When Chloe woke up again and opened her eyes, she found herself in the Williams estate.
The strong, masculine décor of the room and the oversized bed immediately told her that she was in Lionel’s bedroom.
Outside the window, it was already dark.
Oh no! She had slept through the entire afternoon.
Suddenly, she thought of Beck and wondered how things had turned out.
She jumped out of bed quickly. Just as she was about to put on her shoes, the door swung open, and Lionel walked in.
"Beck…" she hurriedly began.
"It's been handled," he interrupted.
"Oh…" She wanted to ask how exactly, but seeing his stern expression, she knew his patience wasn't the best. If he said it was handled, then it was handled.
Yet, as if he could read her mind, Lionel explained, "The deceased had raped the girl. She testified in Beck ’s defense, and Beck was merely trying to protect her. It’s been privately sett
Mandy quickly lowered her head and hurried out of the room.Chloe was momentarily speechless.In truth, she realized that her words had been a bit thoughtless. Considering Lionel had saved her multiple times and helped her brother, it would only be right to acknowledge his birthday. However, what could she possibly give to someone like Lionel?He lacked nothing. Whatever she could offer would surely pale in comparison to the lavish gifts he would receive from others eager to curry favor with him. Besides, she was already living in his house, using his money—what was the point of buying a gift for him with his own wealth?"If that’s what you want," she murmured.As she prepared to step down from the window seat, Lionel stopped her, wrapping his arm around her. "I don’t need your life," he said, his voice firm yet teasing. "But you should still think carefully about what to give me."His breath was warm against her face, causing her heart to race. Chloe felt a wave of panic, wanting to
The guests were either surprised, curious, or captivated, quietly speculating about Chloe’s identity.Feeling a bit tense, Chloe kept her gaze fixed on Lionel, unable to look anywhere else. When he appeared, she caught a brief flash of admiration in his eyes.Just for a second, before his face turned stern again, she noticed his eyes drift toward her chest…Was Lionel upset about her outfit being too revealing? Blaming her for it?What a lunatic! HE WAS THE ONE who chose this dress!She thought about how she had deliberately worn what he picked out, hoping it would annoy him even more. Watching his clenched jaw and the vein pulsing in his temple, she knew he was holding back his anger—no doubt because of the crowd. He wouldn’t make a scene in front of the guests.Lionel held her hand as they walked to the center of the hall, offering his thanks to the well-wishers and raising his glass. "Cheers!" he announced.All the guests responded in kind, coming up one after another to congratula
After her initial surprise, Chloe couldn't help but mock herself for forgetting. The last time she and Cynthia went to a restaurant, it was Moira, arrogantly clinging to Lionel's arm, acting rudely.Remembering that, Chloe's expression immediately turned cold. She gave Moira a brief glance before looking away. Chloe had nothing to do with her and wasn't interested in acknowledging her.But Moira wasn't as calm. She was, after all, the hottest actress at the moment! Usually, when people saw her, they either bowed or at least showed her the respect she believed she deserved. But someone daring to ignore her like Chloe was unheard of.Who does she think she is? Moira's eyes flashed with anger."I know you," Moira's voice dripped with disdain. "You're bitch Cynthia's friend!" she spat, looking down on Chloe.Chloe just rolled her eyes. Moira thought wearing a different outfit would give her the right to act superior? She remembered that night at the restaurant — Chloe had been like a sile
"FUCK!" Moira was furious, frantically grabbing the fabric that had fallen over her legs to cover herself."Help—Help—!" Chloe flailed helplessly in the pool. She couldn't swim, and after gulping down several mouthfuls of water, she struggled to stay afloat.The hall was still brightly lit, with guests walking in and out, oblivious to the fact that someone had fallen into the pool in the distance.Moira, seething with anger, stomped her foot. She didn't dare stay any longer, clutching her chest tightly, and quickly slipped away before anyone noticed.Meanwhile, Chloe's consciousness began to fade as she fought to hold her breath, refusing to die this way. Strangely, Lionel's face popped clearly into her mind.Today was his birthday. He was so busy—there was no way he would show up like a god to save her again, like he had before. And to think she hadn't even prepared a birthday gift for him. Was her life, her death, destined to be his birthday present today?Though it was hardly a goo
Chloe rushed back into the house, quickly slipping into the bathroom. She hastily peeled off her dress, took a rapid shower, and changed into fresh clothes. Then, she squeezed toothpaste onto her toothbrush and furiously scrubbed her teeth, rinsing five times in total. Yet, she still felt a strange taste lingering in her mouth.Stepping out of the bathroom, she was startled.When had Lionel appeared by the bedroom window, shrouded in smoke, the faint scent of a cigar filling the room?Thud—The dress in her hand fell to the floor.Lionel turned, his gaze casually flickering to the blue fabric on the ground, his eyes flashing with a subtle intensity."What are you doing?" he asked."I-I… I was taking a shower..." Chloe stammered, flustered by Lionel's questioning look. Hurriedly, she added, "The dress, it got cream on it, so I washed it..." Normally, she wouldn't bother explaining herself to Lionel, but now, not only was she explaining, there was a hint of appeasement in her tone.Why
Knock, knock—A light knock on the door echoed through the room, and Mandy had already entered before Chloe could respond."Ma'am, where did you go earlier? Master was looking for you everywhere; he was really worried," Mandy said hurriedly as she stepped in."Mandy, it wasn't as dramatic as you make it sound. He's been busy with his own matters today. He doesn't have time to worry about me!" Chloe scoffed, dismissing the idea.Worried about her? What a joke!She had almost been killed by that arrogant Moira earlier, and Lionel had no clue. How could he possibly be worried about her? The thought of it made Chloe feel a flicker of irritation. She had been so dazed by Lionel's kiss earlier that she'd forgotten to warn him to control his little butterfly!It was only natural for her to feel frustrated, maybe even a little... jealous, though Chloe didn't notice the slight shift in her emotions.Unaware of Chloe's inner turmoil, Mandy continued to speak up for Lionel. "But it's true, ma'am
Chloe's mind raced as she glanced around the room. Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of a piano in the corner, left behind by the band, along with other instruments. They hadn't yet been moved.Her eyes lit up. She grabbed a napkin and wiped the corner of her mouth before standing up and walking toward the piano, much to the surprise of everyone in the room.Sitting down at the piano, Chloe took a deep breath. Her slender, pale fingers gently lifted the lid, and in no time, her fingers danced across the keys.The lively tune of "Happy Birthday" filled the hall, catching everyone off guard.None of the household staff knew Chloe could play the piano. They watched in disbelief as the woman at the piano seemed to transform into someone entirely different.Her long hair cascaded down her shoulders, and a faint smile played on her lips. Her long lashes fluttered with every blink, while her graceful fingers tapped the keys, spilling cheerful music into the air.She played "Happy Birthday" fou
The memory of her scent was too intoxicating, and Lionel found himself impatient to relive it. He was startled by the urgency he felt, the uncontrollable desire to possess her, as if any moment of hesitation would allow her to slip away.Truly, a man's sweet words were nothing but poison!Lionel's unprecedented tenderness left Chloe disoriented. The weight of his strong body pressing down on her made her realize what he meant by wanting something "more precious" from her. Her mind cleared as she locked eyes with Lionel, whose gaze was ablaze with desire.Her face turned a deep shade of red, like a boiled shrimp. She stared in shock at the handsome face drawing closer to hers. Despite the emotional walls she had built after being hurt, her heart couldn't help but tremble.There was no denying it—beautiful things were always a delight to behold. And right now, the sight of Lionel above her, his eyes filled with a rare gentleness, made her heart skip. His thumb brushed lightly over her s
Slap!A sharp, crisp sound echoed as Joanna's face was harshly turned to the side, blood beginning to seep from her lips.Samuel shook with anger. After such a scandal, how could he face everyone here?"From now on, I sever all ties with her!" Samuel spat out, his voice filled with fury. He staggered back, nearly collapsing, but his subordinates rushed forward to steady him.Chloe stood frozen, stunned by the scene, when suddenly someone pulled her from behind, dragging her into a nearby makeshift lounge."Hahaha..." Joanna's laughter suddenly broke out, manic and unhinged.Her laugh was chilling, and the little boy next to her shrank back in fear. "Mommy, what's happening?""Shut up! Get away, bastard!" Joanna screamed, causing the boy to burst into loud sobs."Joanna... you've gone too far!" The blonde man hurried over, his face cold as he scooped the child into his arms and left the venue."Haha..." Joanna continued to laugh, swaying back and forth. She looked at Lionel, his cold,
"I'll cry if I want to. What's the matter? You can't stand it? If you don't like it, I'll go back to my mom's!" Chloe threatened, her hands on her hips, showing her teeth.Lionel raised an eyebrow. In the whole world, there was only one person who dared to threaten him—her! He quickly pulled Chloe into his arms, coaxing, "Alright, you can do whatever you want, I'll follow your lead. But please, don't make me worry so much. And from now on, you're not leaving my sight for a single second."What a joke—if she left, what would he do at night? He'd already gotten used to having her by his side. He couldn't function without her.A wave of worry washed over him. She now had her real father. Today, she was using her mom to threaten him—would she use her dad to threaten him tomorrow? What about her brother the day after?No! No! Anyone, but not her brother! Thinking of how Geoffrey once doted on her, Lionel's face darkened. From now on, he couldn't let Geoffrey anywhere near her—even if he we
Lionel watched as the people quickly fled, his narrow eyes darkening. He turned to Barton beside him and said, "Take care of this."With that, his tall figure swiftly moved towards the restroom.For some reason, he had felt uneasy all day.When he heard "someone's been killed," his heart was pierced with a sharp sting. The unease inside him deepened; he needed to see it for himself.As someone's face turned ashen, they quietly slipped out of the venue while Barton was busy calming the crowd."Lion..."Chloe's voice broke the silence, and Lionel froze. He looked up to see the familiar face, and her voice, thick with emotion, caused tears to well up in her eyes, which then fell, trembling.She had been so strong just moments ago, but the moment she saw Lionel, her heart felt fragile, as if it could shatter with a single breath.Seeing Chloe like this, Lionel was horrified. Blood was everywhere on her lips, and it sent a sharp pain through his chest. Without a second thought, he rushed t
Eamonn had been salivating over Chloe for a long time.To get to her, he had even used his proximity to Cynthia as a stepping stone, but little did he know, Lionel had beaten him to the punch.Even though Eamonn had the desire, he lacked the courage to act on it. He harbored those thoughts but never dared to lay a hand on Chloe.But when he was assigned a task—to torment Chloe, with the promise of a bright future and wealth beyond measure—he found himself going all in.As a man, there are always those few moments of madness in life. This was his chance. If he completed his task, not only would he rise in rank, but he would also fulfill his deepest desires."Monster!" Chloe broke free from one of his hands and slapped him across the face.Eamonn's face instantly bore five red marks from her fingers.He sneered, his voice cold and menacing. "Bitch! Still playing the innocent virgin? I'll make sure you regret this today."The devilish tone in his voice, combined with the devilish look on
"Chloe... long time no see." Eamonn shamelessly stood only a few steps away from Chloe, his body inching closer with each passing moment.Ever since Cynthia's accident, he had disappeared without a trace, and Chloe couldn't understand why he'd suddenly reappeared now."What are you doing here?" Chloe's voice was icy, and she showed no sign of warmth towards him.The mere sight of him reminded her of poor Cynthia, and the anger within her grew even stronger. Seeing him advance with that sinister glint in his eyes set off alarm bells in her mind."Stop!" Chloe took a large step back, not caring that her dress was still wet. She hurriedly wrapped a coat around herself.Eamonn ignored her words, his face still twisted with a smirk, taking a few more steps forward."Chloe, don't be like this. I'm not a virus. Why are you so afraid of me getting closer? It's been so long, and I have so much to say to you."He raised his hand, trying to grab Chloe's.Chloe swung her arm out to the side, evad
In the morning, Chloe and Lionel walked downstairs to find Joanna already seated at the dining table."Good morning, Lion, Chloe," Joanna greeted them with a graceful smile, delicately sipping her milk.Her gaze involuntarily shifted to Chloe's neck, and as expected, the marks from last night's kiss were still clearly visible.The sounds she overheard at the door yesterday flashed through Joanna's mind. Bitch! she cursed silently.Lionel ignored Joanna's greeting, and Chloe merely snorted in response. They both sat down to breakfast. As usual, Lionel fussed over Chloe, fetching this and that for her, while Joanna seemed to vanish into thin air, like a mere background figure.Since Lionel had ordered Lumina to be blacklisted, all those who once courted favor with K Group had severed ties with the company, leaving Lumina on the brink of collapse.While Lionel was listening to Barton's report, his phone rang.It was his father. Immediately, Lionel's face darkened."What is it?" he asked,
"Joanna, you're drunk! Calm down." Heather's voice was low and firm as he grabbed Joanna's wrist without hesitation, stopping her just as she lunged at him.Was she really drunk? Or just pretending?Heather's sharp tone, coupled with the pain shooting through her wrist, made Joanna freeze. Her dewy eyes instantly filled with tears."You yelled at me? You never raise your voice at me. You never refuse me. What's wrong with you? Don't tell me… your love for me was a lie?"Her lips trembled, and—plop—a single tear slid down her cheek. Joanna's delicate face was full of grievance as she accused Heather of turning against her.She really had gone mad.He had loved her. He had sincerely begged her to stop chasing after Lionel and to stay with him instead. He had been willing to take responsibility for their one-time mistake, promising to make her happy.But she had refused to even look at him, discarding him like a worthless rag.And now, after failing to win another man's love, after feelin
Joanna burned with jealousy, seething with anger as she stormed in. She grabbed Chloe off the bed and dragged her out, ready to feed her to the wolves.Bitch!Normally, Joanna could let things slide, but not now. What the hell was this? She'd just had a miscarriage a week ago, barely gotten back home, and now she was back in bed with a man?!Joanna cursed Chloe fiercely in her mind, but then, oddly, a sense of satisfaction crept in. She knew that a woman who had just miscarried shouldn't be anywhere near a man in bed. That was basic knowledge. But the fact that Lionel didn't care about Chloe's condition, that he was dragging her into bed as soon as he got home—well, that only proved one thing: he saw her as nothing more than a tool.If he truly loved her, he would have been more considerate!This meant that in Lionel's eyes, Chloe was nothing special either!Ha! What was there to be angry about now?Let them have their fun, let them wreck her completely, turn her into trash.Joanna fe
Chloe lost her child, and Joanna couldn't contain her delight. She hummed a cheerful tune, suddenly finding everyone pleasant to look at and treating everyone with uncharacteristic warmth and kindness.Mandy, on the other hand, was seething with resentment, while Grace spent her days on edge, terrified of Lionel's return and the punishment that might await her.A week passed, and Chloe finally returned from the hospital.Joanna, who had been all smiles for days, found her grin vanishing the moment she laid eyes on Chloe.In her mind, Chloe had tried to use the child in her womb to secure her place, and now that she had lost the baby, her bargaining chip was gone. Even if she didn't take her own life, she should at least be devastated—frail, despondent, a step away from death.Yet, after a week, Chloe looked radiant, her complexion even more glowing than before!There was no sign of grief over losing her child—she was laughing and