"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
Finally, Chloe had finished crying, her tears and snot soaking Lionel's expensive coat. When she looked up, she saw the villagers gazing at her tear-streaked face. Embarrassed, she quickly pulled away from Lionel's arms."Let's go home," Lionel said softly, taking Chloe's hand. His gaze never left her face, as though he couldn't bear to look away even for a moment."Wait!" Chloe tugged on Lionel's hand, turning them both toward Geoffrey.The sight of Geoffrey instantly ignited a surge of anger in Lionel's chest. Earlier, his mind had been completely consumed by Chloe, so much so that he hadn't even noticed this bastard standing behind them.This was the man who almost destroyed her, who almost kept them apart forever!Bastard!Lionel clenched his fists tightly, the sound of his knuckles cracking filling the air. His crimson eyes glared at Geoffrey with such intensity that, if looks could kill, Geoffrey would have died a thousand times over."Lion, don't!" Chloe grasped Lionel's arm ju
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
"What's wrong?" Florence, sitting nearby, noticed Chloe clutching her stomach and quickly stood up, alarmed. "Your stomach still hurts? I'll call the doctor right now." She turned, about to rush out of the room."It's fine! It doesn't hurt anymore," Chloe called out, stopping Florence in her tracks."Really?" Florence asked, skepticism written all over her face."Really. I'm fine now!" Chloe reassured her repeatedly, and only then did Florence hesitate and sit back down.Chloe's heart warmed a little more toward Florence. Despite her sharp tongue and haughty demeanor, Florence's actions often spoke otherwise. Her arrogance was merely a mask to hide her true self.No matter how harsh her words or domineering her tone, at crucial moments, her kindness would shine through."Florence, you should go back. It's boring here, and I'm really okay now. It's just menstrual cramps. I'll probably be discharged this afternoon.""Alright! I'm leaving then. Take care and call me if you need anything,
"You're showing signs of a threatened miscarriage, and there's already some bleeding!" The middle-aged female doctor spoke with a tone of reproach. "Sigh, you have to be extremely careful during the first three months.""Ah..." Chloe's mind went blank, like a bomb had gone off in her head. "Th-Threatened miscarriage?" She repeated the doctor's words in a daze, completely unable to process what was happening. Her expression was blank, as if she had just been struck by lightning."Yes. Don't you know you're pregnant?" The doctor looked at her with surprise."Wait, you mean I'm...pregnant?" Chloe stammered, the news hitting her like a tidal wave. "How is that possible?" she murmured, almost to herself.She and Lionel had always used contraception. Even on the rare occasions they didn't have time to use protection, she had taken emergency contraceptives afterward. Where did things go wrong? She had always been so meticulous about this!Seeing Chloe still in shock, the middle-aged doctor v
When Chloe woke up, it was already late. Fortunately, as the director of the Art Center, her absence could easily be covered by someone else.After tidying herself up, she stepped out of the bedroom to find Florence sitting on the couch in the living room, casually munching on an apple.Seeing Chloe emerge, Florence picked up a box beside her and handed it over. "Here, for you.""What's this?" Chloe took the box, immediately noticing its luxurious design. Clearly, it wasn't an ordinary item. She recognized the English brand name on the box—a high-end fashion label she'd only ever heard about from Cynthia. Cynthia had once mentioned how outrageously expensive it was."This...probably doesn't suit me. You should keep it," Chloe said, pushing the box back toward Florence. She didn't feel comfortable accepting something so extravagant without earning it."Tch! Don't overthink it. It's not like I bought it specifically for you," Florence scoffed, still chewing on her apple. "It was on sale
Lionel looked up to see Chloe standing in her nightwear, her figure still glistening faintly from a recent shower. She looked like a blooming flower adorned with morning dew, exuding a soft, intoxicating fragrance that captivated him completely."Why are you here? If you're tired, you should go to bed early," Lionel said tenderly, his long arm already pulling Chloe onto his lap.Breathing in her delicate scent, his lips brushed against her skin, teasing her here and nibbling there."Stop it! Don't you have work to do?" Chloe said, her neck instinctively shrinking as Lionel's playful gestures sent shivers down her spine, leaving her both ticklish and covered in goosebumps."Who told you to smell so good?" Lionel teased, lifting her chin. His intense gaze fixed on her rosy lips, and he couldn't resist lowering his head to capture them in a passionate kiss.Whenever Chloe was near, Lionel seemed unable to control himself. It was as if he was addicted to her, his once-prized self-control
Joanna stared at Lionel's face—the face she had dreamed about countless times. Her eyes reddened as she whispered, "Back then, I left because I was angry with you. Nothing ever happened between me and Heather! I only involved him to make you jealous and staged that scene to provoke you..."Lionel remained expressionless, as if Joanna's words had nothing to do with him.When no further explanation came, Lionel's lips twitched slightly. "Are you done? You can leave now."The cold detachment in his tone made it clear that to him, she was nothing more than a stranger."Lion! How can you treat me like this?"Joanna's voice trembled, her pretty face on the verge of tears. She impulsively reached out to grab Lionel's hand. "I'm your fiancée, yet you look at me like I'm nobody. Even if you hate me, at least we grew up together as family. How can you act like I'm invisible? Do you know why I left three years ago? It was because you were too cold
"Didn't you already become someone else's 'dad'?" Chloe countered with a question instead of answering. Sometimes, Lionel's jealousy was just too much for her."Do you think that's what I wanted?!" Lionel spat out coldly, his tone icy. "It seems you're quite special to them. If I hadn't come to pick you up today, were you really planning to go back with him and play stepmother?""Lionel, what nonsense are you talking about?" Chloe's anger flared. Lionel's mild jealousy she could chalk up to him caring about her, but this—this wasn't jealousy. It was outright humiliation! "Do you really think I'm that kind of shallow woman?"Her face darkened as she yelled at Barton, "Stop the car. I want to get out!"Barton froze but didn't stop the car, pretending he hadn't heard her.Seeing Chloe's flushed face and the moisture welling in her eyes, Lionel felt a pang in his chest. He suddenly realized he might have gone too far.His grip loosened, an