"Who do you want to pursue, Mr. Fordham?" Giselle met Chester's eyes and looked surprised. She couldn't read him from behind his glasses. Still, she was genuinely curious. Which woman could make someone like Chester pursue her?"Do you really want to know?" he asked in return.For some reason, this made Giselle's heart skip a beat. She hastily averted her gaze and looked down at her glass. "Pretend I didn't ask if you don't want to answer."Chester didn't take things too far. He retracted his gaze and said, "You'll find out soon enough."Then, he switched the subject. They chatted for a while more before he told her to rest.The rain grew heavier. Giselle got into bed after washing up. Now that she was relaxed, she was overwhelmed with exhaustion. She checked her phone to see a few unread messages from Emma."I'm sorry for dragging you into today's mess, Ms. Stone. I've cleared my outstanding bill with you—consider the extra compensation for your distress. Thanks for showing me h
Jonathan scrutinized Chester's face as he spoke. His gaze was sharp and probing.He couldn't reach Giselle, and neither could the Grants. That was why he'd decided to try his luck with Chester. Giselle had left with him yesterday, after all.This had grated on Jonathan's nerves. He couldn't understand it—didn't Giselle know that she needed to maintain boundaries? Even if they were already broken up, wasn't she slapping him in the face by spending time with Chester? She knew he didn't like his uncle.Chester clearly sensed Jonathan's hostility, but it didn't bother him. He leaned back leisurely, his gaze calm as he faced the latter. "Do I need to report to you on who I spend time with and who I'm close to?"Jonathan was no match for him, whether in terms of status or capabilities. The former clenched his fists, the veins in his forehead throbbing as he suppressed his anger. "She's my fiancée, Uncle Chester.""You two have already broken up," Chester said calmly.Jonathan felt like
Jonathan's eyes glinted when he saw the caller ID. Then, he stood up. "If you can reach Giselle, tell her that running away isn't going to resolve anything."Larry was the second son of the Barton family. Now that he'd ended up in the hospital, there was no way the Barton family would let the matter slide so easily. That was why Jonathan was looking for Giselle. He could help her resolve this issue as long as she gave in and backed down.Giselle only came out of the room when she heard Jonathan leave. Chester's expression was still cold. "Did you hear everything?""Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop," she said, looking at him. "If Jonathan asks you about me again, you can just tell him we don't know each other well."He narrowed his eyes, a little displeased to hear that. It was hard to tell how he felt as he said, "I don't like lying, though."Giselle was taken aback by his words. However, Chester had no plans to reveal his true intentions so soon. He wanted to take things slow. H
Emma brought Giselle to the top bar in Seaworth City. She was evidently a regular there.As soon as they entered the private room, they were greeted by dozens of young men with different personalities and styles. It went without saying that they all looked good.Giselle said nothing, but Emma generously told her to pick first. "We're in the same boat, Ms. Stone. There's plenty of fish in the sea, so don't obsess over that one dumb fish. Pick whichever guy you like—everything is on me tonight."With her words, the men started showing what they were capable of. Giselle was at a loss for words. After a while, she held a hand to her forehead and said, "I'm not picking a gigolo, Ms. Jones.""Come on now. They're just here to drink with you and alleviate your boredom," Emma said.Giselle was insistent on her rejection, so Emma gave up. The private room was a lot more spacious after Emma dismissed the men.Giselle started pouring the drinks. She downed hers, which surprised Emma. "I wou
Someone asked about the situation with Larry. Jonathan narrowed his eyes and said, "Whoever's caused the problem will have to deal with the fallout themselves."He wanted to see how long Giselle could hold out when she had no one to rely on in Seaworth City. As long as she was obedient, he didn't mind putting a roof over her head and giving her some help. They'd been together for seven years, after all. He didn't think she could sever their ties so easily.Unless… Jonathan thought about the gown Giselle had worn to Richard's birthday celebration. His annoyance surged. Who the hell had given her the gown?The others in the room shut up when they sensed his irritation.Outside, Giselle leaned against the wall, thinking about the conversation she'd just heard. Once upon a time, she'd considered these people her friends. Now, they were badmouthing her behind her back. It was revolting.She didn't stay there any longer—the conversation had destroyed her good mood. She went to the restr
The man eyed Giselle lecherously. She recognized him—he was Phil Cross, one of Jonathan's good friends. She'd already forgotten about this, but his words reminded her.Phil wanted to get in her pants but had never dared to do anything about it because he feared retribution from Jonathan. The only time he'd expressed his desire was when Jonathan had brought Charlotte with him to a charity dinner.Phil told Giselle that Jonathan wasn't in love with her anymore and advised her to switch to someone else. He also told her he was willing to take her as his lover despite having a fiancée.Giselle had turned him down and fallen out with him."Does Jonathan know about this?" Giselle asked, trying to stay calm. She quickly tried to devise a plan to get away.There were three men in the room. If Emma weren't drunk, they would stand a chance of getting away. However, Emma was fast asleep now. Giselle would have a hard time fending the three men off, especially if she needed to protect Emma.
Phil looked at Giselle smugly. "Save your energy, Giselle. Even the most arrogant of people will beg like dogs once they've had that!"She felt horrible. She snarled and shouted, "You're committing a crime, Phil!"He burst into laughter as if he'd heard a joke. It took him a while to stop. "Do you have anything to prove that this is a crime? I haven't done anything to you."The drug he'd fed Giselle couldn't be detected by any professional equipment after eight hours. Even if Giselle were to sue him for sexual assault, he had a video to show that she'd willingly given herself to him. He could even use it against her.Phil started fantasizing about how it would feel like to sleep with her. He couldn't be hasty, though. He wanted to wait until she started begging him like a dog. He wanted to stomp all over her pride and dignity.As time passed, the drug started taking effect. Giselle felt a wave of heat wash over her. She clenched her fists, trying hard to remain lucid. "You're desp
Chester stepped on Phil's right hand while the latter watched in horror. He forced the bloody palm onto the floor before grinding it.Phil's tortured cries filled the room, making the server outside shudder. He couldn't help thinking about how ruthless Chester was.Chester's eyes glinted maliciously behind his glasses. Phil's pleas fell on deaf ears. Even he couldn't bear to touch a hair on Giselle's head, yet a scumbag like Phil dared to covet her. The more Chester thought about it, the more intense his desire to murder became."I was wrong, Mr. Fordham! I-I had no idea Giselle was yours… Please, let me go!" If Phil had known about this, he wouldn't have dared do anything to Giselle. Heck, he would've gone for Emma instead of Giselle!His survival instinct won out over everything else, leaving him incapable of wondering what Chester and Giselle had to do with each other. All he knew was that he didn't want to die!"It looks like you don't need your mouth, either." Chester took of
Giselle did not even care to learn how they managed to convince Charlotte to join them.None of it mattered anymore. Their plan was about to fail, after all. Did she seem that weak to them?While she was still deep in thought, there was suddenly the sound of someone kicking at the door. In the midst of that chaos, the sharp voice of a woman could be heard, saying, "Chester, I saw Giselle and Jonathan enter this room with my own eyes!"The door swung open.The bed inside was a mess, but there was no one there.Disarrayed footsteps headed toward the bathroom. Just like that, a group of people appeared in front of Giselle.Finley, who was the leader of the pack, was stunned when she saw that Giselle was still neatly dressed.This was different from what she had imagined!The calm look on Giselle's face did not look like that of someone who had just finished doing the deed. On the other hand, Jonathan, who was lying in the bathtub… looked extremely miserable.The media who had bee
The room was dimly lit.There was a thick scent of incense in the air. It did not take many inhalations before Giselle started to feel her body getting warm. She quickly covered her nose.Using the only source of light, she squinted her eyes and moved forward.Within seconds, the rough breathing of a man appeared next to her ear.The shadow on the wall was approaching her. When his hand was about to reach her, Giselle dodged to the left with one swift movement, leaving Jonathan embracing the air."Gigi…" The hoarse voice was laced with a hint of lust.The man tugged at the button of his collar as he approached Giselle once again. He was burning all over. It felt like he was being roasted from the inside. He was gradually losing his ability to think rationally.All he could see was the thin figure in front of him.Giselle was left speechless.They had cast a spell on this miserable man because they were not able to do it to her?There was no denying it. Angela and her friends
Angela, Finley, and Charlotte were rendered speechless.This explained why Giselle was able to make so many enemies. Just that mouth of hers could make people abhor her with a burning passion.What now? If Giselle did not go over, they would not be able to carry out their plan!The trio was beginning to grow anxious.Luckily enough, Giselle could sense their desperation. Being merciful, she said, "I mean, I won't go with you unless…"She was undoubtedly baiting them. There was a flash of malice in Angela's eyes as she gritted her teeth and asked, "Unless what?""Unless you let me play with your spell bugs."The moment she finished talking, the lights in the corridor suddenly came back on.Angela's face was as pale as death. How did Giselle know that she practiced witchcraft? She must be trying to trick her!Angela's petite body trembled. Still, she tried her best to maintain a calm composure."W-What spell bug? I don't know what you're talking about…""Oh, really? Then expla
The crowd was frantic.A tumult of screamings and shoutings bombarded their ears. Chester's voice was swallowed whole by the clamor of the crowd.Giselle moved forward with the flow of the crowd.There was only darkness ahead. Everyone skimmed the walls as they walked. There was a faint source of light in front of them.Before Giselle could even suppress her annoyance, a hand suddenly grabbed onto her wrist.The palm of this person's hand was slightly calloused. Her skin became a little sore from the slight abrasion.It was the hand of a woman.Giselle did not struggle against the woman grabbing her. Instead, she let her pull her forward.They were headed in the opposite direction from everybody else.During this time, Giselle had a sudden moment of clarity.The faint light allowed her to recognize the back and gait of the person in front of her. It revealed the fact that this woman was Angela.Still, Giselle remained unperturbed.As they went up the stairs, the noise and c
"Mr. and Mrs. Stone, this is my sister, Lyla."Lyla tried her best to smile. In a very soft voice, she greeted, "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Stone."Jackie had notified his family members in advance. But now that the actual person was standing in front of them, both Eugene and Moira were surprisingly calm.In short, Lyla felt like a total stranger to them.On the other hand, Giselle seemed profoundly familiar.After having compared the two, both Eugene and Moira kept their true feelings concealed.The news of them finding their long-lost biological daughter had not been made public. They had initially planned to announce the news at the charity banquet.However, they were now having second thoughts."Let's talk about this again when your brother and the others arrive."Upon hearing these words, the smile on Holly's face visibly stiffened. Things were not going according to plan.If she had it her way, the Stones would now be making the public announcement that Lyla was their eldest d
When Giselle was kicked out of the Grants' house, she had nothing to her name.Now, she seemed to be shamelessly clinging onto Jonathan, someone who had everything. Charlotte hated Giselle's guts.How could she, after leaving the Lawsons' world in shambles, be living her best, carefree life?Giselle should be having the worst, most miserable life in the slums! She should be trampled underneath Charlotte's feet forever!In stark contrast to Charlotte's rage, Giselle was much calmer.Giselle looked askance at Charlotte. With a cold and calm demeanor, she said to Charlotte, "We'll see."With the three women embroiled in the same drama, she was curious to see what interesting events would unfold.Just like that, Giselle disappeared from their sight.Finley stared at Charlotte with disapproval and said, "Wasn't what you just said to Giselle an indirect reminder?"When they first met, she had thought that Charlotte was a smart person. However, as Finley got to know her better, she r
As the head of the Lawson family, Jonathan found himself at the center of media attention, especially after Giselle and Chester's public display of intimacy at the gala. "Mr. Lawson, who is your date for tonight? Do you have any comments on your ex-fiancée, Ms. Stone?" "How do you feel about your ex and your uncle attending the gala together?" "Mr. Lawson, would you give them your blessings if they were to marry?" "Mr. Lawson…" The relentless questioning further agitated Jonathan, who was already in a foul mood. Just then, a photographer shoved a camera right in his face. Jonathan's eyes narrowed dangerously. He suddenly grabbed the camera and smashed it to the ground.The reporters fell silent. Jonathan ignored their stares and strode into the venue, his eyes scanning the place for Giselle and Chester. Despite his search, he constantly found himself intercepted by others. …In a corner of the venue, Charlotte stood alone with a wine glass in hand. As the
Giselle had only met a few members of the Stone family. The first was Harry. Despite meeting for the first time, it felt as if they had known each other for ages. Many others had also commented on how much she resembled the Stones.Giselle was always curious but never felt the need to find her biological family.Now that Chester had brought it up, Giselle found herself deep in thought. Chester quietly texted on his phone.After a while, he asked again, "Gigi, would you mind if I arranged a DNA test?" They would know if Giselle was the long-lost daughter of the Stone family once the results came back. The daughter they had searched for all these years might have been right in front of them all along. Giselle remembered Harry saying that Lyla's DNA matched the Stone family's. But the documents Chester had shown her… Something was amiss. Lyla and Holly definitely had ulterior motives for infiltrating the Stone family. Thinking of Harry's smile, Giselle agreed to Che
Chester said, "Harry accidentally spilled water on the guest bed. It's pouring outside… Can I stay at your place tonight, Gigi?"Harry grumbled to himself but eventually gave in, thinking about the money Chester had promised him. "It's all my fault! Giselle, you should let Chet stay the night." Giselle was silent. Something felt off, but she couldn't bring herself to say no. After a moment, she stepped aside. "Come in." Harry also tried to follow them inside, but Chester stopped him. "Head home now. You still have school tomorrow." Chester was firm.Harry was speechless. How could someone be so quick to burn bridges after crossing them? How despicable! After the door closed, Harry turned away and immediately pulled out his phone to vent in their group chat. "Chet is unbelievable! He used his money to force me to act alongside him! Do I look like that kind of person?" Sam: "Did you take the money?"Harry: "Hmph! I maxed out my card. Might as well take it if it's free!"