"Yes, sir." Desmond quickly nodded and turned to carry out the orders.Given the diamond mine deal and Reynold’s promise to ground Rebecca for a month, Lucas had let the matter slide. Yet, within days, he allowed Rebecca to venture out. If Reynold couldn't enforce discipline with his daughter, he would have to deal with the consequences.Aveline poured Lucas a glass of water and placed it in front of him before turning to leave.Lucas stared at her and asked, "Don't you have anything to say?"Aveline's expression was indifferent. "You didn't do anything wrong. Why should I say anything?"Her words unexpectedly lifted Lucas' gloomy mood. In the past, she would have scoffed at his actions. Could it be that she was beginning to care for him again?With this thought, Lucas reached out and pulled her towards him.Aveline frowned. "What are you doing?"Lucas locked his eyes onto hers as his gaze fell lower. He leaned in to kiss her."Are you crazy?" Aveline pushed him away and hurried back t
The car stopped at the entrance of Celestial Heights, but Lucas did not get out. Aveline exited the vehicle. Watching the car drive away, she exhaled a sigh of relief, then turned and walked towards the supermarket to buy groceries for tonight’s dinner. It would be the last meal. Just the thought that she could leave and be free after today made her extremely happy!At the supermarket, she bought the groceries and sent the receipt to Lucas. After receiving his transfer, she smiled and headed back towards Celestial Heights. However, as she passed a corner, two people suddenly grabbed her and dragged her away before she could react. She quickly lost consciousness.Not far away, a swift figure dashed towards them!The two kidnappers lifted Aveline into their car, thinking this task was too easy. But in the next second, one of them received a heavy blow to the head! The blow was so strong that both of them collapsed to the ground, unconscious.Brian adjusted his clothes, took out his ph
Aveline didn't dare think too much about it. She had been disappointed too many times before."I don’t feel safe in Arthur Town. I want to leave now," she said.Lucas frowned at her words. "Do you think you'll be safe once you leave Arthur Town?"Aveline looked up at him. "I have a rough idea of who's targeting me. If I can get out of their reach, they'll have a harder time finding me."Lucas replied, "You're being naive, Aveline. The circles of power are all about connections. You think leaving Arthur Town will make you safe, but how do you know the city you go to won't have people closely connected to those here?"Aveline's brow furrowed as she looked at him. "What do you mean?"Lucas' eyes stared deeply into hers. "Stay here. I'll protect you."Aveline pressed her pale lips into a thin line. She didn't want to stay, but he was right. She couldn't ensure her safety on her own. Following him might be the best option. Yet, deep down, she was reluctant to follow through with that idea.
Desmond remarked, "This was really a close call. Thank goodness Mr. Tudor had the foresight to assign Brian to protect you discreetly. Otherwise, you would have been in serious trouble."Aveline was stunned to hear this.Lucas had assigned Brian to protect her?Wasn't he afraid Brian would kill her outright? She still hadn't forgotten how Brian had forced her to kneel to Sophia last time!Brian, unable to meet Aveline’s eyes, stood to the side with his head lowered, like a child who had done something wrong.Desmond, ever perceptive, immediately noticed the tension and changed the subject. "Miss Young, I'll take you back. Rest assured, Mr. Tudor will definitely find out who is behind this and give you an explanation."Aveline nodded slightly, feeling a mix of emotions she couldn't quite identify.Desmond escorted Aveline back to Celestial Heights. After leaving the hospital, Brian disappeared into the shadows, presumably to continue protecting her.Aveline felt indifferent about it.B
Selena sighed heavily. "After I went back to work, I organized an event. Aaron, as the sponsor, sent an item for display, which I accidentally broke it. That item was worth one million dollars, and my company, fearing liability, fired me. So now I have to sell myself... but not in the way you're thinking!"Listening to her, Aveline sensed a conspiracy. She asked, "Did you keep the broken item?"Selena replied, "No, his men took it away immediately."Aveline sighed, rubbing her forehead in frustration. Any lingering doubts vanished; she was now sure that Aaron had framed Selena.Aveline asked, "Selena, are you still using a dummy account to interact with Aaron?""Of course I am. He's causing me trouble, so I might as well get something out of it!"Aveline breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. I'll transfer the money to you now. Pay him back and get out of there as soon as possible.""Got it. Thanks, darling! Love you!" Selena smothered her phone with kisses.Aveline ended the call and trans
Aaron was amused by her flustered reaction and nodded. "You’re right.""You!" Selena pointed a finger at him. "What did I ever do to you to deserve this kind of treatment?"Aaron replied, "Getting hit on the head with a fire extinguisher really hurt. Did you think I'd be so forgiving? That a few days of care would be enough for me to let it go?"He got up and approached her. "Back then, Lucas asked, so I obliged out of respect. But now that you've broken my vase as well—adding new grievances to old ones—do you really think I'll let you off?"As he approached, his shirt, partially unbuttoned, shifted with his movement, revealing glimpses of his chest. Selena couldn't help but stare. Even though she had seen him shirtless earlier, she inexplicably felt her face flush at the sight of his partially revealed chest.Was he trying to seduce her? Selena glared at him and said, "I never thought you'd be so petty. Is this how you want to play it?"Aaron stopped in front of her, noticing the a
“Ah!” Rebecca screamed, smashing everything in the room. Only after the room was a complete mess did she begin to calm down. However, her eyes were still full of resentment and hatred.How could this happen? Lucas wanted her to apologize to that woman! That bitch! Rebecca forced herself to calm down and then dialed Reynold's number, tearfully recounting the events, though she framed the kidnapping as inviting Aveline over for a visit. Reynold listened silently for a while before saying, "Rebecca Thompson, I told you not to mess with that woman. Why didn’t you listen?"Rebecca thought she was hearing things. Her father, who loved her the most, had never spoken to her so sternly. He was even addressing her by her full name!Feeling even more aggrieved, Rebecca cried, “Dad, this time Lucas bullied me. Why aren’t you helping me? Why are you scolding me?”On the other end of the line, Reynold pinched the bridge of his nose. He had always believed in raising his daughter lavishly, pamp
Lucas walked in, removing his suit jacket and loosening his tie as he approached her. Aveline caught a glimpse of him coming closer and looked at him with confusion, but in the next moment, he grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her forcefully.His breath reeked of alcohol."Mmph!"Aveline was stunned and instinctively began to struggle. But Lucas held her tightly, and she couldn’t break free. In her struggle, she felt his erection which made her blush even more.Lucas pushed her down onto the sofa, using his leg to pin her down as he unbuckled his belt. The sound of the buckle snapping open was clear and loud, giving Aveline a moment to gasp for air."Lucas, you can’t do this!"Lucas kissed her ear and cheek, murmuring, "Why not?"Aveline tried to push him away, but his body was as heavy as a mountain, and she couldn't budge him."Lucas, no! We’re getting a divorce."Aveline’s breath was ragged as she tried to stay clear-headed."But have we divorced yet?"Lucas hated hearing her
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