The smile on Gernard’s face faded further as he looked at Lucas with a noticeable shift in his demeanor. "Mr. Tudor, isn’t it irresponsible to be so indecisive? You let rumors of your divorce spread, yet you didn’t go through with it. Now, there’s talk of an alliance through marriage between the Tudor and Thompson families, and somehow, my family has been dragged into this mess as well. What exactly are you playing at?"Lucas let out a cold laugh. "You believed the divorce rumors just because I said so? What’s next, if I claimed to be a god, would you believe that too?"Gernard’s expression darkened.Aveline, puzzled, asked, "What do you mean, your family got dragged into this?"Lucas responded, "Since I’m supposedly single, both the Thompsons and the Coopers are trying to marry me off. Isn’t it hilarious? It’s as if every other man in the world has disappeared."Aveline was speechless.She knew about his engagement to Judy, but they wanted him to get engaged with the Cooper family’s
Inside the hospital room, Aveline paid no further attention to Lucas. She simply lay down and closed her eyes, shutting him out.Lucas stared at her for a long moment before finally speaking. "Aveline, you’re the one insisting on this divorce. If something happens to me because of it, I’ll hold you responsible."Aveline opened her eyes and looked at him, thinking he was being ridiculous. "What are you talking about? If you just divorce me quietly, what could possibly go wrong?"Lucas replied flatly, "Because I don’t want to."Aveline was speechless. So, if something went wrong after she pushed for the divorce, he would just blame her for it? This man was as unreasonable as ever....In the days that followed, Sidney visited Aveline every day, always bringing snacks or fruit. Another week passed, and the news was filled with reports that DK Group was facing severe financial difficulties, with large numbers of employees leaving the company—a clear sign of impending bankruptcy.The Tudor
"You're looking much better, Aveline," Yvonne remarked as she walked in, a warm smile on her face. Dressed in a high-end designer suit, she exuded an air of elegance and luxury.Aveline was slightly taken aback by her visit and paused before asking, "Is there something you needed, Mrs. Tudor?"Yvonne pulled a chair over and sat at the edge of the bed, her smile radiating warmth. "You’ve probably heard about what’s been happening with Lucas."Aveline nodded slightly. "Yes."Yvonne sighed. "I never imagined things would escalate like this between him and his father. But when it comes down to it, it’s all because Lucas refuses to divorce you. If he had just complied, none of this would be happening."Aveline’s expression remained neutral. "So, what exactly did you come here to discuss?"It wasn’t as if the Tudor family was unaware of the situation between her and Lucas. She wasn’t the one clinging to the marriage; it was Lucas who refused to let go. If Yvonne was here to talk about that,
"How do I take revenge?" Aveline asked, her gaze distant as she stared at Yvonne.Yvonne’s lips curled into a faint smile. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small plastic bag containing a single pill. Handing it to Aveline, she said, "All you have to do is get him to take this, and everything you’re enduring now will come to an end. You’ll be free."Aveline stared at the bag for a long moment before finally taking it. She looked down at the pill, her voice steady as she asked, "What will happen to Lucas if he takes this?"Yvonne smiled softly. "He’ll just fall into a coma for a while. It won’t kill him, and you won’t have to worry about facing any legal consequences."Aveline remained silent, clutching the pill tightly in her hand.Yvonne watched her with a gentle sigh, her expression almost pitying. "You’re such a good girl. If Lucas hadn’t been so fixated on you, you wouldn’t be in this position."Aveline closed her eyes, her thoughts swirling.Seeing this, Yvonne said, "Get
"Sure." Aveline nodded, taking out her phone to add Gernard as a contact.The caregiver had almost finished packing up, and Selena returned after completing the discharge procedures."Mr. Cooper, you’re here too," Selena said with a slight smile as she noticed him, then asked, "Would you like to join us for a walk?"Gernard looked at Aveline. "Is that alright?"Aveline smiled back. "Of course, you're always welcome at my place."Gernard's smile deepened. "Then I'll take you up on that offer."The group left the hospital together.Upon arriving at Maple Garden, Gernard couldn't help but praise the place, "The environment here is lovely, much better than being stuck in the hospital."Aveline nodded. "Yes, it is."Back home, the caregiver familiarized herself with the surroundings, while Selena helped Aveline settle on the sofa.Gernard stood on the balcony for a while before turning around and saying, "One caregiver might not be enough. How about this: I'll hire a cook for you as well, s
Russell looked at Aveline. "What do you feel like eating?"Selena chimed in, "We already asked her. She said she was fine with anything. When we asked for specific dishes, she just said she was not picky. Isn't that frustrating?"Russell nodded. "It is quite frustrating."Aveline blinked innocently. "But I really am okay with anything, and I'm not picky at all."Selena gave her a mock glare. "Should I be praising you for that?"Aveline grinned. "You could, yes."Selena rolled her eyes at her without hesitation.After a moment of contemplation, Russell said, "I'll have something delivered then."Aveline hesitated. "Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"Russell shook his head, "Not at all. The hotel will prepare everything and deliver it. Plus, there won't be any cleanup afterward.""Oh, okay." Aveline nodded in agreement.At this point, Gernard spoke up, taking the initiative to greet Russell. "Mr. Skyler, I've heard a lot about you."Russell turned to him with a slight smile, "Mr. Cooper
"Lose?" Lucas sneered as if he had just heard an amusing joke. "There's nothing wrong between us. Why would the court grant a divorce?"Russell countered, "Does emotional neglect during the marriage not count as a problem?"Lucas raised an eyebrow, looking at Aveline. "Have I ever emotionally neglected you?"Aveline pressed her lips together, remaining silent.She had always harbored some concerns. On the surface, there were no obvious disputes between her and Lucas. Would the court really grant them a divorce? Citing a lack of affection seemed like a weak argument. If there had been a clear fault on Lucas’ part, perhaps the chances would be higher. But Lucas would never allow such a situation to occur.Lucas turned his gaze back to Russell, his tone carrying a hint of malice. "Your lawyer is indeed skilled, but everyone has a weakness. Do you really believe he'll be fully committed to your case?"Russell frowned. "What are you insinuating?"But Lucas didn't bother to explain furt
Even now, he was still trying to threaten her. Did he really think she would be afraid?"No problem."Gernard smiled slightly and then turned to the balcony to make a phone call.Selena excitedly grabbed Aveline's hand. "My dear, you’re about to be free!"Aveline smiled and glanced at Lucas. His eyes were lowered, his face still as handsome and sharp as ever, exuding a cold and icy aura. No one knew what he was thinking at that moment.Just then, the doorbell rang. It was the hotel staff delivering the food.Selena got up to help, setting the dishes on the dining table before walking over to support Aveline."Come on, let’s eat.""Mm," Aveline responded.Russell also walked over, carefully observing Aveline's expression.Fortunately, the dining area was just a few steps away. Once Aveline sat down, she glanced at the others and said, "No need to fuss, come and join me."Selena pulled out the chair next to her, about to sit down, but in the next second, she was pushed aside. Lucas sa
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