The bedroom door suddenly opened. Gloria looked up and saw that Patrick had a poker face and returned with a blanket in his hand.
Without a word, he threw the blanket onto the floor beside her bed and unrolled it silently. "What are you doing?" She was even more puzzled and asked. Patrick lay down on the floor and turned his back to her deliberately. "You are not allowed to sleep here," Gloria said coldly. Patrick remained silent. Gloria shouted, "Patrick, go out!" Patrick got up from the blanket and turned to yell at her, "Just send me away tomorrow! I don't care! Don't even think about chasing me away tonight!" Gloria didn't expect that he dared to yell at her. "Gloria wants to drive me away. She is sick and no one will take care of her. She is unreasonable!" Patrick shouted again. Gloria was stunned and didn't know what to say. It was the first time that the eight-year-old Patrick had shouted at her. She lookGloria locked herself in the bedroom for a long time. When she went out, drops of blood were on her pale lips, which betrayed her struggling heart. Everything returned to the past. Gloria walked to the living room expressionless and lay on the sofa in silence with a blanket. Patrick stood uneasily aside. He looked helpless and pitiful. "From now on, you are not allowed to enter the bedroom," Gloria said coldly. Patrick panicked. He asked anxiously, "Gloria, did I do something wrong? So, you don't like me anymore." Gloria looked down at the hem of her clothes in his palm. Mandy's words echoed in her ears. She reached out and pulled back her clothes and walked back to the bedroom. She left behind a ruthless back for Patrick. However, when she turned her back to him, she began to shed tears. Why did she cry? She didn't want to think about it, nor did she have the strength to think about it. The night ended s
Gloria walked home and was thinking about something. While passing a corner, she was suddenly pulled into an alley by someone. With no street lights in the alley, it was dark. A few seconds later, Gloria saw several rogues. They surrounded her with baseball bats in their hands. She became alert and leaned against the wall. "What do you want?" The rogues looked at each other, laughing and ignoring Gloria's question. "Do you know me?" Gloria asked calmly and ignored their ridicule. "You are the eldest daughter of the Carter Group and a rich lady. We certainly know you," one of the rogues said. "Whoever paid you to come here, I will pay double." Gloria tried to come up with a solution in her mind. "Miss Carter, you are half crippled. Do you think you can run away? The person who paid us did not intend to kill you. He just asked us to cripple one of your hands." The head of the rogues laughed. Gloria's mind was a mess.
"I want to see her." Gloria made a decision and said in a low voice. It was not a plea, but an order. Dexter was tactful and knew that Gloria would not give in. He nodded. "I'll take you there." Dexter was clear that Gloria wanted to see Lillian immediately. Since she asked him out at midnight with a single phone call, it meant that she had made up her mind to handle this mess. Also, Dexter knew clearly that Gloria would no longer trust him as before. He did not bother to say more, but led Gloria to a small apartment that he owned. When the doorbell rang, Lillian opened the door and said in a sleepy voice, "You're back. Was the thing so urgent? Was your boss so bored?" "She is not bored, and she is here to see you." A cold voice made Lillian sober in an instant. "Why are you here?" Lillian blurted out in surprise. Lillian did not change much and was even more attractive than before. Gloria enjoyed
Gloria looked at Lillian meaningfully. "You threaten me with the Carter Group?" "Gloria, sue me. By then, the whole world will know that the Carter Group is an empty shell. You will lose everything. Then, can you still question me with such an attitude?" Lillian hated Gloria so much. She thought with hatred, 'Gloria had once been so humble, yet she lived a better life than me after three years! She is so low and cheap. How can she surpass me?' "You are actually good at nothing! You inherited your father's property. Everything you own belonged to your family, and you robbed it from them. Gloria, you are not only lowly but also vicious. You don't even let go of your family!" The more Lillian spoke, the more emotional she became. Dexter's hand was trembling, and he slapped Lillian. "What nonsense are you talking about? Miss Carter has said that she wouldn't pursue the matter. Why are you still making a scene?" Lillian suddenly went mad
At midnight, the temperature dropped abruptly. Gloria woke up when she heard the noise. She listened carefully and found that it was the sound of Patrick rubbing his clothes. She sat up quietly and looked under the bed. She found it strange. Sleeping on the sofa in the living room was much better than sleeping on the floor in her bedroom. If it were Gloria, she would rather choose to sleep on the sofa. Patrick was trembling all over. He wrapped his hands around his body and curled into a ball. "Are you awake?" In the darkness, Gloria asked slowly in a calm voice. The bedroom was silent. No one responded to her. "Stop pretending to sleep," Gloria said lightly. After a while, Patrick finally turned over. He opened his eyes in embarrassment and looked at Gloria. "Gloria," He called out in a low voice to show that he was awake. On the bed, Gloria moved. She said, "My feet are cold." Patrick immediately
"Patrick!" Gloria pushed Patrick away, and the quilt fell to the ground. She glared at Patrick's lower body under the pajamas and shouted, "What are you doing?" "Gloria, I couldn't bear it," Patrick said with a flushed face. Looking at his innocent face, Gloria was even more furious. With a cold face, she got out of bed without saying a word. She ignored Patrick and went to the bathroom. She scolded herself inwardly as she walked, 'I was such an idiot. How could I allow Patrick to sleep on the bed?' When Gloria thought of what had just happened, she kept wiping her hand against her pajamas, until her skin was rubbed red. After washing up, she returned to the room. But Patrick was still there. "Why are you still here?" Patrick stared at her with his innocent eyes. He leaned against the wall at a loss and panted slightly. "I feel hot, Gloria. I couldn't bear it." Gloria clenched her fists. She knew why he was feel
In a room near the luxurious banquet hall stood a man and a woman. "Relax," Lucas, in a light-colored suit, approached Gloria's ear and whispered. Gloria took a small step back, yet no matter how imperceptible her movement was, Lucas still noticed keenly. He took a few steps back gentlemanly and said with a chuckle, "Gloria, just relax." She clenched her fists, feeling the sticky sweat in her palms. Of course, she would be nervous. The person she was about to meet was very important to the Carter Group. "Actually, there's no need to hurry. He comes here every year for a holiday, and usually, he will be staying for a month or so." Lucas' voice was elegant and deep like a cello. "So, Gloria, you really don't need to see him right after you get off the plane." She shook her head. Even now, her heart was still a mess. After what happened that time, she fled without telling anyone. Only she knew what she was running away from.
Gloria and Klein left, leaving only Heath and Lucas in the large reception room. "Is it her? The reason why were you willing to owe me a favor and have me fly here? Is she that important?" Heath gracefully walked to the bar counter and poured himself a glass of whiskey. "Another glass?" He raised the glass to Lucas and gestured. "She is someone I desperately want to be with, someone I want to just keep for myself." He did not know how important Gloria was to Lucas. "Mike wanted me to ask you if that person is OK," Lucas said, changing the topic. "Mike? After all these years, he still hasn't moved on? I always thought that Mike was the only guy who wouldn't let go. But now that I see you, I know that you are screwed as well." Heath shook his head. Lucas did not explain. He chuckled and said, "Both you and Mike are so full of yourself, aren't you?" Heath gulped down the wine in his glass and suddenly said, "She is excellent." "
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