Lionel squinted his eyes. He knew he couldn't make it far and needed to find a room immediately. Stumbling out of the private room, his body felt like it was about to explode from the searing heat coursing through him. His silver-gray shirt was already soaked through with sweat.
He staggered his way up to the VIP rooms on the 15th floor. As he stumbled toward a door, he was fortunate—it was unlocked and automatically opened. He needed to cool down his body fast.
As he lifted his leg to step inside, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a woman lurking under the dim, yellowish corridor light. She was acting suspiciously, glancing around nervously, and slowly edging closer to him.
Lionel rubbed his eyes. Despite his increasingly muddled mind, he recognized her immediately—she was the same woman who had been trying hard to flatter him with drinks earlier.
With his experience in dealing with women, he could tell what they were thinking with just a glance or a subtle gesture.
At first glance, he thought this woman seemed demure and elegant, a bit refreshing and unique. But at a second glance, her overly revealing low-cut dress and her bold moves when toasting him—those sultry, seductive eyes that screamed of her desire to pounce on him—disgusted him. The hypocrisy was nauseating.
Chloe walked cautiously, carefully checking the room numbers as she went. She was so focused that she didn't notice anyone at the door until she suddenly bumped into Lionel. She let out a startled cry, her eyes flashing with panic.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" She apologized, her head bowed, trying to sidestep Lionel and move past him.
But as they passed each other, Lionel grabbed her hand, his voice full of gritted anger and a murderous edge, "Bitch, no one dares to treat me like this!"
He believed that no one had ever dared to cross him. Yet here he was, being plotted against—by a mere woman, no less, and one as hypocritically self-righteous as her!
Chloe was stunned and flustered by Lionel's sudden action. "S-Sir, what are you doing?"
She was so shocked that she momentarily forgot to pull her hand away, but the scorching heat from Lionel's grip snapped her back to reality. She began desperately trying to yank her hand free.
"Still pretending?" Lionel shook his increasingly fuzzy head and sneered, "You've been cozying up to me all night, showing off your cleavage, stroking my thigh, all just to climb into my bed, haven't you?"
He thought she had drugged him, waiting for the moment the drug took effect to offer herself to him. Wasn't that her plan?
Her soft, delicate hand was cool to the touch, a stark contrast to the heat radiating from his body, and he found himself wanting to pull that coolness even closer.
Chloe's dark eyes quickly filled with terror. "W-What are you talking about?" Her voice trembled with anger. "Let go!" When she couldn't break free, she frantically used her other hand to help. In the struggle, Lionel's burning arm brushed against the cool softness of her skin.
A fire ignited in his eyes, burning brightly.
"Hmph, you're quite the actress!" More sweat dripped down his face as he realized that just a cold bath wouldn't be enough to cool him down tonight.
His gaze locked onto the smooth, white curve of her neck, and his body reacted sharply. He made a quick decision—whoever had the guts to drug him should be ready to face the consequences.
Right now, he didn't care if this woman was merely trying to seduce him or if she had some other agenda. Once tonight was over, he could deal with her and ensure she wouldn't cause any trouble.
Almost as soon as he made his decision, Lionel pulled the struggling woman into his arms and dragged her into the room.
***
On the other side of the corridor, a scantily clad woman watched the brief struggle between Lionel and Chloe.
At first, she was too stunned to react, but the sound of the door slamming shut jolted her back to reality. Her eyes filled with tears, glistening with hatred.
Before she could think any further, the door behind her silently opened. A strong male hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her inside.
"Ah…" Her scream was quickly muffled as she was thrown forcefully onto an enormous bed.
Before she could get up, three burly men pounced on her like ravenous wolves…
The other sideIn the dimly lit room, the atmosphere was hazy and suggestive. The sound of fabric tearing sharply cut through the air as the woman's long dress was ripped by the man's hands, scattering in tatters across the floor."Let... let me go..." Chloe's pleas were filled with fear as the man's sudden ferocity and the unbearable heat from his body made her tender skin burn painfully.Despite knowing she couldn't escape his clutches, she continued to beg, "Please... let me go..." Her voice trembled, and her tear-streaked face was a heart-wrenching sight.Lionel hesitated for a moment. The woman's delicate, white neck seemed to carry a subtle fragrance, and her trembling, bloodied lips were even more enticing.Her hands, crossed defensively over her chest, only drew more attention to her seductive allure. Her bare skin was pale and incredibly soft, like that of a fairy.After a brief hesitation, Lionel lost the last remnants of his rationality to the seductive woman. Like a predat
Chloe's legs trembled as she returned home, grateful that her mother and brother had already left, sparing them from witnessing her disheveled state. She filled the bathtub with steaming hot water and sank into it, allowing herself a moment of weakness in the small, confined space.As she stared at the bruises on her body, memories of last night's chaotic events flooded back, and scalding tears fell, mingling with the warm water. She couldn't understand why her life had taken such a disastrous turn. It must have started when she caused her father's death. She killed him, and now even the heavens were punishing her. Betrayed by both her boyfriend and her sister, as if that weren't enough, she had inexplicably ended up in bed with a stranger.She felt too ashamed to face anyone."Chloe..." Her father's bloodstained hand had grasped hers as he stroked her face with his dying breath. "My darling... I'm leaving... This family... depends on you now... Take care of your mother... take care o
Chloe was overwhelmed with worry about raising money, unaware that the internet and media were already in a frenzy.Shortly after noon, headlines like "Lionel Williams, CEO of K International Group, Spotted with Flora Miler at Paradiso" along with a series of photos started appearing online. Although Flora's face was blurred out, the news spread like wildfire.The public was in an uproar.Lionel Williams was the dream man of millions, admired for his near-godlike perfection. The sudden revelation of such a scandal involving him was shocking and unacceptable to many.Some sympathetic fans tried to defend Lionel, but the majority were relentless in their condemnation, hurling insults like "hypocrite," "shameless," and "disgusting."Posts and comments spread rapidly, intensifying the controversy. The internet was nearly brought to a standstill, and K International Group's stock took a significant hit.Lionel, caught completely off guard, was furious.He had personally witnessed his men d
Flora's surgery was over, and she woke up on the third day.Her eyes were vacant, her face paler than paper, and her lips were cracked and peeling. She clutched the blanket tightly around her, leaving only her face exposed, staring blankly at the ceiling, saying nothing. She didn't even drink when offered water, as if she had completely lost her mind.Blood transfusions and IV drips kept flowing into her, but no matter how much Donna coaxed her, Flora remained silent.Chloe and their mother were beside themselves with worry and went to ask the doctor what was going on. But the doctor was evasive, unwilling to say much. He only mentioned that Flora's illness was severe, affecting her nerves, and urged them to prepare the money for treatment and keep her calm. Any shock could be fatal.In the evening, a girl in the same hospital room was browsing the internet on her tablet when she suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my god! Lionel is getting married!"At the mention of Lionel's name, Flora's vacan
Hasn't she already slept with her man? Isn't she still standing here just fine? If Flora wanted her life, Chloe would probably let her take it without resistance, Chloe thought. It's what she owe... let it be... whatever comes, she'll take it.There was no sound from Flora, only the chilling sound of her laughter, tears streaming down her face as she laughed, her entire body shaking.Chloe watched her silently, waiting for her to release her emotions. Words of comfort wouldn't come out; since their father passed away, Chloe found herself becoming more cold-hearted."Chloe... I hate you!" Flora finally screamed.She knew it! She had always known!Chloe remained silent, waiting for her to continue."Lionel Williams, the president of K International Group, publicly announced that he wants to marry me... haha..." Flora trembled violently, her face as pale as a sheet, twisted in a grotesque expression."Congratulations!" Chloe said calmly, though her heart was in turmoil. Marrying into wea
"I want YOU to marry him!" Flora repeated, her gaze shifting from the ceiling to Chloe, filled with resentment and bitterness."No, that's impossible!" Chloe shot to her feet. Yes, she feared Flora's death, but she wouldn't allow herself to be manipulated. "Flora, are you out of your mind? Isn't he the man you've always wanted to marry?"Something about Chloe's words set Flora off. The moment she finished speaking, Flora burst into another round of loud, heart-wrenching sobs.Chloe was stunned. Could an illness really change someone's personality so drastically? In her memory, Flora had always been a tough, calculating character, not someone who would cry so easily."I want you to marry him. Will you do it or not?" Flora demanded between sobs, her eyes fixed on Chloe."I won't!"What new trick was Flora trying to pull? Wasn't Chloe already suffering enough? Did she really need to force her to marry the man who had destroyed her life?Chloe made up her mind—she would rather die than ma
Cold. Chloe's entire body felt as if it were enduring the chill of a midwinter night. She was like a solitary leaf trembling in the wind, on the brink of falling.Chloe knew very well that taking Flora's place in this marriage would mean the end of her own life.From that moment on, she would have to live under Flora's name, and the person known as Chloe—both in name and in existence—would disappear completely.So be it. This was the tragedy of being Chloe.The ivy crawled up the walls, its leaves so densely packed and vibrantly green that they almost glistened in the light, their life force palpable as they swayed in the breeze. Such was the brilliant life of the ivy. And her life? It was all shades of gray."Miss Flora!" A low male voice called from behind her.Chloe tensed, her hand gripping the ivy frozen in midair.Was he calling her? No, it couldn't be. She was Chloe! The thought flashed through her mind instinctively."Miss Flora!" The man called again.Yes, he was indeed calli
Chloe slowly turned around. Amos stood a short distance behind her.Flora's expression remained cold and detached as her gaze briefly swept over Amos. She then continued walking forward as if he didn't exist.Amos's eyes were filled with anger. How dare this woman ignore him! He vividly remembered the time when she clung to him like a delicate bird.Recalling the scene he just witnessed, his fists clenched, and his eyes reddened with fury. Watching her walk away, he shouted at her retreating figure, "You'd rather sell yourself than look at me! How could you be so cheap?"Chloe froze, biting her lip as she stopped in her tracks. She didn't turn around, gripping the fabric of her sleeve tightly. Treating his words like the barking of a stray dog, she resumed walking.Amos was utterly enraged by her indifference. "Is money all you care about? Fine! If you're selling, then sell yourself to me! I'll pay you double what you asked for!"This damned woman! He loved her so much, but she tossed