The sides clashed fiercely, and the subordinates could only remain silent. However, they did not have to wait long, as Alice soon appeared.
In reality, Alice hadn't arrived too late; it was just that Mrs. Aboli disliked her and had to find something to criticize.
Alice entered the meeting room, smiling slightly at the others: "Hello, sorry for keeping everyone waiting. I’m Alice Campbell, and I will be taking over for Louis to preside over today’s board meeting."
Mr. Drake smiled: "No need for such formalities. It’s just a little delay. Without you, Alice, Ado Group would have faced even greater risks, and perhaps we wouldn’t even be sitting here today."
Mrs. Aboli silently curled her lips: "Hypocrite."
"What is your relationship with Louis?" Alice looked at Cliff, her voice low as she asked.Cliff was slightly surprised by her question, clearly not expecting that Alice didn’t know about his relationship with Louis.He laughed loudly: "Ha ha ha, Louis didn’t tell you about this? How interesting. You see, we are quite alike, and there’s a reason for that. Between me and Louis, only one can exist!"Alice’s voice turned cold: "Are you the one who tried to assassinate Louis?"Cliff covered his mouth, chuckling: "You’re so wicked, Alice. You almost fell into my trap. You shouldn’t think so badly of me. I’m even here visiting Louis out of kindness!"Alice’s gaze was frosty: "Regardle
Alice quickly followed July, but she suddenly stopped just as they were about to leave the hospital.Although July was walking fast, she immediately halted when Alice tugged at her. Turning around, she looked at Alice with confusion and concern. “Alice, what’s wrong? Did that bastard Cliff scare you? If he did, I swear I won’t let him off!”Alice shook her head. “No, I’m not scared of him. Right now, I feel disgusted by him. But I have something I want to ask you, July—what exactly is the relationship between Cliff and Louis?”Seeing Alice’s serious expression, July sighed softly before finally saying, “Alright…” Ten minutes later, at Alice home.July told Alice everything about the connection between Cliff and Louis. Ultimately, she looked straight at Alice and said firmly, “I’ve told you before—Cliff is not a good person. Maybe he was kind to you when you were little, but he’s changed. From the start, I could tell he had huge ambitions!”July thought that if she hadn’t been strong
July looked at Alice's grave expression and quickly said, "I told you a long time ago—Cliff is not a simple person, but you never believed me. I'm sure you'll come to understand how dire Louis's situation was in Cliff and his father's hands. Though, he might never tell you. After all, he wouldn't want to show weakness in front of the girl he loves."That thought was foolish, Alice mused. She looked at July and softly said, "If you had told me everything sooner, maybe I wouldn't have been so attached to Cliff for so long." If that had been the case, she wouldn't have had anything to do with Louis, sparing herself a great deal of trouble. But more importantly, just thinking about how she once loved someone as cruel as Cliff made Alice feel sick.To her, Cliff had always been a kind and warm-hearted man, willing to help others even if they were strangers—just like how he had tried to save her when they had only just met.But to gain more power, he destroyed another person and another fam
What?! I'm Alice's fiancé. Since when?! Why am I only finding out about this today?!Louis felt like he was dreaming. Otherwise, Mrs. Aboli must have lost her mind. Why were they saying he was Alice's fiancé? Had something happened that he had no idea about?He wanted to wake up. He needed to wake up—right now!None of them knew that Louis, who appeared to be in a coma, was hearing every word of their conversation.The group fell silent, staring at one another as if unsure what to say next.Mr. Drake glanced sideways at Mrs. Aboli and scoffed, "Old woman, mind your own business. What do you know about young people? Are you trying to play matchmaker now?"His words instantly riled up Mrs. Aboli. "I was just showing concern for Alice! You're the one meddling where you don't belong!"Mr. Sesha chuckled warmly from the side. "Alright, alright. This is a hospital, not a place for arguments."Both Mr. Drake and Mrs. Aboli glared at him, clearly unwilling to back down just because he was old
The assistant looked at Louis’s cold expression and couldn't help but feel a bit satisfied—those who had bullied Miss Alice while the chairman was absent had better prepare themselves!Louis suddenly said, “Perhaps I’ll never be able to stand up again.”The assistant was momentarily confused. Didn’t all the test results indicate that the chairman was in good health with no significant issues? Even if his leg had been broken, it would only take a month or two to heal.But soon, he understood what Louis meant. He nodded firmly in response, signaling that he got the message. However, he hesitated momentarily before asking, “Then what about Miss Alice…?”This was also something that troubled Louis. He didn’t want to deceive Alice, but the fewer people who knew about this, the better.He lowered his gaze slightly and spoke softly, “I’ll tell her later. Just make sure you don’t reveal anything.”The assistant quickly replied, “Understood, sir.”Before long, news of the Ado Group chairman’s
"You lost your chance, Louis. You will never change." Alice coldly looked at Louis and spoke before turning away without hesitation. She didn't even want to look at him anymore.No, he had changed. He really had. Everything—everything was for her. Alice, I have indeed become a different person for you.There were so many things Louis wanted to say, but right now, the only thought in his mind was to stop Alice, hold onto her, and keep her from leaving!And so he did exactly that. Ignoring the pain in his legs, he lunged toward Alice.The sound of his body hitting the ground was heavy, like a hammer striking Alice's heart.She turned back and saw Louis lying there. For the first time, genuine anger flared in her eyes. "Are you insane, Louis?!"Louis looked up at her, forcing a weak smile. "Yes… maybe I have gone insane. I can't think about anything else but you. I can't imagine losing you, Alice. I've lost everything—right now, I only have you."Alice pressed her lips together, saying n
Alice ignored the assistant and pressed on. "What were you talking about? Who can't stand up? Who needs my invention to recover?"She already had a suspicion. The assistant was speaking with the doctor—who else could they be talking about besides Louis? But she refused to accept it. No… that can’t be right. Louis is fine. His legs will recover soon. There’s no way…!"Miss Alice…" The doctor hesitated while the assistant looked panicked.What the hell is happening? The assistant felt his mind racing. They were following the necessary procedures, but Alice had overheard them. Would this affect the chairman’s decision?He quickly signaled the doctor to stop talking. But it seemed the doctor didn’t catch his cue. Instead, he looked at Alice with a grave expression and said, "Miss Alice, I believe you have the right to know. You are Lord Louis’s fiancée; more importantly, your invention could greatly assist in his rehabilitation.""What are you talking about?" Alice stared at the doctor, h
Time passed, and a week had gone by since Louis regained consciousness. His recovery was so rapid that it left everyone in awe of his resilience and will to live.Aside from his legs still immobile, he was ready to be discharged from the hospital.Alice tidied up some of his belongings, her gaze landing on the wheelchair beside the hospital bed. She suddenly spoke gently, "Louis, once your leg injuries heal completely, you can start rehabilitation exercises. Everything will be fine."Louis, who had been smiling at Alice, couldn't help but feel a sense of dread creeping in. Since Alice learned that he might never stand again, she had shown him an overwhelming amount of care—so much so that she was spoiling him more than ever.It felt like Alice was even more concerned about his legs than he was. Perhaps because he hadn’t truly lost them, he couldn’t fully understand her emotions.But her deep concern started to terrify him. If one day she found out it was all a lie, would she be able t
Louis immediately became panicked, quickly getting out of bed. His whole body swayed, and his legs were so weak that he nearly fell. He had to hold onto the edge of the bed, his breath rapid, his heart pounding, still recovering from the long faint. Fortunately, his body was strong and recovered quickly, though he still felt a bit dizzy, and his vision was blurry.Not having time to worry about himself, he urgently asked, "How is Alice?"July suddenly fell silent, not saying anything. Her abrupt stop made Louis suspicious. He looked at her with a questioning gaze, his heart racing with a bad feeling.July's eyes flickered slightly, hesitation passing in a moment, but she couldn't hide the deep sorrow within. She looked at Louis as though considering whether or not to tell the truth, her lips pressed together, hesitant and speechless.Louis felt his palms go cold. July's silence was like an invisible hand tightening around his chest. A sense of unease spread through his body, every cel
Hearing that name, Louis’s body trembled slightly. He looked up, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep, filled with extreme exhaustion but also carrying an unspoken pain. His voice came out hoarse:"I can’t leave… I have to stay here, wait for her to wake up…"Ron clenched his fists, turning his face away to hide his emotions. In the stark white hospital room, worry and despair intertwined, enveloping everything.Louis slowly stood up, his eyes fixed on Alice lying in the hospital bed. She was still motionless, her weak breath completely dependent on the oxygen machine beside her. Alice’s body had noticeably weakened, her pale skin lifeless, making her seem as fragile as a delicate princess lost in a long, deep sleep. The painful tightness in Louis’s chest made him clench his hands to keep from letting out a sigh.He closed his eyes, as if trying to calm himself, but Alice’s image remained firmly etched in his mind. He couldn’t forget what Mrs. Campbell had just said. "If you collapse
Her face was covered in dirt, with small wounds bleeding on her forehead and cheek, but in this moment, Alice was still strangely beautiful. A satisfied smile appeared on her lips, even as tears involuntarily spilled, mixing with sweat and dust. Her eyes sparkled in the fiery red glow of the sunset, gentle yet full of sorrow. She loved Louis, and that had never changed.She spread her arms wide, waiting for the deadly embrace from Cliff.Louis and the others watched in despair as the scene unfolded before them. Louis rushed forward, wanting to pull Alice out of danger, but a figure moved faster than him—Vein.It turned out, he hadn’t died.The memory from the laboratory flashed back: Cliff’s final bullet had grazed Vein’s forehead, leaving a deep but non-fatal wound. When Cliff had left, he had sneered one last time, saying, "Get lost!" He thought Vein was no longer of any use, not worth finishing off. But now, Vein appeared, like a demon from hell, to stop everything.His messy hair
Cliff smirked, his eyes gleaming with challenge."So this is how you want to talk like a man? If that's the case, then let Alice go." Louis' voice was low, but the danger in every word was evident.Cliff burst out laughing, the gun in his hand still pressed against Alice's temple. "You think I'm stupid, Louis? I'm not crazy enough to let her go so easily." He gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with madness. "If you want to save her, then come over here."Just as Louis was about to take a step forward, Alice suddenly screamed, her voice hoarse with pain and fear. "Don’t! Louis, don’t move!" She struggled, but her strength had drained, her legs too weak to stand. Still, her eyes remained resolute.Louis froze, his gaze meeting Alice's with profound sorrow. She was protecting him, even though she was in the most perilous situation. The anger inside him burned fiercer than ever, but he remained patient, knowing that one wrong move could make Cliff act instantly.Cliff narrowed his eyes
Alice froze, her breath quick and shallow, feeling the suffocating grip of his embrace. Cliff’s face was close to her ear, a twisted smile still lingering on his lips."Alice, are you scared?" His voice whispered, laced with fake tenderness. "It’s just a joke, my love... I’m only trying to scare you."But immediately, his expression shifted. His eyes gleamed with madness, his muscles tensing, and his low voice suddenly turned fierce, like a thunderclap."But even if I destroy you… I’ll do it right in front of Louis!" He hissed each word, his eyes burning with a hatred so intense that it seemed to bring him a twisted pleasure.With that, Cliff bent down, gripping Alice’s arm tightly and roughly yanking her up from the ground. No gentleness, no pity—he dragged her as though she were nothing more than a discarded object. Alice staggered, her legs aching as if thousands of needles were piercing her skin, but she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to keep up with Cliff’s swift pace to avoi
But just then, her foot got caught on a large vine hidden among the rotting leaves. She didn't have time to react, her entire body was yanked downward, losing its balance. A wave of panic swept over her, and in the next moment, she rolled down a rocky slope.Alice screamed in pain as sharp stones and dry branches hit her body. Each impact was a sharp, piercing pain that seemed to cut through her flesh, and she even heard a dry "crack"—perhaps a few bones had broken. When her body finally stopped at the foot of the slope, the pain was almost unbearable, leaving her gasping for breath. Her body trembled, and her vision blurred from tears that welled up from the excruciating agony. Alice sobbed, her breaths caught in her throat. She wanted to scream, to cry out loud, but she couldn't. There was no time to be weak.Biting her lip until it bled, Alice shakily pushed her hands into the ground, trying to lift her battered body. But the pain from her ribs nearly made her collapse again. Don’t
The sound of the helicopter echoed in the sky, making her heart race. A spark of hope flickered in her mind, and she almost wanted to laugh despite being in a life-or-death situation. She whispered, as if to reassure herself: "They're coming... they're really coming..."But if she didn’t manage to escape, if she was caught again... Alice didn’t dare to imagine what would happen. What would Cliff do to her? His cold face, eyes full of absolute control, appeared in her mind, making her shiver. She didn’t want to be locked up in that dark room again, trapped like a bird in a cage, losing both her freedom and hope. No! She had to run! She had to escape from here at any cost!Alice had nearly given up everything to get this far. Over the past few days, she had starved herself to create a pitiful appearance, tricking Cliff into lowering his guard. But that had also made her much weaker. Her legs felt heavy, each step felt like walking on sharp blades. Her empty stomach clenched painfully, h
Cliff didn’t answer, only lunged again. In his eyes, there was only betrayal and fury, as if all the years they had fought side by side meant nothing anymore. But deep in his heart, a fear gnawed at him—the fear of failure. Could it be that he was going to lose again? Was everything he had worked for, everything he had done, going to be taken from him once more? No… he couldn’t let that happen.Vein quickly sidestepped, delivering a kick aimed at Cliff’s ribs. But Cliff was too enraged to feel the pain. He grabbed Vein by the collar and punched him squarely in the face again.The two of them struggled, crashing into the lab table, causing everything to shatter in chaos. Sharp shards of glass cut into their skin, blood dripping in droplets. Their eyes met for a brief moment—Cliff’s eyes were ablaze with fury, ready to burn everything down, while Vein’s eyes were cold, distant, yet tinged with something resembling... pity. No matter how intelligent Vein was, he could not overcome the in
Louis sat in the command seat, his eyes fixed intently on the island gradually coming into view. His heart pounded in his chest, each passing second cutting into his patience like a sharpened blade. Alice… She was there, imprisoned, suffering—how? The thought sent a surge of fury through him, but he had to stay calm. This wasn’t just a mission—this was redemption. He wouldn’t lose her again.His hand tightened around the seatbelt, his knuckles turning white. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, and Alice’s smiling face appeared in his mind. Her voice, her bright gaze—everything about her urged him to move faster, to be stronger. When he opened his eyes again, only cold determination remained.The radio crackled in his earpiece. "Target in sight. The island is ahead—signs of guards present." A voice came through from the reconnaissance team.Louis nodded, his gaze resolute. "Everyone, get ready. We don’t get a second chance."The helicopter circled, drawing closer to the island shrou