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
Having learned her lesson, she turned around and muttered under her breath as she exited the office, "We’ll see if I dare."Perhaps merely a product of her imagination, Chloe had a lingering sense of being followed as she made her way home. It was not until she reached the safety of her house that the feeling of being trailed faded away, leaving her to question if her worries had been excessive.*The next day, Exotic Star's private car came to pick her up. Chloe brought her laptop, intending to work during the journey. Noah informed her that if everything went smoothly, they could wrap up the shoot in three days.As a newcomer in the industry, Chloe initially took some time to adapt and understand the requirements. However, her quick wit and adaptability allowed her to grasp the demands swiftly, fully immersing herself in the shooting process.Two days passed, and despite a few minor obstacles, overall progress was satisfactory. With just one more day to go, they would successful
Noah's eyes flickered with slight surprise, a momentary shimmer of perplexity crossing his amber gaze. However, he swiftly regained his composure and calmly responded, "You’ll find someone better."The man might not possess Joseph’s wealth, but he would undoubtedly have a better temperament than him."Thank you, Noah," Chloe replied."I'll get a car to take you home, but it'll take about half an hour," Noah offered."No need to trouble yourself. I already called a cab. We'll meet again when the opportunity arises," Chloe declined.Noah nodded. "All right, until next time then."Shortly after parting ways with Noah, that lingering feeling of being followed resurfaced within Chloe. She quickened her pace and suddenly turned her head. It was a long street ahead, populated by several individuals resembling office workers and a man wearing headphones, lost in his own world of music. Unable to discern anything unusual, she continued walking toward the hotel.The room Noah arranged for