Novels by Shen Shen

Eric was a little caught off guard by Audrey’s question. But before he could answer, a raspy woman’s voice drifted out from inside.“Audrey, you’re home, dear?”A woman in her sixties emerged, walking slowly with the help of a cane.“Mom…” Audrey immediately stood up, hurrying to her side. A bone-white knitted scarf hung around the older woman’s neck. “Why are you awake? Or… did you not sleep yet?” she asked, gently straightening her mother’s glasses. Normally, her mom would already be asleep by the time Audrey got home.The old woman smiled, ignoring her daughter’s question and instead asking her own. “Who’s that? He’s very handsome. Is he your boyfriend?”Audrey glanced at Eric. Her cheeks flushed at the misunderstanding. She quickly explained, stumbling a bit at the start, “N-no. H-he’s my friend. He’s from Skylight Grove—the city where I used to work as a cashier in a bakery.”Her mother nodded slowly. “I see.” She moved to sit on the couch, and Audrey guided her with patient, car

Eric turned around. He smiled the moment he saw the girl he’d been searching for standing right in front of him.Audrey walked closer with a confused frown. She felt like she had seen this young man before—the one now standing on her doorstep with a cake and a bouquet of flowers in his hands.“Miss…” Eric greeted her without letting his smile fade.“Do I know you?” Audrey asked. Both her eyebrows remained knitted. She clearly hadn’t pieced together who the young man in front of her was.Eric let out a small laugh. “Maybe not. Uh… we haven’t properly introduced ourselves, but we’ve met once—back at the bakery in Skylight Grove.”The frown on Audrey’s forehead slowly disappeared. A soft smile stretched across her lips. “Yes, yes, I remember. You’re the young man who tried to leave your ID card, right?” She paused, trying to recall the name she once saw printed on that card. “Hold on…” She went quiet for a moment, then her smile brightened. “Eric White! Right?”Eric nodded. “That’s corre

From the investigation his subordinates conducted, Eric finally learned the cashier girl’s full name: Audrey Hubner. She would be turning twenty-four at the end of this month.Eric decided to leave immediately—he wanted to see the girl who once helped him. To save time, he took a helicopter.Evelyn piloted it; she had plenty of experience from her previous profession. Meanwhile, Eric and the others sat in the passenger seats.Inside the helicopter, Eric never stopped staring out the window. He stayed silent, thinking hard about what he could do to help Audrey without hurting her pride.After a long flight, Eric and his team finally arrived in Maple Creek. The helicopter landed in a grassy field about two kilometers from Audrey’s house. Chelsea then rented a car to take them the rest of the way.On the way there, Eric stopped by a bakery nearby. After stepping out, he carried a bouquet of white roses.Soon, they were close. The house that matched the photo was finally visible. Eric tol

“She lives in a small town called Maple Creek with her mother,” Grace began, continuing the report about the bakery cashier who once helped Eric pay for Elise’s birthday cake.Maple Creek was a tiny town nestled in a forested valley in northwest Oregon. The name came from the small river cutting through the center of town, flanked by rows of maple trees that burst into fiery gold and red every autumn.Its population was only around twelve thousand, most of them working in lumber, organic farming, or nature tourism.“That’s the town that holds the Autumn Lights Festival every year, right?” Eric asked, his expression sharp.“Correct, Sir. Once a year, every house in town is decorated with colored glass lanterns.”“That’s far. Is that her hometown?”Grace nodded. Then she continued, explaining that the cashier girl was currently struggling to survive. She lived only with her mother, who was suffering from coronary heart disease. Her father had died when she was still a child, and she had

As soon as Eric arrived home, his subordinates immediately jumped into action, preparing dinner without being told. Seeing their master looking worn out, they assumed it was because of the brutal and exhausting physical selection.No one dared to speak. They only stood by, waiting for orders. With Eric’s mood looking darker than usual, they feared saying anything would only make it worse.Yet, there was something important—something they had planned to tell him. They were already prepared to report it earlier. But seeing Eric like this, they silently agreed to delay it.However, during dinner, Eric inspected their faces one by one. Unlike most bosses, Eric always insisted his subordinates sit with him at the same table, eating the exact same food. He treated them like friends—like family.Because of that, Eric knew Kevin, Evelyn, Chelsea, and Grace too well. Even though they tried to hide it, he could clearly see something was off. Something the four of them were trying hard to cover.

The final test was rowing. But that one would be held tomorrow.Eric had just finished showering when he realized something odd — the locker room was unusually quiet. Before he went in to wash up, the place had been full of participants.“Maybe they all went home or are talking with the coaches outside,” he muttered, toweling off his body.He opened his locker to grab a T-shirt. After putting it on, he collected the rest of his belongings. He planned to go straight home — to his old house — and finally get some rest. It had been a long time.But just as Eric turned around, he froze.Chloe was suddenly there.She had appeared out of nowhere like a ghost, making him flinch instinctively.“Sorry—sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Chloe reached out, wanting to touch his arm to calm him down, but Eric’s body shifted back instantly, rejecting her approach.“What do you want?”That tone. Sharp and cold enough to pierce through her chest. Chloe came here with good intentions, yet Eric trea

The Cattegirn family, who had lost their weapon to fight against Steve Hart, ultimately had to surrender. They tried to figure out ways to calm Steve Hart's anger, which was now glaring at them so sharply."Darn it, what's happening? Are we going to lose all our assets?""What are you talking about? We wouldn't lose everything if we had just accepted Steve Hart's offer from the beginning. If we did, at least Steve Hart would have kindly let us continue enjoying all those assets.""You're right, we messed up."Almost the entire Cattegirn family agreed that their stubbornness had indeed led to losses. Their refusal to submit to Steve Hart now was leading them to ruin."Uncle Jason, please do something.""That's right, Brother Jason. If necessary, tell Steve Hart that we accept his offer.""I agree, at least that's the only way for us not to end up living as beggars after daring to offend him."All the other members of Cattegirn family began pleading with Jason and Olivia to resolve the

"Am I late?"A beautiful girl entered as if nothing had happened, casually approaching Steve to join Brandon in standing by Steve Hart's side."I, Helena Halbert, will represent the Halbert family in expressing support for Steve Hart. Whatever happens here, even if it means offending the Bridge family, the Halbert family will do its best to prove its seriousness in support," Helena said loudly so that everyone there could hear her."Helena, what do you mean? Why is the Halbert family doing this? Does that scumbag deserve your support like this?" Mark Bridge asked, not expecting Brandon alone to support Steve Hart, let alone Helena.Mark, who initially believed he could stubbornly make Agatha his fiancée, suddenly doubted whether this was worth it or not.Mark might still have confidence in handling the Lee family easily, but if the Halbert family also intervened, then this was a different story.The Bridge family might be strong and surpass the other two influential families in Avebur

BAM!Steve Hart's punch landed squarely on Mark's chin, causing Mark to stagger before falling because he wasn't prepared for it."Damn it! How dare you!""Everyone, move to protect Mr. Mark right now!""Stay away from Mr. Mark, hit him if necessary if he keeps trying to resist!"Quite a few people in the living room reacted strongly to Steve Hart's punch. Steve Hart didn't recognize who they were, but he could guess that they had come with Mark."Darn, for someone who dares to try to put your hands on my wife, you're quite the coward," Steve Hart said to Mark.Mark Bridge heard this and immediately ordered them to stop. Mark didn't want them to get involved because it would hurt his pride."Haha, you can go," Mark said, rising from his fall."Mr. Mark, are you okay?""Mr. Mark, why are you stopping us from teaching him a lesson?""Mr. Mark, that scumbag has gone too far, he should at least feel a few broken bones as punishment."The people stopped by Mark seemed dissatisfied; they qu

Steve Hart returned to the living room with confidence, the presence of Mark Bridge not bothering him in the slightest, let alone making him fearful.Simultaneously with Steve Hart's appearance, Agatha followed closely behind him. Agatha seemed to be hiding behind Steve Hart, afraid of every person in the living room, not wanting to feel the hateful gazes from them due to her sudden change of decision.Initially, Agatha had agreed to her engagement, pressured by her family to make that decision. Seeing her suddenly change her mind naturally angered every Cattegirn family member present.The Cattegirn family felt betrayed by Agatha, their sole rescuer, if only Agatha hadn't suddenly turned to side with Steve Hart like she was doing now."Agatha, what is the meaning of all this?!""Agatha, didn't you already agree to this engagement?!""Agatha, are you insane to decide to side with him and plan to disrupt your engagement with Mark?!"Each member of the Cattegirn family present asked ang

Steve's sudden entrance truly succeeded in catching the entire household off guard. The living room was indeed bustling with activity, mostly from the Cattegirn family, but there were also quite a few unfamiliar faces that Steve didn't know."Am I interrupting your event?" Steve Hart asked, his tone piercingly cold to those who heard it.Steve's question was not well-received by most people there; one of them even approached Steve with an angry expression.Olivia Cattegirn, Steve's mother-in-law, approached him and promptly pulled him away from the living room."What wicked plans do you have by coming here?!" Olivia exclaimed loudly, simultaneously slapping Steve's hand.Steve raised his eyebrows; he remembered vividly how just a few days ago, his mother-in-law seemed so hesitant and even afraid of him. Now, that fear seemed to have vanished, and Olivia appeared to be back to treating Steve as she pleased.Steve didn't dwell on Olivia's change in attitude. However, he already knew the

In the luxurious courtyard of the Cattegirn family mansion, Steve could see it bustling with invited guests, all of whom seemed surprised by his presence, as if his arrival was the last thing they expected."What's he doing here? Wasn't he supposed to be kicked out?""Maybe he's here to deal with his divorce from Agatha. Just let it be, there's no need to pay him any mind."Steve overheard the nearby conversations clearly, which only fueled his anger.Steve knew exactly why they were all gathered at his wife's family home. He had heard it from Brandon that the Cattegirn family was secretly attempting to arrange a marriage for Agatha behind his back."Agatha hasn't even divorced me yet, and you're all rushing to make decisions," Steve Hart muttered.Steve questioned what the Cattegirn family truly thought of him, realizing how much they were belittling him and disregarding his existence.Steve could entertain such thoughts because the marriage arrangement the Cattegirns were attempting