Lucas' gaze swept downward, and he immediately spotted the pair in the self-service area. The girl held a plate, taking small bites, and had accidentally smeared her cheek. The man beside her gently wiped it away with a tissue. The scene was harmonious and beautiful as if they were a couple.A cold glint flashed in Lucas' eyes.His tone grew even colder. "I didn't want to bring someone I'm bound to divorce to avoid being a laughingstock."Wilbert's face darkened. "Can you stop acting like your irresponsible father?"Lucas lowered his gaze slightly and said, "Excuse me, Mr. Wilbert."Without waiting for Wilbert's response, he turned and walked downstairs.Aveline got cream on her dress and asked worriedly, "Russ, do you think this stain will ruin the dress?"Ruining such a delicate and beautiful gown would be a shame!Russell replied, "Let's go over there to clean it up. Don't worry, it's fine."Aveline followed him behind a screen where there were fewer people, ensuring they wouldn't
Aveline replied calmly, "I'm his date. It’s only natural that I go with him."Lucas' expression darkened considerably. This woman had no sense of danger!"Aveline, come here!" he commanded, his deep, magnetic voice cold and laced with an icy edge.Aveline remained unmoved. Who did he think he was? Did he expect her to just obey?Lucas' eyes fixed on her with a frosty gaze. "If you come over now, I'll overlook what happened before."Aveline chuckled softly and looked at him. "I'll come over if we divorce."The air around them seemed to freeze instantly. She really had no hesitation about mentioning divorce, even in front of others, and with such calm.Rage burned within Lucas as he stared at her as if trying to bore a hole through her with his gaze. Aveline felt a twinge of fear, knowing there would be no good outcome from angering him, but stubbornly, she refused to back down. Why should she yield when he treated her so poorly?Russell watched with great interest from the side. B
Aveline smoothly withdrew her hand and smiled, "We're friends, so it’s only normal that I'm worried about you."Russell's hand felt empty, and a strange emptiness filled his heart. He rubbed his fingers together before casually shoving them into his pocket. "It's fine. He can't do anything to me."Lucas had just returned to the Tudor family and had not yet entered the Tudor Group. For now, he only had the DK Group under his control, which couldn't stir up much trouble.Aveline let out a slight sigh of relief. "That's good to hear."At that moment, Russell's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, raised his eyebrows, and said to Aveline, "I need to take this call.""Okay.” she nodded, watching him walk towards the outdoor garden.The hotel's outdoor garden was beautiful, located only on the 7th floor, with dim lighting and a faint floral scent lingering in the air, creating a serene atmosphere.Aveline turned around and found a quiet corner to wait. As a waiter passed by, she took a gla
A warm breath brushed against her ear as the man's deep voice whispered, "Rina Johnson, the sole heiress of the Johnson family. What do you think Russell is aiming for by stringing her along like this?"As he finished speaking, he fixed his gaze on Aveline's face. She was accompanying Russell to this banquet, but he clearly didn't care about her at all.Aveline's expression remained indifferent. She stopped listening to the conversation nearby and turned to him. "You called me over just to show me this?"Lucas raised his eyebrows slightly. "Aveline, you're just a pawn.""So?" Aveline's tone was light, showing complete indifference.Lucas suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered, "Leave with me later."Aveline chuckled suddenly. "Do you think that showing me this will make me leave with you?"Lucas' face darkened at her words. "What do you mean?"Aveline pushed him away. "I told you, I'm Russell's date tonight. I have nothing to do with you!"With that, she turned and ret
"Rina."At that moment, Russell's voice came through. "Tonight is your grandfather's birthday banquet. There are many guests. It’s not unusual for some of them to come out here to get some fresh air. Don't go over there."Rina glanced toward the flower pavilion corridor, hesitated for a moment, but then followed Russell's advice and returned."Russ, who is that woman? Why did she come with you?" Rina's voice grew more distant.Aveline's body quickly relaxed. She pushed Lucas away and ran back towards the banquet hall.As her figure disappeared into the light, Lucas glanced down at his fingers, noticing the lingering moisture.His eyes darkened, and his Adam's apple bobbed. He cast a look back in the direction of Rina and Russell before striding away.Aveline went straight to the restroom and splashed her face with cold water to calm down. The thought of what had just happened filled her with anger, making her want to hit Lucas.But she couldn't win him. That man was truly infuriating!
Her expression froze for a moment, ignoring him.Lucas commanded, "Come here."Aveline frowned. Nothing from before was resolved, so why should she listen to him? She turned her head and smiled slightly at Russell. "Russ, could you give me a ride home?"Russell raised an eyebrow. "It’s my pleasure to drive a beautiful lady home." He then reached out to open the car door.Lucas' face darkened as he stared at Aveline.Just then, Russell's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and a cold glint appeared in his eyes."Hello?" he answered.Aveline watched him, not getting into the car immediately.Russell's expression soured as he listened to the caller. "I understand," he said before hanging up. Turning to Aveline, his face showed a trace of apology. "I'm sorry, something urgent came up. I can't give you a ride."Aveline blinked. "Then you should go. I'll just call a taxi."Russell insisted, "I'll find someone to take you."Aveline shook her head with a smile. "No need. There are plenty
Aveline asked, "Can you reach Juliet?"Zachary shook his head. "No, ever since Juliet found her biological parents, she only occasionally contacts Madam Hilda. None of us have been able to reach her."Aveline's brows furrowed deeply. It seemed that Hilda had been bailed out by Juliet's family, who were very influential and difficult to track down. So, was she destined never to learn who her biological parents were?Noticing her distraction, Zachary asked, "Aveline, are you alright?"Aveline snapped back to reality, shaking her head. "It's nothing. Since she's gone, she probably won't come back. What are you planning to do next?"Zachary shook his head helplessly. "I don't know."The sky was gradually getting brighter. Aveline looked around and then said, "I need to go to the police station and see if I can find out anything.""I'll go with you," Zachary offered."No need. You should stay at the orphanage. With Hilda gone, someone needs to be there," Aveline replied, shaking her head.
Aveline still felt a bit worried. "Anyone who can be friends with Lucas probably has a bad temper. If you ended up provoking him, make sure you get out of there quickly.""Don't worry, I will," Selena replied, looking eager for the challenge, clearly not ready to end the game just yet.Aveline stood up and said, "I might need a few more days before I can return. I hope nothing happen to you by then.”Selena pouted. "Come on, can't you at least wish me good luck?"Aveline laughed. "Alright, I hope you have Aaron wrapped around your finger, making him fall hopelessly in love with you, pining for you, willing to live and die for you, even to the point of banging his head against a wall."Selena chuckled. "That's a bit extreme."Aveline laughed again and then said, "Alright, I need to go. I have things to do.""Okay, take care."After hanging up, Aveline got up to freshen up. As she came out, her phone rang. Seeing it was Zachary, she answered, "Hello?"Zachary's cheerful voice came throug
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