Chloe called a taxi to head home when Mag's call came in.Her heart leaped with excitement as she answered. "Mag!""Chloe, the bar is opening today, and there's so much to do. Are you free right now?" Mag's voice had always been soothing to Chloe. Perhaps it was because Mag had helped her during her toughest times that she felt a special connection."Mag, that sounds great! I'll be right there."Chloe instructed the driver to turn around. It was just after six, and dinner at home was usually around seven, waiting for Lionel to return. He had a habit of being late, often working like a machine.If she went home for dinner first, she would definitely be late, and whether she could even leave afterward was uncertain. After making a quick phone call to inform her family, she felt at ease and headed to Blues.Upon arriving at Blues, Chloe was surprised to see that the bar had been completely renovated. Many people were handing out flyers for the grand opening.At the entrance stood four ta
The woman seemed younger than her age, radiant and exuding a confidence that suggested she had always been pampered."Miss, your piano playing is quite good—it reminds me of someone I know," Florence said, tapping her long fingers on the piano lid and glancing around with her sparkling eyes."Uh, really? Thank you for the compliment," Chloe replied humbly. The woman's luxurious outfit and exquisite jewelry sparkled, and her commanding presence made Chloe feel small in comparison. With that air of superiority, it was clear the woman would look down on someone like Chloe, a mere pianist.Chloe was uncertain about the woman's intentions but maintained her composure, waiting to see how things would unfold."Miss, did you see a tall, handsome man in casual clothes come in here?" the woman asked, gesturing between the piano and the entrance.Chloe understood immediately; the woman suspected she had seen the man enter, given her direct line of sight to the door."I'm sorry, miss, but I was f
In the study, Lionel sat in a luxurious leather swivel chair, his expression dark as coal. His lips were tightly pressed together, his eyes filled with anger.Did she remember that he had warned her not to play the piano for other men?All the words he had spoken—she never took them to heart. Not only did she ignore them, but she also deliberately went against him!The veins on his forehead pulsed, and his powerful hands on the desk had long since clenched into fists.His eyes kept glancing at the clock. It was just past eleven.Finally, the man moved, grabbing the phone to instruct Barton to prepare the car. Stepping out of the villa, Barton was already waiting with the car at the front entrance. As he drove, Barton couldn't help but glance at Lionel's brooding face in the rearview mirror multiple times.After hesitating, he finally spoke up."Sir..." Barton glanced again at Lionel in the mirror.Lionel furrowed his brow, his thin lips releasing a single word, "Speak!""Madam isn't l
Meanwhile, in another high-end club, neon lights flickered, rock music blared, and the air was thick with the energy of people lost in their revelry. Men and women, fueled by alcohol, swayed their bodies to the beat, humming along out of tune as they clinked glasses and moved to the rhythm.The men had shed their jackets, loosened their ties, and unbuttoned the top buttons of their shirts, some shouting, "Come on, give me a kiss!"Several women, dressed in tight, body-hugging skirts, were visibly drunk. They swayed their snake-like bodies as they moved among the men, occasionally letting out a playful "You're terrible!" when one of them gave a cheeky squeeze. This only led to more laughter and playful chases around the room.The party was in full swing when suddenly, the door was kicked open with a loud "bang," startling everyone inside.Eyes turned to the doorway in confusion. There stood a man in a white suit, his face illuminated by the flashing neon lights, his already dark expres
After their passionate moment, Chloe's face was flushed, her hair damp with sweat, and she rested against Lionel's chest, breathing heavily.She always remained reserved about these things. Despite being an adult with her own needs, she had too many concerns and could never fully let go, let alone take the initiative.Each time, she tried to push him away, and only when she truly had no choice would she reluctantly give in.Tonight, she had planned to refuse again, but when she remembered Lionel picking her up from Blues Bar, and that she had something to tell him later, she quietly accepted.To her surprise, as these encounters became more frequent, she found herself less repulsed by Lionel's touch. Instead, she began to feel a strange sense of anticipation and pleasure.Lionel had a peculiar habit—he always insisted she call him overly intimate names at the peak of their passion, or even say things that were too embarrassing to utter aloud. He would even make her speak dirty words!
At eight o'clock the next morning, the sun stubbornly bathed the villa in its radiant light, making everything gleam brightly.Chloe stretched lazily, having slept soundly through the night. The warmth of the embrace that had held her earlier was long gone, and the sheets beside her were now cold. She stared blankly at the spot Lionel had slept in, clutching the blanket that still carried his distinct masculine scent. Not long ago, she had been uncomfortable being surrounded by his strong fragrance, but now, she had grown accustomed to it—maybe even liked it.Realizing she was inhaling Lionel's scent from the blanket, Chloe suddenly felt as if she'd been shocked. Her face turned red like a boiled shrimp, and she tossed the blanket aside, quickly jumping out of bed. Despite knowing the house was empty, she glanced around guiltily."Ahhh!" she groaned, exasperated, knocking herself on the head. "Chloe, what is wrong with you? Have you turned into a pervert?"No, this wasn't her. Lionel
Florence cast a cold glance at the stunned Chloe before arrogantly striding into the house.In truth, last night, Florence had already noticed Chloe's nervousness while eating. She had also observed the bar's surroundings—when Alex had rushed in and hid so quickly, it was clear he hadn't gone far, nor had he entered a private room. He was definitely somewhere in the main hall.The only place he could hide was under the piano. While chatting with Chloe, Florence had moved closer to the piano, and sure enough, Alex's arm was sticking out from underneath due to the cramped space.Considering the four bodyguards stationed at the bar's entrance, Florence had held her temper. Not because she was afraid, but because she didn't want to stir up trouble right after her return.Chloe, by harboring him, was now on her list. After leaving the bar, Florence had planned to capture Alex easily, but her bodyguards proved useless, allowing him to escape.Well, she didn't know what consequences awaited
That night, under the serene glow of the moonlight, he held her close, sitting on the lawn. His warm voice, like the most beautiful note from a cello, resonated in her ears."Everyone has always misunderstood, thinking I liked your friend. For a while, I thought so too. But then I realized my gaze always lingered on you, the one beside her. After we met again, it became clear to me, Cynthia—I've loved you for a long time now…"The realization that Eamonn, the man she had admired for so long, actually loved her made Cynthia's heart race uncontrollably.She had her doubts, she had hesitated for a long time, but every time she wanted to disbelieve, his eyes would reassure her with their sincerity.Everyone has the right to love, and finally, her love had come. She wanted to hold onto it tightly. In that sweet moment, her heart, filled with happiness, also became incredibly fragile. Unconsciously, she began avoiding Chloe, though she couldn't quite understand why she was doing it or what
"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