Nelson looked at her helplessly. Seeing the variety of food on the table, he felt a deep emotional stir in his chest.
The man’s mind raced; she must have secretly gotten up early to avoid being noticed. Now that she was caught, how could she not feel embarrassed?
He still had a bit of a playful intention and moved closer. “It’s your first time celebrating the New Year with the Oconnor family. Are you nervous?”
Callie glanced at him, her thoughts exposed. “Not at all.”
Nelson laughed out loud.
He held her tightly, feeling very content.
Grandfather, who had a very regular routine, woke up not long after. He seemed surprised to see Callie up so early and quickly greeted her to join them.
Nelson sat down. “Grandfather, Callie made all of this early this morning.”
Grandfather was astonished. “That’s impressive, Callie. I must try it quickly.”
Callie felt a bit embarrassed under his gaze. “I hope you won’t find it lacking.”
In the days leading up to the New Year, she had been preparing festive goods with the servants. The entire Paucaster Villa Complex was filled with a lively atmosphere. She was active in every corner while Grandfather and Nelson sat under the eaves, leisurely drinking tea.
Grandfather smiled and said, “Nelson, you have a good wife, I am at ease.”
“… Grandfather.”
“What’s past is past; cherish the present. Don’t dwell on Maeve’s matter anymore, understand?” Grandfather looked into his eyes and earnestly advised.
Nelson’s gaze fell on Callie, who was hanging painted glass bulbs not far away, his expression unreadable.
“I understand.”
At ten o’clock that night, hundreds of newspapers, magazines, and media companies under the Oconnor Group received a set of photos. They were clearly taken inside the Paucaster Villa Complex, showing Nelson and Callie together.
Only their backs were visible.
On the balcony, a woman worked on her computer while Nelson came out from inside, intimately close. Then it seemed like they had an argument; the woman got up to leave, and Nelson hugged her tightly in an appeasing manner.
Editors were in a frenzy. How could this be? The Paucaster Villa Complex was heavily guarded; for paparazzi to get these photos, they must have had permission!
Although it involved high-level figures, these photos likely wouldn’t be suppressed and might even have been deliberately released!
Curiosity spread up the chain of command, and that night the secretariat received countless inquiry calls.
Their response: Release the news; this person is Nelson’s official girlfriend.
The embellished words and photos were released, causing a huge stir.
So most people had a clear understanding. Such matters couldn’t be fabricated; releasing photos and PR statements so blatantly suggested that good things were coming for the Oconnor Group’s leader.
A secretary dared to ask Nelson if Callie would be angry about him announcing her existence unilaterally.
Nelson smiled enigmatically. “She won’t know.”
Indeed, Callie didn’t like going online. Even when work required a computer, she never browsed gossip or rumors; she was someone who stayed away from noise.
That was good. The internet was full of opinions and slander, like a chaotic battlefield-such an environment was not suitable for Callie.
However, Nelson forgot one thing: though Callie didn’t go online, people around her did.
“Oh my God, Callie! I saw something in the news today,” Litzy exclaimed over the phone.
“What?”
“I saw news about Mr. Oconnor being in love! The back in the photo looks so familiar-it looks like you!”
Callie was eating an apple and choked upon hearing this. “… Don’t joke around.”
“Seriously, I’ll send it to you.”
“The press release is identical across the board; Oconnor Group’s media must have gone all out?”
Callie finally used her computer to take a look. Sure enough, the news was already a headline.
She rubbed her forehead in frustration. Nelson hadn’t returned yet; she couldn’t even confront him about it.
Was he planning to announce it to the public?