"I'm sorry..." He was momentarily stunned, as if suddenly coming to his senses. "I'm sorry. I just want to start over with you.""Why?" I looked at him coldly. "Ryan, honestly ask yourself, why do you want to start over with me?"In the past, I would earnestly believe whatever he said.It only led to a disastrous outcome, with me battered and bruised.Now that I've finally woken up from that dream, I refuse to repeat the same mistakes.His thin lips pressed together. "Because..."I interrupted him with a mocking smile. "Because you're used to winning, and you're just unwilling to accept not getting what you want."I never believed in those stories of realizing deep love only after a breakup."It's not that." Ryan denied firmly, his eyes were dark, as if they wanted to draw me into a vortex. "I can't live without you. Charlotte, I'm used to having you at home, used to hearing you call my name unexpectedly in an empty house, used to you waiting for me to come home no matter how l
My head buzzed, and after I processed what he said, I smiled. "Are you interested in these eyes of mine?"I had no interest in being a substitute."Not exactly."He remained leaning against the doorframe and said casually, "Just a fake girlfriend. I can help you deal with Ryan."I looked at him with understanding. "And what do I need to agree to in return?"His nature was that he only acted when there was a benefit for him.Sure enough, his gaze was appreciative. "I need someone to help handle my parents during the New Year. You'd be helping me deal with them.""You won't lose out." Frank smirked and added confidently, "You won’t be able to deal with him alone."The "him" he referred to was, of course, Ryan."I'll think about it," I said casually and closed the door behind me.The bankruptcy of the Frost Group had thrown Jelaston's world of fame and fortune into chaos.Everyone was trying to seize some benefit from the situation.That day, after a meeting, Jane suddenly ask
I expected that Ian would agree.Instead, there was a heavy silence on the other end. After a moment, he cleared his throat, as if under some pressure, and said, "Ms. Wilson... are you sure you want to sell the shares? Have you considered keeping them?""Yes."Jane smiled. "Why keep something my ex-husband gave me? It's better to convert it to cash than to hold onto it.""Ahem..."Ian sounded as though he was choked, coughing violently, accompanied by a crisp noise.I couldn't tell if something had been dropped or if someone was angry.Ian forced himself to speak. "Yes, that's right. We've currently suspended the acquisition of shares. My advice is to hold onto the shares. Within three months, their value will surpass even the peak of the Frost Group!"Jane was skeptical, "Can they really increase so much in such a short time?""Definitely, and possibly even more."Ian gave a very firm reply. "Please persuade Ms. Wilson not to sell them, no matter who comes to buy them.""Go
I was stunned for a moment.In an instant, I figured out Ryan's current identity, but I could hardly believe it!Wasn't he bankrupt?It turned out he had merely used a ruse to escape his predicament...In fact, after this maneuver, his power was even more robust than before.As soon as I realized this, my first instinct was panic...I thought I had severed ties with him, but now he was the largest shareholder of my company?I still clung to a shred of hope that perhaps he was just visiting with Ian and had come along to inspect.Ian smiled and introduced, "Ms. Wilson, Miss Greenwood, this is the RF Group's new... new deputy CEO, Mr. Frost."The position introduced was a level below Ian's.But Ian had always been a step behind Ryan, and his body language couldn't lie.However, they were now major shareholders of the Charlotte Jewelry. I didn't want to cause a scene, so I forced a vague smile and said, "Is that so? I thought your owner was coming? Where is he?"Ian laughed aw
"Ryan, in your imagined outcome, I should be deeply grateful now, right?" I asked sarcastically."Not really."Ryan avoided my gaze and loosened his tie with one hand. "I just hope that you can live a more comfortable life.""Alright."I wasn't in a hurry to refute him. I said softly, "Then name your price. If you sell the 51% of shares you hold in the Charlotte Jewelry, I'd be much more at ease."From the beginning, perhaps neither of us had truly understood each other.He once saw me as wild grass in an unkempt field, never sparing me a second glance. Now, he viewed me as a rose in a greenhouse, only suitable for delicate nurturing.And as for me, I had lost all trust in him.Why would the two of us choose to be together?He suddenly looked at me, his thin lips pursed. "Charlotte..."I smiled. "Didn't you say you wanted me to live comfortably?""With the RF Group to back you up, you'd be more at ease."I looked down at the bustling traffic below the skyscrapers and, after
Ryan's body stiffened suddenly, the light in his eyes fading inch by inch.He knew better than anyone how we lost our child.What lay between us was not just Jessica or anyone else, but a living, breathing life.If I reconciled with him, what would the deceased child mean then?Knock knock—Outside the door, Ian knocked on the glass door.Ryan's voice was cold. "Come in."Ian entered with an urgent expression, "Mr. Frost, the Shaw family is starting to suspect. Bethany and her team has gone to the Frost Group, and they might come here next.""No rush."Ryan, always adept at strategizing in business, said with a dangerous tone, "Have Reece accelerate the project acquisition. We need to finish it within three days so that even if the Shaw family finds out, it will be too late."Clearly, the merging of the RF Group and the Frost Group had put him on an equal footing with the Shaw family, or even put him ahead."Understood.""Leave. Give me a minute."After giving instructions
He chuckled. "Does the holidays begin the day after tomorrow?""Yes."He then said abruptly, "Then we'll leave for Jeswood at seven o’clock in the morning the day after tomorrow."I looked at him. "Aren't you supposed to help me deal with Ryan first?"He cocked his brows and said with a sense of entitlement, "Now you're asking me to cooperate. Shouldn't you show me your sincerity first?"Every businessman had their tricks.Ryan was like that, and so was Frank.Realizing something, I preemptively gave him a warning. "I can put on an act and deal with your parents. However, I'm a divorcee, so they probably won't accept me..."Frank didn't take it to heart. "That's my problem."The elevator reached the designated floor, and I took a deep breath. "Alright, I agree."As soon as the words were out, the door opened.We went our separate ways, but as soon as I stepped out, I was a bit surprised to see Jack standing at the door.I couldn't believe the Renolds family would allow him
Perhaps because I felt a lot of gratitude and guilt toward him, I didn't think much of it, smiled, and said, "It's alright, it didn’t hurt much."He withdrew his hand and sighed silently, saying, "Hurry and head back home. I just came to check on you. Seeing that you're alright puts my mind at ease.""Okay."I sniffled from the cold, waved at him, and walked towards my door.Remembering his earlier mention of the house, I looked back at him and said, "By the way, Jack, I will move out as soon as possible..."When I moved in, I only thought of it as a friend's place.Now that I know more, and only wished to continue being friends, it was better to avoid troubling him."No need!" Jack interrupted me, seeming to struggle before he compromised. "Just stay here with peace of mind. Frank lives across the corridor... ordinary people wouldn't dare cause trouble here, so it's relatively safe for you.""Thank you...""Charlotte, we are still friends."Noticing my discomfort, he decided
Whitney deeply regretted it when Caleb pinned her down in the hot spring pool.She should have just driven the car back slowly. Once they were in the city, she could switch drivers.She could have said she was nervous driving, that she was too tired, and surely she would have been able to avoid all of this.Instead, she had chosen to stay here and do something so embarrassing."This is an outdoor hot spring..."The boldest thing Whitney had ever done was when a man with some power had used his position to take advantage of her.At that time, she had been truly frustrated.She had worked so hard, with blood on her hands, just to survive and live a stable life.Yet, there was always someone trying to make her life difficult.In a fit of anger, she had used a brow-shaping knife to hurt that man.If it weren't for meeting Zachary, she would definitely be worse off than a street rat by now.But Caleb could always break her understanding of things and perform such bold actions."
"Georgina should know him better than I do, since you've known him longer than I have."Georgina nodded. "That's true, which is why I asked you if he's always bullying you. I just know how annoying his personality can be."Millie agreed, "Exactly.""Whitney, I've told you from the moment I met you—if you're being bullied, you have to tell me."But Whitney had never told her anything!She had thought that Caleb loved her so much that he wouldn't do anything to bully Whitney.But today, she realized that wasn't the case."You really have to listen to Georgina."Whitney nodded repeatedly but still said, "He hasn't bullied me, you guys don't need to worry."Some things, even though she admired and liked the Georgina, she couldn't say.If Caleb got angry, she would be the one to suffer. And perhaps it would also affect the Collins family.Since there was nothing wrong between them as a couple, outsiders wouldn't say much.Georgina's earlier remarks were also a subtle probe.It
Millie laughed so hard that her stomach hurt. She pointed at Caleb with a chicken leg. "Look at you now."She hugged Whitney, unable to contain her excitement. "You really stood up for me, Whitney."Whitney slowly processed what had just happened and turned to look at Caleb.Caleb, arms crossed, leaned back in his chair with a displeased expression on his face.Whitney nervously bit her lip. "I'm sorry..."Caleb's displeasure deepened. "Why are you apologizing?"Whitney looked at him sincerely. "I shouldn't have joined in teasing you. You're my husband, I should have spoken up for you."Caleb's anger suddenly dissipated.He patted Whitney on the head. "Alright, you've made progress. I'll forgive you this time, but don't let it happen again."Whitney nodded. "Thank you."The three girls across from them were all taken aback.The one laughing the hardest, Millie, was now staring wide-eyed.She had never seen anyone pursue someone like this.Caleb was unbelievable.Blake, ho
Whitney glanced at the steak and said she wasn't going to eat anymore, she was full.But her gaze remained fixed on Georgina.Caleb was rendered speechless.Georgina noticed this and rested her chin in her hand, looking at Whitney with a smile. "Whit likes me, doesn't she?"Up until now, only Jane and the others had called her Whit.But hearing it from her idol felt completely different.Whitney immediately felt a surge of nervousness. The flush from the hot spring had barely faded, but now it quickly came rushing back.She stammered, unable to speak for a long while.Georgina's smile deepened. "What's so embarrassing? I like Whit too.""That’s enough." Caleb tightened his grip on his knife and fork, afraid he might accidentally fling them."Lucifer's getting old, and he's not satisfying you anymore, is he?"What was she doing, flirting with his wife?Georgina removed her hand from her chin and gave Caleb a big thumbs up."I wouldn't dare to say that word, but you're reall
"If I stopped him from coming in, the things he could do would be worse than what's happening now."Yvonne changed into a green, form-fitting long dress, adjusting her makeup and hair in front of the mirror."Then I wouldn't be able to do business at all."Georgina crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. "I can tell you never really intended to stop him."Yvonne glanced at her, her eyes soft and seductive.Georgina reached out and pinched her. "If I were him, I'd want to sleep with you too.""Get lost." Yvonne pushed her hand away. "Then have Lucifer handle it for me. Anyway, I don't have the authority to stop Blake. He’s a member of the Hilton family, after all."Georgina straightened up and became serious. "Are you sure?"Yvonne didn't answer, adjusting the straps of her dress as she walked out of the bathroom.Georgina smiled. "I knew you weren't serious."She draped her arm around Yvonne's shoulder as they walked out together. "Let's have a good talk. His paren
Caleb truly couldn't interfere. In fact, he hadn't planned to get too involved in Blake's affairs.Occasionally, he could play the supporting role, and that was enough.He stepped aside to make way.Georgina immediately left.Whitney slowly blinked her eyes.Georgina was her idol, and she wanted to become someone like her.Someone who had confidence in everything she did, completely unafraid of offending anyone."Let's go." Millie patted Whitney's shoulder. "If someone didn't know any better, they'd think you had feelings for Georgina. Your husband's still around. If he gets jealous, he might just smash this place to the ground."Whitney did indeed like Georgina, but it wasn't that kind of like.It was admiration and respect.Just as she was about to say something, she met Caleb's cold gaze and changed her words."I'm just worried. Blake seems to be in a bad mood."Millie told her not to worry. "Everything has its match. It's just something between men and women.""And wit
The people at Yvonne's place were all professionally trained, and later, when Georgina married Lucifer, Lucifer had even placed several of his men here.Even though Lucifer and his eldest brother were practically inseparable, he still couldn't get any information from them."Mr. Caleb, it's been a while since I've seen you out having fun."He didn't plan to ask about the people he recognized either. After all, he didn't want anyone to know that his wife had left him to come here and have fun."Blake is here. I'm afraid he might do something stupid, so I came to check on him."Everyone who came to this place knew about the situation between Blake and Yvonne.The Hilton family was not one to be provoked, especially since Yvonne was very close to Lucifer's wife.Two major families—this wasn't something they could just casually comment on.In the past, there were some who tried to "save" Yvonne, but they never showed up again.Later, everyone figured that this might be a kind of g
"Mr. Blake, my relationship with you is merely that of an owner and a guest," she said. "You come, I entertain you, but you have no right to stick your nose into my business."She could wear whatever she wanted.Even if some people had ill intentions, that was their problem.What did her choice of clothes have to do with anything?Back when Caleb and the others came to play, in the summer, she wore even less, and no one had acted inappropriately.Anyone who wanted to act out inappropriately couldn't even step foot through this door anymore.Blake didn't know what she was thinking, but just looking at her attire, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.Silently, he put the coat back over her shoulders, and said gruffly, "It's cold."Caleb found the situation amusing but remained concerned about Whitney, so he didn't smile.At least he knew that with Mrs. Scholfield around, they wouldn't dare make a scene.Otherwise, Lucifer would turn this place into ruins.The tall building
“Georgina.” Whitney took the initiative to walk over and greet her. "Haven’t seen you in ages."Georgina smiled. "Everything's ready. Let's change first. We can talk while soaking in the hot springs."Millie led Whitney to the changing rooms.Yvonne mentioned that she had important guests today and would join them later.Georgina nodded.Caleb and Blake bumped into each other at the entrance.Blake had feelings for his family, but perhaps because he lost his parents at a young age, his personality had grown colder over the years.It wasn't that he didn't care, it was just that he couldn't be like Caleb, always smiling, with a more lively temperament."Caleb.""Blake."Caleb didn't waste time with pleasantries. There was no need between relatives.He walked briskly inside.Blake followed and asked what had happened.Caleb asked the receptionist where Millie's room was.The receptionist smiled professionally. "Mr. Caleb, I'm sorry, although you hold immense power, I still c