Wendy had been standing there for who knew how long, her clear, bright eyes silently observing Lilian's panic and embarrassment.Lilian froze on the spot.Ted quickly hurried over to Wendy, bending at the waist with a servile smile. "Ms. Crone."Wendy pulled out a pen and casually tossed it into the outdoor pool. "Dr. Whalen, I dropped my pen.""Ms. Crone, I'll retrieve it for you immediately!"Ted dashed outside, not caring about the chilly late-autumn water. Without hesitation, he jumped straight into the pool.Lilian walked over, staring at the scene in disbelief.Moments later, Ted surfaced, dripping wet, holding the pen in his hand like a prized treasure. He looked at Wendy with an ingratiating smile. "Ms. Crone, I've got your pen!"Lilian watched Wendy as if looking at something otherworldly.Wendy smirked. "What's wrong? Don't recognize me?"Lilian struggled to process what was happening. She couldn't understand what Wendy had done to Ted to make him so obedient—like a
Jessica and Lilian's expressions instantly changed.Wendy turned to Jessica, feigning surprise. "Oh, no! Don't tell me Mr. Hawk didn't mention he kissed me last night?"She pretended to recall thoughtfully. "Last night, when Mr. Hawk kissed me, it was so clumsy and rushed, completely lacking any skill. Honestly, I started to doubt if he even knew how to kiss."Jessica looked at Stanley in shock. Had he kissed Wendy?Stanley's handsome face turned ice-cold in an instant. It was unclear whether it was because Wendy had deliberately told Jessica about their kiss, or because she publicly criticized his kissing skills. Either way, his sharp eyes darkened and fixed on Wendy with a chilling intensity."Wendy!" he called her name, displeased.Wendy sneered. 'Oh?' Was he upset just because she said something about Jessica?Her clear, piercing eyes landed on Stanley's face. "Why are you yelling? With kissing skills that bad, I don't even want to spend another minute with you. Let's get
Sienna, Stanley's cousin, was particularly close to Jessica. When she spotted Wendy, her face immediately darkened with disdain. "Wendy, Stanley doesn't like you, and yet here you are cozying up to Grandma again? Honestly, in our family, only Grandma cares about you! Do you even know your worth? A country bumpkin who stood in as a replacement bride when Jessica wasn't around, and now you actually think you're the young madam of the Hawk family? You're not worthy of Stanley! Just hurry up and divorce him already!" she snarled. Wendy had grown used to it. Stanley's family members, much like his friends, had always looked down on her.Without sparing Sienna a glance, Wendy walked straight into the estate.Glinda, with her silver hair neatly combed, lit up with joy as soon as she saw Wendy. She reached out and clasped Wendy's hand. "Wendy, why haven't you come to visit me for so long? Don't you miss me?"This was the only warmth Wendy had ever received in the Hawk family. Glinda gen
'A blind date?'Stanley's aura turned icy in an instant. He raised a hand to undo the top button of his shirt, his jaw tightening.Ding, ding, ding!Cecelia had sent several consecutive WhatsApp messages, accompanied by voice notes that began playing automatically. Her voice filled the room."Wendy, check out this guy—eight-pack abs, a gym enthusiast. Do you like him? You could rest your head on his abs at night!"And this one—adorable, obedient, and shy. He looks like he'd be so much fun!"Oh, and this one, the gold-rimmed-glasses business elite—cold and aloof, a total dreamboat! Should we ask him to get on his knees and sing a song for you?"Wendy, all these men are your personal harem. Pick whoever you like!"Stanley's lips pressed into a thin, grim line. He truly hadn't realized that Wendy had an entire lineup of potential suitors vying for her attention.Wendy picked up her phone and casually sent a voice message back. "Got it, I'll be there soon."When she turned around
Stanley froze for a moment.Wendy lay beneath him, her silky black hair cascading over the crimson bedspread—a shade specifically chosen by Glinda for their wedding room. The red accentuated the creamy fairness of her skin, making her appear luminous, almost ethereal. There was an air of sensuality about the scene, but the thought of her lying like this beneath another man...Stanley's fists clenched involuntarily.He had intended to clarify that the 'delivery' last night was medicine, not a man. But as the words reached his lips, they refused to come out.Wendy's cold gaze met his. "Move."She had ordered him to move.Stanley didn't budge.Frustrated, Wendy began to struggle. The memory of him bringing Jessica into his private wing last night flashed through her mind, and it made her recoil from even the slightest physical contact with him."Stanley, get off me! After spending the night with Jessica, did you even bother to clean yourself?"Stanley stiffened in silence.In
Stanley pinched the bridge of his nose, realizing that he had forgotten.Nathan Lowe had returned to the country.The Hawk and Lowe families had long been the top aristocratic families in Hovendale, and they were also close friends. He and Nathan had grown up together and were good friends.Nathan was back in the country today, and now Jessica, Benny, and Sienna were all at 1996 Bar.Sienna's cheerful voice rang out, "Stanley, hurry up and come!"Sienna liked Nathan. Her dream was to marry him, but Nathan was very selective, and it was hard for any woman to catch his eye."I'll be there soon," Stanley said, standing.Honestly, Wendy going out to find a man had nothing to do with him. Why should he be angry?A small-town girl, who had nothing else to do besides playing with men, was indeed shallow. She couldn't compare to Jessica.Let her play. It didn't matter who she played with!-That night, a Ferrari sports car roared as it sped down the road.Cecelia, who sat in the pa
At that moment came a melodious ringtone, signaling an incoming call. It was from Stanley.Nathan guessed that Stanley was probably urging him to come to 1996 Bar.Nathan turned his car around. Hovendale was Stanley's turf, and once he got to 1996 Bar, all he needed was for Stanley to help him find out who owned the Ferrari.-Wendy drove into the alley, and Cecelia said cheerfully, "Wendy, you shook him off!"Just as the words left her mouth, there was a loud collision, and the Ferrari crashed into the wall.Bang!Wendy's legs went weak. It had been three years since she last raced, and today, encountering such a tough opponent in a high-speed race made her heart pound.Wendy and Cecelia got out of the car. The front of the Ferrari had been dented."Wendy, what should we do now?" Cecelia said, her legs shaking.Wendy steadied herself. "It's fine. I'll call Stanley's secretary and have him handle it."She dialed Zayn's number.-Nathan arrived at 1996 Bar and entered a lux
Stanley lowered his gaze to the photo, and his deep, cold eyes narrowed sharply. He recognized this Ferrari.Looking at Nathan, Stanley asked, "Was the woman driving this car?"Nathan nodded. "Yeah, she even shook me off. She's quite interesting."Stanley, if he recalled correctly, had given Wendy this Ferrari. In addition to a huge check, he had also given her some cars and houses. At that time, Zayn had told him that she had only chosen a Ferrari. He had found it strange—why would she drive a sports car?Stanley knew about Nathan's driving skills. In fact, they occasionally raced cars together. But Wendy was from the countryside—how could she have driven a sports car and even shaken off Nathan?Just then, Zayn walked over. "Sir."Stanley stood up. "I'll step out for a moment."Stanley left the luxurious booth and stood in a dim corner. Zayn whispered, "Sir, Mrs. Hawk called earlier. She went out tonight in the Ferrari. It seems like she raced someone on the road, and the car c
"Of course not!" Wendy immediately denied, her voice firm. "I wasn't with Mr. Hawk last night!" As she spoke, Stanley couldn't help but smirk inwardly. She was so afraid of Nathan finding out they'd been together that she lied to cover up their night.That little liar. Nathan glanced at Stanley, a puzzled frown on his face. "Stanley, why aren't you saying anything?" Stanley's handsome features remained emotionless, his eyes cold as ever. "Didn't she already say everything?" He decided to go along with her lie. Wendy, feeling the awkwardness creeping in, quickly tried to exit. "Mr. Hawk, Nathan, you two can talk. I'll step out for a bit." She left the room, leaving the two men alone. Nathan, clearly annoyed, walked up to Stanley. "Stanley, you need to be more perceptive." Stanley raised an eyebrow, giving Nathan a confused look. Nathan sighed dramatically. "When Wendy and I are together, you should find a way to leave and give us some private time. Got it?"
Stanley furrowed his handsome brow, lifting his gaze from the papers to look at Zayn. "Where did he go?" "George ran to the Crone family estate," Zayn replied. "And Mr. Gondale has already invited thirty-six media outlets from Hovendale to hold a press conference. They're planning to accuse Mrs. Hawk of abusing and abandoning her adoptive father." Stanley pressed his lips together, his irritation growing. What was Benny thinking? "What are you all doing? You incapacitated George, and he managed to escape?" Seeing his boss get angry, Zayn was drenched in cold sweat. "Mr. Hawk, it's—" "It's my orders," Wendy suddenly interrupted in a clear voice. Stanley turned to look at her. "Your orders?" Wendy nodded. "Yes, I told Zayn to let George go on purpose." Stanley's dark gaze deepened. "Why would you do that? They're planning to hold a press conference. That scumbag is trying to stick to you for life! I'll send my men to the Crones estate to bring George back, and the
"Mrs. Crone, you have to help me! Mr. Hawk locked me up! I managed to sneak out, but if he catches me, it's over!" George's voice trembled with fear, the memories of Stanley still haunting him. He pleaded for Lilian's help. Of course, Lilian would help George. He was her trump card, something she could hold over Wendy. She wasn't about to let her ace become useless. "Mom, what should we do now?" Jessica asked, her voice filled with concern. Harry's mood darkened. Lilian had just managed to do something that pleased him, and now there was a complication. "Lilian, what's your plan now?" he asked, a hint of irritation in his voice. Lilian turned to Harry, trying to calm him. "Honey, don't get upset. This isn't over yet." Jessica's eyes brightened. "Mom, did you think of something?" "Jessica, call Mr. Gondale. He does whatever you say, right? Now is the time we need him!" Benny genuinely cared for Jessica and treated her like family. Jessica nodded eagerly. "Okay,
Wendy's eyes gleamed in the dim light from under the blanket, and she suddenly burst into laughter. Stanley, his voice hoarse, asked, "What's so funny?" Wendy looked at him, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Should I say I'm tired, or not tired?" The playful, teasing tension hung between them, sparking desire. Stanley chuckled, his lips curling into a grin as he leaned down to kiss her again. -The next day, at the Crone family estate. In the bedroom, Lilian lay contentedly in Harry's arms, holding onto his neck as she playfully scolded, "You were rough earlier. You really hurt me." Harry smirked, his thumb gently tracing her jawline. "Are you satisfied now?" "Stop it…" Jessica had called Harry, and he rushed home, ensuring that Lilian, who had been feeling lonely for so long, was now thoroughly satisfied. As he held Lilian, he asked, "Did George really take Wendy away?" "Yes," Lilian replied with a smile. "That annoying obstacle is finally gone. S
She kissed him. Stanley's eyes turned crimson as he quickly pushed her away. "Wendy!" Wendy gazed up at him, her face soft and innocent, yet there was a subtle, playful hint in her eyes. "Aren't you going to answer Jessica's call?" Stanley lowered his gaze, then forcefully captured her lips again. The phone kept vibrating—Jessica was still calling. Wendy felt a strange thrill, like she was caught in a forbidden act. Even though she and Stanley were legally married, it almost felt like they were sneaking around behind Jessica's back. Stanley kissed her hard, almost as if punishing her, biting her soft lips, then taking control, ravishing her breath like a storm. This little minx—she loved teasing him. George was right—Wendy loved to seduce men. Even at a young age, she had managed to capture the attention of the worst kinds of people. At that moment, her soft hands found their way to his body, slipping inside his shirt collar. Stanley gasped, immediately relea
She kept calling his name. Her sweet voice had already drawn the young man's attention again, and he turned to glance back.It was the kind of sound that made you want to keep looking.Stanley could only glare and head back to his side of the room.Wendy had already crawled back into bed. Stanley glared at her, irritated. "What are you doing, calling out like that? Trying to summon something?"Wendy was speechless. She was only trying to help!"I'm going to take a cold shower," Stanley muttered, heading straight for the bathroom.A few minutes later, he emerged, his body still damp as he climbed back into bed.The two of them lay in silence, the air thick with tension. From the next room, faint sounds of laughter and playful conversation reached them—the man and woman were still at it, their voices low but distinct.Stanley was about to get up and take another cold shower, but just as he moved to throw the covers off, he felt movement next to him. Wendy, who had been lying fa
The noise from the room next door continued, growing louder and more reckless. How could he sleep through that?Stanley raised his hand and sharply knocked twice against the wall with his knuckles, the sound echoing in the room. Immediately, the noise from next door quieted down.Stanley closed his eyes.But he wasn't sleepy. The restless energy of his young, vibrant body was hard to ignore in this environment. Wendy was right there beside him, soft and sweet-smelling. His mind wandered back to that night in the main bedroom at Saville Villa. He had pinned her against the wall, forcibly holding her hand...Suddenly, the noise from next door started up again.Stanley opened his eyes in irritation, sitting up. He threw off the covers and got out of bed.Just as he stood, a small hand reached out and grabbed the sleeve of his shirt.He turned to see Wendy's head poking out from under the covers. She had just been muffled, and her pale, unmade-up face now had a faint flush. Her wi
Stanley had already come out of the bathroom. He had heard the entire voice message.Wendy stood frozen, her mind blank. She jumped up in a panic. "Wait, let me explain…"In her frantic state, her phone slipped from her hands and landed on the bed.Cecelia's voice message played right after, "Stanley's in great shape—he must have a six-pack! And I've heard that men with long fingers are amazing in bed. Wendy, go for it and sleep with Stanley tonight!"Wendy, who had been trying to explain, froze. She felt like jumping off the building. Oh, my god! What was this mess? She had started out having a serious conversation with Cecelia, but things took a wild turn, getting more inappropriate by the second. The atmosphere had become unbearably awkward. Wendy glanced at the man by the bathroom door, letting out a dry laugh. "So you heard all that. Just remember that those were Cecelia's words, not mine."She figured it was best to throw her friend under the bus.Stanley, freshly s
Stanley nodded and led Wendy toward the room.Wendy furrowed her brow slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "What did she say comes with extra charges?"Stanley glanced at her, her innocent eyes wide with question, as if she was eager to know. He turned away, offering no response.They entered Room 503. It was clean, but there was only one bed.Wendy couldn't help but feel uneasy. How were they going to manage with just one bed tonight?"Wendy." Stanley called her name from behind.This was the second time he had said her name.Wendy turned to face him. "What's wrong?"She suddenly remembered their unfinished conversation. "You wanted to ask me something in the car earlier. What was it?""Did you—"Before Stanley could continue, his phone pinged, the sound cutting through the moment. It was a message from Jessica, along with a photo. Stanley opened the photo to find one from Jessica's childhood. As he looked at it, he noticed something: Jessica's childhood face