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,
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
Ever since that explosive fight with Lucien, Cynthia had been living like she was alone.Lucien had vanished without a trace, as if he had evaporated from the face of the earth.This time, Cynthia was truly furious—fed up with him to the core. The mere thought of seeing him again made her chest tighten with discomfort. She wished, more than anything, never to have anything to do with him ever again.It wasn't until the next day that Lucien's phone, left behind at home, was finally picked up by Simon in a rush.Gradually, Cynthia's life returned to something resembling normalcy—though she was still troubled by a few loose ends.Vicky's clothes were still at her place, unreturned. After mulling it over for days, Cynthia couldn't shake a growing sense of guilt. Perhaps she had misunderstood her.Thinking back, Vicky had always seemed quiet and sincere—hardworking and polite. Nothing about her suggested she was manipulative or calculating.The more she thought about it, the more Cynthia f
"Martin!"Cynthia hurried over when she heard Gina call out. "What are you doing here?"Martin's expression remained calm as he replied evenly, "I came with my boss to meet a director.""Which director?" Gina asked, curious, leaning in slightly. But her gaze instinctively drifted toward Lucien. The moment their eyes met—his cold and distant—her heart skipped a beat. They'd shaken hands warmly the last time they met… why the sudden coldness?Noticing her glance, Martin subtly stepped to the side to block her view of Lucien. "And what about you two? What are you doing here?"Lucien's icy gaze had clearly unsettled Gina. She stammered, "I… Cynthia and I are here for a business meeting.""She's already gone in," Martin said quietly."Huh?" Gina turned around and indeed saw Cynthia disappearing into the restaurant. She hesitated, then glanced once more at Lucien behind Martin. With a forced smile, she said, "Well, I'll head in first. See you around."Inside the restaurant, Cynthia quickene
Inside the private dining room, Gina stood with her arms crossed, glaring at Cynthia, who was leisurely flipping through the menu."Just say it,"Cynthia said, not even looking up.Gina suddenly slammed her hand on the table. "Be honest! Did you have a fight with Lucien and use me as a shield?""Weren't you here today to be a shield?"Cynthia finally looked up, the corners of her mouth curling into a faint, ambiguous smile.Gina pointed at her with a trembling finger. "Cynthia! I can't believe you used me, your best friend, like that!"She clutched her chest dramatically. "I'm doomed! Lucien definitely thinks there's something going on between us! I'm done for!"Grabbing Cynthia's wrist, she pleaded, "You have to go explain to him right now! I'm not into women! That's my idol we're talking about!"Cynthia calmly pulled her hand back, uninterested in Gina's exaggerated performance. If Gina knew what Lucien was really like in pr
Lucien's villa sat halfway up the mountain, secluded and far from the city. Taxis rarely passed by, so Cynthia had to pull out her phone and call an Uber. She stood quietly by the roadside, waiting.In the distance, a white sedan slowly approached. The driver glanced out the window—and froze. Standing at the roadside, Cynthia's tall, slender frame and poised presence made her look like a living work of art.But Cynthia didn't even notice the car. She was idly kicking at pebbles on the ground, glancing at her phone every now and then as she waited.Suddenly, the white car screeched to a stop a short distance ahead, then began reversing toward her. Cynthia noticed the odd behavior and turned her head in confusion.The car came to a stop right in front of her, the window rolling down to reveal the driver—Edric.Great. Two men in one day she had absolutely no desire to see, and this one was even worse than Lucien. Just looking at Edric made
Edric's fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, the sound of grinding bone echoing like teeth on edge.Lucien looked at him with contempt, as if sizing up a pathetic insect. A cold smirk curled at the corner of his lips—pure disdain. This was supposed to be his rival? Disgusting. Not even worth the effort it would take to put him in his place.He turned to leave.Through gritted teeth, Edric spat a curse: "One day, I'll crush you under my heel. And she—she'll be beneath me, begging—"Before the words could fully leave his mouth, Lucien's foot slammed into Edric's stomach.Edric hit the ground like a sack of rags. He hadn't even caught his breath before Lucien stomped down on his face, grinding his heel in with deadly force. His eyes were sharp enough to kill."Then you can die now,"he growled."Lucien!"Cynthia shouted, unable to hold back.Lucien turned his head, his warning
Cynthia looked at Lucien, bewildered by how erratic he'd become lately. One moment explosive, the next unnervingly gentle—it made her wonder if he might actually need to see a psychiatrist."Can you tell me now?"Lucien asked, his tone softer now that she had quieted down. "Why did you come today?"Cynthia was distracted and answered without thinking, "To return Vicky's clothes."Lucien's eyes darkened at her reply. If he hadn't come home early, would she have just slipped away without a word?Suppressing his anger, his voice dropped to a low, tense murmur. "And after that? You had no intention of waiting for me, did you?"Cynthia turned to face him, meeting his eyes head-on. "Was your apology just now sincere?"Lucien was momentarily speechless. Why was she circling back to this again? Hadn't they already moved past it? Or was it that his apology hadn't sounded genuine?People always said women had an innate talent for arg
Cynthia's mornings now came with a new assignment: driving Lucien to work. But on the very first day, things nearly went sideways—they almost rear-ended the car in front.When she finally pulled up in front of the BW Building with a less-than-stellar parking job, Lucien calmly adjusted his cufflinks."Compared to that man," he said suddenly, his voice soft as a feather, "I treat you much better."Cynthia froze, her hands still on the steering wheel."Aren't you leaving?" Lucien opened the door and added, "Don't loiter here showing off that you're my woman."Only then did she notice the crowd of employees sneaking glances their way. Flustered, she slammed her foot on the gas. Two blocks later, she hit the brakes hard—wait a minute. Who was showing off?The realization struck her belatedly. Yesterday, she'd mentioned that Gerald had been too scared to get in a car she was driving. And today, this man was proving with actions that he was braver. That childish need to win...Her grip tigh
Inside the hospital room, Thomas leaned against the headboard, his sharp gaze slicing through Cynthia and Lucien like a blade."Lucien, get out," Thomas said, his tone leaving no room for argument.Lucien remained motionless until Cynthia softly said, "Let me talk to Grandpa alone." She met his eyes. "I know what I'm doing.""I'll be right outside," Lucien replied, turning to Thomas. "The doctor said you need rest." With that, he finally left.As the door shut, a vein throbbed visibly on Thomas's forehead. That boy was afraid he'd be too hard on the woman!"You're very capable," Thomas sneered. "You've got my most prized grandson wrapped around your finger. Six years ago, he rejected every heiress to marry you—a woman who wasn't even worthy of him. And what happened? You made him a laughingstock!"Every word was like a knife slicing through old wounds. Cynthia's fingers trembled slightly—she had never realized how much Lucien had endured back then."And now that he's finally rebuilt h
Early the next morning, Cynthia woke to find Lucien already gone. He must have gone to the hospital to visit his grandfather.Although yesterday's confrontation had been satisfying, it had only intensified the conflict between Lucien and the Brown family. She didn't believe for a second that Lucien would give up his position as CEO of BW Group just to get back together with her, nor did she want to see Edric and Mandy gain anything from it.Did they really think that a few harsh words could just wipe the slate clean? What about all the humiliation, the pain, and the soul-crushing despair he had once inflicted on her? Was she supposed to just forget all of that?No. She would make him pay—twice over—for everything she had suffered. He would taste it all, and more.She went straight to the hospital. Just outside Thomas's room, she ran into Mandy, who was holding a bouquet of flowers."What are you doing here?" Mandy's face darkened."Visiting Grandpa," Cynthia replied with a smile. "Is
Jay quickly tried to smooth things over."Lucien, apologize. Now!"Leo jumped in to help."The company can't run without Lucien, Dad. Please, calm down...""The company will collapse without him?" Thomas slammed the table."Are you saying there's no one else?! Are the rest of you useless?!"Jay and Leo both fell silent, inwardly cursing Thomas's favoritism. If Mandy really took over, what future would they have?Cynthia stood by coldly, waiting for Lucien's decision. His grip on her wrist was so tight it hurt—but then she heard him speak, calm and steady:"I only brought her here to let everyone know—I'm remarrying her. As for the CEO position... it's just a title." He gave a faint smile."There's no shortage of talent in the world. Grandpa can replace me anytime."With that, he turned and walked out, dragging Cynthia behind him—leaving behind a room full of stunned faces.Cynthia stumbled to keep up, her heart swirling with complicated emotions. Did this man truly just give up his fa
Cynthia's red lips had barely left his when the air in the grand hall froze solid. Stacey's face turned a deep shade of fury, her nails digging into her palms as though she were about to leap forward and tear Cynthia apart.Just then, Marcus appeared at the perfect moment, bowing respectfully."Young Master, Sir requests you and the lady in the study."Thomas's long-time assistant looked utterly composed, as if Cynthia had never left—still one of the rightful mistresses of the house.Lucien took Cynthia by the wrist and led her through the crowd. At the center of the ballroom, Mandy stared at their retreating figures with such intensity that her dance steps fell out of rhythm."That bitch's got you this distracted?" she hissed, her nails digging sharply into Edric's shoulder. "Don't forget who helped you get where you are."Edric tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her in during the spin. His voice was low against her ear."This arrangement was your idea. As for the BW position…"
The lights in the room suddenly went out. A spotlight cut through the darkness, illuminating the spiral staircase.A red carpet lined the stairs, and fresh flowers were wrapped around the banisters. Mandy descended slowly, wearing a dazzling red mini dress, a glittering crystal crown atop her head, and sky-high red heels that clicked delicately with every step.Edric stepped forward and offered his hand to guide her down. She flashed him a flirtatious smile. Edric gently held her hand."My princess, happy birthday," he whispered, before planting a soft kiss on her cheek.They looked like a prince and princess straight out of a fairytale. The scene was picture-perfect, and the applause thundered through the room.Cynthia watched the whole display. Watched the man who had been part of her entire youth now smiling so happily while holding another woman's hand, walking toward Thomas. Even though she had long considered Edric nothing more than trash, she couldn't stop the rush of emotions.
"Well, well, look who we have here…"A middle-aged man's voice cut through the noise.Cynthia turned and saw two men who closely resembled Lucien—his uncles, Jay and Leo. With a composed smile, she greeted them politely, "It's been a while."Jay and Leo both flashed knowing, meaningful smiles when they noticed Cynthia standing beside Lucien.Unlike Janet, who would start screaming the moment she saw Cynthia, these two were all charm and civility, as if greeting an old friend after many years. Jay spoke first, voice layered with implication:"Cynthia. What a surprise, seeing you here."Unfazed, Cynthia casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, glanced at Lucien, and replied,"I'm just as surprised to be back here seeing you all again. Life's full of surprises, wouldn't you agree?"Jay paused, then let out a hearty laugh."Well said, Cynthia. You're right—life is full of surprises!"Leo cut in, "Lucien, are you two… getting back together? You never mentioned it."Jay quickly jump
In the parking lot, Janet finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably."He actually threatened to send me to Black Island—for her!"She stomped her feet hysterically. "I'm telling Grandpa! He'll kick her out for sure!"Selena clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. Lucien's words still echoed in her mind, stabbing like knives. All her hatred found a new target—Cynthia. It was all that bitch's fault."She's your brother's ex-wife?" Selena asked, barely keeping her fury in check."That's her!" Janet gritted her teeth. "She cheated on him back then—everyone knew! And now she dares come back?"A flicker of malice flashed in Selena's eyes, though her face remained composed with concern."Lucien is completely under her spell. Bringing her here tonight… he must be serious about getting back together."Janet's face turned pale. Lucien held the reins of power in the family now. If he insisted..."No way! I won't allow it!" Janet grabbed Selena's hand. "You have to help
Lucien chose May 16th—Mandy's birthday—to bring her home. It was no coincidence.Birthdays in their family were never just celebrations. Grandfather Thomas held the reins of the family empire, and every birthday marked a subtle yet significant power reshuffle.Real estate, land, business ownership—anything could change hands on a whim. Behind the facade of cheerful gatherings, blades were drawn in the shadows.Among all the heirs, Mandy—daughter of Thomas's deceased eldest daughter—was the most beloved. Her birthday was always the grandest, the rewards most extravagant: private jets, luxury cars, dazzling jewels—far beyond what others could hope for.By comparison, when Cynthia and Lucien got married, all they received was a pair of matching watches, which were later reclaimed after their divorce.Lucien bringing her back on this particular day was anything but thoughtless.The phone rang. Lucien's voice was curt and cool. "I'm downstairs.""I'm coming."Hanging up, Cynthia looked at