"Selena is impulsive. If she did something to hurt you, I hope you won't hold it against her. I promise she won't do it again."Selena's eyes turned red instantly. "Ave, why are you apologizing? This has nothing to do with you!"Aveline ignored her and looked at Lucas. "Is this enough now?"Her face was slightly pale, and there was a shattered light in her eyes.Wasn't it just forcing her to comply?Why wasn't he satisfied when she had already complied with his wishes?She was truly blind.Why didn't she listen to Selena?The taste of reaping what one sows was truly unpleasant.Lucas looked deeply at her, feeling a wave of irritation. What did this matter have to do with her?A cold, harsh aura enveloped him.Sophia spoke up at this moment, "I'm fine, but Lucas is injured. I understand that Miss Quin is angry, but hurting someone is against the law. I hope Miss Quin won't do this again in the future."She looked at the two bodyguards. "Let go of Miss Quin."The two bodyguards immediate
Selena said, "I'm just so angry."Aveline sighed softly. "Your anger only brings suffering for both of us."Selena choked, a few traces of guilt appearing on her delicate face. "I know I was wrong.""Alright, weren't we going to have dinner together? This meal is on you," Aveline said."No problem!"Selena cheerfully agreed, linking her arm with Aveline's as they walked to the roadside.By the time they finished their meal, it was already evening.Selena wanted to go home with Aveline, but Aveline refused."You've been taking care of me in the hospital for so long. Go home and rest well, or else you won't be pretty anymore," Aveline said.Selena immediately covered her face. "Really? Am I not pretty anymore? That's unacceptable. I need to go home and take care of myself. Bye, Ave darling."Watching her leave, Aveline's smile carried a touch of helplessness.Returning directly to her apartment in the Waterfront District, she went upstairs. The light on her floor had gone out at some poi
"Six million and the house, don't you want them anymore?"Lucas looked at her with an emotion in his eyes that Aveline couldn't decipher.Aveline clenched her fists, staring at him, and suddenly felt deflated.She did want them.With money and a house, she wouldn't have to work anymore. She could leave this city, go far away, and make sure he could never find her.Oh... how naive of her. As if he would ever look for her.Keeping a cold face, she found the first aid kit, sat down beside him, opened it, and began disinfecting his wound."It hurts," he said softly.His deep, magnetic voice, slightly hoarse, carried his unique roughness, making it a real temptation to Aveline.Her breathing became slightly erratic, and instead of being gentle, her movements became more forceful.This time, Lucas didn't say anything.He just watched her quietly. Her expression was indifferent, her delicate features stunningly beautiful. Though she usually didn't wear makeup, she had a touch of purity about
Bastard! This big bastard!Aveline's body went limp, but she still struggled.Helping Sophia during the day and then coming to her at night. What was this about? Couldn't Sophia satisfy him?Sweat beaded on Lucas's forehead as he kept her pinned beneath him, his movements forceful and intense. "Ave, be good, or it will be unpleasant for both of us."Aveline's eyes were red. "Get out! Get out!"She pounded on him. "Don't you have someone to take care of? Go find her! Go!"Lucas didn't want to hear another word and kissed her again.In the room, muffled cries intertwined and gradually shattered as the temperature rose. The struggle continued.Late into the night, everything fell silent.Aveline lay with her back to him. "Add another two million to the divorce settlement."Lucas's breath grew heavier, but he didn't say anything.Aveline closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling. The closer she got to him, the more it hurt.The pain was cold and piercing, making her curl up involuntari
As the words fell, the air seemed to freeze.Aveline blinked, then smiled and pushed him away. "Lucas, this is pointless."Wanting a divorce and to sleep with her—where did he get such audacity?Aveline went straight to freshen up.Lucas's emotions, which had finally calmed down, became agitated again.By the time Aveline came out, Lucas had already left.Without any expression, she went to the kitchen, made some salad, and ate a few bites. Then she took out her phone and called Desmond."Hello, Miss Young."Aveline said, "I'm taking a day off today. Could you assist me?"Desmond was startled and then asked, "May I ask why you're taking a day off, Miss Young?"Aveline replied, "To get a divorce."Desmond kept quiet.He shouldn't have asked."Alright, I’ll help you with that.""Thank you."After hanging up, Aveline got up to wash the dishes.Then she started cleaning the house. She did a thorough cleaning, but even after the house was spotless, something still felt off.Her gaze swept o
Aveline was taken aback. "Where are we going?"Lucas, looking tense, opened the passenger door and pushed her inside, a sense of urgency in his actions.Once he got in the car, Aveline frowned and asked, "Where exactly are we going?"Lucas replied, "Grandma had an episode."Barbara? Aveline's mind flashed to the sweet old lady suffering from dementia, and she felt a mix of emotions.The entire drive, she stayed quiet until they arrived at the nursing home.Lucas walked briskly ahead, with Aveline following behind.They walked down a long corridor and arrived at a charming little building. Inside, several caregivers looked flustered, and from afar, they could hear Barbara's cries."Granddaughter-in-law, I want my granddaughter-in-law. Waaa, granddaughter-in-law..."Hearing this, Aveline was stunned.Patients with dementia often have poor memory. She thought Barbara had long forgotten her, but it seemed she still remembered after all this time.They quickly entered the building, where B
Lucas frowned and hung up the phone, then walked out.In the garden, Sophia had already approached Barbara. She held out a cotton candy shaped like a kitten. "Madam Barbara, look at this cute little kitten."Barbara's eyes lit up when she saw the cotton candy, but she didn't take it. Instead, she tugged on Aveline's hand."Granddaughter-in-law, you get me cotton candy. I don't like kittens; I like bunnies."From the moment Sophia appeared, Aveline had instinctively tensed up. But when she heard Barbara's voice, she suddenly relaxed. An indescribable feeling welled up inside her, making her feel a bit sad and close to tears."Okay, I'll get you one," Aveline said.Barbara smiled brightly. "My granddaughter-in-law is the best."Sophia, still holding the cotton candy, froze awkwardly. She slowly withdrew her hand and looked at Aveline. " Madam Barbara likes you very much."Aveline replied calmly, "She just happens to find me pleasing."Sophia smiled slightly, lowering her eyes with a hint
Aveline looked away and turned to leave the nursing home...."Lucas, thank you. I suddenly feel a lot of pain in my leg," Sophia said, leaning on Lucas's arm for support, frowning.Lucas stared at her prosthetic leg and asked in a deep voice, "Do you need a wheelchair?"Sophia shook her head with a smile. "No, this pain happens every day. I just have to endure it. It's a lingering issue from two years ago..."Realizing what she had said, she quickly added, "Lucas, don't misunderstand. I didn't mean anything by it, I just...""I'll have someone take you home," Lucas interrupted, guiding her outside.Sophia lowered her gaze slightly. She had seen Aveline and deliberately mentioned her leg pain to make Lucas support her. From Aveline's perspective, it would look like Lucas was hugging her. Though it was a misunderstanding, she felt she had to act. She needed Aveline to know she and Lucas were the true couple and that Aveline was just the third party.She savored Lucas' warmth and walked
Upon hearing this, Jolie looked at him. "Can I refuse you?""Of course you can," Gavin replied without hesitation.Jolie eyed him skeptically, finding it hard to believe he would give in so easily.Gavin figured that even if she refused, there were still six obligations left to fulfill. Once those were over, their ties would be completely severed. He was confident that by then, she wouldn’t occupy any more of his thoughts.In his life, emotions had never been a priority. Career and power were always paramount. He had set his goals clearly from a young age. So even though he now realized he liked Jolie, he wouldn’t do anything irrational for the sake of feelings. That wasn’t who he was.Jolie’s eyes gradually brightened. She had assumed he was the kind of person who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, resorting to forceful tactics if she disagreed. His rationality made things much simpler!"Mr. Cooper, I’m sorry," Jolie said after deliberating for a moment. "We’re not very com
Gavin pulled out a document and handed it to her.Jolie glanced at it, her eyes widening in shock as she realized it was a detailed dossier on Ian. Staring at Gavin in disbelief, she asked, "What… what is this supposed to mean?"She didn’t even look at the contents again, her mind swirling with chaos. "To show you the kind of person you’re so adamantly defending," Gavin said coolly, his expression steady.Jolie’s grip on the bedsheet tightened as her thoughts spun out of control. She struggled to process what was happening. "Why are you doing this?" Their relationship was supposed to be simple—a transactional repayment of a favor. So why was he meddling in her life? Why investigate Ian? Why did he care so much about her relationship with Ian?A flood of questions filled her mind, and though the answer seemed obvious, she couldn’t bring herself to believe it.Gavin looked into her dark, clear eyes, finding something there he couldn’t quite decipher. It was rare for him to not unders
Jolie closed her eyes and said weakly, "I won’t break up.""You…" Daisy was taken aback by her stubbornness. Jolie had always been the most obedient child, the one who listened without question. Yet now, she was completely unyielding.Sighing heavily, Daisy sat down beside her. At this point, there was little she could do. Terence had already lashed out, but even that didn’t make Jolie relent. If she refused to break up, what more could they do?For now, Daisy decided to leave the matter alone. If talking to Jolie wouldn’t work, perhaps convincing Ian would be the way forward."Are you hungry?" Daisy asked after a pause."No," Jolie replied faintly. The only sensation she could focus on was the pain radiating from her back. She lay on her stomach, too afraid to move.Daisy let out a soft sigh. "If you get hungry, let me know. I’ll make you whatever you want.""Mm." Jolie barely responded, closing her eyes as exhaustion pulled her into a restless sleep.…Night fell, and Jolie stirred
Aveline said, "It’s absolutely true. I should’ve recorded it. Then you wouldn’t doubt me.""No, no, I’m not doubting you," Gernard replied quickly. "I just didn’t expect it. Brother actually said something like that? He’s always been distant from women. Growing up, there were girls who liked him, but he never paid them any attention. During school, he focused on studying, and after that, on work. Honestly, I thought he might never learn how to date. And now… he’s finally thawed!"He sounded amazed, but soon his brows furrowed. "This Jolie—she’s Selena’s younger sister, isn’t she?"Aveline nodded. "That’s right."Gernard’s frown deepened. "I think I’ve seen her before. She does resemble Selena a bit. Baby sister, you know Gavin had feelings for Selena before, but he came into the picture too late. She was already married. Do you think… is it possible he sees Jolie as a stand-in for Selena?"Aveline’s expression immediately grew tense. If that were true, it would indeed be unsettling.W
"I… I haven’t decided yet," Selena said hesitantly.Aveline replied, "Take your time. There’s no rush. You’re in Larbor City now, and so is she. When you’re ready, you can always go see her.""Mm." Selena gave a soft hum of acknowledgment and ended the call.When she looked up, she met Aaron’s gaze. He was staring at her intently.Selena’s breath caught slightly. "What’s wrong?"Aaron reached out and gently brushed her cheek with his fingertips. "If something’s troubling you, you can always tell me."Without a word, Selena leaned into his chest, seeking comfort in his silent presence. Aaron wrapped his arms around her, holding her close without pressing for answers.He had long since resolved to be with her and had quietly investigated her background. He knew her family life had been far from happy, though she had never spoken of it. He hadn’t brought it up either, respecting her silence.His earlier question had simply been a gentle nudge, hoping she might open up and feel better by s
While Selena was at the Cooper residence, she accidentally burned herself and had to be taken to the hospital. After getting her wound treated, she stepped out of the treatment room only to see a group of people hurriedly pushing a hospital bed through the hallway. Following closely behind were none other than Terence and Daisy.What were they doing here?Selena’s eyes flickered with surprise. She instinctively stepped out of their line of sight, keeping to the side. Although she was standing nearby and easily noticeable, neither Terence nor Daisy paid her any attention. Their entire focus was on the person on the bed.Selena pressed her lips together and glanced toward the hospital bed. Her eyes widened in shock as the person lying on it came into view.It was Jolie!Jolie was face down, her back covered in blood. Her clothes were stuck to her wounds, the sight both chaotic and horrifying.What happened?How could Jolie be so seriously injured?“What’s going on?” Aaron’s voice broke
Jolie lifted her gaze to meet Daisy’s, a hint of confusion on her face as she asked, "What do you mean by that?"Bang!Terence slammed his palm on the coffee table, his face already clouded with anger. "Jolie, are you playing dumb? What’s going on between you and Ian? Why didn’t you tell us beforehand? Do you have any idea how important your future is to this family?"Daisy’s expression wasn’t much better, her cold gaze fixed on Jolie, carrying an air of disapproval.Jolie had never seen Terence this furious before. She was momentarily startled but quickly steadied herself. "I like Ian, and Ian likes me," she said firmly. "Naturally, we ended up together. What’s the problem with that?""No. Absolutely not!" Terence snapped, his voice harsh and resolute. "You must break up with him immediately."Jolie shook her head. "I’m not breaking up with Ian.""Disgraceful!" Terence glared at her, pointing a trembling finger in her direction. "Do you think I won’t lay a hand on you? Jolie, I’ve cl
The next morning, Jolie woke up nestled in Gavin’s arms. His position hadn’t changed much throughout the night, holding her securely as if she might vanish if he let go.Turning slightly, she glanced at his peaceful sleeping face. Still asleep, he seemed less sharp, more tranquil, the usual coldness in his features softened."What are you staring at?" Just as she was lost in thought, his slightly hoarse voice broke the silence.Jolie quickly averted her gaze, her tone defensive. "I was wondering why you’re still here."Gavin opened his eyes, his gaze landing on her delicate profile. Without a word, he got up and walked into the bathroom.The bathroom had disposable toiletries prepared, and Gavin began washing up right there. Jolie cast him a quick glance before silently moving to stand beside him, brushing her teeth as well.Neither of them spoke, but as Jolie caught sight of their reflection in the mirror, a strange thought crossed her mind: they looked like a married couple who had
Gavin couldn’t resist her soft, pleading tone and surrendered with a resigned sigh. "Knock, knock, knock!" The knocking grew more insistent, and Jolie, catching her breath, glanced at him. "Untie me," she said softly, her voice still tinged with warmth, her eyes carrying a dazed allure. She looked utterly captivating.Gavin swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing visibly. He really didn’t want to let her leave the bed, but reluctantly, he unbound her wrists. Jolie stumbled slightly as she got up, quickly making her way to the bathroom. After washing her face and wrapping herself in a robe to look composed, she approached the door and opened it.Standing outside, as she had feared, was Daisy."Jolie, what’s going on? Why did it take you so long to open the door?" Daisy frowned, her expression stern."I just fell asleep," Jolie replied, her voice calm. "Is something wrong, Mom?"Daisy stepped forward. "Let me in. I have something to talk to you about."No way!Gavin was still inside,