Lucien's gaze remained fixed on Cynthia until she disappeared behind the closed door. Only then did he slowly retract his eyes, turning his attention to Jacqueline. Though his expression bore no hint of anger, there was an unmistakable pressure in his gaze that made the air feel stifling.Jacqueline's heart clenched violently, her breath quickening. For a brief moment, she felt as if she had been reduced to nothing in Lucien's eyes—like a piece of worthless trash. Her legs trembled involuntarily.She had always known Lucien was a man who stood above all others, someone who could not be manipulated or challenged. His possessiveness ran deep; he lived by his own rules, tolerating no defiance—especially not from the women beside him.Yet, before her very eyes, Cynthia defied him at every turn. Every word she spoke, every action she took, seemed like a deliberate provocation, daring to test the limits of his patience.And what drove Jacqueline mad with jealousy was that Lucien indulged Cy
Upstairs, in the dimly lit bedroom, Cynthia had just finished her shower. Dressed in a white nightgown brought by a maid, the slightly open neckline revealed a hint of delicate skin. She stood quietly by the window, gazing down at the courtyard below.Outside, Jacqueline was being helped away by a man who had rushed in, and she was in complete disarray, her body limp against the man as if all strength had been drained from her. It was clear that she was barely able to walk on her own, more dragged than supported as they left.Cynthia felt a fleeting sense of pity. That sight—utterly wretched—was enough to stir anyone's sympathy.She had experienced Lucien's ruthlessness firsthand. And now, witnessing how cruelly he discarded Jacqueline, a woman who had devoted herself to him, Cynthia felt a cold realization settle over her.To Lucien, women were nothing more than fleeting distractions. Once their novelty wore off, they were cast aside without hesitation.And what about her?Cynthia kn
Cynthia remained silent for a long while, her heart a whirlwind of emotions. Finally, she spoke softly, "If this will ease your anger, then tonight... I am willing to sleepwith you. I only ask that you let me go afterward. I swear, from now on, wherever you are, I will keep my distance. I will never appear in your sight again, never provoke your displeasure..."But before she could finish her sentence, a loud crash shattered the air. Lucien, in a sudden burst of rage, slammed his fist into the glass beside her.The window splintered like a spider's web, shards of glass flying in all directions, scattering across the floor like deadly projectiles.Cynthia was startled by the sudden violence, instinctively covering her head and trembling uncontrollably.She looked up, her eyes wide with fear, to see Lucien's hand clenched tightly, veins bulging on the back of it. Sharp glass had cut deep gashes into his skin, and blood was already staining his hand, a
Since Erica was away on a business trip, Cynthia hadn't dared to tell her that she had been abducted by Lucien for two days and three nights. She knew all too well that if Erica found out, she would rush back immediately, no questions asked.But even if she did, what could she possibly do? Lucien held overwhelming power, and Erica stood no chance against him.Thisday, Lucien seemed to have vanished into thin air, giving Cynthia a rare moment of relief. After work, she went straight home.However, she wasn't naïve enough to believe she was truly free. She knew there was no escaping him anymore, andshe simply resigned herself to reality.So when Lucien rang her doorbell again, she no longer felt the same panic as before—only a sense of resignation.Lucien stood at the door, his expression unreadable, his dark eyes locked onto hers. Cynthia met his gaze, equally expressionless.The tension between them made them seem more
He wanted her to submit, yet now that he truly saw her cowering in fear before him, he found himself disgusted by her cautious demeanor.She had once been so youthful and fearless, never intimidated by him. But now, what was left between them?Nothing but his relentless oppression and the terror in her eyes that she could no longer conceal.Perhaps, deep down, it was the Cynthia who used to challenge him at every turn, who could drive him to fury yet captivate him at the same time—that was the woman he truly couldn't let go of.Hearing Lucien bring up the past again, those unbearable memories surged forth like wild vines breaking through the cracks. She had no desire to explain, nor did she know how to.Should she tell him that her marriage had never been what she truly wanted? That all she ever longed for was freedom?It was pointless. He would never understand, nor would he accept it. He would only see it as betrayal.But none
Upon hearing these words, Lucien's body stiffened abruptly. He slowly reached out his hand, gently caressing Cynthia's cheek. His fingers were as cold as ice in the depths of winter, and his voice was equally frigid as he said, "Say it again.""I'm married.I have a husband.And we have a child, a boy," Cynthia replied, her resentment growing stronger and her smile becoming more deranged.She looked at Lucien with eyes that seemed to regard him as a pitiful wretch, as if trying to convey all the grievances she had endured over the years through that gaze.A sharp crack shattered the eerie silence in the room.Cynthia felt a searing pain in her jaw, so intense that she nearly cried out.Lucien, who had somehow already gripped her jaw, exerted a force so strong it felt as though he might crush her bones.He let out a cold, bitter laugh, his voice dripping with anger, resentment, and disdain. "Married? Is he your husband, or someone e
In the dead of night, the nightmarish torment finally came to a slow halt.The room was in complete disarray—tangled sheets, scattered clothes—all bearing silent witness to the disgrace that had just unfolded.Cynthia lay weakly on the bed, her eyes hollow and dim, as if all vitality had been drained from her, her soul seemingly ripped away.Lucien reached out and methodically untied the restraints binding her. His movements were devoid of any tenderness, purely mechanical. Once free, he lifted Cynthia into his arms. Her body was limp, as though boneless.Lucien picked up his phone and opened the video that captured their depravity. He leaned in close to Cynthia, his voice hoarse yet tinged with a twisted sensuality, and whispered in her ear, "Did you enjoy it?"Cynthia's gaze was unfocused, as if she had lost all sense of reality. She showed no reaction to his words.Seeing this, Lucien frowned. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at the screen. His tone was laced with mockery a
The gathering was held at Core Club, located at 711 Fifth Avenue.When Cynthia arrived, a waiter personally escorted her inside. Standing before the door, she took a deep breath before pushing it open. "Hey, everyone."A chorus of voices erupted from inside."Cynthia!""You finally made it!""What took you so long? We've been waiting forever!"Cynthia smiled. "Traffic.""Cynthia, we haven't seen you in ages. You haven't changed a bit—still as stunning as ever. What a shame Erica's away on a business trip. If Erica and Vanessa were here, the three of you together would be a sight to behold." A bespectacled man sighed nostalgically.Listening to them reminisce about her, Erica, and Vanessa, Cynthia felt as though she had stepped into another lifetime.Back in school, they had lived so boldly, so radiantly, always in the spotlight. But beneath the glamour, their lives had been far more difficult than most.Whether it was her, Erica, or Vanessa, fate had always toyed with them—leaving the
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
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