Aveline struggled twice but couldn't break free. Her face turned cold. "What else am I supposed to do? I need to understand why you're targeting Zachary. He hasn't wronged you.""He has," Lucas replied coldly.Aveline was taken aback. "When?"Lucas released her hand and looked at her indifferently. "Why should I tell you? What’s your relationship with him? In what capacity are you questioning me?""You..."Aveline's breath hitched, looking at his shameless expression, feeling a mix of exasperation and helplessness. With him acting like this, she was at a loss.It was clear that Lucas had no intention of letting Zachary off easily. Knowing she was the cause, Aveline realized she had to resolve this issue.Taking a deep breath, she softened her tone. "Lucas, if he did something to upset you, I apologize on his behalf. You're the CEO of DK Group, handsome and magnanimous. Can't you just let it go?"Her words only made Lucas' face grow colder. He scoffed, "You apologize for him? Who do you
"Go check who it is," Lucas instructed.Aveline felt exasperated like she had become his secretary. How infuriating! She walked to the door and opened it, revealing the room service she had ordered. She brought the food inside and set it on the dining table.Lucas got up and walked over, opening the bag. Seeing the pork ribs, his brows furrowed deeply. "You expect me to eat this?"Aveline replied, "This is for me..."Lucas' eyes darkened, and his expression turned grim. Aveline mumbled, "How was I supposed to know you'd be back? If you'd told me, I would've cooked for you."The presidential suite was well-equipped, including a small kitchen where she could easily whip up a simple meal.Lucas said, "You can still cook for me now."Aveline sighed, feeling like she'd dug herself into a hole. She looked at him and asked, "If I cook for you, will you let Zachary go?"Lucas' cold gaze fixed on her. "Is this how you ask for a favor?"Aveline frowned. "Then what will it take for you to let
Lucas smirked. "Then why were you staring at me? Do you like me?"As he spoke, his lips curved into a faint smile. He reached out to caress her face. "I know you've always liked me, but there's no need to be so obvious. Otherwise, I might not be able to resist doing something right here."Aveline was speechless, thinking, “Is he crazy?”She quickly got up from his lap, her cheeks feeling warm, and headed straight for the bathroom.Lucas watched her retreating back, the smile on his lips fading slightly before he returned to his work.Aveline splashed cold water on her face, trying to calm down. Otherwise, she might not be able to resist slapping him. She reminded herself that she needed to ask him for a favor, so she had to be patient and humble.A bitter smile appeared on her face. She was his wife, yet to get him to do something, she had to lower herself and cater to him. She felt like a failure as a wife. Then again, he was even more of a failure as a husband.When she came out of
Lucas said, "You can't stop me."Aveline fell silent.She took a deep breath and asked, "Are you done with your work? Can we talk about Zachary now?"Lucas picked up a glass of water, took a sip, and with a cold expression, replied, "I have a dinner meeting later. Accompany me, and if you do well, I'll consider letting him go."Aveline frowned. "Can't you just say that if I do well, you'll let him go? Why add 'consider'?"What if he were to change his mind and decided not to let Zachary go?Lucas looked at her playfully. "You're quite clever."Aveline was speechless.She didn’t like that kind of compliment.Lucas lifted his chin slightly. "Go change into the dress."Following his gaze, Aveline noticed a dress on the other side of the sofa. She walked over, picked it up, and went straight into the room to change.Fortunately, the dress was quite conservative. It highlighted her figure while covering those ambiguous marks.When she came out, she saw that Lucas had also changed into a sui
Aveline stared at his back. If looks could kill, he would be riddled with wounds by now. How infuriating!"Mrs. Tudor, please get in the car," Desmond urged cautiously.Aveline looked at him. "I told you not to call me that. Don't you find it disgusting?"Desmond fell silent.After speaking, Aveline got into the car. Looking at Lucas' cold, handsome face, she struggled to suppress her emotions. After mentally calming herself for a while, she said, "Lucas, I don't mean anything by it. I'm just thinking of you. If Miss Winter were to find out you don't want a divorce, she'd be heartbroken. What if she jumps off a building again?"She appeared genuinely concerned.Lucas' anger only intensified. He closed his eyes and ignored her.Seeing his darkened expression, Aveline felt oddly satisfied and turned to look out the window instead of saying more.The car drove smoothly down the road.Arthur Town was just a small county. Its nightlife was nowhere near as lively as that of a big city,
Lucas pushed her away gently and took out a small box. "Happy birthday."Rebecca happily took it. "Thank you, Lucas! I love the gift you gave me!"The gift itself didn't matter; what mattered was who gave it.Lucas smiled warmly. "I'm glad you like it."Rebecca's eyes landed on Aveline, who was holding Lucas' arm. Her face clouded over. In a flash, she shoved Aveline aside and latched onto Lucas herself."Who do you think you are?" Rebecca snapped. "What gives you the right to hang on Lucas like that?"Her arrogant demeanor resembled that of a spoiled little princess.Taken by surprise, Aveline lost her balance. Before she could fall, Lucas reached out and steadied her.A cold glint flashed in her eyes, but before she could say anything, she caught Lucas' warning gaze. Fine, she'd endure it.Rebecca clung to Lucas' arm as they walked inside. "Lucas, I heard about what happened to you. I'm so glad you came back safe. My father has been worried and is waiting for you inside.""Mm, I'm f
Lucas' body stiffened as he looked at her soft, warm smile, and his heart softened along with it."Alright.""Mr. Tudor, you're so kind," Aveline said sweetly.Rebecca was livid! Her cousin had been right; this woman was nothing but a slut! No way would she allow such a wretch to stay by Lucas’ side. Lucas was hers!"Dad, I want Lucas to keep me company for a while. It's my birthday today, so can we skip the boring business talk, please?" Rebecca clung to Reynold's arm, pouting.Reynold looked at his daughter with fondness, gently tapping her nose. "Come on, sweetie. You're a big girl now. No need to hang onto Lucas like that, okay?""Alright, alright, I know," Rebecca replied, then turned to Lucas. "Lucas, let's go outside, okay? My garden is beautiful, and I haven't shown it to anyone else. I just want to share it with you!"Reynold added, "Lucas, it's Rebecca's birthday today. Let's not discuss business. You young people should go have fun. No need to stay with me."Lucas nodded
Lucas said calmly, "Your friends have arrived. You should go see what gifts they brought you."Rebecca bit her lip in frustration, shot Aveline a venomous glare, and walked away, lifting her dress as she went.Aveline sighed. "Lucas, I think you're setting me up to be hated."Lucas replied, "Am I?"Aveline said, "That little princess now holds a grudge against me. Since you brought me here, you have to ensure my safety. If anything were to happen to me, it’d be on you."Lucas' eyes locked onto hers, and a faint smile curved his lips. "Don't worry, you won't be missing any limbs."Aveline instinctively shrank back, not wanting to continue the topic. She had to admit, the rose volcano was indeed beautiful, and she couldn't help but take a few more glances.Lucas and Aveline strolled around the garden, admiring the scenery. When they reached a pavilion, Lucas's phone rang. He checked the caller ID and said, "I need to take this call."Aveline nodded and stayed in the pavilion, not wander
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