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
Calista was unaware of the fate of the invitation letter. On the day of the party, Yara came to pick her up."Here's the deal for the party. We're gonna have a two-minute blackout. During that time, just give Jordan a friendly push into the pool and discreetly touch his butt to see if there's a scar. If he's not Lucian, no worries – it's dark, and he won't notice who pushed him."Calista hesitated and replied, "His scar is flat and not tactile. You can only spot it."Yara shrugged."Oh, then forget it. Don't go into the water. Find a chance to get him into a room and remove his pants.""Is the party that wild?"Calista had never attended one and was starting to feel a bit apprehensive. Her original plan was simply to obtain a hair from Jordan, and she hadn't anticipated getting involved in the festivities."Some go wild, some don't. The guests are divided into two groups: those rocking swimwear to take a dip and those without who prefer to stay out of the water. You don't need t
The two stood face to face, and Calista noticed a faint cologne on Jordan, contrasting Lucian's natural sandalwood scent emanating from his incense-infused wardrobe. Lucian had never used a cologne.Calista looked up and found herself meeting Jordan's gaze, who was standing taller. As Calista studied Jordan closely, she couldn't help but gasp at how much Jordan looked like Lucian.The similarity was remarkable, aside from their differences in style or attitude. She reached out to brush aside the hair covering his forehead, but Jordan firmly held her hand before she could make contact."I'm Jordan, Ms. Everhart," he retorted in a deep, husky voice.Calista's affectionate gaze transformed into sadness as she heard his response. Her once radiant eyes now appeared clouded, imbuing her expression with a hint of loss and desolation."I get that I share a certain resemblance with the late Mr. Northwood, and it's understandable for you to confuse me for him, Ms. Everhart. But I'm not Luci
Worried that Calista might refuse, the male model added, "The organizers mentioned that the more connections you establish today, the greater the potential rewards. There's even a chance to win an overseas trip!"Despite their similar height, Jordan exuded an air of superiority with his presence alone.Jordan sneered, "I'd rather not. I stay informed with the news, and I'm well aware of the risks of human trafficking. If you're up for it and have extra lives to spare, go ahead."Calista was at a loss for words. Meanwhile, the male model sized up Jordan, examining him from head to toe. He then fixated on Jordan's midsection before hurling an insult at him."Ms. Everhart, I've got my reservations about this guy. He doesn't seem all that reliable, and I don't think he's hitting the gym anytime soon.""Chilling with him might not give you the best sense of security. If things get dicey and you find yourself in a tough spot, you might just end up being the one on the frontlines, playin
Timothy loosened his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt. His long fingers slid sensually along his sexy Adam's apple, leaving Yara unable to resist a throat-clearing reaction.With a physique like his, it was clear that a physical interaction would be enjoyable. Yara couldn't resist the urge to reach out and touch Timothy.She started to ponder whether the size of his manhood correlated with his height.Suddenly, Yara realized her mind had wandered into inappropriate territory. Without hesitation, she gently tapped her forehead and snapped back into reality."Mr. Howard, you mentioned wanting to kill someone. I'm on board, but please don't seduce me. I'm worried I might end up doing something crazy," she pleaded.Yara's gaze lingered on Timothy's elegantly sculpted collarbone and felt somewhat flustered."I'm close to making a terrible mistake. Please stop trying to seduce me," she muttered.Timothy hesitated and started buttoning his shirt."I was just feeling warm, and your
Jordan sat with his eyes closed in Lancaster Group, one hand pressed against his forehead, his brow furrowed, clearly in discomfort.The office door swung open gently, and a man approached, his footsteps muffled by the carpet, creating a subtle rustling sound.Jordan heard the soft footsteps and stopped rubbing his forehead. He opened his eyes slowly and fixed his gaze on the door. His facial expression was stern yet welcoming."What brought you here?" Jordan asked."I heard about Oliver's accident, the fall down the stairs that left him with a broken leg. I was concerned that there might not be anyone to look after you, and you could end up pushing yourself too hard," Kyros spoke with a concerned tone.He noticed Jordan rubbing his forehead and asked, "Are you having another headache?"Kyros possessed a slim, attractive physique and exceptionally fair skin that gave the impression that he hadn't seen the sun in years.He exuded the energy of a young man in their twenties, and h
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