Aveline asked somewhat nervously, "Is it... not good?"Russell looked at her and suddenly said, "Just one meal isn't enough.""Huh?" Aveline was confused. "Then how many meals would be enough?"Russell laughed at her puzzled expression and held up three fingers.Aveline laughed too. "Three meals? No problem. Just let me know when you're free, and I'll cook for you."Her respectful and humble attitude made it clear she saw him as a friend. Russell felt a strange sense of familiarity with this dynamic and slowly lowered his hand. "We'll see when I'm in the mood.""Sure, no problem," Aveline agreed readily. Cooking a few meals wasn't a big deal. She just wanted to repay this favor.Despite feeling a bit uneasy, Russell had to admit Aveline's cooking was really good. It suited his taste perfectly. He ended up eating two extra servings!Seeing the dishes nearly empty, Russell began doubting his own appetite.Aveline came over to drink some water, glanced at the table, and asked, "Russ, was
The next day, Aveline arrived at work to find another pile of chaotic tasks waiting for her. However, today she wasn't angry; she was looking forward to lunchtime.At noon, Russell called to tell her the results were in and had been emailed to her."Thank you, Russ!" Aveline said excitedly.Russell replied slowly, "Knowing which vegetables are poisoned doesn't prove your innocence."Aveline paused. "I think these vegetables were bought at the supermarket. There might have been an issue there. I need to check the surveillance footage."Russell said, "It's been so many days; it might be difficult."Aveline's lips tightened. She knew that if she had checked on the day it happened, it might have been easier. But she had to try.Russell spoke casually, "Of course, if you cook ten more meals for me, I might be able to figure something out."Aveline couldn't help but laugh. "Russ, don't you have a chef at home?"Russell replied, "Just say if you'll do it or not.""Deal," Aveline agreed witho
"Hello?"Aveline answered the call, her tone turning colder.Lucas' voice was even colder than hers. "Where are you?"Aveline paused. "Do you need something?"Was this about the divorce again? She had made it very clear that she wouldn't agree to a divorce until the matter was fully investigated. Why was he so persistent?Unexpectedly, Aveline thought of his previous attitude and began to understand. Watching someone get anxious over something while she remained detached felt oddly satisfying."Come to the hospital now. I have something to ask you," Lucas said and then hung up abruptly. His tone was commanding and icy, leaving no room for refusal.Aveline frowned at her phone. What was wrong with him? Why should she go just because he said so? She put her phone back in her bag and decided not to go to the hospital. She needed to return to work.After the confrontation with Gwen, she was probably furious and might dock her a lot of pay. She needed to make up for it.However, when she ar
Lucas stood in the doorway, his expression dark and stern. His deep, narrow eyes were as cold as ice, completely lacking warmth.Aveline felt the air around her grow colder, a chill rising from her feet. It was as if the atmosphere itself was pressing down on her.Her expression turned equally cold. "Why did you call me here? What do you want?"Could it be what Sophia had mentioned? Was he blaming her for some absurd incident?Lucas' deep voice demanded, "Why did you kidnap Sophia?"Aveline immediately let out a cold laugh. So, it was about that!He had actually summoned her to question her over something so baseless!"Lucas, are you crazy? I'm an orphan with no connections or power in Cloudflare City, and I don't have any money. How could I possibly kidnap her? With a strand of hair?" she retorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm.As she finished speaking, she found it laughable and couldn't help but laugh out loud. But as she laughed, a layer of sorrow clouded her eyes.He didn't trus
Brian had taken Sophia straight to the hospital. She had been so terrified that she fainted from crying. Brian had already captured the men who kidnapped her. After some interrogation, they confessed that someone named Aveline had ordered them to do it.Lucas' first reaction was disbelief. Then, he received that recording in his email.The impossible suddenly seemed possible.Lucas kept quiet."Lucas!" Sophia looked at Lucas with tear-filled eyes. "I won't blame you for loving another woman, but you shouldn't love someone so cruel. She doesn't deserve to be by your side!"Lucas' dark eyes turned to her. "You didn't rest well last night. I'll have Brian take you home to rest, and he will protect you for now."Sophia pointed at Aveline. "What about her? What do you plan to do with her?"Punish her?Aveline's long eyelashes trembled slightly before she looked at Sophia and said, "Whether you believe it or not, I never had anyone kidnap you."Sophia's eyes filled with hatred as she looke
Sophia shook her head, refusing to come down. Her eyes were still filled with tears as she looked at Lucas. "I know, I'm no longer important. I have been living this life for you, and if you don't need me anymore, there's no point in me staying alive."She turned around, spreading her arms wide, like a butterfly about to take flight."No!" Lucas shouted in alarm.Suddenly, a cry of pain echoed nearby."Miss Winter, she's kneeling to you!" Brian's voice rang out.Everyone looked over to see that Brian had somehow forced Aveline to the ground, making her kneel in front of Sophia.Aveline struggled. "Let go..."But she was no match for Brian. He held her down firmly, keeping her from getting up.Brian stared intently at Sophia. "Miss Winter, it's her who did wrong, not Mr. Tudor. Don't blame Mr. Tudor. She took advantage of his gratitude and refused to divorce him!"Aveline's eyes widened in shock.Sophia turned to Lucas. "Lucas, is this true?"Lucas said nothing, his lips pressed into a
Lucas' body stiffened as he looked at Sophia's tear-streaked face. Her pale complexion and the way her skirt fluttered in the wind revealed her prosthetic leg.He swallowed hard and finally uttered a single word, "Okay."Sophia's face lit up with joy, but then her eyes closed, and she fainted.Lucas immediately scooped her up and walked quickly back inside. As he saw the hospital staff, his voice was ice-cold. "Seal off the rooftop!""Yes, sir..." The hospital director nodded quickly, visibly shaken. He waved his hand and said, "Hurry, contact the construction team. Seal off the rooftop. If anyone else tries to jump in a moment of despair, how can this hospital continue operating?"Brian had already released Aveline.She slowly got up from the ground, staring dazedly as Lucas carried Sophia away at a brisk pace. At that moment, her heart felt like it was being torn apart.She took a deep breath. She had to find out how that recording and Sophia's kidnapping had happened. She couldn't l
He turned and headed back to the hospital room.Sophia was already receiving an IV. After the trauma of being kidnapped last night, her mental state was already fragile. Today's events had only worsened it, and fainting was a mild reaction."Mr. Tudor," Brian called from the doorway.Lucas stood by the bedside and looked over at him, his eyes filled with a sharp, icy coldness that bore into Brian.Brian felt a chill spread from his feet to his entire body, reaching the depths of his soul.Lucas walked out, closed the door behind him, and went into the stairwell.Brian followed silently.Once inside the stairwell, Brian spoke. "I saw Miss Young get into Mr. Russell's car. Mr. Tudor, Miss Young is definitely not innocent. Mr. Russell is the nephew of that person, and Miss Young has been getting close to him recently. With Miss Winter's kidnapping, it must be...""Bang!"Before he could finish, Lucas' fist landed squarely on his face.Brian staggered back several steps but didn't dare fig
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
"I’ll wait for you to come back," Jolie said softly before hanging up the call. The phone let out a soft beep, and the beautiful girl on the screen disappeared. Gavin frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flickering across his face. She ended the call without letting him say anything. But as he replayed her soft words about waiting for him, the irritation quickly faded. When his assistant walked in, the first thing he noticed was Gavin staring at his phone, an unreadable smile tugging at the corner of his lips. The assistant froze, momentarily feeling as though he’d seen a ghost. Blinking hard, he looked again. Phew! It must have been his imagination. Gavin still wore his usual cold and impassive expression. "Mr. Cooper, these are the proposals submitted by the planning department," the assistant said as he placed the documents on Gavin’s desk. "Mm," Gavin acknowledged, immediately opening the files to review them. "Mr. Cooper, I’ve also finalized your schedule for
It sounded so much like Jolie! The thought stunned Rosalie. Jolie had a boyfriend, and she got sent abroad because of him. How could she possibly be in contact with Gavin, let alone on a video call with him? Still, an uneasy suspicion gnawed at Rosalie. If she could just take one glance at the woman in Gavin’s video call, she could put her mind at ease. Gathering her courage, Rosalie lifted her head and looked in Gavin’s direction, her gaze fixed on his phone. The next second, a figure stepped in front of her—Gavin’s assistant. With a cold stare, he blocked her view. Startled, Rosalie’s face turned pale. By now, Gavin had already entered his office. The assistant looked at Rosalie, his voice icy. “What are you trying to do?” “I-I…” Rosalie hadn’t expected to be caught so quickly. Her heart leapt into her throat as she scrambled for an excuse. “I just wanted to check if Mr. Cooper needed anything.” “That’s not your job,” the assistant replied firmly. “You may be the
Aveline held Joy in one arm and looked at Selena, asking, "What are you doing?" Selena replied, "Do you know what I just saw?" Aveline shook her head. "No idea." "Hickeys!" Selena pointed exaggeratedly to a spot on her neck, saying, "Right here. And I don’t think it’s just one spot. There’s probably a lot more below. Tsk tsk!" She clicked her tongue twice, shaking her head as she added, "Who would’ve thought Mr. Cooper could be so... ravenous." Aveline was amused and said, "Well, it makes sense. After all, he's already thirty, never had a girlfriend, and now that he finally does, of course, he’d go all out to spoil her." "Go all out to spoil her..." Selena drew out the words, mimicking her tone as she leaned in closer. "Ave, you’ve really been corrupted by Lucas, that scoundrel. You never used to talk like this." Aveline responded matter-of-factly, "I’m the mother of two now. What’s there to be embarrassed about?" "Tsk, tsk, tsk!" Selena made a playful, teasing expr
The corners of Gavin’s lips curved into a faint smile.The subordinate giving the report froze, his eyes widening in shock.What on earth?!Did he just witness that?Their notoriously serious and unsmiling boss—especially during work—had just smiled. In the middle of a meeting at his phone.Several others in the room noticed it too. Their gazes darted between each other in silent but frantic communication.What’s going on?Did Mr. Cooper just smile? At his phone? During a meeting?“Is he… dating someone?” everyone thought.“Ahem!”Gavin’s assistant cleared his throat, immediately breaking the silent chaos. First, it was a warning to the staff to rein in their imaginations, and second, it was a subtle reminder to Gavin, who was typing a reply.Even the assistant couldn’t help the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.Who would have thought?The president of Cooper Enterprises, a man known for his iron will and unshakable focus, was texting his girlfriend during a meeting… and smilin
Rosalie said, “That must be tough for you. But why did Uncle and Aunt suddenly decide to send you abroad?” Jolie’s eyes flickered. So, her parents hadn’t told their relatives the real reason? How typical.Of course, they’d be too embarrassed to admit it. Shipping their daughter abroad just to force her to break up with her boyfriend? What a humiliating thing to confess. Jolie replied calmly, “I wanted to study abroad to gain some experience. It’s for my future photography exhibition. I still have a lot to learn.” “Oh, I see,” Rosalie responded, feigning understanding. Then she added, “Where are you staying? If I get the chance, I’ll come visit you.” “There’s no need, but thanks for thinking of me,” Jolie said lightly. “I’ll only be gone for a year. I’ll be back before you know it.” Rosalie smiled on the other end. “Alright then. If you need anything, just let me know.” “Sure.” After a few more polite exchanges, the call ended. Rosalie stared at her phone, gripping it
"Beep! Unlocked!" The electronic voice of the fingerprint lock sounded unusually clear in the quiet night. As soon as Jolie stepped through the door, Gavin wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into a warm embrace. His hot breath cascaded down onto her ear and neck, making her breath hitch instantly. She didn’t even have time to take off her shoes before she was swept up into his arms. His kisses were relentless, stealing her breath and unraveling her control as her emotions rose and fell with his every move. Before she knew it, she was seated on the entryway cabinet. Her dress had been pushed up to her waist, and her legs were forced to cling to his lean waist. His fingers trailed over her skin, leaving traces of his presence wherever they went. “Mm…” A soft whimper escaped her lips as his kisses marked her skin. Each mark, blooming like crimson flowers against her fair skin, painted a vivid contrast on her porcelain complexion. The room remained pitch dark, but
The lighting inside the cinema was dim, making it hard for Gavin to see Jolie’s face clearly. However, he could sense her stiffness. He glanced at her deeply before his gaze shifted back to the screen.The movie ended, and their hands remained intertwined the entire time. The warmth on Jolie’s cheeks had subsided as they stepped outside. Glancing at the tall, handsome man beside her, her heart skipped a beat uncontrollably.“Jolie?”At that moment, a voice called out from not far away. Jolie froze, not turning around. The voice carried a hint of uncertainty, and the person’s companion spoke in confusion, “Are you sure? Didn’t they send Jolie abroad?”The speaker was Jolie’s cousin, Rosalie Quin, from her uncle’s family.Frowning slightly, Rosalie replied, “But she really looks like her.”Her friend scoffed. “You must be seeing things. Wasn’t Jolie sent abroad? Didn’t you mention her family even cut off her cards? I still can’t believe she’d go to such lengths over a guy.”Rosalie lowe
Jolie fiddled with her phone, trying to find the perfect angle for a good photo. Less than ten minutes later, there was a knock on the private dining room door. “Come in,” Gavin said calmly. A man in a tailored suit entered, holding a professional camera in his hand. Jolie looked at him in confusion. “Who’s this?” Gavin replied, “He’s an excellent photographer, a first-place winner in an international photography competition. Let him take your photos.” “What?” Jolie blinked in disbelief, glancing between the man and Gavin. So, because she complained about his lack of photography skills, he brought in someone with top-tier skills? And not just anyone—a world champion? Oh, dear! Jolie was suddenly at a loss for words. She opened her mouth but struggled to find the right thing to say. After a moment, she stammered, “Uh… actually, it’s not necessary.” “Not taking pictures anymore?” Gavin asked. Jolie shook her head. “No, I’m not. I’m hungry.” Having someone else tak