"How is that possible?! You must be lying to me. How could Selena be a member of Spades! She's clearly the purest among us, and she loves Koven so much. Plus, she's always been so good to Lucy. How could she want to harm them?"Chelsea's face was filled with disbelief. It was hard for her to accept that someone she spent almost every day with, someone she considered as important as Lucy, could be the one trying to harm them.Hugh sighed at her reaction. “There’s nothing we can do. The facts are just that. I don’t want to believe it either.”“It’s impossible... Selena could never be a bad person!” Chelsea still muttered incredulously.“Whatever the case, let’s go inside first. Do you want to keep standing in the rain?” Matthew frowned, speaking irritably to Hugh and Chelsea.He held Lucy tightly in his arms. Even though they were standing under the eaves, he did not want his wife to catch even the slightest chill.Hugh, already aware of Matthew's tendency to spoil his wife, did no
Matthew went to open the door and saw Selena dressed in a tight black dress, wearing high heels embedded with rhinestones. Her face was adorned with exquisite makeup, and her long curly hair cascaded down, making her look completely different from usual.Koven was also in disbelief, staring blankly at Selena.This was a side of her he had never seen before, similar to the photo of her at work he saw on Linus' phone earlier today. She looked stunning and aloof, without any trace of her usual sweet and adorable demeanor.Selena smiled at them but did not sit in the seat next to Koven. Instead, she chose the seat opposite him."I have a rough idea why you called me here. If you've indeed discovered that I'm an undercover agent, I'll leave right now."Her tone was more flippant than expected, and her gaze toward Koven was both hollow and frank."You must all hate me now. If you have any questions, ask them now. I'll answer as best as I can, but there are some organization secrets I c
“Because it’s our anniversary, I wanted to treat it seriously. Also, I hope you can leave Spades.” Koven's tone seemed to carry a hint of pleading.“That’s impossible. I was born a member of Spades, and I’ll die as one. It’s destined.” Selena also shook her head sadly, her eyes somewhat vacant.“Actually, you’re just like Linus. Both of you are inherently good people. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have hesitated to act against us for so long,” Lucy said softly from the side.“So, you’ve figured it all out? It seems Linus' acting skills aren’t as good as mine since you found out so quickly.” Selena laughed self-deprecatingly.“If that’s the case, then tell me why you had so many opportunities to kill me but never did?” Lucy asked eagerly. Like Koven, she did not want to believe that Selena genuinely wanted to harm them.“Yeah, I should've acted long ago…” Selena’s vacant gaze turned to the ceiling. She also did not understand why she couldn’t bring herself to act.She used to think it w
"But even if I really had the chance to escape from that hellhole, what about Linus? I can't just leave him there alone," Selena thought, unable to shake the worry for him.“Koven, I’m sorry. I really can’t leave Spades. Everything that happened between us, just consider it a dream.” Selena’s voice trembled, even carrying a hint of sobbing. She did not want to lose these people in front of her, the only friends who had ever given her warmth and care.“Selena, you need to have confidence in yourself and in our relationship. Even though we haven’t been together as long as Lucy and Matthew, I believe we can grow old together,” Koven said. Although he had just agreed with everyone in the car that he would cut ties with Selena, he found himself unable to say it now.Like a drowning man desperately clinging to the last straw, he did not want to give up on his relationship with Selena so easily.“Forget it, Koven. Persuasion is useless. Everyone has their own path to walk. Such an importa
However, from these past few days of interaction, she understood that Matthew would not speak recklessly.At this moment, Chelsea could not hold back any longer and began to persuade Selena, “Even though you’ve been pretending and deceiving us all this time, if you truly want to escape Spades, Lucy, Linus, and I will definitely do our best to help you, regardless of the past.”“Really?” Selena met Chelsea's gaze, and everyone else was also looking at her sincerely, including Koven, who had been hanging his head low.She was deeply moved, never having felt such warmth before. Before coming here, she had prepared herself to be condemned by everyone, which was why she dressed so aggressively. It was to make herself seem more cold-hearted and invincible.However, the situation had completely taken Selena by surprise. These people seemed to genuinely care about her and regarded her as a friend. Otherwise, they would not be so eager to help her even after discovering her true identity.
In the basement, a place with no signal, they could speak without worrying too much. Realizing this, Koven approached Selena and patted her pockets, but unlike before, he did not find a hidden bugging device.“Don’t bother looking. You won’t find it,” Selena said, looking somewhat helpless as Koven prepared to search her.“What do you mean?” Koven asked, puzzled.“I mean the bugging device. You won’t find it,” Selena said, staring into his eyes and enunciating each word clearly.Then, Selena placed a hand over her chest and calmly explained, “In Spades, before we join, everyone undergoes a minor surgery to embed a specialized bugging device near the rib next to their heart.“So, you won’t find it.” After she finished speaking, a faint smile curved her lips.Upon hearing Selena’s explanation, everyone gasped in shock. They had not expected the Spades organization to treat their members so inhumanely.Koven’s heart ached for her. He stepped forward and embraced Selena, saying, “I
'Oh, Linus. What else are you hiding from me?' Selena thought to herself.Suddenly, a new thought occurred to her. Maybe Linus was the one who had revealed her true identity to those people too. To clarify, she asked Matthew, “Did Linus secretly tell you about my real identity as well?”Matthew nodded.As expected, Selena sighed. She had not anticipated that she had been betrayed by Linus long ago. If Daniel ever found out that the person he had raised and trained for years had shown signs of betrayal, how furious he would be?!Selena could already imagine the terrifying sight of Daniel's rage when he learned of all this, a sight that had always scared her the most.“So, has Linus also defected to you?” Selena asked, pretending to be indifferent.“No, he hasn’t,” Matthew replied truthfully. “Those were just some clues we managed to extract from him. His heart still belongs to Daniel and Spades.”Even if Linus had thoughts of defecting to them, Matthew would be the first to oppos
Lucy noticed Matthew's displeasure and wisely fell silent.The cheerful atmosphere did not last long as Selena suddenly remembered what had just happened and became worried.Koven, who had been watching Selena closely, noticed the change in her expression and immediately understood what she was worried about.Matthew also noticed Selena's change. He walked over to her and said, "Don't worry, we won't force you to leave Spades right away. I know Mr. Zimmer's methods. We need to plan carefully to get you out."Selena's eyes sparkled, and her tone suddenly became fervent. "I'll stay in the organization. Mr. Zimmer hasn't completely suspected my identity as a spy. I can continue acting in front of him to get the classified information you need.""This is just like a real-life spy movie!" Charlie's cunning eyes showed a hint of amusement. No wonder she was trained by a top-notch spy organization—her meticulous thinking was exceptional even for a woman.Koven, hearing Selena's suggesti
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