“Here, use this card… By the way, wrap up that dress that didn’t fit me as well. I’ll be shopping till I drop…”The cashier immediately recognized how powerful that black card was. It was a supplementary card belonging to Mr. Lincoln of Lincoln Group. The cashier knew that these two people had to be related to him somehow. She made sure to give them top-notch service. She swiped the card and wrapped up all the clothes nicely.It was after they had walked through half the mall that Lucy realized that Chelsea was quite the shopper compared to all the women she knew.Why did Lucy not realize this before when she used to shop with Chelsea?However, Chelsea’s shopping feat did not stop there. Lucy did not expect Chelsea to use Hugh’s black card to buy every color of a chiffon skirt she liked.Lucy looked around the high-end store they were in. Chelsea had bought a quarter of whatever the store sold. She immediately stopped Chelsea from buying anything further.“Are you here to shop
Chelsea finally calmed down after they were done shopping on an entire floor.She wanted to cry out loud after that. How could she have bought so much at the mall? “Why didn’t you stop me, Lulu?”Lucy quickly stopped her from crying when she saw Chelsea about to burst into tears.“Stop, Chelsea! I tried to stop you during this entire shopping spree, but you refused to listen to me.” Lucy had watched Chelsea shopping crazily just now. Chelsea even yelled at anyone who tried to stop her from buying so much.“Chelsea, oh, Chelsea. You were being too rash! You didn’t even try on the clothes when you bought them. You even bought every size you could find! I told you to spend with moderation. You should calm down, Chelsea!”“I don’t care!”Chelsea was still trying to give herself excuses, but she was actually feeling great regret over this.“It’s not my money anyway…”“Yes, yes. Whatever you say is right.”Lucy could not help massaging her knees. She was exhausted from shopping th
“Forget about it, Lulu. I’m not asking for much now. I’m feeling hungry from all that shopping. Let’s go eat and think about this later.”Chelsea had always been an open and carefree person before she met Hugh. She never cared about what other people thought and lived the life she wanted. Being happy in life was the most important thing to her.Enjoying good food was on top of Chelsea’s list for a happy life.However, since she got into a relationship with Hugh, Chelsea had always put him first. However, she never expected reality to be so harsh.Chelsea was hurt by him and left feeling disappointed. “Are you really alright, Chelsea?”Tears began to fall down Chelsea's face at this question.Lucy took out a pack of tissue from her bag. “You keep claiming you don’t care about Hugh anymore, but you still can’t forget him after shopping so long and feeling exhausted over it.” Her words hit Chelsea right where it hurts. “That’s nonsense, Lulu. He means nothing to me now. Hugh Lin
Lucy shook her head helplessly at Chelsea’s threat.She should just accept her fate. Moreover, she was the one who suggested going to that restaurant as it was nice to take photos there. Lucy did not expect she would have to be in the photos too.It was not that Lucy did not want to take photos; it was just that she had no confidence in being in photos because her previous family had put her down and humiliated her for many years.Even though her confidence had been boosted greatly, she still did not feel comfortable with taking photos.It was because being in front of the cameras would remind her of the past.When they arrived at the restaurant, it was peak hours, and many people were having their meals. Lucy and Chelsea had to take a number to wait for their turn.Lucy had planned to wait outside with Chelsea until their number was called, but when Chelsea showed them Hugh’s supplementary card, the restaurant’s server immediately invited them up to a suite upstairs.The suite
The waiter finished talking, pushed the door open, and left. Lucy and Chelsea were left alone in the room, unsure of what to do next."I told you, Chelsea. Hugh wouldn't just not show up. He probably missed his flight this morning, and that's why he's so late."When Chelsea heard that Hugh might still come, she felt a tiny flutter in her heart. Her words came out all jumbled and in stutters, "If he comes... If he's here... I won't forgive him."Lucy wondered if Chelsea was starting to go easy on him.They waited for what felt like forever, both of them starving. Finally, the waiter brought out all the dishes.It was true what they said about VIPs getting special treatment. Their food was served way before the other guests who arrived earlier.That restaurant lived up to its fame, and it was not just some place made popular by the internet. The dishes looked so good, they wanted to dive right in.Lucy was immediately drawn to the salmon and wasted no time digging in.The salmon
Chelsea did not want Lucy to leave her side. "Lucy, please stay with me."Lucy thought to herself, 'Chelsea is acting like she's my boss... She knows I'm like a third wheel here, yet she wants me to stay in this awkward spot. Isn't that just embarrassing for me?' "Don't make this hard for me," Lucy whispered to Chelsea. "Listen, talk things out with Hugh. I can tell you two still care about each other. Don't give up over something so small."Chelsea blinked and whispered back to Lucy. "But what if he's really having an affair with another woman out there?" Lucy made a decisive chopping gesture with her hand."If it's true, then I'm all for you breaking up with Hugh."If Hugh were really two-faced, acting one way in front of Chelsea and another when she was not around, Lucy would be the first to tell Chelsea to leave him.Lucy gave Chelsea's hand a reassuring pat. "Talk to him. I'll be back soon, so don't worry."Chelsea felt a surge of courage from Lucy's words, knowing she h
Hugh breathed in the scent he had missed all day long, the one he knew so well. He held her close, afraid she might slip away again.However, his hug was so tight that Chelsea started to cry."Hugh, what are you doing? Let me go!" she cried out."I won't, not for anything," Hugh said, his voice firm. "You can't just leave me like that. Did you sneak away because you're mad at me? If you're upset, you should talk to me. "I don't know what I did to make you leave without a word... I can't take this kind of punishment."Chelsea bit her lip, still unable to talk about what was bothering her.She looked at Hugh, wondering if his words were real or just a mask he wore. Was he really being honest with her?"Hugh... I think we need a break. Can I stay with Lucy for a bit? You should head home. I just can't see you right now.""No way. If I'm going home, you're coming with me."The Eurovia trip ended so suddenly. Since Chelsea wanted some peace and quiet to think things over, he would
Lucy was on her way to talk to the waiter when they showed up with the extra dishes in hand. She was just about to go in when Lucy stopped him."Leave it here for now. I'll take it in myself in a bit," Lucy whispered.The waiter set the food down at the pickup spot, gave Lucy a nod, and walked away.Chelsea and Hugh's voices were cutting in and out of the room. Lucy had not meant to listen in, but as she was about to walk away, she overheard Chelsea saying words like 'jerk' and 'let go.' Lucy could not help but worry about what was happening inside.She had expected them to be all lovey-dovey, but Lucy realized she had oversimplified things.Was what Chelsea said about Hugh true? If it were, Lucy would feel like she had been so blind before. She would not be able to believe she had trusted someone like Hugh with her best friend's happiness. It just did not seem right to Lucy.Inside the room, the truth unfolded…"Lost for words now?" Chelsea's voice was scratchy, probably from c
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