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
Aveline tried not to overthink and called the police, but the next moment, someone grabbed her phone!“You figured it out?” the driver asked coldly.Aveline felt everything becoming blurry and instinctively tried to open the car door, but it was already locked.“Who are you?” she asked with difficulty, pinching her thigh to stay awake.The driver glared at her coldly. “You forgot me? You little witch, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been in prison!”A flash of recognition hit Aveline—Darren! He was the one Lucas had investigated!But she didn’t know him at all. Why was he so hostile?Instead of panicking, Aveline stayed calm and said, “Is there a misunderstanding? What do you want? Money, a car, a house? I can give you anything. My husband is Lucas Tudor, the heir of the Cloudflare City’s Tudor family. He’s very wealthy.”“I want your life!” Darren shouted, flooring the gas pedal. The car sped off!The sudden acceleration slammed Aveline into the seat in front of her, making he
Lucas's chest constricted as he recalled Aveline's icy demeanor. The memory left him with a lingering discomfort.He tugged at his collar, trying to ease the pressure, but it didn’t help.Stepping out of the hospital, Lucas found himself under a darkened sky. The waiting driver had already pulled up to the entrance.Lucas got into the car and, on impulse, called Aveline’s number again. It was still turned off.Feeling frustrated, he dialed Desmond. “Find out where Aveline is right now.”Desmond replied, “Yes.”An hour ago, Brian had been dragged out, battered, and bruised—all for offending Aveline. With that grim scene fresh in his mind, Lucas dared not delay the order.He knew Lucas was displeased.Desmond's expression was serious as he instructed his team to investigate.…As their sports car zipped past a taxi, Russell's friend in the passenger seat snickered. "Hey Russ, check it out. That cab's practically smoking. What's their rush?"Russell glanced over. The taxi was indeed goin
Darren's eyes flashed with malice as he suddenly raised his hand, thrusting it toward Aveline's face.Darkness enveloped the night, broken only by a sliver of moonlight. As the dagger rose, its surface caught the pale glow, flashing a brief, ominous glimmer.Aveline's heart suddenly tightened, and she shouted, "Even if I die, you should at least let me know why!"Darren paused, gave a cold smile, and viciously grabbed Aveline's hair. "Look at me, take a good look at my face. Do you really not remember me?"Forced to look up, Aveline's eyes widened slightly as she stared at his face.Darren had distinct features, and he must have been good-looking in his youth, but now his face was full of hostility, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.Aveline felt a deep sense of unfamiliarity; she truly didn't remember him!Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Darren angrily slapped her again. "You little witch, you ruined me! If it weren't for you back then, I would have been living freely abroad b
“You're aware we're still married?” Lucas' expression grew colder, his eyes glinting with icy resolve. An aura of sharp, palpable power radiated from him.Russell's grip on the steering wheel loosened for a moment. He glanced at Aveline; she looked unwell, her lips pale, her cheeks red and swollen, and who knew if there were other injuries on her body. Facing Lucas, Aveline's entire demeanor was filled with resistance, especially with him standing right there. Earlier, she had called him for help, only to receive a curt "hang up" in response.How ironic.“Russ, let’s go.” Aveline didn’t look at Lucas and reached to close the car door.Hearing her words, Lucas' expression darkened further. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her out of the car, forcefully wrapping an arm around her waist, and leading her to his vehicle.“Let me go!” Aveline immediately struggled, and in her movements, she inevitably bumped into Lucas, causing her some pain.Lucas pushed her into the car, slamming the door s
Aveline looked at his stern back, took a deep breath, and felt incredibly irritated.What on earth was he doing?He had talked about divorce earlier, and now that she had agreed, he refused.He even blamed her for Sophia's kidnapping.And now she was being watched by Darren.Life was a mess!After walking for a while, Lucas noticed Aveline hadn’t followed and frowned, turning back to look at her coldly.Reluctantly, Aveline got out of the car and followed him into the Tudor residence.“Mr. Lucas, Miss Young,” the butler greeted them respectfully.Lucas replied indifferently, “She is my wife.”The butler paused, then quickly corrected himself, “Mrs. Tudor.”Aveline frowned but said nothing; she was tired of his unpredictability.Following Lucas upstairs, they went directly into the bedroom.Aveline stood at the door, not entering, watching him take out the first aid kit. Seeing her hesitate, he said, “Come here.”Aveline curled her lips sarcastically. “Are you going to treat my wounds y
He stood there, watching her intently as if he wouldn't stop until she followed his instructions. Aveline briefly closed her eyes, amused that despite her disheveled state, he didn't seem bothered. Clearly, he wasn't picky.It wasn't the first time she had undressed herself in front of him, so Aveline didn't fuss. Her expression quickly returned to calm as she began unbuttoning her shirt. Beneath it, a white tank top with thin straps hung delicately on her elegant, pale shoulders, accentuating her frail beauty.Aveline set her shirt aside and looked up at Lucas. He averted his gaze from her, took the first aid kit, and sat beside her. Seizing her arm, he began tending to the scrapes. Aveline paused, surprised he was actually treating her wounds.He was so close now, the light casting his sharp, handsome features in deep relief. His long eyelashes and high nose bridge, combined with his slightly lowered eyes, gave him a distinguished air. He frowned at the injuries on her arm, his move
Aveline initially thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep at the Tudor residence, but she fell into a deep slumber as soon as she lay down. When she woke, it was already the next morning.After washing up, Aveline left her room and happened to see Lucas coming out of his bedroom. Their eyes met briefly before she looked away and headed downstairs.Lucas stared at her intently and, seeing she was about to leave, said, "Come and have breakfast."Aveline paused and replied, "No, thanks. I’m running late for work."Lucas remarked, "You have nothing urgent at work right now, so why rush?"A chill crept into her clear eyes at his words. "Did you instruct Ms. Scoot to kick me off the Brighton Enterprises project team?"Lucas's expression remained indifferent. "Yes."After the poisoning incident, he had her important work halted, assuming she was responsible and wanting to teach her a lesson.Aveline let out a cold laugh. "Can’t you just fire me directly?"It would spare her the daily grind of w
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