The man slapped her repeatedly. Chloe's limbs were tied up, so she could not resist. Hence, she had to suffer brutal torture.Icarus was hiding in the bush, feeling deeply sorry for her. However, he knew that he could not step up now. He could not defeat four men alone, and he would lose the chance to ask others for help.Being slapped over and over, Chloe's face became severely bruised. Her body was kicked several times too. Her internal organs were engulfed with pain.Ava cracked a satisfied smile, looking at Chloe like a winner. "These few slaps are just appetizers. This is all because you’re such a busybody. Why did you go to Jonathan and tell on me?"Jonathan had been ignoring her these past few days and even wanted to break up with her. After some interrogation, she learned that it was this b*tch Chloe's scheme. Chloe was the one who told Jonathan that Ava was once engaged to Jake.Consequently, Ava lost both her family and boyfriend. And if she had to suffer, she would not
Nathan shuddered before he ordered the owner to take Ava away.They dressed her up in a seductive and revealing costume before they locked her up in a gigantic iron cage. All her limbs were tied up before she was carried onto the stage for an auction as if she were an item.When the boss announced the price of 1 dollar, the whole scene was thrown into a great frenzy. The first man who got Ava in the auction brought her into a lounge, and her screams followed soon after.Joseph pressed his temples and was about to leave when Nathan said, "You're here now. Why don't you have some fun for a bit?""No, Chloe’s still unconscious. I need to go back to her.""Didn't you guys get a divorce? What's the matter? Can't let her go?"Joseph's eyes became dull as he replied icily, "I just find her pitiful."Nathan was rendered speechless. 'You're just stubborn.'As Joseph drove back to the hospital, the sky was hazy and the sky was just getting dark. When he passed by a hawker selling milk an
Chloe took a deep breath. "I understand. Please, I’d like some time alone now."After Jake left, she lay in bed. Tossing and turning, she could not fall asleep.A young couple walked past the door of her ward. The man supported the woman who had just undergone surgery. He muttered endlessly in displeasure, but his tone was full of concern for her.Chloe blinked. She suddenly understood why she missed Joseph very much after she woke up. It was because, in the past half a year, Joseph would stay with her every time she got hurt and was hospitalized.At that moment, Joseph might have just woken up and was on his way out for his morning run. Or, he might be with Xavia. They were having breakfast and chatting about their daily trifles.Chloe suppressed the deep bitterness in her heart and pulled the blanket over her head. She then snuggled into bed and forced herself to sleep.*It was now morning but the people in the bar were having a frenzy with no concern for the time. Joseph had
Joseph nonchalantly remarked, "Send her back to her place.""Right away."*After handling Ava, Joseph took a shower and headed straight to Fairlight.At the office, Lucas approached him respectfully. "Sir, Ms. Xavia is waiting for you inside."Putting on his usual expressionless demeanor, Joseph pushed the door open and entered.Upon seeing Joseph, Xavia's face immediately brightened with affection. "You're here. Did you...attend a business gathering last night? I smell alcohol.""No." His voice was flat and emotionless, his short black hair still slightly damp. He adjusted his tie and took a seat in front of the computer. A sidelong glance revealed his well-defined jawline, reflecting his cold and aloof demeanor.Xavia's expression froze. "Joe, are you in a bad mood?"Joseph’s dark eyes, black as ink, held a hint of bloodshot. He pressed his temples, displaying a trace of restlessness. "A little.""Is it because of work or...personal matters?""Work."Xavia's face softene
Joseph's breath was scorching, his large hands cupping her cheeks. He looked deeply into her eyes and whispered, "Tell me, where do you want to go?""The car.”Joseph agreed and released his grip on her wrist.Seizing this opportunity, Chloe swiftly utilized the self-defense techniques she had learned in the past. With precision and speed, she raised her knee and delivered a fierce kick to Joseph's lower body. Caught off guard, he instantly turned pale, his handsome face contorted with a ferocious and grim expression as if he were ready to devour someone whole.Terrified, Chloe could not bring herself to look back and hastily pushed open the door, fleeing in a state of panic. As the forum reached its conclusion, Icarus noticed Chloe's flushed face and could not help but express his curiosity. "Didn't you go to the restroom? Why are you so sweaty?"Chloe guiltily replied, "The restroom was crowded."Icarus nodded, but before he could inquire further, a group of men approached him
Joseph's face showed a hint of unease as he turned his head and reached for a change of clothes. "While you're at it, make some snacks for the two dogs. If you can bring them back everything on your own, I'm too lazy to go with you.""Snacks for the dogs?" Chloe shook her head, earnestly calculating the items that needed to be purchased. "It’d be better if you came with me. I can't carry everything myself."Just to cater to the culinary preferences of a certain someone, Chloe had to buy ingredients for two days, ensuring that each meal consisted of at least six different dishes without repeating ingredients. On top of that, there were chicken breasts and big bones required to prepare special snacks for the dogs. The shopping list was extensive, and it was clear that even the use of two large bags would be insufficient to hold everything.Joseph casually smoothed down the wrinkles on his clothes, his expression displaying a hint of annoyance. "Ugh, you’re so troublesome."Chloe had
"What are you doing?! Put me down!""Testing the effectiveness of the oyster shooters."*Chloe was shocked motionless, as if lightning had struck her, unable to move a muscle.Joseph tossed her onto the bed and pinned his entire body against hers, smothering her with an onslaught of relentless kisses.Shaking off her initial stupor, Chloe swiftly regained her senses, clutching her clothes protectively, refusing to let him advance any further. "No, don't do this...""It's too late."Chloe turned her face away, nibbling on her rosy lips. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have provoked you. Please, let's not do this… Please?" She reluctantly admitted to having cold feet now, and she regretted ever making him the oyster shooters."No… Please don’t do this…"*A few hours later, it was finally over.Chloe retreated to the kitchen, seeking solace in the familiar embrace of cooking. She transformed her anger into a driving force, channeling it into the swift preparation of six delecta
Gabriel disregarded her displeasure, for in his eyes, Chloe was indeed a commodity. Her pure allure, combined with her good figure, made her unique in the eyes of a man like him, who was gifted with exceptional talents and had encountered a multitude of beautiful women throughout his life.This encounter held the promise of surpassing his previous experiences, including those with Xavia.Joseph descended the stairs, fresh from his shower. The partially open bathrobe around him revealed water droplets sliding down his chiseled physique. His composed and distant countenance exuded a lingering satisfaction, arousing endless reverie.Witnessing this, Gabriel swiftly grasped the situation and smiled, remarking, "Indulging in a lavish feast, I see?" He added to his subtle implication with a deliberate glance in Chloe's direction.*Chloe averted her gaze, unwilling to confront such a look, and promptly retreated to the kitchen. Joseph raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying, a
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