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. "
Xander and his group looked anxiously at Lucas."Mr. Tudor, we won't dare do it again.""Mr. Tudor, please give us another chance."The group cowered like mice before a cat, all lowering their heads in submission.Sophia smiled gently, keeping her gaze fixed on Lucas.Lucas' expression was stern, his presence exuding a cold and dignified aura. He glanced at the group and asked, "Who are you?"Xander and his group exchanged glances.Desmond spoke up quietly, "Mr. Tudor, these are the people who troubled Mrs. Tudor last night."His voice was low, heard only by Sophia standing beside him.A flicker of coldness appeared in Sophia's eyes.Mrs. Tudor...So, they hadn't divorced yet?How infuriating.Lucas, standing tall, his cold eyes swept over the group. "When you were troubling others, did you think about your families?"Xander and his group's faces froze.They all turned to look at Sophia.Sophia's smile faltered slightly. She had tried to leverage Lucas' concern for Leo, but he remained
The man originally thought Aveline and Lucas had an unclear relationship. Now, hearing Sophia's words, he gripped Aveline even tighter."Lucas, if you push me to the edge, I'll make sure you lose your wife! I have nothing to lose, so taking someone down with me isn't a loss!"His eyes were bloodshot, clearly desperate.Aveline glanced at Sophia.Was this woman doing it on purpose?Revealing her relationship with Lucas to provoke the man into harming her!The wound on her neck stung with a sharp pain.Aveline frowned and said, "I won't pursue what happened last night, and Lucas won't blacklist you. You don't have to do this.""I don't believe you!" the man shouted hysterically, the knife making more shallow cuts on Aveline's neck.Lucas' face was extremely grim. "Let her go. I will agree to whatever you want."The man looked at Lucas. "Are you serious?"Lucas replied, "With so many witnesses here, I won't deceive you."The man, agitated, started to say, "I want..."Seeing this, Sophia's
Aveline glanced at Lucas.His expression remained cold as if he hadn't heard Frederick's words.Lucas was the only heir of the Tudor family, yet he received such treatment?The lights in the emergency room soon went out, and the doctor came out. Yvonne stepped forward and asked, "How is the patient inside?"The doctor replied, "She was brought in promptly. The knife has been removed, and no internal organs were damaged."Yvonne sighed in relief, then turned to Frederick. "Don't worry, Sophia is fine."Frederick nodded, then glanced at Lucas and said, "Come here."Lucas' expression remained indifferent, and he didn't move.He turned to Aveline and asked softly, "Are you tired?"The atmosphere was tense.Aveline sensed the underlying chill. She looked at Frederick's dark expression, then at Lucas's nonchalant demeanor, feeling uneasy.Was she supposed to be tired?Lucas then looked at Frederick and said, "She’s been through a lot. I'll take her home to rest first."With that, he took Ave
Aveline's expression froze, and she quietly looked at him, saying calmly, "Would you cry if I said no?""Heh..."Lucas laughed, the fog in his eyes clearing a bit.After laughing for a moment, he suddenly leaned in, gripping her nape and kissing her forcefully.His breath was cool yet burning, dominantly claiming her air.Aveline was caught off guard, struggling slightly.But he didn't force her, letting her go just as quickly.His nose touched hers, their breaths heavy and entwined."Aveline, I won't divorce you," he said softly.Aveline's eyelashes fluttered. "Aren't you afraid your father will take back all your rights?"Lucas chuckled, this time with a touch of mockery. "If he could, he wouldn't just talk about it."Aveline understood, but a chill settled in her heart.It seemed Lucas's power extended beyond DK Group, and he didn't even regard the Tudor family's company highly.So, her hopes of divorcing him seemed even more distant.Seeing her deep in thought, Lucas moved back sli
In the hospital room, Lucas walked in to see Sophia lying on the bed, her face pale.Frederick and Yvonne were sitting beside her, talking.Yvonne saw Lucas and said, "Lucas, you're here."Sophia looked at Lucas with hopeful eyes, searching his face for any sign of concern.But there was none.Lucas' expression was cold and detached.He pulled a chair over and sat down, crossing his long legs. "Where is it?"Sophia's face was ashen. "Lucas, don't you care about me at all?"Lucas repeated, "Where is it?" His tone grew even colder.Sophia could hear the impatience in his voice, knowing that if she didn't give him what he wanted, he would definitely turn hostile."I've already had someone bring it over," she said weakly.Frederick's face was stern. "Sophia is already in this condition, and you can't even show a bit of concern?"Lucas let out a cold laugh. "Don't you all find this embarrassing?"Sophia's face turned even paler.Frederick felt a surge of anger, wanting to throttle him.But
Lucas looked at her with a cold gaze. "Sure, let him come find me."Sophia suddenly stopped crying.Lucas was completely unresponsive now as if nothing mattered to him anymore!Sophia's heart was filled with intense bitterness. She had sacrificed one of her legs, only to end up like this?How could she possibly be content?At that moment, the door to the hospital room was knocked on."Miss Winter."It was the butler from Sophia's family, carrying a box in his hands as he walked in.Sophia said, "This is the birthday gift Leo gave me. I've treasured it and never opened it."The butler handed the box to Lucas.Lucas took it, opened it, and glanced inside. It was a music box.Very delicate and beautiful, something clearly meant for a girl.He stood up and left.Sophia watched his departing figure, her face turning dark. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number."What should I do? Lucas now doesn't want to see me or talk to me. How can I marry him at this rate?"The person on the other
“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