"Sigh... He’s completely shattered my worldview. It’s like he has no sense of decency or shame," Selena muttered.Aveline stared blankly ahead, not responding. She never expected that Lucas’ backup plan would be this...It seemed he didn’t care at all about being kicked out of DK Enterprises. He still had the energy to come here and make her life difficult.What was he thinking?Noticing Aveline’s lack of response, Selena waved a hand in front of her face. "Ave?""Hmm?" Aveline snapped back to reality. "It looks like, for the foreseeable future, we’ll be seeing him every day."Selena pulled a face. "But I don’t want to see him.""Then you should move out."Lucas’ deep voice cut in, causing both women to look up. He was leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, his eyes carrying a hint of coldness as he stared at Selena.Selena sneered. "You think I’ll move out just because you said so? Who do you think you are?"Lucas pointed at Aveline. "She’s the boss, and I’m also the co-own
Aaron’s reply was clearly meant to provoke Lucas, and he hung up immediately after. Lucas let out a quiet scoff, then reached into his pocket for a cigarette, lighting it up...It was dusk, and the sunset painted the western sky in a dazzling array of colors. Aveline, feeling tired, sat down on a bench, admiring the serene beauty of the lake reflecting the deep blue sky above.Selena handed her a bottle of water and said, "Ave, I have a feeling..."She hesitated.Aveline took a sip of water, looking at her curiously. "Hmm? What is it?"Selena sighed softly. "Looks like Lucas is trying to latch onto you. When force didn’t get him anywhere, he's now opting for a gentler approach."Aveline’s grip tightened on the water bottle.Selena, with her usual playful demeanor gone, looked at Aveline seriously and asked, "Are you going to waver?"Aveline’s lashes fluttered as she shook her head. "No."Selena pressed, "Even though he was once the love of your life, and now he’s showing remorse, want
"Hmm?" Lucas paused, staring at Aveline. "Are you sure you want me to toss it over?" Aveline responded firmly, "I'm sure." No way would she let him come any closer. "Alright." Lucas nodded, then casually tossed the pajamas toward her. Aveline reached out to catch them, but they slipped through her fingers and fell to the floor, landing in a puddle of water. The pajamas were quickly soaked, making them unusable. "You..." Aveline looked up, glaring at Lucas. "Did you do that on purpose?" Lucas' sharp, handsome face showed nothing but innocence. "You told me to throw them, and I did. You didn’t catch them, so how is that my fault?" He acted as if Aveline was the one being unreasonable. Aveline was fuming. "Lucas, I'm freezing, and I’m not in the mood for games. Get Selena!" Lucas stared at her for a long moment before suddenly walking over. In her shocked gaze, he lifted her into his arms. "Put me down!" Aveline's body tensed up immediately. His warm hands pres
Lucas casually slipped his hands into his pockets and strolled out of the master bedroom, as if he hadn’t just done something so outrageous.Selena was so furious that she stomped her foot. "What a piece of work! He’s really pushing his luck!"Aveline was speechless.She remained silent for a moment, then sighed helplessly. "You should go rest."Selena, at a loss for words, could only nod in agreement.Lying in bed, Aveline pondered how she would handle the days ahead. Should she leave Maple Garden? Go somewhere else? But knowing Lucas, he would undoubtedly follow her wherever she went.And from the looks of it, he wasn’t seeking her forgiveness at all—he was just being plain stubborn.Aveline turned over, unable to sleep.The next day.She emerged from the bedroom with dark circles under her eyes. Seeing her, Selena immediately felt a pang of sympathy."Ave, didn’t you sleep well last night?"Aveline nodded. "Barely slept. I couldn’t stop thinking."Just then, Lucas stepped out of the
Lucas had been staying there for a week. Aside from the first night when he caused a bit of a stir by deliberately entering Aveline's bathroom, nothing else of note had happened since. The few of them managed to coexist peacefully.Selena had truly mastered the art of ignoring him, treating Lucas like just another tenant.Lucas spent his days either exercising or reading, carrying himself with the laid-back air of someone who had already retired. Even though the Tudor family was in the process of merging with DK Enterprises, he seemed completely unbothered, as if DK Enterprises wasn’t the product of his hard work and dedication.Aveline watched the news and her emotions conflicted. After graduating college, she began working at DK Enterprises and grew deeply attached to the company. If it hadn’t been for everything that happened later, she would never have left so easily.She felt so affected by the situation, so why was Lucas so indifferent?Unable to hold back any longer, she knock
Startled, Aveline turned around and saw Lucas standing nearby, holding a freshly made cup of something warm, steam still rising from it.She frowned slightly. "Were you eavesdropping on my conversation?"Lucas walked over, sat down in the chair next to her, and looked out the window. His side profile was sharp and handsome, with his bangs falling slightly forward, giving him a more youthful appearance.For a moment, Aveline felt a flash of nostalgia, as if she was seeing him from when they first met."Did Yvonne ask you to poison me?" Lucas asked calmly, still looking outside.Aveline was shocked. "How did you know?"A slight, mocking smile played on Lucas' lips. "Because she didn’t only ask you. She’s been trying to get others around me to do the same. I believe they call that ‘casting a wide net.’"Aveline paused, her emotions becoming more complicated.Lucas glanced at her. "Why are you looking at me like that? Still upset about me overhearing your conversation?"He chuckled. "Besid
That was Russell’s business; she had no intention of being with him anyway. But as Aveline noticed, Lucas' gaze grew increasingly colder."Fine!" He sneered, leaving those words behind as he stood up and walked away.Aveline frowned, feeling completely baffled. "What on earth?"She continued staring outside, where the sky had become overcast, and raindrops had already begun to fall."Miss Young, it's starting to rain. You should come inside," the housekeeper called."Alright, I know," Aveline responded. She stood up to head indoors and then noticed Lucas' phone on the table. He must have forgotten to take it with him.She picked it up and started walking toward his room. Curiosity got the best of her, and she glanced down at the phone, still displaying the photo of Russell and Rina in bed. But she felt nothing as she looked at it.Lucas returned to his room, realizing he had left his phone behind. His expression was cold as he walked back to retrieve it, only to find Aveline holding
"And that line he used earlier, 'Don’t you like my face?'—ugh, it’s unbelievable. He’ll do anything to get what he wants." Selena sat beside her, thinking about what Lucas had said to Aveline earlier, and couldn’t help but shiver in disgust.Aveline fell silent for a moment.It really seemed like Lucas was behaving strangely. Had he realized that she had a weak spot for his face and was deliberately using that against her?Thinking more about what Selena said, it did seem to make sense. His behavior over the past few days wasn’t much different from before. When Aveline first met Lucas, he seemed lost and out of place, yet he trusted her without reason. If she suggested he read, he would do it. He was a remarkably quick learner, swiftly mastering sign language and handwriting. He’d often sit quietly on the living room sofa, absorbed in a book...Aveline abruptly shut her eyes, forcing herself to stop thinking about it. Those days were in the past.The Lucas of today wasn’t going to l
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