"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
Lucas stood up and followed her, his intense gaze fixed on her, clearly displeased with her attitude. Aveline tried to close the door behind her, but Lucas forcefully pushed his way in."What are you doing?" Aveline asked warily.Lucas' tall figure filled the room, making it feel cramped. He started undressing and then lay down on the bed. This was the bed that Selene had reserved for Aveline, one that was filled with her scent.Seeing this, Aveline immediately protested, "Lucas, this is my bed."Lucas patted the space beside him, his eyes dark and inviting. "Share it with me."Aveline's mouth twitched in disbelief. Did he not understand her words? This was her bed, and he had no right to take over.She walked over and grabbed his arm. "Get up. There's no place for you to sleep here. If you want to sleep, go home!"But Lucas was too heavy for her to move. Instead, with a light tug, he pulled her down onto him.Aveline's eyes widened in shock. Before she could react, Lucas flipped her o
"Ave, I'm really at the end of my rope. Can you help me?"As soon as the call connected, Zane's weathered, trembling voice came through. The middle-aged man sounded utterly helpless.Aveline was taken aback and quickly asked, "Mr. Zane, what's wrong? Tell me slowly."Zane said, "I'm in Cloudflare City. It's hard to explain over the phone. Where are you? Can I come to see you?"Aveline agreed. "Alright."She asked Zane for his current location, then hung up and quickly started getting ready.Lucas, sitting on the bed, watched her with his intense eyes. "What's the matter?""It's none of your business," Aveline replied.Lucas' face darkened. He was her husband! She was facing an issue, so how could she show him such an attitude?Aveline, however, had no time to worry about his feelings. Grabbing her keys, she pulled him along and headed out the door. "I'm leaving."Locking the door behind her, she ignored Lucas completely. Standing in the hallway, Lucas' expression grew even more unplea
Aveline said, "Mr. Zane, please wait here for my call. If I managed to see Bobby, I'd let you know. I'm worried they might not let us both in. If that happened, we’d just be wasting our time."Zane hesitated, unsure of what to do.Aveline gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'll find a way to help Bobby. Your family took care of me during high school. I owe you that much."Zane nodded, "Alright, alright, I'll do as you say. But be careful.""I will," Aveline promised.She left the small motel and headed straight for the Tudor Estate. This was her second time going there alone. The first time was when Lucas had just regained his memory, and Barbara had invited her to the estate for dinner. She had witnessed Lucas being kind to Sophia.Recalling that scene, Aveline felt a twinge of pain within her. Back then, she was still reeling from the disbelief and sorrow. How could Lu, who had been so gentle and loving just a few days before, change so drastically overnight?Aveline's expre
At that time, he had shaken off Leo's hand. "What I do is none of your business!"He walked away, ignoring Leo's calls behind him. Lucas squeezed his eyes shut and, when he opened them again, they were cold and devoid of warmth.Just then, Yvonne walked in, placing a cup of tea next to Frederick. "Are you done discussing? Aveline is here, outside."Lucas' expression shifted. He walked over to the window and saw Aveline standing downstairs. The sun was glaring, but she showed no intention of coming inside. He knew she was reluctant to be here."Why is she here?" Lucas asked in a low voice.Yvonne replied, "The servant said she's here for Bobby, probably to plead for him."Lucas pressed his lips into a thin line.Frederick looked at Lucas coldly. "Lucas, you know what you have to do!"Yvonne spoke softly, "Don't be so harsh. The items have been returned. Maybe Bobby just made a mistake. Since Aveline knows him, why not let it go this time?""Who does Aveline think she is?" Frederick scof
"Man.""Forget it!" Lucas said bluntly and hung up the phone.Aveline felt a headache coming on. Lucas had dismissed her so decisively, not even giving her a chance to explain. She needed to see him in person.As she walked outside, her phone rang again. It was Zane calling."Hello, Mr. Zane."Zane asked urgently, "Ave, have you seen Bobby?""Not yet, but don't worry. I'll find a way," Aveline replied.Zane sounded desperate. "He's been beaten so badly. He must be suffering. Ave, you must find him quickly. He can't go to jail. He's our only son. If something happens to him, we won't survive."Aveline reassured him, "Mr. Zane, don't worry. They haven't handed Bobby over to the police yet, which means there's still room for negotiation. I'll find a way."Zane sighed. "I'm counting on you."Aveline smiled. "It’s what I should do.”After a few more comforting words, she hung up the phone and sent a message to Lucas.“What do you want for dinner tonight?”After sending the message, she took
Gavin looked at her, his gaze steady, and replied in a calm voice, "You’ve got the leverage to do it." Oh... Jolie’s heart skipped a beat, her pulse momentarily thrown off rhythm. What was this feeling? It was as if someone was spoiling her, cherishing her unconditionally. Even though it was just a simple conversation, it carried a warmth she couldn’t ignore. For a moment, she realized that what she once thought was affection and care had been nothing but an illusion. A smile unconsciously curved on her lips as her eyes lit up. "Does this mean I can walk around Larbor City like I own the place?" Gavin raised an eyebrow. "Are you a crab?" Jolie burst into laughter, her mood instantly lifted by his quick-witted remark. Her earlier irritation dissipated, replaced by lightheartedness. Whether or not he meant it, the fact that he sided with her made her happy. "I’m full. Should we head out?" she asked, her appetite long gone after everything that had happened earlier.
The girl stared in disbelief, her hands clutching her face. "You hit me?" Jolie blinked innocently at her. "Weren’t you the one insisting I hit you earlier? I just gave you another slap to match your story. You should be used to it by now." "Jolie Quin!" Ian had reached his limit, his voice full of anger as he glared at her. "Apologize to her!" Jolie glanced at him, her expression calm but icy. "Get lost." She had thought he might be reasonable, but clearly, he was blinded by infatuation. She had no patience to deal with him any longer and turned to leave. Before she could take a step, Ian grabbed her arm roughly. "Jolie, you’re not leaving without apologizing! I don’t think I’ve ever wronged you, have I? We used to get along just fine, didn’t we?" "Let go," Jolie said, her brows knitting in disgust. She hated being touched, especially by someone she considered beneath her. Ian tightened his grip, his hand digging into her arm hard enough to cause pain. "Jolie, yo
Jolie was completely baffled, a string of question marks running through her mind. But when the girl suddenly dropped to her knees, it genuinely startled her.She quickly reached out to help her up. "Get up first. We can talk properly."Before Jolie could react, the girl grabbed her hand and slapped herself hard across the face with it.Smack!The crisp sound echoed in the quiet hallway, leaving Jolie frozen in shock."Why did you hit me?" The girl, who had just been crying like an innocent damsel in distress, now clutched her face and loudly accused her. "Ian and I are the real couple! You’re the one coming between us. How could you hit me?"Jolie blinked, completely dumbfounded, as the girl’s voice rang out.A few passersby paused, glancing over to witness the commotion.Meanwhile, Ian, who had been waiting and wondering why his girlfriend hadn’t returned, came looking for her. The scene he walked into—his girlfriend on the ground, crying and accusing Jolie—made him stride forward,
The person in the hallway glanced at her briefly but quickly looked away, as though she were a stranger. Jolie’s hand, lifted halfway to wave, stalled in mid-air.What... was that? Gavin noticed her reaction and asked in a low voice, "What’s wrong?" "Nothing," Jolie replied, shaking her head and brushing it off. The man outside was Ian. Pretending not to know her was probably his way of avoiding unnecessary trouble—after all, they had already "broken up." The door to their private room shut completely, and Gavin hadn’t seen Ian or his group. He turned back to her and asked, "Do you come here often?" "Yeah," Jolie nodded. "I come here a lot with friends." So, this was one of her favorite hidden gems. The fact that she was willing to share it with him felt significant somehow. Gavin caught himself lingering on that thought and was momentarily taken aback by his own reaction. He kept his expression neutral, not letting on what had crossed his mind. The food arrived qui
The reason it wasn’t the same was simple—her plan would fall apart if she got caught.Of course, that wasn’t something she could admit.Jolie simply said, "I just don’t want any unnecessary complications. Since you’ve already arranged the flight, let’s just leave directly."Gavin’s dark eyes fixed on her for a moment, but he didn’t press the issue.It was clear she didn’t want to talk about it any further, so he let it drop.When the elevator doors opened, the two of them walked out together. A car was already waiting at the entrance. Gavin, ever the gentleman, opened the door for her.The car pulled away from Cooper Enterprises, and Gavin asked, "What do you want to eat?"Jolie, busy typing on her phone, replied, "I know a good restaurant."It was a cozy place she loved, one she often visited with her friends."Alright," Gavin replied, pulling out his phone to respond to some emails. With his work condensed into such a tight schedule, he seized every spare moment to handle it.Jolie p
Gavin suddenly recalled Wilfried's words, "That girl doesn’t even like you."Lowering his gaze slightly, Gavin pushed the thought aside without explanation, his expression remaining cool and indifferent as he watched her. After Jolie finished looking through the photos, she turned to him and asked, "Why do you have pictures of all these women?" "My father brought them over," Gavin replied. "Oh." Jolie nodded knowingly and didn’t press further. It was easy enough to figure out—the Cooper family obviously wanted him to consider an arranged marriage, so they sent over these photos for him to choose from. She could understand that. In fact, she even helped him look through them, just in case one of these women turned out to be a good match for him. After all, their relationship wasn’t meant to last forever. When he grew tired of her and she had her fun, they’d part ways, and everything would return to normal. As she neatly organized the photos and placed them back on the ta
It was Jolie’s first time visiting Cooper Enterprises, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of curiosity about the place.No, to be precise, it was her first time stepping into any corporate office. The Quin family also had company, but she had never visited, nor had Daisy or Terence ever asked her to.The private elevator for the CEO was stunningly opulent, its polished surface gleaming like a mirror, perfectly reflecting their images. Jolie’s heart began to race with an inexplicable excitement.The assistant glanced at her and said with a warm smile, "Miss Quin, there’s no need to be nervous. Mr. Cooper will definitely be delighted to see you."Jolie nodded and replied, "I’m not nervous."The elevator moved swiftly, and as they neared the executive office, Jolie adjusted her cap and mask, pulling them snugly to hide her face as much as possible.Meanwhile, near the adjacent employee elevator, Rosalie was holding a stack of files, ready to head downstairs.She froze the moment she s
"I’ll wait for you to come back," Jolie said softly before hanging up the call. The phone let out a soft beep, and the beautiful girl on the screen disappeared. Gavin frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flickering across his face. She ended the call without letting him say anything. But as he replayed her soft words about waiting for him, the irritation quickly faded. When his assistant walked in, the first thing he noticed was Gavin staring at his phone, an unreadable smile tugging at the corner of his lips. The assistant froze, momentarily feeling as though he’d seen a ghost. Blinking hard, he looked again. Phew! It must have been his imagination. Gavin still wore his usual cold and impassive expression. "Mr. Cooper, these are the proposals submitted by the planning department," the assistant said as he placed the documents on Gavin’s desk. "Mm," Gavin acknowledged, immediately opening the files to review them. "Mr. Cooper, I’ve also finalized your schedule for
It sounded so much like Jolie! The thought stunned Rosalie. Jolie had a boyfriend, and she got sent abroad because of him. How could she possibly be in contact with Gavin, let alone on a video call with him? Still, an uneasy suspicion gnawed at Rosalie. If she could just take one glance at the woman in Gavin’s video call, she could put her mind at ease. Gathering her courage, Rosalie lifted her head and looked in Gavin’s direction, her gaze fixed on his phone. The next second, a figure stepped in front of her—Gavin’s assistant. With a cold stare, he blocked her view. Startled, Rosalie’s face turned pale. By now, Gavin had already entered his office. The assistant looked at Rosalie, his voice icy. “What are you trying to do?” “I-I…” Rosalie hadn’t expected to be caught so quickly. Her heart leapt into her throat as she scrambled for an excuse. “I just wanted to check if Mr. Cooper needed anything.” “That’s not your job,” the assistant replied firmly. “You may be the