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,
Nephew?Joseph’s brows knitted together as he replied, "I don't have a nephew."At that moment, it felt as if a tightly wound string in Chloe's mind had snapped. Her mind went blank, leaving her with an empty stare and a vacant gaze, devoid of expression. She stood there in a daze, completely lost in her own confusion.Three months' worth of memories spun through her mind like a carousel. She became acutely aware that many things had left traces and evidence. It was her own eagerness that had led her to overlook them.‘So why did Jake mention an ambiguous relationship between me and his uncle?’As her thoughts slowly churned, the name Icarus flashed through her mind.‘Distant relatives...‘Senior…’Chloe's breath caught in her throat, and she wished she could slap herself hard for her foolishness.Joseph noticed Chloe's abnormality and grasped her shoulders with both hands. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?""I…I'm fine," she stammered."If you're feeling unwell, let’s
Joseph exuded an air of laziness as he lounged on the sofa, his face partially concealed by the angle of the photo.Yet, even with only half of his face visible, his captivating presence was enough to enchant anyone who laid eyes on him.Upon seeing the handsome guy, Emily's mind cleared up a bit. "Isn't this the handsome guy we encountered at the bar who was with Jake's uncle that day?"Chloe's anger was written all over her face. "What did you say?"Perplexed, Emily repeated, "What's the matter? He's the guy we met at the bar. I also met him at the class reunion the other day. Honestly, you could make a move on him if you weren't so fixated on seeking revenge against that despicable couple."Even during the short encounter at the bar, Joseph’s charisma remained undeniable. He emitted an aura of elegance and exceptional grace. While others might have been easily forgotten, he possessed the ability to leave a lasting impression."Stop it..." Chloe was on the verge of tears. She t
"Grandpa just had a heart attack. Come to the hospital now."Chloe's pupils instantly constricted. Without thinking about anything else, she immediately agreed, "Okay."Forty minutes later, she arrived at the hospital. Through the glass window, she could see Harold lying in the emergency room with an oxygen tube inserted into his nose and a pale face devoid of color.This sight made Chloe’s heart tighten. "Why did Grandpa suddenly have a heart attack?"Joseph remained expressionless and said, "He went to play an escape room with some friends, and he got frightened.""That's it?""Mm-hm.""Sigh…" Chloe touched her nose and replied, "Grandpa still has the heart of a child.""Where are the family members of the patient? The patient has awakened," a nurse said as she emerged from the ward.Joseph glanced at Chloe. "Let's go in.""Okay."The two of them entered the ward one after the other. When Harold saw them, a gentle smile graced his aging face. "I'm fine. Patrick was just be
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Chloe asked, unable to comprehend his gaze. "I believe I've warned you more than once to stay away from men of questionable character," Joseph said. "He's my friend," Chloe retorted, feeling a bit displeased. "You're not just an individual anymore. You're my wife, and you represent not only yourself but also the Whitmans and Fairlight," Joseph said sternly.Chloe felt a shiver run down her spine. She lowered her head and weakly responded, "You now acknowledge me as the Whitmans' daughter-in-law? Why didn't you tell me that before? Were you afraid I was after your family's wealth?" "Have I ever hidden anything from you or deliberately kept you uninformed?" Joseph replied with displeasure. 'It was your own stupidity for not realizing it.'"Well… You didn't…"Joseph snorted with an air of arrogance and said, "Act within your capabilities, and don't go overboard. Can you find a better place than Fairlight?"'Can you find a man better tha
Chloe blinked, confusion written all over her face as she asked, "Does this mean you're terminating my contract?""There have been changes to your job responsibilities," he stated firmly, enunciating each word with emphasis. "You are to report to the custodial department starting tomorrow."Chloe's eyes widened slightly, and she forced a dry smile, "You must be joking with me, right?""No, I’m not," Joseph replied.'I’ve been too nice to her. She needs to be taught a lesson for quitting her job without any legit reason!'Chloe's expression froze."You want me to work as a janitor?!" she asked, her voice thick with disbelief.'Seriously? Is he out of his mind?'While she was open to a change in her job role, the idea of becoming a janitor was difficult for her to accept."Well, there's a chance you can come back to your original department, but that'll depend on your performance," Joseph said casually, admiring her gradually changing expression with an indifferent glance. His t
Joseph pondered for a moment and answered thoughtfully, "Of course not."Chloe's spirits lifted visibly, her vitality returning. "Really?""Yes, a maid is far more diligent and obedient than you."Chloe was speechless.Joseph chuckled softly. 'But your position is slightly higher than that of a housemaid.'To put it bluntly, he had considered her to be beneath even a maid. The definition of a maid was someone who cooked well and was hardworking.The first meal she had cooked was disastrous. She even ended up in the hospital after eating it.After that, she enrolled in a culinary class. She was clever, and she managed to cook relatively delicious meals within less than a month. And now, he had grown accustomed to her cooking.He had enjoyed extravagant meals since he was young, and honestly, her cooking was not exceptionally delicious. However, for some inexplicable reason, every time he ate the food she made, a surge of warmth welled up within him.Chloe had no idea what Josep
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