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.
Amos reacted quickly. Before Lionel could approach, he strode across the terrace and slipped back into the ballroom, blending into the crowd."What are you doing out here alone?" Lionel repeated, glancing toward where Amos had disappeared. The dim light on the terrace only allowed him to catch a vague shadow. His eyes flickered before they settled on Chloe, who was huddled in the corner.When Lionel had entered the ballroom earlier, he had looked everywhere but couldn't find Chloe. He assumed she'd grown impatient and gone home.Only after calling the house did he realize she hadn't returned. After searching again, he found her hiding on the terrace.She had complained before about not being acknowledged publicly, and now she was hiding herself—what was she trying to do?Chloe's heart raced as she struggled to suppress her panic. She never expected Lionel to come looking for her here.She cast a nervous glance toward the direction Amos had left, confirming there was nothing there befo
The ballroom, lively just moments before, fell silent as a dazzling couple made their entrance.The men's gazes were drawn to Chloe, captivated by her graceful figure, her alluring, pale neck, and her enchanting curves. Blood rushed through their veins as they wondered who this stunning woman was. She didn't seem to belong to the world of business elites. Was she some sort of ethereal beauty, descended from the heavens? She had a crystal-like purity, so fragile and untouchable, yet they couldn't help but long to reach out.The women, on the other hand, couldn't tear their eyes away, tracking Chloe's every move. They looked at Lionel with admiration and longing, but when their gaze fell on Chloe, it turned to envy and hatred. If only they could push her out of the way and take her place by Lionel's side!Lionel walked confidently with Chloe at his side, tightening his grip around her waist every time they passed someone.His icy stare seemed to send a message to everyone around them: a
Chloe felt as though she was sitting on pins and needles.It was as if there was a tiger right beside her, its piercing gaze almost slicing through her like infrared rays, reading her very soul.Across from her, another set of eyes seemed to glance over casually, but deep down, she knew Amos was really watching her.Her heart pounded with anxiety. She was terrified that Lionel would notice something off between her and Amos.The nervousness made her breathing rapid, and her stomach began to cramp. Instinctively, her hands moved to her abdomen.Lionel, always sharp as a hawk, noticed Chloe's distraction. Her absent-mindedness had not escaped his attention from the moment they arrived.Lowering his head, he leaned closer to whisper in her ear, "Are you feeling unwell again?"What is she thinking about? He wondered, frowning slightly."No," Chloe forced a smile, trying to maintain her composure.Lionel said nothing further. He merely placed some dessert on her plate and gently urged, "Ea
"What's wrong?" Florence, sitting nearby, noticed Chloe clutching her stomach and quickly stood up, alarmed. "Your stomach still hurts? I'll call the doctor right now." She turned, about to rush out of the room."It's fine! It doesn't hurt anymore," Chloe called out, stopping Florence in her tracks."Really?" Florence asked, skepticism written all over her face."Really. I'm fine now!" Chloe reassured her repeatedly, and only then did Florence hesitate and sit back down.Chloe's heart warmed a little more toward Florence. Despite her sharp tongue and haughty demeanor, Florence's actions often spoke otherwise. Her arrogance was merely a mask to hide her true self.No matter how harsh her words or domineering her tone, at crucial moments, her kindness would shine through."Florence, you should go back. It's boring here, and I'm really okay now. It's just menstrual cramps. I'll probably be discharged this afternoon.""Alright! I'm leaving then. Take care and call me if you need anything,
"You're showing signs of a threatened miscarriage, and there's already some bleeding!" The middle-aged female doctor spoke with a tone of reproach. "Sigh, you have to be extremely careful during the first three months.""Ah..." Chloe's mind went blank, like a bomb had gone off in her head. "Th-Threatened miscarriage?" She repeated the doctor's words in a daze, completely unable to process what was happening. Her expression was blank, as if she had just been struck by lightning."Yes. Don't you know you're pregnant?" The doctor looked at her with surprise."Wait, you mean I'm...pregnant?" Chloe stammered, the news hitting her like a tidal wave. "How is that possible?" she murmured, almost to herself.She and Lionel had always used contraception. Even on the rare occasions they didn't have time to use protection, she had taken emergency contraceptives afterward. Where did things go wrong? She had always been so meticulous about this!Seeing Chloe still in shock, the middle-aged doctor v
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