Paradiso.Thanks to Lionel, Geoffrey had been so busy lately that he hadn't had any time for his usual indulgences.The Bureau of Investigation was reopening the case on Paradiso, and he had to run a thorough internal review before they got involved. With the billions he'd invested in that vast property, it was rumored he might only recover a fraction of the cost—if he was lucky. Worst-case scenario, he wouldn't get anything back.That morning, his father had chewed him out viciously."Serves you right! You bit off more than you could chew. Now look at you—no deal, no bone, and you've cracked a tooth. And for what? Women are a dime a dozen, but you had to go and mess with that woman? Don't you dare drag our family down with you!"Geoffrey was seething. He hadn't expected his father to find out about that, but he knew exactly who had spilled the beans without even needing to think.Lionel. That ungrateful bastard! Geoffrey had saved his woman, and instead of showing any gratitude, Lion
On the other side, the enormous shopping mall was bustling with people. The countless brand-name counters, illuminated by the dazzling lights from the ceiling, reflected off the polished marble floors, making the whole mall even more glamorous.Chloe and Florence stopped in front of a women's clothing brand counter.Standing side by side, the two presented a stark contrast: Florence was glamorous and eye-catching, while Chloe had a more subtle and elegant look. Florence's "princess" image immediately made Chloe appear as a mere backdrop.The sales associate's eyes lit up the moment she saw the luxury clothing and expensive jewelry on Florence.Jackpot!She latched onto Florence with warmth and enthusiasm, flattering her endlessly, making Florence beam with satisfaction, as sweet as if she'd eaten honey.Florence indulged in the attention, trying on clothes after clothes without hesitation.Chloe, on the other hand, sat off to the side, merely an ornament in the scene.Another sales as
Inside the fitting room, Chloe tossed the clothes carelessly onto the floor. The resentment that had built up from all the scorn, disdain, and humiliation made her feel like a balloon about to burst.If she didn't vent today, she wouldn't be able to move on!Sitting on the sofa, Chloe pulled out her phone, the new one Lionel had gotten her as compensation. That night, Lionel had tried to teach her how to use it, but she hadn't really paid attention. After fiddling with it a few times on her own, she realized how powerful it was.She had yet to use the phone to call anyone, and now, as if in frustration, she unlocked the screen—but her fingers froze.Who was she going to call? Lionel? To ask him to come to her rescue?To Lionel, she was merely a woman he shared a bed with. If she called him for help, what would his reaction be?Would he sneer and ignore her? Or rush over like a knight in shining armor?She mulled over these thoughts, a self-mocking smile playing on her lips. The latter
In the shopping mall.Chloe hung up the phone, casually grabbed a dress, and stepped out of the fitting room.In front of the mirror, Chloe nearly dazzled a few sales assistants with her appearance. Her previous outfit was nice, but this new design was elegant and luxurious, seemingly more suited to her temperament.With her graceful figure, the dress—though not a formal gown—still exuded an air of sophistication. It accentuated her beautiful curves and full bust, while her long hair cascaded down one shoulder. Though her crystal earrings weren't particularly expensive, they complemented her look perfectly.She was poised and elegant, her eyes shimmering like water, her pink lips slightly pursed and glossy. Her arms were as smooth and white as cream, long and delicate.Truly, she radiated grace and nobility!The sales assistants couldn't help but swallow hard, amazed that this woman could wear the outfit with such regal flair.In their eyes, the fiery spark of envy ignited. They reali
"Who are you?" A few salesgirls were taken aback by Lionel's imposing presence, stammering slightly, but their eyes sparkled with admiration."Why are you here?" Florence exclaimed, rushing toward her brother, attempting to grab his arm. Lionel ignored her completely, sidestepping her grasp as he made his way to Chloe.Chloe let out a heavy sigh. She hadn't expected him to show up in person! Even though she knew he would, a hint of surprise crossed her face, soon replaced by joy."Oh, my husband is here!" She blinked, sending a subtle signal to him, her demeanor softening.Her beautiful eyes glimmered, and she gently grasped Lionel's arm, acting sweetly.Husband?!Goodness, such a tall, handsome man is this woman's husband? Wasn't she supposed to be a mistress?The salesgirls nearly gasped in disbelief.Lionel's eye twitched. This woman could act without batting an eyelash! But somehow, hearing "husband" stirred something within him.Suppressing his inner turmoil, Lionel's dark expres
That night, Chloe lay in bed, still feeling like everything that had happened during the day was just a dream.She only wanted to let off some steam, but things had escalated way beyond her expectations.She caused someone to lose their job, brought down a manager, and even ended up with her own personal counter!Heavens, this was a bit too much.She had heard of Lionel's ruthless decisiveness in business, but had he really gone that far today?Sure, she didn't mind him managing his subordinates or punishing his employees; after all, a massive conglomerate needed structure. But… giving her a dedicated counter?She knew Lionel was likely trying to spoil her, but it left her feeling uneasy."What's wrong? Still not satisfied with today?" Lionel tossed aside the towel and lay down, his tall figure dominating the space."Lionel, are you really being kind to me?" Chloe asked, frowning slightly, a bit naive in her tone.Lionel was stunned for a moment. Was she being dense today? He had set
As the thought flashed through Lionel's mind, he became more certain.The woman beside him now, the one lying in his bed, wasn't Flora Miler—it was Chloe Miler, the woman who was supposed to be dead.With that realization, his mind cleared, but his heart raced uncontrollably.He prided himself on being able to see through people, so why hadn't he recognized her sooner? Was it because their identical faces had deceived him?The closer he got to Chloe, the more he felt himself losing control, being drawn in by her. He knew she had drugged him and climbed into his bed with ulterior motives; he knew she had worked at a bar.For a man of his status, such attraction was disgraceful, even contemptible—he despised himself for it.The more he tried to ignore her, the more he wanted to be near her. This internal conflict left him, a man who was almost always invincible, feeling powerless and defeated.His rational mind had urged him to not look at her, not to figure her out, but that was precis
Autumn had arrived, and the cool morning breeze brought a refreshing chill. Despite the season, the villa's garden remained vibrant with colorful flowers in full bloom.Early in the morning, Florence sat on the swing, lost in thought.Yesterday, she had witnessed firsthand how her brother doted on Chloe, and it made her feel incredibly uneasy. Why should a woman like Chloe receive her brother's affection? She just couldn't stand it!Her brother was the closest person to her, and she couldn't blame him. Instead, she resented that woman for being so good at charming and deceiving her usually sharp brother.Clutching her phone tightly, she nearly scratched the screen. She had called that number a thousand times, yet it still wouldn't connect. He really had the heart to ignore her calls. Was she really that unlikable?In truth, when Florence wasn't being unreasonable or domineering, she could be quite lovable. Perhaps it was growing up spoiled by her brother that turned her into the perso
"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