"Ah!" Harold let out a pained cry as Elara yanked her arm free from his grip and stepped back."Elara, it's me!" Harold clutched the side of his face, which was already swelling from the blow.Elara concealed the disdain in her eyes and said coolly, "Oh, it's you, Dr. Judd. I thought I was being attacked by some thug."Beside Harold stood a foreigner, who froze for a moment upon seeing Elara's face.Harold rubbed his bruised cheek, grimacing. "A place like The Mirage wouldn't have thugs roaming around. I just wanted to ask—what are you doing here?"Elara turned the question back on him. "What about you? What are you doing here?"Harold glanced at the man beside him before smiling. "I'm here for a business engagement."The foreigner simply nodded at Elara in greeting, and she responded with the same courtesy before turning to Harold. "Well, I'll be on my way then."She made a move to leave, but Harold quickly stepped in front of her, blocking her path."Elara, I've been trying
The foreign man standing nearby was immediately captivated by Priscilla's striking beauty. Meanwhile, Priscilla stepped forward and slapped Harold hard across the face."Where did this mutt come from, daring to make a mess at The Mirage? Do you think this is a place where you can piss and shit wherever you like?"Before Harold could react, Priscilla aimed a swift kick right between his legs."Argh!" Harold collapsed onto the ground, his wailing turning into a shrill, distorted cry.With an iPad encased in a protective cover shaped like a knife handle, Priscilla gripped the "hilt" and began smashing the device down on Harold's head three times."You had the nerve to harass someone under my protection? You must be tired of living, huh? Fine, I'll send you straight to hell to your great-grandparents!"The foreign man who had accompanied Harold hesitated, wanting to step in. But Priscilla's overwhelming presence stopped him in his tracks—his hands lifted slightly, yet he didn't dare
Her beauty was Priscilla's weapon, and the century-old legacy of Price Nation gave her the audacity to act without restraint. To be her enemy or her ally—neither was an easy path.Elara extended her hand and accepted the gift Priscilla offered. "Thank you, Ms. Price. I'll be sure to cherish your gift."She cast a cold glance at Harold. He instinctively shrank back, clutching his head, trying to make himself as small as possible.Priscilla watched Elara's retreating figure with a satisfied smirk. No one had ever resisted her advances, least of all a woman like Elara, who had spent seven years as a housewife.A woman like that would be easily swayed by kindness. They were forever grateful for even the smallest favor.Before leaving, Priscilla sneered at Harold and tossed out one last remark."Don't ever let me see you again. You? Trying to land someone like her? Dream on! You should take a long, hard look in the mirror and see how pathetic you are."Once Priscilla had disappeared
Before Elara went to meet Priscilla, she had told Finnegan of her whereabouts.Uncomfortable with the idea of her going alone, Finnegan arranged for several bodyguards to hide in the shadows and watch over her.The bodyguards stationed in the parking garage noticed the elevator doors opening. Someone stepped inside, and moments later, a black van pulled up and stopped right in front of the doors.A masked man emerged, carrying an unconscious Elara on his back. Sensing that something was wrong, the bodyguards sprang into action, rushing toward the scene.But they were too late. Elara was shoved into the van, and the black vehicle sped off toward the exit."Ms. Jones has been taken! Requesting backup!" One of the bodyguards immediately called for reinforcements through his radio.A second bodyguard jumped into a car and gave chase, but before he could catch up, another vehicle suddenly swerved into his path, cutting him off.In an instant, the black van had merged into the traffic
Elara forced out a strained breath. "What benefit would I get from setting up Dawn?"Harvey's dark eyes burned with fury. "Maybe you never intended for her to die. She was always causing trouble for you, so perhaps you just wanted to teach her a lesson."Elara rolled her eyes with an elegance that only fueled his rage.His voice grew colder. "I know you won't admit it! And I wouldn't send you away just based on this recording alone!"Forced to tilt her head up, her slightly parted lips caught his gaze.There was a time when she had been gentle and obedient toward him, catering to his every need. But that phase had been short-lived.After the birth of their children, she had become distant, perfunctory in her attentions, offering only surface-level compliance."Elara, what exactly am I to you?" His voice dripped with resentment. "I gave you a home, luxury cars, a monthly allowance of millions to spend as you pleased. And what did you give me in return?"You fed me prepackaged me
Harvey turned his head. Outside the door, a blinding white light poured in, casting the man in the wheelchair into a silhouette.Finnegan strode in, his presence swallowing the air in the room.Harvey had barely gotten to his feet when Finnegan's fist came swinging at him. He raised an arm to block, but the sheer force still sent him stumbling back.Harvey had trained in professional combat, but he was outmatched against Finnegan's raw strength.A solid punch landed in his abdomen, and Harvey collapsed to the floor, his breath knocked out of him. He opened his mouth, retching as bile surged up his throat.He clenched his jaw, suppressing a groan, and lifted his gaze just in time to see Finnegan unlocking the restraints around Elara's wrists.Supporting himself with one arm, Harvey pressed his other hand to the throbbing pain in his stomach. Then, Leonard rolled his wheelchair closer, stopping in front of him.Harvey pulled his split lip into a sneer. "Leonard Fisher, and you sti
Finnegan had never realized just how miserable her marriage had been until Elara divorced Harvey and left with only Merida.Elara flexed her hands, feeling the soreness in her wrists, while watching Finnegan land another punch on Harvey.Blood sprayed from Harvey's mouth, splattering onto the pristine white wall, leaving a glaring crimson stain.Elara turned to Leonard. "Mr. Fisher, how did you find me?""You're in Spring Garden. Harvey bought an apartment in the building next door directly across from your home."Elara felt a wave of disgust. "When did he buy it?""Three days ago," Leonard replied.A bitter taste rose in her throat. Harvey must have gotten Dawn's voice message from Niamh. He had done all of this deliberately to seek revenge.Locking her up in Spring Garden allowed him to fabricate the illusion that she had never even left home.If she hadn't taken Finnegan's bodyguards with her to The Mirage, she wouldn't have been rescued in time. And once she was locked awa
Harvey's eyes widened as he watched the bodyguards follow Elara's command without hesitation.One by one, they pulled out their phones, turned on their cameras, and pointed them at him from every possible angle.Elara raised the bamboo cane. With a sharp crack, the first strike landed across his cheek, leaving a vivid red mark.Blood surged through Harvey's veins, and heat swelled in his chest. He pressed his tongue against the burning inside of his cheek."Elara Jones!" he roared in defiance.His voice was thick with rage, ready to curse at her. But the words never made it out. He then looked at her from this angle for the first time—really looked at her.The woman standing before him with a bamboo cane in hand was cold and indifferent. Her long, dark lashes cast faint shadows over her eyes, making her expression unreadable.His ex-wife had always been beautiful, but in this moment, she was something else entirely. She was sharp, unyielding, like a blade unsheathed.The cane s
Theodore was truly a frightening man! Yet Elara didn't find this off-putting.Wasn't this exactly the sort of thing he would do? She had sensed this man's calculated advances from the moment he began appearing frequently in her life.Soon, Cassie left, and Elara sat in her office chair, moving back slightly."You can come out now," she commanded.Her voice had regained its composure. "You should have recovered by now, right, Mr. Snapp?"Theodore emerged from under the desk, which had been relatively cramped for someone of his size. He blinked at her, his eyes brimming with amusement as he asked, "Was that fun?""I almost fell for you," Elara blurted out, her voice carrying a more teasing tone.The man looked slightly disappointed. "So, you didn't fall for me after all?"Persistent, he leaned forward and lowered his voice to ask, "Did it feel good when you touched me earlier?"Elara's bright eyes sparkled with light as she had to admit, "I didn't expect you'd feel so nice to to
If one word could describe Theodore, it would be "insatiable!"The spasms emanating from Elara's abdomen made her aware of the unusual sensations in her body. In the warm early summer afternoon, even the air in the office seemed to grow heavy and humid.She felt as if an electric current had struck her, sending a tingling sensation up from the base of her spine. Her lips parted slightly, and she couldn't help but feel an intense curiosity about Theodore."Why would someone like you be interested in someone like me?" Elara's voice fell from above him."Hmm? Someone like me? What kind of person am I?"Theodore looked up at her with an expression that seemed completely vulnerable, as if offering himself to be commanded by her.Seated in her office chair, Elara lowered her gaze. As she looked down at this man, a strange and subtle thrill arose in her chest.She finally understood what it meant to gaze down from a position of power. It felt as though butterflies were dancing wildly i
Harvey was annoyed by Ethel's interference in his love life. Elara's decision to divorce him undoubtedly had something to do with Ethel's meddling."I recall that Uncle Leonard has been looking after the Shelton family. Didn't the Sheltons' daughter go abroad to study with Uncle Leonard's letter of recommendation?" Harvey asked."That's ancient history," Ethel replied. "I hear she has done quite well for herself in Melcina. She's returned and taken a position at Quantum Tech under Price Nation."Harvey was about to leave, but he stopped in his tracks when he heard a certain phrase from Ethel."What position does Ms. Shelton hold at Quantum Tech?"Ethel was delighted—Harvey was showing interest in Angie.She described enthusiastically, "I heard she's highly regarded by Priscilla. Since she's joined Quantum Tech, she must be in a top position.""Isn't Elara the one in charge?" Harvey thought. He quickly realized this meant Elara's position at Quantum Tech wasn't secure.Harvey re
Perhaps it was because he had spent recent days shoveling manure for fertilizer, cleaning pigpens, and herding cattle and sheep, but Harvey's germaphobia seemed to have been cured.He crouched down and began searching through the pile of garbage.Seeing Beau standing idly nearby, he sternly commanded, "What are you standing around for? Help me look! If we don't find the stethoscope, you won't be eating dinner!"Beau finally understood the gravity of the situation. With fear and trepidation in his heart, he looked at the garbage scattered on the ground with a miserable expression."Daddy, can I at least have a pair of gloves?""Look!" Harvey roared. "If we don't find it, I'll throw you in the trash can!"For the first time, he had completely lost patience with his son. Flames seemed to shoot from his eyes, and the features of his face were tense and sharp.Beau trembled, held his breath, and crouched down. With a disgusted expression, he began searching through the garbage while
Harvey froze in shock. He pulled back the covers, finding nothing on the bed. He spun around and darted out of his room, leaving a sharp, cold breeze in his wake.Outside his room stood a bodyguard assigned by Leonard. Harvey then grabbed the bodyguard by the collar."Where's my stethoscope? Who told you to touch my stethoscope?" he demanded.The bodyguard was bewildered. He gripped Harvey's hand in displeasure. "Mr. Fisher, please calm down. I don't know what you're talking about."Hostility flashed in Harvey's eyes as he breathed heavily and questioned, "My stethoscope that I put under my pillow—who took it?"The bodyguard thought for a moment. "I did see Mr. Beau playing with a stethoscope this morning. I'm not sure where he got it from."Harvey's pupils constricted sharply. Beau had entered his room and taken his stethoscope?That little brat!Beau, dressed in a gray monk's robe, was surrounded by visitors who had come to the chapel to pray. These past few days, he had been
This time, Harvey very clearly saw Elara's face deepen from a light pink to a rich, blooming rose—visibly, and in real time.Her beauty blossomed like a peony in full bloom. Her long lashes trembled several times, and her dark eyes shimmered as if brimming with tears.She looked as if… She was lovestruck. The moment that phrase crossed Harvey's mind, he was so stunned that his eyes widened in disbelief.Was Elara suddenly getting shy because of him?A strange flutter rippled through his chest. He sat at his desk, staring at the high-definition monitor in front of him, where every detail of Elara's face—even each individual eyelash—was crystal clear.He shifted his gaze to the upper-left corner of the screen to glance at the small preview of himself.After Leonard had driven him up to the mountains, the priest at Atkina Church had given him a haircut. Since he was neither a monk nor formally ordained, it was just a close-cropped cut, not a full shaving of the head.He looked at h
Theodore's eyes gleamed like sunlight shimmering over a lake. He looked like a large dog trapped in a cage, gazing at Elara with unwavering intensity. If he had a tail, it would have been wagging wildly like a windmill spinning at full speed.Elara screamed internally. This had gone a little too far! Her eyes then dropped to the tip of her own shoe. The place she had kicked… had grown!"Oh!" She quickly jerked her foot back, only to feel her body tip backward uncontrollably.Just as she was about to fall, Theodore reached out and grabbed her ankle.The moment his fingers touched her skin, her heart skipped a beat. Theodore pulled her back toward the desk.Elara froze in place like a statue. Her entire body was tense, her eyes were wide, and her pupils were unfocused."Elara, what's wrong?"Harvey had seen her suddenly lose her balance and fall backward. It startled him so badly, he looked as if he wanted to jump through the screen.A wave of helplessness washed over him. Luckil
Elara looked under the desk. What on earth was going on?Meanwhile, Harvey observed Elara in her formal women's suit on the computer screen—an attire he'd never seen her wear before.Her hair was pulled back into a bun secured by a simple ebony hairpin. A few strands, gilded by sunlight, curled against her porcelain cheeks.Though she appeared to be looking down at something, Harvey's gaze and thoughts remained completely captivated by her face. Only months had passed since their divorce, yet seeing her now felt like encountering someone from another lifetime.Had time stretched endlessly during his days at Atkina Church?"El—" Harvey's throat tightened as if stuffed with paper.But he quickly regained his usual composed tone. "Elara—no, I should address you as Ms. Jones now. Had Sam not called me, I wouldn't have known you'd assumed Quantum Tech's CEO position."His voice carried that innate condescension of the privileged, laced with unmistakable mockery."Why are you hiding
Elara stood still as she gazed at the tall, distinguished man before her. Meanwhile, Theodore looked up and smiled at her against the light."Why are you so far away?"Elara stepped toward him, teasing lightly, "I wanted a good look at you.""Then you'll need to come closer." Theodore leaned forward, closing the distance between them.Though she stopped a step away, their faces nearly touched. Elara instinctively held her breath as her eyes locked on him."Can you see clearly now?" Theodore asked."Mm," Elara replied."And?""So handsome." Elara praised him sincerely. "You're one of the most attractive men I've ever seen!"She truly meant it. Theodore chuckled through his nose. She'd seen plenty of handsome men in her life—Finnegan, Harvey, and Leonard. Especially Leonard, whose looks even made Theodore feel somewhat threatened."My face is the least remarkable part of me." He declared confidently.Images of those shirtless photos Theodore had sent flashed through Elara's mi