Annie was successfully rescued, and all the people involved were brought back by Desmond.Meanwhile, in a room within a remote neighborhood…A man sitting on the sofa received a call. He smirked slightly and said, "So they found her. Not a big deal, she’s not that important.""What should we do next?"The man paused for a moment before replying, "Find Aveline first.""Understood."After hanging up, the room fell into silence....Aveline had started to get familiar with the layout of the room. It was a suite with a small living room and a large bedroom. She guessed that it wasn’t an ordinary apartment but more likely a villa or something similar. The people who lived here were wealthy.The ones keeping her captive had some money. But she wasn’t sure how wealthy they were or whether this was their only property.However, her instincts told her this person’s identity was likely more complex than it seemed.Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Wanda walked in. "Miss Young, dinn
"You dare!" At that moment, the door to the room suddenly swung open. Aveline, her face pale but her expression taut, stood there. Although she couldn’t see anything, her eyes were filled with a fierce determination.She instinctively shielded her stomach with her hands, her voice hoarse but resolute. "If you dare touch my child, I’ll fight you to the death!"Though she had been lying on the bed, anxious, she quietly got up and moved closer to the door, wanting to overhear what they were discussing. To her shock, she caught wind of the possibility that she might be pregnant!Stunned, her mind raced as she recalled her recent moments with Lucas. There was one time when things had gotten too intense, and the next time, they hadn’t used any protection. She had assumed she was in her safe period and brushed it off at the time.Clearly, the so-called safe period wasn’t safe at all!But now that she knew she was pregnant, she was determined to keep the baby. Without close family in this
Wanda returned quickly, holding several pregnancy tests in her hands."Sir, I bought different brands. We can try them all.""Hmm," the electronic voice responded from outside the door, followed by a knock.Hearing the sound, Aveline tensed up, but she knew she had to take the test—she needed to know for certain if she was pregnant.She opened the door, and Wanda came in, guiding her toward the bathroom."You can leave now," Aveline said. She wasn’t comfortable with anyone watching her.Wanda nodded and stepped out.Aveline carefully felt her way around the bathroom to make sure Wanda was truly gone before following the instructions Wanda had given her. But she quickly realized she couldn’t manage it alone, so she called Wanda back in.Wanda used the tests for her, and they quietly waited for the results.After five minutes, Wanda glanced at the tests and said, "Miss Young, you're pregnant."Aveline smiled, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach. Beneath her flat skin, a tiny li
"No way!"At that moment, Juliet burst into the room.Gernard frowned as he saw her. "Juliet, were you eavesdropping on us?"Her eyes flickered briefly before she spoke. "I came to ask if you wanted to go out for dinner, not to eavesdrop. Gernard, you can’t tell Lucas about this! If you do, he’ll definitely go rescue Aveline, and then they’ll be even more entangled. What about me?"Gernard looked at his sister's sweet face. He had always indulged her, spoiling her even to the point of meddling in Aveline’s life, trying to persuade her to divorce Lucas at Juliet’s request. But now, a strange sense of irritation crept into his heart."So, what you’re suggesting is that Lucas should never find Aveline?" he asked, his tone cold.Of course! If Aveline disappeared forever, it would be perfect!But Juliet couldn’t say that out loud."I really, really like Lucas," she said, her voice pleading. "Now that he’s divorced, we’re both single. I’m going to try my best to win his heart. If he falls i
"Yes," the assistant responded, turning to leave.Juliet’s room was right across Gernard’s. After the assistant left, she finally closed the door. Then, she took out her phone and dialed a number."I know where Aveline is!" Her eyes gleamed with determination as she stared ahead. "But you have to help me!"The other person chuckled lightly before asking, "How do you want me to help?"Juliet replied, "I can’t even get close to Lucas right now. I need you to help me get close to him, and the best way is to make sure it’s a done deal! Once we’ve slept together, he won't be able to escape!"Another soft laugh came from the other side, followed by, "Sure, no problem."Juliet's gaze was full of certainty as she revealed Aveline's current whereabouts. "My brother has already sent someone there. You better hurry," she added, then hung up.Night fell.Despite the bitter cold of midwinter, the city was still buzzing with activity.In the suburban villa, however, it was unusually quiet. Wanda h
When Russell saw the caller ID, his brows furrowed, but he still answered, "Hello?"Rina’s voice came through, "Where are you? Why aren’t you home yet?"Russell’s tone remained indifferent. "I’m not coming home tonight.""You can’t!" Rina’s voice suddenly rose. "You have to come back! Russell, have you forgotten what you promised me? How long have we been married? Did you forget?"His expression was cold, and his words even colder. "I’m busy. Stop being unreasonable.""Unreasonable?" Rina’s voice escalated further. "All I’m asking is for you to come home! How is that unreasonable? Did you do something you feel guilty about? Is that why you don’t want to come home? You better come back right now!"Rina was becoming hysterical.In the past, Russell had been somewhat patient with her, even gentle. But ever since their marriage had been arranged between their families, he grew increasingly distant. After the wedding, he rarely came home at all.Rina had slowly come to realize that he hadn’
Hearing this, Aveline's face darkened immediately. Were they really going to force her if she refused to leave? No way! She couldn't leave! Someone had already come to rescue her—she just needed to buy some time.Backing away step by step, her mind raced as she mentally reconstructed the layout of the room. Her left hand brushed against a table, and her eyes lit up. Listening carefully to the footsteps approaching, she grabbed the heavy sailboat figurine from the table and hurled it toward the nearest person!The figurine was large and heavy, almost too much for her to lift, but she managed to throw it. The two bodyguards, seeing it coming, dodged quickly. The sailboat hit the ground with a loud thud, the sound reverberating through the room.The guards looked shaken—if they’d been hit, they’d have been seriously injured!Aveline was a blind woman, but she reacted so quickly!Wanda grew more anxious. "Hurry up! They’re almost here!"Seizing the brief moment of distraction, Aveli
The screech of tires cut through the night.“Bang!”Russell slammed his fist onto the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the brightly lit villa in the distance where Aveline was being held. He was so close, just a step away. But if he abandoned the contract now, all the effort he had put into securing his position in the Skyler family would be for nothing.His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, veins bulging across his knuckles, his jaw clenched as he stared intensely at the villa one last time. Then, with a deep breath, he restarted the engine, spinning the wheel, and sped toward the airport.…“Hurry up and open the door! They’re really coming!” Wanda’s panicked voice echoed from outside the bathroom. The two bodyguards were pushing against the door with all their might, but Aveline had barricaded it with a cabinet and was doing everything she could to hold it in place.However, she was struggling. Fighting off two grown men was taking its toll. Her face was pale, and bea
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