Lucy was still by Matthew's side, silently holding his hand. She was reading a book and would glance at him from time to time.She could not believe that Matthew was going to leave her and their children like this. There were still so many things they had not done, and Matthew had yet to fulfill his promises.Lucy thought about how sudden everything had been. She had met Matthew so suddenly, given birth to their children so suddenly, and now, was he going to leave so suddenly as well?Unable to contain her sadness, Lucy started crying while reading. Eventually, with a sob in her voice, she struggled to read the words aloud. Finally, she broke down and cried on the bed.Koven and Mark were outside the door. Koven was not ready to face her yet. After all, this situation started because of him. All he could do was stand there.Before he could enter, Lucy noticed him. She felt conflicted but eventually came out to meet him."Lucy, I’m so sorry about Matthew. I brought a friend today;
Mark had always been different from others. He did not care for worldly desires and material wealth, only wanting to live the life he desired, away from the struggles of the world.Saving lives was his basic duty as a doctor. After hearing Gabriella's offer, he was not moved at all. His only wish was to avoid being discovered by the media.After some discussion, they decided to proceed with surgery on Matthew. Mark explained that no one needed to wait outside; this would take time, and it was not a surgery that could be resolved in one session.Gabriella was initially confused, but she quickly agreed. There was no other option, or else Matthew would be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life.Lucy felt ashamed. Faced with Matthew’s life hanging by a thread, she had hesitated for so long. She should have been as decisive as Gabriella.However, she truly did not have the authority. After all, in this family, Gabriella was the true matriarch, and Lucy had to listen to her for
The old woman looked at Matthew with a strange expression, sizing him up before quickly saying, "This is the Land of Peach Blossoms, and the reason I’m running is because it’s already dark. Seeing as you’re not running, you must be a foreigner, right?"Matthew was a bit stunned and did not even get a chance to respond before the old woman grabbed him and started running. She was strong and swift, leaving Matthew breathless as they ran.The old woman led Matthew to a small village. The place was sparsely populated, with only a few dozen households.After they arrived, the old woman was too tired to speak, and Matthew was even worse off. He was drenched in sweat, his face pale, and he was gasping for breath."Where is this place?" Matthew was utterly confused. This place did not resemble anything modern; it really was like a paradise hidden from the world."This is my hometown, the safest place," the old woman said with a wide smile. She seemed particularly happy after the run. Her
Lucy anxiously waited. Her brother was by her side, doing his best to comfort her, though it was of little use. Theodore stayed close by Lucy, never leaving her side. He knew Lucy well. She was afraid of being left alone.From time to time, he would even help her take care of the children. Lucy hadn’t had a good night's sleep for days. At Theodore’s urging, she dragged her exhausted body to the bed and finally lay down to rest.The streets were bustling with people coming and going. Each person had their own things to do. They walked the same roads daily without ever knowing one another. Fate worked in mysterious ways—in the vast sea of humanity, they met each other. How many times had they crossed paths in past lives for this encounter to happen?Meeting did not always lead to knowing, knowing did not always lead to love, and loving did not always lead to staying together. Even if a couple wanted to stay together, it would not always turn out the way one hoped.Lucy and Matthew ha
Matthew had a severe headache. His mind buzzed constantly. He was not sure what was going on. His eyes ached intensely, and he could not even open them. Matthew rubbed his eyes with his hand, and a sharp sensation immediately shot through his optic nerves.There was a commotion around him. Slowly, Matthew opened his eyes and found himself staring up at a pink mosquito net. He turned his head…Matthew shouted. An old woman was staring at him up close, grinning with her yellow teeth showing. Behind her, a crowd of people were laughing. Matthew’s sudden shout startled the old woman, which in turn startled everyone else. They all rushed to check on him, hands reaching out towards him.Terrified, Matthew hugged his head. The old woman shouted, and everyone quickly retreated. She then carefully reassured Matthew not to be afraid. Matthew cautiously looked around and this time, he observed them all more closely. Some were dressed in rags, while others wore luxurious silk garments, but all
The old woman looked at Matthew's innocent expression and could not help but laugh heartily. “It’s a good match, a perfect pair! Sir, my daughter is the most beautiful woman in all the land. What do you think? Is it a match?”Matthew was not aware of what was going on. Seeing that the two women were smiling at him, he quickly nodded and said, “Sure, sure!”Afterward, he was not even sure what he was doing. He stood there like a fool, watching the crowd.“Madam, what should I do now? I can’t just stay at your place forever, right?” Matthew felt uneasy, as if he owed them a debt for staying here, so he asked what he should do next.“Sir, just focus on resting and recovering. There’s no need to worry about trivial matters. As long as you can bring us rain and wind, that will be enough, hehe!” The old woman laughed as she walked away.Esther nodded with a smile before following the old woman. Only when they were gone did Matthew finally relax, wiping the sweat off his brow. He could f
The old lady chuckled and said, "She’s my second daughter. She’s usually quiet, doesn’t like to communicate with others, and has quite a stubborn temper. I’ve already driven her away, so there’s no need to worry, sir!”The old lady seemed quite pleased with her actions, speaking with noticeable confidence. She was a smooth talker, skilled at handling people, with her choice of words flowing seamlessly.Matthew felt a bit uncomfortable. People here kept calling him 'sir', which was a little too formal. He felt like a confused pawn in the situation."Ma’am, my name is Matthew Leon. You can just call me by my name. No need for all the formalities..." Matthew said quietly.He truly did not want people addressing him so formally. Even when he was a CEO, he did not like being addressed formally." "Matthew… Alright, alright. I'll call you Matthew from now on!" the old lady replied kindly. The wrinkles on her face became even more apparent when she smiled, yet it made people feel a bit m
Esther waved her hand, and a man appeared from behind her. His clothes were a bit tattered, but he still appeared clean and neat, giving off a comfortable impression.His hair was all tied up, suggesting he had reached adulthood. Apart from some weathered features, there were small scars on his face, and his skin was tan.Overall, he was a rather handsome young man, tall and imposing. He was carrying a tray with something on it, presumably food.Matthew suddenly realized that he had not eaten in a long time, and upon seeing the food, he could not help but swallow hard.Esther gently took the tray and nodded at the man, who then left.“Sir, this is a cake I made today, called Treasure Cake. It’s golden and glossy, with the aroma of honey and brown sugar. This is my specialty. I hope it suits your taste.”Listening to Esther’s explanation, Matthew recalled hearing something similar in the modern world, though he was not sure if the taste would be the same.Matthew thought about wh
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