Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 271 - Chapitre 280

The air in the master suite crackled with the static of a dying marriage. Xavier Grayson’s hand tightened around Chloe Bishop’s throat, his veins standing out like cords. On the surface, the "Demon CEO" was in a towering rage, yet beneath the lethal posturing, his grip lacked its usual crushing force. He was a man drowning in a storm of his own making, lashing out at the only anchor in sight.Chloe didn't flinch. She met his turbulent gaze with a faint, mocking curve of her lips—a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I agree with you, and you’re unhappy. I disagree, and you’re still unhappy," she said, her voice a dry whisper. "How exactly am I supposed to answer you, Xavier?"Xavier’s face was a mask of thunder. Her lack of reaction to his kiss—and her casual suggestion that he find another woman—was the ultimate insult to his masculinity. Did he hold no attraction for her at all? Or was her heart so crowded with the ghosts of Liam Martin and Donovan Tang that there was no room for him

The master bedroom in the Bishop Manor was a landscape of elegant mahogany and silk, but for Chloe Bishop, it felt like a cage of high-stakes social duty. She watched Xavier Grayson as he remained silent, his profile as sharp and cold as carved obsidian."You mentioned a car accident on your way here," Chloe said, her voice carefully neutral as she tried to bridge the icy gap between them. "If you suspect it was intentional, it isn't safe to leave tonight. Stay here. At least for the night."Xavier turned his head slowly, a mirthless, paper-thin smile touching his lips. "If it was intentional, then coming back with me is perfect. You can serve as my human shield."A human shield?The words weren't a joke; in Xavier’s ruthless world, they were a distinct possibility. Chloe felt her heart sink. The man standing before her wasn't a husband; he was a predator who viewed her as a tactical asset. Without a word, she bent down and scooped up Liam Jr., who was nodding off on the velvet sofa.

The morning light in the Bishop Manor was soft, filtering through the lace curtains as Chloe Bishop and Xavier Grayson descended the stairs. Liam Jr. had already finished his breakfast, having spent a playful thirty minutes entertaining little Baby Bella, who was now drifting back into a milk-induced slumber.Jane Bishop watched the couple with a knowing, radiant smile. Xavier was the picture of composure—the "Demon CEO" back in his element, movements fluid despite the hidden bandage beneath his suit. Chloe, however, was a contrast of burning ears and forced stoicism. She moved with a stiff elegance, her gaze carefully avoiding the suggestive glints in the servants' eyes.Once the meal was concluded, Xavier departed for the Grayson Group headquarters, leaving a lingering scent of sandalwood and cold power in his wake. Chloe, Jane, and little Liam Jr. then set out for the West Side to pick up Master Marcus Sr. and the elder Mrs. Bishop.This was Chloe’s second time at this particular l

As Chloe Bishop’s car pulled away, the silence outside the West Side villa was broken only by the soft sobbing of Yvonne Blue. She stood there, trembling in Sarah Vance’s stolen silk nightgown, her small face a mask of exquisite guilt."Arthur... what do we do?" Yvonne whispered, her voice cracking. "It’s all my fault. I’ve dragged you into this. I’m a sinner... I’ve ruined everything."Before Arthur Vance could even respond, Yvonne raised her hand and delivered a sharp, echoing slap to her own cheek. The sound was startlingly loud in the quiet morning air.Arthur’s heart constricted. Seeing the red mark blooming on her pale skin, he stepped forward and pulled the swaying woman into a tight embrace. "Don't do that, Yvonne! You aren't to blame. If there’s a mistake here, it’s mine."Yvonne tried to push him away, her eyes swimming with tears. "No, it’s me! You have to go back, Arthur. Go back and explain everything to Sarah. Promise her you’ll never see me again. She... she has to forg

Arthur Vance’s face contorted with a mixture of shame and defensive malice. Her ice-cold dismissal was the final blow to his ego. "Sarah, look at yourself!" he spat, his voice trembling with a self-serving rage. "We reached this point because you pushed us here. This is on you. Don't blame anyone else for your own coldness."With that final, cowardly revision of their history, Arthur turned on his heel and stormed out.The moment the bedroom door clicked shut, the silence didn't last three seconds. From behind the heavy mahogany, a guttural, primal scream tore through the air—a sound so raw it felt like the house itself was bleeding. Then came the crash. One after another, heavy objects met the floor with violent finality.Arthur paused in the hallway, his hand tightening on his car keys. He realized then that her composure had been nothing but a brittle mask, a dam holding back a flood of agony. For a fleeting moment, the old Arthur—the one who once worshipped the ground she walked o