After thinking for a moment, Matthew realized that ever since he felt like he had not been spending enough time with his family, he had been taking Lucy and the kids out every weekend. Sometimes, they would just spend the whole day together without the kids. It seemed like that was true, but now that the weather had cooled down, going out would not be as hot and might actually be more fun. At the same time, it was the off-season for travel, so there was not much to do. After getting the little ones all cleaned up, Lucy noticed that Matthew had already tidied up the area around them. She plopped down heavily on the bed, letting out a deep sigh as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.Matthew walked over to her and started massaging her back."Wife, you’ve worked hard!" Matthew said gently, applying just the right amount of pressure. Lucy slowly closed her eyes, thoroughly enjoying the comfort."Thank you, hubby. It’s my duty, but with your massage skills, it’s a sha
Charlotte had taken her cold medicine and was feeling much better. Her health had improved somewhat. However, she still harbored doubts about Joan's identity—how could someone be so extraordinary? Joan appeared quite delicate, yet no one dared to bully her. Even in the monastery, no one spoke ill of her, which was rather odd. Charlotte got up early. A small bird flew to the window, and she quickly walked over, letting it land on her hand. She took a note from its foot, then released the bird. After reading the note, Charlotte smiled. It was her first smile in days. Whatever it was, it made her very happy. After reading it, she quickly burned the note, as if afraid someone would discover her secret. After prayers, she did not rush to eat but instead took a stroll along the path. The scenery here was unique. Every step offered a different experience, like stepping into a paradise. Although the monastery was not as charming as the outside world, it still had its ow
Joan took her time recovering, seemingly on purpose. She wanted to see what Charlotte was capable of, especially after being so rough and grabbing her by the neck right away.“Oh dear! I don’t know anything. I only know that you’re a princess, nothing more,” Joan patiently explained before immediately coughing again.“Next time, could you not be so mean? My neck hurts so much!” Joan was still unhappy with Charlotte’s behavior of getting physical at the slightest provocation. It was really troubling.Charlotte glanced at her sideways and noticed a deep red mark left on Joan’s neck. Was she really that strong? Feeling a bit guilty, all her anger suddenly dissipated.“Have you eaten yet? Would you like to join me?” Charlotte did not want to admit fault but felt that her actions earlier were wrong, so she offered to have a meal together. Joan shook her head, indicating she had not eaten. After finishing that boring prayer, she had been looking everywhere for Charlotte, so there was
"Just take them! Do you want to end up like them, old and ugly?" Joan gestured dramatically as she vividly described the women in the monastery.Charlotte found her antics amusing. She was actually quite nice.If it were her, Charlotte would not bother with a complete stranger, especially one who had treated her so poorly. Charlotte realized that she was indeed that indifferent.Looking at herself in the mirror, Charlotte felt a bit estranged from her reflection. The woman staring back was not exactly haggard, but compared to how she used to look, it was a far cry from her former self.She reminisced about the days when she had everything she wanted. There was nothing Princess Charlotte could not obtain.Charlotte glanced at Joan in the mirror. Joan was naturally beautiful, with a doll-like face, a petite figure, and a small cherry-like mouth. She looked very endearing.In contrast, Charlotte seemed much more worn down. She felt a pang of jealousy. Why had she fallen to such a st
Joan also put on a bathrobe. Her petite figure and fair skin looked so delicate that it seemed like the slightest touch could cause it to break. She had already washed her face and applied a facial mask. She carefully carried a basin of water over to Charlotte.Charlotte was a bit puzzled. “What are you doing?”She was now certain that Joan had no ill intentions, so her attitude had become much friendlier.“I’m going to help you wash your face and then apply a mask!” Joan skillfully held Charlotte’s face and used the warm water in the basin to moisten it.“What is this? It smells so nice!” Charlotte exclaimed. This water was not just ordinary warm water—it had a fragrant aroma and was gentle on her skin.“This water is amino acid water, infused with the essence of many flowers, specifically for skincare! You really need to take good care of yourself now,” Joan explained as she efficiently finished moistening Charlotte’s face.Next, she pulled out a cleanser and lathered her han
Charlotte noticed that Joan’s eyes were slightly moist. She could not tell if it was from the spring water, the dampness of the facial mask, or if her eyes had become wet on their own.Charlotte did not know what to say. She was not good at comforting people. As far as she could remember, she had never comforted anyone, except when she needed something from her mother and father, the queen and the king.Only when she needed something from them would she act cute and innocent to get everything she wanted, without exception.However, facing Joan at this moment, Charlotte remained silent. She was not sure whether she should ask what was wrong or just act on her instincts and say something harsh.At that moment, she felt a different emotion toward this woman. Was it pity? Was it sympathy? Was it something else...Charlotte could not quite figure out what it was. She only knew that she was more pitiful than anyone else, so there was no need to pity others. If it were not for this woman
Selena had been sleeping the entire day. The continuous sound of rain outside helped her sleep even more soundly. Koven usually left for work earlier than she did and returned later, so he did not know about her napping at home. As the alarm clock went off again, Selena turned it off and made a call to Koven—this was not the first time she had done so. She feared Koven might notice something unusual, so she made sure to call him every day at the same time just to chat. She sluggishly got up. She looked disoriented, with her hair falling over her cheeks and shoulders. Even so, she still appeared like a delicate young lady."Hey, Koven, what are you up to?" Selena's voice was full of energy, not at all like someone who had been perpetually drowsy and ill."Thinking about you. What else?" Koven replied with cheesy lines that made Selena laugh, though it was all just an act.Selena felt a twinge of sadness, realizing she had resorted to this method to gain Koven's trust, but she had
Mark looked at Selena, feeling somewhat helpless. He was at a loss when it came to the actions of Spades."I have some therapeutic medicine here, but it'll only provide temporary relief. To completely rid yourself of the disease, you still need to obtain the true antidote," Mark said as he took out several bottles and jars from a box.Selena felt a bit excited. She was usually lethargic to the point of near sleep, but she would always wake up in agony. If there was a way to alleviate her symptoms, Koven would not have to worry about her so much.Looking at the bottles, Selena noticed they had no labels."What are they?" Selena asked curiously."This is the medicine I developed myself, just packaged in these bottles. It should be harmless, so you don't need to worry." Mark, who was crouched under a cabinet, realized he had not explained clearly and raised his head to clarify.The hospital could not diagnose Selena’s condition, but Mark had managed to identify it. However, the anti
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