“I did not…” Bianca’s first reaction was to deny it.“You dare lie to my face? If you didn’t, who was the person lurking behind the walls whenever she had a free period looking out at the playground of the high school next door foolishly?” Claudia talked about the past without restraint.Bianca still remembered her high school experience. She had always stared foolishly at beautiful sceneries and people for long periods. When she was in middle school, the person she had stared at the most was upperclassman Crawford from the high school next door.Claudia assumed that Bianca was perhaps embarrassed now, so she continued, “He was finer than a frog’s hair! And cute as a bug! Who wouldn’t have a crush on him? Is there anything to be embarrassed about?”Bianca coughed, and her face started to burn up.Subconsciously, upperclassman Crawford’s face in her mind had morphed into Luke Crawford’s.It was said that Luke also had a brother named Louis, and the two brothers had similarities
Kevin had a headache all night after returning home.Jennifer turned the entire house upside down, looking for the contract papers.After searching for a long time, she muttered to Marie, “Kevin’s playing tricks with me. Why the hell is he not dead yet!”“What are you on about? Can we still get the compensation for demolition if he’s dead right now? It’s hundreds of thousands! You’ve never seen that much money in your lifetime.” Marie helped her mother out and frowned. She whispered, “If he’s gonna die, he should hold it until we get our hands on that money.”“This is all your fault that I have to live in this sort of difficult life with him.” Jennifer moved a stool and looked for it on the top of the shoe cabinet.An hour had passed, and the mother and daughter’s search ended in vain.Jennifer disdainfully went into the bedroom and made sure that Kevin was asleep before coming out. Then, she went to the dining area to eat the takeaway her daughter ordered.As they munched on th
Bianca opened her teary eyes. Her cheeks were slightly red as she looked at the man before her in confusion.Luke’s abstruse eyes were brimming with passion as he stared deep into her. They were relatively speechless for a while. He did not know what was in her mind, so he had to wrap himself in her once again. Bianca opened her eyes as she was fully immersed in the man’s confusing kiss.She could see his tall nose and his deep brow bone that was different from other ordinary men. In the shadows under the night, his intoxicating delicate features did not seem real.The back of her head was held by the man’s big hand, and her lower jaw was lifted. The man’s fiery kiss spread from her lips to her neck and onto her collarbone…“Mmm…” Bianca was forced to look up and cater to him.The man’s wet lips were printed on her skin as he continued caressing her.The sense of erotism between them was gradually getting stronger.Bianca had minimal experience, especially in terms of kissing.
The moment Bianca uttered out the words’ blind date’, she was not surprised to see that the man’s furrowed brows had gone even more profound. It even became slightly terrifying.“Let go of me, there’s no point in this or for you to continue pestering me!”The words she said were not for Luke, but it was for herself to hear.Luke swiftly widened his eyes, and a sense of serene filled inside.Bianca was pillowed with the man’s legs. She pursed her lips tightly as she held her breath, barely breathing.After an unknown period, the man’s hand on her waist suddenly loosened. And the other hand holding her wrist was also untightened…She was let go.Bianca was finally free, but there was neither happiness nor discomfort written on her face.She got up to tidy up for a bit and picked up her bag.When she opened the door again to get out of the car, the man swooped jealously and dragged her back. Then, he threw her onto the passenger seat.“Why are you wearing so little for a blind d
Ten minutes later…"I, I can't do it," Bianca said in astonishment with her eyes wide.Luke pressed his body against hers, his sexy thin lips pressed against her delicate and tender lips slightly. His lips brushed against hers without going fully onto it. She was so scared that her eyelashes trembled with fear as she waited for the final penetration in one go."I… I..." She closed her eyes and said, "I, I can do it... Don't you..."Luke looked at her heaving chest before he got up and sat back in the driver's seat.The man rolled down the window and lit a cigarette as if he had done it a thousand times. He squinted his eyes and took a puff. He lifted his slender finger that was holding the cigarette and pressed against his painful temple.Luke was willing to wait until she was ready to kiss him.After being alive for twenty-nine years, the love affairs he had been in far exceeded the number of hotels she had stayed in. However, he had never let it go to his head and do whatever
"I’m not really looking for anything specific in a partner."She just wanted to end the blind date as soon as she could.She felt even more stressed with Luke sitting on the other side like a guardian angel."You don’t have any prerequisites? Let me tell you about my situation, then." At that moment, Leon's cell phone next to his coffee cup rang."Sorry, I have to answer this call."After Leon said that, he stood up.Bianca breathed a sigh of relief.However, she still did not dare to move in case she accidentally looked at the other man next to her.Luke did not move much either. He just looked at the newspaper and occasionally took a sip of the bitter coffee.The caller ID said, “Aunt Allison".Leon answered the phone."Leo, how’s the blind date going?" Allison asked anxiously and wanted to know the decision as soon as possible.Leon glanced at Bianca who was sitting alone in the distance, and said unbearably, "Aunt Allison, this girl looks very good and I don't want to h
Bianca raised her head and looked at Luke with her eyes unblinking.After a long time, it felt as if time had stopped. She had barely returned to normal and the unspeakable emotions still aroused her to the edge.Under her long and trembling eyelashes, they were eyes brimming with tears.Luke Crawford was upperclassman Crawford.The doubts in her heart in the past were completely different from the true testimony before her eyes.The man had changed a lot throughout the years ago, but so had she…Fortunately, many years had passed. From their schoolyard to working society, from the loose and spacious school uniforms to professional workwear. After all this time, she still met the man who had a special place in her heart.Sadly, when she left high school, her life was not a smooth sail and she had to get her hands dirty.When they were face to face, Bianca remembered the hot kiss that they shared in the car just a while ago. Suddenly, a strong and ardent emotion surged up in her
Bianca could not listen to the story anymore."I need to go to the bathroom." She put down the cup and got up.She admitted it! She was envious. She was jealous.In the last twenty-four years, she had been unhappy ever since she found out how life was. She did not know what made her happy. When she was a kid, all her meals were cold. She was bullied by kids when she was a kid, and then mocked and scolded by her high school classmates.She knew from a young age that she would not have what others were born with.Such as a mother.If it was something that others had to beg and work hard for it, she knew she could never have.Like Luke Crawford. Finally, she became an adult and reached the age that everyone said was liberating. However, she never felt the freedom nor the happiness. All she had was just the cruel shackles of reality.‘Bianca, you must’ve been a sinner in your past life.‘That’s why you had to exhaust all your strength to redeem the sins of your past lives in thi
After signing the agreement, Karen eagerly handed it over to the man she believed to be the lawyer.The moment the doctor took the shares transfer agreement, a syringe containing anesthesia slipped from his sleeve and was swiftly injected into Karen’s hand.“You...” Karen felt a sharp sting, but before she could speak, her consciousness faded.At the same time, the knife in her hand clattered to the floor.The doctor quickly steadied her to prevent her from hitting her head when she collapsed.“Luckily, the dose was strong enough, or she wouldn’t have been knocked out so quickly.” He gently laid her down, checked to make sure she was unconscious, and then hurried out of the office to notify the hospital director.Percy quickly stepped forward, gently lifting Nina’s chin to examine her wound.“I’m fine,” Nina said in a soft voice, lowering her head to hide the injury on her neck.“Let me take a look at you,” Percy insisted, gently lifting her chin again. After checking, he added
“Mr. Mallory, won’t you feel guilty if something happens to Nina?” Sue did not understand why he refused to call the police.“It won’t happen.” Percy furrowed his brows as his mind raced to find a solution.Sue was even more confused. “Just because you say it won’t happen, does that mean it won’t? Yes, Madam Mallory is your mother, but Nina is also your wife. If your mother harms your wife, shouldn’t you call the police? Instead of doing that, you’re leaving her in this dangerous situation. I honestly feel sorry for Nina.”Sue had always been straightforward. She thought Percy would protect Nina for life, but seeing him defend Karen at the cost of his wife’s safety, she was deeply disappointed.She felt she was in no position to feel sorry for Nina, but she could not understand Percy’s actions.Percy furrowed his brows. Calling the police was not an option.The Mallory family could not afford this kind of turmoil.If Old Master Mallory found out that he handed his mother over to
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,