"What did you say?" Shelly couldn't believe her ears. This card was Darius' supplementary card. How could it possibly be out of funds?"I said your card has insufficient funds. Do you have another one?"The antique store owner was visibly frustrated. After all the commotion, it turned out she was just another broke customer.Shelly's face turned crimson with embarrassment. How could this happen in front of Quinn and Lisa?Just then, Kimberly came to look for Shelly.Seeing Kimberly, Shelly quickly pulled her aside. "Kimberly, there's something wrong with my card. I really want that emerald signet ring. Could you lend me some money?"When Shelly was in need, her tone became exceptionally nice."How much do you need?"Kimberly had some money but was reluctant to lend it to Shelly. After all, Shelly had never paid her back in the past."800 thousand dollars."Kimberly was stunned. "Maybe you should forget it, Shelly. I don't have that much money on my card."800 thousand dollar
The emerald signet ring had originally cost the antique shop owner only 100 thousand dollars. He never imagined he'd sell it for such an exorbitant price today."You're really generous, Ms. Xandor. If you ever need anything else, come back and check out our store," the owner said."I don't want this anymore. I want to return it," Shelly said. She regretted her impulsive purchase."Are you playing games with me, Ms. Xandor? Sorry, but our store has a strict no-return policy." The owner's attitude became firm."What do you mean no returns? You better give me my money back, or I'll report you!" Shelly threatened."Go ahead and report me. We're closing for the day, so please leave." The owner wasted no time in kicking both Shelly and Kimberly out.There was no way he’d refund that money now. If she couldn't afford it, she shouldn't have bought it in the first place.Shelly's face darkened further after being thrown out.Just then, Quinn and Lisa walked out of another antique store
When Shelly returned home, she threw a huge tantrum.Upon learning that Shelly had spent 800 thousand dollars on an emerald signet ring, Shania was furious. "Are you an idiot, Shelly? Do you have any idea how strapped for cash we are right now?"Shelly hadn't expected to get scolded at home after the rough time she'd had outside, which only worsened her mood."What do you mean, Mom? Is the Xandor Group's situation my fault? Isn't it all because of your own doing? What does that have to do with me? I see now. You just can't stand me. Fine, I'll leave! Is that what you want?"Shelly stormed out and went to Nocturnal Club.Some of her old friends heard she was there and went to find her. Shelly's so-called friends were mostly troublemakers. Noticing that she was in a bad mood, they encouraged her to try some drugs."Give this a try, Shelly. It's the real deal! No matter what's bothering you, all your problems will disappear once you take this."Shelly had already drunk quite a bit.
"What should I do now, Simon? I don't want to stay here, It's so terrifying. Please help me, Simon." Shelly pleaded.Simon patted her on the back gently. "Alright, I'll figure something out to get you out of here. Don't worry."After all, she was still his sister, and he couldn't just leave her in this mess.Shelly wrapped her arms around Simon tightly. "You're the best, Simon. I knew you wouldn't abandon me."To her, Simon was far more reliable than Shania."Alright, just stay away from that stuff," Simon warned her sternly.Once she got hooked on drugs, there was no turning back."I know, Simon. Don't worry. I just got tricked this time. Quinn was there too. She even slapped me—twice!" The thought of those slaps made her chest burn with resentment."Quinn was there?""Yeah, I suspect she called the police. She just can't stand me. How can there be such annoying people in this world?""Enough, Shelly. Stop blaming others. You should reflect on what you did wrong yourself." N
Quinn slipped into a sleek black dress. She had somehow developed a fondness for black.In the black slip dress, she exuded an air of fierce confidence. The fishtail dress and high heels, paired with her flawlessly fair skin, created a stunning effect.As she drove out, she noticed Simon's car parked outside. She frowned. What was he doing here?She quickly called Edgar. "Simon's outside my house. Make sure my mom is safe." Despite the strong security around the villa, she was still worried.Quinn had no trust at all in the Xandors.As her car drove past Simon, she didn't even pause. To her, Simon was nothing more than an enemy now.When Simon saw her, he immediately got in his car to follow her.He didn't understand why he had come here in the middle of the night instead of going home to sleep. But he just couldn't control himself.Ever since Quinn returned, he found himself doing all sorts of inexplicable things.In the end, he realized she was going to see Xavier. Simon kne
Quinn was never someone who would take a loss. She bit down hard and left a deep mark on Xavier's shoulder."We can't just impose on each other, Xavier," she said.She had her own social circle and couldn't simply avoid drinking with other men. As a person who took promises seriously, she wouldn't make a promise she couldn't keep."I really have no way to deal with you." Xavier lightly stroked the mark she'd left with his fingers.Sometimes, he genuinely wanted to bite her neck clean through, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.Quinn had never acknowledged their relationship. She had always been frank about his position in her heart.Facing someone like Quinn, who was heartless and only interested in his body, he felt utterly powerless."What's wrong? Want to get married? Whether as the ruler of the borderlands or the president of Lightcloud Corporation, there will always be women who want to marry you."Countless young women dreamed of being with him."Get married? Why bo
Xavier roughly tore away Quinn's tight dress. The sound echoed violently in the quiet night.Quinn was rendered speechless.This man was wild beyond measure.Quinn's undergarments were also black, which made her skin appear even fairer.Xavier was like a fervent devotee now. His kisses traced down her body.Quinn, having accepted the invitation to drink, knew exactly what was coming. Earlier, she had merely been teasing him.Now, she let him set her on fire.On the leather couch, she lay completely naked. Her body was a perfect work of art."What a seductress." Xavier shifted positions. He sat back on the couch and pulled her onto him.Quinn wrapped her arms around his neck and lowered her head to kiss him.A seductress? She hadn't done anything. Everything was just a reflection of his own tumultuous thoughts.Xavier held her waist to prevent her from falling backward.He had a powerful torso. Even in this position, it was hard not to moan, and she did.After all, it was j
There were no emotions involved, just the raw, primal rhythm.Kimberly wasn't unaffected, but asking her to give up on the past five years and the Xandor family was simply too much. She couldn't do it.However, after Simon came, he callously pushed her away.Kimberly nearly fell. Her tears fell instantly."How can you do this to me, Simon? You've misunderstood. Please, let me explain! You won't even hear an explanation and have already sentenced me to death!" Kimberly was filled with resentment."Get out, Kimberly. I'm going home." Despite the release, Simon felt emptier.What spell had Quinn cast on him? Why was he the one who couldn't let go? He couldn't even tell if it was stubbornness or lingering attachment.…There was an issue in the borderlands, and Xavier had to go back. Though he didn't want to, the situation was dire, and his men couldn't handle it.He made breakfast that morning. While they were eating, he told Quinn about the situation.Quinn, however, didn't see
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