The woman glanced inside for a moment, then immediately turned around, covering her small face with both hands. "Oh my, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to see that!" Her face flushed red with embarrassment as she ran out, thoughtfully closing the door behind her. On the desk, Chloe Preston heard the noise and panicked, hiding in the man’s embrace. Donovan Xavier comforted her. "It’s all right, it’s over. She didn’t see anything." He had instinctively pulled her into his arms the moment the door opened, shielding her completely. Chloe pushed him away and climbed down. Donovan Xavier leaned against the desk, a bit displeased that his pleasant moment had been disturbed. Chloe straightened her clothes and glanced at him. "What are you standing there for? Go open the door." Donovan responded gently and went to open the door. The door opened. Cecilia Miller turned around, the tips of her ears still red, her eyes sparkling with a brilliant smile. "Donovan!" she called out sweetly again. An unreadable emotion flickered in Donovan’s eyes. "Come in!" Cecilia obliged, pushing two large suitcases in front of her as she trotted inside. She looked up, noticed Chloe Preston standing to the side, and curved her lips into a warm smile. "Have a seat," Donovan said. Cecilia nodded, walked over to the sofa, and sat down obediently. She looked up at Chloe again, her smiling eyes crinkling at the corners. Chloe leaned against a nearby surface, studying her for a few moments longer. She looked young, with a round face and bright almond eyes. She had a fresh, innocent air about her, but it was mixed with a charming and sweet playfulness. She seemed very likable. "What would you like to drink?" Donovan glanced at her. Cecilia asked, "What do you have?" "Anything you can think of." Cecilia picked up a throw pillow and hugged it. "Then I’ll have one of everything!" "Okay," Donovan replied. Chloe Preston took it all in, her lips forming a small pout. She was a little unhappy. He seemed quite attentive to this woman. She was jealous. Donovan turned his head, his gaze meeting her reproachful one. He smiled, walking over to wrap an arm around her slim waist. "What’s wrong?" Chloe pulled away from him. "You know perfectly well." Donovan chuckled again. He loved it when she got jealous . Cecilia watched the affectionate couple and finally spoke up. "Donovan, who is this beautiful lady?" "You’ll call her sister-in-law," Donovan stated. Upon hearing that, Chloe’s eyes flickered slightly. Cecilia paused for a moment, then nodded. She stood up, walked over, and smiled radiantly at Chloe. "Hello, Sister-in-law!" "Sister-in-law, you’re so beautiful! The kind of beauty that would make flowers blush in shame!" As she spoke, she extended her small, fair hands. "Hm?" Chloe was taken aback. Cecilia’s bright almond eyes looked down, the corners of her mouth drooping into a pout. "It’s our first meeting. Aren’t you going to give me a gift, Sister-in-law?" Donovan stood to the side, his brows furrowed. "That’s impolite. How can you just ask someone for something the moment you meet them?" "What’s the matter? Is the Rhodes Family short on nice things for you?" His harsh tone made her eyes redden. The young girl turned and grabbed Chloe’s arm. "Sister-in-law, he’s being mean to me!" she whined. "Sister-in-law, hurry and teach him a lesson for me!" Donovan didn’t look at her. His gaze fell on the two suitcases. "What’s with the luggage?" "I ran away from home!" Cecilia announced. "The Rhodes Family wants me to enter an arranged marriage, and I don’t want to, so I ran away. Donovan, you have to take me in!" Donovan frowned. "An arranged marriage? Does Adrian Rhodes know?" "He doesn’t know yet," she sighed, her expression falling. "I made him angry recently, so he’s ignoring me. He went abroad a few days ago. Donovan, the Rhodes Family canceled my bank card. Now, I’m penniless and have nowhere to go!" As she spoke, she rubbed her face against Chloe’s arm. "Sister-in-law, please be kind and let me stay. I eat very little!" Donovan stood by, a headache starting to form as he listened to her chatter nonstop. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Alright, I’ll have a house arranged for you." Cecilia put her hands on her hips. "No way! I want to stay at The Xavier Residence!" Donovan’s voice was firm. "I have no say in that. It’s up to your sister-in-law. As long as she agrees, you can stay." Upon hearing this, Cecilia immediately hugged Chloe. With a childlike expression, her round almond eyes welled up with tears as she looked up at her pitifully. "Sister-in-law, you’re the best. Please let me stay." "Sister-in-law, I’m super well-behaved and cute! I won’t cause you any trouble!" "Sister-in-law, I’m begging you." "Dear Sister-in-law..." With each sweet, wheedling plea of "sister-in-law," Chloe’s heart began to melt. This little girl was just too charming. Chloe gave a slight nod. "Alright." Cecilia’s eyes lit up at the response, and she bounced on the spot with joy. "Then I’ll go to The Xavier Residence right now! I’m going to pick the best room!" Saying this, she grabbed her suitcases, turned, and ran outside. Donovan remained where he was, his brow furrowed slightly. "Slow down, you shouldn’t be running!" Seeing the girl run off into the distance, Chloe turned to him. "You mentioned Adrian Rhodes just now. Are she and he..." Donovan pulled her over to the sofa to sit down. "She’s Mr. Rhodes’s childhood sweetheart." "Her parents died when she was young, and she’s been fostered by the Rhodes Family since she was three. She’s even more of a handful than Isla Xavier—just a kid who never grew up." He then pulled her onto his lap. "Her health is very poor. Now that she’s moved in, you, as her sister-in-law, will have to put in some extra effort to take good care of her." "I’ll call Adrian and have him pick her up soon." Chloe asked, confused, "Her health is poor?" Donovan sighed and whispered something gravely into her ear. As Chloe listened, her brow tightened, and her expression became serious. 「Evening. The Xavier Residence.」 In the bedroom, Donovan pressed Chloe against the floor-to-ceiling window and kissed her. Outside, the wind howled and a heavy storm raged. Official source is novel⦿fire.net "Why are you so obedient today?" his voice was intimate and soft. "Does it make you happy when I’m obedient?" Donovan’s eyes were full of gentleness. "Mm." Soon after, he carried her to the bed. Chloe pressed her hands against his chest. "I know you’re eager, but don’t rush just yet." Chloe sat up, turned her head, and opened the drawer, taking out a Huanghuali rosewood box. Donovan paused for a moment before taking it. He opened it. Inside lay a string of top-quality agarwood Buddha beads, dark, lustrous, and perfectly round. "Why are you giving me this?" Donovan asked. "It’s a gift," she said. She gazed at him for a long time, her shimmering eyes filled with a gentle, bright light that was full of love. "Happy birthday, Donovan Xavier." "May you have peace, year after year, free from sickness and disaster. May your path be smooth, and may you have much joy and happiness." In an instant, it felt as though something had exploded in Donovan’s mind. He remembered. Today was his birthday. He hadn’t celebrated it since she’d left four years ago; it had felt pointless. Chloe picked up the Buddha beads and began to place them on his wrist. "I had these specially made for you. I even took them to a temple to have them blessed to keep you safe." He was always getting hurt, and it worried her sick every time. Donovan stopped her hand. "I won’t wear it."