Contrary to Zaria's expectations, the man didn't try to do anything he shouldn't. Instead, he even gave her a call and gave her a fortnight to think about her decision. If she was still hell set on quitting even after that, then they would talk about the termination fees.

Not only that, but he also agreed to give her a reasonable amount of time to raise the fees. The outcome was even more shocking than him finding an opportunity to multiply the termination fees. Squinting her brows, she shook her head.

"No way. he is obviously up to something." She was not going to be fooled so easily. If this was not his vain attempt at making up for his mistakes, he was laying a trap for her. Knowing him, it was most likely to be the latter.

Even so, she braced herself and started looking for another job. She had minored in a few college courses, so although it was not easy to find a job in a conglomerate like Preston and Fort Group, getting a part-time job would be a piece of cake.

After finding out which companies were hiring, she prepared her documents and used the rest of the day to do background searches on the companies.

"You're back so early?" Theodore asked when he got back later in the afternoon.

"Dad!" She stood up and set her laptop aside, then rushed over to hug him and help him with the shopping bags he was carrying.

He took out a chocolate candy from his pockets and stuffed it into her hands, then rubbed her head like she was still a little girl.

Giggling, she unwrapped the candy and put it in her mouth happily.

"I bought a lot of ingredients. I was going to cook your favorite dishes, but you are already home. My surprise is ruined." He lamented.

"Aw, dad…" She was so emotional that she didn't know what to say. "It's already good enough that we are together. But what's the occasion?"

"Can't I cook for my princess if there is no special occasion?" He raised an eyebrow then headed to the kitchen with her trailing behind him.

Tying her hair into a bun, she draped on a white apron and joined her father, who was ready to start cooking. She prepared the ingredients and washed and cut the vegetables while he started braising the meat.

This was a routine they had kept for years. When she was a little girl, she would stand beside him in her miniature apron and watch curiously as he did everything. Later, when she learned to cook, she would help him most of the time. Occasionally, they would buy more ingredients and cook their favorite dishes or eat at the restaurant that had been their favorite for as long as she could remember. For years, neither of them got tired of it—because, in this world, they only had each other.

Soon, they were done cooking and they set the table together. He even brought out some wine to celebrate.

"I have good news to share." He announced as he poured some wine into his glass and a tiny bit into hers.

"What's the good news?" She tilted her head to look at him excitedly.

He raised his glass, a smile sweeping across his face. "I retrieved my license!"

Zaria was in disbelief and she hugged him emotionally. "Wow, dad. That's awesome!"

After the scandal that had arisen, he had lost everything, including his work licensee. Forget being the CEO of a media agency, he could no longer even be a regular reporter.

He clinched his glass with hers jubilantly. "Even if I can no longer save F&P Media, I can still start a new agency."

She frowned when she heard his words. "No. We still have to save F&P Media. It's your blood and sweat. Making it Olphire's top media agency is your dream."

He nodded and patted her hand. "It was. Zaria, have you forgotten why I wanted this dream in the first place? It's all because of her. But she has not appeared in all these years. She will never appear."

Zaria's eyes drooped when she thought about it. She sighed. "Actually, I don't wish to see her so much anymore. I… I'm used to being without her."

"Zaria…" Theodore felt his heartbreak. How could a child be used to being without her mother? But it wasn't that she had a choice.

Zaria's mother was an elegant lady from an aristocratic family, and they met in high school. At first, she loved him despite the difference in their social status. However, a man like him could not become rich overnight. No matter how hard he worked, he had countless debts to pay off, and he refused to advance using underhanded means.

She was patient for years but soon after Zaria was born, she could no longer stand him and left. At the time, he was not willing to let her take Zaria away. He even used up all the money he had saved up to hire a lawyer and make sure his daughter was not taken away.

He had to admit that he was being selfish at the time. While he loved his daughter so much and did not wish for her to have a stepfather, part of the reason was that he hoped his wife would miss their daughter and come back.

Alas, he followed her to Imperium City and spent his days working hard. Not only did Zaria manage to go to a luxurious school, he had never let her lack anything she wanted. His main reason for creating a media agency was so she would notice him. Despite all his effort, she didn't even show up. Now that all his hard work had gone down the drain, why did he still need to butter up to a woman who didn't want them?

"Zaria, this time, it is just for us."

She hugged his arm emotionally. Actually, she had done her best in school and at work, and part of the reason was so her mother would notice her. However, it was as though she had been punching cotton all along. She was tired too…all she wanted now was to earn enough money for her and her father to live a luxurious life—multiple times more luxurious than they had been living before Desmond happened.

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AN: Hap py Chinese New year readers!