Michael pulled his arm back just a fraction too late, almost getting it caught in the car door. Watching Emmie's Audi drive off, a deep frustration settled in his chest. He turned, catching the driver's glance, and his expression darkened. "What? You feel sorry for her because I cut out her tongue?"The driver's head shook so fast it was like a bobblehead. "No, no! Not at all!"Only then did Michael walk over to his car and slide into the seat. "To the Xanthos residence."An hour earlier, the Xanthos residence had received a rare visitor—the long-absent Noelle, whom the servants hadn't seen in six months."Mrs. Xanthos Senior, Ms. Noelle is here," a middle-aged housekeeper announced cheerfully.Mabel, frowning slightly, glanced over her shoulder. When her eyes landed on the poised figure of Noelle standing in the doorway, there was no sign of warmth in her expression. She gave a cold hum. "It's a miracle she even remembers she has a grandmother. I suppose she's finally com
An awkward silence hung over the scene.It took Mabel a long time to find her voice again. "Call the Gardner family! Tell them to come get him out of here!" she said, nearly shaking with anger.One disaster after another had pushed her to the brink.The housekeeper, startled by Stanley's humiliating state, stood frozen. The female staff, in particular, quickly turned their heads, too embarrassed to look at him.Stanley, still naked and shivering in the cold winter wind, hadn't fully processed where everything had gone wrong. One moment, things had been going smoothly, the next, he'd lose control and ended up in bed with Lia.Worse, he'd heard that Lia had miscarried, which meant he had crossed Michael—a mistake that would surely come with severe consequences."Mrs. Xanthos Senior, I was set up! I swear, someone did this to me! I'll find out who it was!" Stanley pleaded, ignoring his nakedness as crawled on his knees toward Mabel, desperately reaching for the hem of her coat.M
Neville felt a chill run through him as he knelt there in silence, unable to find the right words.Felicia continued to plead through her tears. "Mr. Xanthos, please, I beg you, spare him! The Gardner family has only this one son, our lifeline…"Lifeline.Michael glanced over at Stanley, who was curled up on the ground, trembling uncontrollably. He didn't respond.Neville knew that without a serious concession, this wouldn't end well. The Xanthos family was not a force he could contend with, and Michael even less so.Neville stood up, walked over to Stanley, and viciously kicked his son below the waist.This thing down there was only trouble anyway—better to get rid of it!Stanley managed to clamp his legs together just in time, but Neville followed with a second kick. This time, he hit his target, and Stanley let out a sharp, agonizing scream.Neville returned to Michael Xanthos and said, "Mr. Xanthos, he's no longer a man. Is that enough?"Michael's expression remained c
Noelle was at work that afternoon when her phone rang. The caller ID flashed a familiar name—Clement.She answered in surprise, "Clement?"Clement Xanthos's voice was steady and warm. "Elle, I'm in Collinview City. Let's meet up tonight."Noelle replied quickly, "Yeah, sure! Clement, what brings you back? Is it for work?"Clement was the son of Noelle's second uncle and had been stationed in Coastal Cove for years. She hadn't seen him in what felt like forever."Yeah, for work," Clement replied warmly.Not wanting to interrupt her work, Clement ended the call."I'll be right back, just heading to the restroom," Clement told the group of friends who were hosting a welcome gathering for him, before turning and leaving the private room.Inside the restroom, a tall man stood by the sink.Clement walked over to a nearby stall, glancing sideways as he zipped up his pants. "Mr. Lowe, you should head back to Dragfort. Elle doesn't take back her exes."Quentin, mid-zip, paused and sho
Just like years ago, back in high school, that rebellious figure raised his eyebrow in that same mischievous way.Yes, back then, Christian was the poster boy for rebellion in high school, while Clement, with his upright and principled demeanor, was like Solomon in the olden days.Both of them had their own group of followers."Clement? When did you get back?" Christian stepped out of the elevator, his glassy eyes filled with a smile, looking genuinely surprised.Clement remained expressionless。 "You don't know when I came back?"Christian had been at the welcome banquet that morning. They had been in the same class in high school.Christian's gaze relaxed slightly. "Must've slipped my mind. Brother and sister catching up?"His lowered eyes held a hint of amusement as his gaze lingered on Noelle's face.Noelle frowned. The heavy psychological scars Christian had left made her want to stay far away from him. She walked over to Clement, took his hand, and softened her voice, "C
Christian pressed his lips together, a teasing look in his eyes. He kissed Noelle's cheek and then slowly moved lower, his lips landing on her neck.He used his teeth to tug open the collar of her white coat, and when his hot lips touched her skin, Noelle shuddered. "Christian, you… stop it!"His lashes brushed against her shoulder blade, and he clearly saw goosebumps rising on her pale skin. A playful glint appeared in his glassy eyes. "Call me Chris. Say it nicely.""I won't!" Noelle said, furious.Christian nipped at her, sending a tingling sensation from her neck down to her collarbone, sparking all her sensitive spots. Noelle panted, both anxious and scared. "Christian, get off! If you keep this up, I'll never speak to you again!"Her voice broke into a sob.Christian lifted his head, his eyes filled with both desire and mischief. His breathing was uneven. After all the teasing, he had gotten himself hooked."What do I want to hear?" he growled through clenched teeth.No
As Noelle walked away, she didn't notice a tall figure approaching from the other direction. But Quentin saw her. His brows furrowed as he was about to follow her, only to see the door to the room open again, and Christian stepped out, talking on the phone.A wave of fury surged through Quentin, and he threw a punch.Christian, who had already changed back into his clothes and was on the phone with Viola, didn't see it coming. Before he could react, Quentin's fist landed squarely on his face.His phone hit the floor.Christian wasn't one to back down either. He swung back with a punch of his own.Noelle had just finished a call with Viola, who informed her that her shift was ending early and she could head home. Suddenly, she heard a commotion outside. Someone was shouting, "They're fighting!"She rushed out of the exam room and, sure enough, outside room 20, two men were trading blows—fists and kicks flying.Noelle's temples throbbed with frustration.Both Christian and Qu
If Noelle could turn back time, she would've never helped Zara look for Zachary.If she hadn't gone looking for Zachary, she wouldn't have mistaken Christian for him, and she wouldn't have ended up with Christian fixated on her.Christian stretched out his long arm, leisurely picking up the water glass from the coffee table. The half-filled glass must have been sitting there since the morning, the water long gone cold. He took a sip."Got anything else?" he asked, as if he still hadn't heard enough.Noelle gasped, staring at him in disbelief.Christian placed the glass back down. "If you've got more complaints, get them all out now. I don't want you feeling wronged later."He reached up and gently pinched her cheek, his touch soft against her tear-streaked skin, a hint of affection in his gaze.It was then Noelle realized she was still sitting on his lap. Like she had been burned, she quickly slid off."Just leave already!"She grabbed a fruit knife from the coffee table, poin
"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