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
"Do you really have to divorce me?" Lucas stood in front of her, blocking any way out. His eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions as if there were countless words he wanted to say but couldn’t.Aveline tried to keep herself calm. She responded, "The court date is in three days, Lucas. What’s the point of saying this now?"Lucas reached out, gently caressing her face. "Aveline, do you really not love me anymore?"She turned her head slightly, avoiding his touch.His hand froze in mid-air as he saw the rejection on her face. He forced a smile, a mix of self-mockery and bitterness.Though he was a towering figure, at that moment, he seemed enveloped in a faint aura of loneliness and sorrow.He stared at her intently for a while before suddenly cupping the back of her neck and leaning in to kiss her."Mmph!" Aveline had been on guard, but she was no match for him.Her delicate lips were captured, and she struggled with all her might, but there was no escaping his hold.With one
He held her there for a long time, just embracing her, before finally letting her go.When Aveline’s feet touched the ground, the surreal feeling slowly faded. Her breathing remained unsteady, and her body felt weak, too drained to push him away.Lucas kept his grip on her until she was steady on her feet, then released her. His eyes, dark as the night, lingered on her for a long moment, but he said nothing before turning and leaving the room.The crisp scent that clung to him faded as he walked away.Aveline, nearly drained of all energy, emerged from the bathroom. As she sat on the edge of the bed, her emotions gradually settled.She thought..."Ave!" Selena’s voice called out suddenly.She rushed in, and seeing Aveline sitting on the bed, quickly asked, "I just saw Lucas leave. It looked like he’d been drinking, and his clothes were a mess. He didn’t do anything to you, did he?"As she spoke, her gaze landed on Aveline’s face, instantly noticing her swollen, kiss-bruised lips."Oh..
Aveline wanted to stop the car, but the man in the backseat seemed to sense her intention. He warned her, "If you dare stop, I'll stab you. I don’t care about living anymore!"Terrified, Aveline didn’t dare to pull over and continued driving. He might be ready to die, but she wasn’t!Her voice trembled as she asked, "W-what do you want?"The man didn’t answer. Instead, he pressed the knife against her neck harder, as if to teach her a lesson. The blade lightly sliced her skin, just enough to draw blood.A chill ran down Aveline’s spine, and only then did the searing pain register. Her brows knitted together in fear, and she dared not say another word.This man was serious—he could kill her at any moment!Who was he? Why had he kidnapped her? What was his goal?The car continued along the road, soon leaving the city and reaching the location the man had specified.The factory was long abandoned, its structure in disrepair and swaying with the autumn breeze. Scorched marks on the weathe
As she passed an abandoned factory, she stumbled upon a horrifying scene—two teenage boys bound together, and a man splashing gasoline around them, threatening to burn them alive. The sight terrified her, but she knew the boys were moments from death.In a panic, she fled the scene and ran until she found a supermarket where she called the police. By the time the police arrived, she had fainted.When she woke up, she found herself back at the orphanage, her fever having erased the memories of that fateful day. Now, those memories flashed through her mind like a film on fast-forward. With a jolt of shock, she realized Darren was the very man who had intended to kill the teenagers!"It was you who did wrong, you deserve to be in jail. Why are you blaming me?" Aveline remembered and lunged at Darren. Caught off guard, she knocked Darren down!Aveline scrambled to her feet and ran with all her might. She had to escape!The realization hit her like a thunderbolt. At last, she understood t
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