This day, Lucy got out of bed and saw that the children were still asleep and Matthew had already gone to work. She decided to take a shower. Venus came on time to feed the two children. They were as adorable as Lucy, with fair skin and chubby cheeks. They were extremely cute. Venus could not help but marvel at how beautiful the children were. Thinking of her own child brought a wave of sorrow to her heart. The birds outside chirped away, oblivious to Venus' pain.Last week, she had visited her son, who was much thinner than other children his age. Venus quickly took care of him for a few days, watching her son with a heart full of sorrow.She argued with her mother-in-law about bringing the child back, but her mother-in-law refused, insisting on raising her grandson herself. She believed a new mother could not possibly take good care of a child.Venus had considered moving back to care for her son, but her mother-in-law would not even leave her a bed. She was constantly nagging
Matthew was filled with excitement when he returned home after receiving the news. He finally saw Melanie being apprehended. Justice always prevailed over darkness, did it not?He had been constantly worried that Lucy might be kidnapped by Melanie again, so when he saw her being arrested, he was more relieved than anyone else.When Matthew got home, he found his wife asleep. Maria filled him in on everything that had happened during the day. Initially, Matthew was quite anxious, but after understanding the situation, he decided to replace the security personnel at home.As night fell, Lucy woke up, and Matthew had already prepared dinner for her. Seeing Lucy pretend as if nothing had happened, Matthew felt a pang of sadness. He knew how deeply she felt things. Her mother got arrested and her sister came to blame her. Lucy was clearly the victim, yet she had to act as if nothing was wrong.Lucy smiled at Matthew. “What’s wrong?”Matthew walked over, placing his hand on her shoulder
Matthew had not gotten up yet. It was the weekend, and he was still asleep. Lucy woke up at eight, noticed that Matthew was still sleeping, and quietly slipped out of bed to go to the bathroom and start her morning routine.Looking at herself in the mirror, she noticed her dark circles were quite pronounced, making her look like a panda. Last night, around midnight, Johnny started crying because he had wet his diaper. Lucy got up to take care of it and spent a long time soothing her son back to sleep.Just as she was finally able to get some sleep, Lila woke up and started crying as well. Lucy got up again to calm her down, but Lila was stubborn and refused to sleep. She got more energetic the more Lucy tried to soothe her.Lucy kept trying until Matthew woke up and joined in. The two children kept crying and fussing until finally, they heated up some milk from the fridge, which Venus had prepared earlier. They gave it to the children to drink before they finally settled down to sle
Lucy dragged Matthew into the shopping mall, looking quite stylish today. She wore a large sun hat and a beige dress. She had her hair done and sported five-centimeter high heels. She looked pretty good.Lucy was thrilled to be shopping. It had been months since Matthew last accompanied her shopping. Taking care of the kids was exhausting, even though their cuteness made it worth it. However, the effort was truly overwhelming.She glanced at Matthew, who had not changed a bit, while she had filled out more. Feeling a bit dissatisfied, she tugged at his arm. "Look at you! I'm the one who had to endure the pain of giving birth, and I'm also the one who gained weight. Hmph."Matthew was not sure what to say. They had already entered the mall, which was much cooler than outside."A little weight looks cute on a woman. You're very cute right now. You're always trying to lose weight, but is being skinny really that great? Besides, I only want you, no matter what you look like. I won't ch
"Wrap it up!" Matthew, noticing how much Lucy liked the shoes, instructed the sales attendant to package them and have them sent to their home. They then continued shopping, with Lucy’s foot miraculously feeling better. As he watched his playful wife, Matthew felt a flutter in his heart.They soon arrived at a jewelry store, renowned far and wide for its authenticity. Every item in the store was genuine, with no counterfeits to be found. Each piece was also designed by world-famous designers, and every item was a limited edition.Suddenly, Lucy's foot 'hurt' again. Matthew glanced at her and said, "Little pig, don’t pretend. Today is all about shopping. Just pick what you want!"Realizing Matthew had seen through her antics, Lucy blushed. She had more money than she could spend, but for some reason, Matthew’s money always seemed more appealing. Plus, it was special to her that Matthew had taken time out of his busy schedule to be with her—she just wanted to make every moment with
Matthew placed a coin in the dish and then called for the manager. The manager hurried over, asking what had happened.“There’s a strand of hair in this dish,” Matthew said as he showed the hair to the manager. The manager immediately apologized, “I’m so sorry, it wasn’t intentional. I’ll have a new dish prepared for you right away.” With that, he rushed back to the kitchen.Lucy did not understand why Matthew had done that. Matthew quietly explained it to her, and she immediately realized the reason. Soon after, the manager brought out a new dish. Matthew checked the bottom of the plate—there was no coin, which indicated that the dish was indeed freshly prepared. It seemed like the restaurant still had some integrity.However, while there was no coin, there was a cigarette butt in the dish. Matthew, seeing this, quickly told Lucy not to touch it. He took out the cigarette butt and showed it to Lucy, who was shocked.There was not a single waiter in sight, so Matthew discreetly w
Matthew pulled Lucy to sit behind the elderly lady and the little boy. The old lady scolded them again, "Young people these days have no manners, changing seats as they please."Lucy wanted to retort, but Matthew stopped her. The old lady was clearly taking advantage of her elderly age, scolding others because she assumed no one would argue with someone as old as her.Matthew began to slowly and deliberately kick the seats in front of them, where the old lady and the little boy were sitting. Lucy understood—he was giving them a taste of their own medicine.Lucy carefully watched the two in front. The old lady did not react, but the little boy did. He turned around and said, "Can you stop kicking? It's making me uncomfortable!"Lucy ignored him, and Matthew continued kicking. The boy complained to his grandmother, who could not take it anymore. She turned around to start scolding them, "Young people these days have no manners, bullying an old lady and a child! How could you be so ru
Lucy and Matthew returned home to find Johnny crying incessantly. The nanny and Venus were trying to soothe him, but he would not stop crying. Seeing this, Lucy quickly hurried over and took her son into her arms. Johnny gave Lucy a strange look before breaking into a smile, and everyone around them started laughing. It seemed the little one missed his mother. Despite being nursed by Venus, he was not distant from Lucy and even preferred her embrace.Matthew leaned in, wanting to hold the baby as well, which made Johnny laugh even harder. Matthew felt something indescribable in his heart. Without realizing it, he had become a father, with two children at that. His career was thriving, his family was happy, and many people envied him. Yet, he also had his own unspeakable pains, though in front of Lucy and the children, those worries did not matter. His greatest happiness now was spending every minute with his family.Later that evening, after putting the kids to bed, Matthew broug
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