Lucy’s eyes lit up. She skipped as she brought her luggage to pack it in Cillian’s car. She later gave him directions to their new home.Cillian followed her directions and drove to the guest house.When the woman in charge of the guest house saw an unfamiliar car parking out front and a familiar face coming out of it, she knew that Lucy was done packing up.She had just been washing something. She wiped her wet hands on her apron before walking out to welcome them. She said to Lucy, “You’re officially moving in now?After that, she saw Cillian getting out of the driver’s seat. There was a playful smile on her face as she asked, “Is this your husband?”Lucy was taken aback. She was reminded of Matthew, who was on the other side of the world. She shook her head. “No, he isn’t. That’s just my friend. My husband is working in the country and isn’t able to make time to be here at the moment.”The woman had a disapproving look in her eye. How could a husband not stay by his wife’s sid
Cillian had already placed all his belongings in his room by the time Lucy headed upstairs.He turned to look at Lucy, who had just arrived. He said, “I’m done unpacking. Do you need help with your luggage?”Cillian’s concern warmed Lucy’s heart. He was the person she knew best in this unfamiliar country, but she shook her head in rejection.“It’s fine. My things are pretty light. I can unpack them on my own. It'll just take a while.”Cillian smiled when Lucy rejected his offer. “Alright. Let me know how long you’ll take. I’ll plan the best time to prepare dinner.”Lucy looked at Cillian in surprise. She did not expect him to know how to cook, and a question popped into her mind.“Prepare dinner? Where are you planning to make dinner?”Cillian shook his head in exasperation. “I asked that lady where the kitchen was. All I need to do is go there to make dinner. Is there anything you’d like to have? Just let me know so I can make it for you in the future.”Lucy was so touched tha
Matthew’s personal phone suddenly rang at this hour. He was resting his eyes, and they popped open at the sound. He picked up his phone and saw that the call was from an unfamiliar number.He frowned. This was his personal number, and not many people had it.Telemarketers would not be calling him on this phone. Who could it be?He picked it up and held back the annoyance from his tone. “Hello, this is Matthew Leon speaking.”When Lucy heard his voice from the other end of the call, she suddenly felt safe but also a little strange.They had just separated, but why did Matthew sound so tired? He even sounded a little hoarse.She said worriedly, “Are you alright, Matthew? Why do you sound so hoarse?”Matthew’s eyes slit up when he heard Lucy’s voice. It was his wifey! He looked at his phone again. The number was unfamiliar, and it suddenly hit him that Cillian had probably changed Lucy’s number after they arrived at Charleston. He put the phone back to his ear.“Nothing’s wrong wi
Matthew knew Lucy could not see him over the phone. He looked down with a slightly sad expression.How could he sleep when his wife was in such a predicament?He was so worried for her that he could not sleep at all.Matthew sighed and massaged his temples. It was fortunate that Lucy had been sent out of the country and could not see the look on his face right now. It would have been so embarrassing for him.He tried his best to soften his tone. “How about figuring out a way to help me sleep, wifey? I really can’t sleep right now.”Lucy’s face turned red on the other end of the call. Why did it feel like Matthew had gotten more clingy after not seeing each other for a long time? She began thinking about this in a daze.“Why aren’t you able to sleep? Are you overworked? Do you need some light music to help you sleep, Matthew? You’ll fall asleep after listening to it.”Lucy tried to think about what would help her go to sleep and began making serious suggestions to Matthew.Matth
Matthew suddenly noticed Lucy shaking her head in the video, and a playful smile appeared on his face.Lucy looked like she was trying to shake something off her mind.Matthew looked at himself and realized that two of his buttons were undone on his shirt. It suddenly hit him what she was trying to shake off.He did not expect Lucy to develop this characteristic after she lost her memory.If this were before, she would have already been used to him looking like that and would never have blushed over this.It excited Matthew to discover this side of Lucy!Matthew stared suggestively at Lucy, which sent a chill down Lucy’s spine.“Close your eyes, Matthew.”Lucy thought indignantly, 'I’m trying to get him to go to sleep. I'm totally not trying to get him to stop staring at me that way.” Matthew sighed as he relented. He looked sadly at Lucy and closed his eyes obediently.He set up his phone to point at him by propping it up against the pillow before he closed his eyes. The ca
Lucy lingered a moment longer, watching Matthew's peaceful, sleeping face on the screen before ending the video call. The aroma wafting up from the kitchen reminded her that Cillian had dinner waiting downstairs.She descended the stairs to the first-floor lobby, which had been transformed into a cozy dining area by the mother and daughter. It was a welcoming space for their guests to enjoy their meals.As Lucy neared the table, her eyes widened at the sight of the spread before her. Cillian had downplayed his cooking plans, mentioning only ribs, potatoes, and soup. She did not expect that such simple home-cooked food would have its own flair when made by Cillian.The ribs were juicy and glossy due to the sauce, looking like utter perfection. They had an enticing aroma. There was also mashed potatoes on the table. Cillian had added some bacon to the potatoes, making the potatoes exceptionally flavorful. The mushroom soup was a far cry from the watery rendition one might find in
Lucy's coughing fit finally subsided as she accepted the water from Cillian. She downed it in one swift gulp. She then shot him a mock accusing glare. "This is all your fault. I wouldn't have choked if I hadn't been talking to you!"Looking at her playful stare, Cillian could not help but feel a tad sheepish. He averted his eyes.The rest of the dinner passed in peaceful silence, with both of them finishing their meal without further incident.After dinner, Lucy rose to clear the dishes, but Cillian stopped her. "Leave the dishes to me. You head upstairs, relax a bit, and maybe take a nap—whatever you like."Lucy touched her cheek, feeling a bit guilty. "I can't let you cook and clean. I'll be totally spoiled at this rate."With a resigned shake of his head, Cillian insisted, "You shouldn't be dealing with water and soap. That'll roughen your hands, and not even the best hand cream will be able to fix that."Lucy always marveled at how thoughtful Cillian was. He was the epitome o
Lucy did not dwell on it and happily trailed behind Little Milton, the little kitten who pranced about with the joy of newfound freedom. It basked in the cozy twilight.As she took in her surroundings, her satisfaction with the quaint guest house she had chosen grew. The place was a hidden gem, surrounded by lush scenery.Upon a second glance, the area was not just brimming with flowers but also boasted several small parks. There were enough neighbors around to make safety concerns a non-issue.However, just as she was patting herself on the back, Lucy abruptly retracted her mental compliment. What was she thinking? Her choice was far from perfect.From afar, she spotted a man who seemed to be bathed in a white halo.It might sound odd, but to put it simply, he was dressed in such a stark white that it seemed no other color dared to come close to him. That was Augustus, the very man Lucy had recently had a premonition about.Augustus' fashion choice today was bizarre, to say the
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