Peterson just didn't care about Sterling.
The next day after the wedding, Sheffield and Evelyn embarked on their honeymoon. The newlyweds' first stop was Paris.
After they spent a wonderful evening gazing at the city skyline from the top of the Eiffel Tower, Sheffield took Evelyn to ride on a merry-go-round at the famous Carousel of the Eiffel Tower just around the corner.
As the brightly painted wooden horses spun to the cheerful music playing in the background, Evelyn shot a sideways glance at Sheffield, who had been smiling at her the whole time. "Why did you bring me here? Gwyn isn't here," she asked.
"I want to take you for a ride," he said frankly.
This idea took form inside his head when he took Gwyn out on a merry-go-round for the very first time. The fact that it ended up happening so soon was merely coincidental.
"I am not getting up on that!" Evelyn refused bluntly.
She didn't mind the other adults who were having fun on the merry-go-round. However, Evelyn felt she had passed the age for such childish sentiments.
On the contrary, Sheffield loved indulging his childish habits. Far from behaving like a regular 28-year-old, he was the prime example of a man-child.
Sheffield grabbed her hand and said, "Oh! Come on! Just one ride! Stay close to me!"
Evelyn refused again. "No, not this. Choose something else." Evelyn still couldn't believe that Sheffield had just told her to go on a merry-go-round with him. Who would expect that from the CEO of a multinational corporation? The famous Star Anise! The man who was once the deputy director of the nephrology department of First General Hospital in Y City.
"Do you know what couples who ride a merry-go-round do?" Sheffield asked, staring at her with expectant eyes.
"What?"
"This is a very popular spot! In fact, this is where all the couples come in from the Eiffel Tower to show their affection for each other with a kiss. It's meant to signify the loyalty of their love,"
Sheffield explained. 'Huh? How have I never heard about this before?' Evelyn wondered.
Disregarding her resistance, he grabbed her hand and dragged her to the merry-go-round.
He sat her down on one of the horses and rode the one next to hers. Sheffield narrowed the distance between them, perfectly positioning himself for a romantic kiss.
Just as the music started playing, the carousel started spinning.
The weather in Paris that day felt like a kiss of summer without the fiery heat of noon time in August. The grass was a soft green that almost had a hint of blue and in the sky was enough pristine white cloud to show how beautiful and perfect the day was.
Sheffield snapped a few candid photographs of Evelyn, despite her reluctance. After a while, she gave up and burst into laughter, amused by his antics.
As the merry-go-round went on, Sheffield put his phone away and asked, "Do you remember what I just said?"
"You said a lot. Which part are you specifically talking about?"
"Come over here. I'll tell you!" Sheffield smiled, moving closer towards Evelyn.
Her heart skipped a beat, but she responded by leaning in so her forehead rested against his.
Unable to contain himself anymore, Sheffield held her head in his hands and pulled her into a fiery and passionate kiss.
They pulled apart and opened their eyes. As they stared deep into each other's eyes, Sheffield's were full of wonder and love; Evelyn's full of curiosity and passion. No words were spoken but a story worthy of them was communicated.
'The mountains and rivers remain the same every year. Although everything reminds me of you, none of them is you. Because you are only you. Nothing in this world can be like you.
With you in my life, I cherish my life more than ever. Now I truly know what love is like. Love is sweet like honey.'
Ever since he had laid eyes on her in D City on that fateful day three years ago, he knew that this was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
From then on, Sheffield had eyes only for her, Evelyn Huo.
Fortunately, as fate would have it, his dream had come true. This woman, who had become his wife, also became his soul mate and life's companion.
From the day they signed the marriage certificates, they promised themselves to each other, forever and ever.
The air was filled with sound of the popular song—"My Love" by Westlife—playing in the background. "To hold you in my arms. To promise you my love. To tell you from the heart. You're all I'm thinking of…"
Evelyn tugged at Sheffield's sleeve and kissed him back.
They had known each other for years. As with any other couple, they had had their share of the good times and the bad times. She was thankful to this man, for his undying love for her; his determination and for all the things he had done for her. It was for this man that she was able to experience what true love really meant.
It was also this very man who showed her that there was another person in the world who loved her more selflessly than her parents.
When they got off the merry-go-round, Evelyn took Sheffield's arm and said, "Let's go, Mr. Tang. Let's have a cup of coffee. My treat." This was Evelyn's way of apologizing to him for standing him up two years ago.
"Why are you being nice to me all of a sudden?"
Evelyn was puzzled. 'Nice? It's just a cup of coffee. How bad was I to him in the past?'
Judging from her confused expression, Sheffield understood that she must have misunderstood him. He pulled the woman into his arms and said, "What are you thinking about? I was just kidding. Didn't you know?"
Evelyn shook her head. "No, I didn't. You're right. I'm not as good to you as you are to me."
"That's nonsense! Evelyn, to me you are perfection!
I will not allow you to speak ill of yourself!" "I am talking about myself." Evelyn raised an eyebrow.
"It doesn't matter. I forbid you to speak ill of my Evelyn."
"Fine. I'll stop. Then let's speak ill of Sheffield Tang. But… I can't think of any shortcomings of his. What should we do now?"
"Am I really that flawless in your mind?"
"Of course! Although she had never said it out loud, Evelyn always thought that Sheffield was the most handsome man in the world."
Then he stopped, his arms still around her shoulders. Peering deeply into her eyes, he lowered his head and planted a soft kiss on her lips.
They kissed passionately on the streets of Paris. Everything around them looked so romantic, it was as if they had staged the entire thing.
Downtown the skyscrapers shone silver in the morning sun. Students and commuters walked like shoals of fish in a myriad of directions, often stopping by at the cafes along the Seine River for a refreshment.
Evelyn and Sheffield chose an open-air cafe and ordered two cups of coffee to go with an assortment of desserts.
As a handsome Oriental man and a beautiful woman, they attracted the attention of many people from different cultures.
"I have added your and Gwyn's names on the Tang family's residence booklet. She can start kindergarten in a few months," Sheffield told Evelyn. Gwyn's name had been officially changed to Gwyneth Tang.
"I haven't decided which kindergarten to send her to. I wonder if my parents have picked a kindergarten yet." Luckily, Gwyn had been attending early childhood development classes regularly. Hopefully, it would be no problem for her to get along with the other kids by the time she started kindergarten.
"Dad has picked one out. It's an international bilingual kindergarten in the Eastern District. He's even checked all the teachers' backgrounds in advance so you won't have to worry about it." Sheffield and Carlos had talked about this when they were at home.
"Gwyn is much more willing to communicate now. Thank you so much, honey."
He was displeased by the courtesy and formality in her tone. "What are you talking about? I'm Gwyn's father. I care about her. I'm happy to see her happy. In addition, I didn't do much for her. Gwyn is a lively girl by nature."
It was undeniable that Gwyn took after Sheffield. Evelyn joked, "What if she turns out to be as talkative and annoying as you when she grows up?"
Sheffield furrowed his eyebrows, pretending to be upset. "Do you still prefer guys like Dad and Prince Ji? They're just like you. In fact, you all could live happily together in perpetual silence. That sounds like a very interesting marriage, right?"
Evelyn didn't seem very amused with that remark. "Why did you mention Calvert?" Evelyn cut a piece of dessert with a spoon and put it to his lips. "Eat your punishment." She grinned mischievously, recalling how much he disliked desserts and sweet food in general.
