Joseph propped up his chin with one hand, his gaze icy and piercing as it landed on Chloe's face.His tone brooked no opposition as he commanded, "From now on, stay away from Icarus."Confused, Chloe protested, "But why? Nothing happened between us, and I don't have any feelings for him.""You might not, but I can see clearly that he has feelings for you." Joseph furrowed his brow, his gaze bereft of emotion. "Or do you simply enjoy being admired by others?""If you can see that I have no such feelings for Icarus, why can't you trust me?""Hah!" Joseph sneered, his nostrils flaring with disdain. "If there truly is nothing between you, then you should maintain your distance from him. Don't think for a moment that I'm unaware of your intentions. You're keeping him as a backup plan, ready to go to him as soon as you leave me. Those occasional dates with him only serve to reinforce that fact."Chloe met Joseph's cold gaze, her frustration was evident as she explained, "No, that's not
Chloe stood there, her mouth agape, as she watched the man in front of the computer fully immerse himself in his work.With a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her, she picked up the scattered documents from the floor and slammed the door shut as she left.In the marketing department, there were only a few people remaining, including Wendy. However, she was already packing up. She glanced at the Estrenian documents in Chloe's hands, and a perplexed expression appeared on her face."Do you need to translate these?" she asked."Yes, Ms. Wendy," Chloe replied."But isn't that Translations’ job? Who assigned you this task?" Wendy questioned.Chloe clenched her teeth and forced a smile on her face. "Apart from Mr. Joseph, who else has the authority to do so?"Still perplexed, Wendy asked, "Doesn't Mr. Joseph know that you belong to Marketing? It must have been a misunderstanding. Just explain it to him.""He knows." Chloe sighed, not wanting to delve further into the matter. "Ms
Hearing the pleading voice on the other end of the phone, Chloe hesitated for a moment before agreeing to the delivery man.Following the instructions he gave her, Chloe stepped out of Fairlight, only to be instantly assaulted by a gust of cold and damp wind. The icy tendrils cut through her clothing, causing a shiver to run down her spine.After walking about half a mile, she arrived at a residential building. Despite the inviting glow, a sense of unease washed over her. With a flicker of wariness crossing her beautiful face, she made a quick and decisive decision. She halted in her tracks and, trusting her instincts, hung up the phone. Without wasting another moment, she turned around and doubled back to Fairlight.Chloe quickened her pace, her high heels splashing up water from puddles on the road. In her haste, a misstep threatened to send her tumbling to the ground, but she managed to regain her balance just in time.Yet, as if guided by an unseen force, she inexplicably turne
Upon hearing this, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their gaze toward Joseph.Lucas walked over and opened the door to the cubicle, allowing Chloe and Jake to step out.Jake stood frozen in shock, never expecting the unexpected savior to be Joseph.Chloe hurriedly ran to Joseph's side and complained, "Jojo, this woman is evil. If you had come five minutes later, I wouldn’t see you anymore.""Shut up! That was not what happened!" Jane scolded loudly. She had only wanted to teach this despicable woman a lesson. She had no intention of causing a fatal incident."Jojo, I'm so scared. She's envious of what we have. She hates that she can't have it. She wants to destroy me and replace me!" Chloe disregarded Jane's presence and pressed on, her voice quivering and her countenance twisted with anguish, evoking a heart-wrenching sight.No one could accurately foresee events that had yet to unfold. The fact that Jane dared to openly pursue Chloe with a group of intimidating
Lucas acted swiftly, bringing the car over within five minutes.Jake's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the Rolls-Royce before him. ‘This car looks familiar.’After Chloe ended their relationship, she had been sitting in this car with an older man occupying the front seat. This meant that this car belonged to Joseph, and the so-called older man driving in the front seat was most likely just the driver!Jake's gaze remained fixed on Lucas, who sat in the driver's seat. Unable to shake himself out of his stupor, he allowed rainwater to splash onto his face. In a sudden surge of frustration, he lifted his hand and delivered a sharp slap to his own cheek, startling Lucas.Lucas turned to Joseph seated in the back and inquired, "Sir, how should we deal with him?""Ignore him," Joseph instructed without so much as looking up."Understood."With Lucas pressing down on the accelerator, the car sped off, creating a cascade of water that splashed onto Jake, drenching him from hea
"Sir, we’re here," Lucas announced as he parked the car, interrupting Chloe's unspoken words.Joseph exited the car first, and when he turned his head around, he noticed Chloe's ill-fitting shoes."Change your shoes when we get inside," he instructed.Chloe had lost her shoes while escaping from Jane. She was now wearing a pair that Joseph kept in the trunk as a spare.Curious, she swallowed her words and asked instead, "Were these shoes meant for me?""Grandpa had someone purchase daily necessities for you so that you can come back here and stay whenever you want," Joseph explained.Chloe's eyes sparkled with delight, and she smiled radiantly. "Grandpa is so considerate."Joseph harrumphed coldly. 'Considerate? It's all part of his plan to have you get pregnant!'As the car came to a halt, Jane hurriedly rushed into the house, contrasting the relaxed atmosphere that Joseph and Chloe exuded. She frantically searched for Harold, eager to share her discovery.Meanwhile, Harold w
"That's because I like you!" Jane exclaimed, her gaze fixated on their intertwined hands, her eyes ablaze with fury. "If I didn't like you, why would I go out of my way to help you?"Chloe sighed and rubbed her temples, feeling a sense of disbelief. The silver lining in all of this was that her connection with Joseph was solely contractual. If they were a genuine couple, even individuals with the most composed and patient temperaments would find themselves tested by such relentless provocation. It would not be surprising if they ended up engaged in a heated argument with Jane."I understand your feelings for Joseph, and he should be happy about it. However, the reality is that he’s already married. You don't have to hold on to him. There are plenty of other men in the world, and I'm confident that you can find someone who is truly compatible with you.""But she cheated on Joseph. How can you let her off the hook just like that, Grandpa?"Chloe frowned, taking a few steps forward. "
Jane suddenly looked up at Joseph as if she found this to be unimaginable. "What did you say?" Joseph sneered and said slowly, "I don't mind repeating myself if your hearing is bad." Richard's expression changed drastically. He could no longer sit still. "Joseph, it's true that Jane is at fault, but you can't step out of line!" 'It’d be a great humiliation to my family if my dear daughter kneels over and begs for that poor girl's forgiveness. If word about it gets out, how will the family continue living on in Aesper?' Similarly, Harold found this to be slightly inappropriate, but he remained silent. "You want to go to such lengths to protect her? What's so good about her? You treat me this way for her sake, but I'm the one who grew up with you!""You lied and slandered her. And you found fault with her repeatedly. Do you think my people are easy to bully?" When Jane heard Joseph claiming Chloe to be one of his people, she felt as if an invisible hand had grabbed hold of h
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