The other side
In 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 predator, he swiftly overpowered her.
Never one to kiss women, he found her lips irresistibly tender and sweet, capturing them with precision and taking complete control of her.
Chloe kept her eyes tightly shut, tears streaming down her face. She stubbornly clenched her lips, even as they bled, trying to withstand the physical and emotional humiliation.
The man, wild and bloodthirsty, was drenched in sweat, which streamed from his face down his solid chest and further down.
***
As dawn broke, the room finally fell silent.
Chloe lay curled up, her eyes still shedding unfallen tears, while a thin blanket lay haphazardly over her. Her exposed neck and long, pale legs bore vivid marks—red and purple bruises.
Lionel, his long frame twisted, lay beside her, seemingly cradling her in his arms. His handsome face relaxed into a satisfied expression. The room was littered with clothes, pants, and torn fabric, a chaotic scene revealing the intensity of the previous night's events.
BANG--
Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the corridor, followed by a loud voice as the door was kicked open.
Click, click!
Cameras and phones flashed continuously as a large group of men and women, energized and excited, snapped photos of the chaotic scene.
"How dare you!" The man roared in fury, gripping the sheets tightly.
Startled awake by the commotion, the woman's already pale face turned ghostly white. In a panic, she instinctively pulled the blanket over her head.
But it was too late.
The sudden roar from Lionel made everyone freeze, their shock and amazement palpable. The murderous look in his eyes was unmistakable!
As the crowd snapped out of their stupor and tried to flee, Lionel, moving with lightning speed, blocked their escape route. The group was left stunned, their fear increasing as they realized Lionel's rage.
Just moments ago, the man had been in bed, but now, fully dressed in a bathrobe, he was behind them. No one had seen how he managed it.
"Smash everything!" Lionel, embodying his innate authority, had a face full of murderous intent. His cold, ruthless gaze and the command that followed left no room for disobedience.
Smash—
Smash—
The sound of shattering phones and cameras filled the room, as Lionel's orders were carried out with relentless precision.
"Get out!" His voice, like that of a vengeful demon, made the intruders tremble as they hurriedly fled.
It was clear that these people were not professional journalists.
No one in the media would dare to be so bold as to invade his private space and photograph him in such a compromising situation.
Even if it was just a simple photo or scandalous news about him, no one dared to leak it without his permission.
These intruders were clearly reckless, emerging from the depths of obscurity.
Lionel's attention turned back to the woman on the bed. His sharp eyes locked onto her. The woman, who had been curled up in a ball, had now quickly donned a bathrobe. She stared at him with a cold, proud, and defiant gaze.
Still pretending?
Lionel couldn't help but smile in disdain. This woman had some nerve to challenge him!
He advanced towards the bed, clearly seeing her shoulders tremble. Yet she stood straight, maintaining her composure.
Good, she had guts!
As he neared her, before he could make any move, the woman threw a wad of cash at him. "No need to look for me. Consider this a reward for your efforts last night."
Chloe, who had always held herself with pride, was not one to beg. Last night, she had felt humiliated begging him, only for this beastly man to still take advantage of her.
Men, besides her father, were all the same!
If that was the case, why should she show weakness in front of him? She treated him as if he were merely a paid escort for a wild night!
Lionel stood stunned for a moment, his usually sharp intellect momentarily short-circuited. It dawned on him—had he been hired for a night of service? His face turned a deep shade of anger.
The white-clad figure had already darted toward the door. All he saw was her slender back, which seemed to carry the fragrance of flowers..
"Ha…" Lionel's lips curled into a twisted smile. Looking at the few bills scattered at his feet, his smile widened.
The president of K International Group, a figure at the pinnacle of power, had his night reduced to mere pieces of paper?
The woman had some nerve!
A sinister, bloodthirsty look crossed Lionel's handsome face. Though he had been unconscious of his actions last night, he had sensed that she was still a virgin.
But now… Lionel, the heir of the Williams, had his nearly 30-year-old pride destroyed by this woman.
To add insult to injury, she had treated him like a gigolo!
Well, well. Very well!
He would wait for this audacious woman to come to her senses and face the consequences!
"Barton, find out about the escort at Paradiso…" Lionel made a call, his eyes chillingly cold. This matter was far from over.
With his keen insight, he could sense that someone was out to get him, and they seemed unable to hold back any longer!
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
Inside the house, the luxurious decor and grand setting were immediately apparent. The large curtains of the massive glass windows were drawn back, revealing the shimmering pool outside and a vast front garden filled with exotic flowers. The servants seemed to have been specially trained, moving with identical grace and rhythm.A woman in her fifties, dressed in a sharp blue suit, approached Chloe. Her eyes were full of shrewdness and efficiency. The other maids and servants bowed respectfully as she passed, then went back to their duties of cleaning and polishing."Madam, I'm the housekeeper here. You can call me Grace," the woman said, her sharp gaze assessing Chloe. Although she addressed her as "Madam," there was no respect in her eyes—only a cold, detached indifference."Grace," Chloe replied casually, not bothered by Grace's frosty demeanor. She hadn't expected to be respected upon entering this house anyway.The moment she stepped into the house, Chloe felt a deep chill creepin