"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 next morning, the first chirp of a bird pierced through the morning mist, reaching the ears of the woman slumped over the edge of the bed. Slowly, she stirred, her swollen eyes painfully opening.Her phone rang, startling her. She stared at it, panic flashing in her eyes—she was too afraid to answer. The ringing persisted, relentless. With trembling hands, she hesitated several times before finally picking it up.She feared it was news of her brother's death."Chloe... it's a miracle! The specialists from abroad have arrived—Beck is going to be okay!" On the other end, Donna's voice was thick with emotion, trembling with joy.Chloe froze. Was she hearing things?"Hello? Chloe, are you listening to me?" Donna asked again, her tone anxious."Oh, oh, the... the specialists are here?" Chloe repeated her mother's words like an echo, her voice hoarse, as if it belonged to someone else. After a moment, she finally processed it, chok
Not long after, the light outside the operating room finally went out.Nelson's family, along with Chloe and Donna, rushed forward immediately."Doctor, doctor, did you save my son?" Nelson's mother cried out, grabbing the lead foreign doctor by the arm.The doctor shook his head, removed his mask, and sighed with a regretful expression. Without saying much, the group of seven or eight doctors exited the operating room. The lead doctor pulled out his phone and, as he walked, repeatedly muttered, "Sorry, sorry."The doors opened again, and a nurse wheeled out Nelson, his body now covered by a white sheet.Chloe's world spun, and Donna leaned weakly against the wall, silently shedding tears."My son!" Nelson's mother screamed, her cry cutting through the stillness of the hospital as she threw herself over Nelson's lifeless body.Nelson's father's eyes turned bloodshot, and his uncle cursed, "That fucking bastard's going to pay for this!
In the blink of an eye, Florence and Joanna left, leaving Lionel and Chloe alone in the room.Lionel moved closer, half-embracing Chloe in his arms. "Did I… was I too rough last night? I'm sorry for hurting you," he said apologetically, his large hand reaching towards her stomach, intending to massage it gently."Don't!" Chloe reflexively cried out, grabbing his hand tightly.Oh no! Right now, her stomach wasn't something anyone could casually touch. The baby inside was still in a fragile state. Even if he was the baby's father, she couldn't let him near!"Why so tense? I was just… trying to help ease your pain," Lionel said, his sharp brows furrowing again. He misunderstood, thinking Chloe was worried he'd try something inappropriate in broad daylight.As much of a jerk as he might be, even he had his limits. She was already in a hospital bed—how could he possibly think of doing something that cruel?Unconsciously, a wave of frustration built up within Lionel.Chloe, realizing her re
"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