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
Back in the master bedroom, Matthew could not stand the smell on himself, so he decided to take a shower before bed.Meanwhile, Lucy went straight to bed from exhaustion. She had already gone to bed later than usual that night, but her sleep got interrupted too.When Matthew got out of the shower, he saw that Lucy was already asleep, so he quietly turned off the lights and lay down beside her, holding her close as he drifted off to sleep.…Early the next morning, Matthew and Lucy got up to start their day.Lucy cautiously opened the guest room door and saw that Hudson and Koven were still sleeping. Not wanting to disturb them, she headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for them.Meanwhile, Matthew went to the study to grab a book and settled down in the living room to read. Lucy decided to make a simple breakfast of eggs, bread, and milk.In the guest room, Hudson was the first to wake up. He looked around the unfamiliar room, then turned and saw Koven lying next to him,
With a smirk on his face, Matthew picked up his phone to open up his gallery. After finding the video, he placed the phone between Hudson and Koven before tapping play.As the two men watched the video, their jaws nearly dropped. Was that really them? Was this some kind of setup? Of course, knowing Matthew’s character, Koven and Hudson did not think that he would intentionally orchestrate this just to film a prank video.After watching the video, Koven awkwardly gave Matthew and Lucy a chuckle before lowering his head and quietly sipping his milk.“I’m sorry for the trouble yesterday,” Hudson sincerely apologized to Lucy and Matthew.Matthew gave them a devilish smile without saying a word. Then, he stood up and said to Lucy, “Let’s go. I’ll drive you to work.”Lucy looked at him curiously and asked, “Why don’t we go together later? Hudson, Koven, and I are going to the same place anyway.” She smiled at both of them.“Let’s go first. They haven’t finished eating yet.”Lucy nodde
Seeing Koven like this, Hudson had no choice but to be the one to drive. However, the front passenger seat was in such a terrible state that he had to pinch his nose before getting in.“Hudson, can you open all four windows to let some fresh air in? The air in here is unbearable. How can you stand it? Have you lost your sense of smell?” Koven said in the back seat, finding it absurd that Hudson had not opened the windows yet.After that, Hudson said with embarrassment, “I knew something felt off. Turns out I forgot to open the windows. My bad.”“I can’t believe Matthew. Who would've thought that he was evil enough to leave us this car? When we get to the office, I’m going to tell on him to Lucy.” Fuming, Koven stuck his head out the window.“Give me a break. This all started because of you. If you hadn’t insisted on drinking alone and ended up plastered, would I have had to come pick you up, get drunk myself, and call Matthew? Geez,” Hudson complained about Koven both through his m
After a while, a scream came from the bathroom. It sounded like the cry of a pig being slaughtered. Hearing the commotion, Hudson immediately ran to the bathroom door and asked, “Koven, are you okay? What happened? Do you need me to open the door?”Inside the bathroom, Koven was sitting on the floor and taking deep breaths to ease the pain from the fall.“Buddy, couldn’t you have made the floor non-slip? I almost shattered my bones from this fall, you know? Oh, my back,” Koven complained in an angry tone.As much as Hudson wanted to laugh, hearing that Koven had fallen, he held back and said, “It’s your own feet that aren’t non-slip, and you’re blaming the floor? Koven, maybe you should wear anti-slip socks everywhere you go so that you don’t slip.”Koven nearly burst out of the bathroom to hit Hudson, but he realized that his clothes were outside and he had no new ones.Wait a minute, where was his new set of clothes?!“Hudson, where are my clean clothes?” Koven asked, genuine
Koven deeply empathized with Lucy’s words because he had walked a similar path before. He faced criticism from people when he was having a hard time feeling inspired. Although things had improved for him now, he had never forgotten how that felt.“It’s okay. Inspiration will come around eventually, whether it be when you see a fallen leaf on the street, feel the wind brush against your face, see the ripples of a lake, watch people walking by, gaze at the clouds in the sky, or admire the moon at night. "I’ve gone through this myself. Why don’t you give it a try?” Koven gave her some advice.Having gone through the same thing, Koven truly believed in Lucy’s potential and hoped she would one day grace stages across the globe.Lucy smiled and nodded. “Perhaps it’s because there isn’t much time left until the fashion show, so I feel nervous every day. I’m afraid that I won’t do well!”“As long as you create something that is beautiful to you, whether it be for the fashion show or not,
"I’ll never let you outshine me, Lucy. Just wait and see!” After eavesdropping on the conversation, Lacee returned to her office, visibly upset.She made a phone call.“Hello? What’s the matter now, Lacee?” Josiah’s deep and cold voice came from the other end.“Mr. Josiah, it’s not fair. Lucy and I are supposed to participate in the Hype and Elegance Fashion Show together, but Lucy has Koven as her mentor, so he’ll definitely be guiding her while I have nothing. It’s not fair!” In her office, Lacee glared fiercely ahead.Josiah’s expression darkened immediately. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle this matter.”After hanging up, he called Hudson.“Hello, Hudson. What are you up to?” Josiah sounded friendly, but he was really indifferent on the inside.Upon hearing the familiar voice, Hudson smiled and replied, “Is there something you need, Uncle?”“Lucy and Lacee were meant to participate in the Hype and Elegance Fashion Show together, but I want Lacee to come in first place. Do you unde
"The Hype and Elegance Fashion Show is going to feature famous designers from all over the world. How could you have the power to dictate who comes first? Plus, both Lucy and Lacee are competing in a fair competition. They'll bring honor to the company regardless of who comes first. "Why is your uncle bothered by such a trivial matter? This doesn’t seem like him. Could it be that he’s unhappy with Lucy?” Koven was intrigued by what Josiah said. Given his typically reserved and composed demeanor, he never concerned himself with such minor issues.“You don’t know the full story. Lacee was recruited by my uncle when she was still a newbie. I only discovered later by chance that her designs were quite to my liking. Afterward, I arranged professional training for her, which brought considerable honor to the company. But the fact that she was employed by my uncle still makes me uneasy," Hudson explained. Taking a deep breath, he stared out the window.Koven was at a loss for words after
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