Wendy chose to ignore him. "I don't know him."With those four words, Stanley's lips curled into a mocking smile, silently ridiculing Wendy.Wendy didn't know Nathan, but Cecelia did. It seemed like a good show was about to unfold. Nathan was Stanley's best friend.Cecelia chuckled. "Nathan, I think we should skip the drink. Wendy needs to head home."Nathan immediately grabbed his car keys. "Then I'll drive you both."Nathan followed Wendy and Cecelia as they walked away.As the three of them left, Benny and the other rich heirs started to murmur in disbelief. "What's going on? Does Nathan have an eye for Wendy?""But Wendy is still married to Stanley. Does that mean Stanley is going to get cheated on by his wife and his best friend?" Benny asked. Just as Benny finished speaking, Stanley's sharp gaze landed on him, his eyes like daggers. Benny immediately fell silent.Stanley grabbed his car keys. "You guys enjoy yourselves. I'm leaving."Sienna helplessly tugged at Jessica
"Ahhh!"Jessica's scream made Stanley slam the brakes, bringing the Rolls-Royce to a sudden halt.Jessica gasped for breath, terrified out of her wits. "Stanley, why were you driving so fast?"Stanley's face remained cold and dark. He glanced up, noticing that the Lamborghini, which had nearly caught up with them, had already zoomed past while he was stopping.Stanley pressed his lips together. "Are you hurt?"Jessica shook her head. "I'm fine."She then muttered, "I can't believe Wendy's caught Nathan's eye. Did you see how she was dancing in the club? I mean, she grew up in the countryside, dropped out of school at 16, and learned all these tricks to seduce men. She's completely lost herself—so shameless, so self-destructive!"Stanley's gaze grew cold as the image of Wendy's soft, seductive movements in the club flashed through his mind. Jessica wasn't wrong—Wendy had indeed learned all those seductive techniques. Even Nathan, who was usually so hard to impress, had been capti
The phone clicked off with two beeps, and Stanley was left staring at the screen in stunned silence.That damned woman actually hung up on him!At that moment, the butler Freddy walked over. Stanley gave him an order, "Freddy, call Wendy and tell her that Grandma isn't feeling well. We need her to come back immediately!"Freddy was momentarily taken aback. "But, sir, your grandmother has already taken the medicine Mrs. Hawk prepared and is resting. She's feeling fine."Stanley's temper flared, his voice deep and dangerous. "Tell a lie! Don't you get it?"Freddy hesitated again, clearly uncomfortable. "Sir, isn't it a bit harsh to lie to Mrs. Hawk? Over these past three years, she has been taking care of both you and your grandmother. She's been very hard-working. Let her go out and relax tonight, it won't hurt."Stanley's gaze was icy, his voice like a blade. "Freddy, are you going to make the call or not?"Perhaps Stanley's glare was too intense, because Freddy immediately pull
Although Wendy had a troubled childhood, she never lost the courage to love. Whether it was Lilian or Stanley, she had always loved them passionately and actively. Loving someone didn't mean being humble or inferior, and it certainly didn't give anyone the right to mistreat her, especially when she didn't love anymore. She no longer loved Stanley.Stanley studied her serene face with cold eyes, his lips twisting into a mocking smile. "You really don't love me anymore?""Yes—mmph!" Wendy started to answer, but before she could finish, he leaned down and forcefully pressed his lips to hers.Her mind exploded, a rush of blankness filling her thoughts. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she realized he had unexpectedly kissed her.It wasn't their first kiss, but the last time in the shower, she had pulled him in and kissed him. Now, it was him kissing her.Wendy immediately struggled, raising her hands to push him away. "Stanley, let me go!"Stanley's strong, broad frame pressed he
This man!Wendy was furious. She stood on her tiptoes and bit the corner of Stanley's lip."Ugh!" Stanley winced in pain, a faint taste of blood filling his mouth. She had drawn blood with that bite.He grabbed her face, squeezing it until her lips formed an "O" shape. His eyes were full of anger. "What are you, a dog? Do you always have to bite people?"Wendy shot him a defiant look. "You should be thinking about how to explain that cut on your lip to Jessica tomorrow. Even though Nathan took your place, isn't Jessica stuck with my second-hand goods?"Stanley stared at her, speechless.Second-hand goods? This damned woman!"We can hook up with other people, but you can't be with Nathan!" "Why?" Wendy asked, her voice calm but mocking.In truth, Stanley saw Nathan as a good friend. He couldn't stand the thought of it. He looked Wendy up and down with disdain. "You think Nathan would be interested in you? Keep dreaming! You only know how to shake your hips on the dance flo
Stanley had just finished his shower, wearing a black silk pajama. His damp, short hair hung loosely, droplets of water glistening like mist. He looked fresher and more youthful than his usual well-dressed, suit-clad self.Wendy glanced at him for a moment. The man truly was blessed with good looks.Just then, his phone rang. It was a call from Zayn. He grabbed his phone and answered the call."Mr. Hawk, Dr. Ceylan accepted your invitation to meet tomorrow at the naturopathy center." Zayn's voice came through.Stanley's expression remained stoic. "Last time, Dr. Ceylan came and left without a word. Tomorrow, I'll get a glimpse of that mysterious person."Wendy felt a chill at the back of her neck. This was bad.Stanley had never forgotten how Dr. Ceylan had canceled their last meeting. He wasn't the type to let someone play games with him, and he was determined to see Dr. Ceylan tomorrow.Stanley then looked over at Wendy. "Aren't you going to take a shower?""Right." Wendy qui
Though they had been married for over three years, Stanley had never shared a bedroom with Wendy. In fact, he hadn't shared a bed with any woman, making this moment entirely new to him.As he watched her carefully applying skincare, moving from one product to the next, Stanley found it all rather intriguing.Wendy, noticing his gaze, turned her head toward him.Stanley didn't have time to look away, and their eyes met.Wendy shot him a glare. "What are you staring at? Haven't you ever seen a beautiful woman before?""You should spend some time reading to improve yourself. No matter how pretty you make yourself, you're still just a vase," Stanley replied coolly. Wendy, who had just been labeled a "vase", wanted to curse aloud. She vowed that she would blind the arrogant Stanley with her brilliance.Without responding, she climbed into bed, pulling the covers up.At that moment, Stanley's phone rang with a soft chime. He glanced down and saw that it was a message from Dave at Ha
Being called "annoying" out of nowhere left Stanley feeling completely confused. He didn't pay much attention to it. Setting his phone aside, he returned to reviewing the documents in front of him. By the time he finished his work, it was already late into the night. Stanley got up to pour himself a glass of water. As he turned toward Wendy, he saw that she had already fallen asleep.He was about to return to the sofa when a soft chime echoed from her phone, which was resting beside her pillow. Wendy had an incoming text.Stanley glanced at her phone, and in the next moment, his dark, intense gaze narrowed suddenly.He saw her profile picture glowing on the screen. It looked eerily identical to the profile picture of the genius freshman, W.Stanley quickly walked over to the bed, reaching for her phone.Just then, Wendy shifted in her sleep, and her delicate face pressed against his hand.Stanley froze, unsure of what he was doing. He must have been seeing things—was it possi
Wendy asked if Stanley had ever had feelings for her.The question left him momentarily stunned.Of course, he had.He had once caught himself thinking about Wendy in a romantic sense. He felt reluctant to let go of her—he felt drawn to her, wanting to claim her.He had feelings for Wendy, but in the grand scheme of things, that feeling meant nothing compared to how he felt for Jessica.Now, with the divorce looming, he intended to cut all ties, to sever them completely without hesitation.He spoke the words that seemed to crush the air between them: "Wendy, I love Jessica."He said he loved Jessica.The light in Wendy's eyes slowly dimmed, the question she had asked now feeling like a painful mistake. She had set herself up for humiliation—complete and utter humiliation.Still, she wasn't a sore loser."Then let's get a divorce."Stanley paused. "Go get your marriage certificate."Wendy forced a thin smile and reached into her bag. "I already brought it with me."When
Wendy returned to the girls' dorm and was greeted by a video call from Halsey.Halsey's bright, happy face appeared on the screen, her eyes mischievously dancing. "How did it go last night? Did you and Mr. Hawk, you know..."She wiggled her eyebrows, her expression full of playful insinuation.Wendy chuckled, trying to keep the mood light. "Why aren't you back yet?""I didn't want to interrupt you two. The last thing I wanna do is be a third wheel."With that, Halsey continued, "Mr. Hawk handled Luna really well this time. I honestly think he has feelings for you. You guys consummated your marriage and are officially husband and wife now. I hope things go well for you both, and that you can have a happy life together."Wendy wasn't sure how to respond. She popped a candy into her mouth, letting the sweetness spread across her tongue. After a moment, she smiled and said, "I appreciate that, Halsey. Come back soon, alright?""I'll be back tonight.""Okay."Wendy ended the call
Jessica didn't want Wendy here.Wendy turned to look at Stanley.Still holding Jessica's hand, he slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers.Their eyes locked.Before Stanley could speak, Wendy shifted her gaze and briefly glanced at Jessica before offering a small, polite smile. "I'm glad you're okay. I'll leave now."She turned and walked away.But she didn't leave immediately. She stood outside the door, listening to the conversation inside.Jessica's voice was filled with sorrow as she accused Stanley, "Stanley, tell me. Did you sleep with Wendy?"Stanley looked at the door for a moment before his eyes settled back on Jessica's pale face. "Jessica, I'm sorry."He admitted it.Jessica bit her lip. "Stanley, why? You told me you and Wendy were over!"Stanley's expression darkened. Yes, he had told Jessica that he and Wendy were finished, but he couldn't stop himself from seeking out Wendy. "Stanley, you've forgotten my warning. I told you not to touch Wendy, not to sleep with
Stanley glanced at Wendy before nodding. "Alright."-The two of them arrived at the hospital and entered the VIP ward, where they found Jessica.Jessica lay in bed, her face pale. She was still unconscious, her breathing assisted by a ventilator. Though her right wrist was wrapped in thick bandages, blood could be seen seeping through.Lilian rushed toward Stanley as soon as she saw him. "Mr. Hawk, you're here!"But her movement froze when she noticed Wendy standing behind him. Her expression shifted instantly. "Why did you bring her here?"Wendy gazed at her mother—the one who birthed her—with cold, steady eyes.Lilian's voice grew sharper with anger. "How dare you show your face here, Wendy! Last night, Jessica had heart problems and needed Mr. Hawk by her side. You knew that, but you wouldn't let go of him! Look at what happened—Jessica cut her wrist! Are you happy now that you got what you wanted? You're the one who pushed Jessica to kill herself! Get out of here!"In a
Wendy reached out, her fingers trembling as she tried to touch Stanley's handsome face.But before she could, his hand shot out and grabbed hers. Stanley blinked sleepily, his eyes still heavy with the remnants of sleep. He gently placed her hand on his lips, kissing it softly before turning to look at her. "Good morning."His voice was low and husky, the kind of voice that rumbled in his chest when he first woke up. He gazed at her with his dark eyes, a warmth in his expression.Wendy's small face flushed a soft pink. "It's getting late. We should get up."Stanley pulled her soft body back into his arms. "Just a little longer," he murmured, still wanting to sleep.But Wendy pushed herself upright. "No, we can't. This is a girls' dorm, and everyone will wake up soon. You have to leave."Stanley's narrow eyes twinkled mischievously, his handsome features showing amusement. "We spent the night together, and you want me to leave the moment you opened your eyes? I feel used."Wend
But today was different. No matter how long she waited, Stanley didn't come.Jessica, starting to panic, kept calling Stanley over and over—but all she heard on the other end was the cold, mechanical voice of the automated system. "Sorry, the number you are trying to reach is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later."Stanley wasn't answering her calls.Bang!In a burst of frustration, Jessica slammed her phone against the wall, her delicate face twisted in anger."Jessica, don't get upset. Your heart can't stand it," Lilian said, trying to calm her down.Jessica shoved Lilian away. "How can I not be upset? Luna is useless! I thought her little pregnancy trick would work—that we could set up a situation where her baby would die at Wendy's hands, and then Wendy would be ruined for good. But she's such an idiot! Now Stanley knows that the woman from that night was Wendy. He's probably with her right now!" Jessica was terrified that Stanley would discover the truth abou
Wendy's delicate body slid down toward the floor, but thankfully, Stanley's strong arm was there to catch her, holding her soft waist.She felt like she was going to melt under his fiery kiss.Stanley reached down to undo her buttons, his voice deep and husky as he asked, "Do you have a condom?"Wendy shook her head. No, she didn't."I'll have Zayn bring one over," he said, about to grab his phone.Wendy quickly stopped him. He thought it was a normal request to have his secretary deliver a condom, but she felt that after this, she would never be able to face Zayn again."Don't…" Stanley's lips trailed down to her soft neck, kissing lower. "Don't what?"His short hair brushed against her and poked her tender jaw, making her feel both painful and ticklish. She threaded her small hands through his hair, trying to push him away. "Stanley, don't."Her mind was a mess. She hadn't planned to be intimate with him again. Everything today felt so chaotic.Stanley kissed her again. "I
Wendy's delicate back was pushed against the cold, white tiles of the bathroom wall. Warm water poured over her head, soaking her instantly. She raised her hands to push against the man in front of her. "What are you doing?"The water hit Stanley's handsome face, trickling down his sharp, striking features. It ran from his pronounced Adam's apple, down his muscular collarbone, and further still…It was like a painting of a man bathing, a visual feast of pure beauty.Wendy's heart raced as a fire ignited in her chest. She felt like a frightened deer, not knowing where to look, overwhelmed and panicked.Stanley pressed her against the wall, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Why are you so shy? Haven't you seen every part of me before?"Wendy hadn't expected him to pull her in like this. That night, he had been drugged, lost in a daze, but now he was fully awake.She had never been this close to him while he was sober, much less bathed with him before."Stanley, let me
Wendy never expected Stanley to come back. After hearing how demanding Jessica had been on the phone, practically ordering him to come over, she thought he would go for sure. Jessica was his sweetheart, the one he always ran to. Even when he was drugged, just one call from Jessica could pull him away. This was the first time he hadn't gone.Wendy wondered just how furious Jessica would be tonight.Stanley looked at her. "What were you thinking just now?"He had stood behind her, watching her with her head lowered so quietly. He couldn't tell what was on her mind. Suddenly, he remembered the girl he had met in the cave years ago. She had been just as quiet, just as isolated. It made him want to cherish and protect her.Stanley didn't know why, but something about Wendy reminded him of that girl from the past.Wendy didn't want to answer. "I wasn't thinking about anything."Stanley didn't press her. He glanced down at his wet shirt and trousers. When he had turned earlier, th