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
"When will you divorce her?"In the private room, the girl gazed at the man before her with deep affection.Aveline stood outside the private room with cold hands and feet. Like the girl inside, she stared at the man's handsome, sharp face, as her complexion gradually turned pale.That was her husband, Lucas Tudor.He was mute, working as a server in this club. Today, she got off work early to go home with him but didn't expect to stumble upon this scene.The man who usually wore a server's uniform was now in a tailored suit, his short hair meticulously styled. His expression was noble and cold, with an air of elegance and aloofness she had never seen before.His thin lips parted, his voice low and pleasant. "I'll bring it up to her soon."She shut her eyes abruptly and turned to leave.He could speak.His voice was actually so pleasant.However, she never expected that the first words she would hear him say were about divorce.Aveline was in a daze, thinking she must have mistaken som
Earlier, when she heard his voice, it was mixed with music, making it hard to hear clearly. But now, his deep, magnetic voice came from right above her, so clear that it struck her heart, leaving her breathless with pain.He could speak.However, he hadn't told her about it immediately.In fact, he wanted to divorce her.All of it was true.Why?Why did he want a divorce?Aveline wanted to ask, but she held back.Why should he get to divorce her just because he wanted to?Over the past year, she had done nothing to wrong him. Even if he wanted a divorce, he owed her an explanation!Aveline's heart felt cold, but she craved the warmth of his body, hugging him even tighter."Yes, I heard you talking to someone, but I didn't catch what you said. Lucas, your voice is so nice."She kissed his back."Lu."It was what she called him only in their most intimate moments.Whenever he heard it, he would respond with even more passion.But tonight, Lucas pushed her away."I'm tired."Aveline's fac
Aveline looked at him. "Say something."Lucas responded, "Let's eat first."He gently pushed her away and walked to the dining table, placing the breakfast on it.Aveline's heart sank deeper into despair as she stared at his back, pain evident in her eyes.She had stopped him from saying the word "divorce," but his attitude was clear. He was distancing himself from her, not even offering a false promise.He never used to be like this!In the beginning, he just followed her everywhere, clinging to her. Later, when she decided to take him in, she taught him to read and learn sign language. His gaze on her became more focused.No matter what she did, his eyes were always on her, as if she were his whole world."Lucas, you didn't give me my good morning kiss."Aveline walked over and said, reminding him of the promise they made after they got together.Lucas pushed the milk toward her. "Let's eat first. I have something to tell you later."Aveline clenched her fists. "If I don't eat, will
When Aveline arrived at the office and sat down, a colleague immediately came over and said, "Aveline, have you heard? Our company has been acquired! The person who bought it is Lucas Tudor, Frederick Tudor's third son, who mysteriously went missing."Aveline froze. "What's his name?""Lucas Tudor. I saw his photo, and he's really handsome! They say he disappeared for a year and just recently returned to the Tudor family. As soon as he got back, he started making big changes to the subsidiary companies here. Our company was directly acquired. Oh my, having such a handsome man as a boss—I’d be smiling even in my dreams!"Aveline pulled out her phone and saw the first notification: news about Lucas, a member of the Tudor family who had been missing, returning.In the photo, the man wore a black suit, his short hair neatly parted, his features sharp and handsome, with piercing eyes that carried a cold glint. His entire demeanor exuded noble aloofness.Lucas belonged to the Tudor family, C
What did he take her for?Her heart ached as if it were being torn apart, making it difficult for her to breathe.Seeing the tears in her eyes, Lucas' gaze deepened, but his expression grew even colder. "I have my reasons. Not telling you was to protect you.""Hah!"Aveline scoffed, holding back her tears, her tone turning icy. "Let me tell you, I won't divorce you. Don't even think about it!"She turned and walked away."You wouldn't want to lose this job, would you?"Behind her, his cold voice rang out. "You're an orphan who struggled to establish yourself in this city. This job must mean a lot to you."Aveline glared at him. "What are you trying to do?"Lucas replied, "Sign the divorce papers. My previous offer still stands."He was threatening her!Aveline's hands trembled with anger. If he weren't so far away, she might have slapped him across the face!"Lucas, you're despicable!"How could he change so much in such a short time? Or was he always this cold, and the past year had b
That girl was the same one in the private room that day, asking Lucas when he would divorce.She was intimately holding his arm.Lucas had always been a clean freak.When she first brought him home, even though he had lost his memory, some of his body's instinctive habits remained. Once he became familiar with the environment, he started cleaning her house, making every corner spotless.He never accepted gifts from others, nor did he eat from street vendors. The occasional aura he exuded was something ordinary people lacked.But now, he allowed that girl to hold his arm so intimately.Was he trying to tell her that even if they didn't divorce, he would continue seeing that girl?Aveline tightly clenched the hem of her clothes, her heart aching painfully, her eyes stinging with tears.How could Lucas be so cruel?How could he give the necklace she had chosen to another woman?She took out her phone and called him. However, he hung up as soon as it started ringing. Undeterred, she kept c
Slap!Aveline struck Lucas across the face."I have no dignity? You're the scumbag cheating during our marriage, and that's dignified?"Lucas's eyes widened in shock. He never expected her to dare hit him! Raised in luxury, when had anyone ever treated him like this?Pressing his tongue against his cheek, he grabbed Aveline's wrist and pinned her to the bed."Aveline, have I spoiled you too much?"His eyes were cold and his presence oppressive, bearing down heavily on her.Aveline was stunned, a flash of fear passing through her heart. How had she forgotten? He was part of the Tudor family, raised in privilege, with an unparalleled status!He had probably never been treated this way and would undoubtedly be furious.However, he was also her husband! He was cheating, and yet he had the nerve to act righteous?Aveline tried to ignore her fear, her eyes red but defiant as she looked at him. "As Lu, you might have spoiled me, but as Lucas Tudor, what have you ever done for me? Don't you f
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,