Nina had no idea that she was toying with fire. Her vision was blurred, her gaze easily distracted.


    "Honey, do you know what you just said?" John bent down and reached out his hand to pinch Nina''s face.


    Nina nodded absentmindedly. "I asked if you didn''t like me giving one-word replies like mmm, yes, and hmm."


    "No, the other thing you said. The one after that." John kissed her lips, and what little space was left between them was filled with the sound of his heart''s frantic drumming and hisbored breathing.


    "I said, if I say those three words together, you can''t stand it," Nina repeated.


    She had developed the habit of speaking in a rather aggrieved tone when she was drunk.


    John chuckled.


    ''Is she seducing me right now?'' he wondered.


    "Then don''t cryter." John tipped her chin upward and pecked at her nose.


    Nina reveled in his scent, and she grabbed his cor to pull him forward so she could bask in it fully. Their bodies moved close.


    "But you do want me to cry. The more, the better, right?" She looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes, a sharp contrast to the forceful hand that had pulled him to her.


    John wasn''t daunted by her words; her tone was too casual for him to feel guilty.


    Anyone who mig


    back then? I could have easily had my pick of men from other, more powerful familiespared to the Shi family."


    Jessica''s tears had stopped, and her sobbing had been reced by the sound of sniffing. Ang''s words brought Jason to her mind. Jason, who had always been there for her, left her. Tears welled in her red eyes once again.


    She couldn''t help but wonder, ''Was I really wrong this whole time?''


    It wasn''t easy for Jessica to ept her wrongdoings in such a short time. She could only lower her head in silent shame as tears continued to flow down her face.


    She didn''t try to argue anymore, and it somewhat appeased Sam''s anger. He motioned for Jake. "Call Jason over. Tell him there''s something I want to discuss with him. As for you, keep kneeling. I''ll decide on your punishment after I''m done talking with your husband."


    The old man knew all too well the kind of person his daughter was. She was all grown up now; they were no longer in a position where he could discipline and educate her as he liked. That responsibility now fell on Jason''s shoulders, and he trusted his son-innw to uphold it.


    Jessica and Ang froze at the patriarch''s mandate.


    What was supposed toe would indeede sooner orter.