Hudson was stunned by these words. He had never faced such a formidable enemy before, and now, he found himself at a loss.Observing Alice's actions closely, Koven stepped forward with a cold sneer. He looked at Alice and said, "Hello, Alice. My name is Koven. I've investigated you before. I admit that your childhood was even more tragic than I had imagined."After your family's business failed, your parents chose to hang themselves. Your enemies killed your grandmother, but not before she secretly hid you outside with her bloodied hands. Later, a stranger took you in and raised you for ten years. "When you were ten, he died of cancer. You then took over his business. Spades has gone through many hardships, more setbacks than successes."When you were 17, you found your enemies who caused your parents' downfall and harmed your grandmother. At that time, they used a sharp knife to sever the tendon in your left hand. Later on, you killed many people, but the ones who harmed your gra
"Alice, you can take your time to think it over. We're not in a hurry. I can only say that this deal is highly beneficial for you, and we just want to ask a few questions. Have you considered other options? "Despite the internal problems within Spades, our small group alone cannot compete with it. So, I'm merely offering a suggestion. Don't get too upset," Koven said. Then, he turned to Hudson and said, "Hugh, Hudson, let's leave for now and give Alice some time to consider."Hugh and Hudson were puzzled by this. They had managed to meet Alice after much effort and had not exchanged contact information. What if Alice did not contact them? Would this trip not be in vain? Moreover, it would be even harder to come back later. Seeing their hesitation, Koven grabbed each of them by the arm and started dragging them toward the door."Wait!" Alice's voice came from behind.Koven turned back with a wink at Hugh and Hudson, then faced Alice with a serious expression.Alice, with a ste
This matter was instigated by Charlotte. They were both friends, and she asked for his help. He did not expect it to involve Matthew Leon and Leon Corporation, but he decided to proceed after some consideration. Alice's dilemma now was whether to betray Charlotte or ensure his hand's complete recovery. If his hand healed, consolidating power within Spades would be no problem at all. This decision was truly challenging.After a long pause, Alice finally said, "It's Charlotte from Charleston."When Alice revealed this, none of the three appeared particularly shocked, which puzzled Alice."Aren’t you surprised it's Charlotte?" Alice asked, frowning at them."No surprise there. We already suspected it but weren’t certain, so we came today to confirm. I didn’t expect it to actually be Charlotte," Hudson replied, glancing at Koven.Koven, though inwardly affected, had anticipated this outcome. Hearing it confirmed was even more disheartening than he had imagined. Charlotte was beyond
Alice narrowed his eyes at this, surprised to see there were actually three people willing to risk everything for their friend. It seemed Matthew had made some very good friends.As the three prepared to leave, Koven suddenly stopped and turned to Alice. "And I suppose you still don't know which of your subordinates is planning to rebel. I have some important information for you. Would you like to hear it?"Alice frowned slightly but nodded for him to continue."The most trusted person by your side might just be the one plotting against you."Before Alice could fully process this, Koven added, "By the way, I'll arrange for the doctor to treat your arm. Make sure to notify your receptionist so that he doesn't get left waiting. His temper isn't as good as ours, and he might cause a scene in your lobby!"With that, Koven smiled, turned, and walked out.Alice began to ponder those words, uncertain of whom to suspect. Ever since his left hand was crippled, he had sensed that his power
At this moment, Matthew immediately looked in the direction of the voice. He searched around for a while but did not see any sign of Linus, so he turned to Charlie with a puzzled expression. He wanted to ask Charlie where he had seen Linus. Seeing Matthew’s clueless expression as he searched around, Charlie could not help but burst into laughter. He pointed at Matthew, laughing heartily while saying, "Matthew, are you stupid? I was just messing with you. Gosh, when did you become so gullible?"Upon hearing this, Matthew's expression darkened, and he began to walk toward Charlie step by step. Everyone knew that Matthew had practiced martial arts before, making it incredibly easy for him to handle someone as slender as Charlie. In front of the passersby and the elderly onlookers, Matthew directly grabbed Charlie’s arm and performed an over-the-shoulder throw."Fuck! Matthew, you actually threw me over your shoulder! Do you know how painful it is? Are you crazy?" Charlie clu
Following that, Charlie nodded, adjusted his glasses, and then ran with Matthew toward Linus.At this moment, Linus was wearing a hat and had already heard the commotion behind him. After all, he had been searching for them in this neighborhood for a while. This neighborhood was indeed too big, and completing the task without getting heatstroke seemed impossible.He picked up a newspaper, pretending to read it, while waiting for Charlie and Matthew to arrive.“Linus Gusman!” Matthew’s voice called out, addressing Linus who had his back to them.Matthew watched the person with his back turned, curious if it was really Linus. He glanced at Charlie for confirmation.Charlie looked back at Matthew, unsure of what to say. He had only met Linus once before, and being asked to identify him now seemed quite absurd, especially since the person was wearing a hat. It was difficult to tell.Tentatively, Charlie called out to the figure with his back to them, “Hey, Linus...”Linus, having
"Alright, ask your questions quickly. I have things to do and can't spend too much time chatting with you," Linus said, locking eyes with them.Matthew spoke up, "What's your purpose in getting close to Lucy? I advise you to tell the truth now, or I might not be able to hold back my anger toward you!"Matthew felt a surge of anger just looking at Linus' face and remembering how Lucy had cried over him last time. She had cried her heart out, making Matthew realize Linus still held a place in her heart. His jealousy flared up.Linus chuckled coldly and looked at Matthew. "Are you really that insecure about yourself? I can't believe it. You're married to Lucy and even have a child together, yet you don't trust her? What kind of husband are you?" Linus met Matthew's gaze.Linus decided to follow Selena's advice and not fear Matthew. As long as Lucy was still in the picture, he had to seize every opportunity.Matthew's anger flared at Linus' words. He could not believe Linus dared to t
At this moment, Matthew could not hold back anymore. He turned, ready to lunge at Linus and beat him up, but Charlie stopped him in time."Matthew, calm down. We're here to ask questions, not to fight. Don't you want to get to the bottom of this matter as soon as possible? If you do, then put your fists down and let's talk things through with Linus. "Linus is already talking to us calmly, which is good enough. Take a deep breath and calm down."Matthew heard this and managed to regain his composure. He remembered why they were here to see Linus—to investigate Spades, not to get tangled up in issues between Linus and Lucy. He had to admit he had gotten sidetracked. Taking a deep breath, he met Linus' gaze again.Charlie, afraid they might start fighting at any moment, stood between them and then turned to Linus. "Mr. Gusman, let me ask you this. Were you sent by Mr. Zimmer to get close to Lucy? Were you supposed to help Mr. Zimmer deal with her but then realized she was your childh
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