Her smile turned bitter. "Lucas, we've been together for a year. Even if you've regained your memory, the memories from the past year haven't disappeared, right? How can you not believe me?"How could he look at her with such suspicion? Aveline couldn't understand it no matter how long she thought about it.Lucas felt a strange pang in his chest and then asked, "Did you report it to the police?"Aveline's tone grew colder. "Yes."Lucas' brow remained tightly furrowed. After a moment, he said, "I'll investigate it."Aveline looked at him. "So, you still refuse to divorce me?"Lucas didn't respond.Aveline continued, "Miss Winter's life matters, but mine doesn't?"Lucas' lips pressed into a straight line. He stared at her for a while before saying, "Your life matters too."Aveline asked, "Then why won't you divorce me?"Divorce, divorce! Didn't she have anything else to say? Was she going to keep mentioning divorce all the time?Lucas felt inexplicably irritated and depressed. His grip
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.Lucas said coolly, "You've set so many conditions. Now it's my turn."Aveline widened her eyes slightly. "Are you serious? Isn't using me as a shield not enough? Now you want to set conditions too? How shameless can you be?"Lucas was speechless again. He really wanted to strangle her."Stay away from Mr. Skyler from now on."Aveline responded, "That's impossible.""Hmm?" Lucas squinted his eyes in displeasure.Aveline explained, "He's my savior. Without him, I'd be dead by now. So, I can't stay away from him. In the future, if I get the chance, I have to repay him."Lucas asked, "How will you repay him? By marrying him?"Aveline replied, "Well... if he wants to, it's not out of the question.""Ave—Aveline!" Lucas' tone grew harsher. "I'm not joking."Aveline's expression gradually calmed, "Neither am I, Lucas. I don't think you want this to get ugly. Either divorce me or agree to my conditions."Lucas asked coldly, "Get ugly? What do you plan to d
Brian felt the icy chill emanating from Lucas. Hesitation and struggle filled his gaze, but he remained silent.Lucas looked at him coldly. "Won't speak, huh? Then you can fuck off and never show your face to me again.""Mr. Tudor!" Brian exclaimed in panic. Lucas had saved his life and was his benefactor, and Brian had sworn to follow him for the rest of his life.Brian gritted his teeth and said, "I also found out that Miss Young was being followed by a man. She ran out and was dragged into a small grove by him. Later, Mr. Skyler appeared and saved her.""Bang!"As soon as the words fell, a punch landed directly on Brian's face, knocking him to the ground. Enduring the pain, he hurriedly got back into a kneeling position.Lucas grabbed his collar. "Who gave you the guts?"So, it was true!Aveline really had gone through all that! And what had he done? After she narrowly escaped death, he had said those hurtful things to her! He even misunderstood her relationship with Russell!An e
Brian froze. As he thought carefully, a wave of shame washed over him.A year ago, when Lucas suddenly disappeared, the entire Tudor family was in turmoil. Lucas' former subordinates searched everywhere but couldn't find him. Given Lucas' condition at the time, anyone who wanted to harm him could have done so easily.Later, Lucas contacted Brian, revealing what his life had been like over the past year. It was Aveline who had taken Lucas in. Aveline had saved Lucas. Sophia had also helped Lucas. However, Brian had only remembered what Sophia did and forgotten about Aveline’s goodwill.He raised his hand and slapped himself on the face. "I was wrong."Aaron said, "Telling me won't help. You need to apologize to Miss Young. If she forgives you, then Lucas would forgive you too.""Alright, I understand!" Brian said and then hung up abruptly.Aaron, left holding the phone, muttered, "Hey, I wasn't finished..." Shaking his head, he clicked his tongue, thinking, “What a blockhead!”Ave
Selena's face darkened. "No need!"As she spoke, she helped the drunken Aveline move to the side. However, the group of burly men blocked their way again."Hey beautiful, we'll be gentle. Come on, get in the car, we promise you'll have a good time!"With that, they reached out to grab Selena and Aveline."Get lost!" Selena shouted, "If you don't back off, I'll call the police!"The men ignored her threat. Two of them stepped forward and grabbed Selena and Aveline, dragging them toward the car."Let go! Get away! Let go of Ave!"Selena struggled, but she was no match for the strong men. She was quickly dragged to the car. Aveline, barely conscious, was stumbling and about to fall.At that moment, someone rushed over, kicking the man holding Aveline and punching another one in the face. In just a few moves, he had taken down two of the burly men.The others were stunned. Selena took advantage of their surprise to break free and run to Aveline, holding her close.Brian, with a stern expre
When Aveline woke up, she felt something heavy on her body. Startled, she quickly turned to see what it was. Seeing that it was just Selena's leg draped over her, she breathed a sigh of relief.For a moment, she thought it was Lucas...Shaking her head, she wondered why she was thinking about that scumbag. Moving Selena's leg aside, she got up to wash.After making a simple breakfast, she called Selena to get up.Selena groggily sat up, stared at her for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "Do you remember what happened last night?"Aveline was puzzled. "What happened last night?"Yawning, Selena got out of bed and started telling her about the events of the previous night."Brian Cooper?"Aveline paused after hearing the name. She didn't know this person.Selena said, "Maybe he really was just a good Samaritan who saw us in trouble and stepped in to help. If we see him again, we should thank him.""Yeah, you're right." Aveline nodded.They ate breakfast and left the house together. To
Aveline had just sat down at her desk and turned on her computer when the chatting around her suddenly quieted down. She turned her head in confusion and immediately saw Lucas standing beside her.Her expression froze. "Mr. Tudor, do you need something?"Lucas looked intently at her face and said, "Yes, follow me."Aveline responded, "Okay."Lucas was speechless.When Desmond called, she said she was too busy. But now that Lucas came in person, she suddenly had time? Lucas's mouth twitched in annoyance.Aveline followed him to the CEO's office. Desmond glanced at her, his look full of dissatisfaction, but Aveline pretended not to notice.Inside the CEO's office, Aveline looked at Lucas with a blank expression. "What do you need, Mr. Tudor?"Lucas kept looking at her face. His expression remained cold and dignified. "I know what happened that night. I can agree to all your conditions.""Oh," Aveline responded without any emotion.Lucas raised an eyebrow. "What's with that reaction?"Av
Aveline hesitated for a moment but eventually walked over.Inside the elevator, there were only Lucas and Desmond.Aveline stepped in, and Desmond instinctively moved to the corner.Aveline lowered her eyes slightly, trying to ignore the strong, cold aura next to her. The elevator was quiet, with a faint chilly atmosphere circulating.When the elevator doors opened, Aveline didn't rush out. She waited for Lucas to exit first. But since she didn't move, Lucas didn't either.What was going on?Desmond, standing in the corner, felt like he wanted to disappear into the ground as he thought, “Mr. Tudor, Miss Young, if you two don't leave, how can I? Can't you talk outside? Why occupy the elevator?”Just as Desmond's mental defenses were about to collapse, Lucas finally spoke, "Aren't you going home?"Aveline replied, "I am. You go ahead, Mr. Tudor. I'm not in a hurry."Lucas said, "Mm, if you're not in a hurry, neither am I."Aveline was speechless and wondered, “What's wrong with this guy?
"Beep! Unlocked!" The electronic voice of the fingerprint lock sounded unusually clear in the quiet night. As soon as Jolie stepped through the door, Gavin wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into a warm embrace. His hot breath cascaded down onto her ear and neck, making her breath hitch instantly. She didn’t even have time to take off her shoes before she was swept up into his arms. His kisses were relentless, stealing her breath and unraveling her control as her emotions rose and fell with his every move. Before she knew it, she was seated on the entryway cabinet. Her dress had been pushed up to her waist, and her legs were forced to cling to his lean waist. His fingers trailed over her skin, leaving traces of his presence wherever they went. “Mm…” A soft whimper escaped her lips as his kisses marked her skin. Each mark, blooming like crimson flowers against her fair skin, painted a vivid contrast on her porcelain complexion. The room remained pitch dark, but
The lighting inside the cinema was dim, making it hard for Gavin to see Jolie’s face clearly. However, he could sense her stiffness. He glanced at her deeply before his gaze shifted back to the screen.The movie ended, and their hands remained intertwined the entire time. The warmth on Jolie’s cheeks had subsided as they stepped outside. Glancing at the tall, handsome man beside her, her heart skipped a beat uncontrollably.“Jolie?”At that moment, a voice called out from not far away. Jolie froze, not turning around. The voice carried a hint of uncertainty, and the person’s companion spoke in confusion, “Are you sure? Didn’t they send Jolie abroad?”The speaker was Jolie’s cousin, Rosalie Quin, from her uncle’s family.Frowning slightly, Rosalie replied, “But she really looks like her.”Her friend scoffed. “You must be seeing things. Wasn’t Jolie sent abroad? Didn’t you mention her family even cut off her cards? I still can’t believe she’d go to such lengths over a guy.”Rosalie lowe
Jolie fiddled with her phone, trying to find the perfect angle for a good photo. Less than ten minutes later, there was a knock on the private dining room door. “Come in,” Gavin said calmly. A man in a tailored suit entered, holding a professional camera in his hand. Jolie looked at him in confusion. “Who’s this?” Gavin replied, “He’s an excellent photographer, a first-place winner in an international photography competition. Let him take your photos.” “What?” Jolie blinked in disbelief, glancing between the man and Gavin. So, because she complained about his lack of photography skills, he brought in someone with top-tier skills? And not just anyone—a world champion? Oh, dear! Jolie was suddenly at a loss for words. She opened her mouth but struggled to find the right thing to say. After a moment, she stammered, “Uh… actually, it’s not necessary.” “Not taking pictures anymore?” Gavin asked. Jolie shook her head. “No, I’m not. I’m hungry.” Having someone else tak
Jolie looked at Gavin in surprise. “I’ve heard rumors before that you’ve never been in a relationship. At first, I didn’t believe it.”Gavin glanced at her and replied, “It’s true. I haven’t.”Jolie nodded. “Hmm, I believe it now.”His eyes held nothing but focus on his work.With both hands gripping the steering wheel, Gavin drove steadily down the road. The sunset had already faded, and the city lights were beginning to glow. Having stayed indoors for several days, Jolie felt a bit unfamiliar stepping out. She kept her gaze outside the window throughout the ride, her eyes betraying a quiet excitement she herself hadn’t noticed. Gavin stole several glances at her, but she didn’t notice any of them. Finally, the car came to a stop. Jolie stepped out and saw a restaurant ahead. The building had a three-story traditional design, exuding a strong vintage charm. Even the entrance was adorned with intricately carved beams and painted columns. Jolie glanced at the restaurant’s name
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