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
As Gernard spoke of his sister, a hint of fondness and helplessness appeared on his face. Aveline watched him quietly for a moment before saying, "I actually have a question I want to ask you.""Go ahead," Gernard replied, his expression soft and patient. For some reason, every time he saw Aveline, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity that made him more patient than usual.Aveline hesitated for a second before speaking, "I know someone whose identity was stolen by another person. This person not only took everything that should have belonged to her—her life, her opportunities—but also went so far as to try and destroy her, using any means necessary, even resorting to arson and drugging. What do you think my friend should do?"Gernard's brow furrowed as he listened. "Your friend should expose the impostor for their crimes and reclaim everything that was stolen from her."Aveline kept her gaze fixed on him. "Do you really think that?""Of course." Gernard nodded firmly, answeri
Juliet returned to her room, quickly grabbing her phone and dialing a number. Her tone was full of accusations. "Didn't you say you were going to help me? Where are you? Where’s your plan? Are you lying to me?"The voice on the other end was calm and unhurried. "Why are you so anxious? Do you know you’re already under surveillance? Those two things you did have already been found out.""Impossible!" Juliet jumped up, her face filled with certainty. "I did everything so discreetly, how could they have found out? You must be lying to me!"A cold laugh came from the other end, and then Leo spoke, "Who do you think Lucas is? He managed to wrest control of the Tudor Group from his own father, pushing him to a stroke and hospitalization. His capabilities are far from ordinary."Juliet's panic grew, and she quickly asked, "If they know it was me, are they going to expose me?"Leo replied, "Exposing you is inevitable, it’s just a matter of time. In the meantime, lay low, stay quiet, and wait f
The two of them stood close, and his faint, fresh scent mingled with a hint of tobacco, wrapping around her senses. His eyes were locked on hers with a deep, intense gaze, like an ancient well drawing her in, refusing to let go.Aveline's lashes trembled slightly. She immediately took a step back and turned away, saying, "I won’t regret it."With that, she headed straight to the study.Lucas watched her retreating figure, feeling a wave of helplessness wash over him at her determined tone. Was she really that heartless? Could she not see the changes he had made?He followed her, speaking as he walked, "Now that Gernard came to ask you to get divorced, if he finds out you're actually his sister, he'll definitely regret it."Aveline's tone remained calm. "I don’t care."She had no great expectations for parental affection; her reason for seeking recognition was simply to stop the person who had been harming her from continuing to enjoy a life of wealth. Whoever had taken what belonged