My Extraordinary Wife

Ashlyn smirked, her eyes sparkling with confidence. She asked Ian, “What happens if I win? Will you promise to treat my friend then, Old Mr. Leno?”

Her confidence piqued Ian’s curiosity.

Young people don’t have the patience to sit through a checkers match. He did not believe she knew how to play at all.

“Fine. If you win, I’ll treat your friend.”

As he spoke, Ian stepped onto a stone path in his yard and strode toward the round table under the shade of grapevines. His white hair fluttered in the breeze.

Ashlyn followed closely behind and sat opposite him.

Then, she placed the board on the table and arranged the intricate emerald checkers pieces on it.

Sunlight dappled on the checkers through the thicket of grapevines. The soft illumination brought out the stunning glow of the Cat’s Eye Emerald.

Ian’s cold face seemed to soften a fraction as he observed the scene.

thing in the

living away from his family, the checkers set before him gave him more comfort

his

the beautifully carved Cat’s Eye Emerald checkers. “You’re younger.

not refuse his offer and settled her slender fingers on

complete odds with her cutthroat skills

her pieces swiftly and shrewdly, attacking while defending her

who was totally surprised by her exceptional

he would easily defeat

Ian upped his game and planned his moves more tactfully than usual to counter

the tight match by

the checkers, asking, “You could’ve won by a

Mr. Leno, I hope you’ll stand by your promise. And I promise I’ll help you to solve the matter that has been the source of your pain and

tensing before his expression paled. He asked, “How could a young lady like you solve the

I’ll solve it for you. I may be a young woman, but I

abruptly as he stopped before his vegetable patch. “I swore never to treat another

and rolled up her sleeves. Then, she stepped into the vegetable patch and began pulling out weeds. Her fingers were covered in dirt

she seemed like a pampered socialite to him. He asked gently, “Is it worth