جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 30

Ravelle’s footsteps sounded heavy as she entered the main hall of the mansion. Her head was still throbbing; the remnants of past memories from the cafe earlier left a suffocating tightness that had not completely faded. She only wanted to go up to her room immediately and lock herself in.However, that tranquility was instantly shattered. From the direction of the side corridor, Calysta ran fast while clutching a chocolate ice cream cone that had begun to melt.*Thud!*"Ah!" Ravelle gasped slightly, her body reeling backward.The ice cream cone in Calysta’s hand struck right against the stomach area of Ravelle’s cream gown, leaving a deep chocolate stain that spread and soiled her expensive fabric."Sorry, Mommy... Mommy's clothes got dirty," Calysta said. The child took two steps back, but there was not the slightest bit of regret on her face. Instead, her pair of eyes gleamed defiantly. "I didn't do it on purpose."Ravelle looked down, staring at the sticky stain on her dress, then

Kyle stared at the marble floor where the leather whip lay, the remnants of anger still trembling inside his chest. He let out a rough breath before lowering his gaze and finding Calysta still sobbing in Jessica’s arms. The atmosphere in the hall felt unbearably suffocating with the tension that had only just subsided.“Soraya,” Kyle called, his voice heavy and tired. “Take Calysta to her room right now. Make sure she calms down and give her something to drink.”“Yes, Sir,” Soraya replied promptly. The elderly woman immediately stepped forward, taking Calysta from Jessica’s embrace before guiding the trembling child toward the staircase leading to the children's corridor upstairs.After making sure the corridor was empty and the other servants had dispersed to the back area, Kyle turned to Jessica. His secretary’s face was still filled with deep concern, an expression that always managed to stir a protective instinct within him.“Come with me, Jess,” Kyle whispered, gently but firmly

Kyle slammed the master bedroom door shut a little too harshly. His footsteps echoed through the corridor as he made his way toward the private study on the ground floor. His mind was still occupied by Ravelle's cold rejection, which felt like a slap to his ego.Inside the study, Jessica was still waiting. She was sitting on the sofa while reviewing several documents on her tablet. The moment she saw Kyle walk in with a gloomy expression and a clenched jaw, Jessica immediately set her device aside."What's wrong with you now?" Jessica asked, her voice softening as she stood and walked toward Kyle. "Why do you look so upset, Darling?"Kyle did not answer right away. He let out a long, frustrated sigh before dropping heavily into the executive chair behind his desk."Ravelle," he replied shortly, his voice filled with restrained irritation."What happened with the Madam?" Jessica asked again, the corner of her lips lifting slightly as if provoking a reaction from Kyle."She rejected me

Ravelle’s steps felt slightly lighter as she entered Erlan’s private office located on the top floor of a skyscraper in the central business district. The room was very spacious, dominated by obsidian tones and dark wood, with dim lighting that created an atmosphere both intimidating and extremely secure.“Sit down, Vel,” Erlan said as he closed the thick teak door, ensuring the automatic locking system was activated. He removed his flannel shirt, leaving only a tight black T-shirt that clearly outlined his firm physique.Ravelle did not sit immediately. She walked toward the large work desk in the center of the room, where several physical document folders and a laptop with a lit screen had already been prepared by Erlan. “We don’t have much time, El. I need to make sure what legal loopholes we can use to lock down Kyle’s movements tomorrow morning.”“Don’t rush,” Erlan cut in, his footsteps silent on the thick carpet. He stood right beside Ravelle, leaning down to look at the sheets

Ravelle suddenly pulled herself back. Her breathing became ragged, her chest rising and falling unevenly as she abruptly broke their kiss. She stared at Erlan with eyes suddenly filled with a mixture of shock and deep regret.The hands that had been tightly wrapped around Erlan's neck slowly lowered, clutching the bedsheet nervously."I'm sorry, El... forgive me," Ravelle whispered, her voice trembling violently as she turned her face away, unable to look directly into the pair of eagle-like eyes before her.Erlan remained motionless where he was, his dark eyes fixed on every change in the woman's expression."Why are you apologizing, Vel?""I shouldn't be like this," Ravelle replied, her tone bitter and laden with harsh judgment toward herself. She clenched her fists tightly on the mattress. "If I let my emotions and this situation carry me too far... if I do it now, then I'm no better than that bastard Kyle. I don't want to become a hypocrite who betrays my own values."Upon hearing