Joseph's eyes darkened with a hint of sadness, and his voice took on a gravelly tone. "She mostly stayed home and only had a few friends. As for photos, those are rare. She didn't enjoy being in front of a camera. We only have a few pictures of her at home."His mother mostly kept to herself and had only a few whom she called friends. She had been somewhat of an introvert. Unlike the socialite wives often seen arm-in-arm with their husbands, his mom had an independent mindset. She had established her own brand and was extraordinarily unconventional for her time, which was what had fascinated Cyrus so much.Realizing that Joseph had missed her point, Chloe explained, "What I mean is has Xavia ever seen old photos of your mother."After pondering for a moment, Joseph answered, "No, she hasn't.""Hmm…" Chloe frowned. "That doesn't make sense...""You're suggesting that Xavia altered her face to resemble my mother, aren't you?""Yeah.""How could she have imitated my mother's appear
Chloe gave a little hmph. "Fine, I'll be generous and let this one slide. Now, let's think about how to check on Iris' mole. Maybe you can seduce her."Joseph grinned as his gaze softened. "Won’t you be jealous?""Of course, I will be. But sometimes you have to risk the pawn to win the game," Chloe whispered playfully. She curled her finger and beckoned him closer. "Listen up. I have a plan."Reluctantly, Joseph leaned. The lingering scent of Chloe's bath filled the air as he moved closer. He watched her lips as she laid out her thoughts, and her fragrance chased away his headache. He enjoyed hearing her speak. She loved having her by his side.*Lucas had taken the next few days off for personal reasons starting this afternoon. Before heading out, he sent a message in the Whitman Group managerial chat.Lucas: [Mr. Joseph has a business trip tomorrow and needs two people from Finance to go with him. Please sort this out, @Finance Manager.]Finance Manager: [Two people? Can the t
Outside, a storm was gathering. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, signaling today would be anything but calm. At Docwood City's premier elite academy, the rain prohibited outdoor activities, so the students spent their break time in their classrooms.Jasper had grown taller. His eyebrows had become more prominent and the innocence that once filled his eyes had faded a little. Sitting in the second row with a thick book in hand, he radiated an aura that differed from his classmates. He looked composed—like a mature young man. It was only when he was near Chloe would he become a carefree kid."Jas, did your parents really make up?" Timmy asked.Jasper put down his book, and his face lit up. "Absolutely. We even went on a family vacation.""But I heard...that your dad may be seeing someone else..."Jasper's face turned to ice. "Stop spreading lies. My parents are very happy together."Taking a bite of his chocolate cake, Timmy said cautiously, "I'm not lying. I heard it. I'm te
Two hours later, Chloe arrived at Jasper’s school. She got out of the car and hurried to the teachers' building. Upon seeing Jasper next to a little girl who was sobbing uncontrollably, her eyes puffy and discolored, Chloe quickly scanned Jasper and let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thankfully, he appeared unharmed."What's going on here, miss?"Caught off guard, the teacher turned around and asked, "Ms. Chloe? Where's Mr. Joseph?""He's away on a business trip. You can talk to me about any issues."Suddenly, the little girl's sobs escalated into near shrieks. "See, Teacher?! I told you! Jasper's dad is away on a business trip with a woman from his workplace. He’s abandoning Jasper!"‘So that's what happened...’ thought Chloe, her expression changing as she immediately understood the situation. She looked at Jasper and noticed his deepening gaze. The boy was really beginning to resemble his father.The teacher had an awkward expression. "Children say such nonsense. It was Maya's fa
Steve hurriedly nodded in agreement. "Yes, you’re absolutely right. I failed to educate Maya properly, and it has caused you trouble. I’m so sorry."Chloe's expression became one of utter surprise. She had been gearing up for a verbal battle, not expecting him to confess to his faults so easily. This left her puzzled.Hearing Steve’s openness to admitting his errors, the teacher regarded him with newfound respect. She thought, ‘He who understands the times is a great man.’She then said, "Mr. Steve, I think Maya would do well to follow your example and apologize to Jasper for her mistake too.”"Yes, of course," Steve immediately agreed and ushered his daughter forward. He whispered, "Apologize to your classmate, Maya."The little girl was thrown off. She then squawked like an indignant bird, "But Daddy! I was the one who got hit!""Watch your tone, young miss. You are not to speak to me that way." Steve’s expression became stern. "Your mistake is yours alone, and Jasper is in the
Chloe realized that Jasper had misunderstood. After some pondering, she concluded that letting the little boy see for himself that his father was not the man gossip made him out to be would do no harm. Seeing for oneself was certainly more convincing than any explanation she could give. She could sense that Maya’s words had placed a heavy weight on Jasper.Having cleared her work schedule the day before and knowing that Joseph's business trip was not too far away, she figured the trip there was viable. Above all, she wanted to confirm whether Iris was indeed Xavia. She then pulled over, took out her phone, and changed the destination in her navigation app.The rain outside grew heavier, obscuring the windows with streaks of water. Throughout the ride, Jasper was lost in his thoughts, staring quietly out the window. Suddenly, Harold called."So, I heard you got into a fight at school, little one." The old man’s voice was warm and held no judgment.Jasper said in a voice tinged with
In the finance department, the peak workload was already dealt with. With their manager out, staff members were chatting casually."Do you think Iris and Mr. Joseph have reached their destination by now? I wonder what might be happening between them.”"Be careful what you say. The walls have ears.”"Ha! The manager is out, so who’s going to scold me? Didn't you text me about the same thing just last night? We're among friends. What's there to worry about?""What do you think will happen?"A firm, commanding voice that clearly did not belong to anyone in the finance department interjected, instantly quieting the room. All eyes turned toward the door as Patrick wheeled Harold in.Harold zeroed in on the gossipers.One of the employees nervously tried to explain, "Mr. Harold, I was just joking. Please don't be upset.""Yeah, it was just nonsensical chatter."They eyed Harold nervously, fearful for their jobs. They regretted their loose talk.Harold looked at them coldly and said
Iris' eyes flickered. "That should be possible. I've seen Mr. Joseph eating at the small restaurant downstairs before.""Let's head down first. By the time we're back, Mr. Joseph will likely be done, and we can then finish our business.""Got it."After their meal, Iris accepted some takeout from the restaurant owner, grinning as she said, "Thanks."The manager observed her actions and a knowing look crossed her face, yet she held her tongue.Back at the hotel, Iris nonchalantly told the manager, "Ma’am, you've had a long day too. How about you take a rest? I'll bring Mr. Joseph his dinner.""All right, go ahead."The manager watched as Iris walked away, clicking her tongue audibly. 'She looks so innocent and naive. But in reality? This is all a seduction ploy.’Still, Mr. Joseph's recent actions were somewhat perplexing. He might genuinely have an interest in this young lady.*In her room, Iris slipped into a set of pajamas—a white dress with long straps, cut just low enoug
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