“Alright. Let’s head out.”“Wait!” Matthew called out to Kent before he left the room.“Is there anything else, Mr. Leon?” Kent gave Matthew a puzzled look. He was breaking out in cold sweat.“I need you to help me look into someone. His name is Linus Gusman. The more detailed information you have about him, the better.”“Alright.” Kent was relieved. He was secretly sorry for this man named Linus Gusman.That was when Matthew received a message from Sunrise Group on his computer: [Are you free to meet this afternoon to talk about our partnership, Mr. Leon?]Matthew read the message. A smile appeared on his face as he said to himself, "Okay."Then, he received another message from Ted: [We’ll meet downstairs at your company this afternoon at two.]Ted cursed out loud when he saw that his messages went unread. “Who does Matthew Leon think he is?! Does he really think that he’s the boss?!”Daniel was next to Ted, and his face fell when he saw Ted yelling that way.“You have to m
“This… This is just a partnership between Sunrise Group and Leon Corporation. No one else is involved…”Matthew did not believe Ted's words. He sneered. “I can sign the contract and we can work happily together but… if anything happens, you won’t get off that easily!”Ted felt a chill behind his back. He was forced to nod in agreement.Matthew picked up the contract on the table and signed it after that.Ted was relieved to see him sign it.“I hope that Sunrise Group understands that everything has consequences. As for who's behind all of this, I’ll find out eventually as well!”Matthew turned to leave after that.Ted watched him walk away and felt a chill in his heart. He quickly made a call.“Hello, Mr. Zimmer, the contract is signed.” Ted did not dare to tell Daniel what Matthew had said. Instead, he told Daniel that he was worried Daniel would not pay him the rest of the money.Daniel smiled at Ted’s words. He was victorious.“Alright!”“About the payment, Mr. Zimmer, wh
Hudson stared at the draft on the computer screen. His eyebrows were knitted together in a deep frown.Matthew caught the look on his face."Is something wrong? Doesn't it fit well?"Hudson shot Matthew a look of disbelief, his eyes wide with astonishment."Lucy came up with this?"Matthew nodded, puzzled by Hudson's reaction."Let's get this contract signed!" Hudson, bubbling with excitement, flipped open the contract. He did not even glance over it before scribbling down his signature.Matthew was taken aback by his swift action, at a loss for words."You're just going to sign it like that without reading it?""Mrs. Leon is truly remarkable, just as Koven said. Her design is fresh and innovative; the clothes are simple yet sophisticated, not a tad bit tacky. With such extraordinary talent, how could I possibly haggle over the contract?" Matthew did not really get fashion. His assistant picked out all his suits, and he was always out of the loop regarding the latest styles.
Matthew was already in a bad mood, and Hudson's words just made him speechless."Just take your food and eat somewhere else!" Matthew said, trying to keep his cool.Hudson chuckled awkwardly and moved to a different table.Matthew went back to his work, his focus on the papers in front of him.At that moment, Kent came in after knocking softly on the door."Mr. Leon, there's big news. Some mystery person just invested 50 million in our project with Sunrise Group today. That's a big deal, right?"Kent watched Matthew closely, trying to read his reaction.Matthew thought for a moment, then said firmly, "Find out who this mystery investor is."Kent nodded and left the room quickly.Matthew kept looking at the list of investors. Sure enough, there was a big anonymous investment.Hudson, sitting nearby, overheard everything. He did not say a word, but he made a mental note of it."Mr. Leon, I'm heading out. I really enjoyed my meal," Hudson said with a grin.Matthew gave a small
Chelsea was jolted awake by the loud voice and rubbed her ears as she sat up."Chelsea, let's go out later. We'll take a stroll!"Chelsea was stunned. Usually, she had to coax Lucy to come out, but Lucy would always say she was looking for inspiration and refuse. Today, Lucy was the one inviting her out, which was incredibly rare...Chelsea did not really feel like getting up, but this was a special occasion."Okay, I'll get ready and meet you in the city center soon."After the call, Chelsea got up to prepare.Hugh had been swamped at work for the past couple of days, coming home late each night.Lucy was about to head out but decided to fix her clothes and hair first.40 minutes later, they both arrived, one shortly after the other."Chelsea!" Lucy spotted Chelsea up ahead and called out to her with a loud voice.Chelsea whirled around and instantly felt her cheeks burn as she noticed many onlookers. She quickly trotted over to Lucy, giving her a gentle poke."Next time, c
Charlie looked at Lucy and smiled. "Mrs. Leon, I'm a lawyer and a friend of Matthew's. We've met before, I believe."Lucy, not worrying about whether they had met, quickly said thanks."Thank you for stepping in."Charlie gave a small smile and told Lucy, "No worries, but I've got to run now.""Alright, thanks again.""Bye-bye, Mr. Handsome!" Chelsea watched Charlie walk away, her eyes filled with a dreamy look.Lucy saw Chelsea acting like that and gave her a playful pat."You've got Hugh, and yet you're still mooning over other guys!""Oh, come on, a face like that is just begging to be admired!"Lucy did not know what to say to that, so she just shook her head and pulled Chelsea toward the restaurant.Right when they walked into the restaurant, they bumped into Luna and Timothy once more.Lucy was about to turn around and leave, but Chelsea held her back."Don't worry about them. They didn't even see us, so relax!"Lucy sighed and decided to go along with it.Inside, L
"Luna! Are you done causing a scene?"Luna shot Timothy a fierce look and then burst into fake tears."Timothy, how could you be so mean to me?!"Timothy just stood there, not saying a word. His expression was as frigid as ice.When Timothy ignored her, Luna spun around to face Lucy, her expression turning nasty."Lucy, I heard that Matthew leaves you all alone at home a lot since you guys got married. How can you even eat here with a straight face? That's so embarrassing!"Timothy, hearing Luna's harsh words, quickly pulled her aside and told her to stop.By then, a crowd had started to gather. They were watching the drama unfold.Lucy let out a chilling laugh. "Like mother, like daughter, Luna. You're just like her."Luna was about to lash out when a voice came from behind."Try laying a finger on her, I dare you."Matthew strode in from the entrance, having heard all of Luna's cruel words. Anger flared up inside him as he moved to stand by Lucy, glaring at Luna.Seeing M
"I'm gonna head out. You two have fun. Bye, Lucy," Chelsea said. She then turned and walked away.Matthew beamed at Lucy.Feeling his gaze, Lucy bashfully looked down."Matthew... Maybe we should head home..." she murmured.Seeing her like this, Matthew's smile grew even wider.…Once home, Lucy dove into her design work with her usual passion. She was a designer, and she could not slack off like before.Suddenly, Lucy's phone buzzed.It was a notification from Hudson. Lucy was over the moon, quickly accepted it, and started jumping around with joy.Matthew walked in just in time to see her giggling to herself.He strode over, grabbed the phone from her hands, and saw the name—Hudson. Another message popped up: [Hi Lucy.]At that moment, Matthew's mood turned sour, his face clouding over with a frown.Lucy, still beaming, finally noticed something was off with Matthew."Matthew, what's the matter?" Lucy was puzzled by Matthew's odd behavior.Matthew looked at Lucy with a
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