Hasn't she already slept with her man? Isn't she still standing here just fine? If Flora wanted her life, Chloe would probably let her take it without resistance, Chloe thought. It's what she owe... let it be... whatever comes, she'll take it.There was no sound from Flora, only the chilling sound of her laughter, tears streaming down her face as she laughed, her entire body shaking.Chloe watched her silently, waiting for her to release her emotions. Words of comfort wouldn't come out; since their father passed away, Chloe found herself becoming more cold-hearted."Chloe... I hate you!" Flora finally screamed.She knew it! She had always known!Chloe remained silent, waiting for her to continue."Lionel Williams, the president of K International Group, publicly announced that he wants to marry me... haha..." Flora trembled violently, her face as pale as a sheet, twisted in a grotesque expression."Congratulations!" Chloe said calmly, though her heart was in turmoil. Marrying into wea
"I want YOU to marry him!" Flora repeated, her gaze shifting from the ceiling to Chloe, filled with resentment and bitterness."No, that's impossible!" Chloe shot to her feet. Yes, she feared Flora's death, but she wouldn't allow herself to be manipulated. "Flora, are you out of your mind? Isn't he the man you've always wanted to marry?"Something about Chloe's words set Flora off. The moment she finished speaking, Flora burst into another round of loud, heart-wrenching sobs.Chloe was stunned. Could an illness really change someone's personality so drastically? In her memory, Flora had always been a tough, calculating character, not someone who would cry so easily."I want you to marry him. Will you do it or not?" Flora demanded between sobs, her eyes fixed on Chloe."I won't!"What new trick was Flora trying to pull? Wasn't Chloe already suffering enough? Did she really need to force her to marry the man who had destroyed her life?Chloe made up her mind—she would rather die than ma
Cold. Chloe's entire body felt as if it were enduring the chill of a midwinter night. She was like a solitary leaf trembling in the wind, on the brink of falling.Chloe knew very well that taking Flora's place in this marriage would mean the end of her own life.From that moment on, she would have to live under Flora's name, and the person known as Chloe—both in name and in existence—would disappear completely.So be it. This was the tragedy of being Chloe.The ivy crawled up the walls, its leaves so densely packed and vibrantly green that they almost glistened in the light, their life force palpable as they swayed in the breeze. Such was the brilliant life of the ivy. And her life? It was all shades of gray."Miss Flora!" A low male voice called from behind her.Chloe tensed, her hand gripping the ivy frozen in midair.Was he calling her? No, it couldn't be. She was Chloe! The thought flashed through her mind instinctively."Miss Flora!" The man called again.Yes, he was indeed calli
Chloe slowly turned around. Amos stood a short distance behind her.Flora's expression remained cold and detached as her gaze briefly swept over Amos. She then continued walking forward as if he didn't exist.Amos's eyes were filled with anger. How dare this woman ignore him! He vividly remembered the time when she clung to him like a delicate bird.Recalling the scene he just witnessed, his fists clenched, and his eyes reddened with fury. Watching her walk away, he shouted at her retreating figure, "You'd rather sell yourself than look at me! How could you be so cheap?"Chloe froze, biting her lip as she stopped in her tracks. She didn't turn around, gripping the fabric of her sleeve tightly. Treating his words like the barking of a stray dog, she resumed walking.Amos was utterly enraged by her indifference. "Is money all you care about? Fine! If you're selling, then sell yourself to me! I'll pay you double what you asked for!"This damned woman! He loved her so much, but she tossed
Inside the house, the luxurious decor and grand setting were immediately apparent. The large curtains of the massive glass windows were drawn back, revealing the shimmering pool outside and a vast front garden filled with exotic flowers. The servants seemed to have been specially trained, moving with identical grace and rhythm.A woman in her fifties, dressed in a sharp blue suit, approached Chloe. Her eyes were full of shrewdness and efficiency. The other maids and servants bowed respectfully as she passed, then went back to their duties of cleaning and polishing."Madam, I'm the housekeeper here. You can call me Grace," the woman said, her sharp gaze assessing Chloe. Although she addressed her as "Madam," there was no respect in her eyes—only a cold, detached indifference."Grace," Chloe replied casually, not bothered by Grace's frosty demeanor. She hadn't expected to be respected upon entering this house anyway.The moment she stepped into the house, Chloe felt a deep chill creepin
The entire agreement, rather than merely imposing various restrictions on her, was more like an alternative form of humiliation.For instance, she was forbidden from being in the living room at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., from appearing on any path Lionel walked, and from being present whenever there were guests in the house.Unless Lionel explicitly allowed it, her identity as his wife required her to remain confined within the mansion.Without a word, Chloe picked up the pen and swiftly signed "Flora Miler." She felt a slight sense of gratitude towards this devilish man for showing a shred of mercy by allowing her to escape, even if she didn't know when that day might come. At least, she could see a glimmer of hope.As she looked at Flora's signature, she couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Her so-called sister had threatened her with death to force her into marrying this man, even though she knew that Chloe saw him as nothing short of a beast. Yet Flora still coerced her into marriage
Chloe barely registered the rest of what the bank teller was saying. Her mind was consumed with a searing rage.She quickly informed Cynthia that their meeting would have to be rescheduled and then wandered aimlessly through the bustling crowd.Cynthia's last words echoed in her mind: "Chloe, what's going on with you? You've disappeared for two months without a trace, and now, when we finally meet, you cancel again. What on earth are you doing?"Yes, what was she doing? She kept asking herself this as she walked. She hadn't gotten the money, and now that man had trampled on her dignity.Chloe hadn't realized the Williams family was hosting a banquet tonight. As she stepped inside, she was greeted by a row of luxury cars parked in neat formation. Through the grand entrance, she could see Lionel leaning casually against the bar, holding a glass of champagne, engaged in conversation.That domineering, seemingly harmless face of his infuriated her, and she quickened her pace, heading stra
Lionel froze, his expression unchanged, but his eyes turned menacing.The entire hall fell silent. Everyone's gaze was fixed on Chloe, some in admiration, others in shock, surprise, or even pity.Grace was so shocked she nearly jumped, quickly rushing over with a towel. Lionel calmly wiped the wine from his face with the towel she handed him.For two months, this woman hadn't said a word to him. They hadn't even properly met during that time. She had stayed quiet and obedient within the boundaries he had set, breathing her own air.In these two months, he hadn't heard a peep from her, nor had the servants reported any complaints from her. He had assumed that she had finally succumbed to his overpowering presence, forced to submit to his will.Apparently, he had been wrong. Very wrong.This woman wasn't just unafraid—she had the audacity to throw wine in his face!Two months ago, this woman had flirtatiously served him drinks at Paradiso, seductively dancing around him, her coquettish
As Chloe left the art center with Lisa at the end of the workday, they lingered at the entrance for a moment before Marcus arrived."Chloe, thank you so much…" Marcus said warmly as he stepped out of his car, his gratitude evident in his smile."It was nothing," Chloe replied, her lips curving into a faint smile. She couldn't help but take a moment to observe Marcus. Despite the time that had passed, he was still the same man she once knew—handsome, charming, and exuding an aura that made him an ideal partner in the eyes of many women.Yet, behind that polished exterior lay a man who had endured the pain of losing his beloved wife at such a young age. It took extraordinary strength to bury that grief and carry on with his responsibilities."I truly don't know how to thank you," Marcus said, his voice touched with emotion."There's no need," Chloe replied, waving her hands dismissively. "I enjoy spending time with Lisa.""Lisa, i
Florence was shopping at the mall. Joanna had returned, and she wanted to pick out an outfit as a gift for her.Having grown up together, they shared similar tastes in brands and styles. Their clothing was always high-end, limited edition pieces that highlighted the elegance and prestige of their upbringing. The kind of outfits that, when worn, exuded sophistication and grace, ensuring they became the center of attention wherever they went.A group of sales assistants hovered around Florence, their golden customer, tirelessly recommending items and gesturing enthusiastically. But Florence was someone with her own strong opinions. No matter how sweetly the saleswomen smiled or how honeyed their words were, Florence remained unmoved unless she truly liked what she saw."Well, shopping for clothes, are we?" A tall figure suddenly appeared, blocking Florence's view.Florence looked up and was greeted by Alex's radiant, sunshine-like smile.Alex?! What
Before Chloe found herself in Orchard Village, Flora had already shown signs of mental instability. Due to Chloe's disappearance and Donna's failure to secure a reputable hospital in time, Flora was admitted to a psychiatric institution.That afternoon, Chloe and Donna visited Flora at the hospital. Flora looked significantly thinner and was still in the same state as before—vacant, with a silly grin on her face.Clutching a pillow tightly, she repeatedly called it "baby." When she saw Chloe, her gaze turned dark and menacing. Pointing a trembling finger at Chloe, she lunged forward, screaming, "You evil woman! You killed my child! I'll strangle you!"Several doctors rushed in and restrained her just in time, preventing her nails from scratching Chloe's face.Did Flora still recognize her?Chloe studied Flora's pale face as the doctors held her down. Flora's constant struggling twisted her features grotesquely. Only after being administered a
In the morning, Lionel opened the car door as usual and stepped into his Maybach, ready to head to work."Lion, wait for me."Joanna called out, striding over in a chic plaid winter dress paired with a pure white cashmere vest and knee-high boots. Her wavy hair swayed in the crisp morning breeze with every step.Lionel paused. Joanna met his cold gaze as she confidently slid into the Maybach."Starting today, I'll be working at K Group,"Joanna declared, brushing her hair back casually. Her delicate features, perfectly complemented by just the right amount of makeup, exuded sophistication, elegance, and allure—a vision of beauty capable of capturing any man's attention."Are you joking?"Lionel frowned, his gaze brushing over her charming face without betraying any emotion."I'm serious! With my dual doctorates, do you really think I'm not qualified? Or would you rather I consult Grandfather about this?"Joanna replied con
Chloe's body stiffened, her shy smile frozen on her face. It had been about ten minutes since Joanna had called for them, and Chloe had assumed she had already gone downstairs. Who would have thought Joanna was still waiting here!Chloe wasn't used to being affectionate with Lionel in front of others.She immediately tried to pry Lionel's hands off her waist, but he tightened his grip instead, his hold becoming even more possessive as if to show off."Lion, Chloe, I thought you didn't hear me," Joanna said with a radiant smile as she gazed at the two of them. The blush on Chloe's cheeks, her slightly swollen lips, and Lionel's brooding, unsatisfied expression were all captured in her perceptive gaze. "Did I... interrupt something?" She stepped back awkwardly, giving way at the door."Oh, no, not at all," Chloe quickly responded, her face flushing even more as Lionel kept his silence, his darkened expression betraying his mood. Unlike him, Chloe wasn't rud
"Come on, let's get back inside. You're practically turning into an icicle!" Lionel wrapped Chloe in his arms, clasping her delicate hands in his large, warm ones. Holding each other close, they headed into the house, completely ignoring Florence and Joanna standing behind them."Joanna, did you see that? He's not the man he used to be anymore! Even with you here, it's like you don't exist," Florence murmured."How could this happen?" Joanna muttered in disbelief, watching the pair walk away. Shaking her head, she tried to process what she was seeing.Lionel's reaction was not what she had expected. Back when she returned to the country, she had braced herself for his anger, ready to endure his scolding no matter how harsh it was—because she knew she was in the wrong. Yet, all he did was utter a faint grunt, barely glancing at her face before walking away with Chloe in his arms.She wasn't just anyone; she was Joanna! At the very least, he should've
In the hall, two people chatted idly, while Chloe sat alone on the second-floor terrace. She could hear Grace constantly instructing the servants—preparing this, tidying that—and specifically reminding them to make the room on the third floor as comfortable as possible for Joanna.Joanna isn't just a guest here? She has her own room? Chloe frowned slightly, recalling a memory. Once, she had tried to go up to the third floor to sleep, but the moment her hand touched the doorknob, Grace had slapped it away, snapping at her, "That room isn't for you!"So that room belongs to Joanna, Chloe thought wryly.As she sat idly on the terrace, a sudden sound of piano music floated down from the third floor. Startled, Chloe stood up. It wasn't surprising that the Williams family had a piano, but what did surprise her was that she hadn't noticed it until now.The piano notes were crisp and clear, melodious and captivating, played by someone who was clearly a master. Chloe, who hadn't touched a pian
When Lionel came out, he saw Chloe smiling foolishly in the direction of the hall entrance. He looked around but couldn't spot Alex anywhere, so he turned to Chloe and asked, "Where's Alex?""He's gone," Chloe replied with a soft smile, maintaining her earlier posture.Lionel immediately pulled Chloe into his arms. His dark, obsidian-like eyes locked onto her face. "What exactly are you and Florence plotting?"With his sharp instincts, he was certain there was a secret between Chloe and Florence. And the mastermind behind it all might very well be this woman with the smile that concealed a blade."Nothing!" Chloe flatly denied."Really nothing?" Lionel gritted his teeth as his eyes darkened. "I have plenty of ways to make you talk." Bending down, he scooped Chloe into his arms and carried her upstairs.The days had been so blissful that Chloe hadn't noticed how quickly time passed. Before she knew it, winter had arrived.One morning, as Chloe stepped out of the hall, she came face-to-
Lionel was fuming as he returned to the hospital room. Without a word, he tucked Chloe back into the blankets. Though his expression was grim, his movements remained gentle."Lion, I just—""Don't talk. Close your eyes and rest!"Chloe wanted to explain, but Lionel cut her off domineeringly before she could finish.Fine, she knew he was just worried about her.Chloe didn't protest further. She obediently lay back, reaching out to grab Lionel's hand, her fingers playfully tracing over his palm. Truthfully, she was trying to placate him, hoping to ease his anger.Lionel was furious that Chloe had left her bed when she was supposed to be resting, but even more so that she'd gone to see the man who had nearly caused her death.She was truly thoughtless, completely ignoring his feelings.Fine, he'd just bring her home where she'd be safe!As he thought this, her soft, delicate fingers wrapped around his hand, instantly softening his mood. Sitting beside her bed, Lionel's face relaxed as he