Just then, Mark walked over and sat on the couch across from Quentin. "Your mother's right; women need to be pampered."After hearing that, Quentin felt a storm brewing in his chest. He couldn't wrap his head around how his father had managed to pretend to be so loving in front of his mother while having an affair with another woman all these years."Is that how you treat the women outside as well?" he inquired, fiddling with his cup. Mark froze for a moment, wondering if his son had found out about his affair. His lowered gaze flickered.Janet chided, "What's with you today? I'm talking about Elle; why are you bringing up other women? What, do you want to be with some other woman?"Her expression hardened. "Don't even think about it, or I'll break your legs!" Janet looked around for anything she could use to warn her son but found nothing, so she could only raise her arm threateningly. Quentin rose from his seat. "I didn't mean anything by it." He took a step toward the door a
Mark wasn't done. He grabbed Lorraine's ankle and yanked her toward him before slapping her face repeatedly. Lorraine screamed, thrashing around on the bed in agony. …Meanwhile, the men Noelle had borrowed from John had been keeping watch outside Lorraine's apartment building for 24 hours. When they finally made a major discovery, they immediately called Noelle.Noelle recalled the bodyguard's description. He was a distinguished-looking man. As soon as he got out of the car, his driver immediately drove it into an alley and vanished from sight. She couldn't help but wonder if it was the same man who had been with Lorraine for years and had ordered people to rape her. Noelle immediately drove to Lorraine's place and called her on the way. As soon as Mark noticed Noelle's name flashing on Lorraine's phone, he ordered, "Answer it!" With shaking hands, Lorraine reached for the phone on the bedside table and answered the call. "Lorraine, are you okay?" Noelle's frantic voice crac
Just then, Lorraine's security door swung open. Standing at the doorway, she was initially surprised to see Noelle on the stairs, but then she sighed. With her arms crossed and a wry smile playing on her lips, she leaned against the doorframe and said, "That's right, you guessed it."Noelle, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to Lorraine's swollen cheeks. Her eyes were bloodshot and full of anger and despair as she glared at her.Lorraine continued, "He's been my sugar daddy since I was 19, and the child I aborted was his. He's also the one who ordered people to violate me and torture me. I didn't have any ulterior motives when I befriended you, but I intentionally bought jewelry and had dinner with Madam Burns. I wanted her to notice me, but all she noticed was my phone."She paused before continuing, "Noelle, I've told you to stay out of my business!" With that, she spun around and went inside, slamming the security door shut. "Elle, I can't face you anymore, so please just hate
Quentin was caught off guard. "Does that mean that car belonged to my father?" he wondered, clenching his fists. …Meanwhile, Mark received an update from his subordinate. Things had gone wrong with Noelle, but Lorraine's place was already set on fire. It was highly likely that she was dead.When Mark heard that they had failed to get rid of Noelle, his temper flared, and he spat out, "All of you are useless!"However, his expression softened slightly when he heard the rest of the report. "Did you make sure it was done right?"His subordinate responded, "Don't worry, Mr. Lowe!" Mark breathed a sigh of relief. The car rolled to a halt on the driveway of Lowe Mansion. Mark got out, appearing as if he had just returned from a social gathering. A subtle hint of alcohol clung to his bespoke suit. With a quick adjustment of his coat, he was back to his usual gentle and gentlemanly demeanor. He walked into the house. Janet was curled up on the couch in the living room, watching a te
The dancing flames cast an eerie glow on Lorraine's ashen face as she managed a bitter smile. A single tear escaped her eye and trickled down her cheek before falling onto the surface of her phone. …Early in the morning, Janet checked her phone and came across the news about a fire at Majestic Bay Sands Residences that claimed the life of a woman who was living there. "Oh my goodness, this is awful! Someone actually died in the fire!"Mark, who was adjusting his suit in front of the mirror, thought it was such a shame to lose a beauty like Lorraine. However, he frowned and said, "That is quite unsettling.""Mhm! It's best to be careful when you live alone. The police said they're trying to contact the victim's family, but it seems like they can't get in touch with anyone. Maybe she was an only child, and her parents passed away a long time ago. Poor thing!" she responded.He frowned as he suddenly found Janet's chatter annoying. "I'm going to the hospital. Do you want to join me
Noelle's voice dropped, as if she was worried that she'd disturb Lorraine. She let go of Quentin, took a few steps back, and ran toward the apartment building's stairs. "Lorraine's in there! I have to find her!"Quentin felt a dull ache in his chest. He seized her arm and said, "Lorraine is dead, Elle!" Even though the truth was brutal, he had to tell her. After all, it was something she had to come to terms with eventually.Noelle stopped dead in her tracks and turned around to look at him in disbelief. Then, she burst into tears and cried out, "No, that's impossible! She can't be dead; she called me just last night!"Noelle broke down, tears streaming down her cheeks. "She called me, and I didn't answer… If I had, maybe she'd still be alive! She must have been waiting for me to rescue her…"Guilt consumed Noelle. Lorraine must've called her last night to ask for help, yet she had ignored her. In light of Lorraine's passing, all the hatred she had felt seemed utterly insignificant
"Listen to Dad," Mark said, silently clasping Janet's hand.At that moment, her hand involuntarily trembled. It was a familiar gesture between them, one that always made her heart flutter and feel deeply loved. But now, with Charlotte's voice ringing in her ears, Janet silently clenched her fists.Half an hour later, Janet and Mark left the hospital together. When they parted at the entrance, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, looking every inch the devoted husband. Yet, her heart skipped a beat, and she did not hug him back.Usually, she'd look up at him with a playful smile, but now she was in a daze, as if her mind was a blank slate. Mark was waiting to go to work and didn't notice her expression. When the driver pulled up, he got into the car and left.Janet returned to Lowe Mansion, but her mind was still wandering. She couldn't stop wondering what Mark had been up to last night.Right then, Charlotte arrived, her maid trailing behind with a pot of orchids. "I brought t
Yvette had been holed up in her room since she returned home from school, only coming out when the housekeepers called her for meals. Olivia was quite surprised to see her out at the moment.Yvette explained, "Noelle's friend passed away. Quentin asked me to go over and keep her company.""Alright, go on then. Don't forget to visit your grandfather after that!" Olivia chirped.Yvette nodded. Olivia was well aware that her daughter was a chatterbox who loved to go out and have fun. So, when she saw how quiet her daughter had been the last few days, she couldn't help but find it odd. …Yvette arrived at Noelle's place and was surprised to see an alpaca in the apartment. She crouched down to pet it. "It's so adorable! Where on earth did you get it, Noelle?"Noelle sat on the couch with a blank expression. "Johnnie gave it to me."When she heard that name, Yvette fell silent for a few seconds. Then, she stood up and sat beside Noelle. "You need to pull yourself together, Noelle. Af
"Sorry, but if I ever get married, it definitely won't be to either of you."Noelle had originally come to visit Christian, but now she didn't feel like staying anymore. She was beyond frustrated.Christian's sharp, dangerous eyes narrowed in an instant, brimming with hostility as he locked his gaze on Noelle. Quentin's handsome face darkened as well, his mood turning stormy.Noelle spun around and walked out."We'll see about that," Quentin muttered, getting up to leave as well.As he passed by the clinic where Noelle worked, he cast a glance in that direction before heading out.Near the end of the workday, Russ called. "Ms. Xanthos, Mr. Xanthos has arranged for you to meet a boxing champion. Are you free now? I can take you to meet him."Noelle couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and bitterness. She had lived 24 years, and only now did he care about whether she had any self-defense skills. Isn't it a little late for that?Still, she went.After one session, she was dr
Noelle quietly closed the door behind her. Leonard glanced over, saw it was her, and put away his phone. "He just fell asleep. Ms. Xanthos, you should head home and rest. I'll keep watch tonight," he said softly.Noelle shook her head. "He took the knife for me. How could I go home? I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway. I'd rather stay here and keep an eye on him."She sat down on the couch, her gaze heavy with concern as she looked at Christian sleeping.Leonard nodded. "Alright, you stay here. I'll step out for a bit," he said before leaving the room.Noelle nodded.Christian's phone, sitting on the nightstand, pinged with a WhatsApp notification.Noelle walked over, picked up the phone, and saw a message from someone with the nickname "The Blomming Fifties.""What a flashy name," she thought with a faint smirk.But for some reason, curiosity tugged at her—she suddenly felt a strong urge to peek into Christian's private world as if she might uncover something hidden beneath t
Noelle remained silent.In Dragfort, ever since Quentin had learned early that morning about Christian taking a knife for Noelle, he had locked himself in his office. It had been three hours now.The morning executive meeting was canceled, and his client appointments were rescheduled. Senior staff members who needed his signature on documents stood hesitating at the door, feeling the oppressive atmosphere even from outside the office.Department heads waiting to give their reports also lingered at the door, too intimidated to enter.In the end, they all turned their pleading eyes toward Martin.But even Martin was hesitant to go in.After all, he had witnessed the weight of Quentin's emotions—shock, frustration, and a deep sense of defeat—that had cast a heavy, oppressive mood over the office.Martin made a call to Dennis, knowing only he could possibly get through to Quentin now."Mr. Jackman, you need to come over," Martin said quietly, making sure to step into a quieter co
Even though Christian was in obvious pain, he forced himself not to make a sound.Such a stubborn fool.The door knocked twice, and Leonard walked in. Seeing Noelle, he greeted her, "Ms. Xanthos."Noelle's eyes were red, but she didn't respond.Christian opened his eyes slightly and said, "Don't tell anyone I'm injured."Leonard nodded."Tell them I'm on a business trip," Christian added.Leonard raised an eyebrow, "Bro, with a wound like that, how long do you think this 'trip' will last before people catch on?"Christian shot him a cold glare, and Leonard quickly relented, "Okay, okay, I get it. I'll handle it."Christian closed his eyes again, waves of pain crashing over him like a relentless tide.Suddenly, he opened his eyes once more. "Silly girl."Noelle paused, her tear-filled eyes looking at him.A smile tugged at the corner of Christian's mouth. "Get out for a bit. You look terrible."Noelle's lips twitched as her damp lashes fluttered, and a surge of unexplainabl
Just as the man raised the knife for a second strike, the security team arrived and swiftly pinned him down.Noelle heard a low grunt behind her, followed by Christian's pained chuckle. "Good thing it wasn't him."Noelle's heart clenched as she turned to see Christian, clutching his shoulder, slumped against her legs.He was wearing a beige coat, now stained with a large patch of blood around his shoulder.Christian was rushed to emergency surgery, but Noelle remained frozen in her chair, her mind replaying his words, "Good thing it wasn't him."Who wasn't it? Quentin?Why did he say that? Why did he act this way?The image of Christian's blood-soaked coat lingered in her mind. The wound—how deep was it?Noelle sat there, numb and lost in thought for an unknown period, until Michael appeared.He glanced at her through the doorway, but without a word, he continued walking past.A little while later, Kara gently patted her shoulder. "They've moved him to a room. You should go s
Emmie smiled and placed a few more ravioli on Noelle's plate. "Then eat a little more. It's your mom's first time cooking, and once you're in the Utopia States, you won't have this."It wasn't like she had never cooked before—she had made instant noodles when she was alone.Noelle ate a small bowl of ravioli without pausing, her stomach now full and round. Her eyes welled up with tears, though whether it was from happiness or something else, no one could tell.After dinner, Noelle stayed for a bit before leaving.Emmie watched Noelle's car disappear down the driveway before finally going upstairs.Michael, leaning back on the bed, heard her soft footsteps approaching and lifted his eyelids.The bedroom was dark, and when Emmie stepped in, her gaze met Michael's dark, piercing eyes. She paused at the doorway, and he continued watching her."Lia must be blind. She couldn't tell if it was you or the driver," Emmie said coldly, walking straight to the other side of the bed and pulli
Emmie was at a loss for words.Michael said, "Your daughter's leaving for the Utopia States soon. You should take this time to spend with her."Emmie's breath hitched. "Elle agreed?"Michael nodded. "Yes."It was the best way for Noelle to get away from those two men and focus on her own growth.After a night's rest, Noelle felt much better the next morning. Emmie called her, inviting her to Gentle Glades after work.What Noelle didn't expect was to see Michael there as well.He was lounging on the couch in casual clothes, flipping through a medical journal. Emmie, wearing an apron, seemed to be busy in the kitchen. When Noelle walked in, Emmie immediately came out."Elle!" Emmie's gentle face was filled with warmth as she took Noelle's hand.Noelle felt a bit disoriented.In her memory, Emmie's life was filled with books and work, never with the kitchen. And Michael—she hadn't seen him so relaxed and calm, casually reading a magazine on the couch, in over a decade.It felt
Michael couldn't forget the look Elijah had given him that day—a mocking smile, full of meaning. Elijah slowly pulled back, revealing Emmie's curled-up body underneath him.Without a word, Michael opened his phone and pulled up a social media app. He tossed the phone to Emmie. "Take a look for yourself."Emmie looked down and saw a video posted by Elijah just minutes earlier. It was of her feeding him. She watched in disbelief, then replayed it. The account was undeniably Elijah's."Scroll down. There's more," Michael's voice drifted from the couch.Emmie's fingers moved down the screen, her peripheral vision catching a glimpse of Michael sitting with his legs crossed, taking a sip of coffee handed to him by the housekeeper.Further down, she found a photo posted by Elijah a month ago, showing her preparing his medicine. The footage seemed to be taken from security cameras.But none of these posts had appeared on her social media feed.She had never seen them on her phone.Mich
Quentin didn't deny it.Noelle's chest tightened as she remembered that day in Ocean City when Christian had said Gillian deserved to be slapped. Now, it all made sense.At the time, she had sarcastically asked him if he would treat her the same way once he got tired of her.His response had been, "Do you think I'm tired of her, and that's why I did it?"Now she understood. Christian had known all along that it was Quentin who had called Gillian to Ocean City.A wave of frustration swelled in Noelle's chest. Her fingers clenched tightly as the memory of Christian's sweet words clashed with the thought of him being with Gillian. Bitterness gnawed at her.Just then, the door opened again, and a strong, steady figure entered. His gaze swept silently over the two men in the room before he walked straight to the bed."Elle?""Clement!" At the sight of him, Noelle's eyes brimmed with tears."Let's go home," Clement said as he turned and carefully lifted her onto his back. Noelle res