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
Chloe's piercing scream woke everyone in the house, and in an instant, the villa was ablaze with lights.Grace, Mandy, and a group of servants rushed upstairs and burst through the door, only to be struck speechless by the scene before them.Lionel lay in a pool of blood, wearing nothing but his underwear, while Chloe, trembling like a ghost, cowered nearby.It took only a glance for anyone to understand what had happened."Master…" Grace's voice quivered."Master…" The maids echoed in shock, scrambling toward Lionel, trying to lift him back into the room. But his large frame was too heavy for them to manage.Grace, being the most experienced, quickly dialed Barton and the family doctor. Barton and the doctor arrived swiftly, and only then were they able to move Lionel back into his room.Everyone was so busy with Lionel that no one paid any attention to Chloe. She leaned against the wall, frozen in the same position for what felt like an eternity.Her gaze was vacant, unfocused. Stil
As dawn broke, the villa, which had been quiet for only a short while, stirred back to life. Servants bustled about, cooking, fetching medicine—everyone was focused on Lionel.Lionel woke up, wincing at the pain in his head as his hand instinctively reached for the bandages. The memories of the previous night flooded back, hazy but vivid.That damn woman dared to hit him!"Ugh—" Furious, Lionel attempted to get up, but his hand brushed against his wound, making him grimace in pain."Master!" one of the maids who had been watching over him gasped. "Please, don't move, you're injured!""Get out!" With a wave of his hand, Lionel knocked over the medicine bottle and water cup, which clattered to the floor with a loud crash.The two young maids trembled in fear, stumbling out of the room and quickly ran to find Grace."This is a disaster," Grace muttered, hurrying to call the family doctor. But Lionel, already on edge, wasn't letting anyone near him.Bang!Lionel slammed the door, locking
Beads of sweat kept rolling down Lionel's forehead. He got up again. If he didn't deal with this woman today, how would he ever have control in this household again?Clenching her teeth, Chloe pushed Lionel hard before his hand could reach her neck. With a loud thud, Lionel fell back onto the bed.His mind spun with dizziness. Lionel closed his eyes for a moment, waiting for the dizziness to pass. When he opened them again, they were filled with a murderous rage."Master!" Grace gasped in shock, stepping forward to intervene. Was Chloe trying to get herself killed, treating Lionel so roughly?Barton grabbed Grace's arm and shook his head. Grace bit her lip, not daring to go against Barton's orders.With a sharp rip, Chloe yanked off the blood-soaked bandage from Lionel's head without giving him a chance to catch his breath.In reality, it wasn't as brutal as it seemed. Chloe was mindful of the wound, but when the tape pulled on his hair, she didn't care. Losing a few strands wouldn't
In the dining room, Lionel narrowed his long, sharp eyes, making his expression unreadable. He picked up the bowl of noodles and started eating in large gulps.Lionel's body was in remarkable shape; by the next day, he had already recovered to normal. The only sign of his injury was the bandage on his head, which couldn't be removed yet. Barton had moved Lionel's work back home, and the two of them retreated to the study.Meanwhile, Chloe, still recovering from Lionel's aggressive kiss, had also gone hungry the entire night.She woke up starving, but upon hearing noises outside, she realized Lionel was working from home. Not wanting to run into him, she decided not to leave her room.The thought of his beastly face filled her with a cold dread. She muttered to herself that she should've just let him burn with fever yesterday.Lionel was unpredictable, like a ticking time bomb. Chloe didn't want to provoke him with a wrong look or action, fearing he might explode and disturb the peace
Since Lionel's recovery, he resumed his work as usual, while Chloe, having no classes in the mornings, spent her time at home. She often sat on the swing, reading, feeling the breeze. When in the mood, she'd join the gardeners in learning about plants, trimming and pruning. In the afternoons, she'd go teach Lisa.The two rarely crossed paths, though Lionel would occasionally glance at Chloe sitting on the swing as he came home from work—though, of course, that didn't count as an encounter.When they did run into each other, Chloe would lift the corner of her mouth in a half-smile, while Lionel would raise an eyebrow. Their brief eye contact was indifferent, as if they were strangers.As for Chloe's clandestine meeting with a man at the cemetery and her overnight absence, not to mention her claim that Lionel had threatened to kill her, Lionel seemed to have either been too busy or simply forgotten about it, as he never brought it up again.Life seemed to have returned to how it was at
At Paradiso, the most telling sign of wealth and power is high-stakes gambling.This place isn't just a gathering spot for the city's elite but a must-visit for wealthy merchants from all over. However, the true gambling happens on the underground level, known only to diamond-level VIPs. Ordinary people are unaware of this secret. In the grand hall below, the sums wagered are jaw-dropping—one night's win or loss could buy a skyscraper, a yacht, an island, or even a small city.The casino hall was lavishly decorated. The floor was covered with bright red carpets, and the dazzling light from Bohemian crystal chandeliers cast a glow over the space. Surveillance cameras were discreetly placed at the entrance, on the ceilings, and above the gaming tables, constantly recording the activities inside.By 10 p.m., the casino was bustling. In the center of the hall, a slender woman swayed seductively as she performed a dance.At the bar, Geoffrey lazily swirled the whiskey in his glass, while L
"Ah! I'll notify the guards right away..." The secretary exclaimed, her face pale with fear, fumbling to make a call until Amos barked at her to stop."Get out! Close the door! I can handle this myself." Amos said sternly, and the secretary, trembling, shot him a glance before quickly exiting and shutting the door.Although Chloe had plunged the broken bottle into Amos's chest with fury, she was terrified herself, her face as pale as a sheet.She couldn't understand what had given her such courage. Trembling, she withdrew her hand, nervously twisting her fingers together."How could you be so cruel to me..." Amos gazed at her, pain flashing in his eyes.He ripped the broken bottle from his chest and tossed it into the trash. The wound wasn't deep, but the blood that splattered out was alarming. He felt pain, not just from the injury, but from a deeper heartache, as if the bottle had pierced countless wounds within him, making it hard to breathe.
Chloe rushed out of the villa, heading toward the Latham residence.As she reached the entrance, she saw several servants gathered outside. Lisa was being led by one servant, crying, while the others could not hold back their tears either.When Lisa saw Chloe, she immediately threw herself into Chloe's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Chloe... Waaa... My dad was taken away... I want my dad... Can you take me to see him?"Lisa's big eyes were red and swollen, her fair cheeks streaked with tears. Chloe hugged Lisa tightly, gently wiping her tears and soothing her. "Lisa, don't cry. Your dad will be okay. He'll be back soon."Though she tried to comfort her, Chloe understood that politics were complicated—who could say for sure?Having worked as a tutor for three years without incident, she had only limited interactions with Marcus but knew he wasn't the type to be corrupt.Once, she had witnessed someone claim Marcus had given him signific
(Flashback)That day, after Marcus and Chloe left Paradiso, Amos quickly followed suit.On the way back, he noticed something was off with his body. A chilling realization hit him: he had been slipped an aphrodisiac!No! Not just him—Marcus and Chloe had both been drugged! The red wine they drank had all come from the same bottle.Chloe had left with the drugged Marcus! His heart raced in panic. He ordered the driver to chase after Marcus; the amount he had drunk was excessive, and the effects of the drug were hitting hard and fast.It felt as if his body was about to explode, drenched in sweat. If he didn't find a woman soon, he might not survive!Just then, Flora's call came through."Amos, have you finished talking to your beloved? She's still waiting for you!" Flora's sugary voice made Amos wish he could reach through the phone and strangle her.This venomous woman must have orchestrated the whole thing!Amos gripped the phone tightly, growling through clenched teeth, "Where are y
After freshening up, food had been brought into the room, and the two sat in silence, as if nothing had happened, quietly eating.Chloe sat across from Lionel in revealing pajamas, boldly eating as if it were the most natural thing.In the past, she would have never dared to do this, rushing to hide under the covers after changing into her pajamas. But now, she was calm and collected in front of him, not a hint of embarrassment on her face.Her mind must be poisoned by the drugs!That was the only explanation Lionel could come up with.Strangely enough, he used to yearn for Chloe to wear such clothes and flaunt them in front of him, but now, seeing her sitting there made his eyes ache."Give me three million more, I need the money, and I'll pay you back however you want!" Chloe suddenly said, setting down her spoon. Her face remained cold, showing no shame despite asking for money.In the past, she would have scoffed at the idea of asking him for anything, yet now, her words flowed ou
As Chloe's awareness returned, shameful images flashed through her mind like scenes from a movie.She had thrown herself at Marcus, torn his clothes, and bitten his neck. They had held each other tightly on the bathroom floor...Oh God, how could she ever face anyone again?Despite her hazy consciousness, she vaguely remembered Lionel arriving just in time. It was he who had rescued her from the agony, not Marcus! Thankfully! Otherwise, she would have no choice but to die today.Relieved, yet the memories of her wild behavior started coming back.She had acted more disgracefully than a prostitute, and that thought broke her. Tears of frustration and sorrow streamed down her face.The proud woman she once was couldn't bear this version of herself. She was disgusted with herself to the point of wanting to disappear.Her tears flowed like a river, but they couldn't wash away her shame.“Shh, don't cry,” Lionel said softly, gently patting Chloe's back as she regained her clarity.His voic
"Lion…" Even in her dazed state, Chloe managed to call out Lionel's name. The moment she saw him, all the pain and frustration she'd been holding in exploded to the surface. Tears flowed uncontrollably, like a dam breaking. She began to sob, "Help me… please… I'm in so much pain… I feel like I'm dying...""Lionel?" Lionel's arrival clearly startled him.As Lionel looked into the bathroom, the sight of the two people clinging to each other made his blood boil. Every muscle in his body screamed with rage, and he was ready to kill!The terrified doctor at the door stammered, "They've… been drugged."If Lionel hadn't been aware of this beforehand, he would've killed Marcus on the spot—mayor or not, it wouldn't have mattered.In a flash, Lionel stormed into the room, but thankfully, the worst hadn't happened yet. He felt a wave of relief, though Chloe's sobbing and the pitiful state she was in broke his heart.Bending down, he roughly shoved Marcus aside, took off his coat, and covered Chl
Screech—The tires of the Bentley screeched sharply against the ground as it came to a stop. The Latham family had been waiting outside, and the doctor was already prepared.Marcus leaped out of the car in haste. He knew that if Chloe reached for him again or if he gave in, he wouldn't have the strength to resist. His self-control was already hanging by a thread.A group of people quickly rushed to support him."Hurry, give her the medication!" He roared at the doctor, drenched in sweat.The group hurriedly helped both of them into the house, administering the medication separately.After a moment, the doctor reported, "This isn't just a regular aphrodisiac. It's a rare and potent toxin, and the dosage is incredibly high. Prolonged exposure could seriously harm the body, especially for the woman.""What are we supposed to do, then?" Marcus was on the verge of losing his mind. He could feel it—despite the IV drip, the burning sensation inside him hadn't lessened one bit."The best solu
Chloe's beautiful eyes were filled with a mix of fear and confusion as she glanced at Marcus beside her.Although flames flickered in Marcus's gaze, and he could hardly resist the urge to pull Chloe into his arms, sensing her panic and distress, he forced a soft smile and reassured her in a gentle voice, "Don't be afraid! We've been drugged! I won't hurt you!"Even though he tried his best to stay composed, the tremor in his voice was unmistakable, and the smile on his lips was tinged with a bitter helplessness.He lifted his head and looked ahead, struggling to give his assistant an order, "Drive faster! Get us to the hospital!""But…," the assistant hesitated, his face showing deep concern and anxiety. "Sir, with your status, going to the hospital in this condition could harm your reputation. I think it would be better if I arrange for a doctor to come to the house.""That's fine!""No!"Both Chloe and Marcus shouted at the same time.They exchanged a glance before Marcus spoke up,
"Miss Miler, have a drink." Marcus poured Chloe a glass of red wine and placed it in front of her. His sharp, narrow eyes lingered on Chloe, as if he could see straight into her heart.He knew she must have been terrified earlier—her face still hadn't regained its color. A little wine could help calm her nerves.Chloe understood his intention. She nodded slightly, picking up the glass and sipping it slowly.As the two men clinked their glasses and discussed business, Marcus appeared to be agreeable on the surface, but in reality, he had already made up his mind. He had plenty of ways to ensure Amos would take a loss without even realizing it—and be grateful to him for it.After all, he was a politician.It took only about ten minutes for them to reach an agreement.Marcus stood up and shook Amos' hand, saying, "Amos, it's getting late. Do you mind if I give her a ride home? Women—once they've cooled down, a little sweet talk will do the trick."His words were perfectly crafted. They a