The night was deep and dark, with only the flickering fireworks illuminating the sky, casting a hazy glow over the surroundings.Lucien sat alone on a spacious lounge chair, a cigarette between his long, slender fingers. His eyes burned with undisguised frustration. The ashtray on the table beside him was already overflowing with cigarette butts—silent evidence of his restlessness. And the source of all his irritation and anger pointed to only one person—Cynthia.Just then, Simon appeared quietly, breaking the silence. His voice was low and respectful. "Boss, your call."Lucien turned his head slowly, taking the phone from Simon's outstretched hand. The moment his gaze landed on the caller ID, his once dark and unreadable eyes flickered with a sharp light, like a predator locking onto its prey.With a single press, he answered the call, bringing the phone to his ear. Unlike the cool tranquility of the night, his voice was cold and sharp. "Have you made your decision?"The voice on the
Lucien's grip tightened subtly as he locked eyes with Cynthia, his voice laced with bitterness as he ground out, "So, you're selling yourself to me like a prostitute?"A cold smirk curled at his lips, filled with mockery and disdain. "And tell me—do you really think you're worth three million?"Cynthia met his gaze, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile formed on her lips. Her expression remained calm and unwavering as she replied slowly, "Whether I'm worth that price depends on who's paying. Since it's you who wants me, then naturally, I am."Her voice was steady, devoid of emotion, as if this entire transaction had nothing to do with her at all.Lucien stared at her, his jaw clenching. After a long pause, he sneered, "Fine. I'll give you five million. But tonight, you're moving in with me.""As long as you keep your word, I'll do the same. Now give me the money." Cynthia held his gaze, unflinching.Lucien grabbed her arm and dragged her into his study. He strode to his desk, yanke
Before long, the security guard escorted Georgia into the office.The moment Georgia saw Cynthia, her eyes welled up with tears. Without hesitation, she rushed forward and threw herself into Cynthia's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Cynthia!"Cynthia held her tightly, gently patting her back. "Did anyone hurt you?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.Georgia shook her head vigorously, sniffling. "No, they didn't hurt me."Releasing her, Cynthia's expression turned cold as she pointed directly at Sean. "Is he the one you borrowed money from? Did you sign a contract?"Georgia turned to look at Sean, confusion filling her eyes. "I borrowed the money online. I've never met him before."Sean maintained a professional, almost practiced smile as he leisurely explained, "I'm the general manager of the company you borrowed from. All our contracts are signed online, so of course, you wouldn't recognize me. Now, you can repay the loan through our website. Once the payment is complete, your d
As Cynthia watched Georgia leave, she turned back and walked calmly to the sofa. Sitting down gracefully, she fixed her gaze on Marius and said, "Marius, if you have something to say, just say it. There's no need for pretenses."Marius, however, was in no hurry. He stood leisurely, walked over to the liquor cabinet, and retrieved a bottle of well-aged red wine.Skillfully, he uncorked the bottle and poured three glasses. He handed one to Sean first, then gently placed another on the coffee table in front of Cynthia. Wearing his usual warm smile, he said, "No rush. Let's have a drink first and chat at ease."With that, he raised his glass, clinking it lightly against Cynthia's, producing a crisp sound.Seeing this, Sean quickly stepped forward and clinked glasses with both of them before tilting his head back and downing his wine in one gulp. He smacked his lips and praised, "Good wine!"Marius smiled, politely raising his glass to Cynthia once more before also downing his wine in a si
Sean watched from the side, and an inexplicable sense of pity surged in his heart. Unable to hold back, he hurriedly said, "Why don't you give her to me instead?" As he spoke, he looked at Marius with hopeful eyes, wishing he would change his mind. Bard paused his actions upon hearing this, turning to Marius for instructions. Marius still wore that signature, carefree smirk. He glanced at Sean before slowly saying, "This isn't as simple as spending a single night." Sean instantly understood Marius' meaning—he was determined to ruin Cynthia. Sean sighed inwardly. He knew that his father's influence was nowhere near Marius' father's, nor did he have Marius' wealth and power. In this situation, he was utterly powerless. Cynthia had only herself to blame for provoking Marius, the devil incarnate. Anyone who ended up on Marius' bad side rarely met a good end. Seeing that Sean had fallen silent, Bard signaled his men to continue taking Cynthia away. They were well aware that s
Lucien bent slightly, locking eyes with Cynthia inside the car. In that instant, the icy coldness in his gaze seemed to freeze the very air around them. Meanwhile, Chase was still curled up on the ground outside, trembling in terror, his shrill screams cutting through the silent night like a knife. Ignoring him, Lucien parted his thin lips and commanded in a deep, authoritative voice, "Open the door."Cynthia nodded slightly and reached out to slowly unlock the back door. Seeing this, Lucien swiftly and effortlessly pulled her out of the car, half-lifting, half-supporting her. Her legs felt weak, her entire body drained of strength. Instinctively, she collapsed against Lucien's solid chest. At that moment, the anxious weight in her heart finally settled. A strange sense of security washed over her, as if she had finally found a safe harbor. At the same time, Simon strode forward and grabbed Chase, who was sti
Cynthia's steps were unsteady, her body still weak. She tilted her head slightly, leaned closer to Lucien, and whispered, "Why are you here?"Lucien lowered his head slightly, locking eyes with Cynthia. A smirk played at the corners of his lips as he said, "You took my money and then ran off to a place like this—how could I not come see for myself? I was thinking, if you dared to spend my money on another man, I'd break one of your legs."His tone was calm, not too light nor too heavy, but it sent a sharp jolt through Cynthia's heart. She opened her mouth, wanting to refute him, but the words seemed stuck in her throat. After a brief hesitation, she spoke softly, "Everything I told you just now was true. I didn't lie."She wasn't sure why she felt the need to explain herself to Lucien. Perhaps it was the lingering effects of the drug still in her system, making not only her body weak but also lowering her e
(Flashback)"This is yours." Cynthia's voice was soft, tinged with a hint of nervousness and shyness. She had finally managed to dig out the boy's workbook from the towering pile of slightly disorganized books and gently handed it over.Opposite her, a strikingly handsome boy slowly lifted his head. His eyes were bright and deep, as if holding a galaxy of stars.He reached out, took the workbook, and smiled slightly. "Thanks," he said in a low, warm voice.His smile pierced straight through Cynthia's defenses. She felt her heartbeat accelerate uncontrollably, pounding wildly as if it would burst out of her chest."Your name is Edric? I'm Cynthia," she mustered her courage, trying to sound composed as she looked at him.The boy responded with a simple, indifferent, "I know."His voice was deep and magnetic—just two words, yet they sent a ripple through Cynthia's heart."You're outstanding. Everyone knows you. It's you who
Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room.A soft, sticky voice called from outside the door. "Mommy!"Cynthia snapped awake. In a panic, she shoved the man beside her. "Hide, now!"Lucien groaned, his voice still thick with sleep. "What time is it...?""Who cares!" she hissed, pushing him off the bed.Caught off guard, Lucien hit the floor with a loud thud. Just as he opened his mouth to protest, a blanket landed squarely on his head."Not a sound!"Cynthia winced at the ache in her waist as she opened the door. There stood Harley, barefoot, squatting on the floor, carefully folding a paper airplane out of a hundred-dollar bill."Why aren't you wearing shoes?" She scooped him up, brushing the dust from his tiny feet."Look, Mommy!" Harley beamed, holding up a red plane. "It's flying money!"Cynthia rubbed her temples as she surveyed the room littered with money-made airplanes. Last night with Lucien had clearly gotten out of hand."Sweetheart,
The glass doors to the balcony rattled softly in the night breeze.Lucien turned around, the cigarette between his fingers flaring faintly in the dark. Moonlight outlined his sharp features, but his eyes were darker than the night, locked intensely on her. When he caught sight of the angry red mark on her neck, his pupils contracted."That boy… is he your son?" His voice sounded like it came from a long way off.Cynthia walked straight into the room, tossing two bank cards onto the table with a crisp thud."Twenty-five million. Not a cent less," she said coldly. "I'll be taking Harley with me tomorrow."The cigarette burned out in his palm, but the sting didn't reach his heart. He strode forward and gripped her wrist hard enough to turn her knuckles white. "And the interest?"The stack of bills hit his face. Paper fluttered to the floor like a snowfall of blood-red leaves. Lucien let out a low, bitter laugh before yanking her into his arms. Their lips crashed together, copper and heat
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