Janie was still scrubbing away.

Her snow-white face was covered in sweat.

With Benjamin approaching, Janie exclaimed in pleasant surprise, “Am I relieved of my duty, Mr. Benjamin?”

“We need to set ground rules. You will be free from your task if you can stick to the rules.”

Benjamin got down and looked at Janie in the pool from above.

“What are the rules?’

Feeling restless, Janie looked up at the man on top of the pool.

“Number one, you aren’t allowed to call me except for work-related matters.”

Janie pursed her lips without saying a word.

“Number two, you can’t deliver any more food to me. The last thing I want to hear is gossip.”

Janie pressed her lips together, but the hurt was shown in her eyes.

“Number three, don’t give me flowers. Don’t you find it embarrassing for me as a man to receive flowers every day?”

“Mr. Benjamin, I can accept the rules apart from the first two,” Raising her hand, Janie answered.

Benjamin was taken aback. So she was only agreeing to the last rule?

“That won’t do.” Benjamin denied her request for leniency.

“But I can’t do the first two.”

Janie teared up in grievance.

Was she wrong to love him?

“You can carry on with cleaning the swimming pool.” Benjamin got up to leave.

“Mr. Benjamin, doesn’t what Emma says count too?” Janie cried.

“I have canceled your toilet cleaning duty. Isn’t that enough?” Benjamin turned around and said.

Janie fell silent.

She watched as Benjamin’s callous back disappeared out of her sight.

It seemed Emmeline did not have a say in the game of love either.

…

It was Saturday, so the kids had no school in the afternoon.

Julianna made a sudden trip to the café.

Armed with shopping bags, Julianne came bearing children’s food and toys.

Emmeline put her guard following her presence.

“Emma, it’s the weekend. I came to see the kids. Where are Sun, Moon, and Star?” Julianna put the things on the table and smiled brightly.

“They are upstairs. They have homework even in kindergarten,’ Emmeline courteously answered.

“I bought the kids some snacks and toys. I want to see if they will like them.”

“I’ll take the things up to them later. Thank you, Julianna.”

“Don’t be a stranger. We’re a family.” Julianna grinned from ear to ear.

Emmeline scowled without a word.

Sam poured a cup of hot coffee and added milk before serving Julianna.

“Emma, I wanted to say sorry on behalf of Adrien. He didn’t think he would run into the ladies from the Imperial Palace the other night,” Julianna said.

“That has nothing to do with me, but it has probably left a bad impression on the kids. Adrien is…” Emmeline faintly replied.

“Adrien and I think the same. What would the kids think of him?” Furrowing her brows, Julianna voiced her concern.

“It’s better if he has less contact with the kids. I worry about other potential issues,” Emmeline uttered.

Julianna was quick to jump into Adrien’s defense, “No, no, that won’t happen. Those women are in his past. Adrien doesn’t keep in touch with them anymore. Don’t you know that Adrien… still couldn’t perform despite being on medication for a while now.”

Emmeline scoffed. “What if he becomes able? Wouldn’t he go back to his old ways?”

“Um…”

Julianna dared not make promises in her son’s stead.

Her son was used to the life of a playboy.

“Emma, why don’t you bring the kids down, so I can spend some time with them?” Julianna changed the topic.

She was not wrong to suggest that.

Emmeline went quiet for a while before turning to Sam. “Tell the Sun, Moon, and Star to come down.”

“Alright, Ms. Louise.” Sam waddled up the stairs.

It did not take long before the three children went downstairs together.

However, they had grim looks on their faces.

It was apparent that they did not welcome Julianna.

Julianna’s expression lit up at the presence of the kids. She got up and said, “Oh, my. I finally see my precious grandchildren. I miss you so much!”

Not giving Julianna any attention, the three kids pulled a sour face.