The second half of the night felt like an endless and torturous nightmare for Cynthia. She lay in bed, her eyes fixed on the dark ceiling, her thoughts tangled like a chaotic web. She drifted in and out of restless sleep until the first rays of dawn quietly seeped into the room. When Cynthia finally opened her eyes, a single word stabbed into her heart like a sharp daggerโmistress.Yes, today was the first day she had agreed to become Lucien's mistress. She slowly got up, allowing the maid, Vicky, to dress her in the luxurious clothes Lucien had prepared and apply delicate makeupโeverything was flawless, down to the finest detail. Yet, in Cynthia's eyes, the reflection in the mirror was unbearable to look at. No matter how she viewed it, she felt like a heavily adorned woman waiting for a clientโno different from a prostitute. Or perhaps, like a meticulously groomed bird in a gilded cageโgranted beautiful feathers but stripped of the freedom to soar, trapped within these wal
Moments later, they both sat at the dining table. Lucien had already regained his usual demeanorโhis face an expressionless mask of indifference. Vicky, too afraid to make a sound, carefully set the breakfast dishes in place, barely letting her gaze linger on either of them before quickly retreating from the dining room. In front of Cynthia sat a glass of milk, along with an assortment of delicate pastries, a perfectly cooked egg, and a steak. By contrast, Lucien's meal was far simplerโjust a black coffee and a sandwich. It was obvious that his breakfast routine was fixed, and the extra dishes on the table had been specially prepared for her. Staring at the excessive amount of food before her, Cynthia felt a flicker of irritation. Did he take her for a pig? How on earth was one person supposed to eat so much? Lucien sat with his usual elegance, his posture reminiscent of an aristocrat from the Middle Ages. He focused entirely on his meal, never once sparing her a glance. Cynth
On the other side of town, Jacqueline had just arrived downstairs at her apartment building. She pulled a cigarette from her bag, skillfully lit it with a lighter, and took a deep drag before exhaling a stream of smoke. Nicky, spotting her, quickly jogged over and urged, "Wait until you're inside! If the paparazzi catch you smoking here, it'll be a mess." Jacqueline frowned, her face flashing with impatience. She shot Nicky a sharp glance and said irritably, "Enough already. There are so many bodyguards aroundโwhere would the paparazzi even come from?" Nicky was momentarily speechless. Though he knew she had a point, he chose not to argue further. Instead, he handed her phone over. Jacqueline took it, her fingers swiftly scrolling through the screen. When she saw that Marius hadn't called, a flicker of disappointment crossed her face. How did things go with Marius? Had Cynthia been punished yet? She knew perfectly well that Marius liked her, and using him to deal with Cynt
Early the next morning, Cynthia arrived at the office. As soon as she stepped inside, she noticed a group of colleagues gathered together, buzzing with excitement over some big news.Pearl, known as the office's queen of gossip, stood at the center of the crowd, her expression animated as she spoke."Did you guys hear? That whole rumor about Jacqueline and Lucienโit was all her doing! She orchestrated the entire thing, hoping to force Lucien into admitting she was his girlfriend. But guess what? Lucien never took her seriously at all. In the end, Jacqueline had no choice but to deny everything, but in reality, she was the mastermind behind it!"Upon hearing this, Gina's face lit up with the joy of sweet revenge. She couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Serves her right!"Cynthia stood quietly to the side, a flicker of sympathy surfacing in her heart.She recalled Jacqueline's pitiful figure as she left, a dejected and broken silhouette. Softly, she murmured, "I actually think she's
That morning, a sensational piece of news spread like wildfire through every corner of the magazine officeโJacqueline was scheduled to arrive that afternoon for a cover shoot."What the hell? Who the fuck invited that bitch?" Gina slammed a stack of documents onto her desk, her face filled with fury."I heard Mrs. Roberts personally extended the invitation. A big celebrity like her coming here? We should be grateful," Pearl replied, crossing her arms and tilting her chin up slightly.Mrs. Roberts was none other than the wife of Jeffrey Roberts, the magazine's chairman."Celebrity? Please. She's nothing but a scheming whore," Gina scoffed, her voice sharp and piercing.Pearl smirked, amused. "Gina, why do you hate Jacqueline so much?""I just do. Got a problem with that?" Gina huffed, as if her disdain needed no explanation.Seeing that Gina wasn't in the mood to elaborate, Pearl changed the subject, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Honestly, I don't care about Jacqueline. What I'm
Lucien's words struck like a thunderclap, instantly drawing everyone's attention in the studio.All activity came to a halt as curious eyes turned toward them, and hushed whispers filled the air.Cynthia had never expected Lucien to publicly call her his "wife" in front of everyoneโespecially here, in her own workplace.In an instant, heat surged to her face, and a wave of embarrassment swallowed her whole."What nonsense are you spouting?! Where's your wife?!" Cynthia's voice trembled slightly, betraying her agitation. She cast a furtive glance around, only to find her colleagues staring at her and Lucien with wide eyes, their expressions a mix of shock and intrigue."You," Lucien said, his gaze locked firmly on hers, enunciating every word with absolute certainty. "You are my wife."Cynthia clenched her jaw.Lucien was trying to ruin her career on purpose!"Lucien, that's enough! Come with me!" Unable to endure the humiliation any longer, Cynthia grabbed his arm and forcefully tried
Lucien's voice was low and gentle, yet Cynthia scoffed inwardly. She wasn't about to believe a single word.Lucien seemed to sense her displeasure. Before she could even respond, he let go of her hand and said firmly, "If you lose this job because of me, so be it. I'll start a magazine just for you. I'll fund it, and you'll be the editor-in-chief. That way, you can do whatever you want."The more he spoke, the more passionate he became. "You belong to me now. If I ever catch you getting involved with another man, I'll make sure he regrets ever being born."As he spoke, the memory of the charity gala flashed through his mind, reigniting his simmering anger. It seemed like he needed to have a word with Paulโmake sure he understood that Cynthia was no longer just his employee.Lucien's arrival had cast a heavy shadow over the room. Everyone felt the pressure, sneaking glances at him before quickly lowering their heads, pretending to focus on their work.Cynthia burned with frustration. L
Everyone turned toward the voice, only to see Ollie plastering on a fawning smile, carefully appeasing the man beside him while murmuring apologies.Nicky's gaze instantly locked onto Cynthia. His eyes burned with deep hatred and unfiltered disdain. Turning back to Ollie, he raised a single finger and shrieked, "We have only one hourโjust one! If the shoot isn't done by then, we're walking out immediately. Not a second more!"The once smooth-running shoot had come to a grinding halt due to Nicky's abrupt intrusion. The atmosphere in the studio grew tense with irritation.Hogan, however, remained as composed as ever."And one more thingโJacqueline doesn't like the photographer you assigned her." Nicky's sharp voice rang out again. He raised a hand, drawing an arc in the air before pointing directly at Roy. "You. Get ready. You'll be shooting for us."Pearl trembled with anger, her fists clenched so tightly it seemed she might lunge at Nicky at any second.Sensing this, Cynthia quickly
Lucien nearly crushed the steering wheel when he got Vicky's call. By the time he arrived, the scene in front of him made his blood run coldโErica gripping a kitchen knife, dragging Cynthia behind her, Harley charging ahead with a broom, and Vicky chasing them in a panic. It looked like a total madhouse.Just as he got out of the car, he heard Harley's sharp little voice shout, "You big meanie!"A piercing screech of brakes tore through the air.A scooter came speeding from the side. Harley stood frozen in the bike lane, the broom falling from his hands with a clatter as he squeezed his eyes shut in fear."Harley!" several voices screamed in unison.Lucien moved on pure instinct. He lunged forward and scooped the child into his arms at the last possible second. They both crashed into the roadside bushes, dry branches tearing jagged scratches into his skin.Cynthia rushed over and grabbed Harley, her fingers trembling as she checked him all over. "Tell Mommyโdoes anything hurt?"Harley
Cynthia raised her hand to hail a taxi to Erica's place, but before she could, a strong hand clamped around her wrist. Lucien was suddenly there behind her, his eyes a storm barely contained."You hate me that much?" he said hoarsely. "You can't even stand to stay one more minute?""Stay?" She let out a cold laugh. "What, to talk about how many mistresses you have? How many illegitimate children? Maybe we should count now, just so your grandfather won't have to bring them home one by one. That way, I'll know how many people I'm supposed to share you with!"Lucien's temple twitched with rage. "I told you, no one but you is worthy of having my child! You're the one who wanted her to keep it!""Oh, so now it's all my fault?" Cynthia's eyes turned red with unshed tears. "Should I thank you for giving me the exclusive privilege of bearing your children?"Her voice trembled. "You think an abortion makes it go away? And when the next one comes along, you'll have her abort it too, all for me?
Back at the apartment, Cynthia walked straight to the bedroom without so much as glancing at Hogan."I'll find you some clean clothes,"she said."Um…"Hogan rubbed his nose, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. "If you've got any... new underwear..."Cynthia paused. "Take a shower first. I'll bring it over when I find some."Throughout the exchange, neither of them acknowledged Lucien, even though his shirtfront was just as soaked.Sensing the tension radiating from Lucien, Hogan raised his voice deliberately. "Lucien, I'm going to shower now~ Where are the slippers?""Let Stephen bring the underwear,"Lucien said coldly. "The only ones I have are ones I've worn."Hogan blinked. "There's a supermarket downstairs. They probably sell them—"Before he could finish, someone grabbed the back of his collar. Lucien was already dragging him toward the door."Go dry off outside.""She's
Lucien's expression shifted subtly as he stepped toward her. "We do have a son. His name is Harley."His gaze never left Cynthia's face, but she wouldn't spare him even a glance."Impossible!"Janet shrieked, springing to her feet. "You've been divorced for six years! That bastard could be anyone's—""Janet."Cynthia's glare was sharper than any knife. "You'll regret saying that."She turned to Lucien, her tone calm as if speaking of someone else's life. "I found out I was pregnant after the divorce. I gave birth to him alone… raised him alone..."Her voice finally trembled. "I never planned to let you know."Lucien recalled the strange sense of closeness he'd felt when he first met Harley. His heart was struck like a gong. She had borne all of this—alone."I know."He pulled her into his arms, his voice hoarse. "Harley is my son."Mandy approached slowly. Cynthia immediately noticed the brui
Cynthia had just stepped out of the kitchen when she nearly collided with Marcus, who stood at the doorway with a frail-looking girl. The girl kept her head down, her steps hesitant."Come in,"Marcus said, stepping aside. But when he looked up and saw Cynthia, his expression shifted dramatically.The girl slowly lifted her head, and the moment their eyes met, both she and Cynthia froze in place.That face—it looked so much like hers. Even more than Jacqueline ever had. Put them side by side, and no one would doubt they were sisters."Dinner's ready..."Lucien's voice came from behind, but at this moment, it sounded sharp and jarring."Lucien..."Tears welled up in the girl's eyes as she stared longingly at the man behind Cynthia, yet she didn't dare take a step closer.Cynthia turned and saw Lucien's face clouded with dark fury. She said softly, "She's here for you."His pupils contracted. He reached out for her,
Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains. Cynthia carefully helped Lucien slip into a T-shirt, her fingers pausing for a moment when they brushed against the bruises on his back."You should really get checked out at the hospital," she said softly."You'll come with me?" Lucien pulled her into his arms like a child asking for candy."Mm-hmm." She agreed without hesitation, lifting her gaze to meet his deep, intense eyes. On impulse, she rose onto her toes and brushed a light kiss against the corner of his mouth. "Good morning."The sudden kiss lit up Lucien's entire face, so radiant it was almost blinding. Cynthia's ears burned red as she hurriedly pushed him away."We should get going."He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her fingertips. "Okay."Every small act of tenderness from her was a priceless gift to him. He had all the patience in the world to wait—until she opened her heart completely.When they stepp
"Mommy can't come home tonight, okay? Be good and listen to your auntie,"Cynthia said gently into the phone.From the other end came Harley's exaggerated wail, "That uncle tricked you again! I'm never talking to him again! Hmph!"Erica took the phone from Harley. "You're staying at the Brown estate tonight? They accepted you back this fast?"Cynthia looked out at the night sky, her voice tinged with fatigue. "Not exactly. Lucien got beaten half to death by his grandfather just to bring me back. If you had seen it…""What?!"Erica shrieked. "And you? Are you okay? I swear, what kind of century are we living in where people still solve things with violence? Should I call the police?"Cynthia instinctively rubbed the red marks on her arm. "I'm fine. He took all the hits for me.""That's a relief,"Erica muttered, then lowered her voice, "That scumbag didn't give you any trouble, did he? If he so much as touches you, just
Cynthia's face flushed with sudden heat.This room held too many sordid memories—countless nights of skin on skin, countless moments of surrender. Back then, she'd been nothing more than a doll locked in a glass case for his amusement. The way he had devoured her, night after night, still made her fingertips tremble at the memory. And even now, she couldn't seem to resist the pleasures of his bed. It was as if the marks he'd left on her body and soul had never truly faded.Back then, her world had revolved entirely around Edric. Her memories with Lucien had slipped through her fingers like water, forgotten as quickly as they'd formed. Maybe she'd blocked them out on purpose. Or maybe she had never cared enough to remember them. Now, only a few fragments remained—chief among them, the murderous rage in his eyes when he discovered her betrayal. That expression clung to her like a parasite. Everything else was a hazy blur, too shattered to piece together.
The heavy silence in the study was broken only by the occasional crackle from the fireplace.Brady tucked away his blood pressure monitor, glancing at the numbers. "Your blood pressure is holding steady, but at your age, sir, you shouldn't let yourself get so worked up."Thomas gripped the arms of his chair, knuckles whitening. "Stay calm?" he rasped, voice shaking with rage. "Those little bastards are tearing the house down!"Suddenly, he slammed his palm onto the rosewood desk, rattling the teacups. "They won't stop until they've broken every last bone in my old body!"Brady quietly packed his medical bag, preparing to leave, but Thomas barked, "Wait. That bastard's injuries...""Eight contusions," Brady said, shooting a glance at Marcus, who stood silent and motionless nearby. "No broken bones, but he should get X-rays to be safe. As for the young lady's arm—""Enough!" Thomas snapped, cutting him off. His white beard trembled with