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
Linus looked at Daniel, unsure of what scheme he had up his sleeve this time. He mentally prepared himself for several possible scenarios. Linus feared that this old fox, Daniel, had discovered Selena's situation and was even more afraid that it might bring him harm.Linus knew the consequences of being a traitor, let alone helping one escape. Given his relationship with Selena, it was hard to avoid suspicion that he might have been involved in the matter. However, with his intelligence, dealing with Daniel should be within his capabilities.For years, Linus had been working by Daniel's side, which he could use to prove his loyalty. Despite constantly reassuring himself not to be afraid, Linus could not help but feel a chill down his spine and continued to worry."You're back?" Daniel, stroking a black cat, glanced at Linus as he walked in. Gwen was sitting nearby, sipping tea. Everything seemed normal, indicating that Linus had not raised any suspicions.Linus let out a sigh of re
Linus gradually regained consciousness. He weakly looked at the dead cat on the ground, its mouth still holding the cat food it had not swallowed. It seemed as if it could not believe that Daniel had done this to it, yet the truth was undeniable—it had been discarded just like that.Linus understood Daniel's message—those who harbored disloyal thoughts would meet a bad end, just as Selena had, and he would be no exception in the future. Gwen held Linus in her arms, calling his name repeatedly, clearly anxious. Meanwhile, Daniel casually sipped his tea, directing and dismissing his subordinates as if neither Linus nor the dead cat existed.By the time everyone had left, Linus had fully regained his senses. His neck still ached faintly, and there was a distinct scar left behind. "What? Are you blaming me for being too harsh?" Daniel asked Linus. He was not surprised by Linus' recovery."I wouldn't dare!" Linus responded respectfully, bowing to Daniel. Outwardly, he dared not express
The echo resonated throughout the room, as if it, too, felt the injustice. Linus pulled the curtains shut, plunging the room into pitch-black darkness.However, this brought him a sense of peace, as if the darkness could hide him from everyone.In a daze, Linus unknowingly fell asleep by the bedside. Compared to usual, he slept quite soundly.…Meanwhile, Alice stood by the window, her eyes dull and devoid of light. The moonlight made her expression appear even more profound, and her pale face left one uncertain whether she was male or female. Her mask remained on, enhancing the perfection of her features. From a distance, she resembled a beautiful woman steeped in melancholy under the moonlight, evoking a sense of pity.A small bird flew over from afar. It was tiny, about the size of a sparrow, with dark feathers that made it nearly invisible in the night. It flew toward Alice, who extended her finger for it to perch on. Obediently, the bird landed there. Alice retrieved the
Linus remained silent, quietly sitting down. He knew that no matter what he said today, it would not make a difference—Alice would not listen, especially since she was only trying to use him. Alice approached Linus, scrutinizing him from head to toe as she paced around the room. "You’ve got good potential, you're strikingly handsome, and you're full of vigor. You’re a good catch."Linus knew what she meant. She wanted to recruit him to work for her. He also realized that Alice was not entirely confident, so she was probably just spouting nonsense at this point.Linus wrote a few words on a piece of paper and then showed it to Alice. "Don’t kill her, that’s my only request." Alice looked visibly upset, falling silent as she sat on the bed.Linus knew she would react this way because he had written: "That woman has already been captured by us." In reality, Linus knew that Alice was not in love with that person, nor with any woman at all, so he was merely following orders by saying
It was a false alarm. Daniel was not planning to hurt Linus. After wiping the wound, he cleaned it with disinfectant and then applied a sticky black paste to Linus' wound.Linus gradually relaxed from his tense state. The substance was cool and soothing on his wound.“This stuff is for treating wounds. I was a bit heavy-handed yesterday. You don’t mind, do you?” Daniel's sudden inquiry startled Linus.Daniel continued talking while bandaging Linus' wound. It turned out he was not always so sarcastic. Linus could not speak, so he just nodded slightly to show he was listening.Feeling overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness, Linus took a few steps back after being bandaged, as if Daniel might eat him alive.“You don't need to be afraid of me. I won't harm you. I’ve been treating you well over the years, haven't I?” Daniel said meaningfully to Linus, who nodded.“So, will you follow my orders at any time?” Daniel said slowly.Linus silently thought, 'I knew you wouldn't be that ki
The door opened, then came a mix of cheers and music, with ribbons from party poppers shooting out all over Matthew's head.“Welcome home!” everyone shouted in unison before he could even react.Lucy ran over and hugged him. “Welcome home, honey! Our babies are five months old today."Matthew lifted Lucy in a princess carry and brought her over to the cake. Seeing the perfect cake and their children beside it, Matthew was deeply moved.Matthew said with tears welling up in his eyes, “This is the happiest moment I’ve had today.”Everyone cheered joyfully, and just like that, they all had a wonderful evening.Maybe there were more exciting events outside, with richer activities, but none of that could compare to the warmth of home.All happiness stemmed from trust and loyalty, and it was built upon a complete family, which needed to be maintained by people.Lucy might seem innocent, sometimes a bit childish and naive, but when Matthew was not around, she was the pillar of the hou
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