Chelsea pulled Lucy to the counter to pay the bill and stomped out of the restaurant.The waiter got worried. Was their service so bad that the customers were angry? Then, he remembered that he had done everything according to their request. He concluded that it was probably something else.Not knowing what the waiter behind her was thinking, Chelsea felt like she was about to explode with anger. She went to a secluded place and asked Lucy to sit down while she glared at her.“Lucy, you have some guts for hiding your medical condition from me and having such greasy foods. What makes you think you can eat steak?”Lucy knew that it was her fault. She shrunk back and stared at Chelsea with innocent, doe-like eyes so that she would go easy on her. “I was just craving it so badly. Besides, the doctor said that having it once in a while is fine.”Chelsea poked Lucy’s forehead with her finger. “Yeah, right. All you care about is food. You don’t even care about your health. Indulging in
”That’s all, Chelsea. That’s all that I’m hiding from you, so stop asking.”Lucy tugged at Chelsea’s arm and pouted.Chelsea shot her a look and sighed. “Fine, I won’t ask anymore. I’m not interested in hearing about your lovey-dovey daily life with your husband either.”Lucy smiled at Chelsea. “If you don’t want to hear it, I won’t talk about it. But I want to hear about your lovey-dovey life with your boyfriend.“Quick, you haven’t answered my questions about your boyfriend yet.”Chelsea looked at her speechlessly. “You’re so nosy. Do I have to tell you?”Lucy looked at her with puppy eyes. “Last time, you interrogated Matthew to find out about his background. Why can’t I ask you this? Tell me, tell me!"She kept acting childishly.Sighing, Chelsea pressed Lucy down. “Stop it.”Lucy followed her orders and stopped acting childishly.“I’ll tell you.”Chelsea started reminiscing. “He and I met in high school.”Lucy was shocked. “I was in the same high school as you. Why don
After deciding on a time and place to meet up with Matthew, Lucy hung up the phone.Chelsea waited for her to hang up before saying, “What? Is your husband worried? Does he want you to go back early?”Lucy looked like she was in despair. “I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had time to spend with Matthew. I finally had a day off today, so he really wanted to go on a date with me. "Since I had already agreed to meet up with you, I had no choice but to promise him that we'd watch a movie tonight. I didn’t think…”Lucy looked up at the darkening sky.“You didn’t think that it was getting so late because you got carried away and forgot.”Chelsea finished her sentence for her, and Lucy nodded sadly. “He’s going to drive me crazy now.”Just then, Chelsea’s phone rang too.Lucy looked at Chelsea devilishly. “Chelsea, you'd better pick up. It might be your boyfriend calling.”Chelsea took out her phone disapprovingly. “No way… Don't jinx it.”As soon as she saw who called, Chels
Matthew quickly walked up to Lucy and held out his watch without any expression on his face. “My dear Lulu, do you know what time it is?”Lucy glanced at his watch subconsciously and said, “It’s 7:30 pm.”Then, Lucy realized that he was trying to settle the score with her. She smiled ingratiatingly while going up to pat him on the shoulder. “Don’t be mad, Matt. It’s just that I haven’t been out with Chelsea in a long time, so I accidentally forgot. I swear I won’t do it again next time.”Next time? Matthew glanced at Lucy with a sense of resignation. Was his wife’s promises even worth anything? It seemed like this was the second time she had broken her promise.“Why do I find your promises so unreliable?” Matthew said frankly.Meanwhile, Chelsea, who was drinking coffee, rolled her eyes at him. Only Matthew, this henpecked husband, would believe Lucy’s promises.As Lucy’s best friend of over ten years, she had long known that nothing Lucy said was reliable.Lucy was good at pers
Hugh did not notice Matthew at first, not until Matthew looked up.Huh? Why was the president of Leon Corporation here?Suddenly, something hit him, and he smiled calmly while raising his right hand.“Hello, I’m Hugh Lincoln, Chelsea’s boyfriend.”Matthew understood that he did not want his identity to be exposed, so he played along.He shook hands with Hugh in a friendly manner. “Hello, I’m Matthew Leon, Lucy’s husband.”There was a hint of amusement in Hugh’s eyes. Apparently, the rumors about Leon Corporation’s CEO’s marriage were true.Chelsea and Lucy were taken aback by their interaction.Were they not at odds with each other earlier? Why did they seem as close as two peas in a pod? Men’s friendships were truly perplexing.After shaking hands, Matthew quickly let go.Hugh did not pay much attention to it. He put his hand into his pocket and said, “Thank you for staying with Chelsea, Mr. Leon. Since you’re done here, I’ll be taking her home now.”Hugh spoke casually. Ma
Lucy stopped in her tracks and looked at Matthew. “How do you know it’ll be fine?”Matthew shrugged. “I just know. That guy isn’t just an ordinary office worker.”“Not an ordinary office worker?”Lucy was even more worried now. According to what Matthew said, Hugh must not just be an ordinary person if he was keeping his identity hidden. Seeing as Lucy was getting even more worried, Matthew sighed. “Don’t worry, that guy has a legitimate background, and he’s clean. I don’t know why he’s hiding his real name, but from what I can see, his feelings for Chelsea are genuine. Everything should be fine.”Lucy finally calmed down after what he said. She rolled her eyes at him and said, “How could you start off with something like that? If I hadn’t heard your explanation, I would've thought that Chelsea was with some kind of human trafficker.”Hearing this, Matthew blinked innocently. “I don’t have a choice. This is his own private matter, so I can’t just expose him like that. I've told
Lucy replied without even looking at him, “I’m popping popcorn.”Matthew looked confused. “Popcorn? You can make popcorn in the microwave?”Lucy turned to look at him in shock. “Why can’t you make popcorn in the microwave?”The two of them stared at each other, puzzled by the differences in their understanding.When Matthew did not understand something, he would always try to figure it out. That was the principle he lived by. However, seeing as Lucy had no intention of answering his question, he simply waited with Lucy beside the microwave.If someone were to come in, they would be greeted by the couple waiting by the microwave like two obedient dogs. Three minutes went by quickly. Lucy took out the paper bag from the microwave, but it was a little hot, so she quickly put it down and pinched her earlobes.Matthew worriedly blew on her fingers after she took out the popcorn.“Wifey, if you want popcorn, just ask someone to make some for you. Why do you have to do it yourself? L
While Matthew and Lucy were happily watching the movie, the air was tense between Chelsea and Hugh in the coffee shop.Chelsea rolled her eyes at him. “Why did you come so early? Didn’t I tell you that I was shopping with Lucy?”Hugh said to her gently, “I was just worried about you two women getting home, so I wanted to give you a lift. I didn’t think that your best friend’s husband would come to pick her up too.”Chelsea knew that she was being unreasonable. Even if Hugh had not come to pick her up, she was probably about to go home too. She was just angry for some reason, so very angry!She remembered how he had called her all of a sudden earlier, discrediting her. Their quarrel escalated even further. Meanwhile, Hugh was at a loss. He could not figure out for the life of him what he had done to anger Chelsea. All he could do was try to calm her down.“Chelsea, please don’t be mad. How about I take you to Timberland Lake this Saturday? We can ride in hot air balloons and go on
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