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
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
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
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
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
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
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
A few minutes later, Chloe and Alex stepped out and got into the car, speeding away.Joanna watched them leave with a smirk, eagerly anticipating that the two would soon check into a hotel together.But then, she saw the car take a turn—heading toward the outskirts instead. Her face instantly darkened.Meanwhile, Florence beamed with delight.It wasn't until Alex had safely dropped Chloe off and driven away that Joanna and Florence finally returned home.The moment Joanna stepped into the house, she was met with Lionel's icy gaze, as sharp as a blade. A shiver ran down her spine.Creak—He's home this early today?And what was that look in his eyes? As if she were his worst enemy, someone he wanted to tear apart with his bare hands.But Joanna was no ordinary woman.Deception was her greatest skill.Had it been anyone else, they would've turned pale with fear under Lionel's piercing stare. But J
Upstairs, Joanna was seething with rage.Everything seemed to be working against her.The stark contrast between Lionel's tenderness toward Chloe and his cold indifference toward her was unbearable. No matter what, she couldn't swallow this humiliation.Chloe was nothing more than a bitch who had climbed into Lionel's bed, yet she had managed to capture his full attention. Everything revolved around her.Not only did Lionel dote on Chloe, but even the servants treated her with the utmost respect. Even Florence seemed to hold her in high regard.And Joanna? No matter where she went, she was unwelcome. Even when she stripped naked before Lionel, he couldn't be bothered to give her a glance. This was the greatest humiliation of her life!For the sake of her dignity, she had to marry Lionel.Her carefully laid plans had been thrown into disarray. She had been certain that the art center would be easily shut down—until Alex barged in and turned the situation around.Fine. Since Alex had co
Slap!A sharp, crisp sound echoed as Joanna's face was harshly turned to the side, blood beginning to seep from her lips.Samuel shook with anger. After such a scandal, how could he face everyone here?"From now on, I sever all ties with her!" Samuel spat out, his voice filled with fury. He staggered back, nearly collapsing, but his subordinates rushed forward to steady him.Chloe stood frozen, stunned by the scene, when suddenly someone pulled her from behind, dragging her into a nearby makeshift lounge."Hahaha..." Joanna's laughter suddenly broke out, manic and unhinged.Her laugh was chilling, and the little boy next to her shrank back in fear. "Mommy, what's happening?""Shut up! Get away, bastard!" Joanna screamed, causing the boy to burst into loud sobs."Joanna... you've gone too far!" The blonde man hurried over, his face cold as he scooped the child into his arms and left the venue."Haha..." Joanna continued to laugh, swaying back and forth. She looked at Lionel, his cold,
"I'll cry if I want to. What's the matter? You can't stand it? If you don't like it, I'll go back to my mom's!" Chloe threatened, her hands on her hips, showing her teeth.Lionel raised an eyebrow. In the whole world, there was only one person who dared to threaten him—her! He quickly pulled Chloe into his arms, coaxing, "Alright, you can do whatever you want, I'll follow your lead. But please, don't make me worry so much. And from now on, you're not leaving my sight for a single second."What a joke—if she left, what would he do at night? He'd already gotten used to having her by his side. He couldn't function without her.A wave of worry washed over him. She now had her real father. Today, she was using her mom to threaten him—would she use her dad to threaten him tomorrow? What about her brother the day after?No! No! Anyone, but not her brother! Thinking of how Geoffrey once doted on her, Lionel's face darkened. From now on, he couldn't let Geoffrey anywhere near her—even if he we
Lionel watched as the people quickly fled, his narrow eyes darkening. He turned to Barton beside him and said, "Take care of this."With that, his tall figure swiftly moved towards the restroom.For some reason, he had felt uneasy all day.When he heard "someone's been killed," his heart was pierced with a sharp sting. The unease inside him deepened; he needed to see it for himself.As someone's face turned ashen, they quietly slipped out of the venue while Barton was busy calming the crowd."Lion..."Chloe's voice broke the silence, and Lionel froze. He looked up to see the familiar face, and her voice, thick with emotion, caused tears to well up in her eyes, which then fell, trembling.She had been so strong just moments ago, but the moment she saw Lionel, her heart felt fragile, as if it could shatter with a single breath.Seeing Chloe like this, Lionel was horrified. Blood was everywhere on her lips, and it sent a sharp pain through his chest. Without a second thought, he rushed t
Eamonn had been salivating over Chloe for a long time.To get to her, he had even used his proximity to Cynthia as a stepping stone, but little did he know, Lionel had beaten him to the punch.Even though Eamonn had the desire, he lacked the courage to act on it. He harbored those thoughts but never dared to lay a hand on Chloe.But when he was assigned a task—to torment Chloe, with the promise of a bright future and wealth beyond measure—he found himself going all in.As a man, there are always those few moments of madness in life. This was his chance. If he completed his task, not only would he rise in rank, but he would also fulfill his deepest desires."Monster!" Chloe broke free from one of his hands and slapped him across the face.Eamonn's face instantly bore five red marks from her fingers.He sneered, his voice cold and menacing. "Bitch! Still playing the innocent virgin? I'll make sure you regret this today."The devilish tone in his voice, combined with the devilish look on
"Chloe... long time no see." Eamonn shamelessly stood only a few steps away from Chloe, his body inching closer with each passing moment.Ever since Cynthia's accident, he had disappeared without a trace, and Chloe couldn't understand why he'd suddenly reappeared now."What are you doing here?" Chloe's voice was icy, and she showed no sign of warmth towards him.The mere sight of him reminded her of poor Cynthia, and the anger within her grew even stronger. Seeing him advance with that sinister glint in his eyes set off alarm bells in her mind."Stop!" Chloe took a large step back, not caring that her dress was still wet. She hurriedly wrapped a coat around herself.Eamonn ignored her words, his face still twisted with a smirk, taking a few more steps forward."Chloe, don't be like this. I'm not a virus. Why are you so afraid of me getting closer? It's been so long, and I have so much to say to you."He raised his hand, trying to grab Chloe's.Chloe swung her arm out to the side, evad
In the morning, Chloe and Lionel walked downstairs to find Joanna already seated at the dining table."Good morning, Lion, Chloe," Joanna greeted them with a graceful smile, delicately sipping her milk.Her gaze involuntarily shifted to Chloe's neck, and as expected, the marks from last night's kiss were still clearly visible.The sounds she overheard at the door yesterday flashed through Joanna's mind. Bitch! she cursed silently.Lionel ignored Joanna's greeting, and Chloe merely snorted in response. They both sat down to breakfast. As usual, Lionel fussed over Chloe, fetching this and that for her, while Joanna seemed to vanish into thin air, like a mere background figure.Since Lionel had ordered Lumina to be blacklisted, all those who once courted favor with K Group had severed ties with the company, leaving Lumina on the brink of collapse.While Lionel was listening to Barton's report, his phone rang.It was his father. Immediately, Lionel's face darkened."What is it?" he asked,
"Joanna, you're drunk! Calm down." Heather's voice was low and firm as he grabbed Joanna's wrist without hesitation, stopping her just as she lunged at him.Was she really drunk? Or just pretending?Heather's sharp tone, coupled with the pain shooting through her wrist, made Joanna freeze. Her dewy eyes instantly filled with tears."You yelled at me? You never raise your voice at me. You never refuse me. What's wrong with you? Don't tell me… your love for me was a lie?"Her lips trembled, and—plop—a single tear slid down her cheek. Joanna's delicate face was full of grievance as she accused Heather of turning against her.She really had gone mad.He had loved her. He had sincerely begged her to stop chasing after Lionel and to stay with him instead. He had been willing to take responsibility for their one-time mistake, promising to make her happy.But she had refused to even look at him, discarding him like a worthless rag.And now, after failing to win another man's love, after feelin
Joanna burned with jealousy, seething with anger as she stormed in. She grabbed Chloe off the bed and dragged her out, ready to feed her to the wolves.Bitch!Normally, Joanna could let things slide, but not now. What the hell was this? She'd just had a miscarriage a week ago, barely gotten back home, and now she was back in bed with a man?!Joanna cursed Chloe fiercely in her mind, but then, oddly, a sense of satisfaction crept in. She knew that a woman who had just miscarried shouldn't be anywhere near a man in bed. That was basic knowledge. But the fact that Lionel didn't care about Chloe's condition, that he was dragging her into bed as soon as he got home—well, that only proved one thing: he saw her as nothing more than a tool.If he truly loved her, he would have been more considerate!This meant that in Lionel's eyes, Chloe was nothing special either!Ha! What was there to be angry about now?Let them have their fun, let them wreck her completely, turn her into trash.Joanna fe
Chloe lost her child, and Joanna couldn't contain her delight. She hummed a cheerful tune, suddenly finding everyone pleasant to look at and treating everyone with uncharacteristic warmth and kindness.Mandy, on the other hand, was seething with resentment, while Grace spent her days on edge, terrified of Lionel's return and the punishment that might await her.A week passed, and Chloe finally returned from the hospital.Joanna, who had been all smiles for days, found her grin vanishing the moment she laid eyes on Chloe.In her mind, Chloe had tried to use the child in her womb to secure her place, and now that she had lost the baby, her bargaining chip was gone. Even if she didn't take her own life, she should at least be devastated—frail, despondent, a step away from death.Yet, after a week, Chloe looked radiant, her complexion even more glowing than before!There was no sign of grief over losing her child—she was laughing and