Gloria's mind became clearer after the despair. She understood that Camille had already revealed her thoughts the moment Camille said, "I will visit you another time."
"Camille, do you still consider it a kind gesture if you pay a visit?" Gloria asked. Gloria removed Camille's hand, which was grabbing her arm tightly. She pushed Camille away and said, "Will you excuse me? Camille, I'm busy." After that, Gloria turned around and walked clumsily towards Patrick in her heels. She didn't walk towards Alger and Harry again because there was no point in questioning them anymore. Standing not too far, Alger and Harry saw that Gloria was not walking towards them. They heaved a sigh of relief, but before they resumed calm, they were frightened again. "Why is she walking towards Mr. Hammond?" Alger asked Harry, looking worried. Alger had no clue, and neither was Harry. Camille was shocked and a little annoyed after Gloria pushed her awaGloria clenched her fists as she uttered her theory, controlling herself desperately for fear that she might rush forward and punch the man she had called Daddy for more than twenty years. Her heart ached. The people around knew that Moonlight Group was no different from worthless already, but a lot of them were still interested and kept bidding. Their voices calling out bids rang in her ears. Gloria hated that she could do nothing but stand by and watch them. She clenched her fists harder, letting her nails sink into her palms. "You've run Moonlight Group too well," Patrick said meaningfully. He reached out and unclenched her fists gently. Gloria gritted her teeth and thought, 'You are right. I've run the company so well that even though everyone here knows Moonlight Group is a shell now, they're still bidding because the company's reputation is still there.' "Any other offers?" Alger said to the guests who showed up today in high spirits
Gloria had been trembling with anger, but after Harry said that, she calmed down. Gloria raised her head and looked at the young and handsome face in front of her for a while. Suddenly, she chuckled and said, "I never knew that you were so jealous of me, Harry. Grandpa brought me up and taught me. Do you think that he favored me and I took your position? Mr. Carter, do you think that I took everything that should belong to you?" Gloria suddenly felt that she did not understand this "family" that she had spent twenty years with. "Grandpa gave me a chance, but he also gave you a chance. That summer, when it was so hot that people could fire eggs on the ground, grandpa asked us to transcribe the history of werewolves under the shade of trees. But you were playful and couldn't stand the heat. You couldn't sit still and ran to the house to play video games. I was afraid that he would punish you, so after I finished my part, I helped you finish yours. Mr. Carter, fr
People only saw Gloria's calm face, but they didn't know that she was crying inside. Patrick stood out. This incomparably dazzling man almost stopped breathing, but he did not stop or berate Gloria. Alger was also stunned by Gloria's question, but he reacted quickly and said, "The text messages on her phone were proof. How do you explain that?" If Gloria was not involved in the incident, then how could she explain those text messages and the last few calls made to her? It was hard to believe that she was innocent. Gloria chuckled with self-mockery, "No. It was not a coincidence. The person that planned to set me up, got herself in trouble as well. And I became the victim of this plot." Besides Gloria, only Gabrielle and those rogues who had disappeared knew about the truth. Unless Gloria could find those rogues, she probably would not be able to whitewash herself in this life. Back then, Alger and Camille happened to have already ai
When Daley heard Alger's words, he immediately cursed Alger for being a bastard. Because Alger didn't want to offend others, Alger asked Daley to do so. Gloria's gaze shifted to Daley. She said, "Moonlight Group was run by me and my grandfather. Why does the Middleton Family have to intervene in this matter? Mr. Middleton, you're a smart person. You should give up." She didn't even want to waste time and asked Daley to give up Moonlight Group directly. Daley was furious, but when his gaze fell on the pair of eyes behind Gloria, Daley felt extremely upset. "It would be a shame to fight with you." He had already made his stance clear. Gloria's gaze fell on Alger again as she said, "Three years ago, the decision of the Carter family was so decisive that there was no room for negotiation. We all know whether it was because you were really afraid of being involved or for other reasons. At this point, it is no longer necessary to mention the past. Alge
As soon as Derrick left the room, the people who were angry but didn't dare to say anything suddenly cursed. Derrick ignored them. He turned back and glanced at the door. He took out a cigarette and smoked. His fingers parted, and the cigarette fell to the ground silently. He stepped on it hard in his leather shoes and crushed it back and forth. He glanced out of the window with a sullen expression, raised his foot on the cigarette, and strode out. The car sped along the road, almost flying, yet he did not seem to notice it at all. His eyes were staring straight ahead. It was already almost midnight. He drove fast and finally stopped in front of the Fisher's. As soon as the car stopped, the door was pushed open. Then, Derrick got out of the car and hurried into the house. When the butler heard the noise, he immediately opened the door. However, he said as he saw Derrick, "Alpha Derrick, Curtis said that you were not allowed t
Patrick walked towards the bed and waved at her. He ordered, "Sit over here." Gloria didn't know what was going on, but under his deep gaze, she braced herself and sat closer to him. Patrick took a towel from a shelf and placed it on her head. He rubbed it gently. Then, he dried her hair with a hairdryer. After her hair was dry, he said, "From now on, don't sleep with wet hair." Patrick's action did not make Gloria feel better. On the contrary, she was about to be driven crazy by such abnormal behavior. She did not know what he was going to do, yet she could not stand his behavior like this. She would prefer Patrick treat her the same way as before. She didn't want his sudden gentleness. Finally, she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she asked, "Why?" Patrick put down the hairdryer and tucked her hair behind her ears. Instead of answering her, he said, "Sleep tight." He turned around. Gloria wanted to
When Gloria heard what the fired receptionist said, she reached out and stopped the receptionist. She said, "I can guarantee that Moonlight Group is not just a shell company as you said." Gloria turned around and saw an employee behind her. She was a young woman. Gloria called her to come over. Gloria asked, "What is your job at the company?" The girl was a little flustered. She replied, "I am an intern. Mostly, I'm just printing documents." "Do you know how to deal with visiting clients?" Gloria asked. "I'm sorry. I haven't done that before. But I think we should treat them politely and proactively," the intern replied cautiously. Gloria nodded. "Very good. From now on, you are the receptionist of Moonlight Group." Hearing Gloria's words, the receptionist who had been fired felt humiliated. She pointed at Gloria and scolded, "How can you ask an intern to be the receptionist? I majored in administrative management! You must be
"Miss Carter, we are all waiting for you to come back. We always believe that you will return to Moonlight Group." Mandy's eyes turned red. She said, "Miss Carter, three years ago, we tried our best to see you, but they always block us from you. Later, we lost track of you." Although they had heard the rumors of Gloria working in Fittro Club, they did not dare to look for her. If the rumors were true, Mandy believed that Gloria would not want to be seen like that. What Mandy said planted another seed of doubt in Gloria's heart. Gloria did not doubt the words they said. She felt a trace of warmth in her frozen heart. In the three years, she was in the werewolf prison, no one visited her. It turned out that Mandy couldn't manage to meet her. Gloria could not help but sigh. Patrick was so ruthless! From that day on, Gloria seemed to have become a different person. She was quieter, but she listened to Patrick more. What Patrick did not know wa
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