The sky grew ominously darker as if darkness had abruptly invaded, followed by large raindrops pounding down.Sophie looked up, raindrops falling into her eyes. They resembled the tears she had held back stubbornly as she gazed at the man before her."Cedric, if I'm the woman you've used, you should also be the man I've used. So why don't you ask Vivienne if she feels violated when she gets it on with you?" Sophie asked bitterly.'Marriage is meant to be a mutual relationship. Therefore, if I'm considered dirty, then how much better is he? Why would he have the audacity to come and mock me?' She could not help but refute inwardly."If it weren't for you threatening Vivienne to leave back then, do you think I would've had the chance to occupy and use you?" Cedric stretched out his hand, grasped her by the neck, and pressed her back against a nearby sycamore tree trunk. The fury in his eyes looked more terrifying than the encroaching darkness.Sophie was at a loss for words for a se
A bitter smile played at the corners of Sophie's lips. 'It seems that if I'm not going to be bitten to death today. I'll be struck to death by lightning…'Cedric's actions came to a halt as he observed her trembling. He frowned, grabbed her arm, strode forward, and swiftly dragged Sophie to the parked car nearby.Despite the air conditioner being off, the temperature inside the car was noticeably warmer than outside. Sophie's head felt groggy, and her entire body had weakened to the point where she could no longer struggle.Cedric's fury lasted for nearly an hour before subsiding. Seeing Sophie lying flat in the seat as if she was asleep, he felt agitated for no reason. "Don't think that I'll let you off just because you've fainted."With a forceful push from Cedric on her shoulder, Sophie's head slammed heavily against the door frame, emitting a muffled thud.Cedric was stunned for a moment. His hand immediately moved to her smooth and moist forehead. His expression changed insta
"Did I get it right?" Sean chuckled, his eyes, the color of peach blossoms, unable to conceal the wit beaming within.Cedric frowned in displeasure. 'It's just a guess, but how could he be so accurate?'"Don't give me that look. If you want to know how I figured it out, come to Crimson Bar. This month's turnover hasn't even reached half of what I expected," Sean explained.Originally, he had contemplated which friend to invite to boost this month's revenue, but now, someone had come to his door voluntarily."Behave yourself." Cedric snorted disdainfully, started the car, and headed toward Crimson Bar.In under five minutes, the Rolls-Royce was parked outside the bar."Boss, Mr. Carlson." Upon seeing the two men getting out of the car, the receptionist at the door immediately bowed at a 90-degree angle.Sean threw the car keys over. "Keep an eye on Mr. Carlson's car and bring two bottles of our most expensive wine to the private room. Charge it to his account.""Yes, sir," the r
The woman who eagerly sought to cuckold him should face severe consequences. Moreover, it was just a fever, so why was he so troubled, even anxious about it?"You can't conceal it any longer, can you? Let me ask you this: after being married to Sophie for three years, do you like or love her?" Sean asked."Huh?" Cedric was slightly puzzled upon hearing the question.However, after a moment of bewilderment, Cedric's expression dimmed. 'Has he lost his mind? Did he just imply that I've fallen for Sophie?'"I knew you'd make this face. How could you live with her for three years if you didn't like her? Don't tell me it was because of your grandfather's pressure. No matter how powerful he is, he'll never be able to force you to live with her," Sean analyzed.They were of the same kind. Living with a woman whom they did not love was impossible—enduring such a life for three months, let alone three years, was out of the question.Cedric pursed his lips tightly as the image of Sophie's
"Love is something that ferments in an unexpected moment. Before you even realize it, it will have grown beyond control. Bro, that's why I never dabble in it. It's just too emotionally exhausting," Sean said, taking a satisfied sip of his drink.He pondered the simplicity of relationships when reduced to mere transactions. Why bother with the complexities of emotions?"Cut the nonsense!" Cedric slammed his glass down, irritated. The idea of love between him and Sophie was absurd."Really? Nonsense?" Sean challenged, "Weren't you seething with jealousy seeing her with Austin?""That's because she was about to cheat on me!" Cedric's face flushed with anger at the mention of Austin.Sean teased him, "Now that's not fair. Haven't you strayed from Sophie more times than you can count? And let's not forget, you and Vivienne even have a son old enough to stir the pot."Cedric's lips twitched, but finding no retort, he just drank in silence. Two bottles of wine were quickly emptied, with
Jeanna's eyes formed a seductive curve, her gaze akin to a siren's, captivating the three men. They believed they had an easy target, but her mocking, alluring lips soon parted with a tease. "Guys, your pick-up lines are so outdated. Got anything fresh? I prefer men with a creative spark!"Her once-alluring face turned icy in an instant. The men exchanged knowing glances and departed with meaningful strides.Dismissing them with contempt, Jeanna seized her freshly served orange juice and took two big sips, oblivious to the small pill dropped into it during her dramatic change of expression.Sean observed the scene with amusement and thought, 'As the saying goes, beauty without brains.'Indeed, she did not realize she had been drugged.Soon, Jeanna's head spun, a strange warmth spreading through her. Instinctively, she suspected the orange juice and cursed under her breath, "Damn it, resorting to such lowly tactics!"Abruptly, she placed a bill on the bar and unsteadily rose from
The grandiose suite was bathed in warm sunlight streaming through the curtains the following morning. The silk duvet lay half-slipped onto the carpet, glowing in the soft light.Loud knocks at the door abruptly shattered the tranquility. Jeanna, blissfully asleep until now, stirred restlessly, her long legs entangled with the muscular figure beside her.The relentless pounding intensified as if someone was on the verge of breaking down the door."What's with this hotel? Can't one recover from jet lag in peace?" Jeanna mumbled, her eyes still closed.Guided by the noise, she shuffled toward the door, half-opening her eyelids and fumbling for her clothes. Annoyed, she yanked the door open. "Have you no manners? It's barely morning! Do you know how tired I was last night? Keep it up, and the police will hear about this!"With that, she slammed the door, intent on returning to her beauty sleep.But before she could retreat, the knocking resumed, more insistent than before. Seething,
"Someone reported illicit sexual activities occurring here.""Hey, you there. Let them know it was me who bought your services last night!" Jeanna declared, her face reddening with determination.In modern times, being seen as the buyer rather than the seller was far preferable."You hiring me? Ha! Officers, I'm the owner of this club and the rightful second heir of the Cheshire family. Do you really think a woman could hire me?"The officers exchanged puzzled looks, realizing they were confronting Sean, the infamous second Cheshire heir."So, obviously, I was the one who hired her.""Absolutely not! It was me who paid you!"Jeanna's anger boiled over, her words laced with fury, but she was cut short by a police officer's command, "Take them both away!"In the eyes of the law, the distinction between buyer and seller was irrelevant, as the consequences remained the same.Pushed into the police car, Sean glanced at his robe-clad self, and his expression turned grim. Being led a
Tristan looked up in surprise. As if struck by a sudden thought, he glanced at Cherry, who was writhing in pain, and timidly asked, "Can I go to the hospital to help?""You need to stay home and help Cherry get a leave from school tomorrow. Be good and stay here. Trust Daddy. Cherry will be fine." Cedric's words seemed to soothe Tristan's anxiety.Avoiding Cedric’s gaze, Tristan obediently nodded. 'Cherry will surely be fine.'-The Bentley sped along the road and soon arrived at the hospital.Cedric held Cherry the entire time, while Sophie handled the paperwork. Their seamless cooperation made them seem like a perfectly ordinary married couple."Mr. Carlson, Mrs. Carlson, the child has gastritis and needs to be hospitalized for treatment," the emergency physician explained after examining Cherry, jotting down the diagnosis in the medical record.Sophie's face turned pale. 'Gastritis? How could it be so severe?'"Can she recover?" Cedric asked with a frown, his sudden intimida
In Imperium, hardly anyone else would dare yell at Cedric like this. Cedric's eyes narrowed dangerously, his shoulders radiating a cold aura. However, traces of helplessness and doting affection softened his expression. Despite his reluctance, he eventually turned aside cooperatively.Sophie couldn't help but smile. 'It's no wonder some people believe that daughters are their fathers' lovers from a previous life. If it were anyone else, Cedric would have likely thrown them out the window by now.'She lifted Cherry's clothes to reveal her round belly and gently massaged it in circles with her fingers. Taking the opportunity, she also gave Cherry a gentle reminder, "How many times has Mommy told you not to eat so much? But you never listen. Now you know how it feels when you overeat, huh?""Mommy, could you not rub salt in my wounds?" Cherry's face was scrunched up in pain. Her pitiful and aggrieved expression instantly silenced Sophie, who decided to save the scolding for when Cherry
Cedric kissed Sophie’s rosy cheeks, preparing to take things to the next level, when a knock on the door interrupted them at a crucial moment.His expression darkened immediately. No man liked being interrupted at such a time, and it had happened repeatedly."Who is it?" Sophie grabbed the blanket beside her to cover her exposed chest, her hoarse voice betraying her recent passion."Ms. Luxford... It's me." Tristan's low voice came from the other side of the door.'Tristan?' Sophie looked at the man beside her, surprised. She had assumed it was Cherry again, but unexpectedly...Gathering her scattered clothes from the floor, Sophie dressed quickly. Ensuring there was nothing inappropriate between her and Cedric, she got out of bed and walked toward the door.Tristan stood there, head down, fingers fidgeting, indicating urgency. As soon as the door opened, he looked up anxiously and said, "Ms. Luxford, could you go check on Cherry? She seems unwell.""Cherry is unwell?" The flush
"This birthday brings me a lot of happiness."Sophie grasped the deeper implications of his words. The blush on her cheeks faded slightly, and the initial flutter of excitement mingled with a touch of sadness. No one could predict what Jeff's condition would be like by her next birthday.Cedric shifted the topic, pouring the already decanted red wine into a tall glass and handing it to her. "Just one glass. This is for your private birthday celebration. Happy birthday."The intoxicating aroma of the wine was irresistible. She stopped resisting and held her glass up to gently clink against his, producing a clear, melodious sound that resonated beautifully in the quiet room.The rich wine slid down her throat, soothing her tense nerves. Her tightly held shoulders relaxed, and her racing heart found a semblance of peace. She had once believed she would never fall for Cedric again, but looking back, she realized that all her hatred had been rooted in love.He had transformed love into
Cedric seemed to know exactly what Sophie was nervous about. He raised his eyebrows suggestively, causing her to blush and quickly look away.What had happened between them lingered in the air, irrevocable.Jeff squinted, watching their subtle gestures with satisfaction. Smiling contentedly, he struggled to his feet with the help of his cane. These two had already reached a natural conclusion, and there was no need for him to exaggerate his illness any longer."Mommy, I still have homework to do. I'm heading to my room," Cherry announced, her bright eyes glancing at Tristan. She couldn't beat him at Taekwondo, but she was determined to outshine him in the midterm exams!"I’m going upstairs too," Tristan added, surprised by her sudden focus. He hesitated for a moment before quickly following her up the stairs.Melissa had long lost her patience. Without a word, she dragged Matthew upstairs, letting out a disdainful snort as they left.What had been a lively living room now left So
"Okay."Understanding Cherry’s impatience, Sophie smiled and gently pulled away from Cedric’s embrace. She clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and made a wish.She hoped for her family's safety, health, and happiness. She wished that her parents and sister were living comfortably in another world. And she wished that she and Cedric would have a happy ending, free from past mistakes.After silently making her wishes, she blew out the flickering candles in one breath.The room filled with the faint scent of melted wax."We can eat the cake now!" Cherry beamed with joy, eagerly carrying the cake to the dining table.Her impatience made Jeff laugh heartily, his eyes crinkling with delight as he stroked his beard. "Alright, let’s start eating before this little girl drools all over the table."Sophie took her seat, glancing at Cedric, who still held her hand tightly. Her smile widened as she playfully scolded him, "Why didn’t you tell me on the way here?""If I told you, ho
Although Sophie's mind was brimming with questions, she couldn’t help but smile at Cedric's words. She looked down at their intertwined hands, feeling the warmth of his palm. Whether it was a perfect match or a union made in heaven, it all required two hearts in love. With love, even amidst turbulence, they would find the courage to move forward together.Before long, the Bentley smoothly pulled into the Carlson residence.Jeff immediately smiled and waved upon their arrival. "Soph, come over here."Sophie approached, noticing that Mrs. Carrie had prepared a table full of dishes. She couldn’t help but feel puzzled. "Grandpa, what has made you so happy? Why did you ask Mrs. Carrie to make so much delicious food?""Silly girl, did you forget what day it is today?"Jeff's loving yet mischievous smile left her momentarily bewildered. Then her eyes widened in surprise. With everything going on with Linda, she had completely forgotten her own birthday!"Happy birthday." Cedric had quie
Fearing that staying any longer would only worsen the situation, Linda quickly opened the door and walked out.Fenix stood there, confusion gradually replacing the determination in his eyes."What’s wrong with marrying me?" he asked Sophie, genuinely puzzled.'I’m the CEO of Cheshire Group. I’m not unattractive, and marrying me would make her legally protected as Mrs. Cheshire. Why am I being rejected?'Sophie coughed awkwardly, gaining a deeper understanding of Fenix. Sean had navigated the world of romance with ease, but Fenix seemed as naive in matters of the heart as a child."Am I really that bad?"Seeing that Fenix was still fixated on why he was rejected, Sophie shook her head. "Feelings are different from business. It’s not about racing against time or weighing benefits. You can’t apply business tactics to relationships. Spending a lifetime together requires a foundation of love.""Foundation of love? You and Cedric grew up together. You had a good foundation, but it was
Sophie's suspicion was right. Fenix was not one to easily abandon his target. After Linda ignored countless calls, he took the initiative to find her."Mr. Cheshire, Linda really isn't in the office right now," the secretary tried to block him, but it was futile against a determined man, especially one exuding an intimidating chill."Then I’ll find Sophie.""But Ms. Luxford, she—" Before the secretary could finish, Fenix's long legs had already taken him to Sophie's office door.He knocked twice before pushing it open. The secretary looked like she was about to cry. "Ms. Luxford, I’m sorry, I couldn’t stop Mr. Cheshire.""It’s fine. Go make Mr. Cheshire a cup of coffee," Sophie said.Seeing Fenix barge in, she raised an eyebrow, smiled, and glanced at Linda, who was hiding in her office. "Have a seat and let's talk.""No need. I have to catch a flight soon." Fenix cut straight to the point, his determined eyes fixed on Linda as he said firmly, "I need an answer from you.""Mr.