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Ford Group had dispatched over a dozen employees to Floral Island to study the local customs and come up with tailored solutions.
The meeting involved listening to work reports and discussing future plans. It didn’t take very long.
At noon, they dined with Mr. Torry, who managed Floral Island.
Since their host had brought along his child, Lia stepped in to take over for Owen during the meeting.
“Mr. Ford, I’m sorry. I had no one to watch my child, so I had to bring him along. I hope you don’t mind.” Mr. Torry apologized.
“No need to apologize, Mr. Torry. It’s completely understandable,” said Coby.
“I never would’ve guessed your child is so grown already, Mr. Torry. I thought you weren’t even 30 yet!” Lia said with a smile, showering him with compliments.
“Listen to her! Ms. Phillips really knows how to talk,” Mr. Torry said, chuckling.
He patted his round belly, clearly enjoying the flattery. Even if it was just polite words, he loved to hear them,
“Mr. Ford, the residents on our island…” He began talking about the situation.
The little boy, just a few years old, was well–behaved and quiet, sitting on the sofa and playing with his toys.
When Lia noticed Mr. Torry occasionally glancing at his son, she understood what was going on and found an excuse to step
out.
Outside the restaurant, she saw some toy vendors and picked out a few at random.
Returning to the private dining room, Lia approached the little boy. “Hi, what’s your name? I have some toys here. Want to play with me?”
The little boy glanced at her briefly but said nothing, continuing to play with his own toys.
Lia felt a bit awkward. Maybe because they weren’t familiar, he didn’t want to talk to her.
He was playing with Legos. Lia had never played with them as a child, but she had seen them in Issac’s room. She sat quietly beside him, not disturbing him further.
“Mr. Ford, you know I wouldn’t dare offend anyone,” Mr. Torry said cautiously.
Mr. Torry didn’t play favorites. This wasn’t his decision to make. It had to be approved by higher–ups.
“No need to worry, Mr. Torry. I’m just here to understand the situation with the island residents, Coby said, understanding the man’s position.
Mr. Torry finally breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at Lia. “Mr. Ford, your secretary has a lot of patience.”
Coby looked at Lia who was focused on the little boy.
Whatever she did, she always gave it her all. She didn’t realize how captivating she was, making it impossible for anyone to look away.
“It’s no secret, Mr. Ford. My son has autism and rarely talks to others. I try to bring him out to see more of the world in the hope it might help,” Mr. Torry said with a forced smile.
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He only had this one child and wished for him to grow up safe and healthy, but autism made things tough.
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Coby suddenly sympathized with the worries of a parent. “I have a friend who’s a doctor and knows experts in various fields. If you’d like, I can introduce you.”
Mr. Torry gratefully shook Coby’s hand. “Thank you so much, Mr. Ford.”
Meanwhile, the little boy, tired from playing alone, sat on the sofa to rest. Lia pulled out a Monopoly set she had bought.
“Hey, little guy, want to play this with me?” she asked.
The boy still didn’t reply.
Lia started explaining on her own. “We’ll roll the dice and move our pieces. For example, if we land here, we can buy a property, and if the other person passes by, they’ll have to pay rent. Do you know how to play? Come on, let’s play together.”
The little boy finally spoke but only to say, “That’s so dumb.”
Lia realized there weren’t many two–player games they could play. He wasn’t a toddler, so toy cars wouldn’t work, but she hadn’t expected to be dismissed so quickly.
“Uh… well, how about we make it a challenge? If I lose, I’ll buy you a toy.”
“I don’t want one,” the boy said, uninterested.
“Alright then. Are you sure you don’t want to play? It’s no fun playing alone,” she said.
When he still didn’t respond, Lia started putting the Monopoly set away. Just then, the boy spoke again, “If you lose, don’t bother me anymore.”
Lia laughed. “Deal.”
And so they played. Lía focused on keeping him entertained. Whether she won or lost didn’t matter much.
That meal ended with Mr. Torry in high spirits, all thanks to his son.
“Ms. Phillips, thank you for looking after my son,” Mr. Torry said gratefully.
“No need to thank me, Mr. Torry. It’s part of my job, and Leo is such a sweet boy,” said Lia.
Through their game, least talked to her.
Lia learned that the boy’s name was Leo and that he was five years old. Though he spoke little, he at
“Mr. Ford, Ms. Phillips, I’d love to have you both over at my home so I can properly host you,” said Mr. Torry.
Leo held Lia’s hand tightly. “Let’s play Monopoly again. I have to beat you!”
“Alright.” Lia agreed with a nod. “I’ll be waiting.”
Watching their clasped hands, Coby rubbed his fingers thoughtfully and said in an unhurried tone, “We’ll visit you next
time.”
“Of course, Mr. Ford. It’s settled then. Leo, say goodbye Mr. Torry smiled as he held his son’s hand.
“Mr. Torry, let me walk you out.” Lia offered.
After escorting them out, Lia returned to the room. “Mr. Ford, how did your discussion with Mr. Torry go?” He tapped her small nose. “With you here, it went very well.”
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“It’s all thanks to you.” Lia beamed as she tidied up the toys. Suddenly, Coby hugged her from behind, guiding her hand to rest against his cheek.
“Coby…” Lia awkwardly tried to pull away, but he only held her tighter.
“Just now, Lia, you let him touch you,” Coby murmured, kissing the hand Leo had held.
“Leo’s just a kid,” Lia said, astonished. ‘Is he jealous of a child?‘
“Doesn’t matter,” he said.
“But… mmph!” Lia tried to explain, but he didn’t give her the chance.
Her body weakened, instinctively leaning into him as she clung to the man beside her.
After a long while, he finally released her from his arms.
Glancing at the small object on the sofa, he chuckled softly. “You likes playing with this?”
Still dazed from the intimate moment, Lia absentmindedly hummed in response.
His thumb brushed over her soft lips. “Why don’t we play too?”
Lia looked at him, confused. “Us?”
His gaze turned mischievous. “Let’s play tonight.”
“Tonight?” Lia didn’t understand the difference between playing at night and during the day.
He nuzzled against her neck, the moist sensation making her shiver. Lia tilted her head to avoid him. “Coby, we’re outside. Don’t do this.”
He laughed softly. “Alright, then let’s play together tonight, okay
“Okay.” Lia agreed without thinking.
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Floral Island, as the name suggests, was filled with flowers. This season, the island boasted a variety of wildflowers in full bloom; scattered naturally across the landscape.
Flowers like bellflowers, lavender, and sunflowers, among others, had already been developed for viewing.
In addition to flowers, the island was home to many rare, protected bird species. This made development challenging, as it was necessary to protect the ecosystem while promoting tourism and creating a unique identity for the island.
In the afternoon, Coby and Lia visited the bellflower field, an area relatively well–preserved thanks to government efforts.
It was the peak blooming season, and the vast expanse of purple flowers was breathtaking. The air carried a faint, refreshing fragrance.
As the area lacked infrastructure, few visitors were present, and the place felt serene.
Lia walked along a narrow path to the middle of the bellflower field, with Coby following behind her. Seeing her smile, he couldn’t help but smile too.
“Lia, what are your thoughts and suggestions for this place?” he asked.
Lia knew he wasn’t satisfied with the existing proposals but had expected him to ask for her opinion.
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“Floral Island is abundant with flowers, particularly bellflowers, lavender, and sunflowers. Lavender symbolizes waiting for love, and sunflowers represent the courage to pursue it,” she said.
He smiled lightly and gestured toward the flowers. “Wh
about bellflowers?”
Meeting his gaze, Lia clasped her hands behind her back and walked toward him. “They symbolize seizing happiness.”
The sunlight illuminated her porcelain–white face, radiating sweetness and warmth, leaving his heart slightly unsettled. “These three flowers represent different stages of love. Therefore, I think Floral Island could be developed as a paradise for couples. When love comes, we must courageously pursue it, cherish the present, and seize happiness,” she explained.
Lia had previously proposed ideas for Floral Island during her time at the Allen Group, but they weren’t accepted. Instead, Issac had mocked her for being overly focused on romance.
She had actually done her research–many popular tourist spots draw visitors who admire the romantic stories and hope to experience their own genuine love.
By creating a love–themed identity for Floral Island, combined with its natural charm, it could quickly gain widespread recognition. Of course, this was just her personal perspective.
A couple’s paradise. The idea was undeniably refreshing and appealing.
Coby wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. “Lia, does that mean I’ll be the first successful case?”
Her small hands pressed against his chest as she glanced around nervously. “Mr. Ford, I was talking about the proposal.”
“Whatever the proposal, having a real–life example makes it more convincing.” He picked a bellflower and gently tucked it behind her ear.
Her cheeks burned, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe. She couldn’t help but be captivated by the tenderness in his gaze.
“The bellflower’s message is to seize happiness. When happiness comes into your life, you must hold onto it tightly, or it will slip away. That’s why, when you came into my life, I knew I had to hold on,” said Coby.
His voice was low and mesmerizing as he looked deeply into her shimmering eyes.
“Because you’re my happiness, Lia.”
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