First Kiss

Zoey looked at the man's sharply defined face, from his eyebrows to his nose bridge, and then to those beautifully curved thin lips, all so perfect.

She lifted her little face and her lips pressed against the man's lips.

Her heart jumped uncontrollably, as if she had lived two lifetimes. This was her first kiss.

She was innocent and quite inexperienced, extending her tiny tongue to lightly brush against the man's thin lips.

The man started to breathe heavily, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. He wanted to reach out and support the back of the girl's head, but he withdrew his hand and let the girl do as she pleased.

Troy, sitting in the driver's seat, glanced at the rearview mirror and was completely shocked by what he saw.

The aloof and abstinent Russell unexpectedly succumbed to the advances of a dominant woman!

He looked very enjoyable!

Just that woman...

Russell's cold gaze met Troy's prying eyes, causing the latter to quickly press the button and raise the partition.

Inside of the car was instantly divided into two enclosed spaces.

Looking at the misty eyes of the girl, Russell wiped away the water stains on her lips with his fingertip and said, "You are quite proactive."

Zoey held onto the man's arm and said, "I only take the initiative with my man, this was my first kiss."

Russell seemed to be greatly pleased by this sentence. Zoey noticed a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Soon, the car stopped at City Hall.

When Zoey pushed Russell in, the staff had already been waiting there.

The two of them took their first photo together in the photo studio.

Zoey looked at the handsome face of the man in the photo, and her mouth couldn't close.

"So happy?"

"That was because I had such a handsome husband."

"Can good looks be enough to make a living?"

At least looking at it, I can enjoy my meal.

Russell: "..."

Because of Russell's connections, even without household registration and other documents, the marriage certificate was still obtained.

Getting on the car, Zoey grinned foolishly at the gold letters on the little red notebook, thinking that it was a dream.

She looked at Russell and said, "Can I bite your hand?"

Russell was taken aback, "What?"

"I want to check if I was dreaming."

Russell chuckled and said, "Why don't you bite yourself instead of biting me?"

Zoey smiled with her eyes curved, "Because I'm afraid of pain!" After saying that, without waiting for the man's consent, she grabbed his hand and lightly bit his index finger.

The wet warmth of her touch deepened the intensity in his eyes. He quickly pulled his hand back and subtly adjusted the blanket over his lap as if hiding something.

"Does it hurt?"

Actually, it didn't hurt much, just like a cat scratching, but Russell was afraid that she would do it again, which made him all hot-blooded.

His voice hoarse, he said, "It hurts, so you weren't dreaming. It's already half past nine, I'll take you back to the Harmon family."

Zoey recalled the abnormalities in his body and needed to find out the cause from his diet and daily routine. She cleared her throat and said, "We got married, so we can live together now."

Russell chuckled at her straightforwardness. “Quite eager, aren’t you?”

“Eagerness makes the meat taste sweeter.”

Russell looked into Zoey's sparkling eyes and said softly, "Tonight, I will take you back to the Harmon family to pack up your belongings. Tomorrow, I will come to pick you up."

"Okay!"

At a quarter past ten, the car stopped at the entrance of the Harmon's villa.

Zoey reluctantly looked at the man and said, "Well, I'm leaving then."

The man made a casual "hmm" sound, but his gaze remained fixed on Zoey.

As Zoey opened the car door, she quickly turned around and planted a kiss on the man's lips. "Goodbye, husband! Remember to call me!"

She jumped off the car, waved her cute hand, and then ran into the villa.

Husband?

Russell lightly brushed his thin lips with his fingertips, and the corners of his lips unconsciously curved upwards. Through the car window, he saw the villa door close before ordering Troy to return to the old mansion.

Troy frowned, "Mr. Russell, do you really believe Ms. Harmon? She is the person Mr. Maddox personally brought back."

Russell's eyes narrowed, "So you think she would have ruined Nelson and Ariana just to put on a show?"

Troy, "Perhaps Ms. Harmon held a grudge out of love."

Russell frowned unhappily and said, "Call her Mrs. Maddox."

Troy, "Yes."

Inside the villa, Zoey had just entered when a teacup came flying towards her face!

She quickly dodged, the teacup brushing against her hair as it flew past, splattering the remaining tea stains onto her white dress.

“Did it hit you?” Matteo rushed over, worried.

Zoey shook her head, "I'm fine, Grandpa, don't worry about me."

"That's good." Matteo looked at Dahlia, who was standing by the coffee table with an angry expression, and shouted, "What are you doing?"

Dahlia's chest heaved violently as she stared, "She destroyed Ariana, she deserves to die!"

Jordan sat on the sofa, smoking silently.

Ariana, on the other hand, was even more heartbroken, covering her face with both hands and crying.

Matteo was about to say something, but Zoey held his arm and asked, "Ariana and my fiancé had an affair, shouldn't it be her who ruined me?"

Dahlia raised her chin and said, "You should have continued with the engagement process, denying those photos and videos! But now, you're just calling off the wedding, and those photos and videos have become real! By doing this, you're ruining Ariana, ruining her career!"

Zoey had become accustomed to her mother's consistent mockery and indifference, and she didn't know why. Since she was little, she had always been the one who was ignored and neglected.

Ariana had beautiful clothes and cute dolls, but she only wore a few of them and could only watch Ariana play with them longingly.

Zoey was very confused. She couldn't understand why she was not favored just because she was born two minutes earlier than Ariana.

She tried her best to please her parents, took care of her younger sister, and studied hard, hoping that her parents would love her a little bit.

Later, she realized that no matter how excellent she was, she would never be seen in her parents' eyes.

Favoritism has no reason.

Clenching her purse, Zoey spoke clearly, “Photos can be fake, but videos can’t. If she lacks self-respect, why should I bear the consequences? Should I just stand by, watching them continue their affair under my nose? You’ve always cared for Ariana—but what about me? Have you ever considered me, even for a second?”

Dahlia chuckled, "It's your own stupidity that you couldn't keep a man, and now you blame Ariana? Go and make a statement right now, saying that those photos and videos are all fake, and that you intentionally did all this because you fell in love with Russell."

Zoey smiled bitterly, what was she really hoping for?

"Are you trying to push me into the eye of the storm?"

Dahlia stared at her, "You were useless, once the hype was over, it was all over. Ariana is different, she is a public figure, she cannot have any blemishes!"

Zoey looked at Jordan and asked, "Dad, did you think the same way too?"

Jordan sighed, "I'm sorry, Zoey."

"What grievance? I see that she was the one behind those photos and videos, she is just jealous of Ariana's talent!" Dahlia huffed.

Zoey smiled and asked Ariana, "Ariana, was I jealous of your talent?"

Ariana looked pitifully at her, biting her lip. "Zoey, my reputation couldn't be ruined."

Zoey chuckled and took out the marriage certificate from her bag, "Russell and I got married. I will move out tomorrow."

Dahlia's eyes widened, Jordan choked on his smoke, and Ariana was so surprised that she forgot to cry.

Matteo swallowed and took the marriage certificate, opening it to look. After a while, he said, "Handsome man and beautiful woman, a perfect match."

Dahlia rushed up to Zoey and said, "Did you get married? Did you negotiate the dowry? How much of the Maddox Group's shares will be allocated to you? How many projects will the Harmon Group receive each year?"

Zoey smiled faintly, "I didn't want a penny."

“What? You truly are a worthless burden!” Dahlia shouted in anger, raising her hand to slap Zoey.

Honey, I Have No Home Anymore

Zoey grabbed Dahlia's wrist and said coldly, "I will not make any statement, and I will not accept any betrothal gift. You're disappointed in me, and I am equally disappointed in you! I will leave the Harmon family tonight!"

She let go of Dahlia's hand and went straight up the stairs.

Dahlia stumbled as she was pushed away, wanting to go after and ask, but she was pulled back by Matteo.

He sternly said, "Treating your daughter as an object, do you even deserve to be a mother? Don't bother Zoey!"

Dahlia hummed and stomped up the stairs, while Jordan flicked his cigarette butt and followed suit.

Ariana timidly glanced at Matteo and got up to leave.

Coming back from abroad, Zoey didn't bring much with her, and she didn't acquire any new items in the past half month either. Therefore, when she returned, she still had the same silver suitcase as when she left.

The door was unlocked, Ariana walked up to Zoey, and she fiddled with her hands in front of her.

"Zoey, are you really leaving? I truly know I was wrong, can you forgive me?"

Zoey raised an eyebrow, "What do you think?"

"Zoey, let’s not let a man come between us, okay? Aren’t we sisters?”

Sisters?

At first, Ariana treated her badly, often making up stories that Zoey bullied her and even cutting up some toys and clothes, falsely accusing Zoey of doing it.

It can be imagined that Zoey received a beating, while Ariana was hiding and laughing on the side.

Until when did Ariana treat her well?

After starting middle school, Zoey always ranked first, so Ariana would try to please her and ask her for tutoring.

Zoey didn't hold a grudge against Ariana for her past actions, she just saw it as childish pranks.

Unable to find the love of a father and mother, she naturally longed for sisterly love.

Later, their relationship became really good, all the way until she passed away.

Zoey only realized then that Ariana had been kind to her with a purpose.

The so-called “sisterhood” was simply a trade, with Zoey’s talent as the price.

Demons are demons after all, even if they disguise themselves as angels, they still possess a demon's heart.

Zoey gave her a meaningful look and walked towards the door, carrying her suitcase.

Ariana ran over and grabbed her arm, looking pitifully at her. "Zoey, my concert is tomorrow night. If you don't support me, what am I going to do? I'm begging you, please help me one more time, okay?"

Zoey let out a sigh, "Well, I'll help you this time. But from now on, you'll have to walk your own path."

"Thank you, Zoey. Thank you."

Ariana watched as Zoey walked out the door, a sinister and evil smile forming at the corner of her mouth.

She knew that as long as she shed a few tears, this fool would soften.

First time leads to a second. Zoey would be at her beck and call for the rest of her life.

Zoey walked towards the stairs, a smile playing at the corner of her lips.

Ariana, your retribution has just begun!

When Zoey went downstairs, only Matteo was there.

She approached and hugged the old man, "Grandpa, when the time is right, I will take you away from here."

Matteo patted her back and asked, "Are you really willing to marry Russell?"

Zoey let go of him and nodded solemnly, "Grandfather, I am willing to marry Russell, it was not a momentary impulse."

Matteo's eyes turned red. "If this kid bullies you, you tell grandpa, and grandpa will break his legs."

After saying that, he furrowed his brows and said, “Though he can’t walk anyway.”

Zoey burst into laughter, "You wouldn't have seen this situation, he would have been good to me."

Matteo gave Zoey some more instructions before she left the Harmon family.

She told her grandfather that Russell would come to pick her up, but in fact, she didn't contact him. She just wanted to take a walk alone along the street.

Meanwhile, at the Maddox family's old mansion.

Nelson stood in front of the Maddox family.

Alonso hummed, "You really disgraced the Maddox family today!"

Nelson lowered his head and said, "Grandpa, I was wrong. I know I made the Maddox family lose face today, but it's not entirely my fault. If Russell hadn't agreed with Zoey, Zoey would still have chosen me."

After speaking, he stole a glance at Russell.

Russell chuckled softly, “If a cake is revealed to be garbage, only a fool would still want to eat it.”

Russell raised an eyebrow. “People will only say that Nelson was two-timing.”

Livia Rogers was choked and unable to speak. She looked at her own son kneeling on the ground, feeling heartbroken. “Let’s put this behind us—Nelson understands his mistake, just let him get up."

Russell glanced up coolly. “Since he disgraced the family, he’ll be disciplined according to the family rules.”

He looked at the butler and said, "Go to the study and fetch the family rules."

The butler nodded and walked quickly towards the study.

Livia looked anxiously at the two elderly people and said, "Dad, Mom, everything has already passed, so please don't enforce family discipline. Nelson knows he was wrong!"

Alonso was firm in his attitude, "There are laws for the country, and rules for the family. Once the rules are established, they must be followed."

Livia turned pleadingly to Braylen Maddox and Aubrie Bender, the second son and daughter-in-law of the family, but they looked away, pretended not to see.

Soon, the butler came carrying a rectangular box.

Russell said in a low voice, "According to the twenty-one family rules, those who betray and abandon their trust shall be punished with ten strokes; according to the thirty-two rules, those who disgrace the Maddox family shall be punished with twenty rolls. A total of thirty strokes. Felix, begin."

Felix opened the box and took out a black wooden stick, which felt like iron in texture. He held it with both hands, standing behind Nelson.

"Master, I apologize for the offense."

The wooden stick struck Nelson's back hard, and he clenched his teeth but still cried out in pain.

After receiving thirty lashes, Nelson knelt on the ground, trembling all over, with cold sweat on his forehead.

He looked up at Russell, desperation in his eyes. “Uncle, you’ve punished me. Now, can you give me back Zoey?”

The arc of Russell's lips was filled with extreme contempt, and his voice was indifferent and distant. "I said, you should call her Auntie."

He raised his hand slightly, and Troy pushed him towards the door.

Nelson was unwilling to let go of Zoey, who was his proudest pawn. "Russell, Zoey is just mad at me, she doesn't like you at all!"

Troy's footsteps came to a halt as he stood by the side of the wheelchair.

Russell glanced sideways, revealing his sharply defined facial features. His attractive lips curved into a very slight arc as he said, "Zoey and I have already obtained our marriage certificate, so you can give up on any hope you had."

As soon as the words fell, Nelson instantly slumped down in dejection.

How could this happen?

Did his carefully planned scheme just get ruined like that?

Who exactly did it?

Livia held him and cried, but he couldn't hear her. His mind was filled with thoughts of who the mastermind behind the playing of the photos and videos was.

The black Maybach drove on the spacious asphalt road.

The night outside the window and the dim light of the street lamp intertwined, faintly discernible, the man's deep brows and eyes were clearly dim.

Russell habitually searched for the Buddhist beads on his wrist, but they were empty. He remembered that the beads were already worn by Zoey.

Is she asleep now?

Russell took out his phone and saw a Line message on the screen, which had been sent five minutes ago.

"Honey, have you gone to sleep?"

Russell opened the chat, intending to reply, but after a second of thought, he called her instead.

The line was quickly connected, and the clear chirping of cicadas and the sound of cars whizzing by came through.

Russell furrowed his brows and asked, "Where were you?"

Zoey sniffed, "Honey, I don't have a home anymore."