After class, Chloe saw that Icarus was still there and asked, "Waiting for someone?""I'm waiting for my relatives. We have to attend a forum this afternoon," he replied."Okay, goodbye then," she said.Icarus was dressed in a white casual suit, and his gold-rimmed glasses reflected a gentle light as he called out, "Chloe.""Yes?" Chloe turned her head."What kind of flowers do you like?" he asked sincerely."I don't like flowers," she replied.His smile froze and he fell silent for a moment."I see," he said.Chloe did not understand why he suddenly asked this question, but she was not going to stick around to find out.However, she unexpectedly ran into Jake.Holding a new set of car keys in his hand, he looked around. "Does that old lover of yours stay in this area?"This was the upscale villa area of Aesper."You better watch your mouth," Chloe said with disgust in her tone.As time passed, Jake's true character became increasingly apparent to her, causing her to ques
Chloe's image appeared in Icarus's mind and he smiled, "Someone gentle but tough, and smart."It was rare for Icarus to rate a woman so highly, and Jake asked out of curiosity, "Is she from Aesper?""Maybe."Jake became even more confused. He had been living in Aesper for more than twenty years, but he had no impression of a woman like Icarus had mentioned."I'll bring her home to meet the family when the time is right," Icarus reassured him."Okay. I'll definitely treat her well," Jake replied.*The towering skyscraper of Fairlight stood tall in the city center, its name looming in the clouds above.In the afternoon, there was a financial forum at the city center.As a special guest, Joseph made the final appearance, standing on the high platform with all the lights shining on him, capturing everyone's attention. He spoke briefly and then went to the lounge to rest.There were two types of lounges—a regular one and a VIP one. Joseph walked past the regular lounge and went s
Joseph noticed her reaction and smirked.He stretched out his arm and pinched her cheek."Hey! Hey! Hey!" Chloe abruptly opened her eyes and swatted his hand away.She truly thought that he was going to kiss her.A light smile played on Joseph’s lips as he sat regally on the sofa, his fingers interlocked on his chest as he stared at her playfully.“‘Hey’ what?" he teased.'D*mn it!' Chloe cursed inwardly when she realized that Joseph was teasing her again.Chloe took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart."Nothing," she said, trying to act nonchalant.Joseph watched her leave with a disappointed expression. He did not know why but he found her quite cute.Meanwhile, Chloe returned to her bedroom, flopping onto the bed in frustration. When would she ever be able to win over Joseph? Did he really mean it when he said he was impotent? If not, why would he be impervious to her charms?After a while, she received a call from Emily who was checking up on her. "How's
Chloe caught a glimpse of his actions and tightened her fists nervously.She was afraid of both how he would respond and how he would not respond. After all, this was her first time doing such a thing. She was scared. Her cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue, almost as if she could boil a pot of water with the warmth she felt.Just when she was lost in her anxious thoughts, Joseph threw his woolen shirt right over her head!Chloe was stunned and the world around her turned black."If you do this again, you'll have to bear the consequences."His voice echoed in her ears, devoid of any warmth or emotion. It sounded exactly like what Joseph would say—unyielding as a rock and cold as ice.Chloe was ashamed, but after a few seconds, the heat in her body dissipated, leaving her trembling as if she had gone through an ordeal of fire and ice.She pulled the woolen shirt off her head and hastily put on her clothes before running into the bedroom. She called Emily and vented her frustratio
"I can't believe it. You guys were the model couple.""Are you for real? You're kidding, right?""Jake is so handsome and devoted. Why did you guys break up?"The group could not believe it. At that moment, Emily's sarcastic response cut through the air. "Yeah, your seemingly devoted Jake cheated, and the person he cheated with is Chloe's half-sister."The group looked at each other in disbelief, until the ex-class monitor, Peter, changed the subject, urging everyone to focus on the food. The topic was ultimately dropped, but several coursemates came over to console Chloe.After drinking quite a bit of water, Chloe got up to go to the restroom. Peter noticed and followed her. When she emerged from the restroom, she saw Peter waiting in the hallway and casually asked, "Are you going to the restroom too, Peter?""No, I'm waiting for you.""Waiting for me?"Peter had had a few too many drinks, and his speech was slurred as he said, "Chloe, there's something I want to tell you.""
Joseph would always be there to save Chloe whenever she was in trouble.If he did not have a bad temper and his tongue was not so sharp, she might actually have fallen for him. Even if he was impotent.Joseph snorted coldly and haughtily turned his head, refusing to look at Chloe. "I just happen to be passing by. I don't want other people to think my wife is open game.""What are you talking about? It’s not like I wanted to be popular." Chloe pouted, feeling unjustly accused.'It's not my fault that I’m talented and likable. He's so unreasonable.'"You're the most shameless woman I've ever met," Joseph commented in a sarcastic toneAlthough what Chloe said was not entirely wrong, he did not like her attitude. Even if someone confessed to her, she could have simply told them that she was married. Was it really necessary to make such a fuss?Only God knew how angry Joseph was when he saw her fooling around with another man in broad daylight. His temper flared, and his blood pressu
Emily was half a head shorter than Chloe, so Joseph could effortlessly look past her head and into the room.There were many empty seats, and Chloe was nowhere to be seen. She most likely had gone home already.Withdrawing his gaze, Joseph said in a low, deep voice, "I'm sorry. I think I made a mistake.""It's okay." Emily nodded, unsurprised by his response.*Lucas was already waiting in the driver's seat. When he saw Joseph, he grabbed an umbrella and got out to greet him. As he drew closer, he noticed that Joseph was already holding an umbrella of his own.Without overthinking it, Lucas assumed that it must have been given to him by one of the business partners who saw that it was raining outside.After forty minutes, Joseph arrived home and punched in the password to enter the living room. His attention was immediately drawn to a pair of damp women's sports shoes resting in the hallway, causing him to furrow his brows.'Did she choose to brave the rain rather than wait for
Their eyes met as they lay facing each in the bed.Joseph furrowed his brows, equally confused as to how he ended up in Chloe’s bed. Before he could even begin to explain, she cut in quickly, "It wasn't me! I don't know how you ended up in my bed. And we're both fully clothed, so don't scold me!"Joseph could not help but sneer at her frantic attempts to diffuse the situation."Hah, now you know how to behave like a cultured lady?"Chloe pouted and replied, "I’ve always been a cultured lady…""Don't push it," Joseph replied.Determined to defend herself, Chloe insisted, "This is all because of you. When you meet someone you like, you naturally break all your principles."She could not help but commend herself for how skilled she was at flirting and saying sweet nothings.As the tension between them eased, Joseph languidly buttoned up his shirt, his every gesture oozing with seduction. A blush crept up Chloe's face, and she bent down to search for her shoes.Perhaps because she
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