Samantha was freshening up when she suddenly remembered something. Gabriella was already all prepared and standing at the door. She was waiting for Samantha to head to Matthew’s office together.She put down her foundation and smiled while looking at Gabriella. “Mrs. Leon, why don’t we have lunch first…”Gabriella had no idea what Samantha was planning. She looked at Samantha in bewilderment. “Samantha, you should go to the office to see Matthew. What if Lucy goes there first?”Samantha helped Gabriella to the couch calmly.“Don’t be anxious, Mrs. Leon. I heard Matthew mention Lucy just now. He said that Lucy would be going to his office for lunch later. Matthew looked quite happy. It must be because Lucy has made him lunch… "How about if we prepared lunch for Matthew too? We can’t lose out to Lucy! That way, Lucy will be smart enough to back out of this relationship. Isn’t this a good idea?”Gabriella’s eyes lit up. She smiled and patted Samantha’s hand. “If only Matthew could
Gabriella sat in the living room, eating nuts and watching television.When she caught the fragrant smell of food, she found herself drawn toward the kitchen as she went inside to take a look.She watched as Samantha busied herself in front of a stove while wearing an apron. She looked like such a virtuous homemaker. Gabriella kept thinking about how her home would be filled with warmth if Matthew married Samantha. Lucy was nothing like that.Matthew had argued with Gabriella quite a number of times over Lucy. She did not like Lucy at all and wanted her to cut ties with the Leons.Lucy’s existence was nothing but a burden while the Shelbys were a family that was able to solidify Leon Corporation as the top company for a long time. No one would ever dare challenge their position at the top.“It’s been hard on you, Samantha.”This could be just a casual remark from Gabriella, but to Samantha, it sounded like she was completely on Samantha’s side.There were two pieces of hot steak
It was a relief that Lucy was nowhere seen in the office.Gabriella was planning to use an indirect tactic. After all, Matthew was her only son. She did not want him to suffer too much and make him do anything he did not like. All she could do was coerce him step by step.“It’s already past 12, Matthew. Aren’t you going for lunch?”Matthew did not even look up when he knew both of them were there. He buried himself in work and refused to be disturbed.Gabriella kept on talking until Matthew was forced to look away from his documents and at his mother.He knew what his mother was planning by bringing Samantha with her. However, he had no idea what to say when he saw the aggrieved look on Samantha’s face.This woman was from an influential family. She looked elegant and bright on the outside, so why was she always underhanded in her ways? She was always snitching behind his back and talking badly about Lucy to his mother. It was difficult for him as he did not want to hurt his moth
Matthew was clearly annoyed with them. Gabriella and Samantha both threw him looks of disdain over this.Why was Matthew so happy when that woman arrived? When it came to them, he looked at them like they were bad luck and could not wait to get them out of there.Gabriella blocked Matthew’s way. “What are you doing, Matthew?”Matthew frowned subtly. “I’m going to open the door, Mom. Lulu is here.”“You’re not allowed to do that!”Gabriella’s voice was loud and clear. Almost the entire office could hear her. Lucy was about to turn the handle when she heard the argument inside and paused her action.Even Kent, who was about to open the door, stopped moving. He looked awkwardly at Lucy and said, “Mrs. Leon… I think Mr. Leon’s mother is here. They must be discussing something inside. Why don't you wait for Mr. Leon in my office?”Lucy looked troubled about this. She stood in front of the office door for quite a while. She heard another bout of arguments and berating.“Just look at
Matthew had made his choice.Lucy was the only person he wanted to grow old with and live the rest of his life with.When Gabriella and Samantha refused to leave, Matthew decided to calm down and explain to them seriously, “You should understand better than I do why I decided to stay back in Charleston.”Gabriella knew the reason very well. Matthew had moved part of Leon Corporation’s headquarters over to Charleston in order to avoid her.It was his demonstration to her and to stop Gabriella from doing anything that crossed the line. If he continued this line of tactics, he might eventually move the entire company to Charleston to prevent Gabriella from restricting his actions.Gabriella knew that her son refused to listen to anything she had to say, so she directed her attack to Lucy.“How could you allow something like this to happen? Matthew is my son, but he’s siding with you instead.”Since Lucy’s appearance, Gabriella had never liked her. Gabriella had never been fond of L
Samantha and Gabriella left in great embarrassment. Lucy could not help feeling a little remorse. It was not because of what she said to Gabriella and Samantha but because of Matthew.Lucy wanted to grow old with Matthew, but at the same time, she did not want Matthew to destroy his relationship with his family and constantly argue with them over her.If there were any problems between them, it was best to resolve them immediately. Otherwise, the problem would only grow bigger and bigger. In the end, nothing they did could salvage it because it would be too much to deal with by then.Matthew had no idea what Lucy was thinking about. All he knew was that he was feeling very happy over what Lucy said. It was no wonder that he fell in love with her at first sight.“What are you smiling about?”Matthew smiled and said nothing.Lucy had already eaten before she came over. She rejected Matthew’s invitation to have lunch together.Matthew did not feel upset about it. He grabbed the cut
Lucy's insecurities disappeared after Matthew made the promise to her.It was not because she did not trust Matthew; it was because she knew that there would always be challenges in a relationship. Even if two people were very in love with each other, they would need courage and patience to face everything that came at them.As long as Matthew did not give up, Lucy would never let go of his hand either.Matthew’s promise to her was also Lucy’s promise to him.Lucy decided to return to Charleston and visit the palace. It had been a long time since she had gone home. She had separated from her loved ones for so many years and her parents’ love was something she always desired. Even though someone would always stir trouble for her whenever she returned, it did not deter her at all.The Charleston palace was just as grand as ever. Even though it was slightly less grand than the buildings owned by Leon Corporation, the expensive materials and European architecture as well as its vari
Lucy almost threw up the water she was drinking.Theodore had always been authoritative and stern in public, but whenever he faced Lucy, there was a child-like side to him. Lucy often did not know how to react when he was that way.“Don’t worry, Theodore. I’ll make sure to keep my promise. I’ll make sure to visit often. This is my home, after all! All my loved ones are here.”The atmosphere between them was warm and loving, and the maids could not bear to interrupt them.However, someone dropped by to spoil that atmosphere.Charlotte appeared in front of them while holding on to her heavy skirt.She had been having a good time eating and playing around upstairs in the palace when she found out from her maid that Lucy was back and spending a nice time with Theodore. Charlotte could not take it and she decided to see Lucy as well.Charlotte felt pressured even when Lucy was not around.Her parents would always mention her during conversation and even Theodore was the same.This
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