Aveline met his eyes with a calm gaze, but her tone had a hint of coldness. "Lucas, the real issue is that you don't trust me."Lucas' brows furrowed tightly.Aveline spoke gently, "I could reveal the truth to you this time. But what if someone frames me again and I can't prove my innocence? Will you just assume I'm guilty?"Lucas pressed his lips into a straight line. He really couldn't guarantee he would believe her.He closed his eyes, and suddenly, certain images flashed in his mind—a woman holding a toy to amuse him, he happily took it, but the moment he held it, it exploded. His hand was left bloodied and torn...Such incidents had happened countless times.Aveline said, "So, to avoid such misunderstandings, how about we get a divorce?"If they divorced, anything that happened to him would have nothing to do with her. She wouldn't have to feel hurt and sad over his actions anymore.Lucas stared at her coldly. "After all that talk, your goal is divorce. Aveline, you can forget abo
Lucas slid into the driver’s seat, started the car, and sped away like a bolt of lightning. Aveline's eyelashes fluttered as she saw the luxury car zoom past her. Aveline thought Lucas must be crazy to drive so fast in the city.When she got home and stepped out of the car, she walked a short distance before hearing a voice behind her."Miss, wait a moment!"Aveline turned around, puzzled, and saw the ride-hailing driver approaching with something in his hand. He was tall and wore a mask that covered the lower half of his face. However, Aveline could tell he was smiling through his eyes."Miss, is this yours?" he asked.Aveline looked and saw it was her keychain. Indeed, it was hers."Thank you," Aveline said as she took the keychain from him.The driver waved it off. "No problem. Just leave a five-star rating.""Sure." Aveline nodded, then turned and went inside.After all the fuss, she wasn’t hungry anymore. She pulled out her phone and saw a message from Russell.“The breakfast wa
"Alright," Selena agreed without hesitation."You should get your dressing changed. If you feel uncomfortable there, come back, and I'll take care of you. I'll cook delicious meals for you every day," Aveline said.Selena laughed. "You're making my mouth water already. I'll come back as soon as I can. Wait for me!""Okay."After hanging up, Aveline was still worried. Selena had been with Aaron recently. Did he know she was hurt? However, she didn't have Aaron's number. After some thought, she dialed Lucas' number.In the cool-toned office, the atmosphere was tense. When Aaron walked in, he saw Lucas' sour expression, as if someone owed him millions of dollars."What's wrong with you? Feeling frustrated again?" Aaron pulled out a chair and sat across from him, unceremoniously asking.Lucas tossed a document at him. "Take a look yourself."Aaron picked it up and saw that a project DK Group had been working on was snatched away by the Tudor family. Frederick stole a project from his own
Aaron said, "I don't remember."Aveline's confusion deepened, though she struggled to identify its source."Alright, I understand," she replied, then promptly hung up.Aaron looked at his phone, handed it back to Lucas, and sneered. "She didn't mention you at all."Lucas' expression grew darker. "Do you have nothing better to do?"Aaron nodded. "Indeed."Lucas narrowed his eyes dangerously, a chilling aura directed at Aaron as if he wanted to kill him.Aaron stood up and said, "Your wife didn't mention you. Why are you glaring at me? If you have the guts, go settle it with her.”With that, he turned and left.Lucas leaned back, tugging at his tie in frustration. She called just to talk to Aaron? When did she start seeking Aaron for help? It seemed he couldn't let Aaron stay idle. Nor could he let Aveline stay too free.He took out his phone and made a call, "I'll give you some money. Register a company and hire Aveline."The voice on the other end was lazy. "Boss, I'm on vacation..
Maria handed her a cup of tea. "Tea is better; coffee is so bitter."Aveline accepted it. "Thank you."Maria continued, "Let's go inside first. There are two spots in this building that the agent said are great, but I couldn't tell for sure. I thought you could help me decide."Aveline replied, "I might not be an expert in this either. By the way, what kind of studio are you planning to open?""A studio for architectural design," Maria said.Aveline's eyes flickered at the mention. She was an architectural designer herself.Maria seemed to recall something and looked at her. "I checked your profile. Aren't you an architectural designer? Where are you working now?""I’m not working at the moment," Aveline said.Maria's eyes lit up. "Would you consider joining my studio? I can offer better pay than your previous job, flexible hours, and I won't interfere with your ideas. Think about it?"Aveline didn't expect the invitation and smiled, politely declining, "Thank you, but I’m not looking
"Hello?" The man's voice was deep and magnetic, but his tone was cold.Maria replied leisurely, "Boss, Aveline is planning to leave Cloudflare City. If you want to do something, you better hurry."Lucas’ face darkened at her words. "Did she tell you that herself?""Mm-hmm.""Did she mention where she plans to go?" Lucas asked.Maria responded, "I've only known her for two days. I was surprised she even agreed to meet me. How could she tell me something so personal?"Lucas' voice turned icy, "Then you better work hard, or I'll dock your year-end bonus."With that, he hung up.Maria glared at her phone. Such a wicked capitalist! Always exploiting the weak, helpless, and pitiful like them! She cursed him to never get to reconcile with his wife!…Back at home, Aveline started cooking and then sent a message to Russell.“Russ, is it convenient to visit tonight?”Russell replied, “Yes, it's convenient.”She put her phone away, packed the cooked meal, and headed to the hospital.When she o
Thinking of Darren's fierce and menacing appearance, Aveline couldn't help but furrow her brows. Russell handed her a document. "I had someone investigate him. Take a look at his file."Aveline took it and began to read. Darren, in his forties, had just been released from prison after serving ten years for manslaughter.Russell looked at her and slowly said, "Do you know who he killed?"Aveline shook her head."It was Lucas' second brother, Leo Tudor," Russell said.The name was unfamiliar to Aveline.Russell continued, "But I couldn't understand why he wants to kill you. After my investigation, I found out that he kidnapped two Tudor brothers back then. Someone reported him, and in a fit of rage, he set fire and killed Leo, while the other one got rescued."He looked at her and asked, "I suspect that the person who reported him might have been you. Aveline, do you really not remember any of this?"Aveline's face showed confusion."Report him? Kidnap?" She tried to recall, but her mind
Lucas narrowed his eyes dangerously. "I'll show you right now if it has anything to do with me!"He forcefully grabbed her and pushed her onto the sofa. Before she could react, his tall, heavy body pressed down on her."No!" Aveline exclaimed, kicking wildly.Lucas easily subdued her, his hot breath close to her face. "What's the problem? Don't forget, we are married."Aveline gritted her teeth. "He told me about Darren!"Lucas paused at her words, staring into her slightly reddened eyes before slowly getting up.Aveline stood, adjusting her clothes. "He saved me before and has been trying to find Darren, but the man is cunning and keeps hiding."Lucas was irritated. The thought of Darren finding Aveline as soon as he got out of prison, and the fact that Russell had saved her, made him even more agitated.Aveline headed to the kitchen and took out the food from the pot. She hadn't had dinner yet.Lucas watched her intently and suddenly followed her.This time, Aveline didn't offer him
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