Chapter 1 Chapter 1

"This is utterly shameful and disgusting…" The wedding that was supposed to be romantic turned out to be a disaster. Accompanied by everyone's gossip, Sharon raised her head to look at the giant screen. A few pictures that had been enlarged were being displayed. The main female character in the pictures was her, and the man on the bed with her was not the bridegroom, Howard Zachary! At that moment, Sharon was stunned. 'What's going on? Why is there such a picture?' The way the pictures of herself and the man on the bed had been taken made it so that her face at different angles was revealed while only the back and side view of the man could be seen. She was certain that she did not know who that man was! Subconsciously, Sharon looked at Howard. Howard stared at her. Additionally, his face darkened as his eyes began to gleam with rage. "Woman! How dare you betray me!" Without waiting for her to reply, Howard gave her a tight slap! Sharon was slapped and ended up falling to the ground. Her cheek immediately turned red and became swollen. She held her face, raised her head, and defended herself, "Howard, it's not what you think. There must be a misunderstanding!""Misunderstanding? You dare say you're not the lady in those pictures?" He had lost his cool, and he was roaring exasperatedly. Sharon's body began to tremble. "I… I have no idea what's going on as well." She looked stupefied. She had never been with another man before except for that night… Howard grabbed hold of her chin forcefully. "Are you brave enough to swear that you didn’t fool around with another man?""I…" before Sharon could finish talking, her bestie, Sally Luke, spoke up, "Shar, you didn’t return for the whole night during Howard’s birthday last night. That night, who were you with?" Sharon was dumbfounded. She was drunk that night and vaguely recalled being in a hotel with Howard. She immediately replied, "I spent the night in a hotel with Howard!" However, Howard chuckled. "That night, I went home early because I was drunk. How is it possible that I spent the night with you at a hotel?" Sharon was suddenly stunned as the color on her face gradually began to fade. 'If he wasn’t the man I was with that night, who else could it have been?' She slumped on the ground, and Howard’s words struck her like a thunderbolt. Howard saw her reaction and said in a way as if he was sure of something, "Good, very good! Not bad, Sharon! I hereby announce that the wedding is canceled!""No!" Sharon snapped. "I didn't betray you, Howard. Someone framed me. You must believe me. Someone must have been plotting a scheme behind me…" she said nervously. 'Who the hell set me up?' Howard was utterly disgruntled; he had lost his cool, "Sharon, quit acting. You really make me feel like puking!" He kicked her away ruthlessly. All of a sudden, he leaned over and grabbed her wedding dress forcefully. He was no longer gentle like he used to be. "What are you doing, Howard?" Sharon was trembling. "Take it off! What right do you have to wear it?!" Sharon continued to struggle, but it was fruitless. She ended up having the wedding dress that had been custom-made for her stripped off in public. Howard glanced at her with a cold stare, turned around, and handed the wedding dress to Sally. "Sally, will you marry me?" Sally could not suppress the excitement within her and answered, "I do!" Sharon stared at her best friend as the latter put on the wedding dress. She was astonished. Howard even placed her wedding ring on Sally's ring finger! "No! Sally, how could you… he's my husband!" Sharon's eyes were red as she stared at her best friend. Sally, who was standing, looked down at her. "Sharon, let’s make it clear. Right now, Howard is my husband." With that being said, she purposely displayed the huge diamond ring on her hand. With a smile on her face, Sally leaned beside Sharon's ear and said with a soft voice that could only be heard by the two of them, "Sharon, are you satisfied with the wedding gift I gave you?" Sharon was thunderstruck and suddenly came to an understanding. 'The pictures were her doing!' Anger rushed through her mind, and she wanted to rip off Sally’s fake smile so badly. "It was you, Sally…" Before Sharon could finish accusing her, Sally raised her hand and ordered the security guards, "Chase this cunning woman out!" She put on an act as if she was Mrs. Zachary. "Let go off me!" No matter how much Sharon struggled, it was useless. She was held down by the security guards and taken away. Sharon felt the flames of anger rise in her chest. She had never expected that she would be set up by her best friend! Not to mention, the man who had promised to marry her merely stared at the scene coldly. Sharon was thrown away at the entrance of the hotel. Then, without even being able to let the pain settle in, she received a call from the hospital, "Miss Jeans, your dad has just passed away after his illness returned.""What?!" Her hand began to shake uncontrollably, and she dropped her phone on the floor. She felt as if her heart had been pierced ruthlessly. She was struggling to get up to head over to the hospital when she suddenly felt pain in her stomach. Subsequently, she saw blood flowing all over her thighs… She was startled. She held onto her stomach in pain as she cried helplessly, "Baby…"

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

After five years. The airport terminal had just announced the arrival of the plane. In no time, a batch of passengers exited the security checkpoint. "Mummy, it's hot. I want to have ice cream." The innocent voice of a child was heard as Sebastian Jeans held his mother's hand. He was blinking with his bright black eyes. Sharon glanced at her son helplessly. His pitiful expression made her give in even though she knew he was faking it. "You can only buy one." She took out a bank note from her wallet and told him, "Come back once you've bought it. I'll wait for you right here." Sharon was dragging the luggage. "Roger! My honorable mother!" Sebastian gave his mother a flying kiss before beginning to run while holding onto the note in his hand tightly. Sharon had not even been able to ask him to take his time. At that moment, her phone rang. "Hello? Riley? Yeah, I've already returned… alright, I'll take a cab over there now." It was a call from her best friend, Riley Gabriel. In the past, Sally, Riley, and herself had stayed in the same hostel during university. They were used to be great friends with the three of them almost always being seen together. They had even vowed to be each other’s guardians. However, during the wedding that took place five years ago, Sharon ended up seeing Sally's true colors. It marked the end of their relationship. Only Riley treated her sincerely. Throughout the years when she was away, they both kept in touch via phone calls. At the moment, she had returned, and Riley had asked her to bring her son over to stay with her. Once Sharon ended the call, she coincidentally saw the news that was being broadcasted on a large screen that was hung high ahead. It read, “Young Master Zachary and Mrs. Zachary will be holding their fifth wedding anniversary on the coming 26th.” The piece of news stung her and made her eyes teary. 'Mrs. Zachary? He really did marry Sally!' Five years had passed in the blink of an eye. She would never forget the humiliation she endured that year! That year, on the night of Howard's birthday, it was Sally who had made her drunk and sent her to a hotel. She had even told her that Howard would be the one waiting for her in the hotel. Nevertheless, Sally betrayed her during the wedding and even snatched her husband away from her! With her return, she was determined to get herself justice! "Hey brat, why don't look where you're going? Whose kid is this?" a roar was heard from not far away. Sharon quickly recovered herself. The sight of the scene startled her. It was her son. The little kid was holding onto the ice cream he had just bought. Perhaps he was too happy and accidentally bumped into someone else while he was running back. Sally quickly went over and pulled her son to herself. She looked at the person's pants that were now stained with a big patch of ice cream. It made her feel guilty. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. My kid was running too hastily. Let me help you wipe it off," she took out some tissue paper and tried to help the person wipe it off. She had just started helping the person wipe the stain off when the latter suddenly grabbed hold of Sharon. Subsequently, a deep and cold voice was heard over her head, "What the hell are you trying to do?" Sharon was petrified by the voice. Subconsciously, she raised her head and matched the man’s pair of cold, black eyes. She had to take in a deep breath before she was finally able to make out the man's appearance. At that split second, Sharon thought she was seeing things. The handsome face before her looked like… an enlarged version of her son. All of a sudden, she was stunned by the sight of it and felt utterly surprised. "Are you done looking at me?" The man shoved her hand away and said in an indifferent tone. Sharon managed to recover her composure, but deep within her, she was astonished. 'This man, could he be my son's father? 'No… how is it possible for such a coincidence to occur in the world? How could I so easily bump into my son's dad? 'Well, my son does look like him but only in certain ways.' That was what she thought. Her face put on an apologetic smile. "I'm really sorry about that. Why not I compensate you with some cash? Or perhaps I could buy you a new pair of pants?"

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Simon Zachary had a dark expression. "Don't sweat about it. As a parent, you should always be on the lookout for your children.""That's right, the clothes worn by President Zachary are custom-made, do you think you could afford to compensate him for it?" The man’s assistant, Franky Zimmer, was standing behind him as he rebuked in a low voice. Earlier, he was the one who had scolded her son. He glared at Sharon. 'She is so daring! A woman has never gotten so close to President Zachary before!' "Ain't it just a pair of pants? I can afford to pay for it!" Sebastian, who was being held by his mother, spoke up. He could not afford to let his mother endure the humiliation when he was the one who had caused the trouble. Simon placed his gaze on the little boy. He frowned as he found the little kid rather familiar. Franky sneered. "Hey brat, how will you compensate for it?" Sebastian took out his piggy bank that was in his little yellow duck bag and poured out all the spare cash he had in it. "Here you go, is this more than enough?" Simon looked at the pocket money. It seemed as if he had recalled something as his icy cold expression could now be seen with a faint smile accompanying it. He said in a tone that was not as cold as before, "Keep that pocket money well. Just pay more attention to where you're heading next time.""Uncle, are you looking down on me?" Sebastian frowned as he looked at the towering man. Sharon was not willing to continue arguing with them. Since the opponent just let the matter slid aside, she got the hint and wanted to quickly leave the scene. She quickly yanked her son toward herself and apologized once again, "I'm really sorry for having caused both of you trouble." After apologizing, she brushed past Simon as she was leaving the scene with her son in her hand. Simon was about to leave as well, but when Sharon passed by him, a fragrant smell that was embroidered in his memory wafted up his nose. He quickly came to a halt, and his pupils shrunk as he turned around to look at her. Nevertheless, she was already far away from him with her son. In the blink of an eye, the mother and son were already swallowed by the crowd at the airport. Nevertheless, he stood motionless on the same spot. Franky, who was puzzled, looked at his boss and asked cautiously, "President Zachary, are you planning on making them pay as compensation?" Simon squinted his hawk eyes. 'Why did that lady have that fragrance?' It had been five years, and he had smelled plenty of different scents from many ladies. However, he was always unable to find the woman who had that fragrance in his memory. "Go investigate that lady," he ordered calmly. Franky was surprised, but he still nodded. "Noted." No woman had been able to pique President Zachary's interest. 'That lady is already a mother to a kid. Is President Zachary interested in married women?' Sharon brought her son out of the airport, hailed a cab, and headed for Riley's house. She did not know why, but the man's appearance made her feel disturbed. When she brought her son outside, she felt as if a pair of eyes were staring at her from behind. When they arrived at Riley's house, Riley was already waiting for them at the entrance. She ran over eagerly when she saw Sharon come down from the car. She hugged her. "Shar, you finally came back. I really missed you!" Sharon nearly could not withstand her passionate hug. "Alright, you have to relax. I can't breathe with you hugging me so tightly!" Only then did Riley let go of Sharon. Her eyes were red. "Quick, let me have a look at what you have become—a lady who has already given birth to a kid. "Hmph, you still have such a nice body figure. You have what it takes to find your second love!" Riley kept praising her. "What's a second love, aunty?" Sebastian dragged his tiny luggage over and stood beside his mother. He looked at Riley with his innocent, black eyes. "Well, you're little Sebastian! How did you turn out to be so handsome and cute? You must have inherited it from your mom!" Riley did not stop holding the little kid tightly in her arms after seeing him. Sebastian struggled to breathe. His expression was as if he was entrapped in the jaws of a wolf. He waved his hands, gesturing for his mother's help. "Save me, mummy…" Sharon found it hilarious. "She's your godmother. She’s not a bad person." "Yeah, I'm your godmother. Be a good boy, my godson. Come, call me your godmother." Sebastian pouted his mouth, unwilling to greet her. "I want Daddy, not godmother."

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

"You brat, your mom doesn't even know who's your dad. Stop thinking about your father. It's not too bad now that you’ve got a godmother, right?" She tapped on the little kid's head. 'Am I that disliked?' "I don't care. Mummy already said that she's going to bring me on a search for my father during this trip!" The little kid was still pouting with his little mouth. Seeing his expression on his chubby face, Riley could not help but kiss his face. "Well aren’t your facial muscles a bit too bouncy?" Sebastian turned pale instead. "Mommy, she… she molested me!" Sharon had brought her son up by herself and seldom got in touch with other people. Hence, Sebastian relied heavily on her and was rather distant from others. "A kiss and that's considered molesting?" Riley laughed. Sharon laughed as well before she 'rescued' her son from the arms of her best friend. "He's just afraid of strangers. Things will become better once he becomes closer to you throughout the next few days." Riley raised her brows. "Alright, I'll give you one day to be close to me!" she said in a domineering tone. Sebastian snorted and turned around to hug his mother as he put on a proud look. The two ladies burst into laughter when they saw this. Riley led the mother and son to their place. It was a small two-bedroom unit. It was usually more spacious with Riley staying on her own. Nevertheless, it was still not that packed even though the mother and son were there. That was because they were going to stay in another room. "I purposely bought lots of food when I found out you guys were coming back. Today, I'll prepare a big feast for you two as a treat to guests from far away!" said Riley with a smile after putting down their luggage. "I'm hungry, mommy," Sebastian said in a somewhat crying tone. "Alright, sit here and have some fun while I prepare the dishes with your godmother." Sharon had her son sit on the sofa in the hall. "Go, go." The little kid immediately let out a smile as he kissed her face. Riley could finally make out that the little brat was a bright one. It was simply as Sharon had said, he would only play with people he was familiar with and would ignore other people. 'Does that mean he's proud and cold? 'It doesn’t look like the kid inherited his personality from Sharon. Could it be that he inherited it from his father, whose identity is unknown?' Sebastian was playing with blocks in the hall while Sharon and Riley were preparing the dishes in the kitchen. Riley glanced in the direction of the hall and touched Sharon with her elbow. She whispered, "Your son doesn't resemble you that much. My guess is that he's eighty percent like his father. Judging by his looks, I can say that the kid's father must be a handsome man!" Upon hearing Riley's comment, Sharon's recalled the icy cold man she had bumped into at the airport. At this, it made her realize that the man had been born with a prestigious aura. He gave off a cold feeling that made people stay away from him. "What are you thinking about, Shar?" Riley raised her hand and waved it in front of Sharon. Sharon snapped out of it, and her eyes began to glitter. "Nothing, what were you saying again?""I was saying that your son must resemble his father, and his father must be a handsome man.""Nonsense, it's obvious that he inherited his looks from me!""Don't you wish that his biological father is a handsome man? It would be best if he's a hundred times more handsome than Howard. With that, you’ll no longer be on the losing end." Riley regretted her words after blurting them out. She spun around and looked at Sharon. Without a doubt, there was a lonely expression on her face. "What's wrong? Are you still unable to let go of Howard?* Sharon shook her head. "Nope." "That's great. He's a scumbag who doesn't appreciate things that are around him!" Riley barked before quickly changing the topic, "Let me tell you a piece of good news. I've helped you submit your resume. Tomorrow, you can go report yourself at your new company." "That fast?" Sharon was astonished. "Well, you’re now a famous designer. So, landing a job is easy for you." The next day, Sharon reported for work to her new company. Five years ago, she left Northern City for M Country. After giving birth to her son, she went to further her studies in interior design. Sharon stepped foot into Central Corporation. However, just when she was about to enquire which floor the personnel department was on, she heard a commotion from behind her. At that moment, all the employees at the entrance were lined up in two rows. Additionally, there was an intense vibe as if they were about to welcome a big shot. Subsequently, the security guard dressed in a black shirt pushed the glass door opened. Then, a towering man with strong aura entered the scene. His face was carved like a knife with distinct facial features, and he had a majestic aura that made all of the employees beside him feel pressured. Sharon turned around and saw the man, who was surrounded by tons of people, entering the scene. All of a sudden, she was thunderstruck. 'Why… is it him?'

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

Simon walked into the president's office as Franky followed him from behind. "President Zachary, I've already gotten information about the lady you asked me to look up," said Franky. Simon merely sat down. He frowned slightly when he heard it. "Spit it out." Franky took out an investigation report. "The lady's name is Sharon. Five years ago, she left Northern City and went to M Country to further her studies. One year ago, she was awarded an award for international interior design. Coincidentally… she has become a designer in our company." Simon tightened his lips and did not say a word. 'So it means that I'm now her superior?' Five years ago, she left Northern City… He recalled the night five years ago. He had just returned from a foreign country and was ready to take over the Zachary family. During the welcome ceremony, he had drunk a glass of wine that was drugged. Later on, a lady showed up. However, upon waking up from his slumber the next day, he realized that the lady was nowhere to be seen. Nevertheless, he noticed that there were bloodstains and a pair of earrings on the bedsheet that belonged to a lady. He had not managed to see the lady's face clearly, but he remembered the fragrance on her body well. What Franky was about to say interrupted his thoughts, "One more coincidence, she's your biological nephew's ex-girlfriend." Simon frowned. "Howard?""That's right, I heard that they were about to get married five years ago, but this Sharon ended up betraying your nephew. Hence, the wedding was canceled. I guess she no longer dared to say in Northern City after that and decided to flee to M Country." Franky sighed. Simon vaguely recalled that his nephew had indeed had a wedding, but at that time, his sister-in-law had not invited any of the Zachary members to attend the wedding. "President Zachary, say, do you think she applied for this company for the sake of your nephew?" Simo’s handsome face became dark, "If that’s so, she has come to the wrong place." After reporting for work at the personnel department, Sharon went to the designing department and managed to meet her new superiors and colleagues. When she was just about to take her place on her working seat, the secretary from the president’s office came over to notify her that president Zachary had summoned her. Sharon was dumbfounded. 'President Zachary? Is he the man that I bumped into at the airport?' Before coming to the company, she had not had the time to go through who was the boss of the place. All she knew was that the company was the greatest company in Northern City. She nodded and then followed the secretary to the president's office. Sharon knocked on the door. Subsequently, she heard the deep voice of a man from inside. "Come in." She did not know why, but she felt anxious. A sense of tension developed within her whenever she thought of the man. She took in a deep breath before she pushed open the door to enter. A man, whose head was lowered, could be seen at the huge office desk, scanning through documents. His handsome and meticulous facial features were spellbinding even when he was at work. "Are you looking for me, Mr. President?" The man raised his eyes and looked at her before saying in a calm tone, "Have a seat." Sharon felt that his gaze was rather sharp, and it was as if he was examining her in detail. She sat down with a smile on her face, trying to make herself look more natural. "Sharon Jeans?" The man moved his thin lips and pronounced her name. "That's me." Only then did she realize that he was holding her resume. "Why did you apply to Central Corporation?" He blurted the question out of nowhere. Sharon was shocked. 'Isn’t this question supposed to be asked during an interview? Could it be that the boss plans on conducting the interview personally?’ "I need a larger platform to unleash my talents, and Central Corporation can provide me with that chance." She gave him a textbook answer that had no problems in it. However, the man sitting opposite her was merely watching her meticulously and not in a rush to voice out his thoughts. After a moment, he looked straight at her and asked, "Are you here because of personal reasons?" Sharon frowned. "Do you have some sort of misunderstanding against me? Or is it because of the incident that happened at the airport…" Her speech was cut short by a phone that had suddenly begun ringing. Simon answered the call and listened to what the secretary had to say as he looked at Sharon. Not long after, his eyes began to glitter. "Let him in." He hung up the call after saying that. Sharon was still hesitant on whether she should continue with the previous topic when someone suddenly pushed open the office door. She heard the person who had come in say, "Uncle, I've gathered all the pictures you wanted." Sharon's body stiffened at the sound of the person’s voice. It was Howard Zachary!

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

Suddenly hearing Howard's voice, Sharon was stunned. Scenes of her wedding on that day began to flood her mind. Howard's cruelty and lack of belief in her had made Sharon feel rather disappointed. Howard placed a packet of documents on the office desk. Upon lowering his head, he saw the lady who was sitting in the chair. His expression changed for the worst, and his pupils shrunk. "You… Sharon?!" Her appearance caught him by surprise. 'She's back?' Sharon did not let out a sound. Instead, it was Simon, who was sitting on the executive chair, who glanced at both of them with an intriguing look. "What's wrong? You guys know each other?""Not at all!" It sounded almost as if Sharon had replied without thinking twice. Howard remained silent for a moment before he let out a cold laugh. "Indeed we don't know each other. The Sharon whom I once knew died a long time ago." Sharon finally raised her gaze and glared at him. They both exchanged gazes, and the atmosphere tensed up. In the end, Sharon managed to compose herself. It was her first day reporting to the company. Nothing good would come out of it if she were to have a huge fight with Howard. She pursed her lips and turned away. She made it look like she did not know him at all. "Who is she, uncle?" Howard continued to stare at her. 'Why is she here?' Simon had long ago started paying attention to both of their reactions. Nevertheless, he acted as if he knew nothing and said faintly, "She’s our company’s newly hired designer." 'Designer? She has such an ability now? 'It has been five years since we last met, yet she's still the same as that year.' Howard had thought that Sharon would be living a miserable life. He had never expected her to be living her life better than before. She was even more charming now as well. Howard secretly clenched his fists. "You may leave if there's nothing else." Simon took over the documents that Howard had come to deliver. Howard retrieved his gaze. His tense expression made it obvious that he was suppressing himself from doing something. Nevertheless, he said no more and merely nodded to Simon before taking huge strides to leave the scene. Hearing that Howard's footsteps were now further away, Sharon's anxiousness finally relieved itself. She had not expected her new boss to be Howard's uncle. 'It's just that… Simon looks like he's only 30-years-old at most.' Deep within her, she still felt agitated. Nevertheless, wearing a calm expression, she said, "President, can I go back to work?" Simon's eyes were deep as he glanced at her. "Off you go." He could see a hint of helplessness in her eyes. It seemed like Franky's investigation was right on target. She was his nephew's ex-girlfriend. Sharon left the president's office and walked to the elevator absent-mindedly. However, at one of the corners, a hand suddenly stretched out and yanked her over. "Ah…" She called out softly. That person immediately covered her mouth and forcibly dragged her to a deserted place before letting her go. "Howard? What do you think you're doing?" She struggled to free herself. Having learned the identity of the person who had kidnapped her, she was exasperated. Howard inched closer toward her. "I'm the one who's supposed to be asking that. Why do you still have the face to return? What are you plotting by entering Central Corporation?" Sharon did not back off. She raised her head to face him. "Didn't you hear it yourself earlier. I'm now Central Corporation’s designer. Without question, I'm here to work. What else would I be here for?""Work? Hmph… I'm afraid you have another motive!" He held his chin as he inched closer to her. "Are you here to seduce my uncle?" Sharon's eyes became stern as she shoved his hand away and raised her hand to slap him. "Howard! You had better not spout nonsense, or else, I'll accuse you of defamation!" Howard was apoplectic with rage now that he had been slapped by Sharon. "Aren't you a lady who does things underhandedly? Why bother continuing to act all innocent up till this day?""Howard, you can choose not to believe me, but you can't humiliate me! You only needed one word from Sally to put all your trust in her. So, why can't you trust me?" She knew that Howard was scolding her because of the pictures from that year. "Also, do you believe that those pictures are real? Have you ever thought about why those pictures were displayed on our wedding day?" Howard's expression was awful as he stared at her. He was wavering deep within him, but he still refused to believe her. "You dare swear that you never betrayed me?" Sharon gave up as she looked at him calmly. "Whether you believe it or not, there's nothing else between us anymore," she said before quickly passing him to leave the scene. She only came to know the reason why Howard had such a young uncle later on. That was because Director Zachary had a son when he was at a very old age. He was almost 50-years-old when he had his youngest son, Simon Zachary. If only she had found out earlier. Then, she would not have come forth to Central Corporation to work.

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

The busy working day came to an end, and Sharon headed back to her house. She felt slightly tired. Riley finished work earlier than Sharon, so she helped her out and picked Sebastian up from the kindergarten. "You're back? Was everything fine on your first day of work?" Riley asked. Sharon glanced at her. "Why didn’t you tell me that Zachary’s family own Central Corporation?""That means you bumped into Simon? How was it? Isn't he a handsome one?" Sharon glared at her peevishly. "What does he being handsome have anything to do with me? He's Howard's uncle!""So what! Not everyone gets to enter Central Corporation. You should be happy right now that you were hired regardless of whose uncle he is. Are you afraid that he'll help Howard and trouble you?" Sharon frowned. She was not fazed because of it. It was just that she did not want to be related to anyone from the Zachary family. At that moment, Sebastian came out of his room, holding onto his stomach. "Mommy, I'm having a stomachache." Sharon heard him and thus quickly yanked him to her front. She touched his stomach. "What's wrong? Did you eat anything wrong in the kindergarten?" Sebastian shook his head. "I don't know." His little face was slightly pale, and his forehead was drenched in a cold sweat. Sharon knew her son well. He would not make a sound if it was not very painful. "I'll bring you to the hospital now." Riley got worried as well and quickly took the car keys. "I'll go start the car." The two of them brought Sebastian to the hospital. The doctor checked on Sebastian before looking at Sharon and asking, "Did you say that you guys just came back from M Country yesterday?""Yeah." Sharon nodded. "It’s a given then. There's no major problem with the child. Some poor acclimatization merely caused him to experience diarrhea and stomachache. I'll prescribe him some medication." Sharon let out a breath of relief. "Thanks, doctor." Sharon took the prescription and immediately headed over to the pharmacy because she had to feed her son with the medicine immediately. On the other hand, Riley stayed back in the ward to look after the little kid. Not long after, Sharon reached the pharmacy. However, just when she was about to head back, she saw a surprisingly familiar outline when she took a turn. She turned around and looked at the corridor opposite her. She saw Sally quite a distance away from her! Even though they had not met each other for five years, she could still make out it was her with a glance! Sally, who used to be Sharon's best friend, had snatched her wedding away from her and even snatched her man. How could Sharon forget about her? Sally was talking to a male doctor that was wearing a big, white coat. Sharon could not hear their conversation, but their gestures were intimate. Those who were unaware would think that they were a couple. 'Could it be that Sally is betraying Howard?' Sharon fixed her gaze on the male doctor and looked at him with a sharp gaze. 'Why does that man's side profile look the same as… the man who was in the picture during the wedding!' Sharon's body was rigid. Subconsciously she wanted to grab hold of that man and have a closer look. Suddenly, a human wall was seen blocking her from the front. A man's deep voice was heard, "Sharon?" She raised her head and saw Simon's face. The latter looked so much like her son. OnOnce again, she fell into a trance state for a moment but snapped out very soon because she was very eager to get ahold of the male doctor. She pushed Simon away and was going to head over. However, the outline opposite the corridor was now nowhere to be seen. 'Sally and the male doctor are gone!' "Who are you looking for?" Simon asked when he saw her looking anxious. Sharon felt annoyed. 'They got away!' She snapped out only to realize that Simon was looking at her. He was her superior, and she should not be so impolite. Thus, she lowered her gaze to conceal the emotions dwelling in her eyes. "Perhaps I saw the wrong person.""Are you sick?" Simon saw her holding some medicine in her hand. Her gaze remained lowered. "My son is feeling a bit unwell, so I brought him here for him to have a check-up," she said before raising her head to look at him. She then raised a counter-question, "What are you doing here, President Zachary?" Having heard her mention her son, Simon recalled the incident back at the airport. 'That little brat is innocent yet stubborn. Not to mention, he’s proud at the same time. Looking at him gives me a familiar feeling.' He squinted his eyes and glanced at the lady before him with a sharp gaze. A sense of suspicion dwelled within him. "What's wrong with him?" Without knowing, he asked for the little brat's condition. Sharon did not think too much about it, "He had a stomachache because of poor acclimatization. The doctor has already prescribed him some medication." Simon heard this, and his interest to tease the mother was piqued. "He will be fine if he eats less ice cream." Sharon lifted her eyes to look at the man's thin lips that seemed to have formed a faint smile. 'What's wrong? His appearance that makes him seem as if he's smiling and yet not. It makes him look even more like my son!' Just like that, she began to stare at the man absent-mindedly without blinking her eyes. The man's handsome face came closer to her ear, and he said in his deep, attractive voice, "Do you know that it's very dangerous to look at a man with such a gaze?"

Chapter 8 Chapter 8

Sharon recovered. Her heart was beating hard, and her ears were warm. She quickly lowered her head and bit her lips. She felt annoyed. Simon felt his heart beating irregularly when he saw her in such a state. Once again, he managed to catch hold of the scent from her body that he had wanted to smell all this while. His gaze that was on her changed to a more elusive one. The atmosphere between them was not like how it used to be. All of a sudden, there were footsteps approaching them. "Shar, have you gotten the medication?" Riley and Sebastian had been waiting in the ward for some time, and thus, Riley decided to look for Sharon after noticing the latter had not returned for some time. Sharon suppressed the emotions dwelling within her. 'This is terrible, how could I forget about my son?' "Yeah, I got it. How's Sebastian?""He's slightly better, but the doctor said he still needs to consume the medication." Riley looked at the tall and cold man beside her. Her eyes began to gleam with excitement, "Isn’t this your boss, Shar? Why is he here as well?" 'I wasn’t expecting Simon to be so much more handsome than how he looks on television. However, this man gives off a vibe that makes it hard for anyone to approach him.' Sharon was not in a position to continue speaking to Simon. Thus, she said politely, "President Zachary, I guess I'll head back to look at my son.” Subsequently, she wanted to leave the scene with Riley. The man said surprisingly, "I'll come and take a look at him." Sharon was stunned. "That… that's not necessary." It was a given that she would find it weird. 'Isn’t he being too kind?' It was as if he had not heard her reject him as he raised his long legs and began striding forward. "Which ward?" he asked in a posture that did not permit any rejection. Sharon bit her lips. "President Zachary, don't you have anything else to do?" "The doctor is attending to my father, so I have some spare time," he said casually. Only then did Sharon come to know his reason for visiting the hospital. While she was hesitant, Riley, on the other hand, displayed a friendly front and led the way. "Simply take a turn straight ahead. Just follow us." Riley said before she pulled Sharon and walked forward. Sharon glanced at her and whispered, "Don't do anything stupid, Riley." Riley was not bothered by it. "Why are you so nervous? Just take it as a superior being concerned about his underling." Sharon could not reject him. In the end, she led Simon to the ward. Sebastian was frowning and was laying on the hospital bed listlessly. The moment he saw that his mother had returned, his eyes began to gleam lively. "Mommy, you're finally back." Additionally, when he saw Simon, who had come in from behind, his discouraged expression changed to one of sort of amusement. "Hmm? Why is cocky uncle here as well?" He had knocked into Simon at the airport that day. Back then, the latter had worn a cold and arrogant look when faced with them. Hence, the little kid greeted him as a cocky uncle. Sharon wore an awkward expression. She looked at the man, whom no one could make out his emotions, and said to her son, "Sebastian, this uncle is my boss. You should call him uncle Zachary." Sebastian glanced at the cocky uncle whose face still did not have any expression, "Such a coincidence? What’s he doing here then?" Simon strolled over toward the hospital bed and said in a way that seemed very gentle, "I heard that you weren’t feeling well. So, I came here to visit you." He looked at the boy before him with a sharp gaze. The more he looked at him, the more familiar he felt. Moreover, the suspicion within him merely grew stronger. Sebastian glanced at him, unbelieving that he was that kind. 'It must be because I stained his pants with ice cream that day and made him unhappy. Hence, he’s here on purpose to make fun of me.' "I'm fine. I don't need any visitors." The little kid purposely put on an unsatisfied look. He even sat up straight as if he wanted to prove he was alright. However, next instance, the little kid's stomach growled. Consequently, he seemed not to keep his serious expression. Nevertheless, in order not to be made fun of, he continued to wear a serious look. Simon's lips curled upward when he saw his expression. "Just say so if you're not feeling well. I won't make fun of you." He could see through the mind of the little kid. After he was done talking, he tapped Sebastian's shoulder intentionally. "I… I'm not feeling uncomfortable!" Sebastian's face turned bright pink. He was determined not to admit defeat. He would not allow anyone to make fun of him! Sharon sighed to herself when she saw her son behaving in such a manner. 'I wonder whose temper he got?' "For the time being, eat the medicine." Sharon handed some medicine and a cup of water in front of the little kid. Sebastian immediately took the medicine and swallowed it before washing it down with a big mouthful of water. "Slow down." Sharon gently tapped his back. Simon stood beside them and smiled without saying a word. Riley looked at the three of them and developed an illusion. 'They are a family of three!' Not to mention, she noticed that Sebastian and Simon looked really alike! After the little kid had eaten the medicine, Sharon made him lie down to get some rest. She turned around and realized that Simon was staring at her son. She was unsure of his expression, and it made her heart feel as if it was being clenched. At that moment, someone came rushing in. "Uncle, how's my grandpa?" Sharon frowned. 'Is it Howard?'

Chapter 9 Chapter 9

"Uncle, I heard that grandpa fainted. How's he doing now?" Howard asked immediately after entering. He had heard from the nurses that Simon was in that particular ward. Hence, he rushed into the ward without looking clearly at the people inside. Simon shifted his gaze and said faintly, "The same old problem. The doctor is treating him." Howard finally made out the people in the ward, and he was utterly flabbergasted. ‘Why is it Sharon again?' Riley immediately spoke up without holding back, "Who permitted you to enter? Get out now!" Sharon tightened her lips but did not say a word. She sat at the side of the bed and merely looked after her son. She did not even glance at Howard. Howard saw the kid, and his gaze froze. 'Why does that kid… look so much like uncle?!' He immediately looked at his uncle. 'Could it be he’s uncle's son?' 'No. Uncle has never had a woman beside him before. It's impossible that he has a kid. 'An illegitimate child? I don't think uncle would do such a foolish thing.' Just when he had begun to examine Sebastian, Riley blocked his view and once again chased him out. She said, "Are you deaf? I asked you to get out, don't you hear me?" Simon looked at Sharon, who was silent. His eyes glistened as he said to Howard, "Are you here solely to look for grandpa?" Howard had to retrieve his gaze. He was still shocked. "Sally began vomiting badly because of pregnancy. So, I came over to keep her accompany. We will go and visit grandpa in a while." Sharon felt her heart tighten when she heard him. 'Sally is pregnant?' Simon looked at the watch on his wrist. "It's almost time. Let's go. I'll lead you to him." Before he left, he recalled something. He turned around and said to Sebastian, "Hey kiddy, learn your lesson. Don't eat too much ice cream." Sebastian snorted. "Uncle, you really are cocky!" What he was trying to convey was that he did not need Simon to care for him. "Enough talking, lie down and get some rest." Sharon touched her son's head. She was afraid that Simon would get upset. Nevertheless, he smirked and was not mad. Simon made his way toward the doorway. Seeing how Howard was not moving an inch and was instead staring at Sharon and her son, he raised his brows. "What's wrong? Aren't you going to visit grandpa?" Howard snapped out of it. He sneaked another glance at the little kid before slowly filing out of the room. When he got out, he could not help but ask, "Uncle, that little kid. It can’t be Designer Jeans' son, right?""He's her son. What's wrong with it?" Simon looked at him thoughtfully. Howard was dumbfounded as he stood on the ground. 'Her… her son?!' 'Sharon has a son?! The anger suddenly began to boil within him. 'Yet she still dares to say she didn't betray me?!' He had an awful expression on his face. However, he forced himself to let out a smile. "No… nothing. I was just curious." In the ward, Riley was still cursing Howard. "Shar, did you hear what Howard said? Sally's pregnant! He really is shameless! How dare he say such a thing in front of you?!""Stop talking about them." Sharon did not wish to hear anything about them. Her mind was being flooded with images of the earlier incident at the hospital corridor when she saw Sally with that male doctor. Riley let out a breath. "Yeah, let's stop talking about that lowly couple. They will only spoil our mood!" Sebastian blinked his eyes. "Mommy, who is godmother scolding?" Sharon touched her son's head. She had never told Sebastian about the grudge between her and Howard. "You shouldn't ask about adult issues. Be a good kid and lie down." Riley looked at the little kid and hesitantly said to Sharon, "Shar, have you realized that our Sebastian looks a lot like your boss?" Before Sharon could speak, the little kid stuck his head out from the blanket and protested, "I'm nothing like that cocky uncle. I'm more handsome than him!" Riley held back her laughter when she saw his exasperated look. "Yeah, yeah, you're more handsome than him!" Sharon pursed her lips and looked at her son. She was not willing to admit that her son indeed looked like Simon. However, she could not cheat herself. 'Could it be that he’s the man from five years ago?' Her mind was in a mess. She dared not continue thinking about it and was not willing to give it another thought. She did not wish to be related to the Zachary family. The little kid ate his medication. Then, after resting for some time and making sure that there was no major problem, they got ready to head back home. The three of them had just exited the ward when a doctor walked up to them. "Are you Sharon?" Sharon looked at the doctor when she heard him. It was an old doctor with white hair. She was absent-minded for a moment before she managed to identify the latter. "Are… are you Doctor Collins?" Doctor Collins was the doctor who had attended to her late father; he had taken good care of her father. Doctor Collins laughed out loud. "It really is you. It has been some time since I last saw you. I was still thinking about how I should get in touch with you.""Were you looking for me because of anything?" Sharon was puzzled. The smile on Doctor Collins' face faded. He said in a sorrowful tone, "Before your dad left, he asked me to give you a box. I was just too occupied at that time and forgot about it. I have the box kept in my house now. Whenever you're free, just contact me and come over to retrieve it."

Chapter 10 Chapter 10

Sharon had not expected her father to leave something for her. Five years ago, she left in a rush. After bidding farewell to her father in the cemetery, she immediately left Northern City as the place no longer welcomed her. "I got it, I'll contact you tomorrow then." Doctor Collins still needed to attend to other patients. Thus, he left the scene after leaving his contact number. The next day, Sharon made sure that the little kid's stomach was alright after he had consumed his medication. Only then did she send him to kindergarten and head to work. As soon as she arrived at the company, she received a call from the secretary’s office. She was being summoned to the president’s office as President Zachary wanted to meet her. Not long after, Sharon reached the president's office. Simon was standing by a window that spanned from the ceiling to the floor. He was on the phone with someone else. Seeing that she had arrived, he beckoned her to have a seat beforehand. In no time, he ended the call and walked over. The towering silhouette took a seat on the executive chair, retrieved some documents that were on the desk, and placed the documents before her. "This is the company's introductory for the Mountain Linguistic City project. Go through it. You'll be in charge of this project's design." Sharon was rather thunderstruck. "I'm going to do it alone?""Why? You find it difficult?" He seemed as if he was smiling while he looked at her with his brows raised. Sharon quickly answered, "No, thank you for having faith in me, President Zachary." She had just started working, yet he was confident in leaving the entire project to her? "If your resume is genuine, I don't see why I can't believe in your ability." He seemed to have seen through her mind. Sharon felt that he was looking at her thoughtfully, but she could not make out what was going through his mind. "I'll use my actions to prove my abilities." She let out a faint smile. At that moment, the secretary knocked on the door to enter the room before placing an invitation card before him. "President Zachary, Young Master Zachary has sent someone to deliver this. It's an invitation card for his fifth wedding anniversary night banquet." Sharon could not control herself, and thus, she glanced at the card. 'That golden invitation card is really eye-striking.' She recalled the day she returned. She had seen that they were going to organize a banquet at night for their fifth wedding anniversary on the 26th. The current day was the 26th. She suppressed the emotions that were dwelling within her, picked up the documents, and left the president's office. Sharon had made an appointment with Doctor Collins. Therefore, she immediately left for the hospital after work. In his office, Doctor Collins placed a black box in front of Sharon. "Your father asked me to hand this to you." Sharon received it with both her hands. "Thank you." She opened the box with a puzzled look. There was a transparent and shiny jade in it. She had never seen her father wear the jade before. She picked it up and inspected it with a sharp gaze. There were two ancient letters vaguely craved on the jade. However, she could not make them out at that time. “Did my father leave me with any last words?" Doctor Collins shook his head. "Nope. When his illness recurred, he was in a lot of suffering. I wanted to save him. However, Young Master Zachary had ordered me to stop his medical treatment…" Doctor Collins became agitated and left his words hanging. Sharon fixed her gaze on him when she heard his words. "What did you say? Howard ordered to stop my father's treatment?" Subconsciously, Doctor Collins had said something that he should not have said. He waved his hand. "Just forget what I said. Once you've taken your things, off you go." He made an excuse saying that he needed to attend to other patients before leaving hurriedly. "Doctor Collins…" Sharon wanted to ask for clarification, but he was now very faw away. It was as if something in her mind had exploded as her body fumbled so much that she could not even stand properly. 'It was Howard! He caused my dad's death! How could he be so cruel?' In that split second, the anger that she had been suppressing suddenly burst out. Consequently, she clenched the jade in her hand tightly. Five years ago, on the very same day, her wedding was seized away from her. She was framed, and everyone deemed her a disgusting lady. On top of it all, her father was left to die! However, on the same day, Howard and Sally were going to organize a banquet at night for their wedding anniversary. Sharon walked out of the hospital absent-mindedly and casually entered a shop to rent a gown before changing into it. Then, she hailed a cab and headed to Westin Hotel. It was the day she suffered the most, how could she allow the lowly couple to behave as they wished?! Sharon arrived at the hotel, and she saw many luxurious cars being driven to the scene. It looked like lots of influential people were gathering to celebrate the occasion that night. She curled her lips and smirked. 'The more people, the better!' One had to have an invitation card to enter the hotel, but Sharon did not have one. She was frustrated about it when she suddenly caught sight of a black and domineering Maybach that was entering the scene. A few security guards in black were surrounding the car. It has to be said that they were well trained and their presence was terrifying. Once the Maybach came to a halt, the door of the car flung open. Subsequently, a man's long legs touched the ground. They were followed by the appearance of the person’s towering silhouette. His meticulous facial features gave off a prestigious vibe that was capable of making anyone light-headed. Sharon was stunned when she saw that it was Simon. 'That man always takes the limelight. He makes it hard for people to shift their gaze away from him.' After Simon got down from the car, he turned around and helped another person exit the vehicle. The person was an old man with white hair. He was wearing a suit that seemed to be traditionally styled. He was holding a walking stick that had a dragon’s head carved on it. Needless to say, it gave off a prestigious vibe. Those who had been waiting around for them immediately bowed and said, "Director Zachary, President Zachary, please enter." Sharon snapped out of it. 'So that old man is Simon's father, Douglas Zachary? 'That means all of the members of the Zachary family have come? Sally’s influence must be really huge.' Simon and Douglas had just entered the main entrance of the hotel when Sharon quickly caught up to them. She was halted by others, but she said to them, "I came with President Zachary." Simon heard the commotion behind him and halted in his footsteps. He saw Sharon, who was in a gown, waving to him with a smile. He frowned, but before he could speak, Douglas asked from beside him, "Who is she?"

Chapter 11 Chapter 11

"She's…" Simon was thinking of a way to introduce her. "President Zachary, you’ve forgotten to bring your female partner in with you," said Sharon, who was being halted, in a somewhat grievant tone. Simon raised his brows. 'Female partner?' "Let her in," said Douglas. Douglas' slightly dull yet sharp gaze began to examine Sharon. He had never seen a lady once appear beside his son for many years. 'Could it be that this girl is special?' Sharon was delighted when she got the green light. She smiled and walked into the scene with her head held high. "Nice to meet you, Director Zachary,” she greeted him politely. Douglas merely kept eyeing her with a sharp gaze. This made her nervous. She averted her own eyes and noticed that Simon's cold eyes were staring at her. Her heart began thumping quickly, and she evaded his gaze. She dared not meet his eyes. 'Perhaps he's mad?' "Simon, is she your partner?" Douglas' looked at his son suspiciously. The latter was rather silent. Simon kept his eyes on Sharon, but he did not say a word. The silent atmosphere became extraordinarily tense. Sharon could feel her heart beginning to beat erratically. She felt a tingling sensation on her scalp as she was being stared at by him. She started thinking to herself, 'What if he denies it? Should I ignore everything and rush straight into the hotel? 'No, if I rush straight in, I'll be chased out in no time as someone who has come to cause havoc. 'Then… my only choice is to be with Simon. I must be his partner!' She summoned up her courage and hooked arms with Simon before smiling. "Call me Sharon. President Zachary said he’d make me his partner for tonight." Her heart was beating hard. She could not imagine herself having the guts to spout such words to Douglas. When Sharon finished speaking, she raised her gaze to meet Simon's pitch black and deep eyes. She felt extremely guilty. She was not confident. Additionally, shame would not be the only thing she felt if he ended up shoving her away. Simon squinted his black eyes as if she had piqued his interest. He continued to stare at the lady's face that showed a bright smile like a blossoming flower. 'What is she up to?' At that moment, Howard came out to greet the attendees. He immediately walked over when he saw them. "You've arrived, grandpa," he spoke while looking at his uncle and grandpa at the same time. Suddenly, he saw the lady beside his uncle, Sharon Jeans! Howard's pupils shrunk. 'Sharon?' He stared at her hands that were holding his uncle. 'What a b*tch. Since when did she seduce my uncle?' "Uncle, what is she doing here?" Howard glanced at Sharon coldly. Douglas spoke up first, puzzled, "What's wrong? Do you happen to know your uncle's partner as well?" "Partner?" Howard raised his tone. 'Why would uncle take her as his partner?' 'It has to be Sharon, this shameless lady. She used some underhanded method to spellbind my uncle!' "Young Master Zachary, I heard that tonight’s banquet is for your wedding anniversary. I came to congratulate you." Sharon wore a smile on her face, but her eyes were gleaming coldly. Her mind kept rewinding the words Doctor Collins had said. 'It was Young Master Zachary who gave me the order to stop your father's medical treatment!' The grip of her hands that were holding Simon tightened without her even realizing it. Her eyes were no longer able to suppress the anger that was dwelling within her. Simon sensed a change in her. He lowered his head and saw the exasperated look on her face. He could not help but feel curious by this. 'Why do I keep thinking that she doesn’t just hate my nephew?' "Huh… then thanks a lot!" Howard said through gritted teeth. "Can we enter the place now?" Sharon quickly retrieved her anger. She smirked and stayed still beside Simon as she looked right into Howard's gaze. Howard clenched his fists. 'I can't allow anything foolish thing to happen on this occasion. Not to mention, especially in front of grandpa.' He suppressed the anger within him and evaded her gaze. He spun around and said to Douglas, "Grandpa, I'll escort you inside." Sharon let out a sigh of relief as she watched them enter the hotel. Fortunately, Douglas did not suspect her. However, Simon did not stop staring at her. Thus, she forced herself to continue smiling at him. "President Zachary, aren't we going to enter as well?" Simon squinted his eyes, inched nearer to her ear, and then asked with his deep voice, "What are you plotting, huh?" Things had come to this point; she could not back off. She could only bet on it. Therefore, she blinked her eyes and looked at him. "To be honest, I'm your nephew's ex-girlfriend. Today, I'm sincerely here to congratulate him." He looked at her with sharp eyes. She felt as if her heart was being clenched. 'I guess he won't believe what I say?' Just when Sharon thought he was going to summon security guards to have her dragged out the next second, his long fingers grabbed her by the chin. Then, his deep eyes met hers, and it was as if he was able to see through her mind. "That's all?" The man playfully pursed his lips. At that split second, Sharon felt like he was trying to suck her soul out of her. Fortunately, she managed to control herself. She suppressed the guiltiness within her and smiled at him. "That's all to it." The man stared at her for a few seconds only to reply in a non-hurried manner, "Then I hope you'll do your best as my partner tonight." "Of course," she replied immediately. Simon's eyes began to gleam with a sense of thrill. He knew that she was lying, but he also wanted to know what was she up to. Hence, he permitted her to hold his hand and brought her into the scene. Sharon silently let out a sigh of relief. 'No matter what's going through his mind, at the very least, I’ve been allowed to enter.' The party ballroom was luxurious. Many well-mannered guests had come to congratulate them. "Take it slow, dad," Fiona Lionel said to Douglas as she took a few steps toward him. Then, she looked at her son, "Howard, you should go have a look at Sally. She's pregnant now and needs someone beside her." "Grandpa." Sally showed up by herself. She was wearing a prestigious gown that gave off the aura of a noble person. "You came as well, uncle?" Sally noticed the handsome man enter the scene behind them. However, the next instance, when she saw the lady beside Simon, the smile on her face immediately faded. 'That is… Sharon Jeans?!'

Chapter 12 Chapter 12

Sharon entered the scene while holding Simon's hand. Subsequently, she saw Howard's mother, Fiona, and… Sally! Under Sally's gaze which was full of astonishment, she curled her lips and quietly grasped Simon's arm even tighter. Sally's voice was slightly shaky as she said, "Sharon?" They had not seen each other for five years. The current Sharon was no longer the same as the previous one. She looked the same, but she now gave out a sense of confidence and pride. Sally could clearly see the provocation in her eyes. She was holding onto Simon and presenting herself as the victor. Sally was agitated. Fiona saw Sharon, the cunning lady who had betrayed her son five years ago, as well. "Howard, why is she here?" She looked at her son with a stern gaze. Sharon smiled and answered before Howard could speak, "Aunty, I'm here today to congratulate Howard and Sally." Sally clenched her fists and glared at Sharon without saying a word. Fiona could no longer tolerate it. She immediately waved her hand to summon the security guards to chase her out. However, Howard stopped her and gave her an eye signal. "Mom, grandpa is still here." Douglas frowned when he saw their suspicious looks. "Why is it that you guys know each other?" He was the only one who had just met Sharon on that day. He could not help but glance at Simon once again. 'Could it be that I'm the only one who wasn’t aware this lady has been with my son for a long time?' Fiona clenched her teeth. She glared at Sharon and swallowed the disgruntled emotions she had within her. 'Why does she still have the face to return here?' Sally finally recovered, and she let out a fake smile toward Sharon. "Since when did you get to know our uncle?" Simon was the person with the most authority in the Zachary family. 'Things could take a turn for the worst if Sharon gets close to Simon.' How could Sharon not have known Sally's thoughts? She replied with a smile, "We just got to know each other. Oh right, he's currently my superior, and I'm his partner for tonight." Sally was shocked. 'Superior? Partner?' 'I'm afraid Sharon is trying to use Simon to enter the party and create havoc!' "Howard, I'm feeling slightly unwell. Could you please bring me in to get some rest." Sally felt rather flustered and needed some peace. "Where are you not feeling well?" Howard quickly went to support her anxiously. "I think I'm just too bored." Sally dived into his arms. On the other hand, she glanced coldly at Sharon who was in her peripheral vision. "Quickly bring her in to get some rest then, Howard." Fiona was more anxious than Howard. After all, Sally was currently pregnant with her grandchild. Sharon watched coldly as the both of them left the scene. Sally was intentionally trying to make Sharon realize how much Howard cared for her at the moment. 'She thinks she can defeat me with just that? If that’s so, she’s wrong. My feeling for Howard died five years ago.' Then, Fiona accompanied Douglas to his VIP seat and sneakily ordered someone to keep an eye on Sharon. Sharon noticed that there were quite a few people dancing on the fancy dance floor. She looked at the quiet man beside her and took the initiative to invite him, "President Zachary, may I have the honor to invite you for a dance?" Since she had shown up, she had to do something to remind both Howard and Sally not to forget about her existence. Simon became interested and looked at the lady's pretty, little face. His black eyes glistened, and he held her wrist with his big palm. Then, he led her to the dance floor. The very next second, Sharon was standing in the middle of the dance floor as the man held onto her waist. "Can you dance?" The tall man looked at her. She felt her ears beginning to warm. "Of… of course." Her emotions were being influenced by him. "Then, let's get started…" After the man had finished talking, he led her to the dance floor. Subsequently, they started dancing. Sharon was not ready. Thus, she was initially rather passive. However, she very quickly adjusted herself to his footsteps and caught up. Following the rhythm of the music as a guide, the two of them performed a romantic Waltz. Soon, everyone surrounding them stopped, and only the two of them were left on the dance floor. Subconsciously, everyone around the dance floor began to watch the two of them as they danced. A lady began gossiping softly, "Who is that young lady who's dancing with President Zachary? Why have I never seen her before?""They're dancing very well." Sally, who was being supported by Howard, had just returned to the hall when she saw the two people on the dance floor. Their handsome and pretty looks, as well as their synergy, made those who were watching shower them with praise. Sally stared at Sharon hatefully. It was her party, and she was supposed to be the main character for the night. However, Sharon had seized the spotlight from her. "Howard, just look how shameless she is. She's seducing your uncle!" Howard also saw the two people on the dance floor, and his eyes began to swirl with anger. "She still doesn't have that kind of ability." However, the dance moves of the two people on the dance floor looked flirtatious. Their bodies were almost glued to each other. "Howard, go chase her away, alright?" Sally could not bear to look at Sharon. Howard had not acted rashly earlier because of his grandfather's presence. At the moment, he was of the same feeling that Sharon should not stay at the scene! "Rest assured, I'll make her disappear immediately!" Howard said hatefully as he stared at Sharon, who was enjoying the dance.

Chapter 13 Chapter 13

Earlier, Sharon had merely asked Simon for a dance casually. She had not expected him to actually agree to it. Who knew that she, who had taken the initiative to invite him, would turn out to be on the passive side; she was being led by Simon's footsteps on the dance floor. Without her realizing it, the man before her was all that she saw in her eyes. Under the sparkling crystal lights, the man's meticulous facial features made him look even more handsome. It was as if his deep eyes had magical powers that were making her attracted to him. Accompanied by the last musical note, they completed their last step. His arms surrounded her, and she ended up being in his embrace. She raised her head and looked into his eyes. At that split second, they made her forget everything. Only when Sharon heard the applause from nearby did she snap out of it. Subconsciously, she got out of his embrace. She lowered her head. "I'm going to get a drink." She left the dance floor rather hastily. Simon looked at the woman who seemed to be running away, and his thin lips curled upward. 'Is that lady… being shy?' Finally, Sharon came to the spot where the drinks had been placed. However, just when she was about to let out a breath of relief, someone grabbed her hand. The next second, she was yanked forcefully away by that person. "Howard? What are you doing?" Sharon was astonished by his sudden appearance. 'What is he planning to do to me with his aggressive stance?' Howard did not let out his voice. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the ballroom. At last, they came to a corridor outside. Sharon used every bit of strength she had left to free herself from him. She said angrily, "Where are you bringing me to?" Howard turned around and glared coldly at her. He roared, "Sharon, get lost immediately! Don't think of ruining mine and Sally's banquet!" Sharon smiled faintly when she saw how infuriated he was. "What's wrong? Are you scared?" She looked at him with a cold gaze. Five years ago, on the same day, she became the most helpless person. He married Sally while she had to suffer! She was doubtful of the fact that Howard had ever loved her. 'How could he be so cruel to me?' Howard raised his brows and snorted. "Scared? Me? Oh right, I'm scared to let everyone know that you're my ex-girlfriend. You'll make me lose face!" Even though she no longer love him, hearing the statement still made her sad. She sneered and said purposely, "Yeah, other men wouldn’t tell others they know that they were betrayed." Howard recalled the pictures during their marriage. His eyes began to burn with rage. He suddenly got closer to her and grabbed her shoulders. "Sharon, you're doing this on purpose, right?" Sharon felt pain because he was putting force on both her shoulders. Nevertheless, she bore with it and even lifted her chin to face him. She let out a cold smile. "If you want to take it that way, so be it. After all, Simon is way more charismatic and handsome than you. Most importantly, he's the head of the Zachary family while you're nothing.""You!" Howard was so mad at her that his face was apoplectic with rage. He lifted his hand and attempted to slap her. Nevertheless, Sharon quickly caught hold of his wrist and looked at him coldly. She sneered. "Are you thinking of hitting me again? Howard Zachary, you have to get this in your head, I'm no longer the Sharon from five years ago who was head over heels for you!" She shoved his hand away after saying that. Howard's pupils shrunk and let out a smile even though he was exasperated. "Head over heels? Ha, what a joke. Sharon, you betrayed me five years ago. If not, how did you give birth to a dirty bastard kid?" He still remembered seeing that little boy in the hospital. 'Her son is already so big. It's so obvious that she betrayed me!' Sharon’s expression became livid. "What did you say? I dare you to try saying it again!""Did I say anything wrong? Weren’t you're the one who seduced another man and gave birth to a dirty bastard kid?" Pa! Howard had just finished speaking when he was hit by Sharon's tight slap. Sharon was disgruntled as she stared at him. "You can scold me, but you can't scold my son!" Her body trembled slightly. Nobody knew how much suffering she had had to endure throughout the past few years. She had to bring up her son all by herself, and it was all because of him and Sally. How could she tolerate Howard humiliating her son in such a manner? Sharon’s slap made Howard dumbfounded, and he glared at her with an exasperated expression. He found it hard to believe. Sharon did not wish to argue with him. Thus, she spun around and began to take big strides as she made her way back. Howard voiced out, "Don't you dare set foot into the ballroom!" Sharon's footsteps came to a halt. She composed herself, turned around, and revealed a smile. "I'm your uncle's partner. If I'm missing, he'll begin to worry." After saying that, she did not look at Howard again. Instead, she continued to walk straight ahead without a single worry. Sally had witnessed the entire incident from a corner. She clenched her fist as she had not expected the current Sharon to be so unscrupulous. 'She's thinking of making Simon her support? Dream on!" Sharon returned to the ballroom, but Simon was nowhere to be seen. She searched for him high and low but failed to find him. 'Maybe something came up and he has to leave for the time being?' She took a glass of fruit juice and drank it as she was really thirsty. All of a sudden, Sally went up the stage. Then, with the microphone, she addressed the people present, "Everyone, I'm very happy to see that you’ve shown up to show us your support. I would like to play a game, but I need everyone's cooperation." Sally scanned through the crowd and finally placed her gaze on Sharon. A cold smile was seen in her eyes, "This lady, would you please come up the stage?" At that split second, everyone turned to look at Sharon. Sharon was startled and looked at Sally up the stage. She clearly sensed that the latter was bearing ill intention. 'I'll just have to block every attack with all I've got. Let's see what's Sally up to?' With everyone staring at Sharon, she walked up the stage with her head held high. Simon, who went out to answer a call, just came back and coincidentally saw Sharon walking up the stage. His footsteps came to a halt and did not continue walking into the scene.

Chapter 14 Chapter 14

Sharon stood opposite of Sally. Everyone, including Howard, was now looking at both of them. It has to be said that Howard was standing not too far from them. He frowned and wondered what Sally was up to. It seemed as if Sally was vaguely smiling while looking at Sharon. She said, "Could you please answer my question first. If you answer it wrongly, you'll receive a penalty.""Spit it out." Sharon looked right into her eyes. 'This Sally is still so fake. She has no guts to admit that we both know each other in public.' Sally's eyes gleamed coldly. "May I ask what you were talking about with my husband in the corridor outside just now?" Sharon's pretty brows furrowed slightly as she knew what Sally was plotting. "For that question, you should go ask Howard. He's the one who dragged me outside.""I've already asked him, and he said you tried to court him. Is that so?!" Sally roared coldly, deeming that she was guilty. A commotion broke out amongst the crowd down the stage as people started whispering. Sharon's eyes sparkled subtly. Not giving her any chance to speak, Sally pointed at her again and said to everyone, "Everyone, that lady's name is Sharon Jeans. She's the lady who betrayed Howard five years ago during their wedding!" Everyone was flabbergasted when they heard it, and they started pointing fingers at Sharon. Sharon's expression changed slightly. It seemed like Sally was trying to expose her identity by flipping through old grudges and making her look bad in front of everyone again. "Howard is my husband now, and you still haven’t changed at all. You even tried to seduce him!" Sally roared once again. Now, everyone had begun cursing Sharon; they felt sympathetic toward Sally. Sharon even heard someone asking her to get lost. She clenched her fists. 'Well, Sally, what a ruthless card you’ve played!' "I didn't seduce him. Ask him to step on the stage and clarify it in front of everyone!" Sharon wanted to see whether Howard would also be unable to differentiate between the truth and the lie. Sally smiled coldly. “You no longer had the opportunity for that. Like what I said earlier, you’ll be punished if you answer it wrongly.” As soon as she was done talking, Sally took a glass of wine and ruthlessly poured it on her face. Sharon was not able to dodge it in time. Thus, she closed her eyes subconsciously, and the icy cold liquid flowed down from her hair. The guests at the scene were dumbfounded as they looked at them; they even forgot to make any form of sound. Simon, who was standing at a corner, had his eyes looking dark. He looked straight at Sharon, who looked so embarrassing. 'Is this her motive for coming here?' He did not move an inch. He was looking forward to seeing how she would counter the situation. Sharon's body trembled slightly as if she had traveled back to that wedding five years ago. Back then, Sally had also humiliated her in public in the same way. At that moment, all the rage within her rushed up to her head. She opened her eyes that were now burning with anger. Sally was startled to see Sharon in such a state and was surprised. Sharon made her way, step by step, toward her. When Sally snapped out, Sharon was already before her. Sharon leaned beside her ears and whispered, "I heard that you're pregnant, but I know the child in your womb doesn't belong to Howard." Sally's pupils suddenly widened before they shrunk. She felt as if the high wall within her had suddenly collapsed. It was as if somebody had suddenly found out the secret she had tried so hard to hide. A jolt of shock coursed through her, and she lost control of her emotions. Consequently, she pushed Sharon away. "Get lost!" She roared anxiously. Sharon was caught off guard after having been pushed away so forcefully by Sally. Her whole body was thrown backward, and she knocked the cake that was a few layers tall aside. In other words, she toppled the cake while falling to the ground embarrassingly. Her face and gown ended up being stained with lots of butter. The crowd shouted when they saw the scene and backed off to the sides. On the other hand, Sally lost control and began shrieking nervously, "Someone, quick, get that b*tch out of here!" It was obvious that Sharon's statement had triggered her. Howard could no longer continue watching at the corner. He glanced at Sharon coldly though the latter was on the floor. Then, he took big strides and went up the stage to protect Sally. Subsequently, the security guards were summoned. However, just when they were to capture Sharon, a cold and clear voice of a man was heard, "Hold it right there." The crowd turned to see a towering man with strong aura that appeared. He strode over step by step, and everyone gave way to him subconsciously. The security guards dared not take any rash action when they saw him. Each of them was scared out of their wits. In no time, the man's long and straight legs appeared before Sharon. Sharon raised her head and saw the man's cool yet stern face. Sharon did not know why but she felt a sense of grievance when she saw Simon. She revealed a smile that looked slightly better than her crying expression to Simon. "President Zachary, I'm sorry for embarrassing you." Simon looked at her from above. He did not answer her. His cold and sharp eyes merely looked at Sally, who was on the stage. Simon said calmly, "She's someone I brought over. Aren't you supposed to ask me for permission before laying a finger on her?" His tone was indifferent, but the cold vibe that was being emanated from his body was more than enough to send chills down one's spine. As the saying went, one should always seek permission from a dog’s owner before smacking it. Sharon was Simon's partner. Was Sally not giving Simon any face by humiliating Sharon in public? Sally began to tremble with fear as Simon continued to stare at her with his cold gaze. Only then did she realize that she had misbehaved. "Uncle…" She seemed to want to say something. Simon cut her short, "Don't call me uncle, I have no right for that title." Sally's face turned pale, and she dared not say another word. Howard quickly defended her, "Uncle, Sally didn't do it on purpose." Simon's cold gaze glanced over them. He tightened his lips and said nothing. Instead, he leaned over and picked up Sharon. Then, he left the scene while carrying her.

Chapter 15 Chapter 15

Sharon was carried out of the hotel by Simon. It was at night, and a cold breeze blew over. Consequently, Sharon shivered as she felt rather cold. The wine from Sally had drenched the cloth around her chest. Her hair was all wet as well, and her shirt was stained with butter. Seeing herself in such a state, she felt embarrassed. "Thank you, please put me down," she said softly. At that moment, a car arrived before them and came to a halt. Simon let go of her. She saw that his western suit was now stained with quite a lot of butter, and she felt sorry for it. "Sorry, I dirtied your clothes again. Perhaps you could take your clothes off and let me wash it for you?" Simon remained silent and merely looked at her. Initially, he was curious about why she had insisted on him being his partner to enter the hotel. He had thought she was intentionally there to cause havoc. Without a doubt, from the looks of it, it seemed as if she had indeed planned to destroy the banquet. However, she ended up getting herself into a mess as well. The man did not let out a single sound and instead kept staring at her. His gaze made her feel frighten. She let out a dry smile and said, "I know I look very disgusting right now, but you don't have to look at me like that, right?""Ah…" As soon as she said that, the man stretched out his hand and pinned her in front of the car. His towering silhouette slowly began to approach her as he engulfed her within his arms. "I don't care what sort of grudge you have with my nephew. I don't wish to be caught up in your mess." His warning was understood by Sharon clearly. That night, she had used him to enter the banquet. He could forget about that, but if she was plotting to use him to get her revenge on Howard, she had miscalculated things. The cold vibe that was being emanated from the man's body made her tremble. 'So, it seems like he helped me out earlier just so that he could protect his dignity.' She smirked and let out a smile. 'It is no wonder he was mad.' Sharon lowered her gaze and retrieved the emotions that were dwelling within her eyes. She said softly, "Rest assured President Zachary, such a thing will only happen once. There won't be another time." She had never thought of using him to seek revenge on Howard. It was her own issue after all. Simon glanced at Sharon's face that was stained with butter and suddenly found it hilarious. Those who had no idea what had happened would have thought she had just attended a birthday party. His stony expression gradually loosened. He released his hand, opened the car door, and said in a deep voice, "Get in the car." Sharon looked at him, puzzled. He blurted with an indifferent face. "I'm giving you a ride home.""Well… I shouldn't trouble you." Before she could finish talking, the man immediately pressed her into the car. Then, he entered the car and ordered the driver to ignite the engine. Sharon was genuinely afraid that she would soil the car. She dared not simply move once she took a seat in the car. "Well… what about Director Zachary?" She remembered that Simon had come with Douglas. "There will be another car to take him home." Sharon looked at him. 'Oh, right. Affluent families like them, don’t have only one car.' The car came to a halt at the condominium where Sharon was staying. Throughout the journey, the two did not exchange a single word. Sharon tilted her head and looked at the man who had closed his eyes to get some rest. "President Zachary, I've reached my place. Thanks for the ride home.""Mm," the man answered. Nevertheless, he did not open his eyes. Such an atmosphere would make anyone feel uneasy. Thus, Sharon quickly pushed the car door open and got down from the car. As soon as she got down from the car, the man in the vehicle said, "Wait." Then, she immediately caught hold of whatever was thrown out from within the car. It was his western outer coat! "Didn't you say that you’d wash it for me?" He raised his brows and looked at her from within the car. "Ah? Yes… I'll wash…" she quickly replied. She viewed him as an indifferent person and had thought that he would ditch that coat; he would immediately discard it and not even let her wash it. "Wash it yourself," the man added. "Of course, I'll wash it till it's clean." She was guessing Simon perhaps thought she would send it to the laundromat. Subsequently, the car in front of her drove away. Sharon lowered her head and looked at the coat in her hand before sighing. She had a headache. She had rented the grown she was wearing, and at the moment, it was so dirty that one could not bear looking at it. By the time Sharon returned to her room, it was pretty late. Fortunately, she had given Riley a call saying that she would be working overtime and had to trouble her to look after her son. The little kid and Riley had already hit the sack. 'It’s for the best since they won't see me in this state.' Sharon quickly got herself cleaned up and returned to the room that belonged to her and her son. The little kid was hugging a dinosaur doll and sleeping soundly. She touched his head gently and looked at his sleepy face that made her smile subconsciously. Not wanting to wake him up, she sneaked her way to the other side of the room and laid down. At the moment, she did not feel sleepy. Recalling what had happened at the hotel and the shocking look on Sally's face, it looked like she had guessed it right. 'Sally is not pregnant with Howard's child!' There was a chance the baby had something to do with the male doctor she had seen back in the hospital. She had to look for the man and thoroughly investigate the truth behind those intimate pictures taken back in that year! … Simon returned to the Zachary household after sending Sharon back home. The moment he entered the doorway, he saw his father, sister-in-law, Howard, and Howard’s wife, in the hall. It seemed as if they had been waiting for him.

Chapter 16 Chapter 16

Despite being faced with such a grand scene, Simon's expression remained unchanged. He took his sweet time and strode forward. "I'm home, dad," Simon greeted Douglas, who was sitting at the main seat. Subsequently, he turned to look at the people beside him. "You're here as well, sister-in-law?" Fiona was his sister-in-law. Five years ago, his elder brother passed away in a car accident. Consequently, he had to return to take over the Zachary family. After the accident concerning Simon’s elder brother, Fiona and Howard moved out. They had done so as they did not want to stay in the house to keep seeing items that jogged their memory about Simon’s elder brother. Douglas looked at him with a stern expression. He asked in a unhappy tone, "Where have you been? Why have you only reached home now?" Simon raised his long brows as he found it rather hilarious. "Dad, I'm already a grown-up. I don't see what’s the problem with me coming back home slightly late." In truth, he was well aware that his father was questioning him about his whereabouts so that he could find out if he had been together with Sharon. Douglas snorted loudly. "Where's that lady named Sharon? She destroyed the banquet, but she didn’t bear its consequences. And you took her away?" Fiona, who was just beside Douglas, had wanted to question Simon long ago. Since Douglas had brought up the matter, she could not hold herself back. She said, "Simon, Sharon is not a good lady. Five years ago, she did something and betrayed Howard. Now, her return spells nothing but trouble. You should stay away from that lady.” "Yeah, Sharon is a lady who isn’t as simple as you might think. In the past, I was foolish enough to be her best friend; I wasn’t able to see through her true colors. I only realized later on that she had hooked up with another man even though she already had a boyfriend. Without Howard's knowledge, she went to other men and seduced them. I pitied Howard back then." Sally put on a sorrowful look as she added on to Fiona's statement. She hated Sharon immensely as her wedding anniversary had been trashed. Not to mention, Sharon had made her lose her composure in public. Consequently, everyone’s impression of her as an elegant lady had now disappeared into thin air. She could not wait to see Sharon vanish immediately! What made her terrified was the comment that Sharon had whispered in her ear. 'Has Sharon found out something?' Subconsciously, she raised her hand and touched her stomach as her body trembled slightly. Howard did not say a word. He noticed that she was trembling and thus thought she was shaking out of infuriation. Feeling heartbroken, he hugged Sally and gently held her back as he comforted her. After hearing their ruthless comment about Sharon, Simon said indifferently, "What's does the sort of person she is have anything to do with me? She was my partner tonight, and she was being bullied. Evidently, I had to stand on her side." "Didn't you hear them say that she's a playgirl? Do you think any good will happen with such a lady getting close to you?" Douglas believed in what Fiona had said and was determined not to allow his son to get near such a woman. "What evidence do you guys have to prove that she's a playgirl? Just a few statements and you guys convict her of being guilty?" Simon replied calmly. "There is evidence. There are photos to prove it!" Sally suddenly said out of anxiety. "Oh? Where are the photos then?" Simon asked. Sally's expression turned dark as those photos had been lost long ago. Five years ago, Howard had tried to look for the photos after the wedding had ended. However, the projector broke down, and the USB flash drive was destroyed along with the photos. Worst of all, he failed to pinpoint the culprit that had projected them. Too many people had attended the wedding at that time. Thus, no one noticed that thing. The photos, the only evidence of Sharon's betrayal, were gone. Simon noticed that they were unable to hand him the proof. Therefore, he said, "If there's nothing else, I’ll be heading back to my room." "Stop right there!" Douglas suddenly barked in a deep voice. Simon turned around. "Is there anything else?" "Fire Sharon tomorrow!" Douglas ordered. Simon frowned. "Dad, she did nothing wrong. What will the other workers think if I fire her out of the blue? Such an unfair thing will never take place in Central Corporation." Simon paused for a moment before adding, "If that’s the matter, save your breath. You should get more rest, dad." Simon spun around after speaking and headed upstairs without any hesitation. He simply ignored the awful expression on his father's face. "You… one hell of a spoiled brat! Are you trying to make me angry?" Douglas roared. Fiona quickly got up and comforted him, "Calm down, dad. It's all Sharon's fault. How long has it been since Simon met her? And yet, she has already convinced Simon to take the wrong path!" "I did mention earlier that Sharon is wicked. Otherwise, how would it have been possible for her to spellbind so many men?" Sally rubbed salt into the wound. Howard still did not say a single word. After hearing Sally's words, his expression changed for the worse. Fiona noticed that Howard still had something going on in his mind. Subsequently, she suddenly thought of something. "Dad, I guess Simon is not that young anymore. Why don’t you let him get married and have a family? Such a thing will prevent him from being seduced by women who have ill intentions." Douglas snorted. "I'm also thinking of making him get married quickly. Do you guys know that not a single lady has appeared beside him in the past few years!" Fiona thought for a moment before she said, "Dad, why not leave this matter to me? I'll be sure to look for a wife that's from a family comparable to us for Simon." "You?" Douglas eyed Fiona suspiciously. Fiona put on a confident expression. "Don't people always say that the elder sister-in-law is just like a mother? Since mom is no longer around, I, his sister-in-law, shall take responsibility for his marriage." Douglas fell silent for a moment before he finally said, "It would be for the best. I guess it's time for someone to be there to constraint him."

Chapter 17 Chapter 17

Sharon got up early in the morning and prepared breakfast. Then after having it with her son and Riley, the three of them headed downstairs. As usual, Riley was ready to drive and send Sebastian off to the kindergarten before sending Sharon to her company and driving herself to work. The three of them had already walked out of the condominium when Riley was all set to begin driving. At that time, the door of a black car that was parked nearby suddenly opened. The vehicle seemed rather luxurious, and Fiona was seen getting down from the car. "Sharon," said Fiona coldly. Sharon raised her head when she heard her name. She was surprised at Fiona's appearance at the condominium when it was still so early in the day. Judging by Fiona's aggressive attitude, it seemed like something bad was bound to take place. Sharon was not willing to let Fiona know about her son's existence and thus had Riley bring her son to the car as she waited for Fiona. She told Riley she would be with them in a moment. Riley felt worried. "You don't have to entertain her.""Don't worry. She has come all the way here, so if I dodge her this time, she might visit the place where I work next." Sharon patted Riley's shoulder gently, assuring her. Riley thought that she had a point and let out a sigh. "Then, you should be cautious. Give me a call if things don’t go right.""Alright," Sharon said to Riley. Subsequently, she patted her son's head. "Go to the car with your godmother and wait for me." Sebastian furrowed his little brows. "You better be fast, mommy." He could sense that the lady coming for his mother was not a good person. "Alright, off you go." Sharon only walked toward Fiona after seeing that Riley had led the little kid away. "Are you looking for me for something, aunt?" Sharon stood before Fiona. However, she had not expected Fiona to immediately slap her upon hearing her words! All of a sudden, Sharon felt as if her face was burning because of the pain. Furthermore, her ears were ringing due to the slap. The next moment, Fiona blurted out rude and angry comments as she said, "Sharon, how can you be so shameless? Who gave you the courage to come back here? You better leave Northern City this instant. Otherwise, be prepared to bear the consequences!" Sharon was unable to snap out of the daze she had been placed in by the slap she had received earlier. Nevertheless, she suddenly heard the sound of footsteps running toward her from behind. They were followed by a little figure that appeared in front of her. Sebastian shoved Fiona away and roared, "Evil woman! How dare you slap my mommy?" He stretched out his arms and protected his mother by placing himself in front. Although his physique was small, he had the vibe of a gentleman. Riley came over as well and praised Sebastian. Then, she glared at Fiona and roared, "Old lady, how dare you beat others under broad daylight? Do you believe me if I say I'll report you to the cops and have them lock you up in prison?" Fiona was unable to catch notice of something as she struggled to regain her balance after being forcefully pushed away by Sebastian. In the end, Fiona stumbled backward and knocked against the body of her car. It has to be said that only with the support of the car did she manage to support and prevent herself from falling on the ground embarrassingly. After steadying herself, she stared at the three as if apoplectic with rage. However, the moment she saw the little boy, she was stunned. 'This boy… why does he look so familiar?' 'Why do I think that this boy looks a bit like Howard when he was young?' 'He shouted at Sharon and called her mommy. Does it mean that he's Sharon's son?!' The rage within Fiona changed into curiosity as she was flabbergasted. "This… this is your son?" She looked surprised as she stared at Sharon and asked. Sharon had never intended to let Fiona catch a glimpse of the little kid because she did not want to invite room for more trouble. Nevertheless, she had not expected things to spiral out of her control. "Evil woman, you hit my mommy. I'm going to call the cops to catch you!" Sebastian would never allow someone to bully his mother. Sharon pulled Sebastian behind her; she didn't want to let Fiona stare at him. She said coldly, "Fiona, if you're only here today to tell me to get lost, I suggest that you save your breath. I have the freedom to decide whether I stay or leave. You have no right to interfere." Initially, Fiona had wanted to chase Sharon away. However, her thoughts became cloudy the moment she caught sight of Sebastian. She thought to herself, 'This boy can't be Howard's, right?' 'If he belongs to the Zachary family, I won't let him follow Sharon! 'I have to investigate the boy's identity!' "Alright, you may stay, but if you intend to destroy Howard's marriage, I'll never forgive you!" After speaking, Fiona fell silent for a while before she suddenly thought of something. Consequently, she added, "Also, don't think of getting too near Simon. He's not the type a wicked lady like you would be able to get close to!""Hey, old lady, hurry up and get lost. We don't welcome you here!" Riley could no longer tolerate it and thus roared. Fiona glanced at her coldly and did not say another word. In the end, she looked at Sebastian, reentered the car, and left the scene. Sharon frowned without realizing it. She could not help but sense that after Fiona caught sight of her son, the latter began acting weird. Otherwise, how could she have so easily let her off the hook? "Mommy, your face is swollen. It must hurt, right?" Sebastian looked at her, heartbroken. Sharon snapped out of it. "It's nothing. It's not that painful." Then, she praised, "I didn't expect my son to already be a little hero who can protect me.""Mommy, from now onward, if anyone bullies you, just let me know. I'll be sure to defend you!" Sharon wanted to laugh when she saw his expression. Nevertheless, she felt warmth beginning to course through her. "Alright, I'll look forward to you protecting me from now on.""Could you guys have this disgusting conversation during your bedtime?" Riley turned a blind eye. The three of them looked at each other and chuckled. Then, Sharon headed to a pharmacy shop by the roadside to buy some ointment. Subsequently, she put on some and headed to the company. In the end, she still felt insecure because of Fiona's sudden appearance. Furthermore, Fiona's expression when she saw her son made her unable to remain calm.