Se connecterIan raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t drunk last night. I was completely sober.“Sweetheart, I knew exactly what I was doing. I have been aware of my feelings for you for a long time. I just kept holding them back. But last night, when you hired those male escorts and leaned into that man’s arms, I could
Mia’s expression hardened. “Ian, what kind of thing is that to say? Who I date is none of your business.”“Fine.” Ian gave a short, cold laugh. “None of my business.”His face remained dark as he walked out. From that day on, he never returned to the Quinton estate.Mia did not see him for more than
Mia’s relationship with Ian had changed completely. Somewhere along the way, she had become the one doing the bullying.If she was upset, she would pinch or swat him without hesitation, and Ian would only grin and call her “Little Princess” or “Miss Trouble,” never once fighting back.Later, Mia was
By the time Ian was eighteen and in his senior year, his life was too busy with schoolwork to waste time picking on his stepsister. It had been a long time since he had teased Mia.The high school and middle school buildings were close to each other. That afternoon, he and a few classmates walked to
Lester was often away from home.In the beginning, whenever Mia was bullied by Ian, she would run to her mother, Sharon, in tears. But as a stepmother, Sharon felt she had no authority to discipline Ian. For the sake of keeping the household peaceful, she chose to turn a blind eye and never told Le
The first time Mia met Ian, she was only nine years old.Her mother, Sharon, held her hand and smiled brightly. “Say hello to your new brother.”The little girl tilted her head up at the tall boy in front of her, pressed her lips together, and obediently said, “Hi, brother.”The boy didn’t look the
Not long after, an elderly woman with a soft, round figure came out of the house, her face lighting up with a joyful smile. “Miss Riley… is that you, Lottie?”Charlotte paused, surprised. “Do you know me?”The old woman walked up to her, eyes clouded with age but glistening with tears. Emotion wel
Three days later, Wendy stood outside the door of the hotel suite, knocking a few times. “Zac? Are you in there?”There was no response.She frowned and pulled out her phone to call him. The line rang and rang until it disconnected on its own.Ever since that day at Steven’s estate, she hadn’t hear
“This car...”Of course, Zac remembered it. Back in Harbor City, Charlotte used to drive this very car. At the time, Wendy had mocked her for being vain, saying she must have rented it just to pose for photos. And he believed it. Looking back now, he realized just how ridiculous he had been.
The walls were bare, with none of the little touches Charlotte would have added. Even the curtains weren’t in a color she liked.Zac closed his eyes, but the image in his mind only sharpened—Charlotte tangled up in bed with that man.Were they doing it right now?A sharp, unshakable pain gripped his







