"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
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
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
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
"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
"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,
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
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
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
The man's eyes flickered as he wiped the sweat from his forehead, hastily trying to defend himself. "No, I was just… just joking…""Joking?" Alex let out a cold sneer. "Bastard!"With a swift motion, he struck the man, sending his sunglasses flying. They landed awkwardly, half-dangling from his face.The man's expression shifted instantly, his arrogant facade crumbling into that of a trembling fool. His lips quivered, but he dared not utter a single word—not even to beg for mercy.Alex alone was terrifying enough, but Lionel? Everyone had heard of his unpredictable temper—cold, ruthless, and merciless. Pleading might have been an option with Alex, but with Lionel, it would only speed up one's demise."Speak. What's going on?" Alex demanded sharply."I-I was just paid to do this… Someone ordered me to—"The parents watching finally understood."Next time you take a job, use your damn brain." Alex smacked the man on the head repeatedly.The once-aggressive man now stood frozen, letting
The man behind Chloe froze for two seconds, seemingly surprised that she wasn't afraid of him in the slightest. He quickly followed Chloe out of the classroom, cursing under his breath.“Damn it! What kind of lousy art center is this? They ruined my niece's leg! If no one takes responsibility today, no one's leaving here!”"Sir, please watch your language! If you're here to resolve the issue, let's resolve it. But if you're here just to cause trouble, don't blame me for calling the police!"Hearing the man's words, Chloe figured something must have happened in the dance studio. Though she was a little concerned, she refused to be intimidated by his aggressive demeanor.Chloe had always been the kind of person who stood strong against the strong.Her cold and firm tone made the man pause again for another two seconds.Damn, this woman's got some nerve! He had never met anyone who wasn't afraid of him before. This was the first time, and it baffled him.The man hesitated for a moment bu
Chloe had been feeling uneasy in her stomach all day. Occasionally, there was a faint tugging sensation in her lower abdomen—not exactly painful but persistent enough to keep her from ignoring it.After wrapping up matters at the art center, she hurried to the hospital.She couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Every now and then, she glanced over her shoulder, but all she saw were the bustling crowds and cars passing by—no suspicious figures in sight.Was she just being paranoid?Chloe scanned her surroundings one more time, finding nothing unusual. A wry smile tugged at her lips. Perhaps the anxiety of becoming a mother was making her overly sensitive.With a sigh of self-reassurance, Chloe pushed through her nervousness and entered the hospital, heading straight for the obstetrics department.The same middle-aged female doctor she'd seen before greeted her with a warm, motherly smile. Over time, Chloe had grown familiar with her."What's the matter? Stomach both
LuminaEarly in the morning, chaos erupted at Lumina!Several companies abruptly terminated their contracts, and rumors spread like wildfire online. The buzz? Lumina's General Manager Amos was the illegitimate child of a mistress, who had usurped the rightful heir's position.Pete, the founder of Lumina, was at his wit's end. Just when he thought things couldn't get worse, K International Group announced they were pulling their investment, severing all ties with Lumina.Pete nearly lost his mind.From his experience, this wasn't a coincidence. He suspected K International Group's involvement, but how could he muster the courage to confront Lionel? He had no idea where he'd gone wrong or what had offended the man. All he knew was that Lionel was driving him into a corner.After much deliberation, Pete concluded that someone must have provoked Lionel—someone foolish enough to bring this disaster upon them.He stormed into the Gene
Joanna glared at Chloe, her face twisting in anger and humiliation. After a tense moment, Chloe's calm voice broke the silence, her gaze steady."Then tell me, Joanna, what exactly are you? Stirring up trouble behind the scenes, turning siblings against each other, all while secretly laughing to yourself. What's your endgame?"Joanna's face flushed with both shame and fury, her heart pounding with unease. How did she figure it out?"Chloe, let me warn you," Joanna snapped, her voice dripping with venom. "Don't think for a second that just because Lionel is backing you, you can slander me! Do you honestly believe Lionel will belong to you forever? Dream on! He'll be mine soon enough. If you're smart, you'll get lost before anyone finds out. The farther away, the better! Otherwise, when the time comes, losing your dignity will be the least of your worries—you won't even know how you died!"Chloe's lips curled into a faint smile, her cold eyes brimming
Grace's lips twitched slightly, her hatred for Chloe surging to a new level. Yet, she dared not speak out, only glaring at Chloe with resentment in her eyes.With a sigh, she walked into the kitchen.The dining room was left with just Chloe and Lionel. Neither of them spoke.Lionel, as usual, kept his gaze fixed on Chloe as she ate.Chloe softly muttered, "I'm done. I don't want to eat anymore."She stood up and left the dining room without looking back.However, the moment Chloe turned around, her expression changed.Earlier, Joanna had mentioned that Lionel had left her stranded at the bridal boutique. Were they trying on wedding attire today?Heh—Honestly, it wasn't her business if someone else wore a wedding dress. Besides, Lionel had already told her about all his plans, asking for her patience.But the thought of him trying on wedding outfits with someone else left a tight knot in her chest.It f
After sobbing for a while, Joanna gradually quieted down.Grace sighed and said, "Joanna, you know Lionel's temper. Try to be more tolerant and don't argue with him. You're about to get married soon. The last thing you want is to sour your relationship. Just imagine the people who would laugh behind your back!"Her murky gaze flicked toward the staircase, filled with resentment and disdain. If it weren't for that woman getting in the way, Joanna and Lionel would have reconciled long ago."Hmph!"Grace withdrew her gaze, only to meet Florence's questioning eyes. A shiver ran down her spine. She quickly suppressed her dark expression and changed the subject, saying, "Let's eat."Letting go of Joanna, Grace hurried into the kitchen.She had let her emotions get the better of her and accidentally said too much. As a housekeeper, it was never her place to comment on her employers' affairs.Thank goodness Lionel hadn't overheard! But Floren
"Joanna! Go ahead and insult and mock me all you want! Do you think this will erase what happened between us? Don't kid yourself! Lionel won't believe you! He won't marry you willingly! No man would love a woman who betrayed him. And Lionel—he cherishes Chloe!"Heather's eyes glinted coldly as a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips."You—you!" Joanna, who had been full of arrogant bravado moments earlier, suddenly faltered, her expression turning ashen. But she wasn't someone easily pushed around. Within mere seconds, she straightened her back and sneered with renewed defiance."Heather, you're just jealous! Lionel knows perfectly well that everything between you and me was just an act to irritate him. He won't believe a word of it. Besides, he has other women, too! If I don't mind, why should he? The key point is, his grandfather supports me, and so does his father. Whether Lionel likes it or not, he will marry me! He has no choice. As for you, do
The car wove deftly through the traffic, its agile movements drawing startled gasps and the sharp screech of brakes as it sped by.Geoffrey's sharp eyes, as cold and cutting as blades, remained fixed ahead. His trembling hands and reddened eyes betrayed the turmoil simmering beneath the calm demeanor he had shown in front of his father moments earlier.Yes, Chloe was already with Lionel. She was nothing more than an unattainable longing for him, a bittersweet yearning buried deep in his heart. Yet today, even that fragile dream had been cruelly shattered!The woman he had cherished, the one he had dreamt of for sleepless nights, had, in a blink of an eye, become his sister. The bitter irony gnawed at his soul like a cruel joke.He had loved her for so long, rejected countless others, and anchored all his hopes on the one woman he thought he could have. But fate, in the form of his own father's indiscretions, had crushed his dreams underfoot.Should