Moments later, they both sat at the dining table. Lucien had already regained his usual demeanor—his 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 simpler—just 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 around—where 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 Lucien—it 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 office—Jacqueline 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 everyone—especially 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 Paul—make 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 hour—just 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 thing—Jacqueline 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
The moment Jacqueline saw Lucien, the smugness on her face instantly disappeared, replaced by sheer terror. Her eyes widened in horror as if she had just seen the most terrifying thing in the world.Her legs went weak, and she stumbled, barely able to stay on her feet. Nicky quickly reached out to support her, calling out anxiously, "Jacqueline!"Then, as he turned to look at Lucien approaching, an icy chill shot up his spine. His body involuntarily trembled.Lucien walked toward them, his fingers lightly brushing together as his cold, piercing gaze locked onto Jacqueline. His voice was laced with disdain as he said, "So, you've left clothes at my house before? I'll have the housekeeper search the storage room right away. If they find anything, I'll have it sent back to you immediately. In my home, aside from my wife's clothes, I consider anything else filthy and have the maids use them as rags.""Lucien…" Nicky couldn't take it anymore and tried to interject.However, before he could
"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
Thomas violently shook Mandy's hand off and slammed his cane against the floor, advancing on Lucien step by step. His cloudy eyes, sharp as a hawk's, locked onto Lucien."Remarry? Look me in the eye and say it!"Lucien shielded Cynthia behind him, his back straight as a blade. His voice was calm and unwavering."Yes. We've remarried."Smack!A sharp, piercing slap shattered the silence of the living room. Lucien's cheek instantly swelled, a vivid red mark blooming across his face. Stacey shrieked and rushed forward, but froze under the weight of Thomas's icy glare."Useless!" Thomas roared, his whole body trembling with fury. He raised his cane high, his voice hoarse with rage."Throwing away your dignity for a cheap woman!"The heavy rosewood cane came crashing down. In that split second, Cynthia thrust herself forward to block it—Crack!The sickening snap of bone meeting wood echoed through the room. Cynt
Janet clutched her cheek, her voice shrill enough to pierce glass."How dare you hit me!"Cynthia took a step forward, her heels clicking crisply against the marble floor."I hit exactly who I meant to.""Lucien!" Janet whirled toward him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You're just going to stand there and let her bully me?"Another sharp slap cracked through the air, louder, crueler. Janet stumbled backward, her face draining of all color.Cynthia turned to Stacey, her voice softening into something almost tender."You should understand by now... it was never me clinging to Lucien." She trailed her fingers across the wedding band on her hand. "It's just that he's a man worth coming back for. And as for that two million dollars I never touched—" her lips curved slightly, "—imagine how Lucien would react if he found out where it really came from."Stacey's face went deathly pale. The threat was razor sharp—if L
Erica's face paled instantly. "You're going back? After everything they did—""Just to give them a little update," Cynthia said coolly, her voice sharper than the raindrops dripping from the leaves. "Lucien and I are remarried."The calm declaration sent a chill racing down Erica's spine.The woman standing before her was no longer the timid girl who once endured endless humiliation. In Cynthia's hand, even a green vine seemed to sharpen into a drawn sword."Kindness must have an edge," Cynthia said, patting Erica's stiff shoulder with a faint smile. "Otherwise, you're just asking to be hurt. That's what they taught me."The sunlight suddenly seemed harsh, too bright to look at.Erica stared at her friend's striking profile, and an old memory slammed into her—six years ago, on a stormy night, Cynthia had stood on her doorstep, drenched and clutching a battered suitcase. Even then, her eyes had burned with the same stubborn light.
Flashes of yesterday's conversation with Erica ran through Cynthia's mind—"You're planning to remarry Lucien?""I'm not thinking about it right now.""So you're thinking about it?"The shards of those memories were shattered by the sight of the man's unwavering figure ahead.Without thinking, she blurted out, "Lucien! If you regret remarrying me, don't blame me later!"He stopped. His silhouette, bathed in sunlight, froze like a cutout against the sky."I never do things I regret," he said."And if we end up divorcing again?" Her voice tightened. "You better be sure about this!"There were too many wounds between them, too many unresolved conflicts buried deep over the years. She couldn't guarantee her own heart—let alone gamble with his.Lucien turned around, his features sharp against the light. "I'm sure."He stretched out his hand. "I'm asking you one last time—are you coming with me
Lucien's kiss crashed down like wildfire, and they tumbled onto the bed in a messy tangle. Cynthia lay against his chest, feeling the frantic pounding of his heart."Say it again," he rasped, his fingers tracing the curve of her lips.Her fingertips brushed his burning earlobe. "Welcome back."Before she could react, he had pinned her firmly beneath him. Moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting dappled shadows over the tense lines of his muscles. Cynthia closed her eyes, surrendering to the overwhelming tide of pleasure.Afterwards, resting on his arm, she stared out at the dense darkness beyond the window and whispered, "Lucien... I'm sorry I didn't contact you for the past month."Erica had once said that Cynthia was far happier with Lucien than she had ever been with Edric. Thinking back now, maybe it was true. But that chapter of her life had long been buried under the scars of six years ago.Lucien pulled her closer. "That
In the break room of F.E. Magazine, the coffee machine was humming loudly.Gina grabbed Cynthia's wrist and widened her eyes dramatically. "You're finally back! Do you know how worried we were?" She made a throat-slitting gesture. "Especially when Lucien stormed into the office demanding to see you—"Pearl leaned in, lowering her voice. "He went straight to Ollie's office that day. The pressure on the whole floor dropped to freezing. We didn't even dare to breathe too loud.""I had it the worst!" Gina thumped her chest, vividly describing the scene. "When his bodyguard 'invited' me into the car, my legs turned to jelly! Lucien was sitting there, his eyes sharp as knives—‘Tell me, where's Cynthia.'" She mimicked Lucien's deep voice. "I swear to God, I had no idea!"Pearl nodded furiously. "Gina came back shaking like she'd seen a ghost."Cynthia stirred her coffee, watching the milk foam swirl in the cup. She could easily imagine the scene—Lucien's tense jawline, his eyes darkening int