With one swift movement, Glenn pulled Jolina into the narrow alley beside the café. It was quieter there, with only the sound of vehicles from the main road. Glenn leaned one hand against the wall, making it impossible for Jolina to move."You have to choose, Jolina," he said quietly, but with pressure. "Tell me who sent you or I'll drag you straight to Mr. Charles."Instead of feeling scared, Jolina felt excited to be this close to Glenn. She wanted to flirt with the man, but that didn't make Glenn interested in her. Jolina smiled a little, trying to shift the tension between them. She looked up slightly, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint."Why are you so serious, Glenn? You know, if you weren't so stiff, maybe I'd have an easier time talking," she whispered teasingly.However, Glenn's expression remained flat. His eyes didn't show the slightest interest. Instead, his jaw hardened, and his grip on Jolina's wrist tightened."Don't play games with me. I have no time for cheap
In the warm living room, Caroline sat comfortably on the sofa and leaned against Ben who sat beside her. The hot tea on the table had cooled slightly, forgotten as they were too engrossed in enjoying each other's company.Ben shifted his body a little closer, his hand coming up to tuck a strand of Caroline's hair behind her ear. The gesture was gentle, and caring, making Caroline look up at him with slightly sparkling eyes. They had both returned from Ben's apartment."You look beautiful tonight," Ben whispered into Caroline's ear."You say that as if I wasn't beautiful the other nights." Caroline blushed, a small smile etched on her face.Ben chuckled, then gently touched her chin, lifting Caroline's face to be level with his. Caroline looked intensely into Ben's eyes."You're always beautiful, but tonight... I feel like you look happier."Caroline was silent for a moment, feeling the warmth that Ben always gave her. She knew that this man always cared about her, not just physically,
Ben's reaction was very different from the others. There was no shock on his face, no sudden burst of anger. He just stared at Jolina with eyes that remained calm, as if the name had long been in his mind."You're not surprised?" Caroline turned to Ben."No, I'm not. I expected it from the beginning. This must be Sophia's game." Ben took a slow breath before letting it out, his eyes remaining focused on Jolina."You have five minutes, Jolina. Tell Mr. Charles and Miss Caroline everything." Glenn continued to press Jolina."Sophia told me to make sure your relationship with Caroline was fractured. She thinks if Caroline feels insecure with you, she will stay away from you." Jolina bit her lip, her eyes glancing at Caroline for a moment before returning her gaze to Ben."Sophia wants me to leave Ben?" Caroline clenched her hands at her sides."I'm just following her orders." Jolina looked down for a moment.Ben sighed, then glanced at Caroline who still looked angry. His hand reached ou
Her face and body were drenched as she was splashed with water. She blinked her eyes repeatedly and immediately woke up. She saw her mother-in-law standing with her arms crossed, a smug expression on her face."Do you think you're some kind of princess who can just sleep comfortably until now?" Victoria yanked Caroline's hair harshly, causing her to cry out in pain."What did I do wrong?" Caroline asked softly, trying to free herself."You’re asking what you did wrong?" Victoria glared at Caroline, her grip on Caroline's hair tightening.Caroline was feeling unwell, which was why she wanted to rest for a bit. From morning until night, she was constantly ordered to do house chores like a servant. Her husband, Johan, allowed her to be treated this way and tormented in this house.Johan didn’t care about her. His attitude was nothing like it had been early in their marriage. They had been married for three years, and initially, Johan often defended and protected her. However, over time,
"Mr. Charles?" Caroline's eyebrows shot up."Yes, Miss."The servant walked toward the door and called someone over. Caroline winced in pain as she tried to stand. Johan's kick still lingered, causing her pain."Miss, what's wrong with you?" The servant rushed over to Caroline with a worried look on her face. "Is it still hurting?""Yes.""Andrew, quickly call Mr. Charles to come to the room." The servant shouted and asked a man to call Mr. Charles.Caroline didn't even know the servant's name yet. The woman was very beautiful with such beautiful hazel eyes. Her smile was also very charming."May I ask what your name is?" Caroline asked softly."Of course. My name is Florence. Just call me Flo.""My name is Caroline."Caroline and Flo shook hands. They both smiled at each other. Suddenly, a man walked into the room. Caroline's eyes were fixed on the man."Mr. Charles, you finally came." Flo called her master while bowing.Caroline was still staring at Ben without blinking. She wanted
"Because my husband and mother-in-law treated me so horribly. To them, I was nothing more than trash. They always blamed me and insulted me as they pleased." Caroline clutched her chest, which trembled slightly from her sobs.Sharing a bit with Ben didn’t seem like a problem. On the contrary, it made her feel a little more at ease. Afterward, Caroline wiped away the tears streaming down her face. Sitting beside her, Ben showed such concern and moved closer.Caroline continued to stare at Ben. Could this be a good destiny for her, to be in this house? Meeting Ben made her feel like she was being treated like a queen."I understand now why you behaved like that towards me before." Ben reached out and gently stroked Caroline's long hair.Caroline remained silent, just feeling the gentle touch. Ben urged her to rest and pulled the blanket over her."Rest now. Don't let yourself keep thinking about negative things. Don't worry, you are much safer here, and no one will bother you." Ben spok
Caroline hurriedly stepped out of the bathtub and she put on her bathrobe. She walked toward the door, opened it, and saw Ben standing with a few servants, including Flo. As she had suspected, her intuition was correct."Have you finished bathing?" Ben asked gently."Why were you about to open the door earlier? I wasn’t even done bathing.""I'm sorry. But I didn’t actually come in, did I?"She couldn’t be angry with Ben since he had saved her life. Besides, he had already apologized for his boldness. It wasn’t a big deal."If you needed help, I could have accompanied you during your bath," Ben said with a smile and a playful wink at Caroline."What do you mean, Mr. Charles?" Caroline asked."Caroline, please don’t be mad at me. I only meant well and had no intention of disrespecting you." Ben raised both hands in apology, explaining that his comment was just a joke.Caroline turned away from Ben and sat on the bed. Unexpectedly, Ben followed her, and their eyes met briefly."Forgive m
"Be my lover starting today, and I’ll make you my queen forever," Ben said while gently caressing Caroline’s smooth cheek.Caroline wasn’t interested in the slightest. Receiving such an offer from Ben was never her wish. All she wanted now was to live a quieter life without thinking about men."You're just talking nonsense!" Caroline said as she tried to maintain her distance and moved Ben’s hand away from her cheek."Caroline, I mean it. I’m serious about this," Ben replied earnestly.She gently pushed Ben away to create some space between them. Her heart raced wildly, and she felt unsettled being so close to him. However, Ben wasn’t one to give up easily. Caroline was already nervous, her thoughts filled with distrust toward the man standing before her."Ben, what are you doing?" Caroline gasped when Ben suddenly lifted her and carried her to the bed."I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you," Ben said firmly, gripping both her hands gently.She froze for a moment, staring dee
Ben's reaction was very different from the others. There was no shock on his face, no sudden burst of anger. He just stared at Jolina with eyes that remained calm, as if the name had long been in his mind."You're not surprised?" Caroline turned to Ben."No, I'm not. I expected it from the beginning. This must be Sophia's game." Ben took a slow breath before letting it out, his eyes remaining focused on Jolina."You have five minutes, Jolina. Tell Mr. Charles and Miss Caroline everything." Glenn continued to press Jolina."Sophia told me to make sure your relationship with Caroline was fractured. She thinks if Caroline feels insecure with you, she will stay away from you." Jolina bit her lip, her eyes glancing at Caroline for a moment before returning her gaze to Ben."Sophia wants me to leave Ben?" Caroline clenched her hands at her sides."I'm just following her orders." Jolina looked down for a moment.Ben sighed, then glanced at Caroline who still looked angry. His hand reached ou
In the warm living room, Caroline sat comfortably on the sofa and leaned against Ben who sat beside her. The hot tea on the table had cooled slightly, forgotten as they were too engrossed in enjoying each other's company.Ben shifted his body a little closer, his hand coming up to tuck a strand of Caroline's hair behind her ear. The gesture was gentle, and caring, making Caroline look up at him with slightly sparkling eyes. They had both returned from Ben's apartment."You look beautiful tonight," Ben whispered into Caroline's ear."You say that as if I wasn't beautiful the other nights." Caroline blushed, a small smile etched on her face.Ben chuckled, then gently touched her chin, lifting Caroline's face to be level with his. Caroline looked intensely into Ben's eyes."You're always beautiful, but tonight... I feel like you look happier."Caroline was silent for a moment, feeling the warmth that Ben always gave her. She knew that this man always cared about her, not just physically,
With one swift movement, Glenn pulled Jolina into the narrow alley beside the café. It was quieter there, with only the sound of vehicles from the main road. Glenn leaned one hand against the wall, making it impossible for Jolina to move."You have to choose, Jolina," he said quietly, but with pressure. "Tell me who sent you or I'll drag you straight to Mr. Charles."Instead of feeling scared, Jolina felt excited to be this close to Glenn. She wanted to flirt with the man, but that didn't make Glenn interested in her. Jolina smiled a little, trying to shift the tension between them. She looked up slightly, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint."Why are you so serious, Glenn? You know, if you weren't so stiff, maybe I'd have an easier time talking," she whispered teasingly.However, Glenn's expression remained flat. His eyes didn't show the slightest interest. Instead, his jaw hardened, and his grip on Jolina's wrist tightened."Don't play games with me. I have no time for cheap
Arriving at the apartment, Ben opened the door and let Caroline in first. His steps remained calm. As soon as the door closed, Ben turned around and looked at her intently. His eyes were sharp, not with anger, but with deep concern."Caroline," Ben's voice was slightly hoarse. "I understand you want to find answers, but going off alone like that, I'm worried.""I didn't mean to worry you. I just felt I had to make sure of everything myself." Caroline bowed her head."Next time, don't do this alone. I'm here for you. Whatever you're looking for, we'll find it together." Ben let out a long sigh and stepped closer, his fingers lifting to touch the side of Caroline's face gently.Caroline nodded softly, her eyes beginning to feel warm with mixed emotions. Ben finally took off his jacket and placed it on the back of the sofa before sitting down. He was still staring anxiously at Caroline's face."Now, tell me everything from the beginning. What did you find at the hotel?" "Jolina wasn't o
"No way." Caroline tried to keep her tone down to avoid sounding panicked. "She was at the party. She was wearing a waitress uniform and brought drinks for me and Ben.""I don't know who you're referring to, Miss." The receptionist was getting confused.Caroline was stunned. If Jolina wasn't hotel staff, then who was she? Was she just pretending to be a waitress to get close to Ben? Wasn't the security at the hotel usually so tight, why would anyone be able to sneak in unnoticed?Caroline swallowed. Her mind was spinning wildly, trying to put all the pieces together. If Jolina could disguise herself so easily, then she had access or someone to help her get into the party. But who, and for what purpose? She clenched her hands into fists on the reception desk, trying to remain calm despite the anxiety surrounding her."Can I see the event manager or whoever is in charge of the night, then?" Caroline said firmly."Please wait a moment, Miss. I will contact the management." The receptioni
Ben was silent for a while after receiving the message from Andrew and read it silently. Ben let out a long sigh and put his phone on the table. The look in his eyes changed slightly, but he quickly controlled his expression so that Caroline wouldn't get suspicious.Since the incident at the party, Caroline didn't talk much. She was more often lost in her thoughts as if trying to digest everything that had happened. Ben understands that Caroline still has wounds that have not fully healed and he doesn't want to burden her with other problems.Ben moved closer to Caroline who was staring at the window with a blank expression. He hugged Caroline's body from behind and she gave a small gasp before turning to him."Are you okay?" Ben asked softly as he rested his chin on Caroline's shoulder."I'm fine," she replied simply.Caroline was confused about what to do with Ben. What is clear is that her heart is still not fully open like beforeBen sensed the uncertainty in Caroline's voice. He
Sophia stopped the car right in front of Ben's gate. The lights in the yard were still on, indicating that someone was inside, but strangely, none of Ben's subordinates came out to open the gate. She pressed the horn once, but there was no reaction. She grabbed her cell phone and tried to call Ben - no luck. Feeling increasingly frustrated, Sophia got out of the car and walked to the front of the gate. She pressed the intercom roughly."Open the gate! I need to see Ben now!""Go home, Miss Morena." Andrew's voice came over the intercom."What? No! I have to talk to Ben. It's important, Andrew!""Mr. Charles is not home. You should go home." Sophia clenched her fists. She knew Andrew was loyal to Ben and if he said something, it came directly from Ben. She also couldn't accept the fact that Ben wasn't home at the moment. Maybe Andrew was lying."Then, where is he now?" Sophia demanded an answer from Andrew, her voice still sounding sharp."That's none of your business, Miss." Andrew r
Sophia walked through the corridors of her spacious house. She was just about to head to her room when her mother and father's voices were faintly heard from behind the slightly open door of their room. She was about to enter and greet them inside, but a conversation left her frozen in place."Are you sure Viktor didn't fail his mission?" Claudia's voice sounded sharp."I don't pay fools, darling," Alexander replied in a confident tone. "Ben must be removed. As long as he's around, he'll be a threat to us and Sophia.""Don't let Sophia know, Alex. She'll be furious if she finds out you're targeting the man she loves," her mother said again. "Especially since that accident didn't kill him."Sophia covered her mouth, holding back the emotions that were beginning to well up in her chest. So it was true, her father had sent Viktor to attack Ben, and Ben had been hospitalized and treated there. Her eyes heated up, anger and disappointment mixing. With quick steps, she pushed the door to he
"Are you still angry with me?" Ben asked in a soft voice, looking attentively at Caroline who was still in his arms.Caroline still remembered the incident at the gala event, she slowly let go of his embrace. She was disappointed with Ben who had betrayed her.Ben felt the change in Caroline's attitude as she slowly pulled away from his embrace. His heart sank when he saw Caroline's expression-not only sadness, but also deep disappointment."Caroline ...." Ben tried to take her hand again, but Caroline shied away, looking at him with eyes that were now filled with suppressed emotion."I'm still disappointed in you, Ben." Caroline kept her distance from Ben.Ben was silent. Those words hurt much more than the anger Caroline was showing. He tried to get closer again."But at the gala, you let a woman sleep with you." Caroline's voice trembled and still remembered vividly the scene that Ben had created with another woman on the bed."Caroline, listen to me," Ben tried to explain again. "