Snow replied, "Aaron, you're really too kind to me. I don't even know how to thank you." She then sent him a crying emoji.Aaron texted, “Be a good girl and keep the money. Let me know if you need anything." Snow answered, "Thank you, Aaron."Selena confirmed the receipt, seeing the two thousand dollars in her account, a cold smile appeared on her lips."Selena!"Just then, a man's voice came from the bedroom.Selena rolled her eyes, logged out of WhatsApp, and entered the bedroom. "What is it?"After receiving the money, she found Aaron slightly more agreeable. Well, just a little.Aaron glanced at a cup and said, "I'm thirsty."Selena walked over, picked up his cup, and went to fill it with water. Then she handed it to him. "Drink."Aaron didn't take it, saying blandly, "I'm not thirsty anymore. I want to go to the bathroom."That slight bit of agreeableness vanished instantly.Selena wanted to throw the water in his face. She held back, knowing that this man could really make t
Selena froze, her body stiffening, and after a long pause, she finally spoke, "Then stand properly, I can't hold you well."After saying that, she reached out to grab his pants.Inevitably, her fingers brushed against his thigh, causing both of them to shudder.Selena simply closed her eyes, grabbed his pants firmly, and lifted upwards.She heard the man let out a muffled groan next to her ear, incredibly sensual and enticing.Selena awkwardly said, "They're up, I'll help you out..."With that, she turned around, letting his arm drape over her shoulder, and walked out.This time, Aaron didn't say anything. He simply pressed his lips together.Selena helped Aaron to sit on the bed and asked, "Anything else?"Aaron's voice was a bit hoarse. "No, you can leave."Selena immediately turned and walked out in fear that he might come up with some other trick.Once the bedroom door closed, Aaron exhaled a deep breath and reached out to adjust his pants.Did this woman really not understand, or
She could very well walk away, but if this deal fell through because of her, Lucas would certainly find ways to make her life difficult.She could already imagine what he would say.Aveline took a deep breath, walked over, picked up a glass, and smiled. "Here's to everyone."Watching her drink the glass of wine, someone immediately cheered, "Great drinker!"Gwen, seeing this, exchanged a knowing glance with a man, then led Aveline to sit down right next to him.The evening's guest of honor was a man in his early forties. Though unremarkable in appearance, his warm smile transformed his face when addressing others. He turned that genial expression to Aveline as he spoke, “Miss Young, securing cooperation with Brighton Enterprises single-handedly is no small feat. I've heard their CEO, Mr. Henry, is infamously difficult to deal with.”Aveline smiled lightly. "As long as my proposal was compelling enough to persuade him, nothing else mattered.""Well said."Gernard Darby laughed heartily
"Who the hell dared to kick me?" Gernard cursed as he struggled to get up. When he saw who had arrived, the vicious snarl on his face instantly vanished, replaced by wide-eyed terror."Mr. Tudor..."At that moment, Lucas held Aveline in his arms, his crisp, pleasant scent filling her senses. She felt stunned and disoriented.Lucas radiated a chilling aura, his eyes cold and sharp. "You dare lay a hand on my woman?"Gernard immediately fell to his knees in fear. "Mr. Tudor, I'm sorry. I didn't recognize who she was. If I had known, I wouldn't have dared to covet her.”Gernard had spent decades in Cloudflare City, but he was nothing compared to Lucas. Lucas wasn't just the CEO of DK Group; he had the backing of the influential Tudor family, who could remove anyone from society without a trace.As Gernard kept begging for mercy, Desmond walked in, waved his hand, and two bodyguards stepped forward to drag Gernard out.Gernard continued to plead, "Mr. Tudor, I know I was wrong, I truly kno
Before he regained his memory, he often bought her flowers, warm tea, and small gifts... Though they weren't worth much, it showed that he was thinking of her. Whenever he saw something beautiful, his first instinct was to share it with her. In his heart, she was always first.How could she easily forget or stop loving such a devoted Lu? A slight ache pierced her heart, and Aveline quickly reined in her thoughts, trying not to let her mind wander.That Lu was gone, killed by Lucas Tudor.Now, he was just Lucas Tudor—cold-hearted, emotionally distant, unpredictable.Aveline inserted the straw into the cup and took a sip.Indeed, it was warm, driving away the coldness in her heart.After half an hour, the driver's side door opened, and Lucas, carrying a chill with him, got into the car.Aveline, holding her cup and looking at her phone, put it away when she saw him enter. Her demeanor softened slightly.No matter what, he had saved her."Thank you for tonight," she said.Lucas turned to
Aveline paused, looking at the cup of tea in her hand. Wasn’t he the one who bought it?The icy indifference etched on Lucas' face was unmistakable, too genuine to be feigned.As realization dawned, Aveline's lips twisted into a bitter smile. She had misread the situation entirely. In her naivety, she had imagined he remembered—that he had bought the cup of tea out of concern, a gesture of comfort after her ordeal. It turned out she had read too much into it.Taking a deep breath, she threw the tea into the trash and followed him into the Tudor mansion.They went straight upstairs and into the bedroom.Lucas tugged at his collar, unbuttoning it, and said coldly, "Go take a shower."Aveline silently complied, showing an attitude of resigned acceptance.Lucas watched her, feeling even more irritated.The sound of running water filled the room. Through the frosted glass, he could see her shadowy, graceful figure. Sitting on the sofa with his elbows resting on his knees, he stared at the
Thinking about the madness of the previous night made her legs weak. She quickly shook off those thoughts and got up.As she stepped out of bed and put weight on her feet, her legs buckled, and she nearly fell.That bastard!Cursing him silently, Aveline steadied herself for a moment before heading to the bathroom.She had washed her clothes after showering last night, and now they were dry. After freshening up, she found the bedroom door open, with the maid having already tidied the bed.Maintaining a facade of composure, she walked downstairs.Alfred greeted her with a smile, "Good morning, ma'am. Breakfast is ready."Aveline nodded and headed to the dining room.Just as she entered, she heard the steady footsteps of a man behind her. He pulled out the chair next to her and sat down.Aveline kept her eyes lowered, eating her oatmeal in small bites.Lucas' gaze slowly swept over her, his eyes dark and deep.Aveline felt uneasy under his stare but didn’t want to engage in conversation.
A smile instantly appeared on Sophia's face. "Thank you. As long as you don't keep her detained, that's enough. Once she returns, I'll have a serious talk with her.""Fine," Lucas responded coldly, just as he was about to say something else, the sound of a car door closing interrupted him."No!" Aveline walked over briskly, her clear eyes filled with agitation as she looked at Lucas. "You can't release Gwen!"Lucas' eyebrows furrowed. "Are you giving me orders?"Aveline's fingers instinctively curled, and a sharp pain shot through her heart. His stern, sharp face felt completely unfamiliar to her.Sophia spoke up, "Miss Young, my cousin acted impulsively and made a mistake. She already knows she was wrong. If you feel that's not enough, I'll apologize on her behalf."With that, she bowed deeply to Aveline, placing herself in the lowest position possible. "Miss Young, I'm sorry!"Lucas grasped Sophia's arm and pulled her up. "Sophia, what are you doing? This has nothing to do with you."
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