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
Early in the morning, Lucy suddenly remembered that she had not invited Selena to join in the celebration for the children yesterday. She felt a bit guilty, so she decided to call her.Lucy called two or three times, but no one answered. She thought that Selena might not have woken up yet.Hence, she called Koven instead, and this time, the call went through."Lucy, Selena went on a business trip. She won't be home for the next few days," Koven said over the phone, his tone a bit dejected as if something was bothering him."Oh, I see. Alright then!" Lucy responded. She was disappointed and was about to hang up when Koven added a few more words."I don't know why, but I have this feeling that she's hiding something from me. But I can't bring myself to believe it. She wouldn't be unfaithful to me."Lucy was at a loss for words. Selena loved Koven so much. How could she possibly cheat on him? Also, how could Koven doubt Selena?However, it was strange. Selena had not been in touch
"Hello, Lucy, were you looking for me?" Selena tried her best to sound relaxed and make her voice come across as strong."What’s going on with you? Have you been busy lately, or did something happen?" Lucy asked, a bit reproachful since Selena had been ignoring her for so long and was not even answering Koven’s calls."I… Uh, yeah, I’ve been pretty busy!" Selena answered haltingly. "Did you need something when you called me this morning?""Nothing really. Can’t I call you just because? Koven is really worried about you, you know? He called me this morning, saying he has no idea where you are. Where exactly are you?" Lucy accused. The children beside her cried incessantly, adding to her frustration."I… I’m on a business trip abroad!" Selena forced out the words with almost all her strength, her body in extreme discomfort as she listened intently to what Lucy was saying. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead."Alright, I’m going to hang up now. The babies need my attention. Take car
Selena accidentally woke Mark up. Feeling a bit guilty, she quickly apologized.“Sorry for waking you up. I just saw things were a bit messy on your side, so I…”“It’s fine.” Mark pinched the bridge of his nose. He had been reading all day, and now, his head was a bit dizzy. Wait, was Selena not bedridden with a serious illness? How did she get out of bed? “How did you get out of bed?” Mark asked in surprise, circling around Selena. This was somewhat miraculous.Selena also found it strange that she actually had the strength to get out of bed.Before Selena could say anything, Mark directly carried her to the lab and started conducting research.These past few days, he had given her countless medications, none of which had shown any improvement. In that case, how could there be such a drastic change today? It was not scientific.Mark began a thorough examination of her body but found nothing abnormal!However, it was clear that her cells had become highly active."Selena, wha
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