"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
"What are you doing?" Chloe cried out in terror as Lionel leaned in, biting her lips."Ugh... Get off me! I've signed the divorce papers; you have no right to touch me... Ugh..." Chloe couldn't believe her misfortune. She had escaped one predator only to come home to another. Why couldn't she escape her bad luck?Summoning strength from somewhere deep inside, Chloe managed to free her hands and slapped Lionel hard across the face.Slap!Lionel's head snapped to the side, and when he turned back to face her, his eyes were filled with even more malice. They were like a stormy sea, dark and terrifying."I'll show you whether I have the right to touch you!"He looked like he was about to tear her apart. Chloe's hand froze in mid-air, her eyes full of fear."Ah!" Chloe screamed as Lionel grabbed her and marched toward the bathroom."No! Let me go!" Chloe struggled, scratching and hitting, but Lionel's grip didn't loosen at all. She had completely enraged this beast.Cold water poured down
It was late at night.Grace was startled awake by the sound of Lionel rummaging through drawers. She quickly threw on a robe and found him frantically searching for something. "Sir, what are you looking for?" she asked, astonished."Where's the antiseptic ointment?" Lionel continued to search without even glancing up.In this household, Lionel never had to do anything himself, so how would he know where the damn ointment was?"Sir, are you hurt?" Grace asked, concerned. Seeing the displeased look on Lionel's face, she quickly corrected herself, "Oh, it's not there. I'll get it for you right away."Grace watched Lionel rush upstairs with the ointment, confused. She had just looked him over and didn't see any injuries. Could it be... that woman?! No, impossible! Lionel would never care about any woman other than Joa!And certainly not someone as undeserving as her!Despite the anger in his eyes, Lionel's touch was unexpectedly gentle as he applied the ointment, even though he didn't rea
Chloe checked the time; it was already nine o'clock!After the terrifying events of the previous night, she felt exhausted and decided she needed a few days to rest. She immediately picked up the phone."Hello, sir, I'm sorry, but I won't be able to come for your daughter's piano lessons for the next few days...""Hello, ma'am, I'm terribly sorry, but I'll need to take a few days off... Yes... thank you..."After hanging up, Chloe let out a sigh of relief.Wait! Mag! How could she have forgotten about Mag?The thought of Mag made Chloe panic. Last night, she had just watched as Mag was taken away, and then she had fainted!If anything had happened to Mag... she'd never forgive herself! In this indifferent world, apart from Cynthia, Mag was the only other person she cared about.Trembling, she dialed the phone. It rang for a long time before it was finally answered. Mag's slightly hoarse voice came through, "Chloe...""Mag, are you okay..." Hearing Mag's voice made Chloe's heart trembl
Joanna stared at Lionel's face—the face she had dreamed about countless times. Her eyes reddened as she whispered, "Back then, I left because I was angry with you. Nothing ever happened between me and Heather! I only involved him to make you jealous and staged that scene to provoke you..."Lionel remained expressionless, as if Joanna's words had nothing to do with him.When no further explanation came, Lionel's lips twitched slightly. "Are you done? You can leave now."The cold detachment in his tone made it clear that to him, she was nothing more than a stranger."Lion! How can you treat me like this?"Joanna's voice trembled, her pretty face on the verge of tears. She impulsively reached out to grab Lionel's hand. "I'm your fiancée, yet you look at me like I'm nobody. Even if you hate me, at least we grew up together as family. How can you act like I'm invisible? Do you know why I left three years ago? It was because you were too cold
"Didn't you already become someone else's 'dad'?" Chloe countered with a question instead of answering. Sometimes, Lionel's jealousy was just too much for her."Do you think that's what I wanted?!" Lionel spat out coldly, his tone icy. "It seems you're quite special to them. If I hadn't come to pick you up today, were you really planning to go back with him and play stepmother?""Lionel, what nonsense are you talking about?" Chloe's anger flared. Lionel's mild jealousy she could chalk up to him caring about her, but this—this wasn't jealousy. It was outright humiliation! "Do you really think I'm that kind of shallow woman?"Her face darkened as she yelled at Barton, "Stop the car. I want to get out!"Barton froze but didn't stop the car, pretending he hadn't heard her.Seeing Chloe's flushed face and the moisture welling in her eyes, Lionel felt a pang in his chest. He suddenly realized he might have gone too far.His grip loosened, an
As Chloe left the art center with Lisa at the end of the workday, they lingered at the entrance for a moment before Marcus arrived."Chloe, thank you so much…" Marcus said warmly as he stepped out of his car, his gratitude evident in his smile."It was nothing," Chloe replied, her lips curving into a faint smile. She couldn't help but take a moment to observe Marcus. Despite the time that had passed, he was still the same man she once knew—handsome, charming, and exuding an aura that made him an ideal partner in the eyes of many women.Yet, behind that polished exterior lay a man who had endured the pain of losing his beloved wife at such a young age. It took extraordinary strength to bury that grief and carry on with his responsibilities."I truly don't know how to thank you," Marcus said, his voice touched with emotion."There's no need," Chloe replied, waving her hands dismissively. "I enjoy spending time with Lisa.""Lisa, i
Florence was shopping at the mall. Joanna had returned, and she wanted to pick out an outfit as a gift for her.Having grown up together, they shared similar tastes in brands and styles. Their clothing was always high-end, limited edition pieces that highlighted the elegance and prestige of their upbringing. The kind of outfits that, when worn, exuded sophistication and grace, ensuring they became the center of attention wherever they went.A group of sales assistants hovered around Florence, their golden customer, tirelessly recommending items and gesturing enthusiastically. But Florence was someone with her own strong opinions. No matter how sweetly the saleswomen smiled or how honeyed their words were, Florence remained unmoved unless she truly liked what she saw."Well, shopping for clothes, are we?" A tall figure suddenly appeared, blocking Florence's view.Florence looked up and was greeted by Alex's radiant, sunshine-like smile.Alex?! What
Before Chloe found herself in Orchard Village, Flora had already shown signs of mental instability. Due to Chloe's disappearance and Donna's failure to secure a reputable hospital in time, Flora was admitted to a psychiatric institution.That afternoon, Chloe and Donna visited Flora at the hospital. Flora looked significantly thinner and was still in the same state as before—vacant, with a silly grin on her face.Clutching a pillow tightly, she repeatedly called it "baby." When she saw Chloe, her gaze turned dark and menacing. Pointing a trembling finger at Chloe, she lunged forward, screaming, "You evil woman! You killed my child! I'll strangle you!"Several doctors rushed in and restrained her just in time, preventing her nails from scratching Chloe's face.Did Flora still recognize her?Chloe studied Flora's pale face as the doctors held her down. Flora's constant struggling twisted her features grotesquely. Only after being administered a
In the morning, Lionel opened the car door as usual and stepped into his Maybach, ready to head to work."Lion, wait for me."Joanna called out, striding over in a chic plaid winter dress paired with a pure white cashmere vest and knee-high boots. Her wavy hair swayed in the crisp morning breeze with every step.Lionel paused. Joanna met his cold gaze as she confidently slid into the Maybach."Starting today, I'll be working at K Group,"Joanna declared, brushing her hair back casually. Her delicate features, perfectly complemented by just the right amount of makeup, exuded sophistication, elegance, and allure—a vision of beauty capable of capturing any man's attention."Are you joking?"Lionel frowned, his gaze brushing over her charming face without betraying any emotion."I'm serious! With my dual doctorates, do you really think I'm not qualified? Or would you rather I consult Grandfather about this?"Joanna replied con
Chloe's body stiffened, her shy smile frozen on her face. It had been about ten minutes since Joanna had called for them, and Chloe had assumed she had already gone downstairs. Who would have thought Joanna was still waiting here!Chloe wasn't used to being affectionate with Lionel in front of others.She immediately tried to pry Lionel's hands off her waist, but he tightened his grip instead, his hold becoming even more possessive as if to show off."Lion, Chloe, I thought you didn't hear me," Joanna said with a radiant smile as she gazed at the two of them. The blush on Chloe's cheeks, her slightly swollen lips, and Lionel's brooding, unsatisfied expression were all captured in her perceptive gaze. "Did I... interrupt something?" She stepped back awkwardly, giving way at the door."Oh, no, not at all," Chloe quickly responded, her face flushing even more as Lionel kept his silence, his darkened expression betraying his mood. Unlike him, Chloe wasn't rud
"Come on, let's get back inside. You're practically turning into an icicle!" Lionel wrapped Chloe in his arms, clasping her delicate hands in his large, warm ones. Holding each other close, they headed into the house, completely ignoring Florence and Joanna standing behind them."Joanna, did you see that? He's not the man he used to be anymore! Even with you here, it's like you don't exist," Florence murmured."How could this happen?" Joanna muttered in disbelief, watching the pair walk away. Shaking her head, she tried to process what she was seeing.Lionel's reaction was not what she had expected. Back when she returned to the country, she had braced herself for his anger, ready to endure his scolding no matter how harsh it was—because she knew she was in the wrong. Yet, all he did was utter a faint grunt, barely glancing at her face before walking away with Chloe in his arms.She wasn't just anyone; she was Joanna! At the very least, he should've
In the hall, two people chatted idly, while Chloe sat alone on the second-floor terrace. She could hear Grace constantly instructing the servants—preparing this, tidying that—and specifically reminding them to make the room on the third floor as comfortable as possible for Joanna.Joanna isn't just a guest here? She has her own room? Chloe frowned slightly, recalling a memory. Once, she had tried to go up to the third floor to sleep, but the moment her hand touched the doorknob, Grace had slapped it away, snapping at her, "That room isn't for you!"So that room belongs to Joanna, Chloe thought wryly.As she sat idly on the terrace, a sudden sound of piano music floated down from the third floor. Startled, Chloe stood up. It wasn't surprising that the Williams family had a piano, but what did surprise her was that she hadn't noticed it until now.The piano notes were crisp and clear, melodious and captivating, played by someone who was clearly a master. Chloe, who hadn't touched a pian