The suit jacket was draped over her shoulders, enveloping her in a strong, fresh scent."Aveline, this is the first and last time. If I catch you in a situation like this again, neither of us will have any peace."Lucas stood up, looking down at her, his eyes cold and devoid of any warmth.Aveline, covered by his presence, remained silent.Lucas turned and walked away without caring about her response. When he spoke, she had to comply, or he wouldn't make things easy for her! As for Sidney, his presence wouldn’t be welcomed in Cloudflare City anymore!Aveline followed him out of the private room in silence. As they entered the elevator, she suddenly remembered Selena and quickly reached to press the door open button."What are you doing?" Lucas asked coldly."I need to find Selena," Aveline replied."Aaron will take her home," Lucas stated.Aveline didn't trust Aaron and stubbornly insisted on going out to find her friend. Just then, her phone rang. She looked at it and saw that it was
Aveline hurriedly said to Sidney, "You should go back to work. You really don't need to worry about me."Seeing her discomfort, Sidney nodded. "Alright, if you need anything, you can contact me."Aveline thought, “Not talking to me right now is exactly what I need!”Under Lucas' cold stare, Sidney turned and left.Aveline looked at Lucas. "Aren't we going home?"Lucas's icy gaze fell on her, sending an involuntary shiver through her.He turned and walked away, and she quickly followed.The night breeze blew away any remaining traces of her intoxication....Aaron entered the restroom with a grim expression, looking down at the stain on his pants before turning to face Selena, who had followed him in.Selena wore an apologetic expression and bent down. "I'll clean it up for you."The spilled drink had spread a large stain across Aaron's thigh, especially noticeable against his white pants.However, her attempts to clean it only made the stain worse.Aaron's face grew increasingly dark.
"Why are you running?" Aaron looked at her with a dark expression."Why are you grabbing me?" Selena looked at him in horror. "Let go of me, you pervert! I'm telling you, I won't do anything with you, so just give up!"Aaron laughed in exasperation. "What are you thinking? Do you really think I'm interested in you?"Selena suddenly stopped struggling.What was wrong with her?He wasn't interested in her?She turned to look at him. "If you're not interested, why do you have an erection?"A flicker of surprise crossed Aaron's eyes; he hadn't expected her to say that."You...""What about me?" Selena raised her hand and pointed at his chest, speaking slowly and clearly. "Aaron, admit it. You've liked me for a long time, haven't you? Why else would you keep showing up in front of me? Once or twice could be a coincidence, but this has happened way too many times. Haven't you even thought about it yourself?"She felt her argument was spot on, her eyes sparkling with confidence as she raised
Selena felt the air in her lungs depleting rapidly; she was about to run out of oxygen!Aaron released her, giving her a playful bite, and sneered. "Mocking me? You can't even breathe properly. What an amateur."Selena was speechless.Her breath was erratic, her eyes slightly reddened from the intense kiss. She gritted her teeth and said, "You think your kissing skills are great? Kissing you feels like being chewed on by a dog!"The intimate atmosphere seemed to freeze.Aaron narrowed his eyes, watching her uneven breathing, and suddenly kissed her again."I'm going to make you surrender today!"Daring to question his skills? She must be tired of living!Selena refused to back down. They went back and forth, their breaths intertwined, more like a fight than a kiss.They emerged from the restroom just as the elevator arrived and stepped in.Selena pushed him away. "Wait a minute, I need to make a call."She suddenly remembered that Aveline was still in the private room.Aaron just stare
Aveline was silent for a moment before saying, "But I think this situation might not be so easily resolved."Selena was puzzled. "What, is he going to cling to me and demand I take responsibility? That's ridiculous. We're all adults; it's normal to have some fun and then move on, right?"Aveline replied, "Just be careful. You did take his virginity, after all."Selena groaned, "Gross."Aveline said, "Get some rest. I'll come by to see you later.""Sure, just bring some good food. I'm counting on that meal to keep me going."Aveline smiled wryly. "Alright, wait for it."After hanging up, Aveline couldn't help but sigh. Fate had a strange way of bringing together the most unlikely people.She continued with her skincare routine and, upon leaving the bedroom, saw Lucas emerging from the study.Last night, after they returned, they had slept in separate rooms. Lucas had stayed in the study, and now he looked even more tired and irritable.Aveline glanced at him briefly before heading downs
The call ended.The faint aroma of food filled the dining room.Aveline's face remained calm, her movements as she picked up food steady and composed.There was no sadness, no anger, no heartbreak.Her calmness was terrifying.Lucas' expression grew darker, his hand trembling slightly as he gripped the phone.Every action of hers told him: she didn't love him anymore!Abruptly, Lucas stood up and left the dining room.It wasn't until the sound of the car engine faded that Aveline stopped eating. She stared at her plate for a few moments, then resumed eating as if nothing had happened.It was meaningless.He kept her tied down, never letting her have peace, yet he was gentle to every woman but her. Any woman could receive his tenderness.So, what was the point of her showing any emotion?He couldn't possibly love her.If he did, he wouldn't do so many things that broke her heart.After finishing her breakfast, Aveline went straight to work.After a busy day, she bought groceries and wen
He already had someone he liked.But now that he had slept with Selena, would Snow be upset if she found out? Would she be hurt? Angry?Aaron's mood soured.What was he thinking, getting involved with Selena?Lucas noticed Aaron's increasingly troubled expression and raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong?"Aaron, feeling frustrated, replied, "I have someone I like, and now I can't explain this mess."Lucas said, "I thought you liked Selena."Aaron looked at him in shock. "What? Me, like Selena? Are you blind? How could I possibly like her?"Lucas replied in a serious tone, "If you don't like her, why do you keep hanging around her?"Aaron, agitated, said, "Weren't you the one who asked me to keep an eye on her because she kept trying to convince Aveline to divorce you? Don't deny it, Lucas!"Lucas asked, "So, did you manage to keep her occupied?"Aaron fell silent instantly.No matter what he did, Selena always ended up in front of Aveline, trying to push for their divorce.Selena really ha
Russell laughed. "Perfect timing then. I'll be there soon. Wait for me!""Alright," Aveline replied, hanging up the phone.When she looked up, she saw Selena giving her a knowing smile.Aveline felt a shiver run down her spine and asked in confusion, "What are you smiling about?"Selena clicked her tongue. "My dear, it looks like you've really opened up. First, there was the innocent college guy from Club Nine, and now the bar prince Russell. Who's next? You're becoming quite the player."Aveline was speechless for a moment before she said, "You're overthinking it. Sidney saved me, and Russell has helped me many times. Should I just discard them after they've helped me?"Selena clicked her tongue.Aveline fell silent.She didn't want to continue this conversation.But Selena wasn't ready to let it go. "Honestly, Sidney is great, and Russell is even better. You should go for Russell. After all, he's from the Skyler family. He can stand up to Lucas."Aveline looked exasperated, "Why woul
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