Matthew withdrew 500 dollars, and he was astonished that the money was actually dispensed! The screen showed a balance of over a million. It seemed that Lucy really did intend to let him go. Matthew headed to KFC and ordered a large meal.His mind was not on the food, though. He looked around at everything, and it all felt so real. Lucy felt real, the burgers felt real, and even he felt real. He took a bite of his burger, accidentally biting into the wrapper as well. The people around him looked at him as if he were crazy. Only then did Matthew realize and quickly spat it out.After eating, he wandered into an unfamiliar neighborhood. Nearby, many elderly couples were out for a leisurely walk, and they would rest on benches when they grew tired. Matthew sat down alone on a bench, watching these couples with envy. His mind conjured up images of Lucy. If only all this were real, then he could take a walk with Lucy too.Suddenly, an elderly man who had just finished jogging approac
Matthew did not know what to say. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion. Did he want to believe? Of course, he did not want to!"Many times, it’s all been false. I don’t dare to trust that it’s real this time," Matthew said, speaking from the heart. He felt as if a burden had been lifted from his chest after he said it. He relaxed a little. The old man was right, but Matthew also felt he was not entirely wrong. Yet another doubt crept into his mind—could this old man also be fake, sent here just to deceive him?Once again, Matthew was lost in doubt. Everything and everyone seemed so real, but he could not quite grasp how it was all real."If you’re so conflicted, why not set this matter aside for now? Take a trip, go out, and see the world. Maybe then the answer will come to you. Sometimes rushing won’t get you anywhere—calming down might be the only way to find what you’re looking for," the old man said kindly. His wife soon arrived to take him away.Matthew stayed behind, watch
[Day 14: Today, Samantha came to our house again. At first, I was really scared, but I knew I couldn’t let fear control me. As long as I stay firm, she won’t be able to push me around, right? She said it was your mom who sent her and that she wanted to help take care of the babies. I didn’t agree and didn’t let her in. My brother’s been helping me. Without him, I don’t know what I’d do.]…[Day 23: Mark said your condition has improved, and all we had to do was sign for the surgery. Of course, we agreed right away, and the operation was done. The next day, you actually woke up, but then you fell into a deep sleep again shortly after. The doctor said you were just too weak, so we had to wait some more. But today, I’m truly happy—you finally woke up.]…As Matthew read the words that filled his phone screen, he felt tormented. This was clearly Lucy! What had he been doing these past few days? Determined, Matthew decided to go back and find Lucy. His heart surged with a burning desi
"Lucy, don't joke about things like this in the future. Spades is ruthless. What would we do if you were really taken away?" Matthew held Lucy tightly, seriously advising her.Lucy closed her eyes, quietly listening to Matthew’s words, nodding from time to time."Why do you suddenly believe me now? It’s a bit unsettling," Lucy teased as she gently pushed Matthew away, studying his face earnestly.Matthew did not reply. He looked at his wife, weathered by life, and felt as if his heart was being cut to pieces."Let’s not talk about it now. I’ll tell you more slowly over time. Right now, I just want to look at you," Matthew said, his eyes full of Lucy. He did not want to talk about anything else.Lucy smiled and nodded, linking arms with Matthew as they got into the car to head home.Matthew looked at his home—it was still the same, nothing had changed. He held Lucy’s hand as they went to their children. Each of them cradled a child in their arms.Their Golden Retriever, upon seei
After dinner, Lucy was still busy putting the children to sleep. Just as she laid little Lila down, Matthew came up from behind and lifted her into his arms."You're always holding others—perhaps you'd like someone to hold you too?" Matthew teased with a mischievous smile. Before Lucy could respond, he kissed her and carried her princess-style straight to the bedroom.…Meanwhile, Koven did not have it so easy. Alone at home, he sat in the empty house, staring at a picture of Selena. He felt utterly lonely."Matthew should be doing better by now," he muttered to himself, his heart feeling empty.That day, he was sure he heard Selena’s voice, and the person who took him to the hospital never left their name. The nurse said it was a beautiful woman who brought him. Koven was convinced it had been Selena, but he could not find her.His cough still had not improved, and he continued to cough sporadically. He was too stubborn to take his medication.Nights were always unbearably lone
"Hey, Mark!" Selena had been ready to sleep; she felt a bit weak today as she had not gotten any sunlight."Hello! What’s up?" Selena repeated herself after hearing nothing from the other end of the call.Mark was usually straightforward. Whenever something came up, he would get right to the point without any hesitation. His silence this time suggested that the topic was not easy to talk about.Selena lay tired on her bed, staring at the ceiling as the silence on the phone dragged on, boring her. Just as she was about to hang up, Mark finally spoke."Do you have enough medicine? I’ll be back tomorrow!" Mark's voice was low. "And make sure to be careful by yourself. Don’t go wandering around!"Selena paused for a moment. She did not respond right away, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her shirt as she thought about what to say next.Mark did not wait for her reply before hanging up. Selena knew that he had found out she had gone outside. Guilt gnawed at her because Mark had
Lucy knew that Mark did not care much about money, so she was not particularly surprised.“Mark, in that case, we truly owe you a big thanks! I hope our late-night visit hasn’t disturbed your rest,” Lucy said as she linked arms with Matthew. It was already quite late, and the two were preparing to head home.Winter had arrived, and the night was cold and biting. The usual hustle and bustle of the city quickly quieted down, and even the busy streets were starting to feel heavy with stillness.Walking side by side down the street, Lucy and Matthew had little to say to each other. To some people, money might seem all-powerful, while to others, it held no more value than dirt. Mark had once thought money was important, but over time, he realized it was not all that significant after all.In the south, winter always came with overcast skies. There were no stars, no moon, no sun, no blue skies. Even the chirping birds at the treetops had gone silent, preparing themselves for the cold sea
Mark was not planning to sleep. He went to his office to prepare further medicinal ingredients for Selena. Based on her description over the phone, he already knew what medicine to use.Selena’s condition had improved. The time she spent aging each day had decreased, her skin had started to regain elasticity, her blood vessels were functioning normally, and her blood circulation was now vigorous.This was undoubtedly good news for both of them. However, Mark was not that happy because once Selena was cured, she would leave, and he did not want her to go.The only way to keep her was to make her continue to be ill. Mark felt conflicted—he wanted Selena to get better, but he also wanted her to stay.Holding the medicine, he felt a bit uneasy. After all, she was his friend’s girlfriend, and they were engaged. Was this not wrong? 'Well, Koven has already cheated. Going back would only bring Selena more heartbreak and pain,' Mark thought.Just then, someone knocked on the door. Mark kn
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