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
When Linus heard these words, although he felt deeply hurt inside, his expression remained calm. He was suppressing his inner sadness. Smiling, he looked at Matthew."I don't mean anything else. I just want to tell you that if you ever bully or hurt Lucy in the future, I won't let you off. And if you find another woman one day, I hope you'll return Lucy to me. I promise I won't let her go hungry or cry. I'll make sure she's happy every day!" After saying this, Linus felt relieved.Even though he knew Lucy would never return to him, he still held onto the fantasy. At this moment, he was determined to protect Lucy for a lifetime. It did not matter if he never married another woman in his lifetime. He did not want Lucy to lack someone to talk to or someone to share her pain with when she was helpless. Having these thoughts comforted him.Meanwhile, Charlie was completely dumbfounded by their antics. They had agreed to meet Linus today to discuss Spades. Unexpectedly, Matthew kept vee
Matthew and Charlie grabbed Linus and went straight into Matthew's home.Just as they entered the house, before Linus could even take a casual look around, he loudly exclaimed, "Why did you bring me in here? What do you want?"Meanwhile, Charlie and Matthew were pondering what was going on, prompting Linus to pick up his phone and type out a string of words.The words on the screen read: [Let's pretend to talk first. Later on, let's use our phones to communicate, but we must still speak in real life, or we'll be discovered.]After reading the message, Matthew and Charlie quickly nodded and then took out their phones.Matthew pretended to be angry and said, "Believe it or not, if you ever get close to Lucy again, I'll make sure you end up six feet underground!""Yeah, Linus Gusman. What you're doing is so unethical!" Charlie typed on his phone while speaking to Linus.At this point, Matthew showed Linus the message on his phone: [Who's your immediate superior? Are there any other
This was indeed something Linus had never imagined. The person he had been searching for all his life suddenly appeared before his eyes, and he found it quite unsettling.At this moment, Charlie looked at the text displayed on the screen, lost in thought.Then, he whispered in Matthew's ear, "We've asked just about enough questions. Hudson and Koven probably have more information than us. Why don't we ask Linus to leave now? We can then meet up with Hudson and the others and consolidate all the information together."After hearing this, Matthew nodded and loudly addressed Linus, "Let me make this clear to you. Get out right now. If I ever see you near Lucy again, I'll make sure you regret it."Matthew spoke these words without pretense, showing that he genuinely meant to warn Linus to stay away from Lucy.Immediately after, Charlie opened the door and pushed Linus out.Later, the two men had a drink at Matthew's house before heading to meet Hudson.…Meanwhile, at another locat
"I understand, Mr. Zimmer. After all, I've needed your approval for everything since I was young. You're the most powerful figure, aren't you?" Linus said as he looked into Daniel's eyes.If placed in the past, Daniel's gaze might have intimidated him, but now that he had grown up, Linus had long since grown accustomed to Daniel's ways. Even if Daniel were to strike him now, he would not flinch."Oh, so that's how you're going to talk to me now, Linus Gusman? What do you mean by needing my approval? Every decision I've made for you since you were a child was for your sake. How dare you speak to me like this?!" Mr. Zimmer, upon hearing this, was especially furious and pointed a finger at him. "Isn't it true? From the moment you picked me up all those years ago, I've lived in your shadow. And then, when I finally met Lucy, she disappeared without a trace. Now, I understand. Back then, you were afraid Lucy would interfere with me becoming your pawn, so you had her family send her away
Upon hearing this, Linus frowned slightly, unsure of what to say. He thought his own childhood was already quite tragic.Immediately, he asked Daniel, "Then why can't you just tell me the truth of the matter?" Daniel sighed deeply, picked up a cigarette from the table, and walked toward the balcony.Observing the situation, Linus followed behind Daniel and leaned against the railing."When you were six years old, I took you in and began grooming you to be an assassin. My upbringing was completely different from yours. Both my parents died when I was young, and I was brought into Spades from birth. "Later, everyone in Spades couldn't stand me and often bullied me. It became a norm for the other kids to urinate on my face and make me eat feces. Finally, when I was five years old, the former boss of Spades discovered me and started making me run every day to train my body."The former boss of the organization was really good to me. When I was young, I foolishly thought he was help
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