Lionel's sharp gaze swept across the room, but Flora pretended not to notice. She picked up her knife and fork, cutting into her steak while obediently eating all the dishes Lionel placed before her.To her surprise, the food actually suited her palate. She ate with gusto, masking her inner anxiety and avoiding the cold, piercing look Lionel was giving her, as if he were about to tear her apart.What's with her? She had just said she wasn't hungry, yet now she's devouring everything like a wolf.Lionel's eyes remained fixed on the woman beside him, something nagging at him. Something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. His dark, brooding gaze scanned her from head to toe, cold and unreadable.It was still her face, still the same woman. She ate everything he gave her without protest, obedient as ever.How absurd. He actually found himself thinking she seemed like a different person. Could it be that he had gotten so used to her defiance that her sudden compliance felt
Lionel kicked the door open forcefully.She was standing at the sink, splashing water onto her face.Lionel paused, surprised. She had moved quickly. He was sure he had seen her heading towards the exit, but in the blink of an eye, she was here.Had he seen it wrong?As the door flew open with a bang, Chloe, mid-splash, saw Lionel's dark expression through the mirror.Had Flora been discovered?That realization hit Chloe like a bolt of lightning. Her pupils dilated, panic filled her eyes, and her entire body began to tremble uncontrollably. Her heart twisted painfully in her chest, as if all the air had been sucked out of her lungs. She felt like she was suffocating, her face drained of color, pale as paper.Her legs gave way beneath her, and she swayed, about to collapse.Lionel reacted quickly, wrapping an arm around her slender waist.He took in her bloodless face, her eyes wide with fear, and her delicate, icy-cold fingers in his hand. She looked terrified, trembling even in his e
"No... don't... let her go! Don't hurt her! You animals..." Chloe screamed desperately, watching a group of men tear at Flora's clothes.She cried out in anguish, trying to reach Flora, to pull the men off her, but her limbs were weak, powerless. All she could do was watch helplessly as those beasts did as they pleased.Suddenly, someone began to rip Chloe's own clothes. Rip! The sound of fabric tearing filled the air, and she felt the cold air hit her exposed skin. She wrapped her arms around herself, kicking and hitting in a frenzy."Get away! Get away! Please... please, let me go..." She struggled and screamed. Lionel grabbed her and tossed her onto the bed like a ragdoll.Then came the pain—sharp and unmistakable—her face twisted in agony."Dad... Dad... save me..." Chloe cried out, and then, as if pleading for forgiveness, she sobbed, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Dad... I couldn't protect her...""Hey, wake up..."Lionel woke up, startled by Chloe's cries and flailing limbs. He turne
Grace shot a sharp glance at Mandy.She had always known that this scheming bitch wasn't to be trusted. Mandy shrank back under Grace's dagger-like gaze, but compared to Lionel's cold stare, Grace's look was far less terrifying.Working here came with benefits—far better pay than anywhere else, generous bonuses at the end of the year, and countless perks.Grace had always run the household, and Lionel rarely interfered. But today, if Mandy spoke up, she'd surely face backlash from the others. Grace might even see to it that she was kicked out, and there went her well-paying job.However, Mandy couldn't help but think of how pitiful madam of the house truly was. No matter what, she had to say something, even if it meant risking her job.“Sir, it's Grace. She wouldn't let us call madam down for meals. She said madam had no right to be our mistress, that she only married you because she crawled into your bed.” Mandy quickly finished, bracing for Lionel's fury.The tension in the room was
Chloe glared back fearlessly before spinning around and rushing outside."Mandy, stop! Don't hit her anymore," Chloe ordered. Normally, Mandy was the most considerate, but today she didn't listen. Shaking her head helplessly, Mandy continued slapping Grace."Stand up! All of you, get up now!" Chloe raised her voice.But the servants kneeling on the floor didn't budge, remaining as still as statues.Chloe was furious. These servants were so terrified—was their master really that ruthless?Who cares if he was a powerful figure? This was a society governed by law. No one had the right to act without consequences or trample on others' dignity."I said, get up!" Chloe shouted, her voice now a mixture of frustration and defiance. She wasn't just yelling at the servants, but making sure Lionel, who was inside, could hear her. "Don't be afraid. He won't dare to hurt you. If he crosses the line, call the police!"The servants' eyes widened in shock, not in gratitude for Chloe's defense, but ra
Chloe felt the world spinning around her.On the other end of the phone, she heard chaotic noises—women screaming curses, men shouting angrily, and her brother Beck's desperate cries for help.They were hitting Beck!Beck was only a high school student, gentle by nature. How could he possibly have killed someone?"Chloe, you can't just sit by and watch. You have to find a way to save your brother. He's still so young, and if he ends up in prison, he'll never get out... I... I can't live with that... sob..."The news hit Chloe like a bolt of lightning, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.Her hand tightened around the phone, trembling slightly."Mom, calm down. Tell them to stop hitting him. I'll be there right away..."No matter what, she couldn't let anything happen to her brother.She couldn't disappoint her father. She and Flora had already caused enough trouble. She couldn't let her only brother go to prison, not when her father had already endured so much!In a daze, she rushed to
Beck and Nelson Ogden, the boy lying in the hospital bed, were classmates. Both of them had feelings for the same girl, Ivy Sharrock, which led to frequent arguments and even fights.Yesterday, Beck witnessed Nelson slipping something into Ivy's drink. Not long after, Ivy started acting strange, and Nelson took her to a secluded area behind the school. When Beck found them, Ivy's clothes were torn, and Nelson was assaulting her. In a fit of rage, Beck grabbed a rock and smashed it against Nelson's head.Nelson turned around, ready to retaliate, but the blow was too severe. He collapsed on top of Ivy. Fortunately, the drug Nelson had given Ivy wasn't too strong. When she saw the blood, she screamed in panic, pulling her clothes together and fleeing the scene. She later reported the incident to a teacher. However, the teacher, fearing the Ogden family's influence, didn't protect Beck, who was soon taken by Nelson's family.The situation was complicated, but the most pressing issue now w
Veins throbbed on his forehead, and in an instant, the blood in his body seemed to rush backward.Was she out of her mind? Had something knocked the sense out of her?Lionel hadn't forgotten how much disdain she had for him—she never had a kind word to say. Since arriving here, all she had shown was resistance and defiance. Her suddenly cozying up to him now? Impossible.There had to be more to it. Despite the fire burning within him, his exterior remained as cold as ice.He gently pried her hands off and turned to face her. Gazing into her eyes, he saw something different—those once bright, starry eyes now shimmered with unshed tears, clouded by confusion. They flickered with fear, betraying her inner turmoil.She was clearly terrified. She didn't want this, but there she was, clinging to him."Why?" Lionel's voice was cold, even though her obvious invitation would be hard for any man to resist. But he needed to understand why s
The sounds from the master bedroom echoed until dawn, gradually subsiding as Chloe sat on the sofa, staring blankly.She didn't want to hear the nauseating noises, yet she stubbornly forced herself to listen until morning.She needed this to stay awake, to remind herself not to indulge in fantasies and to remember that aside from her father, no other man would ever treat her well.Stretching her stiff legs, she made her way downstairs, where the servants were already busy cleaning.As she stepped outside into the front garden, they exchanged glances, unable to suppress their sighs and shakes of their heads.Her eyes were red like a rabbit's, her face pale, and the worry etched on her brow seemed to deepen.Clearly, last night, the master had spent the night with the woman he brought home; otherwise, she wouldn't be in such despair.Chloe approached the swing, sitting down and absentmindedly rocking back and forth. She closed her eyes, letting the cold autumn breeze wash over her, feel
Chloe pushed Lionel hard, shouting, "If you want to... head to your master bedroom! There's a woman waiting for you impatiently in there!""Do you really want me to go to her?" Lionel's voice was hoarse from the alcohol, and even in the darkness, his furrowed brow was evident.Swallowing his anger, he kept his gaze fixed on Chloe's face.Chloe scoffed coldly, "What a joke! What does it matter to me which woman you want to sleep with? Move aside!" She raised her hand and shoved his shoulder forcefully.Though it was hard to see clearly, Lionel could still imagine the coldness of her expression. Her heartless words stabbed at him like a dagger.Feeling a sharp pain in his chest, his voice turned icy. "Yes! It has nothing to do with you! But you are still my woman! Tonight, I'm going to sleep with you!"Without waiting for her response, he bent down and captured her lips."Ugh, get off... you beast! You scoundrel! Who do you think you are, a king?" Chloe protested, kicking and struggling
In the study, Lionel was seething with rage!He yanked off his tie, irritated by everything around him. With a sweep of his arms, he sent the documents on the table crashing to the floor with a loud bang.A fire burned in his chest, fierce and relentless, as if it might scorch a hole right through him. It hurt!Damn that woman!He had offered to let her return to the master bedroom, promised to make the other woman disappear immediately. He had lowered himself, yet she hadn't even blinked before refusing, insisting he bring that woman into the master bedroom instead!Fine!Let her be ruthless! She didn't care about the master bedroom, did she? She didn't mind him bringing any woman there, did she?Well then! He would show her!He didn't need her!As long as he wanted, thousands of women would flock to him!"Ah..." Lionel went berserk, smashing everything in the study to pieces. In an instant, it looked like a disaster zone.Finally exhausted from the destruction, he collapsed into his
Lionel's cold voice was indeed intimidating; he was a proud and arrogant man. But in reality, it wasn't Chloe begging him—he was the one begging her to come back. He was just using a different way to save face.In love, everyone is equal!For love, no matter how fierce he pretended to be, he remained humble as dust.They both loved each other, yet neither was willing to back down or lay bare their hearts. They thought that yielding first would make them seem weak and that withholding their true feelings would give them control.But in truth, those who refuse to open their hearts are often the ones who lose control! In the end, they hurt only themselves.That was how they were—both proud and stubborn, equally cold, unwilling to show their true feelings for fear of being hurt, ridiculed, or trampled.In the end, they both ended up hurting each other deeply. Even at the height of their pain, they still wouldn't admit that they loved one another.Well, if they were going to be this stubbo
Chloe leaned against the doorframe with both hands."Did Lionel tell you to stay here? What's the matter? Afraid to go to the master bedroom? Or is it that you're just not allowed in there?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm, something she was quite capable of, though she didn't always choose to indulge.Moira's face twisted in anger at Chloe's taunt."Get out of my way! I can stay wherever I please! It's none of your business, BITCH!" She screamed, grabbing Chloe's arm and forcefully pulling her out of the room.Weak from skipping both lunch and dinner and still groggy from sleep, Chloe stumbled as Moira yanked her aside. She barely managed to regain her balance after a few unsteady steps.Moira stormed into Chloe's room and slammed the door shut. Inside, the sounds of drawers being ransacked filled the air.Moments later, the door flew open, and with a loud 'thud,' Chloe's bag, clothes, and skincare products were tossed out into the hallway, scattered all over the floor. Some bottles s
At dinner, only Lionel, Moira, and Florence were seated at the table.Ten minutes passed, and no one made a move.Seeing the situation, Moira's eyes darted around. Could Lionel be waiting for that woman to join them?A sly smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she leaned closer to Lionel, softly whining, "Lion, are we expecting another guest? I'm starving..."She feigned innocence but cursed inwardly: That bitch better leave tomorrow and spare everyone the headache.Lionel didn't even glance at Moira, his attention still fixed on the newspaper in his hands. Moira's face immediately paled from the cold shoulder.Meanwhile, Florence, observing quietly, could instantly tell that her brother and Chloe had fallen out.Florence loathed this newly arrived woman.She wasn't too fond of Chloe, but even Chloe was better than this garishly dressed woman.From the way Moira moved and the look in her eyes, she was practically throwing herself at Lionel.Spoiled as Florence was, she never held
Chloe sat by the windowsill, her mind replaying Lionel's cold expression, and her heart ached uncontrollably. The pain was sharp, so vivid that she couldn't ignore it.Could it be that she... had truly developed feelings for him?Otherwise, why did it hurt so much to see him bring another woman home?The urge to storm up to him, grab him by the collar, and demand an explanation—while throwing Moira out so she'd stop disgusting her—was overwhelming.Yes, the reason she cried so hard yesterday wasn't just because Cynthia met a terrible man, but because she, too, was about to leave the man she had fallen for.If she hadn't developed feelings for him, she wouldn't feel this reluctant. If she hadn't fallen for him, she wouldn't feel so devastated.It turns out, the heart she thought had long turned cold hadn't actually died—it was revived by Lionel, beating fiercely again.Perhaps, all his care for her had unknowingly woven a net that trapped her heart, leaving her unable to escape, fallin
Seeing Chloe's pale face alternating between shades of green and white, Grace felt a sense of satisfaction, while Moira's arrogance seemed to rise even higher.Admiring Chloe's distressed expression, Moira deliberately provoked her. "What now? Still planning to kick me out?"She then turned to Grace with mock authority and shouted, "Can't you see the madam is upset? Go fetch some water, now!"Her smug attitude made it seem as though she were the real mistress of the house.Grace's lips twitched at Moira's outburst, and she quickly lowered her head, mumbling obediently, "Yes, yes, right away!"Hadn't they just been on the same side? Now Moira was shouting at her. Clearly, if she hoped to enjoy a few peaceful days, it wasn't going to happen.Grace was furious but didn't dare show it. In her heart, she compared Chloe and Moira. One was cold and indifferent, always dressed like a beggar, with a face that looked as though the world owed her millions—definitely not someone people liked. The
On her way home, Chloe's mood plunged to an all-time low. She wasn't sure how long she had cried with Cynthia, but oddly enough, she had cried even harder than Cynthia!Her eyes were swollen like walnuts, her legs weak and unsteady. Both of them were hungry, yet neither could stomach any food. The two sisters had a good cry together.She didn't understand where all her tears had come from, gushing out like a dam had broken. Ever since her father's death, she hadn't shed a tear in ages! She had thought she'd cried herself dry after he passed.No matter how difficult or painful things were, she never allowed herself to cry.But ever since entering the Williams household, it seemed like the rules had changed. Her long-dry tear ducts had suddenly sprung to life again!She remembered crying in Lionel's arms more than once, but she couldn't even recall what had made her cry on those occasions.And today? Why had she cried so much today? Was it really just for Cynthia?She had no idea how lo