로그인The atmosphere in the mansion's main dining room was unusually tense that night. The crystal chandelier hanging majestically above the long teak dining table cast a warm glow, yet the temperature in the room seemed to have suddenly dropped to freezing.Three well-built men with sharp, defined features sat in their respective seats. At the head of the table, Lucien sat upright in a dark gray casual shirt, his hawk-like eyes fixed on the empty seat at the opposite end of the table—the place where Isolde should have been sitting. To his left, Evander leaned lazily against the back of his chair, his strong fingers idly stretching and tapping a fork against his porcelain plate without the slightest intention of touching the piece of meat in front of him. Meanwhile, Azriel, seated on the right, stared blankly into his crystal glass of water, his arms crossed over his chest as a dark expression settled across his face.The absence of the plump girl among them turned the dining table, usually
The night grew later as the taxi carrying Isolde finally rolled slowly along the gravel road leading to the courtyard of the Blackthorne family mansion. Every step the plump girl took felt unbearably heavy and stiff as she passed through the grand front entrance. Her chubby face was pale, and her swollen, reddened eyes revealed the endless tears she had shed throughout the journey home.She only wanted to slip quietly into her room, lock the door tightly, and bury her face beneath a pile of pillows. But just as she stepped onto the first stair, a calm voice called out from the side corridor."Isolde? You're back?"Azriel stepped out from the dimly lit corridor. The youngest Blackthorne brother was dressed in a casual linen shirt with the sleeves neatly rolled up to his elbows. In his right hand, he carried a thick rolled canvas wrapped in black velvet fabric. His dark eyes fixed on Isolde, instantly catching the devastated expression on the plump girl's face."Come with me to the art
"Y-You're... looking for me?"Isolde's voice came out in a tiny, trembling squeak, stumbling over her words as her breathing had yet to return to normal. Her swollen gray eyes stared blankly at Lucien's chiseled face. Every ounce of the anger and resentment that had been burning inside her chest suddenly melted away, replaced by an overwhelming wave of confusion. Had this mature man really fought through the city's traffic just to find her?Lucien did not answer with words. His sharp jaw tightened, and his piercing hawk-like eyes narrowed with an unquestionable sense of dominance. Without giving Isolde any time to process what was happening, he seized her plump wrist, gripping it firmly before pulling her across the hotel lobby toward the executive reception desk.Within seconds, after simply stating his name and presenting his black card without another word, Lucien had already obtained the keycard to the hotel's highest-class suite.Rustle!"Luci! What are you—ahh!"Isolde let out a
The heated friction against the back of her hips grew more intense, yet behind Isolde's tightly shut eyelids, the tightness in her chest became even more unbearable. Every time Evander's tongue traced the curve of her neck, the face that appeared in her mind was not that of the messy-haired man, but Lucien's pair of sharp eyes looking at her with a possessive gleam.A wave of nausea suddenly crept up through her full chest. Isolde realized that she could no longer lie to her own heart. Using her body as an outlet for her heartbreak would only make her seem even more pathetic.With one sudden and forceful movement, Isolde jerked herself forward, shrugging Evander's muscular arms off her hips until his embrace was forcefully broken."I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Evander. It turns out I can't do this!" Isolde cried, her voice breaking with sobs.The tears that had been pooling in her eyes poured down her chubby cheeks once again. Without wasting even a second to hear Evander's response, Isold
The sound of the shower in the office bathroom finally came to a stop. Lucien stepped out with his black hair completely soaked, dampening the white dress shirt that clung tightly to his broad chest. The effects of the aphrodisiac had not completely worn off, but the icy water had managed to restore most of his senses.On his desk, his phone continued to vibrate nonstop. Lucien strode over and snatched up the rectangular device with his large fingers. His sharp eyes caught a text message that had arrived some time earlier from Isolde."Can't wait for this afternoon, Luci."The message had been sent at three o'clock that afternoon. Lucien closed his eyes for a moment, cursing his own carelessness for allowing Chloe into his office and letting her give him that poisoned drink, leaving him with no chance to reply to Isolde's message. Without wasting another second, Lucien immediately pressed the call button.One ring... two rings... until the call was automatically disconnected because i
The atmosphere inside the magnificent CEO's office suddenly descended into chaos. Lucien, who had been standing frozen with a dazed gaze and distorted awareness, abruptly widened his eyes as an unfamiliar heat consumed every rational thought in his mind. His head felt unbearably heavy, throbbing intensely.The very moment his senses gradually returned, Lucien realized that Chloe's lips were still pressed firmly against his. An overwhelming wave of disgust instantly gripped his chest.Shove!With one rough push, Lucien shoved Chloe's slender body away, causing her to stagger backward several steps and nearly fall beside his desk."Luci? What's wrong, darling?" Chloe winced in surprise as she straightened her slightly wrinkled fuchsia dress. Her eyes sparkled with a deliberately sweet, demanding expression.Lucien braced his tall frame against the edge of his desk. His breathing became ragged, his chest rising and falling unevenly. Cold sweat began soaking his temples and the collar of
Isolde sat quietly in the back seat of the car, clutching her small handbag tightly against her chest. Near her feet lay a worn-out suitcase. Her eyes were swollen and sore. Inside her mind, the echoes of cruel laughter from the hotel ballroom still played mercilessly, accompanied by strangers' whi
The moment the glass door of the salon opened for the second time, the atmosphere inside instantly shifted by 180 degrees. Lucien stepped in with a hardened jaw, leading Isolde beside him, the faint blush still lingering on her cheeks. The heavy and decisive sound of Lucien's dress shoes echoed acr
Evander leaned casually against the treadmill's handrail, steadily closing the distance between them until Isolde could catch the strong scent of his masculine cologne."I'm getting more curious," Evander murmured, his gaze blatantly dropping to Isolde's chest as it rose and fell rapidly from exhau
"Damn... your bodies are far warmer than that curvy woman."Gavin's deep voice came from behind the suite room door. Isolde Ravelyn froze in place. The velvet box in her hand trembled slightly while her chest suddenly tightened."Your fiancée is already waiting downstairs, isn't she?" a woman's pla







