With Henry falling ill, Calista was forced to hurry back to Capeton. She coincidentally ran into Paul at the doorway to the ward. The man had just visited Henry.He looked visibly fatigued from searching for Lucian. His gaze on her, however, remained gentle."Uncle Henry is asleep, Calista."Calista's arm fell to her side. She decided not to knock on the door."Oh. I'll come back in the afternoon then.""Uncle Henry barely slept in the past two days. He might be out cold for a while. You don't look too well either. Why don't I drive you home so you can get some rest.""I'm fine."Calista tucked her hair behind her ear."I'll rest in a hotel nearby. Traveling back and forth is a little too tiring."She walked toward the elevator while speaking. She didn't seem to notice that Paul wasn't following her.Paul called out to her, "Calista.""Hm?" She turned around to see Paul still standing in place."Lucian will be back. He has undergone a lot of training in the mountains and
Colette's birthday party took place at a farmhouse resort. It was a moderately scaled event that was neither extravagant nor shabby. To facilitate interactions, the event was organized in a banquet format.David briefed Calista about the situation and Jordan Lancaster's background. "Mr. Lancaster is a mysterious man. It's said that only a few people in high society have seen him. Most matters are handled by his assistant, Oliver Harris.""The Lancaster family? The one that used to seek loans worldwide to finance a project?"Calista, who had been catching up on business affairs in the last three months, had heard of them through finance news. The news portal was her only form of entertainment."Yes, Madam Calista. That's the one. I heard Mr. Lancaster isn't an easy person to get along with. If he says anything unpleasant, please keep yourself calm. You're pregnant after all. If anything happens to you, Mr. and Mrs. Northwood will kill me …"She was rendered speechless. She had cl
Jordan glanced at Oliver and took the handkerchief from him.David had been by Lucian's side for years. He knew of his employer's tics. Lucian liked cleanliness, but he wasn't so obsessed with it to the extent of being unable to tolerate someone's touch.David felt a lump form in his throat as he watched Jordan meticulously wipe down the hand that Calista had held. The man standing before them looked a lot like Lucian. But, his style and the way he held himself were completely different.Calista was at a loss for words. Her mind was in shambles. She didn't stop Jordan from leaving.He was the youngest son of the Lancaster family—the Northwood Corporation's competitor. She wasn't concerned about him disappearing once again. She had to go home to ask if Lucian had any brothers. The resemblance between the two was too striking to be a coincidence. Jordan walked to the door and glanced back at the hall for a long while. Oliver followed his gaze, which landed on Calista's belly.
The Lancaster Group's office building was a little out of the way. It was a place they rented.Their old stomping grounds back in the central business district had become unsustainable a year ago and had been sold off. There was now only one cafe downstairs.Calista looked up and immediately spotted Jordan sitting by the window. At least she wouldn't have to go searching for him. Oliver was also around."Ms. Everhart."She nodded and sat down across from Jordan. She casually set her shopping bags aside. Jordan glanced at his watch and then at the logo on the bag. It was a men's clothing brand."It seems you're not paying much attention to the competitive tender, Ms. Everhart. How do you still have time to go shopping?"He tapped his fingers against the surface."You're late."Calista had gotten here from the Northwood Corporation as quickly as she could."I apologize. I happened to be at the mall. It's just a casual thing, really …"Addressing him as "Mr. Lancaster" felt a li
David waited until Jordan left before making his way upstairs. Earlier, Calista had asked David to wait downstairs, so he spent the time in his car."Madam Calista, Mr. Lancaster didn't look too pleased when he left. Did you say something that upset him?" David asked.Calista appeared tired as she remained seated. The waiter had tidied up the once messy table."Why would he be upset? I came here to end the long-standing feud between the two families and even gave him a small gift as a goodwill gesture. He probably didn't expect it and must be thrilled."David remained silent, not convinced by Calista's explanation.Suddenly, he broke the silence and asked, "So, what's Mr. Lancaster's stance on the bidding?"Calista replied, "He's committed to seeing it through."David looked at her with a questioning gaze and continued, "Are you certain that Mr. Lancaster and Mr. Northwood aren't the same? Even though they had different vibes, styles, and ways of doing things, Mr. Lancaster seem
Calista recognized the voice, having heard it earlier that afternoon. She was confident it belonged to Jordan."Jordan?"Calista focused on the direction of the sound and called out. Moments later, a man wearing casual, light-colored clothing and sporting a stylish heart-shaped fringe appeared from around the corner.Amidst the gentle glow of soft lighting, his delicate features became even more pronounced. The man was undoubtedly Jordan.While Calista remained uncertain whether Jordan was truly Lucian, his appearance no longer startled her.Meanwhile, Paul, meeting Jordan for the first time, couldn't conceal his astonishment and blurted out, 'Lucian?'Jordan nodded and extended a polite hand to Paul."Mr. Baker, I'm Jordan Lancaster. It's a pleasure to meet you.""Jordan Lancaster?"Paul was puzzled. He had heard of this name, who had suddenly gained prominence in the thriving realm of Capeton's business, seemingly from nowhere.However, the mysterious man remained shrouded
After parting ways with Paul, Jordan left La Boucherie. Oliver occasionally glanced at Jordan's expression in the rearview mirror as he drove.Jordan had his eyes closed, his expression devoid of emotion, making it unclear whether he was asleep or simply lost in thought.In a probing tone, Oliver remarked, "Mr. Lancaster, today is Mr. Baker's birthday, right? The underwear Ms. Everhart bought should have been intended as a birthday gift for him."There was no immediate response from the back seat.After a while, Jordan slowly opened his eyes and retorted, "Do you give lingerie as a birthday gift to a woman without wrapping it? Are you a pervert?"Jordan's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, and he continued, "I'm not interested in Ms. Everhart.""Please get in touch with the folks from Northwood Corporation and inform them that we won't engage in any underhanded discussions about the bidding event. Let the best proposal win on its own merits. We're above playing these manipulati
Calista knew about the annual pool party held at the Oceanus Club. While it was marketed as a party, in reality, it served as a matchmaking event, with invitations extended to the sons of affluent families."So, I'm supposed to show up with an invitation and ask him to take a dip with me? He might get the wrong idea and think I'm some kind of creep with a thing for his body," Calista sighed.Yara remained determined and replied, "Why not? Just think about it. You might even score some eye candy. And hey, your main objective is to check out his scar, right?""Although it's a pool party, not everyone will be wearing swimwear. First, come up with a plausible excuse to lure him over, and when the opportunity strikes, give him a gentle nudge into the pool. That's your chance to peek at the scar on his butt. And if everything else fails, just go for it and touch it."Yara's elaborate plan dumbfounded Calista."Is that how you and Mr. Howard got together?"Yara, who hadn't rested well t
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
Cade tossed his phone onto the table in frustration when he saw who entered. He pressed his hand against his brow."Leave. You should see Diane for a work uniform.""Are you feeling unwell, Mr. Carter?" Rosalia approached the desk with a glass of milk in hand. "I learned how to give massages. Why don't I…" "Get out."Cade abruptly got to his feet and avoided Rosalia's outstretched hand, causing the milk to spill all over him. He glanced down at his now-stained shirt with a dark expression and pressed his lips tightly together. After a long pause, he asked through clenched teeth, "Did my wife ask you to send this up?" Every syllable was pronounced with the gnashing of teeth.Rosalia froze under his piercing gaze."It really was Mrs. Carter who asked me to bring it to you, sir," she stammered."Leave. From now on, you will not enter my study unless you have permission."Rosalia had come to work as a housekeeper to land herself a wealthy husband. She had even bribed the manager
On the next day, Cameron was discussing the fashion show with Monica when she suddenly heard a familiar voice from behind. "Cammie…" It was Blaire.Although Monica didn't fully know about Cameron's past, she didn't like Blaire at all. What kind of mother wouldn't protect their own child, after all?However, it wasn't appropriate for her to intervene as much even though she was Cameron's close friend. After all, it was Cameron's family matter.Monica stood up with her notebook in hand and said, "Well, I just remembered that there's still a few more invitations to send, so I'll go and take care of that. Let's discuss more about the fashion show later."After saying that, she glanced at Blaire and left without even greeting her.Cameron got up and nodded at Blaire. "Is something the matter?"She thought that her distant attitude last night had made it clear enough that she didn't want any more involvement with the Yorksworth family. She didn't expect that Blaire would come and loo
Cameron pushed the door open. She looked tired as she laid down her bag. As she changed her shoes, she caught sight of the food on the dining table out of the corner of her eye."Diane, didn't I tell you I wasn't coming back for dinner? Why did you make so much food?"Diane glanced upstairs. "It's for Mr. Carter. He hasn't eaten yet."The moment Cade was mentioned, Cameron dropped the topic. She rubbed her sore shoulder as she headed upstairs. "I see.""Madam…" Diane called out hesitantly, looking troubled. "Mr. Carter asked you to call him down for dinner when you got home.""Me? Call him down for dinner?" Cameron stopped in her tracks and turned around in confusion. "Why?""Mr. Carter seems to be upset. Did you two have another fight?""So If he's in a bad mood, I'm supposed to go upstairs and invite him down to eat? Should I also say 'Your meal is ready, my liege!' while I'm at it?" Cameron scoffed. Her sarcastic smirk quickly faded. "He can eat if he wants. If he doesn't,
Cameron replied, "Did I ever say that I was a good person?"She tilted her head slightly as she smiled. Her damp hair gathered to one side.From Cade's perspective, the first thing he noticed was her slender neck and collarbone, with large areas of her fair skin exposed, speckled with a few water droplets from her wet hair.He felt a searing, intense emotion rising in his chest. This was Cameron's room, so it was filled with her scent. Cade subconsciously clenched his fists.The effects of the alcohol finally hit him, overwhelming his senses and making his head feel heavy and muddled.Cameron pulled open the door and gestured in a "see-you-out" motion. "I'm not one to force myself to please others, so we can discuss about our relationship when you decide to get rid of Mirabelle."Cade responded, "Can't it be something else?""Like what?" Cameron's gaze lingered on him as if she was inspecting an item for sale. "Is there anything about you that could spark my interest?"Her wor