Lionel's gaze was murderous, his face dark as a storm cloud, while Moira's anguished screams echoed, a clear sign to everyone—they had made a grave mistake.Instantly, their legs weakened, nearly giving way beneath them."M-Master, I thought..." Grace stammered, trying to explain, but upon receiving Lionel's piercing glare, she quickly swallowed her words, raising a trembling hand to gesture towards Chloe's old room.Lionel turned and entered Chloe's room.She was soaking in the tub, her skin smooth as porcelain, her black hair floating gently on the water's surface. Just by her silhouette, he knew it was the woman he held in his arms every night.How could he have made such a mistake?This time, his steps slowed. Or rather, he hesitated, almost shrinking back. Deep down, he feared seeing that cold, indifferent expression on her face once again.A small part of him hoped she would, like Moira, throw herself into his arms, crying, telling him she was afraid, that she needed him, beggin
"Lion... Lion..." Moira's frantic voice echoed as she called out, "Where did he go?" She wrapped herself tightly in a bath towel, her temper flaring as she shouted at the nearby servants.Seeing their nervous expressions and the subtle glances toward Chloe's room, Moira wasn't a fool; she knew where to go. She stormed toward Chloe's door."No, Miss Moira, you can't go in!" Grace blocked the entrance.The door hadn't been closed, and the sounds from within were unmistakable. The two of them were entangled together!Grace couldn't let Moira disrupt them a second time, fearing Lionel's wrath would fall on them all.Blocked by a mere servant, Moira was livid. "Move! Who dares to block my way?" She clutched her towel with one hand, ready to kick Grace but held back, her face twisted with frustration.She could see exactly what was going on just by their expressions. Inside, Chloe and Lionel were tangled up in something intimate. A burning jealousy ignited in her eyes, and she seethed."Mis
Finally, dusk began to fall, and Chloe found herself glancing toward the doorway for what felt like the hundredth time. After everything that had happened that morning, she was desperate to leave.She and Lionel had agreed on a day to get her divorce papers, but she knew he could handle it much faster if he wanted to; with his connections, it could be done in mere minutes.As darkness settled, there was still no sign of his car pulling up. Chloe sighed quietly, determined that no matter what, she would get the papers tonight.Heading upstairs, she curled up on the sofa, intent on waiting.She wasn't sure how much time had passed when, in a half-dazed state, she heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway, followed shortly by footsteps ascending the stairs.As the tall figure appeared in the shadows, she immediately spoke, her tone cold and detached. "Where are my divorce papers?"Her voice was icy, emotionless, as though they had never shared any history.In the darkness, Lione
Lionel glanced out through the dining room's floor-to-ceiling window as the household staff began to search the grounds. His expression darkened, but he remained seated.Grace noticed the displeasure brewing on her Master's face, misinterpreting it as irritation at the disturbance. She hurried outside to scold the servants.After about ten minutes, Mandy, unable to wait any longer, rushed directly into the dining room to report to Lionel."Master, Madam is gone! We searched both the front and back gardens, but she's nowhere to be found. Her personal bag is missing too! She must have left... What if something happened to her?"As Mandy's voice grew increasingly anxious, her eyes welled with tears, and she choked up.Lionel's face grew darker in response, his silence thickening the air.But Moira, sitting nearby, had had enough."Why all the fuss?" she snapped at Mandy. "It's just some...woman who went missing. She's not dead! Cry when she's actually gone for good."Mandy cast a resentf
Three days had passed, and it was as if Chloe had suddenly vanished without a trace.Lionel's expression grew darker by the hour, his brows furrowed tightly.He hadn't returned home in three days, often dozing off at his desk when he was exhausted, and at night, he would just find a bar to drown his sorrows, spending the night on the couch in a drunken stupor.His appearance had changed drastically; he was unshaven, his hair was a tangled mess, and he wore the same clothes day after day, reeking of alcohol from a distance. His face was a terrifying shade of ashen gray.At first, he had resolved that once he found that woman, he would confine her and punish her severely, making sure she never dared to run away again.But as time went on, Chloe's absence only deepened his fear. What if something had happened to her?The thought sent him into a frenzy, but his pride prevented him from confiding in anyone.He spent hours combing through news reports for any information about her, yet foun
Geoffrey couldn't understand how despicable Lionel had to be to make this woman want to hide from him! He suppressed the urge to confront Lionel and pulled Chloe into a corner.Fortunately, there were many people around, and Lionel didn't seem to notice them as he moved away."Okay," Geoffrey said, patting Chloe's back.Chloe quickly slipped out of Geoffrey's embrace and glanced back in the direction of Lionel, relieved to see that he was indeed gone.She didn't know why, but the moment she spotted Lionel, her instinct was to hide. She believed he wasn't looking for her; she just didn't want to see him.The sight of his detestable face made her heart ache.Taking a deep breath, Chloe composed herself and walked ahead, while Geoffrey walked beside her without asking any questions.Just seeing her mix fear with a hint of anticipation made his heart sink; it felt like she had lost something precious.He didn't want to admit it, but he grasped Chloe's hand and continued walking forward."
At this moment, Eamonn's handsome face was flushed from the alcohol. He had a woman on each side of him. One woman had her arm draped over his shoulder, while the other was teasingly pinching his thigh.Eamonn held his drink high, a wide grin on his face, playfully touching the woman on his left and kissing the one on his right."Stop it..." The woman on the left blushed and pressed herself against Eamonn's chest.The woman on the right seemed equally determined, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him in for a kiss. With her low-cut top, Eamonn could barely keep his eyes off her fair skin!What a beast!I still remember that night when Eamonn publicly confessed his love for Cynthia, jokingly pretending to confess to Chloe, who was taken aback. He claimed he had loved Cynthia for a long time, since college.If he loved her so much, why did he cast her aside like yesterday's trash?What does love mean to a man? So casually spoken, it dazzles women into a stupor, only for them
"What? Furious that I've exposed your filthy soul?" Eamonn sneered, wiping his mouth."Once, you were noble and elegant, almost ethereal, captivating, alluring, cold and proud. Every man's heart raced for you. And now? Look at yourself. Do you still think you're so pure?"Eamonn laughed disdainfully, his mocking gaze fixed on Chloe.Chloe hadn't expected this. She'd come to confront him, yet here she was, facing humiliation instead. Fine, she thought, she was already branded a disgraceful woman in his eyes. His words barely stung her anymore. She steeled herself, glaring at him, her voice colder than before."Don't change the subject. You betrayed Cynthia. She's carrying your child, yet you still treat her like this!"Eamonn rose and leaned close to her, his tone dark and sinister. "Want to know why? It's because she's an IDIOT! She really thought I loved her. She actually believed that I was going to confess to HER that day. Tell me, Chloe, who do you think I wanted to confess to tha
Slap!A sharp, crisp sound echoed as Joanna's face was harshly turned to the side, blood beginning to seep from her lips.Samuel shook with anger. After such a scandal, how could he face everyone here?"From now on, I sever all ties with her!" Samuel spat out, his voice filled with fury. He staggered back, nearly collapsing, but his subordinates rushed forward to steady him.Chloe stood frozen, stunned by the scene, when suddenly someone pulled her from behind, dragging her into a nearby makeshift lounge."Hahaha..." Joanna's laughter suddenly broke out, manic and unhinged.Her laugh was chilling, and the little boy next to her shrank back in fear. "Mommy, what's happening?""Shut up! Get away, bastard!" Joanna screamed, causing the boy to burst into loud sobs."Joanna... you've gone too far!" The blonde man hurried over, his face cold as he scooped the child into his arms and left the venue."Haha..." Joanna continued to laugh, swaying back and forth. She looked at Lionel, his cold,
"I'll cry if I want to. What's the matter? You can't stand it? If you don't like it, I'll go back to my mom's!" Chloe threatened, her hands on her hips, showing her teeth.Lionel raised an eyebrow. In the whole world, there was only one person who dared to threaten him—her! He quickly pulled Chloe into his arms, coaxing, "Alright, you can do whatever you want, I'll follow your lead. But please, don't make me worry so much. And from now on, you're not leaving my sight for a single second."What a joke—if she left, what would he do at night? He'd already gotten used to having her by his side. He couldn't function without her.A wave of worry washed over him. She now had her real father. Today, she was using her mom to threaten him—would she use her dad to threaten him tomorrow? What about her brother the day after?No! No! Anyone, but not her brother! Thinking of how Geoffrey once doted on her, Lionel's face darkened. From now on, he couldn't let Geoffrey anywhere near her—even if he we
Lionel watched as the people quickly fled, his narrow eyes darkening. He turned to Barton beside him and said, "Take care of this."With that, his tall figure swiftly moved towards the restroom.For some reason, he had felt uneasy all day.When he heard "someone's been killed," his heart was pierced with a sharp sting. The unease inside him deepened; he needed to see it for himself.As someone's face turned ashen, they quietly slipped out of the venue while Barton was busy calming the crowd."Lion..."Chloe's voice broke the silence, and Lionel froze. He looked up to see the familiar face, and her voice, thick with emotion, caused tears to well up in her eyes, which then fell, trembling.She had been so strong just moments ago, but the moment she saw Lionel, her heart felt fragile, as if it could shatter with a single breath.Seeing Chloe like this, Lionel was horrified. Blood was everywhere on her lips, and it sent a sharp pain through his chest. Without a second thought, he rushed t
Eamonn had been salivating over Chloe for a long time.To get to her, he had even used his proximity to Cynthia as a stepping stone, but little did he know, Lionel had beaten him to the punch.Even though Eamonn had the desire, he lacked the courage to act on it. He harbored those thoughts but never dared to lay a hand on Chloe.But when he was assigned a task—to torment Chloe, with the promise of a bright future and wealth beyond measure—he found himself going all in.As a man, there are always those few moments of madness in life. This was his chance. If he completed his task, not only would he rise in rank, but he would also fulfill his deepest desires."Monster!" Chloe broke free from one of his hands and slapped him across the face.Eamonn's face instantly bore five red marks from her fingers.He sneered, his voice cold and menacing. "Bitch! Still playing the innocent virgin? I'll make sure you regret this today."The devilish tone in his voice, combined with the devilish look on
"Chloe... long time no see." Eamonn shamelessly stood only a few steps away from Chloe, his body inching closer with each passing moment.Ever since Cynthia's accident, he had disappeared without a trace, and Chloe couldn't understand why he'd suddenly reappeared now."What are you doing here?" Chloe's voice was icy, and she showed no sign of warmth towards him.The mere sight of him reminded her of poor Cynthia, and the anger within her grew even stronger. Seeing him advance with that sinister glint in his eyes set off alarm bells in her mind."Stop!" Chloe took a large step back, not caring that her dress was still wet. She hurriedly wrapped a coat around herself.Eamonn ignored her words, his face still twisted with a smirk, taking a few more steps forward."Chloe, don't be like this. I'm not a virus. Why are you so afraid of me getting closer? It's been so long, and I have so much to say to you."He raised his hand, trying to grab Chloe's.Chloe swung her arm out to the side, evad
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, you're drunk! Calm down." Heather's voice was low and firm as he grabbed Joanna's wrist without hesitation, stopping her just as she lunged at him.Was she really drunk? Or just pretending?Heather's sharp tone, coupled with the pain shooting through her wrist, made Joanna freeze. Her dewy eyes instantly filled with tears."You yelled at me? You never raise your voice at me. You never refuse me. What's wrong with you? Don't tell me… your love for me was a lie?"Her lips trembled, and—plop—a single tear slid down her cheek. Joanna's delicate face was full of grievance as she accused Heather of turning against her.She really had gone mad.He had loved her. He had sincerely begged her to stop chasing after Lionel and to stay with him instead. He had been willing to take responsibility for their one-time mistake, promising to make her happy.But she had refused to even look at him, discarding him like a worthless rag.And now, after failing to win another man's love, after feelin
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