Helen Evans was a big fan of pastries, especially the ones from La Petite Délice.Their delicate mille-feuille, buttery croissants, and signature fruit tarts were her absolute favorites.Whenever she had time, she would stop by to enjoy a quiet afternoon with a cup of tea and her beloved pastries.And today was no different.It was at La Petite Délice where she would meet Elena today.Elena stepped into the bakery.The warm scent of butter and vanilla lingered in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee.Though the place was luxurious, it wasn’t ostentatious.Every detail, from the gold lighting to the delicate porcelain teacups, spoke of understated elegance.An assistant led her through the café until they reached the backyard.The sight that greeted Elena was nothing short of breathtaking.A serene lake stretched beyond the terrace, its surface shimmering under the afternoon light.A gentle breeze rustled the trees, carrying the scent of blooming jasmine.Hel
Elena lay sprawled on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.The room was shrouded in darkness, but she made no effort to turn on the lights.The quiet hum of the city outside her window felt distant, drowned out by the turmoil inside her mind.Helen’s words echoed relentlessly in her head.“Lucas doesn’t love you. At most, he pities you.”“You remind him of his mother. His need to protect you—it isn’t love.”Elena shut her eyes, willing the thoughts away, but they clung to her like a stubborn shadow.Had she really mistaken his concern for something more?She let out a shaky breath and rolled onto her side, hugging a pillow.A bitter chuckle escaped her lips.Why does this even bother me?It wasn’t like she had any expectations from him in the first place.They weren’t lovers.They weren’t even friends.He had been nothing but a complication in her life from the moment they met.But then… why did it hurt so much?The room felt colder than usual.She squeezed her eyes shut, but slee
“Miss Elena, I won’t beat around the bush. Stop playing whatever games you’re playing with Lucas.” Louis said bluntly.Elena was dumbfounded. “Excuse me?”She honestly wondered if being so direct was an Evans family trait.First Helen, now Louis, none of them believed in small talk.Louis crossed his arms, his usual playful demeanor nowhere to be seen. “You heard me. Whatever games you’re playing with Lucas, just stop it.”Elena frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”“Stop pretending to be so innocent,” Louis scoffed, his sharp gaze fixed on her. “You know exactly what you’re doing to him. At first, you pester him relentlessly, showering him with attention from dawn until dusk. Then, without warning, you vanish. You keep ignoring him, and now he’s acting like a forsaken wife abandoned by her jerk of a husband.”“…”Elena was momentarily speechless.Yes, she had been avoiding Lucas, but it wasn’t because she was playing some stupid games.Seeing her stunned silence, Louis s
Lucas stood in the hallway, his jaw clenched so tightly it was a miracle it hadn’t shattered.His gaze burned holes into the two people laughing and having a good time inside the private room before him.The moment Lucas saw Elena with another man, his dark possessiveness surged within him.Without warning, the door swung open with a loud thud as he strode inside.“She won’t be available!” he declared coldly.Elena turned her head abruptly, hearing the familiar voice.“Lucas?”Lucas’s hostile gaze landed on the man opposite her, assessing him like a predator sizing up its prey.Elena’s heart pounded rapidly in her chest.Under Lucas’ intense gaze, she felt guilty like she
Elena’s heart ached the way he said it, like it was a truth he had long accepted but never quite healed from.Subconsciously, she held his palm, letting the warmth seep into his bones.“She let them win,” Lucas said, his voice almost distant now. “She let them take everything from her, strip away her dignity, her self-respect, everything. And she just… accepted it.”For the longest time, Lucas had kept his pain buried, locked away where no one could reach it.But now, standing here, staring into the eyes of the one person who had dared to tear open old wounds, he let the truth slip through the cracks.His mother was not a saint.Not a symbol of tragic loss.She was a woman who had surrendered, and
“Because marriage only breaks people and homes.”Elena opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but the words wouldn’t come.Given her own past, she couldn’t even refute him.“But that doesn’t mean we can’t be together.” Lucas spoke again.Elena blinked.Lucas hugged her waist tightly, pulling her face closer to his heart. “If our families are the problem, then we don’t have to tell them. We’ll convince them. One step at a time, until they have no choice but to agree.”Just like that, their underground relationship blossomed.If someone had told Elena in the past that she would one day be in a relationship withLucas Evans,the same Lucas Eva
He then turned his head, his gaze unreadable as he studied her. “If I lose everything, will you despise me?”“You won’t.”Her voice was steady, unwavering.Not a single trace of doubt.Lucas didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I’m not omnipotent, you know. Why are you so sure?”Elena didn’t answer right away.Instead, she reached out, trailing her nails lightly over the back of his hand.“You won’t lose.” She said softly.Don’t ask how or why.She just knew it.Lucas’ lips curled up.He leaned forward, burying his face in the curve of her neck.His arms wrapped tightly around her waist. “I’m tired,” he
Louis gritted his teeth. “If you’re calling to gloat, save it.”“Not at all,” Sebastian chuckled. “I’m calling with an opportunity. A…solution to your current predicament.”There it was.Just as Lucas had predicted.The Timeless Group hadn’t struck just to watch them suffer, they wanted something in return.“Meet me at the Grand Meridian Hotel,” Sebastian continued. “Let’s discuss business.”Louis hesitated before replying, “I’ll be there.”At the Grand Meridian Hotel, Louis stepped into the private lounge where Sebastian Blackwood, waited with a glass of whiskey.“Mr. Evans,” Sebastian greeted smoothly, gestur
Four years later.The snow-covered peaks stretched endlessly, a breathtaking expanse of white under the pale winter sun.“Again!”Ethan laughed, his bright eyes gleaming with excitement.He was bundled in a white ski suit, his tiny gloved hands gripping the ski poles.Lucas crouched beside him, adjusting the boy’s stance with practiced ease.“Feet apart, shoulders steady,” he instructed, his deep voice laced with patience. “And don’t lean too far forward, or you’ll—”Before he could finish, Ethan pushed off, wobbling slightly as he slid down the gentle slope.“—fall,” Lucas muttered, shaking his head as Ethan toppled over into the soft snow.A giggle rang through the air as Ethan flopped onto his back, arms spread wide.As Ethan grew older, his features bore a striking resemblance to Lucas, except for his gorgeous dark blue
Isabella’s lips trembled. “I—I thought—”“You thought?” Helen’s voice cracked, a bitter laugh escaping her. “No, Isabella. You chose. You chose Mike. You chose yourself. And you threw Lucas away again.”Helen’s chest rose and fell with the force of her emotions.Looking at Isabella, she felt nothing but bitter disappointment.“We never blamed you,” Helen said. “Not when you lied about your death. Not when you left your son behind to fend for himself,” she continued, her voice cracking. “And this is how you repay us?”A choked sob escaped Isabella’s lips.She reached for Helen’s hand, but Helen took a step back.“You could’ve asked for help. You could’ve told anyone. But instead, you sold out your own family. Your own grandson.”Helen looked at Isabella with eyes full of grief.“D
“I have lived long enough to witness the rise and fall of generations, but tonight… tonight, I feel truly blessed. This child is not only the blood of our Evans family but the future that will carry our legacy forward.”He turned toward Lucas and reached out his aged hands.Lucas stepped forward, carefully handing Ethan over to his great-grandfather.Harold cradled the child with surprising gentleness, his usually stern eyes softening as he looked down at the tiny face.Under the watchful eyes of the entire Evans family and the influential guests present, Harold personally opened the ancient Evans family record book, an heirloom that had documented the bloodline for centuries.With a brush dipped in ink, Harold carefully wrote down the name Ethan Lucas Evans in bold strokes.The moment the ink touched the paper, it symbolized Ethan’s official entry into the Evans family tree, a position that no one could ever challen
He nudged Elena, who carefully handed the baby over.Everyone watched as Harold’s rough hands, once used to commanding empires and instilling fear, trembled slightly as they cradled the tiny life in his arms.The moment the child settled against him, Harold’s fury melted away.Helen stepped closer, her own hands clasped over her chest as she peered down at the baby. “Oh my God, he’s so handsome.”Harold’s eyes reddened once again.This was the blood of the Evans family…“Look at him,” Harold’s voice cracked. “He’s got the same sharp brows as Lucas when he was a baby.”Lucas’ eyes softened.The little one stirred slightly, his tiny hand clenching into a fist.A faint smile spread across Harold’s face as he gently patted the baby’s chest.“From this day onward,” Harold announced, his voice filled with pride a
ACE’s face immediately turned terrifying.“Winter.” He said warningly. “You’re not allowed to joke about that.”Her heart skipped a beat.No one knew better than her how scary this man was once he got angry.Wrapping her arms around his neck, she rubbed her face against his cheek. “All right, all right. Don’t be fierce.”ACE sighed helplessly.He could make world leaders shut up with a single glance, yet before this woman, he was always at the losing end.No matter how ruthless he was outside, when it came to Winter, he had no bottom line.He let her act coquettishly and turned around. “What do you want to eat?”Winter’s eyes instantly lit up.Her hubby was so good to her.She latched onto his arm without hesitation, her voice filled with excitement as she rattled off a long list of dishes.“…”Jayden, w
Lucas only smiled.Back when he resided in Country K, Lucas had found himself entangled with the Black Vipers, a ruthless underground syndicate known for their brutal dealings in the underworld.To survive and walk out alive, Lucas went undercover as Rocky.He played his role flawlessly, climbing their ranks, gaining their trust, and dismantling their core operations.By the time he left Country K, he thought he had completely destroyed them.Yet, fate proved him wrong.Like cockroaches that thrive in darkness, they waited for the right moment to resurface.Lucas knew their weaknesses.Their hideouts and the fractures in their foundation.The cops knew it, too.That’s why they came to him, not as a suspect, but as an asset.They needed someone who could infiltrate deep, someone with a personal stake in bringing the Black Vipers to their knees.And when the authorities realized the extent of his
Jayden Luxton strode toward them, his sharp gaze sweeping over the scene.Dressed in all black, he exuded the same air of danger and authority as Lucas, but his approach wasn’t hostile.Not this time.“Everything is ready.” He said, giving him a small nod.Behind him, the hospital staff rushed forward, quickly transferring Elena onto a stretcher.As the stretcher started moving, Elena’s fingers slipped from Lucas’.She stirred slightly, her fingers weakly grasping at his sleeve before her strength gave out.The sight nearly shattered him.The stretcher was wheeled straight into the emergency room, disappearing through the doors.The woman, who had been by Elena’s side the entire time, turned to Lucas. “I’ll take care of it.”Before she could enter the operating room, Jayden’s arm shot in front of her.Wariness flickered across his face.The
Elena’s pulse quickened. “What—”“Just do it.” His tone left no room for argument.Ten minutes later, a sharp, piercing scream resounds from inside the bedroom.The guards patrolling rushed inside, and what they saw blew their minds.Elena lay on the cold, hard floor, her body curled in on itself.A dark pool of blood spread beneath her, soaking through her dress.Her face contorted in agony, sweat beading along her forehead as she gasped for air.Before her stood Hunter with his fists clenched at his side.His usually sharp gaze was unfocused, drowning in a drunken stupor.One of the guards cursed under his breath. “What the hell did you do, Hunter?!”Hunter swayed slightly, his movements sluggish. “I just wanted to… wanted to hold her hands. But she wouldn’t let me.”“The baby…” Elena rasped, her lips trembling. &l
Elena’s face turned pale.“Don’t overdo it, Hunter. We can’t afford any accidents before the smuggling.” Reed reminded him.“Relax,” Hunter replied coolly.He grabbed Elena’s chin, his thumb dragging across her cheekbone as he tilted her face left, then right.“Damn. What a pretty face,” he mused, his tone almost appreciative. “That b***ard Lucas really lucked out, huh?”Elena pulled away her face from his grip and glared at him. “Don’t take his name from your filthy mouth.”Hunter sneered. “Touched a nerve, did I?”Elena’s glare was colder than ice.Hunter crouched before her, bringing his face level with hers. “I don’t have a good temper, woman.” Hunter continued, his voice slow, deliberate. “So, if you dare piss me off…”A cold metal suddenly touched Elena’s belly.