When Chloe woke up, it was to the sound of crying. Lying in bed, she looked at Regina in a daze. The latter was crying and wailing profusely. She asked with difficulty, "Mrs. Regina… Where’s Icarus?"When Regina saw Chloe had awoken, she pointed at Chloe and screamed, "My son nearly died to save you. They're still trying to save him in the surgery room right now!"Chloe's messy mind cleared a little. She asked in disbelief, "But we had our seatbelts on…"Though they had gotten into a car accident, their injuries should not be so vastly different.Regina explained that the car that hit them was a tanker truck and could have exploded at any minute. They had to distance themselves from the truck quickly. At that moment, Chloe was trapped in her seat. Icarus' legs were injured, but he extricated himself and saved her. Consequently, he lost too much blood through his leg wound and might be disabled for the rest of his life.Chloe was stunned before she fell into pain and deep self-repr
Noah took out his phone and snapped a photo of Ward 317 where Chloe was staying. He wasted no time in forwarding the image to Joseph, accompanied by a message that said, [Coco got into a car accident and suffered some minor injuries. Would you like to come and see her, Mr. Joseph?]However, hidden within the seemingly ordinary photograph was a subtle detail—a glimpse of Icarus' face in the lower right corner. Though the image was blurry, anyone acquainted with Icarus would easily recognize him upon seeing it.Maintaining a composed demeanor, Noah arched his eyebrows and casually leaned against the wall. Instead of immediately divulging the true identity of the man occupying the neighboring ward, he aimed to exploit the situation to his advantage.If his investigations proved accurate, he was more inclined toward a betrothal with Chloe rather than a marriage alliance.*Joseph's expression grew stormy as he read the text, his gaze fixed on the unmistakable figure of Icarus captured
Noah's amber-like eyes widened in shock as he gazed at the woman in the photo. It was indeed Aunt Luciana. It meant that Chloe was his grandfather's granddaughter—the person he had been betrothed to in childhood. A rush of hidden excitement surged within him.‘Just as I thought. How could someone as foolish as Ava possibly be Aunt Luciana's child?’"Noah?" Chloe noticed his dazed expression and waved in front of his eyes. "What's wrong?""N-nothing," Noah stammered. Realizing his momentary distraction, he quickly composed himself and put on a shy smile. "Your mom is truly captivating. I couldn't help but be entranced by her beauty."Chloe chuckled at his playful comment. "Are you just exaggerating?""Well, she possesses a unique beauty, much like yours, but with her own distinct qualities," Noah analyzed earnestly. He added, "She seems to embody the traditional type of woman, devoted and gentle."Chloe paused momentarily, considering his words, and then raised her thumb in approv
Desmond looked up, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Certainly. I’d be delighted."Noah's mouth opened slightly. He wanted to speak further but Desmond interjected, "Having such a clever granddaughter and becoming in-laws with the Whitmans would be truly wonderful."Noah's inner joy abruptly halted, his voice growing flat. "Joseph doesn't treat Chloe well in the slightest. He left her outside in the pouring rain.""It's common for young couples to argue. Who knows. Maybe it was Chloe who didn't want to get into the car," Desmond replied."No, I saw Chloe today. Joseph mistreated her. There were bite marks on her neck," Noah said.A flush spread across Desmond's face. "You shouldn’t pay close attention to such details, my child."Noah subtly furrowed his brows. "Grandfather, do you really believe Joseph and Chloe are a good match?""They are well-suited in terms of social status and appearance," Desmond replied."Well, if Chloe truly was your granddaughter, does that mea
"Grandpa!" Chloe's voice rose with a tinge of fear as she desperately tried to stop Harold. "Our separation was not solely his fault. I deceived him too. Now that Xavia’s pregnant, it’s both his moral and logical responsibility. The situation is already set in stone. You don't have to go to such lengths for me. Please, let it end here.""If it were anyone else, I might let it go, but Xavia isn’t a woman of good character. Even if she gives birth to a child, don't expect her to ever set foot in the Whitman family!""But if you shut her out, what about the child growing inside her? That would be your own flesh and blood. Your great-grandchild," Chloe stated, her expression serious and her tone pleading. "Furthermore, I understand Joseph's attitude. Constantly pressuring him now will only put further strain on your relationship. He’s the closest person to you, so please don't let him harbor resentment over our already broken relationship."Harold was deeply moved by Chloe's heartfelt w
Chloe took a deep breath, determined not to let anger consume her. "If you insist on giving it, then go ahead." She would just perform her part perfectly and play along with him. She would return the money to him once Harold left.The corner of Joseph’s mouth curled as he retrieved a black supplementary card from his wallet and placed it on the bedside table. Chloe instantly recognized the card—it was the supplementary card he had given her before. When she had moved out of the villa, she had returned the card to him.There was no credit limit on this card, implying that as long as Joseph did not go bankrupt, she could continue to use it. They had once lived under the same roof, and back then, she had not felt anything odd about it. But now, using this supplementary card as divorce compensation felt oddly strange.Chloe parted her lips as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately, she remained silent. Joseph assumed her silence was due to the staggering amount of money involved
Chloe was taken aback. "That's Xavia. You've seen her photos before."Emily paused for a moment, then anger surged through her. "That's her? She's the one who used pregnancy to come in between you and Joseph?"Those words, spoken loudly and accompanied by a pointed finger, carried across the vicinity, catching the attention of the surrounding shoppers. They turned their gazes toward Xavia, their expressions filled with a mix of gossip and disdain.Xavia was trying on the latest fashions in a luxury boutique. Hearing the discussions, her expression remained unchanged, and she calmly walked over to greet Chloe."Are you also here to buy clothes, Ms. Chloe? What a coincidence," she said gracefully as if she had not heard Emily's insults. With warmth and gentleness, she asked, "I want to buy a gift for Joe to celebrate his upcoming fatherhood. Do you have any suggestions, Ms. Chloe?"Emily's anger flared up, and she lashed out, "Jeez, I've never met someone as shameless as you. What's
Xavia's smile froze on her face. "What are you talking about? If it's not Joseph's child, who else could it be?""Is that so? Well, that's good," Chloe replied calmly. Her gaze casually drifted toward a nearby suit, and she instructed the salesperson, "Please pack this suit for me."Xavia was perplexed. "Who are you buying that suit for?"'Is she buying it for Icarus? Did he already win her over? That's faster than I expected.'Chloe’s lips formed an elegant smile, enunciating each syllable clearly as she said, "Joseph."Xavia thought she must have misheard and repeated her question."I said I’m buying this outfit for Joseph." Chloe's eyes sparkled, her smile radiant. "Although we’re divorced, we can still be friends. You wouldn't mind, would you?"After all, Xavia had done the same thing. She approached Joseph under the guise of friendship. She even went to lengths and helped Chloe endure a stab. One could not deny that this woman was ruthless and had a sharper mind than Ava.
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