"Hi, do you have any candles?"Under the bright light, the teenager stood tall with a healthy complexion. Even though his features were still youthful and soft, there were already hints of captivating charm.His dark eyes carried a faint uneasiness, and his tightly clenched fingers had turned pale.Giselle retracted her scrutinizing gaze. "The property management is staffed 24/7. You can just call them if there's a power outage."Faced with a male stranger knocking on her door late at night, Giselle remained highly vigilant.Then, she stepped back. She was about to close the door when the boy suddenly fell forward with a loud thud, landing flat on his face.Giselle was shocked. Was her new neighbor trying to scam her?She called for an ambulance and crouched down to turn him over, bending her finger to check if he was breathing. There was a faint, warm flow. He was alive.Giselle let out a sigh of relief and leaned against the doorframe, waiting for the ambulance. After som
After being with Jonathan Lawson for seven years, Giselle Stone asked for their engagement to be called off. She texted him about it, only receiving a reply two hours later.He wrote, "I'm okay with that, but we have to discuss this in person."Giselle sent him her location. It was chilly inside the café; the sun slowly set outside, and the sky gradually darkened.She sat there, her face pale. The moment she shut her eyes, the image of Jonathan and Charlotte Grant entangled with each other would appear in her mind. One was her fiancé, and the other was the biological daughter Giselle's adoptive parents had just found.She had been at the hospital for an IV drip because of severe menstrual cramps. Unexpectedly, she'd stumbled upon the scene of Jonathan holding Charlotte in his arms.Who was Jonathan? He was the heir of one of Seaworth City's most affluent families and the CEO of Lawson Group.With company matters awaiting his decision, every second of his day was as precious as go
Giselle's words mingled with the pattering of the rain, souring Jonathan's mood. He gnashed his teeth and sneered as he watched her leave without hesitation. "Fine, then. Don't regret this, Giselle!"She faltered before striding off, not even bothering to turn to look at him.It was raining cats and dogs outside. She kept a hand on her belly while requesting an Uber ride. Half an hour later, she was still waiting for someone to accept her request. She frowned and switched to another app, requesting a more expensive ride. Finally, a driver accepted. Linda called her five minutes later and asked, "Were you with Jonathan earlier?"Giselle looked down to conceal the mockery in her eyes. She crouched and rubbed her belly; she was still hurting from the cramps. "Is it any of your business who I'm with?"She'd moved out to live alone since Charlotte's return to the Grant family. Most of the time, the Grants would only speak to her to urge her to end things with Jonathan. She was nothing
Seaworth City's upper crust gathered for Richard's birthday celebration the following day. It would start in three hours, but many guests had already arrived.Everyone arrived in expensive cars; an Uber pulled up, standing out like a sore thumb. The guests were stunned when they saw who got out of the vehicle."What's going on? Has Giselle fallen so far that she has to take Ubers now? Didn't Jonathan arrange for a car to pick her up?""…Man, she's a mess. The Grant family kicked her out, and she's yet to marry Jonathan despite already being 25. I bet they're not going to walk down the aisle together."The guests erupted into whispers around Giselle. Their gazes were either excited or pitying. They couldn't wait to see her humiliate herself.She didn't care, though. She went straight to see Richard. When she arrived outside his door and raised a hand to knock, she heard the conversation inside."You're about to be married soon, Jonathan. You need to watch yourself and make sure yo
"Oops. Sorry for accidentally stepping on your gown." The woman sounded gleeful.The hem of Giselle's gown fell to her ankles. When tugged on, it tore at the thigh, vaguely revealing her flawless skin.She turned to see a familiar face—Jonathan's sister, Vivian Lawson. Vivian had picked on Giselle countless times in the past, but Giselle had chosen to grin and bear it for Jonathan's sake.Now, however… Who did Vivian think she was?Everyone waited to see Giselle make a fool of herself.Vivian gave her a challenging look, but a bad feeling arose inside her when she saw Giselle grabbing a drink from the table. Then, Giselle poured it on her, making her scream. Her expensive gown was immediately ruined."Oops. Sorry about that. My hand slipped." Giselle raised an eyebrow and smirked.Her bold action made the spectators gasp. Vivian screamed, "Are you insane, Giselle?"It was Richard's birthday celebration, so Giselle didn't want things to get too nasty. She looked at Vivian and sa
Giselle, Jonathan, and Charlotte were surprised by Chester's words. When had he ever been so enthusiastic to help someone?As far as Jonathan remembered, Chester had always been cold and aloof. He'd migrated abroad after turning 18 to focus on scientific research; he'd never been close to anyone.Now, however, he was offering to drop Giselle home?Jonathan frowned, suddenly feeling wary. He said, "I can drop Giselle home myself, Uncle Chester.""It's Mr. Lawson Senior's birthday celebration. You have plenty to do." Chester's pointed gaze traveled between Jonathan and Charlotte as he smiled a little icily.Charlotte clenched her fists, feeling uneasy. He was so oppressive. Were he and Giselle on good terms? Her mind started running wild, but her thoughts were mostly still on her jealousy toward Giselle.Chester ignored Jonathan and Charlotte. He opened the backseat door and said, "After you, Ms. Stone."Since things had reached this stage, Giselle had no reason to turn him down.
"Let me go! I'm going to call the cops on you, you freak!" Charlotte's hair was a mess, and tears streamed down her face from the pain.Emma sneered and tugged her head back harshly. Then, she slapped her, leaving a clear handprint on her face. The other people in the room were stunned by Emma's boldness. By the time they snapped to their senses and surged forward to break up the fight, she'd slapped Charlotte again."Did you enjoy leaning on my husband's shoulder?" she snarled.Charlotte was dazed from the slaps. She didn't even know what was going on! Emma had burst into the room, grabbed her hair, and slapped her without any preamble. She was insane!"Stop it, Emma!" a man roared furiously. He pulled Emma and Charlotte apart, his expression hideous.Charlotte wept pitifully; the others crowded around her to comfort her."Don't cry, Lottie. We won't let you suffer like this for no reason. Jon will seek justice for you when he gets back!""Hey, go get a towel and some ice. Bo
Jonathan had a bad feeling when he heard that. The number of people in Seaworth City whose last names were Fordham could be counted on one finger. And the only one who could command that much respect… was Chester.The interrogation room's door swung open again. Sure enough, Chester entered the room. He wore a white shirt with buttons all done up and a gray waistcoat on top. His black pants made his legs look particularly long.His features were chiseled, and his hair was neat. The eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses were sharp and cold. He was the epitome of nobility."Mr. Fordham." The police officer who'd earlier been addressed as "Captain Lane" stepped forward.Chester greeted, "Hi, Mr. Lane."Then, he handed Jim Lane a bag. "Fred asked me to bring this to you."Fred Lane was one of Chester's most capable subordinates. He was a genius scientist who was only 30 this year.Jim accepted the bag and thanked Chester with a big smile. "I don't have to worry about Freddie when I kno
"Hi, do you have any candles?"Under the bright light, the teenager stood tall with a healthy complexion. Even though his features were still youthful and soft, there were already hints of captivating charm.His dark eyes carried a faint uneasiness, and his tightly clenched fingers had turned pale.Giselle retracted her scrutinizing gaze. "The property management is staffed 24/7. You can just call them if there's a power outage."Faced with a male stranger knocking on her door late at night, Giselle remained highly vigilant.Then, she stepped back. She was about to close the door when the boy suddenly fell forward with a loud thud, landing flat on his face.Giselle was shocked. Was her new neighbor trying to scam her?She called for an ambulance and crouched down to turn him over, bending her finger to check if he was breathing. There was a faint, warm flow. He was alive.Giselle let out a sigh of relief and leaned against the doorframe, waiting for the ambulance. After som
"It has nothing to do with Lottie." Jonathan finally said.He downed drink after drink, his dark and oppressive demeanor making it impossible for anyone to provoke him.Oddly enough, he felt that it was a little quieter than when he was alone despite the crowded setting.Larry drank a few glasses with him. Then, out of nowhere, he heard Jonathan ask, "Larry, what would you do if your ex got together with your uncle?"Larry's brain didn't process the question. Ex? Uncle? Together?"Jon, you must be drunk. What kind of nonsense are you saying…""Answer me." The commanding tone swallowed the rest of Larry's words."If my ex got together with my uncle? I would probably laugh my head off."My uncle is a gambler and a womanizer. If she chooses him, isn't that just self-torture? If my ex found someone worse than me, I would joke about it for the rest of my life."…Meanwhile, Emma transferred the one thousand dollars to Giselle's account.Then, she texted Giselle. "Gigi, that was b
Giselle remained expressionless, though she felt the urge to laugh.Then, she typed a reply. "You already said she's your ex. Whoever she's with now has nothing to do with you. So, I suggest you mind your own business."Yesterday, in the Lawson family's wine cellar, she had used Chester to ruthlessly provoke Jonathan. She even boldly declared she'd make him call her Aunt Giselle.For someone as prideful as Jonathan, such humiliation was unbearable. He was so furious he skipped dinner entirely.Later, without consulting Richard or anyone else, he impulsively decided to get engaged to Charlotte. Of course, there was an element of spite involved."She can't be with my uncle!"The thought of meeting her in the future and being forced to call his ex his aunt made Jonathan feel suffocated.The image of Giselle kissing Chester remained vivid in his mind.How bad was it? It made him dream of the two kissing right in front of him at night. And after the kiss, they interlocked their fing
Everyone understood the words, but somehow, when strung together, they didn't make sense anymore."Did he save your life or something?" This was the phrase Giselle had asked repeatedly.She swallowed her frustration at the caller's naive words before saying, "He went out with another woman before breaking up with you. It shows that he clearly didn't respect you or value your feelings. If he truly loved you, he would have respected you and upheld the boundaries of a relationship."The commenters instantly agreed with her. "Madam is absolutely right. Don't be foolish, girl. We don't need useless men.""While you're here moping around, he's already enjoying himself with someone new.""No need to win him back. There are plenty of men out there. DM me, and I'll introduce you to some hot guys!"The woman in the call started crying. "But I really like him…""Liking him alone isn't enough. If you lower yourself to beg for reconciliation, you're just degrading yourself," said Giselle.
Giselle, Chester, and Hector were on the second floor of the restaurant.Following Hector's gaze downward, they spotted a woman who looked strikingly similar to Charlotte. She was being forcefully kissed by a man against the wall near the first-floor restroom.Giselle glanced at the scene briefly before withdrawing her gaze. "It is Charlotte."Giselle could recognize the woman who had disgusted her for years, even if she turned to ashes.Hector grew intrigued and clicked his tongue before adding teasingly, "Could the guy kissing her be Jonathan?"Judging by the build, the man seemed a bit too thin. He was also a little short compared to Jonathan. So, if it wasn't Jonathan, who could it be?Anyone within their circle could tell that Charlotte and Jonathan weren't merely ordinary friends. Would she really go out of his way to hurt his fiancée's feelings if he didn't have any feelings for the so-called friend?The trio didn't linger on the sight and followed the waiter into their p
Giselle stepped aside, causing Brady to miss. She raised an eyebrow lightly and looked at him icily. "Why wouldn't I dare?"Brady was so enraged that he lost all sense of reason. Any restraint he had about not hitting women was thrown out the window as he charged at Giselle.Just then, Lily let out a piercing scream. "Brady!"Brady thought he could overpower Giselle with brute force, but he had underestimated her strength.Giselle quickly grabbed his arm and threw him over her shoulder, slamming him hard onto the floor. This stunned everyone in the hospital room.Giselle calmly planted a foot on Brady's back and called the police."What do you want? Money? I have plenty! Name your price, and I'll pay if you delete the video!"Brady was in utter despair, feeling that his career was about to collapse. At this point, he didn't care if Giselle wanted money or men. He would find a way to fulfill her wishes!"Do I look like someone who needs money?" Giselle pressed harder with her fo
"Lily!"The man angrily kicked open the hospital room door, his loud voice echoing in the corridor.Giselle's expression turned cold as she took out her phone and started recording."Lily! Delete all that stuff online right now! Do you have any idea how much damage it's causing me? If you've lost your mind, go to a mental hospital! Don't drag me down with you!"Brady suddenly appeared after being busy with work for a long time.Lily's heart tightened, and she instinctively stepped in front of Yvonne to shield her.Brady removed his hat and mask, revealing the face that Lily had been infatuated with for over 20 years. Time had only added maturity to his features.But his handsome face was now contorted with rage, and the icy glint in his eyes carried a hint of malice.Lily felt her heart sink in an instant."Brady! Don't argue with me here! Yves needs to rest.""Rest? What kind of trick are you two playing this time? Let me tell you, your tactics won't work on me!" Brady let o
From getting to know Brady to falling in love, it seemed to be just Lily's one-sided infatuation.She was eleven years older than Brady. Back then, she was a highly sought-after screenwriter in the industry, while Brady was just a newbie starting out.She was attracted to his looks, and Brady went along with her desires. Their secret relationship had initially been based on a sugar mommy and sugar baby dynamic. But it evolved into what appeared to be a normal romance after Brady gained fame.From that point on, their roles reversed.Brady became so busy that he was barely around, sometimes not meeting her for half a year. This made Lily become insecure. She lost herself and became increasingly obsessive.But her tears had already dried up. Now, she was numb, like a lifeless puppet.At the moment, Giselle said, "Expose everything Brady has done."Lily never thought that her relationship of more than 20 years would end so bitterly. It felt like a thousand needles piercing her soft
Chester's black coat was draped over his arm. He was wearing a white shirt.With broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his unbuttoned collar added a casual and slightly languid air.Before Jean could say anything, Chester stopped right in front of Giselle.His eyes lowered, and his long lashes cast faint shadows on his cheeks. Then, he said in a crisp, cold tone, "Ms. Stone, let's go. I'll take you home."Jean was slightly surprised. She hadn't told him, but Chester had already volunteered to take Giselle? Since when was her younger brother so enthusiastic about helping others?Jean didn't have time to dwell on it and simply reminded them, "Be careful on the way. Gigi, text me when you're home."Giselle obediently agreed and forced herself to follow Chester out. The cool breeze outside blew away the heat from her flushed face, clearing her thoughts considerably.A black luxury car was parked in the courtyard. Chester opened the car door for her. When Giselle bent down to get in, h