๋ก๊ทธ์ธ๊ณต์
Chapter 794
๊ด๋ จ ์ฑํฐ
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 795
Luke played the video, but the quality was too poor to make out more than a silhouette.Trying to see better, I leaned closer to his phone, unconsciously pressing against him. I felt him stiffen slightly.Looking between the video and photos, I muttered, "Even his own mother couldn't identify him from this footage."Luke chuckled softly. "Don't get discouraged. Everyone has unique mannerisms. If we compare videos of these three suspects with this dashcam footage, we might find something unexpected."Luke always seemed so composed, as if he could easily solve any problem.I nodded, feeling fatigue creeping in. My eyes were getting heavy, and I needed to rest."Have you had dinner?""Ate at the set."Food always tastes better with company. The crew's boxed dinners were simple but satisfying."Haven't eaten yet?" I asked casually."No.""You should go eat then. Don't let me keep you."As I turned to leave, Luke grabbed my wrist. "You won't even spare a moment for me anymore?"
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 796
She took my card - could she be working at the Mary Institute?I tried calling back immediately, but the line stayed busy. After several attempts, I researched the institute online.Over a hundred years old, the institute only hired the top experts in pharmaceutical research.For privacy reasons, they didn't publish staff information online.I found nothing about her.I wanted to tell Luke but feared giving false hope. Better to confirm first.As my racing thoughts calmed, exhaustion hit. I yawned and headed to bed.The next morning, I felt refreshed after a deep sleep.Just after my morning routine, the doorbell chimed. "Room service," came a crisp British accent.Strange - I hadn't ordered anything.Through the peephole, I saw a server with a cart. I opened the door."There must be a mistake."He checked his order slip. "Placed at 6:30."I was barely awake then. About to protest, I spotted a box of Belgian chocolates on the cart.Luke. Of course."My friend must have o
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 797
I felt oddly guilty at that moment.After greeting Mr. Walker, Mr. Lloyd turned to me: "I'll wait for you at the hotel entrance.""..." After last night, I didn't want to be alone with Luke. I almost grabbed Mr. Lloyd's sleeve to stop him.Luke noticed my eyes following Mr. Lloyd, his eyebrows drawing together slightly.Once Mr. Lloyd entered the elevator, I had to face Luke. "Thank you for breakfast."Luke pulled two tickets from his suit pocket. "These are for Sophie's art exhibition.""Thank you, Mr. Walker."After what Luke had told me about Sophie, I'd formed a good impression of her. I was genuinely excited to see her exhibition. I took the tickets and headed for the elevator.Before Luke could invite me to go together, I was already in the elevator, leaving him standing alone in the hallway."Mr. Lloyd, I'm planning to visit an art exhibition this afternoon."Since Mr. Lloyd had let me plan the day, he had no objections to my suggestion."I'll get the car."Luke had
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 798
She flashed me a smile.One look confirmed she was Sophie Walker.She was nothing like the rebellious artist I'd imagined.I'd pictured someone in bold, avant-garde clothing with an air of casual rebellion.Instead, she was polished and elegant, completely changing my preconceptions about young contemporary artists.I wanted to introduce myself but wasn't sure how.I returned her smile and entered the gallery.The exhibition was split in two sections: Sophie's work and pieces by her friends.I'd seen Sophie's work online. Compared to her previous pieces, these showed remarkable evolution - like a famous actor once said, "like putting clothes back on, one piece at a time."Her formerly bold, passionate style had transformed into something more subtle and alluring.Each painting captured a different woman's unique charm, bringing them to life.Sophie had given them souls; they seemed to breathe through her brushstrokes.When I used to visit galleries with my parents, they'd e
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 799
Luke shot her a warning look."Fine, I'll stop prying." Sophie shrugged his hand off.She fixed her hair and, when Luke wasn't looking, darted to my side and whispered: "In all these years, I've never seen him care so much about anyone."Straightening up, she patted my shoulder. "Pick any piece you like from the exhibition - it's yours."Luke: "Why don't I get one?""I'll give you all of them as a wedding gift. So, better get moving!" Sophie made a cheering gesture. "Take your time looking around - I need to greet some guests."She walked away."She's a wild one. Don't take what she says too seriously.""So Mr. Walker, you're saying that unlike her, you're rational - I should take everything you say and do to heart?"Including how his attitude toward me had changed, and everything he'd said and done then?"Even I have my irrational moments.""..." There was no winning with Luke - he'd even criticize himself to dodge a point.I walked around him to continue viewing the art.
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 800
To support Mr. Lloyd without financial restraint, he worked freelance jobs alongside his lab position.Having such a devoted fan must make Mr. Lloyd happy.They'd only met a few times, but Mr. Lloyd knew he was quiet and remarkably composed, even around his idol.I needed to be careful about asking about Luke's mother before understanding this fan better.After parking, we entered the lobby and spotted the fan by the window."That's Greg," Mr. Lloyd said quietly.Following his gaze, I saw a burly white man.He had a full beard and was playing with a Rubik's cube.We approached his table."Ah, there you are," Greg said in deep British accent, barely glancing at me before returning to his cube."This is my assistant, Jen Middleton."Greg nodded slightly."Please sit," Mr. Lloyd gestured.Talented people often have unique personalities - I didn't take Greg's behavior personally.Greg pushed the menu toward Mr. Lloyd. "I've ordered mine. Order whatever you'd like."Working a
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 801
Mr. Lloyd and I arrived at the library.The downtown library was five stories tall. Being a weekday, it wasn't crowded, but finding someone I'd only met once in this 30,000-square-foot building seemed nearly impossible.After two hours of searching with Mr. Lloyd, we came up empty.Maybe she hadn't come today?It would make sense - having her important belongings stolen might have left her in no mood for reading.Disappointed, I headed back to the car with Mr. Lloyd.I stopped him before he could start the engine."She might be in some hidden corner we missed."The library had only one exit. I wanted to wait and watch.If she was inside, she'd have to leave before closing time.Mr. Lloyd agreed."There! That's her!"After about ten minutes of watching intently, I spotted a slim figure carrying books toward the entrance.Her profile was strikingly similar to Luke's - I recognized her instantly.Excited, I jumped out of the car and hurried toward her.Still shaken from the
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 802
"I can handle my own affairs. Don't concern yourselves."Her reaction at the mention of Luke's name showed this part of her past was too painful to revisit.Her resistance was understandable.You can't force relationships - if she was this opposed to acknowledging Luke, there was no point pushing it.I wondered how Luke would take her reaction.Imagining his dejected, hurt expression made my heart ache.I stood there for a while, with Mr. Lloyd waiting patiently beside me.After about fifteen minutes, I collected myself and got back in the car.Mr. Lloyd asked about my next plans."I'd like to return to the hotel."As we drove back, I spotted a dessert shop and asked Mr. Lloyd to pull over.When you're down, something sweet can boost your mood with dopamine, and I could get some treats for Ian too.I bought several desserts, insisting on paying before Mr. Lloyd could.Back in the car, I offered him a Black Forest cake."I've already exceeded my sugar intake for today."H
์ต์ ์ฑํฐ
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 878
We both knew how we felt about each other, but neither of us made the first move to confess.โI gave birth to him in circumstances I couldnโt control,โ Molly said, her hands tightly clutching her cup, fingers unconsciously tracing its edge. โI used to think about fighting back against the people who hurt me, but reality forced me to wake up. I couldnโt afford to lose everything.โShe hesitated, her gaze dropping. โThere are things from back then that I just canโt bring myself to tell him.โWhen I arranged for Luke and Molly to spend some time alone, the two of them mostly sat in silence.โMrs. Walker couldnโt have children for years after her marriage. Luke was just a tool to help her secure her place in the family,โ Molly explained.Mr. Walker was handsome, wealthy, and from a good family. After getting married, women constantly threw themselves at him. According to the information Wendy had dug up, Landon didnโt exactly push them away.In such a situation, Mrs. Walker, Ashleigh
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 877
Molly poured four glasses of juice and sat across from Luke.She looked like she wanted to say something but didnโt know where to start.I gave Ian a quick look.Ian took a sip of his juice and said, โMiss, the juice is sweet and sourโitโs so good!โโDrink it up, and Iโll pour you some more,โ Molly offered.Luke interjected, โItโs almost time to rest. Donโt drink too much juice.โโIโm sorry, I donโt have experience taking care of kids,โ Molly said, lowering her head. After a pause, she quietly repeated, โIโm sorry.โShe was probably thinking of Luke as a baby.I clutched my stomach, pretending to wince. โExcuse me, Molly. My stomach hurts; I need to head back to my room.โAs I stood, I grabbed Ianโs wrist.Ian caught on quickly. โJen is a girl. Sheโll get scared going back aloneโI have to go with her.โNot giving Luke a chance to respond, I opened the door and said, โMr. Walker, you stay and chat with Molly. Ian and I will be back in a bit.โIn the hallway, Ian looked thoug
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 876
Molly wasnโt the type to make things difficult for others. She didnโt give the hotel manager a hard time.After the staff left, Molly turned to thank Luke and me. โThank you for staying with me and helping me handle this.โLuke glanced at her but didnโt say anything.The silence grew awkward, so I quickly broke it. โYou donโt have to thank us. We didnโt really do much.โโWould you like to come in and sit for a while?โ Molly invited us into her room.Before either of us could respond, Ian, whoโd been holding back his excitement, eagerly chimed in, โYes, yes! Letโs go!โI sighed internally.Molly finally noticed the little one in Lukeโs arms. โAnd whoโs this?โโIโm Ian Lloyd,โ he introduced himself cheerfully.But the moment he got a good look at Mollyโs face, he let out a small โHuh?โ and then turned to look at Luke.Luke frowned slightly, and their eyes metโa silent understanding passing between them. Ian immediately shut his mouth and swallowed whatever heโd been about to sa
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 875
Five hours later, we arrived in Sharonville.Before the trip, Luke had everything arranged. After landing, we took a car to the hotel heโd booked in advance.In the hotel lobby, we ran into Molly. She was walking with two middle-aged men in sharp suits, smiling as she chatted with them.When her eyes met Lukeโs, her smile froze for a moment, then slowly softened as she stared at him without blinking.Luke didnโt acknowledge her. He walked right past, brushing by her shoulder as though she wasnโt there. From the corner of my eye, I saw her eyes redden.The two men exchanged glances but didnโt say anything. That night, however, they sent two young, handsome men to Mollyโs room.Our room was on the same floor as Mollyโs. After dinner out, we returned to the hotel and saw her standing at her door with the two young men.Their faces were powdered with heavy makeup, and they looked eager to please, practically glued to her.My thoughts immediately took a less innocent turn.Luke co
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 874
Amy messaging me at this hour was probably another complaint about other agencies trying to poach her, or how stressed she was about it all.The underlying message? She wanted me to contact Mr. Lloyd to secure better resources for herโa thinly veiled threat, essentially.Since several popular artists left One Entertainment, the companyโs resources had started to dwindle.Mr. Lloydโs return wasnโt just because of his love for acting. He also wanted to support the companyโs artists, giving them more opportunities to shine.Amy had already begun to stand out. If she simply focused on honing her craft and stayed patient, sheโd get her share of the spotlight.When Mr. Lloyd founded the company, his goal was to grow it into a powerhouse that protected its artists. Now, he had adopted a more laid-back approach: if an artist wanted to leave, they just needed to pay the penalty fee.Amyโs tactics wouldnโt change anything.I went back to reading my book.My phone buzzed again, and I ass
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 873
Mr. Lloyd's words carried a hint of reassurance for me.โJen, Uncle asked me to create a travel itinerary!โLuke had been telling Ian lots of stories about Sharonville, and Ian had also looked up a ton of information online. He now knew every street in the city and how many shops were on each one.Carefully folding his sweaters, Ian placed them neatly into his suitcase, which was decorated with a cheerful Doraemon sticker.โIโm really looking forward to your travel guide, Ian!โโIโve already finished most of it!โ Ian was a serious little worker who never did things half-heartedly. If he said it was nearly done, he was probably putting on the finishing touches.I praised him warmly.โJen, since the three of us are traveling together, we need to consider everyoneโs preferences and suggestions.โโSo, you want to get my input to finalize it?โโExactly.โโWell, wherever you want to go is where I want to go. This trip, Iโll leave the planning to you.โLuke had work to handle in Shar
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 872
For the past few days, Luke has been picking me up and dropping me off at work.Reporters often linger outside One Entertainment, and it took a lot of effort for rumors about me and Luke to die down. I didnโt want them to resurface.Luke understood my concerns, so he always parked his car a block away from the company. Once he sent me a message, Iโd grab Ian and head over.That evening, Luke prepared another full table of dishes for dinner.Ever since things thawed between us, I hadnโt said much during meals, but the atmosphere was much more relaxed than before.โSheโs already in Sharonville,โ Luke said.โHasnโt she been out of the country for years? Will she be safe there alone?โHe was talking about Molly.The Walker family has been a prominent family in Sharonville for generations, with deep-rooted connections and influence. Mrs. Walker is a respected figure, and many people in Sharonville owe her favors. It wouldnโt be surprising if someone decided to teach Molly a lesson on
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 871
I watched the behind-the-scenes footage, and Mr. Lloyd looked great. After stepping out of the spotlight for a few years, his demeanor has become even more composed and sophisticated, perfectly matching the calm and collected surgeon he portrays in the show.โHeโs as brilliant as ever,โ Beatrice said, her eyes filled with admiration. โAs long as the co-stars hold their ground, this show is bound to be a hit.โโHe has an exceptional eye for picking scripts,โ she added, her gaze glued to the screen.I didnโt interrupt her. Instead, I got up and went to the kitchen to check on Ianโs progress.For someone so young, Ian took everything seriously. Standing on a small stool to make up for his height, he carefully worked on brewing coffee, his movements precise and methodical.โWaiter Number One, Ian Lloyd, at your service. Your oat latte will be ready soon,โ he announced cheekily.I laughed at his playful tone and played along. โWaiter Number Two will now deliver orange juice to Mr. Ian
Second Chance at Love: From Divorcee to the Billionaire's Brideย ย ย Chapter 870
While Beatrice chatted with Ian, I brought the gifts to the living room."You're too kind, Ms. Middleton.""Ian bought these with his pocket money."I winked at Ian.He caught on quickly, nodding.Beatrice warmly invited me to sit.Fresh fruit and two plates of nuts were on the coffee table.She placed a fruit bowl before me. "Yesterday's blueberries are freshโcrisp and sweet."The large blueberries were covered in bloom. I took one and made space for Beatrice."What would you like? Coffee or juice?""Fresh orange juice for me, and Jen likes oat milk latte," Ian said, playing with a doll, squishing its face into different shapes.Suddenly remembering our earlier conversation, he dropped the doll and ran to the kitchen. "I've learned lots from Jen. I can make juice and coffee!"Beatrice praised him: "How impressive!"She started toward the kitchen, concerned.I held her arm. "Ian's a quick learner. He does everything properly. We can trust him.""He gets along so well wit
