"Barton, stand down!" Lionel ordered in a low voice, stopping Barton from joining the fight. The score between him and Geoffrey was something he had to settle himself."You step back too!" Geoffrey barked at his men. He was never one to back down from a fight.Both sides' assistants retreated, and the two men launched into another round of combat."Stop, all of you!" Chloe suddenly screamed, her voice booming across the scene.Everyone turned to look at her.Geoffrey's voice softened as he comforted her, "Don't be afraid, baby."Lionel, however, just shot her a cold glance, his lips tightening even more.Geoffrey turned back immediately and launched a fierce kick toward Lionel.She's not his baby!Chloe seethed at Geoffrey's sickeningly sweet words, wanting nothing more than to rip his mouth apart. She couldn't care less about cold, heartless Lionel either! His arrogant, icy fury made her head ache.Chloe's beautiful eyes blazed with anger, her chest heaving. The conflicting thoughts
In the early autumn midnight, the temperature had begun to drop. A cold breeze blew through the car window, making Chloe instinctively shrink into herself.The atmosphere in the car was even colder, like the depth of autumn or even winter. This chill wasn't something you could see or touch, but it seeped into your bones, spreading through every part of your body. Chloe hugged herself, curling up in the corner of the seat.Lionel, tall and imposing, sat next to her, his lips pressed into a tight line, brows furrowed deeply as if they could crush a fly. His sharp eyes stared out the window, giving away nothing of his emotions.From the rearview mirror, Barton observed the scene in the backseat and let out a long sigh. Lionel was clearly bothered, but even he, Barton, felt suffocated by the tension.This was the first time Lionel had cared so much about a woman.He'd irrationally thrown a ridiculous amount of money at her, and it was already causing ripples within the company. Who knows
As another dawn broke, Lionel awoke with Chloe curled up on his chest like a kitten, fast asleep.Her little face was flushed, her rosy lips soft and pink, and her eyes slightly arched with a faint smile playing on her lips. Lionel felt his heart stir at the sight.His large hand gently caressed her face as he whispered almost inaudibly, "Chloe, as long as you behave, I'll make you the happiest woman in the world."As if in response, Chloe smacked her lips and continued to sleep soundly. The red marks he left on her pale neck stood out vividly.Lionel's lips curled into a faint smile as his fingers brushed over the marks. He lifted the edge of the blanket, got up, pulled the slipping cover back over Chloe, and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.By the time he returned, he was already dressed and ready for work. Just like every other morning, Chloe had not yet woken up. Standing by the bed, he bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead before walking out of the bedroo
On the other side of town, Lionel headed to work. Barton noticed the energy radiating from him.His usually sharp, stern expression was softened, and there was even a slight, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.Seeing Lionel in such a good mood, Barton finally relaxed.Around 5 p.m., Lionel received a phone call. He didn't say more than a couple of words before abruptly hanging up. His face darkened in an instant."Barton, arrange the plane. We're heading back to Astralis," Lionel ordered curtly."Yes, sir! I'll get it ready right away," Barton responded, swiftly leaving the room.There was no need to ask—Lionel's grandfather, Earl, must have called. After months of traveling, it seemed he was finally back, and if he was summoning Lionel in such a hurry, it couldn't be good news.Typically, they would drive to Astralis, a trip that took about three and a half hours. But Lionel asking for a plane. Barton smirked to himself, thinking that Lionel couldn't bear to be away from
The next afternoon, after dinner, Chloe was still wandering around the front yard. Normally, she should have gone to work at the bar by now, but after what happened last night, she had already decided not to go.She pulled out her phone, checking it for the tenth or maybe even the twentieth time. The message on her screen was from Lionel, sent last night at around ten o'clock. It contained only a few words: "I won't be home tonight."Chloe had no idea what had happened or where Lionel had gone, and there was no one she could ask. There was no way she would lower herself to ask Grace, and as for Florence, who knows where she had wandered off to, since she hadn't returned either.As Chloe checked her phone for the thirtieth time, it suddenly rang, displaying an unknown number. She hesitated for a moment but answered it anyway.The voice on the other end wasn't Lionel's familiar tone; instead, it was a woman's voice."Nine o'clock at the Paradiso Club. Whether you come or not is up to yo
SVIP Room, 8th Floor of Paradiso.The SVIP room at Paradiso is reserved for high-class clientele with wealth, status, and influence.Nearly everything in this room is adorned with gold—the door handles, lamp stands, fruit bowls, the chairs with golden trim, and even the tables and ashtrays are embellished with gold.Soft, enchanting lighting reflected off the golden fixtures, adding to the opulent atmosphere.At this moment, in the spacious private room, there were only two people—a man and a woman.The man had already taken off his white suit jacket, draping it over the armrest of the chair. He was handsome, refined, with a slightly delicate appearance, but his eyes held a deep, brooding darkness.The woman, dressed in a revealing low-cut mini dress, wore meticulously applied makeup.Her long fingers were painted with bright red polish, and her lips, though naturally shapely, were covered in blood-red lipstick, giving her a seductive yet vampiric appearance.These two were none other
Following the floor and room number Flora had sent, Chloe made her way inside.She no longer wondered how Flora got her number—just as Geoffrey had said, they had their ways. Since Flora was so intent on "caring" for her elder sister, it was clear she had her methods of staying in contact.As Chloe pushed open the door, the thick scent of Flora's perfume hit her in the face.Chloe suppressed a frown, briefly furrowing her brows.Looking up, she saw Flora lounging casually at a gold-inlaid table, swirling a glass of red wine. Her long, pale legs were crossed, swinging lazily.When Flora noticed Chloe, a cold smirk immediately tugged at the corners of her mouth."Long time no see, dear sister!" Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. Flora's disdainful gaze scanned Chloe up and down before settling back on her face.Chloe shot Flora a quick glance, feeling a wave of disgust rise within her.The low-cut dress and the ultra-short skirt Flora wore seemed designed to expose every "weapon" she
Amos gripped her arm tightly, refusing to let go, despite Chloe's attempts to shake him off.Her gaze shifted from his face to the hand holding her arm, and with a disgusted expression, she snapped coldly, "Let go!"A flicker of pain crossed Amos's eyes, and in the next second, he loosened his grip and sat dejectedly at the table, pouring himself a glass of red wine."Chloe, why do you despise me like this? I love you so much, and I promise I'll never hurt you again. All I want is to be good to you, to treat you a hundred, no, a thousand times better than before. I won't let anyone harm you!" he murmured softly, downing the wine in one gulp.He poured another glass, his eyes lingering on Chloe's face, the same face that haunted his dreams every night."Look at you now—your status, your worth. How could someone as lowly as me ever deserve your attention, let alone your care? If anyone dares to hurt me, that's my business. Thank you for your concern, but I don't need it!" Chloe retorted
"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