When Cynthia arrived home, Georgia was cooking. She looked much better than the day before, with more smiles on her face. Seeing her still struggling to move around, Cynthia advised, "Your foot hasn't fully healed yet. Stop cooking. Let's go out to eat instead."
"I'm just keeping myself busy. My foot is really fine, just a slight sprain. It's much better today. That..." Georgia hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is he not coming today?"
It was obvious she was referring to Lucien.
Cynthia took the apron from her, tied it around herself, and pushed Georgia out of the kitchen. "That's his business."
Either way, even if he did come, she wouldn't be able to stop him.
Noticing Cynthia's indifferent reaction, Georgia recalled the conversation she had secretly overheard between them. She suddenly felt a bit suffocated but still forced a smile. "I see... So, what are we having for dinner? Should I go buy some groceries? Maybe some beer?"
Cynthia
Mandy's gaze flickered toward Hogan, who had been sitting quietly all along. The corner of her lips curled up, causing the beauty mark below her lip to lift slightly as well. "Hogan, you're here too? Cynthia, you really are something—no matter where you go, there's always a man circling around you."Cynthia had no interest in talking to her and treated her as nothing more than air.But Mandy wasn't done. This time, she turned to Hogan, feigning concern. "Hogan, as a friend, I have to warn you. You really shouldn't be getting too close to her in private. You know how Lucien is."Her words were deliberately vague, making them all the more cutting.Pearl looked at Cynthia in shock, while Georgia was already fuming. She recognized Mandy immediately—that woman always acted superior, always looking down on others. She was full of scandals herself, yet she had the audacity to judge her sister. What right did she have?!Hogan took a leisurely s
That day, she and Lucien had humiliated him like a stray dog, filling him with hatred. Six years ago, she had chosen Lucien over him, abandoning his love. And now, six years later, she was still standing by that man… trampling over him once more.Edric's voice turned sharp. "Three people ganging up on one—don't you think that's a bit disgraceful? I suggest you apologize immediately.""Apologize?"Gina scoffed despite her injuries. "Maybe you should ask what your 'friend'said first.""She deserved to be beaten."Mandy opened her mouth to retaliate, but Edric stopped her again. "She has always been blunt, but I know she never meant any harm. But the three of you attacking her—that's unacceptable. If you apologize to my friend, we can put this behind us. Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to call the police. Do you really want to stand trial for assault?"Hogan sized up Edric. The man was good-looking, spoke logically, an
Cynthia sneered at him, but Lucien pulled her close again, holding her hand as he asked, "Does it hurt?""Hm, actually, it does hurt a little."Cynthia's tone instantly softened, her voice so sweet it could melt bones. "Darling, I'm tired. Can we leave now?""From now on, let me handle the fighting."Lucien scooped her up in his arms and walked out."Wait! I'll tell Grandpa about this!"Mandy screamed hysterically, but the two paid her no mind.Gina followed them out.Edric clenched his fists tightly as he watched them leave, his knuckles cracking with barely contained rage. Mandy got up from the floor, swung her hand, and slapped Edric across the face. "Coward!"she spat.But this time, Edric didn't hold back. He retaliated with a full-force slap of his own, sending Mandy crashing to the ground once more. She was so shocked that she forgot to speak.Lucien held Cynthia tightly as he carried her outside Bistro. The
The smile on Pearl's face froze the moment Cynthia spoke. It dawned on her that she might have said something wrong. Replaying the events of the night in her mind, she pieced everything together—Cynthia had just introduced Lucien as her ex-husband.But hadn't Cynthia just called him "darling"? And hadn't Lucien been insisting all along that she was his wife?Now, they were acting completely indifferent toward each other, as if the warmth from earlier had never existed. What was going on? Was all of this just one-sided on Lucien's part?The more Pearl thought about it, the more confused she became. She stole a glance at Lucien, then at Cynthia, barely daring to breathe.Lucien's expression shifted the instant Cynthia introduced him. The warmth in his eyes dimmed slightly, and a barely perceptible flicker of disappointment and embarrassment crossed his face.Hogan, observing everything, found it amusing. It was obvious that Lucien had wanted to
By the time everyone finished eating, night had fully settled in. After reluctantly bidding farewell to Cynthia and Lucien, Pearl and Gina got into Hogan's car together.The moment Gina sat down—barely settling into her seat—she couldn't help but steal another glance through the window at Cynthia and Lucien standing outside. Her voice was filled with awe, as if she were still in a dream."I actually had dinner with my Lucien tonight… I still can't believe it! I even spoke to him. And—oh my god—I shook his hand!"As she spoke, she slowly lifted her left hand, gazing at it with an expression of pure infatuation, as if Lucien's warmth still lingered on her skin."I don't think I can ever wash this hand again…"Pearl, sitting beside her, rolled her eyes at Gina's near-delirious state and nudged her lightly."He's Cynthia's now, you know. Big C herself. You might wanna snap out of it.""I'm not like yo
The moment Cynthia uttered the words "I'm sorry," Lucien's fingers, which had been gripping her chin tightly, suddenly froze. A flicker of shock flashed across his face—he clearly hadn't expected those three words from her, not now. The situation was eerily reminiscent of the night he had apologized to her.In that instant, a wave of emotions—anger, bitterness, frustration—crashed over him like a rising tide. All of it transformed into a consuming, possessive kiss. Lucien pulled Cynthia into his arms, kissing her with a desperate intensity, as though he was pouring out years of suppressed emotions in a single breathless moment.Cynthia was caught off guard, her body trembling slightly as she instinctively clutched at Lucien's shirt to keep herself from falling.But this time, she didn't push him away. She accepted it in silence, as if trying to atone for the pain she had once caused him.When Lucien finally pulled back, his breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling violently.
Cynthia dragged her weary body home. The moment she opened the door, she was greeted by Georgia's anxious face. Her eyes were filled with worry—Lucien, in her mind, was nothing short of a devil who brought nothing but pain."Cynthia, are you okay?" Georgia asked, her voice laced with concern.Cynthia forced a small smile and replied softly, "I'm fine. Don't worry." She didn't want her sister burdened by her own troubles, so she chose to downplay the conflict with Lucien.Georgia gave Cynthia a once-over. Seeing that her expression was relatively calm, she finally relaxed a little. After a brief hesitation, she said, "Cynthia, I've thought it over. I've decided to move back home—and it's time I returned to school, too."Cynthia was taken aback for a moment but quickly nodded. She didn't try to stop her. Looking at Georgia now felt like looking at a younger version of herself. After everything that had happened, Georgia had learned to tell right from wrong—and that was its own kind of g
Of everyone, Jacqueline was having the worst time.In just one week, a media outlet had published a veiled critique of a certain actress behaving like a diva—unnamed, but everyone knew it was her. Then, an indecent video was leaked. Photos of her in bed with a certain director surfaced. Even rumors from her pre-fame days—being a kept woman—were dredged up. The internet turned into a war zone. Overnight, Jacqueline became public enemy number one, a rat crossing the street with everyone eager to beat her down.To make matters worse, CoreClub was hit with an official order to shut down and rectify operations—allegedly due to a tip-off about illegal sexual transactions.Everyone in the industry knew Anders was the man behind CoreClub. The club had always been one of his top-earning ventures, far outperforming other nightlife establishments. People couldn't help but whisper: Who on earth had the guts to go after him?Strangely, Anders didn't retaliate. He admitted defeat—just like that.Th
Cynthia's heart skipped a beat. A sinking feeling swept over her like a wave. She looked up—and there it was. In Lucien's hand, the one thing she had hoped to keep hidden: the framed family photo of her, Harley, and Gerald. The three of them smiling brightly, radiating happiness. But now, that picture felt like a ticking time bomb.Before she could think, she snatched the photo frame back from Lucien's hand, almost on reflex."This your son and your husband?" Lucien asked, his voice low.He had only glimpsed the photo, but that was enough to shatter whatever softness lingered inside him. The man in the picture was tall, handsome, exuding calm and reliability. In his arms was a boy, beaming with innocent joy. Cynthia stood beside them, her arm gently resting on the man's shoulder, her expression gentle and serene—an image of warmth Lucien had never seen on her face before.That smile—so full of affection—was like a cold slap to the face. It yanked him out of the illusion of intimacy th
What the hell?! Again?! Cynthia cursed inwardly, trying to stay calm. She attempted to break free from Lucien's grip and whispered, "I'm really tired right now."Unbidden, an image surfaced in her mind—maybe other women had once stayed in this place. The thought instantly extinguished whatever spark of passion she had left.To her surprise, Lucien actually let her go this time. Cynthia breathed a sigh of relief and turned to walk away. But just as she took two steps, she felt an arm wrap tightly around her waist—her feet left the ground as she was suddenly lifted."Ah!" she cried out, startled. Before she could even react, Lucien had thrown her onto the bed.The world spun. Cynthia barely had time to process what had just happened before Lucien was on top of her. His eyes bore into hers as he spoke in a low, firm voice, "Did you forget what I said earlier?"Of course she remembered. Panic rose in her chest. "But I really am exhausted..." she tried to explain.Before she could finish,
The next day, the sky was overcast, the heavy clouds threatening to spill rain at any moment.The moving company Cynthia had booked arrived right on time. The workers moved efficiently through the apartment, carrying furniture and boxes. Cynthia stood to the side, calmly giving instructions, her eyes sharp and composed.She hadn't really expected Lucien to show up. But when that familiar figure appeared at the doorway, she couldn't help the flicker of surprise in her eyes or the small jolt in her heart.Lucien walked in, dressed in a dark, fitted shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing strong, toned forearms. His gaze swept over the room, assessing the situation, then he made his way toward Cynthia. Their eyes met briefly—neither said a word.Without so much as a comment, Lucien joined in, helping without hesitation.He moved with effortless precision, reaching for items stored up high and handling heavy objects as if they weighed nothing. He began packing b
After saying goodbye to Anders, Cynthia stood still, hesitant to get into Lucien's car. Deep down, she still felt a trace of resistance to being alone with him.But before she could make up her mind, Simon had already walked over and respectfully opened the car door for her, his posture quietly urging her to get in. With a quiet sigh, she finally stepped inside.The car started slowly. Inside, neither of them spoke. Cynthia instinctively turned her head and looked back. She saw Anders still standing where they'd left him, waving enthusiastically. A warm feeling bloomed in her chest.Whether or not Anders genuinely wanted to be her friend, at least on the surface, he had treated her with care. He had welcomed her warmly, introduced her to his people—providing her with a solid support system.Lucien glanced sideways at her, lips pressed into a thin line. His tone was cool as he spoke."You seem to like him quite a lot."Cynthia turned to look at him, responding calmly, "We're friends. H
Cynthia hadn't brought anyone with her. She wandered alone through the vast, silent house, her footsteps echoing through the empty halls. When she entered one particular room, the decor immediately caught her attention—an array of furnishings in a distinct medieval style.Drawn in, Cynthia stepped further into the room, her eyes carefully taking in the aged, timeworn furniture. As she studied a carved cabinet, a shadow suddenly flickered at the doorway like a ghost.She turned instinctively and saw a familiar figure—it was Lucien. But she didn't linger on him. She cast him a fleeting glance, then calmly returned her gaze to the furniture, continuing her quiet exploration.Lucien, however, appeared at her side without warning. His brows were slightly furrowed, a glint of irritation flashing in his eyes. His voice was cold, laced with hostility."Still haven't figured out how to make a phone call?"The accusation sparked a flicker of annoyance in Cynthia. She picked up a vase, turning i
Of everyone, Jacqueline was having the worst time.In just one week, a media outlet had published a veiled critique of a certain actress behaving like a diva—unnamed, but everyone knew it was her. Then, an indecent video was leaked. Photos of her in bed with a certain director surfaced. Even rumors from her pre-fame days—being a kept woman—were dredged up. The internet turned into a war zone. Overnight, Jacqueline became public enemy number one, a rat crossing the street with everyone eager to beat her down.To make matters worse, CoreClub was hit with an official order to shut down and rectify operations—allegedly due to a tip-off about illegal sexual transactions.Everyone in the industry knew Anders was the man behind CoreClub. The club had always been one of his top-earning ventures, far outperforming other nightlife establishments. People couldn't help but whisper: Who on earth had the guts to go after him?Strangely, Anders didn't retaliate. He admitted defeat—just like that.Th
Cynthia dragged her weary body home. The moment she opened the door, she was greeted by Georgia's anxious face. Her eyes were filled with worry—Lucien, in her mind, was nothing short of a devil who brought nothing but pain."Cynthia, are you okay?" Georgia asked, her voice laced with concern.Cynthia forced a small smile and replied softly, "I'm fine. Don't worry." She didn't want her sister burdened by her own troubles, so she chose to downplay the conflict with Lucien.Georgia gave Cynthia a once-over. Seeing that her expression was relatively calm, she finally relaxed a little. After a brief hesitation, she said, "Cynthia, I've thought it over. I've decided to move back home—and it's time I returned to school, too."Cynthia was taken aback for a moment but quickly nodded. She didn't try to stop her. Looking at Georgia now felt like looking at a younger version of herself. After everything that had happened, Georgia had learned to tell right from wrong—and that was its own kind of g
The moment Cynthia uttered the words "I'm sorry," Lucien's fingers, which had been gripping her chin tightly, suddenly froze. A flicker of shock flashed across his face—he clearly hadn't expected those three words from her, not now. The situation was eerily reminiscent of the night he had apologized to her.In that instant, a wave of emotions—anger, bitterness, frustration—crashed over him like a rising tide. All of it transformed into a consuming, possessive kiss. Lucien pulled Cynthia into his arms, kissing her with a desperate intensity, as though he was pouring out years of suppressed emotions in a single breathless moment.Cynthia was caught off guard, her body trembling slightly as she instinctively clutched at Lucien's shirt to keep herself from falling.But this time, she didn't push him away. She accepted it in silence, as if trying to atone for the pain she had once caused him.When Lucien finally pulled back, his breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling violently.
By the time everyone finished eating, night had fully settled in. After reluctantly bidding farewell to Cynthia and Lucien, Pearl and Gina got into Hogan's car together.The moment Gina sat down—barely settling into her seat—she couldn't help but steal another glance through the window at Cynthia and Lucien standing outside. Her voice was filled with awe, as if she were still in a dream."I actually had dinner with my Lucien tonight… I still can't believe it! I even spoke to him. And—oh my god—I shook his hand!"As she spoke, she slowly lifted her left hand, gazing at it with an expression of pure infatuation, as if Lucien's warmth still lingered on her skin."I don't think I can ever wash this hand again…"Pearl, sitting beside her, rolled her eyes at Gina's near-delirious state and nudged her lightly."He's Cynthia's now, you know. Big C herself. You might wanna snap out of it.""I'm not like yo