How ridiculous.All the plans she had carefully crafted, all the strategies she’d designed to punish others, had ended up being futile—like punching into thin air.Weak and ineffective.Even her anger felt useless because she was up against Lucas.She couldn’t possibly fight against him!If he wanted, he could block every path she tried to take.It had been that way with Bobby before, and now it was the same with Sophia.What kind of person had she been entangled with for so long?Aveline’s gaze grew distant as she stared blankly into the darkness ahead, which seemed like an endless abyss slowly engulfing her.Russell grasped her hand. "Aveline, are you okay?""I... I'm fine," Aveline murmured, her lips trembling slightly.She was fine—of course, she was fine. It was just another failure, nothing more. It didn’t matter.Silent tears slipped down her cheeks, leaving a cold trail in their wake. She reached up to touch her face, and when she looked down, her fingers were wet with glisteni
Aveline paused for a moment, her grip on the phone tightening slightly as she responded in a dry voice, "I don't think I ever said he loved me."Sasha seemed to sigh on the other end. "Aveline, we've lost."Aveline closed her eyes briefly before saying, "I'm sorry, Miss Winter, for dragging you into this. If you’ve suffered any losses because of me, please don’t hesitate to let me know."Sasha let out a bitter laugh. "No, there’s no loss. I chose to work with you willingly, so I’ll bear whatever consequences come."Aveline fell silent for a moment. Neither of them had expected things to turn out this way.She could never have imagined that Lucas would step in to help Sophia.Why?That question had been nagging at her all along.Why would he help Sophia?Right now, Aveline felt an overwhelming urge to confront Lucas, to ask him what he really meant by all of this.Sasha's voice broke through her thoughts. "Aveline, I need to take care of things on my end. Let's stay in touch if there ar
Lucas turned his cold gaze to Desmond. "What's wrong with her?"Desmond looked bewildered. "I-I don't know."The last time he had seen Aveline at the hospital, she hadn’t been like this. But now, she seemed completely distant, cold, and unapproachable.What had happened during this time?Lucas’ voice was sharp as he ordered, "Find out.""Yes." Desmond nodded.Instead of leaving, Lucas headed to the basement level. As if something had crossed his mind, he said, "Have Brian meet me.""Understood."At DK Group.As soon as Lucas entered the CEO's office, there was a knock on the door."Come in."Brian pushed the door open and stepped inside, looking slightly uneasy. "Mr. Tudor."Seated in his chair, Lucas asked coldly, "You’ve been keeping an eye on Aveline. Did you notice anything unusual about her?"Brian’s eyes flickered for a moment. He hadn’t followed Aveline last night, but he could still report what had happened earlier."Russell went to pick up Miss Young, and they went to the seas
Vivian took out her phone and dialed a number, her gaze locked on Aveline across the room, a hint of venom in her eyes."Hello, Miss Winter? Can you help me? I want to get rid of that bitch, Aveline!"...Maria noticed that something was off with Aveline.She seemed distant, uninterested in anything, yet she continued to mechanically complete her tasks.Maria shared this with Lucas.At that moment, Lucas was reviewing the information Desmond had gathered, his brows furrowed in thought.Russell had taken Sophia and locked her in a shipping container, supposedly as revenge on Aveline. But what did that have to do with Aveline's change in behavior?Lucas spoke in a low voice, "Keep an eye on Brian—something's off about him."Desmond was startled. "Really? But hasn’t he been protecting Miss Young all this time?"Lucas’ voice turned cold. "I said watch him. Stop questioning me.""Yes, sir."It wasn’t difficult for Desmond to investigate Brian, but what he found left him unsettled.By evenin
"Surprised, aren't you?" Desmond remarked, noticing Brian's shocked expression, his own smile tinged with bitterness."Of course, we all thought Sophia saved Mr. Tudor, believing her to be a great hero. But later, we uncovered the truth—she would stop at nothing to achieve her goals."Desmond put the tablet away. "Brian, everything you’ve held onto for so long was based on a lie.""How could this be?" Brian muttered to himself, disbelief evident in his voice. "How could this happen?"Lucas regarded him with cold indifference. "You've been with me for so long, yet you’ve learned nothing."Brian's entire body trembled as he looked at Lucas with pleading eyes. "Mr. Tudor, I realize my mistake now. I truly do. Please, just give me one more chance..."His voice broke, and he began to tremble uncontrollably.Because deep down, he knew that Lucas wouldn't grant him another chance.Lucas cast a final, indifferent glance at Brian before turning to Desmond. "Cut his tendons and dump him in the D
Russell pondered for a moment before saying, "Tell me everything you know."Aveline nodded and carefully recounted the situation as it had unfolded.After a while, Russell suddenly chuckled softly.Aveline looked at him, puzzled. "What’s so funny?"Russell responded, "Aveline, I have a bold theory.""Go on," Aveline urged, her eyes filled with curiosity.Russell pulled the car over to the side of the road, resting his hand on the steering wheel. A playful, almost mischievous smile spread across his striking features. "What if," he began, "someone impersonated Bobby and committed those acts, framing him in the process?"Aveline’s eyes widened slowly as the possibility sank in. She clenched the small cookie in her hand, her mind racing.She had never considered such a scenario before!Thinking back, in all the videos and photos Lucas had shown her, "Bobby" had always been wearing a hat and mask. The figure’s build had certainly resembled Bobby's, but what if it wasn’t him?What if it was
The atmosphere in the elevator was tense, an odd mix of coldness and faint relaxation. The oppressive mood seemed to dissipate only when it encountered the light conversation between Russell and Aveline, creating a strange and suffocating feeling.The elevator continued its smooth ascent. Not long after, the doors opened, and Lucas strode out, his expression unusually stern.Russell raised an eyebrow in mild surprise as he watched Lucas’ retreating figure. He hadn’t done anything, which was completely out of character for him. Could it be that he had really given up on Aveline?As the elevator doors closed, Russell’s gaze shifted to Aveline, who was staring at the closed doors, lost in thought.No, she wasn’t staring at the doors—she had been watching Lucas.Now that the doors were shut, her view was simply blocked.A cold glint flickered in Russell’s eyes as he asked, "What are you thinking about?"Aveline’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. "I’m just wondering what role he’s playing in a
Aveline was speechless.Although she had already noticed something off between them, hearing it directly from Selena left her at a loss for words.It wasn’t entirely surprising that things had escalated to this point. Aaron’s attention on Selena had always been unusually intense, and Selena hadn’t been cautious enough.But… wasn’t it a bit late to be thinking about leaving now?Aveline voiced her concerns.Selena leaned in closer and whispered, "Ave, I’ve got it all figured out. I’m not going to leave by plane or train. I’ll take a bus, one that goes through the countryside on back roads. Once I’m safely out of Cloudflare City, he won’t be able to find me even if he tries."Aveline frowned. "But that’s not safe."Selena replied, "What’s safe anymore? Staying in Cloudflare City is the real danger. Besides, I just decided to leave on a whim—he won’t know when I’m actually going."Aveline still wasn’t convinced and asked, "What about your job?"Selena answered, "I quit. I’ve already start
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