Aveline didn’t hear his words; she had already fallen asleep.At some point, the rain had stopped. When Aveline woke up again, it was already daylight. She felt weak and sore all over and coughed a couple of times."Awake? Are you hungry?" A tired, raspy voice came from beside her. Aveline turned her head and saw Russell sitting on the sofa. His short hair was a bit messy, and his eyes showed signs of fatigue.She sat up and said, "Russ, did you stay up all night?"Russell replied, "Yes, I kept an eye on you, afraid something might happen."He stared at her intently after speaking. Aveline paused, then looked at him gratefully. “Russ, thank you. If only we were truly family."Russell fell silent.A hint of frustration flickered in his eyes. Did she really not see him in a romantic light at all?How was he supposed to deal with this?Russell irritably ran a hand through his hair.Seeing this, Aveline quickly asked, "Russ, what's wrong?"With his head down, hands tangled in his hair, he
A man like that was trouble, plain and simple. The sooner they steered clear, the better. Russell made a mental note: once this mess outside was sorted, he would need to have a serious talk with Aveline.Stepping outside the mansion, he saw Lucas' car ramming the gate once more. This time, the gate couldn't withstand the impact and was forced open. The car screeched to a halt just thirty centimeters from Russell, drawing gasps from onlookers.Russell's devilishly handsome face remained impassive. "Lucas, you're quite rude."Lucas opened the car door, a chilling aura surrounding him, and walked up to Russell. "Where's Aveline?" he demanded coldly.Russell replied, "I have no idea."Lucas' expression darkened, and he started towards the mansion. But Russell extended his arm to block him.A mocking smile appeared on Russell's face as he looked at Lucas. "Mr. Tudor, first you damage my gate, and now you want to trespass. What exactly are you planning to do?"Lucas' cold gaze fixed on Russ
Aveline struggled with all her might, but his grip was too strong as if he intended to crush her wrist. The pain made her face turn pale. In desperation, she bent down and bit his arm hard.Lucas' movements halted, but he didn't let go, simply watching her bite him. The taste of blood filled her mouth, and Aveline, out of breath, looked at him with reddened eyes. "Lucas, what madness are you on about? I don't want to see you. Let me go!""Have you forgotten your place, Aveline?" Lucas tightened his grip, pulling her closer and grabbing her by the neck, his eyes flashing with cold fury. "I told you, I won't agree to a divorce. You will remain mine forever. Moving into another man's house before our divorce is finalized? Are you asking for trouble?"Aveline struggled with all her strength but having just recovered from a fever and not eaten, she had little energy left. Her face turned red with frustration."Lucas, I am not your prisoner! We may not be divorced yet, but you have no right
Lucas' cold, mocking laughter echoed in her ears as he gripped her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. "So, concerned about him? How about I just kill him, and you can cry your heart out once and for all?"Aveline trembled with anger. "Lucas, I already said I'd go with you. What more do you want?"Lucas' voice was chilling. "Seeing you cry for him infuriates me. What should I do about that, hmm?"Aveline closed her eyes, forcing herself to calm down."That's better," Lucas said with a satisfied smirk. Seeing her stop crying, he pulled her into his arms and left the mansion.Russell watched them leave, his eyes bloodshot and his jaw clenched tightly. Soon after, the ambulance arrived, and the butler helped him onto it. Just as they got on, the butler received a phone call, his face turning grim."Mr. Russell, the people from the main house somehow got wind of this and have snatched the investor you've been dealing with."Despite the pain, Russell sneered. "They move fast."The b
Slap!Lucas struck her on the backside, his voice cold. "Behave yourself!"Aveline was both ashamed and furious, her eyes filled with hatred for him.Once inside the villa, Lucas placed her in a bedroom on the second floor. Seeing the emotions in her eyes, his gaze remained icy."Aveline, I was too lenient with you before, which gave you the courage to scheme against me. This time, you'll stay here until you realize your mistake and give up on the idea of divorce. Then I'll let you go."Aveline's eyes widened in shock. "You intend to imprison me?"Lucas looked at her pale, frail form and said coldly, "Think of it that way if you want, but you brought this on yourself!"With that, he turned to leave.Panicked, Aveline got off the bed. "No, you can't do this! I have no idea what you're talking about!"She tried to run out, but Lucas grabbed her back."Aveline, my patience has limits. Don't test me!" Lucas glared at her, the thought of her sending Sophia to him filled him with rage, makin
Lucas sat in the car, a cigarette in hand. Smoke swirled around him, obscuring the cold emotions in his eyes.Thinking back on how he had been emotionally moved by her recently, he now felt only contempt.In her heart, there was no place for him. She even tried to send another woman to his bed. How could she be so despicable?Taking a deep drag on his cigarette, Lucas pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Where are you?"Aaron's voice sounded tired. "In Stonefall City. What's up?""Why did you go so far?"Aaron replied, "I'm here to keep an eye on Selena for you. What's going on over there?""You don't need to watch over her anymore. I've decided not to let go.""Huh?" Aaron was surprised. "Aveline looks like she wants a divorce from you. Aren't you afraid she'll hate you if you don't let her go?"Lucas let out a cold laugh. "She crossed me. Do you think I'll let her get what she wants?"Feeling curious, Aaron eagerly asked, "What happened? Tell me so I can enjoy some gossip.""
“No.”He couldn't waver.His body and mind belonged only to Snow.Aaron's expression quickly turned cold as he said, “Selena, I’m grateful that you took a bullet for me, and I promise you, if you ever need my help in the future, I'll be there. But don't read more into this. My gratitude has limits.”“Huh?” Selena tilted her head slightly, looking at him with a confused expression. What was he saying?Aaron stood up. “Get some rest. I’m leaving.”With that, he left the ward immediately.Selena lay on the bed, completely baffled, unable to make sense of what had just occurred. Had this man lost his mind?Just then, her phone vibrated with an incoming message. She picked it up, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the screen. It was a notification from her alternate WhatsApp account. The sender's name caught her attention: "Foolish Aaron" - a nickname she had chosen for his contact in her phone.Foolish Aaron texted, “What have you been busy with lately? You stopped contacting me. Aren’t
Her head throbbed as if it were about to explode! Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, she remembered that Lucas had imprisoned her. She reached out to knock on the door, but her hand fell halfway up, and she started coughing violently.Struggling to get up, she leaned against the door. After a moment, she found her phone and dialed Lucas' number. She couldn't stay trapped here. She hadn't done anything wrong."Beep... beep... beep..." The busy signal sounded three times before the call was disconnected. Aveline tried again, but Lucas kept hanging up until he eventually turned off his phone.Aveline coughed a few more times, feeling utterly miserable. Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Bonnie's voice called out, "Ma'am, lunch is ready. I'm bringing it in."Without waiting for a response, Bonnie opened the door. "Ah!" Aveline yelped in pain as the door suddenly opened, crushing her fingers that were still resting on the floor. The unexpected impact sent a jolt of ago
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