In the darkness, a pair of bright eyes stayed fixed on the few figures moving downstairs.Finally, dawn broke.The night had been endlessly long. Chloe felt as if her entire body had fallen apart. She ached all over, her stomach cramped painfully, and her mouth tasted bitter. Her head throbbed like it had been slammed in a door."Ugh..." She turned over, and with a loud thud, she hit the ground."Ouch!" Chloe cried out in pain. Poor back! She had no choice but to open her eyes. A completely unfamiliar environment filled her vision, startling her. She quickly scrambled to sit up.God, where was she?Her hands pressed against something cold. Looking down, she realized she was on the floor!Lifting her gaze, she saw a wooden frame in front of her. On top of the frame was a wooden board, acting as a makeshift bed. Judging by the messy sheets on it, she had probably just fallen off that thing.Rubbing her head, Chloe stood up and looked around. The room was full of tools—hoes, sickles, gar
When Chloe arrived at Lisa's home, she found Lisa watching TV. As soon as Lisa saw Chloe, she ran over and hugged her tightly."Chloe, I missed you so much!" Lisa snuggled against Chloe, acting playful.Lisa was eight years old, a sweet and rosy-cheeked little girl, though her deep, dark eyes often carried a hint of sadness and loneliness. Every day, Chloe's piano lessons were the happiest part of her day."Lisa! Mind your manners.," a voice scolded from behind. Chloe turned slightly and saw Marcus, dressed casually, with a faint smile."Mr. Latham, how come you're home today?" Chloe greeted him with a soft smile. The man was so busy every day that he would actually have time to watch TV with Lisa today."Yeah… Lisa's health is a bit delicate, so I thought it'd be better to stay home with her today." Dressed casually, Marcus looked even younger, like a man in his late twenties. His smile was like a ray of sunlight—warm and comforting."Lisa, let go!" Marcus's voice was gentle, his eye
Her vision blurred instantly, and Chloe couldn't make out the exact details of how long she'd supposedly been dead."Mom..." Chloe's voice choked with emotion as she looked up at Donna. "What does this mean?! You can't tolerate me anymore? Do you wish I were dead? I've already lost myself—I sold my soul to take Flora's place. And now, you won't even allow me to keep my name?"That was the only proof Chloe still existed!In the government records, she was already listed as a dead person—completely erased. Chloe Miler had vanished entirely.Tears flowed silently down her cheeks as she closed her eyes.Chloe's desperate accusation caused a sharp pain in Donna's chest. She grabbed her daughter's hand, trying to explain, "Chloe, it's not what you think. Flora only did this because she was scared that if... if they found out we lied to them, our entire family would be doomed...""Hah..." Chloe let out a tearful laugh. "So, in the end, you're just trading my death for your own survival! Mom,
At 11 p.m., the villa was brightly lit.The servants and housekeeper stood in two rows in the hall, heads lowered, nervously wringing their hands, not daring to breathe too loudly.Lionel paced back and forth, his handsome face icy, hands stuffed into his pockets. His hazel eyes had darkened to match the night outside.For half an hour, he hadn't said a word, only mechanically repeating his pacing. The overwhelming aura of authority surrounding him seemed to cast the entire room into a state of stillness, as if everything had fallen into a deep slumber.It was quiet. Unbearably quiet.Mandy cautiously glanced up, her voice barely above a whisper as she broke the tense silence. "Sir, maybe you should rest. The madam is probably just delayed by something..."Lionel paused for a moment but then continued his pacing.Grace shot Mandy a glare and spoke up. "Sir, I reminded madam this morning to come home early. But, you know, she has a habit of... coming back late. Perhaps you should just
That night, Lionel returned home. After dinner, he went straight to his study without a word about Chloe, and he didn't go to her room to check on her either.Mandy felt uneasy. Did Lionel really need to act this way? She might not be married, but she wasn't completely ignorant about relationships between men and women. On the surface, Lionel seemed to despise Chloe, but deep down... he must care for her, right? Otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed in so anxiously that morning.Men of status and power often focus on their careers, never allowing a woman to dictate their actions or delay their important matters.Sighing, Mandy thought to herself, This house is full of opportunists! Since Chloe wasn't in Lionel's favor, no one cared about her well-being.Taking one last glance at the light coming from the study, Mandy sighed again before heading back to Chloe's room to care for her.She wasn't sure how long it had been, but while dozing off beside Chloe's bed, a faint sound of the door op
Another day passed, and Chloe remained in a daze, sleepily drinking the porridge that was fed to her, drifting in and out of consciousness. Her fever had gone down, but she was still in a deep sleep.That night, Mandy expected Lionel to come to Chloe's room again, as he had the previous night. She waited by Chloe's bedside, but as the night turned to morning, she realized Lionel hadn't come.What was going on with him?Mandy couldn't guess Lionel's thoughts. Disappointed, she got up, stretched her stiff neck, and hurried downstairs to prepare soup for Chloe.By late morning, Chloe finally woke up, feeling famished.Just as Mandy entered with food, she exclaimed, "Ma'am, you've slept for two days! You gave me quite a scare.""Really?" Chloe rubbed her head apologetically. "Have you been taking care of me this whole time? Thank you!"From what she remembered, Mandy was the only person in this house who didn't give her a hard time or treat her coldly. If anyone had taken care of her whil
As Chloe stepped out of Lisa's house, the sky had already darkened. After being absent for two days and saying those alarming words to Lisa on the phone, she had scared the poor girl half to death. Lisa had clung to her, refusing to let her leave until Chloe finally managed to calm her down and slip away.Taking out her phone, Chloe dialed Cynthia. As soon as the call connected, Cynthia's scolding came through loud and clear: "Chloe, you're still alive! Saying stuff like that on the phone, weren't you afraid I'd jump off a building out of panic? If someone around you hadn't explained, I would've rushed over to kill you myself!""I'm sorry, Cynthia. I was sick and delirious.""Hmm, alright, as long as you're back to normal now. By the way... your family moved, right? I heard your sister's husband paid for a mansion. So, where's the new place? I'm thinking I should come visit sometime and celebrate with you."Chloe's breath hitched, her hand instinctively covering her chest as her heart
In her dream, Chloe felt a dog licking her face, its tongue leaving a sticky, uncomfortable sensation. It felt dirty and itchy. She waved her hand to shoo it away."Stop it... be a good dog and go to sleep..." The dog obediently stopped licking her face, and Chloe smiled, thinking how well-behaved it was.But soon after, the sticky sensation returned, this time on her neck. The dog was licking her neck now. She twisted and turned, but couldn't avoid it.The dog seemed heavy, pressing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe. Her eyelids felt heavy, and she just wanted to sleep. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake off the dog.Growing annoyed, Chloe mumbled a warning, "If you don't stop, I'll hit you!"She waved her fist, ready to strike.But this dog was relentless. Not only did it not fear her fist, it continued its assault, moving to her chest.Her chest?!Suddenly, all traces of sleep vanished. Chloe's eyes flew open, and she realized that her chest felt cold, an
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
As Chloe left the art center with Lisa at the end of the workday, they lingered at the entrance for a moment before Marcus arrived."Chloe, thank you so much…" Marcus said warmly as he stepped out of his car, his gratitude evident in his smile."It was nothing," Chloe replied, her lips curving into a faint smile. She couldn't help but take a moment to observe Marcus. Despite the time that had passed, he was still the same man she once knew—handsome, charming, and exuding an aura that made him an ideal partner in the eyes of many women.Yet, behind that polished exterior lay a man who had endured the pain of losing his beloved wife at such a young age. It took extraordinary strength to bury that grief and carry on with his responsibilities."I truly don't know how to thank you," Marcus said, his voice touched with emotion."There's no need," Chloe replied, waving her hands dismissively. "I enjoy spending time with Lisa.""Lisa, i
Florence was shopping at the mall. Joanna had returned, and she wanted to pick out an outfit as a gift for her.Having grown up together, they shared similar tastes in brands and styles. Their clothing was always high-end, limited edition pieces that highlighted the elegance and prestige of their upbringing. The kind of outfits that, when worn, exuded sophistication and grace, ensuring they became the center of attention wherever they went.A group of sales assistants hovered around Florence, their golden customer, tirelessly recommending items and gesturing enthusiastically. But Florence was someone with her own strong opinions. No matter how sweetly the saleswomen smiled or how honeyed their words were, Florence remained unmoved unless she truly liked what she saw."Well, shopping for clothes, are we?" A tall figure suddenly appeared, blocking Florence's view.Florence looked up and was greeted by Alex's radiant, sunshine-like smile.Alex?! What
Before Chloe found herself in Orchard Village, Flora had already shown signs of mental instability. Due to Chloe's disappearance and Donna's failure to secure a reputable hospital in time, Flora was admitted to a psychiatric institution.That afternoon, Chloe and Donna visited Flora at the hospital. Flora looked significantly thinner and was still in the same state as before—vacant, with a silly grin on her face.Clutching a pillow tightly, she repeatedly called it "baby." When she saw Chloe, her gaze turned dark and menacing. Pointing a trembling finger at Chloe, she lunged forward, screaming, "You evil woman! You killed my child! I'll strangle you!"Several doctors rushed in and restrained her just in time, preventing her nails from scratching Chloe's face.Did Flora still recognize her?Chloe studied Flora's pale face as the doctors held her down. Flora's constant struggling twisted her features grotesquely. Only after being administered a
In the morning, Lionel opened the car door as usual and stepped into his Maybach, ready to head to work."Lion, wait for me."Joanna called out, striding over in a chic plaid winter dress paired with a pure white cashmere vest and knee-high boots. Her wavy hair swayed in the crisp morning breeze with every step.Lionel paused. Joanna met his cold gaze as she confidently slid into the Maybach."Starting today, I'll be working at K Group,"Joanna declared, brushing her hair back casually. Her delicate features, perfectly complemented by just the right amount of makeup, exuded sophistication, elegance, and allure—a vision of beauty capable of capturing any man's attention."Are you joking?"Lionel frowned, his gaze brushing over her charming face without betraying any emotion."I'm serious! With my dual doctorates, do you really think I'm not qualified? Or would you rather I consult Grandfather about this?"Joanna replied con
Chloe's body stiffened, her shy smile frozen on her face. It had been about ten minutes since Joanna had called for them, and Chloe had assumed she had already gone downstairs. Who would have thought Joanna was still waiting here!Chloe wasn't used to being affectionate with Lionel in front of others.She immediately tried to pry Lionel's hands off her waist, but he tightened his grip instead, his hold becoming even more possessive as if to show off."Lion, Chloe, I thought you didn't hear me," Joanna said with a radiant smile as she gazed at the two of them. The blush on Chloe's cheeks, her slightly swollen lips, and Lionel's brooding, unsatisfied expression were all captured in her perceptive gaze. "Did I... interrupt something?" She stepped back awkwardly, giving way at the door."Oh, no, not at all," Chloe quickly responded, her face flushing even more as Lionel kept his silence, his darkened expression betraying his mood. Unlike him, Chloe wasn't rud