Sophia held Jocelyn's hand, smiling reassuringly. "Mom, don't worry about it. That family heiress isn't worthy of Third Brother. If they split, then so be it."Jocelyn wore a troubled expression. "He's almost thirty, and you want him to remain single?"Sophia couldn't help but laugh. "Hahaha. Do you think Third Brother could stay single? Don't worry. If he doesn't find someone, he still has me. I'll help him out."Jocelyn pulled Sophia into a hug. "You're still the most thoughtful, my dear."Sophia chuckled silently. At that moment, Andrew and Xena approached.Sophia greeted them, "Done eating?"Andrew nodded and headed towards the bar to settle the bill.Sophia stopped him. "I've already paid."Andrew clicked his tongue. "Am I supposed to let you pay every time we eat?"Sophia proudly declared, "My turf, my rules."Andrew put his phone back in his pocket. "Alright, you're tough."Sophia grinned. "Are you heading back now?""Yeah.""Could you do me a favor and drop off my
The door swung open, revealing a girl standing there. Her round face looked dark and brooding, her eyes fixed directly on the man sitting at the head of the table. She didn't say a word, but her intense gaze made Patel's scalp tingle.He never expected things to go south so quickly. He had just dropped Vanessa off, so how did she end up here again? Instinctively, he stood up, trying to keep his voice steady. "Vanessa, what are you doing here?"Vanessa's eyes scanned the people at the table and then at Patel. "Didn't you say you were going home to prepare for class?""Okay, let's talk outside," Patel said, attempting to lead Vanessa out.But at that moment, Avalon trembled and said, "Honey, today is our anniversary."Vanessa's gaze shifted to Avalon. She was in her thirties, with an average appearance, her face covered in a foundation that couldn't hide its dullness. Her eyes were fixed on Patel's back, filled with fear.Patel turned to Avalon with a gentle expression. "I know. I'
The following day, Xena told Sophia that Vanessa had already learned the truth. Although Vanessa was heartbroken, she still followed Hamish. Without reaching an irreparable point, letting her see the reality was undoubtedly the best outcome.However, in the afternoon, while in the restroom, she happened to overhear two teachers gossiping."Being approached by a mistress on your wedding anniversary with your husband is quite bizarre, really embarrassing, and shameless.""It seems like Professor Patel got beaten up again.""Well, she had it coming. No woman can tolerate such a thing. Who knows what she'll do when she gets home?"The women's voices carried a sense of gloating."Didn't Professor Patel say that woman once threatened suicide because of her pursuit, so he wanted to console her?""Listening to him, who would admit it voluntarily unless they were caught red-handed? Besides, someone like Patel is a master of deception. Just look at what he said yesterday, 'I love you, hon
Sophia felt both sweet and helpless. Leaning over, she kissed him on the lips. "Alright?""Not quite," Elliot said, then picked up her laptop and got onto the bed.Sophia frowned, following him closely. "Hey, what are you doing?""I'm getting on the bed to check," Elliot replied.He had already set up the laptop desk on the bed as he spoke. After placing the laptop on the desk, he patted the spot next to him. "Come on!"Sophia hesitated. She couldn't resist this man.She had no choice but to get onto the bed to check.But that man wasn't being honest either. She didn't know if he lacked self-control or was just bored.Either way, how could she focus on him touching and kissing her now and then?Sophia swatted away his hand angrily. "Behave yourself.""I can't help it. You can check again tomorrow," Elliot said as he attempted to move the desk back under the bed.Sophia was speechless.So, how did Elliot trick the busy Sophia into bed in just a few steps? Seeing the self-rig
However, Avery didn't respond. Instead, he just hung up the phone abruptly. Sophia put down her phone in bewilderment. Frowning, Elliot asked, "What's wrong?"Sophia looked troubled. "Charlene can't be found, and Avery didn't explain why."She sighed, feeling increasingly uneasy. If nothing had happened, Charlene wouldn't have hidden herself. She tried to contact Charlene with her phone, but it was turned off. Then, she called Xena. Although it was unlikely that Charlene would contact her senior sister, Sophia still made the call.As expected, Xena was completely unaware of the situation. She wanted to ask Andrew, but until things were clarified, she dared to avoid stirring up trouble. What if it was her Avery bullying Charlene? Andrew would be in big trouble if he knew. She was so worried!She called Dyna, asking her to help get an excuse from the teacher. Then, she sat in front of the computer to check Charlene's phone location. The last place she appeared was at a hotel. But
“What?" Sophia was even more surprised. "Didn't her parents die? How do you know?""Charlene told me. The day before yesterday, she called her brother, and after hanging up, she looked confused and told me her parents had come back to life but had become someone else's parents. She cried for a long time.“When we encountered Leticia yesterday, she had a gentle expression and wanted to talk to Charlene. I naturally assumed it was a close relationship between mother and daughter. I think Charlene agreed because of her identity as her mother.“They found a restaurant nearby and got a private room. I wasn't at ease, so I followed them. I waited for her in the restaurant lobby and ordered a teapot. But unexpectedly, the tea was drugged. When I woke up, I was already in a hotel room.“There was the sound of water in the bathroom. I was furious at the time and sneaked out of the room. I happened to encounter Charlene, who got me another room.“I sent Charlene away and went into the bathr
Avery covered his face, overwhelmed with regret. "I didn't, I didn't choose Michelle. I just thought she always stood before me to protect me, and I wanted to protect her for once. I didn't expect Michelle to rush over and hit her."Sophia said, "But Charlene will misunderstand that you were trying to help Michelle. You made such a choice while you were still together last night. Can she not feel disheartened?“She has liked you for seven years and talks about you daily. To be with you, she has been preparing since last year, practicing martial arts day and night, and overcoming all obstacles to come to you. Do you know how much you have disappointed such a good girl?"She didn't want to say anything more.Her heart ached so much that if he weren't her brother, she would have punched him.Avery panicked. "No, why are you saying this? Have Charlene and I met before? My impression of her is still from the first time she became my bodyguard, right?"Sophia looked at him in surprise.
Sophia sighed, "But there's no ifs. Keep investigating. I'll go to the headquarters.""I'll come too.""You don't go first. If his brother finds out you're bullying his sister like this, he'll probably ruin you. Let me ask first. I'll try to talk to her without alarming her brother if she's there. If she's not, you might lose her."Avery froze. During this time, he had gotten used to being together with her day and night. He couldn't imagine what it would be like without her.As Sophia took a few steps, she turned back, "Oh, check the names Charlene or Charlie."...When Andrew saw Sophia, he was quite surprised. "Huh! Little one, aren't you supposed to be in school?"Sophia mumbled, "No classes today."Andrew laughed, "Then why did you come back? Missed me?"Sophia looked at him, but no matter how she looked at him, he didn't know where Charlene was.Charlene had yet to return to the Divine Dragon headquarters.She rolled her eyes, "You're thinking too much. I just heard th
“Ah, no!” Sophia instinctively reached out to catch it, but the phone narrowly missed her fingers. So, she just watched as he tossed the telephone into the bushes.Sophia was infuriated. "Brother, you haven't sung for me yet?"Kyle looked at her. "Time's up.""Time's up for what? You big liar."As she spoke, she balled her fists and attacked him.Although she was no match for Kyle in martial arts, he couldn't fight her in such a confined space. So, Kyle found himself somewhat helpless in this narrow space.He grabbed both her hands with his big hands and pinned her legs with his, leaving Sophia unable to move her limbs.Frustrated, she aimed her head at Kyle and lunged forward. Kyle instinctively dodged. Sophia's little head directly hit his chest.Thud.It felt like a forty-pound hammer hitting his chest, causing Kyle to start coughing on the spot. He was truly at a loss. She was too much to handle, using every trick in the book.With one hand rubbing his sore chest and the
At that moment, it seemed like the world came to a standstill. The man and the woman at the door were so scared they hardly dared to breathe. How dare this woman. How could she slap Kyle?They sneakily glanced at Kyle's reddened face, wishing they could disappear. They were afraid they'd face his wrath, too.Kyle also couldn't believe what he was seeing. This little drunkard in front of him wasn't speaking gently or acting cute, and instead of calling him brother, she slapped him. He was furious. At that moment, he had already thought of where to bury this woman.However, Sophia didn't seem to realize the seriousness of hitting someone. She suddenly jerked her wrist and broke free from the man's grasp. Whether it was because she used too much force or because she was drunk and couldn't control her strength, she stumbled and fell on her rear.This fall was solid, and she couldn't help but cry in pain, "Ow!"Tears streamed down her face.Kyle was bewildered for a moment. The anger
Sophia felt helpless. This man's schemes ran too deep. He didn't reveal anything useful. The two drank one glass after another from seven in the evening until ten at night. Sophia's head was spinning.She had been trying to limit herself, taking small sips each time. Unfortunately, her tolerance for alcohol was quite poor. Her gaze was unfocused, and the man opposite her seemed to blur into duplicates. She knew deep down that she was drunk. It was frustrating. When would her tolerance improve?"Are you deliberately trying to get me drunk to see me embarrass myself?" Kyle lounged carelessly. "I didn't know your alcohol tolerance was so poor."Sophia snorted softly in her heart. Ignorance was truly unbelievable. She even suspected that this man had seen her drunk before. Otherwise, why insist on drinking with her? She needed to control herself now; otherwise, her stingy husband at home would be infuriated.So she just slumped onto the table, motionless.Kyle chuckled. "Are you dru
Kyle compromised, "Alright, I won't touch you."Sophia sternly commanded, "Get off."Kyle slowly got up from her.Sophia's piece of porcelain against his neck remained unmoved, her little face tense.Kyle sat up and waved to remove the hand threatening his neck, "Alright, if I bleed, you lose your life. Do you think I'm afraid of such a broken thing like you?"He knocked away the piece of porcelain in Sophia's hand, but she didn't pick it up. Instead, she said softly, "I know you're not afraid. As the top boss of the Netherworld Palace, what kind of woman can't you have? But it's not worth it to ruin the mood just to sleep with a woman, don't you think?"Kyle looked at her and smiled. Far from diminishing with Sophia's various rudeness, the interest in his eyes only intensified.He stretched out his long arm and grabbed Sophia's nape, pulling her closer. The two were close enough to hear each other breathe.There was a determined smile in his eyes. "I like smart girls."Sophia
Kylie smirked. "So, how else do you want me to repay you?"But Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that his smile seemed somewhat sinister.Kyle wasn't the kind of person to easily agree. Could it be true that she had saved him?After contemplating, she said, "For example, a substantial monetary reward, a direct increase in shares and equity, or at the very least, treating me to a meal would suffice.“But instead, you kidnapped me, restricted my movements, and now you're telling me it's repayment? Did I perhaps drown your son in a well in a past life, prompting you to repay me in such a unique way?"He was left bewildered by Sophia's rapid-fire words. What was this woman talking about?After a good while, he finally grasped the gist of her words. "Alright, let's go. I'll treat you to a meal."Sophia looked at him, surprised that he was so easy to persuade. She took advantage of the situation and added, "Then first, give back the phone to your lifesaving benefactor."Kyle replied,
Elliot searched the inside and out of the car. He indeed found a box of acupuncture needles tucked away in a corner. His wife always had a habit of carrying a box of acupuncture needles with her, not for self-defense, but for saving others.However, this box had yet to be opened, proving that the skills of the person they were dealing with surpassed hers. Otherwise, she wouldn't have missed the chance to use the needles.It seemed that this car was indeed the right one.He looked at the dirt road ahead, with tracks from two vehicles. One was a regular sedan, and the other looked like an off-road vehicle.But no more surveillance cameras were ahead, so they wondered if the cars had turned back or continued forward.He relayed the situation to Avery once again. Avery began to investigate, checking every detail of the vehicle information provided by Elliot. At this point, the police, Samuel, and his team arrived one after the other.Since there were no surveillance cameras in this a
Avalon said, "It perfectly matched the Meng family's expertise. They've been collaborating for several years, and my family even gave up some minor collaborations because they trusted in them.“But this time, under their instigation, my family paid an advance payment of 1.8 billion for goods, but the goods weren't delivered according to the contract date. They kept stalling, and when my family went to check, they found the company deserted.“After my elder brother had someone investigate, he found out the company was leased, and the company's CEO was nowhere to be found.“After reporting to the police, they kept investigating, but there was no result. That person disappeared. Helpless, my parents, elder brother, and second brother all went to find Patel.”“But Patel, apart from the initial matchmaking, wasn't involved in the subsequent cooperation. So, my brother and others didn't dare to do anything to him. But after struggling for a few months, the bank started demanding loan rep
"Mary," Paisley called out each word, but then her throat seemed to constrict, and she couldn't say anything more. Tears welled up in her eyes.Lucas also felt anguished. "We're sorry, Mary, but we haven't wronged you."Mary sneered, "If you haven't, how did I end up in this situation today? You both are incompetent parents. What's the point of arguing? You only have two daughters. Can't you treat us equally?"Paisley was truly enraged by her words. "How have I not treated you equally? Mary was just being clever. Perhaps I inadvertently praised her, but I never said you were bad, did I? Just because of this, you want to abandon Mary?“Are you even human? After you went missing, I couldn't eat or sleep peacefully. Every night was spent in tears. I knew you suffered a lot, and surviving wasn't easy, so when I found out it was Mary who made you disappear, I resented her deeply.“I did everything to make it up to you, even at the cost of hurting Mary. I sided with you unreasonably. Is
Xena viciously grabbed her by the collar, preparing to take her back for further interrogation. However, many policemen suddenly burst in through the door.The secretary followed closely behind, explaining, "Officers, hurry and arrest Xena. She forced her way in."Xena frowned. Assessing her situation, she forced Mary to sit in the boss's chair, a dagger held against her sister's neck. The room was marked with signs of struggle, with blood spattered across the floor.In this situation, she could hardly argue her innocence. But she instinctively explained, "She locked up my parents and wouldn't tell me where they were. I just wanted to question her."The police officers' expressions hardened, their tone brooking no refusal. "Take her away!"Two officers stepped forward and seized her. Xena complied, offering no resistance or excuses, obediently following the police.Another officer glanced at Mary. "Are you alright?"Mary seemed shaken, clutching her neck. After calming herself,