Candice arrived at the Jackson family estate around 11:40 AM.
The butler was quite surprised to see her.
He had known another guest was expected, but he hadn’t realized it was the young madam. Considering the fact that Young Master Kyle and Miss Jones were currently in the living room, he instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
The only people who knew that Kyle and Candice were married, aside from both families’ parents, were close staff members like Terry and the Jackson family butler.
“This way, please,” the butler said, bracing himself to carry out the madam’s orders as he led her in.
Before they even reached the living room, a crisp, bell-like voice rang out from inside, coquettishly saying, “I won again. Kyle, were you letting me win?”
Candice halted in her tracks.
Her mind went momentarily blank, but she quickly pieced it all together.
“Heh.”
A cold chuckle escaped her lips as she resumed walking.
Since she had planned to move some books today, she hadn’t put on any makeup. She wore a simple outfit: a loose white shirt and jeans. Her long, waterfall-like hair was loosely tied back with a ribbon.
Even so, her skin was flawless and fair, her eyes bright and her lips red. A few loose strands of hair framed her face, lending a softer, more alluring innocence to her natural beauty.
Kyle looked up from the sofa and was visibly shocked when he saw Candice. “Why are you—”
“Your mother called me here,” she said calmly, her gaze laced with quiet sarcasm. “Huh? Weren’t you supposed to be in Hong Kong? When did you learn to teleport?”
“…”
A flash of guilt crossed Kyle’s eyes.
Mia Jones got up from the sofa and approached Candice, extending a hand in a taunting manner. “Hi, I’m Mia Jones.”
Candice didn’t even glance at her, treating her like air.
At that moment, Caroline Jenkins entered from outside.
She gave Candice a fleeting glance before warmly taking Mia Jones’s hand. “Mia, did you have fun today? Make yourself at home, alright?”
Then, she turned to introduce Candice. “This is Miss Hale, a manager from our company. I have something I need to discuss with her.”
Everyone knew Candice was Kyle’s wife. Yet Caroline deliberately introduced her as a company employee, making it obvious she didn’t welcome Candice. It also sent a clear message to Mia Jones: Candice was a nobody, and nothing stood in the way of a union between the Jackson and Jones families.
Mia Jones lifted her chin proudly. “So you’re just a company employee.”
Candice didn’t look at Mia or Caroline—she only looked at Kyle, silently watching his expression.
She wanted to see how he would react.
But his face remained cold and expressionless. He didn’t even attempt to clarify her identity.
Did he not realize what was happening? No. He knew. He just didn’t care if she was being humiliated.
“Mrs. Jenkins, didn’t you want to speak with me? Why not do it right here?” Candice turned to her mother-in-law.
“Another time. Since you’re here, stay for lunch.”
“No thanks. I have things to do,” Candice said, turning to leave.
Caroline Jenkins barked after her, “When an elder asks you to stay for a meal, what kind of attitude is that? Didn’t your parents teach you any manners?”
Candice turned back slowly, her gaze clear and cool. “Fine. I’ll stay for lunch. Just don’t regret it.”
She was the first to head over and sit down—choosing a single-seat armchair.
Mia walked right over to sit beside Kyle, clinging to his arm. “Kyle, let’s keep playing chess.”
Kyle pulled his arm away and looked toward Candice.
“Miss Hale, do you know how to play?” Mia asked, glancing at Candice.
Candice looked at the top-tier jade chess set on the coffee table. But rather than playing Go, they were clearly playing the far simpler Five-in-a-Row. And Kyle had actually lost earlier…
It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to coax someone. He just didn’t know how to coax her anymore.
She looked up at Kyle, lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. “Yes, I know how. Would you like to play, Miss Jones?”
Kyle’s eyes darkened with irritation, a warning glint shining in them.
Mia confidently reset the board. “Miss Hale, would you like white or green?”
Candice picked up the green pieces. “Green. Suits me.”
Kyle: “…”
Mia and Caroline had almost started laughing—who insults themselves like that? But a moment later, they realized Candice wasn’t insulting herself—she was insulting them.
Mia gritted her teeth and hurried to make the first move.
They went back and forth, placing dozens of pieces. Caroline watched Mia make precise, calculated moves while Candice scattered hers with seemingly no logic. Caroline, already biased, shot Kyle a look as if to say: See what a real socialite looks like?
Kyle didn’t react at all.
As more pieces fell into place, Mia’s mood shifted between excitement and irritation—she kept thinking she had a winning move, only for Candice to block her. Still, neither of them had won yet. At worst, it would be a draw.
“Hmph. Even a draw with her is beneath me,” Mia muttered.
“It’s your move,” Candice said evenly.
Mia had been building toward a sneaky win in a corner—three green pieces already in place. If she got one more, it was over.
Trying to appear calm, she placed her fourth and looked at Candice, holding her breath, hoping she wouldn’t catch it.
Sure enough, Candice placed her piece somewhere else.
Mia instantly lit up and cried out, “I won!”
Caroline immediately clapped to celebrate.
But the next second, they both froze.
Candice’s slender, porcelain-like fingers had already started collecting the pieces from the board.
Only then did they notice: Candice’s seemingly random pieces had formed a perfect line of five.
Both their faces turned pale instantly.
The knocking on the door continued.“Come in.”Outside, the butler entered, fumbling in the dark.In his haste, he knocked over a vase and stumbled, looking quite disheveled.He panted as he approached Belinda, “Something’s wrong. All the power’s been cut off, and there’s no response from the control room. The castle’s in chaos.”Belinda raised an eyebrow.She crossed her arms and coldly sneered, “What’s all the panic for? No lights, but we have candles. Light the candles.”The butler hesitated, “...The candles are gone, even the ones on the candelabras have been taken. Everything’s been taken!”Belinda’s eyebrows furrowed in curiosity.She looked at the butler, then suddenly burst into laughter.That laugh carried a sense of helplessness toward the foolish people.“Alright, figure out a way to restore the power as quickly as possible. Go now.” She waved her hand.The butler, still a bit confused by her response, replied, “...Yes, ma’am.”He retreated, still puzzled, wondering why Bel
Candice: "…"Sister, you're truly more dangerous than a tiger!Evelyn affectionately wrapped her arm around Candice, her red lips whispering in her ear, "Don’t worry, I’m amazing. I can take on ten of them."Charlie’s cold and handsome face darkened, "Evelyn, let her go."Evelyn raised her hands in surrender and smiled, "Charlie, you’re really too stingy. Can’t I just have a little chat with Candice?"Charlie ignored her."Candice, come here." He waved at Candice and then warned Dick, "Keep your people in check."Dick’s face grew slightly awkward.He glanced at his companion, pulling her aside to whisper at her.Candice walked over to Charlie.She glanced at the three people over there, thoughtful.Jerry stealthily came over, lowering his voice and slightly uneasy, "Candice, don’t you feel like... like someone’s been watching us?"Candice quietly circled her arm around his and whispered back, "It’s that woman who fell."Jerry: "…What!"He was so frightened, he grabbed her arm.Just wh
Candice’s heart raced for a moment.The next second, the cursed Japanese woman’s ghostly face appeared before her eyes.Ugh, forget it. She became the island’s owner. Who knows, that thing might end up coming home with her.“Although I don’t like this island, the thing you gave me, I’ll definitely... resell it at a good price.” She said, holding his hand with sincerity.“...”Charlie remained silent.Nearby, Evelyn teased, “Charlie, don’t get too confident. Maybe Vance and I will be the ones to find it first?”Charlie shot her a glance. “Maybe?” He smiled faintly. “Evelyn, don’t be so self-deprecating.”Evelyn was at a loss for words.Rex and Jerry also joined in, declaring that they would win for sure.The atmosphere lightened, as if they were truly immersed in a treasure hunt for the island.After a short while, Belinda handed each guest a map and a clue.“The activity will begin in twenty minutes. Good luck! I’ll be waiting for the winner on the third floor in the first room to put
At the 9 o’clock direction.The Japanese wealthy woman, with an elegant and humble smile, waved at her.Yes, it was her.The same woman who had knocked on their door earlier and whom Candice had clearly seen falling from the upper floor.A chill rose from the soles of her feet."You... you... quickly, look, look..."Candice tugged at Charlie’s arm.The next moment, her face was turned towards him. Charlie stared at her lips, "What happened to your tongue?"Candice desperately tried to look away, tilting her eyes to the side."Didn’t you see it?"Charlie glanced in the direction she was looking and then politely nodded toward it with a faint smile before calmly turning back, "I saw it, so what?""..."Wait, isn’t he way too calm?!Is this okay?Is this even normal?Candice wasn’t sure if she was too frightened or if Charlie was too bold. "That woman... didn’t she already..." She gestured as if something had fallen in a parabola.Charlie furrowed his brows slightly.After a moment, he c
His soft lips kissed along her waist and up to her ear.His strength was overwhelming.And he was so into it, like a starving wolf. No matter how much she tried to resist, it was useless. His large hands roamed freely, and her gown was about to be torn off...“Charlie, snap out of it!”This wasn’t normal.Too abnormal.Charlie was a man of great self-control. Even if he had desires, he wouldn’t lose his mind like this, as though possessed.She tried to stop him for a long time, but it was no use!Charlie, the hungry wolf, wasn’t satisfied with just the back. He flipped her over.Candice’s dress, already ridiculously revealing, now offered no coverage at all. To the hungry wolf, she was like a steaming, sweet dessert.“...I really might resort to violence!”She scratched him with her nails.The result?It was a disaster.The hungry wolf was even more excited, pinning her wrist down and showering her with kisses.Candice: ...?!No, I’m not rewarding you!They struggled for a while, her
“It’s real, there are ghosts here.”Charlie said this seriously, adding weight to his words, his eyes mysterious and dark. “Maybe we’ll encounter many supernatural phenomena soon.”“……”Oh, shut up!Candice’s face was expressionless.Charlie rubbed her small face playfully, “Believe it or not, we’ll have a ghost knock on our door soon.”“...I believe you’re—”“Knock knock.”Before she could finish her sentence or even strike him, the door was suddenly knocked on.A woman’s voice came from outside.“Mr. Clemens~~~”The voice was trembling.Candice froze, her hand stopping mid-air as she was about to slap him. Her scalp tingled as she instinctively threw herself into his arms, clutching his waist tightly.What was going on?Was there really... a ghost?Her face pressed against his chest, and she held her breath, staring at the door. Her hands gripped the fabric of his shirt tightly.His heartbeat was steady, but hers was racing.“Mr. Clemens~~~ Save me~~~”The voice from outside now had