Gloria lay on the bed, and her heart was a mess.
When she entered the bedroom, Patrick followed her in, holding the quilt she had just taken to the living room. This time, Gloria did not berate him or ask him to leave. Patrick's eyes were bright and lit up with joy. She had mixed feelings. She thought of the changes in Patrick over the past few days and what he had done that night. Patrick only had a child's mind, yet he still protected her from the attacks of the vicious rogues. He could escape, but he didn't. Gloria recalled that Patrick got up at midnight and warmed her feet. Which one was the real Patrick? Patrick lay down beside her. Her body stiffened, and she was about to scold him, but in the end, she moved aside with her quilt and said coldly, "You are not allowed to get under my blanket or touch me. Otherwise, I'll kick you out." Patrick yawned and asked, "Gloria, will you let me stay if I do whatever you tol"How did he provoke you?" Gloria didn't speak for a long time, and Stewart asked awkwardly. Gloria froze and was speechless. Her expression changed dramatically. "Forget it! Just come and take him away today! I don't want to see him again!" Gloria shouted. "Gloria, if you don't like me to kiss you, I won't do it again. Don't send me away, please." Patrick's voice sounded. Gloria's hand trembled, and she had a headache. There was a strange silence on the phone. Gloria could guess Stewart's expression on the other side of the line. "Shut up!" She shouted at Patrick, who was trying to soften her up. "So that's the reason. He's quite a jerk." Stewart rubbed his nose and wanted to laugh, but he did not dare to provoke Gloria further. He could only hold back his laughter, and his face was distorted. "Gloria, Alpha Alex took the opportunity to intervene in the internal affairs of the Hammond Group. I have been going crazy dealing wi
Gloria stood for a long time. In the end, she opened the door and bent down to pick up the takeout that was placed on the ground. She said softly, "Mandy, thank you." However, no one heard her. Time passed by quickly. It was getting dark outside. Gloria glanced at her watch. It was almost time to get off work, but she did not want to go back home. Stewart did not call her for the whole day. She thought that her threatening words in the morning should be effective and that Stewart was afraid of her. Gloria finished looking through the documents on the table. She no longer had an excuse to stay longer. She left the office. Gloria parked the car in the underground parking lot, took the elevator upstairs, and arrived at the floor where she lived. Standing outside the apartment, she looked at the closed door with mixed feelings. She reached out her hand and placed it on her heart gently. She could feel clearly that her hear
Another month had passed. When Sean was about to finish his business in Italy, he got into new trouble. He said that it was not a big problem, but it would take some time to handle it. Gloria smiled and said to Sean, "I almost thought you were lying to me. In fact, you were hitting on girls in Italy and forgot everything." Sean joked on the phone, "Hitting on girls? No. I'm surrounded by stinky men only." "Then, try to get back soon." There was a hint of coldness in Gloria's tone. At first, Gloria thought that her cooperation with Lucas would be ruined, but it lasted for a month. And Lucas simply disappeared from her sight. The cooperation had moved onto the second stage. The representatives of both sides had to meet again to discuss the specific details of the next step and confirm some details that had been discussed before. In the afternoon, Mandy knocked on the door of the president's office and led an acquaintance in. "G
Gloria felt Patrick's shoulders tremble slightly. She closed her eyes to hide the pain in her eyes. Suddenly, Patrick printed his lips on hers. She was surprised and struggled to push him away. Patrick whispered in her ear, "Gloria, I have that strange feeling again." Patrick grabbed her hand and put it over his heart. She felt suffocated and heartbroken. In the end, she was defeated again. Whether he was stupid or smart, whether he forgot everything or not, she had never won. Gloria gave up struggling and stopped pushing Patrick away. She closed her eyes and allowed him to continue kissing her. "Are you feeling better?" She asked. "Gloria, I'll be with you for the rest of my life," Patrick repeated seriously. Gloria met his deep eyes. Her smile was bright, which held him spellbound. She suddenly asked, "Do you want to go to the amusement park?" Patrick's eyes lit up. "Really?" Gloria nodded. "Let'
"Patrick lied to you!" Ellison looked emotional. He had been waiting for the moment for a long time. "Shut up!" At the door of the conference room, Patrick shouted. The doctor said that his mind had regressed to an eight-year-old. But Ellison's words exposed the lie. Patrick was furious and glared at Ellison with his sharp eyes. "Gloria, I can explain." Patrick looked nervously at Gloria and was anxious. There were other people in the conference room, including Alex, Stewart, and some higher-ups of the Hammond Group. Gloria's gaze swept over the crowd and landed on one person. Soon, she shifted her gaze away. The slight mocking smile on her face disappeared before people could notice it. The person whom Gloria had just looked at saw it and clenched his fists. Everyone was staring at Gloria. Stewart said, "Gloria, Patrick didn't lie to you on purpose." "Fine, then explain it to me." Under everyone's gaze, Gloria
Patrick tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. "You have no say in the affairs of the Hammond family." "Ask Grandpa if he considers me a member of the Hammond family. Patrick, how dare you be so ruthless to grandpa!" Ellison mocked. "You can't wait to become a member of the Hammond family, right? Ellison, your intention of getting the Hammond Group and the Black Thorn Pack is so obvious, but you are not qualified!" Patrick retorted. He walked in front of Alex. "I know what you want, but you are old. It's time to let go of your power over this family. Do you think that you can regain control by messing around while I'm not in the Hammond Group and the Black Thorn Pack?" "Patrick!" Alex was angry. His fingers were trembling as he pointed at Patrick. "You bastard!" Patrick ignored Alex's curses. He smiled coldly and turned around to leave. "Stewart, call the pack guards over." Alex was shocked. He shouted behind Patrick, "What? Are you going
Gloria was in a trance. The past that had been lost in time seemed to become clear again. She remembered that when Harry fought with those rogues, he shouted fiercely, "Gloria is my sister. If anyone dares to bully her again, I will kill him!" She also remembered Harry's fierce look. It was as if he would bite the person he saw the next moment. Gloria sat upright on the sofa for another three hours. She stared blankly at the empty space. She seemed to be reminiscing. Memories were not always pleasant, but Gloria felt satisfied with those little happy moments. In the quiet living room, the phone rang urgently. Gloria was shocked and became sober. She looked at the screen, and her eyes became cold. It was Patrick. She did not press the call, nor did she pick it up. Gloria stood up from the sofa, picked up her backpack, and walked to the door. She suddenly stopped when she saw the two pairs of slippers placed side by side
"Do you still remember how you got this scar?" Gloria stared at the scar and stroked it gently with her fingers. Harry was weak, and his face was pale. After a while, he said, "I don't remember." Gloria smiled faintly. "When I was in primary school, I hid my family background and was bullied by senior students. Later, you found it out and dragged me to your bedroom. Harry, you were so good at dealing with wounds. You helped me treat my wounds and then drove me out of your room. I was afraid that you would tell Grandpa. If so, he would be disappointed in me and think that I was useless. I was worried for the whole day. Seeing that he did not blame me, I knew that you didn't tell him. Later, for a long time, I came home with injuries every day, and you caught me and pulled me into your room to treat my wounds." Gloria exerted more force on her finger and pressed the wound on Harry's shoulder. "Your injury was caused by fighting with rogues. You were injured to p
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
Upon learning of this possibility, Cline simply said, "Thank you," and hung up the phone.He gazed once more in the direction the black luxury car had vanished, now more certain than ever that Dorian had taken his Luana.However, he refused to believe they were husband and wife.Russell arrived with the bodyguards in a hurry, seeing Cline standing in front of the smashed Bugatti.Thinking Cline's car had been in an accident, he quickly approached."Mr. Moriarty, are you alright? Did you take too much sleeping pill and start hallucinating again?"For the past three years, Cline had been plagued by insomnia, clutching two mementos of Luana and struggling to sleep through the night.Russell, worried about his health, had obtained some sleeping pills from Eva.Little did he know, Cline had become addicted to them. Later, Russell found out that the medication could induce hallucinations when taken in excess.It was these hall
Cline's brow twitched, his eyes filled with disdain as he regarded Dorian.He strode quickly to Luana, extending his hand with an unyielding tone, "Come with me."Before Luana could refuse, Dorian swiftly acted, his long arm encircling her shoulder and pulling her tightly into his embrace. A provocative smile played on his lips as he challenged, "On what grounds?"Cline's vision sharpened with pain, witnessing Luana clinging to Dorian, their bodies pressed close. A surge of rage erupted within him."Because I love her!"Cline's voice trembled yet rang out loud and clear, eight years of pent-up emotions bursting forth like a flood breaking its dam.Dorian, noticing the bloodshot eyes and the fervor in Cline's gaze, felt a flicker of realization. He glanced down at Luana in his arms.Her expression was calm, a faint smile curling her lips as if she had just heard an absurd joke, detached and indifferent.Not only did Dorian not l