Patrick didn't cut off the mind link. He looked at the unconscious Gloria, who was lying on the bed.
He walked over and pushed her to the side. Then he slowly lifted her shirt. As her shirt was lifted gradually, his gaze landed on her waist. Patrick saw a hideous wound and his pupils contracted. "Our mate!" Leo said in a pained voice. He couldn't feel his mate. Only a faint breath told him that Gloria was his and Patrick's mate. "Who did this?" Patrick's voice was as cold as a sudden blizzard. He saw an ugly scar on the left side of Gloria's waist. He stretched out his hand, wanting to stroke it. His large hand could not help but tremble. His slender fingers touched the scar. Covered by the scar, her skin was no longer smooth. The second he touched it, he felt as if his fingertips had been scalded. Sean could tell from Patrick's voice that he was having mixed feelings. He scolded with a teasing tone, "SheSean suddenly thought of what he had said to Gloria today. He told her that she let him down, and he blamed her for changing. Now that he thought about it, he regretted it so much. He wasn't the one who had been suffering. Sean continued, "When I went to see her before, she wasn't in a serious condition. I don't know why she fainted again, but I suggest that you take her to the hospital now. She has gone through so much, including drowning, having a fever, and blacking out. Even healthy werewolves couldn't deal with those, let alone her. Werewolf herbs can relieve werewolves' symptoms, but it is our strong resilience that does most of the trick. Gloria does not have her wolf now. She may be more vulnerable than humans." "Alright. I'll drive her to the hospital now." "OK. I'll see you there." Then Patrick and Sean cut off the call simultaneously. Patrick stood by the bed and looked at the woman on the bed. Sean's words still echoed in his mind, "D
Patrick looked at Gloria somewhat obsessively. Losing in his memories, he found it impossible to resist Gloria. He had been drawn to her increasingly day by day. "What the heck is going on?" Patrick asked his wolf in his mind. "She is our mate," Leo emphasized again. He responded in Patrick's mind, "We, werewolves, need to be with our mates. Such a bond will make us feel secure and happy." Patrick was silent and did not respond to Leo. Leo said to himself, "It would be better if you could mark her as soon as possible. I get annoyed when our mate is around, yet you can't mark her." "I've already rejected her," said Patrick. "But she didn't reject you, so, it didn't take effect," Leo said disapprovingly. Just as Patrick wanted to ask Leo about Gloria's wolf, he suddenly received a call request in his mind. It was from the pack. He accepted the request, and then Leonard's voice sounded in his mind. "Alpha Patrick,
"What is it?" Patrick finally put the document away. He raised his eyebrows elegantly and glanced at Gloria. "Is Lillian alright?" Gloria asked cautiously. No matter how good-tempered Patrick was now, he couldn't hold back after hearing Gloria's question. "Gloria, are you being too hypocritical? Look at you. How can you be concerned about someone else when you are in such a condition?" Patrick said angrily. Gloria bit her lips and looked at Patrick seriously. "Mr. Hammond, you were wrong. I want to plead for her by asking you to spare her life and not torture her. As for the rest, Mr. Hammond, you can do whatever you want." "I thought that you were so hypocritical that you could be friends with people who hurt you so much." Patrick snorted. He was blatantly mocking Gloria. Gloria did not refute him. She looked at Patrick seriously and said, "She is your employee. Mr. Hammond, you can punish her, but I ask you to spare her life. If Lillian offends you again in the future,
"Well, since you love your work so much, then work hard. Within a month, transfer a million dollars to my card and I will let you go. Otherwise, it will be pointless no matter where you run to." Patrick said to Gloria with a cold face. "Mr. Hammond, you are right. I still owe you a million dollars. You ordered me to pay it back within a month." Gloria did not refute him. She continued, "Well then, Mr. Hammond, I'll go to work now." Patrick was furious, and his eyes were even colder. He stared at the woman in front of him. She wanted to pay back the debt as soon as possible and wanted to leave him so badly. Why? For that Mike? All sorts of emotions emerged; anger, jealousy, and heartache. Patrick didn't notice the change in his emotions. He just knew that Gloria had made him angry. "She's too sick to continue working." Leo's voice sounded in Patrick's mind. "I know," said Patrick. After watching Gloria leave the ward, Patrick took out his phone and called Christine.
When Sean heard Patrick's words, he walked forward dissatisfied. Usually, he did not need to do this personally because other doctors from the pack would do this job. "Sean, wait a second. Do you know how to do it?" Patrick asked. Sean's hand trembled and he got the wrong vein. Patrick's face immediately sank. "If you can't, I'll ask someone else to get the job done. Don't push yourself." "Be quiet. Patrick, if I fail to put her on a drip, I'll write you a resignation letter tomorrow and go home to help my father collect herbs." Sean proved that he could get the job done. "How can I not do such a job? Patrick, I'm telling you that having me as a doctor in your pack is a waste of my talent. You should feel happy about the bargain." Sean suddenly felt thrilled. He was frustrated just now because Patrick's words were harsh. "I'll give you a raise," Patrick said flatly. "Patrick, you did it on purpose, right? I cured your mate, but you
After the cloth was removed, Lillian immediately relaxed. She was gagged for a long time, and she could not help but cough, and her face turned red. Patrick's feet appeared in Lillian's vision. Lillian paused for a moment. Suddenly, someone grabbed her chin and lifted it. She saw eyes that were full of danger. "I am in a bad mood right now. I don't have much patience. You better answer whatever I ask you." Lillian's heart skipped a beat. Patrick pinched Lillian harder and showed no mercy. It was so painful that Lillian was in tears. "Why are you targeting Gloria?" Gloria! It was Gloria again! Why was everyone so concerned about her? Lillian did not admit that she was jealous, but she had no way to fight back at the moment. She had to compromise. She trembled and said, "I did not target Gloria." "I do not listen to nonsense." As he said this, Patrick put more force on Lillian's chin with his gloved hand. He pinch
Lillian sensed Patrick's disdain for Derrick in his tone, and Patrick's attitude made Lillian feel unhappy. She could not accept anyone denigrating Derrick, but she dared not contradict Patrick. Her rationality told her that it would be a dangerous thing to do so. Patrick didn't care about what Lillian thought. He sensed from her words that she was nothing but a stupid woman who was obsessed with Derrick. And there was more. Lillian was also selfish and mean, and she made him sick. Patrick didn't bother to say anything else to Lillian. He raised his chin at Leonard. Leonard understood immediately, so he went up and pulled Lillian up. "Where are you taking me?" Lillian was afraid instantly, worrying that Patrick would do something even worse to her. "Shut up," Patrick said. Then Leonard immediately gagged Lillian and stuffed her into the car. Soon, Patrick's convoy set off again. Meanwhile, at his villa on the we
"I know she works at the Fittro Club. She is your employee." After thinking for a moment, Derrick came to a conclusion. He thought that maybe he had offended Patrick's employee. Given how overbearing Patrick was, everything Patrick would do made sense. So, Derrick continued, "But she is fine, isn't she? She is not dead." Lillian was already slumping on the ground, feeling weak. No matter how stupid she was, she still knew what was going on. She thought, 'It's true. I love Mr. Fisher so much, yet he did set me up.' Somehow, the face of Gloria, who was suffocating while struggling in pain in that transparent container, emerged in Lillian's mind. Back then, Gloria kept banging her fists against the container so desperately. Lillian shuddered violently. She thought, 'If I hadn't been lucky, it would have been me.' "Leonard, tell him." Leonard briefed Derrick mechanically about everything that had happened that day. A
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