"I deserve this punishment," Gloria said calmly.
She did not doubt it because of Sean's words. It was as if she had accepted her fate. Sean was very shocked. He had known Gloria since he was a child. Black Thorn Pack and Silver Spring Pack were adjacent to each other, and Silver Spring Pack was also very powerful. As the daughter of Alpha, Gloria had every reason to be proud. She was once flamboyant and happy. She had completed the shift at the age of fifteen, and her wolf was a silvery-white female wolf. Sean remembered that she was confident. The current Gloria, however, seems to have reached the end of her days. She was lifeless and spoke like an old lady over a hundred years old. Sean had seen her kneel to Patrick, but when he was facing this woman, he felt even more shocked. He could feel humbleness in her words. "Do you really think that you deserve all of this, Gloria?" Sean could not help but ask. GloriaPatrick stood in front of the sofa, pondering over things related to Gloria. Suddenly, he heard light footsteps behind him. Patrick was a werewolf, and he had a keen sense of hearing and smell. Thus, he knew at once that it was Gloria. Patrick turned his head. Seeing how tentative Gloria was, he began to get furious again. His wolf always emphasized that Gloria was their mate, but he never wanted to admit it. He hated to admit that the cowardly, humble woman in front of him was his mate. However, Patrick couldn't manage to ignore the fact that she was standing right there. Also, she could always affect his mood easily. "Stop right there. Where are you going?" said Patrick. "I'm going to work, Mr. Hammond," Gloria replied calmly. She sounded respectful, but Patrick could still sense her stubbornness. "Work? With your current condition? Do you know you almost died just now?" Patrick shouted in anger, again at Glor
Christine immediately sensed something from Leonard's words. After all, she had managed to take a place in Fittro Club for years. Her delicate brows furrowed as she asked, "Hold on. A dangerous job? What are you referring to?" Christine thought, 'Gloria must have lost her mind. She hasn't fully recovered yet, and she has already come back here, asking me for a job. However, I'm not insane or stupid. Who says I'm going to give her what she wants?' Christine said seriously, "I'm not that heartless, OK? She came back before she recovered, but I never gave her any work to do. Well, the only exception is that unfamiliar guest a few days ago. But he didn't give her a hard time." Leonard didn't think Christine was lying. He probed, "You know Toby, from Blue Moon Pack, right?" "Toby? The Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack? Yes, I know him. What about him?" Christine asked in confusion. "He was a guest here today. He was in Room 3 on the third floor." Leo
Christine walked very fast. She soon reached the Public Relations Department's lounge and walked past it toward the manager's office. Her stilettos tapped against the marble tiles, and she looked angry. The staff trembled in fear as they watched Christine walk straight toward her destination. She kicked the office door open, making a huge noise. Christine roared furiously, "Emily, I want an explanation!" Emily was startled. She looked at Christine, who appeared out of the blue, and asked, "Christine, what's going on?" Christine walked into the office and slammed the door shut, blocking those probing gazes. She stood at the door with her arms crossed. Looking at Emily coldly, she said, "Who said you could arrange work for Gloria? Don't you know that she is still sick? Did you have my permission?" Emily felt relieved and dissatisfied when she heard that Christine was here for Gloria. Emily said, "Christine, I'm the manager of t
The call girls in the Public Relations Department's lounge were surprised to see Emily panic. They heard Christine's voice from before dimly. However, they did not know what had happened between Emily and Christine. "What did Gloria do this time? Christine is here, asking Emily to find Gloria herself!" "What does Gloria have anything to do with you?" "Well, that's true." They were talking, yet Emily didn't have time to listen to their conversation at all. She rushed into the public lounge as fast as she could. She saw Gloria, who was in the lounge. "Gloria, you..." Emily was used to talking to Gloria arrogantly. Suddenly, she recalled Christine's words. She coughed awkwardly and softened her tone, saying, "Are you alright?" Gloria was puzzled. She thought, 'Since when did you care about me?' "I'm fine," Gloria said. "I want to ask you something. It's about Room 3 on the third floor." Gloria stiffened.
Leonard frowned at Christine's words. He did not agree with Christine. Christine joined the Black Thorn Pack later, whilst he was always by Patrick's side, protecting Patrick. In Leonard's eyes, Gabrielle, Damon's sister, was the love of Patrick's life. Gloria was nothing to him. He said with dissatisfaction, "There are some things that you don't know. Don't give random comments." Christine smiled. She figured that Leonard was the one with all self-righteousness. "Call her over," Leonard said as he pointed at Lillian's photo. Christine nodded. She disliked Lillian anyway. Lillian was called to Christine's office. On Lillian's way here, she had been uneasy all along. "Christine." Lillian now was very humble. Unlike the first time she went to Christine's office, she was no longer contemptuous when talking to Christine. "I'll cut to the chase. Tell us about what happened in the room on the third floor today," Christine sa
"Lillian, I told you to be kind the last time I spoke to you. Obviously, you didn't take my words seriously at all. You brought it to yourself. You have no reason or right to hate anyone," Christine looked at Lillian and said with blunt hatred in her eyes. Christine then looked at Gloria and continued, "Gloria, you don't need to help her. She deserved it." Lillian cried hard. She was no longer as arrogant as she had been before when she faced Gloria. Grabbing Gloria's clothes in both hands, she begged, "Gloria, please! Help me. This is the first time I've ever asked you for anything." Gloria stood in situ expressionlessly. She was amused by Lillian's words. She said, "That's right. This is the first time. Because the boss of Fittro Club won't believe you this time even if I play along with you and help you lie." "Gloria, you're here to twist the knife, aren't you?" Lillian's face was full of grief and indignation. She looked like she knew
Patrick thought, 'Do as I say? Is that how you were, Gloria Carter? I don't think so.' Patrick put his hand up. His arm was propped on the arm of the sofa while he supported his chin with his hand, looking lazy. He looked at the woman in front of him silently. Time ticked, and Gloria began to feel restless. Patrick never looked away from her face. The light was too dim for her to see the emotion on his face. Occasionally, she would look up tentatively, yet she could only see his cold eyes in the dimness. A few minutes later, she finally gave in, finding it hard to keep sitting still anymore. She raised her head and said, "Mr. Hammond, I'm here to ask you to forgive someone." She cut to the chase. Patrick nodded while sitting on the sofa. He said lazily, "I know. I was waiting for you to speak." Gloria was stunned for a second. Only then did she realize that the reason why Patrick was sitting there and staring at
Gloria thought, 'I know what it's like to owe someone her life because I can't pay it back. Even though I am working my ass off, trying to save money to get my freedom back, I know Mica will never see any of my efforts. I don't care about Lillian. I don't like or hate her, though she is selfish and insolent, and she has crossed the line many times. Also, it's not my intention to meddle in others' business and come here to plead for her. I simply don't want to owe someone her life, whether it's a nice person or not, and whether it has something to do with me directly or not. I just don't want it whatsoever. That's why I came here after all, though I was so reluctant.' When Gloria was yelling, she said she didn't want to owe someone her life, and Patrick heard her. Patrick pondered for a while, and he had his guess. Patrick did not know that Gloria was referring to Mica. Instead, he figured that Gloria was repentant for causing Gabrie
Cline released Luana with a hint of despair, staggering back a step.His bloodshot eyes locked onto hers as he asked, "Never at all?"Luana's lashes fluttered, her composure unwavering as she shook her head again.The smile on Cline's lips deepened with bitterness. "What about these, then?"He pulled out a letter he'd carried always, holding it before her. His voice cracked, his eyes red as he repeated, "What do these mean?"Luana's gaze fell on the perfectly preserved letter, and her expression froze—a chord struck deep within.She wondered when exactly she'd lost all hope in him.Her thoughts drifted back to that night when he held her close, their intimacy shattered by his cold words, "Don't delude yourself into thinking I'll love you."She'd felt like ice, realizing she was nothing to him but a vessel for his emotions. Yet now...Luana slowly lifted her eyes to Cline, his composure completely undone.Whe
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