"Leo, every extra day you stay in Cloudflare City increases the risk of exposure," the voice on the phone warned.Leo replied calmly, "Relax, I know what I'm doing. Besides, the game has only just begun. I need to enjoy it thoroughly before I leave."With that, he ended the call. The night grew darker, and his figure melted into the shadows of the alley, soon disappearing completely.…Back at Maple Garden, the two of them had taken a shower and were now curled up in the media room watching a movie.Selena sipped on her juice and asked, “Ave, aren’t you even a bit curious about who this Leo guy is? It seems like he’s always popping up wherever you are.”Aveline, keeping her eyes on the screen, replied, “I’ve noticed. That’s why I said there’s no need to get to know him.”After all that she had been through, how could she not have developed a sense of caution?Leo’s identity was too much of a mystery. First, he claimed amnesia, and now he said he had recovered some of his memories. But
Lucas withdrew his cold gaze and said, "Get back to work."Desmond hesitated for a moment and then spoke, "Mr. Tudor, there's a message from the main house. Madam Barbara wants to see you."Lucas remained indifferent. "Okay."He only gave a curt acknowledgment without indicating whether he would go or not.Desmond carefully continued, "Mr. Tudor, no matter what Madam Barbara has done, she's getting on in years, and her health isn’t what it used to be. She just wants to see you… Perhaps you should consider—"Lucas glanced at him. "You're so diligent. Should I give you a raise?"Desmond was taken aback at first, then chuckled awkwardly. "Actually, there's no need for that trouble. A bit more in the year-end bonus would do.""You've got some nerve," Lucas said coolly.Desmond grinned. "Mr. Tudor, I'm just saying. You don't have to take it seriously. I’ve got things to do, so I’ll be going now."Before Lucas had a chance to get angry, Desmond made a quick exit!Lucas' eyes returned to the
Desmond heard Sidney's words and shot him a cold look. "Whatever's between Mr. Tudor and his wife is none of your business."Sidney paused and replied, "As Aveline's friend, I think it's perfectly fine for me to say something."Desmond countered, "You did say you’re Mrs. Tudor's friend. If that’s the case, you should understand the importance of boundaries."Sidney's brow furrowed.At that moment, Aveline spoke up, "The divorce will be finalized soon; we’re just waiting for the court date."Her words were both an answer to Sidney and a slap in Desmond's face.Sidney's tense expression relaxed into a smile. "I’m sure you’ll succeed.""Yeah." Aveline smiled back at him briefly, then bent down and got into the car.Desmond's face darkened slightly. He shot Sidney a cold glare before shutting the car door and moving to the driver's seat.As Aveline entered the car, she noticed Lucas sitting in the back.She paused for a moment, gave him a once-over, and said, "So you can move around just f
As she spoke, a smile appeared on Barbara's face, as if she could see those days all over again.Lucas’ expression remained indifferent. "Did you call me here just to reminisce?"Barbara looked at him again. “Lu, you're the last of the Tudor family now. I don't have many requests—just that you take care of the family. After all, you and your father are still bound by blood. Even if he made mistakes in the past, the Tudor Group is under your control now. Can't you find it in you to show him some mercy?”It seemed she had called Lucas here to plead on Frederick's behalf.Barbara seemed to know Lucas’ rebellious and stubborn nature all too well. As she spoke, her expression was soft and loving, like an elder giving their final instructions.Aveline stood quietly by, feeling a twinge of sadness. There was a time when Barbara treated her well. She had always remembered that kindness and never complained about the sudden change in Barbara’s attitude. If Barbara didn’t like her, she simply s
Barbara released Aveline's hand, her face showing signs of fatigue as she said, “I’ve talked enough; I’m getting tired now. You both should head back.”Lucas suddenly spoke up, “Grandma, if I remember right, you wanted to see me, didn’t you? So why, now that I'm here, are you barely speaking to me and just holding her hand?”Barbara sighed with a touch of exasperation. “Are you really going to fuss over such a trivial matter? No wonder Aveline doesn’t want you anymore—you’re too petty!”Lucas was speechless.Aveline chuckled and said, “I’m a bit thirsty. I’m going to step out and get a drink.”She turned to Barbara. “Would you like something, Grandma?”Barbara's eyes brightened. “Oh, yes, I’d love an orange soda.”Aveline nodded. “Alright.”With that, she turned and left the room. As the door closed behind her, the light-hearted atmosphere that had just been there grew cold and tense.Lucas' sharp eyes narrowed as he looked at Barbara. “Grandma, you’re doing all this just to protect yo
The setting sun cast a faint halo as the deep blue sky gradually enveloped everything, her figure shrouded and stretched out by the fading light.Lucas stood there, silently watching her for a long time as if trying to see straight into her heart.Sensing a gaze on her, Aveline turned and met his intense eyes. She blinked. "When did you come out?"Judging by his expression, he’d been there for a while.She walked over to him and handed him the orange soda she held. "Do you want a drink?"Barbara was too old, and her body couldn’t handle it, but Aveline had bought it anyway—she liked orange soda herself.Lucas took the drink and asked, "What do you want for dinner?"Aveline replied, "I’m eating at home."Lucas responded, "Can I come too?"His dark eyes were fixed on her, his voice low and pleasant, his tone soft as he made his request.Aveline shook her head. "No, you can’t."She had only come to see Barbara; if he wanted her cooking, he could keep dreaming.She took off the diamond bra
"Really!" Selena's curiosity grew. "So, what is it?"Aveline gave a playful smile. "That's a secret for now. I'll tell you once it's done.""Hmph, even keeping it from me." Selena huffed and turned away.Aveline continued humming as she prepared dinner.When the delicious dishes were finally served, Selena eagerly came back over.Just then, Aveline's phone rang. She looked at the screen and saw it was a call from Zachary."Hello, Zach," Aveline answered, her voice carrying a hint of a smile.Zachary's gentle voice came through. "Aveline, how have you been lately?"Aveline smiled. "Pretty good. How about you? Is the orphanage running smoothly?"Zachary replied, "It's going okay. Not as difficult as I imagined, but not easy either. I'm in Cloudflare City now, but I'm heading back tomorrow. Are you free to meet up for a meal?"Surprised, Aveline quickly suggested, "If you don't mind, why not come over to my place for dinner? You can try my cooking."Zachary agreed, "Sounds great."After g
"Juliet," Zachary replied, naming someone from their past. "After her biological parents found her, she never came back. I didn't expect her to return this time, but she did. She even brought a lot of things and told me she plans to make regular donations to the orphanage."Aveline's expression shifted slightly. Her memories of Juliet were already a bit blurred, but she vaguely remembered that Juliet had always been a favorite of Hilda’s. Hilda would always give Juliet the best of everything she had.Back then, the orphanage’s conditions weren't great. Most of the children wore patched-up clothes, but Juliet always had new clothes and always looked clean and beautiful.Aveline had been a quiet child, always keeping to herself in the corner.Zachary sighed. "I never thought she'd come back. Now she’s the cherished heiress of the prestigious Cooper family in Larbor City, living a life of luxury."The Cooper family?Aveline’s eyes widened slightly. Was it the same Cooper family she knew o
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