Linda's eyes widened. "You…"This man—was he the devil himself? How had he even found this out?What made it even more terrifying was that he had just stood there, watching her lie, likely filled with disdain and mockery. It was like a slap across her face, draining her of all strength."I thought you might have something useful to say," Lucas remarked, tucking his phone back into his pocket. "Looks like I was expecting too much."He turned to Aveline. "Ready to go?"Aveline, still processing everything, nodded. "Yes."She looked over at Russell. "Russ, thank you for all your help. I’ll get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, you should let everyone go."Russell’s gaze was conflicted as he glanced from Aveline to Lucas. “Just how much have you found out?”Lucas shot him a brief look. “Enough to know who’s behind it.”Russell was speechless.The comment was cutting, filled with irony.Selena’s eyes widened with curiosity. She quickly leaned forward, asking, “Who is it?”Lucas glance
Aveline paused, pulling her hand away. "Lucas, I expect you to keep your promise."A flicker of disappointment crossed Lucas' eyes, and his lips pressed into a thin line. He looked at her calm yet distant face, unable to understand how, after the passion they shared last night, she could now be so cold.It was just like they said—once the deed was done, she acted like he was a stranger.The atmosphere in the car grew tense and heavy, neither of them saying a word.Aveline hadn’t slept well the previous night. When she got back to Maple Garden, she called Maria to take the day off and lay down to rest. But with so much on her mind, she couldn't find peace, tossing and turning in bed.After half an hour of restless sleep, she finally gave up and got up.When she arrived at the studio, the first thing she noticed was Sidney coming out of the office, looking rather troubled.“What’s going on?” she asked casually, sensing something was off.Sidney’s eyes flickered when he saw her. After a
Aveline could hear the teasing in his tone and tried to stay calm, her voice turning even colder. "If you don’t want to come, then forget it."“I’m coming, absolutely," Lucas replied immediately, his tone overly enthusiastic. "Even if I were on a plane right now, I’d tell the pilot to turn around so I could have dinner with you."Aveline felt a shiver run down her spine, rolling her eyes. "Cut the crap. Keep talking like that, and you’re bound to get struck by lightning."With that, she hung up the phone without waiting for a reply.Lucas chuckled softly at the dial tone, glancing over at the cabin door that was just about to close. “Cancel the flight,” he ordered.The flight attendant blinked, confused.Desmond, sitting in the front row, immediately turned around. “Mr. Tudor, this trip to the States is to discuss a strategic partnership. If we back out now, the other side will definitely be upset. It might be tough to negotiate a deal later.”Lucas replied coolly, “Then find another
Aveline sat cross-legged in the living room, hugging a pillow as she watched TV. The warm, soft light illuminated her, casting a gentle glow over her, making her look like a serene figure in a painting.Lucas entered that painting. He had shed his suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, meticulously cleaning the dining area and kitchen before joining her. Sitting beside her, his gaze shifted to the television. It was a historical fantasy drama with impressive costumes and solid acting. She seemed thoroughly engrossed.Lucas, however, was far less interested in the show. His eyes drifted back to her face. He thought, rather than watching TV, there were much more enjoyable things they could be doing."Have you thought about it?" he asked, his deep voice cutting through the dialogue between the male and female leads on the screen.Aveline's eyelashes fluttered slightly. "After I finish this episode."Lucas chuckled softly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She tensed
Aveline wasn't sure what to do, so she decided to keep the evidence safe for now, knowing it would be a while before she could head to Larbor City.She kept herself busy for several days. The final designs were approved, and the winery project had started. She began interviewing designers, but after several rounds, none of the candidates stood out.Many had creative ideas, but they were impractical—imaginative concepts that would be difficult to bring to life.One day, Selena invited her out for a meal.The fondue pot simmered, filling the air with a mouthwatering aroma of melted cheese and garlic. Aveline took a bite of her bread, but her attention was quickly drawn to Selena, who let out yet another sigh.“What’s wrong? You’ve sighed twenty-eight times since we got here.”Selena looked at her in mock surprise. “You were actually counting? I had no idea you loved me so much!”Aveline replied, “Cut the crap. What’s going on?”Selena sighed again. “I got called in for a talk with the
Aveline paused, looking at Selena. "You figured it out this quickly?"Selena's arm draped over Aveline's shoulder, her tipsy face flushed a soft pink under the flickering lights, her gaze unfocused as she stared ahead.“When I met with the Fletchers, they made quite the impression. They left me waiting in the conservatory for two hours before they saw me. And when they finally did, they didn’t even say what they wanted. They just handed me a stack of debutante photos and asked me to help pick Aaron's future wife. Can you believe it?” Her voice wavered, and tears began to stream down her face. She wiped them away with a quick swipe of her hand. “Ave, I thought I’d never fall for Aaron. I thought I could laugh off their little power play, but I couldn’t. I felt humiliated in a way I didn’t expect.”She looked at Aveline, her eyes red, and continued, “They didn’t say anything directly, they didn’t insult me, but I still felt small… ashamed. Ave, am I in too deep?”Aveline replied, "Yeah,
Aveline glanced over at Selena and asked, "Did you stay up all night?"Selena looked like a ghost as she wandered down from the balcony, still in her pajamas, with dark circles under her eyes. “Yeah,” Selena muttered, her voice thick with exhaustion. "Couldn't sleep."Aveline set a plate of breakfast on the table and gestured for her to sit. "Come on, eat something. We can talk after."Selena nodded and sat down, but her mind seemed elsewhere, her gaze unfocused as if she were still lost in her thoughts.Aveline sighed softly, knowing the weight of the decision that lay ahead for her friend. "Let's figure this out after you’ve had something to eat and maybe some coffee."Selena gave a weak smile. "Yeah, maybe coffee will help."They both knew there were no easy answers, but for now, breakfast was as good a start as any."You haven't slept all night?" Aveline asked, surprised.Selena nodded and moved closer, wrapping her arms around Aveline. The chill from her skin seeped through, and
Winter had settled in, and the season's first snowfall blanketed the ground. Aveline wrapped her scarf snugly around her face as she stepped out of the building. The sky had already darkened, and she noticed a car parked a short distance away. Her steps faltered slightly when she spotted Gernard standing there, clad in a black coat."Mr. Cooper," she greeted as she approached, offering a polite smile. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting."Gernard smiled faintly and opened the car door. "No need to apologize; I just got here myself. Let's get in.""Alright." Aveline nodded.Earlier, Gernard had contacted her out of the blue, saying he wanted to meet. She felt a little puzzled but didn't refuse. After all, Gernard was her brother by blood. Perhaps this would be a chance to gauge his stance on things.The car's heating was on high, quickly dispelling the cold as Aveline removed her scarf. They drove to a restaurant, and once inside a private room, Gernard spoke up, "I came back unexpectedly t