”Scoundrel…” she thought.This man was utterly despicable. Jolie passed out, and before her consciousness faded completely, she bit him out of sheer frustration. But with no strength left, the effort was more symbolic than effective. …The next morning. The motorized curtains slid open automatically, and sunlight poured into the room, bright and unrelenting. Jolie stirred as the light hit her face, groaning softly before lifting an arm to shield her eyes. She slowly forced them open. This wasn’t the private suite from last night. The bedroom was large, its minimalist design starkly cold in shades of black, white, and gray. She immediately knew where she was. Only he would decorate a house in such lifeless, joyless tones. Turning over, she let out an involuntary whimper. Her back ached, her legs were sore, and every movement sent tremors through the muscles of her thighs. She bit her lip, her frustration mounting as tears pricked the corners of her eyes from the pain.
All the missed calls were from Daisy.A trace of mockery flickered in Jolie's eyes, quickly replaced by deep helplessness. Her resistance was so obvious, yet in the end, things didn't go as she wished. She still couldn’t shake off Gavin. And this was only the first time. There were still nine more to come. If promises weren’t fulfilled immediately, the timeline would stretch indefinitely. This meant their interactions would continue. And the Quin family's goal would be achieved. Resisting further would only make her look like a joke. She closed her eyes briefly, choosing not to call Daisy but to send a message instead. "Out with friends." Dais replied, "Then why didn’t you answer my call? I thought something happened to you." Looking at the message, Jolie found it laughable. She didn’t think Daisy truly believed something had happened to her; she simply assumed she was with Gavin.That was why, after a few calls, Daisy stopped trying. If Daisy truly thought s
Selena noticed something off about Jolie's expression and asked curiously, "You don't like this place?" "No." Jolie shook her head, suppressing the thoughts swirling in her mind, and followed Selena into the villa. "Madam, you're back." The villa's butler greeted Selena respectfully upon seeing her. "Yes," Selena acknowledged with a nod before saying, "Prepare a room." "Understood," the butler replied promptly and signaled to the staff to head upstairs. Selena glanced at Jolie. "This is where I usually stay. Feel free to explore." Jolie nodded and asked, "Is it alright to stay as long as I want?" "Stay as long as you like," Selena replied, her expression indifferent. Jolie smiled, taking a couple of steps forward. "Will my brother-in-law come here?" Selena gave her a peculiar look. "Why do you ask?" Jolie said, "I hope he doesn’t come." "Don’t worry. He won’t. He’s busy in Cloudflare City," Selena replied flatly. Though he did video call her daily, he would
Jolie froze in place, standing on the second floor with her hands gripping the stair railing, her fingers tightening slightly. The man downstairs seemed to sense her gaze and looked up. Startled, Jolie instinctively turned her head away. However, there was nowhere to hide on the second floor, making her attempt to avoid him somewhat comical. “What are you hiding from?” The man’s deep, magnetic voice rose from downstairs, his tone casual but carrying a faint sharpness that echoed in her ears. Jolie pressed her lips together, taking a deep breath before forcing a smile onto her face. She turned around and said, "Mr. Cooper, you must be joking. Why would I be hiding? I just remembered I left something in my room. I’ll go get it." Without waiting for a reply, she spun on her heel and headed back to her room. She had decided to stay locked inside until he left. Surely, he wouldn’t stick around forever. But what puzzled her even more was why he was here in the first place.
She stopped pretending, and her eyes clearly reflected her dislike for him. Gavin glanced at her expressionless face, withdrew his hand, and turned away. “I’ve always preferred your honesty.” Jolie watched his tall figure retreat, rolling her eyes so hard it practically hurt. “Who cares what you prefer!” she thought.…Downstairs. Selena walked in through the front door, spotting Gavin and Jolie descending the staircase one after the other. A hint of surprise crossed her face. “You two… what’s this about?” Gavin replied, “I went to call her down for dinner.” “Oh…” Selena deliberately drew out the word, her gaze turning slightly mischievous. Jolie’s grip on the railing tightened. She asked, “When did you get back, Selena?” “Just now,” Selena answered. Jolie nodded and headed straight toward the dining room. Selena glanced at Gavin and said, “Aaron didn’t come. I’ll relay what you told me, but I can’t guarantee he’ll go along with it.” Gavin replied indifferentl
"Alright," Selena said, not pressing further. Jolie turned and left without another word. As she walked outside, her mind churned, contemplating her next move. How could she escape her current predicament? Her fate seemed sealed. She had to go through with an arranged marriage she couldn’t avoid. The only variable was the kind of man she’d end up with. When she saw Gavin at the Quin family’s banquet, she knew their target was him. They’d stop at nothing to push her toward him, hoping she could win him over. But she despised him. She wanted nothing to do with him. If that was the case, her best option was to find someone she could tolerate—someone the Quin family would deem acceptable for an alliance. If she started dating such a person, it would put an end to their schemes. At least then, her life wouldn’t be entirely unbearable. By the time she stepped out of the neighborhood, her plan had solidified. Pulling out her phone, she sent a message to a friend. The frien
"Hello." Ian extended his hand with a polite smile. Jolie shook his hand. "Hello." Ian introduced himself, still smiling. "My last name is Moore, but you can just call me Ian." "I’m Jolie Quin." Ian’s smile deepened. "I’ve heard a lot about you from Dolly. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Quin. Please, have a seat." Jolie nodded and took a seat. Dolly Rich signaled the server over and started browsing the menu. "Alright, order whatever you like. It’s on me." Jolie teased, "It’s not often you offer to treat. I’ll have to make sure you spend big today." "Go for it," Dolly said with a dramatic wave. Ian chuckled. "You’re too kind. But as the host, this meal should naturally be on me." Dolly winked at Jolie and added, "Ian’s just returned from overseas, and everyone’s been taking him out for meals. This is his first time hosting. We should definitely take advantage of it!" Jolie smiled but didn’t comment further. After ordering, the three of them chatte
Jolie said nothing further, standing up and leaving without looking back. She couldn’t wrap her head around it. Ian’s perspective was on an entirely different wavelength from hers. She knew that even if it wasn’t her, he’d find someone "like-minded" eventually. People like him weren’t uncommon in their social circle. But for now, she just couldn’t accept it. Ian followed her out, holding up his phone. "Miss Quin, how about we exchange numbers? If you change your mind later, you can always reach out." Jolie glanced at him, hesitated, and then pulled out her phone. She couldn’t outright refuse and burn bridges. Who knew? They might end up as partners someday. The two exchanged numbers. Meanwhile, across the street. A car was parked by the curb. The driver returned to the vehicle, handing a file to the man in the back seat. "Mr. Cooper, here’s the document you requested." Gavin’s gaze shifted from the pair across the street as he took the file and began flipping thro
Upon hearing this, Jolie looked at him. "Can I refuse you?""Of course you can," Gavin replied without hesitation.Jolie eyed him skeptically, finding it hard to believe he would give in so easily.Gavin figured that even if she refused, there were still six obligations left to fulfill. Once those were over, their ties would be completely severed. He was confident that by then, she wouldn’t occupy any more of his thoughts.In his life, emotions had never been a priority. Career and power were always paramount. He had set his goals clearly from a young age. So even though he now realized he liked Jolie, he wouldn’t do anything irrational for the sake of feelings. That wasn’t who he was.Jolie’s eyes gradually brightened. She had assumed he was the kind of person who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, resorting to forceful tactics if she disagreed. His rationality made things much simpler!"Mr. Cooper, I’m sorry," Jolie said after deliberating for a moment. "We’re not very com
Gavin pulled out a document and handed it to her.Jolie glanced at it, her eyes widening in shock as she realized it was a detailed dossier on Ian. Staring at Gavin in disbelief, she asked, "What… what is this supposed to mean?"She didn’t even look at the contents again, her mind swirling with chaos. "To show you the kind of person you’re so adamantly defending," Gavin said coolly, his expression steady.Jolie’s grip on the bedsheet tightened as her thoughts spun out of control. She struggled to process what was happening. "Why are you doing this?" Their relationship was supposed to be simple—a transactional repayment of a favor. So why was he meddling in her life? Why investigate Ian? Why did he care so much about her relationship with Ian?A flood of questions filled her mind, and though the answer seemed obvious, she couldn’t bring herself to believe it.Gavin looked into her dark, clear eyes, finding something there he couldn’t quite decipher. It was rare for him to not unders
Jolie closed her eyes and said weakly, "I won’t break up.""You…" Daisy was taken aback by her stubbornness. Jolie had always been the most obedient child, the one who listened without question. Yet now, she was completely unyielding.Sighing heavily, Daisy sat down beside her. At this point, there was little she could do. Terence had already lashed out, but even that didn’t make Jolie relent. If she refused to break up, what more could they do?For now, Daisy decided to leave the matter alone. If talking to Jolie wouldn’t work, perhaps convincing Ian would be the way forward."Are you hungry?" Daisy asked after a pause."No," Jolie replied faintly. The only sensation she could focus on was the pain radiating from her back. She lay on her stomach, too afraid to move.Daisy let out a soft sigh. "If you get hungry, let me know. I’ll make you whatever you want.""Mm." Jolie barely responded, closing her eyes as exhaustion pulled her into a restless sleep.…Night fell, and Jolie stirred
Aveline said, "It’s absolutely true. I should’ve recorded it. Then you wouldn’t doubt me.""No, no, I’m not doubting you," Gernard replied quickly. "I just didn’t expect it. Brother actually said something like that? He’s always been distant from women. Growing up, there were girls who liked him, but he never paid them any attention. During school, he focused on studying, and after that, on work. Honestly, I thought he might never learn how to date. And now… he’s finally thawed!"He sounded amazed, but soon his brows furrowed. "This Jolie—she’s Selena’s younger sister, isn’t she?"Aveline nodded. "That’s right."Gernard’s frown deepened. "I think I’ve seen her before. She does resemble Selena a bit. Baby sister, you know Gavin had feelings for Selena before, but he came into the picture too late. She was already married. Do you think… is it possible he sees Jolie as a stand-in for Selena?"Aveline’s expression immediately grew tense. If that were true, it would indeed be unsettling.W
"I… I haven’t decided yet," Selena said hesitantly.Aveline replied, "Take your time. There’s no rush. You’re in Larbor City now, and so is she. When you’re ready, you can always go see her.""Mm." Selena gave a soft hum of acknowledgment and ended the call.When she looked up, she met Aaron’s gaze. He was staring at her intently.Selena’s breath caught slightly. "What’s wrong?"Aaron reached out and gently brushed her cheek with his fingertips. "If something’s troubling you, you can always tell me."Without a word, Selena leaned into his chest, seeking comfort in his silent presence. Aaron wrapped his arms around her, holding her close without pressing for answers.He had long since resolved to be with her and had quietly investigated her background. He knew her family life had been far from happy, though she had never spoken of it. He hadn’t brought it up either, respecting her silence.His earlier question had simply been a gentle nudge, hoping she might open up and feel better by s
While Selena was at the Cooper residence, she accidentally burned herself and had to be taken to the hospital. After getting her wound treated, she stepped out of the treatment room only to see a group of people hurriedly pushing a hospital bed through the hallway. Following closely behind were none other than Terence and Daisy.What were they doing here?Selena’s eyes flickered with surprise. She instinctively stepped out of their line of sight, keeping to the side. Although she was standing nearby and easily noticeable, neither Terence nor Daisy paid her any attention. Their entire focus was on the person on the bed.Selena pressed her lips together and glanced toward the hospital bed. Her eyes widened in shock as the person lying on it came into view.It was Jolie!Jolie was face down, her back covered in blood. Her clothes were stuck to her wounds, the sight both chaotic and horrifying.What happened?How could Jolie be so seriously injured?“What’s going on?” Aaron’s voice broke
Jolie lifted her gaze to meet Daisy’s, a hint of confusion on her face as she asked, "What do you mean by that?"Bang!Terence slammed his palm on the coffee table, his face already clouded with anger. "Jolie, are you playing dumb? What’s going on between you and Ian? Why didn’t you tell us beforehand? Do you have any idea how important your future is to this family?"Daisy’s expression wasn’t much better, her cold gaze fixed on Jolie, carrying an air of disapproval.Jolie had never seen Terence this furious before. She was momentarily startled but quickly steadied herself. "I like Ian, and Ian likes me," she said firmly. "Naturally, we ended up together. What’s the problem with that?""No. Absolutely not!" Terence snapped, his voice harsh and resolute. "You must break up with him immediately."Jolie shook her head. "I’m not breaking up with Ian.""Disgraceful!" Terence glared at her, pointing a trembling finger in her direction. "Do you think I won’t lay a hand on you? Jolie, I’ve cl
The next morning, Jolie woke up nestled in Gavin’s arms. His position hadn’t changed much throughout the night, holding her securely as if she might vanish if he let go.Turning slightly, she glanced at his peaceful sleeping face. Still asleep, he seemed less sharp, more tranquil, the usual coldness in his features softened."What are you staring at?" Just as she was lost in thought, his slightly hoarse voice broke the silence.Jolie quickly averted her gaze, her tone defensive. "I was wondering why you’re still here."Gavin opened his eyes, his gaze landing on her delicate profile. Without a word, he got up and walked into the bathroom.The bathroom had disposable toiletries prepared, and Gavin began washing up right there. Jolie cast him a quick glance before silently moving to stand beside him, brushing her teeth as well.Neither of them spoke, but as Jolie caught sight of their reflection in the mirror, a strange thought crossed her mind: they looked like a married couple who had
Gavin couldn’t resist her soft, pleading tone and surrendered with a resigned sigh. "Knock, knock, knock!" The knocking grew more insistent, and Jolie, catching her breath, glanced at him. "Untie me," she said softly, her voice still tinged with warmth, her eyes carrying a dazed allure. She looked utterly captivating.Gavin swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing visibly. He really didn’t want to let her leave the bed, but reluctantly, he unbound her wrists. Jolie stumbled slightly as she got up, quickly making her way to the bathroom. After washing her face and wrapping herself in a robe to look composed, she approached the door and opened it.Standing outside, as she had feared, was Daisy."Jolie, what’s going on? Why did it take you so long to open the door?" Daisy frowned, her expression stern."I just fell asleep," Jolie replied, her voice calm. "Is something wrong, Mom?"Daisy stepped forward. "Let me in. I have something to talk to you about."No way!Gavin was still inside,