In the end, since Maria didn't have the money to pay for the hospital fees, the doctor refused to treat Gabriel.Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn couldn't help but feel distressed. She would have helped if she could, but she was also financially strapped."I—""Are you really not going to do anything about this? Gabriel's still your son! Do you honestly believe Lisa will be able to look after you forever? Aren't you going to depend on us eventually?" Maria said. She was genuinely worried that they would leave them in the lurch, and her anxiety was palpable.Upon witnessing Gwendolyn's distress, Lisa felt compelled to intervene. She grabbed Gwendolyn's phone and asked, "Which hospital is it?"Having ended the call, Lisa made up her mind to go there herself. No matter what, it was Gabriel who was involved in this situation.Upon seeing Lisa in such a state, Gwendolyn felt terrible. After all, Gabriel's behavior was truly despicable. He even dared to target Quinn! "I won't blame you
Upon seeing that Quinn was still reaching for the ice-cold beer, Xavier stopped what he was doing, snatched the beer from her hand, and downed it in one go.Quinn was rendered speechless. She had already drunk from that can! Didn't Xavier have mild mysophobia? How could he suddenly drink from her can?"Is it good?" Quinn asked coldly.Xavier nodded in response and said, "It's pretty good."After saying that, he leaned in and kissed her softly. He lingered a moment longer as he playfully nipped at her lower lip. It was more of a tickle than anything, but it sent a pleasant sensation through her."If you want to drink, have it at room temperature. I'll get it for you once I'm done drying your hair," Xavier said as he began to dry her hair.Given that the air conditioning in the living room was set too low, Quinn inevitably felt a bit chilly. She ran her hands up and down her arms and felt the goosebumps on her skin."Are you feeling cold?" Xavier was quick to notice that Quinn was
Quinn wasn't interested in planning for the future. She preferred to live in the moment and take each day as it came.Upon noticing Quinn's silence, Xavier could tell that Quinn was likely thinking about leaving him again. It seemed like no matter how well he treated her, she was always looking for a way out.Xavier bit her lip in a fit of frustration.Although his actions were intense, the force behind them was gentle. Despite his anger, he couldn't bring himself to harm her.…Meanwhile, Lisa and Gwendolyn arrived at the hospital.Upon seeing them, Maria burst into tears and said, "Are you really going to abandon us, Gwendolyn? Are you really leaving Havenport? What will we do if you're gone? Who's going to cook for us?"As soon as she said that, Lisa was so exasperated that she wanted to leave immediately. Did this despicable couple intend to sponge off Gwendolyn forever? They were adults, for goodness sake! Couldn't they manage on their own?"How is Gabriel?" Gwendolyn aske
"Can't I come along with you? I really don't like eating alone," Xavier said. In fact, it wasn't the act of eating alone that bothered him, but being apart from her."No," Quinn stated bluntly.She then pushed Xavier back onto the couch, leaned in to give him a quick kiss, and said, "Go on! Go have fun with your friends."At that moment, Quinn truly resembled a scoundrel. She used him and then discarded him without a second thought.Although Xavier was incredibly frustrated by the situation, he couldn't do anything about it. All he could do was sigh helplessly.She was truly a heartless woman! She clearly didn't care about him. She was the type who could switch partners at any moment. Yet, he didn't want to be replaced and was determined to hold onto her till the very end.…Lorraine had chosen a rather nice restaurant, and by the time Quinn got there, everyone else was already seated.As the family gathered to dine together, Quinn couldn't help but feel at ease.Lorraine orde
Lorraine was at a loss for words. After the Gatrell family had fallen from grace, she did consider divorcing Devin. Yet, Devin refused to accept it.Devin had been having an affair, and whenever he returned home in a bad mood, he would physically abuse her. She had been pregnant at one point, but Devin kicked her so hard that she lost the baby."I've been thinking about divorcing him, Quinny. I'm determined to end this marriage," Lorraine stated firmly. She honestly couldn't stand living like this for another day. She had even considered taking her own life and his to put an end to this."Can you trust me on this, Aunt Lorraine? If you do, I'll immediately sort this out.""You're merely a young woman, Quinny. There's no way you can handle him. He's—""All I want to know is, do you really want to divorce him?" Quinn asked. This was the only answer she cared about.As Lorraine gazed into Quinn's determined eyes, she felt a flicker of hope ignite within her."Yes, I definitely want
"Stop looking at her. She's my woman," Xavier said as he stood up. He thought she was supposed to be out with Lisa and Gwendolyn tonight. He didn't expect to run into her here."Your woman? When did you get yourself a girlfriend? How come I didn't know about this?" Zayn asked. He was clearly taken aback."It's none of your business."Upon reaching the entrance, Xavier walked up to Quinn and gently patted her shoulder, saying, "What a coincidence."It was genuinely a coincidence today.Quinn turned around and met Xavier's astonished gaze. She hadn't expected to run into Xavier here as well."Are you meeting up with your friend?""Nope. I'm here to look for someone," Quinn replied nonchalantly."You should just leave me be and have fun with your friend," Quinn added. After all, she wasn't here to have fun today. "Are you in a hurry then?""Not really.""I'll introduce you to a friend of mine, then," Xavier said. Zayn was one of his best friends—the kind he could fully entrus
"It seems like she's about to cause some trouble!" Zayn exclaimed. He owned this bar, which he had opened to win over a woman from Havenport."If she wants to make a scene, let her," Xavier said nonchalantly. "Oh, that's easy for you to say! You don't own the place, so obviously you don't give a damn about it!" Zayn snapped."If anything gets trashed, I'll cover it," Xavier said. All that mattered to him was Quinn's happiness."You're totally whipped for her! I never thought I'd see this side of you, Xavier. I always thought you would remain emotionally distant for the rest of your life!"Xavier ignored him. After all, Zayn was the one who came all the way to Havenport to chase after his love interest.…Meanwhile, Quinn headed directly for Devin, who was intoxicated and disoriented.Upon seeing such an attractive woman approach their table, the others instantly grew excited."Where did you find such a hottie, Devin? She's gorgeous!""Exactly! She might be dressed down, but
"What do you want from me? How did you get your hands on these? Where did you get them? Who gave them to you?" Devin demanded. His voice was rising in panic."It doesn't matter where I got it from, as long as it's genuine. You better show up on time at the courthouse tomorrow, or else…" Quinn trailed off again before turning around and leaving the scene.Devin tried to stop her, but one look from her and he was shaking like a leaf."After the divorce, you better apologize to Lorraine. And don't expect to get anything from the divorce!" Quinn warned. It was outrageous for a domestic abuser like him to have any claim on Lorraine's possessions.Quinn swaggered away, leaving Devin to seethe with rage. Yet, as he clenched his phone tightly, his hand trembled. He was clearly terrified."What's going on, Devin? Are you really going to get a divorce?""You know, it might be a good idea for you to get a divorce. Lorraine has lost everything, after all. And you only married her for her mon
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