Lionel wiped the corner of his eye, his teeth grinding together as he snarled, "You schemer. You've humiliated me and nearly got me killed by the disdain of my own home and drowning in spit! Yes, you didn't wrong me, you only betrayed your own friends!"
Thud —
Lionel delivered a powerful punch to Heather's eye, which instantly swelled with a purple bruise.
"I have my reasons! I can explain!" Heather's eyes were red as she shouted at Lionel.
"Who wants to listen to your nonsense? Betrayal is betrayal, and an explanation is just an excuse! No matter how many mouths you grow, it won't change the fact that you've betrayed your friends!" Lionel grabbed Heather by the neck, his voice cold and sharp.
"Fine, you don't want to listen? So be it! I can't be bothered to explain to you anyway!" Heather shoved him back hard, and Lionel collided against the cold, unyielding wall with a thud.
His head felt dizzy. Perhaps he had drunk too much tonight
Chloe and Lionel returned to Lionel's house, where Chloe immediately began tending to his injuries. Seeing the swelling and redness at the corner of his eye, she felt a pang of heartache, her eyes turning red with unshed tears."It's nothing. Am I that weak? This small injury won't kill me," Lionel said, intending to comfort her. However, to his surprise, his words made Chloe shed two tears."Baby!" Lionel panicked. He felt a mix of joy and distress—his woman cared for him, which made him happy, but seeing her cry was like bleeding himself. He pulled her into his arms and kissed away her tears. "I'm really fine. Don't cry. It hurts me more when you cry.""You're always so stubborn! I saw you almost collapse earlier!" Chloe pouted as she scolded him. She hated herself for being so easily moved to tears, but what could she do? In front of Lionel, she had shed all her pride. She was just an ordinary woman whose emotions were tied to the man she cared about."I'm really fine! Trust me, I'
Chloe walked with her head down, feeling uneasy.Out of nowhere, a man's voice broke the silence."What's this? Counting ants on the ground?"Startled by the teasing tone, Chloe lifted her head to see Geoffrey leaning casually against his car, watching her with an amused expression."It's you!" she blurted out, her irritation growing. It seemed he had been waiting for her on purpose. He knew her movements too well, and the thought annoyed her. "Don't you have a company to run? Why are you following me?""Feisty, aren't we?" Geoffrey's grin remained unaffected by her sharp words. "Judging by your expression, something's happened.""None of your business!" Chloe snapped, turning to walk past him.But Geoffrey straightened up, his hands sliding into his pockets as he deliberately blocked her path."Is this how you treat someone who's helped you? At least show some gratitude—I did help Lionel drive away that woman who was bullying you. Don't you think I deserve a proper thank-you?"So, he
The sky had darkened completely, and rain mist enveloped everything. With the faint light from his phone's flashlight, Geoffrey wiped the rainwater from his face and quickly assessed the terrain. This wasn't a valley, and there were no signs of a mudslide.Turning back to check the area around the car, his heart nearly stopped. His car was parked precariously on the edge of a large crack in the road.The fissure didn't seem recent, but the constant rain had soaked the ground, making it unstable and close to collapse. It looked like the slam of the car door when Geoffrey jumped out had worsened the situation, causing the crack to spread further.Geoffrey's pulse quickened as panic set in. Moving the car was no longer an option."Chloe!" he shouted, his voice trembling with fear. He turned to the car and tried to pull Chloe out, but just as his hand touched the door handle, he felt the ground beneath him shift violently. The road began to tear apart.In an instant, the Bentley, along wi
"Geo…ffrey…" she called weakly, her voice trembling from the overwhelming fear."It's me! Chloe, I'm sorry... It's all my fault. I'll get you out of here right away!"Recognizing the voice, Chloe felt a mix of relief and sadness as Geoffrey groped around, trying to move her out of the car.The sharp pain in his leg made him furrow his brows and grit his teeth as he maneuvered his body to lift Chloe out of the vehicle."So… cold!" Chloe shivered instinctively when the icy rain hit her face."I'm sorry. We need to leave now. Do you miss Lionel?" Geoffrey asked, his voice tinged with regret and dull ache. Without thinking, he mentioned Lionel's name, hoping to spur Chloe to hold on.At this moment, what else was there to care about? What right did he have to care?Hearing Lionel's name, a faint smile curved Chloe's lips. "Lionel? I do… I miss him… so much…" Hot tears rolled down her cheeks, blending with the rain."You'll see him soon. He's waiting for you at home…" Geoffrey choked out,
"Chloe, we finally made it up here!" Geoffrey exclaimed in relief."Yes, we finally did… It's… great…" Chloe murmured, though her words came out sluggishly. Her eyelids felt heavy, and dizziness clouded her mind, intensifying with every passing moment. She realized she was on the verge of collapsing but kept shaking her head, fighting to stay conscious."Chloe!? What's wrong?" Geoffrey noticed something was amiss as she started to slide down toward the ground. He quickly extended his arm and caught her."I… I feel dizzy…" Chloe whispered before her body went limp, and she lost consciousness."Chloe!" Geoffrey called out in panic, shaking the woman in his arms. Her body was icy cold, yet her cheeks burned with an alarming heat.A surge of anxiety gripped Geoffrey. Gritting his teeth, he scooped her up, only to feel a sharp pain shooting through his injured leg. His brows furrowed in agony, but his strong arms held her firmly, refusing to let go.Looking around, the path back to the cit
Fortunately, Lucy didn't take long to return, bringing a male doctor from the village and carrying a set of men's clothes in her hands."Young man, didn't I tell you to give her a bath? Why didn't you take her clothes off first?" Lucy chastised Geoffrey, who flushed slightly at her remark."Auntie, I… thought it would be better if you handled that," Geoffrey stammered, covering his mouth as he coughed lightly.What a gentleman he was! Lucy cast him an approving look before instructing, "You go clean yourself up and change into these clothes. Let Dr. Ford take a look at your leg."After a bath and a change of clothes, Chloe's pale complexion showed a faint trace of color, though she remained unconscious, her forehead still burning with fever. During the car accident, her head must have struck something, leaving a wound over an inch long. Dr. Ford cleaned the wound, disinfected it, stitched it up, and set her up with an IV drip."If she starts vomiting, she may have a concussion. If it'
At around three or four in the morning, Chloe suddenly sat upright, her eyes still closed. Lucy, who had just fallen asleep, quickly noticed Chloe's movements and got up as well."What's wrong?" she asked nervously."I… I need to use the bathroom…" Chloe replied, her voice urgent as she furrowed her brows and fumbled to get out of bed. After all, with several IV fluids administered, it was no surprise she needed to go."Take it slow!" Lucy hurriedly got out of bed to support Chloe on her way to the bathroom.In the outer room, Geoffrey, despite being utterly exhausted and unable to keep his eyes open, remained alert, worrying about Chloe. When he heard the movement inside, his eyes snapped open."What's going on with her?"Throwing off his blanket, Geoffrey swung his legs over the side of the couch, attempting to stand."Ah…" A sharp, searing pain shot through him, making him inhale sharply. His injured foot, which had managed to bear the strain of carrying Chloe up the mountain earli
Before long, Ford followed Lucy into the house.Setting down his medical kit, Ford began by checking Chloe's temperature."The fever's gone. Do you feel any nausea?" Ford, a man in his fifties with a kindly demeanor, asked Chloe with concern."Just a little, but it's not too bad," Chloe replied, her breath hitching slightly. The warmth of Ford's hand on her forehead and his fatherly gaze stirred a pang of emotion within her. For a moment, it felt like she had a father caring for her, and a wave of sourness welled up in her nose."She has a mild concussion and needs plenty of rest.""What are we going to do?" Lucy, looking more anxious than both Chloe and Geoffrey, interjected. "I just heard someone say the road down the mountain was completely cut off in the middle of the night. We can't get to town for treatment—it'll delay their recovery!"Lucy wrung her hands, glancing worriedly at Ford."Don't worry too much," Ford reassured her. "Of course, getting treatment in the city would be
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
Lionel gritted his teeth and shoved Joanna hard, sending her flying across the room. With a dull thud, she landed like a discarded ragdoll.Her brows knitted tightly, and it was clear the impact hurt her badly. Tears streamed down her face as she whimpered through her sobs, "Lion... I need... please..."Grabbing the showerhead, Lionel turned the water to full blast, not caring that it was the dead of winter. The icy stream hit Joanna's trembling body."Cold... it's so cold..." Joanna shivered violently, her arms wrapping around herself as a fleeting clarity returned to her teary eyes.Seeing her quiet down, Lionel moved the water away. But as soon as she started showing signs of agitation again, he realized things couldn't continue like this.If they did, he wasn't sure what might happen.Spotting a towel on a nearby rack, he grabbed it and threw it over Joanna. His voice was sharp as he snapped, "If you want me to believe you were forced in
Fortunately, Lionel had experience dealing with aphrodisiacs. This time, the drug's potency wasn't as intense as what he'd endured at Paradiso. While his body burned with heat, it lacked the overwhelming urgency and fierceness of before.Was this their way of sparing him? He almost felt grateful for his grandfather's mercy.Lionel sat motionless on the sofa, fists clenched tightly. With sheer willpower, he resisted the waves of heat crashing over him.Joanna, however, was far less composed.Biting her lip, she understood deep down that she'd been drugged. Though she struggled to maintain control, her delicate face had turned as red as a ripe apple. The surging heat within her made her let out a faint whimper. Her pale hands tugged at her wool cardigan, desperately trying to cool herself."Lion…" Joanna called out to Lionel, her pink tongue running over her parched lips. Her eyes, clouded with desire, burned with a fiery intensity.She
On the other side, the Williams family.Joanna, enduring the pain in her foot, returned to her room. As she passed Lionel's door, she hesitated for a moment before raising her hand to knock. Without waiting for a response from inside, she pushed the door open and entered."Lion…"Lionel stopped typing, crossed his arms, and coldly asked, "Joanna, what do you want this time?""Lion," Joanna took a few steps closer. "I'm sorry for this afternoon. I shouldn't have lashed out at you. You were just angry because of Grandpa. I didn't consider that and ended up taking it out on you.""Apologize?" Lionel raised an eyebrow, his tone sharp as he looked at her with disdain, his eyes cold as he scanned the pitiful Joanna. "No need for apologies! I've got work to do!" He glanced toward the windowsill, seemingly hearing the sound of a message."Lion, can't we just talk calmly, without all this tension?" Joanna said, her face a mix of distress and pain.Lionel regarded her like a stranger—perhaps ev
Chloe hailed a taxi and rushed home.When she arrived, Donna was in the middle of preparing dinner."Chloe, you're back?!" Donna greeted her with surprise, taking the bag from her hand. She glanced behind Chloe but didn't see Lionel."Uh..." Chloe replied as she changed her shoes and walked inside. Sensing her mother's unspoken question, she quickly explained, "I'm alone. He went to his grandfather's house.""Oh, I see." Donna sounded a bit disappointed. The house felt so empty, with just her here all day. If she didn't go out, she wouldn't even have anyone to talk to.Deep down, Donna wished Lionel and Chloe would come back more often. She always had food ready for them, but the food would go bad, and she'd have to throw it out and buy more, yet they never came. After waiting so long, it felt like a letdown when only Chloe returned. In her mind, she had completely accepted Lionel as her son-in-law.They rarely spoke much. As Chloe sat down, Donna hurriedly filled her glass with water
The atmosphere inside the car was tense and suffocating.Lionel sat motionless, his expression rigid, his cold and piercing gaze fixed ahead.Despite growing up with him, Joanna still felt a chill in her heart when faced with Lionel's presence.Suddenly, a voice as cold as ice shards hitting the ground broke the silence in the car."Are you happy now?""Huh?" Joanna blinked, taking a couple of seconds to react. Her face immediately darkened. "Lion, what are you talking about? Grandpa's blood pressure is rising, it's dangerous. How could I be happy? What do you take me for?""Drink!" Lionel sneered, veins bulging on his forehead. "Isn't this exactly what you all planned from the start?""What? Planned? What are you talking about? Can you explain?" Joanna twitched her lips, her long eyelashes fluttering as she looked innocent."Heh!" Another sarcastic laugh escaped Lionel as he looked at her without any expression. "Keep playing the part. You're so convincing, it almost feels real!"Joa