The man widened his eyes in shock. "I... I already told you everything. Why do you still want to cut off my hand?"Brian replied coldly, "I said we'd let you go, but I didn't say we'd let you leave intact. Do it!"In the car, Aveline anxiously looked around. She only relaxed when she saw Lucas' tall, imposing figure emerging from the abandoned warehouse.As Lucas got into the car, she immediately asked, "Did you find out anything?"Lucas responded, "Yes."Aveline leaned in closer. "Who tampered with your car?"There had been some distance between them, but as she moved closer, the space vanished, and the faint scent of her perfume filled the air. Lucas lowered his gaze, his eyes falling on her face, remembering how she had cried until she choked, her eyes extremely red, looking utterly heartbroken."Not scared anymore?" he asked.Aveline replied, "Of course I'm scared, but I want to know who is behind this. That way, I can be mentally prepared."Lucas asked, "Mentally prepared for what
She just wanted to punish Lucas a little!"You've been too reckless!" Hank’s expression darkened as he pointed at Judy angrily. "You're staying home from now on. You're not allowed to go anywhere!"With that, he turned and hurried to his study....Back at the hotel.Aveline started packing her things. She didn't have much, as she had bought most of her stuff after arriving.She packed everything into a small bag and was about to leave when the door opened, and a middle-aged man walked in. Brian followed behind, giving her a cold look.Aveline instinctively took a step back. Why was he always glaring at her?Lucas saw that she had finished packing and walked over. "Wait a moment, we'll leave together."Aveline blinked. "Once we get back, let's finalize the divo—"Lucas suddenly covered her mouth. "Wait for me."He then turned and entered the study with the middle-aged man.Aveline frowned. Why didn't he let her finish?Brian stood by the study door, giving her another cold look.Avelin
It was late at night, and the surroundings were completely silent. There wasn't a single person in sight, let alone any taxis. Remembering the strange phone call she had received, Aveline felt more and more uneasy.She clutched her bag tightly and said, "We're about to get divorced. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for me to stay at your place?""Are we divorced yet?" Lucas asked, looking at her.Aveline replied, "No."Lucas continued, "Then what are you hesitating for? What, are you afraid you won't be able to control yourself and make a move on me?"Aveline looked at him as if he were crazy. "Haha, you're so full of yourself!"With that, she walked straight to his car. Make a move on him? That was absolutely impossible!Lucas watched her back, the smile on his lips deepening.At the Tudor residence, the butler had been informed of Lucas' return, and the entire villa was brightly lit.Aveline walked in, saw the butler, and suddenly thought of something. She asked in confusion, "Have you b
His shirt hung loosely in front, fluttering gently as he moved, revealing his well-defined muscles. From Aveline's angle, she had a perfect view of his chiseled abs.Her heartbeat seemed to quicken.Lucas had already reached her and leaned down slightly, his handsome and sharp face holding a hint of a smile. "Not looking?"Aveline's face turned a deep shade of red. Then, as if a thought had struck her, the embarrassment and hesitation disappeared."So what if I look? We haven't divorced yet. You're my husband. I can look, and I can touch too!"She reached out to touch his abs. Hmm... they felt really good!Lucas froze for a moment, her cool but soft hand on his muscles making them instinctively tense up.A gleam of triumph appeared in Aveline's eyes. "Alright, it's late. Let's sleep."She started to pull her hand back, but Lucas grabbed her wrist, leaning over and pressing her onto the sofa.Aveline was stunned. "Hey, what are you doing?""You touched me," Lucas said."So what if I di
He was the one who proposed the divorce, yet he was also the one who kept delaying it. She used to wonder what he was thinking, but not anymore. If he didn't fulfill her wish, then he shouldn't think about being responsible for Sophia either. Unless, of course, he wanted Sophia to be an affair. She thought he wouldn't do that. After all, Sophia still held an important place in his heart.Aveline felt a pang of self-mockery, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She quickly shut her eyes, determined not to let her emotions overflow.After a long while, she heard the sound of the door closing. At that moment, it felt like her heart had been smashed by a sledgehammer, shattered completely, the pain so intense it became numbness.She bit her lip hard, but eventually, she couldn't hold it in any longer, and the tears began to fall. Her mind was filled with memories of his gentleness over the past few days, and she felt as if she had been transported back to the days when they were happy
Aveline walked for nearly an hour before she finally managed to flag down a taxi. After giving the address, she stared out the window.It was late at night, and there wasn't a soul on the road.The driver glanced at her and suddenly asked, "Miss, why are you walking alone on the street so late? It's not safe."Aveline snapped back to reality and looked at the driver. He was wearing a hat and a mask, only his eyes were visible, which made her feel uneasy."I had a fight with my husband. He'll be here soon," she said.The driver responded, "Why run out after a fight? It's dangerous if you meet bad people."Aveline smiled, "You're very kind, driver. I'll be more careful next time."The driver smiled and didn't say anything more.Aveline remained alert until the car reached her apartment complex. The driver then asked, "Which building do you live in? I can drop you off right at the entrance so you don't have to walk."Aveline replied, "No need, thank you."The driver insisted, "It's no tro
Her hand trembled as she dialed a number from her contacts. It was only then that she realized it was Lucas' number.She thought about hanging up but hesitated. Deep inside, two voices clashed. One urged her to hang up and call the police, while the other pleaded with her to keep the call, to tell Lucas and ask for his help.They had lived together for a year, surely there were feelings between them. That voice tempted her to take a gamble, to see if Lucas valued her more than Sophia.The busy signal interrupted her thoughts.Aveline quickly canceled the 18th floor button and pressed the button for the 1st floor instead. She couldn't stay in this building any longer!Meanwhile, at the hospital.Sophia had just finished her surgery. Seeing Lucas, a smile spread across her face."Lucas, I'm so glad you're here with me. I feel safe with you," Sophia said weakly.Lucas had already arranged for a caregiver, who had just arrived. Hearing her words, he replied, "The caregiver will take care
What was there left to hold on to now?But if something truly bad happened to her, would he feel sad and regretful when he found out?If he did feel sad, maybe the past year hadn't been entirely wasted.As these thoughts swirled in her mind, the elevator doors opened, and she ran out, calling the police as she went. The sound of hurried footsteps followed close behind.Aveline's face turned pale with fear!She hadn't expected the man to catch up so quickly!"Hello? Someone is following me. I'm at..." she began urgently as soon as the call connected.But the next second, her hair was yanked back!"Ah!" she screamed as her phone was snatched from her hand and smashed onto the concrete floor, shattering instantly."You dare to run from me?"The raspy voice was identical to the one she'd heard on the phone earlier!A chilling fear enveloped her, and she struggled even harder."Who are you? Why are you following me?" she shouted.She couldn't think of anyone she had wronged. Who was this p
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