Ryanâs private jet descended at Savrow Airport in the middle of the
night.
Zoe, with her vibrant brown curls cascading down her back and a luxurious fur coat draped around her,
stepped down from the staircase and entered a fancy car.
Since the knockoff incident with Bethany, Ryan banned Zoe from leaving the house and confiscated
her phone. That way, Zoe could not contact her friends who might lead her astray.
Later, she made a huge fuss and starved herself.
Feeling bad for Zoe, Claire persuaded her son to lift the ban and send
Zoe to Inalia instead for some soul-searching.
Now that it was winter, Ryan begrudgingly let Zoe return to Savrow
Zoe had spent way too much time in Inalia, but Ryan never once
visited her. That was cruel of him.
âWhereâs Ryan? Why didnât he pick me up from the airport?â
Zoe threw a tantrum in front of Ryanâs bodyguard, Adam. She k
kicking the back of the front passenger seat, where Adam sat.
Adam had watched Zoe grow up. Although he was Ryanâs confidante,
he had also worked for Zoe for a long time. Adam looked at Zoe
tenderly and was coy about Ryanâs whereabouts.
âMr. Hoffman has been busy lately.â
âHeâs changed. I donât mean anything to him anymore.â Zoe pounded the back of the seat in tears. âHe
would always pick me up, no matter how busy he was before. This time around, he didnât even call me
once. He doesnât care about me anymore!â
She screamed and fussed until she choked out sobs.
Adam felt bad for her.
In the end, Adam mustered the courage and murmured, âI have news, Ms. Hoffman, but you must keep
your cool.â
âWhat is it?â Zoe took the tissue from the bodyguard to wipe her tears.
âMr. Hoffman hasnât been in touch with you recently because he has been busy with Ms. Carrie
Salvador.â Adam was secretive about it.
âWhat did you say?â Zoe was baffled.
âThatâs not the only thing.â
Adam drew closer to her and cut to the chase. âMr. Hoffman is living
with Ms. Carrie now.â
âNo way! No way!â
Seeing red, Zoe yelled, âHow could that fool live in my family home? My brother has never brought a
woman home before.â
âMr. Hoffman didnât bring her back to the Hoffmansâ residence. He
kept her in one of his many properties.â
Zoe felt her world crumbling.
âWhere exactly? Take me there now.
yersspprivate residence was nestled amid the affluence of Savrowâs
filssidel its white walls and green top a testament to wealth.
Mihouobinthe house was not as grand as the Hoffmans residence, the
area wwws mouet and serene with stunning views. It was a perfect place
QUAMMORelax.
van had stayed with Carme during her recovery in the past few days.
roppang hits work and social engagements to keep her company
for Corneâs sake. he retired from playing the field and changed
aspainâs oporo of
Ryan, I made you agit Come and take a look.â
Carrie, dressed in a reef boodle with a white fluffy lining, smiled jleefully as she tookRwards hand and
dragged him to the backyard
(asmin stared at the bees molt face, finding that Carrie resembled the
ittle red riding hood.
iven a wornan like her was taskendo dente, much less Ryan.
Slow down. We have not cheerce the snow from the path. I don
vant you to fall.â The manâs we were filled with tenderness.
tyan cared for Carrie so much during the past few days that he ha
ot let her feet touch the ground. Het onted her around the villa,
except when she had to use the bathropom
He realized what it meant to spoil someone
t was a blanket of white in the backyard: Tadlash greenery covered
in snow was a beautiful sight.
Carrie was like a blossoming flower in the winter wonderland, capturing Ryanâs entire attention and
pulling his heartstrings.
âLook, Ryan!â
Ryan held Carrieâs frozen hand tight in his grasp as she pointed at the
plump snowman in the middle of the yard. Her eyes were smiley. âI
made you a snowman. Itâs pretty, right?â
He was filled with glee until he got a good look at the snowman.
His headshot was stuck to the face of the plump snowman, and it
was creepy.
That was not the only thing.
The picture Carrie chose did not capture his good looks.
Besides, the headshot was black and white, the type used on
gravestones.
âI have a lot of nice photos, Carrie. Why did you pick this one?â Ry
was speechless.
âUh⦠I took this picture in secret. I wanted to give you a surprise.â Carrie looked up at him, wide-eyed
and rosy-cheeked.
âWhy did you get the photo in black and white?â
âErm⦠The printer ran out of colored ink.â
Ryan sighed wryly and ran his fingers down her red hoodie.
All was fine with him.
He
not have asked for more when Carrie made him a gift.
âWoof! Woof!â
Suddenly, Ryanâs pet Doberman sprung out of nowhere and pounced
on the snowman.
âHey, Millionaire! Get back here!â
Ryan shouted anxiously, but it was too late.
Millionaire knocked his head off.
âWoof! Woof!â Millionaire wagged its tail and barked excitedly.
Carrie blinked. âErm⦠Ryan, your head fellâ¦â
Ryan clenched his fists.
In the mood for playtime, Millionaire kicked the snowball back and
forth.
Carrie exclaimed, âWow! Millionaire is kicking your head like a ball.â
Ryan clenched his teeth and yelled, shaking the snow off the
branches. âMillionaire, how dare you kick your dadâs head! Iâm
to disown you!â
Millionaire must have gotten the message because it turned to Carm
with pleading eyes and whimpered.
âNo! Donât punish Millionaire!â
Carrie nestled up to Ryan for once, dangling his arm. âIâll make you
another one. Hang on.â
Overwhelmed by a tingling sensation, the man stared at her with
affection. âMillionaire, if your mom didnât plead your case, you would
be done for tonight.â
Ryanâs heart raced.
However, Carrie had run off to make another snowman.
It was a good thing Carrie did not hear what he just said.
Yet, somehow, he wished she had.