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.
"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