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
"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
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
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
(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
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
"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 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
At dinner, only Lionel, Moira, and Florence were seated at the table.Ten minutes passed, and no one made a move.Seeing the situation, Moira's eyes darted around. Could Lionel be waiting for that woman to join them?A sly smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she leaned closer to Lionel, softly whining, "Lion, are we expecting another guest? I'm starving..."She feigned innocence but cursed inwardly: That bitch better leave tomorrow and spare everyone the headache.Lionel didn't even glance at Moira, his attention still fixed on the newspaper in his hands. Moira's face immediately paled from the cold shoulder.Meanwhile, Florence, observing quietly, could instantly tell that her brother and Chloe had fallen out.Florence loathed this newly arrived woman.She wasn't too fond of Chloe, but even Chloe was better than this garishly dressed woman.From the way Moira moved and the look in her eyes, she was practically throwing herself at Lionel.Spoiled as Florence was, she never held
Chloe sat by the windowsill, her mind replaying Lionel's cold expression, and her heart ached uncontrollably. The pain was sharp, so vivid that she couldn't ignore it.Could it be that she... had truly developed feelings for him?Otherwise, why did it hurt so much to see him bring another woman home?The urge to storm up to him, grab him by the collar, and demand an explanation—while throwing Moira out so she'd stop disgusting her—was overwhelming.Yes, the reason she cried so hard yesterday wasn't just because Cynthia met a terrible man, but because she, too, was about to leave the man she had fallen for.If she hadn't developed feelings for him, she wouldn't feel this reluctant. If she hadn't fallen for him, she wouldn't feel so devastated.It turns out, the heart she thought had long turned cold hadn't actually died—it was revived by Lionel, beating fiercely again.Perhaps, all his care for her had unknowingly woven a net that trapped her heart, leaving her unable to escape, fallin
Seeing Chloe's pale face alternating between shades of green and white, Grace felt a sense of satisfaction, while Moira's arrogance seemed to rise even higher.Admiring Chloe's distressed expression, Moira deliberately provoked her. "What now? Still planning to kick me out?"She then turned to Grace with mock authority and shouted, "Can't you see the madam is upset? Go fetch some water, now!"Her smug attitude made it seem as though she were the real mistress of the house.Grace's lips twitched at Moira's outburst, and she quickly lowered her head, mumbling obediently, "Yes, yes, right away!"Hadn't they just been on the same side? Now Moira was shouting at her. Clearly, if she hoped to enjoy a few peaceful days, it wasn't going to happen.Grace was furious but didn't dare show it. In her heart, she compared Chloe and Moira. One was cold and indifferent, always dressed like a beggar, with a face that looked as though the world owed her millions—definitely not someone people liked. The
On her way home, Chloe's mood plunged to an all-time low. She wasn't sure how long she had cried with Cynthia, but oddly enough, she had cried even harder than Cynthia!Her eyes were swollen like walnuts, her legs weak and unsteady. Both of them were hungry, yet neither could stomach any food. The two sisters had a good cry together.She didn't understand where all her tears had come from, gushing out like a dam had broken. Ever since her father's death, she hadn't shed a tear in ages! She had thought she'd cried herself dry after he passed.No matter how difficult or painful things were, she never allowed herself to cry.But ever since entering the Williams household, it seemed like the rules had changed. Her long-dry tear ducts had suddenly sprung to life again!She remembered crying in Lionel's arms more than once, but she couldn't even recall what had made her cry on those occasions.And today? Why had she cried so much today? Was it really just for Cynthia?She had no idea how lo
"Cynthia, you can't possibly..." Chloe's heart clenched at the thought.It couldn't be true. Even if Cynthia had changed, it couldn't have been this drastic.Under Chloe's intense gaze, Cynthia slowly lifted her eyes, which were already slightly red, tears welling up."I love him. I really do! I've loved him since our university days. He was my dream man, my ideal! Do you know? When he confessed his love to me, when he said he loved me and wanted to build a warm home for me, I was completely captivated!" Cynthia's hands trembled as they clasped together, her voice thick with tears she tried so hard to suppress. She bit down on her fist, as if doing so could stop herself from breaking down."You silly girl!" Chloe choked, sitting beside Cynthia and hugging her frail body tightly."I've known for a long time that there's another woman," Cynthia sobbed, forcing herself to speak through the lump in her throat. "Every time he says it's a business dinner, but when he comes home, he smells l
What is going on? Isn't Cynthia working tirelessly to marry him?A wave of anger surged in Chloe's chest, and she had an overwhelming urge to tear him apart.How dare he deceive Cynthia!She clenched her fists but ultimately resisted the urge to punch him. The man in front of her, noticing her interest in the couple kissing, paused and gave her a cold, disdainful look.Fine!She took a deep breath, forcing down her anger, and quickly followed after him.Once in the car, the two sat like strangers, each occupying their own side, avoiding eye contact.Chloe knew very well that she had angered Lionel. He was only trying to be kind by taking her out to eat, but because of her wild thoughts, she had slapped him.She felt like an ungrateful, heartless, and despicable woman. She knew her time by his side was short, and soon enough, they would become strangers. So why did it even matter?Barton, who was driving, was anxious, wishing he could jump in and push the two of them together.When the
Barton opened the car door for her. "Madam, please get in."With a soft sigh, Chloe reluctantly stepped into the car.When her eyes met Lionel's probing gaze, she instinctively wanted to look away."Why are you out here?" This was a road leading to the highway, with nothing around but trees—no shops or places to visit. Even if she wanted to go home, this wasn't the right direction."Just taking a walk," she replied casually, her eyes looking forward but avoiding Lionel's. Subconsciously, she was afraid to meet his eyes. They were like a high-powered microscope, able to see through her completely in an instant.Lionel felt a pang in his chest. She was obviously brushing him off!When he gave her the art center, he had clearly seen the joy in her eyes, but that joy vanished quickly. With him, it was always so indifferent—whether he was affectionate or distant, it made no difference to her. It was as if she had become a different person altogether.Even now, though she was sitting right
Lionel was Earl's most beloved and proud grandson. Earl had personally raised and groomed him to be the successor, but the family environment had made Lionel too cold, lacking warmth and human connection.In a family as prestigious as theirs, discussing emotions was almost laughable, but Earl, in his younger days, had been a man of sentiment.Despite everything, Earl still hoped his grandson could live like a person, not like a machine.Lionel's rebellious nature was undeniable, but the rumors of his playboy lifestyle were false. Earl knew this well.After all, in a family as complex as theirs, reaching the top and becoming the head of the group wasn't easy. Earl had expended great effort to secure Lionel's position as president, but the family members were already murmuring their dissent, waiting for an opportunity to bring him down.Now, with Lionel's recent rash behavior, the family was becoming restless, eager to take over the group's leadership.If it weren't for her influence, L
The car window rolled down, and Chloe saw an older man with a serious and sharp demeanor.His hair was slightly gray, and his eyes were sharp and full of vitality. His face didn't show much age, and from the deep lines of his features, it was clear that he must have been a striking and imposing figure in his youth.What surprised Chloe was that this man had a high, prominent nose, typical of the British aristocratic look, and his tightly pressed lips and piercing gaze vaguely reminded her of someone.Chloe's heart skipped a beat. While she couldn't guess his exact identity, she was certain that this man held a significant status within the Williams family.Her heart raced a few times as she sensed that his visit wasn't for anything good. From the moment she entered the Williams family, she had been the woman kept in the shadows, and aside from Florence, she knew nothing about the rest of the family.She glanced at the bodyguards and then at the man with an air of authority.It seemed