Joseph ignored Chloe's words, glaring daggers at Noah, the vibes coming off him ominous. Noah, with his fair skin and calm demeanor, said, "Shouldn't we respect and take care of women? They're often at a disadvantage in our society."Joseph simply gave him a frosty look. He did not believe in such pompous words.Caught between a rock and a hard place, Chloe did not know how to diffuse the situation. It was getting so tense that neither she nor Noah could handle it. She bit her lip and said in a soft tone, "I'm hungry. Let's go grab something to eat."Joseph shot her a sideways glance, but his expression was cold. Luckily, he did not refuse her.While watching them leave, Noah's gentle and calm facade started to crack. 'Coco seems to be having a rough time. Looks like I need to move up my plans.'*Chloe and Joseph walked into the restaurant without saying a word. She had not eaten anything while accompanying Emily on the blind date, so when the food arrived, she was so hungry t
Joseph calmed down and pushed the bowl of salad back to her.Chloe said, "I'm full."He raised his brows. "Do you want to go to bed or take a walk?" "It's past ten. By the time we wash up, it'll be almost midnight. Let's just go to bed. That way, we can wake up early and do something fun tomorrow.”"Hmm."The cobblestones on the path gleamed in the moonlight. Under the streetlamp, their shadows stretched out."By the way, Aunt Tavia came with Xavia. Did you know?" Chloe suddenly remembered and filled him in.Annoyed, Joseph knitted his brows. "I'll make them leave now."But Chloe was not up for a confrontation. "Isn't it too late now? Let's deal with it tomorrow.""Fine, tomorrow it is." He did not want to spoil his mood either.They walked a bit more and entered the hotel.Xavia emerged from a corner of the cobblestone path behind them. Her charming face twisted with spite as she clenched her fists. She had thought Chloe was kind, but turned out she was a hypocrite, compla
Chloe shook her head. "Forget it. I can do it on my own."Joseph's smoldering looks were certainly distracting. It just went to show, if one has great charms, these small issues could be ignored. After a brief pause, Joseph rolled up his sleeves and sat beside Lucas. "I'll do it." Lucas and Chloe were floored. They watched the usually refined man tackle a mundane task, yet, it felt oddly normal. This was Joseph's first time shelling prawns for someone else, but he was quick and nimble. The first prawn he shelled was a bit of a mess, but the second one looked much better. By the third, the prawn was peeled perfectly—practically a work of art. Emily was impressed that he took her advice to heart, so her opinion of him shot up. ‘He clearly cares about Coco.’Meanwhile, Chloe stared at the prawns on her plate before she playfully took out some cash. "Here's a tip for you." Joseph raised his brows in mock surprise as he accepted it. "Thank you, my lady, but that's kind of low. I c
Chloe felt a little tense. She glanced sideways at Joseph.Joseph frowned deeply. “Where is she?""She's getting an X-ray. The bucket hit her arm.""Was the bucket dropped on purpose or merely an accident?" Patrick came over to explain. "We first thought it was an accident since no one was around. But after checking the nearby security footage and questioning a few witnesses, we found a suspicious worker. It could've been staged."Something heavy weighed on Chloe. She wished it was just an accident."Did you locate the worker?" "We have people out looking for them."Following that, Xavia was wheeled out by a doctor, a large bruise on her arm."She got lucky. The force was spread out, so no broken bones. She just needs an ice pack."Xavia looked rather pitiful in her long white dress. With her pale and gentle face, she was the picture of vulnerable beauty. Chloe's eyes turned dull, and she looked down to hide her emotions. Joseph went straight to the point. "Why were you
Joseph paused, a nagging feeling making him turn around. He gestured for Chloe to join him, saying, "Come."Chloe's eyes shimmered like starlight as she eagerly took a few quick steps, reaching out for Joseph’s hand. With him stopping and waiting for her, Xavia found herself walking in alone. Unfamiliar with the place, she was unsure which door led to the garden.She tried to hide her embarrassment, casually asking, "Where’s Oreo? Can you show me the way, Joe?"Before anyone could respond, Lucas stepped forward and offered, "I'll take you there."Xavia mustered a smile and maintained her friendly demeanor. "All right. Sorry for troubling you."Lucas noticed the strange look in her eyes. He understood Xavia's friendliness was only for show, mostly because Joseph was there. It would likely fade when the latter was not around.Just as Xavia left, Patrick returned with news."I've found the worker, and he's in the next room right now," he reported, pausing briefly before adding, "I
Octavia's voice carried far, and Xavia caught fragments of their conversation from the back garden just before Octavia left. Seizing the opportunity, Xavia stepped out.Joseph cast a brief glance at her. "Patrick, bring the worker here."Confused, Xavia asked, "What worker?""It appears that someone intentionally threw the metal bucket," Chloe responded, her eyes locked on Xavia.Xavia's pupils contracted abruptly, and her feet seemed to freeze, causing her entire body to stiffen momentarily. But it only lasted a second and she quickly regained her composure.‘Whether Vanya acted independently or instructed someone else, she shouldn’t have revealed my involvement in this incident. Besides Vanya, no one else knows about it. I was just a bystander—a victim! Even if they bring the worker here, they can't pin anything on me.’With her face returning to normal, she put on a gentle smile. "Since it's a worker, there's no need for compensation. Just find out the truth and let him go. I'
Chloe and Joseph exchanged concerned glances, their brows furrowing.Harold was stumped, wondering who the masked woman could be. He gave Chloe and Joseph a puzzled look, his aging face filled with confusion. "What's going on? Why are you two looking at each other like that? If you have something to say, just say it.""It's nothing," Joseph replied, turning his attention to Patrick. "Please help Grandpa back into the house and make sure he gets some rest."Patrick swiftly complied and Harold refrained from pressing further. He figured the young couple had their little secrets to discuss.Chloe and Joseph retreated to their room as well, leaving Xavia by herself.Relief washed over Xavia, and she let out a long sigh, trying to calm her racing heart. ‘Vanya really needs to be more careful. She should've taken care of the witness when she had the chance.’*"There’s a property auction tomorrow, and Otto Sinclair of Briarlake will be there. I'm thinking of going to meet him."Chloe
Chloe belatedly realized what he meant, her pretty face going a little pink. What was with this man? His mind was always in the gutter. Of course, Joseph was just messing with her. He was not so desperate as to get frisky in broad daylight.With the weather getting cooler, Chloe picked out long sleepwear, the soft cotton fabric loosely draping her delicate figure. The loose fit hid her pregnancy well, and she rarely experienced morning sickness. During her showers, her baby bump was noticeable, but once she got dressed, it was completely hidden. She looked just like any regular person. Even now, lying in the same bed as Joseph, there was no way anyone could tell her secret.Joseph was not accustomed to taking afternoon naps, but the woman cuddled up next to him smelled so good and felt so soft—like a natural sleep aid. Before he knew it, he drifted to dreamland. Out in the yard, Patrick was giving orders to the house helpers. "Mr. Harold's meds are running low. Go find Dr. Spence
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