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
Sienna spotted Wendy approaching.Stanley and Jessica noticed her, too. Jessica was taken aback. "Wendy, what are you doing here?"Sienna looked at Wendy with obvious disdain. "Wendy, I'll make you pay for what you did with Nathan last night! Now, just leave. We're all waiting for Dr. Ceylan, and we don't have time to waste on you!"Stanley's gaze landed on Wendy, his sharp brow furrowing slightly. Though he didn't say anything, it was clear he wasn't welcoming her presence. He felt that she was here to cause trouble.Wendy wasn't offended. She simply found their reactions amusing. She gave them a playful smile, then winked at Stanley before saying, "I know you're waiting for Dr. Ceylan."Jessica snapped, "Then why don't you just leave?"Wendy straightened her back, smiling confidently in front of the three of them. "Actually, I'm the one you're all waiting for—"Before she could finish, someone else appeared. "Wendy, what are you doing here?"Wendy turned around to see Trish C
Stanley was only interested in seeing Dr. Ceylan. As the minutes passed with no sign of the doctor, his expression grew colder.Trish glanced at the time, her voice soft but certain. "Mr. Hawk, Dr. Ceylan must have been delayed. Who knows what Dr. Ceylan's working on. The doctor's been in seclusion for three years now." Dr. Ceylan's disappearance had been the biggest mystery in the medical world. No one knew the reason for the doctor's prolonged disappearance.Wendy, standing by the door, rolled her eyes. She wanted Stanley to open his eyes wide and see that she had kept her word and shown up. Even Jessica, Trish, and Sienna were her witnesses.Seeing that Stanley's face didn't soften, Trish uttered, "Mr. Hawk, I'll start by checking Jessica."-Twenty minutes later, Stanley and Trish stood outside the door. Trish, dressed in a white silk blouse and a black pencil skirt, looked bright and professional. She met Stanley's gaze—handsome and commanding—and said, "Mr. Hawk, based o
"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