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
Aveline smiled slightly. "Alright, when I finally decide to do it, I'll let you all know. You can invest, and I'll be the chef."Selena replied, "No problem!"They all moved into the dining room.Russell's eyes lit up as he looked at the beautifully prepared dishes. "I have to commemorate my first meal back in the country."He took out his phone and snapped a picture.Aveline and Selena's hands were captured in the photo, resting on the table's edge.After posting the picture to his social media, Russell said, "I'm really hungry. Let's eat.""Okay."They all sat down again.The atmosphere grew even more lively.As night fell...In the bar.Aaron was bored, scrolling through his phone, still pondering how to approach Snow.Then he saw Russell's post on social media.He clicked on the picture, seeing six delicious dishes and a soup, clearly prepared by someone who was highly skilled at cooking.At the table's edge, two pairs of hands were visible.He squinted, zooming in on the image, an
The group couldn't help but remember the first time Aveline visited Russell's bar and got drunk. She clung to Russell and wouldn't let go!Aveline, however, seemed unfazed and said, "It's just beer, one bottle won't hurt."Selena chimed in, "If Aveline says one bottle is fine, then one bottle it is!"Russell smiled, took the beer, and popped the tab.Just as he was about to drink, there was a knock on the door.Selena was puzzled. "Who could it be at this hour?"Aveline looked equally confused.Russell, unfazed, took a sip of his beer, acting as if he didn't care who it was.Selena opened the door and saw two people standing there. She immediately tried to close it.Aaron quickly blocked it, smirking. "Why are you closing the door? Feeling guilty about something?"Selena snapped back, "Are you crazy? Can't you see I don't want you here? Besides, this is my house. If I want to close the door, I will. What’s it to you?"Aaron's face darkened with annoyance.This woman... she's infuriatin
Aveline's brows furrowed.Aaron's words were dripping with disdain! He was practically calling Russell out as an illegitimate child, saying he didn't belong to the Skyler family.He was being too harsh!Russell's delicate and handsome face maintained its smile as he responded, "It's true you can't choose your birth, but you can choose your path in life. Who says an illegitimate child can't pursue what they want? Whether it's power or love, it's all worth pursuing."As he spoke, his eyes lingered on Aveline, brimming with a warm smile and a hint of deeper emotions beneath the surface.The others might not notice, but Lucas clearly saw the possessiveness and ambition in Russell's gaze towards Aveline.He wanted to take Aveline away!"Well said!" Selena chimed in, giving Russell a thumbs up. "Way to go, Russ. Status doesn't matter. Some people have legitimate status but do despicable things. What's the point in that?"Aaron glared at her, biting his tongue.This woman! Just last night, th
“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