Lucian had anticipated Calista’s reaction when she reached for the phone. He didn't move and allowed her to take her phone. Calista glanced at the screen. It was locked, with all her notifications unopened. Didn't he go through her phone? Wasn’t that why he had been staring at the screen all along? Calista asked displeasedly, "What are you doing here?" "You've taken over my bed. Where else should I be? Or are you disappointed that I didn't sleep with you?"It seemed Lucian had stayed up all night. His eyes were bloodshot, and his coat was casually thrown aside. He looked very rugged, wearing a shirt with a few buttons undone and trousers. Calista looked at him incredulously, "How can you be so shameless with a straight face?” She was implying why he slept on the couch instead of in another room. Who knows what he might have thought while staring at her face while she slept?She couldn't help but think this whole situation was creepy. Ignoring her sarcasm, Lucian asked,
The knocking sounded urgent, and the sound was deafening. It was so loud that it probably disturbed not only her neighbors but also others who lived a floor above and below. Calista rolled out of bed and quickly walked to the door. She pulled the door open exasperatedly. Outside, Nikolette was completely covered, so even her mother probably wouldn't recognize her. "What do you want?" Calista asked.She had been wondering how Nikolette had managed to get in, but now, she understood. Nikolette wore a janitor's uniform, and even Calista could barely recognize her. She had underestimated her indeed. "Sis, can you ask Lucian for help? Those people are being unreasonable. They found some random videos and posted them online."She tried to push past Calista's door and enter, but after several attempts, she gave up. Calista waited for her to finish speaking before responding slowly, "Why do you think I would help you? I think I’m kind enough to do nothing, given our current relat
Lucian’s attention was focused on the documents.Hearing this, he replied indifferently, "Lily, it’s all in the past." Lily’s eyes were red, and her lips were pale from biting them.She persisted, "I was your girlfriend for two years. I should have the right to know, right? When we were together back then, did you ever like me?" She had never asked this question before.Their relationship had started by accident. They often met to discuss preparations for the school dance, and the news of their relationship spread as they spent more time together. Later, someone teased them, asking if they were together. Lucian didn’t respond, probably due to his pride as a top student.He couldn’t bother to explain something so baseless. But to others, his lack of response meant it was true. So, Lily became his girlfriend as a matter of course. Lucian looked up and met her gaze. Unlike her, he was calm and composed."I ..." "There’s no need to explain yourself," Lily interrupted him and
Calista didn't continue to complain but instead threw a confused look at Paul. She doubted that he understood Lucian at all. She sighed and thought to herself, "Looks can be deceiving." Seeing Paul’s determination, she couldn’t bear to expose Lucian’s true character.Well, they had grown up together since childhood and were like brothers in blood. She didn't want to be the one to be the wedge between them. It was afternoon, and there was less traffic. It only took ten minutes to drive from the apartment to the mall. Since Paul had offered to drive her there, she didn’t want to seem ungrateful and simply dismiss him. After all, he wasn't her hired driver. Calista unbuckled her seatbelt and asked, "Do you want to go inside and take a look? Maybe help me pick something out?" She asked out of politeness, and it wasn’t a sincere invitation. She had no idea that Paul would immediately turn off the engine and agree. The two of them strolled from the first floor to the sixth f
Selena glanced at Lucian, whose mood had visibly soured, and said, "Even if you've heard something, it has nothing to do with you. Only answer when asked. Call me if it's about something you don't know. There’s no need for all the fuss." This wasn’t the first time Selena criticized Lucian after they got married.He sighed in resignation, furrowing his brows slightly, and replied, "We haven't even divorced yet. Besides, would the Baker family allow Paul to marry a divorced woman?" "Why wouldn't they allow it? They must be blind if they think Calista isn't up to their standards." Although she said so, Selena knew that this matter was challenging. The Baker family wasn't any family, and many wealthy young ladies in their social circle aspired to marry Paul.While Calista had her support, the fact that she had a history with Lucian couldn't be ignored. It seemed she would need to find an opportunity to gauge the Baker family's opinion. If there was no chance, she would have to pe
Jacob keenly sensed that something was amiss between the two of them and asked, "Who is this, Claude?" Calista turned around and was about to speak when she heard Lucian behind her say, "I am her husband. It's raining, and I've come to pick her up." He even pulled her into his arms as he spoke. "Yes, he's my husband."Calista's expression froze, and she forced a smile, saying, "He's a bit shameless, Mr. Xanders. I hope you don’t mind." Jacob chuckled at her words. "Don't be annoyed. He's just concerned about you. This place is not easy to find." This street was filled with such ancient and picturesque buildings, and the restaurant he had chosen wasn't popular. It wasn’t located on a busy street, so it was hard to find. Looking at Claude's reaction, she didn’t expect him to be here. This meant she hadn’t shared her location with him. It was evident that he cared a lot about her. Calista could only nod in agreement. After sending off Jacob, she immediately put on an anno
Calista was caught off guard until she saw the flats in the box. Only then did she realize Lucian’s intentions. In just a few seconds, Lucian had grabbed hold of her ankle. His palms were warm, and Calista could feel the heat through the thin fabric. She pulled her foot back uncomfortably and whispered, "I can do it myself." This would usually make people swoon in TV shows, but it felt awkward in real life, especially with two strangers watching them. She wished she could dig a hole and hide inside right then! And judging by the envy in their eyes, they probably found this moment incredibly sweet! Calista refused to admit it was her problem. It must be Lucian. He was too flawed. This romantic gesture felt out of character for him, making her feel weird. His head was lowered, and Calista could see his long and dense eyelashes, as well as the contours of his nose and jawline. He tightened his grip as she struggled and furrowed his eyebrows."Don’t move," Lucian said with a
Calista had been eager to see how thick-skinned Zachary could be to make up tall tales that could be debunked at a moment's notice. But the waiter pushed open the door. All three people inside turned to look at her …She smiled as she walked in and took her seat beside Lucian. She would've preferred to sit elsewhere but it was the only empty seat available."What were you discussing?" she asked.Lucian smirked."We were discussing your close bond with your sister and how you've spoiled her." The man was aware of Calista's family's circumstances. He knew when her mother had passed away and when her stepmother came into the picture.He also knew when Zeke had punished Calista for Nikolette's sake, down to what day she failed to show up at school. He knew every detail.The woman looked up to see Zachary throwing her nervous looks. He looked ready to answer for her. "Yes, we do have quite the bond. After all, it's been so many years and she's still up and kicking," she said plac
Fabian said, "Mr. Ackerman was taken away by the Office of Inspector General this morning. Madam Cameron and the Bark family are reportedly the ones responsible."The Carter Group hadn't broken any laws, nor had they been financially entangled with the Ackermans for over a decade. Still, the long-standing ties between the two families ran deep. If Victor Ackerman had skeletons in his closet, Cade would have a hard time avoiding the fallout.Cade propped his hand against his cheek. "What about my wife?""Madam Cameron…" Fabian had to steel himself to answer Cade. "Madam Cameron left the country. She applied for a long-term visa."Even with reporters hounding him, that sentence rang loud and clear in Cade's ears.A long silence stretched before he let out a quiet, bitter laugh.He had never realized how much Cameron had orchestrated behind his back. The Ackermans or the media could trip him up for now, but her betrayal cut deeper. Every move had been calculated.And the most absur
Cade crossed the room as Cameron, already seated, leaned her cheek against her hand, skimming the menu. "Want a drink?" she asked casually.His heart skipped a beat.Cameron's appearance radiated deliberate perfection. From her flawlessly styled hair and expertly applied makeup to her impeccable outfit and carefully chosen accessories, every detail was considered. Even her expensive "Allure" perfume hinted at a desire to captivate.A private dining room meant for couples with only spouses in each other's company…Given the setup, sharing a drink seemed like an implicit invitation.Cade pressed his lips into a line, trying to ignore the rising curve of a smile. "Sure," he replied, his tone deceptively even. "We'll start with two bottles of Magnolia's Pulpit," Cameron said.Cade choked on his water, coughing as he asked, "Seriously?"Who would start a date with such a strong distilled spirit? With two bottles, no less.Cameron propped up her chin and raised an eyebrow. "Is that
Cameron stared at her screen, where Gale had just sent a single word. "Ready." Her lips curled up involuntarily.Cade noticed the smile. He didn't know who she was messaging, but it irritated him for some reason. After a long pause, he exhaled slowly and asked, "What if the Ackermans refuse to settle?"Cameron didn't bother to answer. She knew Violet and Victor would soon be in hot water, so she hadn't considered the aftermath. However, to Cade, her silence only confirmed his assumptions—she was reckless, unprepared, and acting purely on emotion. He clenched his jaw and finally stopped holding his breath. Then, suddenly, he pulled the car over with a sharp twist of the wheel. "Did you think it through before turning yourself in? What if the psych evaluation comes back clean, and the Ackermans insist on pressing charges? What then? You hurt Mirabelle badly. You think you'll have it easy in prison with the way they dote on her?" In contrast to Cade's exasperation, Cameron remaine
With Cade covering Cameron's mouth, there was no chance for her pointed words to offend anyone in the room. His palm was cool to the touch. It was a sensation she disliked. So, she couldn't help but tilt her head.When Cade noticed her movements, he gently stroked her cheek as if he were calming a child who was throwing a tantrum.Victor spent years in a position of authority, giving him an air of unspoken authority. His gaze hardened, and his lips pressed into a firm line as he watched Cade. "Cade, don't jeopardize the long-standing relationship between our families over a woman.""If that's how you see it." Cade glanced at the door. "Aren't you doing the same for a woman?"Victor snorted contemptuously. "How can a cheap girl who was merely adopted be worth anything compared to Mirabelle?""How is my daughter, a Yorksworth, worth any less than yours?" Blaire stood at the doorway as she took in the occupants of the home with her sharp gaze. She had been feeling restless ever sin
Mirabelle frowned. "Excuse me?"As soon as she finished speaking, Cameron walked up to her, grabbed her by her hair, and forcefully bent her over.Cameron held up the guest list Monica had sent her and shoved it in Mirabelle's face. "Call them. Tell them to be there by 3:00 p.m., or else…"She tightened her grip threateningly. "You can kiss this head of hair goodbye."Mirabelle pressed down on her scalp where it had been pulled, her voice distorted with pain when she spoke."Let go, Cameron! Are you out of your mind?""Didn't I tell you not to involve anyone else in our feud?""Can't take it anymore?"Mirabelle endured the pain of turning her head to flash a disdainful sneer at Cameron."This is just the appetizer. If you go against me, you'll eventually crawl out of Capeton with your tail between your legs. I'll call your business partner right now and pin the catastrophic failure of this event on you…"Seeing Mirabelle's condescending expression brought Cameron back to the
The kiss lifted the dark cloud that hung over Cade's mood over the past few days.The next day, as Fabian brought in documents for him to sign, Cade asked, "When is Cameron's show?"Fabian was taken aback for a split second but quickly replied. Fortunately, he was well-prepared and kept track of Cameron's events for the year in advance."Has the invitation been delivered?"Fabian swallowed, almost wanting to laugh to mock Cade. Given Cade's strained relationship with his wife, Cameron would sooner invite a dog than have him around. However, all Fabian could do was revel in Cade's misery in his mind while keeping a businesslike facade."It was probably already delivered. The front desk brought in a stack of mail yesterday. I haven't sorted it out yet."He had already sorted out the mail this morning. Everything had gone straight to the trash."Clear my schedule for the day. Make reservations at a restaurant for a celebratory dinner.""Yes, sir."On the day of the show, Monica
That was obviously an excuse to get Cade out of the picture. Knowing what Mirabelle had done to Cameron in the past, leaving the two of them alone was out of the question. Besides, it wasn't convenient for him to move the car, so he refused without a second thought."Get the attendant—"However, Cameron cut him off before he could finish."Ms. Ackerman is a guest. You should fulfill her requests if she has any."Cade cast her a cold glance. "Shut up." Why should he dance to Mirabelle's tune?Cameron stared at him. "Run along."He gritted his teeth as rage crossed his face. After a brief pause, he sneered and turned to leave. As soon as the door shut behind him, Mirabelle's calm expression slipped. "Did you make me come here just to show off how much you two love each other?""You call that love? I think we have different definitions of what 'love' is then. He's nothing more than…" Cameron's fingers lightly traced the cup's rim as she smirked and said, "A lap dog.""You fu
Cameron crossed her arms over her chest and gave the bouquet in Cade's hands a nonchalant glance."What are you trying to pull, Mr. Carter?""Fabian said it was Women's Day today.""So what?"There was silence all around. The sound of soothing music could be heard through the door. Cade was silent for a while. "We're not getting a divorce, Cameron."It was the same old topic that Cameron had grown too weary of. She turned around and felt for the cigarette box on the table. There was already a layer of cigarette butts in the ashtray next to it. Judging by the color of the lipstick marks, more than half of them were hers.Cade frowned. He clearly disapproved of her smoking but kept himself from stopping her.Smoke curled from between her lips. The flickering embers of the cigarette reflected in her eyes, softening her indifferent gaze. Through the thin haze, Cameron's lips curled into a wide, unrestrained smile. Every time she smiled in this way, it always filled Cade with a
Cade began unbuckling his belt as he spoke. When it came to this sort of thing, men often had a strong sense of competition, especially in the presence of a woman they were interested in."Such a dark atmosphere isn't right for our situation."Cameron didn't like him to begin. In such a dark atmosphere, there was no telling what kind of grotesque creature she might imagine him to be. It would be strange if she felt attraction for him.She leveled a steady stare at him. Cade's shirt was half undone, showing his tense muscles underneath. Under the influence of alcohol, his skin took on a faint reddish hue. There was a heart-pounding tension in the air as if something was about to ignite. Occasionally, his slightly heavy breaths could be heard."You haven't been working out recently, have you?" Cameron asked.Cade was confused.Cameron pressed her hand against his chest, right below his ribs, and gave it a little push. After a moment, she commented, "Your muscles are a little soft