"Lacee, this is my husband, Matthew,” introduced Lucy with a smile.Feeling deeply humiliated, Lacee gave Lucy a vicious glare. However, she quickly changed her expression to a more cheerful one.“Lucy, you didn’t tell me you had such an amazing husband! Why didn’t you introduce him to me earlier?” Lacee tried to suppress her anger, but she was still livid.“Sorry for not introducing him to you earlier, Lacee. He’s busy with work, so we only get to see each other after work. Sorry about that.” Lucy sensed that Lacee was upset, so she quickly apologized.“Why are you apologizing to her? It’s not your fault,” Matthew voiced his thoughts with visible confusion on his face. He did not understand why Lucy felt the need to apologize.After Matthew’s remark, Lacee felt even more awkward. She said, “With Mr. Leon backing Lucy up, she doesn’t even need to participate in the Hype and Elegance Fashion Show because the first place will go to her anyway, along with the lead designer role. In t
The draft was a clear outline of the shape and color of the dress.Lucy’s inspiration had come from cherry blossoms. The dress was a long, form-fitting gown with flowy long sleeves. The bodice was white, and there was a subtle gradient from the waist down, with small cherry blossom embellishments at the bottom, giving it an elegant look.However, the design lacked a wow factor.While the draft was good, it felt like something was missing. Staring at the draft, Koven pondered what to add to the design to perfect it and make it more eye-catching, but he could not figure out what it was.Seeing Koven lost in thought, Lucy was worried that the draft might not meet Koven’s expectations.Hudson noticed Koven’s expression too, so he snatched the draft from him.In Hudson’s opinion, the draft was already very impressive, so he did not understand why Koven was still in contemplation.Lucy leaned over and asked, “How is it? It’s just the first draft, so I haven’t refined all the details y
"Alright, you two. That’s enough. It’s getting late. Let’s all head home now,” Lucy said, and the others nodded in agreement.Koven decided to go to a bar for a drink alone while Matthew and Lucy went back home. Hudson, on the other hand, stayed back at the office for a bit to smoke a cigarette before heading downstairs to walk home.His mind had been in chaos over the past few days. His uncle had been pressuring him to follow his orders, but he did not want to be under his control.On his walk back home, he saw a familiar silhouette.“Chloe?!”Hudson immediately ran toward the familiar silhouette, shouting, “Chloe! Chloe!”The woman in a black pencil skirt with flowing hair stopped in her tracks. Chloe turned around after hearing the familiar voice, but when she saw that it was Hudson, she instantly ran away.“Chloe! Chloe!” Hudson shouted. He recognized her instantly, but seeing her run away made him anxious.Chloe ran for a while, but Hudson was still chasing after her. Fina
Hudson reached out to touch Chloe’s face, only to be met with a slap from her.As he felt the sharp pang in his heart, the slap made him realize that he had lost her for good.After the slap, Chloe simply walked away without looking back, her eyes filled with loathing toward Hudson.In his despair, Hudson lifted his head to watch her retreating figure. He did not know how to change her mind. Perhaps they were not meant to be, and maybe he would only bring her harm if they were together, especially considering his cruel uncle.Hudson stood in place as he watched Chloe’s figure grow more distant, realizing that she had probably moved on for good.Then, he dragged himself home, feeling numb and lost. The breeze brushed against his face, highlighting the desolation on his once-perfect features, which aroused sympathy from onlookers.His phone rang in his pocket, but he could not be bothered to answer. When the second call came, he irritatedly retrieved his phone.Koven?Seeing that
Hudson glanced at the women, signaling for them to leave. Then, he picked up a drink from the table and started drinking alone. Seeing Koven in his drunken state made Hudson uneasy.After drinking for a while, Hudson began to feel a little tipsy too, so he sat there in a daze.Just then, Koven opened his eyes and was startled to see Hudson beside him.“What are you doing here? My head hurts so bad,” Koven mumbled, holding his head in a daze as he squinted at Hudson.Seeing him awake, Hudson patted his back and asked, “How are you feeling? If you’re fine, let’s go.”“Why are you here?” Koven still could not quite figure out why Hudson was there.Hudson shot him a glare.“You still have the nerve to ask, huh? Not only did you come here to drink alone without inviting me, but you even ended up like this. The bartender called me to come pick you up before a group of women took you home. Did you expect me not to come after hearing that?”Hudson rolled his eyes at Koven.Koven’s hea
Matthew’s study was not far from the master bedroom, so as soon as he heard his phone ring, he silenced it. When he saw who was calling, he wondered why Hudson was calling him this late at night.Out of curiosity, he answered the call. “Hello? What’s wrong?”The other end was eerily silent, and Matthew's heart began to race. He wondered if something had happened to Hudson.After noticing the call had gone through 23 seconds ago, Hudson picked up the phone and said, “Matthew, what are you doing right now? Can you come pick me up?”“Pick you up? What happened to you?” Matthew could tell from the sound of his voice that he had been drinking, so he let his guard down a little.“Nothing. When we left just now, Koven went out drinking alone. Then, the bartender called me saying he was drunk and asked me to pick him up. I drank a bit too, and now we’re both drunk and stranded on the streets, which is why I called you.” Hudson was embarrassed to say this. All his life, he had always pra
Matthew drove while Koven and Hudson sat in the back.It seemed like the two had fallen asleep, which made Matthew feel more at ease. However, he realized he did not know where Hudson lived.He turned and called his name, “Hudson, where do you live? Wake up and tell me! Where do you live?”Slumped in the seat, Hudson was completely unresponsive. Matthew’s expression turned terrifyingly grim. He decided to go back to his place for now. He rolled down all four windows to let some fresh air in, hoping that it would wake them up.Hudson remained quiet in the back, but Koven was starting to get rowdy.“Baby… Love you… Mwah mwah…” Koven looked at Hudson with wide, innocent eyes. He kept making gestures with his hands, trying to lay his hands on Hudson.Matthew was utterly speechless. He never imagined that a man could turn into such a sissy after getting drunk.After a while, Koven’s constant interruptions became unbearable, so Matthew put on earplugs so that he could drive uninterrup
Matthew rummaged through the garage and finally found a trolley.Lucy had insisted on buying it back then, saying it would make moving clothes and furniture easier. After using it once, it had been left to gather dust in the garage.After pushing the trolley next to the car, Matthew pinched his nose with one hand and dragged Koven’s limp body onto the trolley with the other. Koven flopped into the trolley like a ragdoll.Matthew then opened the other door, grabbed Hudson by the ankles, and hauled him out. He dumped Hudson on top of Koven.Just as he was about to push them upstairs, he remembered something.He took out his phone and recorded a video of the vomit-covered interior of his car and the two men huddled in the trolley as evidence. Satisfied with his work, he pocketed his phone and started pushing the trolley toward his house.The trolley made a lot of noise as it clattered up the steps, but Matthew had no other choice. He gritted his teeth and continued moving them insid
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