Aveline looked at Lucas as if she had heard the most absurd joke, her face full of disbelief. "Lucas, do you hear yourself?"If he was here to accuse her, he certainly had no right to do so!Lucas's eyes darkened as he stared at her, his presence intense and oppressive. The air fell silent, the cold wind biting to the bone.Aveline saw the shadow of gloom on his handsome face and directly asked, "Does Miss Winter know you came out to find me?"Her tone was laced with sarcasm. Such double standards. Where was the fairness in that?Lucas's voice was icy, "You've always known about Sophia and me. You know why I'm divorcing you. But what's going on with you and Mr. Skyler?"Aveline's temper flared. "None of your business!"Anger flashed in her clear eyes. "Lucas, it's almost dawn. You might as well wait here with me. We’re going to the lawyer’s office as soon as it opens. We must get divorced today!"When her life was in danger, all she could think about was him. She felt completely hopel
"Jerk, jerk, jerk!" Aveline was so furious she could barely contain herself. How could such a shameless and despicable man exist in the world?She had never regretted it before, but now she truly did. She regretted ever taking him in!She was so angry she nearly passed out!Now, the divorce wasn't happening. What was she going to do?She stormed upstairs, too upset to sleep.As dawn slowly broke, Aveline felt a cold emptiness inside her.She must have owed Lucas a debt in her past life, which was why she was treated like this in this one.He felt indebted to Sophia and didn't want her to face danger, so he refused to divorce Aveline, making her a target for others.But didn't he owe Aveline too?She was the one who took him in!Without her, he, with his amnesia and blank slate, might have died long ago.Aveline laughed bitterly.What a mess....With dark circles under her eyes, Aveline went to the office and submitted her resignation letter. Ignoring the manager's reaction, she wen
"Forget it, let’s not think about that for now. Let's focus on moving," Aveline said, unable to come up with another plan, so she decided not to dwell on it.Selena nodded in agreement. "At least you'll finally get to live in that big house you’ve always wanted. That’s something good."Aveline smiled faintly.She packed a bag with toiletries and, along with Selena, headed to Maple Garden.When they arrived at the entrance, the security guard stopped them and required registration before allowing entry.This reassured Aveline. At least that man wouldn't be able to find her here.Lucas had given her the apartment on the 31st floor. As they exited the elevator, they were greeted by an incredibly luxurious and ornate front door.Aveline used the key to open the door. As she took in the interior, a look of amazement flashed in her eyes.As they entered, the security guard quickly called Desmond."Mr. Blake, Miss Young has arrived."Desmond replied, "Got it."He immediately informed Lucas of
Aveline was at a loss for words.The six million dollars slipped through her fingers, and she no longer had the confidence to resign.She was absolutely furious!Seeing her expression, Selena asked, "What did that jerk say?"Aveline replied, "You called him a jerk. Do you think he'd say anything reasonable?"Selena kept quiet.Aveline let out a frustrated sigh. "No celebration today. I have to go back to work."Selena blinked. "Didn't you resign?"Aveline gave a wry smile. "With six million dollars gone, how can I dare to resign?"Selena: "You poor thing."…Back at DK Group, Aveline was stopped at the front desk."Aveline, there's a package for you."Aveline was surprised. A package for her? Who sent it?She walked over, took the well-sealed box, and shook it. It was light, with no suspicious sounds.As she opened it and headed towards the elevator, she got in when it arrived without looking up.A gaze fell on her, making her look up instinctively, and she saw Lucas' handsome and ster
Aveline's tone was cold. "Where are you?"Sophia was clearly taken aback by the question but replied, "Suite 8088 at the No. 9 Mansion."Aveline hung up the phone immediately.Ha...Busy, huh? Busy doing what? Going after women?Aveline narrowed her eyes. They weren't divorced yet, and Lucas was already crossing the line. If he wouldn't agree to the divorce, then he shouldn't blame her for being uncooperative.As dusk fell, the city gradually became illuminated by lights.When Aveline arrived at the No. 9 Mansion, she was stopped by an attendant. The attendant smiled politely, "Excuse me, ma'am, do you have a reservation?"Aveline replied, "I'm here to see Lucas Tudor."The attendant maintained his polite smile. "Ma'am, without a reservation, you can't enter."Aveline pressed, "Not even to see someone?"The attendant responded, "Unless someone escorts you inside, you cannot enter without a reservation."Aveline opened her bag, pulled out her marriage certificate, and displayed it to th
The lighting in the private room was dim. Aveline leaned forward slightly, getting a closer look. She saw Lucas sitting on the sofa, leaning back slightly, with Sophia beside him, using a tissue to wipe his forehead. They seemed very intimate.Aveline squinted her eyes and saw Sophia stand up. She seemed unsteady on her feet, staggered a couple of times, and fell directly onto Lucas."Want to record a video?" Suddenly, a teasing voice came from beside her. Aveline turned her head sharply and saw Russell mimicking her posture, leaning forward and squinting to look inside. He was taller than her, but in this position, their heights were almost the same. When she turned her head, she almost bumped into his face!Startled, Aveline quickly pushed him away. "No, no need."Russell straightened up slowly, looking at her flustered expression, and chuckled, "Without a video, how will you keep evidence?"Aveline had already calmed down by now. She smiled and walked over to open the door of
Russell looked at her and said helplessly, "Miss Young, don't you realize the situation you're in? How can you still be smiling?"Aveline replied, "So, would crying help?"Russell was momentarily speechless, and the casual smile in his eyes faded a bit. This woman was interesting.Lucas watched the two of them banter, his expression growing colder and more serious, with a chilling aura surrounding him. He turned to Sophia and asked gently, "Do you need to go to the hospital?"Sophia shook her head, "No, I'm used to this kind of pain. But Miss Young's video...""It's fine," Lucas said, immediately dialing a number. "Come in and take Miss Winter home."In a short while, Brian entered the room and helped Sophia up.Sophia looked at Aveline with a pleading expression. "Miss Young, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have interfered between you two, but please don't do anything that could harm Lucas. It's been really hard for him to get where he is today."Brian shot a cold glance at Aveline, wo
"I feel like sewing your mouth shut right now," Lucas said quietly.Aveline responded, "I'm afraid that's not possible. There's no—"Before she could finish, his fiery kiss landed on her lips. The kiss was urgent and fierce as if he was venting some deep emotion. It was so intense that Aveline found it hard to breathe.She tried to push him away, but he grabbed her wrist with one hand and pinned it behind her back, pulling her even closer. Seizing the moment, Aveline bit his lip. Instead of stopping, he deepened the kiss.She felt like she was going to suffocate. Was this man crazy? She regretted coming in too early. If she had waited until they were done, she wouldn't be treated like this.His slender fingers slipped under her shirt, skillfully tracing every sensitive spot on her body. She trembled and went limp.Realizing she was no longer struggling, he finally released her, but his nose still touched hers."Aveline, why are you getting so close to Mr. Skyler again? Do you know wh
Jolie froze for a moment as Gavin moved closer. His earlier words echoed in her mind, making her inexplicably nervous. But instead of doing anything unexpected, Gavin grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Go change. I’m taking you out to eat.”Jolie stumbled forward a couple of steps, startled. A look of surprise flashed across her face. A date?She nodded quickly. “Alright.” Back in her apartment, she leaned against the door, her heart fluttering with unexpected excitement. It was her first date! She needed to dress up for this. Jolie rushed to her bedroom, took a shower, and began picking out an outfit. She carefully applied her makeup, making sure everything was just right. By the time she was ready, two hours had flown by. She sent Gavin a quick message, then opened her door—only to find him already standing there, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit. He leaned casually against the wall, exuding an air of effortless elegance. Jolie blinked in surprise. “
“Awake?” Gavin walked over to her, his gaze falling on her slightly dazed face. Without warning, he reached out and pinched her cheek. The action was natural, even intimate, leaving her no time to react. Gavin wasn’t one to overthink—when he wanted to do something, he simply did it.Truth be told, he’d wanted to do this for a long time. Her cheeks were softer than he had imagined, and the sensation was oddly satisfying. Jolie nodded, then asked, “Didn’t you go to work?” “I’m back,” Gavin replied simply. Back already? She was a bit surprised but didn’t linger on it. Instead, she said, “There’s something I need to tell you.” Gavin naturally took her hand and led her to the sofa. Sitting down beside her, he said, “Go ahead.” Jolie hesitated for a moment, then said, “Technically, I’m still abroad.” The statement seemed abrupt and confusing, something that would make no sense to anyone unfamiliar with the context. But Gavin understood immediately. He nodded. “I know. S
As Jolie thought further, she realized her rebellion had been directed at none other than him. Gavin’s expression darkened instantly. Noticing his displeasure, Jolie quickly tried to defuse the situation. “Uh… weren’t you about to go work out? You should go. I barely slept last night, so I’ll head back and get some rest, okay?” She attempted to pull her hand free, eager to escape, but Gavin tightened his grip on her wrist, refusing to let her go. His dark eyes locked onto hers, his voice low and commanding. “You’ve already been up all night. Another few minutes won’t make a difference.” A sense of danger prickled at Jolie’s instincts. Her eyes instantly reflected her wariness as she stammered, “W-What are you going to do?” Instead of answering, Gavin wrapped an arm firmly around her waist, pulling her closer. His voice dropped even lower. “What do you think?” “I… I don’t know!” Jolie’s panic surged as she caught a glimpse of something in his expression she hadn’t seen befor
Jolie’s feet slipped into the perfectly fitting slippers, and she slowly stepped further into the apartment. This time, she took a moment to glance around. Though she didn’t inspect it thoroughly, she quickly noticed that the color scheme matched the master bedroom she’d been in before. The entire apartment, like Gavin himself, felt cold and uninviting. Standing behind her, Gavin watched her nervous and uncertain demeanor. A sudden thought crossed his mind—confessions were something he should handle. She was still a young woman, and she’d already rejected him once. It made sense that she’d find it hard to gather the courage to bring it up again. Jolie was in the middle of mentally preparing herself, trying to work up the nerve, when a shadow appeared in front of her. “Jolie.” His deep, resonant voice sounded from above her, drawing her gaze upward. Caught off guard, she found herself locking eyes with him. Gavin’s handsome, chiseled face held a serious, almost solemn
Jolie’s entire body trembled as she listened to Daisy’s words. So, the punishment wasn’t over. They were trying to slowly break her spirit, forcing her to bow her head and yield to their will again. Clenching the phone tightly in her hand, Jolie felt a surge of cold fury rise within her. Daisy seemed to sense her daughter’s emotional shift and softened her tone, letting out a small laugh. “Jolie, you’ve always been such a good, obedient child. If you admit your mistake and behave, we’ll let this go. Then you can come back home. Of course, if you want to stay abroad and enjoy yourself for a while, that’s fine too. We’ll reinstate your accounts.” A slap on one cheek, and now they were dangling a sweet reward in front of her. But whether she got that reward depended entirely on them and her obedience. Ha! Jolie let out a bitter laugh in her heart, one that quickly turned into self-mockery. Taking a deep breath, she said evenly, “Alright, I’ll think about it.” Then, with
Gavin suddenly reached out, pressing his hand against the door, stopping her from closing it. “Hmm?” Jolie looked at him suspiciously, unsure of his intentions. His dark eyes bore into hers, studying her for a long moment before he finally spoke. “Jolie, you’re really asking for it.” What? Jolie’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What did you just say?” Was he threatening her? How ridiculous! Aside from her parents, no one had ever dared talk to her like that. Anger flared in her chest as she shoved at the door, wanting him out of her sight. But Gavin easily pushed it open and stepped inside as though her resistance meant nothing. “Hey! Get out! I don’t want to see you right now!” Jolie snapped, her face turning frosty as she pointed toward the door. “Leave!” Gavin ignored her entirely, strolling further into the room and dropping onto the sofa with an air of ownership. “Go take a shower,” he said, lifting his chin slightly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
Jolie took a bite of the noodles and then looked over at Gavin. “What is it?” Gavin asked in a calm tone, meeting her gaze. Setting her utensils down, Jolie stared at him earnestly. “Tell me, how did you make this? Can you teach me?” The same pasta, the same vegetables, the same seasoning—how could it taste so much better when he made it? How on earth did he do it? She was dying to know! “No,” Gavin replied bluntly. Jolie’s expression almost crumbled. Grabbing his arm, she began to shake it lightly. “Come on, teach me! I’m willing to pay tuition. This is really so good! Teach me, won’t you?” She was trying to coax him. Gavin glanced at her small hands resting on his arm. In the past, she was always polite and reserved around him, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor. But now, she had dropped the mask, gradually revealing more of her genuine emotions in front of him. And this playful, coaxing behavior? That was something reserved for those she felt close to.
Gavin's expression darkened instantly. His fingers traced over the scars, and suddenly, he leaned down, pressing gentle kisses along each one. Jolie froze in shock. Her face showed disbelief as she tried to turn her head to look at him, but he held her down, making it impossible for her to move. How could he kiss such ugly scars? How could he bear to do it? Wasn’t his willingness to be with her because of her beauty? At that moment, her understanding of him wavered. As his kisses continued, her body trembled lightly. Biting her finger to stifle her emotions, Jolie felt her breath quicken. His touch was feather-light, sweeping over every inch of her back like a soft breeze, making her unable to handle the tenderness. Gavin’s actions were filled with care, his movements unhurried, and he seemed intent on ensuring her comfort. Watching her expression shift into pleasure time and again filled him with a profound sense of satisfaction. As the night deepened, their breath
Jolie opened the door and asked curiously, “When did you leave?”Gavin replied, “I live upstairs. I just went back to take a shower.” He had also changed into a simple set of loungewear—a white T-shirt—that made him look several years younger. Jolie’s gaze lingered on him briefly before she quickly looked away and shut the door. She headed straight to the bedroom, but Gavin watched her and asked, “Why aren’t you going to the master bedroom?” Without turning back, Jolie replied, “I don’t want to end up having to change the sheets later. It’s exhausting.” She was well aware of his tendencies. Once things started, they wouldn’t stop until everything was a complete mess. She cleverly opted for the guest room, figuring she could clean up after a good night’s sleep. However, Gavin said, “But I want to be in the master bedroom.” Jolie immediately frowned and turned back to glare at him. “Gavin, do you always have to be so demanding? This is my house!” Gavin looked at her cal