"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
After buying groceries, Aveline returned home. She kept checking for a reply from Lucas, but her message seemed to have vanished into the void—not a notification from himWhat was going on? He had seemed normal in the morning, but now it was as if he had become a different person. What had gone wrong? Aveline couldn't figure it out.It was already afternoon. As she watched the sun slowly set, her heart sank with it. She didn't understand the Tudors' intentions. They had captured Bobby, tortured him, and threatened to send him to jail, yet they sent those photos to Zane. Aveline wondered who the mastermind was. Was it Yvonne or Frederick? What were they trying to achieve, and why did they target a mere driver?While she was lost in thought, her phone rang again. She quickly picked it up, hoping it was Lucas, but it turned out to be Zane."Hello, Mr. Zane. What's the matter?" Aveline answered.Zane's voice was anxious. "Ave, those people came to find me. They told me to leave Cloud
Aveline jabbed the doorbell repeatedly, her stubbornness matching the house's silence. As twilight deepened, an autumn chill crept into the air, the wind's bite growing sharper.Aveline lowered her hand and sighed in resignation, turning to leave.She headed straight to the hotel, only to find the manager trying to evict Zane."Sir, we are closing for renovations. Please leave," the manager insisted.Zane protested, "You were open when I arrived. Why all of a sudden you’re closing?"The manager responded, "Sir, please don't make this difficult for us."Aveline approached and said, "Is it really for renovations, or did someone order you to do this? If you don't tell me the truth, I will make sure you really close down for good."The manager hesitated upon seeing her, then said, "I'm sorry, but I can't disclose that information. We will refund your payment in full."Aveline's face darkened as she turned to Zane. "Mr. Zane, let's go."The hotel staff were just following orders from above.
Aveline nodded.Brian took out his phone and made a call. After a moment, he looked at her and said, "I'll take you there."Aveline smiled slightly. "Alright."They arrived at the Noble Color Bar. As Aveline got out of the car, she looked at Brian and asked, "Is Lucas here?"Brian nodded. "Yes."With determination in her eyes, Aveline walked inside. The bar was large, spanning three floors. The first floor was the main hall, with a stage and booths, the liveliest part of the bar. The second and third floors were more private, and often frequented by wealthy patrons.Aveline went straight to the bar and asked, "Which floor is Lucas Tudor on?"The staff member behind the bar looked confused and shook his head. "I'm sorry, I don't know who that is."Aveline frowned. Didn't this person know Lucas? Would she have to search each room upstairs? It seemed that was her only option.She headed for the second floor but was stopped by two burly guards at the staircase."No entry without a reserva
Aveline's palms were sweating with nerves. He truly intended to divorce her! Yet, his casual demeanor made it hard for her to believe."Lucas, are you serious?" she asked cautiously.After all, they had fought over this issue so many times before. His sudden proposal made her wary of trusting him.Lucas' cold smile remained. "Of course, I'm serious."He took a drag of his cigarette, the smoke obscuring his handsome features. "But remember, when you’re no longer my wife, you have no right to be in my presence."Aveline's heart sank. She had come to seek Lucas' help. If she agreed to the divorce, she might never see him again, let alone ask for his help.Lucas watched her with amusement. "Well? Have you made up your mind?"Aveline's fingers curled up, and she lowered her gaze. After a long pause, she said, "Lucas, are you doing this on purpose?"Lucas raised an eyebrow. "I don't understand. I've agreed to the divorce. What more do you want?"Aveline's heart sank further.Suddenly, Lucas
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