"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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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