“Yes, Mrs. Mallory.” The maid immediately went to prepare.After a while, Madam Mallory carried a tray and walked toward Old Master Mallory’s bedroom door. She knocked on the door. The old master’s voice came from inside the room. “Who is it?”“Father, it’s me,” said Madam Mallory in a soft voice. “Mr. Bennett said that you haven’t eaten anything today. I made supper for you.”“I’m not eating. You can have it.” Old Master Mallory did not open the door. His voice that came from the room sounded stiff.Madam Mallory heard the old master’s voice and knew he was still in a rage."Father, let's talk." She stood outside the door, pleading. Even if she was able to deal with Pierre's matter without the old master's help, it would take some time for her to settle it.Pierre would not be able to be patient and wait that long.Besides, this matter could not be delayed for too long either.Madam Mallory stood there, waiting for Old Master Mallory to say something.“Come in.” After a while
“Yes, Old Master Mallory.” Mr. Bennett looked down and answered, but he secretly thought that it was still a little difficult to find out where Pierre was.Pierre knew too many scumbags. Besides, there were a few hiding places for him to hide. They might not be able to find him at all.However, when Mr. Bennett saw how desperate Old Master Mallory was to find Pierre and seeing that he had no other instructions, he asked in a low voice, “Old Master Mallory, is there anything else I need to do?”Old Master Mallory replied with a long face, “No, you may leave.”“Okay, Old Master Mallory. Call me if you need anything.” Mr. Bennett looked down and left the room.After leaving Old Master Mallory's bedroom, Mr. Bennett picked up his phone and did what he was told. He informed those men to continue looking for Pierre. Mr. Bennett did think that Pierre might be hiding in one of his friends’ places. That was why he sent some of the men there.However, it was not that easy to find out whe
“Don’t let her have the chance to tell others about this.” Pierre knew what Oswald was thinking about. He did not think of stopping him.Now, Ms. Malone already knew about Pierre's secret. There was no way he would let her go. This was to prevent her from telling the police that he was here.Ms. Malone could not be trusted. She was not one of his trustworthy subordinates. “Got it, Mr. Pierre.” Oswald handed another plastic bag to Pierre and said, “Mr. Pierre, this is the cash we found at the finance department in your office. Look…”“Take it. I’m staying at your place now, and I’ll be having my meals here. I’ll leave everything to you to arrange. I can’t turn on my phone at the moment, and I can’t use my credit cards either. I’ll need you to pay for me.” After that, Pierre lay down on the sofa.Oswald responded, “Okay, Mr. Pierre. I’ll ask someone to clean up a room for you. I’ll make sure the room’s clean and tidy so that you can have a comfortable stay.”Pierre waved his hand
Vivian’s face reddened as she felt embarrassed for receiving such a compliment from Luca. She said, “Hey, you’re exaggerating it. How am I pretty with these looks…”“Beauty is confidence. Come on. Stand up straight. Be confident.” Luca patted Vivian’s shoulders, signaling her to stand tall.Vivian stood straight.“Vivian, did you realize your skin condition has improved after coming to A City…” Luca sized her up and suddenly said this to her.Vivian touched her face and asked, “Is that so? It’s probably because I have makeup on.”“No. I’m looking at the skin on your neck and hands.” Luca pointed at Vivian’s neck. Vivian had not put on her scarf since they were not going out yet. She could see that Vivian’s skin was fairer and more hydrated than before."Really? I didn't notice that." Vivian stood in the foyer and looked at herself in the mirror for some time. Still, she did not notice that her skin had become fairer. “You’ve been looking at yourself in the mirror all day. Of c
"My friend will contact me if anything happens. Don't worry about it." Luca pushed the dormitory's door open and walked into it arm-in-arm with Vivian.It was a twin dormitory room for postgraduate students.Vivian’s roommate had yet to arrive.Luca closed the door behind them without bothering about how awkward the expression on the male student's face was.Vivian smiled and said, “He has a thing for you!”“Is that even considered as having feelings for me?” Luca frowned and refuted, “He only wants me to be one of his backups.”“You’re pretty,” said Vivian. Luca carried her years well. Hence, it was normal for guys to be interested in her. “I’m getting on in years,” replied Luca. At the same time, she secretly muttered that she was also a mother of four kids."You look like a college student. That's why he's interested in you. It's understandable," said Vivian as she looked at the bunk bed in the dormitory. She was a little worried that her head would hit the ceiling when she
“I’m married, and I have kids.” What the male student said to her had already caught the attention of some students in the cafeteria. Luca felt awkward.The male student widened his eyes. He shook his head, refusing to believe what Luca said. “How’s that possible? You look so young. How could it be?”“Thank you for your compliment. But I’m married and I do have kids. Besides, I’ve been working for quite a long time. I’m not a student. My friend can testify for me.” Luca grabbed Vivian’s arm.The male student turned to look at Vivian, seeking proof.Vivian nodded and spoke in English with a stammer, “Yes. I can vouch for her. What she said is true.”The expression on the male student’s face changed. He dared not believe that the young woman in front of him was not a student and that she was married with children…The people around them were looking at him. Some of them were his classmates. The male student felt ashamed. He was in a hurry to save his dignity and said, “The universi
“Ms. Craw, have some tea.” The caretaker handed Luca a cup of warm tea.“Thank you.” Luca sat on the sofa, looking at the couple. They looked fine, and they did not look unwell.“Mr. Norman, Mrs. Norman, how do you feel today?” Luca asked caringly.“Great. We don’t feel dizzy anymore. Don’t worry.” Jack knew Luca was worried about them, so he quickly comforted her.“Glad to hear that. Did the doctor say anything?” Luca asked and turned to look at the caretaker at the same time.The caretaker replied, “The doctor gave Mr. and Mrs. Norman thorough physical examinations. The results are good. There’s no internal bleeding in the brain, and their bodies function well. It’s just that there are some bruises. They’ll be fine after resting for a while. It’s a fortune in misfortune.”Luca nodded. Jack and Queenie were not seriously injured because of the incident. It could have been worse.Then, Luca said, “Mr. Norman, Mrs. Norman, you’ll be able to get well soon.”“Yes. I think so too.
Leia's current behavior was a pain in the neck. The hospital was planning to improve the security of the VIP floor. The head nurse had complained to Jack before. Even the most difficult news reporter she met was not as difficult as Leia. The security guards and nurses on duty dared not to take her lightly. They were worried that they would accidentally let Leia slip into the ward.Johann even said that they would include Leia’s name in the hospital’s blacklist if they could.Queenie heaved a sigh and said, “That’s true…”Luca listened to their conversation. She suddenly felt sorry for them. Leia had gone over the top and done so many bad things. She did not deserve Queenie’s love! “Come on, stop sighing. She’s not young anymore. Besides, she gets an allowance every month. She’ll be fine.” Jack comforted her. Was Leia’s health not the reason why Queenie wanted to go home so badly? They could not let Leia know their condition now. That was why they could only stay in the h
Nina trembled when she was touched. Her whole body was shaking.Karen’s touch was icy cold, and when her hand fell on Nina’s face, it carried a chill.“Don’t hurt her!” Percy’s voice was hoarse, his anger barely concealed in his eyes.He was furious but kept reminding himself not to provoke Karen.“Hmph, look at how nervous you are.” Karen's patience wore thin. Without another word, she laid out her conditions. “If you want me to let her go, fine.”“What do you want me to do?” Percy knew the conditions she was about to propose would not be as simple as keeping her out of the psychiatric hospital.It could involve Pierre.Perhaps even the company.Even though Karen had spoken to him about the high hopes she had for him, Percy did not believe a word of it. To her, from beginning to end, the only person who mattered was Pierre.Percy was merely a tool to secure her position in the Mallory family.“See? You still care about this woman. You’ve disappointed me!” Karen glanced at Ni
“Mr. Mallory, I didn’t dare to go in. Nina and your mother are still inside.” After Sue realized that Nina might be in danger, she had been waiting outside, unwilling to leave.She had been planning to rush in with the other employees if she heard Nina scream.Percy's expression darkened. He did not blame Sue for the situation, so he did not say anything. Instead, he quickly walked to Nina’s office door and pushed it open.The sight before him sent a chill through his veins, as though his blood had turned to ice.“You're here?” Karen fixed her eerie gaze on the person who had opened the door. A strange, sinister smile curved at the corners of her lips. She stood behind Nina with a knife tightly gripped in her hand.The sharp blade was pressed against Nina’s neck, already leaving a faint red mark.Sue gasped at the sight and instantly lost her composure.Karen frowned in dissatisfaction, moving the knife slightly and muttering, “Why is there another woman here? Tell her to leave!
“'ll contact someone in A City to investigate,” said Gale.“Let Percy know while you're at it,” added Luke. “He needs to be aware of this.”“Got it.” Gale hurried off to handle the matter.…After taking Gale's call, Percy hung up and stared icily at the middle-aged man standing before him.Under Percy's chilling gaze, the man nervously dabbed at the sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief.“Mr. Mallory, my sincerest apologies…” The man, the director of the psychiatric hospital, had come to personally apologize to Percy today.Karen had escaped.Two days ago, Percy admitted Karen to the psychiatric hospital. After an evaluation, the doctors determined her condition warranted hospitalization, so she was admitted.Even though Karen was against it, given her mental state and with the consent of an immediate family member, the hospital was legally authorized to proceed.Percy had even informed the hospital to take special care of Karen. He had explicitly instructed them not to
When she opened her eyes again, the sky outside had already darkened slightly.Luca mumbled, feeling the warmth beside her. She instinctively curled closer. “What time is it?”“It's a little past five.” Luke gently rubbed her back, offering a quiet comfort to help her feel at ease.Since he could not be there beside her, he could only make these small gestures to bring her some peace of mind.“An entire afternoon just passed like that…” Luca was reluctant to leave at the moment. Her slender fingers lightly pressed against his chest.Luke took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips for a soft kiss, holding it as if it were something precious and tenderly stroking it.Luca's hands had once been delicate and smooth, but during their time in the small villa, they had become much rougher.“You've got calluses.” Luke felt sorry for her.Luca gently traced her finger over his lips, leaning in to plant a soft kiss on him. “It’s just from the needlework and the experiments I’ve been d
Luca walked over to another couch and sat down. “I think I’ll stay here. How about letting Luke come down so that we can all catch up? It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”Gordan’s face fell. “Ms. Craw, are you doing this on purpose?”Luca pretended not to know anything. “Doing what on purpose?”Gordan quickly shook his head. “Nothing. Just go upstairs already. Brother Luke’s been waiting for you.”Luca had intended to tease Gordan a little longer, but after not seeing Luke for the past few days, she found herself missing him deeply. Standing up with a smile, she said, “Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Oh, by the way, Mr. Gale, could you help me pick up a few things? Someone over there asked me to get them, and I couldn’t refuse.”“Sure, no problem. What do you need?” Gale agreed immediately.After handing him the list, Luca turned and headed upstairs.Gale watched Luca leave from behind, nudging Gordan’s arm. “Let’s go. We should leave and give the boss and Ms. Cr
The security guard remained completely unfazed.This was because the village chief was his uncle, and in their tight-knit community, they always stuck together and never favored outsiders.With directions from the people inside the ancestral hall, Hera found the village chief.“You’re the village chief, right?” Hera looked at the man in his fifties in front of her and spoke with an arrogant tone, completely unbothered.“And you are?” The village chief, seeing her attitude, was puzzled. He had no idea whether she was an investor or someone looking to discuss a major partnership to bring development to their quiet village.“It doesn’t matter who I am. I see you have surveillance here, and I need to review your footage,” replied Hera.The village chief was even more confused. “Are you a police officer?”“No.” Hera frowned. She thought reviewing surveillance footage was no big deal. Why was this village chief being so difficult?The village chief gave her a look as if she were a fo
“Wait a little longer. By the way, what kind of ancestral hall is this?” asked Hera.“It's a local family's ancestral hall. I heard it's been designed by the owner of a large company, and now it's also one of the tourist attractions.” The taxi driver was not from around here, so he did not know all the details, but he knew it had become a popular spot. “Now, thanks to the reputation of that boss, many architects come here as one of their reference points.”Hera frowned deeper. What was Luca doing here?The driver suggested, “If you're interested in sightseeing, the attractions inside are pretty good. But for outsiders, they charge an entrance fee. Maintenance costs a lot of money, so they charge tourists from outside.”“I'm not here for sightseeing,” replied Hera, “Don't worry. I'll pay you for however long I stay here. You’ll get your money.”The driver heard that she was paying, and did not press her further and remained quiet.Hera stared at the entrance of the ancestral hall,
Hera let out a cold sneer, feeling that Gerald's apology was not sincere.Hera did not want to press the issue at the moment. She gave him a sharp look. “Come with me.”Gerald knew that Hera was up to something again. If it were a normal order, she would have just said it in the living room. Whenever she called him aside, it meant whatever she had to say could not be overheard by others.Reluctantly, Gerald followed her out.It was midday, and as soon as Hera stepped out of the living room, a wave of heat hit her face.The intense warmth made her feel uncomfortable.Hera got straight to the point, turning to Gerald. “What did Luca say to you just now?”“She just asked me to help keep an eye on the volunteer,” Gerald answered honestly. This was not something that needed to be kept secret.Hera frowned. “Is she going out”Gerald hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to say anything.“I’m talking to you, not the wall. Are you mute?” Hera threatened. “If you lie to me, I’ll te
Gordan was puzzled. At most, it was just brotherly camaraderie. After all, they had been through thick and thin together. Their bond might be stronger than usual, but falling in love? That was a bit of a stretch.Luke said, “The way you acted just now, doesn't really seem 'straight' to me. Also, if you're into women, maybe you should consider finding one. Otherwise, if you're always single, people might start misinterpreting your feelings for me.”“Luke, actually, you're not bad at all. In fact, you're probably better than a lot of women,” Gordan replied with a sly grin.As a man himself, he honestly thought Luke was a great guy. If he were a woman, he would be utterly captivated by him.“Shut up!” Luke knew he was joking, but he still felt a chill run down his spine. He seriously worried that Gordan might do something inappropriate when he turned his back on him.Shivering from the thought, Luke put down his glass and headed upstairs.Gordan let out a deep sigh.The night w