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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
In the morning, Chloe and Lionel walked downstairs to find Joanna already seated at the dining table."Good morning, Lion, Chloe," Joanna greeted them with a graceful smile, delicately sipping her milk.Her gaze involuntarily shifted to Chloe's neck, and as expected, the marks from last night's kiss were still clearly visible.The sounds she overheard at the door yesterday flashed through Joanna's mind. Bitch! she cursed silently.Lionel ignored Joanna's greeting, and Chloe merely snorted in response. They both sat down to breakfast. As usual, Lionel fussed over Chloe, fetching this and that for her, while Joanna seemed to vanish into thin air, like a mere background figure.Since Lionel had ordered Lumina to be blacklisted, all those who once courted favor with K Group had severed ties with the company, leaving Lumina on the brink of collapse.While Lionel was listening to Barton's report, his phone rang.It was his father. Immediately, Lionel's face darkened."What is it?" he asked,
In the morning, Chloe and Lionel walked downstairs to find Joanna already seated at the dining table."Good morning, Lion, Chloe," Joanna greeted them with a graceful smile, delicately sipping her milk.Her gaze involuntarily shifted to Chloe's neck, and as expected, the marks from last night's kiss were still clearly visible.The sounds she overheard at the door yesterday flashed through Joanna's mind. Bitch! she cursed silently.Lionel ignored Joanna's greeting, and Chloe merely snorted in response. They both sat down to breakfast. As usual, Lionel fussed over Chloe, fetching this and that for her, while Joanna seemed to vanish into thin air, like a mere background figure.Since Lionel had ordered Lumina to be blacklisted, all those who once courted favor with K Group had severed ties with the company, leaving Lumina on the brink of collapse.While Lionel was listening to Barton's report, his phone rang.It was his father. Immediately, Lionel's face darkened."What is it?" he asked,
Joanna burned with jealousy, seething with anger as she stormed in. She grabbed Chloe off the bed and dragged her out, ready to feed her to the wolves.Bitch!Normally, Joanna could let things slide, but not now. What the hell was this? She'd just had a miscarriage a week ago, barely gotten back home, and now she was back in bed with a man?!Joanna cursed Chloe fiercely in her mind, but then, oddly, a sense of satisfaction crept in. She knew that a woman who had just miscarried shouldn't be anywhere near a man in bed. That was basic knowledge. But the fact that Lionel didn't care about Chloe's condition, that he was dragging her into bed as soon as he got home—well, that only proved one thing: he saw her as nothing more than a tool.If he truly loved her, he would have been more considerate!This meant that in Lionel's eyes, Chloe was nothing special either!Ha! What was there to be angry about now?Let them have their fun, let them wreck her completely, turn her into trash.Joanna fe
Chloe lost her child, and Joanna couldn't contain her delight. She hummed a cheerful tune, suddenly finding everyone pleasant to look at and treating everyone with uncharacteristic warmth and kindness.Mandy, on the other hand, was seething with resentment, while Grace spent her days on edge, terrified of Lionel's return and the punishment that might await her.A week passed, and Chloe finally returned from the hospital.Joanna, who had been all smiles for days, found her grin vanishing the moment she laid eyes on Chloe.In her mind, Chloe had tried to use the child in her womb to secure her place, and now that she had lost the baby, her bargaining chip was gone. Even if she didn't take her own life, she should at least be devastated—frail, despondent, a step away from death.Yet, after a week, Chloe looked radiant, her complexion even more glowing than before!There was no sign of grief over losing her child—she was laughing and
Lionel carried Chloe in his arms and sprinted out to the courtyard. Just as he arrived, Barton pulled up in the car with a sharp screech, stopping right at Lionel's feet.Without hesitation, Lionel climbed in, and the Maybach shot out of the gates like an arrow. Florence and Joanna arrived moments later, only catching a fleeting glimpse of the speeding car."Chloe...wake up. Don't scare me..." Lionel patted Chloe's pale face, his usual composure shattered. The ever-cold and reserved man couldn't hide the tremor in his voice.Chloe remained motionless, eyes tightly shut, as if all life had drained from her body. Blood had already soaked through her nightgown, staining Lionel's pants as well.With trembling hands, he touched her face. A man who could remain unfazed even if the sky were to fall was now unable to bear the sight of the crimson pooling beneath her. His reddened eyes filled with moisture, a single tear slipping down and landing softly on C
By dinnertime, Lionel had returned.Chloe came downstairs, deliberately carrying a bowl that Mandy had secretly taken from the kitchen for her. She placed it on the table in front of Joanna and Grace.With a bright smile, she turned to Joanna and said, "Joanna, your cooking is amazing! I'd love to learn from you someday."Joanna's delicate face stiffened for a moment before quickly returning to normal. She brushed her hair back and replied, "Oh no, I didn't make this. It was Grace. Right, Grace?"Joanna's fair complexion glowed under the lights as she turned her gaze to Grace, showing no hint of discomfort.However, Grace trembled when she was suddenly called out. Her lips twitched, and she stammered, "I—I...""Oh, Grace, why are you suddenly so shy? Everyone in this house knows how great your cooking is! Even the nutritionist says they want to learn from you."Joanna chuckled softly, but her eyes flickered with a sharp warning as she discreetly shot Grace a glare."I—I..." Grace was
Florence carried a steaming bowl of soup and knocked on the door. When she heard Chloe's response, she pushed the door open and entered. Chloe had already changed into a loose, comfortable outfit."Chloe, have something to eat." Florence placed the tray on the windowsill and turned to leave."Wait," Chloe called out immediately.Florence stopped in her tracks. Truthfully, she was curious about what Chloe and Alex had discussed at the café, given they had spent quite some time there.While she wanted to believe that there was nothing between them, the lack of a reasonable explanation left her feeling uneasy. However, she was also afraid that Chloe might find out she had been following her.So, in reality, she had no real intention of leaving. The moment Chloe called her, she stopped right away, turning back with a look of anticipation.Chloe smirked internally. How could she not see through Florence's hesitation?Yet, just like Lionel, Florence had too much pride to admit it."Sit down
"Come here." Lionel beckoned to Chloe.Chloe hesitated as she descended the stairs, her voice laced with concern. "I... I didn't do it on purpose..."Before she could finish, Lionel pulled her into his embrace, his tone gentle. "It's fine. Also, don't be upset..."What worried Lionel most was Chloe bottling up her emotions and quietly fuming.He knew that even though she had outwardly agreed to let him handle the matter, she must still feel uneasy deep down.A crowd like this irritated him—let alone a woman carrying his child."I... I won't." Chloe shook her head lightly. She said that, but deep inside, a trace of annoyance lingered.Joanna returned after seeing the guests off, only to find Lionel and Chloe cozily nestled on the sofa, completely lost in each other.Pfft—She almost spat out blood in rage.How could there be such a stark contrast?!Just moments ago, she had acted coy and demure, trying to please him, but Lionel had been utterly indifferent—no, worse than that—disgusted
The group took their seats.Jacob clenched his fists, his liver practically aching with anger at Lionel's arrogance. Madge had to throw him several warning glances to keep him from lashing out.If it weren't for the fact that the wedding was fast approaching, and provoking Lionel might jeopardize the whole thing, Jacob would have loved nothing more than to punch him."Lion, Joanna hasn't been giving you any trouble, has she?" Samuel took a sip of tea, carefully observing Lionel's expression.Lionel raised a brow. "Trouble? How could she? She's gentle, virtuous, and understanding."Whether Joanna was truly good or not wasn't for him to say—soon enough, they'd all see her true colors.Samuel's lips twitched. Lionel's indifferent tone made it impossible to tell if he was being sincere or sarcastic, so he could only chuckle awkwardly and sip his tea."Lion, everything is nearly ready on the Astralis side. Make sure your preparations are flawless—it has to be the best in the world! We can'