Three months before the Clearwater Corporation faced its crisis, its stock was already plummeting. Eulalia had foreseen this outcome but was too afraid to admit it to herself, choosing to ignore it time and again.For four years, she thought she had grasped the delusion of a lifetime, but it was Percival who had been using her all along. He took her blood, her resources, and meticulously swallowed up the Clearwater Corporation.Thinking about the irony of it all, she couldn’t decide if he was heartless or if she was just foolish.“When I first took over the family business, the old shareholders lectured me. They said I was too blunt, too headstrong, and that I’d offend people. I listened but never changed,” Eulalia said, taking a heavy breath. “I regret it now.”Percival picked up on her words, “Regret what?”“Regret being too stubborn, not being flexible enough, and basically screwing myself ov

Percival had a sleepless night. As the sky began to lighten, he got up. The first thing he did wasn’t to wash up or change clothes, but to stand on the balcony and smoke a cigarette. The ashtray on the table was already filled with cigarette butts and ash. When he went downstairs and ran into Zephyra, he suddenly stopped her and asked, “Do you think I treat Eulalia well?”Zephyra was taken aback. “Well?” In her eyes, he was good to her, but after hearing what Eulalia had said, she wasn’t so sure anymore.Zephyra looked at Percival’s bloodshot eyes and felt a sudden jolt in her heart. She put on a radiant smile and said, “You’re exceptionally good to your wife!”Percival, deep in thought, asked, “Good in what way?”Zephyra couldn’t quite put it into words, but she felt that the man standing in front of her did love Eulalia. She was glad she had checked the latest trending news yesterday. “Didn’t you just win a bid for an island at a high price to build an amusement park for her? 143 mi

Evadne was completely dumbfounded. She had never anticipated that Linchy would be able to decipher her entire scheme.A malevolent glint flickered in Linchy’s eyes. He lunged forward, seizing Evadne’s chin with a force that felt as if he intended to shatter her jawbone.Evadne’s face turned ashen. A soft, pained moan escaped from her lips, which were pressed tightly together.“Eva, it’s been four years. Are you still blind to who Percival really is?” Linchy sneered. “He only has room in his heart for Eulalia. Even if she were to die, he’d never marry you.”“You’re spouting nonsense!” Evadne retorted, her voice tinged with hysteria. “He promised to marry me, and he will!”“Do you really believe the words of a man?” Linchy scoffed, loosening his grip and lightly patting Evadne’s cheek. The gesture seemed gentle, but the mockery in his eyes made it feel as if he was treating her like a pauper.Disgusted, Evadne shoved his hand away and picked up her clothes from the floor. “Why can’t you

The next morning was like a scene from a domestic drama. Percival and Eulalia woke up together, went through their morning routines, and sat down for breakfast. Percival’s plate was an Instagram-worthy spread of a Western breakfast—eggs, bacon, toast, the works. Eulalia, on the other hand, had a bowl of plain rice porridge, the kind of meal you’d eat when your stomach’s acting up.Percival, who was multitasking between bites, sipped his coffee and skimmed through the newspaper. “I’ll drop you off at work later,” he said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.Eulalia looked up, her spoon halfway to her mouth. “I’m heading straight to Blackwell Corp today,” she replied, her tone neutral.Percival put down his newspaper, locking eyes with her. “I can take you there; it’s on my way.”Eulalia felt a twinge of suspicion. ‘On his way?’ she thought. Blackwell Corp was in the north, and Dunraven Corp was in the south. The two were as connected as oil and water. Was he planning to m

Eulalia got into the car, the windows sealed tight. Even though it was autumn and not particularly cold, she broke out in a cold sweat.The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “You hot? Want me to turn on the AC?”“No,” Eulalia shook her head, her fingers clenched tightly. “I’m cold.”Cold from fear, yeah. How could she not be? She knew Benedict was shady, but she never expected him to be in debt for ten million.Ten million might be chump change for Percival, but for Eulalia, it was the straw that could break the camel’s back.She stared out the window, her face as if covered by a thin layer of ice, ready to shatter at a touch.Checking the time, it was just past two. She’d make it by three.Maybe she was too anxious. When she arrived at her destination, she paid the fare and got out. This was a notorious underground gambling den. She had passed by it before but never entered.People who came here were of two types: the rich and the poor, two extremes.Eulalia didn’t g