Slap!Aveline struck Lucas across the face."I have no dignity? You're the scumbag cheating during our marriage, and that's dignified?"Lucas's eyes widened in shock. He never expected her to dare hit him! Raised in luxury, when had anyone ever treated him like this?Pressing his tongue against his cheek, he grabbed Aveline's wrist and pinned her to the bed."Aveline, have I spoiled you too much?"His eyes were cold and his presence oppressive, bearing down heavily on her.Aveline was stunned, a flash of fear passing through her heart. How had she forgotten? He was part of the Tudor family, raised in privilege, with an unparalleled status!He had probably never been treated this way and would undoubtedly be furious.However, he was also her husband! He was cheating, and yet he had the nerve to act righteous?Aveline tried to ignore her fear, her eyes red but defiant as she looked at him. "As Lu, you might have spoiled me, but as Lucas Tudor, what have you ever done for me? Don't you f
Aveline looked at him. "What if I don’t want to do it?"Desmond smiled. "You can’t turn this down."Aveline rolled her eyes and took the file straight to Lucas's office. Desmond tried to stop her, but he couldn't.She pushed the door open and walked right in.Lucas, tall and imposing, stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, talking on the phone. Hearing the door being pushed open, he turned and frowned."Let's leave it at that," he said, ending the call."Who allowed you to come in?" he asked coldly, his eyes icy.Aveline slammed the file on his desk. "Did you do this on purpose?"Lucas glanced at the file and replied coolly, "Isn't this part of your job? What's the problem? If you don't want to do it, you can quit. Plenty of people want this job."Aveline fumed silently. This jerk was definitely doing this on purpose!He was retaliating because she had slapped him last night!That was why he pushed her to the limit last night and sent her to a construction site today.Seeing her angry b
Aveline couldn't help but chuckle. After recording the video, she called the ambulance. The ambulance arrived quickly. On the way to the hospital, she dialed the number from the paper.The person on the other end, Lucas’ stepmother, Yvonne Betsy, hearing that the elderly woman was lost and injured, said immediately, "Thank you. We'll be there soon. Please stay with her until we arrive."Aveline agreed.After hanging up, Yvonne called Lucas."Hello?" Lucas's cold voice came through the phone.Yvonne said, "Lucas, your grandmother is lost and now in the hospital. You're closer, so go check on her. I'll be there shortly."Lucas frowned. "What happened?""I'm not sure of the details. Just go quickly," Yvonne urged."Alright, I understand," Lucas replied and headed to the hospital.At the hospital, the doctors found that Lucas's grandmother, Barbara Luzen, had a minor bone fracture in her leg, requiring a hospital stay for treatment.She clung tightly to Aveline's hand, her aged face showin
How could she know?Aveline was about to explain, but seeing the coldness in his eyes, she suddenly realized that no matter how she explained, he wouldn't believe her.It felt absurd.How could someone change so much just by regaining their memory?Or maybe, the Lucas she knew before wasn't the real him at all?"You're hurting me!"Aveline felt the pain in her wrist, and her brow furrowed.Almost instinctively, Lucas released her hand.Her skin was fair, and even a little force would leave marks. At this moment, there were several red imprints on her wrist.Such marks used to frequently appear on her waist.Lucas's eyes darkened even more."Aveline, I'm sparing you because of the past year. Don't push me.""What do you want?" Aveline's clear eyes stared straight at him. "Kill me? Go ahead!"Meeting her tearful and defiant gaze, Lucas felt a sudden pain in his heart.The tension between them was tangible as they stood at the door of the hospital room.Aveline smiled. "Lucas, I won't div
Before Lucas could say anything, Barbara exploded."Divorce? No, absolutely not! Aveline is such a good granddaughter-in-law, you can't divorce her!"She grabbed Lucas's hand, her aged face full of distress. "Grandson, if you dare divorce your wife, I'll cry, I really will cry..."And with that, Barbara actually started crying!The scene happened so suddenly that everyone was taken aback.Lucas was stunned, seeing his grandmother cry more and more intensely. Worried that her crying might cause health issues, he quickly said, "Grandma, we won't divorce. We won't divorce."Barbara's tears stopped instantly. "Really?"Lucas nodded. "Really."Barbara then said, "Tonight, bring your wife home so the Tudor family can meet her!"Lucas didn’t respond to her demand.Barbara continued to insist, "If you don't agree, I'll start crying again!"Yvonne, standing nearby, smiled. "It seems Mom really likes Aveline. Lucas, I think you should reconsider. Marriage is not something to be taken lightly."L
"Come down."The two cold, curt words were followed by the click of the phone hanging up.Aveline hadn't even said a word before she found herself staring at her now darkened phone screen, gritting her teeth in frustration.So annoying!He was nowhere near as sweet as he was when he had lost his memory.She went downstairs, the evening sunset casting a warm orange glow over her, making her hair appear to glow.However, her smile faded when she saw that the person by the car wasn't Lucas."Where's Lucas?" she asked as she approached.Desmond replied, "Mr. Tudor has other matters to attend to. He asked me to take you to the Tudor family mansion."For some reason, her heart sank.What could be more important than taking her to meet his family?She pressed her lips together and got into the car.She took out her phone and called Lucas, but he didn't answer.Jerk!Clutching her phone, Aveline stared out the window.Soon, the surroundings grew more beautiful. The Tudor family mansion was loc
Yvonne smiled and said, "Sophia, you're here. No traffic on the way?"Sophia, wearing a white dress with her long, straight black hair cascading over her shoulders, responded sweetly, "Madam Yvonne, there was no traffic. Lucas is a great driver. We got here smoothly."Frederick added, "Now that you're here, let's go wash our hands before we eat."His tone was warm, a stark contrast to his cold demeanor towards Aveline.Even the servants' faces brightened with smiles. "Miss Winter, knowing you were coming, the chef prepared many of your favorite dishes."The previously tense atmosphere was lightened up with Sophia's arrival.Aveline stood aside, dazed as she watched the scene unfold.The Tudor family didn't like her. They all preferred Sophia.She suddenly understood why Lucas had agreed to bring her to the Tudor family. He was indirectly telling her that the family didn't like or welcome her.It was a cruel way to crush her hopes.The ironic part was that she had dressed up carefully,
"What's this? Do we have to call you several times before you'll come to eat?" Lucas' deep, magnetic voice sounded from behind her.Aveline opened her eyes and looked at him. "Lucas, have I ever done anything to wrong you?"Lucas frowned. "What are you talking about?"Aveline gave a bitter smile. "Why can't you even give me a single smile anymore?"Lucas's thin lips pressed into a hard line.Aveline walked towards him. "Do you really hate me so much just because I won't divorce you?”Her eyes shimmered as she gazed into his dark eyes, trying to find a trace of herself in them.She found it, but his eyes no longer held affection, only coldness.He felt responsible for Sophia.Her year of devotion, all those beautiful moments, now felt like a joke.Lucas watched the light in her eyes extinguish. Then he heard her say, "Fine, I agree to the divorce."There was no point in keeping this version of Lucas around. She only loved the gentle, caring Lu, who saw her as his whole world.However, L
Jolie closed her eyes and said weakly, "I won’t break up.""You…" Daisy was taken aback by her stubbornness. Jolie had always been the most obedient child, the one who listened without question. Yet now, she was completely unyielding.Sighing heavily, Daisy sat down beside her. At this point, there was little she could do. Terence had already lashed out, but even that didn’t make Jolie relent. If she refused to break up, what more could they do?For now, Daisy decided to leave the matter alone. If talking to Jolie wouldn’t work, perhaps convincing Ian would be the way forward."Are you hungry?" Daisy asked after a pause."No," Jolie replied faintly. The only sensation she could focus on was the pain radiating from her back. She lay on her stomach, too afraid to move.Daisy let out a soft sigh. "If you get hungry, let me know. I’ll make you whatever you want.""Mm." Jolie barely responded, closing her eyes as exhaustion pulled her into a restless sleep.…Night fell, and Jolie stirred
Aveline said, "It’s absolutely true. I should’ve recorded it. Then you wouldn’t doubt me.""No, no, I’m not doubting you," Gernard replied quickly. "I just didn’t expect it. Brother actually said something like that? He’s always been distant from women. Growing up, there were girls who liked him, but he never paid them any attention. During school, he focused on studying, and after that, on work. Honestly, I thought he might never learn how to date. And now… he’s finally thawed!"He sounded amazed, but soon his brows furrowed. "This Jolie—she’s Selena’s younger sister, isn’t she?"Aveline nodded. "That’s right."Gernard’s frown deepened. "I think I’ve seen her before. She does resemble Selena a bit. Baby sister, you know Gavin had feelings for Selena before, but he came into the picture too late. She was already married. Do you think… is it possible he sees Jolie as a stand-in for Selena?"Aveline’s expression immediately grew tense. If that were true, it would indeed be unsettling.W
"I… I haven’t decided yet," Selena said hesitantly.Aveline replied, "Take your time. There’s no rush. You’re in Larbor City now, and so is she. When you’re ready, you can always go see her.""Mm." Selena gave a soft hum of acknowledgment and ended the call.When she looked up, she met Aaron’s gaze. He was staring at her intently.Selena’s breath caught slightly. "What’s wrong?"Aaron reached out and gently brushed her cheek with his fingertips. "If something’s troubling you, you can always tell me."Without a word, Selena leaned into his chest, seeking comfort in his silent presence. Aaron wrapped his arms around her, holding her close without pressing for answers.He had long since resolved to be with her and had quietly investigated her background. He knew her family life had been far from happy, though she had never spoken of it. He hadn’t brought it up either, respecting her silence.His earlier question had simply been a gentle nudge, hoping she might open up and feel better by s
While Selena was at the Cooper residence, she accidentally burned herself and had to be taken to the hospital. After getting her wound treated, she stepped out of the treatment room only to see a group of people hurriedly pushing a hospital bed through the hallway. Following closely behind were none other than Terence and Daisy.What were they doing here?Selena’s eyes flickered with surprise. She instinctively stepped out of their line of sight, keeping to the side. Although she was standing nearby and easily noticeable, neither Terence nor Daisy paid her any attention. Their entire focus was on the person on the bed.Selena pressed her lips together and glanced toward the hospital bed. Her eyes widened in shock as the person lying on it came into view.It was Jolie!Jolie was face down, her back covered in blood. Her clothes were stuck to her wounds, the sight both chaotic and horrifying.What happened?How could Jolie be so seriously injured?“What’s going on?” Aaron’s voice broke
Jolie lifted her gaze to meet Daisy’s, a hint of confusion on her face as she asked, "What do you mean by that?"Bang!Terence slammed his palm on the coffee table, his face already clouded with anger. "Jolie, are you playing dumb? What’s going on between you and Ian? Why didn’t you tell us beforehand? Do you have any idea how important your future is to this family?"Daisy’s expression wasn’t much better, her cold gaze fixed on Jolie, carrying an air of disapproval.Jolie had never seen Terence this furious before. She was momentarily startled but quickly steadied herself. "I like Ian, and Ian likes me," she said firmly. "Naturally, we ended up together. What’s the problem with that?""No. Absolutely not!" Terence snapped, his voice harsh and resolute. "You must break up with him immediately."Jolie shook her head. "I’m not breaking up with Ian.""Disgraceful!" Terence glared at her, pointing a trembling finger in her direction. "Do you think I won’t lay a hand on you? Jolie, I’ve cl
The next morning, Jolie woke up nestled in Gavin’s arms. His position hadn’t changed much throughout the night, holding her securely as if she might vanish if he let go.Turning slightly, she glanced at his peaceful sleeping face. Still asleep, he seemed less sharp, more tranquil, the usual coldness in his features softened."What are you staring at?" Just as she was lost in thought, his slightly hoarse voice broke the silence.Jolie quickly averted her gaze, her tone defensive. "I was wondering why you’re still here."Gavin opened his eyes, his gaze landing on her delicate profile. Without a word, he got up and walked into the bathroom.The bathroom had disposable toiletries prepared, and Gavin began washing up right there. Jolie cast him a quick glance before silently moving to stand beside him, brushing her teeth as well.Neither of them spoke, but as Jolie caught sight of their reflection in the mirror, a strange thought crossed her mind: they looked like a married couple who had
Gavin couldn’t resist her soft, pleading tone and surrendered with a resigned sigh. "Knock, knock, knock!" The knocking grew more insistent, and Jolie, catching her breath, glanced at him. "Untie me," she said softly, her voice still tinged with warmth, her eyes carrying a dazed allure. She looked utterly captivating.Gavin swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing visibly. He really didn’t want to let her leave the bed, but reluctantly, he unbound her wrists. Jolie stumbled slightly as she got up, quickly making her way to the bathroom. After washing her face and wrapping herself in a robe to look composed, she approached the door and opened it.Standing outside, as she had feared, was Daisy."Jolie, what’s going on? Why did it take you so long to open the door?" Daisy frowned, her expression stern."I just fell asleep," Jolie replied, her voice calm. "Is something wrong, Mom?"Daisy stepped forward. "Let me in. I have something to talk to you about."No way!Gavin was still inside,
“Mmph!” Jolie struggled fiercely, but she was no match for Gavin’s strength. With ease, he bound her wrists and pinned them above her head with one hand, leaving her utterly defenseless. She could do nothing but endure his unrelenting kiss and the way he invaded her space.She pressed her lips tightly together, refusing to let him deepen the kiss. Gavin, however, was in no hurry. He kissed the tip of her nose, then the corners of her mouth, his lips trailing leisurely across her cheeks and down to her neck, lingering in every sensitive spot.His breath, hot and intoxicating, brushed against her skin, igniting her nerves and eroding her composure. It was as if he were a patient hunter, skillfully luring his prey to surrender, to show its most vulnerable side and allow him to claim it completely.Jolie could barely withstand his calculated tenderness. It left her with an inexplicable sensation—a fleeting illusion that he was cherishing her, treasuring her. No! That was a lie!Snapping
She almost wished the rumors about Gavin were true.Dolly piped up, "How about I stay over tonight? Living by myself is so boring."Jolie shook her head. "That might not work. My mom could show up later.""What?" Dolly groaned, dragging out the word as she slumped dramatically against Jolie. "Then let me hug you for a little while longer. I won’t get the chance once she’s here!"Jolie chuckled softly, but her thoughts began to drift. Those rumors… she’d never heard them before. She had always been the obedient daughter of the Quin family. During her school years, her focus had been entirely on academics. Now, with more free time after graduation, she occasionally heard about society gossip through Dolly. Her gaze turned toward the window. Her life really did feel like that of a meticulously kept songbird in a gilded cage. Before marriage, she was expected to bring benefits to her family. After marriage, she’d be expected to be the perfect wife and mother.As the night deepened, the c