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
The group took their seats.Jacob clenched his fists, his liver practically aching with anger at Lionel's arrogance. Madge had to throw him several warning glances to keep him from lashing out.If it weren't for the fact that the wedding was fast approaching, and provoking Lionel might jeopardize the whole thing, Jacob would have loved nothing more than to punch him."Lion, Joanna hasn't been giving you any trouble, has she?" Samuel took a sip of tea, carefully observing Lionel's expression.Lionel raised a brow. "Trouble? How could she? She's gentle, virtuous, and understanding."Whether Joanna was truly good or not wasn't for him to say—soon enough, they'd all see her true colors.Samuel's lips twitched. Lionel's indifferent tone made it impossible to tell if he was being sincere or sarcastic, so he could only chuckle awkwardly and sip his tea."Lion, everything is nearly ready on the Astralis side. Make sure your preparations are flawless—it has to be the best in the world! We can'
"Come here." Lionel beckoned to Chloe.Chloe hesitated as she descended the stairs, her voice laced with concern. "I... I didn't do it on purpose..."Before she could finish, Lionel pulled her into his embrace, his tone gentle. "It's fine. Also, don't be upset..."What worried Lionel most was Chloe bottling up her emotions and quietly fuming.He knew that even though she had outwardly agreed to let him handle the matter, she must still feel uneasy deep down.A crowd like this irritated him—let alone a woman carrying his child."I... I won't." Chloe shook her head lightly. She said that, but deep inside, a trace of annoyance lingered.Joanna returned after seeing the guests off, only to find Lionel and Chloe cozily nestled on the sofa, completely lost in each other.Pfft—She almost spat out blood in rage.How could there be such a stark contrast?!Just moments ago, she had acted coy and demure, trying to please him, but Lionel had been utterly indifferent—no, worse than that—disgusted
Florence carried a steaming bowl of soup and knocked on the door. When she heard Chloe's response, she pushed the door open and entered. Chloe had already changed into a loose, comfortable outfit."Chloe, have something to eat." Florence placed the tray on the windowsill and turned to leave."Wait," Chloe called out immediately.Florence stopped in her tracks. Truthfully, she was curious about what Chloe and Alex had discussed at the café, given they had spent quite some time there.While she wanted to believe that there was nothing between them, the lack of a reasonable explanation left her feeling uneasy. However, she was also afraid that Chloe might find out she had been following her.So, in reality, she had no real intention of leaving. The moment Chloe called her, she stopped right away, turning back with a look of anticipation.Chloe smirked internally. How could she not see through Florence's hesitation?Yet, just like Lionel, Florence had too much pride to admit it."Sit down
By dinnertime, Lionel had returned.Chloe came downstairs, deliberately carrying a bowl that Mandy had secretly taken from the kitchen for her. She placed it on the table in front of Joanna and Grace.With a bright smile, she turned to Joanna and said, "Joanna, your cooking is amazing! I'd love to learn from you someday."Joanna's delicate face stiffened for a moment before quickly returning to normal. She brushed her hair back and replied, "Oh no, I didn't make this. It was Grace. Right, Grace?"Joanna's fair complexion glowed under the lights as she turned her gaze to Grace, showing no hint of discomfort.However, Grace trembled when she was suddenly called out. Her lips twitched, and she stammered, "I—I...""Oh, Grace, why are you suddenly so shy? Everyone in this house knows how great your cooking is! Even the nutritionist says they want to learn from you."Joanna chuckled softly, but her eyes flickered with a sharp warning as she discreetly shot Grace a glare."I—I..." Grace was
Lionel carried Chloe in his arms and sprinted out to the courtyard. Just as he arrived, Barton pulled up in the car with a sharp screech, stopping right at Lionel's feet.Without hesitation, Lionel climbed in, and the Maybach shot out of the gates like an arrow. Florence and Joanna arrived moments later, only catching a fleeting glimpse of the speeding car."Chloe...wake up. Don't scare me..." Lionel patted Chloe's pale face, his usual composure shattered. The ever-cold and reserved man couldn't hide the tremor in his voice.Chloe remained motionless, eyes tightly shut, as if all life had drained from her body. Blood had already soaked through her nightgown, staining Lionel's pants as well.With trembling hands, he touched her face. A man who could remain unfazed even if the sky were to fall was now unable to bear the sight of the crimson pooling beneath her. His reddened eyes filled with moisture, a single tear slipping down and landing softly on C
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
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