Seeing Shania's smug expression, Araminta felt a wave of discomfort.However, now that both families were bound together in this alliance, she couldn't afford to have a falling out with her. Reluctantly, she returned home.That night, Kimberly didn't leave the Xandor residence, and Simon began to form his own plans.He was determined to secure a place at M Research Institute. Only by getting into M Research Institute could he gain control over his life and decisions.As for Quinn, he had no intention of letting her off easily. One day, he would make sure she was on her knees, begging for his forgiveness.…Meanwhile, Xavier's plane finally touched down.As they disembarked, Quinn almost stumbled. Luckily, Xavier caught her swiftly. "Take it slow. We're here.""Thanks. Xavier, I really appreciate everything you've done. If you ever need anything from me in the future, just ask." Quinn was someone who hated owing favors, but this one was undeniable.Xavier disliked hearing her s
Nadia rushed over and hugged Quinn tightly. "Are you okay, Quinny?" Although it had only been a day since they last saw each other, Quinn looked utterly drained.Hearing Nadia's voice, Quinn forced a smile. "Why did you come? This place is dangerous. You shouldn't have come."Nadia clung to her even tighter. "I couldn't let you be here alone. I know I'll probably just hold you back, but I still wanted to be with you."…"What? You've found her?" Araminta was genuinely surprised at how smoothly everything was unfolding."Good. Get in touch with Quinn immediately. Tell her to relinquish her claim to Four Seasons Incorporated and transfer all her shares."Araminta's mood soared. As long as they had Lisa under their control, Quinn would be powerless. Everyone knew how important Lisa was to Quinn.After giving a few more instructions, Araminta hung up the phone.Maurice was beside her. Hearing what she said, he felt reassured as well.However, seeing him at home didn't please Arami
"I promise I will bring your mom back safely. Please, trust me this one time." Xavier's voice was filled with determination. He genuinely wanted Quinn to have faith in him.However, Quinn shook her head. "I'll go myself."Five years ago, she had lost the ability to trust others. The only person she could rely on was herself. "Give me the lead."Xavier sighed, knowing that she couldn't find peace any other way. "Alright, but let's go together. That way, we'll have belts and braces. What do you think?"If she went alone, no one could predict the outcome. Most importantly, he feared for her safety."Let him go with you, Quinny. I'd be worried sick if you went alone. Xavier genuinely cares about you," Nadia said.Having extra help was better than going solo. If anything went wrong, at least Xavier would be there to protect her."I'm coming with you too," Ian chimed in.No matter who the other party was, they had a hostage in their hands. They needed to be extremely careful."No, I
"You're quite bold, Maurice. Do you think I'm never going back?" Quinn's voice was cold. Maurice's blatant threats indicated they were confident she wouldn't be able to return."Quinny, you've been fine in the borderlands for the past five years. Why are you so determined to come back? Jipsfort no longer holds anything for you. Just stay away." Maurice had no interest in her returning.Quinn didn't waste any more words. She would deal with them later. Her immediate focus was on finding Lisa.Lisa was such a timid person. She must be terrified right now.While driving, Xavier held Quinn's hand. He was offering silent comfort.Just then, Ian's call came through. "Xav, we've located Ms. Gatrell. They are keeping her at Shadow Eagle Gang's base."As long as the person was in the borderlands, Xavier would always be able to find them.Shadow Eagle Gang…Maurice and Araminta were bold, indeed.Shadow Eagle Gang was notorious in the borderlands for their ruthlessness. Once someone cro
Did Xavier get hurt?At that very moment, a patrol team was making its rounds.Quinn dared not act impulsively. She pressed herself against the wall and hung on as tightly as possible.She waited until the patrol had left before leaping over the wall again.As soon as he saw her on top of the wall, Xavier got into position and said, "Jump! I'll catch you."It was a 10-foot drop, so he was worried she might fall and injure herself."I've got this. Move aside."With that, Quinn leaped down from the wall. Xavier still caught her in his arms.They quickly darted into a nearby hiding spot."Are you alright? I heard you grunt just now. Have you not worked out in a while?""I'm fine. I just landed on a stone when I jumped earlier."Upon entering the main base, they immediately commenced their search. Yet, after an hour of extensive searching, they still couldn't find Lisa."I'll directly apprehend their leader so that they'll release Lisa."Given the immense size of Shadow Eagle
Before heading in, Quinn and Xavier exchanged a fist bump.They had become partners who could entirely rely on each other unconditionally. It turned out that their compatibility extended beyond the bedroom.Meanwhile, Aquila was in the midst of a passionate encounter. His tattooed body was glistening with sweat.As the woman moaned passionately, Aquila took great pleasure in it as well.After he was done, he kicked the woman beside him off the bed and said, "Scram.""Can't I stay with you, Aquila?""Are you incapable of understanding plain speech?"Aquila shot a look at her, and the naked woman instantly stood up and walked away.Aquila was deeply distrustful of everyone. After all the effort it took to get where he was, he was cautious in every move he made.As soon as the woman was gone, Mason Lowe, Aquila's younger brother, entered the room. Upon seeing the mess in the room, he couldn't help but shake his head in disapproval."Aquila, the Jowell family said they'll pay twi
Aquila's gun fell to the floor, and his hand was immediately streaming with blood.After dealing with the few people stationed outside, Xavier pushed open the door and sauntered in.Upon seeing them, Aquila frowned. These two people actually dared to trespass into Shadow Eagle Gang's main base on their own!"Who are you two? What are you after?"Quinn's gun was equipped with a silencer, and the men stationed outside were also killed by Xavier.Xavier ignored Aquila's question. He simply walked up and stomped down on Aquila's chest.Aquila was enraged. He had always had things go his way ever since he founded Shadow Eagle Gang. It was his first time suffering such a crushing defeat."Where's Lisa?"Quinn ignored his question as well. She was focused solely on finding her mother.It suddenly dawned on Aquila that the young woman standing before him was probably Maurice's daughter, Quinn. With that in mind, he chose to remain silent. Given that Lisa was in his grasp, he knew th
"There's nothing to worry about. They won't dare to make a move," Xavier declared confidently. Given that Aquila was in their grasp, they had all the leverage."I'm not tired."Quinn had always been on her guard, but in a place teeming with Shadow Eagle Gang members, she knew she had to be even more cautious."Who the hell are you guys?" Mason demanded.Did Quinn hire them to rescue Lisa?"How much did Quinn pay you? I'll double it, and we'll call it even. How does that sound?" Mason proposed. He was clearly trying to entice them.Quinn merely scoffed in response and ignored him completely."She's Quinn Jowell."Aquila was dumbfounded. His brother was usually so sharp, so what was the matter with him now? How could he not notice the identity of the person before him?Mason's gaze fell upon Quinn. She was dressed head to toe in black which accentuated her striking features. Her lack of expression made her even more irresistible.Xavier was furious. How dare Mason stare so braz
Whoever said women lack desire was wrong. Sometimes, a woman's longing could catch the man off guard.Faced with Quinn's boldness, Xavier found it impossible to resist. His desire for her was burning within him.Since being with her, he'd wanted her constantly, and tonight was no exception.Quinn tilted her head, and Xavier landed a peck on her neck, one of her most alluring features.His kiss felt like a gentle spring breeze as he began softly at her lips.That light touch flipped a switch within her. It sent electric tingles racing through her body. It was as if he wielded some mysterious power. As he glided his lips down her neck, each caress sent shivers coursing through her, making her tremble involuntarily.With each kiss moving lower, her heartbeat quickened. She felt as though she were immersed in a sweet dream, and his kisses were the leading melody of this ethereal experience.From her lips to her neck and then to her chest, each kiss ignited a flame deep within her. She cou
"I can't go to the hospital. I messed with the wrong people," Edison murmured. He remembered Quinn's warning. She was connected to Xavier, and he wouldn't dare provoke him."Who did you mess with?" Frank asked, but Edison brushed him off. "How's it going with the research institute?"At the mention of it, Frank hesitated. Was Quinn really that influential? Could Edison's beating be connected to her?"It's... fine. You should rest, Dad. I have to go study," Frank replied. He dared not mention how Quinn had twisted his arm.Meanwhile, Xavier and Quinn escorted Edgar back to the hospital.Edgar clearly didn't want to stay. "Ms. Quinn, I'd really like to go home. I don't like staying in the hospital." His days in the hospital felt like years dragging by—an experience that was anything but pleasant."Did the doctor say you could go home?" Quinn asked."I'm really fine, Ms. Quinn.""Only when the doctor says so." Quinn ignored his complaints."It's suffocating in here. I need to che
Edison's plump body crashed to the floor with a heavy thud.Quinn stepped on his hand, eliciting a pained scream from him.Edison stared up at her, bewildered. This young lady, who looked like an angel, was surprisingly brutal."Do you know what Edgar looked like when I found him?" Quinn's voice was icy.Edgar was like a younger brother to her, and she wouldn't stand for anyone hurting him.Edison fell silent after realizing he had underestimated her."How do you plan to pay for this, Edison?" Quinn picked up a fork from the table.Edison tried to get up, but with her foot on his hand, he couldn't move at all. "What are you doing? Let me tell you—"Before he could finish his sentence, Quinn drove the fork through his palm. His screams echoed in the room.Edison had never imagined they would dare to act so brazenly in Dudore. As he looked at his bleeding hand, his entire body trembled in fear. "W-What do you want?"The two bodyguards looked pale at the sight. They had never en
Since they were going to take revenge, Quinn had already ensured they knew the Faulkner family's whereabouts.The current head of the Faulkner family, Edison Faulkner, was responsible for what happened to Edgar. He was also Frank's father.Edison had a dinner engagement that night at a high-end clubhouse in Dudore.Though once a prestigious family, the Faulkner family had been struggling in recent years, but Edison was unwilling to accept that decline.He was determined to send Frank to the research institute, hoping that would restore the family's status. Tonight's dinner was meant to entertain higher-ups from the institute.As the glasses clinked and laughter filled the air, the door to the private room swung open unexpectedly.Edison frowned. Who was the blind fool who chose to enter at this hour? He already had people guarding the door."Who is it? I specifically said no one is allowed to enter!" Edison snapped.The higher-ups from the institute also wore grim expressions.
"Kid, you should just go face your punishment," Quinn said, declining."Come on, miss. Help me out here!" the young man pleaded."I can't help you. You can go now."The young man looked disappointed, but since Quinn had clearly rejected him, he had no choice but to leave."That poor guy," Nadia joked.Xavier, however, didn't share her sentiment. "I think Quinny handled it well. If she gave just anyone her number, she'd be in trouble someday."Besides, it wasn't like their game had anything to do with her. Why should she comply?They sat in the bar for over an hour.Quinn had something to attend to, so she took Nadia home first."Where are you going? Do you need my help?" Nadia asked. Although she wasn't good at fighting, she was willing to lend a hand."Just get some rest. It's nothing major. I'll handle it and be back before you know it," Quinn replied."Are you sure you'll be back tonight?" Nadia glanced at Xavier. She knew he couldn't leave her alone."Go home. Just make
"Nada, this fish is delicious. You should try it," Quinn said, passing the dish over.Nadia took a piece and nodded in approval. "This place really has great flavor. We should come here again."With both of them being people who didn't particularly enjoy cooking, they would probably end up eating out frequently."If you like it, I can have them deliver to your house. I'll get the manager to give you a business card later," Xavier offered.This restaurant didn't just have excellent food. The hygiene and service were top-notch as well."Really? I thought such a high-end restaurant wouldn't do deliveries.""They do," Xavier said. It was just a matter of asking anyway.After dinner, Nadia wanted to unwind a bit. Since arriving in Dudore, she hadn't had the chance to visit a bar, and Dudore was known for its nightlife.Now that she was here, she naturally had to experience it for herself."Quinny, are you heading back to the research institute tonight? If not, let's go to a bar for
Lisa's tone was especially gentle. After nearly three months of treatment, her condition had improved significantly.Gradually, she was becoming the serene Lisa she once was.Once the call ended, Quinn gazed out the window, oblivious to the fact that Xavier was still holding her hand.Xavier was holding her hand with one hand and gripping the steering wheel with the other. It wasn't until they reached the restaurant that he finally let go.He dropped Quinn and Nadia at the restaurant entrance while he went to find parking. The parking area was quite far, so he didn't ask them to come along.As he drove off, Quinn and Nadia waited at the entrance."Quinny, it's great to see Lisa coming back to herself," Nadia said with a smile.Although the past five years had been challenging, it was comforting to see everything getting better.Quinn felt a wave of joy as she reflected on Lisa's remarkable recovery. Given how bad Lisa had been before, it brought her immense happiness to see her
Nadia opened the car door and hopped in.Quinn wanted to join her at the back, but she declined. "Just sit in the front. It's a hassle switching around."Xavier smiled at this. Nadia, indeed, knew how to read the situation.She returned his smile.Xavier was a big shot, after all. Of course, she had to be wise."How's the hiring going? Do you need my help?" Quinn turned to Nadia."Don't worry. I've already hired three people. Since Sully is just starting out, I want to take it slow. I don't want to hire too many at once.""Alright, I'll leave it to you, then." Quinn was just the investor. She wouldn't interfere too much with how Nadia chose to run things."By the way, Quinny, how's everything at the research institute? You need to be cautious around those who hurt Edgar," Nadia said with a hint of worry."I know. Don't worry. There's no need to be concerned about them."Nadia shook her head. "Quinny, this is Dudore. You should be careful." People here would do anything for pr
Kimberly was also present. Noticing Simon's concern for Quinn made her fists clench unconsciously.She had her own plans to go out today. Gregory was going to introduce her to a big shot. He was slowly coming to recognize her potential and would provide her with all his resources."Simon, you know I'm not Maurice's daughter. I'm Gregory's daughter. Gregory Thorpe from the Thorpe family of Dudore. You're aware of that, right?" Kimberly spoke with pride.Simon looked into her eyes. "So what?""My dad is introducing me to a big shot today. Do you want to come? If you agree to get back with me now, I'll overlook everything that happened before.""No, thanks. I really don't need that. You go ahead," Simon replied firmly.In the past, it had always been Shania pushing him. Yet deep down, he wanted to stand on his own. It might seem naive, but he wanted to give it a try.Seeing him try to walk away, Kimberly grabbed his hand. "Simon, don't you want to get your mom out soon?"Why was h