"Is your husband really Lionel?"
Unexpectedly, Marcus asked a question that left Chloe caught off guard.
"Uh..." Chloe choked on a sip of water, her face turning red.
This question seemed difficult to answer. Was he technically her husband? No, she was just a temporary woman in his life! Legally, Flora was his wife!
Marcus, noticing her struggle, kindly handed her a napkin.
Chloe awkwardly took it to wipe her mouth, responding vaguely, "Kind of!"
The complicated matters between them were not something she could casually discuss with anyone.
Marcus, being the astute person he was, immediately understood what Chloe meant, but he never expected it to be like this. What a good girl she was, and yet...
He didn't look down on her; rather, he felt a deep, unspoken sadness. What good girl would willingly choose this path if it weren't absolutely necessary?
Seeing Marcus silently sipping his coffee without speaking, Chloe r
Finally, it was Chloe's turn to take a break. She stood up, grabbed the roses beside the piano, and turned away indifferently, heading into the staff lounge.A few servers were chatting, discussing which men at certain tables looked handsome, which ones seemed single, and which might be billionaires.When they saw Chloe walk in, envy filled their eyes."Chloe, we're so jealous of you! So many handsome men sending you flowers—why doesn't anyone send us flowers?""We're not bad ourselves! Maybe not as stunning as Chloe, but we're still charming. Why don't any of those men even look at us?"The girls chattered on, their voices a mixture of admiration and jealousy as they looked at Chloe."Here, these flowers are for you." Chloe pushed the roses into the arms of the girls. "You're still young; there's no rush. The one who truly loves you will find you someday."She patted each of their heads gently before heading toward the restroom
The kiss was a mix of fiery passion and gentle tenderness, leaving Chloe's heart pounding wildly until Lionel completely overwhelmed her.She surrendered, letting him kiss her into a daze, lost and dizzy.Their embrace lasted far longer than any before, appearing intense, even punishing, yet filled with affection and longing from both sides.In those moments of sheer immersion, their hearts connected, sharing unspoken emotions and unshed tears—a truest reaction.Finally, just as Chloe was on the verge of gasping for air, Lionel released her.Somewhere along the way, he had let go of her restrained hands, and she had instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.This small gesture pleased Lionel, indicating that she wasn't entirely unmoved.A spark of satisfaction flashed in his eyes, and a faint smile curved his lips.Flushed from the intensity of the kiss, Chloe's face was bright red as her hazy eyes regained focus, la
As the car door opened, Geoffrey's face appeared in front of her, and Chloe let out a small sigh of relief."What, disappointed to see me? Were you expecting someone else?" Geoffrey teased, opening the door for her. "Come on, get in. I'll drive you home.""No need!" Chloe kept walking, brushing him off with a hint of irritation in her voice.She couldn't tell if she was annoyed with Geoffrey or if he'd hit a nerve she didn't want touched."Hey! Hey! Damn it!" Geoffrey grumbled as he watched her storm off.He couldn't tell if he'd said something wrong or if she was still mad about what happened yesterday with Florence.Quickly, he got back in his car, spun it around, and sped up to reach her side again."What's with the attitude?! Do you want a repeat of last night? If I hadn't shown up in time, those two guys would've taken you away! Now, get in!" Geoffrey's voice was firmer this time, clearly frustrated.Chloe knew he was righ
Another day began as Chloe prepared herself to step out and dive into her work once more.Opening the door, she caught a faint whiff of something familiar in the air, a scent she recognized but couldn't quite place. She took a deeper breath, but the scent seemed to vanish as quickly as it appeared.Am I imagining things? She chuckled to herself, amused by her own oversensitivity.Closing the door behind her, she started down the alley, unaware of the pile of cigar butts scattered not far from her doorstep.When she entered the café, Chloe took a quick glance around, relieved not to see Florence.She hadn't forgotten Florence's parting words from the previous day about possibly buying the café—money was never an issue for her family.Maybe it was all just empty talk, Chloe thought, feeling silly for taking her seriously.She stepped into the kitchen, focusing intently on her work.Chloe approached everything
Eyes blazing with fury, Lionel wanted nothing more than to tear that clingy little girl out of her arms and shove her back to Marcus, ordering him to take his daughter and leave immediately!He didn't find his thoughts strange at all; the idea came naturally to a man who had never really thought about children, yet here he was, thinking that Chloe should only ever hold his child.His face darkened, stormy like a sky before a downpour. His veins pulsed visibly at his temples, and his hand under the table clenched into a tight fist. Watching Chloe's suddenly sharp gaze, he wondered if this was the scene every time she visited Marcus's place. His heart twisted—just imagining the scene was enough to make his blood boil.So, they had been close for a while now, had they? No wonder when she was drugged, it was Marcus who held her, and when she ran away, it was him who knew exactly where she went!Jealousy is indeed a devil. The green-eyed monster reared its head, twisting Lionel's thoughts
Starlight Bar.Chloe was still playing, but tonight, her face was cold, and the delicate furrow of her brows was filled with too many worries. Her once lively eyes lacked the spark they had the night before, and there was no graceful smile on her lips.Her mood was heavy, and the music she played mirrored that weight. She didn't look around the room; the man she feared hadn't shown up all night.As she finished work, she confirmed again that Lionel had, indeed, not appeared.He was probably with another woman, she thought bitterly.How foolish she had been! After Amos had broken her heart, she had dared to hope for something with Lionel.How could she have forgotten that, aside from her father, no man was worth trusting?Amos wasn't. Eamonn wasn't. And Lionel was certainly not.Such men would never easily make promises to a woman, and they could never love a woman forever. Once the "honeymoon" phase passed, they would be on the lookout for their next "pet."Walking through the street,
Chloe had resigned herself to death when, suddenly, she heard someone call her name—"Chloe."Her fading consciousness was jolted awake. Struggling to open her eyes, she saw a dark figure rushing toward her, then everything around her began to spin.The impact wasn't enough to knock her out, nor did the intense rolling motion break her awareness. Her wide-open eyes stayed focused, fixated on that single call of "Chloe."When the world finally stopped spinning, Chloe's gaze landed on Lionel's face, magnified in her vision. His face was ashen, drained of color, his usually sharp, unreadable eyes now filled with shock and fear.He was afraid.Lionel, afraid?It had to be an illusion.Dazed, Chloe shook her head. Was that really her name she heard him call? She let out a faint, sorrowful smile."Chloe, where are you hurt? Tell me, please!" Lionel's voice was frantic as he took in her pale face, her delicate brows knit in pain, her head shaking unconsciously.He seemed barely able to breath
Late at night, in the hospital."Doctor! Save my wife!"Lionel's roar shattered the silence of the hospital.The on-call doctor rushed over, startled by the urgency in his voice.She examined the woman he was carrying, checking her pulse and breathing, then looked at him. His clothes were torn in several places, a trail of blood followed him, and blood trickled down his forehead, dripping along his cheek."Sir, I think we should check on you first," the doctor suggested, concerned."Save her! Are you deaf?!" Lionel barked, his eyes fierce and predatory, like a leopard, his face dark with an alarming smear of blood. One look was enough to make anyone feel a chill of fear.The seasoned doctor had seen her share of volatile men like him.Assessing him, she noted that, while wounded, he seemed strong enough, so she directed the nurses to tend to Chloe first.Chloe had only a few scrapes on the back of her head and shoulders. Other than that, she was just weak and exhausted, having fainted
For the sake of her child, she didn't want to leave. But… she couldn't let her child be born a bastard, facing the criticism and judgment that came with such a status. She wouldn't let her child live with such a shameful identity. She had to take her child and leave his life behind.Lionel felt a sharp pain in his chest. This time, he had really hurt her."No! I won't agree to this!" He growled fiercely, his cold lips trembling slightly."Heh…" Chloe let out a bitter laugh. "Lionel, even now, you still say no? What right do you have to say that? Will your future wife allow my existence? Even if she does, I won't shamelessly cling to you here. I won't share a man with another woman. Let's part on good terms. You marry Joanna, and I'll find a man who wants only me and get married. Let's wish each other well!"On the surface, her smile was small, but inside, her heart felt like it had been pierced open, bleeding profusely.At this point, Lionel still wanted to command her so arrogantly?
The gaze of both men turned sharply toward Chloe, but they could only see the cold, distant silhouette of her back.Hearing Chloe's hoarse voice, both men seemed frozen, as if struck by lightning. They were momentarily immobilized, like they had been enchanted. By the time they snapped out of it, Chloe had already walked several meters away."Chloe…" Geoffrey quickly turned and chased after her.Lionel's face darkened, his long legs making it easy to overtake Geoffrey, whose injured leg slowed him down. In just a couple of steps, Lionel was already right behind Chloe.Without a word, Lionel reached out and pulled Chloe into his arms."Let go! Lionel, I've become a joke. Are you trying to make it impossible for me to live here anymore?" Chloe said coldly, her eyes never meeting Lionel's. She suppressed the pain in her heart and spoke with an icy detachment."Chloe, please don't be angry. It will hurt you. I can't bear to see you suffer like this. I want to live with you, I want to be w
Chloe instinctively pulled her hand away and reached out to Geoffrey. "Geoffrey, I want to marry you. Will you marry me?""Ah?" Geoffrey was taken aback, but as soon as he caught the murderous look in Lionel's eyes, he smirked. "I've been waiting for this." He grabbed Chloe's hand, pulling her close to him."Chloe..." Lionel's hand reached out to grab air, his heart aching with a sharp pain. "Come home with me. I'll explain everything."Chloe acted as if nothing was wrong, forcing a faint smile. "No need. There's nothing for you to explain. A woman like me doesn't deserve your respect."Turning her head, she looked away. Though her heart ached painfully, her blood rushed, and she longed to throw herself into his arms, to tell him everything—her fears, her sadness, and that they were having a child. But she couldn't. He was already engaged to another woman.Even though she was of low status, she would never share a man with another woman!She clenched her fist, forcing back the bittern
After receiving Lionel's call, Grace deliberately walked over to Chloe's room and listened carefully. There was no sound coming from inside.Hmph, she's really able to sleep through everything!Grace curled her lips into a mocking smile, feeling quite pleased with herself.She went downstairs to direct the servants on their tasks.By the time daylight broke and breakfast was ready, Chloe still hadn't come downstairs. Grace found herself looking back at the stairs over and over, but there was still no sign of her.Eventually, feeling something was off, Grace walked to Chloe's door, knocked, and called out, "Madam, breakfast is ready. If you don't come out soon, it will get cold."Still, silence.She raised her voice and called again, "Madam, Master will be home soon."No response. Could something have happened?Thinking this, Grace lost her composure. She nervously twisted the door handle, opening the door and quickly stepping inside. But the room was empty.Her heart sank.Grace's fac
"Geoffrey, take me to my mom's." Chloe finally looked at Geoffrey for the first time.Since getting into Geoffrey's car, she had been lost in her thoughts, completely unaware of Geoffrey's gaze as he scrutinized her."Did you two argue?" Geoffrey's voice was low and hoarse, filled with a deep, painful concern as he looked at Chloe.Seeing the redness around her eyes made his heart ache, as if thousands of needles were running through his veins, causing him sharp, excruciating pain."No." Chloe took a deep breath and answered calmly."Don't lie to me. Chloe, you don't lie." Geoffrey grabbed Chloe's hand and said, "I've told you before, Lionel isn't the best choice for you. His background is too complicated, he's really not right for you. Chloe, come with me. I promise I'll marry you immediately, and you won't suffer one bit."A passionate man, a passionate gaze, and passionate words, but Chloe's heart remained unmoved.After her heart was broken by the past, giving it to Lionel had bec
AstralisThe Williams estate remained brightly lit through the night.As the last guests departed, the household staff moved efficiently, tidying up the courtyard and clearing away the remnants of the celebration.Earl, filled with joy and having indulged in a few too many drinks, had retired early for the evening.Only his immediate family remained in the grand hall—his sons, daughters, and grandchildren all gathered together."Lion, congratulations on rekindling things with Joanna," Lewis, Lionel's cousin, remarked with a grin.Lionel shot him a frosty glare. "Thank you," he replied curtly, rising from his seat. He turned to address the elders. "I'm feeling a bit tired. If you'll excuse me, I'll head to my room now.""Go get some rest. It's been a long day for you!"His aunt Hannah forced a smile and waved dismissively, hiding her envy behind a facade of politeness. Beneath her outward cheer, her heart burned with jealousy. Earl was clearly playing favorites again. Even though Joann
Just as she sat up in bed, she heard footsteps outside the door. Her heart leaped with excitement. She jumped out of bed, rushed to the door, and flung it open, calling out, "Lion—" But the person standing before her was Grace."Madam, it's me. The Master won't be coming home tonight." Grace stepped inside, carefully balancing a tray of food, a bright smile plastered on her face as if something delightful had happened. "Before he left, he made it clear that I must take good care of you. I wouldn't dare neglect his orders. I saw you were asleep during dinner and didn't want to disturb you, but I figured you'd be awake by now, so I brought your meal upstairs.""Thank you," Chloe murmured, disappointment flashing across her face as she followed Grace back inside.She sat down to eat, but every bite felt like a lump in her throat. The food refused to go down smoothly. She glanced at her flat belly, clenched her teeth, and forced herself to eat a bit more before giving up entirely.When Gr
Joanna's face flushed with a hint of redness. She glanced at Lionel, who was not far away, her eyes flashing with a mischievous, almost mocking glint. She said, "Lion has always been great, and... I'm willing to marry him!""Good! Good!" The guests erupted in applause and cheers.The atmosphere in the room reached its peak, with everyone smiling and congratulating Earl and Samuel.Earl and Samuel, unable to hide their joy, raised their glasses to toast to their friends and relatives, their eyes moist with emotion.Both families were prominent in the business world, and this union was a powerful alliance. Everyone could foresee that the future of the business world would belong to them. Lionel, the head of K International Group, would see his value soar to an unprecedented level.He was like a god standing on a cloud, commanding the world. With a snap of his fingers, he could send financial storms across half the globe.Such a deity, who coul
"You, I...fine, it's my fault. I was wrong. Now that things have come to this point, we must take responsibility for what needs to be handled. An important guest is arriving today. Get yourselves ready and come out quickly. They might already be on their way."Knowing that if he softened his tone, the young man would only grow more defiant, Earl—proud as he had been all his life—was ultimately forced to bow his head before his grandson."Ha…" Lionel let out a cold laugh. "Responsibility? If anyone has to take responsibility, it's you. Every consequence of this mess stems from your decisions. What does any of it have to do with me?""You—you—what nonsense are you spouting?" Earl bristled, his anger making his mustache quiver. "Oh, I see. This must be because of that woman! But let me tell you, your wife can only be Joanna, no one else! If you take a step back and marry Joanna, everything will be negotiable. Love as many women as you