Maria came out of the restroom, drying her hands, and spotted Sidney standing a short distance away, his dark eyes fixed on her.She flashed a smile. "What's wrong?"Sidney’s tone was cooler than usual. "What are you doing here?"Maria walked slowly toward him, tilting her head slightly. "As your boss, I thought I'd check in on an employee’s family. Is that not allowed?"Sidney replied, "It’s not necessary.""You're so cold," Maria teased, stepping a bit closer. "But that wasn't the case when we were at the hotel."Sidney’s expression instantly turned icy. "What are you trying to do?"Seeing his tense and guarded look, Maria’s smile widened. "Do you always do whatever I say?"Sidney pressed his lips together, remaining silent.Maria brushed her hair back over her shoulder. "I want you to kiss me."Sidney’s gaze grew colder, and he turned to leave without another word.Maria couldn’t help but laugh softly. "Let's see how long you can hold out, Sidney."…Back in the hospital room, Ruth
A vein throbbed at Sidney's temple, and without another word, he turned and walked away.Maria chuckled softly, watching his retreating back. There was no need to rush.…Aveline threw herself into work, heading out the next day to inspect the plot of land Patrick owned. It was surrounded by a vineyard, making it an ideal location for a winery. Patrick's main goal was to build a resort-style winery, catering to the elite for leisure and entertainment, so he was particular about every detail.After gaining a general understanding of the terrain and Patrick's vision, Aveline returned to the studio and began working tirelessly on the designs, sketching day and night.When the first draft was ready, Myron called to inform her that the court date had been set for a week from now.At the same time, Lucas also received the court notification.He was dining at Club Nine with a group of business partners. After hanging up the phone, his strikingly handsome face remained as impassive as ever,
Lucas suddenly moved closer to her, his voice low. "Then let's do something more interesting."As he spoke, he grabbed her hand and pressed it against the fingerprint lock."What are you doing?" Aveline froze, staring at him. This man was losing his mind again!His cool fingertips brushed against the skin of her wrist, sending a chill through her. His grip was firm and unyielding."You were the one who said you wanted to try something interesting."They were now standing very close. His clean, crisp scent filled the space between them. With his other hand, he swiftly opened the door and stepped inside, pulling her in with him.Aveline’s inner alarm bells were ringing loudly.Trying not to provoke him further, she stayed calm. But as soon as the door closed, Lucas spun her around and pressed her against the door.His tall frame loomed over her, and he moved in to kiss her.Aveline turned her head away, dodging his lips.His hot breath brushed against her cheek, and he froze in place. H
Aveline smiled slightly and said, "I’ve been good, just busy."Gernard gazed at her and remarked, "You seem to have lost some weight."Aveline touched her face. "Really? Well, in that case, I won’t have to go on a diet."Gernard wanted to say more, but he suddenly realized this conversation seemed a bit too intimate. Thinking about what his sister intended to do, he sighed softly in his heart. He glanced at the two lawyers. "You all continue; I won't disturb you."With that, he made a move to leave."You aren’t disturbing us," Aveline interjected. For some reason, she suddenly wanted Gernard to stay, to hear what was to be discussed next. It felt as if having him around provided a sense of security. This feeling was strange, catching her off guard, but she had already spoken.Gernard decided not to leave. "Very well, I will be there at court tomorrow too, so don’t worry.""Alright." Aveline nodded.As the two lawyers continued speaking, Aveline listened attentively while Gernard occas
Why?Why would Lucas target Gernard? Aveline couldn't figure it out, no matter how hard she thought. "What are you thinking about?" Gernard's voice came from beside her. Aveline snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. "Nothing. Let's go." "Alright." Gernard responded with a nod. As they exited the restaurant, his phone suddenly rang. He took it out and saw that it was a call from Juliet. "Hello, Juliet." As he answered the call, Gernard's tone softened unconsciously. Juliet's playful voice came through, "Gernard, where are you? I'm so bored. Can I come find you to hang out?" Gernard asked, "Have you had dinner yet?" Juliet replied, "Yes, I have." "I'm planning to head back to the hotel," Gernard said. Juliet immediately sounded like a deflated balloon. "Going back to the hotel this early? Aren't you considering any nightlife at all? You're getting older, and Mom and Dad keep pushing you to get married, you know." Gernard chuckled with a mix of help
The kiss was scorching and chaotic as if he intended to melt her completely. Under such an assault, Aveline's resistance gradually weakened. Sensing her relaxation, Lucas loosened his grip and turned her around to face him."Slap!" A crisp sound echoed in the darkness, neither of them able to see each other's faces clearly.Aveline's breath was rapid and uneven, her voice hoarse. "Lucas, I could charge you with harassment."Lucas let out a low laugh. "Then maybe I should go all the way and make it a case of marital rape instead?""You..." Aveline was momentarily at a loss for words. Though she couldn’t see his expression, the atmosphere around them was cold and threatening. She knew she couldn't provoke him any further.She pressed her lips together, still feeling the lingering warmth from his lips. "Could you not do this, please?"Lucas responded, "If I don’t do this, will you let me kiss you?"Silence fell over Aveline again.Lucas reached out, his fingers caressing her face. "I wa
Aveline froze for a moment. It was true—she no longer had the same reaction around him. But that didn’t justify his behavior.She turned away from his breath, trying to calm herself down. "That’s because I was ill before. I have recovered since then."Lucas gazed deeply at her. "So, are you willing to accept me now?""No." Aveline's answer was immediate.Lucas’ breath hitched, his eyes darkening further, like an impenetrable night. "Aveline, do you know? Many times, I don’t want to care about what you think or how you feel. I just want to take you, keep you trapped by my side."His low, magnetic voice broke the silence after a long pause."You..." A hint of anger flashed in Aveline's eyes, but it was mixed with a sense of helpless frustration. If he really did that, there seemed to be nothing she could do. Even resisting would be futile."But I’m afraid you’ll hate me," Lucas said, his hand gently caressing her face. He leaned in and kissed her lips again, a quick movement that caught
“Alright,” Zachary agreed.Aveline didn’t waste a second. She set off immediately.The night was thick and dark as she drove away from Maple Garden. The bodyguards who had been discreetly watching over her quickly relayed the news to Lucas.Sitting in his study, Lucas listened to the report, his expression momentarily still. "Send more men to follow her," he ordered.The bodyguard responded, "Yes, Mr. Tudor. And what about you?"A faint smile tugged at the corners of Lucas' lips. "I’ll be attending the court session, of course."The bodyguard was speechless.What a strategist.The drive from Cloudflare City to Arthur Town took nearly seven hours. Aveline had driven through the night, barely getting a wink of sleep. By the time she reached the orphanage, dawn had broken.She knocked on the door, and a moment later, Zachary appeared, concern etched across his face. "You look exhausted. Come inside."Aveline’s head was pounding, and she felt terrible, but there was no time to waste. She