In the dimly lit room, with the curtains drawn, the family doctor finished examining Chloe and reported to Lionel, who was seated on the sofa."Ma'am is very weak. She must have gone too long without food, causing her to faint. But she's also suffering from chronic malnutrition, sleep deprivation, and excessive stress, which have led to frequent nightmares, and early signs of depression.""Hmm... You may leave now," Lionel replied, his eyes fixed on the woman lying on the bed, his deep gaze betraying no emotion, leaving his thoughts unreadable.When Chloe woke up again, she immediately noticed that the back of her head had been bandaged.Had they treated her wound? She wouldn't be grateful for it!The room was still dimly lit, and she had no idea what time it was. Groggily, she sat up, only to be startled by a man's deep voice in the darkness."You're awake."Lionel?Recognizing his voice, Chloe quickly grabbed the blanket and wrapped herself up like a cocoon."What are you doing in m
Feeling a rare spark of liveliness, Chloe grabbed her phone and called Mag. "Mag, can you call Cynthia? I'll be visiting tomorrow. Also, just to let you know, I'm rejoining the team tomorrow!""Great, great!" Mag was thrilled on the other end of the line, and the two chatted away for a while.Focused on the conversation, Chloe didn't even notice that Lionel was still standing by the window.Her eyes, usually so guarded, were now shining brightly. Her eyebrows arched in joy, and a wisp of hair fell delicately over her smooth, pale forehead. Though her face looked slightly undernourished, there was a newfound glow about her.She sat cross-legged on the bed as she spoke on the phone, her long eyelashes fluttering, exuding a quiet elegance that was both delicate and refined.It wasn't until she finished the call that she realized Lionel was still there. A flicker of embarrassment crossed her eyes as she quickly composed herself.Without any expression, Lionel dropped a cold remark, "You c
Chloe quickly ran through her mind, trying to recall if she had done anything to upset him. But she couldn't think of anything. She actually thought this week had gone quite well. Her time in the house was limited to coming home after midnight to sleep and leaving by 9 in the morning. Their schedules didn't overlap at all, so how could she have possibly offended him?He must be insane! He's just looking for trouble!Before she could think further, Lionel was already close, reaching out to grab Chloe by the chin."Coming back so late? Were you at Paradiso work again?" The corner of his mouth lifted into a sneer.The only thing that came to his mind was that she had returned to her old ways. That was where he had fallen into her trap.The disdain in his eyes and the mockery on his lips stung Chloe. Her initially panicked eyes quickly filled with coldness."It's none of your business!" Her frail figure was now enveloped in an aura of unapproachable aloofness. He could humiliate her all h
"Hey... mmph... let go..." Chloe struggled to speak as she was suddenly assaulted. She tried to push him away, but Lionel's towering figure was as immovable as a wall. The moment she opened her mouth, he silenced her with a fierce kiss.Lionel, like a beast provoked, clamped down on her, devouring her soft lips with a desperate hunger, his anger manifesting in the harshness of his actions. Her lips, unable to withstand the brutal onslaught, quickly became swollen and tender.Her lips burned painfully, and her body ached from Lionel's relentless grip. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't overpower him. The humiliating memory of that night at Paradiso replayed in her mind.Tears welled up and spilled over, tracing a path down her long lashes and dripping into their mouths. Lionel tasted the salty tears and noticed the wetness on her lashes, the streaks on her pale face, and the redness of her nose. She looked helpless and pitiful, her vulnerability tugging at something deep wi
Chloe couldn't hold back her tears any longer.It wasn't just that the man had humiliated her; she also wanted to slap herself.She had completely lost her dignity!She had squandered all her pride!She didn't know how long she sat there on the floor before finally standing up. Her legs felt numb as she stumbled to her room, collapsing onto her bed still fully dressed.Half-asleep, she heard soft voices nearby and opened her eyes to find daylight streaming through the windows.She grabbed her phone—it was already half-past eight!Oh no, she was going to be late!She tried to get up quickly, but a sharp pain in her back made her gasp and collapse back onto the bed.The events of the previous night flooded back, filling her with shame and anger.Whenever she encountered this man, she was the one who got hurt.She looked at herself in the mirror, seeing the clear bite marks on her lips. She unbuttoned her clothes and saw a large bruise spreading across the right side of her back, a mix o
It was 9:00 PM again, and as usual, Chloe arrived at Blues for her shift.The shame she felt was overwhelming. The wound on the corner of her mouth was noticeable, and even lipstick couldn't conceal it. No matter where she went today, people couldn't help but stare at her.Blues had always been a peaceful place, largely because Mag was generous and never made enemies. But it was still a bar, a place where unsavory characters were bound to mix in.Worried about attracting unnecessary trouble, Chloe carefully wrapped a silk scarf around her face.However, today was destined to be anything but peaceful.The regular patrons, accustomed to the aloof and unapproachable pianist, admired her quiet elegance. They didn't mind her unusual behavior today. In fact, the soft blue scarf only added to her mystique, making her seem even more noble and refined. It tempted people to uncover her hidden beauty.The guests continued their revelry while casting intrigued glances at the pianist, all the whil
The gang members froze when they heard that familiar voice. Their hearts skipped a beat as they turned around to see a tall man standing at the entrance. Their faces instantly changed color, and cold sweat began to drip down."Ge... Geoff..." The bald man's face turned ashen, his posture submissive as he wiped his sweat with a trembling hand.Finally freed, Chloe quickly grabbed a tattered cloth to cover her exposed undergarments, her heart pounding wildly. Without time to dwell on her fear, she hurriedly knelt down to cover Mag's body."Mag..." Chloe cried, gently patting Mag's face, desperate to wake her up.Geoffrey walked closer, his gaze briefly resting on Chloe, who was still crying and trying to rouse Mag. Then he shifted his focus back to the bald man."Geoff..." The bald man's voice quivered with fear, the arrogance he had just displayed vanishing as he trembled like a coward.Slap— Slap—The crisp sound of two slaps echoed through the air. Geoffrey blew on his hands, then ki
Geoffrey didn't push the issue when Chloe denied it. He started the engine. "I'll take you home!" The black Bentley shot into the night like an arrow.Chloe pouted, wanting to shout for him to stop, but looking around at the deserted, pitch-black wilderness and the late hour, where could she find a taxi?Either way, she was doomed! She might as well see if this man was truly a beast or just pretending to be a gentleman.Screech—The car came to an abrupt halt, and Chloe, who had been dozing off, lurched forward, only to be caught by the man's quick reflexes. She ended up falling right into his chest.The collision of her forehead against his chest snapped her awake. This man had done it on purpose! He was indeed bad news!Her eyes flared with anger as she tried to push him away, but her hands, still clutching her torn clothes, couldn't let go. She could only squirm in an attempt to shove him away with her shoulder."We've arrived at your home." The man ignored the fire in her eyes, in
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