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."
"I’m not going!" Aveline said, not even glancing at Desmond as she stepped into the elevator.Desmond felt a headache coming on. Weren't things fine last night? How did they end up like this after just one night?He quickly followed her into the elevator, trying to salvage the situation. "Miss Young, if there's any misunderstanding, I think it would be best for you to clear it up with Mr. Tudor in person. After all..."Aveline gave him a cold look. "Get out."Desmond fell silent.He wanted to tell her that refusing to communicate with each other wouldn’t solve anything!But Aveline's icy gaze made Desmond feel a heavy, invisible pressure, as if Lucas himself were standing in front of him.Not daring to linger, he hurried out of the elevator, watching the doors slowly close. He sighed helplessly and took another elevator to the CEO's office.He knocked on the office door, and after hearing a response from inside, took a deep breath and walked in. "Mr. Tudor, Miss Young has packed up a
She wanted to erase every trace of him from her life!On the phone, Russell chuckled lightly and then said, "Alright, wait for me. I'll be there soon.""Okay."After hanging up, Aveline opened the app and listed her property for sale.About fifteen minutes later, the doorbell rang.Aveline walked over and opened the door. Russell stood there, sporting short purple-gray hair and a roguish grin. He leaned one hand on the door frame and asked, "What made you change your mind so suddenly?"Aveline replied, "The house is too big. I get scared living here alone."Russell raised an eyebrow. "That's your reason...?"He didn't press further, though it was clear he didn't believe her.Aveline smiled slightly. "Russ, take a look and see if you like it."Russell walked in, taking long strides as he strolled around the house. "Of course, I like it, but Aveline, this house is already considered second-hand. While the location is great, it might not fetch the price you’re hoping for."Aveline's clear
Aveline hesitated and said, "But I've never attended such an event. I'm afraid I might make mistakes."Russell replied, "No worries, you just need to look beautiful."Aveline nodded. "Alright, just promise not to scold me if I mess up."Russell chuckled softly. "I promise I won't."Aveline continued packing her things. She didn't have much; everything fit into one suitcase. Once she was done, she paused for a moment, feeling a bit dazed.After living here for so long, this was all she had?From the beginning, she had never felt like this place belonged to her.A faint bitterness crossed her eyes as she zipped up her suitcase and carried it out the door.She gave the passcode to Russell.Russell nodded slightly, took the suitcase from her hand, and said, "Let's go.""Alright."Leaving Maple Garden, they headed back to the apartment she had lived in before.It had been a while since she returned, and the place was a bit messy.Feeling a bit embarrassed, Aveline said, "I haven't been back
The orphanage was filled with children who had been abandoned by their parents. When Aveline was a child back then, she couldn't help but wonder if she had been abandoned too. Why didn’t her parents want her after giving birth to her? So, for all these years, she had never thought about looking for her biological parents.Russell, noticing her distracted expression, said, "Maybe something happened to your family, or perhaps you were taken away. It's all possible. Do you want to find them, Aveline?""I haven't decided yet," Aveline replied.Russell said, "Take your time to think it over. When you're ready, let me know. I can help you."Aveline looked at him, feeling touched. "Russ, why are you so good to me?"Russell saw the familiar look of admiration in her eyes, and it made his heart ache. He choked up a bit and said, "Because I'm your friend, remember? Haha."Aveline smiled slightly. "I'll think about it.""Good."Russell didn't want to continue the topic. Did he really appear li
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