"I see. When I first saw you, I thought you were an art major. You give off an artistic vibe.”Lucy said to the security guard earnestly, “Sir, I may not be an art student, but I draw. I’m interning at a comic company.”Though, it was her own company…“I knew it!” the security guard exclaimed.Then, Lucy smoothly entered the university. She still had no idea how she managed to get in, but the security guard was such a kind man.Little did Lucy know that it was because of her baby face and innocent nature. She looked like she could be in her junior or senior year.Soon, Lucy started wandering aimlessly around campus.There was the little gazebo where she used to do all her homework, the grove where all the couples used to hang out, and the cafeteria…A gust of cold wind blew, causing Lucy to shiver. She looked down at her wet clothes and thought, ‘I should get a coat to shield myself from the wind.’She quickly entered a convenience store, and to her surprise, it had gotten a h
"Exercise more, eat lean meats, reduce snacking, and don’t stay up late!” Cillian said to Lucy seriously.Lucy smiled. She felt much better after getting her mood ruined by Matthew’s mother just now.“You’re hilarious. If it was that easy, I wouldn’t be asking you for your weight loss secret.”Her words made Cillian blush. “Oh, it’s our turn. You’re dripping wet, so you should go pay first.”Cillian was confused as to why she looked so disheveled, but Lucy nodded like it was nothing.The yellow dress she wore today was thick enough to not expose her too much even though it was wet. She was just a little cold.After settling the bill, Lucy put the coat on herself. It was a man's coat, so it was a bit big. However, it was at least big enough to keep her petite body warm.Cillian did not leave after she paid. He kept a proper distance from her while he smiled and joked with her.He had a gentleness about him. He maintained just the right distance from her so that she would not fee
The food was served promptly. As soon as Lucy tasted it, her eyes lit up. The food was seasoned to perfection, awakening her appetite that had been dormant for a long time.Cillian softened his gaze when he saw her eating happily. He did not expect to see her here again. It seemed like good things came to those who waited, after all.“Are you happy?”“Yes!” Lucy nodded happily with sauce around her lips.Cillian gave her a slight nod and took out a handkerchief from his pocket, handing it to her.Lucy took it, wiped her mouth, and looked at Cillian in surprise. “Not many people carry handkerchiefs around with them anymore, especially guys.“By the way, this handkerchief is beautiful! Where did you get it? I want one too.”Cillian smiled. He did not tell her that he made the handkerchief because of her. During freshman year, she used to carry a ladies’ handkerchief around every day. He had feelings for her at that time, so he made one.However, he was overweight and insecure at
However, the happiness on his face vanished. Instead, a look of disapproval appeared on his face. “How could he do that? You’re such a nice woman.”Lucy brushed it off. “It’s okay. He’s just a douche. I’m glad I’m not with him anymore. I have a new life now, so you don’t have to comfort me.”Cillian returned to a neutral expression. It was better for her to forget Timothy. There was no need for her to be thinking about her ex anyway.“I’m married now, so what can he do?”That was the sound of Cillian’s heart shattering.Cillian was stupefied. Fucking hell!Did Lucy just say that she was married?Did he hear that right? Lucy had a husband?He needed a moment.Cillian’s brain was still recovering from the shock. His new hope for love came crumbling down again.What the hell was this?Cillian’s features were twisted in frustration, causing Lucy to be concerned as she noticed his unusual expression.“What’s wrong?”Cillian immediately recomposed himself, but he was still hurti
Cillian was still stumbling over his words at first, but as he progressed, his thoughts became more concise. His words also flowed more smoothly.He told Lucy everything he thought of earlier. Of course, he excluded a lot of the details and just subtly hinted to help Lucy realize her worth.Listening to Cillain’s words, Lucy slowly regained her confidence. However, she soon hesitated again. “But his mother doesn’t like me because his family is really, really rich and um… really powerful.”Cillian raised his eyebrows and said, “How powerful could they be for you to say that? I remember your family being quite influential in the city too. If I’m not mistaken, they run their own company, right?”Lucy sighed and shook her head. “We’re not on the same level at all.”No way. Were they actually that powerful?Cillian’s eyes widened, but he did not say his thoughts out loud.Lucy explained to Cillian straightforwardly, “My husband’s company is ranked among the top ten companies in the w
Lucy gaped at Cillian without blinking. “Cillian, what makes you believe in me?“Even I don’t have much confidence in myself.”Cillian smiled sheepishly. “That’s because you were part of the culture committee when you were a freshman. You did a great job organizing events and large-scale plays. I’m certain that you’ll be able to achieve that.”A warm feeling washed over her heart. Although it felt like blind trust, his trust in her brought her great comfort.She mustered up her confidence. “Okay, I’ll work hard to live up to your trust in me.”Cillian shook his head. “No, Lucy. You should work hard for the people you love.”A tinge of bitterness welled up in his heart as he thought, ‘Don’t do that to me, Lucy. It’s heartbreaking…’Lucy remained oblivious.“You’re right!”The gloom on Lucy’s face was swept away. “Thank you. Your advice made me feel much better. I’ll try my best to catch up to him and become a woman who's worthy of being by his side.”Cillian’s smile remained u
After a long day of processing documents, Matthew was finally done with the mountain of documents on his desk.When he called his assistant, he came in instantly.“Mr. Leon, how may I help you?”“How is Mrs. Leon doing?”The assistant took a tablet out of nowhere and clicked on it a few times before reporting to Matthew honestly.“Mr. Leon, Mrs. Leon didn't go to the company just now. I don’t know where she went. Nobody saw her.”When Matthew heard that, he exploded. “What did you say?!“Lulu didn’t go to her company, and you don’t know where she went?”The assistant calmly turned off the tablet and lowered his head. “Mr. Leon, please don’t worry. I’ll have someone find out where she drove your car immediately.“Please give me a moment. I’ll have the results very soon.”Matthew had no choice but to wait patiently. He hoped that nothing bad happened to her.Amidst his anxiety, the results came out…“Mr. Leon, Mrs. Leon went to her alma mater today. It seems that she drove ai
"You mean this men’s coat? I didn’t bring an umbrella with me when I got out of the car, so I got drenched in the rain. I didn’t have any other choice but to put this on," Lucy explained innocently to Matthew.Matthew got even more angry after listening to her explanation. How could she wear another man’s coat just because she got wet?Was his wife’s brain out of whack or something? Could she not buy a new coat herself and wear that?Did he not give her enough money?Matthew’s tone of voice sounded even colder. “So you put on a man's coat?!”Lucy frowned as she was starting to get a little annoyed. What was with his interrogative tone?She had finally made up her mind to become one of the world’s top companies because of him…Though, that was what they had agreed on in the beginning…Lucy was upset now, and when a woman was angry, no one could reason with her.“What’s wrong with putting clothes on? The rain was pouring, and I was soaking wet. Do you want me to catch a cold?” L
As Gabriella examined the luxurious clothes, bags, shoes, and pants, she could not help but feel that Lucy was completely unappreciative of such treasures. She failed to utilize them to enhance her appearance! They spent quite a while going through the various garments and accessories, yet there were still items they had not finished checking out.Lucy gave an awkward smile, acknowledging her own laziness. After a long search, Gabriella finally found a piece that caught her eye. As she checked the tag, she was surprised to find that the dress was designed by a renowned French designer. It featured a V-neck, with simple yet elegant sleeves that revealed a hint of Lucy's arms, while the skirt was a refined and tailored fit.Gabriella held up the dress against Lucy, murmuring to herself, “Hmm, this one’s nice! You should try it on!” Even though she spoke to Lucy in a tone reminiscent of an older sister, she still maintained her authority as a mother-in-law. It made her words both
Since the previous incident, Lucy had become increasingly attentive to her children. She watched over them at nearly every moment. She feared that Charlotte might seize any chance to harm the children, so she remained vigilant and meticulous, avoiding any lapses. In her eyes, Matthew Leon and the children represented her entire world, and she could not afford even the slightest mishap.One day, Gabriella Sharpe visited their home. She arrived as lively as ever, wearing impeccably applied makeup that included an expensive shade of lipstick. Her appearance radiated the elegance of a woman of high social standing, making her stand out among the people on the street.Lucy welcomed Gabriella warmly, treating her with utmost respect. It created an atmosphere of family harmony. Gabriella settled into a chair, savoring the fruit that Lucy offered her. She held Johnny closely, reluctant to part with him. She showered him with compliments and laughter."Mom, you seem to be in a great mood l
Matthew noticed Lucy’s absent-mindedness and asked gently, "Lulu, what’s on your mind?"“Oh, nothing… I just think what happened to Charlotte is so sudden,” Lucy replied.“Don’t worry about it. It has nothing to do with us. She was always trying to harm you. Her fate is something she brought upon herself.” Matthew patted her head comfortingly.However, Lucy found it suspicious. Although the news reported Charlotte’s assassination and that the monastery had burned down to ashes, it did not mention her body. That kind of crucial detail would not have been overlooked by the media.Matthew had also considered this possibility, but he had kept it to himself to avoid alarming Lucy. Charlotte had been sent to the monastery because of him and Lucy, and she had to harbor a deep hatred for them. If she managed to orchestrate her own escape, what if she was now seeking help from Spades to target Lucy? That would be dangerous.“Lulu, don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you or the ch
With nothing left to hold onto, Charlotte walked down the empty streets, her heart heavy with despair. She wore a black veil that covered her completely, revealing only her eyes. She even had on dark sunglasses. She dared not walk in the open or be seen, nor did she dare expose Juliana’s crimes to the world.She used to be a princess. Everything she had done, every privilege and indulgence, was backed by Arthur and Juliana’s love and permission. Now that her supporters had betrayed her, what right did she have to be reckless or demand anything? Surviving itself was a luxury. How could she even think of acting willfully?As she wandered in anguish, Charlotte found herself by the river. She remembered coming here with Arthur and Juliana when she was a child, laughing and walking along the bank. Now, each memory felt painfully ironic, and every kiss from Juliana seemed sickening. How could her world be so false? How could even the people she trusted most turn against her?Charlotte cou
Charlotte continued to hide within the castle, unwilling to leave and equally unwilling to let anyone know she was alive—unless they promised never to send her back to the monastery. However, she doubted that would happen, so she kept to the shadows. After all, the castle had plenty of food. It was far better than anything at the monastery.One night, Charlotte quietly slipped into Arthur and Juliana's bedroom. To her surprise, Arthur was not there, and only Juliana was present. 'Dad must be too upset to sleep,' Charlotte thought. She knew him well—whenever he was troubled, he would retreat to the study rather than go to bed.As she watched her beloved mother, a tiny bit of her resolve wavered. Juliana looked utterly exhausted, as if she had lost a lot of weight in just a few days. Charlotte had a sudden urge to go in and comfort her, but she knew that was impossible. Charlotte realized that seeing someone through a wall of separation was the most painful thing of all.Just as
The next morning, news of the assassination attempt on Charlotte was sensationalized across all media outlets. The internet was flooded with headlines about her close brush with death, sparking worldwide shock. No one could believe that Charlotte, notorious for her arrogance and harsh treatment of offenders, could have been targeted like this. Many who resented her strict, often cruel ways were both thrilled and stunned by the news. The royal family immediately tightened security at the monastery, dispatching a large police force to investigate what had happened. The monastery became a focal point of public intrigue.“What? That's impossible! How could there be no trace?” Juliana exclaimed in disbelief. Standing before her was the chief forensic investigator.“Yes, Your Majesty, there's no sign of Princess Charlotte’s remains,” the investigator confirmed firmly.“Fine, I understand. Leave me, and keep me informed if anything changes,” Juliana replied, pressing her fingers to her
As the footsteps came closer, Charlotte held her breath, not daring to make a sound. Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared—it was clear they were targeting her. She watched as the figure approached the bed, moving so quietly it was as if they made no sound at all. What could they possibly be planning? Surely, the headmistress would not go this far?The figure drew closer to the bed, bundled up the pillows and blankets, and then doused something over them. Charlotte could smell it—it was gasoline! Was the headmistress planning to kill her to silence her? She froze, unable to move. The shadow struck a match and dropped it onto the bed. In an instant, flames surged up from the blankets.In the fire’s glow, Charlotte could make out that it was not the headmistress but a man. After setting the fire, he quickly slipped away without making a single sound. Charlotte crept out while stifling a cough, afraid he might hear and return. The flames grew quickly, engulfing the bed and spreading t
Over the past year or so, Charlotte had gradually come to understand that the world was not just about picturesque landscapes and lavish feasts. In the shadows, beyond her sight, lay a world full of schemes and deception. Despite her ongoing attempts to plot against Lucy Quinn, she had not noticed this aspect at all until she arrived at the monastery. Here, she realized how dark human nature could truly be.The women at the monastery constantly criticized and belittled her, while the headmistress was corrupt, using her position for personal vendettas. She was also driven by greed for wealth and status. All Charlotte wanted was to escape this dreadful place and return to her castle. She wanted to go back to her plush, comfortable bed. There, she led a life surrounded by maids tending to her every need.Thinking of this, she remembered Lucy and envisioned her seated in her rightful place, basking in the affection of Arthur and Juliana. She could see Lucy's haughty expression starin
In a moment of heat, Charlotte blurted everything out. Joan was dumbfounded! Was this really Charlotte? She usually did not talk this much, did she? It was not just Joan who was shocked; the headmistress across from Charlotte was equally taken aback. Charlotte was usually so obedient. How had her tongue turned so venomous today? The headmistress was left speechless as every word Charlotte said was so reasonable that no one could argue against it, and it even warranted some compliments! Although Charlotte was confronting the headmistress, each of her statements felt like a plea for justice.Charlotte was not done yet and continued, “Since you know I’m a princess, you should give me some consideration. Yet, in reality, I’m the one giving you all the consideration. Is that reasonable?” Charlotte’s arguments were layered and logical, her thoughts clear. It left the headmistress in a muddle while Joan looked on with envy! The headmistress glanced at Charlotte, feeling quite displease