Seeing Hugh like this, Chelsea felt sorry for him, but she thought that it was too early for her to have a child. Besides, she had not had enough fun yet. Well, it was not just about having fun. She could barely manage her own time! If a child came into the picture all of a sudden, what was she going to do?If Hugh really wanted a child, she would still be willing to have one because a good man like him was hard to find these days.…When Lucy and Matthew got to the office, they saw Koven and Hudson running toward Lucy with big smiles while ignoring Matthew.Seeing the two of them standing on either side of Lucy made Matthew uncomfortable. Any man would feel the same in this situation.“Wow, twins! How far along are you? How much longer until I can meet my godchildren?” Koven asked, grinning from ear to ear.Hudson stood there, looking just as happy. He would glance at Lucy and then at Matthew every now and then. His eyes were full of blessings for the couple, but more than any
"Sunrise Group is facing bankruptcy,” Matthew said as he lit a cigarette and looked out the window.Hudson and Koven exchanged puzzled glances before quickly sitting down on either side of him and asking what was going on.“After Sunrise Group started having problems, I had Kent buy out all the shares from their shareholders at a high price, including their ongoing projects. Many shareholders have already withdrawn their investments from Sunrise Group.“Now, the company is facing significant risks, and the police are investigating their financial records. From what I know, it’s likely that they’ll find accounting issues with the project we collaborated on, but the crisis has been averted for us since we suspended the project with Sunrise Group. We won't proceed with it any further,” Matthew explained to the both of them.Although Koven could not fully grasp what he meant, he understood that Matthew's side had not suffered any losses and that Sunrise Group was on the verge of bankru
Feeling relieved, Hudson and Matthew agreed with Koven’s suggestion.“By the way, has there been any news on Linus lately? He hasn’t shown up around Lucy, has he?” Koven asked, suddenly remembering Linus.Matthew shook his head.“Linus is quite mysterious. Although he lives near our house, we never run into him. Thinking back, all our encounters with him happened when I wasn’t around. Whenever he appears, Lucy always tells me that they ran into each other by chance, which makes him even more suspicious.”Matthew was still wary of Linus. Despite claims of him turning over a new leaf, Linus’ history with Spades could not be ignored.“I think we should tell Lucy about this, at least to give her some precaution. The main issue is that we can’t predict Linus’ intentions. He has approached Lucy several times already, yet each time, he hasn’t shown any clear motives. That only makes him more suspicious, don’t you think?” Koven suggested.Lucy was his apprentice, after all, so he could n
”In that case, why do they need a lawyer? It’s impossible that there isn’t anything wrong with their accounts. Ted accepted a bribe from Spades. How could that go unnoticed? I found evidence of that myself,” said Matthew, unable to believe that Sunrise Group's accounts were spotless. At that time, he distinctly remembered uncovering two separate illicit payments.“That’s the problem. Logically speaking, with such large transactions, it’s impossible not to find any discrepancies. But I reviewed the accounts, and there were no issues at all, including Ted’s bank statements and elsewhere.“Not to mention, the internal operations of Sunrise Group have been chaotic for the past few years, so their accounts should have shown errors. It seems like someone tampered with the records, or perhaps Spades helped cover it up. They probably made a deal with Ted to keep him from exposing the truth.”After hearing this, Hudson spoke up, “That does make sense. If Spades orchestrated this, Sunrise Gro
"Don’t worry, I’ve got this. I know all the ins and outs of Mermaid Network. This is a piece of cake,” Koven assured them. He then walked over to the computer, logged into Mermaid Network, and began a comprehensive search.Charlie and Matthew exchanged looks and got up from the couch, moving toward the desk.Within a few minutes, Koven found information on Sunrise Group, and what he saw left him in shock.“Holy shit! Sunrise Group has been embezzling a ton of money. From the time they went public until now, the amount they’ve siphoned off is staggering. It’s enough to last them a lifetime—no, it’s probably enough to last their next 18 generations!" Koven exclaimed, staring at the data on the screen in disbelief.“No need to be so dramatic. You’re always so over the top,” Hudson quickly retorted when he heard Koven’s exaggerated statement.Koven chuckled sheepishly. “It’s just a figure of speech, you know.”“Our priority right now isn’t their past financial records but the curre
In Hudson’s office, Charlie was carefully looking through the documents, hoping to find some clues.“It seems like uncovering the truth behind these documents won’t be easy because Spades has hidden their tracks too well, but I don’t think they know that we know they’re the ones behind this. If they do, it’ll put us in danger, so we can only operate in the shadows,” said Charlie in a serious tone. Although he was now a lawyer for Sunrise Group, he still hoped that Matthew would not encounter any problems.“If we have to operate in the shadows, it could get tricky. The people from Spades are stronger than we thought, judging by the fact that they could erase all of Sunrise Group’s dark history without anyone noticing. "Luckily, we have the evidence from Koven’s Mermaid Network. If not, we would've had no other way…” Matthew said, expressing his gratitude toward Koven.Mermaid Network had helped them a lot in this matter. Without Koven, they would not even know where to start thei
"Lucy, you’re definitely going to win the grand prize with this design. It will be a highlight in the history of the Hype and Elegance Fashion Show. To be honest, seeing your work makes me question my own confidence,” Koven said with a self-deprecating laugh.Lucy was embarrassed to hear this. Koven was her mentor, and for him to say such a thing meant that her design was truly exceptional. However, she still felt she could not reach his level.“You’re too kind, Koven. I’ve always been interested in design and drawing, but I never thought I’d become a fashion designer. I owe it all to you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here today,” Lucy sincerely thanked him from the bottom of her heart.She was lucky she had Koven to guide her onto this path because without him, she might still be at home, drawing and sketching out of boredom. Now, with her newfound passion, she always felt busy and fulfilled.“You’re welcome. If your design is ready, I’ll submit it and find a suitable mode
"It's good that you're aware. I’m going to beat you in the fashion show, and even if you do win, it'll be because of Matthew’s help. If I had a husband like him, I’d just stay home and enjoy a life of luxury. Why bother working and exhausting myself every day? "Wealthy people like you become designers for the experience while people like me do it to earn a living.” After finishing, Lacee shot Lucy a side-eye.Koven’s anger toward Lacee was rising as he listened to their conversation.“Lacee, that’s enough. You shouldn’t talk like that. Both you and Lucy can learn from each other. Lucy earned her achievements through her own hard work too. "If you’re so easily jealous, forget about being a designer. There's always going to be someone better than you out there. What are you going to do then? Kill them to stay at the top?” Koven vented his frustration in a single breath.Lacee swallowed her retort as she could not afford to offend Koven. If she did, she would have no chance in the
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