Aveline finally snapped out of her shock and hurried to help him up. However, having been so terrified earlier, her legs nearly gave out now that she had calmed down.Lucas caught her just in time. "Are you alright? Can you walk?"Aveline shook her head. "I'm fine, really. But your hand... it's covered in blood."Lucas replied, "It's nothing. Don't worry."But Aveline couldn't help worrying. It was a mastiff; what if Lucas suffered from broken bones?Reynold rushed over, his face dark with anger. "Get rid of that beast immediately!""Yes, sir," the butler responded, quickly ordering the mastiff to be taken away.Reynold turned to Lucas. "Lucas, I'll take you to the hospital. Your wound needs to be treated."Lucas said nothing, his eyes fixed on Aveline.Aveline, having regained her composure, helped him out of the villa and into the car. Given that the incident happened at the Johnson family home, Reynold naturally followed them to the hospital.Only after seeing the doctor treat Luc
The warmth had faded from his demeanor, replaced by a sense of seriousness and oppression. Lucas' strikingly handsome face remained emotionless as he coldly said, "Of course I remember. If it weren't for that incident, Mr. Reynold, you wouldn't have walked away unscathed from what had happened."Reynold's expression darkened instantly. Lucas was using past events to threaten him, just as he had tried to remind Lucas of them. Impressive, indeed!Reynold took a deep breath and said, "Lucas, this matter is my fault for failing to discipline my daughter properly. I apologize to you and Miss Aveline. I have a diamond mine under my name. I'll arrange for its transfer to you tomorrow. Will that suffice?"He was willing to embarrass himself and even give up a diamond mine to protect Rebecca from punishment, showing just how much he pampered his daughter. Rebecca's arrogance and unruliness stemmed from her father's unrestrained indulgence.“Reynold's offer was sincere, leaving Lucas with no r
Lucas leaned in close, his hot breath ghosting over Aveline's ear. Despite the warmth of his proximity, his words carried an icy edge. "You know I'm injured, yet your concern lies elsewhere. Tell me, Aveline, why does another man occupy your thoughts while I—your husband—am right here beside you?"His teeth-clenched tone sounded like he wanted to devour her alive.Aveline's body stiffened, and her heart pounded. What was he saying? Was he jealous?Impossible.He didn't love her!How could he be jealous?Aveline thought Lucas might be irritated because she kept mentioning another man after he had done so much to save her.Aveline's eyelashes fluttered, and she said, " I... I'll stop mentioning him. Please don't be upset. It's not good for your recovery."Her tone softened noticeably.Lucas wasn’t planning to let her off so easily, but hearing her gentle voice, his anger dissipated instantly.He stared at her profile, her fluttering lashes. Suddenly, he kissed her ear, feeling her body
Aveline was startled and quickly dodged. "Lucas, behave yourself."Lucas gazed at her intently without saying a word.Aveline took a deep breath, pulled out the belt, and then removed his trousers...At the last moment, she turned around abruptly. "I just remembered I haven't packed my things. I'll go do that now."As she spoke, she was about to leave.Lucas asked, "What things do you need to pack?"Without turning back, Aveline replied, "Clothes. I haven't washed the clothes I changed out of. I'll go wash them."She swiftly withdrew her hand from his grasp and retreated into the guest bedroom.Lucas' breath deepened as he glanced down, then headed towards the master bedroom.Leaning against the door, Aveline covered her face with her hands, trying to calm herself down. She had almost lost control and gave in to her desire!Recalling the sight of his gradually aroused state, Aveline felt a rush of heat. She quickly went to the bathroom and splashed her face with cold water.When she ca
Upon entering the room, Aveline found Lucas seated at the desk, his demeanor cool and focused on the computer screen, deeply engrossed in his work.Aveline paused for a moment, then took her suitcase to the guest bedroom before returning. "It's late. You should get some rest."Lucas responded with a simple nod, closed his laptop, and headed towards the bedroom.Watching him disappear into the bedroom, Aveline breathed a sigh of relief.She went to her own room, took a shower, and lay down on the bed. However, every time she closed her eyes, the image of that fierce mastiff flashed before her, keeping her awake.She sat up and ran her fingers through her hair.After the scare she had today, she should be able to sleep soundly, but she couldn't fall asleep. What should she do?Suddenly, she remembered the wine cabinet in the living room, stocked with plenty of red wine. She got out of bed, grabbed a bottle, and started drinking.A bit of wine might help her sleep.However, the wine had
The next day.As Aveline's eyes fluttered open, she found herself face-to-face with a man's well-defined chest. Her gaze widened in sudden realization.She quickly sat up, taking in her unfamiliar surroundings. This wasn't her room—it was the master bedroom!What was going on?How did she end up in the master bedroom?She hastily looked down at her clothes, finding them intact, and felt no soreness or discomfort in her body, which made her sigh in relief."What are you worried about?"A hoarse, slightly lazy voice sounded just then.Aveline turned her head to see Lucas half-squinting his eyes, looking like he had just woken up, his whole demeanor exuding casual laziness."Why am I in your room?"Lucas laughed and said, "I was going to ask you the same question. Why are you in my room?"He slowly sat up, the quilt sliding off, revealing the open neckline of his robe and the firm muscles underneath.With a teasing look, he said, "You didn't sneak into my room because you were lonely, did
She took several deep breaths to calm herself before walking over to him and tugging at the belt of his robe.Lucas watched her actions with a slight raise of his eyebrow. The next moment, he noticed a blush creeping up her fair face.A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes as he remained still, watching her intently.Aveline dressed him in a shirt first, followed by trousers. While threading the belt, she accidentally brushed against his private part.Lucas immediately grabbed her wrist, his voice low and questioning, "Aveline, are you doing this on purpose?"Aveline was already blushing, but she forced herself to remain calm. "If you can't control yourself, how is that my fault?"Lucas stared at her for a long moment before releasing her hand. "Continue."Aveline's lashes fluttered as she fastened the belt buckle. When she finally finished, she turned away and exhaled a deep breath.“It's finally done,” she thought.But the thought of having to take care of him like this for many d
Aveline put down her phone and looked at him. "Taking care of you doesn’t require me to buy local specialties.”Lucas responded, "Eating the local specialties might help me recover faster."Aveline sighed and stood up. "Fine, but you better eat them all!"Lucas watched her storm out, feeling irritated himself. He tugged at his tie, feeling a growing sense of frustration. Things hadn't always been like this.A year ago, they were so happy together.Lucas closed his eyes briefly.Aveline quickly returned within an hour, setting down the local specialties in front of him and raising her chin. "Here you go. Enjoy your meal."Lucas's temple throbbed. "Aveline, are you doing this on purpose?"Aveline spoke earnestly. "These are Arthur Town's specialties. Look at this colorful bracelet, isn't it pretty? And this intricately embroidered handkerchief is a true cultural gem. You wanted local specialties, and I brought you all of them."She pulled out a chair and sat in front of him. "Lucas, I di
One of Jolie’s long, slender legs was exposed to the cool air, and Gavin’s fingers instinctively tightened, as if they could still feel the smoothness of her thigh under his grip. His gaze darkened, though his expression only grew colder. His sharp, chiseled features gave him a distant, unapproachable aura—a man who seldom smiled and whose demeanor warned others to stay away.He was cold, almost like an ice block."Debt’s owed," he said flatly, tossing out the two words before sitting on the sofa and picking up the phone to make a call.Jolie blinked in surprise, processing what he said. Debt owed?Was that something you could even keep on hold?But thinking about it, he probably didn’t need anything right now. So, if he wanted to leave the debt hanging, so be it.Stretching lazily, Jolie sat up and said, "Have someone bring me a change of clothes."With that, she pulled the blanket aside, slowly rising from the bed despite the discomfort between her legs and headed toward the bathro
As the effects of the drug finally began to fade, Jolie lay exhausted on the bed, her body drenched in sweat. Her skin, especially across her delicate shoulder blades, bore faint marks from their encounter and her breath ragged as it brushed against her own back. Her vision was hazy, and she barely had the strength to speak."I... I’m fine now... you can stop," she murmured, her voice weak and broken from the strain of what had just happened.The madness of moments before still pulsed through her, the aftershocks of it lingering in her body. She never expected that grabbing a random man for help would lead to this, nor did she expect him to have such relentless stamina.Yet, the man behind her didn’t stop. He didn’t respond either. His large hands remained firmly gripped around her slender waist as if he were trying to squeeze the very breath from her."Stop... I told you to stop, didn’t you hear me?" Jolie’s anxiety spiked as he continued. What was wrong with him? They’d agreed he was
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