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
Amber turned pale at the sight and gasped, “Bonnie, I told you something was wrong with Ma’am. She seems to have fainted. What should we do? Will Mr. Tudor blame us?”Bonnie was also worried, her palms sweating. She swallowed and said, “No, it won't be our fault. She refused to admit she was sick and wouldn't admit her mistake. Mr. Tudor will only blame her for not taking care of herself!”Amber remained anxious. “But I’m scared…”Bonnie looked at her and said firmly, “Just do as I say, and we’ll be fine!”Amber shrank back, her timid nature succumbing to Bonnie's stern words, and she nodded. “Alright, I understand.”…At the hospital, the doctor examined Aveline and started an IV. Her fever had already exceeded 104 degrees Fahrenheit; if they had arrived any later, it might have been too late to save her!Lucas sat in a chair, coldly watching the unconscious Aveline, his heart a mix of irritation and suffocating emotions. If she felt so terrible, why didn’t she say anything?Time pas
Aveline blinked weakly and decided to ask for clarification, her tone becoming more even. “Lucas, you say I schemed against you. What exactly did I do to make you think that?”“You still have the nerve to ask?” Lucas’ expression darkened further at her question.Aveline said, “I did nothing wrong, and yet you’re inexplicably accusing me. I need to understand why.”Pausing, she added, “Don’t beat around the bush. If you have something to say, say it clearly.”Lucas was so infuriated he laughed. She had the audacity to lecture him?His eyes were cold as he stared at her. “Wasn’t it you who sent Sophia to my room last night? Aveline, I checked the surveillance. You met with Sophia in the garden, and then she showed up in my room. Don’t tell me that was just a coincidence.”Aveline finally understood. So that was it. She had no idea why Sophia went to see Lucas, but Sophia must have said something to make Lucas misunderstand and think she sent her over.That woman just didn't get it. T
She felt disgusted!Lucas' face darkened. "We didn’t do anything!"Aveline's breath caught in her throat.Lucas looked away, his throat dry. "Nothing happened between us. I was just angry that you let another woman get into my bed. I had to teach you a lesson."Aveline gazed at his chiseled profile, a sense of absurdity washing over her. Of all people, she thought bitterly, she was the one who had suffered the most injustice.As she thought about it, tears started falling. She bit her lip, trying to hold back, but she couldn’t and ended up crying openly.Lucas felt his heart clench with a sour, painful sensation. He immediately stepped forward. "Aveline...""Get out!" Aveline looked at him with tear-filled eyes, her voice hoarse.Lucas tensed, the realization of his mistake settling heavily upon him. The truth had come to light, exposing his grave misunderstanding. He now saw clearly how unjustly he had treated her. Her anger and frustration, he realized, were entirely warranted.He
Lucas ate quickly, finishing the remaining food and tossing the container into the trash. Aveline, feeling very weak, soon fell asleep again. As the light in the room dimmed, Lucas sat on the sofa, his eyes intently fixed on her. He had grown accustomed to having her by his side; how could he let her go easily? She wanted him to divorce her?She'd have to wait for another lifetime!...The next day.When Aveline woke up, she felt much better. Desmond brought her breakfast, and after she finished eating, she said, "Lucas, you can't imprison me anymore.""Okay," Lucas responded flatly.Aveline sighed in relief and got out of bed. "I’m fine now. I want to be discharged."She needed to see Russell! She still remembered how badly Russell had been beaten, and she felt incredibly guilty.Lucas frowned and replied, "Your condition is for the doctor to assess."Aveline couldn’t leave until the doctor examined her and confirmed she was well enough to be discharged.After putting on her shoes
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