"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
"Beck?!" Chloe exclaimed in surprise, glancing at her brother and then at the barbecue shop. She hadn't expected to run into him here. "You're working here?"Beck grinned widely. "Yeah, just a part-time job for now," he said, clearly thrilled to see her. Since Chloe had helped him solve that issue at school, he hadn't seen her again.Moments ago, he hadn't even recognized her at first glance.Beck quickly found Chloe a seat and ordered some barbecue for her.Though Beck was usually carefree, he immediately noticed the tension clouding Chloe's face. Perhaps something was bothering her. Since their father passed away, that troubled look had become all too familiar.The shop was bustling with customers. Just as Beck sat down to keep Chloe company, more people arrived. He had no choice but to excuse himself and tend to them.Chloe's gaze followed Beck as he moved around the shop. She realized it had been a while since they'd last seen each other. He seemed to have grown taller, his skin d
A marriage certificate?The sound of Chloe's mind exploding rang out, leaving her dizzy and disoriented. Her legs almost gave way beneath her.Just a moment ago, he had confessed his love for her. While she couldn't quite believe it, it still struck her like a bolt of lightning. And now, a marriage certificate appeared in front of her, leaving her utterly stunned!Her body felt as if it had lost all strength. Her lips trembled, and she suddenly couldn't find her voice.Shaking hands reached out to take the paper from Lionel's hands, bringing it up to her face. The name on it was truly hers, but now it read Chloe Miler Williams, her name followed by his surname.But how could this be?The last time she had left home, she had asked Lionel for proof of his divorce from Flora, but he had refused to give it to her. Now, without any divorce papers, he was presenting her with their marriage certificate?"Chloe, now do you believe me?" Lionel
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