At the hospital, Chloe struggled to find the right words. "It wasn't me… I didn't do anything…""Enough! Just shut up!" Nathan stood up abruptly, his eyes reddened. "When Mr. Harold fell into a coma, you gave the same explanation. And now, when Amelia is facing this situation, you're using the same excuse again. Do you think we're fools?!"A lump formed in Chloe's throat, and before she could speak, Gabriel interrupted her. "Since you appeared, everyone around you has gotten hurt—Joe, Mr. Harold, and now Amelia. You keep saying others are trying to harm you, but who are the real victims here?""But I'm not lying. It's the truth—""Why is it that whenever someone gets hurt, it's always someone else, but you remain unscathed?"Chloe glanced at Joseph whose brows were deeply furrowed. Her lips turned pale, and a wave of sadness washed over her. As long as there were no visible physical injuries, everyone assumed she was unharmed. If that were the case, she would much rather endure th
Nathan's face sank. "I'm sorry." Ava had to stay in the hospital for observation, and Nathan needed to work. He went home to pick up his laptop before heading back to the hospital to accompany her.When no one was around, Ava sent a text to an unknown number. [Chloe has discovered my identity. What should I do?] The reply came swiftly. [What do Nathan and the others think?] Ava replied, [Everyone else believes me.]The response came, [Then there's no need to panic.]*Joseph arrived home in the early hours of the morning. He had matters to handle at the Whitman Group, so he went to Docwood after leaving the hospital. After resting briefly in the living room, he headed to the office for a meeting just as the sky began to brighten.After the meeting, Lucas brought breakfast and placed it on the coffee table. "Sir, please eat.”There were two black circles around Joseph's eyes, and he sounded weary as he said, "I'm fine. Has Chloe contacted me?"Lucas took out his phone and c
Chloe frowned and looked outside. "Who's here?" The commotion outside grew intense. The house helper, who was cooking in the kitchen, looked outside and exclaimed, "Oh, it's Mr. Jonathan!""Jonathan?""And a bunch of other people," the helper added.Before Chloe could react, Jonathan and numerous members from the Whitman family's main and side branches stormed in like a swarm of bees. Taking the lead, he approached Chloe and grabbed her by the collar, dragging her outside."What are you doing?!" Chloe shouted, attempting to break free from his grip."You hurt Grandpa, so we're taking you to the police station!" Jonathan said arrogantly.Gone was the submissive man he used to be. He had done his homework well before coming here. He knew that Joseph was away on a business trip today, so he could not help this woman."It wasn't me! I didn't harm Grandpa!""All the evidence points to you. Your lies won't work. Everyone present today is a senior member of the Whitman family, and w
"Get someone to handle the task," Joseph said.“Yes, sir."*Two hours later, Joseph returned home and learned about what had happened. Though the bodyguards failed to stop Chloe, they held Jonathan back. After all, why should they take the blame when he was the one responsible?However, Joseph just looked at Jonathan coldly and said, "Fuck off." Jonathan was taken aback. ‘Does he no longer care about Chloe? He's letting me go so easily?' Jonathan wondered. "So I can leave? I hope you won't be angry at us, Joe. We did it for your own good," Jonathan said cautiously, "My father is about to be released, and I'll bring him here to apologize to you. We’re still family, after all."Joseph chuckled lazily. "Did your chip investment fail?"Jonathan was stumped. "There have been some issues."Initially, he could have withdrawn both the principal and the profits. However, there were some malfunctions with the chip."Okay." Joseph was not interested in Jonathan's matter. He waved,
"Mind your own business," Joseph said and dragged Chloe away.Emily stomped her foot in frustration. 'Jeez, he's so unreasonable!'In the car, silence hung between Joseph and Chloe as they exchanged glances. Chloe turned to stare out of the window. Joseph felt a sense of sadness at being ignored. Sitting at the front, Lucas tried his best to minimize his presence, hoping not to incur either of their wrath.After a while, Joseph said after composing himself, "We'll get the maternity DNA test results for Amelia and Karen the day after tomorrow."Chloe turned back to him. Her voice shook with emotion as she asked, "You believe me?""When did I ever say I didn't?""You never once believed me and always doubted me," she retorted.Her words stung him. His face sank, and he decided to stay silent.The sky darkened, and they slowly left Aesper, heading toward the direction of Docwood. As she watched the passing scenery, Chloe asked, "Aren't we going home?"Joseph replied calmly, "No,
"No... I don't like Icarus."Her face was covered in tears. Even her curly lashes were decorated with dewy drops, making her a pitiful sight."If you don't like him, why are you unwilling to stay with me?""I no longer love you."Chloe closed her eyes and allowed her tears to escape her. As she made that statement, she was in so much pain that she could not breathe. All the past scenes of them flashed past her mind. She recalled how nice he was to her, but even a great love would be washed away by overflowing disappointment. Now, all she wanted was to give birth to the child and raise the child well.Joseph seemed to have received a great blow. He clenched his fists tightly as the gloominess in his heart attacked him fiercely. Every word she said caused him pain. It was as if she could lead a better life without him. In the past, she had shamelessly fawned over him. But now, she regarded him with disdain after gaining his heart.Joseph’s gaze went blank. The humiliation hit him
Chloe raised a question. "How is all that for me?" "Duskfall wanted to kill you that day. Although you managed to escape, Vanya isn’t the only member of Duskfall. They have hundreds of killers. Cyrus is a crazy man. He failed to locate Mr. Joseph's mother, so he's taking his anger out on Mr. Joseph.“You're Mr. Joseph's lover, so it's inevitable that Duskfall will target you relentlessly. To outsiders, it looks like Mr. Joseph is indifferent toward you and is in comparison nice to Xavia. It's just to confuse Duskfall and protect you."Mr. Joseph has tried his best to be nice to you."Chloe touched her face and felt tears on her face. "It doesn't matter anymore." She no longer cared about who Joseph truly loved.When Lucas saw her calm expression, he frowned slightly and stopped talking. Chloe arrived at the marital home Joseph had mentioned. In the dark, the mansion appeared spacious, and she could not see the end of it. Even with its many lights, she felt no sense of security.
Vanya looked at him in disbelief. "Will you let me go?""What do you think?""I can't trust you wholeheartedly unless you offer me something in return.""You have no right to negotiate terms with me." Vanya gritted her teeth. "Well then, I’ve changed my mind!"She would be doomed if she told him everything and he broke his promise. By not saying anything, she could hold on to her worth.Joseph lost his patience with her and turned to leave. He felt that Vanya would tell him the truth sooner or later. It was just a matter of time before she exposed everything. *At the mansion, Chloe was plagued by nightmares from sleeping in an unfamiliar place.In her dreams, she stood at a busy crossroads. She had no idea where to go. Suddenly, a small and blurry figure approached her and addressed her as “mother.” Inexplicably, she felt that this baby was hers. She lovingly picked up the baby and patted his back gently to comfort him."Aaaahh! Mommy, don't leave me. Please don't leave me
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