The servant’s tears flowed like a river, her wails making it seem as though the sky was falling, evoking sympathy from the crowd. Isabella became the target of even more criticism, as Regina secretly rejoiced, thinking that this man’s interference only pushed Isabella further into the spotlight of disgrace.
But Lucius remained calm and composed, as cold as ice. He patiently waited for the servant to finish her tearful accusations before responding in a frigid tone, "Go apologize to the Rivera family’s mistress and accept your punishment."
The servant’s tear-streaked face stiffened, then twisted into a sly smile as she retorted, "The master ordered the young lady to apologize to the madam. I wouldn’t dare steal that honor."
A dark cloud settled over Lucius’s expression, his eyes sharp as blades. "You deliberately pretended to slip, spilling wine on the young lady, which led to the mistress being scolded. Shouldn’t you apo
The maid covered her ears and burst into tears. It was all over for her now.She glanced at Regina’s face, dark as a storm cloud, and her fierce eyes, like a beast ready to devour. Terrified, the maid could only sob, “No one instructed me. I just can’t stand Isabella. I wanted to humiliate her. She’s just a country bumpkin pretending to be a refined lady, lording over us servants. I deliberately wanted to make her look bad.”The guests in the hall gasped in disbelief. It was indeed a strange world they lived in.From now on, people would need to be more careful when hiring servants. It would be a misfortune to bring in a housemaid who would plot to disgrace her master and tarnish the family’s reputation.However, it seemed there was more to this incident. The maid was clearly too frightened to speak the whole truth, afraid of offending someone.Carlos was both angry and humiliated. On such an important day, with so many distinguished guests p
Lucius gave her a gentle look, as soothing as a spring breeze, instantly helping her escape her anxiety.Ignoring Regina's hidden resentment, Isabella smiled and made eye contact with Lucius.Regina, almost driven to fury by Isabella's disregard, saw an opportunity when she noticed the wine stains on Isabella’s dress. A cunning idea crossed her mind.Regina quickly took Isabella’s arm and said with a concerned tone, “Isabella, your dress is so stained. How can you attend the party like this? Come with me, and we’ll get you changed into the dress I’ve prepared for you.”Regina inwardly sneered: ‘Hmph, now you have no excuse to refuse. If you wear that dirty dress to the party, it will look like you're intentionally tarnishing Carlos’ reputation. This trick is meant to trap you. Let’s see how you escape this one.’Carlos nodded in agreement and urged, “Go ahead a
Cynthia’s heart raced, her emotions stirred. Damn, how could this man be so incredibly handsome?Standing to the side, Samuel noticed the wine in Lucius’s hand.Whether by sheer luck or intentional choice, Lucius had picked a 1988 Lafite.If Lucius wasn’t being deliberate, then he must be an expert with a refined palate. Tasting wine is often a way for high society to flaunt their status.Could this pauper actually know about this? Whether by intention or accident, he had selected the most expensive wine.Seeing Isabella holding the wine, Cynthia felt a pang of disappointment and tried to dissuade her, “Sister, you know you can’t drink alcohol, right? It’s bad for your health. You should stick to juice.”Isabella was initially displeased with Lucius’s choice of red wine, but Cynthia’s comment made her more confident in Lucius’s decision. She shot
Upon hearing the praises from the crowd, everyone agreed: “As expected of Young Master Hayes`, whose family has a long history in the fine wine business. His taste is impeccable; just one sip and he can identify a top-tier wine. He’s definitely a seasoned wine connoisseur.”“We’re not worthy; we couldn’t possibly tell the difference. The more refined the wine, the more it showcases a person’s sophistication and status. Young Master Hayes must have tried all the top wines; we can’t compare to such experience.”Cynthia, hearing all the influential figures acknowledging that they couldn’t match her boyfriend’s insight and taste, couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.Just as everyone was busy complimenting Samuel, the hostess paused and then announced, “We also have to congratulate Mr. Lucius Knight, as you have won the challenge as well.”The crowd was nearly stunned into silence.Moments earlier, everyone had seen it. Lucius hadn’t even taken a si
Mr. Knight is either a scion of a prominent family or a top-tier world-class sommelier. However, among the few renowned international sommeliers, no one has ever heard of someone named Lucius Knight.Lucius instantly piqued the public's interest, leading everyone to speculate about his identity.Meanwhile, some people couldn’t hold back their gossip and started mocking Samuel.“Claiming to be the heir of a wine empire and boasting about his wine-tasting skills, yet he's not as impressive as an ordinary Lucius.”“He’s just a wine connoisseur with no real knowledge, flaunting his wealth just because his family is rich. Not everyone has tasted fine wine.”The rumors reached Samuel’s ears, and he was so enraged that his teeth were grinding. He had originally planned to use the wine-tasting event to humiliate Lucius and let everyone know he was just a provincial bumpkin, hoping to vent his frustration at Isabella’s change of heart.Now, however,
In an instant, Carlos seemed stunned by Lucius’s overwhelming aura, frozen in place.When this man was enraged, he seemed like a hellish demon, terrifying beyond belief.Lucius held Isabella protectively, his silence more menacing than words. His gaze was like a sharp, bloodthirsty blade, cutting into Carlos with an intensity that seemed to wish he could chop him into pieces.Dare to lay a hand on his Bella? Lucius would make Carlos suffer a thousand deaths.Lucius’s tall, imposing figure shielded Isabella, causing Carlos to hesitate, afraid to make a move.Struggling to recover from Lucius’s terrifying pressure, Carlos gathered his courage, his fingers trembling, his voice hoarse and stammering as he said, “I’m disciplining my own daughter. What... does it have to do with you? How dare you...”Lucius actually smiled, but it was a smile more frightening than Satan’s. “Bella is my wife. Who dares to touch her?”His eyes circled Carlos
Lucius staggered down the dimly lit corridor, leaning against the wall for support. The scream he had heard earlier seemed to come from the end of the corridor, and he was desperately searching for it.His mind was clearer now, but he was overwhelmed by an unfamiliar sensation that made him feel extremely uncomfortable.But he couldn’t care about that; he had to save Bella.He reached a white door, and a woman’s voice seemed to be coming from inside.“Bella!” Lucius’s heart leapt with joy. He flung open the door and rushed in.In his dazed state, he saw Isabella in a pure white dress, with her back to him.Overcome with joy, he grabbed her and said with a trembling voice, “Bella, I finally found you. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you earlier. Let’s get out of here quickly.”Cynthia was startled when someone suddenly embraced her from behind. Just as she was about to get angry, she turned around to find it was Lucius.His eyes we
Cade laughed heartily, “How could he not? With that much drug and a beautiful woman around, any man would be irresistible.”Isabella snapped back to her senses and ran forward like a madwoman, screaming frantically, “Cynthia, you shameless, despicable woman!”Cade, with a dark expression, waved his hand, and the bodyguards quickly stepped in to restrain her, gagging her, tying her hands and feet, and dragging her over to Leonard Reed.Cade, with a fawning expression, showed his concern to Leonard Reed, “Mr. Reed, I’m sorry. This girl is wild. I’ll take you to the hospital to get your wounds checked right away.”Leonard Reed glanced at Cade and shook his head, “No need. It’s just a scratch. I actually like Miss Rivera’s fiery spirit. Don’t ruin the mood.”With that, he grinned and picked up Isabella, carrying her into the room and happily instructing, “No one is to disturb us. Remember, beating and scolding is a sign of affection. I won’t be angry w
As if reading her thoughts, Lucius embraced her and held her face, looking into her eyes. “I love you,” he admitted, his gaze unwavering. “I always have. Ever since the first time we met, I admired your strength and your passion. I wanted to be someone you could rely on, someone who would stand by you, even if it meant hiding who I was.”Isabella searched his eyes for any sign of deception, but all she found was raw honesty. The realization settled within her like a weight being lifted. The anger that had flared between them now seemed trivial compared to the bond they had forged through adversity. “No more secrets, okay?”“Agreed,” he said, relief flooding his features. “I promise to be honest with you from here on out. And please don’t worry about the Rivera Corporation. I’ll help you resolve everything.”“You know?” Isabella blinked, startled once again.“I said I was on a business trip because I’m helping you solve the problems at the Rivera Corporation. Your father is critically i
When Isabella finally finished her work and could take a moment to rest, she remembered that someone was waiting for her at home. She quickly took out her phone to send a message.She had expected to find numerous missed calls and messages from Lucius, given his personality, but to her surprise, there was only one message.“Bella, I’ll be busy traveling with my boss for the next few days, so don’t worry about me.”Of course, Lucius had his own life and couldn’t revolve entirely around her. Yet, for some reason, Isabella felt uneasy upon reading that message.As fatigue set in, she had no choice but to rest in the office for a while.She slept soundly until night fell and was awakened by Nate shaking her.“Miss, there’s a banquet tonight where you need to attend as the representative of the Rivera Corporation. We can't let others see us in a bad light; it’s best if you can bring in some investment for the company,” Nate said, immediately arranging for a stylist and a wardrobe for Isabe
"Are you sure it’s not needed?"“Miss, what do you mean?” Nate, perceptive and sharp, immediately understood after hearing Isabella’s words—Regina was involved.Isabella nodded and said to Nate, “Before, when I was slandered, I had a huge argument with my father because I discovered that Regina was behind the losses of the Rivera Corporation. But I only heard fragments of her conversation; I had no evidence.”“I’ll go retrieve the accounts! As long as there are financial transactions, we should be able to uncover the truth,” Nate said, quickly heading towards the company.After all, with Carlos in his current state, only the doctors and nurses could help him now.Once Nate left, no one else appeared outside the hospital room.Isabella dialed Regina’s number.
As Isabella listened to their conversation, a realization struck her. She stepped forward, hesitating for a moment before asking, “Is this the woman you saw?”Barely able to contain her excitement, she pulled out a photo of her mother and handed it to the person who had been speaking.“Yes, yes, that’s her!” The person, startled by Isabella’s sudden appearance, nodded in recognition. After all, such a beautiful woman was unforgettable after just one meeting.“I clearly remember that she was kidnapped by a man living in this building, and Regina was being chased by debt collectors. She even tried to confront that man, provoking him and putting herself at risk with those pursuing her for money.”“Oh, isn’t that just typical of her? Deep in debt and not even trying to earn her way out,” one person scoffed.“I can’t believe it!” Isabella clenched her fists in anger, her eyes wide with disbelief.Her mother had only mentioned her benefactor once,
“You don’t even share the Knight last name, and you dare to argue with me in front of my parents, and my own nephew? You really have some nerve!” Giselle coldly shot a glance at Lydia, not holding back her disdain for her. When it came to matters of interest, she didn’t even want to pretend anymore.“What do you mean I don’t share the last name? I’ve carried a Knight family member in my belly! My poor Lily is still in the hospital, all alone, receiving treatment while her mother is being bullied like this. It’s really inhumane!” Lydia put on her usual act, crying and making a scene, appealing to everyone’s sympathy for her sick daughter.Lydia was merely the daughter of a subordinate of Lucius’ father—Jay. At a banquet, she climbed the social ladder and successfully became Jay’s mistress, even getting pregnant.She gave birth to a daughter, Lily Knight, but the child was born frail and weak.
“Did they send you as a negotiator?” Hearing Lysander mention the Knight family, Lucius couldn't help but sneer, dismissively saying, “They’re all useless leeches clinging to me. None of them genuinely care about my well-being.”The reason Lucius had been gravely injured in front of Isabella was recently revealed to be the work of a business competitorBut at that time, some members of the Knight family weren’t in a hurry to find him; they even tried to take advantage of his absence to seize control of the Knight Group.The ‘useless’ people Lucius referred to included his stepmother—Lydia, his aunt—Giselle, and Lydia's brother, Hans.They all had their eyes on the Knight Group, clearly incompetent and unable to do anything, yet they harbored grand ambitions of taking it for themselves.Over the years, Lucius had cleaned up many of their messes.Fo
Seeing that the crowd was about to be won over by Isabella, Samuel couldn’t hold back his frustration any longer. He turned and walked away, almost fleeing, and his back looked utterly defeated.“I do not regret choosing Aetheron Film Academy; it has always been my dream school because it is open-minded and inclusive, a place where all aspiring performers wish to be. So today, I will not shy away from being broad-minded and accommodating of everyone’s opinions. Now that I stand on this stage, I am not just myself; I am embodying a character whose image is open to any judgment. Thus, I welcome all your doubts.”“However, I also hope everyone can think critically and analyze dialectically. It’s best to bring strong evidence before questioning me. When you defame me, don’t just follow the crowd; have your own insights. If you have grievances against me, feel free to confront me directly; I am never afraid.”“Lastly, I
Clearly, Isabella's powerful presence had intimidated them.In the audience, surrounded by so many people, it was easy for them to hurl defamatory remarks and throw a few paper balls without fear of being immediately identified by Isabella. They felt shielded by their large numbers.But when Isabella asked who among them could replace her, no one dared to speak up. Many of them bowed their heads, afraid to meet her gaze, fearing that if they made eye contact with her, they might be called up to the stage.However, not everyone present was without courage. Some were accustomed to bullying Isabella under the cover of numbers, while others genuinely disliked her due to the rumors circulating about her. One of these was Molly.Glancing around, Molly noticed that those who had thrown things the hardest were silent, not daring to contradict Isabella. Without fear, she stood up, becoming the center
After wrapping up the matter, Isabella went to Aetheron Film Academy for classes.Today was her opening ceremony, and due to her excellent grades, she had been chosen to represent the freshmen and give a speech.Such things had always been routine for Isabella.Having excelled academically throughout her life, Isabella was not intimidated at all; she delivered her speech as the representative of the new students with great fluency. “I’m very happy to enter Aetheron Film Academy and become a diligent student of Aetheron. In the near future, we will surely be the creators of this glorious era.”However, just as she was concluding her speech, someone in the audience threw a rotten egg at her, hitting her squarely.Wearing a pure white dress that day, the foul-smelling egg not only covered her in a terrible odor but also instantly stained her dress, causing the crowd to eru