The entire ordeal unfolded in a mere five minutes, a testament to the perpetrators' familiarity with such nefarious acts.Chloe's scalp tingled as she hobbled after them, desperation lacing her voice. "Who sent you?! I'll pay double the amount! Just give me my dogs back!"For a brief moment, the two men wavered, but they did not relent. They hastened their steps, leaving Chloe behind until they vanished from sight. Overwhelmed by a surge of emotions, Chloe fought back tears. Without her phone, her only recourse was to return home and seek Joseph's help.She fought through the agony, each step shooting a sharp pain through her bare skin. Along the way, she bumped into Xavia, who appeared confused. "I went to your house looking for you. Joe said you went out to walk the dogs," she said, noticing Chloe's empty hands. Concern etched her face as she asked, "Where are Toto and Oreo?"Chloe felt like she had grasped a lifeline as her words rushed out anxiously. She explained that two unfa
Chloe's breath hitched as she struggled to comprehend Joseph's lack of trust in her. Meanwhile, a barely noticeable smile crept across Xavia's lips."Fine," Chloe said with determination, "If you don't believe me, I'll prove it to you. Those men may have avoided some surveillance cameras in the community, but they couldn't have eluded all of them. Once we review the footage, there will be undeniable evidence."Chloe turned on her heels and began to walk away, determined to search for any traces of the two men outside. Despite her frail and delicate figure, her bare feet showed clear signs of redness and swelling. Each step was a struggle, causing her to limp along with a pitiful appearance. Yet, her resolute determination shone through, giving off an aura of unwavering strength.Joseph's brows furrowed deeply, his thin lips pressed together tightly.Xavia abruptly reached out and grabbed his arm, her voice urgent and assertive. "Let's start by searching the neighborhood. If what Ch
However, she quickly dismissed the thought. After all, it seemed impossible. Even if Xavia did not like Toto, she raised Oreo herself. Oreo was not only her pet but also her companion.Chloe returned to the villa with a heavy heart, eager to inquire about any progress they had made. But before she could utter a word, Joseph’s icy gaze pierced through her. "How could you be so cruel, Chloe?"Confused and bewildered, Chloe was unable to comprehend what had transpired.Lucas rushed over and placed a photo on the table. His voice was filled with disbelief as he said, "Ms. Chloe, this was taken by a passerby."In the photo, the distinct figures of Toto and Oreo could be seen strolling along the middle of a busy street. Chloe's head spun, finding it unbelievable, "That's impossible. I saw them being sedated with my own eyes."Joseph looked at her and said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "You saw it with your own eyes? I can't believe that you’d still refuse to tell us the truth at thi
As Chloe laid eyes on Sophia, her anger surged. "Why did you spread false information in the work chat?"Sophia sneered. "I didn't. How can you prove that I was making things up? Do you have any recordings?"Chloe stared at her intently, her voice cold as she interrogated, "What's your motive for doing this? Who offered you benefits, or are you resorting to any means necessary to gain Joseph's attention?"A hint of panic flickered in Sophia's eyes, but it vanished in an instant. "I was simply speaking the truth. I have no ulterior motives. Moreover, you shouldn't address Mr. Joseph so informally. It's impolite.""I can say whatever I want. Who are you to say otherwise? Don't forget, I'm your superior. I'm the only one who can reprimand you.""You...You can't bully me like this!"Chloe chuckled with frustration. Who was truly the bully in this situation? She could not believe Sophia could tell such blatant lies while maintaining an air of innocence.A colleague stepped forward, t
"Even if you claim that Mr. Joseph cares for you, you can't bully me like this. I'm just a newcomer who knows nothing. The incident this morning was my fault, but you could’ve just talked to me about it instead of resorting to violence," Sophia pleaded.Chloe saw through Sophia’s intentions at a glance and made no move to help her up. "What are you up to this time?""I don't have any ulterior motives. I just want you to leave me alone!" Sophia cried out, her tears flowing uncontrollably. As she sobbed, she crawled toward the direction where Joseph stood. "Mr. Joseph, you've to help me."Observing the poised and indifferent woman in front of him, Joseph said in a cold tone, "When a colleague falls in front of you, don't you think you should offer a helping hand?"Upon hearing his voice, Chloe turned her head abruptly. Then, she saw Joseph instructing Lucas to help Sophia up from the ground. He treated a new employee with such gentleness but remained cold toward her.Chloe pursed he
Chloe stared at Joseph, her throat so constricted that she could not utter a word.The more Joseph met her gaze, the more agitated he felt, so he averted his eyes altogether. "Xavia will be here soon. Wait here," he instructed.Chloe let out a bitter smile and said, "Fine, I'll apologize as you wish."Upon hearing her words, Joseph's expression improved slightly. However, when his gaze fell upon her swollen and barefoot, his brows furrowed again. Yet, he remained silent. After all, he believed that occasional discipline was necessary for her to understand how to conduct herself in the future.Ten minutes later, Xavia arrived. She looked at Chloe and said, "Oreo was found near the residential area. Ms. Chloe, you may not be happy with my sudden appearance, but I still believe that no matter the reason, we shouldn't resort to violence against dogs. They’re innocent. I’ll take Oreo back and take care of him. Thank you for your efforts over these past few days.""Oreo is your dog, and
The grip on Chloe's chin was painful, but she maintained a bright smile. "What's wrong? Is it not acceptable? After all, your heart belongs to Xavia, not me. I'll step aside and make room for her, and everyone will be happy.""Why?" Joseph's brows furrowed in anger, and a storm brewed in his icy gaze. "Is offering an apology too much of an inconvenience for you?""Yes," she replied.She had truly dedicated herself to taking care of Oreo and Toto, even going the extra mile to prepare homemade snacks for them. She treated the two dogs as her own and never scolded them, even when they misbehaved. Despite being exhausted after work, she still made it a point to take them for walks. Yet, whenever something went wrong, it was all her fault.Could he not have given her the benefit of the doubt and waited for the truth to come to light? Must he embarrass her in front of his ex-girlfriend? She had feelings too, and his actions had wounded her deeply.Joseph's gaze shifted downward, his pen
Seeing how drunk Chloe was, Icarus quickly took her from Emily's arms and gently ushered her into his car.Emily tried to speak up several times, but she hesitated in the end.Icarus sensed her concerns and took the initiative to say, "Show me the way. I'll take you home. I promise I won't do anything inappropriate."Emily touched her nose, feeling a bit awkward. "That's not what I meant. I just think that Coco and Joseph often have arguments. It's probably the same this time. Don't focus all your attention on Coco. You should get to know other girls."Icarus shrugged and smiled gentlemanly. "This isn't something I can control.""Well…You're right."Chloe was in the same situation. Initially, she and Joseph were using each other for their own purposes, but she had now begun to view their relationship in a new light. She invested herself emotionally and developed genuine feelings for Joseph.However, she was to be blamed as well. If she had not mistook Joseph for Jake's uncle, no
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