In the darkness, the car kept moving, turning left and right until it screeched to a halt.
Chloe was dragged out by the two men. She strained her ears to listen. There were no sounds of bustling traffic—clearly, they were in a secluded place.
The men shoved her into a room, tied her hands behind her back, and then removed the blindfold.
With a loud "bang," they slammed the door shut.
The room was bare, with nothing but a narrow single bed. Spotting a small window next to the bed, Chloe rushed over. Outside, there was no sign of any houses nearby, only darkness.
She looked down—about seven or eight floors up. Jumping would be suicide.
She had nothing with her; her purse had been snatched by the two men. It seemed there was no escape today.
Lionel, that all-powerful man, did he know she'd been kidnapped? Of course not. After all, he was only human, not a god. Chloe slumped onto the bed, feeling utterly hopeless.
Night
In Westridge, not many people have met Lionel in person, but almost everyone knows about him. Who doesn't know that in this city, Lionel is practically treated like a king favored by the heavens?And yet, Moira had the audacity to sneak into his house and secretly take photos of him—she was practically courting death."Speak! What exactly is your relationship?" Ignoring Chloe's sarcasm, Moira held up a side-shot photo of Lionel with his arm around Chloe, her eyes blazing with anger.Chloe chuckled, "Are you blind? Can't you see?""You!" Moira was furious but unwilling to give in.She couldn't fully believe that Chloe was truly Lionel's wife, as Chloe claimed. But the way Lionel possessively held her in the photo—it made Moira question everything.No! She couldn't allow it! That position belonged to her! She would rather believe that Chloe was just a fling for Lionel. No, Chloe wasn't even worthy of being his fling!After L
Moira hunched over in pain, her forehead drenched in sweat. Blood seeped through her flesh-colored stockings, the injury to her foot severe enough to leave her limping for a month.The two men exchanged glances, their eyes shifting nervously as they took in Chloe's cold, authoritative demeanor. The arrogance they had displayed earlier, back in the car, was nowhere to be found. Fear flickered in their eyes, and they didn't dare move forward.They had never met Lionel before, and he wasn't part of their underworld circles. But his name—just the mention of it—was enough to make men tremble, as if they were speaking of the Grim Reaper himself. This man was terrifying.And these two? They were nothing more than low-level thugs. If this woman really was Lionel's, could they afford to touch her? They'd be lucky to see the sun rise tomorrow."Useless cowards!" Moira barked, then winced in pain from her injured foot.She stumbled and fell to the ground, looking utterly ridiculous. Yet even in
Meanwhile, at the Williams mansion.The dishes on the dining table remained untouched.Lionel had been sitting at the table for over an hour. His strikingly handsome face was clouded with fury, his deep-set eyes like bottomless pools of darkness.The servants kneeling beside the table trembled, heads bowed, not daring to move a muscle.On the other side of the table, Florence pouted and had glanced at Lionel countless times. Finally, she couldn't hold it in any longer."What's so special about that woman? So, she hasn't come back—why are you making such a fuss, taking it out on all the servants? She's just a scheming tramp, probably lying in some man's arms right now…"Crash!Before Florence could finish her sentence, Lionel's long arm swept across the table, knocking the plates and bowls onto the floor. Food scattered everywhere, and broken dishes littered the ground."Ah!" A servant yelped as a shard of the dish cut her arm. Clutching the wound, she dared not make another sound.Flo
Meanwhile, at a seaside vacation house, Chloe lay on the bed with her eyes tightly shut, while Geoffrey sat beside her, as still as a statue, quietly keeping watch over her.She slept peacefully, her soft, rosy lips slightly parted as she breathed. The swelling on her cheek had gone down significantly after applying the anti-inflammatory cream. Looking at the other side of her face, she appeared as delicate and flawless as crystal. Her long, curled eyelashes were still trembling slightly, indicating an uneasy sleep.Leaning over, Geoffrey gently kissed her smooth forehead, but to his surprise, Chloe's eyes snapped open without warning, locking onto his unfamiliar gaze.Slap!As Chloe's vision cleared, accompanied by a piercing scream, she delivered a hard slap across Geoffrey's face."Get away from me!" Chloe, still overwhelmed with fear and panic, lost control.She attacked like a wild woman—scratching, kicking, and hitting all at once. In an instant, Geoffrey's face bore several fre
A flash of shock crossed Chloe's eyes as she inhaled the faint scent of cologne mixed with Geoffrey's masculine presence.There was no doubt he was a man who paid attention to his appearance. His strikingly handsome face could easily attract scores of women, and in this situation, if it were any other woman, he wouldn't even have to lift a finger—they'd already be throwing themselves at him.But no matter how charming or sophisticated he was, he would never captivate her!"Heh!" Chloe let out a cold laugh, forcing herself to meet Geoffrey's gaze. "So, you're no different from those two men earlier."The blatant sarcasm in her words made Geoffrey's face flush with anger."I'm nothing like them!" he gritted his teeth. Was there really such an ungrateful woman in the world? If he could, he'd crush her! But frustratingly, he found himself intrigued by her, even as she continued to insult him."Not different?" Chloe scoffed, her tone icy. "At the end of the day, don't you just want me nake
"Let's go, I'll take you home." Geoffrey's tone was slightly exasperated as he looked at Chloe, his gaze softening once again.Before getting in the car, Geoffrey made a call to Lionel, and the two remained silent during the drive.What kind of man was Geoffrey? He could be tender like a lover or ruthless enough to kill without a second thought! How could someone embody such extremes so effortlessly?After driving a considerable distance, Geoffrey suddenly pulled over. Just as Chloe was taken aback, he grabbed her and kissed her lips before she could react.He never failed to kiss the woman he desired."Every time I see you, I kiss you!""In the dark, Geoffrey winked, his bright eyes gleaming. "I'm always waiting for you to come into my arms.""You're crazy!" Chloe shot back, fuming, just as headlights from an approaching car flooded the scene.In an instant, several vehicles screeched to a halt, breaking the night's silence with their sharp sounds.The car door swung open, revealing
Lionel's dark eyes reflected a chilling intensity.Chloe's emotional outburst was too abnormal for him to comprehend.Staring at her tear-streaked face under the streetlight, he firmly grasped her flailing arms and finally said, "You're not thinking clearly!"He scooped her up and strode toward the car.Chloe stopped struggling. She couldn't understand what was happening—wasn't she supposed to not care anymore? Yet deep down, something felt off. What was she really longing for?She noticed the several cars parked ahead, with a group of well-dressed men standing nearby. Lionel's influence was not surprising; she had grown accustomed to it.Once inside the car, a heavy silence filled the air. Lionel wore a dark expression, while Chloe sat with a blank face, avoiding eye contact.She felt utterly ridiculous for her behavior that night, embarrassed to the core.No woman had ever intrigued Lionel like this one, yet she baffled him more every day, making him desperate to understand her thou
Chloe was awakened by the heat.The moment she became aware, she felt strong arms wrapped tightly around her in a bear hug. Without needing to open her eyes, she recognized the distinct scent of a man, mixed with a hint of cigar smoke, and knew it was Lionel.Opening her eyes, she saw that it was already daylight outside. Sunlight streamed through the heavy curtains, brightening the bedroom, which wasn't overly dim—everything was clearly visible.The handsome face before her was magnified, with deep contours and a furrowed brow that revealed an underlying tension, even in sleep.She had thought that after his suspicions about her and Geoffrey the night before, he wouldn't come in, yet here he was, holding her possessively as she slept.It was shocking that this workaholic was still in bed with her at this hour. It must be a sign of the apocalypse.Gently shifting, she tried to escape Lionel's embrace, but he was in such a light sleep that he was already awake, even as she stared at hi
"You!" Chloe wanted nothing more than to punch him, but she couldn't!Usually, he was the one who dominated their kisses; today, he was forcing her into this—was this his condition for releasing Marcus?Her heart ached, and Chloe's expression darkened, yet she still wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his, as if fulfilling a task.In truth, Lionel was deliberately pushing her like this! He wanted her to become accustomed to taking the initiative because he had savored the sweetness of her doing so before.However, he was still surprised by her obedient submission.He gazed down at Chloe, her eyes tightly shut, her long lashes fluttering. Her body was tense, her movements awkward; he could feel her underlying anger, yet she was trying hard to please him.Suddenly, he felt a surge of irritation. For that man, she was suppressing her anger? She was making such an effort to appease him for the sake of another!A
Chloe dialed the number, watching "husband" flash on the screen, a smirk curling at the corners of her mouth."Hello..." The call was answered quickly, and Lionel's deep, cello-like voice came through. Even though Chloe was all too familiar with his voice, she felt a slight shiver run through her.After a brief moment of blankness, her tone turned icy. "Did you do something about Marcus?" It sounded like a question, but she was already certain of the answer.Lionel hadn't expected her to call about this. After a brief pause, he answered honestly, "Yes, I did. So what?""You're unreasonable!" Chloe snapped, exasperated. She had never seen anyone so shameless—committing a wrong and then boasting about it.Lionel felt a pang in his chest. It had been so long since she had scolded him. Suppressing his irritation, he raised an eyebrow and replied, his voice devoid of emotion, as if her anger didn't bother him at all. "What do you want?""Le
"Ah! I'll notify the guards right away..." The secretary exclaimed, her face pale with fear, fumbling to make a call until Amos barked at her to stop."Get out! Close the door! I can handle this myself." Amos said sternly, and the secretary, trembling, shot him a glance before quickly exiting and shutting the door.Although Chloe had plunged the broken bottle into Amos's chest with fury, she was terrified herself, her face as pale as a sheet.She couldn't understand what had given her such courage. Trembling, she withdrew her hand, nervously twisting her fingers together."How could you be so cruel to me..." Amos gazed at her, pain flashing in his eyes.He ripped the broken bottle from his chest and tossed it into the trash. The wound wasn't deep, but the blood that splattered out was alarming. He felt pain, not just from the injury, but from a deeper heartache, as if the bottle had pierced countless wounds within him, making it hard to breathe.
Chloe rushed out of the villa, heading toward the Latham residence.As she reached the entrance, she saw several servants gathered outside. Lisa was being led by one servant, crying, while the others could not hold back their tears either.When Lisa saw Chloe, she immediately threw herself into Chloe's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Chloe... Waaa... My dad was taken away... I want my dad... Can you take me to see him?"Lisa's big eyes were red and swollen, her fair cheeks streaked with tears. Chloe hugged Lisa tightly, gently wiping her tears and soothing her. "Lisa, don't cry. Your dad will be okay. He'll be back soon."Though she tried to comfort her, Chloe understood that politics were complicated—who could say for sure?Having worked as a tutor for three years without incident, she had only limited interactions with Marcus but knew he wasn't the type to be corrupt.Once, she had witnessed someone claim Marcus had given him signific
(Flashback)That day, after Marcus and Chloe left Paradiso, Amos quickly followed suit.On the way back, he noticed something was off with his body. A chilling realization hit him: he had been slipped an aphrodisiac!No! Not just him—Marcus and Chloe had both been drugged! The red wine they drank had all come from the same bottle.Chloe had left with the drugged Marcus! His heart raced in panic. He ordered the driver to chase after Marcus; the amount he had drunk was excessive, and the effects of the drug were hitting hard and fast.It felt as if his body was about to explode, drenched in sweat. If he didn't find a woman soon, he might not survive!Just then, Flora's call came through."Amos, have you finished talking to your beloved? She's still waiting for you!" Flora's sugary voice made Amos wish he could reach through the phone and strangle her.This venomous woman must have orchestrated the whole thing!Amos gripped the phone tightly, growling through clenched teeth, "Where are y
After freshening up, food had been brought into the room, and the two sat in silence, as if nothing had happened, quietly eating.Chloe sat across from Lionel in revealing pajamas, boldly eating as if it were the most natural thing.In the past, she would have never dared to do this, rushing to hide under the covers after changing into her pajamas. But now, she was calm and collected in front of him, not a hint of embarrassment on her face.Her mind must be poisoned by the drugs!That was the only explanation Lionel could come up with.Strangely enough, he used to yearn for Chloe to wear such clothes and flaunt them in front of him, but now, seeing her sitting there made his eyes ache."Give me three million more, I need the money, and I'll pay you back however you want!" Chloe suddenly said, setting down her spoon. Her face remained cold, showing no shame despite asking for money.In the past, she would have scoffed at the idea of asking him for anything, yet now, her words flowed ou
As Chloe's awareness returned, shameful images flashed through her mind like scenes from a movie.She had thrown herself at Marcus, torn his clothes, and bitten his neck. They had held each other tightly on the bathroom floor...Oh God, how could she ever face anyone again?Despite her hazy consciousness, she vaguely remembered Lionel arriving just in time. It was he who had rescued her from the agony, not Marcus! Thankfully! Otherwise, she would have no choice but to die today.Relieved, yet the memories of her wild behavior started coming back.She had acted more disgracefully than a prostitute, and that thought broke her. Tears of frustration and sorrow streamed down her face.The proud woman she once was couldn't bear this version of herself. She was disgusted with herself to the point of wanting to disappear.Her tears flowed like a river, but they couldn't wash away her shame.“Shh, don't cry,” Lionel said softly, gently patting Chloe's back as she regained her clarity.His voic
"Lion…" Even in her dazed state, Chloe managed to call out Lionel's name. The moment she saw him, all the pain and frustration she'd been holding in exploded to the surface. Tears flowed uncontrollably, like a dam breaking. She began to sob, "Help me… please… I'm in so much pain… I feel like I'm dying...""Lionel?" Lionel's arrival clearly startled him.As Lionel looked into the bathroom, the sight of the two people clinging to each other made his blood boil. Every muscle in his body screamed with rage, and he was ready to kill!The terrified doctor at the door stammered, "They've… been drugged."If Lionel hadn't been aware of this beforehand, he would've killed Marcus on the spot—mayor or not, it wouldn't have mattered.In a flash, Lionel stormed into the room, but thankfully, the worst hadn't happened yet. He felt a wave of relief, though Chloe's sobbing and the pitiful state she was in broke his heart.Bending down, he roughly shoved Marcus aside, took off his coat, and covered Chl
Screech—The tires of the Bentley screeched sharply against the ground as it came to a stop. The Latham family had been waiting outside, and the doctor was already prepared.Marcus leaped out of the car in haste. He knew that if Chloe reached for him again or if he gave in, he wouldn't have the strength to resist. His self-control was already hanging by a thread.A group of people quickly rushed to support him."Hurry, give her the medication!" He roared at the doctor, drenched in sweat.The group hurriedly helped both of them into the house, administering the medication separately.After a moment, the doctor reported, "This isn't just a regular aphrodisiac. It's a rare and potent toxin, and the dosage is incredibly high. Prolonged exposure could seriously harm the body, especially for the woman.""What are we supposed to do, then?" Marcus was on the verge of losing his mind. He could feel it—despite the IV drip, the burning sensation inside him hadn't lessened one bit."The best solu