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

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

smiled at the subtle change in his expression and invited him to begin. “Please

her and ran his finger over one of the beautifully carved Cat’s Eye Emerald checkers.

offer and settled her

complete odds with

moved her pieces swiftly and shrewdly,

match with Ian, who was totally surprised by her exceptional skills

would easily defeat Ashlyn

his opponent’s talent, Ian upped his game and planned his moves more tactfully

won the tight match by one

slightly as he reorganized the checkers, asking, “You could’ve won by a wider margin. Why did you

you’ll stand by your promise. And I

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

long as you cure my friend, I promise I’ll solve it for you.

his vegetable patch. “I swore never to treat another

she stepped into the vegetable patch and began pulling out weeds. Her fingers

Ian since she seemed like a pampered socialite