"Ave, stop drinking," Selena began, initially frightened, but now even more scared seeing Aveline in this state.Aveline pushed her away. "If I don't finish these, what if he doesn't let us go?" She said, downing another glass.Russell's nonchalant smile gradually faded, his gaze growing colder with a hint of interest. Hah! This woman had the audacity to snatch something from his hand earlier, and now she was utterly terrified. But from her demeanor, it seemed she was drinking to drown her sorrows."Enough!" Russell said impatiently.But Aveline didn't stop. Out of eight glasses, she had already drunk five."I haven't finished yet. No way." Aveline shook her head, her vision now extremely blurry, yet she accurately picked up another glass and drank."I said, enough!" Russell suddenly stood up, grabbed her wrist, and snatched the glass from her hand, hurling it to the floor. The glass shattered into pieces instantly.Aveline swayed on her feet. Selena quickly held her up. "Ave, you don'
Lucas held Aveline, looking at her flushed, drunken face with a deep frown. "Ave, I'm taking you home.""Who are you?" Aveline's vision was blurry, and feeling someone holding her, she immediately started to struggle.Lucas patiently said, "It's me, Lu."Hearing his voice, Aveline paused for a moment, then struggled even harder. "Get off me, you bastard! Don't touch me!"Lucas' face darkened.Russell's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Buddy, didn't you hear her? She doesn't want you touching her."Lucas shot him a cold look. "This is between me and my wife. It's none of your business."Russell's smile faltered. Wife? Watching Aveline struggle, an inexplicable anger flared up inside him. "It doesn't look like it. How about you show me your marriage certificate to prove you're her husband? Otherwise, I can't just hand her over."Lucas' handsome face grew even colder, his expression darkened. He pulled the marriage certificate out of his pocket. "Is this clear enough for you?"Russell
"Mr. Lucas, the ginger tea is ready," the servant's voice came through."Bring it in," Lucas commanded in a deep voice.The servant placed the ginger tea on the nightstand, bowed slightly, and left the room, closing the door behind them.Lucas held Aveline down. "Ave, drink the ginger tea. It'll make you feel better."Aveline continued to struggle. "No, no, get away from me. I want to go home."Lucas said, "Drink it, and I'll take you home."Aveline turned her head and flopped onto the soft bed. "I don't want to go home. I want to live in a big apartment, like one of those 300-square-meter ones!"Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "This is it. You can stay here from now on.""Who are you?" Aveline asked."Look at me and see who I am," Lucas said, grabbing her chin gently.Aveline stopped struggling and stared at him for a moment before saying, "Oh, you look familiar, like my scumbag ex-husband."Lucas's frown deepened. "We haven't divorced yet.""It's happening soon,
Aveline tried to get up, but he pulled her back down."What are you—mmph..."Before she could finish, his fierce kiss silenced her. Aveline tried to push him away, but he grabbed her hands and pinned them above her head.The kiss grew more intense, spreading to her neck, her collarbone...Their breathing became erratic.Staring at the intricate ceiling, Aveline's eyes filled with tears. "Lucas, I'm not your tool for venting your emotions. If you still appreciate that I saved you once, please let me go."Please stop this. It was really painful for her. He was supposed to take responsibility for another woman, yet he kept entangling with her over and over. What was the point? Wasn't he the one who wanted a divorce?Couldn't he be decisive about it?Lucas' breath on her collarbone grew heavier, but finally, he let her go and got out of bed, heading to the bathroom.Aveline slowly lowered her hands, closed her eyes, and exhaled a deep breath, feeling a wave of disappointment wash over her.
"Let's go," Lucas said as he stood up, blocking her view.Aveline looked at him. "Huh?"Lucas looked down at her. "Aren't we going to the lawyer’s office?"Aveline lowered her eyes and didn't say anything. She got up and followed him out of the Tudor residence.As she glanced back at the expansive and luxurious villa, she couldn't help but say, "What a shame, I won't be able to come here anymore."She did like this place."You can still come," Lucas suddenly said.Aveline looked at him, meeting his dark, intense eyes. She smiled and replied, "No thanks. It would be awkward if I ran into you and Miss Winter getting cozy."Lucas's brow furrowed, and his demeanor grew colder.He stopped looking at her and got into the car.Aveline took the front passenger seat, but the driver didn't start the car.She blinked in confusion. "What's the hold-up? Let's go."The driver was sweating nervously. "Could you please sit in the back?"Aveline turned to look at Lucas. Sure enough, he looked even more
Aveline hung up the phone and turned to Lucas. "I need to go back to the office."Lucas's expression was cold. "No, we’ll file for divorce first."Aveline felt a pang in her chest but responded, "I can divorce you anytime, but I can't lose my job. You know I rely on this job to make a living."Lucas' dark eyes stared at her for a long moment before he finally said, "Go to the office."The driver immediately changed direction.As soon as they got out of the car, Aveline hurried towards the elevator. She got in just as it arrived and pressed the close button without waiting for Lucas. But just before the doors closed, a hand reached in, triggering the sensors to reopen the doors.Aveline sighed. Couldn't he have taken the other elevator?Lucas's tall figure entered, making the elevator feel even smaller. Aveline stood in the corner, opening the project files on her phone to review all the details and ensure she was prepared to discuss them with her manager.When the elevator doors opened
Aveline texted, “Selena, can you find out Brighton Enterprises' CEO's schedule?”Selena replied, “I'll try!”Aveline turned off her phone and waited quietly.In the CEO's office, Desmond explained the situation to Lucas and then asked, "Mr. Tudor, should we arrange a meeting with Brighton Enterprises?"Lucas replied, "No need."Desmond was taken aback. "But if this isn't handled well, Miss Young might lose her job."Since the incident happened under her watch, if she couldn't manage it and find the leaker, she would take the fall. Getting fired would be the least of her worries. If rumors spread that she leaked company secrets, she wouldn't be able to work in the industry anymore.Lucas looked at the documents on his desk, his expression calm and distant. "She can handle it."His tone was confident as if he knew her very well. And he did. With her personality, she wouldn't take the blame quietly.Desmond looked at him, feeling conflicted. They were about to divorce, yet Lucas still s
Russell looked at her in surprise., thinking she was completely different from how she acted at the bar that night, drinking like crazy and unstoppable."It's fine," Russell said, glancing at his clothes before adding, "Was this also an accident?"Aveline felt even more embarrassed. "This really was an accident. How about you give me your jacket, and I'll clean it for you?"Russell chuckled. "Here? Now?"Aveline frowned. "I'm Aveline Young from DK Group's Cloudflare City branch. You can send the jacket to my office, and I'll have it cleaned and returned to you."Her sense of boundaries and distance was well executed."Aveline..." Russell silently repeated her name, then said, "Alright, I'll remember you."With that, he turned and walked away.Aveline sighed in relief. Thankfully, he didn't pursue the matter. She really didn't want any more trouble.On the second floor, near the railing, Sophia watched below with a look of surprise. Aveline was here too? How did she get in? Seeing th
As expected.Jolie lowered her gaze slightly. Her pale face carried a fragile determination as she sat at the edge of the dining table. Her slender frame looked too weak to resist, yet the defiance in her eyes told another story.She couldn’t escape. But she wasn’t willing to give in. “I won’t break up with him,” she said, raising her eyes with a clear and unwavering resolve. Terence let out a cold laugh. “Well, you’ve got guts. You really are my daughter. Let’s see how long your resolve lasts!” With that, he abruptly stood and stormed out of the dining room. Daisy frowned at Jolie. “Jolie, why are you so stubborn? Ian Wheeler isn’t the right person for you. Why won’t you listen to us? Do you really think we’d harm you?” Jolie replied calmly, “Is what’s ‘right’ always the best?” “Of course,” Daisy said firmly. “If someone fits in every way, that’s what’s best.” “I don’t agree,” Jolie said softly, her gaze dropping as she rejected her mother’s words. “You’re being too
Daisy’s stance was unyielding, leaving Jolie no room to argue. She took her straight back to the Quin family home and even confiscated her phone.Meanwhile, just half an hour after they left, Selena arrived at the hospital. Noticing the empty room, she froze for a moment before grabbing a nearby nurse.“Excuse me, where is the patient from this room?” Selena asked.The nurse replied, “She’s been discharged.”“Discharged?” Selena was stunned. “So soon?”It wasn’t surprising that Jolie was ready to be discharged, but Selena couldn’t believe she’d leave without saying a word. She pressed on, “Did she leave on her own?”The nurse shook her head. “No, her mother came to take her.”Selena nodded slowly, her expression darkening. So that was it. Anger flickered in Selena’s chest. Jolie had been severely injured, and Daisy hadn’t bothered to visit her in an entire month. Yet, the moment it was time for her to leave, Daisy suddenly showed up. For the longest time, Selena had assumed Jolie w
Jolie instinctively glanced at Selena after hearing that, noticing the awkward expression on her face. After a brief pause, she suddenly called out, “Sister.”Selena shot up from her seat as if startled. “I think I’ll skip the oranges. I just remembered I have something to do. I’ll head out first,” she said quickly. Without waiting for Jolie to respond, she hurried out of the hospital room, looking like she was running from a pack of wild animals.Jackie blinked in surprise. “What was that about?”Jolie replied casually, “Maybe… she felt embarrassed.”Jackie chuckled warmly. “That’s normal, perfectly normal. When there’s tension and one side tries to make peace, the other usually feels awkward. Your relationship with Selena always seems a bit like this, doesn’t it?”Jolie lowered her gaze slightly and said softly, “She left home a long time ago.”Jackie raised her eyebrows. “Sounds like there’s been some serious conflict.”Jolie didn’t elaborate. The fact that Selena was willing to v
The next day, Daisy came to visit Jolie. Noticing Jackie in the room, she frowned and asked, “Who are you?”Jackie replied with a friendly tone, “I’m Miss Quin’s caregiver. And you are?”Daisy’s expression shifted briefly before she responded, “You can leave now. There’s nothing for you to do here.”Jackie grew wary and glanced at Jolie for guidance. Jolie said calmly, “Jackie, I’d like some fruit.”Jackie immediately understood that Jolie was subtly asking her to step out. “Alright,” she nodded and left the room.As soon as the door closed, Daisy turned to Jolie. “Jolie, did you look into that caregiver? What’s her background? Is she reliable?”Jolie met her mother’s gaze, her tone flat. “Sure. I’ll investigate later.”Daisy hesitated for a moment as if she suddenly remembered something. “I’m sorry, Jolie. Yesterday I forgot about you. There was an issue at the company, and your father and I were tied up until late. Were you alright? You didn’t go hungry, did you?”Jolie found it la
Upon hearing this, Jolie looked at him. "Can I refuse you?""Of course you can," Gavin replied without hesitation.Jolie eyed him skeptically, finding it hard to believe he would give in so easily.Gavin figured that even if she refused, there were still six obligations left to fulfill. Once those were over, their ties would be completely severed. He was confident that by then, she wouldn’t occupy any more of his thoughts.In his life, emotions had never been a priority. Career and power were always paramount. He had set his goals clearly from a young age. So even though he now realized he liked Jolie, he wouldn’t do anything irrational for the sake of feelings. That wasn’t who he was.Jolie’s eyes gradually brightened. She had assumed he was the kind of person who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, resorting to forceful tactics if she disagreed. His rationality made things much simpler!"Mr. Cooper, I’m sorry," Jolie said after deliberating for a moment. "We’re not very com
Gavin pulled out a document and handed it to her.Jolie glanced at it, her eyes widening in shock as she realized it was a detailed dossier on Ian. Staring at Gavin in disbelief, she asked, "What… what is this supposed to mean?"She didn’t even look at the contents again, her mind swirling with chaos. "To show you the kind of person you’re so adamantly defending," Gavin said coolly, his expression steady.Jolie’s grip on the bedsheet tightened as her thoughts spun out of control. She struggled to process what was happening. "Why are you doing this?" Their relationship was supposed to be simple—a transactional repayment of a favor. So why was he meddling in her life? Why investigate Ian? Why did he care so much about her relationship with Ian?A flood of questions filled her mind, and though the answer seemed obvious, she couldn’t bring herself to believe it.Gavin looked into her dark, clear eyes, finding something there he couldn’t quite decipher. It was rare for him to not unders
Jolie closed her eyes and said weakly, "I won’t break up.""You…" Daisy was taken aback by her stubbornness. Jolie had always been the most obedient child, the one who listened without question. Yet now, she was completely unyielding.Sighing heavily, Daisy sat down beside her. At this point, there was little she could do. Terence had already lashed out, but even that didn’t make Jolie relent. If she refused to break up, what more could they do?For now, Daisy decided to leave the matter alone. If talking to Jolie wouldn’t work, perhaps convincing Ian would be the way forward."Are you hungry?" Daisy asked after a pause."No," Jolie replied faintly. The only sensation she could focus on was the pain radiating from her back. She lay on her stomach, too afraid to move.Daisy let out a soft sigh. "If you get hungry, let me know. I’ll make you whatever you want.""Mm." Jolie barely responded, closing her eyes as exhaustion pulled her into a restless sleep.…Night fell, and Jolie stirred
Aveline said, "It’s absolutely true. I should’ve recorded it. Then you wouldn’t doubt me.""No, no, I’m not doubting you," Gernard replied quickly. "I just didn’t expect it. Brother actually said something like that? He’s always been distant from women. Growing up, there were girls who liked him, but he never paid them any attention. During school, he focused on studying, and after that, on work. Honestly, I thought he might never learn how to date. And now… he’s finally thawed!"He sounded amazed, but soon his brows furrowed. "This Jolie—she’s Selena’s younger sister, isn’t she?"Aveline nodded. "That’s right."Gernard’s frown deepened. "I think I’ve seen her before. She does resemble Selena a bit. Baby sister, you know Gavin had feelings for Selena before, but he came into the picture too late. She was already married. Do you think… is it possible he sees Jolie as a stand-in for Selena?"Aveline’s expression immediately grew tense. If that were true, it would indeed be unsettling.W
"I… I haven’t decided yet," Selena said hesitantly.Aveline replied, "Take your time. There’s no rush. You’re in Larbor City now, and so is she. When you’re ready, you can always go see her.""Mm." Selena gave a soft hum of acknowledgment and ended the call.When she looked up, she met Aaron’s gaze. He was staring at her intently.Selena’s breath caught slightly. "What’s wrong?"Aaron reached out and gently brushed her cheek with his fingertips. "If something’s troubling you, you can always tell me."Without a word, Selena leaned into his chest, seeking comfort in his silent presence. Aaron wrapped his arms around her, holding her close without pressing for answers.He had long since resolved to be with her and had quietly investigated her background. He knew her family life had been far from happy, though she had never spoken of it. He hadn’t brought it up either, respecting her silence.His earlier question had simply been a gentle nudge, hoping she might open up and feel better by s