Venus had been gazing out the window when Theodore noticed she seemed to be in a bad mood. He wanted to comfort her but hesitated. Instead of driving her home, he took a different route.Venus did not realize they were off course until quite a while later when she questioned Theodore with a confused look. “Where is this? I want to go home,” Venus' voice was gentle, like a lark.Theodore did not respond, continuing to drive with a determined expression. He showed no intention of explaining. Seeing he was ignoring her, Venus fell silent. She stole glances at Theodore, her heart racing. Today, he wore a white shirt and more formal trousers, true to his usual style. The affordable watch he wore made him seem approachable.As Venus tried to look up again, Theodore suddenly stopped the car and glanced at her. Their eyes met, and her heart raced even faster as she thought, 'This is so awkward!'Theodore was clean-shaven and looked every bit as good as Matthew. Right now, his gaze wa
"I..." Venus turned her head to look at Theodore. Her eyes were so captivating that no one would want to look away. Coupled with the close proximity, Venus appeared even more alluring.Theodore could no longer hold back. He turned Venus around, pressing her against the edge of the hot air balloon, pinning her firmly in place. He leaned in and forcefully kissed her lips. He had been waiting for this moment for far too long.Venus, not understanding what had just happened, felt her heart warm up. She was completely drawn in by Theodore's presence.She slowly closed her eyes but suddenly thought of her husband. She wanted to escape.However, Theodore held her even tighter, not leaving her any chance to break free.Venus struggled, but in the end, she could not escape.After about ten minutes, Theodore, breathing heavily, slowly let her go.Both of them were radiating heat, their faces flushing red.Embarrassed, Venus lowered her head. Her mind was a complete mess. She had almost l
Charlotte was getting ready. Today was the day Arthur and Juliana were coming to see her. She remained calm and composed, adding a mole below her cold, elegant eyes. Her makeup was complete.Beauty was in the bones, not the skin. She had both a beautiful bone structure and stunning features, which made many envious.However, she did not pride herself on her appearance.Today, she was not wearing her usual attire but rather a formal gown unique to Charleston, which Juliana had specially sent over the day before for Charlotte to wear.She waited in front of the main hall, anticipating the long-awaited arrival of Juliana and Arthur. The cold wind blew through her delicate gown, lifting a small corner of its hem.Everyone else was confined to their rooms, except for the headmistress, who was allowed to welcome Arthur and Juliana.The headmistress usually treated Charlotte with extreme harshness since Charlotte’s every move was under her control.The day before, Charlotte was instruc
Charlotte accompanied Juliana and Arthur to the palace, and she immediately felt a sense of familiarity upon entering. The luxurious building, the extravagant swimming pool, and the spacious horse training grounds—all of it was wonderful. Charlotte was back.For her birthday this time, Arthur and Juliana decided to let Charlotte stay in the palace for half a month to make up for the hardships she endured at the monastery.Charlotte was overjoyed inside, but she declined. She was now the reformed good child in the eyes of her father and mother. How could she possibly indulge in luxury?She tactfully refused Arthur, expressing that she needed to work hard to atone for her past mistakes at the monastery.Seeing Charlotte's newfound awareness, both Arthur and Juliana felt deeply gratified. Their daughter was finally no longer the angry, lazy, and selfish girl she used to be.What they did not know was that Charlotte’s change was only on the surface. She was waiting to execute a much b
Owen hesitated for a moment before speaking again, and this time, it made Charlotte seethe with anger."Oh, so you're that princess who was sent to the monastery! A pleasure to meet you, truly an honor!" Owen said with a mockingly respectful tone, raising his glass in a toast.Charlotte was both furious and annoyed. If it were the old days, he would already be cut into eight pieces! If she were not trying to win Arthur and Juliana's favor, she would not endure this humiliation.Charlotte did not know what to say, and her expression darkened with displeasure. All she could do was stare helplessly at this man named Owen as he insulted her.She grumbled to herself, 'He looks decent enough, but who would have thought he’s this kind of person? Truly, you can’t judge a book by its cover.'Forcing a smile, Charlotte planned to walk away from this irritating man. After giving a fake smile, she turned and moved to another part of the room.She glanced around at the people nearby. Some wer
Charlotte quietly responded after confirming that he was indeed from a noble family.According to Juliana, Owen's family controlled more than half of Charleston's resources, and even Arthur had to show him some respect. Charlotte sighed in relief, thankful she had not offended him earlier—otherwise, she would have been in big trouble!'Hmph, so what if he’s a noble? I’m still a princess! Whatever, it’s not like we’ll cross paths again anytime soon. Why bother thinking about him?' Charlotte consoled herself, deciding it was not worth holding a grudge against someone like that.The banquet was nearing its end, with people gradually leaving. All that remained were the leftovers and the dim glow of solitary candles.However, Charlotte enjoyed this feeling more—no more scheming between people.Just as she was about to return to her room to rest, Owen appeared again. How annoying. Why could he just not leave her alone?"Charlotte!" Owen called out from behind, standing still as he wait
Upon hearing the news about Lucy, Charlotte was overjoyed. This was probably the happiest she had been in months. As soon as Juliana left, Charlotte bounced around on her bed, jumping up and down in delight."And then there’s Theodore, whose marriage was arranged for him! They all thought their lives were better than mine, but too bad—they were all wrong! I, Charlotte, will be the one laughing in the end!"With that happy thought, Charlotte fell asleep. Even her dreams were sweet, and a smile lingered on her lips.…Meanwhile, Lucy was looking after her two children. They had just fallen asleep but woke up crying again. With dark circles under her eyes, Lucy got out of bed to comfort them, her heart filled with bitterness."Matthew, if you're not coming back, I’m going to forget you. How could you just leave like that? Why leave me and the children behind?" Lucy looked at the kids and started crying helplessly. It had been so long since she had seen Matthew.…Outside Matthew’s
Charlotte woke up from her dream, and the sunlight had already filtered through the treetops, reaching the window. Birds chirped happily on the branches, basking in the sunlight. The dewdrops on the leaves sparkled in the sunlight like pearls.She walked to the window and gently pulled it open, letting light flood into the dim room, brightening the entire world. Charlotte looked refreshed. Clearly, she had slept well.She stretched and picked up her phone, only to see a message from Juliana: [Charlotte, come down for breakfast. Your father and I are waiting for you in the great hall.]Charlotte quickly dressed up. In ten minutes, her perfect outfit was ready. She was flawless from head to toe. She walked downstairs leisurely, her head held high as she passed the maids and soldiers. With her peacock-feathered cloak, she looked like a regal ancient consort, or perhaps a proud phoenix.She approached Juliana, greeted her, and then sat at the nearby table. Around them were dozens of ma
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