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
It was the third day since Chloe and Geoffrey arrived at Orchard Village.After a heavy rainfall in the mountains, the air was fresh, and the distant peaks were blanketed in white snow. A mist lingered over the slopes, and the nearby forest was draped in a thin veil of fog. That morning, the rare autumn sun pierced through the clouds, casting its warm glow over the mountaintop. Chloe's spirits lifted with the bright weather.Over the past two days, thanks to Lucy's attentive care, Chloe had been feeling much better, though she still occasionally felt a little dizzy. She was able to walk around and explore at her own pace. However, Geoffrey was unusually overbearing—if Chloe moved around for even a short while, he would sternly tell her to sit down and rest.This side of Geoffrey was new to Chloe, but she understood it stemmed from his concern for her. Considering the serious injuries he had sustained, she decided to go along with him without protest.Stepping out of the living room, C
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
After bidding Geoffrey farewell, she hurried home.Meanwhile, after Chloe left, Ray emerged from the hospital's corner, flanked by several men in black suits. He stared intently at Chloe's retreating figure until she disappeared from sight.Taking out his phone, he made a call and said coldly, "I order you to never contact her again!"Hanging up abruptly, he climbed into a sleek black business car that roared away."Father..." Geoffrey's face turned pale with anger as he stood nearby, gripping his phone tightly before furiously throwing it out the window. When had his father started meddling in his affairs again? In the past, no matter who he was with, his father never cared. So why now?***The Williams ResidenceAt that moment, Lionel was fuming silently, lounging on the sofa and playing games on his phone.During lunch, his seat had been deliberately arranged next to Joanna's—his grandfather's doing, no doubt. His grandfather had casually reminded him to serve Joanna food, to take
Amos's antics left Chloe with little appetite. Naturally, if Chloe wasn't eating, Florence lost her enthusiasm too. They decided to pay the bill and leave, abandoning a table full of delicacies.What a waste of a feast.As they strolled aimlessly, they found themselves near the hospital."Should we drop by to see Geoffrey? I wonder if his leg's healing well enough for him to walk," Chloe suggested. Florence eagerly nodded. "Agreed."In truth, Florence wasn't feeling particularly charitable toward Geoffrey. She was just bored and figured a little verbal sparring with him might liven up the day.When they arrived at Geoffrey's VIP hospital room, they immediately noticed several men in black suits stationed outside the door. Clearly, a prominent member of the Windley family was inside."I think… we should skip this," Chloe hesitated. With Geoffrey's family present, it didn't feel appropriate to intrude.She was well aware of Geoff
"Do you two know each other?" Florence asked through a mouthful of food, her words slightly muffled as she glanced back and forth between the man and Chloe.Their expressions couldn't have been more telling—one looked pale as if seeing a venomous snake, while the other seemed overwhelmed, as if holding back a flood of emotions with no outlet."I, we…" Chloe stammered, her lips trembling as she struggled to respond."We've known each other for a long time!" Amos interjected swiftly, cutting her off."Huh, you do look familiar," Florence said, squinting at Amos as if trying to place him. She didn't pry further into their relationship but suddenly smacked the table as realization struck. "Oh, right! You're the CEO of Lumina, aren't you? I've been seeing you all over the media lately!""That's correct! Amos Morgan, at your service. Good evening, Miss Williams," Amos said with a courteous bow, though his gaze was fixed on Chloe.Chlo
Lionel was tapping away on his keyboard when a sudden knock sounded at the door.His brows furrowed as he glanced briefly in the direction of the door, letting out a cold snort. "Come in!""Lion..." Joanna's soft voice called out as she stepped into the room. Lionel didn't move, not even sparing her a glance from the corner of his eye. He didn't need to see her; the faint fragrance lingering in the air was enough for him to know it was Joanna."If you have something to say, spit it out and leave. I'm busy!" His handsome face was taut, as if Joanna standing before him was nothing more than a complete stranger.Joanna bit her lip, her rosy lips turning a bruised purple under the pressure. Her large, watery eyes blinked rapidly, filled with grievance."Lion... do you really hate me that much?" she asked, unwilling to back down, her voice trembling with frustration. How could he ignore her so thoroughly? Was she really so unworthy that Lionel wouldn't even spare her a glance?Lionel's lip