Time ticked by. Gloria raised her wrist and glanced at her watch for the third time. Patrick's eyes were fixed on her.
The ringing sound of the phone broke the strange atmosphere in the room. Gloria pressed the answer button. She asked, "Have you arrived?" On the phone, she could hear Sean's voice together with hurried footsteps. "I can't go. I'll leave Patrick to you for the time being." Gloria became anxious and called out, "Wait a minute. Leave him to me for the time being? Isn't Hank there?" "Hank is not free. All his men are busy now." Gloria laughed out of anger. "What do you mean by that?" Sean sneered and asked Gloria, "He was shot in Italy. Don't tell me you think it was a coincidence." "What do you mean?" "Stewart will stay in Hammond Group. Hank and I are going to Rome. Think about it. He is not short of bodyguards, but why did he still get shot?" Sean said quickly. Gloria was silent. AlthoughThe bedroom door suddenly opened. Gloria looked up and saw that Patrick had a poker face and returned with a blanket in his hand. Without a word, he threw the blanket onto the floor beside her bed and unrolled it silently. "What are you doing?" She was even more puzzled and asked. Patrick lay down on the floor and turned his back to her deliberately. "You are not allowed to sleep here," Gloria said coldly. Patrick remained silent. Gloria shouted, "Patrick, go out!" Patrick got up from the blanket and turned to yell at her, "Just send me away tomorrow! I don't care! Don't even think about chasing me away tonight!" Gloria didn't expect that he dared to yell at her. "Gloria wants to drive me away. She is sick and no one will take care of her. She is unreasonable!" Patrick shouted again. Gloria was stunned and didn't know what to say. It was the first time that the eight-year-old Patrick had shouted at her. She look
Gloria locked herself in the bedroom for a long time. When she went out, drops of blood were on her pale lips, which betrayed her struggling heart. Everything returned to the past. Gloria walked to the living room expressionless and lay on the sofa in silence with a blanket. Patrick stood uneasily aside. He looked helpless and pitiful. "From now on, you are not allowed to enter the bedroom," Gloria said coldly. Patrick panicked. He asked anxiously, "Gloria, did I do something wrong? So, you don't like me anymore." Gloria looked down at the hem of her clothes in his palm. Mandy's words echoed in her ears. She reached out and pulled back her clothes and walked back to the bedroom. She left behind a ruthless back for Patrick. However, when she turned her back to him, she began to shed tears. Why did she cry? She didn't want to think about it, nor did she have the strength to think about it. The night ended s
Gloria walked home and was thinking about something. While passing a corner, she was suddenly pulled into an alley by someone. With no street lights in the alley, it was dark. A few seconds later, Gloria saw several rogues. They surrounded her with baseball bats in their hands. She became alert and leaned against the wall. "What do you want?" The rogues looked at each other, laughing and ignoring Gloria's question. "Do you know me?" Gloria asked calmly and ignored their ridicule. "You are the eldest daughter of the Carter Group and a rich lady. We certainly know you," one of the rogues said. "Whoever paid you to come here, I will pay double." Gloria tried to come up with a solution in her mind. "Miss Carter, you are half crippled. Do you think you can run away? The person who paid us did not intend to kill you. He just asked us to cripple one of your hands." The head of the rogues laughed. Gloria's mind was a mess.
"I want to see her." Gloria made a decision and said in a low voice. It was not a plea, but an order. Dexter was tactful and knew that Gloria would not give in. He nodded. "I'll take you there." Dexter was clear that Gloria wanted to see Lillian immediately. Since she asked him out at midnight with a single phone call, it meant that she had made up her mind to handle this mess. Also, Dexter knew clearly that Gloria would no longer trust him as before. He did not bother to say more, but led Gloria to a small apartment that he owned. When the doorbell rang, Lillian opened the door and said in a sleepy voice, "You're back. Was the thing so urgent? Was your boss so bored?" "She is not bored, and she is here to see you." A cold voice made Lillian sober in an instant. "Why are you here?" Lillian blurted out in surprise. Lillian did not change much and was even more attractive than before. Gloria enjoyed
Gloria looked at Lillian meaningfully. "You threaten me with the Carter Group?" "Gloria, sue me. By then, the whole world will know that the Carter Group is an empty shell. You will lose everything. Then, can you still question me with such an attitude?" Lillian hated Gloria so much. She thought with hatred, 'Gloria had once been so humble, yet she lived a better life than me after three years! She is so low and cheap. How can she surpass me?' "You are actually good at nothing! You inherited your father's property. Everything you own belonged to your family, and you robbed it from them. Gloria, you are not only lowly but also vicious. You don't even let go of your family!" The more Lillian spoke, the more emotional she became. Dexter's hand was trembling, and he slapped Lillian. "What nonsense are you talking about? Miss Carter has said that she wouldn't pursue the matter. Why are you still making a scene?" Lillian suddenly went mad
At midnight, the temperature dropped abruptly. Gloria woke up when she heard the noise. She listened carefully and found that it was the sound of Patrick rubbing his clothes. She sat up quietly and looked under the bed. She found it strange. Sleeping on the sofa in the living room was much better than sleeping on the floor in her bedroom. If it were Gloria, she would rather choose to sleep on the sofa. Patrick was trembling all over. He wrapped his hands around his body and curled into a ball. "Are you awake?" In the darkness, Gloria asked slowly in a calm voice. The bedroom was silent. No one responded to her. "Stop pretending to sleep," Gloria said lightly. After a while, Patrick finally turned over. He opened his eyes in embarrassment and looked at Gloria. "Gloria," He called out in a low voice to show that he was awake. On the bed, Gloria moved. She said, "My feet are cold." Patrick immediately
"Patrick!" Gloria pushed Patrick away, and the quilt fell to the ground. She glared at Patrick's lower body under the pajamas and shouted, "What are you doing?" "Gloria, I couldn't bear it," Patrick said with a flushed face. Looking at his innocent face, Gloria was even more furious. With a cold face, she got out of bed without saying a word. She ignored Patrick and went to the bathroom. She scolded herself inwardly as she walked, 'I was such an idiot. How could I allow Patrick to sleep on the bed?' When Gloria thought of what had just happened, she kept wiping her hand against her pajamas, until her skin was rubbed red. After washing up, she returned to the room. But Patrick was still there. "Why are you still here?" Patrick stared at her with his innocent eyes. He leaned against the wall at a loss and panted slightly. "I feel hot, Gloria. I couldn't bear it." Gloria clenched her fists. She knew why he was feel
In a room near the luxurious banquet hall stood a man and a woman. "Relax," Lucas, in a light-colored suit, approached Gloria's ear and whispered. Gloria took a small step back, yet no matter how imperceptible her movement was, Lucas still noticed keenly. He took a few steps back gentlemanly and said with a chuckle, "Gloria, just relax." She clenched her fists, feeling the sticky sweat in her palms. Of course, she would be nervous. The person she was about to meet was very important to the Carter Group. "Actually, there's no need to hurry. He comes here every year for a holiday, and usually, he will be staying for a month or so." Lucas' voice was elegant and deep like a cello. "So, Gloria, you really don't need to see him right after you get off the plane." She shook her head. Even now, her heart was still a mess. After what happened that time, she fled without telling anyone. Only she knew what she was running away from.
This meant he was giving her only one chance. If she refused, she would never be able to return home.Luana felt as if a heavy stone had settled in her heart, making it hard to breathe and preventing her from making a decision quickly.Dorian maintained his domineering posture, observing the shifting expressions on her face with a smug confidence, waiting leisurely for her response.Five minutes passed, and Luana took a deep breath before nodding. "Alright, I agree, but it's only a marriage in name."Dorian let out another faint sneer. "What else did you expect?"He picked up the diamond ring, nodded his chin, and gestured for Luana to extend her hand.Reluctantly, she stretched out her hand, and Dorian casually placed the ring on her right ring finger.After slipping the ring onto her finger, Dorian released her hand and looked into her eyes with his deep, dark gaze. "We go to the church tomorrow," he said.With that, he pocketed Dorothy's passport and turned to leave.Luana raised he
Luana stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her resemblance to Dorothy grew day by day, and fear began to gnaw at her heart.She had already been a stand-in once. How could she bear to become one again, especially for her sister?Accompanied by a caregiver, Luana visited a hair salon and had her hair extended to waist-length, styled in the familiar waves she once wore.Dorian said nothing when he saw her like this, but after she fell asleep, he took a pair of scissors and cut off her hair.Luana was terrified, nearly fainting from the shock.Dorian, however, propped his chin on his hand with a nonchalant expression and said, “Who said you can do that?”Luana gaped at him, unable to contain her frustration. "Dorian, are you crazy…?"Dorian let out a soft chuckle. "Only now figuring that out?"Speechless, Luana took a deep breath and tried to reason with him."I'm not Dorothy. I'm Luana. Can you stop d
Luana had long harbored such suspicions in her heart.If her mother had not passed away, Dorothy would not have had to flee with her across different places.Her mother and sister must have experienced some terrifying events back then.Thinking of how George had not mentioned her father once, Luana couldn't help but ask again, "And my father...?"Before she could finish, George spread his hands helplessly, "Sorry, that's all I know."Luana stopped pressing George for more information, but her gaze took on a more inquisitive hue.George, an internationally renowned cardiologist, had gone to such lengths for her sister—what exactly was their relationship?George placed the photo frame on the bedside table and, noticing Luana's scrutinizing look, guessed her thoughts."Dorothy and Dorian have been close friends of mine for many years..." he offered a brief explanation, yet said nothing of the conflict between Dorian and Doro
"After he replaced you, he saw a man being deeply affectionate toward you when he arrived."To ensure your sister's heart would only be yours, he secretly switched you out, letting your sister take your place in the cremation..."Once you were replaced, I found you hadn't suffered brain death and immediately rushed to save you, performing the heart transplant surgery..."Luana fell silent for a long while after George's account. So this was how she survived. She wasn't an orphan after all.She had a sister... A sister who had given her heart to save her.Yet, Luana still had many questions.She didn't understand why her sister had been fleeing with her abroad.And why, according to George, her sister was eager to end her life not just to save her but also to escape Dorian. What had happened between them that drove her sister to end her life to avoid him?Her face etched with confusion, Luana struggled to ask George, but he coul
When Luana heard the mechanical female voice again, she felt a wave of despair. Her tears flowed even more fiercely.She wanted to get up and rush back to them immediately, but she couldn't move at all...Dorian, seeing the urgency and despair in Luana's eyes, couldn't help and said, "You've been in a coma for two years. Maybe they've changed their phone numbers."His words kindled a flicker of hope in Luana. Yes, after being unconscious for so long, many things must have changed, and changing phone numbers was entirely possible.She forced herself to sit up, clinging to this hope, and asked Dorian again, "How... much longer... until I recover?"Dorian, casually playing with his phone, replied indifferently, "I'm not a doctor. How would I know?"Luana was taken aback by his words, tightly pursed her lips, and stopped bothering him.Dorian sat for a while, finding it dull, and got up to leave.That night, Luana's dreams were no
Dorian spoke slowly, "I respected her last wish. When you were sent to be cremated, I replaced you and transplanted her heart into your body. George said even with a new heart, you might not survive, but you did... Only... you survived, and she took your place, lying forever in the cold cemetery..."His eyes dimmed as he spoke, his entire being shrouded in sorrow.Luana was utterly confused, blinking to signal Dorian to continue.But Dorian fell silent. His gaze shifted to her heart area, a hint of regret surfacing in his eyes."Have you ever deeply loved someone?" he abruptly changed the subject, posing a strange question.This caused Luana to fall silent, her expression turning somber.She might have once, but when Cline let Runa answer her call on the day of her death, she had given up on that feeling entirely..."Was it the man named Albion?" Dorian asked further.Luana was startled, surprised that Dorian knew about Albion.
He set down the mirror, leaned back in the armchair, and propped his leg up, speaking with interest, "Luana, you're quite intriguing."Luana was taken aback. This man knew her name, indicating he knew her, yet she had no recollection of him. Who on earth was he?The man leaned forward slightly, his deep black eyes fixed intently on Luana's face. "Listen carefully, I am—"He paused, then his thin lips parted again. His clear voice reached Luana's ears, "Dorian Lamont."Dorian, Dorian... Luana searched her memory for this name but found nothing.She stared into his eyes, filled with confusion, eager to understand more.However, the man had no more to say. He rose and left the room.Shortly after he exited, a blonde, blue-eyed female caregiver entered.While assisting Luana in wiping her body, she chattered about something akin to a miracle, then left after cleaning up, without elaborating further.Once alone, Luana g
She quickly lowered her eyelashes, blocking out that scorching gaze.The man stared at her for a while, and upon noticing the flutter of her lashes, he confirmed she was truly awake.He straightened up, said nothing, and turned to leave, soon returning with an elderly man.The old man had golden hair and blue eyes, his head full of white hair. Dressed in a white suit, he looked spirited and elegant.The man led the elderly gentleman in, raised his slender finger, pointed at Luana on the bed, and asked with a frown, "George, how did she wake up?"George?Luana was taken aback. Eva had mentioned that Cline had contacted a renowned international heart specialist for her, and that expert was named George. Could this be him?George didn't respond to the man's question. Instead, he activated the medical equipment and began a full-body examination of Luana.His expression was focused, his eyes filled with disbelief.His reactio
Cline's face stiffened instantly. The body he had been barely holding together suddenly collapsed.Yes, Luana loved Albion, not him. What right did he have to stay here?He remembered how Luana had repeatedly asked him not to mess with her in the past...Since she despised him so much, if he didn't let Aibion be alone with her for a while, she would only hate him more.Thinking this, Cline slowly stood up and walked away without looking back.Calvert watched Cline's figure disappear, then turned back. He gently traced Luana's photo on the tombstone."Luana, forgive me for not telling him the truth—that you actually loved him... I just wanted to punish him for being so cruel to you... But please, don't blame me, okay?"With that, he kissed the tombstone one last time."Luana, I've passed the Coburn Group to my cousin and given all my personal assets to Clarissa. I... can come to stay with you now."Calvert took out