Xavia took a deep breath. Just when she was about to lash out at Lucas, Joseph appeared at the doorway.A flicker of emotion passed through her eyes as she spoke with a choked voice, "I'm fine. I'm just worried about our baby. If anything happens to them, I wouldn't know how to go on living.""What did the doctor say?" Joseph asked as he walked in. He adjusted his tie, and his eyes were devoid of any warmth.Lucas replied, "Sir, Ms. Xavia is fine. She just needs to calm down and rest."Joseph nodded and signaled for Lucas to leave.Lucas nodded and glanced at Xavia before closing the door. He thought pregnant women would experience volatile emotions as she was berating him angrily just moments ago and now seemed so pitiful, but it turned out that she had spotted Joseph.'Mr. Harold was right. She indeed is a scheming bitch.’However, this had nothing to do with him since he was just working for Joseph. All adults were capable of manipulation, and Chloe had played many tricks whe
A mature and charismatic voice reached her ears. "Speak.""Sir, can we get rid of Chloe? With her around, it's challenging for me to win Joseph's heart."The man burst into hearty laughter. "Is that so? Five years ago, you still failed to conquer him even though Chloe wasn't around at that time.""Sir... This time, I'll give my utmost effort. Joseph values the child I carry.""I hope you won't disappoint me.""Thank you, sir!"*Moonlight bathed the night as sleep finally came to Chloe.That night, she had a haunting nightmare. In it, the worker who had tragically passed away lunged at her with gnashing teeth and sharp claws as she sobbed and begged for forgiveness. However, the worker paid no heed, driven by an insatiable desire to tear her apart and drink her blood.At a critical moment, a man emerged and rescued her from the dire predicament. Together, they fled, desperately running, until she could no longer go on and pleaded for him to stop. With a sigh, the man cursed he
Chloe was truly captivated by the composure and calmness displayed by the young man before her."Any girl who becomes your girlfriend in the future will undoubtedly be incredibly fortunate," she praised."What makes you say that?" he asked."You're wealthy, handsome, reliable, and gentle," she replied.Noah smiled subtly, a glint of innocence shining in his eyes. "I hope so. But I'm not fond of arranged marriages.""Why don't men from prestigious families like arranged marriages?" Chloe asked.In such social circles, arranged marriages would serve as powerful alliances.Noah pondered for a moment and playfully remarked, "Perhaps it's their inherent rebelliousness or their desire to maintain control over their destiny."*After the funeral, Noah invited Chloe to sit down and discuss their strategy for managing public opinion. Although the police would soon clarify the situation, there would still be online commentators relentlessly criticizing her.Noah had his bodyguards with
Chloe's face turned pale, and fear washed over her. She carefully reviewed recent events, realizing that she had not offended anyone and had conducted her business within the industry's boundaries, so who could be behind her abduction?At that moment, a masked woman sitting in the passenger seat turned to face them. Chloe's body tensed up as the mask revealed a pair of hawk-like eyes. They sent a chill down her spine as the woman stared at her intently, reminiscent of a female ghost from a horror film.Noah, on the other hand, remained calm and composed."Are you after wealth or life?" he asked.The masked woman chuckled arrogantly. "Both.""She doesn't possess wealth, but I can offer you mine if you release her.""That won't do. I want both.""I can give you both."The masked woman understood that Noah was testing her, and she made no effort to conceal her intentions. "I want her life and your wealth."Recognizing their companionship, the masked woman deduced that capturing t
Chloe paused for a moment and hurriedly reassured him, "He won't. Even if he does, we were only defending ourselves."*During this time, the masked woman occasionally glanced inside the car but detected no signs of suspicion as the man remained pinned against Chloe. After ten minutes had passed, the repairs were done. When the masked woman tried to get in, she realized that the car door would not open.Noah, who had freed himself, waved goodbye to her with a smile. The masked woman's eyes widened, and she punched the window.It instantly cracked. Before it shattered, Chloe pushed the semi-conscious man off her with all her strength and urged, "Quick, start the car!"Noah immediately leaped into the driver's seat, stepped on the accelerator, and sped away. Through the rearview mirror, they saw the furious masked woman hijack a passing car and chase after them recklessly.Chloe noticed that they were approaching the mountains up ahead."Was your phone confiscated too?" she asked.
"All right, all right. Let's discuss this later when we get back," Tyson intervened, urging everyone to board the helicopter. "After all, we're in the middle of the wilderness. It won't be good if we run into some wild beasts."Joseph clenched his jaw, resisting the impulse to embrace Chloe, and chose to remain silent as he turned toward the plane cabin.After providing statements and receiving basic first aid, the medical staff reassured them that their injuries were superficial and not serious. Upon hearing those words, Joseph felt a wave of relief wash over him. However, due to the anesthesia injection, they needed to undergo a blood test. The police left their contact information to notify them of the results tomorrow.Tyson cleared his throat and said, "I'll accompany Mr. Noah. Joseph, you take Chloe to our family home and ensure that Mr. Harold is informed about her safety. He’s been extremely worried."Chloe was stunned. "Grandpa knows too? But his condition…"Tyson replied
Chloe was overwhelmed by Joseph's passionate kiss, perplexed by her inability to resist whenever he engaged her in such intimate moments.Joseph, well-versed in such encounters, naturally took the lead, and soon they found themselves in the bedroom. As they sank into the soft bed, Chloe's mind suddenly flashed back to her dream from the previous night, snapping her back to reality. Gasping for air, she forcefully pushed him away."No, you can't touch me."While previous instances might have been unavoidable, she now possessed the power to refuse, and she had to stand firm. She must not betray her principles.Joseph's gaze burned with intense desire. His slightly calloused fingers caressed her lips as he said, "You should listen to your inner voice."Chloe froze, trying to regain her breath. "What do you mean?""Just moments ago, you were quite enthusiastic."The mouth might lie, but the body would not.The tips of her ears blushed crimson as she glared at him, turning her head
Chloe prepared a table full of Asvand-style breakfast, complete with milk, pastries, fresh orange juice, vegetable salad, salmon, bacon, and coffee. Patrick would occasionally join them, so she had cooked plenty.Harold ate the pastries one after another, seemingly having a great appetite. However, he wanted to let the two youngsters have some time alone. He asked the helper to deliver his breakfast upstairs to him.It had been a long time since Joseph ate the food Chloe made, so although he appeared elegant on the surface, he ate a lot.After Chloe sat down and took a few bites, her belly was suddenly engulfed with nausea. So, she put down her fork and went to the kitchen to get some fruit."Joe!"A female voice rang out before Natalie, dressed in a ballroom, ran in excitedly.Chloe was in the kitchen, holding a bowl of grapes she had just washed. She decided to fade into the background and not leave the kitchen. After all, she was going to leave soon and did not want to meddle
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