The smile on Derrick's face froze. He was reluctant to yield. He said, "Mr. Hammond, you kept emphasizing that you don't want some things any longer. But why do I feel that you are just jealous because you never really owned those things?"
Patrick's eyes turned cold. He looked at Derrick's face and said, "It's none of your business, Mr. Fisher. You'd better care more about yourself." After he said that, he walked past Derrick and left. The atmosphere between the two men was tense, but they kept their voices low, so other people could not hear what they were talking about. They only saw two equally outstanding men talking to each other. Patrick walked past Derrick and walked in. Only he knew how angry he was at the moment. Would he fall in love with Gloria? And would he be jealous of Gloria and Derrick? Patrick thought, 'Even an ordinary man wouldn't fall for Gloria, not to mention an outstanding man like me.' Patrick shouted in his h"I might be busy these days, Gloria. Take care of yourself. Don't get hurt," said Derrick, looking at Gloria. His concern and the genuine look in his eyes made Gloria touched. She had the urge to tell him the truth. "Mr. Fisher, my full name is Gloria Carter." She took a deep breath. Then she said, intending to tell him all, "I used to..." "Miss Carter, of course, I know what your name is," Derrick smiled and kissed her lips. He continued, "In my eyes, you will always be Gloria. I like you no matter what you've done in the past." Gloria didn't expect Derrick to say that. She gawked at him and said, "Mr. Fisher, why?" "Don't think too much." Derrick opened the door. "Go back. I will come back to you after I'm done with my business." As Gloria's figure disappeared, Derrick started the car and returned to the Blood Moon Pack. These days, Derrick had been dealing with matters in the Fisher Group. He tried his best to solve the pr
As soon as Gloria finished speaking, Derrick opened the door. He smiled and said, "Gloria, let me introduce you to my friends. We grew up together. They are the Alpha and the Beta of the Sea Moon Pack, Mike and Lucas." The door was completely pushed open, and everyone looked at each other in shock. Gloria looked at the two people in the room, and her face turned pale. "So, it's Miss Carter," Lucas greeted them in a meaningful tone, breaking the silence. "Gloria?" Mike said. Derrick was surprised that Lucas and Mike knew Gloria. Then he looked at Lucas, since he found Lucas was acting strangely. He said, "Stop staring at my girlfriend like that." Derrick didn't like the way Lucas stared at Gloria. He also disliked the tone Lucas used to address her as Miss Carter. Lucas glanced at Derrick out of the corner of his eye, and then he looked at Gloria. After that, he said indifferently, "Take it easy. She is not my type."
Lucas was surprised. He thought, 'Seriously? Does she admit it just like that? I feel so bad for Derrick!' Lucas was furious. He said, "Don't get carried away. I will make sure he knows what kind of woman you are. You are like cancer. I will not allow you to stay around my friend and hurt him!" Then Lucas loosened his grip. Gloria and Lucas returned to the room one after the other. The look in Derrick's eyes changed. As soon as Lucas sat down, he looked up and met Derrick's deep eyes. "You don't smell of smoke." Derrick looked coldly at Lucas, who was opposite him. Derrick thought, 'Lucas claimed that he was going out for a smoke, but he doesn't smell of smoke at all. Also, he comes back right after Gloria. And I always have the feeling that he was targeting Gloria by saying those things earlier. And after saying that, he left the room after Gloria did.' Instantly, Derrick's face looked colder. Mike took a sip of his coffee a
Gloria knew the woman in front of her. Her name was Audrey Hall. Soon, more people appeared in front of Gloria. Gloria glanced over and found that she was familiar with them all. They began to talk to each other. "It really is Gloria! I couldn't believe it when you told me it was Gloria just now. But it is her!" said one of the women. "But Gloria, how did you become like this?" Another woman asked. She sounded quite curious. "She has just left werewolf prison. What do you think?" Audrey chuckled. Then she suddenly thought of something and said to Gloria with care, "Gloria, when were you released? Why didn't you tell us? We studied in the werewolf school together before. You should tell us so that we can have a gathering." Gloria felt a little embarrassed. A gathering? Would they still want to have a gathering with her? She looked at Audrey. She could see the smirk on Audrey's face. She knew that Audrey wanted to make fun of her. "But it doesn't m
Audrey walked very quickly, and Gloria found it difficult to keep up. They kept walking and finally came to somewhere quiet. Gloria took a quick look around. She realized that Audrey had led her to the end of the corridor on the second floor. In front of her was a room with double doors. Audrey suddenly stopped in front of the doors. She smiled mockingly at Gloria and said, "Gloria, we're here." Gloria raised her head silently. She looked at the heavy doors in front of her. She realized that everything that had happened today was no coincidence. Her gaze quietly fell on Audrey's face. Her eyes were incomparably calm. The fear in her eyes disappeared. She couldn't escape, so she had to cooperate. This was what she had learned over the three years in prison. "It's annoying. Don't look at me like that!" Gloria stared at Audrey calmly. For some reason, it made Audrey mad. She glared at the people beside her and said, "Are you deaf
In despair, Gloria closed her eyes and unclenched her fists. She looked at Audrey's face again and said word by word, "Ms. Hall, are you sure if I do what you say this time, you'll give me all the copies and promise not to tell anyone?" Audrey was about to continue mocking Gloria. She wanted to tell Gloria that she didn't get to call the shots and could only do as she was told. Yet Gloria opened her mouth again. "Ms. Hall, everyone has secrets. If you fool me again this time, I can assure you that I will kill you!" Gloria's gaze turned cold as she stared at Audrey without blinking. Audrey gasped. She could hardly take her eyes off that humble woman's face, even for a second! Audrey's heart beat rapidly, and she was filled with terror. She thought, 'This bitch, Gloria, she means it!' Audrey got her message from Gloria's unyielding gaze. Audrey was frightened by Gloria's glare and took a step back. Then she felt ashamed of hers
Through the crack in the door, Derrick saw the woman inside. It was Gloria, the person he had been looking for. He couldn't believe his eyes. Harry came over and asked, "Mr. Fisher, why don't you go inside?" Suddenly, Derrick used his hand to cover Harry's mouth with great strength. Harry looked up and saw Derrick's bloodshot eyes with killing intent. The next second, he followed Derrick's gaze and looked inside as well. Harry's eyes widened instantly. He was stunned. He thought, 'Gloria? Why is she here? What is she doing? I feel so humiliated and furious! I can barely lift my head! Gloria! How can you be so cheap?' Through the crack of the door, both Derrick and Harry saw the familiar figure. She was kneeling humbly on the ground and giving a middle-aged man a foot massage. Derrick saw the others inside. Their faces were so familiar. When he saw them grinning and laughing at Gloria wildly, he sud
Audrey still felt it was not enough. She continued, "Mr. Fisher, you should know who Patrick is, right? Back then, he sent Gloria to the werewolf prison himself. If you don't believe me, you can ask Mr. Carter. He is standing right next to you. Ask him whether those werewolves of the Silver Spring Pack still consider Gloria as one of them. "I remember that Alpha Alger himself told the Alpha of our pack that he did not consider Gloria as a member of the Silver Spring Pack." Audrey looked at Harry. Then she continued, "Well, we are outsiders, so it's natural that we don't believe her. But what about her family? Mr. Fisher, tell me, is she guilty?" Her words made Derrick's mind spin. He looked at Harry, and the latter looked away. Harry's reaction was self-explanatory. What Audrey said was true. Derrick was in a trance. He thought, 'I always thought Gloria was just a rogue with no one to turn to, and she had no choice but to be a call girl. I had no
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
She couldn't believe it. Even with the news reports and Clarissa's own words, she still refused to accept it.Albion, the gentle and considerate young man who had cherished her, how could he have taken his own life in such a tragic way? It was impossible.Luana shook her head in disbelief. "No, he wouldn't do this..."Clarissa stepped forward and embraced Luana. She felt Luana's body growing cold, and her heart ached."Luana, I don't want to believe it either, but..."Clarissa's words trailed off, tears streaming down her face.Three years ago, fearing Albion might do something rash, she had followed him to the cemetery.There, she found no sign of Albion, only bloodstains on the tombstone.Her unease grew as she searched for him, but he was nowhere to be found.The next day, the news reported that Coburn Group's CEO, Calvert, had committed suicide at the cemetery.Only then did she realize Albion had truly done s
"Clarissa..." Albert wept and pleaded, "My mom has cancer, I got fired from my job, and the baby still needs milk. For the sake of our years together, treat me like a beggar and spare me a little help.""If you were truly a beggar, I'd give you some money to send you on your way, but you're not..."A clear voice cut through the air, tinged with exhaustion, coldness, and a hint of ruthlessness. "You're nothing but scum!""Clarissa!""Gag him and get him out of my sight!"At the command, the bodyguards immediately seized Albert and shoved him into the elevator."Humph, this despicable man!"Luana followed the voice and spotted a familiar figure leaning against the bar.The woman had a slender figure, waist-length curly hair, and fair, slender fingers holding a slender cigarette, while her other hand toyed with a wine glass.She tilted her head, staring into the red wine in her glass, as if observing another world from afar