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
There was one week left until the end of the cooling-off period.Aveline had been extremely busy, leaving early and returning late every day, with the two interns following suit. One afternoon, she received an unexpected call.“Hello?” she answered, puzzled.“Is this Miss Young? I'm the caregiver looking after Madam Barbara. Do you have some time now? She said she wants to see you,” the caregiver's voice came through.Aveline frowned slightly, considering Barbara's current condition. “Does she remember me?” she asked.The caregiver replied, “You'll know when you get here.” And with that, the line went dead.Aveline felt a bit suspicious, but she didn't dwell on it too much. She quickly sent a message to Lucas. He didn't respond immediately; he was likely busy.Since Aveline didn't have much scheduled for the afternoon—most of her tasks had been handed over to the two interns who were eager to learn and take on their first big project—she decided to head directly to the nursing home.
Barbara slowly lowered her raised hand, her clouded eyes filled with doubt as she looked at Aveline. “Are you telling the truth?” Seeing that Barbara had calmed down, Aveline helped her lean back against the headboard and replied, “Yes, we're getting divorced soon.” Barbara pressed further, “When are you getting divorced?” Aveline answered, “In seven days.” Barbara counted on her fingers and then looked at her, “You better not be lying to me. If you dare lie, I’ll still hit you!” Aveline looked helpless. If she wanted to hit, she could let her, right? Pulling a chair over, Aveline sat down and looked at Barbara's wrinkled face. “Grandma, do you really not remember me at all?” Barbara's face remained stern. “Why should I remember you? Are you that important?” A flicker of sadness crossed Aveline’s eyes. Indeed. She wasn’t important. So, it didn’t matter if she was remembered or not. The room fell silent for a moment. Aveline kept her gaze down, not looking a
Lucas's expression was truly terrifying, cold as ice, his dark eyes laced with a hint of harshness. Even though the person on the hospital bed was his grandmother, he showed no sign of softening. Aveline saw this and quickly said, "No, Grandma didn’t bully me." Barbara nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, I didn’t bully her. She wanted to cry on her own, I didn’t bully her.” Aveline was at a loss for words, caught between laughing and crying. She wiped her tears and said, "Seeing Grandma like this now, I just remembered some things from the past." Hearing this, Lucas’ expression softened a bit, and he asked, “What did you remember?” Aveline, her eyes red from crying, looked at him with a faint sadness. “Are you sure you want to know?” Lucas sighed. “Never mind.” There were many unpleasant things in the past, best not to bring them up. He turned to Barbara with a softened expression. “Why did you want to see her today?” Barbara still looked aggrieved and scared, her cloudy
Lucas glanced at the caregiver. “Take good care of her. If anything comes up, call me. Don’t bother Aveline again.” The caregiver nodded. “Yes, sir.” … When Lucas stepped outside, he saw Aveline's slender figure already at the entrance. She pulled her scarf tighter, looking like she was feeling the cold, and reached out to open the car door, getting in. She turned on the heater first, waiting for the temperature to rise before starting the car. At that moment, a knock came from the passenger side window. Aveline turned her head to see Lucas standing there, his sharp, handsome features framed by those deep eyes. She unlocked the car door. Lucas opened it and got in. She asked, “Is something wrong?” Lucas replied, “Why did Grandma want to see you?” Aveline shrugged. “Nothing in particular. Maybe she felt lonely and wanted someone to talk to.” And with no one else Barbara could think of, she could only call Aveline whom she had a faint impression of.Lucas said, “I
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