After resting at home for a few days, Chloe's period passed.The next day was the final day of her holiday. She planned to go shopping and enjoy a meal with Emily. Before she went out, she informed Joseph and told him to have dinner on his own.When Joseph read that message, he snorted. ‘She just recovered, and she already can’t stay still. She just has to go out.’Samuel put the drafted contract in front of Joseph. "Check it out. See if there's anything you want to add."Joseph picked up the document and quickly read through it. Just then, Lucas came in with two boxes of cookies. When he noticed that Samuel was around, he smiled and greeted Samuel."Mr. Joseph, Liam from the data department got married to Tina from the translation department. These are the cookies they gave out."Hearing that, Joseph glanced at the boxes of cookies. His voice turned cold and low. "Add another condition. She's prohibited from engaging in workplace love affairs."As a result, Samuel was at a loss
When Ava caught up to Adam, she heard him address Chloe as his sister.She stared at Chloe fiercely. Feeling frightened, a cold shiver ran down her spine. "What did you call her?""Sis. She's older than me, so I should address her politely."What Adam said sounded right. He was wearing sports attire and had dreadlocks, appearing like a bad youth. Hence, it was rather horrifying to hear him obediently address Chloe as his sister.However, Chloe rolled her eyes. He did not say such a thing when he teased her a few days ago."How did you guys get acquainted with each other?"Adam averted his gaze. "I got to know Ava at my dad's company. Why do you ask so many questions?"Gentleness appeared on Ava's face. She suppressed her deep shock and forced herself to calm down. "I'm sure you don't know that I'm Chloe's older sister.""I'm aware of that."'I also know that you guys bullied Chloe and drove her away.'Of course, it was Alexander who told Adam about this after Alexander learne
Chloe's hair stood on end from inexplicable fear.She shook her head and covered her stomach. "You go on ahead. I need to use the washroom.""There's a washroom in the bedroom.""No, I'm used to—"But before Chloe could finish her sentence, she gave a short cry.Joseph had suddenly scooped her up. She lost balance and instinctively held onto his neck.A hint of wickedness dawned on Joseph's handsome countenance. He put his thin lips to her ear and spoke in a voice only both of them could hear. "You like goading me into action so much. Well, I'll grant your wish today. Let’s see if I can do it or not."His masculine scent engulfed her as his warm breath tickled her ear. She instantly blushed. Even her earlobes turned slightly pink. She stared at him motionlessly, but through his beady black eyes, she could not tell if he was joking, trying to scare her.She had tried all means to seduce him for such a long time. But if they really were to do something, she was an inexperienced n
The moment they were about to indulge in their desires, the phone on the bedside cabinet rang.Originally filled with desire, Joseph’s lustful eyes cleared. He gazed at the woman whose clothes he had torn off before he abruptly regained his composure. He then got out of bed and walked into the bathroom with his phone.With a loud “Bang,” the door slammed shut. The whole wall seemed to shake along with the slamming. It was filled with a tinge of inexplicable fury and helplessness.This scene was unexpected.Stunned, Chloe remained in bed for a long time. She lowered her head to take a look when she heard the shower turn on.‘That’s pretty big. What's wrong with him? Is he dissatisfied with me? Was I that bad?'Suddenly, immense shame and defeat overwhelmed her when she recalled how she had taken the initiative earlier. Her eyes turned red as she smoothed her clothes and stormed out of the bedroom.Harold had already left and was no longer downstairs.She heaved a grievous sigh.
Chloe took the bus to Baxon, her mind lost in a daze.It was a day before she started work again.The security guard and janitor on the ground floor were engrossed in idle chatter."How's your relative doing? Did she end up getting a divorce?""She did. Life has become challenging for her. Without proper education, she's now single-handedly raising two children. I remember advising her against leaving back then, but she chose not to listen. She regrets making that decision, but there's nothing she can do about it now.""Sigh, in my opinion, her husband makes well over 150 grand every year. Despite his bad temper, he hasn't made any significant mistakes that would undermine their relationship. If they hadn't got a divorce, they wouldn't be burdened with financial worries. It's a shame that it's the children who will bear the brunt of it.""It's just how it goes. Young folks tend to act on impulse. It's tough to convince them otherwise."As they carried on with their sporadic conv
"No, thank you. I’ve already found a job with a good salary," Chloe responded, taking a sip of water."So quickly? Which company?" Icarus expressed his surprise."It's a small company...""Your qualifications are remarkable. Why settle for a small company?" Harry interjected, “I can connect you with some great job opportunities. Don't let your prime years go to waste.""He's right. While small companies can serve as stepping stones, joining a larger corporation offers better prospects for long-term growth.""Yeah, Chloe. Don't be too impulsive in your decisions."Hearing their advice, Chloe’s heart warmed. However, deep down, she understood that it was her inability to act impulsively that led her to accept Joseph's arrangement. Nevertheless, she sincerely cherished their genuine concern."I will and I have indeed given it careful consideration. I won't make any impulsive moves," Chloe replied, a mischievous smile gracing her face as her eyes sparkled like stars. "I’m fully awar
Icarus let out a chuckle, feeling dazzled by the sight of Lucas and attributing it to a trick of the eyes.He took a deep breath, composed himself, and resumed walking toward the front desk."Hi, Table 8 just settled the payment," the staff informed Icarus, catching him off guard. His immediate thought was that it must be Chloe, but when he returned to his seat, she was nowhere to be found."Where’s Chloe?" Icarus asked, his voice thick with concern.Harry shrugged, indicating he did not know. "Lily’s finding out.""But weren’t you here earlier, Lily?""The heat was killing me, so I went to the nearby store to buy an ice cream. When I came back, Chloe was already gone," Lily explained, pulling out her phone. "I'll call and ask her. Maybe she went to the restroom."Icarus's eyes narrowed slightly. "Chloe has had quite a few drinks. The alcohol should be kicking in right now."*On the highway.Chloe nestled into the comfort of the car's back seat, her mind abuzz like a train z
Chloe braced herself against the discomfort in her stomach and sat up straight to examine the contract.However, the swift movements of the car hurtling through the darkness, coupled with an abrupt break from Lucas, nearly caused her to vomit right then and there.Chloe retracted her hand that was poised to switch on the overhead light. She hunched over, covering her mouth with one hand, while flipping the contract to the last page. Despite the dim light, she located the signature area and swiftly signed her name.As a solitary woman, she had nothing to offer to those with greedy intentions. Moreover, even if Joseph harbored any intentions of enforcing unjust conditions, he would find it futile. After all, the terms of her salary had been mutually agreed upon from the get-go.Chloe handed over the contract, immediately closing her eyes in an attempt to suppress her rising nausea. She moved swiftly as if purposefully avoiding any interaction with Joseph.His handsome face darkened,
After Chloe calmed herself, she realized that the place she was in resembled the villa she lived in while overseas five years ago. However, upon closer inspection, the exterior scenery was different. She realized something and froze."Did you build a villa identical to the one I stayed in five years ago?" she asked.Noah was busy bandaging himself. Upon hearing her question, he replied, "Yeah, doesn't it look almost identical?"Chloe's gaze swept over every item in the room, and she admitted that she was touched. She turned back to Noah and looked at him gently as if she had returned to the time when she simply treated him as a little brother."How did you convince Tiffany to cooperate with you?"Tiffany had made her move while Noah distracted Desmond."I just told her about it, and she agreed."Chloe asked, "Do you think you’re treating her fairly?"Noah said flatly, "I’ll compensate her."Compensate? How? Chloe thought that youth was the most precious thing in the world, but
In the Whitman family home, Joseph went to deal with a bunch of urgent company matters after putting Jasper to sleep. By the time he finished, it was already past three in the morning. He contemplated calling Chloe to ask about Noah's situation, but thinking it might disrupt her sleep, he abandoned the idea.When Joseph woke up the next day, it was already half past six. He recalled Chloe mentioning that Exotic Star had a new product launching today and that she would have to wake up early. He reached for his phone on the table, intending to call her.However, his hand slipped and the phone fell to the floor. The loud thud caused his heart to tremble. He stared at the shattered phone screen as he got a bad feeling. He grabbed his spare phone and quickly dialed Chloe's number. After ringing for some time, a cold, mechanical voice informed him that there was no one available to answer at the moment. Without hesitation, he immediately headed to the Sullivan Manor. When Joseph got ther
“Yes, Grandpa, and I hope you won't stop me when the time comes," Noah said. "You're not discussing this with me. You're just informing me!" Desmond said exasperatedly. "I'm sorry, Grandpa.”Desmond hemmed and hawed for a long while, at a loss for words. He seemed to age ten years as he stared into the distance through the window. After a while, he said, "I've already had someone contact doctors abroad regarding your condition, so don't worry. All you have to do now is just focus on recovering. Don't give up so soon."Sensing Desmond's determination, Noah's eyes filled with tears. He too wished to spend a few more years with his grandfather.When they arrived at the Sullivan manor, the foreign doctors had replied. Upon learning that the renowned healer, Z, had treated Noah but only achieved limited success, they decided not to intervene.Noah was not discouraged by this. He comforted Desmond and said, "Grandpa, I would like to go abroad for a few days. It's been a long time sin
Half an hour later, Desmond and Noah walked out of the ward together.Desmond said, "The doctor told you to stay in the hospital for a few more days, so why don't you just listen? If something happens to you again, they can treat you immediately."Noah smiled warmly and said, "It's okay. The medical equipment at home is sufficient."Desmond sighed. It would be good if Noah stayed at home as well. At least there would be more pairs of eyes on him.Desmond instructed the driver to come to the hospital’s basement car park. When he hung up the phone, he looked around the corridor and wondered, "Wasn't Chloe just sitting here? Where is she?"Noah did not say anything and just lowered his head."And where's Tiffany too? Call her. We need to go home," Desmond said as he took his phone out to call Chloe.However, Chloe did not answer his call. Noah did not call Tiffany. Instead, he said, "Her brother had something to discuss with her, so he came by and brought her home. Maybe Chloe ha
Chloe looked at Tiffany and said sarcastically, "Not everyone is willing to contribute their entire life knowing that the other person doesn't like them."Tiffany had a heart problem. She might die at any moment, yet she chose to live around someone who did not love her back. Chloe often marveled at the greatness of love, but she would never possess such a sacrificial spirit.Tiffany laughed coldly. "It’s because I have compassion and you don't. When Xavia died before your eyes, you just coldly stared at her body."Chloe raised her head sharply, glared at Tiffany, and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Xavia took my child, stole my man, and wrecked my marriage! She nearly got me killed several times! If she hadn’t died, it might have been me! I should've celebrated her death with fireworks! None of you know what I've been through, so stop pointing fingers at me!"At first, she had felt responsible for Xavia's death, but she had since come to her senses. Xavia's death had nothing to
Desmond was taken aback that he even forgot his cane and almost tripped on the carpet. He quickly got back up and headed for the second floor. The butler immediately called for an ambulance while the other housekeepers guided the panicked guests away.Chloe furrowed her brows, following Desmond into Noah's bedroom. The curtains were drawn tightly, blocking out all light. But just standing at the door, one could detect the strong scent of rust from inside.A helper flipped a switch, and the room was flooded with light. The wooden furniture was neatly arranged while neatly folded clothes sat on the sofa.Chloe looked around but did not see Noah. She then looked toward the bathroom and her face sank.Tiffany pointed to the bathroom and said, "He's in there."Desmond trembled as he pushed open the bathroom door. Inside was a mess, with red stains covering the floor. Noah was in the bathtub, his wet clothes clinging to his body. His arms hung limply over the tub's edge, and his head sl
Chloe did not know how to answer."Say something. You wanted her dead, right? Are you happy now that she is dead?!” Kenneth shouted angrily at her, his eyes bloodshot and his gaze piercing.He was so loud that it drew the attention of many nearby. Callum and Joseph rushed over, and Joseph shielded Chloe behind him. He pushed Kenneth back several steps and said sternly, "Never speak of that woman in front of Chloe again. Otherwise, there'll be consequences!""Hah! Are you protecting a murderer?" Kenneth laughed. "Oh yeah, you’re both responsible for Xavia's death after all."Smack!Callum slapped Kenneth across the face, instantly silencing him. "Get a grip, Ken! Xavia deserved to die. Stop embarrassing yourself in front of Chloe.”Kenneth held his face as he muttered, "Yeah, you're right… Xavia should’ve died. She was evil. She deceived and took advantage of me… She should die..."Then why was he so tormented over her death? He could not sleep or eat. He knew Xavia deserved th
Joseph frowned. "Of course not. Her death has nothing to do with you. Promise me you won’t think such thoughts."The unexpected turn of events caught both Chloe and him off guard. Xavia clearly wanted to haunt Chloe forever by killing herself in front of her. Although he felt shocked, he was not deeply shaken. After all, he had not witnessed Xavia's jump, and Xavia probably thought that the third floor was not enough to kill her. After all, being in the hospital for treatment was better than being detained by the police.Chloe looked at Joseph with vacant eyes and smiled bitterly. "You're right. It’s good that she's finally dead. She got what she deserved, and I should be happy," she said."Exactly. Even if she didn't jump, the police would’ve arrested her," Joseph said gently, "It's my fault for asking you to buy us some time. If she comes back as a ghost to haunt you, I'll stop her."Joseph, Tyson, and a few officers had arrived just moments after Xavia jumped. He had brought a g
Everyone erupted into gasps. As a deafening crash came from below, the staff scattered. Some ran downstairs to try and rescue Iris. Some who had rushed to the windows shouted anxiously, "She's still alive!"Everyone around Chloe was running as her mind was filled with an endless ringing. The whole world became a blur. She never imagined that things would end like this. The meeting hall was on the third floor. It was not too high, but it could be fatal if one were to land on their head. Everyone's accusatory gaze fell on Chloe, and the crowd started to murmur."Damn, how could she do this to Iris? Do you think she’ll be haunted by nightmares tonight?""Yeah, why does she insist that Iris is Xavia?""What if Iris dies? Won’t Ms. Chloe indirectly become a murderer?""Do you think Iris will come for revenge in the middle of the night when she dies?"Something inside Chloe snapped, and she shouted, "It wasn't me! What she did has nothing to do with me!"Her outburst silenced the ro