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
"Wow... what a majestic helicopter!" A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy exclaimed in admiration."Dad, it looks like they're riding that big bird, too," said a young child sitting on his father's shoulders, his round, sparkling eyes fixed on the airplane with unabashed wonder.The crowd had gathered in a circle around the plane, staring intently at it.The cabin door opened, and a soldier in camouflage leapt down. "Wow, it's the military!" someone exclaimed in awe.The soldiers inspired an unspoken respect from the crowd—those who could soar freely in the blue sky were admired deeply.A man followed closely behind, but all eyes remained fixed on the soldiers. No one was paying much attention to the man in question.Although the man was handsome, his face was dark and brooding. His stubble had grown into a deep, shadowy green, and his piercing, cold eyes had an ominous intensity. Dressed in a black trench coat, he exuded power and dominance, instantly commanding attention. His icy g
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
"You took quite a while this time. I've been waiting for you," Earl said, taking a sip of his tea as his eyes continuously studied Joanna.She had blossomed even more beautifully!Elegant and graceful, with impeccable manners and a sharp mind, Joanna embodied all the virtues of a perfect wife. She was the ideal candidate to be Lionel's wife."I'm sorry, Grandfather. I didn't mean for it to take so long, but..." Joanna trailed off, her tone apologetic as she peeled an orange and offered it to Earl."I understand. You've endured a lot," Earl replied, shooting Lionel a sidelong glance.If only Lionel weren't so stubborn—cold and unyielding like a rock—ignoring Joanna to the point of driving her away. By now, Earl thought, he might have already been holding a great-grandson!Three years ago, Joanna had broken off the engagement, causing quite a scandal and tarnishing their family's reputation. But the fault wasn't entirely hers; their family had their share of the blame, so there wasn't m
After a moment of warmth, Lionel tried to call a doctor for her, but Chloe grabbed the phone and refused to let go.She wasn't joking. If he really found another doctor for her, wouldn't her pregnancy be exposed?"Come on, give me the phone. I just want to arrange a doctor for you, I mean no harm," Lionel coaxed Chloe gently in his arms."I know! But when I said three months, it was just a hypothetical. I don't actually have any illness. It's just a common gynecological inflammation that any woman might have. The doctor said I just need to rest for a month at most! I don't like making a big deal out of nothing!"Well, once she said that, she could only keep the pregnancy hidden from Lionel for a month."Alright... fine." He had already consulted the attending physician, and this was how she had explained it to him. For now, he'd listen to Chloe.Seeing Lionel agree, Chloe finally felt relieved. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.They kissed for a long ti
Around ten o'clock, Grace brought a late-night snack to Joanna's room. Joanna was engrossed in a book. Without looking up, she gave a casual instruction, "Just leave it there."She continued reading, but after a while, she noticed Grace hadn't left. Reluctantly, she looked up. "Grace, do you... need something?""Uh—no, nothing. I just wanted to have a word with you," Grace said nervously, her hands clasped together."Oh? Go ahead," Joanna raised an eyebrow. Sensing Grace's unease, she tried to reassure her, "No need to be nervous. Just say what's on your mind.""Alright, alright," Grace smiled, her face brightening at Joanna's approachable demeanor. Joanna's kindness and gentleness always made her feel at ease. "Joanna, now that you're back... are you really not planning to reconcile with Lionel?"Grace had overheard Joanna's earlier remarks, and they had left her feeling anxious, like a cat on a hot tin roof."Grace, that's none of your business!" Joanna's face darkened, and she soun
Chloe had spent the day resting in the hospital. In the afternoon, the gynecologist examined her again and said with a smile, "You've managed to keep it, but you must be careful in the future, or you won't be as lucky next time."Chloe's face turned bright red in embarrassment, and she apologized, "I definitely won't let this happen again, I didn't know before…""Still saying you didn't know? You're the most careless person I've ever seen! If the child knew, they'd definitely be angry!""Yes, yes, you're right. I'll be more careful," Chloe replied meekly, feeling like a child being scolded.She understood that the doctor genuinely cared about her and was concerned for her health."I see that your husband cares a lot about you. Why are you hiding the child from him? He seems like a smart guy. I just worry, how long can you keep this secret?"Although she worked in the hospital, the doctor had seen enough people to understand. Earlier t
As the elevator doors slid open, Joanna saw Heather standing outside. She was slightly surprised but stepped out nonetheless, greeting her with a smile."Long time no see! When did you return to the country?"Heather was momentarily taken aback, her expression freezing for a second before a faint smile tugged at her lips. "I've been back for a while. But you—why didn't you let anyone know when you came back?"Joanna flashed a radiant smile, her teeth gleaming like pearls. "I prefer peace and quiet. Why? Is someone sick? Or are you?" She eyed Heather inquisitively, her luscious red lips resembling the petals of a fresh rose.Heather's heart clenched, and she quickly averted her gaze, focusing instead on Joanna's forehead. "A friend is sick, so I came to visit.""Alright, then. Go take care of it. Goodbye!" Joanna waved decisively, turned, and started to walk away.Instinctively, Heather reached out and grabbed Joanna's hand."Joa
In the blink of an eye, Florence and Joanna left, leaving Lionel and Chloe alone in the room.Lionel moved closer, half-embracing Chloe in his arms. "Did I… was I too rough last night? I'm sorry for hurting you," he said apologetically, his large hand reaching towards her stomach, intending to massage it gently."Don't!" Chloe reflexively cried out, grabbing his hand tightly.Oh no! Right now, her stomach wasn't something anyone could casually touch. The baby inside was still in a fragile state. Even if he was the baby's father, she couldn't let him near!"Why so tense? I was just… trying to help ease your pain," Lionel said, his sharp brows furrowing again. He misunderstood, thinking Chloe was worried he'd try something inappropriate in broad daylight.As much of a jerk as he might be, even he had his limits. She was already in a hospital bed—how could he possibly think of doing something that cruel?Unconsciously, a wave of frustration built up within Lionel.Chloe, realizing her re