What the hell?! Again?! Cynthia cursed inwardly, trying to stay calm. She attempted to break free from Lucien's grip and whispered, "I'm really tired right now."Unbidden, an image surfaced in her mind—maybe other women had once stayed in this place. The thought instantly extinguished whatever spark of passion she had left.To her surprise, Lucien actually let her go this time. Cynthia breathed a sigh of relief and turned to walk away. But just as she took two steps, she felt an arm wrap tightly around her waist—her feet left the ground as she was suddenly lifted."Ah!" she cried out, startled. Before she could even react, Lucien had thrown her onto the bed.The world spun. Cynthia barely had time to process what had just happened before Lucien was on top of her. His eyes bore into hers as he spoke in a low, firm voice, "Did you forget what I said earlier?"Of course she remembered. Panic rose in her chest. "But I really am exhausted..." she tried to explain.Before she could finish,
Cynthia's heart skipped a beat. A sinking feeling swept over her like a wave. She looked up—and there it was. In Lucien's hand, the one thing she had hoped to keep hidden: the framed family photo of her, Harley, and Gerald. The three of them smiling brightly, radiating happiness. But now, that picture felt like a ticking time bomb.Before she could think, she snatched the photo frame back from Lucien's hand, almost on reflex."This your son and your husband?" Lucien asked, his voice low.He had only glimpsed the photo, but that was enough to shatter whatever softness lingered inside him. The man in the picture was tall, handsome, exuding calm and reliability. In his arms was a boy, beaming with innocent joy. Cynthia stood beside them, her arm gently resting on the man's shoulder, her expression gentle and serene—an image of warmth Lucien had never seen on her face before.That smile—so full of affection—was like a cold slap to the face. It yanked him out of the illusion of intimacy th
Ever since that explosive fight with Lucien, Cynthia had been living like she was alone.Lucien had vanished without a trace, as if he had evaporated from the face of the earth.This time, Cynthia was truly furious—fed up with him to the core. The mere thought of seeing him again made her chest tighten with discomfort. She wished, more than anything, never to have anything to do with him ever again.It wasn't until the next day that Lucien's phone, left behind at home, was finally picked up by Simon in a rush.Gradually, Cynthia's life returned to something resembling normalcy—though she was still troubled by a few loose ends.Vicky's clothes were still at her place, unreturned. After mulling it over for days, Cynthia couldn't shake a growing sense of guilt. Perhaps she had misunderstood her.Thinking back, Vicky had always seemed quiet and sincere—hardworking and polite. Nothing about her suggested she was manipulative or calculating.The more she thought about it, the more Cynthia f
"Martin!"Cynthia hurried over when she heard Gina call out. "What are you doing here?"Martin's expression remained calm as he replied evenly, "I came with my boss to meet a director.""Which director?" Gina asked, curious, leaning in slightly. But her gaze instinctively drifted toward Lucien. The moment their eyes met—his cold and distant—her heart skipped a beat. They'd shaken hands warmly the last time they met… why the sudden coldness?Noticing her glance, Martin subtly stepped to the side to block her view of Lucien. "And what about you two? What are you doing here?"Lucien's icy gaze had clearly unsettled Gina. She stammered, "I… Cynthia and I are here for a business meeting.""She's already gone in," Martin said quietly."Huh?" Gina turned around and indeed saw Cynthia disappearing into the restaurant. She hesitated, then glanced once more at Lucien behind Martin. With a forced smile, she said, "Well, I'll head in first. See you around."Inside the restaurant, Cynthia quickene
Inside the private dining room, Gina stood with her arms crossed, glaring at Cynthia, who was leisurely flipping through the menu."Just say it,"Cynthia said, not even looking up.Gina suddenly slammed her hand on the table. "Be honest! Did you have a fight with Lucien and use me as a shield?""Weren't you here today to be a shield?"Cynthia finally looked up, the corners of her mouth curling into a faint, ambiguous smile.Gina pointed at her with a trembling finger. "Cynthia! I can't believe you used me, your best friend, like that!"She clutched her chest dramatically. "I'm doomed! Lucien definitely thinks there's something going on between us! I'm done for!"Grabbing Cynthia's wrist, she pleaded, "You have to go explain to him right now! I'm not into women! That's my idol we're talking about!"Cynthia calmly pulled her hand back, uninterested in Gina's exaggerated performance. If Gina knew what Lucien was really like in pr
Lucien's villa sat halfway up the mountain, secluded and far from the city. Taxis rarely passed by, so Cynthia had to pull out her phone and call an Uber. She stood quietly by the roadside, waiting.In the distance, a white sedan slowly approached. The driver glanced out the window—and froze. Standing at the roadside, Cynthia's tall, slender frame and poised presence made her look like a living work of art.But Cynthia didn't even notice the car. She was idly kicking at pebbles on the ground, glancing at her phone every now and then as she waited.Suddenly, the white car screeched to a stop a short distance ahead, then began reversing toward her. Cynthia noticed the odd behavior and turned her head in confusion.The car came to a stop right in front of her, the window rolling down to reveal the driver—Edric.Great. Two men in one day she had absolutely no desire to see, and this one was even worse than Lucien. Just looking at Edric made
Edric's fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, the sound of grinding bone echoing like teeth on edge.Lucien looked at him with contempt, as if sizing up a pathetic insect. A cold smirk curled at the corner of his lips—pure disdain. This was supposed to be his rival? Disgusting. Not even worth the effort it would take to put him in his place.He turned to leave.Through gritted teeth, Edric spat a curse: "One day, I'll crush you under my heel. And she—she'll be beneath me, begging—"Before the words could fully leave his mouth, Lucien's foot slammed into Edric's stomach.Edric hit the ground like a sack of rags. He hadn't even caught his breath before Lucien stomped down on his face, grinding his heel in with deadly force. His eyes were sharp enough to kill."Then you can die now,"he growled."Lucien!"Cynthia shouted, unable to hold back.Lucien turned his head, his warning
Cynthia looked at Lucien, bewildered by how erratic he'd become lately. One moment explosive, the next unnervingly gentle—it made her wonder if he might actually need to see a psychiatrist."Can you tell me now?"Lucien asked, his tone softer now that she had quieted down. "Why did you come today?"Cynthia was distracted and answered without thinking, "To return Vicky's clothes."Lucien's eyes darkened at her reply. If he hadn't come home early, would she have just slipped away without a word?Suppressing his anger, his voice dropped to a low, tense murmur. "And after that? You had no intention of waiting for me, did you?"Cynthia turned to face him, meeting his eyes head-on. "Was your apology just now sincere?"Lucien was momentarily speechless. Why was she circling back to this again? Hadn't they already moved past it? Or was it that his apology hadn't sounded genuine?People always said women had an innate talent for arg
In the BedroomCynthia knelt down and carefully helped Harley into a fresh change of clothes. She gently pressed a bandage onto the scrape on his little hand."Tell Mommy," she said softly, though her voice was tight with tension, "how did Vicky fall into the lake?"Harley lowered his head, twisting his fingers nervously."It was my fault... I wanted to climb the railing to see the lake. Vicky lifted me up... then the wood suddenly broke..." His voice trailed off, barely audible. "She fell in..."Cynthia took a deep breath and gently cupped his face."Do you know how dangerous that was? What if something had happened to Vicky? How could I ever explain that to her parents?" Her fingertips trembled. "You're Mommy's precious boy. But Vicky is her parents' precious girl too.""I'm sorry, Mommy..." Harley's eyes welled up with tears, and fat droplets rolled down his cheeks.In the CarLucien leaned against the window of the black sedan, his knuckles pressed to his brow. He had rushed home
Cynthia took a day off to get a paternity test. While she was gone, her luxury car had already been repaired and returned home. But according to Vicky, she and Lucien had been too caught up in their arguments lately—he had probably forgotten to tell her.It was a beautiful day, bright and sunny, the kind perfect for a leisurely outing.But ever since her return, Cynthia had been trapped in an endless cycle with Lucien—fighting, reconciling, and fighting again. It was like a toxic loop with no escape. Erica had been right: ever since meeting Lucien, she hadn't truly been happy. Like now—she didn't even feel like saying a single word to him.Seeing how down she was, Vicky suggested they go for a walk by Yiren Lake. Cynthia didn't object and drove them there, bringing Harley along."Mommy, I want to go over there!" Harley cried, bouncing toward the water's edge."Harley, wait for me!" Vicky called, chasing after him.A breeze tousled Cynthia's short hair as she gazed out over the shimmer
Lucien grabbed her wrist, his grip so tight it nearly crushed the bone. "I told you—I don't need any damn test! Harley is my son!"Cynthia tilted her head up, her amber eyes almost translucent in the sunlight. "Just because I say so? Aren't you afraid I'm lying to you?""Of course I'm fucking sure!" He yanked her closer, his breath scorching her face. "Even if you told me Harley was someone else's kid, I'd still raise him as my own—because he came from your body!"His words landed like a punch to the chest. Cynthia's lashes trembled violently. She hadn't expected his obsession to run so deep."What? Calling me disgusting in your head again?" Lucien gave a hoarse laugh, his voice like sandpaper. "You said Harley would rather have a stranger as his dad than me. That almost made me kill someone. You'd rather claim he's a bastard than admit he's mine…" His fingertip brushed over her pale lips. "Am I really that repulsive to you?"It felt like an invisible hand clenched around her heart. C
Outside the door, Harley and Vicky were pressed up against it like two little mice sneaking oil, but no sound came through."Vicky," Harley whispered anxiously, lowering his soft little voice, "Is Mommy still mad at Daddy?"Vicky quickly reassured him, "Don't worry, Harley. I'm sure sir will make it up to ma'am." She'd sensed a shift in the air—Harley had started calling Lucien "Daddy." It looked like Mr. Lucien was well on his way to becoming the rightful head of the household.A sudden shiver ran down her spine. If sir caught them eavesdropping…"Sigh, I really worry about those two," Harley said with the maturity of an old man. "Vicky, make sure to get Daddy an extra blanket tonight.""Why's that?" Vicky whispered."Because Daddy's so clueless!" Harley threw his hands up, clearly exasperated with his father's lack of tact."What are you doing here?"A cold, sharp voice cracked through the hallway. Vicky nearly screamed in fright. She turned around and saw Simon glaring at them. Pan
"Daddy, you must've made Mommy mad," Harley crossed his arms and sighed like a little adult. "She's ignoring you." He added with a worried look, "Gerald never dares to upset Mommy. The last time he did, she didn't let him through our front door for a whole month. Do you think she'll kick you out too?"Lucien crouched down to meet his son's eyes, catching a key word with razor-sharp precision: "Gerald… Daddy?" His voice sank, and his knuckles unconsciously tightened. That title pierced his chest like a thorn."He's been around since Mommy was pregnant with me!" Harley blinked, then leaned in mysteriously, curling a finger for Lucien to come closer. When Lucien obliged, the little boy's warm breath brushed against his ear. "He really likes Mommy, but she says he always brings around ugly weirdos." Then, tugging seriously on Lucien's tie, he warned, "If you act like him, Mommy won't want you either—and then I won't have a daddy again."Lucien's pupils constricted. He gently cupped the ba
The sound of the door closing finally faded, and Cynthia opened her eyes in the darkness. Her lashes trembled, her gaze full of conflict and struggle piercing through the night.She knew Lucien's history with Jessica came before their reunion—but the sudden appearance of a child, that line about "peaceful coexistence," and his proposal for Jessica to get an abortion all pierced her heart like thorns. In the dark, she clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.Twenty hours of being confined to the bed had left her legs numb. As she propped herself up against the headboard, she spotted a neatly folded dress nearby—its fabric carrying an unfamiliar warmth. The night outside was ink-dark, and then a child's voice suddenly pierced the silence:"Mommy! Mommy!"Staggering, Cynthia gripped the cold metal doorframe. Harley's voice, thick with sobs, crashed through the quiet. She fumbled the door open—and his small figure flung itself into her arms with such force they both tum
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 cold—Erica 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 Mommy—does 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