Aveline looked at him. "Do you know what I was thinking last night when that man was chasing me and those two girls had tricked me?"Lucas froze, his lips pressing into a tight line.Aveline let out a bitter laugh. "I was thinking, I clearly told you I was in danger, so why didn't you come? We've been married for so long, and you still have memories of Lu, so why didn't you come? If it were Lu, he wouldn't have stayed away. He wouldn't have been so rough and told me to get out of the car."As she spoke, large tears began to fall, and the fear from the previous night surged up.Her eyes were completely soaked with tears."Lucas, tell me, why? Why, when I told you I was in danger, didn't you come?"Lucas' breath tightened as he held her, his voice hoarse, "I'm sorry, Aveline."It was all he could say.When he received her call, he immediately set out to find her, but then he thought, if she was willing to lower herself for Bobby's sake, was her plea for help a deliberate ploy?A ploy to
Aveline stared at him intently, "Mr. Zane isn't like that."Lucas chuckled lightly. "Want to bet?"Aveline tightened her grip on the fork and nodded, "Alright, what's the bet?"Lucas said, "If he accepts my compensation and willingly leaves Cloudflare City, you can't bring up divorce again."Aveline gritted her teeth and nodded. "Fine. But if he doesn't, we divorce, and you release Bobby."Lucas replied calmly, "Aveline, that's two conditions."Aveline hesitated and then said, "Release Bobby."Lucas stared at her deeply. "Alright."Aveline believed that Zane would never abandon his son for money. He had always said Bobby was his only child.After breakfast, Lucas left immediately.Aveline contacted a realtor to start looking for an apartment.The realtor was efficient and quickly found a few options, which Aveline went to see.She settled on a small two-bedroom apartment and rented it for a quarter.By the time everything was arranged, it was already afternoon.Aveline called Zane."Mr
Just as he finished speaking, the doorbell rang.Given his previous experiences of being turned away, Zane didn't immediately open the door. Instead, he looked through the peephole.Outside stood two men in suits.On the phone, his wife, Lily, was still speaking hesitantly, clearly frightened.The doorbell rang again, making Zane jump. He said, "Don't do anything; I have something to deal with here."He hung up and then opened the door."Who are you?"One of the men in suits extended his hand with a smile. "Hello, Mr. Looney. I'm Desmond, the executive assistant of the CEO of DK Group. This is lawyer Charles Dean. We have something we need to discuss with you. Is this a convenient time?"Zane looked at them warily. They weren't the landlords here to evict him, so what did they want?Zane stepped aside. "Come in."Desmond nodded slightly and entered the house with Charles.Seated on the sofa, Charles placed two documents on the coffee table.Zane asked, "What are these?"Desmond smiled
When Aveline returned home, she immediately received a call from Selena."My beautiful Ave, I'm almost back. Is there anything you want to eat? The food here is quite good."Selena's cheerful voice came through.Aveline had been worried about Selena's injury, but hearing her lively voice put her at ease."Just bring whatever you think is good. I'm fine with anything," Aveline replied with a smile.Selena said, "Alright, I'll pick out your favorites.""Okay," Aveline agreed, sitting on the sofa with a water cup, and putting the call on speaker. "Is your injury fully healed?""Mm-hmm," Selena responded. "Of course, I've had my fun and need to get back to you. Otherwise, what if someone else takes my place?"Aveline laughed. "No way, you're my one and only.""Really? Can I tell Lucas that? Will he kill me if I do?" Selena teased.Aveline replied, "He wouldn't dare."Selena continued, "Wow, listen to you. It sounds like you've got him wrapped around your finger. Tell me what happened while
Upon hearing this, Lucas' expression turned icy.She thought he would use others to coerce Zane into compliance?In her mind, was he really that kind of person?Lucas' tone became even colder. "Aveline, you always say I don't trust you. What about you?""What?" Aveline was stunned, but Lucas didn't give her an answer and hung up the phone.Aveline stared at the disconnected call, blinking unconsciously.What did he mean by that?Was he saying she didn't trust him?Aveline pressed her lips together, refusing to believe she was wrong.When had he ever done anything to earn her trust?She smirked sarcastically and decided not to dwell on it any longer.As the sky gradually darkened, the lights in the CEO's office were bright as day, but Lucas' expression was extremely grim.His phone rang, and although he initially didn't want to answer, a thought crossed his mind, making his eyes flicker.However, when he saw the caller ID was Frederick, his expression darkened again."Hello, Dad."Frede
Thinking about how Sophia immediately brought up the car accident from two years ago when she saw Lucas, using it as leverage, made him feel disgusted.Was this how a savior should act?Moreover, the exact details of that car accident were still uncertain.The two men headed straight to the Noble Color bar.On the first floor, people were reveling in the night. Lucas sat by the window, observing the lively scene below. His fingers held a glass of wine, and he drank one after another.Aaron watched his cold demeanor and couldn't help but click his tongue. "Why are you drinking alone? What’s got you so upset?"Lucas glanced at him and suddenly asked, "Why does Aveline insist on divorcing me?"His gaze fell on the glass, his tone growing colder. "What's so bad about being married to me?"He had elevated her status, given her the things she had once desperately pursued, and they were perfectly compatible in bed.He couldn't understand why she wanted a divorce.Aaron saw his love-stricken s
Recalling their unpleasant phone conversation earlier, Aveline was reluctant to open the door. However, it was already late at night, and his demeanor suggested that he would keep knocking until she answered.With a sigh, she opened the door. "What do you want now...?" she began, but her words were cut off as his tall body leaned in, his hot hands cupping her face, and he kissed her fervently.His weight was overwhelming, the intensity of his presence making her involuntarily retreat. Finally, her legs hit the sofa, and her knees buckled, causing her to fall onto it.Lucas never released her the entire time.His kisses were scorching, his breath entangling with hers as if he wanted to consume her completely.Gradually, Aveline began to falter.Her eyes turned red at the corners, and her body softened. She felt her nightgown being pushed up to her waist, which jolted her back to awareness."Lucas..." she murmured his name.He reeked of alcohol, his breath hot and searing against her s
Aveline struggled more fiercely, not wanting to stay in this position or be so close to him.He wasn't Lu!The moment he regained his memories, Lu was gone!Her eyes grew hot, and her voice trembled. "Lucas, get up."Lucas sensed something was off in her tone. He raised his head to look at her, his fingers brushing her tears away gently."Ave, you're crying."His voice was deep and gentle, making Aveline momentarily feel as if they were back six months ago.Just that one sentence shattered the hard walls she had built around her heart, and her emotions surged forth, tears streaming uncontrollably.Lucas visibly panicked, bending down to kiss away each tear with extreme tenderness.Taking advantage of the moment, Aveline shoved him away and dashed to the bedroom!She locked the door, her heartbeat thundering in her ears!Leaning against the door, she panted heavily, tears still falling. She quickly went to the bathroom to splash her face with cold water, trying to calm herself down.She
Jolie stirred, her eyes fluttering open in the dimly lit cabin. The sharp, handsome features of the man before her were so close that she could feel the warmth of his breath. His lips, carrying his familiar scent, gently traced hers, as if torn between waking her and letting her sleep. Her breath hitched, a brief moment of confusion washing over her. Gavin noticed and, in response, pressed a firm kiss to her lips. "Did I wake you?" "You did that on purpose," Jolie replied, her voice soft and husky from sleep. "Mm." Gavin didn’t deny it, his tone unapologetic as he leaned down to kiss her again. Still groggy, Jolie found herself caught off guard, his lips capturing hers with a growing intensity. By the time she realized what was happening, he had deepened the kiss, his tongue teasing and tangling with hers in an intoxicating rhythm. Her breath quickened, and she instinctively pushed against him. Gavin pulled back, only to trail kisses along her cheek and down her neck, his
The night air was cool, a gentle breeze slipping through the car window and lifting the strands of hair framing her face. They fluttered across her vision, briefly distracting her, yet she could still clearly see his eyes. At that moment, the unease and uncertainty stirring in her chest melted away, replaced by an inexplicable sense of calm. It felt as though there was nothing he couldn’t handle. As long as he wanted to. Jolie smiled softly and said, "Alright." When they arrived at the private airstrip, the captain came forward to exchange a few words with Gavin. Standing nearby, Jolie watched and couldn’t resist asking, "How long will you be staying?" Gavin glanced at her. "How long do you want me to stay?" The overly intimate tone of his words, spoken with such casual ease, caught her off guard. Her cheeks flushed immediately—especially since there were others around to hear it. Lowering her gaze shyly, she murmured, "You can stay as long as you want." She turned he
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