The girl's attitude was extremely arrogant.Selena's fiery temper flared up. "Whether I can afford it or not is none of your business. But seeing how you just snatched something from me like that, you seem to lack manners."The girl was taken aback, immediately turning with a pitiful look toward the woman addressed as Moon.Moon Chew sat on the sofa, arms crossed, her sunglasses fixed on Aveline. She said, "I'll pay double. I want that dress."Selena sneered. "So, you think having money makes you superior? Ever think about the store clerk? Overpaying messes up the market. Are you buying the dress or your dignity?"Moon's face, hidden under her mask, turned cold."The dress is in our hands now. We want it. What are you going to do about it?" she said arrogantly.Selena's anger flared even more. "Acting tough, huh? If you're so bold, why are you hiding behind a hat and mask? Afraid of being recognized for something shameful? Oh, she called you Moon. Aren't you that notorious actress who
"Stop her," Lucas ordered coldly, looking at Selena and signaling his bodyguards.Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward, forcefully restraining Selena and taking her phone.Seeing this, Selena began to struggle. "What are you doing? Lucas, you bastard! Let me go!"The bodyguards respectfully handed the phone to Lucas.Lucas took it and deleted all the videos and photos Selena had taken. He then tossed the phone back to the bodyguards.Aveline approached Selena and looked at the bodyguards. "Let her go!"The bodyguards knew Aveline's identity, but the order came from Lucas, leaving them uncertain. They looked to Lucas for guidance.Aveline turned to Lucas, her voice icy. "Did you bring me back just to be a powerless trophy?"The atmosphere in the clothing store grew tense.Lucas' icy gaze fell on her before he waved his hand.The bodyguards immediately released Selena.As soon as she was free, Selena lunged at Lucas. "You bastard! How dare you—""Selena!" Aveline shouted, pulling h
Selena grabbed Aveline's hand. "No apology! I'm not apologizing to scum like her. If they want to detain me, so be it!"Aveline looked at her, feeling a pang of sadness. If the Tudor family got involved, it wouldn't just be a simple 15-day detention.Selena had completely offended Lucas. How would she survive in Cloudflare City in the future?Aveline held her hand gently and said, "Selena, I don't want you to be detained."Selena frowned. "But..."Aveline turned to Lucas, her tone softening. "Lucas, it really was Miss Chew who provoked us first. You can check the surveillance footage. Selena was just defending me. If you send her to the police, are you saying you don't want anyone protecting me in the future? You might as well send me in too."The cold expression on Lucas' face faltered slightly as he looked at her softened demeanor, but he still felt uncomfortable.He stared at her deeply, about to say something when Moon spoke up from behind him. "Mr. Tudor, I really don't know how I
Selena's face was flushed with anger.Aveline's figure seemed unsteady. She looked at Lucas' handsome face, a face she knew so well, but now felt so foreign.What was the point?She suddenly smiled and walked straight up to Moon, raising her hand and slapping her across the face.The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the store, bringing a stunned silence.Aveline turned to Lucas. "Now, this is me hitting her. First, she started trouble, then she lied and twisted the truth. A slap is the least she deserves. Did you really think just because she had sex with you that I wouldn’t dare touch her?"She stared coldly at Moon, her hand trembling slightly. "Stop your schemes and stirring up trouble, or I won't hesitate to slap you again!"With that, she ignored Moon's shocked and embarrassed face and turned to Lucas. "We will not apologize, Lucas. I want a divorce."She finished speaking, grabbed Selena's hand, and walked towards the exit.The bodyguards blocked the door, but Aveline stare
Aveline glared at him furiously. "Where did you take Selena? Lucas, our issues are between us. Can you not drag others into it?"Lucas sneered. "What right does she have meddling in our affairs?"Aveline was trembling with rage.Lucas, however, didn't want to argue in public. He dragged her out of the mall and forcefully shoved her into the car.Aveline struggled. "Lucas, let Selena go!"Lucas held her shoulders firmly and said coldly, "If you want me to release her, you'd better behave and satisfy me. Then I'll let her go."Aveline looked at him, feeling as if he was a stranger.Once inside the car, away from prying eyes, Lucas' expression remained icy and grim.Aveline tried to calm herself. "Lucas, today was my fault. I shouldn't have slapped Miss Chew or spoken to her like that. Can you please let Selena go?"Her quick submission didn't bring Lucas any satisfaction.He stared at her intensely. "Is divorce the only thing on your mind?"Aveline's eyelashes fluttered, but she said not
Aveline's body trembled violently, her eyes filled with bitterness. Yes, Selena was in his hands, and only he could decide whether to release her.If he wanted to make things difficult for her, there was nothing she could do about it.Aveline's fingers clenched tightly. Suddenly, she got up and knelt in front of him, reaching to unbuckle his belt.Lucas' pupils contracted sharply as he watched her actions and saw her face grow paler.He suddenly lost interest.He grabbed her arm, pulling her to sit beside him. "Your reluctance is a real turn-off," he said coldly.Aveline said nothing, but her face grew even paler.The car started moving, smoothly driving down the road.After a while, Aveline calmed herself and asked, "When will you let Selena go?"Lucas replied coldly, "Once she's learned her lesson, I'll let her go."Aveline was speechless.That seemed unlikely.Selena couldn't stand him. If it were the old Lucas without his memory, she might have been able to tolerate him. But now,
Selena looked at her, then suddenly shook her head. "Ave, what's the point of explaining all this?"Aveline sighed. "Stop provoking him. You won't win."Selena fell silent.Though unwilling to admit it, she knew it was true.Cloudflare City was Lucas' domain. He could make her disappear without a trace if he wished.Aveline continued, "Selena, I will find a way to deal with my situation with him, but I don't want you involved. I don't want you to become my weakness."Selena hugged her tightly. "But Ave, if I'm not there with you, you'll be all alone. That jerk will take advantage of you."Aveline's eyes grew warm, and she sniffled. "It's okay. Once I divorce him, even if he begs, I won't even look at him.”"That's the spirit!" Selena clapped her hands.The two of them strolled around the garden, reminiscing about amusing past events.Time passed quickly.When Aveline looked up, she saw Lucas standing on the balcony of the second floor, watching her.Even from this distance, she could s
Aveline smiled slightly. "I’m adapting fine."Maria nodded. "That's great. To expand our business, I'm attending a business cocktail party tonight, filled with influential figures. Why don't you come with me?"Aveline was surprised. "Me?"Maria nodded. "Yes, you worked on the Brighton Enterprises project. Many people in the industry know you. You're kind of a big deal for our studio. Bringing you along will attract potential partners."After a moment of thought, Aveline nodded. "Alright."Maria smiled. "Great, I'll pick you up this evening.""Okay."Since the studio was just starting out, participating in such events would be beneficial. Aveline didn't want to miss this opportunity.In the evening, Aveline gathered her things, and Maria's car was already waiting downstairs. When she got in, Maria handed her a bag."Change into this."Aveline looked at it and said, "There's no need. For a business cocktail party, dressing elegantly but simply is enough."Maria gave her an approving look
“What gossip?” Aveline's interest was instantly piqued, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Gernard.Gernard leaned in conspiratorially, about to spill the juicy details. “It’s about Brother. You won’t believe what happened today…”“Ahem!”Before he could finish, Gavin appeared, clearing his throat just loud enough to interrupt. He grabbed Gernard’s arm, pulling him away. “Let’s talk about the company,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.Gernard protested, “Brother, wait, I wasn’t finished!”Aveline, her curiosity fully ignited, took a couple of steps forward. “Hey bros, don’t leave me hanging! Finish the story first!”Without slowing down, Gavin replied, “He’s headed to South Africa soon. Work comes first.”“South Africa?” Gernard’s jaw dropped. “Wait, since when am I going to South Africa? I didn’t hear about this! What’s going on?”Aveline stopped in her tracks, equally puzzled. “South Africa? Does the Cooper family even have projects there?”Just then, Wilfried walked
"Got too much free time on your hands?" Gavin’s cold gaze fixed on Gernard.Unbothered, Gernard strolled over and patted his brother's shoulder, grinning. "So, what’s your plan now? I got a little bored and did some digging on the Quin family. Guess what? Turns out they’re Selena’s birth family. She left them ages ago to make it on her own, but the girl you were with? That’s Jolie Quin, the pampered princess of the family."With a knowing smirk, Gernard added, "Brother, I couldn’t help but notice—Jolie and Selena do look a bit alike. Could that be why you…?""Get lost," Gavin cut him off, not in the mood for Gernard’s teasing. He brushed past him, heading downstairs.Of course, that only fueled Gernard’s enthusiasm. "Hey, don’t walk away! I haven’t finished my gossip yet!" he called after him, but the conversation came to an abrupt end as they reached the main floor, where the guests were still gathered for the celebration....Aveline noticed Selena seemed a bit distracted and asked,
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