The Billionaire's Flash Marriage: Baby, I'm Sorry

Just as Lani had predicted, unfortunate events often occurred simultaneously. When Aurora had just moved into Lani's house and taken the room opposite Lani's, Lani's phone suddenly rang. "It's my stepmother calling." Lani glanced at Aurora, standing nearby, sighing reluctantly as she pressed to answer. A sharp, dissatisfied voice of a woman quickly resonated in the quiet space of the room. "Lani, where are you?" Lani replied softly that she was at home, and she could hear the cold huff from the other end. "Come back home tonight. Your father and I have something to discuss with you." When talking to Lani, Doris always maintained an attitude of disdain and contempt, which Lani had grown accustomed to. She replied in a mild tone and then lazily reclined on the sofa behind her. "It seems I won't have a peaceful evening tonight." She could vaguely anticipate the reactions of Doris and her father, Derek, once they found out about the turmoil earlier in the day. They always pampered Hebe to the fullest extent, so in every story, the one at fault was always Lani. "Do you need me to come with you? That despicable stepmother and your father won't have anything good to say." Aurora asked with concern, eager to accompany Lani to protect her. However, Lani just chuckled and said it wasn't necessary. After the afternoon, her emotions had settled enough for her to face what was coming. Before her mother passed away, she had advised Lani to listen and be obedient, even if her father married another woman. However, this time, Lani didn't want to hold back anymore. When Lani returned home, as predicted, things were far from simple. A hot cup of tea flew straight towards her feet, splashing onto the floor, and a bit of it scalded Lani. She stood frozen, looking ahead at Derek's angry, aging face. "Lani, you're quite something, scolding your little sister and her boyfriend in the crowded cafe? If this gets out in the media and photos are taken, how can Hebe continue her acting career? The public will vilify Hebe and harm her." Upon hearing this, Lani only laughed coldly and retorted. "So, what about me? Hebe stole my boyfriend, and I should smile and say she did a great job?" "Boyfriend? Dad, that's my boyfriend, the one Hebe seduced and became the third party in our relationship. I haven't even hit her; I only scolded her a bit. Is that too harsh?" "Furthermore, if it's Hebe's fault, why doesn't she take responsibility for the consequences? If she's afraid of public criticism, it's best not to do such disgusting things. Is there no one else to expose her private scandals in this world?" Normally, Lani should have been gentle and said whatever sounded pleasing, but her sudden, strong reaction startled Derek, causing his brows to furrow even deeper. Hebe, now appearing weak, approached and gently held Derek's hand, then bit her lip and looked at Lani. "Dad, it's all my fault. I didn't know Amory was Lani's boyfriend, so I agreed to be with him. I caused Lani pain, so if anyone should be blamed, it should be me." Lani tilted her head to look at Hebe, wearing a delicate white spaghetti strap dress with an innocent face and a soft, gentle voice, tears streaming down her pitiful face. Every time Hebe cried, all the blame seemed to fall on Lani. "Why blame yourself, Hebe? You didn't know, so it's not your fault. Besides, Lani is your sister, and it's normal to make sacrifices for each other. Don't cry, Hebe; tomorrow you still have to go to the film set. Be beautiful and radiant." Derek gently coaxed Hebe with a kind and forgiving expression. Lani watched this harmonious father-daughter scene in front of her, suppressing the bitterness in her heart. "Dad, do you ever consider me your daughter? Why do you always favor Hebe and not care about my feelings? Is that fair to me?" Derek, when he turned his gaze towards Lani, inadvertently revealed a weary expression. At this point, Doris, who had been silent from the beginning, also chimed in. "So, what do you want? Everything has already happened; do you intend to let everyone berate Hebe to your satisfaction?" Derek seemed to agree with these words and gave Lani a stern look. "If you dare to reveal any information that harms Hebe, then don't call me your father anymore. We're cutting ties; consider me without a misbehaving child like you." Hebe's eyes beside him sparkled with joy, raising her eyebrows at Lani triumphantly as if she had won. If it were like any other time before, Lani would have compromised and endured it. However, she had gathered enough disappointment. "Fine, let's cut ties then. I've long felt like an orphan. You kicked me out of the house just because I didn't give up my room for Hebe, and you never asked if I was doing well." "You always criticize and get angry, so I don't need this father anymore." After Lani finished speaking, she laughed coldly. "As for Hebe's affairs, I won't tolerate them any longer." Hebe's face quickly turned pale, and Derek couldn't contain his anger, throwing the cups on the table towards Lani. Lani quickly dodged, hearing the shattering sound around her like her own shattered heart, but she still forced a smile. "Farewell, my dad. This is the last time I'm calling you 'dad.' From now on, we have no relationship." When Lani returned home, she was so desperate that she couldn't even shed tears. She calmly recounted the day's events to Aurora, who tightly clenched her fists, suppressing her anger, and spoke loudly. "Alright, I will not let Hebe get away with this. I'll expose all the bad things she's done so that everyone will mock her." "Furthermore, Lani, you can't just sit back like this. Hebe always wants to compete with you, right? So, find a kind person to marry right away, so that Hebe, even if she steals your boyfriend, will have to reluctantly get married after you." "Besides, it's also a way to show that idiot Amory that you have charm and that there are plenty of men to choose from. There is no need to cling to a foolish guy like him. You need to quickly build a better life after leaving him." Aurora spoke in one breath, leaving Lani stunned. Although everything seemed a bit exaggerated and somewhat unrealistic, it also made sense. At least for now, she was sure that if she got married first, Hebe would lose her mind. Whether it was because of Aurora's nearby anger or her genuine consideration, Lani nodded enthusiastically. "All right, Aurora, arrange for me to meet some handsome guys tomorrow. I don't have any plans for tomorrow. I want a handsome, tall man who likes cooking and housekeeping, and I can take care of the finances to be my husband." Aurora patted her chest and assured her that she would take care of everything. In the end, the two of them were full of determination, choosing a potential partner for Lani, and then they went to bed happily, full of anticipation for the future.

"Kane, are you going to go on a date through that silly app your mom found? Your mom is so weird, looking for a daughter-in-law like this. You're not lacking in love, are you?" "Do you know how many beautiful girls are pursuing you out there? Models, famous actresses, and even hot and sexy hotgirls. Why do you have to resort to such an unreliable dating app to find a wife? Is your brain broken?" Roger looked at the person sitting calmly, drinking wine beside him, the dim light of the bar casting a glow on Kane's sharp and handsome face, the top buttons of his shirt unbuttoned to reveal his alluring charm. Kane smiled, shook the wine glass lightly, then raised his head, finishing the glass in one gulp. "Those models are all because they know my identity, even when they flirt with me, it's for my wealth or status. In general, it's all because of my billionaire status, if not, they wouldn't bother paying attention to me, right?" "Besides, I just need a gentle wife, who doesn't cause trouble and doesn't resort to cheap tricks to seduce me. I only need a marriage certificate to show in front of my dad and mom, so they won't interfere in my life anymore." Roger listened to Kane's explanation, his eyes sparkling with interest, tapping lightly on the tabletop. "Oh, so you're pretending to be a fake poor guy to experience the life of an ordinary person? No wonder the information on the dating app only says you're an ordinary office worker. I even thought you filled it out wrong. Quite clever." "I wish you find a beautiful and understanding wife soon, so you won't have to listen to your parents nagging about you being single anymore." Kane poured himself another glass of wine and emptied it with Roger, his lips curving into a faint smile. ... The next morning. Lani twirled around in front of the mirror, reasonably satisfied with the outfit Aurora had chosen for her date today. A light yellow sundress adorned with small, cute flower patterns is both gentle and beautiful. Moreover, it fits perfectly, revealing her delicate collarbone and alluring green clavicles, paired with light red lipstick, making her look incredibly beautiful. "How do you feel? You look like a fairy right now." Aurora clipped a rose-shaped hairpin onto Lani's soft hair and admired it with approval. Lani nodded repeatedly and then thought of something, asking again. "But can we trust that dating app of yours? There aren't even pictures of the men I'm meeting today, just names, ages, and professions." Aurora nodded confidently and handed Lani her purse. "This is a newly launched dating app on the market, so its features are not fully developed yet, but it's very reliable. I found out about it through a friend." "Moreover, no matter what, you're a famous actress, so wouldn't it be troublesome if it's revealed that you're using a dating app? That's why this app is perfect for you. Plus, not many people use it, so no one will know about this." "Moreover, I've arranged for you to meet three men in a row, so you're sure to find the most suitable one." Lani found this explanation reasonable and didn't ask any further questions. She and Aurora then took a taxi to a luxurious café in the city center. The place had private rooms to ensure privacy, and Aurora was generous enough to rent them for Lani and accompany her for support. The first man who appeared was a young and handsome guy, working as a five-star restaurant manager with a good background. However, he was quite arrogant. He told Lani that after marriage, she wouldn't need to work and just need to stay home, take care of household chores, and have a child for him. "Do you think my friend here is an unpaid nanny? You arrogant man, get lost!" Without waiting for Lani to react, Aurora shouted at him and drove him away. The second man was even worse. He was middle-aged but lied about his age, and he had been divorced before. His gaze was fixated on Lani's collarbone and beautiful face, and he couldn't stop licking his lips with a lewd expression. Aurora hastily asked him to go out as well. By the time both of them were feeling a bit disheartened, the third man arrived. "Hello, I'm Kane." The man was wearing an ordinary suit with golden-rimmed glasses on his face. He looked both educated and handsome, and his voice was especially pleasing, like the sound of a resonant guitar string. Aurora, sitting beside Lani, gently nudged her hand under the table, signaling her approval. "Could you introduce yourself a bit?" Aurora took the initiative to ask about everything. "Okay, I'm Kane, 28 years old this year, just an ordinary office worker with an average salary. It's enough to support myself, so I won't be able to buy you expensive bags or clothes. Moreover, you also need to keep working for a stable life for us.” "I'm not that young anymore, so my parents are urging me to get married. I want to find a gentle girlfriend who understands me and doesn't ask for much." Lani tilted her head and looked at Kane, a man with a handsome face even more attractive than the actors she had worked with before. His voice was pleasant to hear, and his attitude was polite and gentle. Everything seemed remarkably suitable at this moment, so she smiled in response. "All right, I understand your situation. My requirements may be a bit demanding, so if you can't accept them, you're free to decline and leave." Kane took a sip of his coffee, slightly furrowing his brows, not expecting that Lani would be okay with a normal and somewhat financially challenged guy like him. After all, Lani was wearing a dress that he recognized as a famous brand's spring collection this year, which wasn't cheap. "I'm Lani, 25 years old, and I'm an actress, so I earn a pretty good income each month and have some savings. You don't have to worry about the financial burden. However, I'm looking for a husband who can help me with cooking and housekeeping because I'm not used to having strangers in my house. Moreover, my previous maid leaked my address and caused a lot of trouble, so I don't want to hire a maid anymore." "Also, due to the nature of my job, we can't publicly reveal our relationship, and I often have to stay in different cities for a few months for filming. We won't be able to meet regularly. I won't have much time to be with you, and I won't be able to help you take care of your parents or relatives, or even meet your friends." After Lani finished speaking, she took a sip of water and looked at Kane to gauge his reaction. It would be understandable if Kane declined, but she couldn't help feeling a bit regretful. After all, it wasn't easy to find such a handsome and polite man as him. "I agree. When can we go register our marriage?" Kane responded. Kane's calm reaction not only stunned Lani but also left Aurora wide-eyed in disbelief that everything had gone so smoothly. "What, what about today?" Lani asked hesitantly, her face looking somewhat bewildered as she gazed at Kane. Kane nodded, and with that, their relationship had been established quickly. Seeing the marriage registration papers in her hand, Lani suddenly felt like everything was just a dream, and she stared in astonishment. Aurora, beside her, noticed Lani's dazed state and gently tapped her forehead as a reminder. "What are you thinking? Aren't you going to talk to your husband? Quickly nurture your relationship. I won't disturb you two anymore; I'll head back first. Haha!" Before Lani could react, Aurora hastily ran off, leaving her and Kane looking somewhat awkward as they exchanged glances.

"Do you want to go shopping with me? Even though we had a flash marriage, we still need to buy rings to have a sense of formality, right? Besides, I also want to buy you some new clothes as a meeting gift." Kane was so handsome that he deserved to wear expensive and elegant custom-made suits, not just an ordinary suit like this, Lani thought to herself. "Why would I let you buy them? If we buy, it's my money, and I can't let you pay like that." Kane chuckled at Lani's words and gently patted her head. Then both of them felt a little awkward. "Why not? I've said it before: I have a lot of money, and I will take care of all the expenses for our future lives. You don't need to worry. You just need to keep the house clean and cook delicious meals every day." Without letting Kane hesitate any further, Lani took him directly to a nearby large shopping center. Both of them were already wearing masks to ensure that no one recognized them, so Lani comfortably told the staff that she wanted to buy the most beautiful diamond wedding rings. "How do you feel about this one? Or you can choose whichever you like." Kane was flexible, so he quickly played the role of a poor man and seriously chose an exquisite pair of wedding rings, with a sparkling pink diamond in the woman's ring and a surrounding diamond in the man's ring. "That's great; let's take these." Lani casually swiped her card and then handed it to Kane to help her put on the ring for him. Feeling the joy of spending money, Lani took Kane to some nearby men's clothing stores and ordered him five exquisitely tailored suits at a considerable price. Afterward, they went to another luxury clothing store, where Lani bought Kane some more comfortable home clothes and a few pairs of shiny and elegant leather shoes. "Hey, I think it's enough. I don't need to buy so many new clothes like this." At this point, Kane felt a little guilty for deceiving Lani, but she was treating him so well. However, Lani just waved her hand and said she didn't need to worry because she had a lot of money, and the money spent on clothes was nothing. "It's okay; I told you before that this is just a meeting gift for my husband. Just accept it; it's fine." It wasn't until Lani's feet were a bit tired that she finally listened to Kane and left the shopping center. Kane's hands were filled with shopping bags from various famous brands, and when he put them in the taxi's trunk, it was nearly full. "Where do you live? Is it nearby?" Kane casually mentioned the name of a cheap rental apartment in the suburbs. Lani didn't inquire further about the address, only instructing the driver to take her home first. "In a little while, when we get to my place, I'll let you drive my car home. I have a few cars, and I'll leave one for you to drive. Taking a taxi when you go out is very inconvenient." "Also, I hope you can move in with me soon to help me with cooking and cleaning. When can you move in?" Kane agreed that he could move in with Lani next week, and she eagerly accepted. Then, as if thinking of something, Lani took a bank card from her purse and gave it to Kane. She leaned in close to his ear and whispered the PIN, then explained in a hushed voice. "This is your spending money. Feel free to buy whatever you want; there's no need to save for me. I'm not extremely wealthy, but I'm well off enough to take care of you." Kane, by now accustomed to Lani's generosity, accepted the card with a dreamy expression. He found her innocence and generosity charming. Their conversation ended, and Lani idly picked up her phone to browse the web. She casually came across a post about Hebe and Amory. Two hours ago, Amory posted a selfie of himself and Hebe with the cheesy caption, "Meeting you is my happiness, my girlfriend." Lani saw this status and couldn't help but burst into laughter. In their three years together, Lani had wanted to publicly acknowledge their relationship several times, but Amory had consistently refused, citing a desire to focus on his career. Now, after just a few days of dating Hebe, he was in such a hurry to make it public. It was truly eye-opening for Lani. As Lani had predicted, the media was buzzing with excitement over Amory's status. After all, the private lives of actors were always a matter of great interest, especially when they involved celebrities like Amory and Hebe. Fans couldn't stop praising them as a beautiful couple and eagerly anticipating films starring them as the lead actors. Some even urged them to get married quickly. This was something Lani had considered before, but in the end, it hadn't happened to her; instead, it was happening to someone else. She no longer felt the same pain, but rather a sense of irony. Amory's love had indeed been quite shallow. She had been naive enough to believe Amory's words—that he didn't want to go public with their relationship to protect her and shield her from any hurtful comments from fans. At that moment, she noticed a message from Hebe sent an hour ago, which contained a screenshot of Amory's status along with a teasing message. "My dear sister, don't be too sad. Although Amory loves me so much that he immediately made our relationship public, I can also compensate you." "I'll introduce you to some wealthy executives. They might be bald, have beer bellies, or be divorced, but they are rich and can openly have a relationship with you instead of keeping it a secret for three years as Amory did with you." Lani could almost picture Hebe's triumphant face from across the screen. But she didn't want Hebe to enjoy herself too much. She smirked and looked over at Kane, who was sitting beside her, smiling charmingly. "Do you mind if we take a selfie?" Kane nodded in agreement. Although he found it a bit strange, he obediently allowed Lani to hold his hand, and they took a photo together with their hands interlocked, showing off their sparkling wedding rings. Afterward, Lani quickly took a photo of their marriage certificate and sent it to Hebe with a mischievous grin. "Too bad, I'm already married. My husband is even more handsome than Amory, and he loves me very much. He sincerely wanted to marry me the first time we met. You're just Amory's girlfriend for now, aren't you? You two still don't have any plans to get married, right? What a shame!" Lani mimicked Hebe's fake tone in her reply, knowing full well that Hebe would be shocked and infuriated. She was confident that Hebe wouldn't leak the photos, so she felt safe sending them and taunting her. Lani smiled smugly, her eyes sparkling, as she glanced at Kane beside her. "For the first time, I feel having a husband is wonderful." Her eyes curled like the crescent moon, and her smile was both pure and sweet, making Kane smile in response. At that moment, the car stopped in front of Lani's house. Kane grabbed their shopping bags and got out of the car, while Lani opened the door and went inside to grab the keys to her car and her house. She handed them to Kane. "You drive this car back. And here's the key to my house. Next week, whenever you're ready to move in, I'll be away for a few days filming in the neighboring city. When you move in, you can use any room you like and make yourself at home." "See you later, my husband." After saying this, Lani helped Kane load the bags into the car and then waved gracefully as he drove away. Her gentle smile tugged at Kane's heartstrings.

After Kane left Lani's house, he drove back to his mansion in the city center. Familiar with the route, he parked his car in the garage, entered his house, and collapsed onto the sofa, closing his eyes to rest. Everything had happened so quickly today that Kane couldn't believe he had a wife in the blink of an eye. In his daze, the sound of his phone ringing slowly filled the room. "Mom, what's up?" Kane glanced at the flashing name on the screen and sighed before answering. A gentle female voice quickly reached his ear, filled with excitement. "How did the date go, Kane? The dating app worked out well, didn't it? Did you like the actress?" Maris had been urging Kane to get married for years, and now that he seemed happy going on a date, she was overjoyed. She had even prepared dates with beautiful actresses and models of the right age for Kane, ready to set them up in case he wasn't satisfied with today's girl. "Mom, I and she got married." Kane poured himself a glass of water, swirled it around like a glass of wine, and took a sip casually. On the other end, Maris seemed to be slow to react, lost in her own pace. "It's okay, my dear son. I have a list of beautiful and gentle girls for you to choose from. I guarantee you'll find someone you like." Kane placed the glass on the table, counted to three seconds, and now Maris had managed to process Kane's response. "What, what are you saying? Did you marry the girl you met today?" Maris's voice was particularly high-pitched, making Kane instinctively cover his ears and move the phone away, but he could still hear her excited tone. "So I have a daughter-in-law now, haha. When can you bring her over for me to meet? I am looking forward to meeting her." "Right, what does she like to eat so I can have someone help with the cooking? Also, what gifts does she like? Jewelry, clothes, cars, or houses? I'll give her a jewelry store, a luxury clothing shop, a Rolls Royce, and a downtown mansion. Is that enough?" Kane had already anticipated this situation and wasn't surprised. He replied slowly after Maris had finished speaking. "We can't meet right now. She's a famous actress and is currently filming, so she's very busy. Whenever she has some free time, I'll bring her to meet you." Kane responded with a casual tone, not wanting his mother and Lani to meet, as it would reveal his fake, poor identity. Maris, however, didn't think much about it and happily agreed, wanting to send gifts to her new daughter-in-law. "Do you have a picture of her? Even though we can't meet yet, I still want to know if my beautiful daughter-in-law looks like what?" Kane comfortably sent Maris a selfie of him and Lani taken earlier. Maris couldn't stop praising how obedient and beautiful Lani looked, truly living up to her status as a famous actress. After a while, Maris remembered something and asked, "Have you informed your father about this?" At the mention of his father, Kane's gaze momentarily turned cold and filled with disdain. He raised his head to look at the white ceiling and replied casually, "Why should I inform him? He's happily living with my stepmother and their beloved son, not interested in my life at all." Maris didn't comment on this matter and simply told Kane that if he had the time, he should bring Lani to meet her, and then hung up. Kane's mood remained relatively good. After resting enough, he went to the shopping center to buy some ordinary and affordable clothes, shoes, and household items before driving back home. When he was in front of Lani, he needed to appear poor, and he didn't want to reveal his true identity too soon. After completing his tasks, Kane stayed at his own home for a few more days before finally moving to Lani's house when she was about to return to the city. Over the past few days, he and Lani have been in regular contact. Most of the time, Lani would inform Kane about her schedule and instruct him on anything he didn't understand or know how to use. Although Kane was familiar with high-tech gadgets at home, to play the role of a convincingly poor person, he pretended not to know how to use a vacuum robot, prompting Lani to video call him to teach him. Finally, the day arrived when Lani returned. Compared to their last meeting, when she was unscathed, her left hand is now bandaged. Kane was taken aback by the sight, and Lani chuckled awkwardly upon seeing his surprised expression. "Oh, I wasn't careful while filming and injured my hand. It's not dangerous." Behind her, Aurora helped Lani bring her luggage inside and then gave Kane some instructions on taking care of Lani. Kane silently absorbed the information, and when Aurora left, the two of them sat in the living room, exchanging awkward smiles. Kane was inherently reserved and not talkative, so Lani had to initiate the conversation. "Have you gotten used to being here these past few days? Any problems?" Kane shook his head. Honestly, Lani's apartment was well-equipped and cozy, and it was closer to his company than his mansion. Lani let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this, thinking that Kane was comfortable. Sitting face-to-face in the living room wasn't ideal for conversation, so Lani stood up slowly, pretending to be at ease. "Well, you can continue resting. I'll go take a shower. After being outside all day, I'm covered in dust." Her white dress fluttered past Kane as she walked by, and he also got up to tidy up the house. While he was busy cleaning under the kitchen counter, he heard Lani's soft voice echoing from upstairs. "Kane, could you help me with something?" Kane washed his hands and went upstairs to find Lani standing in her room, biting her lip, and looking a bit embarrassed. After seeing Kane, she helplessly pointed to her dress and blinked her eyes. "I didn't mean to do anything bad, but could you help me unzip my dress? I can't raise my arm." Lani finished speaking and continued to pursed her lips, her petite face blushing with shyness. She was wearing a white dress adorned with sparkling pearls, and initially, Aurora had helped her zip it up, so she hadn't anticipated this situation. Kane silently nodded and approached, gently helping Lani unzip her dress, revealing her fair skin. His warm hand brushed against her soft skin, making her tremble slightly. In such proximity, Lani could faintly smell the subtle scent of mint emanating from Kane's body. Kane remained courteous, tilting his head slightly in another direction, and asked in a matter-of-fact tone if Lani needed any further assistance before leaving the room. The background music that had been playing earlier came to an end. After Kane had finished tidying up the room, he proceeded to cook dinner. Lani, still feeling a bit embarrassed about the earlier incident, didn't dare to go to the kitchen. Kane called her down only after he had finished cooking. For dinner, Kane had prepared spaghetti and beefsteak. Knowing that Lani's hand wasn't in the best condition, he cut the steak into bite-sized pieces for her. The two of them sat across from each other, savoring their meal. Lani took a bite, and the explosion of flavors delighted her taste buds, causing her eyes to light up with praise. "Wow, I didn't expect you to cook so deliciously. I'll get to enjoy restaurant-quality food every day from now on." Lani's eyes sparkled with a pure, innocent glow as she curved her lips into a smile. Kane tilted his head to look at her and responded in a soft, reserved manner. "If you like it, that's good. In the future, just tell me what you want to eat, and I'll cook it for you." Lani nodded enthusiastically, quickly finishing the beefsteak on her plate and moving on to the spaghetti. Each time she enjoyed a delicious bite, her head would gently sway in appreciation, showing her happiness. Kane observed her and couldn't help but find her adorable. During the next few days, Kane's life at Lani's place seemed just as dull as when he was at his own home. However, when Lani returned, everything became remarkably special. After they finished eating, Kane cleared the table and placed the dishes in the dishwasher. Then, he and Lani went to the living room to watch a movie. Perhaps getting used to Kane's presence, Lani felt comfortable enough to let him sit beside her. They watched a recent film in which she had starred. Lani had a habit of rewatching her previous films to observe her acting skills and identify areas for improvement. Kane, who didn't have any particular preferences, quietly watched with her. The evening passed peacefully and serenely for the two of them.

"Do you want some apples and strawberries? Let me get them for you." Halfway through watching the movie, Kane quietly asked, and Lani nodded slowly. He left for a moment and returned with a plate of fruit, each piece neatly cut into small portions, which he offered to Lani. Once again, they sat close to each other, engrossed in watching the movie. Lani took a bite of a strawberry and fixed her gaze on the screen without blinking. Whenever she was focused on something, she tended to become so absorbed that she paid no attention to her surroundings, and this time was no exception. The fruit plate was eventually emptied by Kane alone, and he chuckled helplessly before using a fork to pick up a strawberry and holding it to Lani's lips. "Have a bit more; the strawberries are really sweet today." Lani didn't pay much attention, obediently accepting the fruit, her lips slightly puckering as she savored the sweet strawberry. Kane watched her and felt a touch of embarrassment. He absentmindedly scratched his head before rigidly feeding Lani a few more pieces. When the movie ended, Lani lazily stretched her shoulders and leaned back, her head naturally finding a place on Kane's shoulder. She looked up at him in confusion, their eyes meeting in mid-air. Kane's gaze lingered on Lani's rosy lips, as clear and pure as the waters of autumn. Lani also blinked and held Kane's gaze for a few seconds before regaining her composure and sitting up straight, her voice slightly hoarse. "There's some strawberry left; have a bit more." Kane, out of habit, placed the plate of strawberries near Lani's lips, and she casually accepted them. It was only now that both of them realized the intimate nature of this gesture; their faces were momentarily flushed with a bright, intense red. "Thank you," Lani stammered, not knowing what else to say. She then turned and headed back to her room, leaving Kane standing there in a daze. The close intimacy from earlier didn't make Kane feel uncomfortable; instead, his heart raced faster. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath to regain his composure, suppressing the strange emotions that had arisen. After the somewhat awkward atmosphere of the evening, both of them quickly retreated to their respective rooms without further communication. Initially, Lani had only thought of marrying Kane to seek revenge for Amory's betrayal and prevent Hebe from getting her way. She hadn't anticipated any deeper emotional involvement with Kane. However, she had started to think about it tonight. It seemed that having a handsome husband who could cook well and was polite, like Kane, was quite wonderful. ... The next morning, Lani followed her normal filming schedule and woke up early. With nothing else to do, she wandered into the garden to water the flowers. She had a deep love for flowers, and her small garden was filled with various colorful blooms. There was also a small swing where she liked to sit when she needed some healing. In the past few days, Kane has taken excellent care of her garden, as all the roses were blooming beautifully, vibrantly, and radiantly under the sunlight. Lani watered the flowers while humming a few tunes. Suddenly, her phone rang, interrupting the peaceful atmosphere. Seeing the name displayed on the screen, Lani's cheerful morning mood disappeared without a trace. She sighed tiredly and answered the call, quickly hearing an angry voice on the other end. "Lani, you're really excellent. Did you get married without telling me? Do you still consider me your father?" After seeing the wedding certificate that Hebe had shown him, Derek was furious and immediately called Lani to reprimand her. However, Lani calmly sat down on the swing, closed her eyes, and let the cool breeze rustle through her hair. "Uncle Derek, you must be joking. Haven't we already cut off our father-daughter relationship long ago to become strangers? I'm an orphan now, my mother passed away a long time ago, and I don't have a father anymore. I can't even decide for myself when it comes to marriage, can I?" Lani's cold and indifferent tone further fueled Derek's anger. He slammed his hand forcefully on the table in front of him and yelled. "Lani, do you truly not care about anyone? Hurry up and bring your husband here; I want to see who you've married." Lani chuckled mockingly, knowing that her father was not genuinely concerned about her life or her well-being but rather that Hebe had likely coerced him into making this call. "I don't need to come back, and that's not my home anyway. Furthermore, you and Hebe, listen carefully; I married an ordinary office worker. So, Hebe doesn't need to be jealous or compare anything." "And if Hebe ever tries to seduce my husband the way she did with Amory, I will never return. I can't let my husband know that I have such a shameless and despicable stepsister like her, right?" Lani chuckled, her voice as light as a silver bell but carrying a warning. She could see Hebe's motives clearly—Hebe wanted to seduce Kane to make Lani feel abandoned once again, to become sad and lonely. But Lani wouldn't let Hebe have her way. "Furthermore, I don't want any ties with your family, so I've refrained from bringing up the past. However, if Hebe continues to cause trouble or challenge my boundaries, don't blame me for exposing evidence of her affair with Amory in the past. At that time, I can't guarantee that her fans will still stand by her and protect her." Lani abruptly hung up. It felt good to give Derek and Hebe a piece of her mind, even if it was through a phone call. She had endured Hebe's bullying for far too long and had been foolish to let it continue. Lost in thought as she returned to the house, Lani accidentally stepped on a stone in the garden and stumbled, causing her to fall. She cried out in pain, and Kane, who was standing outside, rushed over. "Lani, are you okay? What happened?" Kane held a small watering can in his hand, probably intending to water the plants in the early morning. Lani furrowed her brows and rubbed her foot before responding. "It hurts a bit. I was in the garden watering the flowers when I accidentally stepped on a pebble, causing me to fall." Kane gently touched Lani's injured foot, which had now turned slightly red. She winced when he lightly pressed on it. Taking a deep breath, Kane helped her stand up and carried her, saying softly, "You might have sprained it. Let me take you inside to tend to the injury." At this moment, the distance between them was close enough for Lani to see Kane's long eyelashes and the perfect, straight line of his nose. Lani's hands rested on Kane's shoulders, lightly steadying herself, and the warmth emanating from his touch made her heart beat faster. The injury on her hand was still not fully healed, and now she had added a new one to her leg, making Lani feel extremely miserable. She was currently unable to walk without experiencing pain, and even slight movements caused her leg to ache. After Kane had bandaged her foot, he carefully held Lani and placed her on the sofa. He gently stroked her soft, fragrant hair, which still carried a faint scent of flowers. "You shouldn't walk too much right now. Just sit here and watch TV. If you need anything, just call me, and I'll get it for you."