Chapter 676

Everett suddenly slumped, his entire frame leaning on Dorothy's shoulder, his six-foot-three stature

making it hard for her to breathe.

He was silent, simply resting against her.

Dorothy tried to speak several times but held back, deciding to let him catch his breath first.

Then, abruptly, she felt a dampness on her neck. The tears trailed down her collarbone, slowly

slipping away.

Everett was crying, soundlessly.

The last time he cried, he blamed it on the whiskey, but this time, he was sober.

"Everett."

"Dorothy, you can't keep leaving me," his voice was hoarse, his chest trembled with each word,

"Once is enough."

He couldn't bear it happening again.

...

Karen had landed a job.

She was working remotely as an event planner, no need to clock in at an office; she could work from

home.

Even though Jeffrey suggested countless times that she should drop the idea of working and just

enjoy being taken care of, Karen didn't want to be anyone's appendage.

"One grand a month for your salary?"

"There's benefits too, you know, health, dental, and retirement plans. It all adds up to more than two

grand." Karen was quite content.

Jeffrey smirked and slumped back into the couch, "If you ask me, you should just come work at

Lopez Corporation as my secretary. We could even... you know, during lunch breaks."

"Don't you think about anything else?"

Karen leaned back into the couch and gave him a playful kick.

Jeffrey wasn't bothered; he caught her ankle and pulled her towards him,"When I look at you, that is

the only thing I can think of."

"Why don't you go find some other women? You've got too much energy; I can't handle it alone."

"Nope, I only want you."

Seeing him gearing up for more, Karen quickly put up her hand to block him.

"I just called my folks, and I told them I got a job. They want me to come over for dinner tonight. So

cut it out."

Every time she tangled with him, she was left without any energy, certainly not enough to visit her

parents.

As soon as Jeffrey heard she was leaving, he quickly cozied up, "I'm free tonight. I'll come with you

to see the folks."

"Those are my parents."

"Sooner or later I'll have to call them mine, right? Might as well get familiar now." Jeffrey got up and

started calling his secretary to order gifts to bring along.

Every time he visited Karen's parents, he'd come bearing armfuls of presents.

You can't fault someone for being too generous.

"I haven't agreed to go with you yet."

"If you don't agree, then you're not going anywhere either."

Jeffrey had become a pro at handling her.

In the evening, they drove to her parents' place together.

Derek was just returning from the market, hands full of groceries. When he got home, he

immediately spotted Jeffrey's flashy car—a sight no one could miss.

"Dad, I've got this." Jeffrey jumped out of the car, not even bothering to lock it, and rushed over to

help Derek with the bags.

His calling Derek 'Dad' with such warmth and eagerness almost put Karen to shame.

Derek was clearly delighted. His son-in-law might not have impressed him at first, but he had grown

on him.

"Your mom's upstairs getting ready to make some pies. We didn't expect you'd be back so soon."

"We had nothing going on, so we thought we'd come early and spend some time with you guys."

Jeffrey, holding the groceries, stood next to Karen with a goofy grin.

Karen rolled her eyes. Just as she was about to say something, she caught a glimpse of a familiar

figure.

It was Jeffrey’s ex-girlfriend. Her appearance was quite a surprise.

Jeffrey noticed the shift in the atmosphere and followed Karen's gaze.

He froze.

"Jeffrey, how long are you going to hide from me?"