Lionel held Chloe as they stepped through the front door. Flora, who had been waiting in the hallway, immediately stood up, her face bright with a gentle smile as she walked towards them.Chloe's eyes turned icy the moment they met Flora's warm, sweet expression."I've been waiting for you both to have dinner!" Flora said, her false warmth making Chloe flinch.She looked at Lionel with such eagerness, as if they were indeed a loving couple, and then turned to Chloe with an expression that made it seem as though they were nothing but doting sisters. It was almost as if they had no history of discord.How could anyone play the roles of both an angel and a devil so flawlessly? Chloe wondered whether she should feel proud of having such a talented actress for a sister.Frowning, Chloe gave Flora an icy look and walked past her, heading straight upstairs.Lionel snorted coldly, not sparing Flora a single glance, and followed Chloe upstairs.Flora's face twisted in an instant, turning from
"Lion, I'm pregnant! Is this how you're going to take care of me? Have you forgotten what Grandpa said?" Flora had the urge to flip the table, but she had to maintain her composure in front of Lionel.Before Lionel could respond, Grace cut in, "Miss, you've misunderstood. They've saved the best for you. Pregnant women should eat nutritious food, and it's better to avoid seasoning." She shot Flora a cold glance, her stance proudly firm as she crossed her arms.Lionel gave Grace an encouraging look.Flora clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She wanted nothing more than to jump up and tear Grace apart, but she couldn't let Chloe get the upper hand.Determined to provoke Chloe, Flora decided to bring up her pregnancy. "Chloe, would you accompany me to the prenatal check-up tomorrow?" Her smile was sweet, dripping with honey.Chloe's gaze flickered, but without lifting her eyes, she turned to Lionel. "Lion, are you free tomorrow?" Lionel furrowed his brows, staring at her
Before the images in her mind had even dissipated, Lionel's large hand was already wrapped around her slender waist, his strong body pressed tightly against her back.Chloe tensed, every hair on her body standing on end.It was the same person, the same familiar scent, his embrace and touch as familiar as ever, irresistibly pulling her in. But deep down, there was an impulse to push him away.She kept telling herself: Trust him! Trust him! Lionel would never look at Flora in that way! He would never touch her.Thinking back to their early days together, Lionel had always treated her as if she were Flora—disdainful, dismissive, as though she were a virus to be avoided at all costs. Clearly, he despised Flora.Taking a deep breath, Chloe suppressed the urge to push Lionel's strong body away. She remained still, letting him hold her tightly. His hot breath fanned across her neck, his large hand slowly caressing her back, slipping under her nightgown and making its way to her chest."Ah..
Day and night cycled endlessly, and at last, the dawn broke, piercing through the remnants of darkness. Light bathed the earth in a golden glow.Lionel had been preoccupied with a major case at work. Though he was reluctant to leave Chloe's warm and inviting bed, a man of ambition knew when to set aside personal indulgences for greater goals.After getting ready, he bent down as usual and pressed a gentle kiss on Chloe's lips. Her drowsy eyes fluttered open, and with a habitual motion, she hooked her arms around his neck, pulling him close. A trace of dreamy reluctance lingered in her gaze.Lionel's lips curved into a smile, and he seized the moment to deepen the kiss into a lingering morning greeting.Realizing time was short, he caressed Chloe's flushed cheeks and murmured softly, "Be good. Sleep a little longer." With that, he turned and left.As Lionel headed off to work, Chloe found herself unable to fall back asleep. She had long grown used to sharing a bed with him, and without
Chloe arrived at the art center earlier than usual. The events of the morning left Flora in a mess of her own making.While Chloe found satisfaction in this, she couldn't stop her worries from creeping in whenever she had a quiet moment. Only the sound of the piano helped her silence the endless flood of anxious thoughts.During a break, she considered buying a neck massager for Lionel. Lately, she had noticed him frequently stretching his neck, likely a sign of long hours at work leading to cervical discomfort.Realistically, with Lionel's wealth, he hardly needed such a simple gadget from her. He had access to any high-end services imaginable.Even so, the idea stayed with her. Yet deep down, Chloe feared it might be too insignificant—something he wouldn't care for."Chloe!"A familiar male voice called out behind her as she walked.She turned to see Geoffrey leaning out of his car window, a grin playing on his lips. Chloe froze, her mouth falling open in shock.He had called her Ch
The moment Chloe stepped out the door, Flora followed closely behind.She had just gotten into a taxi when the door was yanked open before the driver could even start the car. A large hand reached inside, grabbing her by the collar like she was a rag doll, and yanked her out."Ah!" Flora cried out as her feet dangled momentarily before hitting the ground. She barely had time to react before being dragged to another car and shoved inside."Hey, hey! What's going on?" The taxi driver, shocked by the scene of a woman being manhandled in broad daylight, yelled out in protest.Amos turned his icy gaze on the driver, his lips curling into a single word: "Scram!"The driver froze, suddenly noticing Amos's designer attire and the luxury car beside him. His courage evaporated as he realized this was someone not to be trifled with. Without another word, he slammed the accelerator, speeding off as if his life depended on it.Amos slammed the car door shut, stepped on the gas, and the car roared
By late afternoon, near four o'clock, Chloe was in the piano room teaching the children when her phone suddenly rang.She assumed it was Lionel, but upon picking it up, she saw an unfamiliar number. After a moment's hesitation, she answered."Hello?""You have twenty minutes. Get home immediately!" A cold, commanding voice rang out. Before Chloe could respond, the call ended abruptly.At first, Chloe thought it was a mistake. She stood there, stunned for a moment, then grabbed her bag and hurried home.As she stepped into the courtyard, her eyes caught sight of a car that was both unfamiliar and oddly familiar. Smoothing the strands of hair brushing against her lips, she walked into the house and was immediately struck by the cold, piercing gazes of four people directed at her.The chill in the air made her instinctively clench her hands.Scanning the room, she saw Earl, Jacob, and Madge seated in the same spots they'd occupied the day before. Flora sat beside Earl, putting on the app
Chloe stopped in her tracks, watching Earl approach.The two walked slowly, neither speaking for a long time. Earl stayed silent, and Chloe pursed her lips, unsure of what to say. The image of Earl glaring at her, his face red with anger, still lingered vividly in her mind.With a faint sigh, Earl broke the silence. "Lion is cold and unfeeling toward everyone, utterly heartless. But with you… I see a glimpse of humanity in him.""…" Chloe listened quietly, unsure of where he was going with this."I can tell you care about Lion, too. Maybe that's why you refuse to leave," Earl said, his sharp eyes locking onto Chloe's startled gaze.From the first time he met her, he knew she was different. Seeing her again only reinforced his belief—he hadn't been wrong about her. She wasn't the type to stay for money or status.Her eyes were clear and pure, unlike anything he had ever seen. Perhaps there wasn't another pair of eyes like hers in the world.Earl sighed again and continued, "In families
Lionel's Office"Sir..."Barton handed a file to Lionel. "This is the information you requested. It's all been thoroughly investigated."Lionel took the file and photographs, glancing at them briefly before his expression darkened.Amos?!How could it be Amos?"Damn it!"Who gave him the nerve to do this? Doesn't he know that the Lumina Group depends entirely on K Group?If it weren't for him handing Lumina that order, this new general manager wouldn't have had any achievements to speak of."Withdraw all investments from Lumina immediately! As for the new project, change to another media company.""Yes, Sir."Barton turned to leave."Wait!"Lionel called, stopping Barton just before he reached the door. "I want you to investigate Amos thoroughly!"She shouldn't have had any involvement with him, so how did he get obsessed with her?Suddenly, Lionel remembered an odd encounter at a banq
Florence's expression froze instantly.She quickly forced a bright, blooming smile. "You're funny. It was just a drunken night. Why should you take responsibility? You go on ahead. I want to talk to Joanna for a bit." Without giving him a chance to object, she pulled her shoulder free from his grasp.Joanna's sharp eyes glimmered with awareness. Given her keen mind, she had already sensed that something significant had occurred between them.There was no way she believed Florence's dismissive excuse."Florence, don't be like this. It's my fault..." Alex started to say, but Florence's face darkened immediately. Joanna, noticing the tension, quickly intervened, "Alex, you stayed with Florence all night. Go get some rest. You can talk when she's feeling better."Though reluctant, Alex's heart ached when Florence refused to even glance at him. His voice low with disappointment, he murmured, "Florence, I'll be going for now. I'll come back to check on you...""Mm." Florence turned her head
Florence's expression froze instantly.She quickly forced a bright, blooming smile. "You're funny. It was just a drunken night. Why should you take responsibility? You go on ahead. I want to talk to Joanna for a bit." Without giving him a chance to object, she pulled her shoulder free from his grasp.Joanna's sharp eyes glimmered with awareness. Given her keen mind, she had already sensed that something significant had occurred between them.There was no way she believed Florence's dismissive excuse."Florence, don't be like this. It's my fault..." Alex started to say, but Florence's face darkened immediately. Joanna, noticing the tension, quickly intervened, "Alex, you stayed with Florence all night. Go get some rest. You can talk when she's feeling better."Though reluctant, Alex's heart ached when Florence refused to even glance at him. His voice low with disappointment, he murmured, "Florence, I'll be going for now. I'll come back to check on you...""Mm." Florence turned her head
The next morning, Lionel and Chloe hurried to the hospital, only to find that Florence was still unconscious, much like the previous night.Alex, who had clearly stayed up all night, had red-rimmed eyes from exhaustion. Lionel cast a cold glance at him and then at his sister on the bed before leaving for work.Chloe, worried that Florence might get upset upon waking and seeing Alex, decided to stay and keep watch."Alex, let's talk," Chloe said, pulling a chair up next to Florence's bed."Sure. Go ahead.""Do you really not have any feelings for Florence?""It's not that…" Alex sighed, his voice laden with guilt. "I watched her grow up. She's always been like a sister to me. I never thought of her in any other way. But somehow...I don't even know what happened…"He clenched his fists, frustration written all over his weary but still handsome face. The lines of regret etched deep as he rubbed his temples.Sometimes, he wasn't sure of his own feelings. Whenever Florence chased after him
Florence already had a naturally round and charming face, but now, with alcohol flushing her cheeks, her entire face glowed a deep crimson, making her look as adorable as a rosy red apple.The room was in complete disarray—several glasses lay shattered on the floor. Florence sat amidst the mess, a bottle of red wine in hand. When Lionel entered, she turned her mouth up into a crooked smile."hehe…" she slurred, her words garbled as her tongue tripped over itself. Her glassy eyes were unfocused, and her fingers tugged at her hair as she rocked unsteadily, her delicate brows knitting together in pain."Florence! You're supposed to be sick—why are you drinking?!" Lionel scolded sharply, bending down to snatch the wine bottle from her hand.Thud—Florence collapsed to the floor."Florence!" Chloe rushed in, shoving Joanna aside in her panic.Joanna's face contorted, a flash of malice glimmering in her eyes. However, Lionel and Chloe were too preoccupied lifting Florence to notice.Her bod
During dinner, Florence didn't come downstairs, but Alex did."Well, everyone's here," Alex greeted casually, pulling out a chair and sitting down."Perfect timing, as always," Lionel remarked sarcastically."Of course," Alex replied, unbothered, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Compared to Lionel's cold demeanor, Alex's laid-back attitude was like night and day.The two men were polar opposites—yet both exuded charm, confidence, and undeniable good looks."Where's Florence? Not here?" Alex asked after scanning the room a few times. He waited a while but didn't see any sign of her. Finally, he couldn't help but ask.Lionel glanced up from his bowl, his gaze sharp, as if Alex were a rare creature. "Have you lost your mind?"In the past, Alex had avoided Florence like the plague, scurrying away like a mouse from a cat. But today, he was asking about her? Something wasn't right.Alex choked slightly, letting out an awkward laugh. "Florence is my sister too. It's only natural to care ab
"No! I was wrong! I won't insult you anymore, okay?" She knew she couldn't afford to provoke him now.If it weren't for the baby, honestly... well, she would have been tempted too.Since Lionel had returned after his last trip, it had been quite some time—far too long—for both of them.It wasn't just Lionel who was feeling restless; even she couldn't deny the simmering desire. However, such thoughts were far too embarrassing to voice aloud. Over her dead body would she let her feelings show."That's more like it!" Lionel's voice was hoarse as he struggled to suppress the fire coursing through him. He finally let go of her, sparing both of them further torment.Ten days without touching her. Ten days without even a simple kiss. Just being close enough to breathe in her scent sent him on edge, and now, holding her warm, soft body against his was almost enough to end him.Opening the door, Lionel gestured for the cleaning staff wait
Lionel's OfficeLionel was engrossed in reviewing documents, with Barton standing silently by his side. Just then, Joanna walked in."Lion…"Joanna called softly."Get out!"Lionel said without looking up, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.Joanna froze, caught between retreating and explaining herself. Her face turned red, then pale, a mix of embarrassment and frustration. Her fingers gripped the fabric of her dress tightly.Glancing at Barton for support, she turned back to Lionel. "I just…""Out! Don't you know to knock before entering my office?"Lionel cut her off icily before she could finish. Barton stood still, expressionless, as though oblivious to the tension in the room."You!"Joanna's face contorted with anger. There was only one person in the world who dared to treat her like this—Lionel!Grinding her teeth, she suppressed the urge to lash out. Exhaling sharply, she stepped out, knocked twic
Williams Residence.Lionel checked the time for the tenth time.Could Chloe really have turned into a pig? How could she sleep so much? They had already spent most of the day yesterday in bed, and when he returned from the study last night, she was fast asleep again.What puzzled him more was how she always woke up curled in his arms like a kitten. But this morning, when he opened his eyes, she had her back to him, lying apart from him on the other side of the bed.He didn't like it. Not one bit."Chloe—" Lionel shook her gently. She didn't open her eyes. He placed his hand on her forehead—no fever. She wasn't sick.Suddenly, Lionel noticed her eyelashes trembling. She was awake, pretending to sleep. But why?Frowning, Lionel thought for a moment before swiftly pulling her into a sitting position."What are you doing? Can't I get some sleep?" Chloe grumbled, not even sparing him a glance as she flopped back down to continue sleeping.Lionel's eyes narrowed dangerously. If he couldn't