Christine stood by the French window for a while, and upon hearing some faint sounds outside, she turned around, drank the milk from the bedside in one go, and then went out with the empty cup in hand.


    Hearing the noise, Yasmin nced up and, thinking about what Joanne had just told her, felt a pang of sympathy. She didn''t understand how this girl had grown up, how much hardship she had endured. Even after returning for over a year, she still didn''t genuinely bond with her biological mother.


    The girl was very guarded. Ultimately, it was her own fault for being so neglectful back then.


    If she hadn''t been so careless...


    Seeing Christine, Yasmin first feigned ignorance and asked, "Mom, what''s wrong?"


    "Nothing" Suddenly, Yasmin reached out and hugged her, rubbing her head. "Sweetie, it doesn''t matter what you call me, it''s just a title. We have plenty of time to get used to it. We''ll take it slow." The unexpected embrace made Christine freeze. Normally, Yasmin did like these affectionate gestures, but they were usually when Christine was pretending to be obedient, so she was never surprised. But at that moment...


    Christine had expected questions or usations, like "Why did you call me by my name?" or "Ungrateful daughter."


    But there was none of that, no reproach at all.


    This was unfamiliar to Christine, even shocking.


    Having grown up in an orphanage, her experiences were such that making mistakes often meant being punished. No one had ever embraced her or spoken softly when she was in trouble.


    Yasmin was the first.


    She had always been good at pretending and hiding her darker sides, showing a seemingly obedient and gentle facade. But this time, she was stunned, as if something deep inside was emerging. There was a hint of warmth


    Before she could react, Yasmin handed her a blueprint of a vi and said softly, "Take a look. Do you like it? Since you like Jeswood, I''ve decided we''ll settle down here in the future. If you like this house, well finalize it tomorrow."


    "It will be in your name as a gift from me."


    Christine took the blueprint, which was for a vi with a front yard and a swimming pool, part of the bestConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    vi district in Jeswood.


    Usually, when Yasmin gave her gifts, she would receive them with pretense. But this time, she looked at Yasmin and shook her head. "Since you said this is our home, wherever you are is where my home is, so this house should be in your name,"


    For the first time, her tone was somewhat stiff.


    She had never spoken her true feelings before and was not ustomed to it.


    Yasmin was a bit surprised. "What did you say?"


    "Nothing!" Christine hurriedly ced the blueprint on the sofa, feeling awkward, and quickly returned to her bedroom.


    Yasmin looked at Joanne, tears in her eyes. "Did you hear that? She said her home is wherever I am!"


    "I heard, I heard..." Joanne was also somewhat surprised. This wasn''t Christine''s usual style; she never rejected valuable gifts.


    Without the patemity report, Joanne would have suspected that Christine was here just to take advantage and leave.


    Yasmin wiped away her tears and picked up the blueprint. "We''ll buy the house tomorrow."


    She needed to provide her daughter with a proper home.


    Christine sat on the edge of the bed in her room, cursing herself for being foolish. She had turned down a vi worth tens of millions of dors just because of a few words from Yasmin? She just couldn''t believe what she did.


    She was just afraid that in the future, when things inevitably came to light, she could leave decisively. Properties were the hardest to deal with! It was better to have cash in hand. Yes, that was t


    the reason.


    She couldn''t expect anything from this so-called family affection, especially since she wasn''t Yasmin''s biological daughter.


    The kindness she received now was all based on the pretense of being a real daughter.


    She was just a thief.


    Frank carried me into the bathroom, cing me on the marble counter, and rubbed his nose against mine. "Charlotte, I''m a man with normal needs. It''s a lie to say I don''t want anything." "Moreover, it''s a woman I''ve been waiting for so many years.


    "But our first time shouldn''t be under these circumstances."


    "Do you understand?"


    I was feeling miserable, but still had a shred of rationally left. Yes, I still owed him an exnation. It wasn''t fair to either of us to have this happen in such a muddled way.


    Frank turned on the cold water, and after filling the bathtub, he looked at me. "Do you want to undress yourself, or should I help you?"


    I''ll do it myself."


    He was concerned I mightck the strength, but his words sounded somewhat awkward in my ears.


    He smirked, lifting me with one arm. “Then you wash up. I''ll get you some clothes."


    Frank turned and left the bathroom, gently closing the door behind him. As he turned back, his eyes were filled with a harshness thatpletely contrasted with his earlier tenderness.