Joseph delicately towel-dried his hair and spoke with an air of indifference, "Can't you wait for four months?""It's not a matter of whether I can wait or not. It's that you don't trust me and don't want to be with me.""If it's my child, I'll take responsibility.""I agree, and I'm willing to do the amniocentesis. But after knowing each other for so many years, am I really so unworthy of your trust?!" Xavia's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She fought against their release, determined to keep them at bay.Joseph remained unmoved, his piercing gaze fixed upon her. "Did you sleep with Gabe?"Xavia's scalp tingled as she froze. She had guessed correctly. Gabriel must have told Joseph the truth!"Yes, I had a one-time encounter with him. But it happened before I met you. Can you say with one hundred percent certainty that you've never made any mistakes in your life?"Confronted with her accusations, Joseph remained calm and composed. "Since it w
After Xavia's departure, Joseph remained rooted in place, his arms tensed and veins pulsating with anger. A bitter self-mockery tainted his enraged expression. He came to the realization that Chloe had not been attempting to balance her affections between him and Icarus. Instead, she merely treated him as a pawn in her game, relishing in her triumph and flaunting it before others.With a determined grip, Joseph retrieved the suit hanging in his wardrobe. As frustration surged within him, he forcefully hurled the suit into the trash bin.*Meanwhile, autumn arrived, and Chloe wrapped herself in thicker garments.Ever since completing her university studies, Chloe had been immersed in the demands of her work, leaving her with little time to obtain a driver's license. After assuming control of her family's business, she recognized the inconveniences of relying on taxis for transportation. Determined to overcome this hurdle, she seized a moment of respite and enrolled in a driving scho
Upon reconsideration, Chloe realized that Noah did not even know Icarus, so she believed she was overthinking the situation. Expressing gratitude for his concern, she ended the call and immediately tried to reach out to the employee who had posted the video.Unfortunately, the employee was currently out on business and unable to answer the phone.Noah returned to school and settled into the classroom. His neatly styled, chestnut-brown hair partially obscured his eyebrows, unveiling a pair of innocent and captivating eyes. Leisurely tapping his fingertips on the phone screen, he switched to his Facebook account, located Icarus' profile, and opened the confession video. In the comments section, he tagged Fairlight's official account.Toward the end of the workday, the employee who had posted the video returned. Apologizing to Chloe, he promptly deleted the video while explaining, "Ms. Chloe, I forgot that you had an endorsement deal with Exotic Star.""It's fine." Chloe waved her han
Joseph abruptly stopped in his tracks when he heard the ringing of a bell. He reached for Chloe's wrist, forcefully tearing off her bracelet. Precious gems and beads scattered across the floor, and his polished shoes inadvertently crushed one nearby. His gaze turned cold and filled with disdain as he remarked, "What a tasteless accessory. It's absolutely hideous."Blushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment, Chloe spoke out, her voice trembling, "Why won't you leave Icarus alone? He didn't provoke you. If you're displeased with me, you can just come at me directly!"Joseph brushed his fingertips against her swollen lip. His voice was husky and magnetic. "It's simple really. I'll spare him once you break up with him."Even if they had divorced, he would not allow any other man to touch the women he had once been intimate with. It disgusted him."You have no right to interfere in my life!"Joseph released his grip on Chloe, mocking her with a slight curl of his lips. "Well, then
She could sense that he had been suppressing this anger for a long time. Was it because she was with Icarus?She had no idea how long the kiss lasted, and whenever she tried to struggle, Joseph would bite her hard. Fearful of the pain, she remained motionless, her clear eyes turning red, resembling a rabbit that dared to be angry but not speak, allowing him to take what he wanted.After what seemed like an eternity, Joseph finally released Chloe from his grasp. However, he left only her lips, his hands still tightly gripping her waist. She took deep breaths, her lips numb and sore. Without even looking, she knew they were swollen.Joseph played with a strand of Chloe’s hair, his voice low and haunting as he said, "I’ll say it one last time. Break up with Icarus or it won't be as simple as him going bankrupt next time. After all, Icarus is the only son of his family."He looked down on Icarus and did not think he deserved his woman though he and Chloe had already broken up. In addit
As the rain began to fall outside, dark clouds obscured the moon.Chloe was standing by the roadside without an umbrella, waiting for a ride-hailing car.Five minutes later, Joseph emerged from the underground parking lot. He rolled down the car window halfway to reveal his noble face. "Get in. It's going to be a stormy night, and you won't be able to get a cab."As Chloe glanced at the ride-hailing order on her phone, she realized that despite the higher price, no driver had accepted it. With the rain intensifying, she knew that finding a ride would become even more challenging. Without hesitation, she decided to get into his car and informed him of her destination.Having been to Chloe's house twice before, Joseph remembered the route and had no need to rely on navigation. For a while, neither of them spoke as Chloe looked outside. The rain soon intensified, and large drops of water splattered against the car window, obscuring their view.Chloe turned her gaze away, gathering th
The next morning, Chloe started her day by preparing a hearty breakfast. The kitchen was filled with the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon. As she sat down to enjoy her breakfast, the combination of flavors and textures brought a sense of contentment to her taste buds.She enjoyed her meal while reviewing her study materials. The questions for the driving test were relatively straightforward, requiring a strong grasp of theory rather than practical application. By nine o'clock, she arrived at her office.In the lobby on the ground floor, a middle-aged man in his fifties looked around anxiously, clearly waiting for someone. As Chloe approached, she could not help but express her surprise. "Patrick?"Patrick turned around and smiled. "Ms. Chloe, I happened to be passing by and thought I'd drop in."Chloe did not buy his explanation as she was familiar with Patrick’s way. She playfully teased, "Just dropping in, huh?""Ms. Chloe, you're quite sharp. Nothing g
Toto could feel its companion's fear and barked at Xavia. It sounded rather fierce, which lured Joseph out.Guilt flashed across Xavia's face. "I accidentally stepped on Oreo's tail, so Toto thinks I'm bullying Oreo."Joseph did not take it to heart. After all, Toto always barked recklessly. It was usually free and had nothing to do. It just needed a good beating.That trip to Docwood was to handle some trivial affairs of the Whitman Group. Jonathan knew that Joseph would come today, so he waited anxiously. At eleven o'clock in the morning, Joseph arrived at Docwood. All the executives came out to welcome him.Jonathan walked over earnestly. "Joe, here you are."Joseph threw the former a sidelong glance but ignored him. Being ignored in front of many people, Jonathan opened his mouth slightly to say something to retrieve his dignity but Joseph gave him no such chance, ordering Lucas to call the finance manager.Hearing this, Jonathan became nervous. He followed Joseph and begged,
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