After receiving a stern reprimand from Harold, Preston emerged from the room wearing a crestfallen expression, his lips sealed in silence.Jonathan quickly approached Preston, eagerly inquiring about the outcome. "Father, how did it go? Did Grandfather make any mention of expelling that woman?"With an air of self-satisfaction, Octavia chimed in, "That's right, honey. At his age, he surely wouldn't lose sight of what's important, right?""Ahem!" Before Preston could speak, Harold descended from upstairs. His eyes, clouded yet piercing, resonated with authority as he asked, "Have I ever lost sight of what's important?"Octavia chuckled awkwardly. "Dad, you’ve misunderstood. I didn't say anything..."Under Harold’s intimidating presence, Preston took a deep breath and announced, "From now on, Chloe is a member of our family."Jonathan was stunned. He did not know what kind of magic Chloe had cast on Harold to make him so protective of her. Unwilling to accept it, he questioned, "Gr
Furthermore, Chloe discovered herself nestled in the curve of his arm, her legs draping over his well-defined waist.Joseph's brow relaxed as he slept peacefully, unaware of the world around him. Such a sight carried an inexplicable sense of harmony.Concerned about arousing Joseph's anger, Chloe gingerly maneuvered herself out of his embrace, lifting the covers and tiptoeing to the bathroom.Soon after, Joseph woke up, and upon discovering her absence from his embrace, a surge of emptiness engulfed him, prompting a deep frown of discontent to etch across his forehead. He rose from the bed and passed by the bathroom, where the sound of rushing water reached his ears.A restless unease tugged at him, causing him to fidget with his collar.*After freshening up, Chloe and Joseph made their way downstairs to the first floor of the house.On the first floor, Preston and his family were seated on the couch, engrossed in watching television. Several other relatives were also present,
Jonathan felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him as he was criticized by a little girl.'This doesn't make sense. Why would Ginny say she likes Chloe?'In high-society marriages, it was customary for a prestigious family like theirs to seek a match from an equally well-established family—a wealthy and refined heiress, not someone like Chloe who had a humble background.How could his intelligent cousin, who usually made wise decisions, be so dumb when it came to women?Except for Ginny, everyone else sensed the subtle tension in the air. Their expressions varied, but no one said a word.Octavia concealed the envy that flashed in her eyes and whispered to Jonathan, "Don't worry about it. Let it be. If he’s willing to choose such an insignificant person, it's an opportunity for you. Work harder and quickly find a suitable girlfriend. Have a child before they do, and then your grandfather will naturally favor you."If Jonathan had a son, he would stand to gain at least half of the
At this moment, Chloe found it difficult to turn down his invitation. She decided to agree for now and come up with an excuse later. Although she had no intention of attending his birthday party, she still intended to offer him gifts.Upon arriving at the marketing department, Chloe took notice of a recent addition to the team. Wendy was currently on maternity leave, and Ellie had been dismissed. The sudden shortage of staff left them overwhelmed with their workload. The HR department had initiated recruitment the previous week, and today marked the first day for the new employee.Sophia Reynolds exuded a keen sense of style in her attire. With a strikingly beautiful face and an alluring figure, rumors circulated that she had recently returned from studying abroad.Exuding open-mindedness and enthusiasm, Sophia quickly formed connections with her colleagues within a single day.When Sophia saw Chloe, she cheerfully approached her. "You must be Chloe, right? I'm the new girl. Feel f
"I told you it was Calvin. How many times do you want to ask me that?"Diego did not dare to expose Joseph because Joseph was not a kind man.Joseph was cold, cruel, and resolute, and enjoyed a great reputation in the business field. Hence, Diego could not afford to offend Joseph. After all, he was now in conflict with Calvin. It was unnecessary to offend another person.Karen knitted her brows. "Calvin adores Ava very much. I'm sure he won't say this kind of thing to the others.""Does he?" Diego's eyes were full of sarcasm. "Don't tell me Ava is his daughter."‘Did Karen blackmail me to cheat me out of my money?’ Diego felt that Karen was capable of such a thing."Cut the crap! I don't even know Calvin.""Then explain to me why he’s so nice to your daughter."Karen threatened him, "It's none of your business. In short, I don't want anyone else other than us to learn about our past relationship. If you expose it… Well, I don't mind taking Ava back to the Baileys and letting he
The next day, Chloe visited Xavia at the hospital with some fruits.Xavia looked behind Chloe. "Joe’s not here?""He's busy with work."Disappointment flashed across Xavia's face. "Yeah, that's true."Chloe secretly observed Xavia's expression.Xavia then took the initiative to raise a topic and chatted with Chloe for a while. Before Chloe left, she suggested going to the villa to see Oreo for a day or two.Chloe agreed. "Sure, but Jojo and I have an exhibition to attend tonight. We may get home a bit late."Xavia's eyes lit up, hiding the scheme behind them. "I see. What time will you guys come home?"Chloe made a rough estimate. "I think around nine." Before leaving, she stared at Xavia and questioned, "Did you deliver breakfast to Joseph a few days ago?""Umm, please don't misunderstand… I just went there to see Oreo and bought it for Joe along the way."Chloe smiled sweetly and teased Xavia, "No misunderstanding here. I just wanted you to buy some for me too next time if
The colleagues looked like they were enlightened. They naturally assumed that Joseph had accepted Sophia's coffee.No, it was not just accepting a cup of coffee.He had accepted her.That afternoon, Sophia's colleagues were more enthusiastic toward her. She basked in the feeling before picking up her phone and texting that woman. [Your suggestion was great. Chloe is in a bad mood now.]The truth was that Joseph had not accepted her coffee. She was intercepted by his assistant and did not even get to meet him. But she had done what the woman had instructed, and pretended to have given the coffee to Joseph regardless of whether it was accepted or not. She would have reached her goal that way.The woman texted Sophia back. [Good.]*When it was time to get off work, Chloe went to Joseph's car in the parking lot. She then got into the front passenger seat with her hands on her waist, glaring at the man beside her indignantly. "Was the coffee nice?"Joseph raised his brows lightly i
Envy surged through Ava's heart but it was replaced with fear when she looked at the handsome and tall man beside Chloe.At that instant, Joseph happened to spot Ava too, and looked at her indifferently. His indifferent gaze seemed to be extremely cold and fierce.A cold chill ran down Ava's spine. She decided to observe others' speech and behavior first. Today, she was here to appreciate the jewelry and the workmanship. She was nothing like that b*tch who came to attach herself to superior people.The pieces in the exhibition were limited nationwide. On top of that, they were sold through a bidding method. Only those with the highest offers gained the items.Before the exhibition officially started, Ava looked around as if she was looking for someone. She soon spotted a youth in casual clothes. Overjoyed, she walked toward the youth with her assistant."Mr. Noah, nice to meet you," Ava spoke in a gentle voice, taking the initiative to greet Noah.Noah looked at her and recalled
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