Chloe's eyes became watery. "Grandpa loves you very much. He suffered in silence for so many years."Harold had lost his eldest son and wife at the midpoint of his life. The schemes and fights in the family, as well as his disappointing second son, filled all his days with loneliness. His son took his life because of Fleurette, and consequently, there was no leader to handle the Whitman family.Being left with no options, Harold focused all his attention on Joseph. He was Joseph's grandfather as well as his father. He tried his best to raise and educate Joseph.Joseph did not disappoint Harold and became an exceptional man. However, the Sinclairs came bearing news of Fleurette, claiming that she was still alive. How could Harold bear to hand the note to Joseph?But he had pondered over many things during this period. Since the Sinclairs had made a move, he felt that Joseph should not suffer in silence. At his age, Harold could not help Josep and could only let Joseph make his own d
“Patrick did as you instructed and accepted the medicine Dr. Spencer prescribed as per normal.“Also, Dr. Frederick has confirmed that the herbs Ms. Chloe has been taking are normal herbs to regulate her blood circulation. He says that she can go ahead with one round of the treatment and see how it goes."Lastly, Otto lied to Preston. He gave Preston an empty promise." When Lucas reached this point, he gave Joseph an admiring gaze. "Thankfully, you long guessed that the Sinclairs would start with Preston and made preparations by changing the documents in the safe. Otherwise, Preston would have ruined Whitman Group." ‘Mr. Joseph sure pulled off an awesome feat and planned ahead.’Joseph opened his eyes as he smirked. "Did anyone in the family try to beg for mercy on Pres’ behalf?""No one else but Jonathan. He came once but Patrick turned him away."Joseph's noble face became unfathomable. "Because of Jon, I’ve long sensed something fishy.”Jonathan claimed to have invested in a
When Lucas saw Xavia, he smacked his lips. His expression revealed a mixture of a hint of speechlessness and insight.‘Right after Ms. Chloe leaves, this one comes sauntering in. The purpose behind her actions is clear to anyone with discerning eyes,’ he thought."I want to see Joe," Xavia stated plainly, emanating an air of entitlement."Mr. Joseph is currently busy." The underlying message carried a reluctance to meet her.Xavia arched an eyebrow and sneered coldly. "Aren't you at least going to tell him I’m here?""Mr. Joseph requested not to be disturbed while he's working," Lucas replied calmly.“Not even by me?""Only Ms. Chloe holds that privilege."Lucas intended to provoke Xavia and make her leave, but he underestimated her. Instead of getting angry, Xavia smirked and fell silent. She attempted to bypass him and enter straight into the office.Instinctively, he reached out to stop her. But as soon as his arm touched her, she fell to the ground and winced in pain. "Was
Joseph's gaze swept over Xavia, then settled on Lucas. "You make a valid point. Let's proceed with your suggestion."Xavia struggled to maintain her composure and forced a dry laugh. "Stop fooling around. We shouldn't deceive the baby like this." But all she received in response was Joseph's indifferent demeanor and the sound of the door closing.Her face instantly contorted with a mix of emotions, but her malicious expression quickly vanished. She handed the parenting book to Lucas. "I'll have to trouble you tonight.""Are you serious?" Lucas was taken aback.'Is she really planning on going all out with this act?'"If you're the one telling the story, then I have no reason to stay. Let's do a voice call when I get home. I want you to read the entire book," Xavia said, her voice dripping with mockery. "I’ll indulge your penchant for talking too much."Lucas stood there dumbfounded, shaking the thick book in his hand. "You want me to pull an all-nighter for this?"Xavia elegantl
Joseph took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding to Chloe's question. His gaze remained fixed on her, his dark eyes reflecting a mix of seriousness and determination. "Do you want to hear the truth?"Chloe braced herself, already anticipating his response. Despite her worry, she was determined to know his honest thoughts."Yes, I do," she affirmed, her voice unwavering. "I want to hear what you truly think.""Considering Xavia's current physical condition and the fact that she’s already six months pregnant, it’s impossible for her to undergo an abortion. If the child is indeed mine, I can’t turn my back on them. I come from a background where my parents did not shield me from hardships. I faced many struggles growing up. I don’t want my child to experience the same loneliness and neglect. I want to be a responsible father. Do you understand me, Chloe?"Chloe's frustration grew, feeling a sense of suffocation from Joseph's response. "You claim to want to be responsible,
Noah's gaze slowly shifted from the laptop to Chloe's face, taking in her delicate features. Her skin was fair and rosy, and the gentle curve of her lashes rested on her eyelids. She appeared obedient, her mature and casual attire slightly oversized to conceal her growing belly, making her outfit a little ill-fitting."Let's begin," Noah announced, leaning back in his chair.A group of doctors in white coats emerged from the adjacent room and carefully carried Chloe into the neighboring room. Inside, ultrasound machines and an array of instruments were prepared for the examination. The doctors skillfully began their examination of her body."We can now extract the amniotic fluid.""Okay." Noah paused before continuing, "Are you sure there won't be any needle marks when she wakes up?""There won't be any. We're using the latest technology in prenatal testing from Ameria. With anesthesia and an incredibly small needle, it'll be difficult to detect anything with the naked eye."Noah
Jonathan stood there in stunned silence for a while. "Grandpa was perfectly fine just a month ago. How could this happen...""His organ failure has become severe.""This is all because you prevented me from seeing Grandpa a month ago. This is just swell, isn't it? I won't have many chances to see him anymore!""Perhaps if you had taken better care of Grandpa, this wouldn't have happened."Jonathan's anger surged, his eyes blazing with fury. His teeth clenched tightly as if he wanted to bore a hole through Joseph. "You're so selfish, Joe!"Joseph's demeanor remained indifferent, his voice calm. "Don't force me to resort to violence."Goosebumps erupted on Jonathan's arms as he gazed at Joseph's expression which was devoid of joy or worry. There was an air of invincibility about Joseph as if nothing could bring him down. His commanding presence exuded an inherent imperial demeanor, making Jonathan feel like an insignificant ant, perpetually destined to be trampled underfoot.Jonat
The man had no intention of letting the director go.As the director attempted to flee, the man grabbed him by the coat, covered his mouth, and dragged him into the fire escape. Encumbered by age and frailty, the director could not contend with the man's strength and was mercilessly dragged to the rooftop. Following a moment of shock and a piercing scream, the director crashed heavily to the ground and died.Later that evening, an announcement circulated, declaring that the director had leaped from the building due to the immense pressure of life. Spencer read the announcement, feeling fear, self-blame, and unease flooding him. ‘Will I be the next to die? Should I confess to Joseph? Maybe he'll forgive me and let me go… No, no, it can’t possibly be my turn. I’ve always been obedient. My wife and children are still in their hands… I can’t back down.’Three days later, Chloe returned to the country. Upon touchdown, she texted Joseph.[The plane has landed and I’ll be out in about t
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