afterward, she didn’t see him—nor did Annie Winters.

The flower boutique continued to do business as usual, and she kept working at Huo Group. Sometimes she went to John Cook’s villa to pick him up, and while she was there she’d feed Doudou her canned food. Occasionally, John Cook would even have her take Doudou to the office.

Going to work felt like heaven.

She loved her job!

—

After a night of passion, the room was still tinged with a sweet, cloying scent.

Olivia Young shifted, and Frederick Fairfax, wrapped around her from behind, murmured, "Don’t move. Let me hold you."

"You’ve got to catch a flight!"

Frederick Fairfax was heading to a film festival. He had pestered her all night, hoping she’d come along, but she refused.

She simply didn’t want to go. Their daughter was still breastfeeding, and if she left, she’d have to bring the child along.

She couldn’t care for the baby on her own—she’d never even changed a diaper since their daughter was born. That would mean bringing the nanny, too.

He could just go by himself.

He wanted a whole entourage.

After thinking it through, Olivia Young decided there was nowhere more comfortable and relaxed than home.

"No rush," Frederick Fairfax murmured. "Let me hold you a little longer."

He nuzzled into her neck, his thin lips brushing her skin as his breaths quickened. "Baby, how about a little morning exercise?"

Could she possibly refuse?

Maybe it was the looming separation, but Frederick Fairfax was particularly energetic and intense that morning, as if he wanted to pour all his strength into her.

As a result, Olivia Young couldn’t make it to the law firm that morning.

Before he left, Frederick Fairfax leaned in and whispered in her ear: if he won an award this time, she had to bring flowers to the airport and welcome him back.

Another new, dramatic way to show off their love.

Frederick Fairfax was even more obsessed with public displays of affection than before.

By the time the sun was high overhead and blasting through the windows, Olivia Young finally woke up.

"Baby~"

Her little darling lay quietly in her adorable crib—not crying, not fussing, just calm and content.

"Mom’s angel, Dad won’t be home for the next couple of days, so you have to be good and not make Mom worry, okay?"

The little angel responded with a smile.

Isn’t a toothless baby the cutest thing of all? Once they start teething, their smile just isn’t as adorable.

Oh, my baby, there’s no need to grow up so fast.

Such a cute little bundle needed to be shown off!

So, Olivia Young took her daughter to the law firm.

All the lawyers there were women, and they flocked to the stroller.

"Awww!"

"So cute!"

"The country encourages having more kids, but I just want this one."

"I want this one too. How about making another for us, Olivia Young?"

"Have a few more! We’ll take shifts!"

This pack of women was even scarier than the men—how could they want to share her baby?!

At least the men just wanted to set up a baby engagement between Yana and their imaginary sons.

"With your amazing genes, ever thought of having more kids?"

"Absolutely not. Didn’t the government use to say: ‘Fewer births, quality births, lifelong happiness’?" Olivia Young had no plans for a second child, at least for now.

Maybe in the future. Her own pregnancy had actually been a breeze—Frederick Fairfax had suffered through all the nausea.

Just thinking about it was delightful!

Heh heh. She’d deal with it all when everything else calmed down.

Olivia Young walked to the window and looked across at the flower boutique.

Annabelle Winters was working at Huo Group now.

The original male lead number two—John Cook’s genteel demeanor was just a mask. In reality, he was a dark, deeply troubled man.

A child once abandoned and reclaimed, he never received affection or pampering. His mother only saw him as a tool to win favor, forcing him to do things he hated.

After she died, John Cook was sent abroad by the Huo family.

He studied hard overseas. The illegitimate son stayed in the country.

Two years ago, the illegitimate son got into a fatal car accident while traveling abroad.

That accident had been orchestrated by John Cook.

With him gone, John Cook became the sole heir to the Huo family.

For John Cook, Annabelle Winters was a ray of light in his otherwise pitch-black life. He desperately wanted to make her his.

The plot was moving fast. According to the original story, Annabelle Winters and Grace Gordon would soon cross paths, get entangled, she’d get pregnant, and then be kidnapped by John Cook.

During the abduction, John Cook would pin her to the bed. She’d suddenly vomit—and discover she was pregnant.

Grace Gordon would save her, only to begin doubting whose child she was carrying.

Annabelle Winters would explain, but Grace Gordon wouldn’t believe her.

Classic overdramatic CEO drama—always the same old dog-blood plot.

Grace Gordon’s suspicion stemmed from their first time together. Annabelle Winters had been so frail and helpless, completely unable to resist a man. He figured she wouldn’t be able to fend off John Cook either.

That evening, Olivia Young cuddled her little darling on the couch, watching the award show live broadcast.

Glamorous celebrities walked the red carpet, men handsome and women beautiful. Her baby didn’t care at all—she lay in her arms, drifting off to sleep.

When Frederick Fairfax made his appearance on the red carpet, however, the little girl stirred at the sound of his name and opened her eyes.

The host interviewed him, and when her daughter heard her father’s voice, she started babbling excitedly.

Olivia Young lifted her up. "You’re only four months old and you think you can tell who Dad is on the screen?"

"Dad’s so handsome!"

Even though Frederick Fairfax wore a mask on that big night, Olivia Young recognized his stunningly good looks right away.

She double-checked the next morning and, sure enough, it was him.

Her little darling waved her chubby hands in joy.

After the red carpet, everyone moved inside for the ceremony.

Good-looking stars always got extra camera time: Frederick Fairfax and Tara Young sat together, and the big screen cut to their faces repeatedly.

At one point, the camera lingered on them for two full minutes—so long that even the host teased the director for having such a soft spot for handsome men.

Eventually, the ceremony proper began, but Frederick Fairfax’s category was still a long way off.

Olivia Young and her little one gave up, cuddling in bed and falling asleep.

At ten o’clock that night, Frederick Fairfax took the trophy and stepped up to the mic. After his acceptance speech, he added, "My dear wife must be watching right now. Honey, I love you—and our daughter, too!"

Olivia Young and baby: (–,–)…zzzZZZ