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
Aaron replied, "It's from an anonymous overseas account."After a pause, he added, "It's pretty obvious who's behind this. They won't stop until you're dead."Lucas placed the tablet aside and suddenly said, "Have someone keep an eye on Aveline."Aaron frowned. "After everything that's happened, you're still protecting her?"Lucas looked at him with a deep gaze. "Don't you understand why she's in this situation?"Aaron moved his lips but finally sighed, "Alright, but I'm not letting go of the poisoning incident. I still suspect she's working for them."Lucas said nothing. Was she really?Memories of the past year flooded his mind. If she were truly involved, she had numerous opportunities to harm him. But she hadn't.Her eyes were so clear, her smile so pure. He didn't want to believe it, yet past events made him wary of trusting too easily.Seeing Lucas' troubled expression, Aaron pondered for a moment before asking, "Do you really plan to marry Sophia?"Lucas replied, "I'm still mar
Gwen thought she needed to teach that arrogant woman a lesson so she would understand her place."Hello?" Desmond answered the call.Gwen exaggerated Aveline's situation and then tactfully said, "Mr. Blake, Aveline might have changed after securing the collaboration with Brighton Enterprises. I'm at a loss, so I came to you for help. What should I do?"Desmond asked, "Did she request leave?"Gwen replied, "Yes, she did."Desmond said, "Then what's the problem?"Huh?Gwen was stunned. Was that it? No reprimand? No talk of dismissing Aveline?What was going on?Gwen was momentarily unsure and said, "Mr. Blake, this..."Desmond replied, "She hasn’t made any big mistakes or caused the company any harm. There must be a reason she took leave. If you can't manage this, why are you in this role?"Startled, Gwen quickly said, "I understand, Mr. Blake. I'll handle it. Sorry for bothering you!"After saying that, she hurriedly hung up the phone!She initially thought Aveline had fallen out of fav
Aveline smiled slightly at him. "It's nothing. I just wanted to see if you needed to go to the hospital."Russell replied, "No need."Aveline picked up her fork again. "Then let's eat first."She started eating, although she didn't have much of an appetite. There were still many things she needed to deal with.Russell's charming eyes looked deeply at her, but he didn't say much more.After the meal, Aveline went to pay the bill, only to be told it had already been paid.She paused and looked at Russell. "Russ, didn't we agree that I would treat you?"Russell lazily said, "When you're out with me, there's no way I'd let you pay."Aveline blinked. "So, can I invite you to meals often in the future?"Russell's mouth twitched slightly. "Sure."Aveline smiled, then sat back down.Russell waved his phone at her. "The video has been sent to your email."Aveline immediately opened it, and when she saw the girl who bumped into her tampering with the food, her expression turned serious.Someone
Seeing her, Sharon's face immediately showed fury, and she charged over, raising her hand to slap Aveline's face."You wretch! How dare you arrange for someone to kidnap Sophia? How could you be so cruel?" Sharon exclaimed.Aveline widened her eyes, and she quickly grabbed Sharon's hand, then forcefully pushed her away. "Are you crazy? Do you always lash out when you see someone? Do you need to get your brain checked?""Wretch!"Sharon stumbled from the push, but she steadied herself and glared at Aveline, wishing she could tear her apart."It's you who refuses to divorce Lucas, you are the mistress, yet cling to the position as his wife. How shameless can you be?"Aveline, already furious with Lucas, now found Sharon directly in her line of fire.She coldly said, "My marriage with Lucas is protected by law. The law will decide who the real mistress is. If you keep troubling me over this, I'm not afraid to confront you. Knowing me, you should be aware that I have nothing, and thus noth
Aveline's brow furrowed. What was he doing? Blocking her with bodyguards, not answering her calls, and now stepping into the elevator? Her expression froze, and she was about to leave."What are you doing?" Lucas' cold voice sounded.Aveline replied, "I don't want to be in the same space as a trash can."Lucas' brow furrowed, and a dangerous vibe filled the cramped elevator. He pressed the close button, and the doors shut quickly, leaving no time for Aveline to exit.She glanced at him with a frown and stood in the corner, radiating detachment and coldness.Before, he refused to see her. Now, she didn't want to be near him. What bad luck.Lucas noticed her expression, his eyes dark and unreadable. He asked coolly, "Where's the evidence?"Aveline replied, "I sent it to you."Lucas said, "My phone's off."Aveline smirked. "Can't you turn it on?"Lucas looked at her intently and suddenly asked, "If I gave you a knife now, would you stab me?"The coldness in her eyes was obvious, which
Aveline took a deep breath. It was a good opportunity to ask about the recording.“Okay.”Yvonne asked, “Where are you now? I’ll come to pick you up.”Aveline gave her location, and about 15 minutes later, a car slowly approached. The window rolled down, revealing Yvonne's well-maintained face.“Hello, Madam Yvonne.” Aveline smiled politely.Yvonne said, “Get in.”Aveline opened the door and got into the car.Yvonne asked directly, “Why don’t you look well? Haven’t you been resting?”Aveline replied, “The issue with Lucas being poisoned has been weighing on me. I haven’t been sleeping well.”Yvonne said, “Honestly, I can’t believe you would do such a thing, but since you cooked the food, it’s natural for people to suspect. Didn’t you call the police? I’m sure they’ll find evidence to prove your innocence sooner or later.”“Yes.” Aveline nodded, saying no more.At the beauty salon, they went straight to a private room and lay down on the beds as the therapist instructed.Yvonne asked, “
Yvonne left the beauty salon.Aveline hadn’t been sleeping well lately. She lay on the bed, and as the therapist started massaging her, she soon fell asleep.When she woke up again, it was already dark outside. Aveline left the salon and took out her phone to call a taxi.She hadn’t noticed earlier, but the salon was on the outskirts of the city, making it difficult to find a ride. After waiting for a while by the roadside, she finally saw a taxi approaching slowly.“Where to?” the driver asked once she got in.Aveline replied, “Maple Garden.”She then checked her phone for messages and saw one from Selena complaining about Aaron. The last message caught her attention.Selena asked, “Do you have an extra WhatsApp account?”Aveline replied, “What do you need it for?”Selena texted, “This jerk is giving me such a hard time. I need to get back at him. I’ve found a way. Just wait and see!”Aveline replied, “Don’t go too far. If you push him too much, you’ll end up suffering.”Selena texted
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
Jolie watched Selena’s retreating figure and shook her head in frustration. What could she do? Selena’s emotional wounds ran deep, and no matter what Jolie tried, it seemed impossible to bridge the gap between them.Returning to the party, she glanced around at the crowd of men and women mingling with champagne flutes in hand, but her mind wasn’t on the event. She casually picked up a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and sipped it slowly.What she didn’t notice was a man standing across the room, watching her. As she drank, his eyes darkened, and he licked his lips suggestively.After finishing about half the glass, Jolie started feeling strange. Her body was growing weak, her skin hot and feverish, and a strange itchiness spread through her veins.Her brows furrowed in confusion. What was happening? She headed toward the restroom, but as she rounded a corner, her legs gave out, and she had to grab the wall for support to keep from collapsing."Did someone drug me?" she murmu
Maria looked at the two little ones, absolutely delighted, and then turned to Aveline. "I’ve got some happy news to share as well."Selena guessed, "You're pregnant?"Maria nodded. "That’s right."Selena gave her a thumbs-up. "Wow, that was fast! You said it and made it happen."Maria smiled. "I couldn’t fall too far behind. I need to make sure my kid has the best opportunities and chances, right?" With their babies close in age to Ethan and Emma, Maria thought it would be perfect for them to grow up together, maybe even become childhood sweethearts.She looked at Selena and asked, "Weren’t you eager at first too? Why haven’t you made any moves yet?"Selena sighed. "I’m not sure. Honestly, I’m a little scared."Maria reassured her, "Take your time, no rush."Selena got up and left the room, heading outside for some fresh air. Seeing Aveline go through the struggles of pregnancy and the dangers of childbirth genuinely frightened her. On top of that, she worried she wouldn’t be a good m
At first, the twin really did look quite wrinkly and not very cute, but as time passed, they started to fill out and became more and more beautiful. The baby boy had a calm demeanor, rarely crying or fussing. He spent most of his time either eating or sleeping, with large, dark eyes like black grapes, a high nose, a tiny mouth, and chubby, round cheeks full of baby fat.The baby girl, on the other hand, was much more lively and prone to fussing, expressing her displeasure whenever things didn’t go her way. She cried the most between the two.The baby boy was born first, and the girl was the younger sister. Every time, the sister seemed determined to make her brother cry, but she never succeeded. Once fed, she would calm down.“Have you thought of any names for them yet?” Selena asked, looking at Aveline, who was slowly recovering, while playfully toying with the little ones in the stroller.Aveline replied, "We’ve chosen some temporary nicknames, but we haven’t settled on their full n
Aveline said, "Braden is probably not interested."“Huh? Why?” Selena asked, confusion spreading across her face.Aveline explained, “Baron, Braden, and Maria all have a special bond with Lucas. No matter what, they wouldn’t betray him.”She paused for a moment, her thoughts drifting to Brian, the man who had always seen it as his duty to protect Lucas. She wondered how he was faring now.Selena shrugged. “Alright, I suppose. He’s helped me a lot recently, and if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have handled everything so smoothly.”Aveline replied, “It’s all over now. Taking him with you wouldn’t really serve any purpose.”“True,” Selena agreed, nodding as she let go of the subject.She ended up staying in Larbor City for a month. One night, Aveline suddenly went into labor. The family rushed to action—though there was some initial chaos, they quickly regained control. Drivers got the car ready, calls to the hospital were made, and everything unfolded smoothly.At the hospital, Lucas h
To mitigate the impact of the incident, the Fletcher family arranged a marriage with the Skyler family, setting the wedding date for just one month later, a rather hasty decision. Aaron officially became the head of the Fletcher family, and despite any grievances Nathalie might have had, she didn’t dare voice them, keeping her frustration to herself.Selena, on the other hand, finally had some leisure time. With Aaron busier than ever, she felt bored and decided to visit Aveline in Larbor City.Aveline’s belly had grown quite large, and with just a month left until her due date, her feet had started swelling, looking puffy and rounded like little pillows. Seeing her condition, Selena couldn't help but remark, "Pregnancy looks so tough. I'm starting to get a little scared."Aveline glanced at her. "Are you planning to get pregnant?"As far as she remembered, Selena had never mentioned such plans.Selena nodded, then shared the idea she had previously about arranging a marriage between
Aaron held her hand and led her directly out of the room upstairs.Meanwhile, inside the room, Nathalie had someone forcibly separate the two entangled people. Ernest looked utterly disheveled, still trying to grab onto Lila and continue.Lila, now slightly regaining her senses, realized the situation. She let out a piercing scream, wrapped herself in the blanket, and cried out in distress."How could this happen? Why did it turn out like this? Why am I here? Mom, wasn't that bitch Selena supposed to be in this room? Why is it me? Why me!"The sensation in her body was undeniable, and seeing Ernest in his dazed state, she could already imagine how wild things had been between them. Worse yet, many people had witnessed it!This scene was supposed to fall on Selena!What went wrong?Nathalie hugged her, trying to calm her down, "Don’t get worked up, Lila. You can’t afford to get upset right now. It’s okay, mom’s here with you. I’ll take care of this."But Lila was inconsolable, sobbing u