"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 wandered aimlessly through the night and somehow ended up at the very spot where she'd argued with Edric earlier that day.Since leaving with Lucien, she hadn't kept track of what had happened afterward. According to Vicky, Edric's car—which Lucien had mercilessly smashed into—had been towed away. The repairs would probably cost a fortune.Edric never reported the incident to the police. Considering he was the one who'd initiated the kidnapping, getting the law involved might've landed him in deeper trouble.Cynthia let out a quiet sigh.Lucien had rammed his outrageously expensive sports car into Edric's without a second thought. That ruthlessness—so ingrained in him—wasn't something ordinary people could comprehend."Were you really trying to kill him back there?" she asked aloud, not turning around.Lucien was standing under a tree, its dense foliage casting shadows over him. He was half hidden, half illuminated, as if caught between two worlds.He'd been tailing her ever s
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
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
Smoke curled through the bar like a living thing, and the neon lights cast shifting reflections across the rims of half-empty glasses.Hogan refilled the whiskey without asking, the amber liquid catching cold glints in the dim light. "Drink up. At least alcohol never lies."He raised his own glass, the clink of ice breaking the silence.Stephen reached out, stopping Hogan's hand. "That's enough. He's had too much.""So what?"Hogan chuckled darkly, his eyes drifting to the silent man across from him. "Better drunk than drowning in pain."He leaned closer to Stephen and muttered, "Have you ever seen a man stay sane after losing his wife?"Lucien seemed detached from the world around him. He downed the whiskey in one mechanical motion, the burn doing nothing to soothe the aching void in his chest. The glass in his hand fractured the bar's lights into twisted patterns—just like the broken state of his mind.Suddenly, his phone buz
"Cynthia…"Lucien stared hard at the photo on his phone screen, his knuckles turning white from the force of his grip. His jaw clenched, and he forced her name out between gritted teeth. His eyes burned red with fury, as if he were on the verge of completely losing control.Just then, Simon hurried over and said in a low voice, "Thomas called. He says he knows where Cynthia is—but he wants you to meet him in person."Lucien's gaze sharpened. Without a word, he spun around and strode out the door. Simon followed closely, and they drove straight toward the estate.Inside the grand hall, Janet was clinging excitedly to Selena's hand, barely able to conceal her glee. "That bitch is finally gone! Why doesn't my brother see it? She was never good enough for him—"Before she could finish, the front doors slammed open.Lucien walked in, a storm of cold fury radiating from him. He didn't spare them a single glance and headed straig
On her way home from work, Cynthia felt her mood gradually settle. Gina's words—"The most important thing in a relationship is forgiveness"—kept echoing in her mind. Technically, her connection with Lucien was just a financial arrangement, but all this fighting was exhausting. With that thought, she made a decision: she'd be the one to break the ice tonight."How was your day?" — Too warm."You're back." — Too cold."Darling…" — She shut that thought down immediately.In the end, she settled on the most natural approach: "You're home? I was just about to cook—what do you feel like eating?"As soon as she stepped inside, she sprang into action. Her ankle still throbbed faintly, but she ignored the pain and rushed into the kitchen, laying out ingredients. On second thought, waiting in the kitchen felt too obvious. So she brought some celery to the living room and scattered a few leaves on the table, trying to make it look like she was mid-prep.Then she paused, stunned by herself—What t
Lucien walked through the door just in time to see Cynthia limping across the living room. He rushed over in three quick strides and steadied her."What happened?""Just twisted it a little," she replied casually, trying to pull her hand away."Why didn't you call me?" His brow furrowed into a knot.Cynthia looked up at him, her eyes—usually bright like starlight—now clouded with confusion."It wasn't a big deal.""Not a big deal? What, do I have to wait until your leg breaks for it to count as one?" His voice spiked in volume, and his grip on her wrist tightened. She was always like this—always keeping him shut out. Five years ago, and still now."What's your problem?" Cynthia yanked her hand free. "I was trying to save you the trouble."Lucien's jaw clenched so hard it seemed carved from stone. She'd never understand—he'd rather she cry and call him in a panic than see her pretending to be strong.When she insisted on walking on her own, he simply scooped her up without a word."Hey
Cynthia glanced around the minimalist yet cozy room. Her eyes landed on several racing photos on the wall."Didn't expect you to be a race car driver," she said."Just a hobby." Martin handed her a glass of water and cut straight to the point. "Actually, I've heard about you long ago.""Oh?" Cynthia's lips curled slightly. "What did you hear?""You're my boss's ex-wife." Martin clasped his hands. "Someone who left a deep mark on him."Cynthia let out a soft laugh. "You're giving me too much credit. A man like Lucien—who could possibly affect him?"Martin neither agreed nor denied. "I want to ask you to go easy on Jacqueline."Cynthia's gaze sharpened, the smile no longer reaching her eyes. "You must be joking. I'm just a regular person. How could I possibly 'go easy' on a top celebrity?""Just don't kick her while she's down," Martin said calmly. "She's already been blacklisted. Her career is over. She's paying the price for her own actions."Suddenly, Cynthia changed the subject. "Do
On Monday morning, when Cynthia walked into the office, the teasing she had braced herself for never came. Gina sat motionless at her desk, staring blankly at the dark computer screen. She hadn't even turned it on.Pearl leaned over and whispered, "What's up with her?"Cynthia suddenly recalled what Lucien had said Friday night—"Gina likes Martin." Thinking back to how Martin had conveniently shown up at the party, things started to click."What's it like kissing your bro?" Cynthia leaned in and murmured into Gina's ear.With a loud thud, Gina toppled over in her chair and crashed to the ground. She scrambled to her feet, her face a furious shade of red. "W-What nonsense are you talking about?!"Pearl and Cynthia exchanged a glance—and then burst out laughing.Pearl pointed to the still-black computer screen. "Our top gun's been zoning out in front of a powered-off monitor all morning.""I was brainstorming!" Gina snapped, though her defense sounded pretty weak.Cynthia feigned shock,
The knocking resumed at the door—this time accompanied by other voices. Cynthia struggled again, but Lucien easily pinned her down, his lips returning to hers with a possessive urgency. He even bit her, not hard, but enough to force her focus back to him.Only when the knocking finally stopped did Lucien slightly pull away, his voice husky. "When are you going to send them home?"Cynthia was ready to curse at him, but his fingers pressed gently against her lips. He stroked her bitten mouth with his thumb, his tone softening unexpectedly."I know I didn't come back right away, but I've been keeping an eye on everything here. The Jessica thing? Handled the next day. I just got caught up with something else." He leaned his forehead against hers. "Once they're gone, I'll explain everything."By the time Cynthia emerged from the bedroom, the living room was completely empty. The chaos from the night before had vanished—everything was spotless. On the coffee table lay a note from Pearl: "We
All eyes were on the center of the room, where a game had just gone terribly wrong—or right, depending on who you asked. Cynthia and Gina's lips accidentally brushed in the middle of a biscuit game, and time seemed to freeze.From the doorway, two invisible waves of tension rolled in, colliding overhead and silencing the once-boisterous party.It was just a game mishap—really. Not only had they kissed, but two guys nearby had bumped lips too. Still, to Lucien and Martin, the world had narrowed to just one pair of touching lips.The party screeched to a halt. Laughter died mid-sound. The oppressive tension pinned everyone in place as they all instinctively turned toward the door.Cynthia's gaze briefly passed over Lucien's face before she looked away, completely expressionless. "Keep playing. Don't stop."But who could stay relaxed in front of those two? One was a world-famous celebrity with charisma to burn; the other, just standing there, made the air hard to breathe. The living room
Cynthia sat on a cold metal chair, her fingertips tapping lightly on the table. The officer pushed a stack of interrogation notes in front of her—three middle schoolers' statements, their childish handwriting crooked and clumsy, but filled with the phrase "delivering justice.""They thought they were punishing evil and promoting good," the officer sighed. "But they were just being used."Cynthia lowered her gaze, a cold smirk tugging at her lips. "Justice?" she repeated softly, her finger gliding over the line that read: ‘Acting on orders from above.'"Did you find out who that ‘higher-up' was?"The officer nodded. "Got him. Some guy running an online troll farm. He confessed the moment we brought him in." He paused. "Said someone paid him to orchestrate the whole thing."Cynthia didn't ask who. She already knew.—Jacqueline.She pulled out her phone and dialed Hogan's number."I was waiting for your call," Hogan said lazily, as if he'd seen this all coming."I need your help.""How c