Aveline paused, her expression thoughtful. "What do you mean?"Selena scoffed. "If that scumbag's family cared about him, how could they not have found him after he disappeared for a year? They only found him after he regained his memory. Ave, this is the era of big data. Finding an adult isn't that hard."Aveline's lips pressed together slightly.Selena continued, "Forget it, let's not talk about him. It's bad luck."Finishing the last bite of her handmade pancake, Selena sighed contentedly. "These are so good. I could eat them every day."Aveline smiled. "Sure, pay up."Selena pouted. "You don't love me anymore."Aveline laughed. "I love you, but I can't let that get in the way of business."Selena was speechless.…After arriving at the mall, they saw Russell already there a distance away. His striking blue hair and handsome, almost otherworldly face made him look like a character straight out of a comic book.He exuded a carefree and rebellious aura, his lips curled in a lazy smirk
She kept a blank face, turned around, and left the men's clothing store, heading straight to another trendy store.When Russell came out and didn't see her, he paused, puzzled. "Where did she go?"Selena said in surprise, "Mr. Skyler, I didn't expect you to look so handsome in a suit. It seems that good-looking people can make even a rag look fashionable."Russell replied, "Thank you for the compliment."Selena added, "Ave went to the opposite store."Russell glanced at his suit, his eyes flickering briefly before he went back to change out of it. Then he headed to the trendy store across the way.Aveline had already picked out an outfit. She said to Russell, "Mr. Skyler, this set suits your style perfectly."Russell smiled. "But I thought the suit looked pretty good too."Aveline asked, "Do you like suits?"Russell replied, "I can wear anything."Aveline said, "Try this outfit, then."Russell agreed. "Alright."Selena walked over leisurely and, looking at Aveline, leaned in to say, "Y
"Mr. Skyler, how do you like this outfit?" Aveline asked, stepping back as Russell took a photo.Russell smiled, his handsome face carrying a hint of mischief. "It's great.""Then let's go with this one," Aveline said, pulling out her card to pay.Russell didn't stop her, his eyes lingering on her with a mysterious glint.Just as the payment was processed, Aveline's phone rang. It was a call from her department manager, Glen Lane."Hello? Mr. Lane," she answered.Glen’s voice sounded a bit strange. "Miss Young, are you busy right now? There's a data set that doesn't seem right. Can you come back and check it? It's important for the project."Aveline frowned. "Is it the data I worked on?"Glen replied, "Yes, it is."Aveline was puzzled. She had double-checked all the data before leaving work yesterday. How could there be a mistake?"Alright, I'll come back to take a look," she agreed.Glen added, "Great, thank you. Don't worry, you'll be paid for the overtime."Aveline thanked him and h
Aveline's face immediately darkened.It seemed Selena had been right. She had been forced to come back for overtime because of Lucas.Desmond tried to ignore her icy glare and handed her the file. "Miss Young, the data in this document is incorrect. Please recheck it."Aveline snatched the file, saying coldly, "If there's nothing wrong with this data, I won’t forgive you.”Desmond was speechless.He felt completely at a loss."Miss Young, it was Mr. Tudor's order, not mine," Desmond quickly explained, trying to distance himself from the situation.Aveline looked at him with disdain. "Is there any difference between you and him?"Desmond kept quiet.He returned to the CEO's office, feeling like the sky was falling.It was really tough being an assistant to the CEO!He took out his phone and sent a message to Brian on WhatsApp. “Are you interested in becoming an assistant?”Brian replied, “No, I'm just a bodyguard.”Desmond texted, “Maybe you should consider it.”Brian rejected firmly. “
Barbara's face instantly showed anger, her wrinkled features hardening. "That brat! I've told him before that a wife should be cherished, not bullied. He dares to bully you? I'll call him right now!"She reached for her phone, which she always wore around her neck. It was an old-fashioned button phone with speed dial, and she quickly called Lucas."Grandma." Lucas's warm, magnetic voice came through the phone.Barbara glanced at Aveline, who put a finger to her lips, signaling her not to mention her presence."Where are you, Lucas?"Lucas replied, "I'm at home. Do you miss me, Grandma?"Barbara huffed. "I miss you? Do you miss me? When was the last time you visited me?"Lucas said, "I've been a bit busy lately. I'll come over right now."Barbara responded, "Good, I'll be waiting!"She hung up and smiled at Aveline. "Just wait, I will get revenge for you!"Aveline hugged Barbara. "Grandma, why are you so good to me?"Though they had never met before, but after their first encounter, Bar
Lucas didn't understand why his grandmother suddenly brought up this issue, but he could only endure it silently."I understand, Grandma. I'll treat my wife well."Barbara huffed. "That's more like it."With that, she released Lucas' ear, which was already red from being twisted.Aveline, hiding behind a nearby bush, saw this scene and pressed her lips together. At first, she was pleased. But her mood quickly turned somber.After all, Barbara was Lucas' grandmother. Even if she scolded him, she wouldn't let anything really happen to him. The things she said—Aveline didn't believe them, and she doubted Lucas did either.Forget it.There was no point.Just as Aveline was about to turn and leave, a gentle voice called out, "Madam Barbara."Aveline's body stiffened. She turned and saw Sophia walking in from the entrance.She wore a beige long dress that reached her ankles, but her prosthetic leg was still noticeable. Her hair was draped over her shoulders, her light makeup was elegant, and
"My granddaughter-in-law!"Barbara seemed to remember Aveline, reaching out to her joyfully. "Where did you go? Did you not want to play with me anymore?"Aveline walked over and took her hand. "No, we agreed before. I would hide, and you would teach him a lesson."Barbara was momentarily confused but then nodded. "Yes, yes, Lucas bullied you, so I taught him a lesson."Lucas's dark gaze fixed on Aveline. "Did you come here to complain to Grandma?"Aveline raised an eyebrow. "So, what if I did?"Lucas' expression darkened further.Barbara didn't hesitate to smack him again. "I just told you, and you've already forgotten? Why are you glaring at your wife?"Lucas fell silent.Aveline turned to Barbara. "Grandma, you're so good to me."Barbara laughed cheerfully. "I like you, so of course I'm good to you. Try this, our housekeeper made these new snacks. They're delicious."She picked up a piece and held it to Aveline's lips.Aveline paused for a moment, glancing at Sophia. As expected, So
Aveline turned to Barbara. "Grandma, he's bullying me again."Without hesitation, Barbara raised her hand and smacked Lucas, not holding back at all.Lucas fell silent.His face was expressionless, but his gaze was so intense it seemed like he wanted to burn a hole through Aveline.Barbara scolded, "Lucas, it seems you never learn. If you keep bullying your wife, I'll tell her to leave you!"Lucas closed his eyes, suppressing his emotions.Aveline smiled smugly and then turned to Barbara. "Grandma, are you tired? Do you want to rest?"Barbara shook her head. "I'm not tired. I still want to play."But as she said this, she yawned.Seeing this, Aveline immediately said, "Let's go to your room and play. I'll tell you a story.""Okay," Barbara agreed eagerly at the mention of a story.Aveline walked over, nudged Lucas aside, and pushed the wheelchair towards the small building.Lucas stared at her back, his eyes dark and brooding."Lucas." Sophia's voice was soft and muffled as she approac
“Got something on your mind, Dad?” Gavin asked, noticing Wilfried’s serious expression as he entered the room. His own demeanor softened a bit.Wilfried didn’t waste time, sitting down heavily on the sofa with a stern look. "What are you planning to do about what happened today?"Gavin froze for a moment, realizing that the whole situation had become an open secret within the family. His response was calm, though. "I don’t have any specific plans."At this, Wilfried’s expression darkened even further. "That won’t do. You’ve taken advantage of someone, so you need to take responsibility. I’ll have someone look into that girl’s background tomorrow, prepare the bride price, and we’ll go make the proposal immediately."Gavin blinked, his typically composed expression faltering slightly. After a brief silence, he replied, "Dad, I’m willing to take responsibility, but what if she doesn’t want to marry me?"Wilfried paused, momentarily caught off guard by this possibility. His gaze swept over
“Hmm, you’re right. I’ll talk to your brother and see what he thinks,” Wilfried said thoughtfully.Aveline nodded and went on her way....In the study, Gernard sat on the sofa, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. “Brother, why didn’t you let me finish? I was about to spill the best part.”Gavin ignored him and pulled out a document, handing it over. “Take a look at this. If everything’s in order, you’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow.”“What’s this?” Gernard blinked, taking the file and flipping it open. His eyes widened as he scanned the pages.He shot up from his seat, staring at Gavin in disbelief. “Wait, you’re serious? You’re actually sending me to South Africa? Do people live there? When did we even expand into that region?”Gavin, seated in his leather chair, remained cold and composed. “Recently.”Gernard’s face twisted in disbelief. After a long pause, he finally blurted out, “No way. I’m not going.”Gavin’s gaze flickered over to him, calm but stern. “You don’t hav
“What gossip?” Aveline's interest was instantly piqued, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Gernard.Gernard leaned in conspiratorially, about to spill the juicy details. “It’s about Brother. You won’t believe what happened today…”“Ahem!”Before he could finish, Gavin appeared, clearing his throat just loud enough to interrupt. He grabbed Gernard’s arm, pulling him away. “Let’s talk about the company,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.Gernard protested, “Brother, wait, I wasn’t finished!”Aveline, her curiosity fully ignited, took a couple of steps forward. “Hey bros, don’t leave me hanging! Finish the story first!”Without slowing down, Gavin replied, “He’s headed to South Africa soon. Work comes first.”“South Africa?” Gernard’s jaw dropped. “Wait, since when am I going to South Africa? I didn’t hear about this! What’s going on?”Aveline stopped in her tracks, equally puzzled. “South Africa? Does the Cooper family even have projects there?”Just then, Wilfried walked
"Got too much free time on your hands?" Gavin’s cold gaze fixed on Gernard.Unbothered, Gernard strolled over and patted his brother's shoulder, grinning. "So, what’s your plan now? I got a little bored and did some digging on the Quin family. Guess what? Turns out they’re Selena’s birth family. She left them ages ago to make it on her own, but the girl you were with? That’s Jolie Quin, the pampered princess of the family."With a knowing smirk, Gernard added, "Brother, I couldn’t help but notice—Jolie and Selena do look a bit alike. Could that be why you…?""Get lost," Gavin cut him off, not in the mood for Gernard’s teasing. He brushed past him, heading downstairs.Of course, that only fueled Gernard’s enthusiasm. "Hey, don’t walk away! I haven’t finished my gossip yet!" he called after him, but the conversation came to an abrupt end as they reached the main floor, where the guests were still gathered for the celebration....Aveline noticed Selena seemed a bit distracted and asked,
One of Jolie’s long, slender legs was exposed to the cool air, and Gavin’s fingers instinctively tightened, as if they could still feel the smoothness of her thigh under his grip. His gaze darkened, though his expression only grew colder. His sharp, chiseled features gave him a distant, unapproachable aura—a man who seldom smiled and whose demeanor warned others to stay away.He was cold, almost like an ice block."Debt’s owed," he said flatly, tossing out the two words before sitting on the sofa and picking up the phone to make a call.Jolie blinked in surprise, processing what he said. Debt owed?Was that something you could even keep on hold?But thinking about it, he probably didn’t need anything right now. So, if he wanted to leave the debt hanging, so be it.Stretching lazily, Jolie sat up and said, "Have someone bring me a change of clothes."With that, she pulled the blanket aside, slowly rising from the bed despite the discomfort between her legs and headed toward the bathro
As the effects of the drug finally began to fade, Jolie lay exhausted on the bed, her body drenched in sweat. Her skin, especially across her delicate shoulder blades, bore faint marks from their encounter and her breath ragged as it brushed against her own back. Her vision was hazy, and she barely had the strength to speak."I... I’m fine now... you can stop," she murmured, her voice weak and broken from the strain of what had just happened.The madness of moments before still pulsed through her, the aftershocks of it lingering in her body. She never expected that grabbing a random man for help would lead to this, nor did she expect him to have such relentless stamina.Yet, the man behind her didn’t stop. He didn’t respond either. His large hands remained firmly gripped around her slender waist as if he were trying to squeeze the very breath from her."Stop... I told you to stop, didn’t you hear me?" Jolie’s anxiety spiked as he continued. What was wrong with him? They’d agreed he was
Gavin said nothing and simply hung up the phone, his expression darkening by the second.Behind him, Jolie’s soft, pained whimpers filled the air. She was writhing on the bed, her delicate skin flushed a faint pink.Gavin clenched his jaw, tugging at his tie. It had already loosened from when she’d pulled on it earlier, and with a rough yank, it came completely undone. Frustration simmered beneath his calm exterior.Where was Selena? She was supposed to be finding help, but she still hadn’t returned.His frown deepened as he reached for the door, ready to leave."Please… help me…"Her desperate voice, laced with a hint of a sob, echoed from behind him. The softness of it hit him like a lit match to his chest, sparking a heat he wasn’t used to feeling. "Please… I’ll pay you… I won’t take it for free…" Jolie’s voice broke as tears streamed down her face. She was sobbing now, her words dripping with helplessness and shame, as if offering him money would somehow make her request more bear
"Stop moving," Gavin growled in a low voice.But Jolie, completely under the control of the drugs, was acting purely on instinct, seeking out what her body craved most. She didn’t register his words at all. Instead of stopping, she slipped her hand inside his shirt, feeling the hard muscles of his chest."Mm..." Jolie let out a soft sound, whether from the satisfying feel of his muscles or because the touch of his skin intensified the drug’s effects, it wasn’t clear.Gavin's breathing became heavier. He couldn’t stay here any longer—this drugged and irrational woman could do anything at this point, and there was no telling what she’d attempt next.Quickly surveying his surroundings, Gavin spotted a quieter route. Without hesitation, he carried Jolie out through the back door, re-entering the villa through another entrance. He headed upstairs and slipped into the nearest empty room, laying her down on the bed.Just as he moved to leave, Jolie, still hazy and half-conscious, sensed his d
"Let… let me go!" Jolie struggled with all her might, but the drugs were quickly sapping her strength, leaving her powerless to break free.The man, too impatient to care, ignored her pleas and began dragging her toward the back exit."Hey! She told you to let her go. Are you deaf?" A sharp voice suddenly cut through the air.The man froze, startled, and looked up to see a girl standing not far away."Who the hell are you? This has nothing to do with you. Get lost!" He snapped, not recognizing Selena, his tone turning nasty.Selena’s expression grew colder as she took in Jolie’s disheveled state. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and slapped the man hard across the face, then yanked Jolie away from him."Letting yourself fall into the hands of this scum? Where’s your fight?" Selena said sharply.Jolie’s blurry consciousness flickered at the sound of her familiar voice. When she realized it was Selena, her tensed body finally relaxed, leaning heavily into her for support."Take me