" Did she let you stay here?"Lucian's brow twitched. His dark expression and furrowed brows showed how unpleasant he was right now. His gaze fell on the bodyguard behind Vivian."Where's Calista?""Madam went back to her room after lunch."Lucian changed into his slippers and went for the stairs right away. "Did Calista tell you to come in?"There's a rule in Everglade Manor. Without permission, bodyguards were not allowed to enter the mansion."Madam told Dr. Smith, Marianne, and I to look after Ms. Jacquez."Marianne was the housekeeper who came over today. There was a distorted look on Vivian's face. What they did was monitor her rather than look after her.Initially, she wanted to sneak up to the second floor for a few strands of Calista's hair from her comb, or even some pieces of her nail.However, whenever she tried to move, all three pairs of eyes were fixated on her. There's no way for her to go upstairs. Calista emerged from her room when Lucian just got on the
Vivian automatically interpreted his words as his concern for her.As she smirked and was just about to speak, she heard the bodyguard outside the door say, "Mr. Northwood, Mr. Jacquez is here."Hugo's here? Vivian's expression changed immediately. Staring at Calista, she said, "Claude, don't you wanna find out who from the Jacquez family killed your mother? You can't enter the Jacquez family, so I'm the only one who can help you to investigate."Putting down her fork, Calista replied, "Thanks for the kind offer, but I don't need it."She got up and as she approached the door, Hugo also arrived."I apologize for any inconvenience caused. I'll take Vivian away now."Vivian agreed to go back to Apthon and had already booked a flight early in the morning the day after tomorrow.When she was discharged from the hospital today, she said she wanted to bid goodbye to her friends in Capeton.Hugo had been busy lately and he couldn't always keep track of what she was doing. He agreed
Lucian didn't make his way out because Calista was already heading toward the mansion from the garden. Although Hugo wasn't with her, his gaze was fixated on Calista. As a man, Lucian could tell at first glance that he looked at her differently.Narrowing his eyes, Lucian was visibly unpleasant. He was enduring every single second as he waited for her to walk over.He closed his eyes, only managing to suppress his raging agitation when she finally entered the mansion. He had to beware of her childhood sweetheart, her high school friend, and now there's another man who's almost dying. His brain was wrecked at the thought of it. Calista saw Lucian as soon as she entered. The food on the table remained as they were before she went out. "Why are you standing here? Didn't you eat?""Was it a great chat?" asked Lucian in a resentful manner. "It's alright," Calista replied.She wasn't sure what he was up to again, but she couldn't bother to argue with him. Without giving much
The room was filled with Joan's stuff. Her photos were hung up on the wall. Yesterday, Hugo told her that this mansion wasn't just a place where her mother used to work, but it was also a place where her mother had stayed for years.No wonder, she found the place to be so familiar, even the flowers planted in the garden were her mom's favorite. That sense of familiarity grew stronger when she entered the room. Joan had passed on for more than a decade now, and a lot of Calista's memories about her were fading. However, now that she'd seen all of these, the memories came rushing back at her again. Calista's fingers brushed past the dressing table. Not a speck of dust was on it. It was cleaned very often. The items in the room looked ancient, but they were all in tip-top condition.As for Zachary, after he got married again, he put all of her mother's stuff in the basement, letting them tarnish in dust. He also sold all the valuable luxury items.The sight before her eyes remind
Calista was at a loss for words.The car's heating system was set to a temperature that was just right for Calista, who was sensitive to the cold. But, it was a little too warm for Lucian, prompting him to loosen his tie.Of course, when a handsome, well-built man did that, it appeared exceptionally seductive and a sight for sore eyes.His fingers rested on the dark tie. The digits were slender and well-proportioned, resembling a finely crafted work of art.Calista didn't consider herself fascinated by hands. But, she found herself unable to look away from the sight. The discomfort she felt after reading the diary seemed to ease.Just as she was entranced by his charms, Lucian leaned down to kiss her.The man, who had restrained himself for days, was now no different from a beast that had been starved for years. The kiss was so intense that Calista couldn't resist at all. He stole her breath away.She tilted her head back in an attempt to avoid him. Only, Lucian wasn't going to
Jessen flew into a violent rage.He smacked the table and shouted, "If you touch a hair on their head, I'll kill you myself, Calista Everhart.""What do you think you're doing? Do you plan on rotting in prison for the rest of your life, Jessen? You're going into solitary confinement," the prison guard said.Jessen quickly apologized with a bow."I apologize. My son is ill. I got carried away in the heat of the moment. It won't happen again."When he spoke again, he behaved much better."How is my son, Ms. Everhart?""He's alright. He just needs to be on medications all the time. Your wife hasn't had a stable job in years to take care of him. She's struggling because of the high medical expenses …""That's impossible," Jessen spoke with absolute certainty."Why is that?"Calista wasn't surprised that he didn't say anything. She had been dealing with him for years and wasn't bothered by the delay. She attached a printed chat record to the glass."The money that person gives an
The melancholic atmosphere vanished in an instant. Calista massaged her temples in disbelief. She shot a sidelong glance at Hector."Weren't you leaving? Do you have to run your mouth? Are you that eager to remain bedridden for the next month?"Hector lowered his voice and replied, "You don't understand. Men are egoists. The more unattainable something is, the more they want it for themselves. Once they have what they want, they will no longer feel challenged. Once things start getting stale, they would seek excitement from other women. You need to keep him on edge. Make him believe you have countless other men who want you even without him. That's how you keep him wrapped around your finger."Calista scoffed and shot him a withering stare. Most people would insult others but Hector was insulting himself too. Lucian's eyes passed over them.Hector and Calista stood on the steps, bathed in twilight. The radiant glow seemed to meld the pair together.An attractive man and a beautifu
The person hesitated to get up and whispered, "Everything hurts."Hector was rendered speechless. He had never been a religious person. But now, he was starting to become one. He wondered which god he'd offended.The past twenty years of his life had been smooth sailing. Now, it seemed as if all the bad luck he accumulated throughout the years had caught up with him.None of this was his responsibility. But he still had to do something about it.He glanced around the area. Despite there being no other vehicles around, both of them would be in big trouble if another car showed up.Hector had an injury in his leg that made it hard for him to kneel. So, he lowered himself into a bow instead."Can you move? If you aren't too badly hurt, I'll help move you to the side of the road and call for an ambulance. It's not safe to stay in the middle of the road."With that, the call connected."Hello. We need an ambulance at the Nubium Highway right away. The victim …"Just as he was about
Cameron tucked her hands into her sleeves, her face unreadable as she watched Mirabelle stagger toward her. "I went through so much trouble to put on this grand finale," she said coolly. "How could I miss the ending?"Mirabelle's eyes were bloodshot, her voice shrill with disbelief. "It really was you, Cameron! You set everything up!" She fumbled for her phone. "I'm calling the police. You framed my father—he's innocent!""Framed?" Cameron let out a cold laugh. "And where exactly do you think the money came from for all those years you lived like a queen overseas?"Mirabelle froze mid-dial. Cameron's words cut deep. She stood there, stunned, then muttered, "Cade… I'll tell Cade everything you did. He'll stop you. I'll call Cade.""Are you sure you want to do that?"Mirabelle lowered her phone and burst out laughing. "I won't call. But what does it matter? You lost. You pulled all the strings, but in the end, I'm still standing. You can't touch me."She lifted her head, her eyes s
Cade turned, frowning in confusion. Mirabelle had just stumbled into the café, unkempt, disheveled, and utterly unlike her usual self. The grace and poise she once wore like armor were gone. Her hair was tangled, her outfit wrinkled, and one of her heels had snapped clean off.But it was clear—she hadn't come for him. The instant her eyes found his, she froze. Then, almost frantically, she adjusted her clothes and ran trembling fingers through her hair.She walked over, chin lifted, as if her heel wasn't broken, as if she hadn't just staggered in like a ghost of herself."Cade," she said, summoning the haughtiness of an Ackerman heiress. "Are you really willing to throw away everything between our families for Cameron?"She had begged nearly everyone she knew that day—men and women who owed her family countless favors. All of them had turned their backs. She finally understood what it meant to be on a sinking ship, swarmed by rats scurrying for safety.Mirabelle knew she should be
Fabian said, "Mr. Ackerman was taken away by the Office of Inspector General this morning. Madam Cameron and the Bark family are reportedly the ones responsible."The Carter Group hadn't broken any laws, nor had they been financially entangled with the Ackermans for over a decade. Still, the long-standing ties between the two families ran deep. If Victor Ackerman had skeletons in his closet, Cade would have a hard time avoiding the fallout.Cade propped his hand against his cheek. "What about my wife?""Madam Cameron…" Fabian had to steel himself to answer Cade. "Madam Cameron left the country. She applied for a long-term visa."Even with reporters hounding him, that sentence rang loud and clear in Cade's ears.A long silence stretched before he let out a quiet, bitter laugh.He had never realized how much Cameron had orchestrated behind his back. The Ackermans or the media could trip him up for now, but her betrayal cut deeper. Every move had been calculated.And the most absur
Cade crossed the room as Cameron, already seated, leaned her cheek against her hand, skimming the menu. "Want a drink?" she asked casually.His heart skipped a beat.Cameron's appearance radiated deliberate perfection. From her flawlessly styled hair and expertly applied makeup to her impeccable outfit and carefully chosen accessories, every detail was considered. Even her expensive "Allure" perfume hinted at a desire to captivate.A private dining room meant for couples with only spouses in each other's company…Given the setup, sharing a drink seemed like an implicit invitation.Cade pressed his lips into a line, trying to ignore the rising curve of a smile. "Sure," he replied, his tone deceptively even. "We'll start with two bottles of Magnolia's Pulpit," Cameron said.Cade choked on his water, coughing as he asked, "Seriously?"Who would start a date with such a strong distilled spirit? With two bottles, no less.Cameron propped up her chin and raised an eyebrow. "Is that
Cameron stared at her screen, where Gale had just sent a single word. "Ready." Her lips curled up involuntarily.Cade noticed the smile. He didn't know who she was messaging, but it irritated him for some reason. After a long pause, he exhaled slowly and asked, "What if the Ackermans refuse to settle?"Cameron didn't bother to answer. She knew Violet and Victor would soon be in hot water, so she hadn't considered the aftermath. However, to Cade, her silence only confirmed his assumptions—she was reckless, unprepared, and acting purely on emotion. He clenched his jaw and finally stopped holding his breath. Then, suddenly, he pulled the car over with a sharp twist of the wheel. "Did you think it through before turning yourself in? What if the psych evaluation comes back clean, and the Ackermans insist on pressing charges? What then? You hurt Mirabelle badly. You think you'll have it easy in prison with the way they dote on her?" In contrast to Cade's exasperation, Cameron remaine
With Cade covering Cameron's mouth, there was no chance for her pointed words to offend anyone in the room. His palm was cool to the touch. It was a sensation she disliked. So, she couldn't help but tilt her head.When Cade noticed her movements, he gently stroked her cheek as if he were calming a child who was throwing a tantrum.Victor spent years in a position of authority, giving him an air of unspoken authority. His gaze hardened, and his lips pressed into a firm line as he watched Cade. "Cade, don't jeopardize the long-standing relationship between our families over a woman.""If that's how you see it." Cade glanced at the door. "Aren't you doing the same for a woman?"Victor snorted contemptuously. "How can a cheap girl who was merely adopted be worth anything compared to Mirabelle?""How is my daughter, a Yorksworth, worth any less than yours?" Blaire stood at the doorway as she took in the occupants of the home with her sharp gaze. She had been feeling restless ever sin
Mirabelle frowned. "Excuse me?"As soon as she finished speaking, Cameron walked up to her, grabbed her by her hair, and forcefully bent her over.Cameron held up the guest list Monica had sent her and shoved it in Mirabelle's face. "Call them. Tell them to be there by 3:00 p.m., or else…"She tightened her grip threateningly. "You can kiss this head of hair goodbye."Mirabelle pressed down on her scalp where it had been pulled, her voice distorted with pain when she spoke."Let go, Cameron! Are you out of your mind?""Didn't I tell you not to involve anyone else in our feud?""Can't take it anymore?"Mirabelle endured the pain of turning her head to flash a disdainful sneer at Cameron."This is just the appetizer. If you go against me, you'll eventually crawl out of Capeton with your tail between your legs. I'll call your business partner right now and pin the catastrophic failure of this event on you…"Seeing Mirabelle's condescending expression brought Cameron back to the
The kiss lifted the dark cloud that hung over Cade's mood over the past few days.The next day, as Fabian brought in documents for him to sign, Cade asked, "When is Cameron's show?"Fabian was taken aback for a split second but quickly replied. Fortunately, he was well-prepared and kept track of Cameron's events for the year in advance."Has the invitation been delivered?"Fabian swallowed, almost wanting to laugh to mock Cade. Given Cade's strained relationship with his wife, Cameron would sooner invite a dog than have him around. However, all Fabian could do was revel in Cade's misery in his mind while keeping a businesslike facade."It was probably already delivered. The front desk brought in a stack of mail yesterday. I haven't sorted it out yet."He had already sorted out the mail this morning. Everything had gone straight to the trash."Clear my schedule for the day. Make reservations at a restaurant for a celebratory dinner.""Yes, sir."On the day of the show, Monica
That was obviously an excuse to get Cade out of the picture. Knowing what Mirabelle had done to Cameron in the past, leaving the two of them alone was out of the question. Besides, it wasn't convenient for him to move the car, so he refused without a second thought."Get the attendant—"However, Cameron cut him off before he could finish."Ms. Ackerman is a guest. You should fulfill her requests if she has any."Cade cast her a cold glance. "Shut up." Why should he dance to Mirabelle's tune?Cameron stared at him. "Run along."He gritted his teeth as rage crossed his face. After a brief pause, he sneered and turned to leave. As soon as the door shut behind him, Mirabelle's calm expression slipped. "Did you make me come here just to show off how much you two love each other?""You call that love? I think we have different definitions of what 'love' is then. He's nothing more than…" Cameron's fingers lightly traced the cup's rim as she smirked and said, "A lap dog.""You fu