"Gloria, you don't need to do anything. Just stay there, and I'll come to you and hug you. Leave everything to me. If you don't give it a try, how can you taste the feeling of happiness? I won't make you sad or let you cry again."
Derrick promised her and he almost convinced Gloria. Meanwhile, Patrick's voice echoed in her mind. "Gloria, do you think the current you deserve happiness?" Patrick's and Derrick's words kept repeating in Gloria's mind, and she had a headache. She roared inwardly, 'Happiness? Do I deserve it? I am a wretch! Mica died because of me! However, I am going to get the kind of happiness that everyone desires. Absurd! If Mica had not died because of me, she would have lived a happy life.' Pain, regret, self-denial, self-loathing... emotions overwhelmed her. Gloria was almost out of control. She couldn't distinguish the difference between her and Mica's happiness. She thought subconsciously tha"Christine, I'm fine. I'm just a little tired. Can I take the day off?" Gloria said in a restrained tone. Christine was glad. She agreed at once and said, "Sure. I'm glad you finally realize that you need to rest. Go and get some rest today. Don't worry about things here." After that, Christine hung up the phone. Gloria stood up. She went to the small wooden table by the bedroom window, sat down, pulled the drawer slowly, and took out a notebook. She had no hobbies or extracurricular activities, and the notebook had become her only pastime, accompanying her current boring life. She had not written a diary for a long time. The latest entry was, "After three years, I saw him again." There was no redundant description or any description of her mood. It was simply a statement. She opened the notebook, and there was a ballpoint pen in it. Gloria picked up her pen and wrote slowly, "Derrick showed up out of the blue and asked me aga
After Derrick finished speaking, he turned a corner on his motorcycle, and they stopped in front of a wall of roses. He got off the motorcycle nimbly and said to Gloria, "We are here. This is the back door. Normally, I go by the front door." His words made Gloria reluctant to get off the motorcycle. Derrick raised his eyebrows and looked at her childish behavior. "Get off. Staying on the motorcycle won't change anything." "No!" She blinked and grabbed the seat under her butt firmly. "Are you sure?" Derrick asked. "I'm not hungry," Gloria said. "But I am," Derrick said. "Then you should go in yourself. I can go back on my own," she immediately said. "Gloria, you have two choices. You may get off yourself and get in to eat with me, or I will carry you off the motorcycle and carry you in to eat," Derrick offered her two options. Gloria pulled a long face. She didn't want to go inside. She thought, 'Derrick comes here all t
Gloria practically ran home. She closed the door of the dormitory room and leaned against the door to rest. Her face was ghastly pale. She heard what Barbara said. She thought she could ignore it. However, she suddenly realized that such comments still hurt her. There was indeed a huge gap between her and Derrick. In the eyes of humans, she was a lowly call girl, and Derrick was a successful CEO. In the eyes of werewolves, she was a rogue without a wolf, and Derrick was the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack. She and Derrick were a complete mismatch from anyone's standpoint. She couldn't respond to Derrick's feelings. He looked at her with such seriousness, persistence, and affection, but the more he treated her like this, the more she felt she didn't deserve it. Gloria entered the bathroom, washed her face, and rested her hands on the sink. She looked up at herself in the mirror and pushed aside the hair on her forehead, revealing
"Mr. Fisher, I think you shouldn't watch romantic dramas from now on," Gloria could only say euphemistically. If it was a few years ago, Gloria would have laughed about it, but she now reminded herself every minute of who Derrick was. "That's what you think. I don't think I'm wrong," said Derrick indifferently. He continued, "Fine. I want you to look at me with admiration. Keep in mind that I am your customer. You must satisfy all my requests." "I refuse," said Gloria. She felt that her mind was a mess. She had no intention of doing such a silly thing with Derrick. "Gloria, have you forgotten that I am your customer? If you don't do as I say, I will talk to Emily," said Derrick. "Fine. I will do it. Don't go to Emily," Gloria said hurriedly. She didn't want to receive complaints. After Gloria finished speaking, she looked at Derrick. Seeing him looking at her expectantly, she had to pretend that she admired him while cupping her face with h
From the day Derrick took Gloria to the amusement park, every day after Gloria left work, he would show up at the door of Fittro Club and wait for her. He sometimes took her to Carl's diner to eat, and sometimes he simply took her for a ride. If Gloria said no, he would simply drag her into the car. He would sometimes book a room at Fittro Club and ask her to come and chat with him. At other times, they simply looked like a couple. Gloria sometimes wondered when Derrick would stop wasting his time on her. Today, after getting off work, she left Fittro Club. As she walked out of the club's gate, she saw Derrick waiting for her next to the car. "Hurry up. What's keeping you?" Derrick casually leaned against the door of his luxury car. He walked toward her when she came out. He smiled, walked forward, and pulled Gloria into his arms happily. Then he shoved her into the passenger seat of his car. Neither of them knew that there w
Derrick didn't intend to admire the moonlight with Gloria. Looking at her hair that had been ruffled by the wind, he reached out to fix her hair. During this period, Derrick often hugged Gloria's shoulders and caressed her hair. She no longer resisted his actions. Derrick looked at Gloria and said, "Good night, Gloria." Gloria also said good night to him. Then she turned around and walked into the dormitory. Derrick watched as Gloria went upstairs. He was not in a hurry to leave. He lit a cigarette and looked up at the floor where Gloria's room was located. The lights in the living room were on. Derrick extinguished the cigarette. He walked to his car and glanced in Patrick's direction. Then Derrick opened the door and got in. He started the engine and drove away slowly. When Derrick's car passed Patrick's, Derrick didn't stop. Leonard saw this through the window and asked, "Alpha Patrick, what should we do?" Patrick or
Patrick revealed a smile, but there was a hint of cruelty in his eyes. He said, "Why are you so sure? What if Gloria is not what you think she is?" "Then I will still choose her." Derrick was unmoved. Patrick mocked and said, "You're really in love with her. Are you trying to tell me that your feelings toward Gloria won't change? No matter what happens, you will never give up on that woman?" Patrick continued, "That's good. I don't want to ruin it for you, but I will watch you. I want to see how much you love her." Derrick replied, "Let's wait and see." "Leonard, let's go," Patrick ordered coldly. The rear window of his car slowly went up, and the black car drew a graceful arc in front of Derrick before leaving. Inside the black car, Christine held her breath. She was afraid that she would enrage Patrick. Patrick leaned against the back of the seat, his hands on his thighs clenched. His eyes were cold. "This is
Gloria looked at Patrick coldly. "So, Mr. Hammond, you want to sleep with me too?" Patrick was so angry that he laughed. "Sure, you don't have to go back today. I will be your customer today." A hand reached up to Patrick. He looked at Gloria's hand and asked, "What do you mean?" Gloria said confidently, "Money. Though you are the boss of the Fittro Club, you still need to pay." Patrick's eyes were filled with shock. He then looked at her palm in front of him. He couldn't describe the feeling. A strange pain filled his heart. When he first bumped into her, he was full of anger, but he didn't know why he was angry or how to vent it. Yet at this moment, the woman made him feel depressed. The way he looked at her changed as he said, "Miss Carter, I don't know when you have become so tactful. What happened? Mike doesn't want you anymore? And you've hooked up with Blood Moon Pack's Alpha?" Gloria stared at Patrick. She was puzzled.
Luana fought with all her might, her slender hands clawing at Cline's arms.Her nails bit through his skin, drawing blood, yet he held on relentlessly."Cline!" Luana roared in fury, finally dropping her Dorothy act and staring him down as Luana.Hearing his name from her lips, Cline's eyes reddened further. "You finally admit it..."Luana sneered. "So what if I do?"Cline froze, his bloodshot eyes slowly meeting hers.Her face was an icy mask, devoid of emotion, filled only with contempt.This cold Luana left him at a loss.As he opened his mouth to speak, Luana turned her head, her calm eyes reflecting Cline's pale face."Did you really mean it when you said you loved me?""Yes..." Cline's heart leaped at the chance to connect, and he nodded eagerly, about to confess a decade-old truth.But Luana cut him off, her voice ice-cold, "If you loved me, why wouldn't you wait until our contract ended before break
"Does it hurt?" Luana silently asked herself.Once, she had known pain—excruciating, soul-crushing agony that had left her curled on a cold floor, voiceless and desperate.It had been a pain that stripped away all hope in this man before her, eroding her very will to live. It had been so severe that even in her final moments, when she'd longed for a glimpse of him, he'd refused even a phone call.That pain was no mere physical wound. It was a despair that seeped into her very being.It was after enduring such torment that she had finally seen Cline for what he truly was—a man utterly ruthless toward her.Yet now, here he was, holding her and asking if she hurt. The irony was bitter, almost laughable.With a cold, expressionless face, she said, "The five minutes are up. Let me go."But Cline, who had finally held the person he'd obsessed over, had no intention of releasing her so easily.He held her tight and said, "
Cline held tight to her arm, as if he'd never let go unless Luana gave him a chance to speak.Luana, brows furrowed, sighed and relented, "Five minutes, right here."Cline's cold gaze shifted to Dorian, who shot him a glare before turning to Luana."Five minutes, then home," Dorian warned.Luana nodded meekly, "Okay."Only after Dorian strode into the villa did Luana turn to Cline, her voice cool and impatient."Well?"In Dorian's presence, Luana had been the picture of obedience, just as she used to be with him.Now, though, Cline saw a change in her—calm, distant, and edged with impatience.This new version of Luana only deepened the ache in his chest.He longed to reach out, to brush his fingers against her face, but as his hand rose, she flinched violently, stepping back as if struck.Luana stared at Cline's right hand, her pupils suddenly clouded with fear, as if the ghosts of past trauma had res
Luana nodded in agreement and turned toward the stairs.But after just two steps, she froze, her fingers brushing the banister.Slowly, she turned back, her voice hesitant. "Clarissa, I came back as Dorothy... What about Gehrmann?"Clarissa had guessed that Luana had returned as her sister Dorothy the moment she heard Dorian call her by that name.Clarissa's smile was warm, reassuring. "I won't say a word to him or Cline. Your secret's safe."Relief flickered in Luana's eyes. "Thank you," she whispered, the word soft as a feather.As Luana walked away, Clarissa watched her retreating figure, worry knotting her brow."Is this luck or a curse?" she thought, "Leaving Cline only to be trapped by Dorian."At the car, Luana opened the passenger door and slid in."Home at ten seems early," she ventured, her tone tentative.Dorian glanced over, his indifference palpable. "Make it eight, then."Luana's lips twitched
Clarissa watched Luana's fingers tighten around the phone until her knuckles whitened. "When I first saw those messages flooding in, I tried luring him out myself—posed as you, planned to bring the cops. But instead of catching a creep, I got..."She trailed off, the memory of the man in the café still prickling her nerves.A man as cold and heartless as Cline—why would he cling to memories of Luana like this?"Anyway," she shrugged, "he never showed. Guess some ghosts stay buried."Luana's voice was a whisper. "These things... they should've been my fight. Not yours."Clarissa cut her off, "If it were me in this mess, you'd do the same. So quit with the thanks already."Luana nodded meekly, her lashes drooping as she glanced back at the phone screen.The mystery gnawed at her—Mr. Night's messages reeked of obsession, yet he hid in plain sight. Why?She couldn't fathom it, and frankly, didn't care
"I had no choice but to pull a dumb move—I seduced Gehrmann and took Naomi's spot as his bedwarmer," Clarissa said flatly, her voice echoing off the brick walls."I thought I could use him to get back at Cline. Turns out I was dumber than a bag of hammers—Gehrmann wouldn't lift a finger against Cline for any woman." She kicked at a pebble, watching it skitter into the shadows. "By the time I figured that out, he wouldn't let me walk away."Clarissa shifted her weight, catching Luana's profile in the dim light."But don't you worry, Luana. I ain't falling for Gehrmann's charm. This world's got exactly one good man left—Albion. And he's six feet under."So, I won't be that girl anymore—the one who pours her heart out for every little kindness, even when it's not worth it."Mentioning Albion again made Luana's eyes dim as if the light behind them had been switched off.She lowered her lashes, hiding the sorrow pooling th
Third Person's POVLuana tightly embraced Clarissa, hoping to alleviate her pain.Clarissa, however, patted her back with a smile and said, "It's alright. After finding out the truth, I was devastated for a while, but then I pulled myself together. I installed surveillance cameras and recorded every moment of their infidelity, which I sent to my lawyer."I won the lawsuit, but I couldn't get the house back. I could only recover the mortgage payments, the money I spent on him, and compensation for emotional distress..."However, what I didn't expect was that someone would expose Albert's bigamy online, ruining his reputation. His company fired him, and no other major firms would hire him. As far as I know, his current salary isn't even enough to cover the mortgage. Plus, his mother has cancer, which is why he keeps begging at my door."Clarissa's voice turned cold as she continued, "He thinks I'm still the naive woman I once was, that if he kneels a
Clarissa took a deep breath, opened the bedside table, and took out a marriage certificate, handing it to Luana."You two weren't entirely meant to miss each other. At least he kept his promise from when you were young and married you."Seeing the marriage certificate, Luana's eyes welled up.She reached out and slowly unfolded it...Name: LuanaName: AlbionBeside them was a composite photo of the two, dressed in white shirts, with a red background, their faces beaming with happiness.When Luana was eighteen, she had asked Albion, "When are you going to marry me?"Albion, engrossed in a book at the time, looked up and playfully tapped her nose with his pen, saying, "When I'm capable of giving you happiness."Luana pouted, dissatisfied, "But when will that be?"Albion held up his book and replied, "After I've mastered all this knowledge and become someone worthy, then I'll marry you."Luana rested her chin
Last time, it was her negligence that failed to keep Albion by her side. This time, she was determined to do everything in her power to protect Luana.Clarissa raised her hand and gently patted Luana's shoulder, hoping to offer some warmth.Time ticked by, and they remained in the same position until a man in a gray suit approached.Clarissa looked up at him, noticing his gaze fixed on Luana, and her tension grew.Before she could inquire about his identity, the man stepped forward and gently pushed Luana's head with his slender fingers."It's ten o'clock. It's time to go home..."Luana, recognizing Dorian's voice, didn't lift her head, her lifeless eyes fixed on the floor.Dorian frowned at her silence, then bent down slightly and spoke patiently, "Dorothy, come home with me."Luana raised her weary head and said, "I don't want to go home today..."She wanted to stay and support Clarissa, to quietly live for herself for