Aveline tightened her grip on the bag, a flicker of surprise flashing in her eyes as she asked, "How did you know?"Aaron chuckled and then, with a knowing look, said, "I get it, I totally get it. You're preparing a surprise, right? Fine, I won't ask anymore."Aveline looked completely puzzled.But after a moment's thought, she realized that they were all part of the same circle, so it wasn't surprising that Aaron knew about Russell's birthday.Aveline didn't respond. She felt indifferent toward Aaron and had nothing to discuss with him.However, Aaron pulled out his phone and sent a message to Lucas."Guess who I just saw in the elevator?"Lucas replied, "Who?"Aaron texted, "Your ex-wife!"Lucas fell silent.Aaron texted, "Hahaha! But she was holding a bag, probably a birthday gift for you. But how did she know we're having a party here today?"Lucas asked, "Are you with her?"Aaron texted, “Yeah, in the elevator."Lucas replied, “Oh.”Aaron responded, "What do you mean by 'oh'?"Des
Aaron carefully observed Lucas' expression. He noticed that his demeanor had quickly turned cold, and even his entire aura had shifted.Aaron cleared his throat and said, "Well, maybe I got it wrong. He wasn’t here to celebrate your birthday. She was...""Shut up!"Lucas snapped, handing the phone back to him before getting up and walking away.Aaron fumbled to catch the phone and hurriedly asked, "Hey, where are you going?"...On the same floor, in another private room.Aveline pushed the door open and walked in. She saw Russell seated in the middle of the sofa, surrounded by a group of people. The atmosphere in the room was lively, and everyone was complimenting him."Russ," Aveline greeted as she approached, a faint smile appearing on her face.Russell heard her voice and looked her way. A charming smile immediately spread across his delicate, handsome face. "You’re here, have a seat."Seeing this, the people around quickly made space for Aveline.She walked over and handed him a b
Aveline pulled her hand back, giving Rina a cold look. "I have the right to be wherever I want. Don’t you think you’re overstepping, Miss Johnson?"Rina's face darkened further. "You wretch! How dare you show up at Russ’s birthday party? Get out!""Rina!"Russell's voice was noticeably colder as he stood up, pulling Aveline behind him. His usually warm eyes now held a hint of frost as he looked at Rina."Aveline is my guest.""Russ, she’s nothing but a fickle, untrustworthy woman who—"Seeing Russell stand up for Aveline only made Rina’s expression sour even more. She pointed accusingly at Aveline, her face full of resentment.Russell grasped her wrist, gently lowering her hand. "She’s my guest. She came to celebrate my birthday. Rina, you can’t act like this.""Russ!"Rina was furious. She wanted to throw Aveline out! She couldn’t stand seeing another woman near Russell! But with Russell’s expression already darkening, she knew that if she pushed any further, he might kick her out ins
Aveline stood quietly in the corner, watching Russell surrounded by the crowd, a hint of a smile appearing on her face.As the cheers filled the room, Russell, under the gaze of everyone, made a wish and blew out the candles. The lights in the room flickered back on, and he picked up the knife to cut the cake. Everyone watched eagerly, especially Rina, who looked at him with anticipation.In the past, Russell always gave the first slice of cake to her, and she was certain this year would be no different.But to her surprise, Russell turned and walked over to Aveline, holding the cake."This is for you."His handsome face carried a soft smile as he handed the cake to Aveline.Caught off guard, Aveline quickly accepted it. "Thank you."Russell reached out and gently ruffled her hair, his gesture full of affection.Just then, the door to the room suddenly burst open, the noise drawing everyone's attention. Lucas entered, carrying an air of cold intensity.Russell’s hand was still resting
Stepping out of the private room, the cold wind hit Aveline, jolting her back to reality. She abruptly pulled her hand away from Lucas, her eyes filled with confusion and disbelief as she looked at him."Lucas, what did you mean by what you just said?"Lucas glanced at his now empty hand, his expression already turning cold. His dark eyes brewed a storm of danger as he looked at the shock and bewilderment on her face. He let out a cold laugh."Hah, are you really that surprised? I told you, I’m not letting you go."He reached out, his hand gently brushing her face, relishing the turmoil in her eyes."Aveline, the divorce certificate is fake."Aveline’s slender figure swayed violently, and she grabbed his hand, her voice trembling. "Lucas, you’re lying, right? You’re just playing with me, aren’t you?"She couldn’t believe it!How could the divorce certificate be fake?How was that even possible?They had gone to the lawyer's office together, and she had checked the certificate countless
Aveline felt herself drifting as if she were floating weightlessly in midair. Her body seemed impossibly light, and she was filled with a sense of confusion. What was happening to her?"Aveline? Aveline?"A distant voice called out, familiar but too far away for her to recognize."Aveline, wake up!"The voice came again, closer this time.The confusion on Aveline's face slowly faded as she began to recognize the voice—it was Lucas!"No, don’t come near me!"Aveline clutched her head tightly, rejecting his approach, refusing to hear his voice. Memories flooded her mind in a chaotic rush, overwhelming her until she burst into tears."Ave!"Suddenly, Selena's voice pierced through the confusion, and Aveline's eyes flew open. Her face was damp with sweat and tears, and the pain in her body started to come alive."Ave, you’re finally awake! You scared me to death!" Selena sobbed, tears streaming down her face as she saw Aveline regain consciousness.Aveline blinked, trying to move her neck,
Aveline smiled slightly and asked, "Mr. Cooper, you're not from Cloudflare City, are you?"Gernard looked at her in surprise. "How did you know?""You don't quite have the local accent," Aveline replied.Gernard nodded. "You're right. I'm from Larbor City, here on business."He studied her face for a moment, then suddenly added, "Just so you know, I’m not trying to flirt, but Miss Young, every time I see you, I feel an inexplicable sense of familiarity."Aveline chuckled softly. "Do I remind you of a long-lost sister?"Gernard paused, genuinely considering the possibility.Aveline continued, "Mr. Gernard, if you have other matters to attend to, please don't let me keep you. Now that I'm awake, I'll be fine."Gernard couldn't come up with an answer because his long-lost sister had already been found."Alright, if you need anything, don't hesitate to call me." Gernard nodded, leaving his card before standing up to leave.The room returned to its quiet state.Aveline closed her eyes, but
"You!"Selena glared at him, her anger boiling over, but she couldn’t find the words to respond. He was insufferable to the extreme!She glanced at Aveline and noticed the slight frown on her face, a sign that she was uncomfortable. Deciding not to escalate the situation further, Selena stepped back, her expression filled with frustration as she watched Lucas.Lucas brought the spoon to Aveline’s lips. She looked at him for a moment, said nothing, and then took a bite.There was no point in punishing her own body.Seeing that she didn’t refuse, a flicker of emotion passed through Lucas’ eyes.Aveline had just woken up, and she didn’t have much appetite. After eating a little, she said, "I’m full."Lucas then cleared the small table and gently lowered the bed."You..."He started to say something.But Aveline simply closed her eyes, clearly not interested in talking to him.Lucas pressed his lips together, his expression darkening, a heavy tension hanging in the air around him.Selena
Selena continued her playful banter, even giving Lucas a pointed glare without missing a beat.Aveline stifled a laugh, listening carefully to the story Selena was recounting. After a moment of thought, she asked, "So, you stayed downstairs that long because you were planning to help out?"Selena's expression shifted to one of mild discomfort, her tone defensive. "I wasn’t going to help. If she’s getting pushed around, she deserves it!"Her words didn’t fool Aveline. She had known Selena for years and was well aware of her complex feelings toward the Quin family. While Selena often expressed her disdain for her parents, she had never spoken ill of Jolie.It was clear to Aveline that Selena cared about her sister, even if she wouldn’t admit it outright. But since Selena wasn’t ready to talk about it, Aveline decided not to press the issue."Alright, let’s eat. The food’s here.""Good idea."...Downstairs.After the man had scurried off, Jolie looked visibly more relaxed. Once she had f
"Yes, sir," replied the man across from Gavin, who was clearly his assistant, Quentin Rhett.Jolie had figured out the situation. The Southside business district project was primarily led by Cooper Enterprises, with various companies competing for the most lucrative contracts and land rights. It seemed the Lowe family’s bid had been favored so far.The arrogant man sitting across from her immediately adopted a more respectful demeanor upon recognizing Gavin. "Mr. Cooper, our bid is solid. There are no issues."Gavin, still ignoring him, continued with his meal.Jolie smirked slightly before standing up and walking directly to Gavin’s table."Hey, you—" The man started, then quickly silenced himself, nervously watching Gavin's reaction to her. If they were connected, his earlier attitude would make things extremely awkward for him.Without hesitation, Jolie called over a server, requested utensils, and casually began eating at Gavin’s table.Quentin, surprised by her boldness, spoke up,
Lucas responded in a calm, low voice, “You won’t get that chance in this lifetime.”Selena huffed. “You better hope so!”She lifted her chin defiantly and then playfully winked at Aveline. Aveline smiled softly, a hint of exasperation in her eyes. When would these two ever stop bickering?Once they arrived at the mall, Selena dragged Aveline into a whirlwind shopping spree. Whatever caught their eye, they bought—no hesitation, no restraint. It felt exhilarating to indulge so freely!Lucas followed quietly behind them, occasionally making a few phone calls and handling work without missing a beat.After shopping all morning, the group started to feel tired. Selena led Aveline into a restaurant across the street.“I read reviews on this place, and they say the food is amazing. They’ve got some dishes from Cloudflare City too. It’s been a while since you’ve been back—want a taste of home?” Selena asked, grinning while flipping through the menu.Aveline nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been craving it
Daisy’s expression darkened slightly at Jolie’s words, but she held back from lashing out. “That’s all in the past. What’s the point of bringing it up now? You and Selena are sisters, after all. You should reach out to her more. Convince her to come back. She’s still part of the Quin family.”In recent years, both her parents, especially her father, had become fixated on reconnecting with Selena. Despite multiple attempts, Selena had kept her distance, and even after finally making contact, she barely exchanged a few words with them before cutting off all communication again. The more they tried, the further she drifted away.Jolie remained quiet, observing Daisy. She had no right to criticize her mother—after all, it was she who had always been favored growing up. The Quin family had never done anything wrong by her.“I understand. I’ll try,” Jolie finally relented, though the thought of facing Selena’s distant and prickly demeanor again made her uneasy. Perhaps, deep down, her sist
“Got something on your mind, Dad?” Gavin asked, noticing Wilfried’s serious expression as he entered the room. His own demeanor softened a bit.Wilfried didn’t waste time, sitting down heavily on the sofa with a stern look. "What are you planning to do about what happened today?"Gavin froze for a moment, realizing that the whole situation had become an open secret within the family. His response was calm, though. "I don’t have any specific plans."At this, Wilfried’s expression darkened even further. "That won’t do. You’ve taken advantage of someone, so you need to take responsibility. I’ll have someone look into that girl’s background tomorrow, prepare the bride price, and we’ll go make the proposal immediately."Gavin blinked, his typically composed expression faltering slightly. After a brief silence, he replied, "Dad, I’m willing to take responsibility, but what if she doesn’t want to marry me?"Wilfried paused, momentarily caught off guard by this possibility. His gaze swept over
“Hmm, you’re right. I’ll talk to your brother and see what he thinks,” Wilfried said thoughtfully.Aveline nodded and went on her way....In the study, Gernard sat on the sofa, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. “Brother, why didn’t you let me finish? I was about to spill the best part.”Gavin ignored him and pulled out a document, handing it over. “Take a look at this. If everything’s in order, you’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow.”“What’s this?” Gernard blinked, taking the file and flipping it open. His eyes widened as he scanned the pages.He shot up from his seat, staring at Gavin in disbelief. “Wait, you’re serious? You’re actually sending me to South Africa? Do people live there? When did we even expand into that region?”Gavin, seated in his leather chair, remained cold and composed. “Recently.”Gernard’s face twisted in disbelief. After a long pause, he finally blurted out, “No way. I’m not going.”Gavin’s gaze flickered over to him, calm but stern. “You don’t hav
“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