“I told Joe that I liked the car, and he got me one too. Seems like he doesn't love you all that much. After all, I can easily get my hands on what you have."As Chloe looked at the car keys in Xavia’s hand, she froze. A trace of emotion appeared on her face moments later. She felt an overwhelming sense of humiliation as a mocking voice echoed in her ears, taunting her with the words, "See? This is the man you loved, whose love is nothing more than a mere imitation."Xavia inched closer toward Chloe, her voice dripping with venom as she said in a low tone, "I’ll let you in on a secret. It was me who manipulated Icarus into defaming you. And to my surprise, Joe readily believed it. His feelings for you were merely superficial. Your relationship is incapable of enduring even the slightest test."Chloe trembled as her eyes filled with hatred. "So it was you..."At that moment, she finally grasped the reason behind Icarus' sudden actions. She should have realized it earlier. If she and
Chloe stopped outside the ward and was about to push open the door when she heard voices from inside."It's good to see you awake, Joe. Have some water. I’m sure you’re parched. I heard everything from Lucas. That was so dangerous. From now on, make sure to bring more bodyguards when you go out. It's so terrifying. If anything had happened to you, our baby...""All right, stop crying. I'm perfectly fine," Joseph said in an emotionless tone."I'm just worried..." Xavia pursed her lips. "When I came up, I ran into Ms. Chloe. She seemed to be in a bad state...""What happened?""She was highly agitated and kept saying that it was because of me that your relationship with her turned out this way. She even mentioned something about me colluding with Icarus... Of course, I don't blame her. I just feel that she’s been suppressing herself too much lately. Pregnancy can easily lead to mental stress, and it seems like her mental state isn't in top condition..."Joseph fell silent for a few
Emily nodded in silent agreement, munching on a handful of popcorn. Joseph was the kind of man who could lift you to the skies one moment and ruthlessly plunge you into the abyss of despair the next. The memory of him purchasing all the extravagant bags in Aesper and delivering them to Chloe in trucks felt as fresh as if it had occurred yesterday. All men were the same. After they got the things they wanted, they stopped cherishing them. "What are your plans now?" Emily asked."I don't want to stay here anymore," Chloe replied, her eyes downcast and her expression sad."But what about your company?""I'll sell it." She felt no sentimental attachment to the Johnson Group, and it was primarily a repository of painful memories. Now, it simply served as a tool for financial gain. During her year and a half of management, she had not focused on expanding its size, but rather on securing stable resources. Selling it would not pose any challenge.Emily became sad and said, "If you l
A hint of surprise flickered through Noah's eyes, but he soon composed himself. "It's nothing. Just a few indecent words. The key is that Mr. Joseph came to his senses in the end," he said.Chloe sneered. "Came to his senses? I wouldn't give him such a compliment."Noah changed the subject, "By the way, I read on the entertainment news that Mr. Joseph got back with Xavia?""I don't know. Maybe," Chloe replied, biting her lip and forcing a smile."Don't be sad. There are plenty of good men in the world. I'll introduce you to someone if you like," Noah comforted her gently while patting her shoulder."I don't want to date for now. Being alone is fine... And currently, I have some things to take care of."Whether it was Jake or Joseph, both had proved that her judgment was poor. She should have learned a lesson from her failed relationship with Jake, but she ended up getting hurt again."What are you busy with? Work?" Noah asked."I'm selling off the Johnson Group and am heading
At the hospital, Joseph searched within himself for an honest answer upon waking. He thought about how to deal with this love affair. Although he wanted nothing more than to drive her away when he found out she had cheated on him, he could bring himself to do it.He missed her so much till his appetite had been non-existent. Even when faced with the issue of life and death, he did not hesitate to give up his chance of survival to ensure hers. What kind of charms did this dumbo possess? His principles were crumbling before her.Noah shielded Chloe. His indifferent expression was still gentle. "What do you want, Mr. Joseph?""This has nothing to do with you, kid. Get lost." Joseph pushed Noah aside before he grabbed Chloe's arm and dragged her to the car."Let go of me! I don't want to go back!" Chloe struggled vigorously. She hit him and accidentally touched his wound, eliciting from him a gasp of pain. She immediately stopped and tilted her head awkwardly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to
When Joseph noticed the resoluteness in Chloe's eyes, his words got stuck in his throat.'Oh, Joseph. Why did you end a good marriage so badly… I made up my mind to talk things out with her, so why are we falling out again?' he thought.Chloe did not wish to see Joseph, so she took Noah's hand and left with him. Joseph was frustrated as he stared at them walking away. Lucas got out of the car and said, "Sir, we should go. Vince is waiting for you.""Mm,” Joseph replied noncommittally. He frowned and got into the car. He had to deal with business first. After he was done, he would look for Chloe again.Based on the GPS, Lucas drove out of the city and rushed toward the suburbs. "Sir, I read a lot of gossip about you on the Internet."Joseph became baffled. He was not a star, so why was there gossip about him?Lucas smiled dryly. "I found it strange and thought it was part of someone's scheme, so I looked into it. My guess was right..."Joseph took out his phone, opened up the t
Cyrus accepted the cup, took a sip, and put it down. "Joseph apprehended Vanya when she tried to kill Chloe for you."Xavia looked up in shock. "Didn't she run away into the mountains?""Yes, she did, but she failed to escape."Xavia’s voice went up an octave. "Will she expose us?"Cyrus' hand stiffened. He then turned and stared at her. Xavia became nervous under his gaze. She quickly changed her statement. "I didn't mean it that way, sir... It’s just that Joe’s attitude toward me has taken a drastic turn recently. If an accident happens now, all our efforts will be futile."Cyrus was currently in his forties and his white suit made him look sprightly. His bright and spirited demeanor marked him as a refined teacher. A smile slowly dawned upon his face, but it was cold and unreadable, sending chills down Xavia's spine."Are you saying that Joseph has fallen in love with you?" "I'm not sure about that... He has been treating me much better than before. He even bought me a car."
Joseph's expression turned icy. "Get me the phone."*Noah and Chloe were at a food alley near his school. They were hashing out future entrepreneurial plans at Estre for the next few years.Chloe listened attentively and was interested in all he had to say. She felt him an excellent business partner, and based on her current understanding of him, he was rich, responsible, and had a strong background. All these attributes were rare to find in one person.This was her first time establishing her own business and she felt inexperienced and not very confident. She did not want to become a burden to others. "That's all I can think of at the moment. Do you have any good ideas?" Noah looked at Chloe tenderly.Chloe was about to say something when his phone rang. She smiled and said, "Go ahead and answer it."Noah went to a corner to answer the call. He put his phone to his ear. "Grandpa? I'm in a business discussion … You're back? Okay, I’ll be home in a bit… But I can't leave now, G
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