Selena groggily woke up, only to find herself in a clean, tidy room filled with artistic touches. She could hardly believe it. “Where am I?” she asked incredulously, feeling utterly drained. She felt a sharp pain in her chest after the surgery. “Silly, the surgery was successful. The tracker has been removed, and this is the room Mark prepared specifically for you to recover,” Koven reassured her. Selena wanted to say more, but Koven stopped her. “You need to rest and not talk. Here, drink this soup I made for you. It’s to help restore your energy and heal your wounds.”Seeing Selena so pale and weak, Koven felt like a knife was twisting in his heart. Selena slowly drank the soup that Koven carefully fed her, wincing in pain with every movement.At that moment, Mark entered the room, carrying a few pills in his hands.“These are your medicine. Take them, and don’t forget to drink the soup. Let me know immediately if you feel uncomfortable,” Mark said, handing the medicine over
Selena suddenly heard a noise outside. It was already midnight, and since the room was in the basement, she could not see what was happening outside. She called out to Koven, but he was sleeping too deeply and would not wake up no matter how hard she tried. Unable to sleep despite the quiet outside, Selena put an eye mask over Koven's eyes and turned on the lights. Her chest still hurt a bit where the surgery had been done.She carefully got out of bed, looking around at the room's design. She had heard that Mark had designed the place himself—how impressive! The room was shaped like a circle and had an elegant atmosphere. The walls were covered in paintings, though Selena could not understand them.Mark was a genius! The paintings depicted several fairies playing musical instruments and singing in a palace while handmaidens frolicked around. Selena leaned in for a closer look, and the figures seemed almost lifelike. One of them even appeared to be looking at her, smiling and greet
Selena felt a sharp pain in her chest, which caused her to collapse to the ground. She tried to ease the agony. When she looked up, she saw Mark walking toward her. Selena called out, and suddenly, she was sitting up in bed, drenched in sweat. Koven was still asleep, but when he saw Selena awake, he quickly asked if something had happened. Selena was still in shock, her chest aching. The Mark in her dream was terrifying, and Koven seemed so strange. The more Selena thought about it, the more confused she became. She sensed that there was something unusual about this place.“I had a dream, and it left me feeling uneasy,” Selena told Koven, still shaken by the nightmare.“Alright, don’t think too much about it. Tell me, what did you dream about?” Koven held Selena, trying to calm her down. He noticed she was covered in sweat and felt a deep concern for her.“The dream was strange. You were ignoring me, and there were those paintings on the walls, and Mark—everything was so eerie a
That day, Selena's wounds had almost fully healed, and after resting at Mark's house for so long, she felt much more energized.Koven planned to take Selena back since they had already stayed for several days."Mark, thank you for taking care of us these past few days and for helping me and Selena so much. I really don't know how to properly thank you," Koven said as he secretly slipped a check for five million into Mark's pocket.He knew that Mark was not interested in money right now, so if he gave it to him openly, Mark would just return it. It was better to give it secretly.Mark smiled at the two of them, feeling something indescribable inside. "It's no problem. I don't have many friends. The fact that you both stayed with me for so many days really touched me. You're welcome to come and visit anytime."Mark did not have many friends, and in the face of friendship, he felt quite insignificant.Koven knew that Mark still had not moved on from that woman and that he was using
Koven could not help but laugh as he listened to Selena's story. It turned out Selena had this side to her too!…Meanwhile, Matthew and Lucy were busy bathing their children. Lucy was bathing their daughter, Lila, while Matthew was bathing their son, Johnny. The scene was incredibly amusing. Children were naturally soft and delicate, and they looked even more adorable in the water. Both kids were laughing heartily, finding the water extremely fun! Seeing them, Lucy could not help but laugh. Since Matthew was still a bit inexperienced, the couple was learning how to bathe the children while instructing each other.Maria approached them with two towels in hand. "Madam, sir, it's time to get out now. Any more time in the water and it'll be too much!"Maria knew how much the two kids loved playing in the water, but staying in too long was not good for their health, so it was time to dry them off quickly.Lucy tried to lift Lila onto her knees, but as soon as Lila left the water, sh
Lucy gazed at her children, her eyes filled with maternal love. It seemed as though she had suddenly grown up a lot, transforming from a girl into a woman. A girl was innocent and carefree, often acting on impulse; a woman was mature, composed, and deeply responsible. This was the difference between the two, and it was a process every mother had to go through. It was not that everyone had to become mature and steady, transforming like a butterfly. However, when the need arose, you had to hold yourself together and shoulder the responsibilities you had to bear.Lucy was a romantic and carefree girl, but she was willing to mature a little for the sake of love and her children, which deeply moved Matthew. When he first met her, she was still so free-spirited and adorable. Now, as his wife, her demeanor had improved a lot.The children slowly got out of the water. Johnny, their son, was coaxed out with a toy, while their daughter, Lila, was lured out with a bite of food.Maria, a wo
Selena went to another hospital, but again, the doctors found nothing. Disappointed, she left. On the streets, there were office workers everywhere, along with the playful chatter of elementary school students and the focused expressions of college and high school students. They all had different goals but shared a common one—to be happy and to have a better future. Right now, however, Selena did not know what was wrong with her. She just felt uncomfortable.As Selena walked down the road, she seemed distracted. Suddenly, she was pulled into a secluded corner by someone—it was Linus. He looked a bit anxious. "What's going on? Did you remove the listening device? Daniel is looking for you, and he can't find you!"Selena felt uneasy. She was not feeling well, and now that old fox, Daniel, was looking for her at this time."Does he want something?" Selena asked.She actually knew what it was about. She had not completed the task he had assigned her last time, so now, the deadline
Matthew and Lucy walked arm-in-arm to see the Golden Retrievers. The store clerk guided them to the area where the puppies were kept. This section housed the larger dogs.There was a husky barking at them, and Lucy's heart melted once again. She pulled Matthew over to the husky, which was very clever. Seeing potential owners, it began showing off its tricks, sticking out its tongue in a playful manner.Lucy handed the kitten to Matthew and started playing with the husky. Matthew knew that Lucy would take her time looking at the dogs again. He mentally prepared himself to wait an hour, knowing he had no choice—it was his wife, after all.Huskies were notorious for being destructive, which could be traced back to their ancestors, who had to pull sleds daily, so they were naturally restless. When no one played with them, they tended to chew on things. Some people found their 'intelligent' expressions amusing.Golden Retrievers, on the other hand, were very gentle and posed no harm to
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