"I don't know. Benjamin didn't tell me," Chloe replied."You should find some time to ask," Joseph suggested.She sensed something amiss. "What's wrong?"Joseph set down his utensils and scrutinized the woman sitting in front of him, carefully examining her features.Desmond was old, so it posed a challenge to notice any resemblance between him and the twenty-four-year-old Chloe.Averting his gaze, Joseph said lightly. "It's nothing. I'm just curious.""Do you also think I look like Mr. Desmond's daughter?" Chloe asked."I don't know what his daughter looks like," Joseph replied.He was not familiar with the Sullivans. In the past, Desmond was not the only Sullivan in his family. He had a brother named Dominic Sullivan. Dominic had a good relationship with the Gunters, and it was through his introduction that Desmond got to know the Gunters. However, Dominic passed away a few years ago. Joseph had even attended his funeral.Chloe rested her chin on her hand. "I haven't seen he
Chloe's pupils contracted in sudden terror, her face filled with fear.Vanya firmly grasped her shoulder, exerting an immense pressure that rendered her immobile with practiced ease."Don't do anything stupid. Are you not worried about your friend?" she remarked, clapping her hands. At that moment, Icarus was brought in, bound and gagged, with a gun pressed against the back of his head.Chloe took a sharp breath, and cold sweat formed on her forehead. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice trembling."Strip." Vanya's eyes gleamed mischievously. "I want you to take off all your clothes."She bit her lip, unable to hesitate in the face of life and death. With trembling hands, she slowly removed her coat and shirt. However, when it came to her underwear, the overwhelming sense of shame overwhelmed her, freezing her in place. Her eyes reddened with a mixture of fear and humiliation, but tears stubbornly refused to fall.Icarus' heart ached as if being torn apart. He struggled and s
Chloe was stunned. “Why is it important?""In the past decade, a group of outlaws has emerged in the gray zone primarily controlled by Ameria, with Cloude as their secondary base. Their leader’s nickname is Serpent, and his trusted associates often sport a snake tattoo on their feet. However, they seldom engage in activities within Aesper. Can you recall who you've had recent conflicts with recently?"Chloe did not respond immediately but asked another question, "Have you managed to retrieve any fingerprints from the fruit knife?""Yes, I have some prior engagements today, but I plan to deliver the results to Joseph tomorrow," Tyson replied."Could you please show them to me first?" Chloe requested.Tyson nodded, instructing his colleague to take Icarus outside. He then placed a file before Chloe. "After conducting comparisons, the fingerprints belong to a man in his thirties with a criminal history. Most importantly, he was one of the individuals involved in the kidnapping incide
Joseph was caught between tears and laughter. "Xavia doesn't have that kind of power. I haven't said anything, so please don't assume what I’m thinking."Chloe gazed at him intently. "It's not about her personal capabilities, but the people behind her. Besides, she's incredibly beautiful. What man doesn't desire a beautiful woman? They’re attracted to her beauty, and she’s enticed by their power.""If that's the case, would they allow Xavia to bear my child?" Joseph questioned.Chloe fell into silence, unsure of how to respond. Joseph's reasoning made sense. Moreover, even though he did not explicitly say anything, he was clearly troubled by the fact that Xavia was carrying his child.The more Chloe pondered the situation, the more distressed she became. Deep down, she vehemently resisted the idea of her baby and Xavia's child sharing the same father. If that were the case, she would rather not have the child. She could just find another man with a clean background, marry him, and
Joseph's face darkened. "You just need to cooperate with the investigation. Why the fuss?""What do you mean, 'Why the fuss?'" Xavia said, her voice trembling as she began to cry while covering her face. "I was taken away by the police in front of so many people during my concert. How will my fans see me? How will the audience see me? Grandpa already had a poor opinion of me, and now with this incident, I'll never gain his approval."Chloe frowned, finding Xavia’s crying voice grating. "Even without today's incident, you still wouldn't have gained Grandpa's approval."You reaped what you sowed. If Xavia had ever cared about Toto in the first place, none of this would have happened."I didn't..." Xavia's voice cracked, her eyes turning red around the rims. "The police have already proved my innocence. Why are you still so harsh with me? You just want Joe, right? I'll give him back to you. I just want our child to be born safely. Please stop making things difficult for me."In just
The firefighter looked at him seriously and asked, "Are you a family member or a friend of hers?"But before he got an answer, he quickly added, "Regardless of your identity, your main purpose is to calm her down. Don't say anything that might upset her, understand?"Joseph furrowed his brow and nodded."By the way, can you swim?""Yes.""Good. Go ahead."Step by step, Joseph walked toward the sea. The water soaked his suit, clinging to his well-built physique, emphasizing his broad shoulders and long legs. Despite being drenched, he and Xavia exuded an air of elegance and nobility as if they were a pair of fallen celestial beings.One of the people live-streaming with their phone said to Chloe, "I have to admit. Even when all drenched, they make a really good couple.”Chloe felt a sense of discomfort but remained silent."Forget me, Joe. I'm just a cancer patient. You have a long life ahead of you, so don't let me and the child hold you back." Xavia smiled faintly. "If there'
When Xavia heard Chloe’s words, she revealed an indiscernible but arrogant smile. The next second, she went limp and fell into Joseph's arms, who quickly brought her to the ambulance.Chloe clutched his arm and glued her gaze to him. "If I'm pregnant, will you send Xavia to someplace else?"Joseph knitted his brows. "What do you mean? Do you want me to send her child to someplace else too?"Chloe shook her head. "I don't know. I don't want to harm the innocent child, but I just don't want to see her again." She was greatly disgusted and upset with the oath she had just sworn.Joseph patted the back of her hand. "Listen. I can't just ignore my child. I hope you can understand."Chloe stared at him in a trance. ‘That’s true… From Joseph's angle, regardless of who the mother was, the children would call him father…’When the ambulance was ready to leave, Joseph gave her a peck on her tender cheek. "Call Lucas and ask him to pick you up. I'll find you after I've dealt with this."Ch
The doctor shook his head. "We have to wait until at least the sixteenth week, which is around four months. The patient isn't like an ordinary person. Being pregnant is a huge burden on her. We can only do the amniocentesis at month four at the fastest. If the situation isn't optimistic, we have to wait until month five or six."Joseph frowned deeply and left the doctor’s office. When he was back at the ward, he found Xavia had woken up at some point. Her eyes were red and swollen, casting an image of feebleness."Go home to Ms. Chloe. I'm fine. I'm sorry for losing control tonight.""Why did you deliberately cause such a scene?"Joseph's eyes were extremely dark and gloomy.Trembling, Xavia boldly met his gaze and said agitatedly, "Chloe got the police to investigate for no reason. Joe, I'm a public figure. Reputation is of utmost importance to me. I wanted to protect myself and stop those groundless rumors from tarnishing my innocence. And of course, I wanted to protect my baby!
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