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
Chloe's mind was a jumble of thoughts, floating in and out of consciousness. Was she awake or still asleep? She couldn't tell. She only knew she was utterly exhausted, feeling as though she could sleep for years and still not be rested.Half-asleep, half-awake, the heavy curtains blocked out the scorching sunlight, and the sun itself had already set. The last traces of daylight lingered at the edge of the window, but after a long day of trying, they failed to pierce through the glass and finally faded away in defeat.On the oversized bed, Chloe frowned slightly, caught in a sleep that was both deep and restless. Her lips, still a little swollen, had a reddish hue. Her long hair lay scattered messily across the pillow, and as she shifted, the blanket slipped down to her chest, revealing smooth, pale skin marked with faint red traces, remnants of the night before.Her legs, bare from the knee down, were draped over the edge of the bed, their soft, porcelain skin so tempting that one cou
Knowing that she misunderstood, Lionel didn't get angry. Instead, he picked Chloe up and carried her straight into the bathroom. With one hand, he adjusted the water temperature and filled the bathtub before gently placing her inside."You've been sleeping all day. Hurry up and clean yourself up, the dinner had to be redone three times already!" he remarked casually."What?!" Chloe gasped in shock. Dinner? It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck her—she had slept the entire day! Oh no, what would everyone outside think about her now?Clenching her fists, she really wanted to bang her head against the wall in embarrassment.As if seeing right through her thoughts, Lionel said calmly, "No one dares to even look at you the wrong way!" God knows, when he came home and asked Grace about her not eating or getting out of bed the whole day, he specifically ordered that no one was allowed to gossip behind her back once she woke up.Who would dare to disobey Lionel's orders?Suddenly, Chloe
"You!" Chloe wanted nothing more than to punch him, but she couldn't!Usually, he was the one who dominated their kisses; today, he was forcing her into this—was this his condition for releasing Marcus?Her heart ached, and Chloe's expression darkened, yet she still wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his, as if fulfilling a task.In truth, Lionel was deliberately pushing her like this! He wanted her to become accustomed to taking the initiative because he had savored the sweetness of her doing so before.However, he was still surprised by her obedient submission.He gazed down at Chloe, her eyes tightly shut, her long lashes fluttering. Her body was tense, her movements awkward; he could feel her underlying anger, yet she was trying hard to please him.Suddenly, he felt a surge of irritation. For that man, she was suppressing her anger? She was making such an effort to appease him for the sake of another!A
Chloe dialed the number, watching "husband" flash on the screen, a smirk curling at the corners of her mouth."Hello..." The call was answered quickly, and Lionel's deep, cello-like voice came through. Even though Chloe was all too familiar with his voice, she felt a slight shiver run through her.After a brief moment of blankness, her tone turned icy. "Did you do something about Marcus?" It sounded like a question, but she was already certain of the answer.Lionel hadn't expected her to call about this. After a brief pause, he answered honestly, "Yes, I did. So what?""You're unreasonable!" Chloe snapped, exasperated. She had never seen anyone so shameless—committing a wrong and then boasting about it.Lionel felt a pang in his chest. It had been so long since she had scolded him. Suppressing his irritation, he raised an eyebrow and replied, his voice devoid of emotion, as if her anger didn't bother him at all. "What do you want?""Le
"Ah! I'll notify the guards right away..." The secretary exclaimed, her face pale with fear, fumbling to make a call until Amos barked at her to stop."Get out! Close the door! I can handle this myself." Amos said sternly, and the secretary, trembling, shot him a glance before quickly exiting and shutting the door.Although Chloe had plunged the broken bottle into Amos's chest with fury, she was terrified herself, her face as pale as a sheet.She couldn't understand what had given her such courage. Trembling, she withdrew her hand, nervously twisting her fingers together."How could you be so cruel to me..." Amos gazed at her, pain flashing in his eyes.He ripped the broken bottle from his chest and tossed it into the trash. The wound wasn't deep, but the blood that splattered out was alarming. He felt pain, not just from the injury, but from a deeper heartache, as if the bottle had pierced countless wounds within him, making it hard to breathe.
Chloe rushed out of the villa, heading toward the Latham residence.As she reached the entrance, she saw several servants gathered outside. Lisa was being led by one servant, crying, while the others could not hold back their tears either.When Lisa saw Chloe, she immediately threw herself into Chloe's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Chloe... Waaa... My dad was taken away... I want my dad... Can you take me to see him?"Lisa's big eyes were red and swollen, her fair cheeks streaked with tears. Chloe hugged Lisa tightly, gently wiping her tears and soothing her. "Lisa, don't cry. Your dad will be okay. He'll be back soon."Though she tried to comfort her, Chloe understood that politics were complicated—who could say for sure?Having worked as a tutor for three years without incident, she had only limited interactions with Marcus but knew he wasn't the type to be corrupt.Once, she had witnessed someone claim Marcus had given him signific
(Flashback)That day, after Marcus and Chloe left Paradiso, Amos quickly followed suit.On the way back, he noticed something was off with his body. A chilling realization hit him: he had been slipped an aphrodisiac!No! Not just him—Marcus and Chloe had both been drugged! The red wine they drank had all come from the same bottle.Chloe had left with the drugged Marcus! His heart raced in panic. He ordered the driver to chase after Marcus; the amount he had drunk was excessive, and the effects of the drug were hitting hard and fast.It felt as if his body was about to explode, drenched in sweat. If he didn't find a woman soon, he might not survive!Just then, Flora's call came through."Amos, have you finished talking to your beloved? She's still waiting for you!" Flora's sugary voice made Amos wish he could reach through the phone and strangle her.This venomous woman must have orchestrated the whole thing!Amos gripped the phone tightly, growling through clenched teeth, "Where are y
After freshening up, food had been brought into the room, and the two sat in silence, as if nothing had happened, quietly eating.Chloe sat across from Lionel in revealing pajamas, boldly eating as if it were the most natural thing.In the past, she would have never dared to do this, rushing to hide under the covers after changing into her pajamas. But now, she was calm and collected in front of him, not a hint of embarrassment on her face.Her mind must be poisoned by the drugs!That was the only explanation Lionel could come up with.Strangely enough, he used to yearn for Chloe to wear such clothes and flaunt them in front of him, but now, seeing her sitting there made his eyes ache."Give me three million more, I need the money, and I'll pay you back however you want!" Chloe suddenly said, setting down her spoon. Her face remained cold, showing no shame despite asking for money.In the past, she would have scoffed at the idea of asking him for anything, yet now, her words flowed ou
As Chloe's awareness returned, shameful images flashed through her mind like scenes from a movie.She had thrown herself at Marcus, torn his clothes, and bitten his neck. They had held each other tightly on the bathroom floor...Oh God, how could she ever face anyone again?Despite her hazy consciousness, she vaguely remembered Lionel arriving just in time. It was he who had rescued her from the agony, not Marcus! Thankfully! Otherwise, she would have no choice but to die today.Relieved, yet the memories of her wild behavior started coming back.She had acted more disgracefully than a prostitute, and that thought broke her. Tears of frustration and sorrow streamed down her face.The proud woman she once was couldn't bear this version of herself. She was disgusted with herself to the point of wanting to disappear.Her tears flowed like a river, but they couldn't wash away her shame.“Shh, don't cry,” Lionel said softly, gently patting Chloe's back as she regained her clarity.His voic
"Lion…" Even in her dazed state, Chloe managed to call out Lionel's name. The moment she saw him, all the pain and frustration she'd been holding in exploded to the surface. Tears flowed uncontrollably, like a dam breaking. She began to sob, "Help me… please… I'm in so much pain… I feel like I'm dying...""Lionel?" Lionel's arrival clearly startled him.As Lionel looked into the bathroom, the sight of the two people clinging to each other made his blood boil. Every muscle in his body screamed with rage, and he was ready to kill!The terrified doctor at the door stammered, "They've… been drugged."If Lionel hadn't been aware of this beforehand, he would've killed Marcus on the spot—mayor or not, it wouldn't have mattered.In a flash, Lionel stormed into the room, but thankfully, the worst hadn't happened yet. He felt a wave of relief, though Chloe's sobbing and the pitiful state she was in broke his heart.Bending down, he roughly shoved Marcus aside, took off his coat, and covered Chl
Screech—The tires of the Bentley screeched sharply against the ground as it came to a stop. The Latham family had been waiting outside, and the doctor was already prepared.Marcus leaped out of the car in haste. He knew that if Chloe reached for him again or if he gave in, he wouldn't have the strength to resist. His self-control was already hanging by a thread.A group of people quickly rushed to support him."Hurry, give her the medication!" He roared at the doctor, drenched in sweat.The group hurriedly helped both of them into the house, administering the medication separately.After a moment, the doctor reported, "This isn't just a regular aphrodisiac. It's a rare and potent toxin, and the dosage is incredibly high. Prolonged exposure could seriously harm the body, especially for the woman.""What are we supposed to do, then?" Marcus was on the verge of losing his mind. He could feel it—despite the IV drip, the burning sensation inside him hadn't lessened one bit."The best solu