Hugo had just managed to send Lucian, that troublemaker, away after a lot of effort, and he was seething with anger. He asked, "Who got bitten by a snake? Lucian?" Calista didn’t know what to say. He sounded as if he was boasting. What was going on? Hugo probably realized he was being too crude, which wasn't appropriate since he was older. He cleared his throat and asked, "So, how is he doing now?" "Now, he can only stay in bed to recover," Calista got straight to the point. "Yesterday, it was sulfuric acid. Today, it was a venomous snake. Tomorrow, you might receive an invitation to my funeral." Hugo asked, "You're saying the snake was sent in a delivery box to Lucian?" Lucian might have deserved it if he got bitten because of his carelessness. "It was sent to the Stansend Manor. I don’t know who was the recipient, but since they sent it to the house, it's either his mother or his father." She recounted the key details of the incident. Hugo frowned, finding this situ
Calista dripped a few drops of perfume into the bathtub, listening to music while taking a bath. In the middle of it, Vivian sent her a message, inviting her to go shopping tomorrow. She glanced at the message and immediately blocked the number. She truly admired Vivian's audacity. She was willing to involve her father just to achieve her goals. Vivian had left the museum earlier looking upset, and within a few hours, she acted as if nothing had happened and invited her to go shopping.After finishing her bath, Calista dried her hair and applied moisturizing lotion. Selena prepared the nightgown she wore in Stansend Manor. It was designed to be alluring, seemingly not revealing, with all the right places covered, yet exposing.It was tantalizing and leaving much to the imagination. When Calista wore this outfit to go out, Lucian instantly felt himself getting aroused.His arousal was intense. The kind of arousal that made life seem unbearable. Although controlling himself in
He forced two words out, "Black Mamba." It was the only thing he could think of right now: a snake similar to the rat snake. Paul said, "You're quite lucky to be bitten by this snake, which is as famous as the Gaboon Viper. But isn't this snake supposed to be native overseas? How did it come to Capeton?" "I can’t explain the details." He felt hopeless and spat, "I'm hanging up." "Then rest well. Cade and I will come to see you tomorrow." After saying this, Paul bid Calista goodnight and hung up. Calista held her phone and looked down at him coldly. "What kind of snake was that?" It seemed he couldn't get away with not telling the truth about this.In a small voice, he said, "A rat snake." Calista looked it up online and chuckled coldly after seeing the description, "It shouldn't have bitten your leg." For the first time, he instantly understood her meaning. He didn't expect that this was the reason. Seeing Calista turn and walk towards the couch, he didn't dare t
On the second day, it was the weekend. Calista woke up naturally, and as soon as she opened her eyes, she felt something was off. She was being held in someone's arms, her back pressed against a warm embrace, with a man's arm around her waist. She was in a state where her body was awake, but her mind was still in a daze, so she didn't react immediately. She stared out the window for a while until something pressed against her lower back, and that's when she fully woke up. "Lucian, when did you sneak into bed?" she asked. "This morning," Lucian’s voice was husky from just waking up, sounding seductive. He continued, "The sofa was too small, and I fell off it." Calista didn’t respond. The sofa was just right for her but slightly small for Lucian. She was angry at him for lying, but after a night and his explanation, her anger had worn off. She was still concerned to hear he was in pain. Lucian answered honestly, "It hurts. Why don’t you take a look? Otherwise, you might
Macy had just delivered breakfast, and Lucian came downstairs. The slight injury on his leg didn't bother him as he walked without any limp, just a bit slower than usual, giving off an air of nonchalance. He sat at the dining table, drinking water, and asked, "Are we going back to Everglade Manor later?" "I have to work overtime." On Monday, there was a free appraisal event at the city museum. She was one of the invited appraisers, helping private collectors authenticate artifacts and teach them how to preserve them better.In the afternoon, everyone would have a meeting and have dinner together later. Lucian's face immediately fell, "It’s a weekend." "So that's why it's called overtime." After a moment of silence, Lucian asked, "How about having dinner together tonight?" "I can't. We have already made plans to have dinner with the seniors of the industry tonight. It's a matter of social obligation in our field. Even though I have more experience restoring artifacts, I'm
Vivian couldn't help but roll her eyes and ask, "What's in it for me if I do this? Even if I were to beat someone up, it would be Calista. Nikolette, we're all adults, not teenage girls in junior high. Can't we manage our frustrations through a conversation?" The thought of that incident infuriated her. NIkolette had wasted such a good opportunity like a fool. She should have started by mocking and taunting Calista before resorting to violence. She had to lure Calista in and then act as if she acted out in anger. But this fool seemed so afraid that people wouldn't understand her ulterior motives. She immediately went for the hair and ran away after pulling it. Vivian's friend was present at the time and sent her a video, nearly giving her a heart attack. At that time, she was in Apthon and needed someone to help her obtain Calista's DNA test sample. She had mentioned this to her before, so a stranger wouldn't work, as it would raise suspicion. She had two people in mind, Ya
Lucian wasn’t involved in political circles, but the business industry and politics were closely interconnected.He was well known around, especially in Capeton, where the network is vast and sprawling. It's hard to guarantee that someone won't recognize him. Then, they might recall her bold statements on Facebook initially. She might become famous in this field if they encounter someone who's had a few drinks and can't control their mouth. Calista took out her phone and sent him a message, "Park the car a bit farther." Lucian didn't reply, and there was no more smoke coming from the window. Calista was still somewhat worried, so she slipped out when others weren't paying attention. As soon as she left the restaurant, Lucian saw her in the rearview mirror. His hand rested on the window's up-and-down switch.Just as her face was about to be exposed, she took a step and stood by the car door. "Roll up the window." Lucian didn’t say a word. Though he didn't quite understan
The atmosphere turned quiet, and all eyes were on Calista, who was engrossed in her meal with her head down. Initially, some turned to look at Lucian, but it was clear he was also watching Calista, so they followed his gaze. Oh, no. She had been exposed. Calista laughed dryly under everyone’s curious gaze and said, "This is embarrassing." Lucian lowered his gaze, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips and a hint of amusement in his eyes. Now, those who had been wary of her going crazy after drinking had even less courage to offer her more alcohol.However, Calista had already drunk a lot earlier, and as time passed, the alcohol began to take effect. She rested her chin in her hand, her gaze unfocused, her face flushed, and her lips were rosy and moist. Although she was naturally beautiful, she appeared even more enchanting half-drunk. Even if she did nothing, she was a living, breathing work of art. Lucian’s eyes darkened as he sensed people stealing glances at he