Gernard hadn't expected Lucas to be so direct.He wondered if Lucas had any sense of boundaries.Gernard frowned slightly as he looked at Lucas and said, "Naturally, it's something between her and me, and it has nothing to do with you."Lucas, however, replied with a half-smile, "I don't believe you."Aveline ignored Lucas and said to Gernard, "Let's go over there."A short distance away, a small park lay bathed in warm sunlight, a few people leisurely strolling along its paths. The air was filled with a light breeze, just enough to feel refreshing without a hint of chill."Alright."Gernard nodded and walked with Aveline toward the park. After a few steps, he glanced back at Lucas with a look of mockery in his eyes.Lucas just stared at Aveline for a long moment before sighing in resignation. What else could he do? Right now, she was his queen, and he had to keep her happy!In the park, Gernard asked, "Have you made up with him?"Aveline shook her head. "No."Gernard looked at her, p
Aveline glanced in the direction of the warehouse. Hilda was still banging on the door. She didn’t seem worried about getting caught anymore, thinking she had Aveline cornered and was now acting with reckless confidence.Aveline hesitated for a moment, then walked over and opened the warehouse door.Hilda’s face was full of irritation. “Why haven’t you sent me away yet? Aveline, do you not want to know who your real parents are anymore?”Aveline’s expression remained cold as she looked at her. “If you don't want to tell me, I can find out myself. I don’t need you anymore. I might as well call them to take you away now.”At this, Hilda’s eyes widened. “You… you can’t do this, Aveline! I’ve raised you all these years. You can’t be so ungrateful!”Aveline let out a mocking laugh. “You did take me in, but any debt I owed you was canceled out when you kept trying to sell me off. And now you want to lecture me about gratitude? Where do you get the nerve?”“You—”Hilda was struck speechless,
As evening fell and the sun dipped below the horizon, the orphanage's dining hall buzzed with lively chatter. There were twenty children in all, seated around several tables, the older ones looking after the younger ones. After making sure everything was in order, Zachary made his way over to Aveline."You don’t have to leave in such a hurry," Zachary said. "You haven’t even had a chance to see the changes in Arthur Town yet. The resort villas, for example, they're already starting to take shape."Aveline smiled. "I’ll come back when I have more time," she replied. "And really, I should be thanking you for all you’ve done this time. Here’s to you."She lifted her beer with a grin, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Zachary.Zachary raised his glass in response. "There's no need to talk about gratitude. We grew up together; we’re practically family."Aveline nodded. "You’re right. Cheers."They clinked their glasses and took a drink, the cheerful sounds of children laughing and playin
“Lucas…” Aveline murmured his name as she dialed his number. Zachary watched her, shaking his head with a sigh. Maybe she didn't even realize it herself, but her resistance to Lucas had softened. After all, she wasn’t heartless. How could anyone remain unmoved in the face of sincere apologies and requests for forgiveness?The busy signal droned in her ear, and as the dull beeping continued, Aveline’s expression turned sour. Why wasn’t he picking up? Where had he gone?In the end, the call disconnected automatically. "He won't take my call… then I don't need him," Aveline muttered, wobbling slightly as she stood up and headed toward the door.Zachary quickly stepped in to steady her, preventing a fall.But Aveline pushed him away. “I… I’m fine. I can manage on my own.”He stayed close, ready to catch her if needed. Given how much she had drunk, her unsteady gait was no surprise. Thankfully, despite her zigzagging path, she managed to avoid falling.Back in her room, Zachary said,
Aveline’s face lit up with relief. She quickly asked, “Has the fire outside died down?”Braden replied, “It’s under control now. Please, open the door.”Wrapping the wet clothes around herself to shield against any remaining flames, Aveline carefully opened the door. Braden, covering his mouth and nose with a damp towel, exhaled in relief when he saw she was safe.“Mrs. Tudor, come with me!” he urged.Aveline stepped out and saw the source of the fire—it had spread from the kitchen, consuming the nearby rooms and sending thick smoke billowing through the air. Zachary, who had woken up early, had already evacuated the children and was now fighting the flames with a fire extinguisher.Baron, with a team of bodyguards, had hooked up a hose and managed to contain much of the blaze, giving Braden the chance to get inside and lead Aveline to safety.Aveline’s room was dangerously close to the kitchen; if the fire hadn’t been brought under control, it would have soon reached her.“Mrs. Tud
Jessie blinked her big eyes and walked straight up to Baron, staring at him with wide-eyed curiosity.Baron, feeling a bit uneasy under her intense gaze, cleared his throat, crouched down, and asked, "Hey there, little one, what's up?"Jessie flashed him a bright smile. "Sir you're amazing! You put out the fire!"The sudden compliment caught Baron off guard, leaving him momentarily stunned.He felt a little embarrassed. "Huh? Really?""Yes!" Jessie nodded enthusiastically.The other children chimed in, nodding their heads eagerly."Sir, you’re all amazing! You put out the fire! You're our heroes!" The children’s sincere eyes fixed on Baron, and he couldn’t help but puff up with pride.He glanced over at Braden, grinning. "See that? They called me a hero."Braden’s face remained expressionless. So childish!Jessie walked over to Braden and tugged at his sleeve, her voice soft and sweet, "Sir, you're awesome too! You're not even afraid of the fire. Are you a superhero?""Yeah, are you
"Did I come at a bad time?" Lucas' voice, laced with sarcasm, cut through the room just as Aveline managed to steady herself. Her head throbbed even harder.Zachary frowned and turned to Lucas. "You're mistaken. She felt unwell, and I was just helping her."Lucas walked over, noting Aveline's flushed cheeks and her lack of energy. She didn't look well at all. His brow furrowed, and without a word, he bent down and scooped her up in his arms.Zachary released her at the right moment and said, "She seems to have a fever. You should take her to the town hospital right away."Lucas' narrowed eyes were filled with a frosty chill as he shot Zachary a cold look before striding out.Baron and Braden had already slipped away quietly.Lucas carried Aveline to the car, eyeing the coat she wore with irritation. He swiftly tore it off and tossed it out.Feverish and dazed, Aveline squinted at Lucas, her voice hoarse. "Don't be unreasonable. He was just worried I’d catch a cold."Lucas replied cool
Aveline replied, "No need."She picked up the utensils and began to eat. After nearly a day and a night without food, she was starving and no longer cared about the way he was watching her, almost obsessively.Lucas sat by the side of her bed, his gaze fixed intently on her. He seemed so mesmerized that he reached out to touch her face.“What are you doing?” Aveline immediately dodged his touch, eyeing him warily.Lucas’ hand froze in mid-air. “Your hair fell in your face. I thought it might get in the way while you’re eating, so I was just going to help you tuck it back.”Aveline reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I can do it myself.”Lucas smiled faintly. "You're very capable."Aveline gave him a look. What was wrong with this man?Ignoring him, she focused on finishing her meal. Once she was done, she asked, “How’s the orphanage?”Lucas shrugged. "How would I know?"It wasn’t his concern.Aveline paused, then asked, “Have you found out who started the fire?”Hearing thi
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