If Lucas reconciled with Aveline, where would that leave Sophia? Sasha’s position in the Winter family would be secure again....Lucas sat down right next to Aveline and asked in a low voice, "What are you looking at?"Aveline responded coolly, "Why are you so interested in everything? Do you live by the ocean or something?"Lucas chuckled softly. "Funny you say that—I actually do have a house by the ocean. When you’ve got some time, I’ll take you there. If you like it, we could spend some time there together."Aveline ignored him. Who wanted to go to the ocean with him? Ridiculous.Undeterred, Lucas continued, "You still haven't answered me. Why were you staring at Aaron?"Aveline glanced at him and said, "I think he's better looking than you."Hearing this, Lucas narrowed his eyes dangerously, clearly not expecting such a response. He reached out and grasped her chin, turning her face toward him as he coldly asked, "When did you go blind?"Aveline pushed his hand away and turned her
The server was visibly thrown off by the unexpected response.Aveline glanced over at Rina, noticing that Sophia was seated beside her. A suspicion began to form in her mind. Without warning, she reached out and took hold of Lucas' hand.Lucas looked at her in surprise, his eyes lighting up for a brief moment. He quickly clasped her hand in return, gripping it a little tighter as if afraid she might pull away.Aveline paused for a second, her brows furrowing slightly, but she didn't pull back. Instead, she continued eating her fruit.The two servers exchanged uncertain looks. They knew they couldn’t afford to offend Rina, but Lucas was even more intimidating. They retreated reluctantly.Rina and Sophia observed the entire interaction. Rina’s expression darkened. "That slut! She’s bold enough to flirt with Lucas in front of everyone. I really underestimated her."Sophia lowered her eyes slightly, adding a hint of sorrow to her voice. "Rina, let it go. Lucas is really into her right now
"Oh?" Aveline raised an eyebrow and gave Rina a half-smile before turning to Lucas. "Do I really have no right to tell you what to do?""You do. Absolutely," Lucas replied with a warm smile, not sparing even a glance at Rina.Rina’s expression grew even darker. "Lucas..."But Lucas waved her off, calmly saying, "Go have fun. Don’t interrupt me while I’m spending time with my wife."Rina’s anger surged, her resentment toward Aveline reaching its peak. This detestable woman dared to cling to Lucas—how could she even think she was worthy of being by his side? She vowed to teach Aveline a lesson as soon as she got the chance.With a cold huff, Rina stood up and left.Finally, some peace.Aveline tried to pull her hand away, but Lucas showed no intention of letting go. She looked at him and said, "I can’t eat properly if you keep holding my hand."In response, Lucas picked up a grape and held it to her lips, murmuring, "No problem, I’ll feed you."Aveline stared at him with a look of disdai
Rina kept a close eye on Russell’s movements. When she saw him walk straight over to Aveline and start chatting and laughing with her, her expression immediately darkened."Jennifer, since when did Russ get so close to that woman?" Rina asked, turning to Jennifer beside her.Jennifer glanced at Aveline, then shook her head. "I’m not sure. Who is she?"Having been abroad for some time, Jennifer didn’t know who Aveline was.Rina shot Aveline a venomous glare and muttered, "She’s just a manipulative slut who goes around seducing men."Hearing this, Jennifer’s brow furrowed. "If that’s the case, I’ll have a talk with my brother about keeping his distance from her."Rina nodded eagerly. "Yes, please do. Russ deserves better than some gold digger who’s just using her charms to get close to him."...Meanwhile, Russell approached, noticing the close interaction between Lucas and Aveline. His eyes darkened slightly, but he maintained a smile as he greeted her. "You’re here too."Aveline smiled
"Who is he…?" Aveline’s voice trembled slightly.Russell responded, "Yes, he’s one of the Tudors' bodyguards. He bears a striking resemblance to Bobby. With a hat and mask, it’s nearly impossible to tell whether he’s Bobby or someone else."Aveline's voice quivered, "So, is this bodyguard still at the Tudor residence?""Yes." Russell nodded, sharing all the information he had uncovered.Aveline closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the scales within her tipping toward the possibility that Lucas knew about this all along. If he did know, why hadn’t he said anything? What was he planning?Russell put his phone away and looked at her pale face. "Aveline, you should be careful with him. No one can truly understand Lucas' intentions. If he’s willing to torment Bobby, knowing he’s innocent, what makes you think he won’t do the same to you? What if you end up like Bobby?"Hearing this, Aveline’s heart sank.Yes, she could end up just like Bobby.Even though they were divorced, Lucas still ha
Russell’s expression darkened as he witnessed the scene. He immediately stepped forward, intending to pull Aveline back to safety.Without turning around, Lucas coldly said, "You’d better stay out of our marital affairs. If my grip slips and she falls, you’ll be going down with her."Russell froze, his hand suspended in midair. His gaze bore into Lucas, a whirlwind of emotions passing through him, but in the end, he withdrew his hand.Aveline, terrified of falling, clung tightly to Lucas’ shirt. She glanced down and saw the drop from the ninth floor. A fall from this height would surely be fatal."Lucas, are you insane?" Aveline forced herself to speak, her voice trembling with fear.Lucas watched the fear play out on her face, feeling an unsettling sense of satisfaction as she held onto him like a lifeline. "I’ve been insane for a long time. You know that, don’t you?" Lucas’s lips curled into a faint smile, his voice low and menacing, like a devil whispering in her ear.As he leaned
Aveline found it laughable.And indeed, she let out a sarcastic laugh, looking at Lucas with clear eyes full of distrust. "You say he has ulterior motives, then tell me—what exactly are his intentions?"If he was going to accuse someone, at least present some evidence, right? If Lucas had thrown proof in her face from the beginning, she might have believed him. But all he had done was warn her to stay away from Russell, repeatedly insisting that his intentions were impure.Yet, from what she had seen and felt, Russell had only ever helped and protected her. Nothing he did had ever harmed her. In fact, he had even saved her life! How could she believe that someone like him had a hidden agenda?Lucas' brow furrowed, and the coldness around him intensified.Aveline let go of the railing and stood up, exhaling a shaky breath. "Lucas, whether or not he has ulterior motives, have you been honest with me?"Lucas slowly rose, his gaze dark and unreadable as he looked at her calm expression.Av
One of the men stepped forward with a lecherous grin. "We're here to show you a good time."The others burst into laughter and began closing in on Aveline.A wave of nausea hit her as her face grew even paler. Desperately trying to stay calm, she said, "Who sent you? How much were you paid? I’ll double it if you let me go!"The men hesitated, exchanging glances. One of them asked, "You really have that much money?"There’s a chance! Aveline quickly nodded. "I do. Name your price, and I’ll pay it!"She pulled out her phone. "I can transfer the money to you right now!"Her fingers moved swiftly over the screen, but before she could dial, one of the men snatched the phone from her hand. He glanced at the screen and sneered. "You think we’re that easy to fool?"With that, he smashed her phone on the ground, then stripped off his shirt, revealing a body covered in tattoos."We don’t want your money—we want you. Don’t fight it. Please us, and we’ll let you go quickly. Otherwise..." He pulled
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