"Matthew, Charlotte has something to say." Juliana personally came to request Matthew's presence. Matthew could not refuse. He had not slept well last night and was woken up early. "Please grant her this for one last time. She's just a child, after all." Juliana left with red, swollen eyes after speaking.…"Do you want to hear a secret? Want to know?" Charlotte had changed into ordinary clothes, and her hair was disheveled. "Hahaha, do you think you can protect her? Just you alone?"Matthew stared coldly at the woman in front of him, saying nothing."Even without me, do you think she'll be safe?" Charlotte continued with a bitter, mocking smile."What do you mean?" Matthew was alarmed. He could not stay calm after hearing that this concerned Lucy's safety."What do you think? Hahaha... you don't know, do you? Mr. Zimmer has a pampered granddaughter who always gets what she wants. And that woman of yours, Lucy, took something from me and now wants to take Linus from her. Do y
"Hmm, this pasta is good!" Hudson sat in the dining hall, his hand still wrapped in gauze as he continuously ate his food. Across from him was Charlie, watching."Slow down. Your injury hasn't healed yet, and you want to join Matthew and Koven on their mission? Are you sure?" Charlie asked skeptically, his eyes full of disdain. He said teasingly, "You should go home and rest properly! Don't force yourself.""Don't underestimate me. I can handle it. Friends should share hardships. How can I just sit back and watch you guys fight the battle by yourselves?" Hudson had his mouth full of shrimp. He had not eaten meat or seafood for a few days. Given he was from a wealthy family, he felt aggrieved!"You should rest well first. Matthew and the others won't be back for a few days. If you go now, you won't be helping them but making them worry instead," Charlie advised earnestly."I'll call him!""Hey, Hudson, how are your injuries?" Matthew's voice came through the phone. He expressed his
"Mrs. Stone, come here," Matthew called the caretaker who had just arrived—Maria Stone, known as Mrs. Stone. She had been working with Juliana before this and was only 29 years old. Juliana specifically asked her to serve Lucy. "I need to go out for something. Take good care of Lucy. There must be no mistakes. The food must be the freshest, and she must be assisted in walking..." Matthew said everything that should be said, each sentence an order. "Okay, I know what to do. I'll take good care of the princes. Please rest assured!" Mrs. Stone said with a smile, holding a recipe that she had just written down in her hand."Alright, you can rest assured! Mrs. Stone is very kind." Lucy nudged Matthew's hand and made a mischievous face. …On the other hand, Selena and Koven had been following Linus's whereabouts. Linus had been nearby all along, but why could they not find him before? If there were really important secrets or something about Alice, why would they show his whereabo
A man clad in a black cloak walked slowly, followed by several similarly dressed men, all armed and masked. “Hurry up!” the man in front urged, and the others quickened their pace. The surroundings were filled with vegetation, the low hiss of insects, and crows quietly watching from the treetops. Suddenly, a group of people surrounded them, also dressed in black and wielding weapons. “You’ve finally arrived!” The cloaked man’s voice was sharp, almost like a woman’s. However, it was clear he was a man. He slowly removed his hat, revealing a delicate face. Upon closer inspection, his eyes were stunningly clear, and he had long, black eyelashes. His eyebrows were perfectly shaped as well. However, the lower half of his face was covered by a mask, obscuring the rest of his features. “I'm just following orders. Please forgive me!” The speaker was Linus. His gaze was steady, and he had a weapon in hand. The slight smile on his lips suggested he had a purpose. Behind him wa
Lucy gently picked up the enticing chocolate bar and hugged her dear brother. She knew that in this world, very few people truly loved her, and some even wanted her dead at every moment. Thinking of this, she felt her eyes sting from tears.…About a month later, Matthew and Koven returned. Alice was forced to step down, and now, Daniel had become the head of Spades. He was ruthless and efficient, and his subordinates feared him. Linus' position within the organization had risen, but it was in name only. He did not wield any real power. Lucy was eating hot wings, something Matthew had made for her. It was perfectly to her taste. At that moment, Matthew was worried about the last words Charlotte had said. He feared that Josiah would not let Lucy go and that Lucy might be harmed. Charlie and Hudson had arranged to meet Koven and Selena for a drink. “Here’s to your long and happy life together, hahaha...” Hudson shouted loudly in the bar before downing his drink. Koven
Matthew searched the entire city but could not find Lucy. At this moment, he looked as disheveled as a madman.“Hello, do you have any news? Where's my wife?”“M-Mr. Leon, we haven't found your wife!” the person on the other end of the phone replied in a flustered manner.Matthew punched the wall hard, feeling useless for not being able to protect his own wife.Blood marks appeared on the wall, but it did nothing to alleviate Matthew's guilt.He thought of Gwen, but he had already investigated a few days ago and even offended Spades. Lucy was not their captive.Thinking of this gave Matthew a splitting headache. He eventually fell asleep against the corner of the wall. He had not been sleeping well for days and had been too focused on finding Lucy to go to work.When he woke up, he was lying in bed. His hand was wrapped in gauze, and it hurt a bit.“Have some soup!” Koven handed him a bowl of soup. “Lucy’s disappearance isn't your fault. You need to rest and eat well to have th
"Matthew, get up and have something to eat!" An elegant and beautiful woman approached Matthew's bed with a bowl of homemade pie mash. "She's gone, and everyone is heartbroken, but life goes on. The company is still waiting for you!"Matthew held the necklace to his chest, his eyes empty as he stared ahead. For him, nothing mattered anymore. From the first moment he saw Lucy, he knew he could not live without her. After all the effort to get this far, he lost her again."I told you long ago that she was unreliable. I've found another woman for you. She's better for you and the company," Gabriella said.Matthew turned his back to her. In her eyes, there was always only the company and interests. She had never understood or cared about his feelings. Gabriella, seeing Matthew's state, simply left the room.Suddenly, Matthew thought of Charlotte. Perhaps she would know Lucy's whereabouts. Without hesitation, Matthew called Koven and rushed to Charleston.…At the monastery, Charlotte
Maria walked away slowly, and Matthew leaned powerlessly against the door, tightly clutching the necklace. His eyes could no longer produce tears. There was only a persistent ache in his heart.…Charlie looked at the photos on his phone, reminiscing about the happy times. Although he was single, he understood Matthew's longing for Lucy.Hudson took a bite of shrimp, slammed the table in anger, and said, "Who is so cruel and ruthless, not even sparing a pregnant woman? If I find them, I'll make sure to make them regret it."Koven helplessly grabbed Selena's hand and put a bracelet on her, fearing she might disappear too.…The summer sky was still filled with ever-changing clouds, just as splendid as before. Unfortunately, that person was gone, unable to withstand the ravages of time. Matthew was mesmerized by the scene, reminiscent of the sunsets they used to watch together...Many days later, Matthew was forcibly called back to the company. In just a few days, the company had
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