Xander quickly finished expressing his views and then asked, "Miss Young, what do you think?"Aveline nodded. "I'll integrate these ideas into the design plans and send them to you for review."Xander nodded. "Alright."Aveline stood up. "In that case, I'll take my leave. I don't want to disturb you further."However, Xander grabbed her arm and said, "Miss Young, don't rush off. Since you're here, have a drink before you go.""Yeah, yeah, Miss Young, you're so beautiful, and your work must be excellent too, right?""Come on, have a drink. In the future, when we buy land, we'll have Miss Young do the designs!"Others joined in, urging her.Aveline's smile faded slightly, but she still said, "I'm sorry, I need to go back and revise the plans."Xander, however, didn't let go, pulling her to sit among the group. "Miss Young, don't be in such a hurry. Have a couple of drinks before you leave."Aveline was forced to sit among the crowd, and someone immediately reached out to hold her waist.
Faintly, it seemed like someone was crying for help."Hmm? Did you hear something?" Aaron asked Lucas, looking puzzled.Lucas' expression remained indifferent. "No."Aaron shrugged. "Maybe I heard wrong. Let's go."Lucas didn't respond, lowering his gaze as he and Aaron entered the private room.Aveline kept shouting for help, but no one came to her rescue. Despair appeared on her face as she was forced to drink more."Bang!"At that moment, someone burst into the room and, seeing the scene, shouted, "I've called the police!"The men turned pale upon hearing this."Damn it, where did this meddling brat come from?""Get lost, or we'll kill you!"The intruder was a young man wearing the uniform of No. 9 Mansion. His face, though handsome, showed some nervousness, but he didn't leave."I... I called the police. If you don't let her go, the police will be here soon!"No matter how arrogant these men were, they didn't dare challenge the police. Their expressions soured, but they released Av
An icy chill enveloped Aveline, leaving her sluggish yet alert."Who... who are you?"She struggled, but the grip on her arm was like an iron clamp, causing her pain."It hurts!"Aveline cried out in pain, struggling even more fiercely."Who are you? Let her go!"Sidney, seeing this, immediately stepped forward to push Lucas away.Lucas' handsome, sharp face was ice-cold. He looked at Aveline, who was clearly drunk, her eyes unfocused, her clothes half-wet, looking both pure and alluring.She dared to come here and drink?And made herself look so disheveled?And there she was, cuddling up to some guy - it's so inappropriate!She had some nerve!Lucas gripped Aveline tightly, his deep, magnetic voice devoid of warmth as he asked, "Aveline, take a good look at who I am!"He pinched her face, forcing her to look up at him.Sidney became even more worried upon seeing this and looked at Lucas with increased vigilance. "Sir, she doesn't know you at all. Don't treat her like this, or I'll cal
The police checked the documents and, confirming they were genuine, said to Lucas, "Take your wife home. She shouldn't drink so much; it's not good for her health.""Alright," Lucas responded indifferently.The two policemen left.Sidney stood to the side, a faint look of embarrassment on his handsome face. "Sorry, I didn't know you were her husband. In that case, please take her home."Lucas shot him a cold glance before carrying Aveline into the elevator.Aveline continued to struggle."Let go, let go of me..."Holding her, Lucas looked at her flushed face, his mood particularly foul. He gave her a sharp slap on the bottom. "Aveline, you better behave!"In her drunken state, Aveline didn't even feel the slap.The elevator doors slowly closed as Aveline, half-squinting, looked utterly intoxicated.Lucas' face was grim. If he hadn't come here, would she not have gone home tonight? Had she found herself another young man?A cold wind blew as they exited No. 9 Mansion, causing Aveline to
Aveline was only clear-headed for a moment before slipping back into a daze.She half-closed her eyes, leaning softly against Lucas, her slightly feverish fingers touching his face as she murmured, "Lu."Lucas' Adam's apple bobbed, his fingers twitching lightly.Aveline's body trembled uncontrollably, then she wrapped her arms around him.Her soft lips brushed against his cheek, landing on his neck, her heavy breaths fanning his skin, stirring his senses."Aveline, you're the one provoking me."Lucas spoke deeply, then lifted her, pressing her against the wall.Her heated body shivered against the cold wall.But soon, a powerful tremor overtook her. She instinctively clung to him, her whole body like a leaf in the wind, swaying helplessly."Lucas' hands gripped her waist, his breathing heavy. The image of her draped over another man flashed in his mind, making his actions even more intense."Lu... Lu..."Aveline's fragmented voice emerged, unable to endure!The shower was still on, the
"Which man?" Aveline asked, momentarily confused.Lucas' gaze remained cold, the room's temperature seemingly dropping. The bed was a mess, still bearing the remnants of their intimacy, yet the chill pervaded Aveline's body."I was drunk last night, I don't know what happened," Aveline said.Lucas sneered. "You know you can't handle alcohol, and yet you dared to drink alone?"The reproach in his voice was clear as if she had done something wrong.Feeling wronged, Aveline retorted, "Lucas, did you investigate the situation? Do you know why I was drinking? On what grounds are you blaming me?"At that moment, her defensive spikes rose.The tension in the bedroom became palpable.Then, a phone rang, breaking the silence. It was Lucas' phone.He walked over and answered, "Speak."Desmond, sensing the tension, spoke cautiously, "Mr. Tudor, I found out what happened. The project manager from Horizon Realty, Xander Wilbur, asked Mrs. Tudor to revise the blueprints and then wouldn't let her lea
Lucas remained silent, his expression dark.The butler approached Aveline to greet her. She smiled warmly in return and then left.The butler glanced at Lucas and saw his face looking particularly grim, the atmosphere around him heavy, making the dining room feel a few degrees colder.The butler, initially intending to greet him, wisely kept silent upon seeing his expression....When Aveline arrived at the studio, she saw that indeed, a dozen people were blocking the entrance, their faces filled with worry and gloom.Leading them was Xander.Upon seeing Aveline, Xander immediately rushed over, his face full of remorse. "Miss Young, I'm truly sorry. I drank too much last night and behaved terribly. I apologize. Please, can you forgive me and forget about what happened?"The others followed, their eyes pleading as they looked at Aveline.Aveline's expression remained indifferent. "Last night, you didn't seem so apologetic, Mr. Wilbur."Xander slapped himself. "I was really out of my min
Xander's face turned sour. "What are you all arguing about? We need to find a solution now."Everyone fell silent, though their gazes held a bit more resentment toward him.At that moment, a figure appeared in the distance."Mr, Wilbur?"Sophia walked over, her face wearing a gentle smile.Xander's expression brightened upon seeing her. "Miss Winter, what brings you here?"Sophia smiled back. "I came to visit a friend. What's going on here?"Xander sighed and explained the situation briefly. "I was just joking with Miss Young, but she took it seriously and now DK Group is blacklisting us. We have families to support. If we're blacklisted and lose our jobs, how will we survive?"Sophia's eyes flashed, and she said, "If you trust me, I can speak to Lucas at DK Group on your behalf."Xander's face lit up with hope. "You know Mr. Tudor?"Sophia nodded. "Yes, Lucas and I are friends."Calling Lucas by his first name, she conveyed a natural intimacy.Xander looked at Sophia with gratitude. "
“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