As soon as he finished speaking, Frederick started coughing violently. Yvonne quickly moved to help him catch his breath. "Honey, don't get so worked up. We still don't know all the details. Let's wait for the investigation."Aveline just stared at Lucas lying on the hospital bed. However, bodyguards had already come in and dragged her out of the room. The door shut in front of her."Ave!"Selena, having taken Aaron back, entered and immediately saw Aveline being forced out. She felt an overwhelming surge of pity.Aveline said, "I'm fine."Selena hugged her, distressed. "I'll stay here and wait with you."Aveline shook her head. "No need, you should go back. Aaron is hard to deal with, and if you make him unhappy, you'll suffer."Selena pursed her lips. "It's fine. He's not a child. He won't die without me."Aveline gave a helpless smile. "Be good, alright?"Selena's eyes reddened. "Ave, I want to stay with you."Aveline said, "He hasn't woken up yet. There's nothing we can do now. I w
Aveline's figure suddenly swayed."What nonsense are you talking about?"Selena hurried over. "They've been married for almost a year. Lucas knows what kind of person Aveline is. He must know she wouldn't poison him!""Really?" Aaron gave a meaningful smile before opening the hospital room door and walking in.Selena frowned. "Hey, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself before you go in!" She tried to follow, but the bodyguards stopped her.As Aveline's friend, she wasn't allowed inside either."How frustrating!" Selena's face scrunched up in anger. She turned to see Aveline staring blankly ahead, her face alarmingly pale."Ave, don't listen to his nonsense. He's just trying to scare you!" Selena said quickly.Aveline shook her head. "He's not lying. It's possible that Lucas could hate me."Selena was confused. "How could that be? Before he regained his memory, he loved you so much. Even now, with his memory back, those feelings haven't vanished. He should know your character."Ave
Aveline pushed Sharon aside and rushed in."You can't go in!" Sharon tried to grab Aveline, but Selena intercepted her. "What are you doing? Do you want to bump into me? Believe me, I'll fall and sue you for everything."Sharon's eyes widened in disbelief. "You..."Wow! This woman was absolutely unreasonable!Selena lifted her chin, keeping a watchful eye on Sharon.Meanwhile, inside the hospital room, Frederick, Yvonne, and Aaron were all anxiously watching the man on the bed.Lucas slowly opened his eyes. His handsome, sharp face was pale, and he looked unwell."Lucas, you're finally awake! You scared me to death!" Frederick sighed in relief upon seeing Lucas awake.Aaron, standing nearby, asked, "How do you feel?"Lucas’ sharp eyebrows furrowed. He still had the oxygen mask on, and his voice was muffled. "I'm okay."Yvonne said, "Lucas, it's such a relief that you're alright. You don't know how worried your father was. Your wife, Aveline, stood outside the room all night. But how di
"No need," Lucas said weakly with his eyes closed. "I don't want to see her, but she is still my wife. If she gets arrested, it will harm the Tudor family's reputation."Frederick snorted. "She almost killed you, and you're still thinking about her."Yvonne added, "Lucas, could there be some misunderstanding? I don't think Aveline is that kind of person."Lucas didn't say more, but his attitude was clear.Aveline clenched her fists, staring at Lucas's face. She took a deep breath and said, "I didn't poison you, Lucas. If you find out later that you misunderstood me, don't come looking for me. I won't forgive you."With that, she turned and walked out.Under the covers, Lucas' hand clenched into a fist.Just then, Sophia walked in, seeing Aveline's pale face as she left. She asked in confusion, "What happened?"Yvonne sighed. "Lucas says Aveline poisoned him."Sophia's eyes widened in disbelief. "How... how is that possible?"Frederick said, "Lucas, once you're recovered, divorce that w
Tears streamed down Aveline's face, and only then did she seem to notice them. She wiped them away with her hand, then clenched her fist."What's there to cry about?" she muttered.But the more she tried to suppress them, the more the tears flowed.Selena quickly hugged her. "Ave, don't cry. It's not worth it for a man like him."Aveline suddenly grabbed Selena's arm, her fingers turning white from the grip. "He doesn't believe me... How could he not believe me? When I took him in, he wasn't like this."He wasn't like this at all.He had lost all his memories, like a blank slate, curious about her but also wary.But he had never looked at her with such cold, suspicious eyes.Never!The present Lucas was a stranger who terrified her.It was as if someone else had taken over Lu's body, causing her immense pain.Selena patted her back. "People change. Men with or without money are different, too. Ave, you decided to divorce, right? It's time to let go."Aveline cried, her voice hoarse, "B
As soon as Selena thought of Aaron, she couldn't help but think of Lucas, that jerk. In her mind, anyone who could be friends with Lucas couldn't be much better in terms of character!Selena let out a cold laugh. "If you want to sue me, go ahead. I'm done with you!"With that, she hung up the phone and blocked Aaron's number.In the hospital, Aaron stared at his phone, baffled.Was he just a victim of misdirected anger?Lucas did it, not him. What did it have to do with him?Aaron sighed helplessly, then tried to send Selena a message, only to find out she had blocked him.Aaron fell silent.This woman was a bit too much!He let out a cold laugh and found another number, dialing it directly. "I need you to do something for me."...Afraid that something might happen to Aveline, Selena stayed with her at Maple Garden. However, in the afternoon, she received a call from her boss."Selena, I heard you hit Mr. Aaron?"Her boss' voice was trembling.Selena's face darkened. "How do you know
Selena gave him a strange look. "Are you really that kind-hearted?"Aaron didn't respond, only looked at her with a half-smile.Selena thought for a while and finally calmed down. Clearing her friend's name was the most important thing now. If Aaron could really help, maybe there was hope."I'll help you," Selena said, noticing his disheveled belt. She moved closer and began to adjust it with her fingers.As she leaned in, a faint fragrance from her perfume wafted to Aaron's nose. He stared at her face and suddenly said, "Actually, you'd be a good fit for the entertainment industry. Have you ever considered it?"Selena finished adjusting the belt and stepped back. "I'm not interested in fame."When she moved away, the scent disappeared, leaving Aaron with a surprising sense of loss. His eyes flickered for a moment before he said, "My offer still stands. If you change your mind, let me know. I can make you a star within six months."Selena smiled. "Thanks."Aaron fell silent....Avelin
Aveline paused, realizing she had almost forgotten about the house. She shook her head. "I'm not selling it for now."Russell nodded, his eyes fixed on her as if he had more to say.Aveline said, "I'll go now. Goodbye.""Alright," Russell replied, turning to walk back toward the group of men.Aveline exhaled a deep breath and headed in the opposite direction. Her only hope now was the test results. Until they came out, she couldn't clear her name. All she could do was wait.After walking for a few minutes, she heard the sound of a car engine behind her. Remembering what had happened earlier, she moved to the side to avoid any accidents."Beep!"The car slowed down next to her and honked. Aveline turned in surprise to see Russell's handsome, delicate face peering out from the car. He had one hand resting on the window, smiling slightly. "Get in. I'll give you a ride."Aveline was taken aback. She had thought he left, but it turned out he had gone to get his car."Mr. Skyler, that's real
Jolie stirred, her eyes fluttering open in the dimly lit cabin. The sharp, handsome features of the man before her were so close that she could feel the warmth of his breath. His lips, carrying his familiar scent, gently traced hers, as if torn between waking her and letting her sleep. Her breath hitched, a brief moment of confusion washing over her. Gavin noticed and, in response, pressed a firm kiss to her lips. "Did I wake you?" "You did that on purpose," Jolie replied, her voice soft and husky from sleep. "Mm." Gavin didn’t deny it, his tone unapologetic as he leaned down to kiss her again. Still groggy, Jolie found herself caught off guard, his lips capturing hers with a growing intensity. By the time she realized what was happening, he had deepened the kiss, his tongue teasing and tangling with hers in an intoxicating rhythm. Her breath quickened, and she instinctively pushed against him. Gavin pulled back, only to trail kisses along her cheek and down her neck, his
The night air was cool, a gentle breeze slipping through the car window and lifting the strands of hair framing her face. They fluttered across her vision, briefly distracting her, yet she could still clearly see his eyes. At that moment, the unease and uncertainty stirring in her chest melted away, replaced by an inexplicable sense of calm. It felt as though there was nothing he couldn’t handle. As long as he wanted to. Jolie smiled softly and said, "Alright." When they arrived at the private airstrip, the captain came forward to exchange a few words with Gavin. Standing nearby, Jolie watched and couldn’t resist asking, "How long will you be staying?" Gavin glanced at her. "How long do you want me to stay?" The overly intimate tone of his words, spoken with such casual ease, caught her off guard. Her cheeks flushed immediately—especially since there were others around to hear it. Lowering her gaze shyly, she murmured, "You can stay as long as you want." She turned he
Gavin looked at her, his gaze steady, and replied in a calm voice, "You’ve got the leverage to do it." Oh... Jolie’s heart skipped a beat, her pulse momentarily thrown off rhythm. What was this feeling? It was as if someone was spoiling her, cherishing her unconditionally. Even though it was just a simple conversation, it carried a warmth she couldn’t ignore. For a moment, she realized that what she once thought was affection and care had been nothing but an illusion. A smile unconsciously curved on her lips as her eyes lit up. "Does this mean I can walk around Larbor City like I own the place?" Gavin raised an eyebrow. "Are you a crab?" Jolie burst into laughter, her mood instantly lifted by his quick-witted remark. Her earlier irritation dissipated, replaced by lightheartedness. Whether or not he meant it, the fact that he sided with her made her happy. "I’m full. Should we head out?" she asked, her appetite long gone after everything that had happened earlier.
The girl stared in disbelief, her hands clutching her face. "You hit me?" Jolie blinked innocently at her. "Weren’t you the one insisting I hit you earlier? I just gave you another slap to match your story. You should be used to it by now." "Jolie Quin!" Ian had reached his limit, his voice full of anger as he glared at her. "Apologize to her!" Jolie glanced at him, her expression calm but icy. "Get lost." She had thought he might be reasonable, but clearly, he was blinded by infatuation. She had no patience to deal with him any longer and turned to leave. Before she could take a step, Ian grabbed her arm roughly. "Jolie, you’re not leaving without apologizing! I don’t think I’ve ever wronged you, have I? We used to get along just fine, didn’t we?" "Let go," Jolie said, her brows knitting in disgust. She hated being touched, especially by someone she considered beneath her. Ian tightened his grip, his hand digging into her arm hard enough to cause pain. "Jolie, yo
Jolie was completely baffled, a string of question marks running through her mind. But when the girl suddenly dropped to her knees, it genuinely startled her.She quickly reached out to help her up. "Get up first. We can talk properly."Before Jolie could react, the girl grabbed her hand and slapped herself hard across the face with it.Smack!The crisp sound echoed in the quiet hallway, leaving Jolie frozen in shock."Why did you hit me?" The girl, who had just been crying like an innocent damsel in distress, now clutched her face and loudly accused her. "Ian and I are the real couple! You’re the one coming between us. How could you hit me?"Jolie blinked, completely dumbfounded, as the girl’s voice rang out.A few passersby paused, glancing over to witness the commotion.Meanwhile, Ian, who had been waiting and wondering why his girlfriend hadn’t returned, came looking for her. The scene he walked into—his girlfriend on the ground, crying and accusing Jolie—made him stride forward,
The person in the hallway glanced at her briefly but quickly looked away, as though she were a stranger. Jolie’s hand, lifted halfway to wave, stalled in mid-air.What... was that? Gavin noticed her reaction and asked in a low voice, "What’s wrong?" "Nothing," Jolie replied, shaking her head and brushing it off. The man outside was Ian. Pretending not to know her was probably his way of avoiding unnecessary trouble—after all, they had already "broken up." The door to their private room shut completely, and Gavin hadn’t seen Ian or his group. He turned back to her and asked, "Do you come here often?" "Yeah," Jolie nodded. "I come here a lot with friends." So, this was one of her favorite hidden gems. The fact that she was willing to share it with him felt significant somehow. Gavin caught himself lingering on that thought and was momentarily taken aback by his own reaction. He kept his expression neutral, not letting on what had crossed his mind. The food arrived qui
The reason it wasn’t the same was simple—her plan would fall apart if she got caught.Of course, that wasn’t something she could admit.Jolie simply said, "I just don’t want any unnecessary complications. Since you’ve already arranged the flight, let’s just leave directly."Gavin’s dark eyes fixed on her for a moment, but he didn’t press the issue.It was clear she didn’t want to talk about it any further, so he let it drop.When the elevator doors opened, the two of them walked out together. A car was already waiting at the entrance. Gavin, ever the gentleman, opened the door for her.The car pulled away from Cooper Enterprises, and Gavin asked, "What do you want to eat?"Jolie, busy typing on her phone, replied, "I know a good restaurant."It was a cozy place she loved, one she often visited with her friends."Alright," Gavin replied, pulling out his phone to respond to some emails. With his work condensed into such a tight schedule, he seized every spare moment to handle it.Jolie p
Gavin suddenly recalled Wilfried's words, "That girl doesn’t even like you."Lowering his gaze slightly, Gavin pushed the thought aside without explanation, his expression remaining cool and indifferent as he watched her. After Jolie finished looking through the photos, she turned to him and asked, "Why do you have pictures of all these women?" "My father brought them over," Gavin replied. "Oh." Jolie nodded knowingly and didn’t press further. It was easy enough to figure out—the Cooper family obviously wanted him to consider an arranged marriage, so they sent over these photos for him to choose from. She could understand that. In fact, she even helped him look through them, just in case one of these women turned out to be a good match for him. After all, their relationship wasn’t meant to last forever. When he grew tired of her and she had her fun, they’d part ways, and everything would return to normal. As she neatly organized the photos and placed them back on the ta
It was Jolie’s first time visiting Cooper Enterprises, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of curiosity about the place.No, to be precise, it was her first time stepping into any corporate office. The Quin family also had company, but she had never visited, nor had Daisy or Terence ever asked her to.The private elevator for the CEO was stunningly opulent, its polished surface gleaming like a mirror, perfectly reflecting their images. Jolie’s heart began to race with an inexplicable excitement.The assistant glanced at her and said with a warm smile, "Miss Quin, there’s no need to be nervous. Mr. Cooper will definitely be delighted to see you."Jolie nodded and replied, "I’m not nervous."The elevator moved swiftly, and as they neared the executive office, Jolie adjusted her cap and mask, pulling them snugly to hide her face as much as possible.Meanwhile, near the adjacent employee elevator, Rosalie was holding a stack of files, ready to head downstairs.She froze the moment she s