The basement floor of the casino was brightly lit, with sections for high-stakes gambling, wine tasting, and late-night dining, all cleverly separated by spending categories. The place buzzed with excitement, luxurious yet not chaotic, showcasing the venue's unique charm.Chloe sat with Cynthia in an opulent private room, holding a drink in her hand. Cynthia was already showing signs of being tipsy.When Chloe first stood at the entrance of Paradiso, she realized that the "secret spot" Cynthia had mentioned was anything but ordinary. She wanted to leave immediately, but seeing Eamonn holding Cynthia close with a protective, almost theatrical tenderness, she found herself unable to walk away.Once inside the underground casino, it became clear that even regular members of high society couldn't easily access this place. Eamonn was, after all, just a fresh graduate with a decent job—how did he manage to get them in here?After settling them in, Eamonn had immediately disappeared into the
At that moment, Eamonn appeared out of nowhere, wrapping his arms around Cynthia. "Are you alright, sweetheart? Did he scare you?"Cynthia remained unaffected by his apparent concern. Looking ahead in a daze, she asked, "Who is he?""Lionel Williams," Eamonn replied with an air of knowledgeable reverence. "He's a big shot at Westridge. If he wants someone dead, they might not live another minute!" His tone was filled with admiration and envy."Chloe is really lucky!" Eamonn's voice had a touch of bitterness and mockery."What do you mean?" Cynthia, though still dazed, detected something unusual and turned to Eamonn, searching for clues on his face.The name sounded familiar, and his face seemed vaguely recognizable. Eamonn rubbed his nose, a glint in his eye. "I mean, if she can hook up with a man like Lionel, that's a huge stroke of luck!"Cynthia felt a pang in her chest. The once princely Eamonn now seemed entirely different, his warmth and harmless demeanor a mere mask. The man be
Chloe's back, stomach, legs, and arms were covered in bruises, with the most severe one on her thigh. Her ankle was slightly dislocated from being stepped on.Thankfully, as she had said, it was all superficial.Lying on the bed, Chloe felt like she was a piece of art being scrutinized under Lionel's intense gaze. Uncomfortable, she turned her head to the side.Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Chloe gritted her teeth and growled, "Have you looked enough? Can I get up now?"Leaning down, Lionel grabbed her trembling chin, his eyes blazing with anger. "You still dare to act tough? You should be grateful it's just superficial injuries. Otherwise, I wouldn't let you off so easily!"For a moment, there was an odd implication in Lionel's words, but Chloe dismissed it as an illusion. She almost wanted to laugh. If her injuries had been worse, he wouldn't let her off? What was wrong with this man?A sneer formed on Chloe's lips as she recklessly replied, "You must be really bored if you
Soon, Lionel regretted it—he regretted it so much that it hurt deeply!Every man that passed by cast obsessive glances in their direction, and some even kept looking back long after they'd walked away."Bang!" One man, completely mesmerized by the figure behind him, walked straight into a wall.Lionel's eyes were full of stormy fury.In the lobby, the burning gazes directed at them were so many, they felt like an intricate web closing in. Even though Lionel shot murderous glares at anyone who dared to look, some men still stared at Chloe, speechless, practically drooling.Just as Chloe felt the world darken before her eyes, Lionel had already thrown his jacket over her, covering her up completely."What are you doing?" Chloe angrily shoved it off, the jacket slipping down. She couldn't see—how was she supposed to walk?Lionel yanked it back up, covering her until only her head was exposed."Lionel, are you insane?""You are mine!" Lionel's voice was cold. He pulled her close and heade
As they spoke, Lionel had already carried Chloe into the bathroom, placing her in the water with her clothes still on.Chloe had been feeling sticky and uncomfortable for a while, and now the warm water soothing her injured body made her feel much better.But suddenly, a large hand reached over and began undoing the buttons on her shirt...Chloe immediately grabbed his hand and glared at Lionel. "What are you doing?""Taking off your clothes.""Why are you... taking off my clothes?!""To wash you," Lionel replied with a wicked grin. "How can I clean you properly if you're still dressed?"He had to be out of his mind! He'd always looked down on her, treating her with disdain and refusing to touch her. But now, it seemed like today, no matter if she was rotten meat or cheap, he was determined to have her.Chloe was furious. "Get away from me!""If you don't shut up, I'll kiss you," Lionel threatened, continuing to undo her buttons."You—" Chloe tried to speak again, but true to his word
In the spacious and brightly lit office, a man in a tailored suit sat in a leather swivel chair, his gaze distant and unfocused.Bang!The door burst open.A woman with shoulder-length hair sashayed toward the man. Her tight gold mini dress, too narrow for comfort, perfectly outlined her curves. Her long legs, smooth like white jade, made her appear even taller. Her pale, delicate face, lightly made up, was stunningly beautiful.The man's gaze returned to her, landing on her face, and he couldn't help but call out, "Chloe..."A triumphant smile spread across the woman's gorgeous face.Wearing 13-centimeter heels, she seductively flipped her hair and shyly whispered, "Amos..."Her voice was a mix of softness and allure—three parts demure, seven parts provocative.Her tone sent a shiver down the man's spine, snapping him out of his trance. The tenderness in his eyes vanished, quickly replaced by a layer of frost.His sharp gaze scanned the woman. 13-centimeter heels? A tight, short dres
At the William Estate.Sitting on the swing, Chloe regretted just one thing: she never should have provoked Lionel!That night, she had told him they had nothing to do with each other, and since then, Lionel had gone mad! He not only moved her into his master bedroom, but he also held her captive in his arms.During the day, if he was home for meals, she had to accompany him. To make matters worse, Lionel, who previously never ate lunch at home, suddenly decided he needed to—forcing her to not only share his bed but also every meal.Chloe knew Lionel was asserting his dominance, retaliating for angering him. She had tried to resist, but Lionel was more overbearing than she imagined. Whenever she dared to say "no," he either silenced her with a kiss or scooped her up in his arms, making her uncomfortable no matter who was watching.From afar, she saw Lionel returning. As soon as he turned his head, she quickly looked away, pretending not to notice.Not five minutes passed before a serv
Two days later.In the evening, Chloe was once again summoned back to the bedroom by the servant.Lionel tossed her an elegant-looking box and said, "Try it on. If it doesn't fit, there's still time to alter it."Chloe frowned in disdain. More clothes? Lionel must be out of his mind. Just a few days ago, he had brought her an entire wardrobe full of clothes, filling every inch of the closet. And now, this again? He might not be tired of it, but she certainly was.She turned away, not wanting to engage with him.Lionel grabbed her arm. "Do you need me to help you change?" he asked, his tone cold.Chloe shot him a frosty glare. Fine, if he was going crazy, she'd just have to go along with it!Shaking off his hand, she took the box and walked into the dressing room.Inside was a white evening gown.The craftsmanship and fabric were exceptional, silky and smooth to the touch. The design around the chest and waist was especially eye-catching, with embedded diamonds sparkling in the light.