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
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
The dormitory was eerily quiet, and Jessica's agitated voice cut through the silence, sharp and clear enough for Wendy to hear every word.Wendy poured herself a glass of water and took a sip. For some reason, the water felt bitter in her mouth.Stanley didn't say a word, but his handsome brows had already furrowed."Stanley, I miss you so much. I need to see you right now—come over now!" Jessica's voice rang out from the phone.Stanley gripped his phone tightly and with long, measured steps, walked out of the room.Wendy turned her head to watch his retreating figure. He was going to be with Jessica, wasn't he?She had almost forgotten—Luna was just a brief distraction. Jessica was the one he truly loved.One phone call, a few words, and he was gone.That night between them had meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.A bitter smile curled on Wendy's lips.Stanley had reached the hallway when he frowned. "Jessica, I can't come right now."Jessica exploded. "Why?! Are yo
"What else do you expect?" Wendy shot backThe light in the girls' dormitory was soft, casting a gentle glow on her delicate face. Her skin looked so smooth, almost as if it could break with a breath. Even the fine layer of peach fuzz on her cheeks appeared glistening and soft. Stanley's sharp, handsome features softened as a smile spread across his face. "Don't you have anything to say about that night?"That night...Wendy hadn't thought about that evening in a long time, but now, hearing him bring it up, the memories rushed back. Two figures, one hard and one soft, entwined on the couch. Sweat and pleasure intertwined, and it all ended in a burst of fireworks, filling the air with the remnants of the explosion. He had been on top of her, calling her name. "Wendy."Wendy lifted her gaze to meet his, their eyes locking. Stanley was looking at her, deeply, his gaze unwavering.Her face, the size of a palm, flushed bright red. Because of Luna, she had thought he'd forgo
Cecelia was stunned. "Wait, what? She's pregnant out of wedlock? So the baby in Luna's belly isn't Mr. Hawk's—it's her boyfriend's?" Wendy had a feeling something must have happened at the birthday party, but she didn't expect it to be like this. Luna had a boyfriend, and the baby in her belly belonged to him. So, what did that mean about Luna's relationship with Stanley? At that moment, there was a knock on the door. "Who is it?" Wendy went to open the door, only to be greeted by the tall, handsome figure of Stanley standing outside. She froze for a moment. What was he doing here? This was the girls' dorm! Wendy didn't want to talk to him and tried to close the door. But Stanley placed his hand against the door, blocking it, his tall frame standing in the doorway as his dark eyes met hers. "Wendy, I need to talk to you." "I don't want to hear it." "You don't have a choice." With a powerful push, Stanley forced the door open and walked inside. Hals
With that, Stanley turned and walked away. Luna was consumed by an overwhelming fear. In her moment of greed, she had pretended to be Wendy, and now Stanley had made it clear that this would be the decision she would regret for the rest of her life. She was beyond doomed. Luna turned to look at Danny, the only person she thought could save her now. Though Danny came from humble beginnings, he was hardworking and ambitious. Over the years, he had spent hundreds of thousands on her. Whenever something happened with her family, he was the first one to step in and take care of it. She couldn't afford to lose him now. "Danny, I'm sorry. It's all my fault... Please, take me home. I'll make things right, and we can start over together..." Luna sobbed, grabbing Danny's hand. But Danny pulled his hand away with force, his expression cold. "Luna, you can't stay in Hovendale anymore. Now that you've hit rock bottom, you think of me. I've seen your true nature. Someone as greedy
"So many resources have been poured into you recently. Did you land yourself a sugar daddy?" The reporters' questions grew sharper, their words cutting through the air. Luna's face turned pale as she glanced at the fans surrounding her. The admiration they once held for her quickly vanished. One by one, they began to shout insults. "We were blind!" "We thought we were supporting an innocent girl, but turns out she's just a cheap woman!" "We're leaving!" Without a second glance, the fans turned their backs on her, walking away. Luna realized it was over. She had hoped her birthday party would launch her to new heights, but instead, it had completely destroyed her. One moment she was on top of the world, the next she had fallen hard, plummeting into the depths of despair. What could she do now? Luna lifted her eyes to the man standing on the second floor. Stanley, standing tall, looked down on her from above, his narrow eyes as cold and deep as a frozen lake.