Now that the situation Lucy had to 'watch over' had been settled for now, Lucy decided to give Chelsea a call after returning home.Since their last parting, Chelsea and Hugh rushed to Eurovia. She had not received a single call from Chelsea since then.Lucy was worried that things had not been resolved yet and that Chelsea might still come running to her again. If that were the case, Lucy would not let Chelsea leave, and she would make Hugh regret his decision for life.After several unsuccessful attempts to reach Chelsea, Lucy lost her patience and placed her phone on the bedside table.Just then, she received a message.After opening the message, she saw that it was from Chelsea.Chelsea: [Lulu, is everything okay? Is it urgent?]Lucy: [How could you do this, Chelsea? I'm so worried about you. I called you so many times, but you didn’t pick up. And now you're replying with just one message. Am I still your best friend?]Shortly after sending the text, Chelsea called.“Lulu,
Lucy was still hung up on what happened, and Chelsea kept apologizing on the phone. Eventually, Chelsea suggested treating Lucy to dinner to make amends, which Lucy accepted.While on the phone, Lucy asked Matthew to go freshen up. When Matthew returned, he found Lucy still fully dressed, sprawled out on the bed with her phone in her hand. She was completely out like a light.Matthew lightly tapped her cheek and called her name, but she remained deeply asleep.It was not surprising, considering she had spent the entire day at the palace taking care of things. Although Matthew heard her complaints on the way back about how her sole purpose today was to sit there and look pretty, Matthew understood that she did not like social engagements. It was especially draining when it came to interacting with people she did not like.Matthew thought to himself that if this happened again in the future, he would have to find an excuse to take Lucy away and save her from these boring social obl
Hugh was having a hard time breathing because of the phlegm in his throat. After the family doctor prescribed medication for him, he instructed Chelsea on how it should be taken. Hugh needed to lower his body temperature as soon as possible, or else he would have to go to the hospital to have his condition checked.Chelsea took the doctor’s advice to heart and sent him off before waking Hugh up to take his medicine.“Hugh… Hugh, wake up! Take the medicine before going back to sleep, okay? You’ll feel better tomorrow after taking the medicine.”Hugh refused to budge. He nestled into Chelsea’s arms like a pampered child and hugged her waist, refusing to let go.Chelsea gently nudged his head, but she could not persuade him at all.“Be a good boy and take your medicine before sleeping, alright?”Chelsea said as gently as possible. Only then did Hugh open his eyes to look at her.“...Do I need an injection?”Chelsea noticed Hugh’s wet eyes and realized something.“Hugh, are you sc
Hugh lifted his hand to cover her eyes. “Sleep a little longer. I’m feeling much better now. My fever has gone down, and I've coughed out most of the phlegm.”“No, I don’t trust you. I need to take your temperature myself.”Chelsea reached for the thermometer on the bedside table, but Hugh stopped her and placed her hand back under the covers.“Don’t worry, Chelsea. I told you before that I'd never lie to you. My fever has really gone down. You kept changing towels for me last night and barely got any sleep, so you must be exhausted. "Have a good rest, and when you wake up, we’ll go out for a meal.”Hugh kissed Chelsea on the forehead, but it was not enough, so he kissed her again on the cheek. In each other’s embrace, the two of them kissed for a long time before stopping.Chelsea playfully tapped Hugh. “I prefer you when you’re sick. How are you so full of energy when you’ve just recovered? I can barely keep up with you.”Hugh mischievously pinched her cheeks. “Go to sleep. I
Although Lucy complained about Matthew not spending enough time with her, she still understood why he wanted things to be this way.It was his sense of responsibility as the CEO of Leon Corporation. He felt accountable for every employee, and the burden on his shoulders was greater than Lucy could ever imagine. Even when she complained, she did it in a teasing tone.Most of the time, she just reminded Matthew to take care of his health and not overwork himself. She also expressed her desire to share his worries and burdens.Despite not graduating from a prestigious university, Lucy still had a good understanding of how the company worked, but Matthew rejected her offer.“Lulu, you have your own dreams now. You want to pursue both drawing and fashion design, but if you use your time to help me, you may not be able to pursue your dreams.”Matthew was trying to say that the company’s affairs should not stop Lucy from chasing her dreams. He believed that Lucy’s own aspirations mattere
Since Annabella could not get a favorable response from Theodore, she changed her tactics and started chatting with Juliana instead.Recently, Annabella came to the palace with gossip and witty jokes she heard from God knew where to entertain Juliana and make her laugh. Throughout it all, Theodore felt sidelined by Juliana, failing to find a chance to speak.While chatting with Juliana, Annabella would occasionally bring up Theodore, who would only smile politely as he did not want to seem disrespectful so soon.Sometimes, Theodore even wondered if Annabella had a defense made of iron as she seemed completely insusceptible to his coldness as she continued to approach him.Annabella spent the whole day in the palace, eating and sometimes going out of her way to help the maids.Theodore did not know if it was intentional, but Annabella knew very well that the maids would not allow her to help in the kitchen because of her status, yet she insisted on entering. This left the maids s
Theodore was reassured about Matthew, but if Matthew ever dared to abandon Lucy or even have just a fleeting thought, Theodore would never forgive him.…At that moment, Matthew sneezed.Leon Corporation’s foreign trade business had been booming lately, with a large influx of Eurovian manufacturers seeking partnerships. Given the stability of Charleston, many manufacturers approached Leon Corporation for collaboration.Matthew had been so busy that he was almost sleeping at the office. His routine had been disrupted because other than work and sleep, he had little time for anything else. However, he would still drive home after work sometimes as he had promised to spend time with Lucy.Lucy was very understanding as she even told Matthew not to rush home after work, but he knew deep down that she needed his company more than anyone else. Her facial expressions betrayed her reluctance to let him leave.Matthew was happy to see how much Lucy cared for him, but it also hurt him to
Matthew highly valued the integrity and reputation of his business partners in the industry.Hudson had a good reputation and public opinion, so Matthew had wanted to work with him even before Leon Corporation came to Charleston as he was thinking of venturing into the fashion industry back then.Leon Corporation had a limited understanding of the industry at the time and needed to conduct more market research, so working with Hudson would be beneficial.To work with him, Matthew even had his assistant investigate the current circumstances of his fashion company. He found out that if he had worked with Hudson when his company was in their prime, he could have dominated Charleston’s fashion industry. Unfortunately, just when Hudson was poised for greater success, internal struggles within the company led to his sacrifice. He was forced to move to Eurovia.Hudson achieved decent growth in Gerd, but his performance was not as remarkable compared to his peak in Charleston. However, M
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