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 destroy the cameras last night—where could these photos have come from?
The answer was clear: it had to be that woman. He had underestimated her, assuming no one would dare challenge him given his status. But now, he realized he had been wrong.
As he read through the information on Flora, Lionel's anger flared. He wanted nothing more than to tear her apart.
Meanwhile, Lionel's grandfather, Earl Williams, who was abroad at the time, nearly suffered a stroke from the shock of the scandal. He flew back immediately, ready to confront Lionel, but found himself unable to strike him.
K International Group's crisis management team quickly took action, leveraging their extraordinary resources to scrub the internet clean of the scandal. However, the damage was done, and the public's memory was not so easily erased.
"This mess you created—you fix it!" Earl's eyes were filled with fury as he glared at Lionel. "If you can't handle this, you'll have quit!"
Earl wasn't making empty threats. When he had pushed Lionel into his current position a few years ago, it had stirred significant opposition, not just within the family but also among the major shareholders of K International Group.
Lionel was known for his wild and carefree nature, more interested in women and spending money than in running the company. His ascension had threatened many people's interests, and they saw him as a ticking time bomb that would eventually destroy the company.
They had no choice but to wait for Lionel to make a mistake, hoping to pull him down when he did.
Lionel understood the gravity of the situation. His sharp features were etched with tension.
"I'll handle it," he promised.
"Do you have a plan?" Earl raised an eyebrow.
"I will," Lionel replied, the gears in his mind already turning. This wasn't an insurmountable problem—he just needed to wait for the right moment to strike and eliminate the threat once and for all.
"Marry her!" Earl declared, slamming his hand on the table as he stood up. "It's the best solution right now!"
"No way!" Lionel's eyes flashed with anger as he stood up as well. Marry that woman? He'd rather strangle her—she had clearly set him up, but for whom?
"If you don't, you'll quit!" Earl's voice was calm but firm, his sharp eyes darkening. "It's just a woman. The money you spend freely could support thousands of women! Marry her, and you can divorce her later. I'm not asking you to live with her forever. Once things settle down, you'll still be in control."
Earl's experience in business was undeniable. His shrewdness showed.
Lionel's icy eyes flickered, and suddenly, he changed his mind. A sly smile tugged at his lips as he gave instructions to his assistant. "Barton, arrange a press conference. I'm going to marry Flora Miler!"
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
The entire agreement, rather than merely imposing various restrictions on her, was more like an alternative form of humiliation.For instance, she was forbidden from being in the living room at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., from appearing on any path Lionel walked, and from being present whenever there were guests in the house.Unless Lionel explicitly allowed it, her identity as his wife required her to remain confined within the mansion.Without a word, Chloe picked up the pen and swiftly signed "Flora Miler." She felt a slight sense of gratitude towards this devilish man for showing a shred of mercy by allowing her to escape, even if she didn't know when that day might come. At least, she could see a glimmer of hope.As she looked at Flora's signature, she couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Her so-called sister had threatened her with death to force her into marrying this man, even though she knew that Chloe saw him as nothing short of a beast. Yet Flora still coerced her into marriage
Chloe barely registered the rest of what the bank teller was saying. Her mind was consumed with a searing rage.She quickly informed Cynthia that their meeting would have to be rescheduled and then wandered aimlessly through the bustling crowd.Cynthia's last words echoed in her mind: "Chloe, what's going on with you? You've disappeared for two months without a trace, and now, when we finally meet, you cancel again. What on earth are you doing?"Yes, what was she doing? She kept asking herself this as she walked. She hadn't gotten the money, and now that man had trampled on her dignity.Chloe hadn't realized the Williams family was hosting a banquet tonight. As she stepped inside, she was greeted by a row of luxury cars parked in neat formation. Through the grand entrance, she could see Lionel leaning casually against the bar, holding a glass of champagne, engaged in conversation.That domineering, seemingly harmless face of his infuriated her, and she quickened her pace, heading stra
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
"Cynthia, you can't possibly..." Chloe's heart clenched at the thought.It couldn't be true. Even if Cynthia had changed, it couldn't have been this drastic.Under Chloe's intense gaze, Cynthia slowly lifted her eyes, which were already slightly red, tears welling up."I love him. I really do! I've loved him since our university days. He was my dream man, my ideal! Do you know? When he confessed his love to me, when he said he loved me and wanted to build a warm home for me, I was completely captivated!" Cynthia's hands trembled as they clasped together, her voice thick with tears she tried so hard to suppress. She bit down on her fist, as if doing so could stop herself from breaking down."You silly girl!" Chloe choked, sitting beside Cynthia and hugging her frail body tightly."I've known for a long time that there's another woman," Cynthia sobbed, forcing herself to speak through the lump in her throat. "Every time he says it's a business dinner, but when he comes home, he smells l
What is going on? Isn't Cynthia working tirelessly to marry him?A wave of anger surged in Chloe's chest, and she had an overwhelming urge to tear him apart.How dare he deceive Cynthia!She clenched her fists but ultimately resisted the urge to punch him. The man in front of her, noticing her interest in the couple kissing, paused and gave her a cold, disdainful look.Fine!She took a deep breath, forcing down her anger, and quickly followed after him.Once in the car, the two sat like strangers, each occupying their own side, avoiding eye contact.Chloe knew very well that she had angered Lionel. He was only trying to be kind by taking her out to eat, but because of her wild thoughts, she had slapped him.She felt like an ungrateful, heartless, and despicable woman. She knew her time by his side was short, and soon enough, they would become strangers. So why did it even matter?Barton, who was driving, was anxious, wishing he could jump in and push the two of them together.When the
Barton opened the car door for her. "Madam, please get in."With a soft sigh, Chloe reluctantly stepped into the car.When her eyes met Lionel's probing gaze, she instinctively wanted to look away."Why are you out here?" This was a road leading to the highway, with nothing around but trees—no shops or places to visit. Even if she wanted to go home, this wasn't the right direction."Just taking a walk," she replied casually, her eyes looking forward but avoiding Lionel's. Subconsciously, she was afraid to meet his eyes. They were like a high-powered microscope, able to see through her completely in an instant.Lionel felt a pang in his chest. She was obviously brushing him off!When he gave her the art center, he had clearly seen the joy in her eyes, but that joy vanished quickly. With him, it was always so indifferent—whether he was affectionate or distant, it made no difference to her. It was as if she had become a different person altogether.Even now, though she was sitting right
Lionel was Earl's most beloved and proud grandson. Earl had personally raised and groomed him to be the successor, but the family environment had made Lionel too cold, lacking warmth and human connection.In a family as prestigious as theirs, discussing emotions was almost laughable, but Earl, in his younger days, had been a man of sentiment.Despite everything, Earl still hoped his grandson could live like a person, not like a machine.Lionel's rebellious nature was undeniable, but the rumors of his playboy lifestyle were false. Earl knew this well.After all, in a family as complex as theirs, reaching the top and becoming the head of the group wasn't easy. Earl had expended great effort to secure Lionel's position as president, but the family members were already murmuring their dissent, waiting for an opportunity to bring him down.Now, with Lionel's recent rash behavior, the family was becoming restless, eager to take over the group's leadership.If it weren't for her influence, L
The car window rolled down, and Chloe saw an older man with a serious and sharp demeanor.His hair was slightly gray, and his eyes were sharp and full of vitality. His face didn't show much age, and from the deep lines of his features, it was clear that he must have been a striking and imposing figure in his youth.What surprised Chloe was that this man had a high, prominent nose, typical of the British aristocratic look, and his tightly pressed lips and piercing gaze vaguely reminded her of someone.Chloe's heart skipped a beat. While she couldn't guess his exact identity, she was certain that this man held a significant status within the Williams family.Her heart raced a few times as she sensed that his visit wasn't for anything good. From the moment she entered the Williams family, she had been the woman kept in the shadows, and aside from Florence, she knew nothing about the rest of the family.She glanced at the bodyguards and then at the man with an air of authority.It seemed