Russell promptly slowed down and pulled the car over. He then tactfully exited the vehicle.
Luana turned her head with a puzzled expression. "Aren't you taking me to see Albion?"
Cline gazed at her anxious look and nodded. "I will take you, but..."
He paused briefly and leaned in closer. "Before seeing him, can we go back to how we used to be?"
"What do you mean?" Luana frowned.
Cline raised his hand and smoothed the wrinkles between her brows. His fingertip gently traced her features. "Before we arrive, be my lover again, just for old times' sake."
Luana thought he wanted to get intimate again and her face immediately fell. "Impossible."
Cline's fingers froze mid-air, and his voice turned hoarse. "Can't we just act like we used to until we get out of the car?"
This reminded Luana of the past—after their intimate moments, Cline would hold her in the living room, feeding her water and snacks.
Maybe his "going back"
Cline lifted his hand and gently touched her cheek, saying, "The person I've wanted to marry has always been you."His voice was deep, yet tinged with restrained deep affection, causing Luana's heart to tremble for a moment before quickly being replaced by disbelief.Cline opened his thin lips as if to say something more when Russell's voice came from the front, "Mr. Moriarty, we've arrived."Cline slightly lifted his head and looked at Luana, reluctantly hugging her tighter once more.However, Luana gazed at him indifferently, as if reproaching him for his inconsistency.Cline curved his lips into a bitter smile and softly said, "It's over."Luana glanced at him, then released her arms around his neck and stepped down from his lap.After exiting the car, Cline called out to her again, "Luana."Luana turned around and looked at the noble and cold man sitting inside the dimly lit car.The darkness seemed to envelop him, c
Russell promptly slowed down and pulled the car over. He then tactfully exited the vehicle.Luana turned her head with a puzzled expression. "Aren't you taking me to see Albion?"Cline gazed at her anxious look and nodded. "I will take you, but..."He paused briefly and leaned in closer. "Before seeing him, can we go back to how we used to be?""What do you mean?" Luana frowned.Cline raised his hand and smoothed the wrinkles between her brows. His fingertip gently traced her features. "Before we arrive, be my lover again, just for old times' sake."Luana thought he wanted to get intimate again and her face immediately fell. "Impossible."Cline's fingers froze mid-air, and his voice turned hoarse. "Can't we just act like we used to until we get out of the car?"This reminded Luana of the past—after their intimate moments, Cline would hold her in the living room, feeding her water and snacks.Maybe his "going back"
Luana's fingers dug into Cline's collar, her knuckles whitening from the strain.After a moment of hesitation, memories of walking on eggshells around him flooded back.She abruptly released him, her tone ice-cold and mechanical, "Mr. Moriarty, we were once business partners. Now that we've parted ways, why speak of love?"Outside the door, Dorian's anxious shouts cut through the heavy air, "Dorothy!" Pushes and muffled struggles accompanied his voice.Luana stiffened, frowning at Cline. "Let me go. Stop this."Instead of releasing her, Cline pulled her closer, his chin grazing her earlobe, his breath hot against her skin. "I won't let you go.""Cline!" Luana erupted, veins throbbing in her neck. "I married Dorian as Dorothy and Albion as Luana! I belong to them, not you! Why can't you leave me be?"Her words struck Cline like a hammer blow.His arms went rigid, emotions draining away to leave numbness.Slowly, he releas
Cline's words hit Luana like a rusty knife to the heart. Her lashes trembled violently, but she quickly lifted her chin and retorted in a voice colder than ice, "Mr. Moriarty, I am a married woman now, living a stable life. Your harassment is truly disgusting."She deliberately emphasized the word "married," each syllable sharp as a nail.Cline felt an invisible hand crush his chest, each breath drawing a sharp pain.As he struggled to speak, Luana delivered another blow. "My husband is waiting for me. Kindly release your dirty grip."Her gaze was like a venomous dagger, piercing straight into his eyes."What am I to you if he's your husband?!" Cline's voice rose, trembling on the brink of collapse. His bloodshot eyes welled with unshed tears. "Am I just a toy to be summoned and dismissed at will?!""A former client," Luana turned away, her voice echoing like a cold tomb. "And even that connection should be severed now.""A former cli
In the airport VIP lounge's adjacent restroom, Luana's fingers trembled as she turned on the faucet. Cool water washed over her palm.She adeptly reapplied makeup before a foggy mirror, her cheeks now faintly rosy instead of their usual pale.A light dusting of powder and a touch of lipstick revived her old brilliance.As she capped her lipstick, the frosted glass door burst open.A tall figure, exuding an aura of cold hostility in a tailored black suit, entered.His chiseled face and sharp eyes pierced her, sending a chill down her spine.Cline strode forward, his presence heavy with menace.Without a word, he seized her wrist and dragged her out.Luana's pupils contracted in shock at his sudden move. She immediately struggled with all her might.Yet, against Cline, her resistance was like a gadfly shaking a tree. His fingers clamped tightly around her wrist bones. No matter how she writhed, he held her fast, unyielding
Clarissa froze, surprised that he knew not only that Luana was alive but also about her plan to settle in England with her.Recalling Luana's instructions, she quickly denied, "Luana passed away. How could she go to England with me?"Gehrmann, unfazed, replied, "Cline knows everything. No need to hide anymore."After a moment of shock, Clarissa asked him, "Even if he does, please don't tell Cline about our trip to England."Gehrmann's warm expression dimmed, and he fell silent, his gaze lingering on her luggage.Clarissa, noticing his stare, gave a faint smile and said, "Gehrmann, thanks for these three years. We might not meet again. I hope you find your true love and settle down."With that, she loaded her luggage into an SUV, waved goodbye to Gehrmann, and got into the car.Watching the car vanish from sight, Gehrmann felt a strange discomfort.No more meetings... He stood rooted to the spot, then took out his phone and called Cline.***When Clarissa arrived at the villa, Luana h